687 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 687: The Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive 'Well, isn't this something.' As I gazed at the sunlight filtering through the bars, a peculiar emotion washed over me. The air felt somewhat damp. Despite the sunlight streaming in, the space was curiously dim. It seemed to be somewhat maintained, yet the objects within held an odd sense of age and wear. Looking at these things, I couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle. 'So this is how it happens.' The room was set up with a chair and table, designated for interrogations. It was located in the underground of the League, and perhaps, with time, would serve a different purpose entirely. 'To think I'd find myself here again.' Though I was staring at a perfectly intact wall now, that wall would eventually be torn down to make way for iron bars. Currently termed as an interrogation room, it would later be more aptly called a prison cell. Indeed, this place was located precisely where I had met my end in a past life, in the underground prison. The only difference now was its current use labeled as an interrogation room, rather than a cell. Realizing this, and staring intently, a peculiar sentiment lingered in my heart. A mix of unease from returning to a place where I had died in a past existence. And a certain sense of displacement from coming back to a somewhat altered position. Caught in that introspection and making a turn with my gaze. Click. Crinkle. A sound came from the front. It was the noise of something being poured into a teacup. I looked at the elderly man holding a water jar, the figure framed beyond the steaming tea. The robe he wore signified someone from the League. Within, the faint symbols reminiscent of the Wudang were visible. And the room was filled with a subtle but weighty spiritual presence. It was not the aura of an amateur martial artist; no, it was clearly that of a true master. The presence gave me shivers, much like when I had met the Sword Emperor. Indeed, I felt no different when I laid eyes on the old man earlier. 'Of course, it makes sense.' Just as the Sword Emperor stood among the ranks of the top ten masters, this old man was no different, naturally. Once the tea had been poured, the wise eyes turned to me. "It's been a while." At the elder’s greeting, I took a moment to compose my breath. "Yes, it's been some time, Sect Leader... or rather, Alliance Leader, as I should address you now." I was facing the Wudang’s Sword Sage, who currently bore the responsibility of leading the Martial Alliance. At my words, the Sword Sage lifted the corners of his mouth subtly. "You can call me whatever you wish. For the title of Wudang's Sect Leader is also a name I must bear." I nodded slightly to his response. 'Along with Wudang's Sect Leader... he said.' Something about the order of things didn’t seem quite right. 'It's as though the Alliance Leader title takes precedence.' Indeed, it seemed the Sword Sage was increasingly withdrawing from matters concerning Wudang. I had heard that he had even appointed a representative to manage affairs on his behalf, indicating a certain trend. 'Perhaps this suggests the Martial Alliance holds more significance.' It seemed this was for the best, from the perspective of the League. 'There’s a reason why the alignment heads haven’t traditionally filled the Alliance Leader role for the past decades.' Recalling past Alliance Leaders, there were a select few heads, but the Sword Sage was the first Sect Leader to take on the role. The reason was simple. 'Typically, Sect Leaders prioritize the sect above all.' Many within the lineages would place greater importance on their sect than on their own lives. Undoubtedly, the most critical among them were the Sect Leaders, which is why many were hesitant to entrust the Alliance to them. Moreover, Daoists, by their nature, sought enlightenment, making the idea of delegating political duties to them unconvincing. 'This man is something else.' This old Sword Sage, whether for good or ill, seemed aptly suited to bear the title of Alliance Leader. Indeed, he had always exuded a peculiar worldly desire for a Daoist. As we maintained eye contact, the Sword Sage spoke to me. "I came by once I heard something happened to a treasured young one." "I wouldn't say I'm particularly treasured, however...." "Haha, treasured you are. The young generation represents the future of the righteous path. How can they not be cherished?" "I appreciate your words." Though I didn't truly feel grateful, I coated my words with honey. Protesting here held no meaning anyway. "So, I heard there was an incident with your senior martial artist." "It was due to a very trivial misunderstanding that a conflict arose." "A conflict stemming from a misunderstanding...." Upon hearing my story, the Alliance Leader's smile deepened. I had to conceal the discomfort I felt at that sight. 