1316 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

This place was a world made to tremble by the power of the Blood Demon. As for why the Blood Demon had cast me - more precisely, us - into this place, it was about understanding the reasons behind it. Then. "So, it's about reclaiming his five senses." My mother spoke of stripping and absorbing the master's power, while I focused on the senses. The term was familiar, having heard it many times before. "…The Blood Demon shed all his senses and scattered them to the heavens." It was something a consciousness I encountered at the Shaolin Temple once told me. Passing through that moment, I felt as if I was on the cusp of understanding something pivotal. This was clearly not an issue to let slip by. "…Reclaiming the senses. How is it possible to reclaim them? Are the senses hidden in this land like objects?" Of course not. It was merely a question of curiosity. "Similar." "What…?" Similar? I looked on incredulously. Could it really be so? As I pondered this. "Just not objects," my father continued. So, they weren't objects? "If not objects, then what…?" "They're embodied in people." "…!" My eyes widened in realization. "The senses the Blood Demon seeks don't reside in objects but within the people who were cast into this place." "…What…" I gritted my teeth upon learning that sometimes humans carried these senses. It was something I had anticipated for a while. "The senses are embodied in humans?" "Yes." "…Not everyone, then. Someone specific holds them?" "Correct." This much was accurate. So, then. "Who is it?" "…" The question of who possesses the senses or, more precisely, how many people possess them lay unsaid. My father's eyes narrowed, deep in thought. Or rather, not thinking, but precisely— 'A dilemma.' Contemplating whether or not to speak. Or deciding whether he could even speak. Whoosh—! A strong wind blew. It wasn't just any wind. A subtle sensation tingled, making me momentarily breathless. 'The master's presence.' The wind carried that energy, and if I could feel the master's presence here… 'Muah.' It was like the will of the tree being revealed. In that moment. "The daughter of the Tang family." "…." My father spoke to me, and my eyes narrowed sharply. Was the hesitation just now waiting for permission? It seemed likely. 'Here, one can escape restrictions.' Which means… 'Permission from Muah is necessary to break free.' It was an apt judgment. "…If it's the daughter of the Tang family, you mean the Poison Phoenix?" "Exactly." "…." The Poison Phoenix. So she holds the Blood Demon's senses? How? 'Is that why the Sword Queen sought the Poison Phoenix?' If that's the case, it's correct to assume the Sword Queen was following the Blood Demon's orders. 'If what my father says is true.' I steeled my gaze. the Poison Phoenix holds the Blood Demon's senses. While I was pondering that thought. "So, now tell me." My father looked at me and asked. "Just who are you?" "…Pardon?" "Didn't you find anything odd?" With a hardened gaze, my father said, "You didn't react when I mentioned the Blood Demon. Instead, you focused on something else." "…!" "That's proof you already know of the Blood Demon's existence." 'Oh, damn.' I clicked my tongue inwardly. In sharing the story, I skipped a crucial part. I should have been surprised upon hearing of the Blood Demon. But being so familiar with him, I couldn't properly react. And that sharp observation didn't escape my father. "Who are you?" "…." "I need to know about you." "Do I really have to explain?" "Don't want to talk?" "It seems so." I felt it unnecessary to explain. I just wanted to avoid it if possible. Whoosh. "If it's not convincing, I can't trust a word you say." 'Really?' His combat stance was instantaneous. I frowned at my father's genuine readiness. "I am the illegitimate child of the late Gu Family Head…" "Spare me the nonsense." "Why don't you believe me?" He claims to not remember, yet immediately dismisses it. I looked on incredulously. "Your expression is riddled with lies." "…." The words stabbed me like a dagger. Damn it. 'I really need to work on my face.' Upon hearing that everything shows, I bit my lip hard. It really wasn't helpful. "…Phew." I brushed back my hair. What now? Should I just fight? No, it's not fighting; it would be escaping. I thought of running away, but it wouldn't be as easy as it sounded. 'If I run to the Dark King.' Maybe it's possible. I considered, but… 'My father's flames render powers useless.' Escaping didn't seem feasible. Using Muah for leverage wasn't an option either. 