637 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

# Chapter 637: White Night The creature bore an uncanny resemblance to Doldol. In particular, the shape of its head was remarkably similar, though its body was different. If Doldol's physique was akin to that of a serpent, then this creature's was more akin to fierce beasts like tigers or lions. Its tail had an unusual blend reminiscent of a snake, creating a hybrid appearance. As I gazed upon this bizarre being, I couldn't help but think of a single word. White. The final color on the scale of demon classification: green, blue, red, and white. It was a presence that hadn't appeared in a significant time, one that even I had never encountered in my past life. "What the hell is that?" The profanity slipped out instinctively upon sight. - Grrrrr--!!! Ahhhhh--!!! The roar was so ferocious it sent shivers throughout my body. Its massive form was covered in white scales, making it appear gigantic, especially compared to the size of multiple red demons clustered together. If they came together as one, just how immense would it truly be? I squinted at the creature with furrowed brows. Crash! Even the slightest movement of its massive body sent shockwaves in all directions. Boom! Icebergs shattered, and the forest was in chaos. History described white demons as calamitous even with their mere breath. This saying seemed all too appropriate. 'When something like that moves, it’s nothing short of a calamity.' The mountain seemed to shift. It might not have been as grand as Tai Mountain, but it sure felt like it. 'Couldn't be.' Where did such a creature emerge from? Crack! Amidst the swirling chill, the creature continued its rampage. "Screech-!" Boom! Its tail whipped around, crushing people. Once it passed, nothing but mangled corpses remained. I expanded my senses and shifted my gaze. 'What about the Demon Gate?' I couldn't be sure if that creature was truly a white-grade demon. But if it had appeared, there should have been a mark indicating the gate had opened. Yet there was no sign of an open gate. This could only mean one thing. 'It was lurking here all along.' Where did it spring from? A creature of that size couldn't have been hidden away easily. 'Is it truly white?' To say otherwise, nothing else seemed to come to mind. Not only had I never seen one in my past life, but such creatures had appeared only a few times across all history. Their numbers were few, yet the aftermath they wrought was anything but small. Noteworthy among them was the volcanic swordsmith Shinchul. When Master Noya dealt with the white demon, the Mist Dragon (Muryeong), it shrouded an entire terrain in fog, transforming it into an impenetrable forest. And the Water Dragon subdued by the Tang Gate spewed forth streams after its demise, turning the area leading to Sichuan into a vast river teeming with demons. Additionally, the burning cliffs en route to Xinjiang were created when the era's unparalleled fighter, the Fist King Yeon Ilcheol, hunted the Great Fire Dragon (Taehwarong). The aftermath left by these creatures was grand enough to alter landscapes, showcasing the formidable nature of white demons. Now that I faced one directly, the reality was even more apparent. 'How in the world did they capture such creatures?' I hadn't realized the magnitude when I merely heard tales of solo hunts against white-grade demons. But witnessing one now left me speechless. So they managed that all alone? Suddenly, Master Noya's feat seemed all the more impressive. But the problem was. 'Tsk.' I didn't have the luxury to dwell on such thoughts. - Rooooar---!! The creature let out a shrill cry, charging towards something. In the chaotic situation, I wondered what it was aiming for. "Damn." As soon as I saw its target, I launched myself into action. Even from afar, it was clear. How could I not know? Amongst the throngs of people, I spotted Namgung Bia. It seemed Dang Soyeol was carrying her on her back. And unfortunately, the creature was heading directly in their direction. - Grrrrr--!!! It closed the distance rapidly, mustering all my strength for a singular punch. Boom! - Grrrrk!? My fist landed squarely on its head. A loud noise erupted as the creature's head jolted. 'Dammit.' However, even as the punch landed, I had to grimace. 'It didn't go through properly.' Feeling the contact with my fist, I realized. The attack hadn't penetrated effectively. Just as red demons did, this creature had some sort of protective barrier encasing its body. That's why the hit didn't fully connect. Then. Whoosh-! “…!” Something approached quickly. It was the creature's tail. Appropriate for its gigantic stature, its tail alone was as formidable as a typical red demon. 'It's fast.' Even with its size, it was surprisingly swift. It was too late to evade. Clench. Urgently summoning power, I erected a wall of energy. Whistle-! Crash-! A force surged from a distance, striking the creature's tail, pushing it aside. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly descended to the ground. As I landed, the one who had deflected the tail approached me. "Your return was a bit rough." It was Lord Pajeon. He had used his powerful energy to rescue me. "…What is going on?" I inquired about the situation without even a word of thanks. Pajeon chuckled, seemingly having expected the question. "What is that?" "Indeed. I was resting peacefully, then… some bizarre creature disrupted everything." "Disrupted?" To say he was awoken and disturbed meant… 'Did that creature attack the hiding place?' Why on earth would a white-grade demon attack there out of the blue? Mystified by the situation, I found myself continually distracted by a lingering sense of foreboding. Though deep down, I already knew the answer. 'Damn.' A heavy presence emanated from the body of that white-grade demon. A presence all too familiar. The reason I had raced here, leaving Woo Hyuk behind, was ultimately due to that heavy, menacing aura. Though I was uncertain how events had reached this point. 'If it was going to die, why couldn't it have done so peacefully?' In truth, I realized things had just gotten a bit more bothersome. Rooooar---!!! The creature bellowed, beginning its movement again. Its deafening roar caused vibrations around us. 