646 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: **The Heavenly World's Finest Friend - Chapter 646: The Northern Hare** Chapter 646: Cold When I opened my eyes again, it was a cold night. The artificial daylight created by my father had vanished, and the moon had risen once more. The biting cold was as relentless as ever, and I could feel it intensifying. While there was no snow, the chill was becoming more fierce. Amid the discomforting sensation, a voice managed to reach me. "Biyoe-gun--!!" It was the roar of the Black Lion. My gaze instinctively turned. The Black Lion had gently laid down the princess he was supporting and was directing his unique, piercing glance somewhere. Following his gaze, I saw Woo-hyuk collapsed on the ground. We were just having a conversation, weren't we? 'Did he just faint like that?' I was about to ask what had happened, but seeing his condition now, it was impossible. 'What on earth?' Clutching my groggy head, I tried to figure out the situation. That recent encounter couldn't have been an illusion, so I needed to confirm things properly. 'It was definitely Namgoong Myung.' Whether he was lying or not was uncertain, but it seemed pointless to doubt now. For now, it was appropriate to hypothesize that he truly was Namgoong Myung. Gathering the information was necessary. I recalled Namgoong Myung's words. - All creatures will bow their heads before you. That was the first piece of information. The reason I and other destined possessors can use sacred beasts, including Nea, is because of 'the Dragon.' However, forcefully using them to follow, as Namgoong Myung claimed, was another story. Although I could wield Nea, making them follow me like Guijeong was different. Namgoong Myung had been confident because of this. - You are a reincarnation. That I am the reincarnation of Shin Nouya—such were his words. 'That's some ghost-babble, for sure.' How could that even be possible? Despite hearing it, I couldn't comprehend. Even if Guijeong followed me naturally because of that, it wasn't easy to believe. Only more questions remained. 'Why me, of all people?' I am not even a disciple of Hwasan, let alone from a common faction—just a member of the Gu family. If I was supposedly the reincarnation of Nouya, it would be an utterly incomprehensible situation for me. Hwasan's Celestial Sword. And the peerless sword of the Central Plains. If I really was the reincarnation of such an outstanding individual... 'Damn it, I should have received something, right?' I should have been born as exceptionally as that. Although I've raised my level by devouring all sorts of opportunities, in the previous life, I was far from it. Moreover, how about the difference in beliefs with Nouya that Namgoong Myung mentioned? 'Live for the world? That's a laugh.' Perhaps live for myself. I possessed a mindset entirely opposite from that. Even if I am supposedly a reincarnation, I don't resemble any important aspect; yet, I am expected to naively believe it? '...Besides, it's odd that Nouya didn't know.' It's baffling that Nouya, who directly handed Guijeong to me, didn’t realize it when Namgoong Myung recognized me at once. 'In the end, maybe I need to ask Nouya in person, or perhaps inquire Namgoong Myung again.' It was too burdensome to contemplate alone. 'Even if I truly am Nouya's reincarnation.' Would it occupy such a crucial part of my life? It was just a bit surprising, but it didn't really resonate with me. After all, I have my own consciousness and no memories of living as Nouya centuries ago. Should it concern me? It's hard to say. Burdensome and cumbersome. That's all that seemed to linger within me right now. This was something unavoidable. 'Even if it’s true or not, I have to do it anyway.' The tasks before me included matters both related and unrelated to Nouya’s affairs, and I intended to undertake them regardless. Being in such a circumstance, it didn’t matter what I became. 'What's more important right now.' The latter part of Namgoong Myung's words held greater significance. - Seek out Xingang. He pressed my forehead and said those words. I realized that Namgoong Myung's brain energy had seeped inside me at that moment. 'Why did he tell me to go to Xingang?' Where is Xingang? It lies far west from Hanam, beyond reach. 'That’s the region where the Demonic Sect was located in my past life.' It was where the church founded by the Heavenly Demon, known as the Demonic Church, was situated. Called a sanctuary by its believers, it was esteemed as a sacred place, while to me, it had become a sort of hell. 