Published at 4th of October 2026 7:49 am

Chapter 1156: The World of Ascension (86)

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The Frontline.

A location relatively close to Shanxi. It was an area where the Magyeong Gate frequently emerged, leading the Martial Alliance to designate it as a danger zone.

To counter this, the Alliance established a frontline branch and enlisted the support of righteous sects and noble families under its jurisdiction, having them take turns defending the frontline.

Among these groups, the families and sects based in Shanxi, due to their proximity, invested significant manpower into the frontline.

And, of course, the Gu Family was included in this effort.

The problem was—

"The Gu Family's involvement in the frontline isn’t just about their agreement with the Alliance."

There was a secret tied to the Gu Family’s presence there.

The reason the Gu Family was deployed to the frontline without fail, generation after generation, was because of an egg buried beneath the protective formation.

An egg—or perhaps...

"A seed."

I recalled Kurung calling it that.

That thing, which looked like an egg, was what Kurung had referred to as a seed.

One of the Gu Family’s tasks was overseeing and guarding it on the frontline.

"An anomaly, huh?"

They had called it a classified mission when assigning me to the frontline.

"An anomaly at the frontline?"

In other words, something had gone wrong there, and I was being sent to check it out.

That made me frown.

"What the hell?"

I tried to recall the circumstances of the frontline around this time.

And then I thought back to the recorded history of the frontline.

"Nothing unusual was reported."

At least, as far as I knew, there were no major incidents recorded.

"Ah."

Then it hit me.

"Could it be that?"

There was one thing I could think of.

"If we're talking about the frontline at this time... it has to be that."

This was before the Martial Alliance had fully taken control and reduced its risk level.

"It was when the Unorthodox Faction was still involved."

The suppression of the Unorthodox Faction hadn’t been fully completed yet, and they still lingered on the frontline, occasionally causing incidents.

Among those incidents, one in particular stood out.

"The emergence of the Four Demonic Emperors."

The Four Demonic Emperors—a group of top-tier martial artists from the Unorthodox Faction, said to be on par with the Righteous Sect Kings.

During my time, they had already begun fading into obscurity, their activities gradually dwindling.

But at this point in history—

They were still at the peak of their notoriety and power.

And if this involved the frontline—

"Then it must be the appearance of the Spear Emperor."

One of the Four Demonic Emperors, the Spear Emperor, had once rampaged across the frontline, leaving behind a legendary tale of destruction.

Was that event happening around this time? I wasn’t entirely sure.

It was a famous incident, but I hadn’t paid enough attention to remember the exact timeline.

"Hmm..."

I wasn’t sure how it could be related to the so-called anomaly.

"But I should keep it in mind."

Just in case.

Rustle.

I tucked the letter I had been holding into my robe.

Would my father really not have seen this?

"This is about the frontline, of all places."

There was no way my father, who had deep ties to the frontline, wouldn’t be aware of this.

It was only natural that he would find it suspicious.

"...I don’t know."

Knowing my father’s personality, there was a chance he truly hadn’t read the letter. I couldn’t be certain.

And on top of that—

"Why me?"

The fact that they had assigned this mission to me, of all people—someone they considered a high-risk individual—was what truly didn’t make sense.

"What are they planning?"

Was this the doing of Azure Dragon Division Commander? Or perhaps the Sword Master?

Just as I was contemplating their intentions—

Creak.

I rose from the chair I had been sitting in.

"I was told to wait, but..."

I couldn’t just sit around idly. I decided to step outside.

More precisely—

"To where Jin Yeonryeong is."

I would go see my grandmother.

**********

Finding her wasn’t difficult.

The Gu Family’s medical ward only had one location.

Proportionate to the size of the family, the building wasn’t particularly large.

Most of the lights had been extinguished throughout the compound, but this was one of the only places still illuminated.

I walked slowly through the hall, heading toward where the physicians gathered.

But then—

"...Hmm."

I spotted a gatekeeper.

Now that I thought about it, getting in wouldn’t be that easy.

"I’m not considered a blood relative."

I was biologically related to them, but in an official capacity, I was no longer recognized as part of the Gu Family’s lineage.

That meant I had no legitimate reason to enter.

I had momentarily forgotten about that.

"...Should I just leave?"

I could sneak in if I really wanted to.

But if I did—

"Grandfather is inside."

That old man would definitely notice.

Not that it would necessarily cause a problem...

"But it would be troublesome."

At the moment, I found it uncomfortable.

Especially because of this subtle sense of unease that kept creeping up on me.

"...Why does he feel so overwhelmingly strong?"

My grandfather was powerful.

Even from our brief exchange, I could tell he was a formidable martial artist.

I wasn’t sure exactly how powerful—

"He may have reached transcendence."

From what he had told me,

He had said that in order to fully master the Nine Flames Firewheel, one had to at least be the Young Lord of the family.

