Chapter 1189: Scorched World.

How did they know? Such questions are unnecessary.

I know just by looking at the situation. The only one I was watching earlier was Namgung Jin.

So, this part must be what Namgung Jin told Father, but…

‘Why would this person bother?’

To Father, who is like his rival. Perhaps someone he might hate the most, he’d go tell him something like that?

From my perspective, it was an incomprehensible matter.

So, I wanted to make some kind of excuse, but…

‘Ah.’

The sound transmission didn’t work.

Damn it. Is my energy really so blocked that I can’t even use sound transmission? This is really screwed, isn’t it?

“Cough…”

Unable to give any response, I just coughed dryly. Since the sound transmission wasn’t heard, Father looked at me with a puzzled expression, but…

“I heard you collapsed, so there’s no way your body is well. It must just look that way.”

Jin Yeon-ryeong reacted as if she didn’t believe Father’s words. Seeing that, Gu Seon scrunched up his face again.

“…So, the one who looks good is me, you know?”

“What did the doctor say?”

“Mother?”

“Ah, they just said to rest.”

“That’s a relief. Eat well too. Thank you so much for saving our foolish daughter.”

“Why am I foolishly…”

Jin Yeon-ryeong acted as if she couldn’t hear Gu Seon’s words. Gu Seon soon gave up, wearing a sulky expression.

“…”

Meanwhile, Father and I made eye contact.

Father was looking at me with a strange gaze. I involuntarily wanted to avoid looking into those crimson eyes.

As we continued to stare at each other like that.

“I have a lot of work, so I’ll be going ahead.”

Father spoke to Jin Yeon-ryeong and went outside. Seeing that, Jin Yeon-ryeong also quickly got up.

“That’s right. You must have been resting, so I disturbed you too much.”

“No. It’s nothing… Thank you for coming.”

“Rest well. Thank you once again.”

Jin Yeon-ryeong went out with a bright smile. Even then, she wasn’t looking at Gu Seon.

“This is absurd, really.”

Gu Seon, seeing that, looked at me with a dejected expression.

“Must be nice?”

“…What is?”

“You’re showered with love from our family. Must be nice, really?”

“…”

At those words, I shook my head.

“Why? Are you so blessed you don’t even realize it?”

“I don’t know who’s blessed and doesn’t realize it.”

“What?”

“…Never mind. I’m leaving too.”

“Are you serious…? Hey! Shouldn’t you be resting too!”

The person who tried to mobilize the entire clan saying his daughter disappeared. The mother who pretended to focus all her attention on me while examining Gu Seon’s wound. The brother who came to check on his younger sister using me as an excuse.

I don’t know who it is that doesn’t realize they’re receiving family love.

‘It’s so different from my family.’

Even though it’s the same household, it’s so different.

Growing up in a place like this, why is Father like that? It’s utterly baffling.

I ignored Gu Seon’s shouting and walked. Since I had talked with Jin Yeon-ryeong, I had to go outside.

My body wasn’t injured.

The problem is the lack of energy.

‘…Sip.’

Seriously, why isn’t it working?

This was truly problematic.

‘Is it a problem with the Master Transformation?’

Considering I thought I could do it, the side effects were severe. Especially if the reason I can’t use my energy is the influence of the Master Transformation.

‘I’m going crazy.’

I used it to try and face Taecheon. If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have done it.

I don’t even remember the moment right after using it. I clearly remember energy covering my body… And then what happened?

‘When I opened my eyes, it was the ceiling.’

I remember it very faintly. His flustered expression, the exhilarating feeling like flying, and Namgung Bi-ah’s brain energy.

That’s about all that remains in my memory.

‘What should I do.’

If my energy is this messed up, are there any other methods?

Even if there aren’t, I have to find one.

‘If I happen to run into my great-grandfather here.’

That person who said he’d find me in my true form. If I encountered that old man unprepared, I had no answer for how to deal with him.

“Anyway.”

Nothing is easy.

Grinding my teeth in frustration, I arrived at my destination. As I went inside, I saw the person I was looking for.

“We meet again…?”

Hyun So-young looked at me with slightly weary eyes.

“…What’s with that look?”

“It’s like… seeing you more than usual drains my energy a bit…?”

“…”

I didn’t deny it either. It wasn’t like I came because I particularly wanted to see Hyun So-young.

‘Is there no reaction?’

More precisely, Namgung Bi-ah, who is inside. I wanted to check on her condition.

However.

‘I can’t feel it.’

Since I have no energy, I can’t feel anything. I wonder if it will appear again, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re going to bore holes through me.”

“…”

Hyun So-young didn’t seem to remember what happened earlier.

“Ah. Right.”

Then, as if realizing something, Hyun So-young spoke.

“Now that I think about it, I heard I collapsed earlier…”

“You don’t remember?”

