923 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The return journey to the Mount Hua sect took a bit longer than the journey there. Naturally, the increase in numbers and the need to transport carts contributed to the delay. It felt as though it took nearly twice as long as before. Evening had long faded into night, and just like the first arrival, two moons, a crimson aurora, and scattered stars unfolded across the sky. Looking up at the sky momentarily was a wondrous sight once more. How such a sky could exist was beyond comprehension. Finding it fascinating, I lowered my gaze again. Disciples were seen pulling the carts. "Phew—!" For some reason, it seemed as though their speed had increased. No, it wasn't just an illusion; it was true. They were indeed moving much faster than when they first started pulling the carts. Despite never slowing down or resting, an increase in speed was almost inexplicable. "The lunar influence, perhaps." I quickly deduced the reason. Most of them belonged to the beastly race known as the Moonlit Tribe. They gained enhanced physical abilities at night, probably contributing to their increased speed. "We're almost there." At Gu Bong's words, the disciples put more strength into their legs. I watched them from behind while walking alongside the Heavenly Demon. I wasn't merely observing; I was trying to gather information on the opponents by studying them. "The increase in abilities seems to vary individually." The states of enhanced strength were disparate. While Gu Bong appeared to become more than twice as strong, others did not show similar changes. Some transformed from looking almost exhausted to appearing slightly better. Some demonstrated little change, while others seemed relatively more strengthened, thus appearing more at ease. From this, it seemed they didn't become overwhelmingly stronger at night; rather, the differences appeared to be individual. Although uncertain, it seemed that way based on the current observation. “Interesting.” It's fascinating. Considering the individual differences, it was intriguing not to see it merely as a blessing or power. “I should try again next time.” An idea brushed my mind about sparring with the third group of disciples at night, something I'd done previously in a fit of rage. How? And to what extent? How does the application of power differ, and what precisely changes? To know for sure, clashing directly was the fastest way, and it seemed like the best justification for doing so. “You look strange.” The Heavenly Demon narrowed her eyes at me and spoke. “What’s strange? Isn't this my usual expression?” “No, it isn’t.” “It's not wrong.” “The darkness borne by the sky is flawed.” “You... Aren’t you going a bit too far?” Gritting my teeth in frustration at her constant teasing. Ever since earlier, this crazy girl kept provoking me. And catching sight of that... ‘Damn it.’ Where did she start seeing it from? The fact that she referred to my face as being masked meant... ‘She even knew I was using Qi Concealment Techniques.’ If she acted like she knew after seeing me use and release it, she must have observed me both using and releasing it. ‘Crap.’ Of all the people to be caught by... the Heavenly Demon? It was an unexpected, absurd situation I never imagined happening. Though in the current world, it might not pose an immediate issue, if I returned to my original world... Would there truly be no problem then? Being caught by none other than the actual Heavenly Demon, would there be no problem upon returning? Aside from embarrassment, numerous issues arose in my mind. While contemplating, I was still pondering. ‘What should I do about this?’ How should I deal with the Heavenly Demon? Keeping her around indefinitely was odd. No matter what, a decision needed to be made; the answer was likely already determined. “...” Ironically, I did nothing while having the Heavenly Demon beside me. I hesitated. I hesitated to implement whatever decision I made belonged, becoming hesitant to execute it. ‘Why?’ I asked myself. Why hesitated? The answer appeared immediately. Perhaps I already knew. I wavered. Watching the Heavenly Demon, I recalled feelings I shouldn’t have. Am I insane? ‘Don’t be deceived.’ Even though she looked exactly like Wi Seol ah, she wasn’t Wi Seol ah. It was an issue stemming from her appearance. Somehow, I had to regain my composure. Just as I was gathering my wits to avert my gaze from the Heavenly Demon. "Hmph." She let out a short chuckle and walked ahead. “…What was that?” Why the sudden laugh? Was it a mockery? No, it felt different from a sneer. “Why did she laugh?” I asked her, but she didn’t answer and kept walking ahead. “Hey.” I called her again, but still the same. The Heavenly Demon ignored my question and continued walking. “...Ha.” I let out a mirthless laugh watching that. “What was that about?” Frustration surged up. However, it wasn’t frustration because the Heavenly Demon ignored me. It was because my inner thoughts somehow felt exposed. That’s what irked me. *********** We walked further for quite a while. The increased speed allowed us to arrive faster than expected, but it was still late. “Stop.” At Gu Bong’s raised hand, everyone halted at once. “Be on guard.” Even before the command finished, the second group of disciples slightly widened their circle. And then... Whirrrr. Each of us spread out our senses to check the surroundings. Noticing the dense spread of energy, I nodded to myself. It was a decent display of proficiency. They were well-practiced. Using one’s senses to resonate, they extended it beyond their usual limits. It was the method used by seasoned swordmasters. It was obvious who must have taught them this technique. ‘Regardless of that.’ Impressed by the resonance of the senses, there was one issue. ‘...Why are we here?’ I glanced around. Like before, the fields stretched out endlessly in all directions, blanketed with darkness, but there was a difference this time. Not just a small difference. ‘This doesn’t seem like the same place.’ It was different from the location we came and went last time. Though the landscape appeared similar, it was distinctly different. ‘Did the entrance change?’ The accuracy of the situation remained elusive. Thus, I employed my third eye to scrutinize the void. The placid void was merely caressed by the light night breeze. Nothing discernible appeared before me. Yet, there was undoubtedly something there. I was certain, because— ‘Just like before.’ I assumed there must be something this time as well, based on that simple thought. Moreover— ‘Something so delicate it's invisible.’ Perhaps the work of the elderly man they referred to as Turtle. I was striving to perceive it in any form possible. ‘What could it be?’ What method could render something entirely invisible? What is its purpose, and how is it utilized? This was neither martial arts nor formation. This is— ‘The realm of sorcery.’ A realm surpassing any sorcery encountered in the Central Plains. Not even those from the Northern Sea or the cunning ones from Jegal's house could wield such a level. It was unforgettable. The more I looked, the more I wished to indulge and explore it. Hoping to discern even the slightest aspect of it, I stared intensely, but— ‘...Tsk.’ As expected, still nothing was visible. Just as I was feeling a touch of disappointment, “If you're done confirming, let's proceed.” Within the range of one's senses, Gu Bong's voice rang out. Instantly, the separated disciples reached into their robes, pulling something out. ‘What's that?’ I furrowed my brows. Seemingly small gourd-like objects emerged. Then suddenly— Tap-tap. They began sprinkling it over themselves. White powder settled onto their bodies with each shake. What is the purpose of this? Perplexed, I watched them closely when, suddenly, Gu Bong and I locked eyes. “…What do you have there?” “That's what I want to ask you.” What do I have? It was indeed the question I most wanted to ask. Hearing my inquiry, Gu Bong frowned. It was a familiar expression. When was it? Ah. ‘When Noya didn't explain anything to me.’ It closely resembled the expression he had made back then. This could only mean one thing. “Should I have received something too?” “...” Gu Bong pressed his fingers to his temples, seemingly acknowledging my statement. Then— “Take some….” He handed me the gourd he was holding. “I'm supposed to sprinkle this?” With a tap-tap, I lightly dusted the powder onto my arm. It somewhat resembled salt… though it seemed to be something else. “What is this?” “It’s powder from Elder Sool.” “What kind of powder?” The explanation was cryptic. What on earth was that supposed to be? “Have you never met the Elder?” “Of course, I…” Never before met them. I stopped short in my response. The word "shell" seemed to grate on my ears. “Could it be, that fellow called Turtle or something?” “…Indeed. He is the Elder Sool.” “Oh, I see….” Was Turtle's name actually Sool? Shin Noya always referred to him as Turtle, so I didn’t even know he had a name. ‘And even an elder?’ Not clad in Mount Hua's uniform and apparently living secluded—yet holding the title of Elder? It was utterly strange. More than that— ‘…Powder from a shell, he says.’ Sprinkling ground-up shell powders from that old man onto my body felt off. The ensuing discomfort made me furrow my brow. “So why sprinkle this?” The odd powder, what purpose does it serve when applied to the body? Gu Bong explained as he took back the powder. “It is necessary to gain passage.” “This is?” “Yes indeed.” To return to Mount Hua, this procedure is essential? If so, something strange had occurred earlier. “We didn’t do this last time, did we?” Returning with Noya to Mount Hua required no such steps before. We simply glanced around in the void, solved it swiftly, and left. And now such a procedure existed? After briefly explaining the previous situation to Gu Bong, he avoided my gaze slightly as he replied. “…This is the proper procedure.” “But I didn’t do this then…” “Only the sect leader neglected the procedure….” “…Huh?” Gu Bong's voice, trailing off, prompted me to tilt my head quizzically. Suddenly, something clicked. The elder displaying anger at Noya asking why it had to be repaired so soon—could it be because… ‘…That elder didn’t follow the proper steps and just tore it apart?’ Ignoring the procedures and recklessly breaking through, resulting in problems? That reasoning made sense. ‘Unless.’ Perhaps Noya had— Refusing to wait, me meddling with the barrier might’ve caused issues. Anyhow… ‘By doing this, access is granted, I suppose.’ Suppressing the unease, I lightly brushed my body. The Heavenly Demon appeared to have done the same by now. Confirming this, Gu Bong continued, “We're moving.” At his words, the group began advancing slowly. After taking just a few steps— Whoooosh---!!! A dazzling light enveloped us. I squinted and slightly opened my eyes. “We’ve arrived.” Just like before, we had entered the domain where the Mount Hua sect resided. It seems that the unexpected twists in "The World's Greatest Master's Childhood Friend" have left readers quite perplexed. While readers expected the side stories to delve deeper into unfinished plotlines after the main storyline wrapped up rather abruptly, it seems these side tales often take surprising turns that leave fans bewildered. The shift in tone and pacing, which may not suit everyone’s taste, is causing some dissatisfaction. Readers are finding the current vibe too different from what they expected, and it appears to have disrupted the immersion for some. In fact, it’s sparking a desire to revisit the original work for clarity or continuity. One particularly amusing comment points out an annoyance with poor spelling and lack of spacing in comments, humorously asking who might be responsible for such rushed typing. This indicates a level of community engagement around the series, even if sometimes it's expressed in frustration or humor regarding the material's structure or other readers’ input. Amidst such discussions, fans seem eager for content updates and recommendations, with requests for more serene and immersive storylines, evidenced by recommendations like the serialized “Hunter Wants to Live Quietly.” It’s evident that within this vibrant community, readers are navigating their way through both the narrative twists and the lively forum conversations.