360 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The World's Greatest Martial Artist's Childhood Friend - Chapter 361: Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive Thud. Crrrsshh-! A scraping sound reverberated along the wall. A mere touch left a mark on what appeared to be a solid wall. Though a slight obstruction was sensed, it was brushed aside by sheer force. Thud, thud-! Thud! Carefully maintaining the mixed flow of internal energy, I continually thrust my fists against the wall. As my fist met the wall, it didn't halt but instead punched through. Creak-! Cracks began to form around the multiple holes struck. Unbothered, I continued raining blows. The qi emanating from my lower dantian rose to the upper one, a heated urge trying to escape my body. Enduring it was crucial. For it was the most vital approach to maximizing the body's capabilities. "Huuuu." Releasing a thin breath mixed with heat produced a hot gust from my mouth. It was unmistakably my qi that I sensed. I rotated my upper body. Simultaneously, I concentrated the qi in my upper dantian into my fist and delivered a final punch. Krrrack-! Boom! In that moment, a loud noise echoed in all directions as the enormous wall crumbled. Rumble-! As the debris fell to the ground, I reclaimed the dispersed heat and qi, regulating my breathing. "Hoo…." Redirecting the energy that coursed through my blood vessels back to the lower dantian. I cooled my body, which was flushed with heat, checking my condition. Whilst focusing intently and scanning different areas, I frowned. ‘It hasn’t fully absorbed.’ Several days had passed since I reached the boundary of enlightenment, yet the insights gained hadn’t fully soaked into my body. I had trained in the Demon Realm for a long time, experiencing a rise in my mastery level. After stabilizing somewhat post-achievement, I returned to the mortal realm. Even though the enlightenment allowed me to reach the state of enlightenment in the mortal realm immediately, ‘The sense of discord isn't going away.’ The mastery level felt in the Demon Realm was distinctly different. ‘What could be different?’ During that time, the focus had been more on spiritual training than physical. I had been aware that I would lose everything when returning to the mortal realm, believing that the main obstacle to enlightenment was spiritual. In the end, my assumption was correct. Thanks to that, I managed to reach enlightenment upon arriving in the mortal realm. ‘But in this state, it's still only halfway there.’ Reaching full enlightenment wasn't the case. It was unstable. The imbalance in the body was annoyingly apparent. If I were to analyze the reasons… ‘The first is that I’ve never touched enlightenment with only my core skills.’ It’s the first time reaching mastery using the power of Nine Flame Wheel Art. Unlike the time amplified with demonic energy, perhaps I wasn't familiar with the methodical approach, wasn’t it? This wasn’t certainty either, merely a conjecture. As for the second reason, ‘There’s too much energy contained within.’ Starting from the fiery qi of Nine Flame Wheel Art, to the dao energy of Huashan, demonic energy, and even blood energy. For other martial artists, having just two forms of energy would cause an internal collision, leading to self-destruction, yet I was dealing with four. Even the very nature of them varied widely, each being terribly unruly, save for the dao energy. Having reached enlightenment and broadened my vessel, Controlling and utilizing energy had been immensely enhanced beyond the supreme level, however, ‘All the other energies have strengthened as well.’ It was perceivable. Each time I used my qi, the other energies, tucked away in corners, slyly peeked out. Perhaps it was better described as a strong assertion of themselves, or a silent protest to be employed as well. Regardless, it was an unwelcome situation. The dao energy wasn’t inherently dangerous. As long as Old Man Shin was within me, it wouldn’t collide with qi, preventing any rampage. It had already long been combined and ingrained in my body. However, the other two energies were different. They were like demonic entities. The demonic energy, which couldn’t tolerate the presence of other qi, and the blood energy, inexplicably attempting to expand its domain. Knowing they're both inherently unstable energies, I didn’t want to bring them out unless necessary. But as I used more qi, they increasingly showed themselves, which was quite concerning. ‘I can’t just discard them either.’ Demonic energy was engraved into my heart as if branding it, making it irremovable. Blood energy wouldn't detach even if I intended it to. Avoiding their use as much as possible seemed the best solution. ‘Though I've succeeded in wholly transforming the demonic energy into my own, blood energy….’ In past lives, the energy frequently used was demonic, instinctively aware of how to handle it. Blood energy, however, was an unknown force. Perhaps due to multiple energies mixed within, proper framework couldn’t be established, hence the slow absorption of enlightenment…. Undoubtedly, this too was a conjecture. '...If there’s anything nearly certain.’ Despite bypassing the spiritual issue and touching upon enlightenment, eventually I was halted by the same problem. “…Tch….” Settling down the physical agitation, I slowly opened my eyes. It was already evening. Gazing at the rising moon, I recalled the events of the day. 'Wi Seol-ah.' Thinking of her face, a pang of something tugged at my heart. When she vanished, I absorbed the dissipating energy into myself. Yet nothing could be felt. It might have been due to merely capturing a shallow, minuscule trace of energy. Feeling absolutely nothing was hard to ignore. I even tried conversing, hoping for any response like that with Old Man Shin. But only the damned beast would answer. [Grrr…?] ‘Not talking to you, go back to sleep.’ […Grr….] Had Wi Seol-ah truly disappeared? Such unsettling thoughts brushed against me. It wouldn’t be surprising if she had. She had indicated that she had exhausted all her power. I had unspoken questions and words left unsaid, but they were merely my lingering attachments, so if she vanished, there was no remedy for it. When Wi Seol-ah closed her eyes in my embrace, she opened them again shortly after. Her voice was vividly clear, faced with those large eyes of hers, looking directly at me. -Lord…? It stung. While partly relieved she returned to normal, a simultaneous ache accompanied it. Before anything else, a wave of regret and an unexplained fatigue first surfaced. As Wi Seol-ah observed my expression, she seemed to pick up on something and stood up. "Sis...? Sis is...." That's what she said. Upon hearing that, it became clear to me that even Wi Seol-ah was aware of her existence. To what extent did she know? Did she understand her true identity? And if so, did she know about my circumstances as well? Should I have asked her those things? Perhaps, I should have. However, what emerged from my lips wasn’t related to any of that. "I'm sorry." "Lord...?" "I'm sorry. Let's talk later, not now." After comforting Wi Seol-ah by stroking her hair a few times, I escorted her inside and then retreated to this place. It lingered in my mind. I knew I shouldn’t have left Wi Seol-ah all by herself. Still, standing there became unbearable. Had she truly disappeared? It was possible. Yet, I wished it not to be so. Despite everything suggesting she had vanished, I didn’t believe it. It was because of that final voice I heard. "Embrace it." A tender, warm voice. Even the touch that wrapped around my arm. ‘…Mother.’ That voice was unmistakable. It was my mother's voice, buried far away in forgotten memories, so distant that I couldn't even remember when I last heard it. How could this be? The entire time I moved, these thoughts spun around in my mind. In the Demon Realm, the World Tree had spoken to me. "Your mother is alive." That was a fact I was already aware of. ‘…More precisely,’ I had seen my mother disappear through the portal to the Demon Realm when I was young. The truth about whether she was alive or dead remained unknown to me. However, if that voice was indeed hers, ‘Where is she…?’ How did she know and why did she speak to me? Afterwards, I tried again and again to hear her voice, but only silence greeted me in response. ‘Do you know something?’ I caressed my stomach. The World Tree mentioned that this beast was related to my mother, so I wondered if it had done something, but it just expressed confusion. [Grr?] Its questioning eyes seemed to ask what I was talking about. Biting my lip, I recalled, "Embrace it." She had told me to embrace the fading qi of the Divine Sword. If that voice was truly hers, then there must have been a reason. If I consider what I learned from the World Tree about my mother, ‘Master of all realms,’ she had called her. A being that even the World Tree dared not easily approach. The second calamity that had descended upon this world. With just those two lines of description, it was clear that she was an extraordinary person. That she sought to help me, ‘If the owner of that voice was truly my mother, then it makes sense.’ Intervention by another entity was plausible, but I had no way of knowing. Ultimately, though I had embraced the energy as she said, I still had no idea what to do thereafter. If there’s a way to solve this, it was only one thing. ‘I have to find her.’ An absurd conclusion. I knew the Demon Realm wasn't a single place and that finding a way there wasn't simple either. Yet, I had no choice but to try. Currently, she seemed to be the only one who could explain what happened to the Divine Sword. For that, ‘I must meet my father.’ The only certain individual who might know what happened to her. That would be no one else but the head of our family, my father. After weighing these thoughts, I decided to take a break from my cluttered mind by finding my travel companions. Having not properly visited due to unforeseen events and needing to see the current Wi Seol-ah as well. As I intended to move on, “…!” A chilling sensation stopped my footsteps instinctively. Someone was standing in the darkened area ahead. ‘How long have they been there?’ I failed to notice earlier. The mysterious figure was leaning against the wall, watching me. This indescribable feeling, I had sensed it before. Which meant the person was undoubtedly…. “…Greetings, Senior.” Upon identifying them, I offered a fist salute. The figure, upon hearing my words, removed their back from the wall and approached me. Stepping out of the shadows into the moonlight, their face became visible. As expected. The figure was the Shadow King. I observed him, trying to suppress my trepidation. The Shadow King wore the same expressionless face as before—cold and revealing nothing about his thoughts or emotions. He spoke. "You seemed engrossed, so I waited." There’s an unwritten rule about not eavesdropping on someone’s training, but it seemed the Shadow King paid no heed to such conventions. Neither did I, apparently. "Do you have business with me?" "I did say I’d come visit, didn't I?" "…Indeed, you did." He had said so. But actually seeing him come to visit—who would’ve thought? ‘Is he normal?’ When someone like the Shadow King says they’d come to see you, did he not consider how terrifying that could be? Then again, reaching such a high level means he wouldn’t concern himself with such trivial matters. In this world, power is authority. ‘They say he could kill the Three Sovereigns if he wanted.’ That's a rumor going around. That if the Shadow King truly wished, he could kill even the legendary Three Sovereigns, said to be the strongest warriors at the pinnacle within the martial realm. Many dismiss it as nothing but exaggerated tales to praise his prowess. Yet, standing before him, it seemed conceivable under the right circumstances. ‘His presence is barely perceptible.’ Even as he stood prominently before me, his presence remained faint. Fortunately, unlike before, I could feel it, albeit slightly, thanks to whatever effect the mask he wore had. Previously, when it was removed, I felt nothing at all. "Kid." "Yes, Senior." The title was mildly irritating, yet I chose not to comment on it. From his perspective, I was indeed just a "kid." Despite my appearance suggesting an age somewhere between my thirties and forties, The Shadow King was an ancient master from the time Elder Il was still active. It's a level where age couldn't be discerned from appearance. He remarked to me suddenly, “The more I see, the more you resemble…” It was a phrase I was used to hearing. Probably because I'd heard it so many times before. “I hear that often.” He must be referring to my father. It was a common sentiment for those who compared us, usually implying such a resemblance. “Hmm?” I assumed it was obvious, yet the Shadow King tilted his head slightly in response to my words. ...Was that not the case? “Aren't you saying I resemble my father?” “No.” “Oh... Then, whom do I resemble?” Could he mean the elder, Il? It would be odd if he meant the old man. That thought was a bit irksome. As these musings filled my mind, The Shadow King, unaware or indifferent to my ponderings, mentioned another figure. “I am talking about your grandfather.” “My grandfather?” I'd heard this before. It puzzled me then as it does now, raising questions about the connection between the Shadow King and my grandfather. Just as I was about to voice my curiosity, “If you resemble him so much... you must be related by blood.” “Pardon?” The Shadow King started speaking cryptically. “It’s quite a mystery.” “What are you talking about…?” Suddenly. “…!” I wanted to ask him what he meant, But couldn't. The Shadow King vanished from sight momentarily, only to reappear right in front of me, grabbing my right arm. An ambush? Startled for an instant, I gathered energy, ready to defend myself. “Young one.” The Shadow King abruptly rolled up my sleeve. ‘Damn…!’ Panic rushed over me. Exposed there was the remnants from my transformation due to demonic influence. Skin the size of a thumb looked like reptilian scales. Not knowing how to proceed, He examined my skin and asked, “What’s your relation to Yeonga?” “…What?” I reflexively questioned back. It was such an unexpected twist.