408 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The pretext was a guided martial arts sparring. A sparring for guidance. It was a convenient justification that could be used in many circumstances. Like a seasoned master imparting lessons through a match against less experienced practitioners. For them, it was a glorious opportunity, a stroke of fortune. If someone of the caliber of Baekryeon Swordmaster offered a guided match, people would flock from all over, eager to watch. However, one might question whether the current circumstances really justified such an action. Baekryeon Swordmaster Moyong Biyeon observed the three people before her with an intrigued gaze. She was curious to see how they would react the moment she unleashed her aura. Would they be scared? Or perhaps taken aback? Moyong Biyeon had assumed their reactions would likely fall into one of these categories. "Interesting." Her expectations were defied spectacularly. The children were neither frightened nor flustered. Instead, as soon as they sensed her aura, they readied themselves, adjusting their stances. Particularly those two who appeared to be swordsmen. They were exceptional. "Not a hint of hesitation?" The child from the Tang clan certainly had an impressive demeanor for his age, yet... He couldn't quite match those two. Calling them mere "late bloomers" felt almost disrespectful. They had long surpassed the threshold and reached mastery, no longer fitting the term "late bloomers." "This generation truly is remarkable, just as the rumors say." She could now grasp what she had only heard of in stories. The young man named Guyang Cheon was so vastly superior it was difficult to consider him as the generational average. So ignoring him, the real focus should be these young prodigies. A twinkle of fascination sparkled in Moyong Biyeon's eyes. The expedition led by the Poison King was peculiar enough to capture her interest entirely. This generation had an unusual number of exceptional late bloomers, each surpassing the other in unique abilities. Including the three before her and even beyond Guyang Cheon, each of these youths was dazzling. The young Taoist from the Wudang, known as the Hidden Dragon, had already reached not only the peak but a stage of complete maturity. The bulky youth from the Paega clan lingered in the elite class but was not lacking in prowess. Surprisingly, the one with the lowest level among the late bloomers was her nephew. "Exceptionally outstanding, almost inexplicably so." Moyong Biyeon couldn't help but wonder at seeing this. The only odd one out was a frail-looking boy reportedly from the Cheol family, but... He was hardly worth mentioning as a warrior, so she dismissed him. If each of them had been born in her time, it wouldn't have been strange for them to be the leading figures of their generation... "No... that wouldn't have been possible." Being the foremost would have been too much. Back then, 'that person' occupied the pinnacle of the late bloomers. Still, more than a few here could rightly be called geniuses beneath him. "Is it a coincidence?" Was it just a coincidence that such individuals had gathered here? Or was it that they had congregated around something? If they had been drawn together by something... That something would likely be... "That young man." The image of a young man briefly crossed Moyong Biyeon's mind. If that were the case, she could understand. Just as in their time, when one encounters something that shines so brightly, one naturally gravitates toward it. Given the most luminous figure of this generation happened to be here, one couldn’t simply dismiss it all as coincidence. Having experienced such phenomena firsthand in the past, Moyong Biyeon found this natural. Yet still... She let out a chuckle as she gazed forward. "No matter the reason, isn't this a bit excessive?" The moment Moyong Biyeon sighed out in disbelief— Swish! The sword tip grazed her cheek. Its latent power forced her to step back ever so slightly. Or at least, she intended to distance herself, but something else quickly encroached beside her. Two daggers flew in at remarkable speed. With a quick glance, Moyong Biyeon adjusted her posture and angle. Whoosh! The shifting air pressure altered the trajectory of the daggers midflight. Thwack! The daggers embedded themselves in a tree behind her. Remarkably, the tree began to decay from where the daggers had struck. Poison arts had indeed been applied to the weapons. "These kids, really?" Observing this, she identified the culprit—one of the Tang clan. It wasn’t surprising they used poison arts, but still, to actually employ it... When Moyong Biyeon proposed the sparring, she had intended it to be realistically challenging. Of course, she planned to moderate her efforts to observe the children's capabilities. "This is more than I anticipated..." The children's abilities were