'To think the old man would personally show up.' I assumed I would just undergo a standard investigation. I never anticipated the Alliance Leader himself would come. I had thought it would be the Sword Emperor at worst. 'What on earth is happening?' I pondered why this old man would come looking for me. Surely it wasn't because some cherished young person had been captured—that wasn't like him. "It seems to have spiraled into quite the unusual affair, all things considered." "…" "I heard you fought on par with Yootan Sword. Is that true?" That idiot. With all his openings, how could I leave him unscathed? I had meant to go easy, but he was so weak that I ended up crushing him more than intended. 'Though I can't exactly say it like that…' Mulling over my words, I spoke cautiously. "It was a coincidence and a miracle. Senior Yootan Sword went easy on me, certainly." "A miracle…." The Sword Sage donned a peculiar expression. As I observed him, I narrowed my eyes too. "Even if you term it a miracle, it’s evident that your potential is exceptional. Remarkable indeed." "Not at all. As I mentioned, Senior Yootan was simply lenient with me." "The Sword Emperor mentioned he couldn’t even discern your level." "…" I had been about to feign humility when I heard those words, pausing in surprise. It was an unforeseen outcome. If what the Sword Sage said was true, it was a blunder on my part. '… Oh dear, should I have lowered it further?' Thinking I'd dialed down my strength sufficiently to just reveal enough before the Sword Emperor, it seems even that was too much. A clear miscalculation. 'My level is evidently higher than anticipated.' I thought I’d reduced it adequately for the Sword Emperor to gauge easily. Apparently, it needed to be even lower. "Could it be the Sword Emperor was simply tired that day?" "The Sword Emperor? Haha." The Sword Sage laughed. Of course, it sounded absurd. That cold man making a mistake just because he was tired? Impossible. Though the Sword Emperor was referred to as the Alliance Leader's escort... Moreover, he was an individual who protected the Martial Alliance itself. A person who never made mistakes and never retreated. The Iron-Blooded Sword Emperor. That was the epithet he was known by. The Sword Sage knew this well, which was why he wore a smile, and internally, I couldn’t help but sigh. "At first, I thought you had mastered an unusual martial art. But seeing you in person, it's different, isn't it?" The more the Sword Sage spoke, the clearer his intentions became. "You are strong. Perhaps much stronger than the world realizes." "Well, I haven't exactly been told I'm weak." I tried changing my expression. I intended to control it, but it seemed pointless now. I threw a jest, but the Sword Sage maintained his expression. Though smiling, the emotion in his eyes was dry even for a Daoist. "It seems Central Plains has been blessed with a significant fortune." "Alliance Leader." I interrupted the Sword Sage and questioned him directly. "It seems like you have something you want to say. As your junior, I’m all ears." Enough with the circling—just get to the point. I laced my statement with this sentiment. This caused a slight ripple in the Sword Sage's smile. 'Tiring of this cat and mouse game.' I think I understand why the Alliance Leader sought me out. The duel with Yootan Sword itself seemed to be the problem, among other things. 'My strength seems to be an issue.' A power level much higher than expected. It seemed there was some problem with me possessing such strength. "I hear you're planning on participating in the Martial Meeting. Is that true?" "Yes, it’s said to be a festival directly organized by the Martial Alliance, and as a member of the Orthodox lineage, I felt compelled to attend." I hid my true motives within my words. I merely intended to join because the event was hosted by them. That was the implication of my words. "For someone like me, lacking experience, it should be an invaluable opportunity." "Indeed. It will be a valuable experience not only for you but for all martial artists." "Yes, I have great expectations." "While I appreciate those words, there’s one thing you should know." "I'm listening." I focused my gaze on the Sword Sage. "Given the internal conflict, failure to manage things well might lead to your attendance rights being revoked." Upon hearing the Sword Sage, my eyes widened. "Gasp...! Is that true?" Feigning ignorance, I covered my mouth with my hand and reacted as if shocked. "I didn’t know...! Such a significant matter!" "Therefore, depending on the situation, you might not be able to participate in the Martial Meeting." "I see...." I lowered my gaze and put on a regretful expression. Then I added. "As per the laws of the Alliance, I will act according to the ruling. After all, the fault was mine." I said it with a smile. If they wanted to exclude me, I could accept that decision. That was my genuine feeling. 