1205 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Thud-. The wall crumbled, sending debris crashing down. Pieces ricochet off the ground as they land. “Ugh…” Inside, ensconced within the ruins, Do Cheol involuntarily let out a groan. “Cough…” His painful cough was mixed with blood. He barely managed to escape shortly after. Thump-! With his strength drained, Do Cheol collapsed onto the ground. “Argh… Huff…” The strained sounds escaping his lips painted a picture of his struggle. Beyond his exhausted facade, Do Cheol stared ahead. The person responsible for his current state stood there. “You are…” This was not a place where he should be. A giant stood, arms folded behind in his dark robe. A monstrous presence radiated from his dense beard and muscular frame—an overwhelming existence. One of only three to exist in the central plains, the Cheonoecheon. “...Pejon…” “Well.” Upon hearing those words, the elderly Pejon sheepishly scratched his head, smiling. “My apologies. It wasn’t intentional. It just turned out this way.” Faced with the gaping hole in the wall, everyone was astounded by Pejon's emergence. Among them, the person most taken aback was me. “…Elder?” “Oh.” At my call, Pejon shifted his gaze toward me, curling the corners of his mouth in a smirk. “So you were here. I had trouble finding you.” “How did you… here?” How did Pejon show up here? He had mentioned a schedule and disappeared. I never imagined I'd see him here. Even more: “You came looking for me?” “Yes. You should have stayed where you were instead of wandering around so aimlessly. Because of you, this old man had to go on a scavenger hunt. Tsk, tsk.” “…How did you find me?” I asked, puzzled by how he had found his way here, letting alone finding me. Pejon shifted his gaze elsewhere. There stood my father, wreathed in flames. “I found him.” “…?” Targeted by the comment, my father narrowed his eyes. “I couldn’t sense your energy, but I sure felt his heat. Isn’t that strange?” Tap, tap. Pejon tapped the floor with his foot. “It’s unusual to feel heat from a space where nothing should be. So I came.” “By breaking through the wall…?” “Well, what else could I do when there was no entrance visible?” Normally, anyone would avoid entering without an entrance visible. Burrowing through the floor and breaking the wall to get in was beyond comprehension. “Anyway.” Pejon changed his stance and redirected his gaze. It settled on Do Cheol, who was slowly rising. “What’s with him?” “Are you asking me?” “Either of you, just answer.” “…He is the head of the Do family.” “The Do family?” Hearing the response, Pejon stroked his chin thoughtfully. The Do family… the Do family… “...Was there such a place?” He seemed unaware. Understandable, as even I hadn’t known about it. “...Huff…” Do Cheol, however, rose fully, looking tormented, the recent blow clearly having been painful. “A distinguished guest…” Wiping blood from his mouth, Do Cheol spoke to Pejon. “I heard rumors you were in Shanxi, but I didn’t expect to see you here.” “Are you the owner of this place?” “Yes. I’m Do Cheol, head of the Do family.” “Hmm.” Pejon scanned Do Cheol intently. An odd sensation crossed his face—he seemed to sense something in Do Cheol. “What a peculiar being.” “Is that a compliment?” “Something like that. It’s rare for something to surprise me, but you’re quite extraordinary.” Creak. Pejon softly flexed his hand. “So, what were you doing here with my unfortunate disciple?” “…Disciple? So those rumors were true?” News that Pejon had taken a disciple had spread from Hanam. It seemed that Do Cheol, too, had heard. “It just turned out that way.” “…Ha.” Do Cheol’s gaze turned to me. His expression was clearly one of slight distress. “Well, anyway…” Thud. Pejon stopped rotating his fist. “Unleashing such killing intent—are you looking for a fight?” He spoke with a grin. Instantly, “…!” Father and Do Cheol took a step back. They seemed to perceive something chilling. Was it killing intent? Do Cheol was directing intense animosity toward Pejon. Even though he possessed demonic energy, how could he dare against such an opponent? Pondering this anomaly, “...Cheonoecheon…” Do Cheol murmured softly. “There was a time I dreamt of your kind.” His tone was strangely gentle, as if recounting a distant past. “When I realized it would not be my life, no one was more pained than I. But now, even that is no longer important.” Sssss. Once again, demonic energy coiled around him. “We will regain our freedom. So please, do not interfere.” “...Interference…” Pejon tilted his head, puzzled. “I’m usually far away from such things, but let me ask first.” Swish. Pejon stepped forward. “Is our unfortunate one involved in the