810 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

# The Childhood Friend of the Greatest Under Heaven, Chapter 810: Northern Rabbit A name both familiar and oddly alien made me furrow my brows. “Why is that name suddenly coming up?” Gyecheonmun. It is one of the sects located in the Sichuan region. In the past, it was somewhat well-known, with a sizable membership and some recognition in the area. "Just up to that point." Unfortunately, there was an issue that prevented Gyecheonmun from gaining significant fame in Sichuan. The problem was that both the Tang Family and the Emei Sect existed in Sichuan. The Tang Family, once referred to as one of the four great families, and the Emei Sect, part of the Nine Schools, are both based in Sichuan. With just this, it was difficult for Gyecheonmun to exert its influence. But then. "There was an anomaly." In my past life, there was a rather unexpected occurrence. That was. "Gyecheonmun discovered the secret vault of the Golden Heavenly Love Song." Specifically, it was the person who was the head of Gyecheonmun who found this secret vault. Whatever encounter they found there, it significantly elevated the head's martial prowess beyond what was known. Surprisingly, not only the head but the disciples also grew stronger and began to make their presence felt. Up to that point, it seemed fine. Soaring high with a chance happening seemed to have turned out well. But the problem was. "Gyecheonmun is a part of the demonic faction." It’s uncertain whether they turned to the demonic path after gaining the opportunity, or if they were demonic from the beginning. I lack the resources to figure that out, but from what I know, Gyecheonmun was demonic. "Right after the appearance of the Heavenly Demon, they get absorbed into the Demonic Cult." The head of Gyecheonmun enters the Demonic Cult, becomes a demon, and later helps invade Sichuan. Having rooted themselves in Sichuan for many years, they were deeply familiar with the geography. This became a significant advantage in planning strategies for the True Wandering Souls. “Hm.” I ponder this mystery with a furrowed brow. “Why suddenly?” Why was Gyecheonmun, associated with the demonic path, being mentioned now? And supposedly in connection with the Demonic Cult? "It shouldn't be." It's possible. They were deeply related in my past life, but… "They shouldn't be yet." It’s earlier than when the Heavenly Demon appeared in my past life. More importantly… "They wouldn't have obtained anything from the secret vault." The secret vault of the Golden Heavenly Love Song was a place I'd already visited. Honestly, it wasn't much of an opportunity, so even if the head of Gyecheonmun found and visited it, nothing should be any different. “What’s going on?” Why is Gyecheonmun suddenly being mentioned here? It was an incomprehensible situation. “Did you say Gyecheonmun?” “You are correct.” I ask again, but the answer remains the same. Gyecheonmun is related to the Demonic Cult. This was the information I received—words spoken by Muk Yeon. "What is going on?" I couldn't understand it. What in the world could this mean? And. “...So, what is the reason you are bringing this to me early in the morning…?” Why did he specifically call me to discuss this? Is he trying to probe my intentions? That couldn’t be it. “He’s not the type to probe so foolishly.” He would employ different methods; he’s not someone who uses this kind of approach. Then why? Just as I was about to contemplate the reason, Muk Yeon spoke to me. “Since there’s an issue related to the Demonic Cult, I deemed it appropriate to send this matter to the Sacred Dragon Division.” “You mean as an assignment?” “Exactly.” Upon hearing these words, I finally understood. If Gyecheonmun is associated with the Demonic Cult, it made sense to entrust it to the Sacred Dragon Division, given the context. After all, the Sacred Dragon Division was established because of issues with the Demonic Cult… so, it's indeed the right course of action. “It’s okay if you choose not to accept it, as per the conditions laid out.” “… Hmm.” Muk Yeon’s subsequent words left a deep impression on me. Even if I was assigned the mission, I could refuse it. That was a condition when founding the Sacred Dragon Division. If I wish, declining is entirely possible. “Gyecheonmun, huh.” There was something unsettling about the mention of Gyecheonmun. Particularly Gyecheonmun. It’s a bit earlier than when the Heavenly Demon appeared in my past life, but having ties to the Demonic Cult at this time is quite peculiar. “Muk Yeon.” “Yes, please speak.” “If I decide to accept the mission, what happens then?” “It’s simple.” With his words, Muk Yeon took out a letter from his bosom and placed it on the table. “Upon receiving the information, assemble a team and set off within the day.” “Within the day?” “It doesn’t have to be today specifically… but given the urgency, the sooner, the better.” “… Hmm.” “If the leader of the Sacred Dragon Division finds the information and condition of Gyecheonmun to be the same.” Tap, tap. Muk Yeon tapped the letter with his fingers as he spoke. “You are to eliminate all of them.” “… ” A chilling voice made me slightly nod. If the information matched, kill them all. His words