The phenomenon where a portal tears through the air and releases monsters is called a Demon Gate (ιε’ι).
How terrifying it is that it produces countless beasts more ferocious than animals, who only crave slaughter.
When the first Demon Gate was discovered, it was undoubtedly a disaster, and it must have felt like the end of humanity was near.
Fortunately, it was discovered within a short period of time that the monsters were weak against the inner strength possessed by martial artists.
Thanks to this, martial artists began to work together to prevent the disaster.
Over time, the number of monsters decreased, and people found stability, but unfortunately, they were unable to completely close the Demon Gates.
Demon Gates still opened in various places in the Central Plains.
After several centuries, by the present day, the management of these Demon Gates had become a primary responsibility of the numerous clans and sects spread across the Central Plains.
The Gu family's sword team is no exception.
This is why the Gu family is known as the guardian of Shanxi.
A Demon Gate closes after releasing a certain number of monsters.
The problem is that the monsters that come out through the Demon Gates are not docile.
Ferocious monsters turn the area into a wasteland and devour all living things they see.
If there happens to be a village nearby, the extent of the casualties would be unimaginable.
Now, after a long time since the first Demon Gate appeared, the education and systems for closing Demon Gates have been established, reducing the risk.
However, there are times when a much larger gate opens with the changing of the seasons.
This gate, which releases monsters that are larger and stronger than ordinary ones, is called a True Demon Gate (ηιε’ι).
The reason the head of the Gu family, Gu Chelun, personally went out was because of this.
The return ceremony for the head of the family, who had just finished the sealing (ε°ι) that began at dusk, was quite modest.
The head of the family's strict rule was that he did not want to be overly praised for doing what was naturally expected of him.
Of course, with all the blood relatives in the Gu family gathered, it was not exactly a simple affair, but for me, it was a time when I couldn't tell if the food was going up my nose or into my mouth.
In the midst of the quiet atmosphere, the first person to speak was Gu Chelun.
"I heard you made progress in your martial arts."
He said this casually while eating, not looking at anyone in particular.
Gu Xibi, the eldest of the head of the family's four children, had long been recognized for her high talent and was already part of the Gu family's sword team. The youngest was currently not in the clan.
It couldn't be me, so there was only one person left.
"Yes, I had a small enlightenment and reached the third star a few days ago."
Gu Yanxu answered with a confident smile, a completely different expression from the one she had when looking at me.
"You're progressing quickly for your age. It's good to see. Keep it up."
"Thank you, Father."
As Gu Yanxu turned her head, our eyes met.
Her cheerful expression instantly turned sour, as if she had seen something she shouldn't have.
'Really, she looks like she saw a bug.'
Gu Yanxu is now fifteen. The Gu family's internal cultivation method is particularly slow to achieve, so reaching the third star at her age is quite remarkable.
It highlights her talent and effort.
It's impressive, but the uncomfortable atmosphere makes my stomach feel even more uneasy, as if I'm about to throw up.
My medicine bag is full of digestive aids I brought during the day.
I'll definitely need to take them after this.
The only somewhat fortunate thing is that I can eat the food I couldn't eat in my previous life, where I was too busy rolling around like a madman.
I picked up a shiny dumpling from the table, which was piled high with food.
"Third one."
...Although I couldn't eat it.
"Yes."
I gently put the dumpling back in its place.
Unlike when he was praising Gu Yanxu, Gu Chelun was looking at me.
Was it just a coincidence?
"I heard you went to the market."
"Yes?"
The market? Is he talking about the first day after I returned?
Not knowing what he meant, I stared blankly, and Gu Chelun just looked at me, waiting for my answer.
"Yes, I went out for a while."
I answered lightly, as I didn't think I had done anything problematic.
If there was a problem, it would be that I met Weixiaoa, but that's my own issue.
"Hmm."
What is it?
After that, Gu Chelun didn't say much, but he seemed to have something he wanted to say. I didn't ask.
Why is he acting like this?
I don't remember him being the type to overthink things.
In the end, Gu Chelun didn't say anything to me.
Before long, the difficult mealtime came to an end.
I tried to eat something, but the subtle gaze made my appetite disappear.
Gu Chelun left first, and Gu Yanxu glared at me for a while before leaving.
I considered eating the remaining dumplings but put down my chopsticks.
The family dinner, which had been held after several years, ended like that.
I quickly drank warm water with digestive powder, hoping it would settle in my stomach.
It seemed to help a bit.
Now, can I just go to bed?
'Ah... I told him to come to my room later.'
I remembered that I had told him to come to the head of the family's room during the day. What could he want?
What was I doing at that time? I've been called to the head of the family's room so many times for causing trouble that it's hard to guess.
I'll just have to steel myself and go. It's probably something I did.
Just as I was mentally preparing myself,
"Master. The head of the family said, 'You don't need to come to the head of the family's room.'"
The servant relayed the message.
In the end, I was left alone at the table, staring blankly at the remaining dumplings.
What is this...?
**************
In my previous life, I yearned for 'freedom.'
I wanted to live a life where every action was driven by my own will, not a life where nothing was.
Although I chose to extend my life by living as a villain, it was definitely the right choice at the time.
But if I had known how much I would regret it, I would have ended my life without hesitation.