'Damn it.' I stifled a curse and scanned my surroundings. Countless individuals were trembling in fear, overwhelmed by the demon's roar. Amidst this chaos, "Young Master!" A soft voice called out, and I turned my head. I saw Dang Soyeol approaching, Namgung Bia strapped on her back. With her eyes closed as if unconscious, she looked to be in a dire state. Seeing this, my brows furrowed, and Dang Soyeol spoke to me with a trembling voice. "Sister…" "What happened?" "She… she defended me." I raised a hand to stop her explanation. "We'll discuss it later." I turned my attention back to the demon. Now wasn't the time for idle chatter. "How's her condition?" Dang Soyeol hesitated briefly at my inquiry before replying. "…She hasn’t suffered any critical injuries. It seems the wounds got worse from being trapped under the debris." "I see." I suppressed the emotions that were threatening to boil over. Colder, and even colder—that was what the situation called for. I immediately asked Paejon, "Did the Sect Leader fall victim?" Did the demon take down the Sect Leader? Was that why it was howling so desperately? To my question, Paejon deliberated for a moment before speaking. "Hmm." Then he offered an ambiguous response. "I couldn't grasp the entire situation. But from what I heard… rather than saying the Sect Leader was taken down," He gestured with his hand toward the creature before us. "They say that the Sect Leader is that thing itself." "What?" I looked at the demon upon hearing his words. What did Paejon just say? 'The demon is the Sect Leader?' It sounded absurd initially. But then it slowly started to make sense. The energy emanating from the roaring demon was reminiscent of Mang's—and furthermore, '…It’s about the body is what it was.' I recalled how the energy Mang possessed was infused into Woo Hyuk. If I considered that the time this energy became palpable coincided with when Mang disappeared— "Tsk." Did that mean this was Mang's original body? But then, what did they mean by calling that the Sect Leader? I didn't understand. But something felt wrong. Gripping my fists, I took a step forward. "Do you plan to capture it?" "Yes." I nodded at Paejon's words. I was contemplating. Given the weary state it seemed wiser to retreat, but— '…It’s unsettling.' In my past life, I’d never seen a white-grade demon. No matter how distant the Northern Sea was, such a significant event couldn't have escaped my notice, especially if it was successfully hunted. I would have heard some information. If not, then it means— 'This is something that got tangled because of blunders I made.' Mang's demise causing the issue to spill over here wasn't unrelated to me. Perhaps I'm partially at fault for this mess. The creature was approaching. Boom! It opened its massive maw wide. Crackle! "Hmm?" I noticed energy building within its mouth and suddenly shivered down my spine. Dangerous. The moment I sensed it instinctively— Whoosh-! I was abruptly grabbed by the collar and lifted into the air. I didn't even have time to react properly. Just as my feet left the ground— KABOOM! An unknown energy spewed from the creature's mouth, scouring the earth below. Crack---!!! The expansive and fast-moving energy flashed past, instantly freezing the ground beneath it. Suspended in the air, I widened my eyes at the sight. "That thing is insane." "That's my line, you fool." Paejon sighed beside me, having moved to my side without notice. "You should’ve dodged immediately. What were you standing around for?" "I reacted as quickly as I could…" Just slightly slower than Paejon, whose reflexive grab sent me airborne, likely saving me. Though, it was ambiguous because its attack was slow enough to dodge. "Sigh…." With a deep sigh, Paejon acknowledged my not-quite-a-defense. "Still, it's clear you intend to catch that thing." He nodded, stretching his body before I asked. "Are you going to help?" "Haha." Paejon laughed as if he couldn't believe my question. "…I've erred by having such a troublesome disciple. But if you insist on diving into danger… what can I do but follow?" Danger. The word was rare from Paejon. It likely meant that even he saw this as a challenging fight. "If that's the case, why not stop me?" Why accompany me rather than trying to prevent me from going? At that, Paejon clicked his tongue loudly, ensuring I could hear every bit. "I know you wouldn't listen to reason. Moreover," He looked at me, speaking reproachfully before softening his expression into a slight smile. "I never taught you to run away, nor do I plan to." "…" It sounded like a noble statement, but his expression didn't suggest such a sentiment. '…Looking at his face, it's like he's enjoying this more than anyone.' The unmistakable exhilaration on his face was the same as when he was about to train me harder than ever. It was slightly terrifying. "Ah, right. And, disciple." "Yes." "Later, explain how that body of yours came to be." With a swift movement, Paejon vanished from sight. "…Haha." I was left alone, chuckling helplessly. He hadn’t mentioned it so far, so I wondered if he hadn't noticed my capabilities. But Paejon had already discerned my heightened state. ‘Cunning old man….’ He's not easily deceived, indeed. Pondering this, just as I was about to charge at the demon— Thud-! Something dropped onto the ground. "Hmm?" I looked down to see a red bead. It must have fallen from my clothing, probably due to my intense movements. My pouch must have been torn. Without bending down, I used my energy to float the bead into the air. Hum-! I examined the bead as it hovered. It looked like just a red bead, but— ‘What was this for… Ah.’ I remembered. Before heading to the Northern Sea, Lady Mi gave this to me. ‘She said to use it in dangerous situations.’ I wasn't told how to use it, only to take it when needed. It might appear as a simple red bead, but it was likely a treasure. The ominous hum it emitted indicated just that. The bead hovered in the air, emitting a faint glow. 'Does it react to energy?' I observed it for a moment before grabbing it and tucking it away in my robe. I followed Paejon, leaping towards the demon. I had no intention of using the artifact. Despite the danger, using it would mean admitting my vulnerability. And the thought of Lady Mi finding out worried me—knowing that I had been in such peril didn't sit well for some reason. So, I resolved not to use it. I was determined not to, yet... I had no idea. I didn't realize that the 'method of using' the bead was so straightforward. Nor had I any inkling of the effects the artifact held. I was completely unaware.