769 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: The World’s Best Friend 769: The Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive "What did you say?" Icheng Sword's face was filled with disbelief as he spoke. I replied, savoring his expression. "I said I won't do it." "May I ask why?" "Why...?" There were plenty of reasons, but I pondered over which one to share. The newly created position of chief. The offer to set me in that position. Just hearing about it didn’t sound bad. In fact, it was quite the proposition. Being a chief in the Meng required substantial prestige and a solid standing. There were branch leaders responsible for managing a particular area. Yet, even those branch leaders could hardly exert influence over the chief of the headquarters. If one recalls that a chief also had command over branch leaders, the magnitude of the position becomes evident. Additionally, receiving the role of chief immediately comes with its benefits and evaluations from the central plains, making it indeed a remarkable offer. 'That was something of the past.' To me now, it meant nothing. Or should I say, given the current state of the Meng, it’s hardly worthwhile... 'To be more precise.' Tap. I set the teacup down in front of me and curved my lips into a smile. "It’s just amusing that you call it a proposal." "Excuse me?" Icheng Sword squinted his eyes at my words. He seemed irritated by the word "amusing," but I had no intention to retract it. It was downright laughable. "This isn't something you propose; it's something you should have humbly asked for." "...!" On hearing those words, Icheng Sword's face crumpled instantly. "...Sungwang. What is the meaning behind your words?" "Am I being indirect? I don't think so. I'm speaking as clearly as it can get." It wasn't even close to a proposal. "You should have pleaded courteously; that’s what I’m saying." "Sungwang—!" Bang! Icheng Sword rose furiously, shaking the table. His face flushed with rage; he seemed truly angry. Oh, seriously. 'This is fantastic.' Seeing the situation unfold as anticipated, I couldn't be happier. I worked to repress the smile that was threatening to surface and looked at Icheng Sword. At the same time, my eyes flickered towards the door. "Besides your stunning prowess, we are aware of the good deeds you performed in Hanam." As his aura filled the room, Icheng Sword spoke to me with a chilling gaze. "Knowing that, the Meng considered you exceptional and ranked you as royalty before even completing a detailed inquiry. You are insufferably arrogant. Do you think the Meng is a trifling matter?" "Yes." "...What?" Icheng Sword was taken aback by my calm response, which I found amusing. "Then what? Isn't it trifling?" "This man...!" "Who would think such a trivial thing is such a precious gift? How absurd." As I spoke, I grabbed the teacup on the table. And then, gently tilting it, I let the tea trickle onto the floor. An abrupt action, but it didn't matter. Icheng Sword's gaze fell on it. In that brief distraction, I wedged my words in. "Do they really think no one knows they want to give me the title just to divert attention from their plummeting public opinion?" "...!" "Because I’m about to become famous, they want to make me the youngest king, anointed as a hero, to temporarily shift focus... and what? Run as a chief?" Mocking laughter filled my voice. At that instant, "Filthy bastards need to stop their nonsense." Fuoooo—!!! "...Kuk!" I summoned my energy to suppress Icheng Sword's presence. So far, so good. Throb—! 'Damn.' Pain surged, and blood welled up from my heart. 'I didn't even check my internal injuries properly.' I was too preoccupied to notice the state of my own body. This was worse than I anticipated. If I continued to exert energy as usual, my blood vessels would twist. Therefore, I had to gradually withdraw my energy. "Sungwang is just nonsense, who asked for it? You gave it away, oh thank you. I’ll do as I'm told? Don't make me laugh." Even as I retracted my energy, my mouth didn't stop. "Do they take me for a fool." I had to hide as best I could that I wasn’t in good shape. "And then a new chief position? Sounds great in theory. But listen." Tap tap... Tap tap. I knocked on the table four times. That was enough to collect my thoughts. "Let’s be honest. They can’t handle the situation without me, right?" "...!!" "And yet they call it a proposal? It would fall short even if they asked politely and graciously, wouldn’t it?" Icheng Sword's expression crumbled as if hit by a vital point. That was more than enough. "Right?" "...You..." In response to Icheng Sword’s reaction, I nodded my head slightly. "You're speaking too informally, sir. Should I speak just as casually? I’d prefer it." "...Grrr!!" He looked ready to draw his sword at any moment. To be honest, should Icheng Sword unsheathe his sword now, things could get a bit dangerous. Killing him, I could manage. Otherwise, I’d be at a disadvantage. But then again, there was no worry. It was about time the protagonist made an entrance anyway. "Do I really have to shed blood—" "Chenglong Chief." Pause. The voice that suddenly resonated caused Icheng Sword’s body to come to a standstill. A somewhat feeble voice echoed from beyond the door. I didn’t need to ponder who it was. Given the circumstances the Meng was in, there was definitely one esteemed figure likely to be called upon. "Coough." A cough echoed, simultaneously— Creeaak—! The door opened, and someone entered. What first caught my eye was an elder of enormous stature. No, rather than his physique being large, it was his presence. 