However, I couldn't, and as a result, I had to live a life where even death was not my choice.
How much did I regret it?
And how much did I realize?
The days I spent foolishly wanting to become a star without recognizing my talent or making any effort.
The days I tried to express my incompetence through arrogance and anger.
When I realized that such things couldn't hide my filth, it was already too late.
So, when the opportunity I had longed for so much finally came, I couldn't let it go.
I had to live a life different from my previous one.
Or rather, I wanted to.
That's why, after regaining consciousness after the regression, my first thought was:
Can I kill the Heavenly Demon?
It was a hopelessly unrealistic dream, even to me.
How could I kill a monster who had killed the three revered figures whose martial arts were said to be above the heavens and burned down two of the Nine Great Sects?
It was just a fleeting thought.
After all, the Heavenly Demon would die at the hands of Weixiaoa in the future, and the Demon Sect would disappear not long after.
I just wanted to live a peaceful life, and if I could be a little greedy, a slightly prosperous one, just to this extent.
However, I couldn't avoid getting entangled with the Demon Sect in the near future.
Even if I was a half-abandoned child due to my foolishness, I was still of the Gu family's blood.
They treated me that way in the past.
Could I possibly avoid the reach of the Demon Sect, which even the Four Great Clans couldn't withstand?
Would it be okay if I abandoned the clan and ran away? Maybe if I hid in a remote mountain, out of the reach of the Demon Sect...
"...What a fool, thinking about running away even after coming this far."
The thought that came to mind made me shudder.
I wanted to slap myself, but I didn't move, afraid of ruining my composed posture.
I tried to ignore my premature fear and erase the floating thoughts from my mind.
How long had it been since I decided to live a proper life, different from my past, and already started thinking about giving up?
I clenched my lips and steadied my mind.
I don't know how much time had passed, but it was definitely past midnight.
In the center of the room, I sat cross-legged and took a deep breath, filling my lungs with air and then exhaling.
The breath I exhaled contained a faint trace of inner strength.
'What a tiny bit of inner strength...'
The small amount of inner strength I found in my dantian after searching my body like a mouse.
My younger sister reached the third star at such a young age, so there's no better comparison.
To be precise, it means I haven't made any effort at all.
With such a barely perceptible amount of inner strength, there's not much I can do.
'But it's not impossible, even if it's much smaller than expected.'
There's not much I can do, but it's not nothing.
The Gu family's internal cultivation method, the Gu Yan Huo Lun Gong (δΏ±ηη«θΌͺε), is based on fire cultivation.
It's similar to the Sammae Shin Fire (δΈζ§η₯η«), which uses a massive amount of inner strength to create fire, but the essence is different.
The method, built up slowly and firmly in the body, blooms when the time is right.
The red, flickering inner strength of the Gu Yan Huo Lun Gong, which successfully blossoms after long cultivation, resembles burning flames.
For example, Gu Chelun's nickname is 'Tiger Hero' because his movements, surrounded by flickering flames, resemble a tiger, and he punishes evil with such power.
Similarly, Gu Yanxu, who will later be called the 'Flame Sword,' has inner strength that resembles flames surrounding her sword.
I, too, have a small amount of the Gu Yan Huo Lun Gong in my body.
One can emit a small amount of red inner strength at the fourth star and cover the entire body at the seventh star.
I'm currently at the first star.
Compared to Gu Yanxu and Gu Chelun, who is at least at the seventh star, I am utterly insignificant.
The reason I'm doing this futile work at night is not only because of my young body.
Because I cultivated it immaturely, I need to gather the energy that has spread throughout my body before it's too late, to ascend to the second star.
Although I left behind the greedy desires for martial arts in my previous life,
I needed to cultivate strength to survive.
The life of a villain was something I didn't even want to imagine, but paradoxically, I'm using the enlightenment of martial arts I gained then.
The problem is...
"...If I keep trying, I might really go mad."
I carefully used the small amount of inner strength I had, sweeping through the meridians in my body and gathering the inner strength that was about to disappear.
It was not an easy task.
Not only did it require concentration, but using such a small amount of inner strength was extremely difficult.
After a long time of using my senses finely, my back was already drenched in cold sweat.
Even reaching this point is impressive, but if I try to do more with such a small amount of inner strength, I might really go into a state of madness.
"...Phew."
I exhaled after finishing the arduous task.
After sighing, a satisfied smile appeared on my face.
It was disappointing that I couldn't do more, but it wasn't without results.
"The inner strength seems to have increased a little, and I can feel a slight warmth in my body."
This is evidence that I have ascended to the second star.
Thanks to the large amount of energy that was scattered throughout my body due to my inability to properly cultivate the method.
"Is it really true that my incompetence led to this?"
Although it had been several hours since I started cultivating the method, I felt refreshed because I had successfully ascended to the second star.
"If I keep solving one problem at a time, I'll achieve something."
I couldn't wash my sweat-soaked body, so I finished a light cleansing, changed my clothes, and lay down on the bed.
I thought it was a good start.
'Let's keep going like this...'
One step at a time, but not too slowly.
I will endure and eventually overcome.
For a life different from my previous one, only for that.
'Let's not do anything reckless that might affect the future.'
Let's live quietly until everything is resolved.
At least until the Heavenly Demon dies, I plan to keep my mouth shut and live quietly.