1279 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"……." He returned to the cave. The moment he arrived, the ominous black aura and Cheolhyeol Buseon's presence had completely vanished. "Hah." Exhaling the breath he had been holding, he touched his forehead. "…Young Master Baek!?" The Poison Phoenix rushed over to support him upon noticing his distress. "Are you alright…!? What happened all of a sudden…!" "I'm fine…." He gently pushed her away, narrowing his eyes as he glanced at the Dark King standing behind him. The Dark King, despite his formidable reputation, also seemed visibly fatigued. "Where did you suddenly appear from…?" "Oh, I'll explain later… Let me just step away for a moment. I need to check something as I'm not feeling well." "Ah…! Understood…." He reassured the Poison Phoenix, lightly patting her shoulder, and moved away to a more secluded spot. There, he deployed a barrier to block out any sound. Wooong-! Once the space was soundproof, he turned to the Dark King and asked: "Were you unable to use your powers?" "Yes." The Dark King answered immediately. It seemed that Cheolhyeol Buseon's influence had somehow prevented the Dark King from wielding his powers. Even more perplexing— "My reconnaissance couldn't activate properly." Technically, it did activate, but was obstructed and repelled. A force powerful enough to neutralize capabilities—it appeared Cheolhyeol Buseon possessed such a power. "Hmm." His reconnaissance usually engulfed and nullified powers, yet it was thwarted. "Could it be Cheolhyeol Buseon's power?" Though uncertain, it seemed plausible for the moment. Yet, there was an even bigger issue. Swish. He pulled out a scroll from his robe. "This thing." Though he had contained its aura, it was apparent Cheolhyeol Buseon had been attracted to its emanating energy. Which implied— "This armor's energy might have been tampered with by Cheolhyeol Buseon." He didn't know her reasons. Was it to target the overlord? That assumption could make sense, yet— "It probably wasn't just that." He suspected it wasn't just to aim for the overlord—likely, there was another underlying motive. Moreover— "It wasn't targeting me, either." Her reaction upon seeing him had been genuine surprise, indicating he wasn't the target. "What could this mean?" While he pondered, biting his lip, the Dark King spoke to him. "Avoid getting involved with him." "Excuse me…? With whom? Do you mean Cheolhyeol Buseon?" "Yes." "I have no intention of getting involved, but… why?" He had no intention of crossing paths. Cheolhyeol Buseon was a formidable human who had become a follower—strong enough to momentarily push back his Tam. It was clear he was a challenging opponent. "My body may have regenerated, but—" The wounds from battle had been restored through energy. Regeneration seemed not to be an issue, yet— "He’s a difficult opponent to face." He was, after all, a supreme martial artist. Even in a world with three venerable beings, he was recognized as a supreme lord. It was best not to get involved. But— "For the Dark King to be so outspoken about it." There must be a significant reason. "He is…" The Dark King hesitated before continuing, and Baek discerned the silence. "Bound by a prohibition." The fact that the Dark King couldn't speak meant there was a binding prohibition at play. "If even the Dark King is bound by it—" He thought back to his discussions with the Dark King in the original world. The Dark King had come to him shackled by a prohibition, providing him information at the expense of damaging parts of his own body. Recalling that time, he remembered the being the Dark King had confronted might have been— "Taecheon." "…!" At his words, the Dark King's eyes widened. "Is Cheolhyeol Buseon related to Taecheon?" "…" The expression on his face suggested 'How did you know?' Luckily, the prohibition didn't manifest, likely because I had deduced it himself. Wooong. Opening my inner eye, I examined the Dark King's body. Since bringing up the prohibition, something seemed to ripple within him. "Is it that?" The lingering effects of the prohibition. Tangled thin threads forming something grotesque. "This is…" I realized I couldn't break it. While I prided myself on being able to break most spells or formations— "What is this?" It seemed unwise to tamper with it—there was a sense that meddling would cause irreparable damage. "Tch." He abandoned the thought of breaking the prohibition. After all, he had already gained the information he needed. "…Cheolhyeol Buseon's connection to Taecheon." It was new information. Taecheon—that detestable being—had already made its mark on the martial world. "And that the former supreme martial artist was involved with the entity known as the master." These were revelations he hadn't known. "I understand." He nodded in response to the Dark King's warning not to get involved. Now he understood the reason. The problem was— "…Is it even possible not to get involved?" With Cheolhyeol Buseon's ties to Taecheon, could he really avoid entanglement? A sense of unease crept in. "It seems inevitable, somehow." Such instincts usually proved accurate. Damnably so. * * * Fwaaaaah-!!! A gust of wind surged as someone sank