807 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Translated and Implemented Instructions Chapter 807 of "Childhood Friend of the Zenith" Boom–!! Screeech-! The energy and noise grow increasingly intense. As I listen, many thoughts come to mind. The vortex formed from the wager was exceptionally massive. “Heek-!” A sword energy forcefully thrust out of the storm, aiming at the martial artist. Seeing this, I reached out and pulled the man towards me. Crash-! A solid sword mark was left where the man had narrowly escaped. The rescued man gasped for breath in relief. “Th-thank…thank you.” Without responding to his gratitude, I focused on dispersing the energy first. Vroom–!! Whoosh-! Heat erupted alongside the vibrations, blanketing the area. Though others had already attempted to contain the whirlwind, it wasn't enough. So, using my strength, I erected a barrier to finally dampen the vibrations. Yet, the internal sensations remained unchanged, even if the outward tremors were blocked. Squeal-! Crunch-!! The ground shattered as energy scattered in all directions. A scene as wild as it was overwhelming to behold. It surpassed a mere sparring match, yet fell short of a full-blown battle. There was no intent to kill, but the combat spirit was rampant. The energy was intense indeed. '...Tsk.' The barrier I hastily established wavered with alarming speed. It might not hold even a quarter of an hour. Shhh-! The energy used to create the barrier was depleting far too quickly. Thus, after infusing more energy to bolster it, I immediately glanced to my side. There stood Yeoltujungeom (열투전검), sharing the same astonished expression as he observed the chaos. I frowned at him and demanded, “What are you doing? Hurry and explain already!” “Ah, ah! Th-that is…” In response to my words, Yeoltujungeom started explaining with a flustered look. The explanation unfolded as follows. ****************** Initially, as anticipated, upon leaving their positions, a rift began immediately. The Alliance's members initially appeared united, but unsurprisingly, the seeds of discord soon erupted. -What? Why would the senior become the vice captain? -Obviously, I should take the role. I'm originally from the Azure Dragon Squad. -What nonsense is that–! You talk about unity, yet you wish to be the leader? And what Azure Dragon Squad? It didn't take long for tensions to rise. Despite their reluctance to be here, honor-seeking martial artists, especially those sensitive to positions within the alliance, couldn't ignore such delicate matters. -Why bring up the Azure Dragon Squad here? Isn't everyone summoned? -What's your problem…? Do you have a death wish talking like that now-? -If you were so exceptional, you would've advanced to a captain long ago instead of being a long-term member. Yet you wish to be the vice captain. Isn’t your ambition too grand? -Haha. Now I'm hearing from the Iron Dragon Squad, too? Unbelievable. -Is anything untrue? -Is that so? Using informal language now, are we? -They say there are no ranks, why should I treat you as my senior? With each exchanged word, emotions escalated. Given that everyone here was forcibly summoned, no one was in good spirits, and it was inevitable that small cracks would grow. -True. What's with the Azure Dragon Squad? Just because you're from there, do you think you're special? -I heard he got utterly defeated for the captain position by one of his juniors. Ah, so that's why he's here now. -Is this true? -I heard it clearly from a friend in the Flying Dragon Squad. -Hah. No wonder this high and mighty Azure Dragon member is here. Lost a fight for position but still parading like someone important. He should be ashamed. -You brats really–!! Screech-! As expected, the argument ended with drawn swords. The tension skyrocketed, as if ready to burst into a bloody battle any second. -Draw your sword? Let's fight to the death, then? -Screw it, yeah. No rank insignia, no regrets, so why not just go for it? I’ve hated how his shoulders are always up just because he’s a senior. -Damn brats! Do you think seniors are a joke? Do you all really have a death wish? -A senior? You worthless senior who can’t even pass a promotion test or get a rank–!! As if their emotions exploded, the men gritted their teeth and assumed battle stances. It was clear a brawl would break out soon. The supporters on the other side watched this scene, clicking their tongues in disapproval. -Nothing's happened yet, and already a rift is forming. How impressive. -…They call themselves martial artists of the Murim Alliance. It's quite disappointing. Barely any time had passed before things deteriorated to this state. Disappointment flashed across the faces of the martial artists. Yet, they were part of the Murim Alliance. No matter the summoned personnel, there was a certain expectation, a hope that things wouldn’t sink to this level. But this hope was shattered beyond repair. Thus, it left them pondering. -…Is it right for a vice captain to be chosen from this group? They mentioned a vice captain would be selected from here and one from the Alliance group, meaning a vice captain had to be picked from among them. -I really don't understand. The martial artists found this hard to grasp. Considering their current