682 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 682: North Rabbit - Web Novel Archive A chill brushes across my cheek, giving me a familiar sensation that curls my lips into a smirk. "Well, look at this guy." I can sense an unmistakable hostility from my opponent. Through their contorted expression, I meet their yellow eyes with a nod. "So, you knew?" "…" "How did you find out?" I ask, but Shinryong only bites his lips in silence, offering no response. If he wasn’t going to answer, why even bother asking? I simply watch him quietly before shifting the topic. "So then, why should I have to argue against it?" The claim that I'm the youngest martial arts master is just a ridiculous rumor. Is it necessary for me to refute it? I’m not so sure. "Because…" At my words, Shinryong finally opens his mouth slowly. "…that rumor is false." The youngest martial arts master officially recognized by the Martial Arts Alliance is Shinryong, standing before me. But, that’s only the official story. Who is the true youngest martial arts master, then? Is it me? It could be. Reaching the level of a master before even coming of age is quite the feat, after all. But. Can I say that with certainty? ‘Who knows.’ I don't know. Unofficial information remains unknown for a reason. And honestly, it wouldn’t matter even if I really was the youngest master. "It doesn’t concern me." I don’t care about such trivial matters, nor do they hold any real significance for me. ‘What meaning can possibly be derived from something attained this way?’ My current level is only something gained through the knowledge of my past life. The youngest martial arts master? That title is utterly useless to me. What good does it serve? It's of no consequence to me. "Just take it if you want. I'm leaving." Take it if you like; it's all yours. I need to obtain something far greater than that. How Shinryong knows this is beyond me, but that doesn’t really matter, either. Use those rumors all you want. As I say this and turn to leave, "…Are you pitying me?" Shinryong frowns further, addressing me. ‘Hmm.’ Hearing this, I examine him more closely. Especially his eyes. The emotions swirling in those yellow eyes are undeniably…. ‘Inferiority?’ It was a sentiment I knew all too well, one I held in my past life, and sometimes feel even now. ‘That bald monk is feeling that way towards me?’ Would that guy truly look at me like that? As I quietly observe him, I ask, "Have we met before?" "…" There must be a reason for him to look at me in that manner, but I can't fathom what it is. ‘This is odd.’ Like the Black Dragon Yeongpung, now it’s Shinryong. Why are these so-called geniuses looking at me this way? Finding no answers from Shinryong's silence, I click my tongue briefly. "I'm not sure what's going on, but is it okay for a monk who worships Buddha to have those eyes?" "…!" Upon hearing my comment, Shinryong's eyes widen slightly. And soon after, his expression begins to change. It seems even he realizes something's amiss. Seeing this, I narrow my eyes. "What’s the problem? What exactly doesn’t sit right with you?" What on earth could it be? "I said continue as you were. The rumors or anything else have nothing to do with me, so just continue as you’ve been. Who's pitying who here?" Who could I pity when I’m barely scraping by myself? Despite the annoyance in my voice, Shinryong's reaction remains unchanged. "I do not understand." "What don't you understand?" "Despite these rumors, why do you not express yourself, Sir?" His words reflect a complete lack of understanding etched on his face. "Can you not correct them any time you wish?" "What is there to correct?" Am I supposed to fix the rumors or yell that I'm the real deal? "If I say I won’t, then that's it. Who are you to say otherwise?" If I choose not to prove it, isn’t that a positive thing? And moreover. "When did I say I wouldn’t?" "…Pardon?" When I reply, Shinryong's expression changes. "I'm just not doing it ‘right now’ because there’s no need yet." I'm holding back on correcting rumors or showing my power. As Shinryong himself hinted, it's not difficult to reveal it if I wish. There's a reason for it: ‘By waiting and then showing, the impact will be greater.’ It’s not that I idly listened to foolish rumors because I’m some idiot. I was merely biding my time. Now that time has almost arrived. I don’t know why Shinryong is so concerned with me, but there’s only one thing to say to him. "So if you want to see it, just wait. And don’t do anything unnecessary." "…" Not much longer now until I show it. Isn't there a stage prepared for it already? "I don’t concern myself with anything." I was merely going to show them. They call it the Era of Meteors. A time when stars pour down like rain. Even if peace has been broken, hope is not lost largely due to this. There are exceptionally many stars to guard, allowing breaths of faith to persist. In such times, I never once considered myself a star. Just gazing up at the meteors from below. I never thought of myself as a falling star. ‘But now, with so many stars, their value seems diminished.’ Perhaps that's for the best. If countless stars fall, I will gather their light and ignite a flame alone. Preparing myself now only to blaze solo in the end. As I gaze quietly at Shinryong, lost in thought. Shinryong slowly lowers his gaze and finally speaks to me. "...I heard that you are also participating in the tournament." "That's right." I nod as I reply, and Shinryong carefully places his fist in his palm in a gesture of respect. I thought he might be showing courtesy, but then he adds, "Then, I'll see you there." His calm demeanor belies the challenge in his words—a declaration of sorts. Seeing this, I tilt my head and ask, "Do I bother you?" We didn’t have much interaction, so why does he seem this way right from our first meeting? "That's not it." “Not it, my foot.” His entire demeanor screams that he doesn't like me. Just look at how he practically declared he wants to fight me. ‘Well.’ I'm not exactly someone you'd find easy to get along with, I admit. Not liking me was of little consequence. I nodded in understanding, but then Shinryong added, "It's just that I need to prove my worth through you. That's why I said it." "Worth, huh." The proof of one's worth—it's a precarious notion. "Will beating me prove your worth?" "I don't know, but…" “If that’s your aim, then you’re going to lose to me.” “…!” I cut off whatever Shinryong was about to say. His expression hardened, clearly displeased. “…That’s quite an arrogant statement.” He seemed annoyed by the presumption that I would definitely defeat him, wounding his pride. ‘That wasn’t my intention, actually.’ But I decided against offering a correction. Even if I did, it wouldn’t change much. So, I continued to watch Shinryong. "Words are meaningless, so I will show you. I'll demonstrate just how naive your arrogance is. I’ll show you myself." Shinryong declared as he spun on his heel, eyes blazing, and walked away. He seemed considerably upset. "Hmm." I considered stopping him but decided against it. What Shinryong said didn’t really bother me, yet… the problem was… ‘Shouldn't I tell him?’ His lips were smeared with oil—a sign of a hearty meal. Evidently, he had enjoyed some greasy meat, his lips still bore evidence. ‘…No matter, he'll figure it out.' I nearly stopped him to point it out, but given his choice of words, I decided to let him go. What did he say again? ‘See you there?’ I chuckled to myself, recalling Shinryong's parting words. ‘Interesting.’ I noted it was he who wanted to do this; whatever happens next would be his responsibility. Licking my lips, I set off for my own quarters. As for the two of us, "..." Peng Woo-jin observed us from a nearby rooftop. With eyes far colder than before. ********** Time passed since my return. Around dusk, after concluding my afternoon training, I made my way to where Shinyi resided. I was there to check on Namgung Bi-ah, who was receiving treatment. "How are you?" "…Okay…." Namgung Bi-ah, quietly slicing and eating an apple, nodded. She seemed alright, as her words conveyed. Seeing the object in Namgung Bi-ah's hand, I inquired. "Usually, isn’t that something you’d peel with a knife?" "…It's a hassle…." Slice. Amusingly, she was using her sword aura to peel the apple skin. Although there was a perfectly good peeler nearby, she opted for what’s more convenient for her. "That should be fine." Observing this, Shinyi spoke up. “It's more of an external injury problem…. The child’s body is robust, and energy-wise, there's no issue.” “I see.” I marveled, looking at Namgung Bi-ah upon hearing Shinyi’s words. Under normal circumstances, an injury might disrupt one's energy flow. It seemed this wasn’t an issue for Namgung Bi-ah. “Her recovery ability is quite exceptional. I estimated about three months, but... it seems it’ll be much sooner." “That's a relief." I felt reassured by Shinyi's words. Glancing around, I asked about a particular person. "Where's Gwae Seon?" "I'm not sure. I saw him leaving with my disciple earlier. Perhaps they went for a walk." I nodded in response to Shinyi’s comment. It seems Woo-hyuk may have gone to test his powers on Gwae Seon again. Though I haven’t heard about any progress, something must be working given how often they attempt it. ‘I hope it works.’ If successful, it would be great to request healing from him when injured. It would be quite useful. Even if Shinyi's treatment is the best in the world, ‘In the end, he couldn’t reattach a severed arm.’ I reflected on this matter and discreetly scanned the surroundings. I was searching for someone in particular. “…They went out….” This time, Namgung Bi-ah answered me. Following her words, I let out a small cough. "Ahem, what do you mean?" “…Weren't you looking for So-yeol and Seol-ah...?" She spoke matter-of-factly, munching on the apple. …She was right. I’d been looking for them only to be caught right away. I scratched my cheek awkwardly. “It's not really like that….” Why is it that looking for the other girls in Namgung Bi-ah’s presence made me feel a bit guilty? Avoiding her gaze, I heard a sudden burst of laughter from somewhere. I turned to look at Namgung Bi-ah. “…Why…?” Namgung Bi-ah’s gaze remained as stoic as always. “Wasn't it you?" “…Who?” “The one who just laughed.” “…Don’t know….” Not Namgung Bi-ah, then? That only left Shinyi. “Why are you looking at me?” “…Nothing, sir.” That’s odd. The laughter definitely sounded like it came from a lady. “Really, was it not you?” “…Don’t know….” I tried to probe a bit further, but Namgung Bi-ah shook her head. The pertinent point wasn’t a yes or no, but her insistent "don’t know." ‘It’s got to be her.’ I contemplated pursuing it further when suddenly... “…Oh… right….” Clap! Namgung Bi-ah clapped her hands in an unconvincing show of theatrics, making me chuckle despite myself. I decided to let it slide. But then. “...Father is coming tomorrow.” “Huh?” The next words from her were significant. “The Sword King is coming?” “...Yes.” The Sword King, the head of the Namgung family and Namgung Bi-ah’s father, is coming to Hanam. This was critical information. Additionally, “My little brother is coming too…” “...Really?” Namgung Chenjun, one of the Namgung family’s geniuses, also known as the Thunder Dragon, was mentioned. His name made me tilt my head in intrigue. ‘It’s been a while since I heard that name.’ I hadn’t seen him since our meeting at the engagement ceremony. ‘I turned him into a demonic creature and then left him behind.’ He was the first human I had ever transformed into a demonic being. Initially, I planned to dispose of him after using him, but then, ‘I kind of forgot about him.’ I had completely erased him from my memory. ‘So he’s coming too...?’ This was peculiar. Namgung Chenjun coming to Hanam was troubling. Because— ‘There should be a restriction placed on him?’ I had put a restriction on him that he shouldn’t leave Anhui, not to mention come near his sister. ‘How did he get out of Anhui?’ His apparent ability to come here posed a problem. If Namgung Bi-ah’s words were true, such a thing should have been impossible.... ‘Is there a problem with the restriction?’ I felt no such hint. What could be the issue here? While pondering this mystery, [Master.] A small transmission reached me. It was Naihee's voice. [‘Chang’ has awakened.] “...” Hearing this news, I scowled in annoyance. Of all times, now? I had planned to deal with this later. Suppressing a sigh, I responded to Naihee. [Put him back to sleep.] I considered rendering him unconscious again, planning to deal with him later. [...With all due respect,] Naihee responded with a slightly troubled voice. [This is already the fourth time he’s been knocked out. Any further and he might go on a rampage.] “...” Damn it. “Haa.” Unable to contain my frustration, I sighed aloud. While scowling with a frustration-laden gaze, Swish. Namgung Bi-ah gently caressed my cheek. “What are you doing?” I glanced at her, confused, as she popped the remaining apple slice into her mouth and replied, “Have a safe trip…” “...” Her words made my eyes widen slightly. Did she hear the transmission? That couldn’t be. “How did you know? That I need to go now?” “Your eyes are speaking…” My eyes aren’t a mouth; they don’t speak. I looked at Namgung Bi-ah with an incredulous expression, and then, “...Hurry back…” She withdrew her hand, giving it a small wave, signaling me to go. Despite myself, I smiled slightly in response to her gesture. It was oddly comforting, this demeanor of hers. “All right. I’ll be back.” “Yeah.” With those words, I stood up. Despite my heart's desire not to go, this was something I had to attend to. I bid farewell to Shinyi, who was busy preparing medicine, and then stepped outside. My destination was my quarters, and as I entered, BOOM---!!! A loud explosion echoed from inside. “Clicking my tongue,” I immediately spread my aura in all directions, forming a barrier around the vicinity. The sound came from the rear of the quarters. As I reached the somewhat secluded area, I had to shut my eyes briefly at the sight before me. Not only was the space around me in complete disarray, “…Ugh…” But So-hyul was lying crumpled at the base of a rock in the distance. ‘Why on earth is he here?’ Puzzled by his presence, my gaze shifted. Ahead, Naihee stood poised with a dagger aimed at someone. “Grrr…” A sound akin to a beast's growl emanated from within the rising dust cloud. “…Leader… Leader, where are you!!” BOOM—!! A harsh, shrill cry pierced the air, accompanied by a sudden rush of wind. The dust scattered in an instant with the gale, revealing the one who remained, as I gradually approached. “Where is Leader?! Where are you? Come out now! If you don’t—!!” “And if I don’t, what then, you crazy wench?” “Huh!” The woman, unleashing her aura in a wild storm, stopped and glanced in my direction. She had short, black hair and violet eyes. At first glance, she was quite pretty, but that appearance was overshadowed by her abrasive personality. Her expression changed upon recognizing me. “It’s the Leader! The Leader is over there!” The woman looked around excitedly before reaching out into the air. Then, Swish-!! A rod flew into her hand from somewhere in the woods. A long rod, painted black. “Liar Leader. You didn’t even pair me up after summoning me! You didn’t even play with me!” A massive aura began emitting from around the woman gripping the rod. It was immensely harsh and expansive. The pressure of her aura was enough to shake the surrounding trees. “I need to make you pay for this! I can’t hold back!” With that, she pointed the rod at me and then, BOOM—!! She propelled off the ground and charged toward me. The menacing killing intent made my eyebrow twitch slightly. Guess there’s no helping it. “I need to punish--!!” [Kneel.] Buzz-! “Ugh—!” Crunch-!! Her charging feet tangled as she fell face-first into the ground, skidding to a halt at my feet. Watching this unfold, I moved my foot, Slam-! “Ughhh…!” Firmly pressing her head down to the ground underfoot, the woman groaned in frustration. Pinned down with pressure applied, she began struggling beneath my foot. “Argh… You're too harsh…. Ah, maybe I like it….” A pitiful voice reached my ears, prompting me to pinch the bridge of my nose. ‘I shouldn’t have called her, after all.’ Seeing her, it felt increasingly like a mistake to have summoned her. The woman’s name was Bong-soon. She was known as Gui Chang (Ghost Spear), a demon who would later ravage battlefields. Moreover, she was the only blood relative of the former Sword Queen.