'The distance.' Considering the location is somewhat far, and my father's speed… 'I have a bad feeling.' The chances of success were incredibly slim. In other words. 'I'm screwed.' Fighting here would solely be to my disadvantage. Was there anything I could say to make him understand? I pondered. But thinking didn't always help. His face indicated he wouldn't accept anything I said. "…." So I just blurted it out. "I'm from the future." "What?" My father froze at my words. "I said, I'm from the future. I've returned to the past." "…Nonsense—" He looked ready to dismiss my words as rubbish but hesitated, seeing my expression. What was that reaction? "…Is it true?" "…Why do you believe this?" "Your expression has no deceit." No way. Is there something genuine in my face? Otherwise, this reaction made no sense. As I watched in disbelief. "If you're from the future, does that mean you knew about this situation?" "No, it's my first time." "…." "This isn't an easy predicament to foresee." "Explain it to me." "I can't." "What?" "I'm bound by a restriction." "…." The omnipotent restriction theory. My statement wasn't entirely false, given the circumstances that prevented me from fully divulging information. I maintained as neutral an expression as possible. At my response, my father glanced over. "…The future." His gaze turned back to my mother, who was bound by the tree's will. Was I lucky that this explanation seemed to work? It felt puzzling why this explanation sufficed, but my father seemed deep in thought. Pondering deeply over something, he suddenly furrowed his brow. "Hmm." He wrinkled his nose, a sign he was making a decision. "It's time." I instinctively clutched my chest. What was happening? "What's going on?" "I will retrieve something." "What? What are you retrieving?" "…I hope your words are not lies." "Wait, retrieve what…? Sir?" "The Sword Queen is looking for me. I can't delay any longer." "…!" With that, my father's finger sparked with something akin to a gray flame. "Let's meet in five days," he said, flicking the flame lightly. As if sending a flicker of fire my way. Tsk—! "…Huh?" "…?" The spark that came toward me extinguished right in front of my face, seemingly ready to seep into me. What just happened? Caught in this unexpected moment, my father looked at me in bewilderment. "…You already have it?" "Pardon?" "You already… possess the flame. How is that possible?" "Oh." His words, spoken with a hint of confusion, made me grasp the situation. ‘Could it be.’ I recalled the time before when I met my actual father, who had passed something like a flame to me then. I couldn’t believe that was the issue. "…This is perplexing." After inspecting my state, my father stood silent for a moment. I watched him, not knowing what to say. "…I'll come back. I must go now." Showing that time was indeed pressing, he turned his back on me and disappeared, engulfed in the flames. "…Hmm." Rubbing my cheek, I saw him off. So, things just proceeded like this. '…Blood Demon and senses, huh.' He left behind nothing but maddening information. Was it fortunate we didn't fight? I suppose so. 'In five days.' If he comes back then, what should I discuss with him? It was still unclear. 'Damn.' The situation just grew more complicated. As I pondered this— "Papa...?" A small voice sounded from behind. It was Toly. He must have thought the conversation was over and had come out to see me. "Oh." Right, you were here too. "Where did you come from…." How did you get here? I was about to ask when— Whoosh! Toly suddenly rushed over and hugged me. Oh, geez. As he barreled into me, his head slammed into my solar plexus, almost making me gag. "This little rascal… Easy there—" About to scold him, I felt something trembling within his body. It was Toly, quietly sobbing like before. "…." Sensing this, I was left awkwardly silent. It was hard to reprimand him when he was crying like this. So I cautiously reached out to pat his head. Swish. As my hand brushed against his black hair… Zap—! "…Ugh!?" Suddenly, it was as if electricity surged from my fingertips throughout my body. Startled, I pulled my hand back. "Hey, what the! Oh?" The world came to a standstill. Time froze, and my vision began to turn white. Oh, could it be? - Took longer than expected. "…." A familiar voice made me turn. "…Ancestor." The Goblin known as the Gu Ancestor was gazing at me. Strangely, there was a profoundly sad expression on his face.