654 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Chapter 654: Return to Central China** It was nightfall before heading back to Central China. In preparation for my final task in the Northern Seas, I sought out the palace lord at midnight. “This place is one where only those of the royal lineage, especially those destined for the position of palace lord, are allowed.” Guided by a lone lantern, I found myself in an underground passage located on one side of the royal palace. I didn't understand why there were so many underground areas here. Following the palace lord's lead, we walked for quite a while before he suddenly spoke. “Sir Gu.” “Yes.” “There’s something I’d like to ask.” “Go ahead. I’m listening intently.” “Why did you want to save Biyoe-gun?” Amidst the darkness, the question seemed rather unexpected. I took a moment to steady my breath and looked at him. “In what sense are you asking?” “In the literal sense. While I understood your intentions and matched my words accordingly, I still don’t comprehend.” Hearing this, I nodded. As I thought, my intentions had been perceived correctly. During my initial meeting with the palace lord, the atmosphere was rather tense. Just as I had predicted, the palace lord had orchestrated such a situation. He reacted knowingly, having realized my requirement for Wu Hyuk. “If I said it was because we’re close, would that be an insufficient reason?” “What do you think, Sir Gu?” “It does seem a bit lacking, but…” There could be more I should add. Indeed, if I truly searched for reasons, I would find them. “Seeing his condition, I thought he might be useful if I took him along.” Wu Hyuk had undergone forced transformation due to the energy of the captured net. He had become much stronger, and with the demonic energy infused in him, there was a lesser chance he’d betray me. Connections based on solid bonds were always the most trustworthy. “There happened to be a suitable task to entrust him with, and the circumstances were quite ideal as well…” Moreover, Wu Hyuk was a figure from the Wudang Sect. Though currently in an ambiguous position, he was once the most promising disciple. Although the peculiar behavior and disposition of Wudang's master, the Strange Taoist, were issues, under normal circumstances, Wu Hyuk would be considered the next Zhangmenren contender. Just by having Wu Hyuk by my side, his presence was invaluable. As the disciple of the potential next Zhangmenren. The current leading talent of Wudang. A young man not even in the prime of life yet competing with elders in skill and wisdom. Wu Hyuk, as a connection, was immensely valuable. Even without considering such aspects, I would still find reasons aplenty to take him with me. ‘Excluding all that, though…’ My resolve wouldn’t waver. “In the end, aside from the reason I first mentioned, there isn’t much else.” I saved him because he’s my friend. Any other reasoning would just be an excuse for justification. “Even if it’s uncomfortable for you, palace lord, looking for more would be beyond me.” “…I see.” The palace lord didn't say anything further after my response. Normally, bringing Wu Hyuk along like this would have been impossible. It was only feasible because the palace lord chose to turn a blind eye. ‘If things had escalated, as said, I would have had to push forcefully.’ But the lack of such necessity indicated that the palace lord had intentionally let it slide. ‘Perhaps I should be thankful?’ I hesitated briefly, but realized even gratitude was meaningless here. Whether apology or thanks, saying such things to the palace lord now would be improper. His daughter had been consumed by darkness, instigating rebellion, and ultimately met her demise. Amidst the chaos of war that left the palace unsettled, the very one implicated in the events was set to be released fully intact rather than executed. Clearly, the palace lord's feelings were far from contentment. ‘It's almost miraculous he’s calmly leading me now.’ I couldn’t comprehend his mindset with each step he took forward. If it were me, how would I have reacted? Honestly, I didn’t even want to imagine it. “…One last question, if I may.” “Please, go ahead.” “Do you have a set goal, Sir Gu?” “Pardon?” Suddenly? ‘A goal?’ I was momentarily flustered by this unexpected question but quickly found an answer. “It’s not particularly grand, but…” It wasn’t initially, but perhaps due to my regression, a task had found its way to me. “I have something I must do; along the way, I’ll try to save the world.” To block the Blood Demon and the Heavenly Demon, while also preventing the blood catastrophe. That was the goal I currently held. When I mentioned this, the palace lord walking ahead suddenly chuckled. “Haha… You claim it’s not grand, yet those are remarkable words.” “It’s just a goal, so I spoke grandly.” I made the statement purposefully for it to be taken lightly, almost as a joke. The palace lord didn’t seem entirely convinced. As we resumed walking, he inquired further. “Then, what will you do once that goal is accomplished?” “...” The softly spoken words stopped me in my tracks. ‘After?’ What would I do after? That question brought an inexplicable sense of emptiness. When it was all over. ‘After everything’s done…’ What I would do once I completed the tasks. I tried to imagine it, but nothing came to mind just then. ‘I don’t know.’ Perhaps I would simply indulge in peaceful rest. I couldn't be sure of anything yet. As I pondered with a vacant expression, the palace lord glanced my way and added, “You should consider it deeply at least once. Though it’s not for me to interfere… Sir Gu, it seems you’re…” The piercing gaze of the palace lord, akin to a soft hue of azure beyond the darkness, fell on me. “...somehow engrossed too deeply.” “...” Upon those words, silence stretched between us until we reached our destination. --- Eventually, we arrived at a large underground room. It was filled with mysterious books and scrolls. The chilly air mixed with the old paper created a distinctive fragrance. From the perspective of one who never much enjoyed studying, I found the smell rather unappealing. I picked up a book to take a closer look. No title was written on it. Curious, I opened it gently. Srrrk. "Ah, there's a spell on that book. If someone outside the bloodline opens it, problems could aris... Oh, you've already opened it." "...Couldn't you have mentioned that a bit earlier?" "I never expected you to open it right away." "Sorry, my curiosity got the better of me." What should I do now? Should I just close it again? As I pondered with an awkward expression, the palace lord spoke up. "Since it's already open, how is it?" "...What do you mean?" "Can you read the text?" I glanced at the book upon the palace lord's question. The pages were densely packed with tiny script. How could anyone write so small? "Yes, I can see it clearly. It gives me a headache." Perhaps my aversion to reading since childhood was the cause. Just looking at it made me irritable. "I see. So you can see it." "Why? Should I not be able to?" "That's right." "Pardon?" "It’s a book that should only be visible to those of the bloodline." Um... Then why could I see it so clearly? Just as I wondered if something was amiss— "However, it seems to be of no consequence to you, Sir Gu." "What do you mean by that?" The palace lord came closer, took the book from my hands, and flipped through the pages. The soft rustling of paper tickled my ears. "You said you wanted information on spells." "That's correct." "Then, do you know what a spell truly is?" "...I don't know the details." Recalling what I had heard: "I was told it was something brought by dragons." That spell, an unknown force, was said to be brought by dragons. "That's correct. Spells were originally brought here by dragons." Having said that, the palace lord closed the book and placed it on the table. Clap! He clapped his hands lightly. In an instant. Fwoosh! A lantern attached to the wall lit up. Clearly, it wasn't my doing. Was it lit by energy? It didn't quite seem like that. It wasn't some illusionary flame; nor was it fire manipulation, as the palace lord exuded no heat. It was something altogether different. “…About what just happened.” "Yes, that too is a spell. Judging by your expression, you recognized the difference." I had noticed. It felt distinct in some way. But what exactly was different? ‘What was it that felt different?’ I couldn’t quite pinpoint that subtle distinction. Ha. Seeing my puzzled state, the palace lord chuckled. “Does it seem strange to you?” “Yes, it's quite strange.” “Exactly. That’s what a spell is.” “Pardon?” “An inexplicable force that defies logic. That’s what a spell is.” “That's a woefully inadequate explanation.” It was severely lacking. Describing it as an illogical force was hardly illuminating. “Before that, may I ask why you're so interested in spells, Sir Gu?” “Hmm.” I paused, pondering his question. It wasn't that I found it hard to answer; I simply wished to offer a more substantial reason. Yet, no matter how I thought about it, it was impossible. My interest in spells didn’t stem from any grand motives. “They seemed potentially useful.” “…Hmm?” “I figured it was better to know, given it was unfamiliar information.” There’s a definite advantage in knowing versus not knowing. Having never heard or seen such things in my past life, I reckoned that having the knowledge might be beneficial. Reacting to my words with no visible surprise, the palace lord merely raised his hand lightly. Swoosh. I sensed movement among the shelves. Thunk. One book slid out from the amassed volumes and flew into the palace lord’s hand. After grabbing the book, he posed another question. “So, how did you perceive this time?” “What about it?” “Did it seem as though a spell was employed? Or…?” “You used your qi technique.” It wasn't something like the spell—it was the art of manipulating objects in mid-air. “Oh.” My decisive answer seemed to please the palace lord. I couldn’t help but wonder at his reaction. Why such a reaction? “You have sharp perception. Or perhaps, is it mere conjecture?” “Conjecture? It was quite evident.” “Hmm?” Though similar, it was indeed a discernible flow of energy. The demonstrated spell earlier had its flow fundamentally different. Upon my response, the palace lord tilted his head, looking at me curiously. “Fascinating.” “What is?” “When I faced the same situation, I responded that something felt different as well. My predecessor, who was also my father, remarked that I had a talent for spells.” The differences were glaring, not subtle. “Considering that—you may not be fully aware, but it seems you possess a keen talent for spells, Sir Gu.” “…Is that so?” A talent, you say. The thought brought a sudden chuckle. ‘Could I finally possess something of my own?’ Having spent a lifetime ridiculed as dim-witted and foolish, hearing of any talent now felt oddly surreal. And of all things— ‘An enigmatic force called spells rather than martial prowess.’ It wasn’t exactly heartening news. Immersed in trivial thoughts, the palace lord handed me the book he’d retrieved. “Read it.” I accepted it and opened it, finding no difference from before. The overload of text made me involuntarily scowl. Yet, since he told me to read it, I tried to at least give it a go. “Huh?” Suddenly, I realized something peculiar. I was reading line by line without issue. This… ‘Why can I read this?’ As far as I knew, the Northern Seas and Central China had different script systems, but for some reason, I was understanding this effortlessly. Realizing this, I turned my gaze back to the palace lord. “As mentioned earlier, spells originate from dragons, and that book is also imbued with spells. It’s spelled in a way only someone of the bloodline can read it.” “…So the fact that I can read such a book implies?” “It indicates that spell-born barriers do not affect you. Because you’re akin to a dragon.” Does this mean even reading it results from some form of spell? If it was blocked by magic, shouldn't it also have been unreadable to me? ‘Power brought by dragons…’ It seemed to imply it was brought by beings like the Mang or the Blood Demon. What purpose did they have for bringing this power? ‘Moreover, thinking back, the Divine Doctors also mentioned it before.’ In the Northern Seas, as well as in Central China, the Divine Doctor had previously spoken about spells. ‘It was when he was mending Jegal-hyuk’s neck.’ During the time when I witnessed the Divine Doctor using the White Jade Stone to heal Jegal-hyuk, as per our agreement, I watched the process closely. The Divine Doctor placed the White Jade Stone on the ground, traced numerous mysterious symbols around it, and had Jegal-hyuk sit at the center, eyes closed for hours. Was that too a form of 'spell'? Given that Jegal-hyuk's neck was indeed healed, something must have been effective. An illogical and irrational force that transcends conventional understanding. Clearly distinct from martial arts. “The information on spells. The reward promised to you is encapsulated within that very book you now hold.” Upon hearing this, I looked at the book again. "…This one book?" With books surrounding us on all sides, just this one? I glanced at the palace lord as if questioning the stinginess. "Don't look at it that way. It’s a break from the longstanding traditions of the Ice Palace, handed to you." Was I supposed to be grateful to even have this? Tsk. “Moreover…” As the palace lord continued speaking, I began to delve back into the text inscribed in the book. “The book you hold describes the critical method of forming connections harnessing spells through rings built at the heart.” The explanation resonated in my ears, while my eyes focused intently on the script. ‘Rings at the heart. Superficially, it doesn’t differ much from the mnemonic formulas of internal cultivation.’ Most internal martial arts focus on drawing energy from the void into the dantian to transform it into inner energy. The Flaming Wheel Arts utilized such energy to exude heat. Despite the varying techniques of different sects and schools, the principle remained largely similar. Yet now— ‘The notion of these rings…’ Beginning from the middle dantian as a foundational point was peculiar. Not focusing on the lower dantian, but rather on the middle and upper dantians—quite strange. ‘So executing this is necessary to use what they call spells?’ Should I attempt it once? “So even if I cannot show you other books due to the laws, it is right to reveal at least the foundational aspects.” ‘Utilizing the mnemonic formula, let’s see…’ “Regrettably, I cannot permit you to take it. Even with my authority as a palace lord, this was the best I could offer.” Ignoring the continued talk from the palace lord, I concentrated on following the energy flow. “I can allow transcription. If you start now, it should be possible before your departure, but learning it outright might be unwise. It took half a year for the former palace lord to master…” ‘Now this… transferring it to the middle dantian…’ I used the mnemonic formula to gently channel the energy toward my heart. And then— Click. At the same time as feeling something fitting into place, I sensed, true to its name, a faint ring completing around my heart. “It took even me, who was praised for having talent, a full three months, so it’s better to proceed over time.” “Finished.” “Take time and learn carefully—what did you say?” With a content expression, I addressed the palace lord. “I’ve formed the ring. Thankfully, it wasn’t too difficult. Ah, would it be alright to start reading the next part? Seems like we have plenty of time left.” “...” For some reason, the palace lord's expression crumpled at my words. I seemed to be seeing that expression a lot today. Why was that?