364 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The Strongest Under Heaven's Childhood Friend - Chapter 365 > Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive “Insane.” That was the immediate thought that burst out upon seeing it. It couldn’t be helped. Vizard Jin’s presence was overwhelming to that extent. “What...is this?” From what I know, Vizard Jin is at the pinnacle of human strength. No matter the secrets hidden within, one cannot disguise their level. “How is this possible?” Trembling. I felt my fingertips quiver. It’s an uncontrollable tremor, unrelated to fear. I am not afraid. This is purely evidence of being consumed by the presence of the other. It meant that my own presence was beginning to be devoured by the aura exuding from Vizard Jin. It’s different from the sensation of life-or-death situations. When someone accumulates martial prowess and gains enlightenment repeatedly, the years lived for those reasons naturally seep into one’s soul. A martial artist’s presence is precisely that—a vessel they have filled and expanded themselves. Unless they intentionally reveal it, no one would know. In essence, Vizard Jin was deliberately showing me his presence. And that presence, as I felt it, was as formidable as an insurmountable wall. “This is the brilliance of a Sage…” Even with a weakened body after losing one’s peak condition. Considered one of the three mightiest in the Central Plains. The presence of a man hailed as the apex of martial arts was towering and immense. “You, youngster.” Vizard Jin’s voice that addressed me had changed. The pitch was lower, and the musical tone was gone from his speech. Even the faint smile he held had disappeared. His appearance was the same, yet it felt as though he had become an entirely different person. “When did you notice?” “Not long ago.” A lie. I realized it the moment I saw him and already knew what state he was in. There’s no need to say that aloud. That wasn’t the only change in Vizard Jin. His steps as he approached me were different. A very subtle change, but from a martial artist’s perspective, it was enormous. “Is that even possible?” A martial artist’s movements are ultimately rooted in the martial arts they practice. No matter how minute, the martial arts honed over a lifetime are inevitably reflected in one’s movements. Just by observing their walk or sitting posture, one could discern if a person was a sword user or a martial artist because of that subtlety. Thus, the movements of Vizard Jin, affiliated with martial arts, did not substantially change. To my eyes, however, they were unmistakably different. Which meant, these movements were not of the Duel Dragon Vizard Jin. But those of the Conqueror Supreme, Bijue. Bijue's obsidian gaze met mine. Facing that gaze felt like staring into an abyss of unfathomable depth. It was different from the chill exuded by the Shadow King. “Does anyone else know about this?” The Conqueror Supreme didn’t deny my words. Though he spoke with certainty when he spoke, I didn’t expect him to not deny it at all. “No.” “Good.” As he said this, the Conqueror Supreme casually perched on a rock. Even that action was distinctly different from when he was Vizard Jin. Unlike the hasty yet noble demeanor that Vizard Jin, with his familial lineage, maintained. In his current form, even that was absent. “It means he’s been controlling that difference.” Even if it’s so with actions. He seemed to control even his characteristic habits or mannerisms knowingly. Meaning he was masteringly controlling every movement he made. At such a level, it made one question if a human could truly achieve such mastery. “If someone else had found out and talked about it, things would’ve become troublesome.” “Yes…” The Conqueror Supreme shifted his posture, crossing his legs, and looked at me with an enigmatic expression. Yet, his presence remained distinctively overwhelming. As I tried to hide the cold sweat trickling down, the Conqueror Supreme asked me, “How did you notice?” He was asking how I discerned that he wasn’t Vizard Jin, but the Conqueror Supreme. I couldn’t very well say it was because I nearly died to him in a previous life and remembered it even after returning. Instead, I prepared another explanation in advance. “Intuition.” “…What?” Upon hearing my response, the Conqueror Supreme looked at me incredulously. Given that I noticed his true identity and then merely claimed intuition, it was natural for him to wear such a bewildered expression. “Intuition? Did you say intuition?” “Yes. It just…” “You, youngster.” The Conqueror Supreme rose from his seat on the rock once more. Witnessing this, I almost involuntarily took a step back. The aura was different. This was not the weight of an aura emitted by a pinnacle martial artist. “As you know, I hold you in high regard.” Indeed, I was aware. The Conqueror Supreme had a favorable view of me. And I understood that much was due to the talents I displayed outwardly. “Such an infuriating reason.” In different terms, it meant if I were without such talents, he wouldn’t have noticed me in the first place. It’s a given. With nicknames like “the generation of meteors” being tossed around, talent is everything in today’s world. So where do I stand within that? Not even at the age of a full-grown man, yet at the pinnacle. That itself is an outstanding achievement. To have surpassed that and reached a transcendent state. If this became widely known, What would society label me as? A prodigy for the ages? Something like that. “It bothers me.” The more I think, the more it gives me goosebumps. Yearning to be called a genius was nothing more than a childhood fantasy. A fancy that all martial artists might have entertained once. Everyone dreamed of becoming the number one prodigy in the world. In a world where everyone dreams of becoming a master, if one truly attains that, It would indeed be a romantic tale. “But the problem is, there’s no time to dwell in such romance.” It’s just an opportunity granted by the return. One must not forget their place. Let past consequences serve as a reminder of what happens when you forget your place, even for a moment. "The very reason I'm not smashing you to bits upon realizing you know my true identity." ‘...His words are harsh.’ Not “kill,” but “smash.” It seemed to truly reflect the temperament of the Conqueror Supreme. Despite saying that, the Conqueror Supreme continued to merely watch me without making any moves. His gaze communicated it clearly. Speak the next words. Or else, he really would act on his words. Watching this, I could only let out a sigh internally. ‘Is there no normal person among these people?’ Whether they're obsessed with martial arts or bloodshed. It seems madness in one form or another is necessary to reach such heights. For someone as kind and gentle as me, it’s a terribly difficult world to survive. “If your explanation isn’t convincing…” “During the entrance trial. You had a duel with me, didn’t you?” I quickly interrupted the Conqueror Supreme’s words. Honestly, this was the most nerve-wracking part. Though the Conqueror Supreme gave me a discomfited look, he let it slide. It meant he’d let it pass. There was also an implicit demand to continue my explanation. “That’s when I realized. That Young Master Bi was not merely the disciple of the Conqueror Supreme but the man himself.” In truth, calling it a duel seems ambiguous. Sure, there was a period when my physical condition weakened. But the level gap was immense from the start, and it felt more like the Conqueror Supreme was toying with me. ‘It did hurt my pride a bit.’ Even if it did bruise my pride, it was something to let slide. From the standpoint of someone who has faced the full power of the Conqueror Supreme in a past life, I had to understand that I was still intact after the fight. “And that’s what you’re calling intuition?” His gaze turned icy. Clearly, that explanation alone wouldn’t suffice. When the Conqueror Supreme introduced himself as Vizard Jin, He claimed to be the disciple of the Conqueror Supreme. This was likely in case he had to utilize the Conqueror Supreme’s unique martial arts, the Heavenly Breaker Technique, giving him a pretext. Recalling the past life, If the Conqueror Supreme had not revealed himself during the bloodthirsty chaos while living as Vizard Jin, Perhaps no one would have ever known the existence he so carefully concealed. In that respect, he seemed to have quite the cautious nature. ‘So instead of beating around the bush, perhaps a better approach is needed.’ Taking a deep breath, I initiated my words. “That's not all.” There was something I had set up previously. It wasn’t intended for use at this moment, but I had no choice. Although it wasn’t meant to be used like this... After a moment of hesitation, I reluctantly spoke. “I’ve had an interest in you for a while.” “…Hmm?” Even as I said it, my throat tingled. Because I was spouting such nonsense myself. “What did you say?” “You were hailed as one of the greatest martial artists. I was also deeply impressed by the meaning of your epithet.” The former was somewhat true. Though the martial arts weren’t identical, using fists was common. The Conqueror Supreme was regarded as the pinnacle in that domain after all. “So I contacted Gaebang to look into your family, the Bi family.” This too was true. I had once asked a Gaebang member, Choo Ong, to investigate the Duel Dragon. Of course, given the rumors about being the Conqueror Supreme’s disciple, It was to gauge how those aware of the rumors would react and keep tabs on their movements. “You’re talking about that raccoon.” “Yes.” Even the Conqueror Supreme knew about Choo Ong. Ah, didn’t he once say Choo Ong had been caught by him? Regarding that, the best I could do was lend him an excuse. Having been lost in thought for a moment, the Conqueror Supreme soon spoke to me. “I understand you mean you admired and wanted to meet me.” “I didn’t quite say that, though.” Why was he putting words in my mouth? I’ve never once uttered the word ‘admiration’. The Conqueror Supreme disregarded my attempt to deny his words. “You must know that doesn’t sound like a valid reason?” He’s right. Claiming to have investigated the Duel Dragon and then realizing Vizard Jin was the Conqueror Supreme didn’t align as a coherent explanation. Nevertheless, the reason I brought up this story was to indicate that I had always held an interest in the Conqueror Supreme. It was the moment to mention the reason I had concocted. “While it was confirmed during the duel... I had some suspicions beforehand.” “Are you implying that you knew my identity all along?” “Not confirmation, but suspicions at least.” “Through what means?” The Conqueror Supreme’s response became slightly more intense. Failing to provide a proper explanation here could very well result in me truly losing a limb. Fortunately, The reasoning I had was simple and direct, carrying substantial plausibility. Nothing could fit more perfectly than this. “…The Elder mentioned it subtly to me.” I claimed Elder Il had mentioned it to me. I had vague knowledge of the connections between the two. Il had mentioned receiving a recommendation from the Conqueror Supreme in the past. Implying they must have met after undergoing rejuvenation. With that reasoning in hand, it was best to rely on Elder Il’s name. Of course, I would have to clean up the aftermath later. ‘...Forgive me, Elder, I’ll have to use you a bit.’ After all, isn’t it like a family favor? You always call me your grandson, so I hope you forgive me for this once. Now, what mattered was the Conqueror Supreme’s reaction. I maintained a calm facade while suppressing my internal tremors, watching him. With widened eyes, the Conqueror Supreme soon responded. “That crazy guy…” His response was rather intense, but it was a relief, allowing me to finally exhale. “Guryeon… That damn fool really…” The Conqueror Supreme grasped his forehead, indicating a headache. Judging by that, the two seemed to have a deeper relationship than just acquaintances. In fact, more than anger, disbelief shone through. “…Guryeon told you, you say?” "He didn’t give me a detailed explanation. It was just a guess from a passing comment." I figured it was better to dilute the story a bit. Claiming I knew everything might lead to unforeseen troubles later. Not sure if this will work, though. "…Tsk." The Conqueror Supreme clicked his tongue, clearly displeased with the explanation. Looking around, I noticed something significant. The formidable aura that had been emanating from him was now completely withdrawn. 'When did he retract it?' The aura was so immense that I hadn’t even realized it had vanished. "You, youngster…" "Yes." After seemingly calming down, the Conqueror Supreme spoke to me again. Was my explanation sufficient? I wasn’t too sure. "It’s all right. Regardless of how you came to know my identity, something else holds more importance now, so we can set that aside." Hearing his words, I thought inwardly. ‘Seems like he doesn’t fully trust my explanation.’ It appeared he didn’t entirely believe me. However, there seemed to be something more important to him than the truth of my story. “The fact that you’re bringing up my identity only now suggests you have a different agenda, doesn’t it?” “...” The Conqueror Supreme was right. I could’ve easily kept quiet about his identity and acted as if I didn’t know. Yet, the reason I summoned him and revealed that I knew was for something else. “Do you remember the suggestion I made to you before?” “Yes, I remember.” “So, is this matter related to that suggestion?” “Yes, it is.” He was referring to the suggestion he made, using Vizard Jin’s name, for me to become his disciple. He had indeed told me to become his disciple. This was my way of giving him an answer. "In a way, it might be a fortunate turn of events. Makes the conversation easier." A hint of a smile returned to the Conqueror Supreme’s face. "My offer stands the same as it was back then: become my disciple." Gone was the intense aura from a moment ago, replaced by an almost excited demeanor. Is this really such a pleasant thing for him? I had no idea. ‘What does he expect my answer to be?’ Doesn’t he consider the possibility I might refuse? Up until the moment I answered, I was racked with indecision. To be precise, from the time the offer was made. The benefits of becoming the Conqueror Supreme’s disciple were obvious. Yet, I had no time to become his disciple and learn new martial arts right now. Considering the prowess he achieved, and the martial skills he demonstrated in my past life, I could not deny they were appealing. The overwhelming wall I sensed when facing him was undeniable. But there was also a clear issue. To adopt new martial arts meant I would have to reset and rebuild everything within myself. That was simply not feasible. That’s why it was a difficult decision. The Nine Flame Wheel Technique itself was already sufficient to be deemed a remarkable martial art. I had thought there was no need to become the Conqueror Supreme’s disciple just a few days ago. But encountering the Heavenly Demon changed everything. Given my speed was several times faster than in my past life, I thought I’d suffice if I carried on as I had. I was arrogant. And complacent. Carried away by the praises likening me to a True Dragon, I momentarily forgot how formidable the Heavenly Demon truly was. ‘There’s no way to win.’ How could I achieve victory? Every day I wrestled with this thought, but No matter how hard I tried, it seemed impossible as things stood. Thus, a different method was necessary. With giving up not being an option, I had to find an alternative approach at all costs. I even considered seeking counsel from my father regarding my future path, but Would that be enough? I didn’t think so. The battles fought so far, coupled with my life as a martial artist, told me the problem clearly. ‘Martial Combat. It’s inherently lacking.’ The greatest issue was the inflexibility and inadequacy of my combat skills. And before me stood the person most suited to impart such teachings. The Conqueror Supreme was that ultimate figure in this domain. “…I earnestly wish to become your disciple, Elder.” Honestly, I didn’t think simply becoming the Conqueror Supreme’s disciple would magically solve everything. It was merely a desperate attempt for a solution. Besides, he too wanted me to become his disciple. I didn’t know what his true motives were. But there had to be a reason why someone who never took in disciples was so intent on having me. “There is something I wish to ask before that.” “A request?” The Conqueror Supreme tilted his head, appearing curious. I feared he might react unfavorably, but fortunately, it didn’t seem so. The request itself was simple. Right now, I genuinely wanted his guidance, but as I mentioned earlier, I lacked the time to discard everything I had built up and start anew. Moreover, there was something I wanted to verify concerning it. “I want to learn your martial arts while keeping what I’ve already built intact.” I wanted to retain the Nine Flame Wheel Technique in my body while also absorbing his martial arts. The Conqueror Supreme’s face twisted upon hearing this. My words were a testament to how nonsensical the request was.