374 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Title: The Best Under Heaven's Childhood Friend - Chapter 375: Northern Hare** His eyes were red. A fiery display emanating from him. Unlike my father’s crimson eyes. If my father’s gaze shone with the embers of fire. Jang Sun-yeon's eyes seemed drenched in the color of blood. Even the pupils were slit, exuding a bizarre aura. "What is this...?" The very fact that Jang Sun-yeon was alive was astonishing. Yet, the unfamiliar sense of unease radiating from him had me sweating. The pain in my right arm was one thing. But now an unwelcome discomfort was rising from within, slowly overtaking my body. What is this unease I'm feeling? Even amidst this, the pain from the scales protruding on my arm seemed to intensify. “I thought I was getting used to pain in the past months of training with Master Pejon and practicing the Heavenly Art of Twin Dragons, but this...” This was a pain of a different nature. “It feels as though...” It spreads gradually. Like the scales were slowly covering a larger area. The troubling question was why this was happening all of a sudden. Moreover. "Why does no one else seem to notice?" Sure, Jang Sun-yeon has appeared, that much is okay. But with his eyes in such a state, why does nobody else sense anything strange? "Is it only visible to me? Are his eyes only visible to me?" Why...? Lost in these complex thoughts, a familiar voice reached my ears. -You don't look well. My eyes widened as I turned to the owner of the voice. It was Jang Sun-yeon speaking to me. -...You bastard... -I hadn’t meant to surprise you, but to see your reaction pleases me. The way Jang Sun-yeon flashed a smile was unlike anything I’d known of him before. Why was that? He had the same face and voice. Yet, from his voice lingered a sticky sensation. There was no actual scent, but my nose seemed filled with the metallic stench of blood. This was definitely the scent of blood. "Scent of blood...? The smell of blood?" It dawned on me then what I was sensing from Jang Sun-yeon. -Blood Demon...? Jang Sun-yeon's smile widened at my words. Seeing that, I was certain. Why the unease within me came from this man. This was not Jang Sun-yeon but the Blood Demon. -How... How are you here? -Is it surprising that I'm here? -Of course it is...! -I merely wanted to take a brief breath of the outside air. Does it please you? -...What about Jang Sun-yeon, the owner of the body? Could it be, like how Shin Noya did, he borrowed a body to descend? If Shin Noya could do it, then the Blood Demon could too. To my inquiry, the Blood Demon questioned as if puzzled. -Child, you burned this boy alive so terribly, why do you seek him in me? -Don’t talk nonsense. You didn’t come here to joke, did you? -Kehehe. The Blood Demon merely chuckled in amusement at my growling. Meanwhile, the pain in my arm worsened increasingly. This is not good. "Why is this happening all of a sudden?" Normally, nothing would happen. For this pain to strike suddenly.... "Could it be because of the Blood Demon?" The only anomaly was meeting the Blood Demon. It must be because of him. -It seems you're in a lot of pain. Despite trying not to show it, the Blood Demon immediately noticed. This confirmed it—the pain was indeed related to the Blood Demon. -...Did you do something to me? -Kehehe... You might want to believe that, but unfortunately, child, I have no such interest in harming you. -Nonsense! You forced your energy into me! -I did. And was there any negative outcome from it? -What...? What nonsense is this after forcefully implanting it? -There must have been times when you used my power willingly? -...! -It was a miracle bestowed by myself. Did you think I wouldn't notice? His words implied that he was aware of every instance I had wielded the blood energy. Moreover, it also revealed that he knew about the scales on my arm. -...What is this? When I inquired about the scales, the Blood Demon looked at me with a peculiar expression. Within that expression was... A certain inexplicable sense of joy. -It seems, child, that you are indeed the anomaly I anticipated. -Stop speaking nonsense. What is this? -Even if you aren't one of my fragments, you have begun to blossom. -...Fragment? Blossom? -I am not entirely sure, but if it occurs, you will be the first human. It’s something to celebrate. -Why do you keep speaking in riddles? -It's news to rejoice in. Isn't it pleasing? To ascend beyond the useless, vile lower species. The voice of the Blood Demon was laced with delight. -I eagerly await the day you cast off your shell. His words, filled with simmering excitement, buzzed around in my mind. As it happened, the intense pain climbing up my arm grew increasingly severe. Soon, I feared, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from screaming in agony. The Blood Demon, witness to my plight, spoke with a joyful smile. -It seems you are in great pain. Child, I will show you