854 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Episode 854 of "The Childhood Friend of the World's Best Warrior" KA-BOOM--!!! A storm swept across the ground. Swords rained down relentlessly, turning all directions into chaos like an unstoppable gale. Swoosh-!! Four swords moved in different directions, drawing circles. It seemed as if they were alive. One of the swirling swords suddenly aimed its tip and lunged forward. "Haah." Namgung Bia angled her sword downward, lowering its blade. Slash--! The incoming sword was deflected off her blade with a clash, altering its trajectory. Sparks flew as it was driven away. The attack was successfully parried, yet Namgung Bia's gaze remained tense. It wasn't over. As expected, no sooner had she diverted one attack than two more came in. Frowning, Namgung Bia braced her legs firmly. Crackle--! Lightning qi surged, encircling her sword. She unleashed energy from her core. Her body radiated pressure. It was the activation of the Sovereign Sword Technique. In an instant, the incoming swords slowed down. Namgung Bia seized that moment. Her lightning-infused sword cleaved through the air. The two swords engulfed in her sword energy scattered, revealing a clear path. Namgung Bia didn't hesitate. She immediately dashed forward. Her movement was akin to a lightning strike. She closed in on her opponent in no time and swung her sword. At this rate, she could have severed their neck. But. “…!” Just as she swung, Namgung Bia abruptly halted and turned her head. The spot where her face had been narrowly avoided a sword thrust. Slice--! A line appeared on her cheek as blood spattered. A few strands of hair were cut in the process, as she spun to create distance. “Phew….” Namgung Bia exhaled deeply, wiping away the blood from her cheek. Tension continuously surged within her. "You have good instincts." The Heavenly Golden Sect Leader watched her with a smile. The old man still had his hands clasped behind his back. Namgung Bia scowled. The old man hadn’t moved a single step. The difference in skill was overwhelming. Even within the same martial realm, the gap was vast. He was incomparable to any Silver Wolf Swordsman. "Right from the start... Such a pity," the old man commented. “...” "At most, you must only have just entered the third age of skill... yet how can you be so formidable?" The old man chuckled, and his swords were retrieved around him. "The Star King as well... Today’s young ones are truly exceptional." Namgung Bia steadied her breath, adopting a stance once more. She knew she couldn’t win, something she’d realized from their very first exchange. "It’s such a pity... To press one so bright as a precious child." It was apparent that the opponent was taking it easy on her—clearly toying with her as they held back. Namgung Bia briefly glanced back. Wi Seol ah remained unmoving, her gaze fixed on the trees. Something was surely off. "So why not just answer what I ask? Your life will be spared.” “...” "Life will be spared... But what of the other consequences?" Namgung Bia wrinkled her nose at the stench emanating from the old man. The old man exuded a horrible, stinking odor. "Of course. In exchange for sparing your life, you’d need to become mine for a while and keep me entertained." Crass, revolting desire. Namgung Bia's eyes turned icy at his words. She was no stranger to such feelings from her opponents. It was something she had become accustomed to. Whenever she felt such things, she recalled what Gu Yangcheon often said. "You're pretty, that’s why. If you were only moderately pretty, it’d be different. You're just too much." She knew she was considered beautiful, though it didn’t elicit much emotion. It wasn’t of any concrete benefit to her life. She simply recognized it. She’d known since she was young. Back then, she’d considered it a curse. Most misfortunes were due to this. She wondered if lacking such a face wouldn't be better. There were times she thought that. But things had changed a bit. Now it didn’t matter as much. Those gazes, the desires directed at her. Now they truly didn’t bother her. What used to be an annoyance wasn’t disagreeable anymore. Once she asked him. He had looked at her incredulously. "Do you dislike being pretty? What kind of nonsense is that?" "No, it’s not so much that... What? Breasts? Why are we talking about that now! Hey! Button your clothes! Are you insane?" "I don’t dislike either. I’d say I like them, so stop asking and go! I need to train!" The event