362 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Title: The Best Under Heaven's Childhood Friend - Chapter 363: Northern Rabbit** A day had passed. The perilous night under the clutches of the Dark King was over, and fortunately, I was still alive. I rose from the bare ground that could hardly be called a sleeping bag. The conditions were far from conducive for sleep, but it didn't matter; I hadn't intended to sleep. Instead, I sat cross-legged, focusing inward in meditation all night. "Sigh." After circulating the heat within my body throughout the night, exhaling released a mix of hot breath. "Damn it..." Physically, I felt relatively refreshed. My body had adapted to going days without food or rest. However, wrapping my head around the thoughts swirling inside was a different challenge. It was all due to last night's encounter with the Dark King. The disparity between us was unavoidable. He was the pinnacle of a particular field, a martial artist who would definitely be among the top, even if one included the Three Masters. It’s understandable that there’s nothing I can do against such a person. Faced with repeated defeats, my spirit remained unbroken. I could only be grateful for having survived. The real issue lay in the conversation with the Dark King. "Is the Dark King a descendant of the Yeonga?" While he never directly answered, his silence was as good as a confirmation. Yet, there’s a possibility it could all be a lie. "It’s just too out of the blue." The Yeonga clan had been extinct for centuries. In terms of timeline, it vanished long before the Jegalsega did. If someone claimed that descendants were still alive now... "…It wouldn't be impossible, but it's hard to believe outright." Sure, descendants can exist. Even within the Jegalsega, there are plenty hiding their family names. Around me alone, three such people come to mind. In that sense, descendants of the Yeonga could certainly exist. "But the chances of such a descendant becoming the king of assassins...?" Moreover, the Dark King seemed to have a specific purpose. I felt it when he cornered me as if threatening. "If the Dark King is truly a descendant of the Yeonga." Gently lifting the sleeve of my arm, the mark remained visible. "What’s the connection here?" The reason the Dark King threatened me was because he felt something—from the mark on my arm and the energy I acquired in the ruins. What matters here is that he 'felt' it. I too sensed a faded energy I thought had disappeared. He even perceived the secret of my arm that I had shown no one. Even if he isn’t truly a Yeonga descendant. "He surely senses something from me." The problem is I have no idea what that might be. There are four energies moving through my body, yet according to the Dark King, there should be five? "What nonsense, it’s like a mixing pot with everything tangled." I have enough on my plate already, and I don't know what I'm doing. To add, the Dark King referred to this as a 'curse.' A curse. A chilling word just to hear. "What’s so cursed about this?" Though it only seems to be a change in my skin, it looks ominous. Since it’s only been a few days since I discovered it, I haven’t felt any notable changes. Judging by the Dark King’s reaction, it's likely nothing good. "When I tried to ask that man, he disappeared after saying his piece." The Dark King vanished instantly once he confirmed everything he wanted from me. Meanwhile, I still have a mountain of questions. Pathetic. Should I consider myself lucky for staying alive? It sullies the mood, though, to be so optimistic. "Damn it... Why are experts such individualists?" Then again, perhaps it's this kind of selfish, petty behavior that allows them to reach such heights. But I didn't have the nerve to search for the Dark King again. If he decided to hide, I wouldn’t be able to find him anyway. Feeling a sense of futility, I looked once more at my forearm. “Should I meet with the sage?” Perhaps he would know something. Since we have some semblance of acquaintance, maybe he would look kindly upon me. Of course... he's not someone I can see just because I want to, so that's merely a hope. For now, I decided to move my feet. “…Let’s eat first.” The sun was rising, and I suddenly realized I hadn’t had a meal in days. Though I didn’t feel hunger, I thought filling my mouth might help clear my erratic thoughts. The destination was a place distributing food. Given the circumstances, finding a decent meal was tough. It seemed the intact instructors and trainees were sharing the remaining supplies. Something different caught my eye. “There are warriors I haven't seen before.” A few were looking around with wide eyes. Judging by their attire…. “They’re people from the Alliance.” From the patterns on the sword scabbards to the uniforms they wore. These were warriors from the Alliance. They appeared to be assessing the situation and conversing with the instructors. I heightened my senses slightly. - Support from the main corps has been sent…. - Probably from the Flying Dragon Corps…. - Even the Alliance Lord…. - The person who orchestrated this…. The dark veil that had obscured contact with the Alliance had