1146 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The day had dawned. It was a bright, cloudless morning, transitioning from the break of dawn to the late morning hours. Only by then was I able to step out from the training grounds. "Ugh." Stretching out, I emerged into the sunlight that greeted me with its radiant warmth. Annoyingly blinding. Squinting at the brightness, I clicked my tongue. It was undoubtedly good weather, but to me, it felt less than ideal. Not to mention, I was exhausted from moving my body tirelessly throughout the night. Crack-! I moved to loosen my body, hardened from training. Back in the realm of dreams, my recovery was swift; here, the lower concentration of energy in the air seemed to slow it. 'Or maybe it's just because I trained after a long break.' Perhaps the sessions with the Art of Two-Cloud Wind Dance were taking a toll. The training itself was inherently violent. Without the support of regenerative strength, it gave an immense sense of fatigue to the blood channels. 'When I see it like this, it really is a fierce energy.' It was like that from the first time I learned it. The martial art of Two-Cloud Wind Dance was formidable and ruthless. I felt it anew. 'How am I supposed to master this?' I had reached perfection with the Nine Flames Wheel Art. That's partly due to focusing on it intensely for a period, but also because most of my insights were directed toward it. Thanks to that, I had reached transcendence and become stronger, yet... 'It’s not enough.' Despite reaching transcendence, I felt the thirst for more. If I were to pinpoint the reason... 'During the battle with the Celestial Being as well.' During the fight with the Celestial Being, who amplified his powers with the power of lightning, that lingering feeling began. 'I’m still not enough to battle the likes of a Three Great Masters with just martial arts.' Even against the Celestial Being, who had achieved unity with demons, I had such thoughts. 'It means I cannot yet defeat Sword Saint or Sovereign of Swords.' I might stand a chance if I used my inherent abilities and superhuman strength, but if it comes to pure martial prowess, I would likely lose. Even after reaching transcendence, facing them directly confirmed this. 'It's not enough.' I am still lacking. Although I acquired overwhelmingly strong power compared to my previous life, especially against the foes I’ll face in the future. 'Whether it's the Blood Demon... or that creature Taecheon.' To face such monstrous beings that have abandoned their humanity, I must become stronger. 'The fastest path, as I see it, is...' To train in the power not yet mastered. The Art of Two-Cloud Wind Dance. This certainty came upon witnessing the six styles displayed by the Sovereign of Swords in the past. 'It’s also necessary to strengthen the Celestial Demon Divine Art.' The Celestial Demon Divine Art leveraged the power from the friction of energies. This power, combining sorcery, demonic energy, and everything in between, was chaos in a name. Ultimately, the main strength came from this friction. To enhance this friction. 'Both powers need to be in balance.' Just like the mastered Nine Flames Wheel Art. The Two-Cloud Wind Dance must also be brought to the same level to significantly boost the frictional force. The problem is. 'Easier said than done.' enN1WnIzcFhHMVJuR0JvdkNPc013eEIybnJIWUF5OHRxRFQ2OG4zN1hnNkNmWGxRRk9oVXluZGgrWGUzTGxicw It's easier said than done to master the Art of Two-Cloud Wind Dance, as not even its creator has achieved mastery. Even the Sword Sovereign is struggling to reach mastery, so the path is not straightforward. "That… I also need to focus on the Celestial Demon Divine Art." Although I had trained in the energy of the Two-Cloud Wind Dance throughout the night, I hadn’t practiced the movements themselves. To begin with, my current level had surpassed what could be practiced safely in a training ground. Any mishap in controlling my strength would likely result in demolishing the building. So I could only work on managing the energy. ‘I feel like the path is appearing.’ During the process, something fleeting passed by. The problem is. ‘…What was that?’ I sensed it, but I couldn’t quite grasp what it was. It felt just like the cusp of enlightenment. Just a brief visit. 'Tsk.' I should be grateful for even that. While part of my mind felt so, it was unquestionably frustrating not to have fully grasped it. 'Should I ask Sovereign of Swords?' Asking the current era’s Sovereign of Swords could be one approach. In fact, it might be the fastest way. That person is solely focused on perfecting his martial arts, irrespective of my rebirth or any such events. "Hmm." Pondering over it, I brushed off the remaining energy and walked on. 'For now.' For the moment, I had to keep moving. I needed to leave the training grounds. The Azure Dragon Master had called for assembly, and it was time. * * * The place I headed to was the Azure Dragon Squad’s drill ground. Though I wasn’t late, upon arrival, it was already packed with people. Oh, am I possibly the last one? ‘They’re glaring intimidatingly.’ The glares directed at me were intense, likely because the youngest was the last to arrive. However, no one called me out explicitly. It might be because of Nam Goong Jin’s involvement and what happened with a fellow squad member last night. ‘Seems like the rumors have already spread.’ Those glaring at me with swollen faces were the ones I’d confronted. Some of those I’d hit were present there. Ignoring their stares, I walked over to where Do Yoon was, when someone called out to stop me. "Baek Yang Chun." "Yes." It was Soi. She was glaring at me sharply. "What do you think you're doing?" "What do you mean?" "Everyone’s already here, and you show up just now?" To Soi’s words, I tilted my head. "…Is there no room for reason?" "What?" "I didn't actually arrive late. If anything, I'm early. It’s just that the seniors arrived even earlier." Had I genuinely been late, I might have apologized. However, it seemed unjust to be scolded for simply being the last to arrive. "..." At my words, Soi fell silent. As realized before, the future Sword Empress wasn’t as quick with words as expected. "So...?" This meant, in other words, that she was easy to tease. "Oh, surely the future leader of the sect isn’t criticizing me just for being the last to arrive, right? You wouldn’t be indulging in some archaic and stale practice, would you?" "…" Soi's expression crumbled. Simultaneously, her ears turned slightly red. I chuckled to myself. 'Why is someone so gentle behaving like this?' The future Sword Empress was a compassionate person. Out of the people I knew, she was among the few who were truly considerate and self-sacrificing. Someone like that wouldn’t do something malicious just for being young. As far as I could see, this wasn’t her own behavior. 'Who’s the instigator behind this?' It didn’t seem to be Soi acting of her own accord. Someone must have put her up to it. Of course, there was the matter of her not liking me. It's possible that she approached me because she didn’t think highly of me at the moment. But she wouldn’t have decided and acted by herself. “Isn’t that right, Senior?” “Well…” Soi hesitated. She probably realized her actions weren’t quite right. There was definitely someone else's influence involved. Finding out who it was would be simple. “This is outrageous.” 'Found him.' In situations like this, spotting the interfering party was all it took. Right on cue, a figure intruded on my and Soi’s conversation. It was someone I hadn’t seen before. “If you’re a newcomer, you should naturally set an example. Are you disregarding the division's rules?” “Hmm.” Who could he be? A man with small eyes and a thin jawline. He seemed a bit older than thirty. “What are you staring at?” The man asked, seeing as I was scrutinizing him intently. “Oh, nothing much. I just don’t know who you are. Who might you be?” “…!” The people around us flinched at my question. “…You don’t know who I am?” “Yes. Oh, of course, I know you’re in the same squad.” I simply didn’t know who he was. Hence my question, which caused his face to flush with anger. “…You brat! Just because the commander has taken a liking to you, you think nothing in this world can scare you!” “…Why are you so angry?” “Don’t you know me, Wi Seok of the Demonic Squad?” “…How would I—huh? Wi Seok?” Hearing his name, I paused. When I repeated it, it seemed to satisfy him, as Wi Seok smirked. “That’s right, you’ve realized now. I am indeed Wi Seok of the Demonic Squad.” “…Wi Seok?” While he proudly declared his nickname, the aspect that caused me pause was his actual name. ‘If it’s Wi Seok.’ Back during the Great Demon War. He was appointed as the leader of the Winter Blossom Squad. And the same person who became the director of the Guangdong branch whom I killed on my way to defeat the Sword Demon. Remembering this, I quietly observed him. ‘…Now that I think about it, they do look alike.’ Seeing him like this, there was resemblance. Could it be? ‘Is it really that guy?’ The scoundrel who betrayed Wi Seol Ah, in his younger days—that’s him? As I dwelled on this thought, simply staring in a stupor. “Ha, it’s fine as long as you know now. If you show proper manners immediately, I’ll overlook your rudeness up to this point.” Wi Seok sneered, addressing me while grinning. It was then. “Come on, hurry up and-” Crash. “What…?” My foot, acting on its own, smashed into his knee joint. There was a cracking noise as Wi Seok wavered. “Oh, seriously now.” Watching him stagger, I couldn’t help but smile. “You’re ruining my morning mood.” “Argh—!” He was about to scream in pain when I promptly clamped a hand over his mouth. “Mmph…! Mmmm!” With a pained expression, he struggled. I spoke to him looking directly at his pained face. “Hey.” “Mmph…” “Keep your mouth shut before I tear your throat out.” “…!!” The sinister aura that seeped from me caused those around us to recoil. Ah, this is troublesome. ‘Faced with someone I intend to kill, I can’t seem to control myself.’ I tried to hold back, but it wasn’t easy. Especially not with him. As much as I wanted to let go of the desire to kill him, I couldn’t help but exert force. Thoughts of ripping his throat out clawed at my mind, nearing the edge when— “Oh my, what is happening here?” I paused. My head turned sharply toward the familiar voice that reached my ears. “…?” I locked eyes with the voice’s owner. A woman at the entrance watching the scene with curious interest. As she met my gaze, she smiled warmly. “A pleasure to see you, though it hasn’t been long, has it? Well, anyway.” With a cheery tone, she spoke with a familiarity that contradicted the indifferent atmosphere. “…Lady Hyun?” Nam Goong Bi Ah’s mother. Hyun So Yeon. Though she shouldn’t have been here, here she was. Seeing her, I released my hold on Wi Seok.