723 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The World's Best Martial Artist's Childhood Friend Chapter 723 > Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive Wooong-! He circulated his energy to check his physical condition. After making a couple of rounds through his acupoints, the energy returned to the heart. That alone was enough for him to confirm. ‘A little internal injury and a fracture on the shoulder.’ It seemed he incurred an internal injury while sealing martial arts, and a fracture occurred on his shoulder during an attempted maneuver. He defended somewhat with his qi, hence it was just this much. Had he failed, his shoulder would have been shattered. ‘Is there anything else?’ He hadn't even used a quarter of his power, and the fracture should heal by today. The internal injury would heal soon as well. This much was it. The amount of pain and injury one could sustain even during training. ‘This is...’ Could these be the traces left on the body after trampling over the Ten Great Experts of Zhongyuan? He opened and closed his hand several times, then looked straight ahead. “Cough.” Bunwol Kwonsun, the old lady, was sitting down, bleeding. The blood was black. It wasn't dangerous. She had been treated for some internal injuries, which caused this. “I've roughly set things right, she won’t die.” The insides were a mess due to the fight. Her energy was severely twisted, and leaving it unattended would have killed her. Therefore, he made some efforts to help. “Huff... Huff...” Gwon Seon, allowing himself a steady breath, nodded while looking at her. He recalled the recent duel. Honestly, there wasn't much to recall. ‘Dull.’ It was boring. That was all he could think about during the bout. 'What is this?' He was filled with disappointment. Was it because he compared it to his duel with the Phezon? There was nothing desperate about it. ‘Was I being complacent?’ Was it possible Gwon Seon had been complacent, leading to this result? He quickly dismissed this thought as it crossed his mind. ‘It can't be. I took measures against complacency.’ He had planned enough to make Gwon Seon vigilant. He had shown her a level of skill to push back Gwon Seon's qi veil. No matter how old and senile one might get, with so much displayed, it's impossible not to notice. ‘If they still don't notice, they ought to just pass away.’ If someone who had reached the status of Arhat in Shaolin still failed to notice or got complacent, it would be wiser to relinquish one's position and disappear. Gwon Seon was not complacent. No, even if somewhat complacent, it wasn’t to the extent of being helplessly defeated. So, what was it then? ‘Am I the one that's grown strong?’ Had she grown that powerful? She considered this while looking at her clenched fist. ‘I expected to win.’ She had always tried to objectively assess her own strength. Knowing her limits precisely ensured there’d be no disruption to her plans. Therefore, she didn’t think she’d lose the fight against Gwon Seon. She was confident she could win, but... ‘I didn’t expect to win this easily.’ It was a bit too excessive. Hence, it was strange. ‘There's no way she could be this weak.’ I am strong. Certainly not weak. No, even if it's not as much as Plum Blossom or Sword Emperor, there's no way I'd lose to just any of the Ten Great Experts. However, winning this easily shouldn’t be possible. ‘Even if I didn't use my ultimate moves, I at least thought I’d need to use something of substance.’ To wrap things up using just a little spark and a single decisive move felt strange. Very strange indeed. She approached Gwon Seon, kneeling down beside her. She locked eyes with her, then asked. “Head of Sect. Why are you this weak?” “…!” She asked directly. Gwon Seon's face twisted in response. “Are you... mocking me?” “No. I expected to win anyway. It’s not mockery; I’m seriously curious.” There was a rather abrasive tone, and Gwon Seon laughed bitterly. “…It’s me who is curious.” Drip. As she wiped away the flowing dark blood, Gwon Seon asked. “How on earth… did you touch upon the Intention?” The realm of Intention. An extraordinary domain that all martial artists aspired to reach. Not levels like First-Class, Peak, or Flowering, but a place where accumulated life's enlightenment takes a final form. Gwon Seon was witnessing the person in front of him reach that place, eyes widened. ‘Hmm.’ There was a reason why she was reacting like that. The martial technique Gwon Seon tried to use. The energy within it wasn't just about skill but also mixed with her Intention. To counter it, I also had to infuse my Intention. Gwon Seon noticed because of that. How did I reach it...? Well. “I just lived desperately, and it turned out this way.” “...” It seemed evident she didn't believe it. I didn't expect her to believe it anyway. A brief silence passed, and Gwon Seon, while appearing a bit skeptical, mentioned, “Could it be... you're reversing your age or something...?” “I haven't done any such idiotic things.” “...” She immediately cut off the useless suspicion. “Sometimes, things that make no sense just happen, living in this world.” There's no need to make excuses or explanations. What if she doesn't believe it? Gwon Seon was not in a position to suspect anything right now. “Please answer my question, Head of Sect.” She looked at her and asked. “Why are you this weak?” “...” “Not to mock or insult. I’m genuinely curious.” As mentioned earlier, I have a pretty good objectification of my level. I can beat most of the Ten Great Experts, but... ‘I lose to those around the rank of the Three Elders and just below them.’ Phezon is an exception due to specific circumstances. I haven’t thoroughly observed Heavenly One, but I’d probably lose within twenty exchanges. Regarding Sword Emperor, I haven’t seen them in a while, so I’m unsure, but likely faster. That's my exact positioning. Then, considering Gwon Seon? ‘From what I saw earlier, she seemed on par with Sword Imperial.’ Her presence and energy felt that way. Thus, I tried to face her expecting as much. ‘But this...’ Honestly, the situation felt like she was barely above the level of Shinryong, who fought Wi Seol-ah. Maybe just slightly surpassing that level... to the point it seemed. ‘If I faced Tang So-yeul at night like this, I might even lose...’ If the situation was set up, an assassin like Tang So-yeul might win. The power Gwon Seon displayed was too pitiful for someone considered one of the Ten Great Experts. That's why the question arises. “It doesn’t seem to be an issue with internal injuries. Physically, there’s the aging factor, of course, but not for aura. What exactly is the issue?” The skill was too shabby compared to the apparent strength. Could it simply be that I crushed him because I'm exceptionally strong? That seemed unlikely. “You seemed unable to move your energy properly. Is there another issue?” “...” Upon my words, the furrows deepened on Gwon Seon's brow. Was it still seen as mockery? 'What? Does she genuinely not know?' Gwon Seon only frowned as if completely unaware of the problem. ‘Even after ending up like this, she doesn't know?’ With my arms crossed, I softly tapped my forearm with my fingertips. Because something peculiar crossed my mind in this strange situation. "Oh." So that was it. I let out a breath and chuckled softly. “What is it...? Why are you laughing?” “Nothing. It just seems a bit unfortunate.” “What?” Though Gwon Seon expressed skepticism at my words, I had no intention of elaborating further. ‘So that’s what it was.’ I had an inkling of what it could be. It seemed obvious, so there was no need to delve deep. ‘I'll just need to check later if there's any link with the sect.' With that thought, I sorted out my mind. “In any case, since I won, let's proceed as we agreed.” Gwon Seon glared at me with the intent to kill. Looking at her, I asked. “What is your goal?” “...” “The reason you’re searching for Phi Yeonyeon. Is it about the relic, or is it Phi Yeonyeon herself?” As I casually asked the question, Gwon Seon let out a laugh that seemed empty. “You hardly seem to care about having defeated me.” “That's because it’s not something worth caring about.” Should I act exhilarated over this? “Because I defeated some great figure.” “...” “There’s absolutely no thrill, so just answer the questions.” Cough. Drip. Blood from Gwon Seon’s lips dripped down. The white martial robe she had worn finely was soaked with blood. A pitiful sight, perhaps, but my expression showed no change whatsoever. “If I…. If I choose not to answer...?” “The restrictions I placed won’t easily come undone. You can try to withstand the backlash, or otherwise…” My eyes and heart grew cold. “There are many ways to make you talk. Most of them aren't peaceful, though.” Feel free to do that