state, could they really serve as superiors? -Do we really need to select one from among them…? I find the Star King (Seongwang / 성왕)… no, the Grand Leader's intent difficult to comprehend. Doubtful decisions followed. It wasn't just the speaker; everyone gathered there shared the sentiment. Yet, they also shared something in common. -We may not understand, but surely there must be some purpose. -Agreed. If it's him, then…. -…Hmm. Listening to the surrounding remarks, the man had no choice but to nod thoughtfully. Indeed. Even if they didn’t understand, knowing that it was the Star King who orchestrated this, and recalling how he sacrificed himself to save others during the horrific assault… there had to be a definite purpose. -It's often said that a genius is someone others can't comprehend. The same goes for the Grand Leader. -Indeed. Certainly true. As if forgetting that they themselves had once been called geniuses in the sect or family where they grew up, they busied themselves with clicking their tongues, then chuckled. Translated and Implemented Instructions One side exhibited an intent to kill beyond the mere fighting spirit. It was amidst this stark contrast that an interesting dynamic unfolded. -So then, we must decide as well, mustn't we? -What...? Oh. You mean the matter of the vice captain’s position? -Precisely. Regardless of the circumstances, if the Grand Leader says we must choose, then it must be done. No matter what, a vice captain had to be chosen. After all, isn’t that why there’s a bloody battle happening over there? Hence, a decision had to be made on this side too, though not with much concern. -As for us, it's already been decided, don’t you think? There wasn’t much to worry about. -One could indeed say that. For we have that person. Following the words, all eyes turned towards a specific point. There stood a woman. A woman with white hair who appeared sleepy, yet her presence was imposing enough to be intimidating. She was the daughter of the current Sword King, gaining recognition in Hanam. She was Namgung Bi-ah (남궁비아), the Sword Dancer. She slightly tilted her head upon feeling the collective gaze. -If we’re to choose a vice captain, shouldn't it be based on skill for now? -Indeed. With a victory over the Grand Leader, the merit is unquestionable. -Huh? She defeated the Silver Wolf Sword? Is that true? -Oh, the 'Bitanoseom' incident, right... You wouldn't have seen it since you were promoted the following day. -Impossible...! Then this young woman truly...? The daughter of the Namgung family had defeated the Silver Wolf Sword. The incident during the examination was slowly becoming known in Hanam, and those who witnessed it firsthand were unanimously in favor of Namgung Bi-ah for the vice captain role. If she had the skill to defeat the Grand Leader, what further justification was needed? The consensus seemed simple: Namgung Bi-ah should be vice captain, allowing for a peaceful conclusion. -Why? It was then that a voice interrupted. All eyes turned toward the source of the voice. Step. -Huh...? -Hmm? The owner of the voice, undaunted by the attention, steadily approached. With each step, her golden hair swayed elegantly. Despite already drawing gazes, this woman, who didn't pale in comparison in terms of beauty, stood out. She was Wi Seol-ah (위설아), known as the Toad Moon Sword (섬월검), a disciple of one of the Three Supremes, and linked to a former leader of the Martial Alliance. Step after step, Wi Seol-ah halted before Namgung Bi-ah and inquired to the others, -Why must my sister be the vice captain? Why should Namgung Bi-ah become the vice captain? Faced with her curious and cold question, the others struggled to answer. There were numerous things they could've said: she had ample skill, it was the right choice to pick her for now, etc. But their tongues felt heavy, primarily due to the chill in Wi Seol-ah’s voice when she asked. While everyone hesitated to speak, -Seol-ah. Namgung Bi-ah suddenly called out to Wi Seol-ah. At her call, Wi Seol-ah turned her gaze toward Namgung Bi-ah. -Yes, sister. -Do you want to? Do you want to be the vice captain? Wi Seol-ah responded to this question. -Yes. It was a resolute voice. -If there is something I must do to obtain it, I will do so willingly. Her subsequent words sparked reactions from those around. She implied that she was willing to follow through—if it had to be decided through combat, so be it. This statement was a declaration of confidence to the warriors, indicating she believed she was stronger than them. A comprehension of her words led to the immediate creasing of faces among the onlookers. The atmosphere shifted. Concerns arose that this might spark a conflict on this side too. At this moment, -…It makes no difference. Surprisingly, Namgung Bi-ah, in a laid-back manner, told Wi Seol-ah that it didn’t matter who assumed the vice captain role. Simply put, -…No matter who it is, if they are strong, I don’t mind. Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes emitted an air of significance as she spoke. -If they are strong enough to protect that person. It really doesn't matter who. The latent strength imbued in Namgung Bi-ah's normally calm voice filled the air with subtle tension. -That means…? -But. Namgung Bi-ah's gaze briefly lingered on Wi Seol-ah before moving on. Then, -Seol-ah, you’re not there yet. -… -You are weaker than I am, so it should be me. With serene finality, Namgung Bi-ah voiced her thoughts. -… Immediately after, Screech-! Wi Seol-ah drew her sword, marking the incident's beginning. ****************** "...So, that's how they started fighting?" "…Yes." "This is crazy." Hearing the cause of the incident, my reactions were largely constrained. Honestly, I did anticipate a fight. After all, the Alliance's members were ordered to fight, and conflict seemed inevitable here too. ‘I never expected those two to fight though.’ I never imagined that Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah would end up fighting each other. That too, with such sincerity. Crash–!!! Bang-! Bang-! Screeech-! Different colored sword energies clashed dozens of times within a matter of seconds. Sparks continued to ignite, causing pressure waves to stir like a storm. The sight was akin to a tempest unfolding before us. '...What to do about this.' The other martial artists were aghast, busy spectating in shock. They surely didn’t expect two young women to create such chaos. Screeech-! Wi Seol-ah twisted her waist, slashing her sword. The rotating blade generated a massive sword energy. Meanwhile, golden sword mastery relentlessly pressured Namgung Bi-ah. Watching this, my eyes widened. ‘The number of sword masteries has increased?’ It had increased by a couple from the last time I saw it. Had her level truly advanced in this short span? ‘At this pace...’ In a few years, she might actually catch up to the Divine Sword (Singeom) as in my past life. The sheer number of sword masteries wielded by the Divine Sword was in the dozens. The sight of multitudes of sword masteries annihilating demonic entities lingered in mind. And then, Roar—!!!! As if in resistance to such sword masteries, electric energy erupted from all directions. Pong-! Though unable to destroy the sword masteries, it redirected attacks, causing evasion. It even managed to disrupt their footwork when unleashed at the toes. Rumble-! A resonant noise reverberated. Much like the harbinger of lightning striking. Translated and Implemented Instructions At the center of the commotion was none other than Namgung Bi-ah's sword. The thunderous noise was produced by the inherent Lightning Qi (Noe-gi) that permeated her sword aura. It was a testament to the degree of compression she executed with such force. Without hesitation, Namgung Bi-ah unleashed this force towards Wi Seol-ah. Boom—!!! “Ugh!” “Watch out!” With a single strike, the lightning rained down. The fabricated Lightning Qi swept across the ground. Witnessing this, Qi infused into Wi Seol-ah’s body. Enveloped in a golden glow, Wi Seol-ah instantly propelled herself, dodging the lightning with a burst of speed akin to a streak of light. However. “…!” Namgung Bi-ah moved alongside the lightning. As her diversion lured attention, Namgung Bi-ah closed in on Wi Seol-ah’s defenses. Wi Seol-ah quickly raised her sword in response. Bang-! “Ugh!” But Namgung Bi-ah's foot was quicker, striking Wi Seol-ah’s abdomen. 'A feint.' Pretending to target the upper body with her sword, only to attack with her foot. It was a difference in situational judgment. Struck, Wi Seol-ah flew far back. At first glance, it appeared Namgung Bi-ah’s attack was a perfect success. Yet. “…” Namgung Bi-ah suddenly frowned and began to rub her abdomen. In the moment Namgung Bi-ah kicked her, Wi Seol-ah had managed to counterattack. Though executed hastily, the impact was minimal, but her quick response was evident. Whoosh–! Briefly, the offensive paused, and the pressure started to dissipate gradually. Those who experienced the storm within that short span were all uniformly astonished. “…What did I just witness?” “What an intense….” They appeared incapable of understanding what they had witnessed. It seemed they recognized that the two were on a different level entirely. “Cough.” As the dust settled, Wi Seol-ah coughed dryly. Despite having flown back, she was already back on her feet and poised. Though she had been thrown, her eyes brimmed with fighting spirit. “…Phew.” Catching her breath with the intention to continue, she gripped her sword tightly. Seeing this, I rubbed my forehead. ‘Her internal injuries aren't fully healed yet.’ Even if she's nearly recovered, the pain is likely still there. Yet, she insisted on fighting regardless, which was baffling. ‘I made a mistake.’ Indeed, this was my oversight. Failing to predict that those two would fight was just an excuse. At the very least, I should have been aware of it. Caught up with urgent matters, I had briefly forgotten. “Tch.” What should I do? Wouldn't it be better to intervene now? ‘Yes, this isn’t right.’ Certainly, I ought to intervene. Leaving them as they are will clearly lead to trouble. With that conviction, I was about to move, but then, -...Don't stop us. -Please don't intervene. “…” -If you intervene… I'll be upset…. Just for today…. -Not forever... I just won't see Young Master (Gongja / 공자님) for a few days…. Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah both sent me the same transmitted message. It was accompanied by a rather delicate threat.