629 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Cheonhajeil-in’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 629 > North Rabbit - Web Novel Archive 〈 Chapter 629 〉 Nine. And Three. Hoooo-! The corridor was filled with an overwhelming chill. Crack-! The sound of the palace collapsing due to the violent clash echoed around. Despite the serenity, a small sound reverberated within. Snap. At some point, that sound stopped. A silence descended. All noises suddenly vanished. Even the raging chill couldn't be felt anymore. Yet, I wasn't flustered by this. I merely stood still, staring at the woman captured in my grasp. Blood was streaming from the corners of her mouth. Her eyes, showing only the whites, indicated she had lost consciousness. Despite this appearance, which clearly suggested she was out cold, [How did you know?] She was speaking to me. What's peculiar is that it wasn't the gentle voice of a woman, But a deep, male voice that resonated. Upon hearing the voice, a smirk played on my lips. “Ah, yes. Nice to see you too.” [...] My greeting left him silent momentarily. His expression was rigid, making it hard to discern his thoughts, but I didn't mind. A few seconds passed. [I will ask again.] He posed another question to me. [Ninth trueblood.] [How did you know I was residing within the Apostle's body? I asked.] ‘Hmm.’ Hearing this, I slightly furrowed my brows. Two pieces of information were revealed in that short statement. Apostle. Ninth trueblood. I forcibly suppressed a rising smile. And then I spoke to him. “An Apostle, huh…. So, this girl is your Apostle?” [Haha-.] A brief chuckle escaped him. [I know you're not surprised, yet you pretend with such amusing theatrics.] Oh dear, seems I was found out. Indeed. As he pointed out, I wasn't particularly shocked. Through many trials in my life, I'd grown immune to surprises of this nature. Moreover. I had somewhat anticipated this, so it didn't faze me more. ‘I didn't know about Apostles or anything related to the number nine, though.’ The only thing I had guessed was that something existed within Yoosun’s body. I had sensed its relation to Bingjeong, yet Other information was beyond me. [Do you not intend to answer my question?] I nodded slightly at the inquiry. Quite impatient, isn’t he? “It wasn’t really a profound mystery.” After all, it wasn’t difficult to find out. Purely for a simple reason. It was this: "This girl." Yoosun was, “Not fit to be a subject.” Far too weak to become a dragon. [Subject?] “Yes. Not fit to be a subject." Though it may not be my place to say, Yoosun lacks too much to be called a dragon. That was my first suspicion. In the past, I might not have realized, But after fighting alongside and against her several times, I came to understand. I don’t know the principle behind the power or its effect, But Yoosun, with her ability, was formidable. It’s just that the level without it was vastly different. ‘…Not bad, but not so strong.’ She wasn’t extraordinarily powerful. Oh, sure. Considering her age, she’s formidable. But I am merely comparing her to myself. She had indeed reached Hwagyeong, but compared to dragons—beings beyond imagination—she was lacking. Without her power, she was no different than a typical martial artist. It seemed strange to consider Hwagyeong as ordinary martial arts, but that's how it was. She’s too frail to be called a dragon. I confirmed this during the recent battle. ‘She’s unfit to be a dragon.’ Although Yoosun possessed exceptional human talents, It seemed unlikely she had the qualifications to become a dragon on her own. That's what spurred my thoughts. How did Yoosun surpass the hurdle to become a dragon? The reason she transformed into a dragon. And Even as she is called a trueblood, why does Yoosun not qualify as one? I sought to know these answers. When my greed swallowed his power briefly, It was then I realized one thing. ‘There’s something inside.’ Yoosun harbors something. Like me. What could it be? What exactly is she harboring? What is it that creates such a subtle yet distinct presence? The one thing certain was, ‘That’s what made this girl become a dragon.’ And with that certainty, I didn't hesitate long. I recognized the familiar energy due to my own insatiable greed. It wasn’t hard to figure out something I had just encountered elsewhere. Bingjeong (Ice Spirit). There was a sense of Bingjeong’s energy within Yoosun. Though it wasn’t bizarre. After all, being a bloodline of the Ice Palace, it’s only natural to possess an icy aura. As the palace lord mentioned, ‘The curse of the Bingjeong is inherent in the bloodline, so it’s natural to have such an aura.’ But what was sensed from Yoosun felt different. It was more twisted. More profound. What was it then? I had been so curious, but “Seeing you like this is unexpected.” […Huh.] Approaching with some (!) assertiveness, I luckily managed to meet him. “What should I call you? Bingjeong? Would that suffice?” […Titles are irrelevant. That’s not the point.] Crack-! “…!” Kwaaaa--!! An ice spike erupted from the ground. I barely managed to evade by quickly retreating. Fwoom fwoom-! The spike pierced through the ceiling, creating a barrier. “What’s this about?” [Talking from this distance seems too close.] Crack. Yoonseon's body, which had been speaking, started to transform. Her twisted form was forcibly regenerating. The torn skin was mending. The broken bones were repairing. It was a terribly crude sight. [It's good to finally meet you, Ninth. I am the third trueblood.] Crack. Even the collapsed upper body was completely restored. [I am called Mang (望).] ‘Mang.’ Hearing his words, I recalled when Yoosun used her power. -Mang…! It seemed like she always muttered something when using it. Turns out, that was its name. Moreover, ‘The third trueblood.’ The fact that he calls me the ninth and assigns an order to himself means... “Does that mean there are seven more besides you?” Excluding Yoosun, as she wasn't considered a trueblood, It implied there were more beings called trueblood. Upon asking this, the being called Mang replied: [There used to be. Long ago.] He confirmed with a past-tense answer. Long ago, indeed. “So, they’re not around anymore?” [Haha.] Mang chuckled briefly. [No, not unless you count one… Oh, now it’s two.] The fact that the number increased to two meant he included me. Who was the other one? Additionally, ‘There were eight truebloods. Seven disappeared, leaving only one.’ That seemed to be the story. This ancient history was secondary, though. Right now, those details weren't the priority. The one claiming to be Mang, facing me directly. This guy. ‘He isn’t a Blood Demon.’ I knew this because I’d encountered a Blood Demon before. Though the aura seemed similar, something was fundamentally different. The problem was, ‘They said the Bingjeong was left behind by the Blood Demon.’ The creature they referred to as Yongje, I believed it was the Blood Demon. It was said that the start of the harsh winter was marked by the Blood Demon leaving the Bingjeong in the North Sea. Yet, If this guy isn’t a Blood Demon himself, ‘What is going on here?’ It was undeniably a perplexing situation. “What are you? What are you doing in her body? And, what are truebloods?” The ninth trueblood. In a situation where I didn’t even fully understand what a dragon was, truebloods were even more of a mystery. ‘According to the palace lord, they were dragons that broke through their limitations.’ Such ambiguous words. The implication that besides me, only eight others had undergone such a transformation. When asked with this meaning in mind, [Strange, ninth one. You seem to be mistaken.] Mang spoke to me. [Why should I feel compelled to answer your questions?] He indicated he had no intention of answering my questions. Hearing this, I couldn’t help but smirk. “Quite prickly, aren’t you? You could spare a bit of information.” [Do you think I am favorably inclined towards you?] “Well, since we’re apparently of the same ilk as truebloods or whatever, we could help each other out.” As I spoke, I examined the ice barrier in front of me. Could I break it? I was considering giving it a try. At that moment, [The same? That’s nonsensical.] Mang continued speaking to me. His voice was laden with an indescribable chill. [You are a distortion. An existence that was never meant to be.] His words made me frown. An existence that shouldn’t be? “What do you mean by that?” [We were always meant to be eight. That was a rule dictated by the world.] A predetermined number of eight. It was as if it were a rule. An incomprehensible thing. “Yet, you say seven are already dead. Wouldn’t it make sense for the number to be replenished?” [Ha.] Mang's laughter was filled with disbelief at my response. [The mere fact that you cannot comprehend this proves you are a distortion.] This time, I didn’t respond. Instead of replying, I assumed a stance and threw a punch. My chi-charged fist struck the barrier. Bang—! Crack—!! As my fist hit the barrier, cracks appeared, and fragments flew off. With four or five more punches, it would crumble. […Truly violent indeed.] “Keep talking. I’ll do what I have to.” This wasn’t a threat. It was simply something I intended to do. “So, what do you suggest I do?” I clenched my fist once more. “If you’re not going to tell me what I am, then stay quiet.” I wasn’t frustrated or annoyed like before, questioning why no one would tell me. If not, then so be it. “I’ll figure it out myself.” No matter how cruel or brutal it may be, I was ready to do whatever it took. Boom---!! The barrier shook violently. With my fist embedded deeply, the crack expanded. One more time. I decided to hit it harder this time. As I gathered more power for the next punch, [Stop.] Mang's words made me pause as I looked at him. “Do you have something to say?” Was he finally intending to provide answers? Tilting my head, I gazed at him. […Desist from unnecessary actions. We need not be enemies.] “Still not an answer.” Ignoring his irrelevant words, I swung my fist again. Boom--!!! The tremors were more intense than before, resonating down the corridor. Watching the flying debris, I glanced sideways. ‘No retaliation.’ Even after this much, there was no retaliation. What could this mean? Was I deemed unworthy of a response? Or, ‘Is it because there’s an inability to retaliate?’ That might be possible. ‘Whatever.' I’ll find out if I keep hitting it. I intended to use soul-infused power and touched my spirit. Wooosh-! Feeling the uncomfortable vibration from my soul, I prepared to strike the barrier again. […We share the same enemy.] I halted. Mang's words finally stopped my actions. “Keep talking. I’m listening.” [...] While maintaining power, I stayed prepared to break the barrier at any time. […Do you not intend to oppose the so-called Yongje?] An intriguing statement. By saying this, he implied that Yongje was not himself while also acknowledging That I intended to face the Blood Demon after departing from Cheonma. It also subtly revealed that the Blood Demon was his enemy as well. Assuming Yongje was indeed the Blood Demon. I carefully inquired, “Yongje? They say he left you here. What is your relationship with him?” [...] Silence ensued. Noticing this, I shifted my elbow slightly. [The reason the truebloods reduced from eight to seven is because of him.] “Oh.” Finally, valuable information emerged. The reason for the reduction in the number of dragons termed truebloods. It was due to the Blood Demon? “Explain. What do you mean?” [He consumed other truebloods to satisfy his greed.] I frowned. Which meant, ‘The Blood Demon was also one of the truebloods.’ A being that first appeared as a calamity in Zhongyuan. And for centuries, has been plotting and hiding within the Martial Alliance. Moreover, the Blood Demon was another dragon who had instilled his blood energy within me. He. ‘He devoured other truebloods?’ On top of that, he had embedded the will of a being called Mang here. Why would he do that? ‘That's not the heart of the Yongje.’ Although it was filled with an overwhelming aura, It possessed such immense power that it was impossible to discern what lay within. Its essence was fundamentally different from the Blood Demon’s power. So, whose energy could it possibly be? The question that arose while handling the Bingjeong was answered by observing Mang. ‘It was all this guy’s power.’ Inside the Bingjeong was the energy of Mang. I didn’t know why the Blood Demon had left it here, but I was sure it was not his energy. Judging this, I inquired further. “Why do you think we share the same enemy?” [It's simple….] He spoke. [Yongje intends to consume all truebloods, so he will come to you too. Hence, Yongje is also your enemy.] It was indeed a straightforward reason. However, it somehow resonated with a distant echo. “Why? Why is he consuming other truebloods?” Dragons were known to be prideful. It's said they harbor hostility towards their kin. Thus, it wouldn't be surprising for them to clash with each other. But since he specifically mentioned “truebloods,” There must be another motive. [It’s to increase his strength. To achieve what he desires…. He needs power.] “What does he desire?” [...I cannot say.] Boom-! […!!] The barrier crumbled under my punch. Just one more strike. With just one more, the entire barrier would fall. “Then keep your mouth shut.” [Truly, you are a tenacious one.] “Life has not been kind, so I’m rather impatient.” [I clearly stated, there’s no need for us to fight like this...] “If you want to act as an ally, you should at least provide proper information. Otherwise, it only seems like you want to fight.” I'm sick of half-hearted statements. If there was no cooperation, removal was the best option. ‘Besides,’ I thought as I looked at Mang. ‘I don’t really feel like trusting this guy either.’ Even as I listened to the info he shared about the Blood Demon and snippets about being the ninth and the third trueblood, I wasn't particularly attached to it. Hearing information about the Blood Demon wasn’t bad. Gleaning a vague understanding about the truebloods wasn’t bad either. But, ‘Something feels off.’ If it were urgent, he’d have offered information on his own, but he didn’t seem desperate at all. Though he seemed inclined to coax me, it wasn’t very potent. He seemed to have an ulterior motive. And realizing this made my initial curiosity vanish. ‘Annoying.’ It was tiresome. Repeating these trivial questions over and over. So I decided to keep it simple. Yes, the simplest way. “If I beat you enough, perhaps something sensible will come out.” I would make him speak until he did. That usually resolved matters. Hooo-! I enveloped my fist with a strong aura to deliver the final blow. [You truly refuse to listen.] Crack—!! “…!” In an instant, a gust of wind forced me to leap back quickly. The immense chill was incomparable to anything Yoosun released. After creating some distance, I gazed at him. [Just as you are intrigued by me, I too am intrigued by you.] Mang, still in Yoosun's form, began speaking as he looked at me. [A trueblood born out of defying the rules. And possessing power that devours authority. How could I not be intrigued?] “I must be quite unusual?” [Not just unusual. You have power far beyond comprehension. It seems as if…] Mang, still in Yoosun’s visage, pointed a finger at me. [It seems you were chosen to stop the Yongje.] The power to face another dragon, something beyond human capability. The meaning behind those words was so clear that it made me laugh. If it was really what he said, ‘What does it want from me?’ What does this world want of me? If the Blood Demon—a calamity brought by the world—survived and tried to rise again, The world would likely support stopping him, wouldn’t it? [I will tear out his throat.] [After devouring me, he stomped on my heart and abandoned me in such a place. I will find him and exact retribution no matter what.] Mang’s words were imbued with rage. [So, I can ally with you. It means we can help each other achieve our goals.] “You called me a deviation from the rules. Can you really ally with someone like that?” [Even so, the fact remains that you are a trueblood.] His pointing gesture shifted. It seemed as though he was extending a hand. [Ninth one. Join hands with me so we can overcome Yongje.] “Hm.” I feigned a contemplative expression. Join hands? “You’re sealed in the Bingjeong. How do you propose we work together?” It was an inquiry laden with skepticism. To which he replied. [Yongje made a mistake when he left me here.] Mang assured me in a nonchalant manner. “What mistake?” [He thought he sealed fragments of my body and energy, but he didn’t realize…] [There’s always an opportunity to restore power.] Hearing Mang’s words, I frowned. His body and energy, split and sealed. That made me realize. ‘So that’s why.’ So that was the reason for the overwhelming energy sensed from the Bingjeong. Moreover, this was something I’d heard before. The past hero from Shaolin, Cheolyeong, had told me. ‘They said they tore apart the Blood Demon’s senses and sealed them along with his body and energy.’ It felt remarkably similar. Could it be a coincidence? ‘It may or may not be.’ It could merely be a similar occurrence. Or perhaps, it’s another tangled affair. However, there was something else troubling me. Something rather significant. I turned to Mang and asked. “The Bingjeong here is said to fend off the harsh winter, while the other half causes it.” This was something I’d heard from the palace lord. It was said that the two divided Bingjeongs performed opposing roles. To maintain this balance, the palace lord was sacrificing her life force. At this moment, The notion that this guy had been biding his time to recover his energy Resonated with profound irritation. “Is that something you orchestrated?” [Hmm?] Mang tilted his head curiously at the question. [That seems like a peculiar thing to say.] It was as if he questioned why I would ask something so strange. [Of course, it was necessary for recovering my strength.] “...” I wiped any expression off my face as I digested his words. This meant that the harsh winter unleashed by the Bingjeong, and The life force that the Ice Palace bloodline had been drained of to fend it off, Were all intentional moves on his part. [His greatest mistake was allowing that.] Mang chuckled. [Perhaps he intended to return and reclaim it once I was fully restored, but he surely didn't foresee being sealed. It granted me the time I needed to recover.] [There's not much time left until my revival. So, join forces with me, and we can...] “No need.” [Hm?] I shook my head. Hearing this much was enough. [Ninth...] “I’ve heard enough. I wasn’t planning on collaborating with you in the first place.” Upon hearing the situation, my stance only grew firmer. “It seems like you’re quite the bothersome entity. I dislike you even more now. Get lost.” [Ha.] Mang let out a dry laugh. [Really, must it come to...] He paused mid-sentence. [What are you doing...] It was likely because he'd noticed my actions. Fwoooosh--!! Heat began to amass around me. I conjured a flame orb above my hand, rotating it towards my target. However, my gaze wasn’t fixed on Mang in Yoosun’s body. It was on the seemingly empty ground. But it wasn’t truly empty. From far beneath the earth, an enormous energy was pulsing. That must be it. The location of the Bingjeong. [You can’t be serious-!] Mang reacted with a rough edge, seemingly realizing my intent. I met his gaze with a sly smile. “I’m coming to meet you now.” With that, I hurled the flame orb, charged with blazing heat, into the ground. Kuaaaa--!!! An explosion erupted, and a massive crater appeared in the earth.