825 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The loud sound echoed through the training hall within the accommodations of the Sacred Dragon Division provided by the branch. Bang—! Thump, thump—! The sudden noise drew my attention, and the tip of a sword seemed to graze my cheek. With a step forward, I ducked, narrowly avoiding a second sword that swept through the spot I had just vacated. I thrust a fist into thin air, anticipating the blade's strike. It collided with my fist, shattering the attacking force. Despite the brevity of the movement, numerous attacks kept flooding in, each one driving my body to dance tirelessly in response. As I darted my eyes around, I slightly heightened my senses. Energy emanated from all sides, ready to strike. Swiftly adjusting my posture, I enveloped my arm in auras. 'One down.' I turned my focus from the closest adversary to the one furthest away. Slightly shifting my weight, I picked up speed. "...!" In an instant, I was in front of my target. Though my sudden appearance seemed to catch the opponent off guard momentarily— “Ugh!” —she quickly adjusted her grip, shifting her stance to defense. It seemed she intended to switch from an aggressive stance to a defensive one. I smirked at her reaction. It was a wise choice, aiming to minimize damage due to unnecessary power struggles. But. 'For all that, her defense seems quite unrefined.' It seemed she focused her training primarily on offense. Her stance, while not exactly crude, still had room for improvement from my perspective. When perceived as an 'opponent,' it looked that way to me. Thud! “Gah!?” My swift punch found its mark right at the solar plexus. Landing my attack wasn't difficult. As I mentioned before, her stance was just full of openings. A dispersing aura crushed the protective shield that enveloped her body. "Cough...!" The target, having taken my punch, collapsed, retching as she clutched her stomach, her face paling. While her weakened appearance concerned me, it wasn’t the time to dwell, so I turned away immediately. An attack had already reached my back. This time, it was a massive fist. Its dense aura threatened considerable compaction force, one that would hurt badly if recklessly blocked. Evade or counter? The decision was swift. Crash—! My relatively smaller fist crashed into the gigantic one. The clash of auras sent an immense shockwave across the area. Nonetheless, it was the opponent who suffered damage from this exchange. The man who had charged with his might clutched his arm, retreating. In contrast, I remained unscathed. I remarked, “You were too single-minded. You should have anticipated a counter.” Though he had a larger volume of aura, the outcome was unaffected by that alone. A substantial amount of energy was focused solely on the fist’s impact point. Such an arrangement meant even slight misjudgment would strain the wrist. It indicated an attack that did not consider durability. "Grunt—!" The man, momentarily flustered by my counter, seemed prepared to retreat to regain composure. Distance—it was indeed a viable option. The problem was— Firm step—! “…!” That I had predicted this and was already anchoring his foot down. His motion was halted, and I sensed his surprise. It seemed he was trying to forcibly pull his foot free, but by then, I was swinging my other leg, still pinning down his. My rapidly moving calf struck his side, and simultaneously, I released his foot. “Gah—!” Boom—!! He smashed into the wall before his scream could fully escape. "That's two." The moment I muttered those words, auras surged from both sides, two glints of light piercing towards me. They capitalized on my focus on the fight, utilizing a blind spot. It was a clever approach. Moreover, their positioning was admirable—an attack unyielding both up and down, evidence of their synchronization. What a shambles their start had been—and yet, after a few rounds of polishing, it seems they had started to get it. Then. 'What should I do now?' Should I accept their attack or respond differently? Accepting wasn’t entirely unfavorable. There was some worth to their efforts, deserving of a passing mark. While leniency seemed appropriate, given the current circumstances— Swoosh—! “Gasp!” “What—!!” But that’s not how I do things. Flames erupted along my body in an instant. The charging adversaries flinched, swiftly altering their stance. Caught mid-charge, evasion was impossible; their best course of action was to brace for impact. They fortified their defenses, seemingly intent on enduring the conflagration. Impressive stoicism. I mentally awarded more points for that. Flash—!! The flames enveloped them. Resolutely braced, they faced the fire head-on. At that moment. "What?" "What's this...?" Startled by the lack of burning sensation, they all widened their eyes—but any realization, however, came too late. I intended precisely that—a mere illusionary flame meant to induce panic. My plan was flawlessly executed. There was a small gap—a minute opening. I didn’t miss it. Clang—! “Pant!?” I dealt with the closest one first, aiming to disarm her by knocking away her sword with a strike to her wrist. Although it didn’t quite leave her hand, the mere downward motion was a commendable response. I was quite impressed. 