1115 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The place where Namgung Jeohwi and his companions moved to was a more secluded area within the family compound. Behind their quarters lay a path. It wasn't decorated with anything special; it was just a space lined with corridors. Unlike the thick foliage, there was an oddly curated feeling to the place. An artificial sensation. It meant someone was maintaining it. Step. As Namgung Jeohwi walked further, he spoke to them. "Please be careful as you follow." The concern was clear on his face, and they moved cautiously at his behest. As they stepped into the corridor after him. Zzzzt—! "......" A tingling sensation brushed past their bodies. They didn't let it show. ‘Well, look at that.’ They seemed to be trying to let it go unnoticed. It was so faint and shallow that it might have been missed had they not been attuned. I narrowed my eyes slightly at the energy felt the moment we entered the passageway. ‘You’re watching us.’ Whether it was watching or sensing. It was more likely sensing. I feigned ignorance and continued moving, thinking about the owner of the aura. The path seemed to climb up a mountain but wasn't particularly harsh. It was a well-maintained path. As they gradually stepped forward on the earthy road. Zzzt. "......" The sense of electrical energy grew more intense. It wasn’t enough to make their skin tingle yet, but the intent was clear. Was the electrical energy getting stronger as they progressed? Should they just keep ignoring it? ‘It's starting to grate on me.’ Even though they were suppressing their senses and hiding their aura, it was starting to bother me. Frustration was slowly simmering. At this level, it seemed like it was meant to be noticed. ‘Tsk.’ Still, they pretended to be oblivious. Not wanting to make it apparent, they endured as much as possible. Whoooosh—!!! "……!" "What!?" Suddenly, a blast of hot air erupted from the side. The intense energy made Namgung Jeohwi, who was ahead, turn around, and they too looked at the source. It was Father. Father was shaking off his body as flames erupted from him. “What are you doing?” Namgung Jeohwi asked, flustered by the sudden action. Father replied with a blank expression. “I burned the things that kept bothering me.” “…….” It was an incredibly calm statement. Hearing it, I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. ‘Wow……’ Father had felt the electric aura too. It seemed he burned it away with flames. The problem was. ‘He can't possibly not know whose aura that is.’ The owner of the electrifying aura was likely somewhere within these mountains. He should know what it means to brush away their aura like that. Yet Father was busy shaking off his body nonchalantly. The flames that briefly emitted from him. Whoosh... Quickly faded. He had burned away all the electrical energy. “Wow……” Namgung Jeohwi let out a hollow exclamation watching this. He seemed to realize what Father had done only now. “Deputy Leader, just now...” He began to speak, attempting to articulate. Rumble---!!! ‘Oh dear.’ Thunder roared in the clear sky from the hilltop quite a distance away. It was a sky without a single cloud, yet thunder echoed so naturally. ‘Are they angry?’ It seemed the owner of the thunder was perhaps a little upset. And as if to affirm my assumption. “How amusing.” Zzzt--!!! A rich voice struck down, sending a shiver down my spine. ‘Ah, damn.’ It seemed they were indeed angry. Whoooosh—!! A pressure was felt. Energy wafted as if to crush everything around it. Ssshh—!!! The vegetation around was flattened under the aura and pressure. “Ugh…!” Namgung Jeohwi let out a strained sound. His legs were shaking, unable to withstand the pressure. In contrast, Father and I stood unperturbed. Watching this, I realized my mistake. ‘I missed it.’ If I planned to show signs of strain, I should have done so when Namgung Jeohwi did, but I stood too nonchalantly. It was too late to mimic now, so I just stood there as the pressure washed over me. “Kehehe...” A laughter echoed, and then. Rumble---!!! A flash of light burst in the sky a distance away where the thunder had been. Crack--!!!! BOOOM--!!! A massive bolt of light struck the ground. Light exploded, followed by a sonic boom. Whoosh—!! A gust whipped through, sweeping the surroundings. I squinted against the wind and withstood it as the impact kicked up a cloud of dust instantly. Clearing the obstructed view, a figure came into sight. ‘……Cheonjon.’ Predictably, the individual who had appeared was Cheonjon. One of the Three Prodigies and the previous head of the Namgung family in the current era. Moreover, despite having stepped down from the head position, he acted as the de facto leader. ‘He’s young.’ Indeed, like the Sword Sage, Cheonjon seemed much younger than the one I knew. It showed this period was in the past. “How entertaining.” Step. Every step Cheonjon took left smoke rising from the ground. The heat from his electrical aura melted the earth beneath him. “Where did the head bring these children from?” “Father….” “I’m sure I told you, didn’t I?” Cheonjon's gaze traveled to Namgung Jeohwi. His eyes were so fierce I inadvertently gulped. “No one should be allowed into the inner sanctum for a while. Also.” As he spoke, Cheonjon’s figure vanished. When he reappeared, he was standing before Namgung Jeohwi. “I included the head. Didn’t I make myself clear?” “……!!” Namgung Jeohwi was sweating coldly. His eyes trembled, and his body shook slightly. Additionally, the surrounding pressure had lessened. Which meant. ‘He's focusing the pressure on Namgung Jeohwi.’ He was no longer scattering it but rather concentrating it all on one individual. Since Namgung Jeohwi hadn’t reached a formidable state, withstanding it must have been incredibly tough. “Kuh...... Guh......” Yet, not wanting to appear disgraceful, Namgung Jeohwi endured with sheer willpower. After a short while. “Tsk.” As Cheonjon clicked his tongue, Namgung Jeohwi’s breath returned. "Hah... huff... huff..." As I watched, a thought flickered through my mind. 'Cheonjon's influence is overwhelmingly strong.' A realization. Despite Namgung Jeohwi bearing the title of head, he couldn't command full power or order an evacuation because... 'There has to be someone granting permission above him.' Cheonjon's presence was so absolute that nothing could be done without his consent. "I apologize... it was a... pressing matter..." "Indeed, it must have been urgent. Hence, I'll let it slide this time." Cheonjon's icy blue eyes flashed as he withdrew his sharp gaze from Namgung Jeohwi and turned it towards us. Zzzt—!!! ‘How intense.’ An incredible amount of electric energy surged forward, mixing with the pressure and penetrating through us. The force emanating from Cheonjon's flesh aggressively pushed forward. Whoosh—!!! Simultaneously, Father ignited flames from his body as the electric energy surged. His energy pushed back against it, refusing to be overpowered. It was a heat capable of changing the very atmosphere. ‘As expected.’ Impressive. The level of mastery and control over compression and rotation was extraordinary. Back in my prime, I hadn’t reached such levels. Or perhaps I could have, but the energy consumption would have been double. Just as I was marveling at Father’s flames. “Hahaha.” Cheonjon laughed as he observed Father. “To hear a promising young talent was visiting piqued my interest. This is beyond what I imagined. So, are you this era's Rising Dragon?” In response to Cheonjon's question, Father nodded. “Deputy Leader of the Blue Dragon Unit, Goo Chul Un. Greetings, Cheonjon.” “Kehehehehe—.” Crackle—! Despite the laughter, the electric energy only grew more formidable. It was as if he was testing how much could actually be withstood. “Truly fascinating. Where did such a child come from?” Cheonjon seemed unable to grasp Father’s flames. Well, I couldn’t comprehend them either, despite having learned the same martial arts. How could anyone, really? Even to me, Father was an enigma. He wasn’t a returnee like myself. What were those levels and abilities, truly? As I pondered upon him in awe. “The boldness to burn this old man’s aura so effortlessly pleases me, so I’ll commend you.” enN1WnIzcFhHMVJuR0JvdkNPc013eFp6cU01VkNXckxySlpFbEx2V2wxb3NBL1VXL2s3VXZCL0FPaHlPTmNaUA “I thank you.” “I meant to check and see what curious thing had appeared, but to burn it away so lightly… You’re rightfully hailed as the greatest of this generation.” “…….” Despite the compliments, Father's expression remained unchanged. Observing this, I pondered over what to do. “That’s why it’s even more puzzling.” Cheonjon slightly tilted his head. “The so-called Rising Dragon fervently unleashes flames and repels my electric energy.” His attention shifted from Father to me. At that moment. Crack—! “--!” Even before I heard the sound, I turned my head. Whirrr—!!! A roar echoed as a flash of light scraped past my cheek. Boommmm—!!! The electric energy that missed exploded behind us. ‘This is insane.’ I didn’t turn around. I kept my eyes fixed straight ahead. “What on earth are you?” Cheonjon was staring at me with sharp intensity. “What are you, that you can hold up against this old man’s electric power without any aura?” “…….” At hearing this, I ran my hand through my hair. Damn. “...Ah, damn it.” Mistake.