688 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 688 of "Childhood Friend of the World's Strongest" > Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archives "What did you come back for?" It was late at night when Pae jon and I crossed paths after completing my training. Upon hearing my question, Pae jon furrowed his brows deeply. "Is that really the first thing you ask your teacher after not seeing him for days?" "I figured you'd return eventually." Truth be told, I had hoped he would take his time coming back. Maybe a week or two...? I thought that would be ideal, but unfortunately, Pae jon returned far too soon. And too loudly at that. "I didn't expect you to come back so noisily." I mean, quite loudly. "Did you know the entire Hanan was in an uproar today?" "Isn't Hanan always a noisy place?" True enough. Hanan is the most bustling place in Zhongyuan, so it's naturally lively. 'The problem is that today was much more heated than usual.' I looked at Pae jon. I recalled the conversations I heard countless times today. "Are you really going to participate?" The Duel Dragon Bi Euijin is entering the martial arts tournament. This piece of news had spread throughout the streets of Hanan. All the talk about me during the day seemed to vanish like water washing away debris when this news surfaced. The Six Dragons of Three Peaks are entering the tournament. In reality, it's not that significant a matter. Tang Soyol, the Poisonous Phoenix, was also said to participate, and Shin ryong was expected to join as well. Yet, the buzz around the least recognized, the Duel Dragon, was for a different reason. -It was revealed that the Duel Dragon is a direct disciple of Pae jon, one of the Three Honored. The fact that a disciple of Pae jon, one of the Three Honored, was officially acknowledged caused quite the commotion today. But, the world doesn't know. 'That the so-called "disciple" is Pae jon himself…' I looked at the man munching on the dumplings I had bought. He seemed indifferent to my question, but I knew it wasn't truly the case. "Why? Is it a problem if I enter?" "Isn't it like an adult crashing a kids' game?" Pae jon burst into laughter, as if finding the accusation absurd. "Disciple, do you think you are any different?" "I'm just a kid, you know." "Look who's talking." He sighed deeply while holding a dumpling. Watching him, I asked. "Master." "Yes." "Was this what you were planning to tell me the other day?" Back when I met Shin ryong. He had said he had something to convey at the inn back then. Could this have been it? Upon my question with that intent. "Correct." Pae jon confirmed it. So it was indeed what he had intended to say back then. Was he really planning to enter the martial arts tournament? I asked incredulously. "Why do you intend to?" "Doesn't it seem fun?" "That's not usually your style." He usually dismisses mock battles, treating them as child's play. He only spars with me to teach or blow off steam. Even if it's a festival, he detests fighting weaklings. Why would he want to join a martial arts tournament? "Sometimes, such things can be necessary." "...Is it possible?" "Yes." "You're not trying to beat me up publicly or anything, are you...?" Swish-! I dodged his incoming flick to my forehead. Once I evaded it, a chill ran down my spine. 'Is this old man out of his mind?' There was energy infused in Pae jon's hand strike. "You dodged?" "Were you planning to smash my head in?" "You wouldn't die even if you got hit." "...What a terrifying thing to say." As he said, a mere head injury wouldn't kill me, but hearing that from one's mentor is still shocking. "If I wanted to beat you, I'd just do it as I please." "Were you trying to demonstrate that by going for my head?" "It was a straightforward explanation, wasn't it?" "...Yes, quite easy to grasp." So easy it makes me mad. "In addition to that." While I was frowning deeply, Pae jon continued calmly. "Initially, I intended just to get a feel by entering. But since I'm at it, spreading my name seemed convenient, so I used it. What do you think? I'm using my own status." It was a valid point. Claiming that Bi Euijin is Pae jon's disciple, no one would contest it. Duel Dragon is Pae jon himself. Either as Bi Euijin or Bi Joo, as both belong to the Xian Bi lineage, the legitimacy is there. And yet. "I thought you never cared about such things… spreading your name." Pae jon was known to remain silent until a war broke out in his past life. If he hadn't self-admitted his rejuvenation and return to youth, others might never have known until his dying day. Why did it suddenly become convenient now? Just as I was about to voice my doubt. "There’s no better way to suppress trivial rumors than this." "...!" Hearing Pae jon's words, I had to swallow my breath. At the same time, I looked at him with slightly widened eyes. Could he mean... 'Is it due to the rumors spreading across Zhongyuan?' There had been circulating rumors about an organization called the Demon Cult that suddenly appeared in Zhongyuan. The whispers that its leader, the Heavenly Demon, might be Pae jon were just faint outlines now. Though not greatly spread yet, the idea that one of the Three Honored could possibly do such things was dismissed as nonsense. Even so, it still gnawed at some. 'Is that why?' Could that be the reason Pae jon decided to act? Was he bothered by such misunderstandings? 