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I had to stop in my tracks, somewhat dazed, after hearing Gu Huibi’s words.

‘Grandfather?’

It was an unforeseen mention that caught me off guard.

Grandfather (祖父).

If my understanding is correct, he refers to the ancestral head of the Gu Clan and my father’s father.

‘Who could that be…?’

It was someone I had no knowledge of.

To be precise, it would be accurate to say that I had never even heard of him.

Neither in my past life nor in this one had I met my grandfather. All I knew was that he had died before my birth.

The Gu Clan, unlike other clans, did not hold any rituals or ceremonies to honor their ancestors, so it had never occurred to me to think deeply about it, assuming he was just deceased.

And yet, suddenly, there he was?

‘Does that mean he was alive?’

I’d heard the stories a few times.

There were mentions made by the King of Demons himself, but I had never contemplated their depth.

‘Did my grandfather leave the Heavenly Demon in Gu Huibi’s care?’

This was a completely out-of-the-blue revelation.

“Where did this grandfather come from? What are you talking about?”

I asked with curiosity, only for Gu Huibi to smack my forehead.

I could have dodged, but I didn’t see the need to.

Thwack!

I rubbed my throbbing forehead and glared at Gu Huibi.

“Little brother, what does ‘grandfather’ mean?”

“Well, that’s just what grandfathers are, isn’t it?”

“You’re so rude.”

“I never thought I’d hear the word ‘rude’ come from your mouth, sister.”

A person known throughout the Central Plains for having a foul temper was now preaching about manners; it was absurd.

“There’s no point in showing manners to a stranger whose face and name I don’t know. Is it true what you’re saying, sister?”

Whether my grandfather was alive or not was irrelevant.

After all, as a figure I’d never encountered, it didn’t matter to me either way.

However.

“Is it true that grandfather left that child in your care?”

If he truly left the Heavenly Demon to Gu Huibi, that changed everything.

That would deeply intertwine with the affairs of the clan.

“Do you think I’d have a reason to lie to you?”

“Who knows? You might.”

“That’s hurtful. Is that all our relationship amounts to? I took care of you when you were little, changed your diapers and played with you…”

“Sister.”

I interrupted her as it seemed she was going on a tangent.

“I’m not joking around.”

“Hmm.”

As time stretched on, so did my patience begin to wear thin.

“Did grandfather truly show up and leave that child in your care?”

I asked skeptically, and Gu Huibi, instead of answering, extended her hand.

“Grab on.”

I hesitated, knowing what she intended, but I held on without further thought.

Woosh! The energy shifted.

Gu Huibi’s energy entwined with mine, and the Technique of the Flame Wheel began to resonate.

“I will now tell you only the truth.”

As Gu Huibi spoke, the energy started to weave us tightly together.

It was the Golden Binding. Gu Huibi initiated the technique to bind me to her.

“Let’s start with that question from earlier.”

I refrained from asking unnecessary questions about why we were doing all this. We both knew it was the most convenient method.

“Yes, grandfather entrusted that child to me before he left.”

The energy’s movement stilled. Her pulse was steady, and her breath remained calm.

It was the essence of truth.

“Then… since when—”

“Little brother, that’s not how it works.”

Just as I was about to ask my next question, Gu Huibi cut me off with a smile.

“It’s only fair we each get a turn asking questions. Why are you being stingy and trying to ask only yourself?”

“…”

Did she have something to ask me in return?

“Hurry.”

Though I frowned at Gu Huibi’s words, I murmured while unimpressed.

“I will now reply only with the truth to whatever you ask me.”

“Good.”

Satisfied with my answer, Gu Huibi smiled and promptly posed her question.

“Are you going to kill that child?”

Caught off guard, I nodded along.

It was exceedingly direct. So I answered immediately.

“Depends.”

Ambiguous, but my intentions had been set for quite a while.

I wondered if I had spoken too quickly without hesitation.

“…Why?”

“Because it’s what I must do.”

My thoughts remained unchanged.

“Killing that child is what you deem your duty?”

“Sister, stop treating her like a child. She’s not just anything.”

“Little brother.”

“I know you’re trying to protect her, so I’m tolerating this. Don’t keep saying strange things.”

I felt irritation bubbling over. I had tried to hold it back, but her words were making that difficult.

As the Qi simmered down, my gaze remained fixed on Gu Huibi.

