1064 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: The Greatest Martial Artist's Childhood Friend, Chapter 1064 - Northern Rabbit Absorbing the ancestor is a disaster. Those words immobilized me. Disaster. That loathsome and frustrating word. Of all times, do I have to hear it now too? I turned my enlarged eyes in the direction of Elder Shin Noya. What's the meaning of this? I looked to the elder as if seeking answers. Seeing his expression, I realized. Shin Noya was gazing at me with a thin, somber look. Did that expression mean he knew? About this situation? Thump. ‘Ha.’ My heart raced violently. Enduring the pounding sensation, I focused on the ancestor in front of me and asked, “...If I absorb you, it becomes a disaster?” “Yes.” “How does that make sense? How could it...?” “You already have an inkling that it might be possible, don’t you?” “...” I hesitated at the ancestor’s words. “You knew as soon as you heard it. That it might be possible. At the very least, you should have known. Didn’t you?” “...” I had no retort. It was a valid point, one that I couldn’t deny. As soon as I heard it, I vaguely sensed it. No, perhaps I already knew for sure. ‘Ever since the vessel began crumbling.’ Since realizing that the inner world was shaken to its core. From the time I met this being who claimed to be my ancestor. And, ‘Since the moment I was told that I was destined to become a disaster.’ Perhaps, deep down, I already knew this was possible. But all I wanted was to deny it. As always. Crack. I glanced briefly at the cracking sky, then turned back to the ancestor. “That aside.” There’s something that doesn’t make sense. “Why did you beat me up?” What was the reason for attacking me outright? Why didn’t he just say something? When I questioned the reason for the beating, the ancestor answered promptly. “I had to confirm.” “...Confirm? Confirm what?” “To ascertain if you’re a suitable vessel. And to check the state of your flame.” “...You beat me up just for that?” And did it so brutally? It was unbelievable. “Upon confirmation, it was obvious. If delayed any longer, you would die. No...” The ancestor paused, choosing his next words carefully. “Vanish.” “...What’s the difference between dying and vanishing? Aren’t they the same?” “The dissolution of the soul and death are different. Of course, to you, they might seem the same... but that’s not the crucial point right now.” Woosh. The ancestor, while speaking, began to change. The form that mimicked my previous life gradually burned away, leaving only a figure made of pure flame. This sight made my eyes widen slightly. It felt familiar, but from where? As I searched my memory, it didn’t take long to remember. ‘Grandfather.’ That wretched old man who claimed to be my grandfather. The one who swiftly made my flames useless and arrogantly ordered me to find him at Shingang. ‘Human? Could it even be called that?’ The form made of flame looked somewhat human, yet it didn’t feel human at all. An indescribable aura and feeling. The apprehension my Nine Flame Wheel Technique experienced when encountering the old man was still unforgettable. ‘That’s it.’ It resembled that moment. Crackle. As I grimaced at the sight of the burning flame, the ancestor addressed me. “How much do you understand about the secrets of the Gu family?” “...I guess enough to know I’ve had a lot of trouble because of your reckless actions?” “You know well.” “What shamelessness.” I threw in a jibe, but he ignored it effortlessly. It became clear. This guy was indeed a member of the Gu clan. “The sins borne by my blood are numerous, but fundamentally it’s about bearing the karma.” “Karma...?” “Indeed, the distortion of Zhongyuan. Bearing the sins I caused is the karma of the Gu family.” The sin of the ancestor. Was he talking about opening the Demon Gate and wreaking havoc on Zhongyuan? That was one of the truths I learned when I became the young master. Beyond that, what else would we have to bear? Just as questions started to arise, the ancestor spoke, almost as if he'd been waiting. “Descendant.” “What?” “In this world, there must be a master. Do you understand that it’s an absolute law set by the world itself?” I knew. It was a truth I had heard many times. “What’s being discussed here is ‘absolute.’ It means an immutable law. So there’s something we need to consider.” Softly. The ancestor extended his index finger. A flame flickered at its tip. “There is no current master in Zhongyuan. How could the world tolerate that? Do you understand?” “...What?” He suddenly brought up Zhongyuan. There’s no current master in Zhongyuan. True. The master is equivalent to a disaster, and the disaster is said to annihilate all life forms and reconstruct them to become the master. To prevent this, Elder Shin Noya and the heroes once stopped the Blood Demon of the past. That was the reality over centuries of history. “That is correct. The Dragon failed. Whether it was due to failing or intending to fail is questionable. Ultimately, he didn’t achieve it as a result.” “...So what’s the point? What are you getting at?” The Blood Demon failed. My mother intervened. And now, the outcome is that I am destined to be the