'No. He wouldn’t concern himself with that nonsense.' Pae jon would usually scoff at such trivial gossip rather than act upon it. Then why indeed? If I tried to find a cause, one possibility came to mind. '…Could it be me?' Because of me. If Pae jon suspected I had ties to the Demon Cult and moved to quell the rumors himself. Claiming Duel Dragon as Pae jon’s disciple and demonstrating that he was nurturing disciples would be an effective way to quiet the current rumors. That would be one possible reason. 'But…I don't think so.' No, it couldn't be. Pae jon wouldn't go out of his way for me. Around the time I received the information, it seemed like Pae jon suspected something, but he wouldn't act solely because of his suspicions. I wanted to believe he wouldn't do such a thing. "Why are you looking at me like that?" "It's nothing..." "Silly boy," Pae jon chuckled softly at my reaction. "Anyway, since I've decided to enter, make sure you're aware of it." "...Understood." The thought of battling Pae jon in the martial arts tournament... 'Is that okay?' I've been analyzing each participant, and with Pae jon involved, could this disrupt my plans? 'I guess I'll have to see how things play out.' It might depend on how the scenario unfolds. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like it would pose a significant issue. "...Now I can beat you up openly, heh." I decided to ignore his quiet musing. With a faint sigh, an idea struck me, causing me to address Pae jon. "Ah, sir." "What is it?" "Just out of curiosity…” After taking a breath, I continued. "Do you know anything about my grandfather?" "Hmm?" Pae jon tilted his head quizzically at my question. While asking about my grandfather outright might seem strange, I had my reasons. 'Pae jon is close with Elder Il and Amwang, and Amwang had mentioned my grandfather.' With that logic, I hoped Pae jon might know something too. However, Pae jon’s answer was vague. "Well." He pondered a moment, then replied, "I'm not quite sure what to say…. It's a mystery." "What do you mean by that?" "It's as I said. But why are you asking?" "I was just suddenly curious." Lacking a reason to explain the details, I chose to keep it vague. "Your father never told you anything?" "No, he didn't." My father had never mentioned anything about my grandfather to me. At least, not to my knowledge. Since my birth, my father was the head of the Gu family, and it was the same in my past life. "Hmm…" Pae jon seemed deep in thought, pondering his response. ‘Is this something to be so pensive about?’ I merely wanted a description of the person, but it seemed there was something more complex at work. “If we had to compare... you'd be about half like him." "What?" Pae jon's unexpected answer puzzled me. Half like whom? "He was like a blend between your father and you—a half-and-half type." "What does that mean?" "Let's put it like this." With a sudden clarity, Pae jon clapped his hands. "A genteel madman." "...?" Though he seemed satisfied with his explanation, '...What does that even mean?' To me, it made no sense at all. Saying "half-and-half" and then calling him a "genteel madman"… 'If I'm the genteel part, does that mean my father is the madman? But he doesn't seem like that at all.' As I puzzled over it, Pae jon added, "If you're more curious, ask your father or, perhaps if you meet, Amwang." "Amwang, you say." "Yes, that guy will know more than I do." "..." His explanation left my questions unanswered, and I found myself silently mulling over his words. My father hadn’t returned, nor had Amwang. Which meant eventually... 'I have to meet Gu Heebi.' Ultimately, I would need to seek her out and get my answers. There was no other resolution. 'Besides, there's no point in delaying it any further.' I glanced at the drawer. Specifically, the damaged Gem of the Demonic Corpse, which lay hidden within it. It was an artifact said to be given to Mi Buin by my father. 'I need to see her because of that.' To repair the broken relic, I needed to meet with Gu Heebi. Or rather, the Heavenly Demon she's accompanying. I needed to find her and through her, locate one person. 'If it’s the Heavenly Demon, he would surely know.' The old man who tampered with the mechanisms of the Demon Cult. And. 'The one who artificially created strange artifacts.' Mechanist Tae Jeolge. The Heavenly Demon would surely know where he was. ****************** As time passed, and the sun climbed high into the sky. The streets of Hanan currently teemed with people, bustling with life, with no space to be seen. "Everyone, be careful!" "Don't push too far forward! You'll get trampled by the horses!" It was no wonder. Even with the wide roads, the throngs of people made the space feel tight as control was exerted over the flow. It was an all-too-suffocating scene. To think people could gather so densely with no room to breathe... 'I would go mad from the claustrophobia.' Just watching them made me want to burst free at once. Yet, the individuals in the street wore faces filled with anticipation. The reason for that was simple. "They're coming!" "Where? Where are they?" "The Emei Sect!" They could see the warriors entering from the very entrance of Hanan City. The horses, slowing down from the entrance, pulled the carriages inside, while the fluttering flags caught my eye. ‘The Emei Sect…’ I knew of them. They were a famous group, after all. One of the Nine Great Schools, the Emei Sect. A prestigious school based in Sichuan. ‘I have no memories of dealing with them.’ In my past life, I heard that the Sword Demon killed the leader of the Emei Sect during the siege of Sichuan. As a result, they were almost wiped out, even if not entirely. Beyond that, I had little recollection. They didn’t seem important. With a rather indifferent gaze, I watched their procession when I heard a voice from the front. “I didn’t expect the Emei Sect to come first.” Turning, I saw it was Moyong Heea speaking as she sipped her tea. I asked her back. “Why?” “The women of the Emei Sect are particularly proud. I didn’t expect them to show up at the very start.” The Emei Sect was composed solely of women, wasn't it? 