were chillingly low and murky. An order to eliminate. Considering the command, it’s quite ruthless but not unusual. It’s not like the martial faction seeks to preserve all life. Given the circumstances with the demonic faction and the possible connection to the Demonic Cult, eliminating them is the right course if the information aligns. "Hmm." I noticed a peculiar hint in Muk Yeon’s gaze and voice. "Is he testing me somehow?" At this point concerning the Demonic Cult’s possible ties, if the information aligns, eliminate. Is he saying that because he suspects me of something? A twinge of suspicion flashes through my mind. "It wouldn't be entirely wrong to think so." He must have some suspicion if he holds doubt about me. Then, how should I proceed? "Ignore it?" If there’s truly no connection, I could simply choose not to undertake it. While considering this, my hand moved. I picked up the letter on the table and spoke to Muk Yeon. “Let’s do it.” "…" As I uttered my acceptance, Muk Yeon’s calm eyes turned to me. “Instead, not today, but I will set off tomorrow.” “Understood.” Even though he mentioned urgency, he didn’t add anything to my decision to leave tomorrow. Whether it’s trust or some other meaning, I couldn’t discern. "Is he trying to make up for his previous mistake?" A previous confrontation filled with hasty decisions. Recalling that, Muk Yeon doesn't reveal much. “Click.” It’s unfortunate, but there’s no choice. I offered a slight bow and turned to exit the room. --- **- Gyecheonmun (系天門).** **- A sect established in the eastern region of Sichuan.** **- Including the head, there are about eighty members.** **- The head of the sect is called the Gyecheonmun Master (系天門主) Daehwan.** - His martial prowess was assessed to be at the Peak level. Recent reports suggest he has reached the Flower level. - Known for utilizing Sword Suppression to engage multiple opponents rather than single combat. Scratch. - Originally, Gyecheonmun had been reducing their activity due to pressure from the Tang Family and Emei Sect, but they seem to have reappeared in the absence of the Tang Family. - According to information from the Flying Dragon Division, they appear to be in contact with unidentified individuals. - Among those identified, there appears to be the Ghost Wicked Gun known to have killed the King of Swords. “…Huh?” I paused as I read the phrases written on the letter. Gyecheonmun is supposedly in contact with some special individuals, and among them, the Ghost Wicked Gun was noted. So, it’s suspected they're in contact with the Demonic Cult… or so it’s written. “Sounds like nonsense.” I question why things have turned out like this. The Ghost Wicked Gun. In other words, Tang Deok supposedly being in contact is definitely false. “The guy is still in Henan.” I had made sure to hide such a large figure, rendering him incapable of action. He couldn’t possibly be in Sichuan all of a sudden…. “Either they confused him with someone else.” So it means false information, after all. If not even that, then…. “Gyecheonmun is up to something unnecessary.” Either they are scheming something themselves, or it's one of these possibilities. “What could it be?” Whatever it is, it's equally bothersome. Even if it’s not related to the Demonic Cult, something unsettling lingers. That’s the main reason I decided to see it for myself. “Beyond this…” The letter contained several other pieces of information and detailed descriptions of their forces. “Oh.” There is an abundance of verified information on the members. Their appearances and names, as well as their martial levels and martial arts techniques. Even their combat habits and traits are thoroughly detailed. Looking at this, I involuntarily let out a gasp of admiration. "The intelligence network is indeed impressive." Is this the strength of being at the core of the Righteous Faction? It was far more meticulous than I anticipated. Ironically, this makes it all the more ridiculous. “How do they behave like this when they have such intelligence?” Even if Gyecheonmun is a minor sect, gathering this much information doesn’t make sense. This means it wasn't gathered in a short time. It must have been collected over time. And also. “I bet there's more information like this.” Within the League, there must be information about other factions gathered as well. How much? And how accurate is it? “Does the entire Flying Dragon Division manage this? Or is it the Unyielding Sect?” The importance of information is well known. Even with great strength, if intelligence is lacking, actions are limited, making this a matter of great curiosity. “I would guess it’s not just the Flying Dragon Division.” The Flying Dragon Division is indeed capable and does handle matters cleanly, but…. “They aren’t the only ones.” There are too many issues to claim the information as solely collected by the Flying Dragon Division. While capable and clean, they lack depth. They’ve surely contributed, but it’s ambiguous to credit it all to the Flying Dragon Division. “The Unyielding Sect must also be involved.” This would be the correct perspective…. In any case, the vital point here was. “The intelligence capability of the League is certainly not low.” It was clear from this. “Could it be…” I