685 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: **The Number One Under Heaven's Childhood Friend Episode 685: Northern Rabbit** --- "What did you say...?" With his face hardening, Yutan Sword glanced at the woman before him. Locks of green-tinted eyes shimmered shallowly, causing his inner flaws to stir. "What did you just say?" A chilly aura spread across the ground. "Huh...!?" "What...!" The martial artists nearby flinched, their bodies trembling. The aura released by a high-level martial artist began to suffuse the surroundings. Onlookers felt a chill descending upon them. The martial artists had to steady themselves, gripping their swords more tightly. A high-level martial artist — the pinnacle of mastery. It's a supreme state attainable by those with talent and endless dedication. When such a martial artist unleashed his presence, the air of a summer's day began to cool sharply. "Was that audacious remark truly directed at me?" Yutan Sword's face grew rigid, his aura as sharp as a blade. The cunning demeanor vanished, replaced by a grandmaster who stood in its place. "I saw your potential, recognized your worth... yet you're overreaching. A worm? Calling Yutan Sword a worm?" She is young and beautiful. Even if her noble family had fallen, he considered taking her under his wing for a time and thus approached. 'A worm?' What did this insignificant wench dare say to him? Yutan Sword couldn't fathom it. 'Has this nose-in-the-air family even as a fallen lineage not yet abandoned its pride?' The Tang Clan, which once basked in glory, had dwindled away to whispers and mockery. It appeared this wench was unaware of their current disgrace. Perhaps. 'Having soared so high, it's often hard to accept a fall.' The Tang Clan was once one of the Four Distinguished Families, possessing unmatched toxic arts and supplying much of the iron weaponry across the realm. Had they simply maintained their station, they could have preserved their prominence. Yet the Tang Clan, in their bid to retain glory, crossed a line they shouldn't have, and when this truth came to light, they had to step down from their pedestal. They lost the power of a noble clan, and much of what they had evaporated into thin air. So, where does the Tang Clan stand now? The answer was evident in how others viewed the woman. Cold, cutting assessments — no admiration or envy for a scion of a noble lineage. Upon recognizing her as a descendant of the Tang Clan, contemptuous gazes took precedence. That was the position the Tang Clan occupied now. 'What makes this wench arrogant enough to lift her head high?' Despite the contempt and disgust in her gaze, her eyes were beautiful, resolute. Her eyes met Yutan Sword's piercing stare without a trace of wavering amidst the heavy aura. 'I desire her.' In spite of himself, Yutan Sword found himself drawn to her. Enraged by her unknowable dignity, yet simultaneously intrigued. Oh, how he wished to possess her. Such thoughts fortified his resolve. "Do you not know your place, or have you simply forgotten it? How audacious your words are." What had she said? That he would never possess her? "...Haha! If you think this is the old Tang Clan speaking, you are gravely mistaken. Or perhaps you are unaware of who Yutan Sword is." "How could I not know? I am well aware, senior." Her earlier sharp words and aura had shifted, now refined, but Yutan Sword could not unhear what he had witnessed. "And yet you behave so toward me? It seems the young miss is under some grave misapprehension." Yutan Sword's eyes glinted as he released even more force. "Khh!" "My...!" Martial artists nearby let out muffled cries, almost like screams. "It's not that I am too much for you, Miss, but it seems you are too much for me to handle." Boldness is fine, but one must know their limits. How dare she raise her nose to him? With this intent, he spoke. Heh. He heard laughter up front. That sound made Yutan Sword's brow twitch and furrow. "Laughing?" "Ah, my apologies. I couldn't help it." Even as she spoke, Tang Soyeol appeared unable to suppress her laughter. "What is so amusing? Do my words amuse you so?" "Yes. I tried not to laugh, but it was indeed funny." Covering her mouth, Tang Soyeol continued, meeting Yutan Sword's eyes with a belittling gaze. "I ought to be thankful if my body appears desirable to you, but it's hard to decide whether that is flattering or repulsive." Yutan Sword frowned as he listened to her words. Her rhetoric was one thing, but another factor troubled him. 