'Why ask me to go to such a place?' What could possibly be in Xingang that prompted him to direct me there? From what I remember, it's a stronghold similar to the fronts the Gu family manages, turned to ruins by the appearance of the Demonic Doors.... 'Ah?' While thinking it over, something surfaced. Now that I think of it. 'If it were Xingang when the Demonic Doors erupted...?' In my previous life, the area had been where the Demonic Sect resided, but during Nouya and others' activities... 'It was also where the Blood Cult was.' Just like the sect founded by the Heavenly Demon, there was the Blood Cult created by the Blood Demon in Xingang as well. 'How didn’t I consider this?' Was it because it was such a distant past? It felt increasingly ominous now that I was thinking about it. 'Is there something in Xingang?' Why did both the Blood Demon and Heavenly Demon establish their bases there? It felt uneasy to chalk it up to coincidence. Was it Namgoong Myung specifically directing me to Xingang that made it stick out? 'Whatever it is, I have to go.' It was a place I had thought of visiting someday. I hadn't chosen it simply due to a lack of time or pretext. If the timing coincided with significant business, there wouldn't be any issue. 'Now that I’ve sorted this out… What's left is...' Perhaps the most crucial point, the last words. - Be cautious of Yon Ilchun. "..." A fellow regressor like me, once the world's finest martial artist, and the one who led the superhumans of that era, including Nouya. The Golden Heavens Almighty King, Yon Ilchun. Why did Namgoong Myung mention him and warn me to be cautious? 'Wasn't this person already gone?' I held no fond feelings towards him. When I confronted a remnant of him in the Secret Dragon Pavilion's vault—without Nouya's help, Yon Ilchun would have killed me there. He had previously judged and labeled me a harbinger of doom. He declared I'd bring about the world's end. He was convinced of such, undoubtedly asserting it back then. "But... it feels like things are heading exactly as he predicted." If his words had been nonsense, that would be one thing. Yet this series of events and the fact that my body was no longer truly human—everything seemed to push me forward, making me believe I might indeed be the harbinger of disaster he spoke of. In such a situation, Namgoong Myung's warning to be cautious of him carried even more weight. 'Does this mean I’ll meet Yon Ilchun someday?' Whether I liked it or not, my connection with him wasn’t entirely severed. Why Namgoong Myung was so certain, or what led his essence to venture to the North Sea, was beyond me. 'Does this mean I need to meet him again to find out?' It implied that I had to speak with Namgoong Myung once more, and, possibly... he might have orchestrated these circumstances from the beginning. Otherwise, why else would he make it so that I couldn't help but step into this situation? With a step forward, I twisted my waist and quickly swung my foot. Bang-!! My ki-infused foot collided with the enemy's sword blade, unleashing a shockwave. The pressure and wind mixed with the snow on the ground. "Ugh-!" The Black Lion grimaced, pulling back slightly, his massive sword now aimed at me. “What exactly are you doing?” The Black Lion glared at me with fiery eyes. Despite his gaze, I calmly raised my hands slightly for him to see. "Please calm down?" "Calm? Did you just say calm?" "Yes, you heard me right. Calm down." As I spoke, I reached out my hand. The moment my fist met the air, a powerful force aimed for it. Thud-!! I shattered the power with my fist. The end of my fist tingled. My body, too, wasn’t in perfect condition. "I'm telling you to calm down. Geez..." Despite my continued appeals, the Black Lion emitted even more hostility and killing intent. His aggression was directed at me, while the killing intent was aimed at the fallen man behind me. In the North Sea, he was known as Biyoegun. To me, he was known as Woo-hyuk. "Do you know what you're protecting right now?" "I'm well aware." "And knowing that, you still tell me to calm down?" "Yes." Rumors of Woo-hyuk's involvement in a North Sea rebellion had spread everywhere. I was aware that he had participated to some extent. Even if there were reasons beyond my understanding, the fact remained unchanged. 