'Now, what’s your name?' Was it Seong Hyukjin? He was notable for his performance on the sparring decks and had joined us during the Baek-grade monster incident. “Urgh!” With that thought brushed aside, I struck her jaw with my knee. She staggered back from the unerring blow. 'And that's three.' Counting silently, I snapped my fingers. Snap! As my index and middle fingers clasped, a spark ignited. The tiny ember expanded swiftly. Slightly thicker. A bit sturdier. Yet, purposefully not overwhelmingly potent. I’d rate its strength to— Yes. ‘Enough to withstand a single sword strike.’ Creak—! “Ugh!” The man slashing at the flame grimaced, his blade cutting through slower than intended, a testament to the manipulated resilience. "It felt like I would need to exert significant force to cut through." "What kind of flame...!" Merely flames, yet they felt dense and heavy in resistance. The opponent bit her lip in unease. In doing so, she failed to notice. "You’re late." “…Gasp!!” I seized her by the collar. Though I could have struck her chin or solar plexus, I had a reason to simply grab and hurl her backward. “Ahh!?” Despite being unexpectedly thrown, she quickly prepared to break her fall. However, her intentions didn't come to fruition. Thud! “Ugh!?” “Oof!” The figure collided with the ally rushing in from behind, both toppling over in the ensuing chaos. I acted to prevent them from regaining formation and charging again. Thus, "Urgh…ugh." "Cough…cough." The training bout came to an end. Those who had fiercely clashed now lay exhausted on the ground. I stood amid them, observing. "Hmm." I nodded as I judged the groaning opponents. 'Passable.' Not bad at all. In fact, they synchronized better than anticipated. With more refinement, they could improve. The issue was... “Whew….” “Damn it…such a gap in skill.” Their expressions weren't favorable. Though I thought I held back, perhaps the disparity felt overwhelming to them? I had intended to temper my force, yet it seemed their confidence was more shattered than expected—an unfortunate side effect. 'Should I offer praise for their efforts?' But in their current state, it might not be beneficial. Then should I reprimand them instead? Say something like, "Is this all you have to show after just a bit of sparring?" 'Yes, that might be more fitting.' Praise? What praise? If I'm to say something, it might as well reinforce. Just as I was about to speak— "You were amazing, my Lord-!" “...!” An alluring voice interrupted, directing the defeated men’s gaze. At the far entrance of the training hall stood Yeonhong, a captivating beauty (?) cheering brightly. "..." Witnessing that, my expression soured instantly. “L-Lady...” “To think she was watching...!” "Everyone, you were incredible. You've worked so hard-!" "Hah…” “Hmm.” With her consoling smile, the men regained their spirits. Just like that…? ‘…Damn.’ Words failed me—especially knowing Yeonhong’s true intentions made it all the more frustrating. ‘How does she pull it off?’ The guarded and stoic figure renowned as the Dark King, unflinching even when confronting severe injuries. Can mere costumes alter a person this drastically? It was confounding. The refined voice and actions were what truly felt alien. "You've done well...!" “N-No. It's nothing but part of our training.” “Indeed. A warrior must constantly train, never lowering their guard despite defeats.” “Chief... Truly remarkable. Now, shall we proceed to the next training? Surely nobody's exhausted, right?” “Of course! No exhaustion here!” "..." Eager to showcase even more to Yeonhong, they hurriedly departed. I looked on with a grimace as they left. ‘What a load of nonsense.’ Heaving a sigh, I ran my hands through my hair. Ridiculous as it appeared, there were benefits. Thus, I couldn’t voice my objections. ‘The ease of management is preferable this way, she said. Did she mean this?’ The Dark King's earlier words replayed in my mind. If such was her intention, had she foreseen these events? If so, truly a formidable individual. Furthermore. ‘Becoming so different, no wonder her identity remained hidden.’ I now understood why the Dark King’s true self eluded discovery for so long. A transformation of this caliber—who would dare suspect? No masculine presence emanated from Yeonhong now, nor did any reminder of the Dark King exist. My gaze met Yeonhong's, who beamed at me with such radiance that I involuntarily bristled. Avoiding her eyes, I addressed others who ogled at Yeonhong like those men before. "Alright, next." A few flinched at the call. Seeing no one stepping forward, I cast a sharp look in their direction. "Not coming? We don't have all day, so—” As I attempted to hurry them along, a voice reached my ear. - My Lord, you have a visitor. Tang Sohyeol’s voice transmission came through. Oh dear. ‘Arrived earlier than expected.’ I had presumed they’d come past noon, yet they appeared promptly when morning had just broken. -Shall I tell them you're in training and ask for a short wait? -No, I'll be there shortly. Have them wait in the room. -Understood. Ending the transmission, I clicked my tongue in annoyance. There were still more eager candidates to hone, yet the schedule had unraveled. "Attend to individual training until further notice." “…!” Hearing that, the men’s expressions perked up, assuming it was concluded for the day. "We'll resume immediately after, so be prepared." “...” My firm tone quickly deflated their premature optimism. Chuckling briefly at their wilted faces, I walked away. ‘I’ll remember those who were too relieved.’ I planned to revisit and push them particularly hard later. ************************ My destination was the guest room of the branch. Without hesitation, I approached and opened the door. Creak. As I entered briskly, the person already waiting knitted his brows in displeasure. Smiling broadly, I spoke to him. “It’s been a while?” “...” “So dour to greet someone; lighten up, you'll make them uneasy.” Ignoring the elderly man's sullen reaction, I pulled out a chair and sat. “No need for tea, right? Not that I have any prepared, but water, if you need it.” “Hah...” Whether amused or dismayed, the old man sighed. “Clearly, you’re out of your mind.” “I was trying to be considerate, but have it your way.” “All sense, along with actions, is lost on you. Have you truly lost it?” “What?” The scowling elder, Kaechunmun’s Chief, remarked as he eyed me. “The fact you summoned me here is evidence enough.” Kaechunmun, regarded as an unruly sect, and summoning its Chief to the Alliance without a care. The Chief couldn’t ignore the preposterousness of it. “Haha. Astounding.” I simply chuckled at his words. "And yet, you came when summoned. Are you in your right mind? Besides—" I scattered my energy, forming a qi barrier around the area. "It's not like it matters, considering the branch leader is one of your own. Let’s be honest." “…!!” The mention of Mok Liseon caused the Kaechunmun Chief's eyes to widen. "How do you know about that?" He offered no denial or excuses. Perhaps because my statement left little room for doubt? His reaction made things easier for me. "As I've said before, how I know isn't important, is it? I have no intention of explaining." "You mean to stay here knowing all this?" "Where else should a member of the Murim Alliance go if not the branch? They provide food and shelter—where would be more convenient?" "..." "Don’t let minor details bother you. Investigate if it intrigues you. What’s crucial isn’t how I know, but the fact that you’re here. Isn’t that right?" "You..." "What about Ilcheongum?" "..." Without hesitation, I cut to the chase. "Does she listen to you?" "Haha." Hearing my question, the Kaechunmun Chief let out a hollow laughter. "Haven’t you considered that I might not have met with her?" "Oh, but you did, didn't you?" "And how would you know that?" "Let’s not play mind games, alright? You saw her and got a reaction, which is why you’re here. So, just answer the question. I'm not fond of overthinking." The Kaechunmun Chief narrowed his eyes. In his gaze lay an unspoken suspicion. "Are you truly allied with a righteous sect...?" "What do you think?" "..." His silence spoke volumes through his eyes. Those eyes seemed to say "absolutely not." I didn’t deny it either. After all, I never considered myself a part of the righteous factions. Nor did I desire it. Staring into those eyes for a moment, the Kaechunmun Chief furrowed his brow and spoke. "Ilcheongum was just as you described." Looks like he intended to address the main topic directly. "Is that so?" "When I relayed your exact words, her reaction matched what you described." "Good." "Indeed, it felt as if you both conspired to make a fool of this old man." "Hahahaha." "Hahaha." We laughed together. With a nod to acknowledge his suspicion, I spoke. "You wouldn’t have come if you doubted us that much, right?" "There’s something I wished to confirm for myself." "Is that so? And have you confirmed it?" "No. Not yet." "What happens if you never get the confirmation?" "Do you want to find out?" As the conversation progressed, objects around us began to tremble. Watching them, I asked the Kaechunmun Chief. "Aren’t you bold to be so confident right here in the heart of our base? What if you end up dead?" "Didn’t you remark earlier that the branch leader sides with me? Would I have come so thoughtlessly, then?" "Hmm..." The implication that he had taken measures before coming to the branch. Upon hearing that, a thought crossed my mind. Should I just kill him? It was a fleeting notion, one I didn’t realize I had. 'No, I can’t.' I suppressed it immediately. There were still things to uncover and utilize with him. Killing him now would waste those opportunities. Thus, at the very least— "Alright, so I get that you came prepared. There’s something I need to ask you." "I don’t plan to let this go so lightly—" "The Ilcheongyo." This couldn’t be glossed over. "..." The Kaechunmun Chief paused. Then I asked, "Old man, do you know anything about this Ilcheongyo?" Crunch—! Swords suddenly rained down from above, piercing the ceiling.