346 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

<Chapter 346: Listening to the Return. (5) Around the time when relentless heat emanated from the direction of the Shinryong Hall, a bloodstorm raged on Mount Tai discernibly unaware. Due to the sudden attack by the marauding bandits, a few martial artists lost their lives, and the scent of blood gradually permeated the mountaintop. Amidst the chaos, a location reverberated with formidable fervor potent enough to shake the mighty Mount Tai. Boom-! A powerful strike reshaped the surrounding landscape. Screech-! The force of his steps carved grooves into the ground. The pressure he applied was so intense it left marks with every movement. Destruction and devastation reigned. Ensuring nothing could ever return to its original form. Bi Eui Jin remained true to the essence of martial arts. Martial arts at their core are about destruction. Martial arts to protect someone? Such narrow-minded thoughts were long discarded from his mind. To protect something, one must ultimately destroy something else. Though countless martial artists speak of the holiness in practicing and ascending martial arts, the essence of martial arts is violence. The sanctity in wielding it. Endurance. Endless effort. He respects all of that. However. To the dominion breaker, or to Bi Eui Jin now, those words have little resonance. To him, martial arts are merely a process toward completion. Ultimately, it was only preparation to shatter the heavens. Drip.... Blood trickled down from his hands. The extent of the bloodstains unknown, a chilling sight to behold. Yet the blood covering Bi Eui Jin was not his own. Bi Eui Jin nonchalantly wiped the blood from his hands before gazing at the gasping lump of flesh before him. The blood splattered around was all hers. Bi Eui Jin spoke with an indifferent expression. "You're holding out better than I thought." It was a compliment. He estimated she'd survive about five blows, far fewer than she'd withstood thus far. He was confident, if not arrogant. His martial skills deserved that confidence. It was the power to break the sky and reach higher grounds. That's why he named his martial arts 'Pa Cheon.' Bi Eui Jin looked at the wheezing figure and inquired. "What did you say your title was, Black Night Lord?" The lump of flesh was none other than the Black Night Lord. "Hah... ah." In response to Bi Eui Jin's question, the Black Night Lord barely managed to exhale, her condition both externally and internally deteriorated. "...me..." With a faint whisper, she attempted to speak. "What?" Bi Eui Jin leaned in closer to hear her. The Black Night Lord's voice, now somewhat clearer, reached him. "Why... isn't it... affecting...?" "Hm?" Bi Eui Jin tilted his head, searching for meaning in her resentful words. Fortunately, he didn't have to ponder for long. "Ah, is that what you're referring to?" Bi Eui Jin faintly understood what she was getting at. The subtle, malignant aura circulating in his body. From the beginning of their battle, Bi Eui Jin had sensed a strange energy introduced by the Black Night Lord. Initially, it puzzled him. It was an aura he'd never encountered before, and its nature was decidedly unpleasant. Indeed, it was a peculiar energy. It not only blocked the flow of energy but also slowed movements. At first, he thought it might be a type of poison, but it seemed that was not the case. Perhaps a technique of the Black Night Lord? Regardless, it was certainly an impediment. Yet, even so, "Such a futile effort." It didn't pose much of a problem for Bi Eui Jin. "It was somewhat bothersome, but ultimately, blocking it sufficed." Had it been poison, it would have been more troublesome. But as it was a form of energy, all he had to do was use his internal energy to isolate it, preventing any further harm. Upon hearing this, the Black Night Lord's swollen eyes quivered slightly. "...Such... an incomprehensible..." She failed to comprehend the words she'd just heard. The energy bestowed upon her, deadly to a warrior's physique. Even though this energy had seeped into his core, he had blocked its flow with his internal energy? And with such a state, he managed to drive her into this miserable condition? "How... how can that be possible...? Who are you really..." Isolating a specific energy flow with internal energy was not merely searching for salt amidst sand. It was akin to extracting wine mixed in a flowing river. How could such a thing be possible? Who exactly was this person standing before her? With a look of intense shock, the Black Night Lord gazed at him. Having heard her words, Bi Eui Jin tilted his head once more. "If you want to do it, you can. What seems to be the problem?" If one desires to do it, it's possible. What exactly was the issue? Unable to fathom the Black Night Lord's words, Bi Eui Jin turned his gaze toward a particular direction. Where the Shinryong Hall was located. Though he couldn't sense everything with certainty, something appeared to be happening there. ‘Is it... that child?’ The distinct aura, albeit faint, along with a more intense killing intent and martial pressure, brushed against Bi Eui Jin's cheek. It was the same fiery spirit akin to the one belonging to the child he'd intended to mentor. What puzzled him, however, was how much denser and hotter it felt. For a fleeting moment, Bi Eui Jin wondered if the child had broken through a wall and grown stronger... but he quickly dismissed the thought. The child had reached the peak in skill but, in Bi Eui Jin's eyes, wasn't quite prepared to cross over yet. So young. At his age, Bi Eui Jin hadn't come close to reaching such heights. Already surpassing the mature peak and gazing towards enlightenment, it's remarkable indeed. If she continues to grow, she might reach enlightenment by the time she crosses into adulthood. 'If that happens, she will truly go down in history.' Reaching enlightenment at such an age. It would be something unprecedented. Thus, she becomes even more desirable. A child with such talent, with a body to support it. 'It's truly a shame.' Bi Eui Jin repeatedly sensed how inadequate his own physical state was. His weakened blood vessels and ordinary body compensated through training and experience. He filled his small vessel with Neidan and Engdan from his personal reserves, yet it was only a temporary solution. Bi Eui Jin's frail body and mediocre inherent Qi were holding him back from reaching enlightenment. And the magnitude of this problem was considerable. Firstly, he couldn't fully execute the movements of the Tuaphacheon (Sky Breaking Technique) engrained in his body. Secondly, even if executed ten times, his body would suffer from the strain. The martial arts were originally designed for his past self. Without the talent and supporting physique, it was inevitable that such martial arts couldn't be used. Currently, having used approximately six or seven strikes, reaching overcapacity was imminent if used further. It was fortunate if the battle was concluded before then. Bi Eui Jin enhanced his perception as he circled his surroundings. The bloodstorm still raged around yet seemed to be gradually calming. 'This is peculiar.' It might be fortunate, but the process seemed unusual. If calming down was this easy, the initial assault seemed unnecessary. Given reports that the seasoned disciples and instructors were managing, it suggested their skills weren't vastly different from those launching the attack. The young martial artists couldn't have been in a position to overcome through mere collaboration. Among them, a few neared the level of the instructors. However, to Bi Eui Jin, there seemed to be a shift in the situation. 'I shall investigate.' His brow furrowed instinctively. He didn't wish to interfere with the affairs happening in the martial world. Amidst constant conflicts between the righteous and the rogue factions, Bi Eui Jin firmly believed he belonged to neither, despite outward appearances suggesting he was aligned with the righteous side. Yet. 'This time, it seems unavoidable.' What made this incident troubling was having the mischievous child from his family with him. The prospect of her encountering danger was not ideal for Bi Eui Jin. 'Well, age catches up with everyone.' Choosing not to get involved by avoiding marriage or children all these years to evade such troubles, yet here he was, youthful and facing unrest. How amusing it was. 'The other young ones should have found refuge by now.' While he worried about the injured children, they likely found safety. He had informed the descendant of Grandmaster Wi Hyogun beforehand. Recalling this, Bi Eui Jin returned his gaze to the Black Night Lord. Her body was ravaged, seemingly on the brink of death. Her level was higher than Bi Eui Jin's current state. Although her power was different, it wasn't overly challenging to face. With a few strikes, he disrupted her internal balance. By understanding her movements in advance, he managed to confront her effectively. The only concern was his own deteriorating condition. The need to conclude the fight swiftly. He clenched his fist. Briefly contemplating whether to halt her end and hand her over to the Murim Alliance, but decided against it. Leaving a dangerous element uncontained and dealing with such bothersome tasks had no benefit. Bi Eui Jin