'I intended to let things be to some extent.' Getting beaten up was one thing, but getting killed was another problem. The Black Lion looked ready to kill Woo-hyuk on the spot. No, he was definitely going to kill him. That killing intent was genuine. That's why I intervened. "If he dies here, it's trouble for me. So please restrain yourself." I still had questions to ask Namgoong Myung. For that, Woo-hyuk needed to stay alive. "Restrain myself...?" The problem was, my words seemed to have only fueled the bowstring, making the Black Lion's aggression even denser. "Do you say this knowing what that man has done--!!" A fierce roar exploded. The emotions and energy made it even louder. "Because of the rebellion, several warriors died, and the people of the North Sea got caught up and died too-! But, looking at the primary perpetrator, you’re telling me to calm down?" His cry carried a sobbing undertone. It was clear what emotions the Black Lion harbored. However. "I don't know." "What...?" "Do I need to know how many died and how many got caught up?" His feelings didn't reach me. I knew the cause was just and the anger was righteous. Yet. "From the start, wasn’t it foolish to think a regime could last forever with the sacrifice of its bloodline?" "This--!!" The Black Lion, in his utmost fury, swelled his muscles. His expression was so intense it seemed veins might burst. Even as I observed this, I remained unperturbed. Kicking Woo-hyuk with my foot, I spoke to the Black Lion. "I know this fool caused trouble. But the North Sea was shaky—bound to collapse anytime." It was evident the moment I met Yuli and heard tales of the princess. And the moment I wandered around the North Sea a few times. “Power was managed by someone other than the palace lord. Even the resources and everything else were handled elsewhere, right?” While such movements supposedly needed the princess's permission. In any case, critical management was not the palace lord’s responsibility but entrusted entirely to internal personnel, not as a division but specific families. I understood. “They did well. Given the circumstances of the bloodline, it was natural. However.” Understanding didn't change the outcome. "That’s not how power should work." That's how desire takes root in humans. "When managing such things for years, humans are bound to grow greedy." Wasn’t it said that even the Blue Wolf managed for over a hundred years now? A single family managing most of the palace's power, not just their own? And the palace lord overlooked it? ‘That could be seen as fostering loyalty through recognition.’ Yet seeing the current chaos, it was clear that wasn’t the case. “Letting things go to this mess resulted in this crisis." Even if a rebellion occurred, those who joined were also complicit. They refrained from betrayal only because they lacked the confidence to do so. The moment they felt they could, they jumped right in. It was a subconscious desire, so they gathered quickly. "In light of that, the palace lord also bears some responsibility....” “How dare you-!” Overwhelmed with rage, the Black Lion leapt into the air, clutching his sword. As the blade moved, it left a wave-like mark in the air. Such intense power. "Tsk." Watching him close in, I clicked my tongue. 'What I said wasn’t wrong.' To hear that a single family managed the majority of the power—it was astonishing. 'In such a case, a rebellion could occur anytime.' The North Sea held on only because of the unique cold that no other bloodline could withstand. Having found a replacement for their power, this chaos unfolded swiftly. Whoosh--!! I dodged the sword attack, pondering the cause of the rebellion. 'Simply because they didn't lay the groundwork sooner.' There were many reasons, of course. But at its core, it was due to the palace lord being unable to manage everything. 'He was busy.' He had to fend off the cold and manage the Ice Crystals. Though a lord in name, it was likely more of a façade. Could he also manage politics and public sentiment? He would need to be a true superhuman, but... 'Reality doesn't match ideals or dreams.' If you can't handle it, you'll be torn apart. Such is reality. So, it was quite fascinating. 'How have they managed to maintain everything until now?' In such conditions, one might expect drastic and ruthless measures—like imprisoning the bloodline and using them solely to fend off the cold. But the palace was still standing, which was somewhat astounding. 'Not that I would have done such a thing.' To imprison a person and drain their life force—that’s something only a madman drunk on power would do. 'Or maybe I’m not quite human anymore?' Anyway, the Ice Palace was that precarious. There are a few ways to firmly secure one's position in such situations. The simplest method, perhaps, could be exemplified by the Heavenly Demon. She had no care for power or politics. Even while running countless followers and generations, there wasn’t a single betrayal; only demons who died for her. Why was it possible? The reason was simple. 