“It’s hazy. It happens sometimes lately. Maybe I’m just tired?”

“It happens sometimes?”

“Yes. I don’t know why. Maybe I should see a doctor…”

Hyun So-young scrunched up her face as if pondering.

‘…It seems like forgetting things happens often…’

Whether that’s all Namgung Bi-ah’s influence. Or something else, I don’t know, but it can’t be entirely unrelated.

“Since when has this been happening?”

“Huh?”

At my words, Hyun So-young made a strange face.

“…Why are you curious?”

“……Yes?”

“No. It’s just strange because you, who seem uninterested in everything, are asking. Have we become that close?”

“Wouldn’t you say we’re not exactly strangers?”

If you ask if we’re close, I don’t think so. But maybe we’re at a level where I can ask questions?

“No… well, maybe.”

Swoosh.

Hyun So-young glanced sideways at me. What is with that look?

“…When I ask you something…”

“Something?”

“It doesn’t feel like you’re asking out of curiosity towards me…?”

“…”

I got goosebumps. This woman is really sharp.

“How could that be?”

“Right?”

“Yes. So please just answer me.”

“…It really seems like you’re not curious… No, never mind. It hasn’t been that long… Maybe about fifteen days.”

‘Fifteen days.’

It was an ambiguous timeframe.

“Have you been unwell originally?”

“Do I look like it?”

“…No.”

I saw her swinging her twin sabers just now, so I didn’t really think so.

However.

‘Even if it’s not Namgung Bi-ah’s influence.’

If she is Namgung Bi-ah’s mother. As far as I know, she was supposed to die early. Whether it was a chronic illness or not, I don’t know, but at least that’s what I knew. If it was a chronic illness, it wouldn’t be strange for something to happen starting now.

“…Take good care of yourself.”

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

She looked indifferent. What kind of reaction is that even when I’m showing concern?

“What is it?”

“Why?”

“No, between the times I saw you, your eyes got a bit… creepy.”

“…What kind of bullshit is that?”

“No, I’m serious? But somehow… it feels like you’re definitely not looking at me?”

“Seeing you talking nonsense, you really are sick. Go inside and rest.”

“No…”

I moved on, leaving Hyun So-young behind.

‘I heard it in our conversation earlier.’

The reaction like time was up as the brain energy burst.

Then.

‘Does it have a duration?’

Do I need a method to get out?

‘Who on earth is it…?’

Who is the one who placed a restriction on Namgung Bi-ah and helped her come here?

Moreover.

‘Saying they’ll save me.’

Save me from what? What are they saving me from?

‘Who is saving whom.’

Saying they’ll save me. Save me from what?

“Hmm…”

Namgung Bi-ah, my physical condition, everything is a problem.

‘What should I do about this?’

How should I unblock my energy? If it’s the influence, I don’t know how long I’ll have to endure these side effects.

‘I need to find a way.’

I can’t just stay like this. I had to find a method immediately, and to do that…

‘I need to go find someone who would know.’

Someone who would know about my situation. It was obvious who I should go see.

‘Gu Seong-yeol.’

My grandfather.

Going to him and asking seemed like the quickest way.

Just as I was about to head straight for the Gu family head with that thought.

“Hey.”

“……!”

I was startled. I flinched at the voice coming from beside me.

I keep feeling how low my senses have become. To not even sense someone approaching this closely.

Hiding my surprise, I looked beside me.

“…Do Yun.”

“Oh. Nice to see you.”

It was Do Yun.

“I heard there was a big incident overnight. Is Baek Chin-woo okay?”

“Me? I’m fine.”

“Well, of course. Hahaha.”

Did the rumor spread that Gu Seon disappeared and I brought him back? I thought I returned relatively quickly, but it seems the news got out.

“You look fine physically… Ah, were you perhaps on your way somewhere urgently?”

“No, not really. Why?”

If I had to say, I was in a hurry. But there was no need to show I was in a hurry, so I just said no for now.

Then Do Yun smiled slightly and spoke to me.

“Ah, it’s nothing much… but if you’re feeling up to it, I was thinking of asking you to come somewhere with me.”

“Where?”

“My place.”

“…Hmm?”

His place?

If it’s Do Yun’s place.

‘I think he means that Sanseo Dogga, or somewhere like that.’

Another clan located in Sanseo. I don’t know much about it, but I heard it exists. And yet, he wants me to go there with him?

“Hmm, sorry, but…”

I was on my way to see Gu Seong-yeol, so I was reluctant to go, just then.

‘Ah.’

A thought occurred. It was a matter concerning Do Yun himself. His objective, his attitude, his identity. Recalling that, I also questioned the reason he was inviting me to his clan.

“…”

What should I do?

“Wait here for a moment then.”

My answer was quick.

“I’ll just quickly go to where I was headed and come back.”

It was the moment my destination for the day was decided.