1206 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Only after Pejon had settled things was I able to stand up. Just as I attempted to rise— Stumble—! My legs gave way, causing me to collapse unexpectedly. Thud—! My father, who was nearby, caught me. “...Ah, thank you.” At my words of gratitude, my father stared at me intently. He seemed to have something to say. Just when I was about to ask why he was looking at me like that, it hit me. ‘Father...’ Oh. Could it be because I called him 'father'? Is that it? ‘Did he suspect something?’ The possibility sent a cold sweat down my back. While it seemed unlikely that he would notice anything, one can never be too sure. His nonchalant gaze made me even more uneasy. Swallowing hard, I spoke to him quietly. “...Vice-leader, do you have something to say?” “You remember what you promised, don’t you?” “...” This isn't good. I was right to assume there's an issue. It seems calling him 'father' was a mistake. “...No, Vice-leader. I didn't mean to call you that, I was just—” “You promised to reveal a secret to me. You haven't forgotten, have you?” “Oh, that?” My eyes widened. Right, that too? “...What's with that reaction? Were you thinking about something else?” “No... It’s nothing.” “Even if Pejon has arrived, a promise is a promise. Don’t forget.” “...Yes, of course. I remember.” I smiled awkwardly. “If you've got everything together, let’s move.” Pejon called from a distance. “Okay.” “Understood.” I responded and moved towards them. In Pejon’s hand was an unconscious Do Cheol. He looked so limp I wondered if he might be dead. “I must have made a poor choice in apprentices to endure such hardships in my later years...” Hearing him click his tongue, I frowned and retorted. “Who asked you to help—” Smack—! “Ugh...!” Before I could finish my sentence, a hand hit the back of my head. “Watch your manners. You should be grateful I saved you, or you wouldn’t have walked out in one piece.” “...Thank you.” “That’s right, that’s the spirit.” “Though, bragging about saving someone who didn’t ask for it seems a bit—” “Want to get hit again?” “...Thank you.” “...You rascal.” Pejon lifted his fist, then sighed, lowering it. “That’s enough. Lingering here serves no purpose, let’s move quickly. There’s someone waiting.” “Someone waiting?” Who could be waiting? “Yes, I dragged someone along for your sake, so you should smooth things over with him. He’s a difficult fellow and might bolt.” “...?” Who could he have brought, and for my sake, no less? I couldn't figure it out. Hopefully, he hasn’t brought another troublesome person. A sense of unease arose within me. “Let’s go.” Pejon moved onward, setting aside my curiosity, and my father naturally followed. Watching them, I almost joined them when— “...” Rooted to the spot, I looked at the ground. This place was now nothing but dust and emptiness. The spot where the Heavenly Demon was, and where he vanished. I stared at it in silence. Then rubbed my chest with my hand. A lingering discomfort seemed to spread all the way to the ends of my hair. The face that once smiled at me flickered in my mind. What was that smile for? And what did these feelings mean? You. ‘What exactly are you?’ What kind of presence are you to me? I pondered the mystery. It wasn’t something I could resolve with the unsettled turmoil within me. Even as resentment boiled over, these inexplicable emotions confused me most. Forcing my barely cooperative legs into action, I moved away. I didn't want to stay here. No sense in dwelling on a vanished Heavenly Demon. ‘I must go.’ There was much to be done. Thus, I lied to myself and pressed onward. * * * Outside, the iron door had melted away and the stairs had crumbled, so we returned the way Pejon had come. “...You really did a number on this place.” The area where the tunnel emerged was right above us—just an ordinary forest. Yet now there was a huge crater here. It wasn’t merely dug out; it bore marks of having been smashed through with brute force. Although the underground wasn’t incredibly deep, breaking through it with fists was something extraordinarily absurd and impressive. As I stared in awe, Pejon stretched his shoulders, looking weary. “This is done... Let’s see.” He glanced around before speaking again. “It’s time to show yourself.” At his curt summons, a sound came from the nearby woods. Rustle. There was movement. I turned my gaze in that direction and