'True.' The order or sequence is part of the posturing or their rivalry, which was peculiar. ‘There must be a reason.' It's not something I'm particularly interested in. It's merely one of those trivial matters. As the Emei Sect captivated the crowd's attention, another group made their entrance. "Look there—It's the Huashan Sect from the Mount Hua!" My attention was drawn to the shout. 'Ah.' This time, it wasn't carriages but people entirely on foot. Familiar martial robes came into view. A subtle scent of plum blossoms mingled with the breeze. I noticed the embroidery of plum blossom leaves on their pristine white uniforms. They were the Huashan Sect, Guardian of Shaanxi. It brought a small smile to my face. "It's been a while." A group of dozens entered with calm strides, without the use of horses or carriages. Leading them was an elderly man with an amiable appearance. "It's the Plum Blossom Immortal!" "Wow—!" The elder was none other than the head of Huashan, one of Zhongyuan's top ten masters. Mei Hwa Seon (Plum Blossom Immortal). 'I didn't expect him to show up in person.' I thought Mei Hwa Seon wouldn't appear in Hanan, just like the last Orthodox Assembly. Yet here he was, having left Shaanxi for some reason. The audience's cheers grew louder as Mei Hwa Seon waved slightly in response. I watched this scene unfold from the inn window. It was one of the rooms the Baekhwa Group had reserved in advance, offering a clear view of the street. "It seems like everyone is gathering now." Following my gaze, Wi Seol A and Tang Soyol peeked out the window too. "Yes, it's about time they started arriving." It wasn't just the Emei and Huashan. Most of the Nine Great Schools, perhaps all of them, were expected to attend, along with numerous renowned families and martial arts masters. A gathering. The pillars of the Orthodox Faction congregating in one place drew more attendees than the first day, many times over. The crowd was overwhelmingly larger than any day before. Watching the continuous flow of arrivals, I turned to Moyong Heea and asked, "Is the Moyong family coming too?" Since the Moyong family was one of the Four Great Families, I wondered if they would attend the martial arts tournament. She replied, "No, I heard they won't be attending the competition." "Really?" "Yes. And it seems the head of the family won't be coming to Hanan." "Hmm…" So, the head of the Moyong family, Baekcheon Swordmaster, wouldn’t come to Hanan? 'That's odd.' I thought he'd come. Being skilled in both politics and business, I expected Baekcheon Swordmaster to attend. This was quite unexpected. 'What's more important than the martial arts tournament?' While the question lingered, I shook my head to dispel it. There must be a reason. 'Anyway, if the Moyong family is also absent, it means only two of the Four Great Families will participate.' I'd heard that the Peng and Namgung families were attending. As for the Tang family... 'Tang Soyol is attending, but it's rather ambiguous.' Given the current situation, with the loss of prestige the Tang family faced, Dokwang won't be coming to Hanan. So practically, only two families from the Four Great Families would actually participate. "Two from the Four Great Families... at least five from the Nine Great Schools..." "Pardon?" "Nothing. Just something I was thinking about." The numbers seemed satisfactory. Organizing my thoughts, I watched the hustle and bustle outside the window. "The Eastern Sword of the Geum family!" "Beside him is the Muksung Fist too! Does that mean the Muksung School is participating?" "Even the Golden Iron Sabre is here!" I heard the names of both renowned schools and families as well as those of promising martial artists. With so many warriors gathering, it seemed like even the air was filled with competitive energy. Sensing this, I shifted my gaze. 'They've arrived.' The gathering of formidable warriors. Seeing this, it was impossible not to feel the anticipation in the air. The "Shinryong Martial Arts Tournament." The time to unleash chaos at the officially sanctioned event by the Martial Alliance had finally come. ****************** While Gu Yang Cheon was cooling down as he observed the assembly, Someone else was watching from atop a roof, looking down on the crowd below. They observed the bustling crowd, shifting their gaze here and there in curiosity. The person with their hands behind their back was inspecting people, speaking as if intrigued. "There are so many. So very many." Were there always this many people? The old man tried to recall, but it was a memory too ancient to bring to mind. It was understandable, as he had long forgotten most things. "There are so many, I feel like burning them all." The words spoken out of nowhere were chilling in their calmness. Said with an expressionless face, making it all the more ominous. Would it be worth testing out that impulse right away? A moment's destructive urge flared within him, yet the old man remained still. "..." He reminded himself of his purpose. He hadn't come here just to crush these pests. "...Yes. There was a reason." With a shake of his head, the old man slowly turned away. He began to walk, and yet no footsteps could be heard. "Where should I go?" Where should he go to meet his "grandchild"? As he pondered this, his eyes gleamed a fiery red. In a flash, he vanished in a burst of flames.