399 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The Greatest Martial Artist's Childhood Friend - Chapter 400 > Northern Hare - Web Novel Archive When reflecting on the concept of war, There's no need for elaborate descriptions; calling it hell suffices. Every street bore traces of the dead, and the clear waters of mountain streams were tainted with blood, losing their color. The once radiant sky was now dyed crimson, and the once-imposing city walls were cracked and in disarray. Those who lingered in the streets either wore terrified expressions or appeared defeated, as if they had already abandoned all hope. There was no hope. Their faces communicated as much. War, from the very beginning, was like that. Just as a beautiful fight cannot exist, war stands as the most brutal among them. Under the name of bloodshed, the world gradually decayed. Such was the nature of my past life. It had only been a few years since the Heavenly Demon appeared. Though brief, that time was enough to bring the world to that state. How many years remained until that world arrived at the present time? At least, I knew it wasn’t that far off. There was a time when the divine swordsman existed. Moreover, along with the divine swordsman, there were countless factions supporting him, which made overcoming the carnage possible. I’m well aware that replicating such a feat is impossible for me. Yet, if I truly wish to take Wei Seolah's place, It means I must at least amass as much power and influence as Wei Seolah had. Regardless of the divine swordsman’s martial prowess. ‘Influence, huh.’ The numerous people who supported her were a problem, too. Back then, I couldn’t possibly attract people with the charisma or the gentle methods Wei Seolah used. Not only because of my temperament, but I also had no experience handling people in such a manner. It was never a method that suited me, and trying to forcibly imitate it would be futile. I needed to find my own approach. ‘My own method….’ Ideas weren’t entirely absent. I knew of the easiest path available to me. That was, ‘The Demonization.’ Just as I turned Namgung Cheonjuhn into one, I realized I could corrupt others with my demonic energy. Furthermore, I knew I could use that energy as a leash to handle them like slaves. Thus, if creating a faction was what I desired, this method seemed the most suitable for me. As long as I couldn’t trust them to form a new power, creating one with individuals consumed by my demonic energy seemed like the best option. ‘But is it truly….’ The right thing to do? These thoughts flitted through my mind time and again. There were countless moments of hesitation because I didn’t want to live like that. At the very least, I was struggling to live a different life from my past one, but if I eventually chose this path… ‘How would I be any different from the Heavenly Demon?’ No matter how I looked at it, if I pursued such actions under the pretext of stopping the Demon Sect, …it wouldn’t differ from me creating a Demon Sect myself, would it? Such thoughts filled my head. But even with those thoughts, ‘…Is there any other method?’ These concerns were ultimately only valid if there was an alternative. Just because something isn’t right or desirable, doesn’t mean I have the luxury to choose whether to do it or not. Thus, I had already set boundaries when creating the list. Those who could be corrupted by demonic energy without issue. Those who would be better off living and dying as demons were sorted out as well. This was the final excuse I could make for myself. ‘Even if it’s not right, I must bear with it.’ Simply claiming to take the divine swordsman’s place won't offer any solutions. I know this well. I know I’m not suited for such a position. Hence, I must utilize every means and method available. Guilt? Regrets? Hesitation? As I said, Such concerns are only possible when there’s an alternative. Which means, I don’t have the luxury to make those choices. There’s no room for hesitation. Once a plan is formed, it must be executed. Now was the time to cultivate the strength needed to execute it as quickly as possible. Crack-! I tightened my fist with more resolve to accelerate. Thud-! As soon as it collided with the wall, the cave wall crumbled from the impact. Even this small movement brought pain. But perhaps because I’ve been in pain so often, now even if it hurt this much, my eyebrow would only twitch slightly. Should I be glad to have grown accustomed to pain? Thinking that I should take such a notion positively made me wonder if my brain was becoming entrenched in training. Amongst it all, a noticeable difference had emerged. ‘The movement has changed.’ It was a very subtle difference, but my punching motion had evolved. What could I call it? Should I say it had become a bit cleaner? Or perhaps something awkward had disappeared. I pondered for a moment, struggling for a fitting expression, when a somewhat appropriate term came to mind. ‘Flexibility.’ The movement had gained flexibility. With flexibility came an improvement in my method of exerting strength. ‘No, it’s not just a feeling.’ It was more of a certainty. From training Tuapacheonmu, there were definite changes in my physique. Was this what the Paejon spoke of, altering the framework of the body? ‘Unbelievable.’ Despite training to the point of exhaustion, showing no improvement, I couldn’t have imagined merely learning one more technique would open up new possibilities. ‘…Well, perhaps it’s not fair to call it “merely.”’ Breathing itself was a painful ordeal; enduring it was a significant challenge in itself. But there would be no disputing its value if one could bear the pain. Anyone would understand if they experienced even a fraction of it. I continued moving without pause. My body was already drenched in sweat and fatigue had accumulated considerably as I had been cutting back on sleep for days while training. Yet, I kept my body in motion without hesitation. Even at the brink of exhaustion, my resolve was clear: I wouldn’t stop until I physically couldn’t continue. Several days had passed since I began acting this way. Perhaps because of the intense focus, I started to notice something strange recently. My body was swaying. Not moving, but swaying was the accurate descriptor. Before long, my body began to sway uncontrollably, as if it were acting on its own accord. Though I had lost control of my movements, I made no effort to seize them. What little instinct I had left was telling me not to. Pain surged through my legs with each step forward. Neither my knees nor my back were in any condition to function normally. Inside my core, the Tuapacheongong technique continued to erupt tirelessly. My internal energy overflowed, ceaselessly powering through these days. Considering I was merely moving my body while using an inner strength technique, it wasn't even a matter of it running dry. My vision blurred. Did I really need to focus my gaze? There was no necessity. Countless practiced movements flowed on their own, independent of my will. Pain began to dull. Was this a trance induced by exhaustion? Knowing that such a state was not somewhere I could truly reach through mere effort, it felt quite humorous. Not that it mattered much. At this moment. ‘Just a little more.’ I wanted to lose myself to this sensation just a little longer. There was an unexplainable discomfort. I knew that if I tried to regain full consciousness, this delicate balance would shatter. A paradoxical sensation I had to deliberately overlook. Should this, too, be called an epiphany? I was somewhat curious about what would happen if I ended up breaking free from this state. At that moment. Crack. ‘Ah, damn it.’ Was my earlier hesitation the problem? I started to regain clarity. The blurred perception I fought to hold onto began to return to normal. Should I forcibly try to reclaim it? As I pondered this, "That's enough for now." Someone appeared and steadied my swaying body. My unruly movements were forcefully halted. “…Ah….” Suddenly, the strength that had been keeping me upright dissipated, and I sank to the ground. “Haa…. Haa….” I placed my palms on the ground, barely managing to keep myself up. Had I truly been that exhausted? Sweat trickled down my face, pooling on the floor below. Only then did I notice my trembling hands, realizing my body had reached its limit long ago. As I panted, trying to catch my breath, someone spoke from behind me. It was the Patriarch. "How long did you plan to continue? Until sunrise, apparently." “…What?” Patriarch's words widened my eyes in disbelief. Had that much time really passed? Patriarch chuckled as he noted my expression and continued. "It seems you’ve lost track of time." Moments ago, it seemed like Patriarch wasn’t present. When did he appear, and how much time had elapsed since? At least nothing remained in my memory. Had I truly been engulfed in that hazy state for so long despite everything? "…" I stared at Patriarch in silence. He grinned broadly. “Disappointed?” “…No.” “You say that, yet regret is written all over your face.” Did he notice? I thought I wasn't showing it, yet it seemed evident on my face. “Don’t think I’m the one who disturbed you. If I hadn’t stopped you there, things might’ve become dire.” “I didn’t think that,” I replied confidently. It was evident from the state of my body. If I had continued further, I would have been in danger. My body was precisely at its limit. Even if it’s a trance-like state, surely the Patriarch stopped me to prevent my body from breaking down. Knowing the reason, it didn’t particularly bother me. However, after hearing my response, Patriarch pursed his lips in mild dissatisfaction. “…Saying it that way makes it less fun.” “What do you expect me to say….” I was about to respond when suddenly, Patriarch tossed something my way. With my feeble arm, I caught it and realized it was a gourd. It sloshed with liquid inside. “Quench your thirst first. Ugh, how tiresome… How am I, at my age, fetching water for a young one? Tsk, tsk.” “…Thank you.” Parched as I was, I offered my thanks and drank deeply from the gourd. A few sips, and it felt like life was being revitalized within me. As I drank the water, Patriarch asked, “What was it like, getting a glimpse of that place?” After swallowing a few more gulps, I looked inquisitively at Patriarch. “That place…?” “The place you just touched.” “…” “Hazy, not wanting to escape, but with an uneasy feeling that one wrong move might break it, right?” “…Indeed.” “There’s no need to think it strange. You're on the right track,” Patriarch’s words carried a peculiar warmth. I had thought what I experienced was merely akin to an insight, but listening to Patriarch explain, it felt distinct from what martial artists usually experience as enlightenment. “The reason I told you not to regret is because it’s a place you’ll need to reach someday.” “A place I’ll have to reach?” “Have you heard of the term 'Mugyeong' ((無我之境) - a state of no self)?” “Yes.” A sensation where one forgets oneself and becomes one with their actions. It’s a state that often appears when martial artists gain a specific insight. For those who seek enlightenment, it’s like a dream. “What you experienced was indeed a kind of Mugyeong.” So, was the phenomenon I just lived through a form of enlightenment? If so, Patriarch's words seemed somewhat off-kilter. As questions passed through my mind, Patriarch continued. “To be precise… it was a Mugyeong created by the Tuapacheomu technique.” “…What?” Hearing this, my eyes widened. A Mugyeong created by Tuapacheomu? “Tuapacheomu creates a Mugyeong?” Seeing my puzzled expression, Patriarch allowed a small smile to play on his lips. “I hadn’t expected to explain this so soon. You experienced it faster than I anticipated.” “…” “As you’ve heard, my martial technique was created purely out of my ambition.” “Yes.” The technique Patriarch developed to become a superior martial artist—Tuapacheomu. “To be precise, I wanted to surpass the limitations of being human.” “…Limitations…?” “Yes, it’s a technique created for that purpose.” Human limitations. Is he suggesting he wanted to become something akin to a god?