“…Little brother, you’ve changed.”

Gu Huibi spoke with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

That look pierced my heart and stung.

“Yeah, I have. I needed to change.”

Even so, nothing would change the current situation.

“Sister, you’ve changed too. Why do you keep defending her?”

“Who knows.”

Gu Huibi smiled as she continued to speak, bewilderingly.

“But I believe once you get to know that child, you’ll feel the same way. So…”

“I don’t want to know.”

How ridiculous. There was no need for further conversation.

‘How much more do I need to learn here?’

This was a nightmare I had lived through a thousand times in my previous life.

There was no need to learn further or endure anything.

‘The Heavenly Demon is different from Nangong Bi-ah or Jiegal Hyeok.’

Humans can change.

It was a fact I had felt while living this life, but the Heavenly Demon was on a whole different level.

Could the Heavenly Demon change as well? That could be possible.

But.

‘How can I believe that?’

What if it didn’t happen? Would I be able to handle what would transpire as a result?

If I lacked confidence about this, it would be better to deal with it before it happens.

“Is that how you view it?”

“Right and wrong are no longer the issue. I told you earlier, I’m just doing what I have to do. Now, enough chit-chat.”

I reached my limit.

Thus, emotions began to mix into the energy.

“Why did that grandfather of mine leave that child in your care?”

“…”

Creeeak.

The old table began to tremble from the mounting energy.

There was no intent to intimidate. It was simply my turbulent energy escaping due to me not keeping it in check.

“…”

“…”

Our heated gazes locked.

Time stretched on. Though it was a fleeting moment, it felt extraordinarily long. Finally, the first to speak was Gu Huibi after she had heard my question.

In what seemed like she was about to respond.

“I won’t answer.”

“…What?”

Upon hearing Gu Huibi’s words, I scrunched up my already troubled face even further.

“…What kind of mad nonsense is that?”

“It looks like there’s nothing more I can say to you if your answer is already decided. Isn’t that right?”

In other words, she was saying to shove it.

I glared at Gu Huibi, but her demeanor remained unchanged.

Then, I had only one option.

“Do as you wish.”

If she wouldn’t speak, I wouldn’t force her.

The Golden Binding’s condition was simply to not utter falsehoods.

“I’ll do as I please as well.”

Clan affairs? Grandfather’s request?

What do I care?

I’m just going to do what I have to do.

With that thought in mind, I rose to my feet.

Swish.

The sound of a sword being drawn pierced the air.

Buzz—!

Then, a dense sword aura filled the room.

The chilling energy made my gaze turn icy.

“Sister.”

I spoke without turning my head.

It was Gu Huibi who drew the sword.

She aimed the sword’s tip at my back.

Flame burst.

Fire erupted from her hand, engulfing the sword entirely.

The heat radiated outwards.

The flames whirled, emitting a scorching wave.

There was no hostility, but I could sense resistance.

Gu Huibi’s sword was voicing that sentiment.

“What does this mean?”

“It means what you see it to be.”

Gu Huibi said with a bitter smile.

“As long as your intentions are clear, I can’t let you go after that child.”

“So? Are you prepared to fight me?”

“Fight? Do you think I see you as someone who could defeat me?”

Flame Burst!

The intensity of the flames escalated.

“I would probably overpower you without effort. You’re strong, after all.”

“…”

Her unfiltered words left me speechless.

To think that prideful Gu Huibi would utter such dismissive words.

Even as her expression remained unyielding.

Under normal circumstances, she would’ve gritted her teeth and refused to acknowledge it.

To wield a sword while letting go of her pride?

‘Has she experienced some internal change upon reaching the Transformation Realm?’

I couldn’t tell. Gu Huibi’s transformation over these few years was beyond my understanding.

But….

“Even knowing that, you still intend to stop me? Have you truly gone mad, sister?”

Whatever the reason, I was boiling with anger.

“Is that what you treasure so highly?”

So much that you would bring your sword against me?

I held my tongue.

Just as I was about to speak, a thought struck me.

We indeed shared the same father, yet we had never built enough of a relationship to call each other family.

Thus I couldn’t push that sentiment.

To call her a sister with abandon would mean that the one who had sealed her fate was none other than I.

[Be happy.]

Even while bleeding and closing her eyes, Gu Huibi had still fervently wished for my happiness.

Remembering that made my feelings surge with resentment.