'Judging by the state of affairs, something seems up.' For the Alliance Leader, the Sword Sage himself, to come check on me, there must be something at play. Thus, he wanted to see if they truly could exclude me. Although I was at fault according to the circumstances, my initial impression upon entering was different. They couldn’t exclude me. 'More specifically, they couldn’t exclude someone connected with Yootan Sword.' The incident had indeed occurred. Yet, the involvement of someone among the top one hundred of the Central Plains was a problem. One of the top hundred masters from the Central Plains participating in the Martial Meeting. Even that fact alone considerably enhanced the value of the event. To exclude such a master over a trivial matter? That would be a significant loss for the Martial Alliance. Thus, they would seek a way to brush things under the carpet. Rumors about me had likely already spread. 'They'll spin tales about the young man who faced off against a top hundred master... and so forth.' Even a bit of interest could arise. The Martial Alliance couldn’t easily dismiss that. Especially in a period when they needed to attract attention. So I predicted I'd be able to walk free not long after. 'That was the assessment I made coming in.' Judging by the Sword Sage's reaction, there was something unusual. 'If they do exclude me here, there must be a reason.' Typically, violating rules would naturally mean disqualification, but the Martial Alliance wouldn’t handle it that way. That was a belief I held. A belief that there was no way they’d handle it like that. Knowing this, if they did choose to exclude me— 'It's tangible proof that something is being orchestrated behind the scenes.' And my presence was evidently an obstruction to that. If that evidence was gathered, I’d simply need to adjust my plans a bit. 'The Martial Meeting? Hell, if I don’t need to attend, then so be it.' The plan involving Bongsoon was somewhat deprioritized, but if things got twisted, there’d be no problem utilizing it right away. Thinking this, I looked at the Sword Sage. "…" A silence descended. Having listened, the Sword Sage was also looking at me. I maintained eye contact without averting my gaze. I was curious what decision he’d make. Or what words he’d say. Musing on that as I watched him. "Haha." The Sword Sage’s laughter echoed once more. "There's no need for such concerns. Today… I came merely out of curiosity about you." "I see." "And the interrogation is also complete, so you'll be released soon. This meeting was borne from my insistence, so if I’ve taken your time, I apologize." "That's truly relieving to hear." It appears, thankfully, that things aren’t turning out as I might have feared. "They will undoubtedly verify internally, but I doubt anything significant will arise." The Alliance Leader's words were nearly a confirmation. "We cannot allow a trivial matter to obscure a rising great star of the Central Plains, wouldn’t you agree?" "A star... that’s quite an embarrassing statement." Well, I don’t plan to remain merely a star, anyway. Creak. The Sword Sage spoke as he stood up. "If I have taken your time, I am sorry. I hope we meet again in more favorable circumstances next time." It seemed the conversation had reached its end. Although we hadn’t exchanged many words, it seemed the Sword Sage had achieved his purpose. 'Or perhaps he deemed it too indecisive to make further attempts.' Whatever the case, the Sword Sage had a purpose for visiting me. Realizing that was sufficient for now. Without losing his smile, the Sword Sage said to me. "I hope you perform well at the Martial Meeting." "Thank you for your words. I intend to do my best." "Oh, by the way, I heard you're a close friend of my child." Naturally, the child mentioned by the Sword Sage referred to Woo-hyuk. "Yes, we're inseparable." "He was always a source of concern for me, but having an excellent friend eases my mind. I hope you continue to get along well." "Haha…." I laughed, though it wasn’t amusing in the least. To think that this person, who once directly told Woo-hyuk not to associate with someone like me in a previous life, was now saying such things. Moreover. 