'The Sword Emperor.' One of the top ten masters of the central plains, tasked with safeguarding the Meng in Hanam. He was said to have not joined the Triumvirate to protect the Meng, a rumor often circulated humorously. And so, was this elder the one who summoned Icheng Sword? No, that wasn’t the case either. The Sword Emperor entered first, followed by another elder. An elder entered the room, masking his mouth with cloth and having a slight build. One could say he exuded an aura similar to that of a divine physician. This was the person I had been waiting for. “Let that be enough.” The elder, looking weary, said to Icheng Sword, whose face contorted in response. “But Elder…! Sungwang has shown disdain for the current Martial Alliance. Are you really telling me to stay silent after hearing his words?” Icheng Sword, visibly angry out of his respect for the Meng, tried to protest. “There is nothing incorrect about his words.” “…Elder!” “I am sorry for the trouble, but I will handle the rest of the conversation with Sungwang myself. Kindly step out for the moment.” “…Tch.” “I ask this of you.” With the elder’s words, Icheng Sword left the room, his face flushed with rage, yet he still showed great respect to the elder as he departed. This indicated that the elder held a substantial position within the Meng. And with good reason. ‘To ensure survival, that elder’s assistance is necessary.’ The current state of disarray within the Martial Alliance could, as far as I knew, only be managed by this elder. The moment Icheng Sword left, the elder approached his vacant chair and asked me, “May I sit?” A cautious inquiry. I nodded upon hearing it. “Please, do. The owner of that seat just left.” “Thank you for your courtesy.” With my permission, the elder took his seat. From that moment on, I straightened my posture as well. The real conversation was about to begin. “It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Sungwang.” The air felt heavy. It wasn’t an oppressive aura. The elder wasn’t someone strong enough to exude such an aura. This was an intimidation that came from his presence. It was a feeling akin to when a divine physician was practicing medicine or when Madame Mi was occasionally angry with my father. In other words, this elderly man must have reached considerable heights in his respective field. To prove this point, “It seems you already know who I am, so there’s no need for introductions.” He had already seen through one aspect of me. “Well, even if it’s our first meeting, wouldn’t it be nice to introduce ourselves?” “Oh, if you wish for that… It's fine. Introducing ourselves is indeed a commendable practice.” The elder nodded slightly in understanding. “My name is Mukyeon.” As he gave his introduction, I pondered. “I serve as a strategist in the Martial Alliance, though it might not seem fitting.” How should I handle this elder? That was the contemplation. ****************** Mukyeon. An elder believed to be over eighty, with no affiliation to any renowned sect or clan. A so-called rogue. This wasn’t particularly unusual within the Meng. Lower positions in the Meng had more unaffiliated individuals than those from prestigious families or clans. However, ‘This elder is special, even more so.’ Mukyeon was particularly unique even among them. Despite being unaffiliated, he climbed to the upper echelons of the Meng. Moreover, despite having no martial arts and a frail body, Mukyeon once held the third highest position within the Meng during the time when Sword Eminence was also the League Lord. Back then, as Sword Eminence’s mouth and ears were Uwong and his eyes were Tienan, Mukyeon served as his brain. Known for never forgetting what he saw, and capable of assessing power in an instant, a prodigy. Jijima Kamuk, the most exceptional strategist in Meng’s history, was none other than Mukyeon. Now, he sat before me. More precisely, ‘Though not now.’ It would be correct to call him a (former) strategist. After Sword Eminence stepped down from the League Lord position, Mukyeon also retired and left the Meng a few years later. Years had passed since then. He hadn’t shown up in all those years, so why appear now in the Meng? Remarkable as it was, it wasn’t entirely surprising. ‘…He did the same in my previous life.’ Right after the Celestial Demon appeared, predicting a bloodbath, Mukyeon had also reappeared, though at a feeble state, offering his hand to assist the Meng… ‘In the end, he died.’ Soon after, Mukyeon met his demise. Why? ‘Because Chin Yuran, the brain of the Demon Sect, targeted him first.’ Chin Yuran decided to eliminate Mukyeon using every force available. After a grueling three-month battle of wits, Mukyeon was finally brought down. Have I mentioned the tale of Chin Yuran killing three top martial artists single-handedly and escaping? This elder was the mastermind behind that tale. An elder possessing immense strategic brilliance. “Gu Yangcheon.” Hearing his introduction, I introduced myself as well. “It’s an honor to meet the hero of Hanam.” Mukyeon spoke with a smile, and I replied with a small smile of my own. “Meeting the brain of the Martial Alliance is making me tense.” “Hahaha, that’s all in the past... Just past glories.” “Past glories…” I reflected on Mukyeon’s words and then spoke as I looked at him. “Considering that, you seem to be well, orchestrating situations like this.” There was no change in his expression. The smile directed at me merely grew slightly deeper. “May I ask why you think so?” Ah, this isn’t good. Just a few exchanges and I’m already sure. This elder, ‘Is not the type I like.’ The kind of person I find most troublesome. If possible, he’s the sort I would eliminate immediately. “I first found it odd to be offered a seat so suddenly.” I managed to calm myself and continued speaking to the elder. “Given the urgency, I thought they were just trying to distract me.” Tap tap. I tapped the table twice with my hand. “The fact that Chenglong Sword came to fetch me was also somewhat bothersome.” “What’s the reason?” “It’s just a simple reason.” Nothing grandiose, but if I had to articulate it... "The Meng may seem vast, but it's a tightly-knit place, and news travels swiftly within it." "Indeed." "But really, could the Martial Alliance have been so busy and incompetent as to not know?" I raised my gaze, preparing to deliver my point. "I had a minor conflict with Icheng Sword. Considering the situation, not only am I summoned by the Blue Dragon Corps, but I am also made to face Icheng Sword in the interrogation room? All in the name of an investigation while presenting some proposal? It's suspicious, isn't it?" Even if the conflict wasn't significant, it existed, and a few within the Meng knew about it. Yet here we are, in discussions of importance, and they bring Icheng and me together? It's nonsensical. What can they expect to achieve by setting up such a reckless confrontation? Unless there’s a specific reason behind it, it’s unfathomable. From my perspective, there are only two possibilities as to why they’ve made such a mess of the situation. "To provoke intentionally. Or… to create a scenario." "Hmm." "Then another question arises: what's the purpose? Provocation seems unlikely to yield anything beneficial. If there’s a reason, it’s likely the latter. What kind of scenario are they hoping to orchestrate?” As the pieces started to fall into place, I discovered a critical flaw within it. "It's less about provocations, and more about gauging reactions through Icheng Sword…. But why? Why scrutinize my response?" At this point, the theory transforms from certainty to speculation, but that doesn’t matter. For now, I speak with the guise of certainty. The attitude of ‘if not, then so be it’ held significance. “It’s because they don’t know me well. They don't know how I will act, what kind of reactions I will show in this scenario. And that's what they wanted to uncover. The most apparent reactions come under provocation.” “Is it to see if this old man sits at the end of such speculation? To observe Sungwang's reaction?” “No, at its core, that's correct, but it’s a bit more profound.” They may indeed intend to provoke me to observe my reaction. However, more importantly— “You were standing outside when I was conversing with the leader.” “That is correct.” “I’ve heard you’ve barely practiced martial arts.” “That is also true. I’ve studied only a minimal amount for self-defense.” “Yet, you’ve been active in the Meng for decades; you wouldn’t have presumed I wouldn’t notice your presence outside, would you?” “...” As Mukyeon remained silent, his expression slightly shifted. “You must have known. And yet, there you were. Even with Sword Sovereign masking your presence with qi... you must have studied enough to know my reputed realm wouldn’t miss it.” “…Hmm.” “Still, in full knowledge, you did so.” I tapped the table once after having previously tapped it twice. “You wanted to know my character, my current physical state, and whether I hold any resentment towards the Meng. You sought to understand what kind of person I am, didn’t you?” He wanted to see if I could detect his presence outside—a clear opportunity for assessment. Halfway there… no, this theorizing, in most parts, is fallacious. It's quite a stretch to presume Mukyeon summoned me based on such trivial details. This hypothesis arises from the confidence gleaned from my past life's experiences and the belief that he might have appeared again—anticipations built on those grounds. The Blue Dragon Corps came to escort me? Although unseemly, if it's for business, so be it. Icheng Sword proposes and interrogates? Though there was friction, such occurrences aren’t impossible. But when placing an elder like Mukyeon in this situation, It seemed to reveal a different picture. I arranged these strands like a spider's web. Once I had expressed my thoughts clearly, "Hahaha." Breaking the silence, Mukyeon listened intently and now exhibited a deeper smile than before. After a short burst of laughter, "Cough!" He covered his mouth with cloth as if a cough seized him. Despite the apparent agony, his laughter didn’t cease. After a brief pause, “Well, well, Sungwang.” Mukyeon addressed me. “Yes.” “By any chance, would you consider sitting in this seat on behalf of this old man?” It seemed like a frivolous jest, yet I responded sincerely. “I appreciate the suggestion, but I'm not as sharp-minded as you, Elder. I prefer using my body.” I spoke with apparent distaste, and the elder tilted his head, puzzled. “…Hmm… Oh? Is that so?” Choosing to overlook Mukyeon's reaction, I proceeded to ask what I actually wanted to know. “So, Elder, what is it that you wish to discuss with me after going through all this trouble to meet?” If Mukyeon wanted to see me, then surely there was something more he intended. Having posed the question, his response was, “First, it is true that this old man wished to see you. And I apologize for that.” Mukyeon surprisingly acknowledged what he had done. To think he’d confess so easily. Though, the fact that I was right was what amused me. ‘I took a wild shot... with less than half odds; no, less likely than that.’ And I was correct. Perhaps it wasn’t all bad. As I nodded slightly, satisfied internally, “However, I didn’t plan on meeting directly like this... but it is, in fact, better. After all, questions should be asked while looking the other in the eye. So, allow me to ask what I wish to inquire.” “Yes, of course. What would you like to ask—” “What is your relationship with the Heavenly Demon?” “...” Suddenly, my breath caught in my throat.