next disaster. So what is he trying to say? As I began to grow frustrated with his cryptic words, he continued. “Descendant. Do you genuinely believe the world would allow a masterless existence to persist for centuries out of kindness? No. The world is not so benevolent. It abhors distortion more than anything.” “But Zhongyuan remained intact, regardless. It was just fine whether there was a master or not. Isn’t that just okay?” Despite rumors of my mother’s presence, I hadn’t become the master. Even without one, things had been fine. But now he claims the world isn’t gracious. So what on earth was the problem then—. "It's not that it was okay; we've made it okay." I tilted my head at the ancestor's words. It wasn’t okay; we made it okay? "The karmic burden of the Gu family. That’s what this is." "What on earth...?" "A world without a master, a world on the brink of collapse due to that absence; we must bear and prevent its distortion. That is the current duty of the Gu family." "...!" Hearing this, my eyes widened with shock. What on earth was he saying? “...Bearing the distortion?” “A severe punishment laid down by the world. So that no martial artist from Zhongyuan could elevate their realm. Especially that one.” The ancestor’s gaze shifted to Shin Noya. “You know, to prevent individuals like him, or them, from breaking through their limits and elevating their realm, the boundary was lowered, don't you?” “...” That too, I knew. It was something Noya had mentioned. “The Gu family alone stands outside that boundary.” “What...?” This was new to me. Outside the boundary? I thought it was only my father. “Do you know why that is? It’s to bear the burden.” The flames at the ancestor’s feet began to spread slowly. “With a weak realm, one cannot withstand the punishment set by the world. Nor could they temporarily guard the vacant master’s seat in Zhongyuan. That is why the Gu family must be strong.” “That makes no sense to me,” I said, contorting my face as I spoke to the ancestor. “Then what about me?” If the Gu family was excluded from the punishment that the world imposed, and thus became a being for whom increasing one's realm is more feasible, “What about me?” What was I? In my past life, I couldn't have become stronger without the Heavenly Demon’s intervention. As if expecting me to ask, the ancestor responded. “Indeed. You were different.” The ancestor acknowledged this. But, “That’s precisely why you are the anomaly.” “...What?” “Despite being born of Gu’s blood, you are not included in the burden. Yet, you are entwined within the flow of various destinies. This is why you are labeled a disaster.” The ancestor stepped closer, his movements leaving flaming imprints on the ground. “From the moment your mother bore you. Or perhaps from the moment the world sent your mother to Zhongyuan to intertwine with Gu’s blood.” Perhaps from then. No, certainly from then. “You were bound to be like this. The world is not compassionate, so this was undoubtedly inevitable.” “Inevitable?” “The intention is for you to resolve it yourself. Having created the fracture, it was expected you would maintain it yourself and ultimately restore the world using my blood.” The severe punishment imposed on the goblin who desperately wanted to return home. Since the beginning was the Gu family, so too shall the end be with them. That’s what it meant. “...Bullshit.” A curse slipped out. What kind of nonsense was this? “So what are you telling me? Is all this ultimately because of you?” “...I won’t deny it.” “It’s not that you won’t, but you can’t deny it, can you, you bastard.” Snap-! I grabbed the collar of the flame that was left of him. Despite being just flames, surprisingly, they were tangible. Not even hot. Perhaps he let me grab him on purpose? “...Why is everything coming down on me?” I said, gritting my teeth. “I just wanted to live peacefully. No, not even peacefully—just ordinarily. Why does everything fall on me...!” Filled with resentment, I spat out my words, to which the flame replied softly. “...I’m sorry.” “Sorry my ass... Are you really sorry? Is that why you’re telling me to become a disaster?” I've been struggling to avoid becoming that, yet. What? To become a disaster? “I’d rather die than do that. Kill me instead.” Whether it’s vanishing or dying, Just make it so. That would be preferable to becoming a disaster. Thinking this, I was ready to abandon everything until— “If you do not accept, those you have sought to protect will perish by your own hand.” The ancestor’s words infused a lethal fury into my gaze. Is he resorting to threats now? “This guy.” Whether or not it would have any effect didn’t matter. I decided I would end him even if it killed me. Just as I prepared to unleash my wrath, “Therefore, let me help you so that it doesn’t come to that.” I froze at the ancestor’s words. “There is a way for you to become a disaster without reshaping Zhongyuan.” “...” I said nothing, continuing to glare at him with eyes demanding further explanation. The ancestor paused briefly before speaking again. “...The arrangement your mother left with you. The answer lies there.” What came next was unexpectedly a mention of my mother.