to the ground. The old giant clutching his abdomen was Cheolhyeol Buseon. "Kukuku…." A monstrous figure with great bull-like horns chuckled, the low growl stirring up dust on the ground. "Oh dear… I can't seem to stop laughing." Despite the splitting pain in his belly, Cheolhyeol Buseon laughed. "It's been a while." How long had it been since he was wounded? Ah, just as he was about to lose himself in the nostalgia, he remembered a forgotten fact. "It hasn't been long, has it?" A few months ago, during the battle with the overlord's disciple. He'd forgotten how severely he was injured then—the destruction of his abdomen and the twisting of his entire body. "As they say, like master, like disciple." It seemed those who entertained him were destined by nature. Even— "They were laughing." Both the overlord and that peculiar brat. They laughed while fighting. It indicated they took pleasure in the deadly encounter. "Hahaha." They were amusing characters. It was regrettable. Were he not in such a state, he would have enjoyed it even more. In a world where challengers to him had disappeared. At such times, their value was immeasurable. Thus, just as he wallowed in regret— Fwoosh. A warmth was felt from somewhere. Noticing it, Cheolhyeol Buseon lifted the corners of his mouth. "A rare guest has arrived. What brings you here?" A young man appeared in response to Cheolhyeol Buseon's words. It was Gu Cheolun, with his distinctive gray eyes. He stood there with an impassive expression, staring at Cheolhyeol Buseon. ‘As expected.’ Noticing his gaze, Cheolhyeol Buseon stroked his beard. ‘Him as well.’ This was the individual known as the Divine Dragon. Part of the Gu family, the house with the most secrets in Jianghu. Gu Cheolun was the young lord of the family, possessing an uncanny level of talent. Even the Overlord had desired him but refrained from taking him as a disciple, citing their martial styles didn't match, claiming the flame he harbored was too grand. ‘Though in my eyes, that was just an excuse.’ From Cheolhyeol Buseon's perspective, it seemed that nothing could truly contain Gu Cheolun, prompting the Overlord to step back. "What brings you here?" "The Sword Empress seeks you." "Oh?" Cheolhyeol Buseon perked up at Gu Cheolun's words. "You've come on behalf of the Sword Empress? That's quite a peculiar notion." Despite having risen to the level of a follower, fewer than five had ever truly managed to escape the grasp of the Sword Empress. Even among them were himself and this Divine Dragon of the Gu family. And yet he specifically came to relay the Sword Empress’s words? "So, what's the intention behind this?" He probed, suspecting something more at play. "There's nothing of that sort." Gu Cheolun denied. "I’ve merely come to deliver the message—" Fwaaaaah---!!! A fierce gust suddenly overwhelmed Gu Cheolun. The space behind him was torn to shreds, yet he didn’t blink an eye. Instead. Fwaaaaahhhh--!!! He merely wrapped one hand in gray flames. Cheolhyeol Buseon, observing the blazing intensity, narrowed his eyes in amusement. "Oh dear. It was meant as a playful gesture, yet your reaction is quite intense." He was intrigued. Even now, Gu Cheolun’s posture spoke volumes about his readiness to fight. What’s more— ‘Those eyes believing in victory.’ His eyes conveyed a belief in an outcome with no possibility of defeat. ‘How intriguing.’ Baek Yangcheon—was that his name? Those were different eyes compared to him. ‘Eyes that tell you they’ll kill you, win or lose.’ Baek’s eyes were those of a predator, ready to devour him regardless of his own fate, yet— ‘He’s different.’ Gu Cheolun was different. ‘Eyes filled with certainty of no defeat.’ Eyes showing the arrogance of believing victory is assured against anyone, even him. "My apologies. Just a little jest on my part. Since the Sword Empress calls for me, I should make haste." Waving away the winds, Cheolhyeol Buseon turned to leave, passing by Gu Cheolun. Fwoosh. The flames in Gu Cheolun’s hand extinguished. As Cheolhyeol Buseon passed him, Gu Cheolun spoke. "Do you think you can go in your current state?" "…." Their eyes locked upon hearing the words. "What do you mean?" "You seem unwell, so heed this warning." Crack. The space seemed to tremble slightly. "Joking around with a weakened body will put your life at risk." "…." The fire in Cheolhyeol Buseon’s eyes flared up from his words. Gu Cheolun had noticed his injury. He was also warning him that he had no chance against him in his current state. ‘Arrogant.’ His fingers twitched involuntarily, tempted to put the arrogant whelp in his place. Yet— Pat pat. Cheolhyeol Buseon relaxed and gently tapped Gu Cheolun's shoulder. "Thanks for the concern." Whooosh-!! At the same time, he vanished into the wind. "…." Left alone, Gu Cheolun relaxed the muscles in his other hand. Sizzle. He extinguished the lingering heat entirely. He brushed off the shoulder that Cheolhyeol Buseon had patted. Then. "……." Gu Cheolun paused, touching his shoulder. He felt a familiar aura lingering. ‘This is…’ His eyes flashed as he tracked where Cheolhyeol Buseon had disappeared. That same fiery aura he had sensed from Baek Yangcheon—it was now tinged on Cheolhyeol Buseon.