988 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

# Chapter 988: The Childhood Friend of the World's Greatest It should have become a disaster. I was left speechless by Noya's words. For a long while, I found myself unable to utter a single word as time slipped by, thoughts failing to form. Eventually, I managed to pull myself together. I couldn't let this moment slip away. I had to seize it and prompt him into talking. "What do you mean?" I asked Noya, trying to stabilize my trembling voice. "A catastrophe befalling Zhongyuan should have been me?" The catastrophe of Zhongyuan. First, it was the Blood Demon, and the second was my mother. And then. 'The third...' I looked toward the sky. It wasn't precisely the void I gazed upon, but the direction where a certain woman had disappeared. 'Was it not the Heavenly Demon?' The Heavenly Demon. The being responsible for the bloodshed in Zhongyuan and currently residing near me. While I couldn't be entirely sure if she was truly a disaster, if there was a disaster to be named, I believed it was the Heavenly Demon. It was an inevitable conclusion. The bloodshed was caused by the Heavenly Demon, and I knew all too well how many lives were lost because of it. Moreover, 'The Heavenly Demon is connected to the Blood Demon.' Before coming to the myriad worlds, a conversation had taken place with the Blood Demon. This pointed to a connection between the Heavenly Demon and the Blood Demon. 'If there were a third calamity, I assumed it would be the Heavenly Demon...' Noya's words were beginning to crack that assumption. No, it wasn't cracking. 'It was reinforcing another piece of evidence.' Gritting my teeth, I thought. Something else. It was a suspicion that had taken root deep within me and had been slowly growing. Contrary to my belief that the Heavenly Demon was the third catastrophe, there was one more potential figure in my mind. An entity as unusual as the Heavenly Demon herself. Just as the Heavenly Demon was linked to the first disaster, the Blood Demon, another person held a special connection to the second catastrophe. Someone who defied the flow of time, and in the process, ceased to be human. The answer was obvious. '...Me.' It was me. I was that figure. 'You are the disaster.' "....." The words from that day at the Divine Dragon Pavilion, when I faced the will of Yeon Ilcheon, still echoed in my mind. I couldn't forget what Yeon Ilcheon had told me. 'Do you truly believe your return is purely a miracle?' Yeon Ilcheon, who called me a disaster, had followed those words with this. Did my return seem miraculous? Back then, I wanted to argue that if returning wasn't a miracle, what else could it be? If not a miracle, then what was this return? That was the question I wanted to argue. 'When I think about it now.' Was it really so? The rising dissonance was suffocating. As time passed, and as I experienced more, the doubts clarified more and more. And they led me to now. "Young one." "Yes." "Judging by your expression, you seem to know something." "I know, indeed, I even spoke of it to you, Noya." What if I were the disaster? That was the question I had posed. I had been contemplating it even then. Perhaps, I thought, it might really be so. It was only a suspicion at the time, but seeing it come to light so distinctly now was tormenting. "So, Noya, when you say it, you mean that I should have been the disaster upon Zhongyuan." "Perhaps." "Despite saying that, Noya, you seem to already know." "......" I recognized that look. Regret. And weariness. Such emotions were clearly etched in Noya's eyes. "Young one..." "Why does it have to be that way? Please explain. I want to know." Subduing my emotions with all my might, I urged Noya to speak. Why did he consider me destined for such a fate? Upon questioning it, Noya sighed before continuing. "This world does not repeat the same mistakes. The problem begins there." I listened intently, determined not to miss a single word. "When the Blood Demon once invaded Zhongyuan and ultimately failed, the world placed a strategy upon Zhongyuan. Do you remember what that was?" "Yes." It was to lower and block the limits that martial artists in Zhongyuan could reach. As Noya said, because of that, the martial artists were far less competent compared to during the time of the bloodshed. "I once thought the world had set that as a means to prevent people from stopping the next disaster." "...Isn't that indeed the case?" The fact he said 'once thought'—does it imply there is something else? At my question, Noya shook his head. "That was my assumption, but observing until now, it's become a mystery. There were far too many strange parts." "What do you mean by 'strange parts'...?" "To lower the level of