preferred not to reveal his existence through such acts. He planned to promptly resolve this and return to Bi Bi. Although he left her in a safe place, uncertainties always lingered. He adjusted his posture. Slam-! His heel sunk into the ground, securing pressure and balance. He aimed for the head of the Black Night Lord. The intent was to end her life immediately, but just before his fist could connect. Crunch-! "...!" Bi Eui Jin's fist froze mid-air. It wasn’t by his own volition. Someone grasped his wrist, forcibly halting him. With a sharp gaze, Bi Eui Jin looked towards the one holding his wrist. They appeared abruptly, having gripped his wrist with ease, bypassing his perceptual awareness. Despite having used a significant amount of strength and feeling somewhat fatigued, it astonished Bi Eui Jin. Snap-! He immediately twisted and freed his wrist. Unlike the firm grip, he escaped effortlessly. Bi Eui Jin swiftly distanced himself from the mysterious figure. "Who are you?" Being able to approach so closely and nullify his attack indicated an extremely high level of martial skill. Bi Eui Jin examined the sudden intruder. What was immediately noticeable were black hair and its slight length beyond the shoulders, along with a glimpse of pale white skin. Although his face was obscured by hair, Bi Eui Jin felt something peculiar about this figure. 'The presence is faint.' Even in front of him. An indistinct presence. It was hard to discern clearly. The ambiguous presence was likely why Bi Eui Jin hadn’t detected the approach. He stabilized his body through controlled breathing. In doing so, he posed the earlier question again. "Who exactly are you...!" Just as he inquired about their identity, Bi Eui Jin suddenly dropped to one knee, collapsing. "Hngh...!" Thud-! Pain emanated from his energy core. A feeling of turmoil, tightening around his throat. 'This is...!' The mysterious malicious energy which he had isolated during his clash with the Black Night Lord, suddenly began wreaking havoc within Bi Eui Jin's body. The internal energy that flowed through his meridians became chaotic, causing his strength to drain quickly as waves of pain assailed him. “Urgh...!” He gritted his teeth, trying to withstand, and inhaled forcibly. With eyes now bloodshot, Bi Eui Jin glared fiercely at the adversary. “Is this your doing?” Bi Eui Jin realized that the chaos around him was due to the being standing before him. The figure offered no response to his question. They simply turned their head slowly to meet Bi Eui Jin’s gaze. As their eyes met, Bi Eui Jin's expression shifted dramatically to one of horror. And he wasn’t the only one taken aback. Even the Black Night Lord, bleeding and on her knees, was astonished by the delicate figure's presence. “Heavens... How is this possible...?” The voice of the Black Night Lord trembled. The mysterious figure began to move toward Bi Eui Jin. With each step they took, a dark aura emanated from their body. It resembled the martial arts technique used by the Black Night Lord, but was much darker and more ominous. Danger. Bi Eui Jin sensed danger. Despite the ominous aura, he still couldn't grasp the presence nor the power level before him. Unsure if it was due to the chaotic energy coursing within him, Bi Eui Jin knew that wasn't the only reason. The figure soon reached Bi Eui Jin, extending a hand laced with the dark energy toward him. Clearly aiming to grasp his throat. The slender fingertips were just about to touch his neck. Their touch was cold. Not merely cold, but chillingly frigid. As the fingertips extended further to wrap around Bi Eui Jin’s throat, ready to grip tightly— Whoosh-! Suddenly, someone grabbed onto Bi Eui Jin's clothing and yanked him back. Thud! Though he ended up rolling on the ground, Bi Eui Jin had narrowly evaded the threat. “Cough…” Bi Eui Jin coughed as he struggled to his feet. The pain lingered, but fortunately, he regained some movement. When he saw who had saved him, he faced another shock. It was Wi Seol Ah who had intervened. He had instructed her to lead the children to safety, but inexplicably, she had appeared here to come to his aid. He was grateful, to be sure. Yet, looking at her, Bi Eui Jin was confronted with a perplexing situation. “Why...?” It was no wonder. Wi Seol Ah stood with a fierce expression, pointing her sword at the figure. The figure, meanwhile, looked at Wi Seol Ah with an enigmatic expression. Tilting their head. Looking her over from head to toe. Was it out of curiosity? Perhaps. Though their reactions and emotions differed greatly, Wi Seol Ah and the figure shared an eerily identical visage, as if they were looking into a mirror.