'Because she was overwhelmingly powerful.' While the magic energy made betrayal against her impossible, it was primarily because she was too powerful to be defied. That was it. To be so strong that no one dares to betray you. If not, it’s an unmanageable act. Stories of benevolent rulers exist, but they are not something I can comprehend. Of course... even with all that considered. 'The perpetrator of the rebellion is still at fault.' No matter how lax the security, the thief who steals is always wrong. It was an inevitable truth, but not something to bring up now. Thud--!! Thud--! As I continued to fend off the attacks and maintain the exchange, the Black Lion, breathing ki into his sword, spoke to me. "If you intend to protect Biyoegun, I'll cut you down too." I could see malice mixing with the hostility directed at me. Seeing this, I widened my eyes. 'Now it's mixed in.' I was surprised by how late it was. The Black Lion had shown no malice to me until now, merely issuing a warning before finally showing it. Quite the principled individual. 'Is that why he never betrayed anyone?' One of the rare virtuous ones. That thought crossed my mind, but I kept it hidden, casting a mocking grin at the Black Lion. "Do you think you can do it if you try?" "Even if I can't, I won't back down. So, I will attempt it." "...Hm." It seemed like a satisfactory answer. 'That's a pass.' Nodding internally at the response. Satisfied with his answer, I could solidify the decision I'd been mulling over. 'I shouldn't kill him.' Initially, I planned to kill him due to his nuisance, but for someone of his caliber, it might be better to let him live. I slightly lowered my posture, gathering my energy. As my energy manifested and became visible, the Black Lion's body became tense with caution. It was the moment I needed. "Gasp-! Hey! There's something over there!" Feigning urgency, I pointed somewhere, lifting my upper body. The Black Lion's thick brows furrowed at the act. "What on earth are you doing? Do you think I'll fall for such cheap tricks...!" The Black Lion bit back his words due to the unexpected event unfolding before him. It didn’t even matter if it didn’t work. The important part was distracting him, even for a moment. By the time he started to react, my body was already upon him. Caught off guard by my unexpected speed, the Black Lion reacted too late. Yes, far too late. By then, the Black Lion had reacted. Thunk-! “Gah!?” My fist had already landed square on the Black Lion’s jaw. Whether it was a solid hit, the Black Lion immediately lost consciousness. Thud-! His massive frame collapsed into the snow. Watching this, I let out a small sigh. "That was close." If I had been a moment slower, my ambush would have failed. While my cultivation had risen, it also helped that the Black Lion, a warrior of the Flower Realm, was exhausted from battling the demons. As I took a moment to catch my breath and collect myself... "It seems it's all over now." From a distance, Pejon and Seong-yul, who had been watching, approached me. Upon seeing them, I couldn't help but wear an exasperated expression. "Aren't you a tad too late in showing up? I knew you were watching. Couldn't you have helped a bit?" "Why interfere in someone else's fight? Nothing is as entertaining to watch." Pejon laughed heartily. "Besides. You probably didn't want me to interfere either." "...Tsk." He was right. I had figured it was something I could handle alone and should do on my own. It wouldn’t have pleased me to have Pejon intervene. Crunch. I carefully stepped over the fallen Black Lion and moved towards where the princess was. "Are you going to kill him?" Pejon's question came as he observed my actions. I had to suppress a laugh at such a direct inquiry. "What a scary thing to say. Who am I going to kill?" For someone from the Orthodox Three Honorable Ones, it was chilling how casually he talked about such matters. ‘And yet it’s amusing how hard it is to deny.’ Honestly, my original intention was indeed to kill. To be precise, whether or not he died didn’t matter to me. The fact that his death would be to my advantage leaned me towards it. With the princess dead, it would be easier to escape the chaotic North Sea. I’d escape with Woo-hyuk during the commotion, but... ‘Things have gotten complicated.’ Because of what Namgoong Myung had said, I couldn’t proceed that way. That’s also why I knocked out the Black Lion. I didn't have the luxury to painstakingly explain everything. It was easier to just render him unconscious. Meanwhile, I felt their gaze from behind. It was probably Pejon and Seong-yul. Pejon remained silent, watching me with interest. He was likely curious about what I intended to do. ‘Honestly, I don't want that gentleman watching either.’ Telling someone not to watch doesn’t mean they'd listen. I figured this much was okay to show Pejon. Approaching the palace lord, I knelt down and reached out my hand. When my hand touched his chest, I could feel his shallow breath. It was weak, as if it could cease at any moment. If left alone, his breathing would stop before long. Crackling through his body, I sensed a peculiar sensation. Something felt like it was freezing over. Wondering what it could be, it dawned on me shortly after. ‘…His qi is freezing.’ Perhaps due to his weakened state, the palace lord's energy was freezing rapidly. How was I supposed to save him? From a distance, I thought there might be something I could do. But feeling it firsthand, it was at a totally different level than Mo Yong-hee's cold. Melt it with heat? Could that even be feasible? ‘My body isn’t exactly in top condition right now.’ The state of my body was an issue too. It caused me to hesitate for a moment, but recalling Namgoong Myung's words shifted my perspective. 'If he asked me to save him now and later seek out Xingang, it means there's something I can do now.' Even if that weren't the implication, it meant there was a method I could employ. With a slight nod, I channeled heat into the palace lord. Whoosh... From my heart, heat surged through my hand and into his body. No issues there. The warmth calmly permeated his body, and I could feel the chill melting to some extent. The problem was... ‘It's too slow.’ The speed at which the heat spread was remarkably slow. Compared to the pace at which the cold was freezing his energy, it was far too sluggish. It barely managed to prevent further freezing. Had I come too late to take action? Despite this, I tried to push more heat in, just in case. Crack-crack-!! “…!” Moments later, cold energy flowed from the palace lord's body into mine. As the cold, biting energy settled, I instinctively withdrew my hand. Shhh-!! As soon as the cold rushed in, my demonic cultivation art, the Madocheon Hapgong, activated, greedily sucking in the cold energy toward me. Crunch-! Crunch-! The Madocheon Hapgong voraciously consumed the energy to fill its belly. I realized what was happening. ‘It’s this damned thing eating it.’ The sudden invasion of cold energy wasn’t out of nowhere; it was the Madocheon Hapgong activating on its own to devour the cold. Consequently, a cold energy began to accumulate in a corner of my heart, and like with the demon’s energy, the Guhwamyeon Hwalyun Technique started purifying it. ‘Well...’ Feeling the qi accumulate in my heart, I adopted a slightly embarrassed expression. ‘Should I call this serendipity too?’ Even with my already vast reserves of energy, consuming all this qi could add another measure of strength. And even one measure, in my terms, was equivalent to the energy possessed by a typical martial peak. ‘Luckily, dealing with the cold seems manageable this way.’ I doubted it would work, but managing it this way seemed to be a success, didn't it? Besides, gaining additional energy while doing so was quite a harvest… but, swoooosh--! ‘Huh?’ Suddenly, I sensed some kind of anomaly. Kuooooo---!!! An unusual sound came from the sky. I couldn't lift my head. Instead, I focused on absorbing the cold. Kuuuuuung--!!! “…!!!” Massive energy descended upon me from above. “…Nngh…!” Unable to even scream due to the immense pressure, I barely retained my senses and collected myself. ‘What the hell is this madness?’ I couldn’t move. I was in a situation where I couldn’t even scream. With energy fluctuating as it was, any mistake could lead to an internal deviation. In other words, I had to endure it. “Your--!!” “Lord---!” The shouts of Pejon and Seong-yul faintly reached me. While listening, I recalled the energy now pressing upon me. What could this sudden energy be? It was unlikely an accident, yet somehow, instinctively, I recognized it. This was the chilling energy that spread across the North Sea. The relentless cold created by the Ice Crystals and held back by the bloodline. Ultimately, as the Ice Crystal shattered and released this cold. The moment it touched the palace lord’s cold energy, it concentrated and poured down onto me.