‘Damn it.’

Sighing as I thought the expletives in my mind.

Buzz.

I focused on my energy to cool myself down. I wouldn’t let my emotions consume me.

Now more than ever, I had to be cautious.

Thereupon.

“Sister, you keep misunderstanding. This isn’t just about winning or losing.”

Gu Huibi was remarkable.

I didn’t know how she reached here, but ultimately she had ascended to the Transformation Realm at such a young age, making her a possible candidate for the Sword Demoness in the future.

Even so.

“Before any of that happens, I can just end it here.”

Considering my current level, I’d barely be a 3-second contest.

In other words, I could topple her and then leave.

I launched myself at Gu Huibi, stomping powerfully against the ground.

Bam!

I dashed towards her to finish this quickly.

“…!”

When I closed in on her, I noticed Gu Huibi blinked in surprise.

In that instant.

Crack—!!!

The hut’s roof caved in as something rushed in.

Boom—!

Crack crack crack crack—!!

The energy clashed as shockwaves erupted.

A devastating wave spread in all directions.

Standing amidst the chaos of the vanishing hut and debris-covered ground, I faced forward.

Through the thick dust, someone stood in my way.

The energy swirling around her was a dark color, void of any light.

She controlled that energy, blocking the rough aura and glared at me.

“…You. Who are you?”

“…”

“Why are you tormenting my sister?”

I felt my heart gradually freeze as I watched her.

It was the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demon stood before Gu Huibi, glaring at me with a sharpened gaze.

Her purple eyes sparkled like the moonlight.

The black hair flowing with a hint of violet was more beautiful than a starry night.

Aside from her unique atmosphere, she looked remarkably like the Heavenly Demon I had seen in my previous life.

“Don’t bully my sister.”

“…Haha.”

Hearing those words, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

How could I not laugh?

“No, that’s not it. This just can’t be real.”

Is this a joke?

“At the very least, you shouldn’t be standing there.”

“…”

Too much had changed.

In all my life, I never expected to see something like this.

Standing before me, the Heavenly Demon who was supposed to be an enemy to Gu Huibi.

How could it be so contradictory?

As I watched, the emotions I had bottled up began to tremble.

The anxiety faded away.

The creeping fear vanished without a trace.

What remained was a cold anger that simmered down the guilt that festered within.

“That place should not belong to you, nor to me.”

The position of protecting Gu Huibi.

Anyone can claim that role, but at the very least, neither you nor I should.

That was how it should be.

“Especially not you, who knows nothing.”

Upon hearing my words, the Heavenly Demon frowned, tilting her head.

“I don’t understand what you mean. Either way, leave my sister alone.”

“Little one. Just a moment….”

“If you torment her…”

With just a nod of her head, the Heavenly Demon declared.

“Even you, I won’t forgive.”

“…”

Her words resonated powerfully, shaking me inside.

Forgive?

Did the Heavenly Demon just say she would forgive me?

“How dare you utter that?”

It was absurd.

You and I.

Neither of us can ever be forgiven, yet how could you casually make such a proclamation?

Looking at that Heavenly Demon left me with an odd phrase that echoed in my mind.

– Forgetting is a blessing.

I couldn’t recall when or to whom I had heard that phrase, but it felt oddly fitting for the situation.

Yeah, forgetting is indeed a blessing.

Since you can’t remember anything, you can casually speak like that.

‘No, even if you remembered, you’d be the same.’

That is why she is the Heavenly Demon.

She wouldn’t feel the slightest guilt and would inevitably spark the Blood Calamity, painting the world with blood.

The being before me was such a creature.

It must be so.

Crackle.

I loosened my energy, allowing it to flow into my body.

The energy that began from my heart delved into my Blood Qi, seizing control over my body.

Inhales.

My hair darkened further, and veins surged in my eyes.

The prayer that had coiled around my hand transformed into a darker hue.

“Yeah, no doubt. I’ve thought too hard about it. I can simply end it here.”

“Brother…!”

What was she trying to say as she sought to stop me.

Boom—!

But I had already reached the Heavenly Demon.

Crack—!

I grabbed her neck.

Without hesitation, I ignited the bet and leaped forward.

But the moment I resolved to prevent the Blood Calamity, my thoughts coalesced.

No matter what, I will kill the Heavenly Demon.

That is precisely what this moment is for.

 

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