disappeared, allowing for proper communication. Support would likely arrive by today. Moreover, “Chaos would ensue.” This information would likely spread across the martial world like wildfire. Those who attacked the Xinlong Pavillion, and the noble families' heirs who died as a result. Even though the Beggars' Sect currently sided with the righteous faction as an information hub, they wouldn’t be able to silence all lips. After all, it’s not only the Four Great Clans but also the Nine Great Sects involved. There are sects and families not particularly aligned with the Murim Alliance occasionally mixed in. For the Alliance, this must be a nightmare. Perhaps that’s why the expressions of the warriors dispatched from the Alliance were so grim. The situation clearly wasn’t favorable. They'd have to notify every family of the trainees affected by this disaster. That too would be problematic. “Perhaps they’ve already received word.” While other places might be different, at least the level of the Nine Great Sects or the Four Great Clans might already be informed. They might have received updates even before the Alliance could officially communicate with them. I glanced over and roughly gathered a few items to serve as a meal. The food appeared to be either pressed rice or some type of survival ration. Right now, the priority is simply to fill my stomach, so I took what was offered without much thought. “Thank you….” Unexpectedly, the trainer handing me the food suddenly spoke those words. I looked at him quizzically. “Are you talking to me?” “Yes, that’s right. To Young Master Jinryong.” ‘Who is this?’ I didn’t recognize the face. He seemed to be one of the trainees, as indicated by his aura. Judging by his stance, he specialized in martial arts using fists. While I might not be great with faces, It really was a face I was seeing for the first time. “Sorry, but did we know each other?” The young man offered a sheepish smile. “You might not remember. You were quite busy at the time.” “Hmm?” “I was about to be killed by the demonic soldiers when Young Master Jinryong saved me.” “Ah.” It happened right after my confrontation with the Heavenly Demon. That was when I, driven by fury, was recklessly destroying everything around. Even in that state, I targeted only the attackers and burnt them down. Among those moments, a few cases like his indeed occurred. “I wanted to express my gratitude.” “It was merely a coincidence. There’s no need for thanks.” It was nothing but luck. We just happened to cross paths. Truly, that was all there was to it. “Even so, the fact remains that it was you who saved me.” “...” “Despite years of arduous training, I found myself powerless, nearly killed. I may be aiding in this work as I was fortunate to be uninjured, but it feels so futile.” Hearing this, I looked into his eyes. The fire was gone. The passion once held as a martial artist was extinguished. “That…” “I had formed preconceptions from what I’d heard about you within the pavilion. I didn't realize you were a hero destined to shine in these chaotic times. For that, I also apologize.” The more he spoke, the tighter my throat felt. Inside, a mix of feelings churned, furrowing my brows. I was not a person who deserved to hear such words from the young man standing before me. “What strange rumors have spread... I haven’t done much of anything.” In reality, I considered myself responsible for the situation. If events unfolded differently from what should have happened in a previous life— I saw it as my fault. The young man took my humility as sincerity and merely smiled. It explained why I'd noticed odd stares from people each time I walked through the pavilion since the attack. Those who once looked with fear had their gazes altered. And I didn’t like it. ‘...Don’t put me on a pedestal.’ I was not someone meant for such a position. A headache began to throb. “...Thank you.” “...” He issued another apology. I didn’t respond. Holding my share of provisions, I turned away. He would no longer live as a martial artist. With his fire gone, it wouldn’t reignite. His eyes conveyed gratitude, the sight of which unsettled me. I couldn't bear to witness it any longer. I didn't want to hear any more. Holding the rations, I continued walking. Without even having tasted a bite, my stomach felt uneasy. I noticed the glances pinned on me with increased clarity. I ignored them. I passed through the people, searching for someone. Luckily, I found her swiftly. Her distinct appearance made her stand out. Amidst the bustling crowd, she sat serenely on a rock with her eyes closed. Wi Seol-a. “What are you doing?” I approached slowly. Noticing my presence, Wi Seol-a shifted slightly to make space. An unspoken invitation to sit beside her. I took the seat naturally. “How are you feeling?” “…I’m alright.” Her voice sounded tired. Opening her eyes, Wi Seol-a looked at me as she answered. “What about you…?” “I’m fine.” As I spoke, I took a bite of the food in hand. As expected, it was flavorless. I offered another portion of what I’d brought to Wi Seol-a. “Oh…” “Eat it. You probably haven’t had anything, right?” “...” She hesitated but eventually accepted the ration-like food I handed over. Carefully taking a bite, she quickly furrowed her brows. Clearly, it was quite terrible. “You still prefer sweet things, huh? Is it that bad?” “No, it’s just… surprising.” Her flustered reaction was endearing, and I stifled a laugh. “Sorry.” I suddenly found myself apologizing. “Pardon?” “For leaving you behind then. I’m sorry about that.” “...” Although the sudden entrance of the Dark King made it impossible to do anything. ‘But that’s just an excuse.’ Had I wanted, I could’ve gone to Wi Seol-a as I pleased. There was no need to let a whole day pass by. “…It’s alright.” Accepting my apology, Wi Seol-a took another bite. Her brow furrowed again. Despite how displeased she seemed with the taste, she kept eating—wait a minute. “When did you finish it?” “What? What do you mean… Oh! Where did it go?” Though she had seemed to eat only two bites, the food in Wi Seol-a's hand was gone. It wasn’t a small portion; even I had to take several bites to finish mine. Fortunately, it seemed her appetite remained unchanged even in such situations. The fact that I found reassurance in this was far from normal. I barely contained the laughter threatening to burst forth. Right now, if I laughed, Wi Seol-a would truly get mad. Trying to hide her embarrassment, she covered her reddened ears. Once she swallowed everything, she suddenly spoke to me. “Did… she pass peacefully?” “...” Her words drew a bittersweet smile from me. I could only imagine how much she’d pondered before asking. Without uttering it out loud, I wondered internally. How much does she really know? What has she said so far? “Peacefully… I wonder.” Asking her that was beyond me. Hearing my response, Wi Seol-a bowed her head deeply. “Do you… know who she was?” “…Vaguely.” Vaguely—meaning she didn’t know everything? “And about me… do you know?” “Not in detail…” Had she remained silent about it? Perhaps that was it. After all, there’s nothing good about delving into it. “Should I tell you?” There were many implications behind those words. Even about my secrets and my stories with her. If the current Wi Seol-a was curious, I could tell her. However, Wi Seol-a shook her head at my offer. It was unexpected. I thought she would be curious. "You don't want to share, do you?" "…" "If it were her, she would've said the same thing." "You're not her. You can do as you please…." "That's right. I'm not her. But I won't ask because you don’t want to share. That’s how I feel, too." Her firm response took me by surprise. "I'll be different from her." "..." Her words instilled complicated emotions within me. Even though I hoped it would be different, I couldn't help but wonder if it truly could be. "She hoped for that, and I wish for the same." The words that she hoped for it felt unusually heavy. "But if there's one thing that's the same... both she and I will have the same feelings while looking at you." Despite the sadness, Wi Seol-a's expression was one of pride and strength. "Thank you, for coming to find me." She even smiled. Facing her smile, I couldn’t bring myself to smile back. All I could do was shove what I held into my mouth. "Will we see her again?" "Yes. We'll see her again." Wi Seol-a uttered those words as if it were a delusion, and I replied without hesitation. This time, it was Wi Seol-a who looked surprised. "Because I'll make it happen." I stood up and took Wi Seol-a's hand. Just this small gesture made her flinch. I spoke as I watched her reaction. "Let’s go." “Huh… Where to?” I had an inkling of what she was hoping for. But unfortunately, that wasn't on the agenda. “We need to go see the others.” Wi Seol-a’s expression soured, which was quite rare to see. ****************** I led Wi Seol-a to the treatment center we visited last time. Namgung Bi-ah, I knew, required a few more days of treatment. Her regenerative capabilities were impressive, but her condition was reportedly not good. Thankfully, there would be no scars. The same was true for Tang Soyeol. From my perspective, it felt right to visit them at least daily. Though I didn’t manage to go yesterday. Wi Seol-a clearly wasn’t pleased about it, but she didn’t object. It seemed she understood the situation. “Hmm?” As we arrived, something seemed amiss. There was a subtle commotion within the treatment area. What is this? Though curious, I ignored it and moved forward. By the time we reached our destination, "Why is everyone gathered here?" It wasn’t just Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah, but Peng Ah-hui and even Moryong Hwi-ah gathered with serious expressions. As I approached, calling out, their shoulders flinched simultaneously. What’s going on? Why the reaction? I stood there with a puzzled expression, watching them. Of the group, Peng Ah-hui seemed the most composed and addressed me. While the others wore unreadable expressions, Peng Ah-hui seemed noticeably excited. “Hey.” “Yeah?” “You're in trouble.” “What?” In response to my question, Peng Ah-hui grinned broadly. “It looks like all our fathers are coming.” “…What?" “Do you want to make a run for it now?” Her words made me frown. What she meant— Was that the heads of the Four Great Clans were coming here.