freedom you seek?” “…Am I the unfortunate one you’re referring to?” “…” “Uncle, why won’t you respond? At least deny it.” Do Cheol didn’t refute the notion of being called unfortunate, his expression suggesting much hesitation. Isn’t that an affirmation, you fool? Heh. Pejon let out a chuckle at the exchange. “Freedom. It’s a good thing. I’m generally indifferent to others’ business, so I don’t care if you’re from the demonic sect.” That’s a daunting statement. As someone from the orthodox sect, shouldn’t he be at least a little concerned about the demonic path? If it were me, I’d just eradicate them. “But.” Swoosh. Pejon lightly flexed his fist forward. “If that endeavor involves him, then that’s a different story. He might not be the most amiable person, but I need him nonetheless.” “…So, you’re saying you won’t let us pass easily?” “Would you pass if you were in my shoes?” Pejon questioned. And Do Cheol, silent for a moment, answered. “I suppose not.” That moment marked the turning point. BOOM---! Thud! Countless black spikes erupted from Do Cheol's body, shooting out towards Pejon in a hailstorm. Boom--!! They moved at such speed that even with my current sensing abilities, it was hard to keep track. This suggested they had likely surpassed the level of Hwa-gyeong. ‘…Surpassing Hwa-gyeong means.’ It might be a slight danger for Pejon. Although the difference in levels is often seen as an insurmountable barrier, ‘When it comes to magic energy, things change.’ Things change if the one wielding magic is involved. Magic energy can weaken a warrior’s physical body and disrupt their internal energy flow. In some situations, a peak warrior could even face off against a Hwa-gyeong. ‘…There have been times a peak magic user killed a Hwa-gyeong warrior.’ I recall tales from past lives where a peak magic-user managed to slay a Hwa-gyeong-class warrior. Magic energy is a deadly poison to a warrior. And now, for Pejon to face a magic user who had surpassed Hwa-gyeong? ‘This seems risky.’ It's a concerning situation, isn't it? Such worries brushed my mind. So, I tried to warn them about the dangers of the magic. “Elder. That aura is dangerous…!” Crack. “...Or is it?” What I saw next left me speechless. Pejon shattered the spikes of magic energy with his fist. He broke them effortlessly, as if they were made of tofu. They shouldn’t be breaking this easily, right? Even though the energy should have begun to weaken him upon contact, Pejon seemed unfazed. What's going on? ‘Could it be…?’ I narrowed my eyes. Though I couldn’t see or feel it, I understood the technique Pejon was using. ‘Is this the power of Simsan?’ It was the realm of Simkwon. Simkwon is a transcendent force reportedly attainable by warriors beyond Hwa-gyeong. It envelops the body with energy based on the soul, used as a semi-transparent defensive force. ‘…Did he wrap his fists in Simkang for defense?’ It seemed that rather than using internal energy, Pejon was protecting himself using the force of Simsan. And if he’s utilizing Simsan, then he stands a chance against magic users. ‘I see.’ I worried unnecessarily. Simkwon is a capability used by only a select few who have attained an epiphany among those beyond Hwa-gyeong. And among them, Pejon was someone who didn’t even need to be concerned. I forgot. ‘Pejon was the one who used to obliterate magic users.’ He was the one who eliminated the most magic users. While Divine Sword is said to have killed the Demonic Lord, Pejon was the one who exterminated magic users. I vividly remember how he, with just one leap, could bring down a whole mountain. But. ‘Now he’s even stronger than that.’ This is Pejon before he had achieved complete Reversing Youth. It's hard to even fathom how strong he is now. ‘And… the fact that he instinctively recognized and used it is remarkable.’ Before I could even warn him of the danger, he had already defended himself with Simsan; it was an astonishing feat. “……!” Do Cheol widened his eyes in shock. He was about to attempt a different tactic, but it was too late. “Unfortunate.” Pejon dashed right in front of Do Cheol, leaving even sound unable to keep up with him. Do Cheol tried to move swiftly, yet he was already caught within Pejon’s area of control. “With this level, there’s no point.” In a voice laced with boredom, Bang-!! His fist bore into Do Cheol's abdomen. “Gah-…!” Before he could let out a full groan, Boom--!!! Do Cheol's body slammed into the wall once again. The impact was entirely different from earlier. Now embedded into the wall, Do Cheol hung limply. “Hmph.” Pejon snorted at him. “Are you alright?” “…Ah, yes.” In response to his question aimed at me, I nodded. This old man truly seemed insane.