saw an elderly man with graying hair emerge, irritation plain on his face. Seeing him, my eyes widened. “Huh?” It was a familiar face. Though he appeared much younger than in my memory, I knew him well. After all, he was the one who first taught me about the concept of sorcery. “I curse you. Keeping me waiting in this godforsaken place when I’m exhausted—have you lost your mind?” The old man grumbled, making his entrance. He was none other than the Supreme of Central Plains— Shin Yi. “Why are you grumbling about a little wait? It wasn’t that long,” Pejon remarked with a shrug. “A little wait? A little? You dragged me out here against my will, and you call it a little wait? Do you have any idea how valuable my time is?” As Shin Yi growled, Pejon shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, things like this happen.” “Things like this, my foot...!” “Ah, I said I’m sorry, didn’t I? I came as fast as I could; stop being so angry.” “...I knew I shouldn’t have followed you.” “Geez, it's not like you came for free, yet you complain so much...” “What was that?” I watched their argument in a daze. Who would have thought I’d see Shin Yi in his younger days. 'Why is that guy here?' From what I've gathered, Pejon seems to have brought Shin Yi here. I wondered why on earth Pejon had brought Shin Yi along. As I pondered this, Shin Yi's voice cut through my thoughts. “Enough with wordplay. Arguing with martial artists never ends well... Where is he? The one I’m supposed to see?” As he turned his gaze towards us, his eyes first landed on my father. “...Greetings, Shin Yi.” “Hmm.” My father bowed respectfully, to which Shin Yi gave a curt nod. Then— Swiftly, He approached my father and extended a hand. “Let me see your hand.” “...” My father seemed puzzled but complied, offering his hand. Shin Yi proceeded to take his pulse. “Hm.” After a brief examination, he nodded in approval and turned to Pejon. “Is this the one?” “Hm?” “You’ve found quite the monster. His vessel and physique are impressive... Always going on about finding a disciple, and the rumors were true, it seems.” Shin Yi was assessing my father, clearly mistaking him for Pejon’s disciple. Hearing this, Pejon chuckled and replied. “He isn’t the one.” “What?” Shin Yi’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean it’s not him?” “Yeah. I thought he’d make a fine choice... but I found someone even better.” “...Someone better?” “That inept one standing behind him.” “Hm?” At Pejon's words, Shin Yi finally turned his gaze towards me. He nodded in recognition. “Certainly an inept one.” “...Excuse me?” What kind of rudeness is that? Calling someone inept right to their face? My face twisted into a scowl. “Calling someone inept right to their—” “Born with quite a temper too. But are you sure it’s him?” “I’m telling you it is.” “...Why choose that one over a perfectly capable person?” “That one? Who are you calling—?” “Enough. Just give me your hand.” “...” My God. Why don’t these old men ever listen to people? It’s infuriating. Gazing at them with an exasperated face, Pejon turned to me. “What’re you doing? Hand over your arm.” “...Seriously.” I was irked, but I couldn’t outright defy him, so I complied quietly. ‘Damn it. Even if I wanted to protest, I can't.’ I was tempted to lash out at Pejon, but that wasn’t an option. Not because I was in a weakened state. ‘This is so embarrassing.’ Because I knew Pejon had brought Shin Yi here for my sake. ‘So that’s why he went out all of a sudden.’ Pejon had taken his leave, saying he’d meet someone he knew. I wondered whom he could be meeting that was so important. ‘And it was Shin Yi?’ Apparently, Shin Yi had been nearby, and Pejon went to meet him. But would Pejon just meet him on a whim? That didn't seem likely. ‘The timing is too specific.’ Right at the time when merging my energies caused problems, Pejon had been absent. And then he brought Shin Yi for me? It was clear he brought him here to examine my condition. ‘...Tsk.’ While Pejon’s ultimate goal might be mastering his martial arts, he was indeed doing this for me. Knowing this, I swallowed my annoyance and offered my arm. Shin Yi grabbed my arm and started to check my pulse. “...Hm?” His face soon twisted into a frown. The instant he began, his expression changed dramatically. “Well, what do we have here?” Looking at me, Shin Yi spoke. “Walking dead, indeed.” “...” It was a strangely familiar phrase.