'How did she slip away?' He had been holding her wrist, yet somehow, at some unknown moment, Tang Soyeol had managed to reclaim her hand. Though he had never let go. "Firstly, let me strongly reinforce that sentiment by stating that my body is already claimed." "Are you saying you have a fiancé?" "It's a feeling this woman holds alone. She simply has no intention of giving herself to anyone else." "Hah." Did she mean to suggest she was in some romantic epic despite having no fiancé? As Yutan Sword stifled a sneer, Tang Soyeol continued. "However, if someone surpassing him appears, perhaps both my body and heart might be swayed. It's just that—" Tang Soyeol tidied her hair with one hand as she addressed Yutan Sword. "Neither you, senior, akin to vermin, nor anyone else surpasses him. So, do not take it to heart." "...Well." As Tang Soyeol finished speaking, Yutan Sword smiled. Simultaneously, he gathered energy in his dantian, intensifying his aura even further. Fwooooosh—!! The pressure around them intensified, and Yutan Sword's gaze brimmed with murder intent. "Are you saying the one who desires your body is the number one under heaven?" Better than anyone else, certainly not himself. It was an egoistic delusion, unchecked arrogance. "In Yutan Sword's presence, those are words I cannot easily let pass." For she was a precious beauty. Moreover, youthful and enticing. Thus, he had restrained himself, but undoubtedly, he was pushing the limits. At this rate, there was no choice. "I must show you the truth." Now, her body no longer mattered. All that remained for Yutan Sword was to instruct this foolish 'junior' on reality. "I will show you the world." He intended to demonstrate the harshness of reality right here and now. With this intention, Yutan Sword moved to draw his sword. “Such a pathetic old man, really.” A voice echoed from somewhere behind him, and Yutan Sword instinctively turned his head to the right. 'What?' But there was nothing there. Confused, his eyes darted around. Suddenly, a hand appeared and grasped his shoulder. Then the voice came from his left. "It's not easy doing this with everyone watching, is it?" The voice, tinged with a hint of laughter, made Yutan Sword tense. He was about to draw his sword to shake off the sudden intrusion. “Damn...!” But he couldn't break free. As he strained to release himself, it felt as though his entire body was bound tightly. Sensing an odd tension, Yutan Sword mustered his qi with all his strength. CRASH—!! Though the qi surged forth, it refused to burst outwards. “Huh...!?” Facing this unexpected situation, Yutan Sword let out a hollow breath. His qi was manifesting, yet failed to escape his body. Whoever had seized him was preventing the energy from spilling out. This individual, who was effortlessly absorbing his full strength, rendered Yutan Sword's efforts meaningless. And all this while being so close? This was an impossibility. It meant someone was fully absorbing his pressure while standing right next to him. ‘This is ridiculous—!’ Faced with the absurdity of it all, Yutan Sword grit his teeth and desperately tried to generate more power. "Old man." The dry voice continued, “Let go of the sword. No need for needless actions.” CRUNCH—!! “Ugh!?” The pressure he previously felt completely reversed into an overwhelming force crushing him down. His legs trembled as if they were ready to buckle, though even that was not allowed. Who was this? Who could possibly exert such massive pressure? Cold sweat began to form on Yutan Sword's brow. Meanwhile, the onlookers also sensed the strange shift in the atmosphere. “Phew…. The pressure... it's gone.” "Finally, I can breathe again...." The surrounding martial artists sighed in relief as the immense pressure from Yutan Sword dissipated. “Did Yutan Sword pull back his energy?” “Then what just happened?” Observing the reactions, Yutan Sword swallowed hard. ‘...The pressure is gone?’ They said the external pressure had disappeared. Yet here he was, still under this intense force. This meant only one thing. ‘The pressure is focused solely on me.’ The force was delicately controlled so that only Yutan Sword felt it, amidst a crowd of people, and it was immense. ‘...This is impossible.’ How could such precise manipulation even be feasible? Even Yutan Sword couldn't manage this kind of meticulous control over so much pressure. It was chilling, terrifying even. Not only had this mysterious person approached without him noticing, but they had also utterly immobilized him. 