695 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Chapter 695: Northern Hare - Web Novel Archive** "Wh-what? How?" The elderly woman with white hair asks, disbelief etched on her face. Others mirrored her reaction. Those who had been preparing to make a dash forward stood frozen, their expressions blank. The previously composed Bima-pa also wore a bewildered expression, seemingly unable to grasp the reality of the situation. "Can I go home now?" I wasn't concerned with any of that. Isn't this enough? At my nonchalant question, Bima-pa struggled to restore her composure. Even so, her eyes trembled cautiously. "...How...how did you do it?" "What do you mean, how?" How else? "I just came over and gave you a tap on the shoulder as instructed. That’s all." I just did as I was told, nothing more. If you strip it down to the bare essentials, isn't it just a simple tale? 'Of course, I did use a few tricks.' I looked around me, examining my surroundings. There was a formation engraved in this place. I realized that fact as soon as I entered. 'The air itself is different.' The way I inhaled and exhaled was distinct from the outside. Right upon entry, the flow of energy felt different from the exterior. Something was distorted and warped. I could feel the abnormal flow as I tuned in. Why would such a flow exist in this place? There was no need to use my mind's eye to confirm it. 'It’s a formation.' The space had a formation carved into it, and the subtle dissonance was surely because of it. Then, what could be the reason for intentionally engraving a formation here? Was it to suggest taking a break within it? That couldn't be the case. Then, there could only be one reason. 'This is a gateway.' An intention to use the formation for something. Initially, it was just a suspicion, but after observing Bima-pa, I was sure. I wondered who erected such a formation, and it turned out to be that old lady. I shifted my gaze, inspecting each detail. 'The wall. A single flower on the west side. The solitary pine tree inside the property.' All these serve as the links and pillars of the formation. Bima-pa's wager was linked to this, completing the formation. It was truly intricate and detailed. As expected of a formation expert acknowledged by the alliance. Such an unyielding formation was rare these days. Perhaps if it were my old self, I would have been no different from those staring at me now. 'But now, I have quite a lot up my sleeve.' My mind's eye perceived even Bima-pa’s formation, and my keen intuition felt the formation’s flow with my entire body. Seeing it meant it was easier to dismantle. And if I could also feel it, there was no reason I couldn’t avoid it. ‘A formation is simple.’ If you can see and feel it, there’s no reason not to bypass it. "How on earth…?" In mere seconds, Bima-pa’s wrinkles deepened with the realization that her formation had been breached. It seemed to shock her considerably. “So, have I passed?” Regardless of Bima-pa’s reaction, it was a matter unrelated to me. I pressed her with my question as if urging her to hurry. Bima-pa looked around, perhaps checking if there was an issue with the formation. Nothing would change by doing so. 'I didn’t interfere.' I hadn’t destroyed the formation; I merely bypassed it. I could have broken it, to be honest. ‘But why give anyone the pleasure?’ If I were to destroy it, there’d be an issue with the gateway, so I merely circumvented it, even if it was somewhat tedious. Thus, there shouldn’t be any problems with the formation. Eventually, somewhat verifying this herself, Bima-pa’s expression was filled with growing emotions. “…This… this is….” "I’m fine with you being amazed, but can you finish what you need to do first?" Seeing her reaction dragging on, I spoke up. "So, did I pass?" "…" Bima-pa hesitated momentarily, but the answer could only be one thing. "…Pass… you have." At last, Bima-pa confirmed it. I nodded with a slight grin and turned my gaze to the warriors. Precisely, to the conspicuously noticeable Do-wang among them. Our eyes met. Do-wang, not bothering to hide it, wore a full smile on his face. ‘That guy is going to have a rough time.’ Do-wang would undoubtedly not fail. If he could evade the formation as I had, that would be ideal. If not... ‘He could tear it apart with brute force.’ The power Do-wang demonstrated with Man-yeon-hancheol could easily rend the formation. However, the issue was. ‘Breaking the formation would shatter it entirely, leading to a speed contest.’ It was indeed first come, first served. If the formation shatters, everyone will rush in. Would Do-wang, after using such power, be able to keep up with the speed? Especially while overcoming such momentum? ‘The battle of wits will be fierce.’ It was doubtful that Do-wang, not being a fool, would resort to sheer force so easily. There would be not just a battle of wits but a fierce strategic contest too. ‘Sounds fun?’ Honestly, I wanted to watch. Watching them sweat and strategize among themselves. It would undoubtedly be an entertaining sight. 'What a shame.’ Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to watch such antics. I sighed away my regret and addressed Bima-pa again. "Can I leave now, then?" If it was over, I wanted to go. That’s why I asked Bima-pa. “…Yes, you may…" Bima-pa, for some reason exhausted, nodded in affirmation. Upon hearing it, I started to walk away without a backward glance. I could feel Do-wang’s gaze following me. Should I turn back and mock him a bit? The reckless temptation lingered, but I suppressed it. It seemed wasteful to indulge in such triviality. ‘See you later.’ The time wasn’t too far off. Until then, I planned to hold off on such pettiness. ****************** As the sunset retreated, making way for the rising moon, after the preliminary round of the Shinryong Martial Tournament ended, seven martial artists gathered in a conference room set within the alliance's interior. They were all dressed in differently colored silk robes, each signifying their status as leaders of the alliance. In other words. Everyone gathered here was a leader of the alliance. "Let’s commence the meeting." Seated at the honorary position, second only to the Sword Emperor of the Defense Corps, was the Blue Dragon Leader, Il Chong-sword, Jang Seong-myeong, who initiated the proceedings. "First, Leader Il-ryong has departed due to abnormalities occurring in the Hubei area right after the conclusion of the gateway." At Jang Seong-myeong's words, a man carrying twin swords at his waist reacted. It was Dongcheon, the leader of the Golden Dragon faction, known as the Twin Illusionary Swordsman. "Did you say Hubei? Suddenly...?" "Yes. Due to urgent matters, even the Alliance Leader permitted it. We need someone to cover Il-ryong's role in his absence." "I'll take over." At Jin Seong-myeong's statement, the Red Dragon leader, Song Yu, raised his hand. Seeing this, Jang Seong-myeong nodded. "Then I confirm the Red Dragon Leader will handle Il-ryong's duties. Now, let’s proceed with reports on the current situation." Rustling sounds filled the room as each leader withdrew a letter from their sleeves. These contained information about events from the tournament's preliminary rounds. "First, regarding the Green Gate. Dragon Leader?" "...Yes." "Were there any noteworthy figures?" "As predicted, Moo-Ak Sword and Blue Sea Spear stood out, but unexpectedly, a newcomer named Feitan Liu spear also emerged." "Feitan Liu Spear, you say... I've heard that name." He was a newcomer who made his name in Hebei by wielding a single spear. "What’s your assessment of his level?" "He appeared to have reached a mature peak." "I heard he's not yet in his forties. Quite remarkable... Can we obtain information on him?" "I will issue orders to contact the Open Gate faction." "Understood. Next, for the Blue Gate..." Just as he was about to speak, a slight frown crossed Jang Seong-myeong's brow. "...The descendant of the Sword Master." There was something noteworthy about the Blue Gate. "Steel Dragon Leader." "Yes." Responding to the call from Jin Seong-myeong was the person in charge of the Blue Gate, the Steel Dragon Leader, known as Hidden Wave Sword. He answered in a quiet voice. "What did you observe?" It was a question loaded with meaning. The Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven. Or rather, Sword Master Wi Hyo-gun. Formerly the Alliance Leader and a swordsman closest to being the greatest in the world. His official descendant had come to the Alliance voluntarily. It was an aspect they had been mindful of, and it was worth knowing how she had performed in the preliminaries. Upon asking the Hidden Wave Sword, he hesitated for some reason, as if the words were difficult to come by. "Well, it's just that..." He hesitated as if he had little to say, his words stumbling in his mouth. "Hidden Wave Sword?" Curious about his reluctance, Jin Seong-myeong pressed further, prompting the Hidden