that made her grievances no longer a bother was enough reason. His face, which slightly blushed and avoided her gaze when she stared, and the tiniest hint of desire lingering in his eyes didn’t bother her anymore. On the contrary, sometimes she wished he wouldn’t hold back so much. It wasn’t appealing to change himself just for her. But those feelings were solely for him and nobody else. "So why don’t you stop a fight you can’t win and peacefully... Hmm?" The Heavenly Golden Sect Leader paused, noticing Namgung Bia was smiling. She was smiling, partially because she was thinking of him and also because she oddly welcomed the current situation. A fight impossible to win, a battle with no hope, a moment where she might die. All of it made Namgung Bia smile. "Heh..." The Heavenly Golden Sect Leader let out a hollow laugh, realizing the meaning behind Namgung Bia's smile. "A beautiful flower with some talent, I thought... But this is unexpected." The swords circling them momentarily halted. The eyes filled with desire now also carried a hint of disdain. "You’re a Du Gui, child." Occasionally, among martial artists, there are those who not just enjoy fighting, but live consumed by it. Those who relish killing are known as Sa Gui (殺鬼), while those who live captivated by the fight itself are called Du Gui (鬪鬼). In this regard, the young lady was indeed a Du Gui. In such dire circumstances, she smiled, sensing the fighting spirit. It left him speechless. "Indeed, that can happen." The Heavenly Golden Sect Leader smirked. For someone as beautiful as Namgung Bia, being a combat enthusiast hardly mattered. It wouldn’t change the situation. ‘Once I capture her, she’ll become a valuable card.’ How she arrived here. How she broke the seal. And also… ‘Who is that girl behind her?’ Staring almost entranced at the Sky Clan's sacred tree was a blonde woman. Dae Hwan knew her identity all too well. ‘The Sword Saint’s descendant, they say.’ Wasn’t she referred to as the Crescent Moon Sword? Just recalling brought chills to his spine. He had encountered her once, fleetingly. Right in the heart of a battleground, releasing countless swords to slaughter her foes. Her number of swords couldn’t be compared to his mere four. Irritating as her lineage was, troubling still— ‘For some reason, she remains motionless.’ Despite the ongoing fight, she only watched the sacred tree. He didn’t know why, but it worked to his advantage. ‘I shall capture them both.’ Both of them would serve as perfect leverage against the Star King. In doing so, perhaps the long-standing mysteries may be unraveled, and he could also provide a rare treat for his followers. “Endure if you can.” Dae Hwan laughed, waving his hand. Once more, swords fell like stars upon them. At that moment— “Hoo.” Namgung Bia exhaled once more. A voice had been echoing constantly in her ears. [Draw it now!] The old man's voice pierced her ears, but she didn’t heed it. Not yet. There was still more she could do. [Stubborn fool... This is not something that mere persistence will solve--!] The descending sword was now almost at Namgung Bia’s head. Peril approached swiftly. Only then did Namgung Bia draw her sword. It wasn't the Thunderchild. BOOM---!!! As the sword was drawn, a pressure wave spread. At the same time, something was slashed. "……!!" The Heavenly Golden Sect Leader stumbled, falling to one knee. “Cough…!” He spat out blood, clutching at his chest. Blood flowed from his upper body. His torso had been deeply slashed. In pain, he glared forward. "…You wretched woman…how did you draw out the Heart Sword…!” With a menacing expression, the Heavenly Golden Sect Leader cursed. *Sssssss….* “…Hoo.” From the location where the barrage had been overwhelming, the same sound of breath was heard again. Around her lay fallen swords. Standing among them was Namgung Bia. She was not unscathed. Evidence of cuts was visible all over her body. Her clothes were torn, and blood trickled from her lips as well as her hands and legs. Her wounds seemed neither shallow nor deep. And yet— Even then, Namgung Bia smiled. With a bright demeanor, almost as if she relished the current scenario, she smiled as if in full bloom. "A good…instinct?" She echoed the words the Heavenly Golden Sect Leader had uttered moments before. *************** Inside an underground space, a large elder rushed in urgently. “What’s going on-!!” “…Elder…!” Those inside gasped wide-eyed at the elder’s entrance. “The barrier technique suddenly deactivated.” "So what