'A source of concern?' What utter nonsense. The man discarded Woo-hyuk like trash in a past life, yet here he was, pretending to be a caring sect leader. It churned my stomach. But I swallowed it down. I had to. "Yes. I’ll take good care of him." "Yes, yes. Thank you." Tap-! The Sword Sage finally left the room, closing the door behind him. Only once the door was closed did I let go of the smile I had been maintaining. 'It's not easy.' It's really not easy. The world harbors far too many people who deserve their just desserts, an understanding I know all too well. Given that knowledge, it was far from easy. ****************** Perhaps a little over half an hour passed after the Sword Sage’s departure. That’s when I was finally able to leave the Alliance building. As I followed the League members outside, something unexpectedly popped out in front of my face. "...What's this?" "It's tofu." "Unbelievable." With a bright smile, Tang So-yeol offered me some tofu. I took it carefully and bit into it. It was tasty… and well-made. "You've worked hard… Are you alright?" "What would be wrong? They just had me sit around before letting me go." It really wasn't much. They call it an interrogation, but they just cautiously observed me while asking a few questions. Even from the Yootan Sword's side, nothing much was said, I'm sure. 'How could they admit such an embarrassment?' Such is the nature of martial artists. They're quick to boast about victories but keep mum about defeats. Especially when a seasoned senior like him nearly got his crotch smashed for making a pass at a woman—how would he explain that? 'I should have gone for a proper break, not just a close call.' If I had struck a bit harder, it might have actually broken. Yet, since a real break would have caused a scene, I held back. Left it at a somewhat treatable level. 'Good thing I'm quite adept at that.' It's a high-level torture method, after all, something only a seasoned expert can execute. It’s because it’s me, that I managed it. While chewing on the tofu in my hand, I asked Tang So-yeol. "Where'd that guy go?" I was referring to Yootan Sword. Surely, he must have left before me, and I hoped nothing unexpected had happened. "Oh… he did come out earlier. But he glared at our group before disappearing quickly." "Really?" So, no more conflicts occurred, it seems. "Why did you wait here? I told you to go on ahead." Before entering the Alliance, I had told Wi Seol-a and Tang So-yeol they could leave if they wished. Yet it seemed the two of them had waited until I emerged. Bong-soon and Seong-yul seemed to have quietly slipped away. Thank goodness, it would have been a hassle if those two had lingered around as well. Not seeing them was a relief. "How could we leave….? It's because of me you got dragged in there." Tang So-yeol replied with a downtrodden expression, prompting a laugh from me. "Did it look like I got dragged in?" "Whether you volunteered or were coerced, it was because of me…. If I had just held back a little…." "As long as nothing happened, what does it matter? Besides, why hold back?" I patted Tang So-yeol’s head as I spoke. "If you hadn't held back at the time, I might have wrecked things even more. That's what it means." The only reason things ended that way was that Tang So-yeol seemed to express anger. Although I don't know what exactly was said to infuriate Yootan Sword so much. 'Thanks to it, I've drawn more attention… but it's not a huge problem.' The extra attention on me? I didn’t particularly mind it. "So why don’t you stop looking that way and let’s grab a meal." I casually suggested, attempting to lead Wi Seol-a and Tang So-yeol away, when— "Ah, Young Master…." Tang So-yeol avoided my hand as he spoke. "I’ve seen you come out now… so I'll be heading off first." "Where are you headed?" Where would you go without even having a meal? In response to my question, Tang So-yeol smiled and replied. "I have something to do. I'll return before it's too late." "…Alright. Take care, then." He mentioned having business, so I didn’t press it further. Though Tang So-yeol seemed to not appear around as frequently lately, there shouldn’t be any issues. He’s capable, after all. After Tang So-yeol disappeared somewhere. "What should we eat? Dumplings perhaps?" Recalling the dumplings we had last time, I suggested, to which Wi Seol-a beamed cheerfully. "Anything’s fine with me." "Then let's go." I gently ruffled Wi Seol-a's hair as we began to walk leisurely. ****************** As expected by the Sword Sage and Guhyangcheon's assumptions, rumors started spreading through Hanam. – A young martial artist went toe-to-toe with one of the