777 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

In the dark backdrop, nothing was visible, only the engulfing blackened darkness. What could this be? Suddenly, this bizarre setting appeared, raising questions in such an unexpected situation. 'Ah...' It finally dawned on me what was happening. It seemed I had my eyes closed. ‘...Since when have they been shut?’ I clearly remember handling the mana stone just moments ago. When did it turn to this? Something felt strange. “...Hmm?” I tried lifting my eyelids immediately, but strangely, they didn’t move easily. Even though they weren’t completely immobile, I forced them open. “Ugh.” Finally, a familiar ceiling came into view. It was the ceiling of the warehouse I had entered earlier. This implies I had been lying down. 'What on earth happened?' I couldn’t recall how the situation had unfolded. The last thing I remember was using a magic absorption technique on the mana stone. “At that moment, for sure...” As if the magic absorption had worked properly, energy was pouring out of the mana stone. But after that, my memory was blank. “...” What truly happened here? First and foremost, I tried to rise to assess the situation. Then. Wooong-! “...!” As I placed my hand on the floor to get up, my body vibrated. The origin was the heart. The sudden sensation quickly enveloped my entire body. “...Grr...” I swallowed back the painful groan. Why was this happening? Energy coursed through my meridians, racing through every part of my body. I attempted to control this strange foreboding energy, but... 'Damn it...' It wasn’t controllable. The energy rampaged around, circling everywhere. It was rough and intense. It's fortunate my body was strengthened; had it been the past, I'd likely have exploded from the strain. At this point, there was nothing I could do but endure it. “Grr...ugh...” As I bore the pain for a while, the intensity dwindled gradually. Even though the energy hadn't calmed down completely, its rampaging speed decreased. The vibration from my heart also reduced. Thanks to this, I could now move my body a bit. “...Damn.” I cursed quietly while carefully assessing my body. There didn’t seem to be any visible changes.... Crunch- “Huh?” While moving, I felt something underfoot. I lowered my gaze to check. “What’s this?” The floor was littered with something. If not closely observed, one would easily miss this transparent something. I reached out and picked one up. The immediate sensation was that of a slippery texture. This translucent object was unknown to me, yet it seemed familiar somehow. “This...” Where had I seen it? ‘Are these scales?’ They resembled the type of scales that snakes or similar magical creatures possessed. However, I'd never seen transparent scales like these. It was bizarre for such things to be scattered all over the floor, too. Additionally. ‘Where did the mana stone go?’ The strange scales aside, the white mana stone that had drawn all the energy was nowhere in sight. And it wasn’t just the white mana stone. ‘Where’s the red mana stone?’ Aside from the white, the red mana stones scattered everywhere were missing too. As I had attempted to absorb the white mana stone, it might have disappeared, but where did the red mana stones go? Did someone enter while I was unconscious? ‘I can't find any evidence of that.’ Nothing made sense. I contemplated each factor while turning my head. Then. Crack. “...!” A sudden reaction came from the scale in my hand. Though translucent, it was surprisingly solid, yet it crumbled to dust in an instant. Not only the one in my hand but also every piece on the floor vanished. “What... is this?” They disappeared before I could properly examine them. The situation was bewildering beyond belief. What on earth transpired while I was unconscious? And why had I lost consciousness in the first place? Questions were all I had. Yet the crucial matter was, ‘Did I absorb the energy properly?’ The energy believed to have come from the white mana stone – did I consume it? That was the issue. Judging by the energy that surged through my body and nearly overwhelmed me, it seemed as though I had absorbed it. ‘Then, what about the internal injury?’ How was my body’s condition? It was serious enough that I’d need about three months of rest, but I had hoped that consuming the mana stone would cut that duration by at least a month or two. Before attempting to verify this, and before circulating my qi, ‘Hm.’ I hesitated momentarily, fearing the energy might run rampant again as earlier. Though it was unnerving, still... ‘I cannot just ignore this.’ Lacking a better option, I cautiously drew upon my energy. Wooong. Gradually, the energy began to settle into my meridians and started to examine my body. Thankfully, there was no pain. Moreover. “What?” As I assessed my body’s state, my eyes widened dramatically. I had wondered how much the internal injury had been reduced, but this... “It’s completely healed...?” It hadn’t just decreased; my body had recovered perfectly. No, it wasn’t merely restored; it seemed even better than before. “Huh?” What in the world is going on? “Is this some kind of transformation?” Having experienced something similar before when I became a dragon, it wasn’t exactly unprecedented, but still surprising. Did consuming the white mana stone suddenly cause such a transformation? The idea didn’t hold much weight. I lifted an arm and sniffed my clothing. ‘No stench.’ One of the processes during transformation includes the expulsion of impurities. As the stale energy within is cleared out, a foul smell permeates the clothes. Yet, my body had no such odor. ‘I’ve never been the type to accumulate impurities, so it's possible nothing was present.’ As a dragon, any impurities accumulating within my body were naturally purified. It was often joked that my physique was immaculate. Could this be why there was no stench even if a transformation occurred? Or was it simply not a transformation? Regardless, some change had evidently occurred. ‘I suppose having more qi doesn't offer much advantage now?’ Post-reincarnation, I had consumed a large amount of energy, surpassing my past life's level. From experience, I knew that once a certain threshold was crossed, energy's potency would increase, but it wouldn't provide any further benefits to my cultivation level or physical condition. At least, that was how it should have been. "...What is this?" What kind of fortunate encounter is this? It's difficult to simply rejoice when you don't understand the reason behind it. I clenched and unclenched my fist a few times before turning my head. I needed to know not only my state but also how much time had passed. Creak. I opened the warehouse door and stepped outside. It was yet to turn night. The sun was setting faintly, suggesting that: 'It's either not a full day or not much time has passed.' Perhaps not even a single day or just a few hours had passed. My body's sensations seemed to agree. If it had been a long duration, I wouldn't be waking up here in this warehouse. Probably only about an hour or so had passed. Assuming that's the time frame. 'Then why did I suddenly faint...' I stopped. While gathering my thoughts as I walked, I only managed to take a single step. And then, I had to freeze in place. Swoosh. I raised my hand to cover my head. I had no choice but to do so. -Whisper. Whisper Whisper-! -So, I was saying... -Mom! Mom, guess what...!! -No, so this time Mrs. Yeon said... “...” Sounds flooded in from all around. Not only sounds but the sensations on my skin were also greatly amplified. Whoooosh-! The breeze felt stronger. I could sense each brush against my skin with vivid clarity. Instantaneously assessing the change, I came to a conclusion. ‘My senses have enhanced.’ Far beyond my usual capabilities. At least twice what they used to be. I quickly circulated my energy to suppress these enhanced senses. The sudden influx of information overwhelmed my unprepared body, causing a counter-reaction. If this continued, I'd end up vomiting; hence, I had to suppress my senses for now. As the sounds subsided and sensations dulled, I finally felt okay. “Ha….” What on earth has happened? Could consuming the white mana stone alone have caused this? 'I don't seem any more advanced cultivation-wise, yet my senses heightened like this?' The range and clarity were on a different level. 'It's not a bad thing...' The further and deeper one's senses are, the better. A martial artist's senses grow along with their cultivation level, providing numerous advantages once developed. But why did it turn out like this? Normally, when cultivation advances, one's senses develop alongside. It was strange that only my senses had advanced this significantly. ‘Could it be that my cultivation advanced without my knowledge?’ That seemed unlikely. When I assessed myself earlier using internal energy, I should have confirmed it. In terms of cultivation level, there was no change. However. 'Perhaps it's better to verify once more.' Because I hadn’t thoroughly checked, I thought I might have gotten it wrong and moved my hand slightly. Instead of circulating energy through my body, it was quicker to try summoning flames. With that intent, just as I was about to ignite a flame in my palm. “...” I didn't manage to release the flame after all. Was it because the flame didn’t manifest? No, quite the opposite. ‘I... If I release this, it's going to be bad.’ I understood my intuition. If I summoned a flame now, it meant trouble. Not that it would harm my body. However. ‘I don't think I can control it.’ I sensed that the power of the flame that would burst forth would be uncontrollable. Intuitively realizing that, I couldn't bring myself to release the flame. ‘What a ridiculous situation.’ It wasn’t that my cultivation had increased. Yet I could feel that the power of my flames had amplified enormously. What kind of nonsensical ghostly situation is this? I didn’t understand either. But this is what my body was telling me. Just how much has the intensity increased? While I was keen to release the flame to find out, lack of control was as dangerous as it gets. ‘Everything around here might turn to ashes.’ Normally, controlling everything to prevent any flame damage is fundamental. Lack of control is akin to random flame spraying. To confirm this, I’d need to find a deserted place. “Hmmm...” What exactly has happened? Something fortuitous certainly occurred, yet remaining unclear about it was frustrating. '...If I don't know, the first thing to do is verify.' Right, if there’s been a change, the best course would be to identify it. As I decided earlier, I should head to an isolated area and inspect various things. Just as I planned to move. Humming. Something caught by my enhanced senses seemed to tie my feet. Someone was approaching. I initially thought it might be Na Hi. ‘No, it’s not.’ Na Hi wouldn’t approach so openly. Moreover, if it were her, her dark energy would've been detected rather than her presence. Then who could it be? The curiosity didn’t last long. Tap. Someone lightly landed where I stood. “Found you. I’ve been looking for a while.” “…What brings you here?” A middle-aged man with flowing white hair appeared. The person was none other than Namgung Hyeong, known as the Wudang Demon Sage and master to U Hyuk. An unexpected visitor indeed. “You were looking for me?” Namgung Hyeong had been searching for me. That was strange, especially the peculiar expression on the Sage's face. Suspicion and regret were evident as he looked at me. Emotions that were difficult to coexist combined there. What sort of expression was that? “Sage, why have you suddenly come?” “Well, you see... Uh...” “…?” “There is something I wanted to ask first. Young Master Gu.” “Yes.” “At what age did you...?” “…Excuse me?” What kind of question was that? At what age did I...? The intent behind the question completely eluded me. “…Sage, could you clarify your question a bit more?” “Um, it's just that… uh... No, it's tough to explain... Perhaps it’s better to see directly.” “What do you mean by that...?” “Oh, and if you think about running away, Miss Moyong wanted me to tell you this.” “What did she say...?” “She said that if you didn’t come quickly, she’d really kill you.” “...” I had no idea what any of this meant. I couldn’t grasp what the Sage was talking about, nor did I understand the situation. “…Well, let's go.” It was best to comply for now. With that thought, I started moving. ****************** Following the Sage, we arrived at none other than Shin Ui's residence. Though it was referred to as a residence, in reality, it was a clinic that Shin Ui used, also the location of Namgung Bia and Wi Seol ah. Thanks to frequent visits, I knew the place well... ‘What's going on?’ Unlike usual, I felt an unusually large number of presences there. Typically, there would be no more than five people, but now it felt like over ten. What could they possibly be doing to gather so many people? “What exactly is happening here?” I immediately questioned the Sage, but... “…Well, maybe something worth watching is going on.” The Sage evasively replied, implying it was difficult to explain. All the while, the glances he kept giving me were particularly unsettling. ‘What is it, really?’ What could be happening inside to cause this odd behavior? And why was I summoned here? I was in a situation I couldn't understand. Especially with Moyong Hee ah, who had been avoiding me lately, now threatening to kill me if I didn't show up. This could hardly be a good situation for me. ‘Should I just dash out of here?’ Beyond curiosity, it seemed the wisest choice might be to flee. Though my instincts urged me to run, it was already too late. As soon as we arrived, the Sage opened the door to the place, and the situation inside was immediately visible. Familiar faces crowded together. In addition to Shin Ui, the owner of the place, there were Baek Ryeon Geom, who hadn't been seen lately, Wi Seol ah and Namgung Bia, who were receiving treatment, along with Tang Sohyeol and Moyong Hee ah—who had called for me. ‘...She’s angry, isn’t she?’ Moyong Hee ah's expression was evidently furious. Even Wi Seol ah and Tang Sohyeol, who rarely showed negative emotions, appeared displeased. What had gotten them all in such a bad mood? Could it be because of me? A bead of cold sweat trickled down my face as unease set in. “…What?” I stumbled upon an unbelievable sight. Nestled among the angry women sat Namgung Bia, calm and collected. And there was someone perched on her lap, maintaining Namgung Bia's characteristic poker face. Judging by the way they sat lightly, they seemed to be a child. I wondered why a child would be sitting on her lap, but the bigger issue was... “…Who is that kid?” The child sitting on Namgung Bia's lap looked remarkably like someone familiar. With eyes seemingly difficult to please and a face that looked as if it had received terrible discipline... The discontent on their cheeks and lifted brows were unmistakable. ‘...That’s me?’ The child resembled me significantly—no, not just a resemblance. One could say it was like looking at a spitting image from my own childhood. Was this some kind of illusion? Shocked at the unbelievable likeness, I rubbed my eyes, hoping to clear the vision. “A...” The young version of myself, cradled by Namgung Bia, caught my gaze. At that moment... “…Da...ddy…” “What?” The child said, looking directly at me. And suddenly, all the fierce eyes in the room converged on me.