'I need to escape, no matter what.' Deciding escape was the best course of action, Yutan Sword attempted to employ the ultimate technique of his martial arts, preparing to draw his sword once more. Click—! And just as Yutan Sword's sword inched its way free from its sheath, a voice intervened. [Put it back.] Smack—! "What!?" At those words, he unconsciously shoved the sword back into its sheath. What on earth was happening? Yutan Sword's eyes darted wildly in disbelief. While his composure was gradually unraveling, the voice addressed others in front of him. “You two, put those away.” His voice turned to Tang Soyeol and another woman. Only then could Yutan Sword see them clearly. The daughter of the Tang Clan clutched a dagger in her hand, while the descendant of the Sword Sovereign had her sword half drawn. “There are too many eyes watching,” the youth remarked again, prompting the two women to calmly recede. Clink. As the dagger and sword disappeared, the pressure aimed at Yutan Sword eased as well. Noticing this, Yutan Sword finally managed to speak. “...Who are you?” He queried, bewildered by the immense pressure the stranger had exerted. “Why do you care?” The youth dismissed the query with a tone filled with disdain and continued speaking. "I was trying to just watch but couldn't help intervening. Why is an old man ogling a young kid? Did you leave your morals behind in your quest for power?" His voice, layered with irritation, hinted at youth. "Act your age. The time for swinging your dick around carelessly is long past, isn’t it? Jeez?" The crude and sharp words, embedded with such raw emotion, made Yutan Sword swallow nervously. The hostility was unmistakable. "Why are you causing a scene here? Want me to rip it off for you? So you can never use it again? Wouldn't that be better?" What exactly did he mean by 'rip it off'? The thought lingered, but Yutan Sword didn't dare to ask further. Deep down, he suspected he already knew the answer. "Nah, no need to ask. I should just rip it off. It's the right choice for scum like you." "...!" The chilling words made Yutan Sword's spine tingle with fear. Pressure or not, he realized he needed to flee now. Otherwise...! "S-Stop!" "Hold—!" “Tch.” A sudden ray of hope pierced Yutan Sword's desperate situation. A person, appearing to be an official martial artist in charge, pushed through the crowd to intervene. “Please cease this conflict! Unapproved fights before the tournament are forbidden!” Upon hearing the martial artist's words, the pressure vanished instantly. The hand that gripped his shoulder disappeared. At last, Yutan Sword was free, gasping for air. “Huuh...huh...” Regaining his breath, he instinctively turned to identify his captor. “…!!” Once he saw the person, Yutan Sword was utterly shocked. The individual was young. So young it seemed improbable, possibly only in his early twenties. Setting aside the fierce features that seemed striking for a young face, could it be that this youthful appearance was concealing even younger years? It appeared impossible to view this face as anything beyond an adolescent phase. Was this young man truly the one who had subdued him? “Look at those eyes. Are you going to lower them?” At the youth’s sharp words, Yutan Sword involuntarily avoided direct eye contact. 'Damn it—!' Feeling the sting of his humiliated pride, Yutan Sword's grip tightened on his sword. "Stop...!! If this conflict continues any further, you will be disqualified!" The martial artist from the league warned, and Yutan Sword barely managed to hold himself back. He had come to this martial arts tournament to make a name for himself. However, risking it all before it even began was not an option. Surely his opponent understood the same. Because of that, some of the tremor in Yutan Sword's voice receded. "You... you got lucky." "What?" "Touching me so brazenly, I could easily sever that hand of yours. But it seems the league's rules have granted you a reprieve." He was certain that his opponent would avoid disqualification at all costs, just like him. However, what he didn't realize was— “Next time, you won't be so lucky, so prepare yourse—” "The hell are you babbling about, you bastard?" His opponent, Gu Yangcheon, wasn’t the kind of person who’d care about such formalities. Whoosh—! "What?" Gu Yangcheon’s leg shot out towards Yutan Sword, and seeing this, Yutan instinctively cloaked his body in energy. A protective barrier manifested around him, a hallmark of a high-level master's body protection technique—a formidable shield not easily broken. And yet. Crack—! “…!!!” Gu Yangcheon's kick shattered Yutan Sword’s protective barrier like tofu. It was unbelievable. He needed to dodge. That was the thought racing through Yutan Sword's mind, but Gu Yangcheon’s leg moved faster. Crunch—! "!" The tip of Gu Yangcheon’s foot made a direct hit to Yutan Sword’s groin. A sound of something breaking echoed in Yutan Sword’s ears. “Ugh!” “Oh...” “Ugh…!” The men watching instinctively winced, covering their own groins. It was an involuntary reaction, a natural instinct. Thud. Not long after, Yutan Sword collapsed to the ground. And then. “Arrrghhhhhhh!!” Yutan Sword experienced a whole new universe of pain.