Which meant—

"The Patriarch himself may have reached full mastery."

If he had brought the Nine Flames Firewheel to perfection, then he could have very well transcended as well.

"Just like my father."

The Gu Family’s Patriarch had always been stronger than the world assumed.

The reason was obvious—

It was necessary to act as a stand-in for the true master.

"Hmm."

Should I just turn back?

Even Gu Seongyeol had ordered me to stay put.

"There's no need for me to concern myself with my grandmother right now."

It was a cold thought, but I really had no reason to worry about her at the moment.

With that in mind, I started to turn back—

"Are you planning to leave?"

"...!"

I froze at the voice.

"When?"

Standing before me was the Steward.

I hadn’t noticed him approaching.

Even now—

"Even now, I can barely sense his presence."

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him.

Among the many strange things I NvIight (Original source) had noticed since arriving here, the Steward was one of them.

He looked exactly the same as I remembered.

Even though decades had passed, his appearance hadn’t changed one bit—

Neither younger nor older.

It was unsettling.

This could only mean one thing—

"He’s not human."

The Steward wasn’t human.

He wasn’t a martial artist, nor did he radiate any aura.

"...Hmm."

I stared at him in silence.

He simply smiled and said—

"The night is quite cold. Why don’t you come inside?"

"..."

"I can't go inside right now."

I tried to say that.

But—

"You are fully qualified. Please, enter."

"......."

At the Steward’s words, a chill ran through my chest.

"He knows."

He seemed to be aware that I was part of the Gu Family's bloodline. That was why he spoke of qualifications.

"You—who exactly are you?"

"I am the Steward of the Gu Family."

"Do you know who I am?"

"I do not."

"Then why—"

"I do not know, but I can feel it. Young Master. Please, come inside."

"......."

My eyes narrowed at the words Young Master.

That was a statement made by someone who clearly understood my position.

"...Who the hell are you? What are you?"

How could he, just like the Patriarch, recognize my identity?

When I asked that—

"I apologize."

The Steward lowered his head.

At the same time, the faint smile he had been wearing deepened.

That sight sent a shiver down my spine.

"It is not yet time for you to know, Young Master."

"......."

"I will inform the gatekeepers. You may enter freely."

With that, the Steward turned and re-entered the medical ward.

"......."

I stared at his thin, retreating figure and barely held back a sigh.

"This damn family..."

It was absurd.

Just how many more secrets did I have to dig up before I understood this place?

"I was born in the wrong family."

Seriously.

How much easier would life have been if I had just been born into a normal household?

I let out a dry laugh.

"Well, fine. Let's see where this leads."

With that thought, I stepped inside the medical ward.

Just as the Steward had said—

The gatekeepers did not stop me.

**********

I entered.

Walking past the empty courtyard, I approached the room with the lights on.

There were already people inside.

I reached for the door handle to open it when—

"...Do you really think that’s something you can just say?"

I froze.

It was Jin Yeonryeong’s voice.

It seemed she was awake.

"Madam... that’s not what I meant—"

At the same time, I heard Gu Seongyeol’s voice.

"Huh."

Judging by the atmosphere, things weren’t going well in there either.

"What should I do about this?"

An understandable misunderstanding, but a misunderstanding nonetheless.

"I'm not Grandfather’s son."

Technically speaking, I was my father’s son, not my grandfather’s.

That was why the Bloodline Bead had reacted the way it did.

"Damn it, Elder Il..."

If it weren’t for Gu Ryun stirring up trouble, none of this would have happened.

That old man was sharp, yet somehow always one step off.

"Tch."

I didn’t want this to escalate any further. I needed to find a way to settle things.

Just as I reached to open the door—

Whoosh—!

A presence surged from behind me, making me turn my head.

FWOOSH—!!!

A wave of heat brushed against my face.

"What the—?"

I dodged instinctively and glanced to the side.

Standing there was—

"Did you just dodge that?"

A woman with black hair flowing wildly, her brows furrowed in irritation.

She stared at me, confused.

"Who the hell are you?"

"...And who the hell are you?"

Attacking me out of nowhere?

That was dangerous.

"I almost killed her by reflex."

Judging from her aura, she was just slightly above the Peak Realm.

If I had reacted without thinking—she would have died.

I shifted my stance slightly and repeated my question.

Fwoosh—!!

The woman ignited her flames once again.

Yes—flames.

I tilted my head slightly.

"That’s the Nine Flames Firewheel technique."

What she was using—was undoubtedly Nine Flames Firewheel.

Which meant—she was a Gu Family member.

...Who the hell is she?

Just like with Jin Yeonryeong, I had never seen her before.

As I stared at her with narrowed eyes, filled with confusion—

She pointed to herself with her flame-wreathed hand.

"Me?"

She smirked.

"I'm the daughter of this house."

...What?

The moment my eyes widened in surprise—

FWOOSH—!!!

The flames in her hand erupted toward me.

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