happened? What were the guards doing for this to happen?" “We have no communication with them.” “…What?” With the report, the elder frowned deeply. The barrier suddenly deactivated? “When was the last rotation for the sentries?” "…About half a shijin ago.” “…Just that much?” Barely half a shijin? How could the barrier deactivate in such a short time? It was incredible. The elder was in disbelief. “Even the mighty Wind Dragon Lord would have been held off for days. Only half a shijin? Does that make any sense?” Even considering the Wind Dragon Lord perished in the recent Hanam attack, those capable of dispelling this barrier could be counted on one hand. Yet it deactivated in just half a shijin? “You’re absolutely sure it’s not a mistake?” "…Absolutely.” “Could there have been a malfunction in the technique?” Perhaps it had malfunctioned, the elder queried, suspecting an issue. “The barrier division checked today, and there were no problems.” “Then, this means an external attack?” “That’s what we’ve assessed…” "Where is the Sect Leader? Where's the Sect Leader now?" “The Sect Leader has... left, mentioning hunting down a rat….” "…Tsk." They knew someone had infiltrated the space long ago. They intended to capture them, but with the Sect Leader's mysterious intentions, they let them be. ‘Could it be those people?’ The ones who followed in secret. Did they instigate this? If so, by what method? Though the elder didn’t know, it wasn’t the time to sit still. “I’ll go assess the barrier. You, follow me.” The elder directed someone knowledgeable about the barrier to accompany him. First, they needed to go outside and assess the situation. The elder hastily rose and moved, nearly running toward the entrance. Though it appeared there were multiple entrances, there was really only one, which even the elder wasn’t familiar with. "To the left," instructed one of the few who knew. Following directions, the elder navigated toward the correct entrance. Just then— “Turn right here….” “...Wait.” The elder stopped the man mid-sentence. "…Halt.” “Yes…” The man looked puzzled, but the elder only, sweating, stared ahead. “Elder…?” “Who goes there?” The elder asked, calling out to the darkness ahead as footsteps approached. It was only then the man sensed it. “Guh!?” The incredible killing intent that pierced through. Footfalls came closer from beyond the shadow-filled entrance. As a silhouette became discernible— Something shimmered within the shadows. A faint blue light danced in the air. It didn’t take long to realize those lights were eyes. “Who are you…?” The elder widened his eyes upon recognizing the newcomer. “Star…” “I need to ask you a few things.” The youth interrupted the elder. The man felt his own body tremble as he watched. It wasn't just the killing aura. There was something beyond that. ‘…Hi, his eyes?’ The once blue eyes progressively changed. Their hue evolved. The cold yet brilliant azure turned gradually into a vivid violet at the end. Upon witnessing this, his breath hitched, leaving him utterly speechless. Only fear occupied his mind. Clack. Clack-clack-clack. His teeth chattered uncontrollably as he trembled. “I’m searching for someone... Do you know anything?” “Someone?” At those words, the elder swelled his muscles with all his might. He attempted to dispel the killing intent, exuding a powerful aura. “Do you have any idea where you are...?” The swollen muscles. The man, unintentionally, felt a slight relief. The elder was a martial artist who had reached the Flower Realm. No matter how strong this man was, surely... Thud. “What?” The man uttered a startled cry. Suddenly, the elder dropped to one knee. “Elder...?” Trying to ascertain what had happened, he found the elder didn't respond. He simply collapsed to the ground. Thud-! The large body crumpled to the ground, and the man tried to approach the elder when something fell before him. The sight made him scream, stumbling backward. “Eeeek---!!!” It was a heart. It was still faintly beating. Whose could it be? Could it be? The man looked at the elder again. Blood flowed from the chest of the fallen elder, staining the ground. “E...El...Elder.” Crack-! A foot crushed the heart, causing blood to splatter on the man's face. “Seems like you didn’t hear me, so I’ll ask again.” With a smooth motion, fingers grabbed the man's chin, forcing it upward. They locked eyes. “I’m searching for someone. Do you have any information?” The fingers holding his chin felt wet. It was the old man’s blood.