if you're curious. As she grasped my intent, Gwon Seon’s eyes briefly wavered. “…Are you really serious... that you'd even torture me?” “If necessary.” “Are you really someone from the orthodox sects...?” Ha ha. I let out a chuckle at Gwon Seon’s words. “I hear that often. Isn't that such a funny statement?” “What is it?” “The time when one could be proud claiming to be from the orthodox sects has long passed. They claim their roots, yet most of it has rotted away. Still, you cling to that wretched honor as a reference?” “...” So what if I'm not orthodox? In my view, whether orthodox or unorthodox, they were the same. If there was a difference for me between the two... ‘The unorthodox, I’d just kill straight away. With the orthodox, I might start with a conversation.’ Although, the result was usually the same—most ended up dead. “If we are speaking of affiliation by debating orthodoxy, then for now, I’m with the orthodox. It’s because my father is orthodox. But.” I lifted Gwon Seon’s chin with my finger. “To me, it’s not significant. At most, it’s just like a name tag?” Just something that could easily be stripped off at any time. That’s what being orthodox meant to me. “So, whether orthodox or not, just answer the questions properly. We had an agreement, didn’t we?” I could send the finger raised now straight to her throat anytime. With that meaning, I slightly moved my hand towards her neck. Then I asked again. “Phi Yeonyeon. What's her connection with the Emei Sect?” Having posed it out there, I counted to five inside my mind. A heartbeat away from reaching five. “…Phi Yeonyeon. It involves matters related to her mother.” I halted the force I was about to exert. “Her mother. Who is she? Are we talking about Lady Mok?” I subtly pretended not to know. Lady Mok was the matron of the Western An Phi family. Upon hearing my words, Gwon Seon looked at me with a peculiar gaze. Did she see that I was testing her? I gave her a knowing smile in return. Witnessing this, Gwon Seon shuddered slightly. “…The child's mother... is not the one you speak of.” “Then who?” “The child is…” Gwon Seon hesitated briefly before continuing. “…The Euryong Sword Queen. The child is the descendant of the former Sword Queen.” “What, what did you say? Gasp. Such an astonishing revelation...!” “…As expected. You already knew.” “I just reacted to feign ignorance. Why are you so sure?” I thought my act was flawless... why is it the opposite reaction came out? Incredible indeed. ‘Not that I intended to keep it hidden, however.’ It left a slightly bad taste. “…Then you already knew the child’s identity when you supported her.” “I’m sorry, but I’m not answering any questions.” I cut off Gwon Seon’s subtle inquiry. Again, questions were mine to ask alone. “Phi Yeonyeon being the descendant of the Sword Queen or whatever—I’m not asking about such backgrounds.” “...” Why is the Emei Sect trying to find Phi Yeonyeon? That was all I was curious about. Inquiring with a hint of irritation in my voice, Gwon Seon’s answers began to adapt slightly. “…Because the Euryong Sword Queen originally hailed from the Emei Sect.” “Oh?” Now, this was an intriguing piece of news. ‘So the Euryong Sword Queen is originally from the Emei Sect?’ Yes, this was the kind of information that should come out. If what she said was true, it was new information to me. ‘I was sure the Euryong Sword Queen was unaffiliated.’ Martial artists without background. The former Sword Queen wasn’t born into any particular sect or prestigious family. That such a person turned out to be from the Emei Sect? ‘But how has it not been revealed?’ No matter how peculiar Emei martial arts might be, some traces were bound to remain. While it's not impossible to erase them entirely... In his past life, even the Devil Cult Blade Master completely erased the habits from the Mount Kunlun Sect, unlike his current Saintly Meter. But... ‘That was because his killer aura swallowed all manner of him.’ The Heavenly Slaughter nature of the Saintly Meter devoured the distinct, gentle energy of the Taoist arts, hiding the foundation of his mental cultivation rooted in it. ‘An unknown part indeed.’ I should move past this for now. Something even more curious remained. “If that’s the reason the Emei Sect seeks Phi Yeonyeon, then it seems a bit strange.” Alright then. Let's assume the Euryong Sword Queen is from the Emei Sect. So here's what seems odd. “Why bother looking for her?” There's something crucial missing. What does it matter if she's from the Emei Sect? The fact that she lived unaffiliated suggests she either concealed her origins or left the sect a long time ago. “It seems strange that the Emei Sect would go to such lengths to find the daughter of someone like her.” There must be another reason. Just searching on that basis doesn’t make sense. To this, Gwon Seon replied. “Do you... know what happened to the Euryong Sword Queen?” “Somewhat.” A lie. I know very well. After all, how much information had I gathered, intending to use this? The fate of the Euryong Sword Queen that Gwon Seon speaks of: Once a celebrated heroine within the orthodox sects, praised to near worship by other female warriors, her end was humiliating beyond measure. ‘The Euryong Sword Queen was accused of plotting an insidious scheme and was killed as part of the unorthodox faction.’ Once the dream and hero of female warriors, she was alleged to have conspired to take over Zhongyuan. She supposedly gathered unorthodox warriors into a group under the nose of the Martial Alliance. This led to the outbreak of the Great War between the orthodox and unorthodox factions. The story of how Plum Blossom Sword Queen So-yi and White Lotus Sword Mo Yong Bi Yeon opposed the Euryong Sword Queen remains famous. This war was intense yet brief. In terms of time, less than two months. Following this period, the war concluded with the victory of the orthodox faction. The Euryong Sword Queen, accused of instigating the war, was captured and executed by the alliance. A woman who was once an orthodox hero but became an unorthodox figure in the end. That is how history remembers the Euryong Sword Queen. However. ‘That's not the whole story, is it?’ The truth behind such tales is dark and murky. Had the history ended simply like that, I wouldn't have bothered to intervene with Bongsoon. Clearly... “…That’s not the true story.” It seemed Gwon Seon knew as well. “The Euryong Sword Queen never attempted to instigate a war. She wasn't someone who would be called unorthodox.” “Is that so?” “…There’s definitely something hidden beneath it all.” Whether she knew it clearly or was just vaguely aware, I couldn’t tell. But it was evident she knew something. “You’re saying the Euryong Sword Queen was falsely accused.” “…You.” Perhaps it was my reaction. Gwon Seon’s expression changed curiously. “Could it be, you also knew of this…!” “You're getting forgetful in your old age. Like I said earlier, Head of Sect, you don't have the privilege to ask questions.” I moved closer to Gwon Seon. She still hadn't answered everything. “So then?” “What…?” “Why is the Emei Sect looking for Phi Yeonyeon?” I've heard enough of the circumstances. So now, it’s time for her to speak. After listening, Gwon Seon’s eyes widened briefly before she answered me in a somewhat rushed tone. “…Isn’t it obvious? Once, she hailed from the Emei Sect, whether or not she does now. We must clear her name.” “You’re searching for Phi Yeonyeon to do that?” “That’s correct.” “Why? Even if she’s found, it won't change anything.” “…Because if the child could prove she is the Sword Queen's descendant, there’s a way to clear her name.” “Oh, I see…” If only it could be proven that Bongsoon is the daughter of the former Sword Queen, they have a way to clear the Sword Queen's name. I nodded at Gwon Seon’s words. It seemed somewhat plausible. Having heard everything, I nodded slightly and said, “Now this is…” “You?” Grab. “…!” “Do I seem easy because I'm listening quietly?” I clamped my hand over Gwon Seon’s mouth to stop her from speaking. She struggled in surprise, but I imposed a strong grip to control her. “If you're going to play me, at least do it without being obvious. Listening to this crap pisses me off.” “Mmph… mmm!” Gwon Seon’s wrinkled eyes went wide. Applying pressure to prevent even proper breathing. Her already pale complexion darkened rapidly. The reason for my drastic actions was simple. As I listened, a thought boiled steadily within me. With Gwon Seon looking shocked, I said, “Do you take me for a fool?” “Mmph… mph.” “From the start, it was probably you who set the Sword Queen up, right? Why leave that part out?” “…!” Gwon Seon’s trembling body went rigid. The murmurs stopped as well. Watching this, I was certain. “Ha-ha, so that’s really it, huh?” I was right.