Wave Sword to cautiously speak up. "The Sword Master's heir... seems to have reached the state of unity with her sword." "...!" "What?" The Sword Dragon Leader's words sparked a significant reaction from those around. "Unity with the sword? What kind of nonsense is that?" "Hidden Wave Sword... is that true?" Some reacted harshly. Most of them were swordsmen. For good reason. The state of unity with the sword was a swordsman's abstract goal, a realm beyond levels, typically only accessed by those at a mature peak. Furthermore... "She’s barely past her youth, they say. Does that even make sense?" "Hidden Wave Sword must be very tired. Otherwise, how could such words be spoken?" "No matter the Sword Master's heir... Is unity with the sword even-" "Enough." Jang Seong-myeong softly muttered amidst the growing uproar. The order spread swiftly, ending the turmoil. Then, with scrutinizing eyes, Jang Seong-myeong asked: "Hidden Wave Sword, are you certain?" "Yes, Blue Dragon Leader. I witnessed it. As a swordsman myself, how could I not recognize it? She was a martial artist far beyond my easy comprehension." "Hah...!" "Incredible..." As the Hidden Wave Sword, a high-level master, spoke with conviction, murmurs began to ripple through the gathering. To have difficulty comprehending someone supposedly just past their youth was exceedingly unusual. "A new monster being born..." "So they say she's the Sword Master's heir... He’s crafted something formidable." The subtlety in the swordsmen's demeanor was striking. Faced with dazzling potential, what emerged was an inexplicable envy. Given their long-standing roles within the orthodox faction of the central land, their attitude seemed twisted. '...Tch.' Watching the scene unfold behind a mask, Song Yu couldn’t help but click his tongue. In normal circumstances, such reactions might’ve not appeared so odd. After the incidents earlier in the day, however, this scene felt peculiarly resonant. 'What are they doing?' Instead of celebrating an exceptional new talent, they wallowed in ugly jealousy. Song Yu reluctantly suppressed the distaste gnawing at him. "Not bad intel from the Blue Gate... We'll keep this in mind." Jang Seong-myeong nodded, jotting down a few notes. It was likely concerning the Sword Master's heir. The only difference was this time, he didn't pass the word to the Dragon Leader. "It seems there's no significant information otherwise, so... Golden Dragon Leader?" Who oversaw the Red Gate, it was the Golden Dragon Leader. "In the first gate, the Dark Wave Precision Sword and the Wind Forest Surrounding Fist displayed considerable mastery." "They’re well-known names." The Dark Wave Precision Sword was famed in Sichuan. And the latter was said to be a martial artist from an internal sect active in Shaanxi. Moreover. "It wasn't just them. There was also Stormbrother." "Stormbrother..." The child of Do-wang Peng Zhou and a previous Divine Dragon was also within the Red Gate. "Considering his one-hit breakthroughs, Stormbrother seemed to have reached quite a level." "He always was, originally." Not to mention, he was a former Divine Dragon. A Divine Dragon represented the martial artist of their generation adequately. If it weren't for the monster from Shaolin, his presence would’ve been emphasized even more. It seemed there were fewer surprising aspects within the Red Gate. Jang Seong-myeong responded briefly as they moved along. "Lastly, the White Gate..." Now, Jang Seong-myeong turned his attention to Song Yu. "Red Dragon Leader." "Yes." "How did it seem? Do-wang's form?" "..." All the leaders knew Do-wang was part of the White Gate. Upon being asked, Song Yu answered promptly with a leisurely voice. "He seemed even stronger than before." "Is that so? It seems he hasn't been slacking in his training. No need to elaborate further on Do-wang.... How about other pieces of information?" "The Starry Crescent Blade and the Heavenly Light Sword have reached levels higher than previously reported." "Can you elaborate?" "The Starry Crescent Blade appears to be nearing a mature pinnacle... and the Heavenly Light Sword is expected to reach the realm of transformation within a decade." "Wow." Jang Seong-myeong expressed admiration at Song Yu's report. "That's not bad." To reach the realm of transformation within a decade meant they were on the verge of breaking through the barrier. Jang Seong-myeong smiled. "I hope they perform well in this tournament." This would make it easier to