martial artists—a being capable of such a feat has a surprisingly benevolent tolerance for life if all they desired was eradication." His words made me furrow my brow. Benevolent tolerance? I was about to ask for elaboration when, "If they wished, they could obliterate everything easily. Yet, sending the Blood Demon or your mother was unnecessary." His subsequent words rendered me speechless. "If all they wanted was destruction, why go through all that trouble?" Noya suggested that instead of sending formidable beings from another realm, it would suffice to erase everything. There was no reason to employ such methods. Moreover, "I don't understand why the world sets up someone to oppose the disaster it's tossed upon Zhongyuan." "...What do you mean by someone to oppose?" Was he referring to those who confronted the disasters? Countless figures came to mind, but Noya didn't seem to mean them. "The Blood Demon had Yeon Ilcheon." "..." Out of his mouth flowed the name of the person who was once the greatest in the world and a fellow returnee like myself. "Because of him, disaster didn't occur, and the era could regain peace, even if just for a while. But young one, isn't it puzzling why the world left him be?" Noya was asserting that even allowing the existence of Yeon Ilcheon, who returned in time and succeeded in thwarting the Blood Demon, was something the world simply allowed. "Are you saying the world knew and just let it be?" "Otherwise, things wouldn't make sense. Even if we don't know the full extent of what the world can do," Noya said, rising from where he had been seated. "It seems as though there's a deeper meaning that continues to instill hope." As he spoke, Noya slowly approached me. "Especially. It's evident when you consider not just Yeon Ilcheon, but your father as well." "...What do you mean?" I was taken aback by the sudden mention of my father. Why bring him up now? "Young one." "Yes." "What do you think about your father's strength?" "..." His power? "Well..." I questioned it internally and thought more deeply. He must be strong. Extremely so. I hadn't seen him fight extensively, but even from the little I'd witnessed, it was apparent. Even comparing him to myself now, it's clear. '...I probably wouldn't win.' I still can't forget that time. When we headed to the North Sea to subdue the white demon. The ultimate display of the Nine Flames Wheel Art that my father showed. That image is etched into my memory relentlessly. Upon reaching the great success stage, I've been striving to imitate it ever since. '...Though I haven't succeeded.' There must be some condition apart from just reaching the great success stage. No matter how many attempts I made, success seemed elusive. Just how strong is my father? Even now, the thought of defeating him seems unimaginable. In that context. "Your father..." Noya spoke of him. "He is someone who pierced through the limits set by the world." "...!" My eyes widened in shock. Pierced through the limits set by the world? "To be precise, it's not that he pierced through them. It's more accurate to say he was born without them." "...Does that mean." Does that mean the world-imposed limits on Zhongyuan's martial artists don't apply to my father? Could it be? 'Is that why he is so strong?' Was that the source of his strength? I realized in astonishment. "Oh, that's unrelated. Setting aside the absence of limits, his strength is extraordinarily unique." "...Oh, really?" "Honestly, if my body were still intact, I'd have liked to cross swords with your father. There’s nothing quite as thrilling as a fight with no hope of victory, wouldn’t you agree?" "...." He spoke of battles with no chances, suggesting he saw my father as his equal or perhaps superior. The issue is. "What does this have to do with our current conversation?" How was my father’s strength related to the present discussion? Clarification on this had to come first. Noya, as he gathered himself, continued with his explanation. "This unique strength and circumstances. I don't believe Yeon Ilcheon or your father’s power are merely miracles." They are not miracles. The words of Yeon Ilcheon resurface, twisting my gut. "This is intentional." "...Intentional?" "Yes, for the Blood Demon, Yeon Ilcheon was there. For your mother, it was your father standing ready. This is the world's intent." "What does that mean?" "When a disaster arises, a corresponding adversary also appears. This is the intent of the world as I see it." An adversary to counter each disaster. This was the essence of Noya’s words, and according to him: "...Are Yeon Ilcheon and my father those adversaries?" Apparently, that was the implication of Noya's reasoning, though calling them adversaries seemed strange. A person