679 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: The World's Best Martial Artist, Chapter 679: Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive "Do you think it will be alright...?" This was the question Nahi posed to me moments after Beomdong disappeared with the Blue Dragon Unit. Glancing at Nahi, I asked, "What do you mean?" When I looked at her and inquired, Nahi lowered her head before responding. "I'm worried about letting the Blue Dragon Unit Leader go so easily..." "Why? Do you think such a threat isn't significant enough?" "..." Seeing her silent response, I couldn't help but chuckle softly. No answer—a sign of affirmation. I understood Nahi's concern. 'She must think there were better ways to handle the situation, wondering why I settled for such a minimal approach.' What's been done to Beomdong was no more than a threat involving his family. I hadn't placed a geas on him or turned him into a fiend. 'I could have done those things, but chose not to.' I had already implanted demonic energy, and could suppress him at any time. Applying a geas would be just as easy, but I decided against it. There was a reason. "Don't worry about it. I have a plan." "But what if he reveals what happened...?" "He won't." The fact that his daughter was captured—that alone should suffice for Beomdong. 'He's the kind of person who cares deeply about his child.' I learned he had a child during my previous life. The truth was revealed when Beomdong turned into a fiend, and it became known that he had hidden his child in Hubei. The Peng family took his child as leverage against him. Though I doubted he would care for his child as a fiend, to my surprise, Beomdong headed to the Peng family alone as soon as the news spread, which resulted in his assassination by them. Even as a fiend, he rushed to Hubei for his daughter, displaying his unique attachment to his kin. 'And even if that's not the case.' It doesn't matter. "I have other ways to deal with it. Just focus on your tasks." "...Understood." With a nod, Nahi agreed and lowered her head. As I watched her, I asked, "How's that one doing?" Referring to the wild woman who had recently wrecked the Blue Dragon Unit, Nahi answered cautiously. "As you commanded, she's been bound and gagged in a secluded part of the room." "Good job. Keep a close watch. She should wake up in about two hours." Then she'll undoubtedly go wild again. Just imagining it was enough to give me a headache. 'I had hoped to avoid calling her.' She's no ordinary person, so I had hoped not to use her, but she was the perfect fit for the plan, leaving me with no other option. "Report immediately when the crazy one wakes up." "Yes." "Have you heard from Jiseon?" "We received a report that he's en route." "He should arrive in a few days, then." He needs to arrive in less than five days to ensure smooth operations. "Then, check on the Leader of the Heaven-Land Alliance and compile what's happening with the sister's side. Send me a report by tomorrow." "Understood." Concluding our conversation, Nahi bowed before disappearing from sight. "Hmm." After sending Nahi away, I surveyed the surroundings. The day was transitioning from early morning to noon. Annoyance simmered as a bothersome incident had unfolded since morning. 'Seems I've missed mealtime.' Now, some contemplation was required. The time for the planned shared meal had long passed. Since I had informed them I was dealing with an issue related to Beomdong, they must have eaten without me. 'I suppose it's too late to begin training either.' Today was crucial for a particular affair, making afternoon training awkward. It would be sensible to wrap up the pending matters with the free time now rather than later. "…Tsk." After organizing my plan, I let out a brief click of the tongue. Even though I understand the situation was inevitable, I was still irked by the time wasted on someone like Beomdong. 'I might as well get on with some work.' With this thought, I resumed my steps. ****************** The destination of my strides was Baekhwa Trade Guild. Specifically, the Guild Master's room on the topmost floor. "So, you've arrived." "Yes." As I entered the room, I saw Madam Mi. As always, Madam Mi was immersed in going through the mountain of documents piled on her desk. Among the towering stack of papers, a single flower stood out—a flower I gifted her before she departed for the Northern Sea. 'Still hasn't wilted, huh?' A flower's lifespan shouldn't be that long, yet it's preserved so vividly—it truly was a curious thing. The gentle sound of rustling paper filled the room as Madam Mi turned the pages. This scene reminded me of Mo Yonghee from before. With her learning under Madam Mi, was she gradually becoming similar to her? 'Is that a good or bad thing?' It evoked a somewhat complex feeling. While I pondered that strange sensation, Madam Mi looked at me. "I heard something happened." "…" A sheepish smile crept onto my face at her words. Oh dear. 'She's heard already.' She must be referring to the incident with Beomdong early this morning. Despite handling it and then coming directly here, Madam Mi was already aware. "...It was nothing serious." I awkwardly remarked, causing Madam Mi to look away from her documents and fix her gaze on me. "Despite the Leader of the League seeking you out, you claim it's nothing serious?" Her gaze felt piercing, and involuntarily, I swallowed dryly. No matter how much stronger I've grown, dealing with her or my father's stern looks was an enduring challenge. "I am aware the League is monitoring the guild, but for them to have sought you out rather than me... was it related to the conflict with the branch manager you mentioned?" "..." Her awareness of even that made my eyes widen slightly. "You resolved it well, you say?" I couldn't outright deny it, so I answered evasively. 