furrowed my brow at a sudden thought. “Is this just to show me their intelligence?” The League's intelligence capability isn’t low. Could Muk Yeon have used this method to showcase such a point? But I dismissed such thoughts quickly. “This is going too far.” There were too many reasons to think otherwise. Coincidental as it may seem, it isn't, as there’s more lacking for a definitive conclusion. I folded the letter and put it back in my bosom. I’d seen everything I needed. It would take a bit more time to memorize it all, but it shouldn’t take long. I tend to memorize things better than expected. After putting the letter away, I spoke while looking forward. “You've been working hard since morning.” The sound of my words elicited a reaction. Right after speaking with Muk Yeon, I headed straight into the Sacred Dragon Division. The members were already gathered. “Did you rest well for a day?” There was a response, but no one answered. I didn’t mind. “Sub-leader.” “Yes, Chief.” The one who responded was Tang Sohyeol. Having chosen her yesterday, Tang Sohyeol had a badge on her shoulder. It symbolized her role as the sub-leader of the corps. After her treatment, Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bia were also present. Wi Seol-ah had a somewhat sulky expression, while Namgung Bia appeared indifferent. Though their expressions differed, they must have accepted the results. That’s why they also arrived on time and stood here. “Has everyone gathered?” As I asked, glancing around, Tang Sohyeol’s face showed a subtle change. “…Oh. I will confirm.” Upon hearing her response, I frowned deeply. “Didn’t you check beforehand? You’re the sub-leader. You need to manage until the squad leaders are appointed.” As I spoke with emotion, Tang Sohyeol’s eyes widened slightly. “I apologize.” “Let’s do better.” “Yes….” Instead of making excuses, she apologized immediately, which wasn’t a bad response. “Next, have the League personnel decided on a sub-leader as I mentioned?” When I questioned the League martial artists gathered on the side, they hesitated. Soon, someone stepped forward. “Lieutenant rank Song…” “Song Hojung. Is it you?” “…Yes, that’s correct." “Confirmed. Retrieve your badge later.” “Understood….” Song Hojung. According to my knowledge, he came from the Red Dragon Division. His level was around Mature Peak. I knew he wielded a sword…. “Wasn’t he a team leader in the Red Dragon Division?” I recall something like that. “Well then, since both sub-leaders have been appointed, let's get to the main point…” I leaned back against the chair, crossing my legs. “I’ve received an assignment. We are to engage with a sect in Sichuan and eliminate them if problems arise.” “An assignment already, you say?” “That’s right. Already.” The members showed surprised expressions upon hearing this. An assignment to head to Sichuan, just days after the division’s formation? Training in the Sword Division hadn’t even commenced properly. “I hear it’s related to the Ghost Wicked Gun…” “The Ghost Wicked Gun?” “The demonic man who killed the King of Swords?” The moment the moniker was mentioned, tension filled the surrounding atmosphere. The Ghost Wicked Gun was quite a strong figure, known for killing the King of Swords and nearly rendering the Sword King’s descendant to a corpse. Given he’s supposedly concocting something in Sichuan, it was only natural for everyone to feel tense. "We're going to proceed with the mission as planned, but we can't take everyone... We'll need to narrow it down. Those who want to volunteer, raise your hand." "..." "..." I could see hesitation in their faces as they processed my words. "Stop hesitating and raise your hands quickly. We won't be taking many." As soon as I said that, a few hands shot up. Namgung Bia, Wi Seol-ah, and Tang Sohyeol, as expected. In addition, there were... "The Flaming Warblade Clan... about eight in total?" Among the volunteers, there were about that many. From the League’s side, there were... "One or two." Most did not raise their hands. I chuckled softly at this and said, "Alright, now that I've taken note... Out of those who raised their hands, I'll pick five. As for the rest, I'll take those who didn't raise their hands." "What? How can—!" "Chief...!" "What." Hearing the discontent, I spoke to them with irritation. "When did I ever say I’d take those who raised their hands? I just asked who wants to go." "...Such...!" "Ah, stop whining. Or shall I take out your tongues so you can’t whine?" "..." I wrapped a touch of menace in my words, which promptly shut them up. It seems like I have to put my foot down now and then for them to understand. Tsk. I clicked my tongue briefly and waved my hand. "Now that we've settled the selection, let's move on to other matters." With those words, I sensed movement behind me. Tap. A few individuals stepped past the doorway into the hall. Exactly five people. Their unexpected entrance sparked questioning looks on others' faces as well. "These are the last additional members. Make sure to get along." These individuals were ones I had specifically requested Muk Yeon to bring in. No matter the circumstances. Even if their identities were somewhat complex. I had to bring them in, even if it meant imposing conditions.