existing to prevent disaster? Was that really true for Yeon Ilcheon and my father? While I contemplated the oddity of it, '...Is that why the disasters were averted?' In hindsight, it seemed plausible. Indeed, the disasters had been averted. However. "While it appeared that way, I no longer believe your mother and father were the disaster and its adversary." Noya retracted his previous statement. "So, the question remains." "What do you mean...?" "The world does not repeat the same mistakes. Setting aside the adversary, do you not wonder why your mother was brought to cause all this?" His gaze fixed on me. "So I thought. There must be a purpose behind all these maneuvers." Facing his gaze, I involuntarily took a step back. "Did the world not foresee the failure of the disaster? Or did it proceed despite knowing it?" "...!" "And if it did proceed, what was the reason? Was your mother's arrival in Zhongyuan not to destroy it under the world’s will?" Was it possible that my mother didn't come to Zhongyuan to cause its downfall? "Doesn't that sound plausible? Even with two rulers of the myriad worlds, it made little sense for your mother to be the one to act. It would mean her becoming the reigning power over Zhongyuan upon its annihilation." A disaster implies that in the absence of life, the controlling influence over those who are reborn. If she already governed the myriad worlds, creating chaos in Zhongyuan seemed illogical. That made sense. It was something I had questioned myself. "So." Noya touched on this point, speaking further. "Perhaps her original purpose in appearing as a disaster wasn't to destroy Zhongyuan." At that moment, Noya narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing me. "Rather than a disaster and adversary, might the involvement of the myriad worlds have been to create the next disaster? That’s one idea." The intensity in his gaze and words hit me hard. "...Are you saying that I am the disaster they created?" Did my mother leave the myriad worlds for Zhongyuan? Was it fate that led her to meet my father and conceive me? Is the fact that the events I went through gradually pulled me away from humanity foretold by the world? Even more than anything else. 'Because I need to become the disaster of Zhongyuan?' My hands clenched into fists. My heart pounded wildly, disturbing my breath. The things I tried so hard to suppress felt as if they were crumbling apart. "Young one..." "Just... just give me a moment." I needed to calm down somehow, but it wasn't easy. The truths I desperately didn't want to acknowledge kept clogging my throat. As if telling me not to deny it any longer. As I bit my lip, trying to suppress my emotions, Noya continued speaking, regardless of my current state. "However... seeing that your soul was twisted, there is more we need to contemplate." Noya continued, indicating he hadn't finished speaking. "It was certainly an external force that caused your soul to lose its way and fail to settle. When I think of who could do such a thing, your mother comes to mind. It's unlikely she was unaware of the situation." "..." I raised my head at his words. "Considering the Divine Tree and the gods you’ve seen, they must have been her doing. But what was her intention in reorganizing the scattered soul?" Despite the serious tone of the conversation, a strange sense washed over me. "She must have an underlying strategy. That's my belief." The chaotic storm brewing within me seemed to calm a little. * * * Amidst the unfolding discussion, deep within the bowels of the Hwasan Sect, under the enormous Divine Tree, lay a cavern. Someone slowly made their way into the depths of that cavern. Tap. The soft footsteps echoed, belonging to none other than the woman known by Gu Yangcheon as the Heavenly Demon. In the enveloping darkness, the woman’s amethyst eyes floated, glowing ethereally. As she walked a short distance, she halted her steps. Before her loomed only the impenetrable darkness. Yet she whispered, as if perceiving something before her. "Hello." Her quiet greeting resonated within the cavern, prompting a response from within. Rumble... A low growl emanated from the depths. Simultaneously, a pair of violet lights flickered to life within the shadows. "Nice to meet you." The woman waved warmly at the lights as she spoke. Interestingly enough, her typical expressionlessness had vanished—as she spoke, her demeanor was painted with a subtly alluring smile. --- Genres: Martial Arts 2 Comments 3.1/81 ㅅㄱㄷㄷ 2024.10.10 16:37 Report Is the Heavenly Demon that Gureung and Gu Yangcheon despise meeting? 0 연우 2024.10.30 07:38 Report There's something else inside the Heavenly Demon. Log in to post a comment. 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