'It's not a lie—after all, I did resolve it.' At my response, Madam Mi simply looked me in the eye. Her gaze was arduous to withstand, but I forced myself to endure it. After a few moments passed in silence. "Would you like me to take care of it?" "...Pardon?" Her sudden offer left me dumbfounded. Take care of it? "What do you mean?" "If you wish it, just say so." "Well... it's just..." I began to speak but kept hesitating. I had a sense of what Madam Mi meant when she offered to "take care" of things. 'Does she mean she could eliminate them if I requested it?' I understood that Madam Mi was implying she'd deal with the Blue Dragon Unit if needed. Even as one of the most influential entities in the martial arts world, handling a squad from the League seemed like a stretch. Regardless of that... "No need. I can handle it myself." Even if it were possible, I had no intention of relying on Madam Mi's help. I would manage it on my own. That had always been the plan, and this situation was no different. Hearing my response, Madam Mi nodded slightly. "I see." It was a clear indication that she wouldn't ask again. She promptly withdrew her gaze, returning her attention to the documents—always efficient, as expected. Since this wasn't the main reason for my visit to her, I wasn't particularly bothered by the shift in focus. "I have a question," I remarked. "Go ahead." "What business does the Clan Head have?" Pause. Madam Mi stopped looking at her documents to direct her gaze at me once more. "I believe you received a message from him?" "Yes, I did, but..." Madam Mi had indeed passed on a letter from my father. 'Something about it feels off.' Despite it being in my father's handwriting and manner of expression, it felt unsettling. "I was just concerned if something had come up." "…" Her gaze altered slightly, suggesting contemplation. This alone was enough to indicate something was indeed amiss. As I awaited her response, she finally spoke. "After considering it, I find it's not the time to tell you." Her reply was disappointing, but just as I prepared to leave it there... "You haven't assumed the responsibilities of heir yet. It's unavoidable." “…!” Her next words struck a chord, instantly cooling my thoughts. "Understood." I quickly pieced things together from Madam Mi's statement. 'It's not the right time to tell me yet.' Specifically about the responsibilities of the successor, meaning until I take over, the matter is beyond me. This also implied... 'The heir would be privy to such information, and by extension, there's an issue concerning my father.' It hinted at a situation so significant that Madam Mi resorted to slyly passing on clues to me. Given her meticulous nature, she hadn't made a slip of the tongue. She had deliberately conveyed meaningful information to me. "...Thank you." I expressed my gratitude to Madam Mi, and she responded with a nod, confirming my deductions. '...It seems something has indeed happened with Father.' I realized there was a delay because of family matters unfolding. 'This puts me in an awkward spot.' It's difficult to investigate or intervene independently. As Madam Mi noted, I haven't officially assumed my role yet. 'For now, I'll just have to wait.' In this position, seeking out Guhui-bi wouldn't be a bad idea. 'I need to inquire about Grandfather as well.' I also couldn't indefinitely keep personnel on standby to monitor Cheonma. 'Supposedly, he's already aware of them, so I should make a move soon.' It was said that Cheonma had detected those I deployed around him, causing limitations in their actions. 'Tsk.' Nothing ever unfolds straightforwardly. Such is life, I suppose. Feeling a sense of unease, I addressed Madam Mi once more. "I've achieved what I came for, so I'll take my leave now." "Where are you headed next?" She inquired just as I prepared to leave. "Most likely to the League," I answered. "The Martial Alliance, huh..." Upon learning my destination, Madam Mi added, "Then you're planning to go today." Scratching my cheek, I realized she had not only guessed where I was headed but also why. Conversations can indeed be challenging. Intelligent people are tough to deal with, especially when you can't simply confront them. "...If I go in a few days, there will be a large crowd, and that's a hassle." "Understood. Safe travels, then." "...Thank you." With that exchange, I finally exited the room. It was time to get moving. Having wrapped up my business, I headed out towards the Martial Alliance. Madam Mi had correctly surmised the reason for my visit there. ‘The time is approaching.’ The normally bustling streets were more crowded than usual. The influx was due to the proximity of the Martial Arts Tournament, with registration commencing today, less than ten days away. Martial artists were more abundant than usual, and the general public, keen to see them, packed the streets. Moreover... ‘In five more days, this place will be crowded beyond belief.’ Today was just the start, and the final registration day in five days would see an even heavier influx. Especially since... ‘Prestigious families and sects will all show up then.’ It was the period when every notable martial artist converged. Though it would be convenient to register on the first day, those from prestigious families and sects would wait until the last day. The reasoning? ‘They'd think they'd lose face by showing up on the first day.’ As the saying goes, the protagonist appears last. For the sake of maintaining prestige and dignity, they'd aim for a grand entrance. To avoid seeming over-eager for the tournament, they'd dislike visiting on the first day. The middle days would feel awkward, and since everyone else gathers on the last day for a grand show, they couldn't abstain either. So, naturally, that was their plan. ‘Politics and face-saving... Tsk.’ Why live so laboriously? Why not just live slightly carefree? ‘Still, I appreciate moving quickly while they're caught up in that.’ Considering the crowds that would swell, it was better to finish my business early, thanks to their preoccupation. Thus, I had made time to come early on the first day. Navigating slowly through the throngs, I eventually arrived at my destination. Unable to enter the main headquarters of the Martial Alliance, the entrance area was the only part open to the public. Normally, even this would be closed, but today it was open to accept registration for the tournament. "Please line up properly!" As soon as I entered, I was greeted by the voices of Martial Alliance members trying to manage the crowd, while other martial artists whispered amongst themselves. "Isn't that the Rising Martial Sword of Seoncheon?" "What! He's the renowned young master that's making waves in the martial world!" I'd never heard of such a name. Seoncheon what...? 'What a cumbersome nickname.' Names with over five characters are hard to remember. "Why is a swordsman known to only operate in the Blue Sea here?" "He must think the Blue Sea is too small for him. He probably wants to make his name more widely known." "I see... It's indeed the Rising Martial Sword. I heard he surpassed the pinnacle at the young age of thirty..." "No way... If that's true, it's truly remarkable." The guy seemed to say nothing himself, yet the onlookers were stirring up all the noise. This is why I dislike crowded places. "And that guy! Is that perhaps the Dark Wave True Arrangement Sword of Sichuan!?" "Beside him is the Wind-Riding Sniper Fist!" With each step, my ears picked up all sorts of nicknames. The reactions were telling; it seemed only I was unaware of these famous warriors. '...I thought I was staying more informed about worldly matters lately.' The place was teeming with people I'd never heard of before, neither in this life nor my past one. It made me question if I had ever really paid attention to martial artists. 'With so many warriors ranked and categorized...' Terms like the "Top Hundred Warriors" or "Top Ten Masters" existed precisely because people took an interest. Perhaps I was the odd one out for not knowing them. "And over there...!" "Two places over there!" Ignoring the exclamations, I continued to move forward. The reactions around me grew more fervent. I needed to handle my business here quickly and get back to training. 'This spot will do.' I found a relatively short line and surreptitiously joined it. Despite the crowd, there weren't many lines since most were there to spectate rather than participate. 'Without an invitation, registration isn't possible, which is why it's like this.' For this tournament, a recommendation from the Martial Alliance was necessary to participate. This meant only renowned warriors acknowledged by the Alliance could enter, drawing crowds eager to witness them. The Martial Alliance surely knew how to attract people with such tactics. "Next!" There were a few lines, and since it was the first day, it was my turn relatively quickly. I approached the receptionist and handed over the letter I had brought. With an exhausted expression, the receptionist took and unfolded the letter. "...From the Gu family...Ah?" Upon reading the letter, their eyes widened substantially. Seeing this, I frowned. 'This can't be good.' A bad feeling crept over me. "Could it be, Young Master, Gu Yangcheon?" As expected. Just as the receptionist was about to announce "that name," making things awkward for me... "Divine Dragon!" A shout from somewhere else drowned out the receptionist's voice. "Divine Dragon? Is the Sage of Shaolin really here?" The crowd buzzed with excitement upon hearing the shout. I joined in the confusion. Divine Dragon? Could it be the guy I know? 'I thought the monks from Shaolin would arrive on the last day, not the first.' I had assumed that Shaolin would arrive at the last possible moment, so why were they showing up this early? Looking towards the source of the puzzled glances... "No, that's not the Divine Dragon!" Someone corrected the person who initiated the shout. "Be precise. That's the former Divine Dragon!" 'Huh?' I tilted my head in confusion. The former Divine Dragon? 'If it's the predecessor, there's only one person I know of.' Scanning the scene, my gaze finally landed on a familiar figure. From head to toe, he was clad in black, with a blade symbolizing his martial prowess strapped to his waist. A youth who would one day be known as the "Blade Emperor," a master representing the central plains. The former Divine Dragon. Peng Woojin was there. 'Why is he here so early?' I nodded in acknowledgment upon recognizing Peng Woojin. Though it's been a while, I never expected to see him here. As I observed with a puzzled expression, Peng Woojin seemed to notice and directed his gaze my way. Our eyes met before long. "O." Peng Woojin reacted. "Who do we have here!!" And he did so with an extraordinarily loud voice. "Wait..." "The Pride of Shanxi's Gu family—Prince Gu Yangcheon!! Haha!!" "..." Damn it.