bring them into the alliance. Of course, given their level, securing a good result is almost a given, so there was little to worry about. "Oh, by the way, Red Dragon Leader." "Yes." "I heard there's a young master from the Gu family among the White Gate. Is that correct?" "..." So Yeom-ra Gu Yang-cheon. At the mention of him, Song Yu flinched involuntarily. "What was your impression of him?" The question brought back memories of that incident. The moment he crushed that steel-like iron with his bare hands. Song Yu knew it was vital to report the most critical information regarding So Yeom-ra. Yet. "..." For some reason, his lips wouldn't part easily. Why? He needed to report it. "Young Master. Is there a problem?" Jang Seong-myeong, sensing something amiss, asked again. Despite his prodding, Song Yu couldn't open his lips easily. 'What's happening?' Why wasn't he speaking? After all, the truth would soon be revealed regardless. Many witnessed it, including himself. Though fully aware, Song Yu couldn’t bring himself to say it. "...His level was beyond expectations." He couldn't bring himself to give a detailed report to Jang Seong-myeong. Beyond expectations? That was an understatement. Otherwise, he should have reported it. Possible indications that he might have reached transformation should have been mentioned, yet Song Yu did not. Why? In the end, he never discovered the reason. "I see. Beyond expectations... I understand." Jang Seong-myeong didn't display any unusual reaction upon hearing this. "The total number of initial qualifiers is two hundred thirty-two. More than expected..." The expectation ranged between one hundred ninety and two hundred entrants. That would have been roughly the number by the end of the first day. Thirty individuals more fell beyond that range. However, it didn’t matter. After all, the second stage would have filtered them out. Rustle. Jang Seong-myeong turned to the next page of the letter. The second stage. It was a note recording the time taken to break through the formation set up by Bima-pa. ‘In the Green Gate, the fastest took two shichens...’ Identical to the number Bima-pa had predicted when installing the formation. Most were expected to take that amount of time. Then. ‘Hmm?’ Reading the next line, Jang Seong-myeong's eyebrows twitched. ‘...One ke?’ The first qualifier from the Blue Gate was recorded as having taken only one ke. Who could it be? He checked the name with a startled expression. "Hmm?" [Blue Gate.] [Gwangju Jin family - Jin Imsuk] An unfamiliar name. ‘Gwangju Jin family.’ The family itself was known, but the name was not familiar. Given that he qualified to this stage, he must be a high-level individual, yet Hidden Wave Sword made no separate report. Then who could it be? Who managed in just one ke? ‘Could he be someone adept at formations rather than sheer prowess?’ That was a possibility. He might lack martial prowess but be skilled enough in this area to achieve it. ‘Hmm.’ Though peculiar, given the report, it couldn't be fabricated. ‘It should simply be noted as a unique point.’ This could also be mentioned to the Dragon Leader. Intending so, he proceeded to the next check. ‘In the Red Gate.... It took about half a shichen.’ Fast, yet appeared comparatively less so due to the mentioned one ke earlier. The first to escape was Stormbrother. ‘It makes sense for someone like him.’ Now somewhat obscured, he was hailed as a genius among geniuses in the past. No doubt about that. ‘What's left is Do-wang's side.’ Is it even necessary to verify? Regardless, it seemed certain he would be the fastest. With that belief, Jang Seong-myeong turned the letter. “…?” Seeing the time listed for the White Gate, Jang Seong-myeong froze solid. [White Gate: Breakthrough Time for Second Stage.] [One Second.] [Shanshu Gu family - Gu Yang-cheon.] Was he misreading it? Jang Seong-myeong brought the letter closer to verify. “…What is this...” Nothing had changed in the text. One second? One second...? "Bima-pa. How could this be..." With a deeply furrowed brow, Jang Seong-myeong looked towards the person who set up the formation. Wind Dragon Leader Bima-pa. “...Bima-pa?” Jang Seong-myeong was momentarily speechless at the sight of the elderly, wrinkled woman. Though she was the leading formation expert in Henan... “…What went wrong? How... why...? I'm certain it was set up correctly, yet? Was there a gap? That shouldn’t be possible...” “...” Her eyes were glazed over with sheer disbelief.