top hundred masters, Yootan Sword, and the match didn’t yield a conclusive winner. The accounts of those who had witnessed the skirmish began to circulate by word of mouth. "It's nonsense." "If you're going to make up stories, at least make them somewhat believable." Naturally, most people dismissed it. However. "Oh, I’m telling you, it’s true! I saw it myself!" "Indeed, I also witnessed it firsthand!" There were simply too many who had seen it themselves and spread the rumors, so it didn't take long for the gossip to circulate. A young martial artist. That too at the level of a late-budding talent going head-to-head with a top hundred master, Yootan Sword. That alone was enough to heat up the surroundings. "Yootan Sword is among the absolute masters, and who’s the one who fought him?" "I hear it was a fellow called So-Yeom-Na." "So-Yeom-Na…? Could it be the Sinryong Clan…." Even the suppressed news about him—carefully dampened by both the Beggars Sect and the Alliance—was now spreading. "There was much talk of a new hero back then, and now, a few years later... Even if he's a genius, does this make any sense?" "If it's Yootan Sword, he should be a martial artist at the Supreme Realm... If they were evenly matched, could it be that So-Yeom-Ra has also reached the Supreme Realm?" "That's absurd. So-Yeom-Ra just passed the age of twenty! Supreme Realm? It's not exactly the name of a neighborhood dog!" "Why is it so unbelievable? Right before our eyes, the Divine Dragon reached the Supreme Realm." "Well, that’s because it's the Divine Dragon…!" "Have you forgotten that So-Yeom-Ra was also once called the True Dragon? Back then, rumors spread that he was the youngest to reach the Supreme Realm, didn’t they?" "But the Martial Alliance officially recognized the Divine Dragon…." Debate was ceaseless. For one brief battle to heat up the surroundings like this was something even Guhyangcheon hadn't predicted. Or rather, it would be more precise to say the backlash was much greater than anticipated. Is it true, the rumors? Has So-Yeom-Ra indeed reached the Supreme Realm? If so, when did he achieve it, and what does that mean for past rumors? Further, if those rumors are indeed true— what becomes of the value of the Divine Dragon (信龍), officially recognized by the Alliance? As such musings turned into small whirlwinds of rumor through Hanam— "Here you go." Amid the bustling crowd at the Martial Meeting registration desk, someone handed over a letter. "So-Yeom-Ra is... here..." "So they say Yootan Sword…" The murmurs continued to ripple through the surroundings. Hearing them, a black-haired youth wore a curious expression. It was as if he found the situation absurd. "I leave for just a few days, and look at the fuss he’s caused again. Tsk tsk...." He had only been gone for a brief while on business, yet it seemed enough time for chaos to brew once more. 'He once said he hated getting famous because it was embarrassing. Makes you wonder why he’d bother holding back if things turn out like this.' An utterly confounding fellow. And yet, it was funny to find himself grooming such a person. The youth handed over the letter, which was received and opened by a martial artist of the League. "...Oh." The registration official's eyes widened slightly as he read the letter. "So, So-An Bi’s young master... confirmed." The young man, Bi Ui-jin, flashed a smile at the official's words. As the official carefully prepared the registration plaque— "Oh, and this is something my master asked me to deliver." "Pardon?" "He wanted to send his regards but also apologies for his inability to visit due to being busy." "What...?" With those words, Bi Ui-jin handed over another letter. The registration official took it, opened it, and— "...Gasp!!!" The official's expression shifted from mere surprise to outright astonishment, his body beginning to tremble. For this particular letter was from none other than— "The, the… the Defeated Sovereign…!" One of the Heavenly Triumvirate of the Orthodox Sect. The Defeated Sovereign, Bi Ju. The letter was from him. As the registration official quivered while staring at the letter, Bi Ui-jin smoothly grabbed his registration plaque and moved away. "I've delivered everything, so I'll be off now." "Wa-wait—!! Young Master Bi…!" The official called out urgently, but Bi Ui-jin had already vanished. On the second day of Martial Meeting registration— Tu-ryong (The Fighting Dragon) Bi Ui-jin arrived with a letter from the Defeated Sovereign, demanding participation in the Martial Meeting. This effectively acknowledged— Tu-ryong as a direct disciple of the Defeated Sovereign. Before long, Hanam was rife with a new set of rumors.