mercy once again. -What...? -This is also in celebration, don't forget that. The very moment the Blood Demon uttered those cryptic words. The blood energy embedded within my dantian suddenly surged with a pronounced force. It was even violent. As if responding to some unknown command, it raged with power. Though no direct pain was felt, the unchecked energy began to stir within me. Trying to suppress it somehow, the rampant blood energy escaped the dantian, threatening to consume my body. "Dammit!" The spread of blood energy throughout my body took mere seconds. The issue was... "What...?" The pain that had been tormenting me subsided almost instantly. Could this be due to the effects of the blood energy? Did it quell the pain? I checked my throbbing arm. I couldn't roll up my sleeve here, but the absence of pain was undeniable. Given this, it became difficult to imagine that the current situation wasn't related to the Blood Demon. -Kehehe... Even in this situation, the Blood Demon was busy smiling at me. -That child seems to harbor quite a dislike for me. -...Dislike? -Child, the pain you felt arose from hostility directed at me. I frowned at the Blood Demon's words. Does that mean the scales on my arm are something extraordinary as well? Feeling hostility toward the Blood Demon... What on earth is going on here? -It's instinct. Naturally so. An arrogant being that can't tolerate another equal under the same sky. What was so amusing to him? His tone conveyed satisfaction. A laughter-filled expression. Even a sense of expectancy. I understood none of it. Above all else. -Why are you telling me all this? I needed to know why the Blood Demon was acting this way towards me. I knew he was offering me some sort of benevolence. Whether this was sincere goodwill or a premeditated act with ulterior motives, I could not say. But surely, there was no reason for the Blood Demon to be like this towards me at this moment. -What exactly do you want from me? -Nothing. I want nothing from you. -You appear before me like this and say you want nothing? Ludicrous. To say he wants nothing? While making it quite obvious he does want something? -If I must choose something to hope for, it is that you become capable of achieving more than you can now. -Still speaking in riddles, I see. Annoyingly so. -Child, the day when you understand these words isn't too far off. When that time comes, you will seek me out on your own. I am merely waiting for that day. -There will come a day I seek out a disaster like you? You expect me to come and kill you? Is that what you mean? At the mention of 'disaster', the Blood Demon's laughter deepened. -It seems you've uncovered more than expected. Not bad at all. -...Speak clearly. What's your goal? Why are you doing this to me? -A goal. The Blood Demon paused, seemingly lost in thought. Then he spoke again. -To break away from the predetermined. If that's a goal, then I suppose it is. -What the hell does that... -Originally, I planned to move to find a fragment a bit earlier. But seeing you start to blossom has made me reconsider. Blossom. The meaning of his words eluded me, so I could only frown. That he had altered his plans suggested there was some intent he initially harbored. Somehow, disguised as Jang Sun-yeon, the Blood Demon's purpose had been clear. Then, was his intent to perpetrate something in Jang Sun-yeon's guise? '...Then, indeed, could the reason for Jang Sun-yeon's absence since our return from the demon realm be due to the Blood Demon's actions?' How on earth? I still couldn't grasp the Blood Demon's intentions or what sort of being he was. It was clear only from his words. At least that the Blood Demon wasn't human. Not that I hadn't realized it before, but I was now more certain than ever. -I will act a little slower, so you have time to understand. -By whose whim, and what are you planning...! Viiing-! Just as I attempted to speak to the Blood Demon. I felt a sudden sense of dizziness. Disoriented. -Do not worry. It's the backlash from quelling your hostility. -...What did you do to me... -As I mentioned earlier, I haven't done anything untoward to you. See, even the master of the Abyss inhabiting your body remains undisturbed. As the Blood Demon noted, the beast that would normally growl and show its fangs was silent this time. Given how both Shin Noya and the beast had remained dormant within ever since I housed the sacred sword in my body, perhaps that was the reason, but now wasn't the time to ponder it. -Today, I've merely come to greet you. -And separate from that, it has been a fruitful encounter for me. I've glimpsed a definitive path. -I await the day you come to find me willingly. With the Blood Demon's voice trailing off, my consciousness gradually faded. I tried to cling to consciousness, but. Ultimately, I couldn't hold on, and everything slipped away. And. When I finally came to my senses. The orthodox sect gathering had already concluded.