extraordinary, indeed. Crackle-! "...!" As if they wouldn’t allow her a moment's thought, a barrage of lightning immediately followed the evaded daggers. Moyong Biyeon found herself admiring the display. "Impressive." The lightning fanned out in dozens of branches, each exhibiting an intention as though individually directed. This meant the practitioner was controlling every strand of electricity. Had it been just this, one could attribute it to genius. Yet the owner of the lightning was simultaneously wielding a sword dance. To maneuver one’s body while directing such a multitude of lightning? The visage of Namgung family’s head flitted through Moyong Biyeon’s mind, as the lightning’s master belonged to the Namgung lineage. "Did that insufferable fellow manage to sire such a monster?" A shiver ran down her spine. Her feet felt weighted, making it challenging to tap into her senses. Her shoulders were heavily burdened, confirming it was undoubtedly martial arts from that family. The Sovereign Sword Techniques. That vexingly troublesome, damnable martial art. Dodging the showering lightning while gauging her surroundings, Moyong Biyeon noted— The only incoming threat directly ahead was the electricity. Where were the others? She heightened her senses. Tingle—just as she predicted. From her enhanced awareness, she detected swift presences approaching. From both left and right. The moment Moyong Biyeon realized this, blinding white and golden streaks came from either side. The sword tips approached without hesitation. Judging by their path, they targeted Moyong Biyeon's throat. "Wow." Moyong Biyeon realized that she had been mistaken. She had seemingly underestimated them, merely seeing them as late bloomers. Recognizing this, she adjusted her grip on her sword, infusing it with a modicum of apology, and swung it. In that instance— Whoosh! The blade emitted an azure light, the emblem of the Moyong family, surging outwards. "...!" "Urgh...!" Just before the sword’s energy reached them, Namgung Bia and Wi Seol-ah flinched, pushed back by its sheer force. The oncoming lightning was swept away by Moyong Biyeon's sword energy. The two, landing where Tang Soyol was stationed, looked at Moyong Biyeon in astonishment. The wind-like energy swirling around was undoubtedly sword force. Embedded within it was a weighty and substantial aura, unlike the emotional resonance of a peak martial artist. Amongst this, a somewhat self-deprecating voice floated towards the trio. "Sorry. I’ve clearly misjudged this." With her signature aura enveloping her sword, Moyong Biyeon gave a slight smile. "I thought I could take it easy... Clearly, I shouldn't have." Given the situation, she had intended to treat them somewhat as juniors. But these children were already warriors in their own right. There was no room for playfulness or lightheartedness. Moyong Biyeon regarded the three with a curious expression. 'Did she feel this way too?' On the day she and the current Sword Empress Soi faced the former Sword Empress. Perhaps the gaze that was cast upon them was similar to this. The difference now being— At that time, the Sword Empress had regarded them as fellow warriors from the outset, engaging sincerely. Whereas Moyong Biyeon had not done so here. 'Damn.' Reflecting on this, Moyong Biyeon reproached herself. Simultaneously, she felt relieved. That Soi was now in the position of the Sword Empress. Someone who wouldn’t make the same mistake she had. Though she had no particular interest in the Sword Empress title, she was thankful. She knew she wasn’t quite the ideal candidate for such a role. "Okay." Sighing, Moyong Biyeon began to settle her energy, preparing to move forward differently after acknowledging her earlier error. Her softening eyes took in the three who seemed tense. Raising her sword— "I’m coming again." Detecting the seriousness in her voice, the trio's energies shifted. They discerned that Moyong Biyeon had taken things up a notch. Seeing this, Moyong Biyeon found herself grinning inwardly. She couldn't help but feel excited by the prospect. 'Ah, this isn't right.' She had intended to simply observe her niece and the girls accompanying Guyang Cheon, yet— Here she was, enjoying the unfolding situation. She recalled her younger sibling imploring her to act her age, as if in silent pleading. 'I'm sorry.' Moyong Biyeon silently apologized to her brother. It seemed she would never truly mature. As the turbulent energies began to subside, a subtle calm washed over them. Moyong Biyeon moved her foot slightly. In the blink of an eye, her figure vanished. Namgung Bia widened her eyes, extending her senses. Wi Seol-ah squinted, lifting her sword to survey their surroundings. Thunk-! Moyong Biyeon appeared in the narrow gap between the two. In that instant— A tempest even greater than the one before swept through the forest. ****************** An intense energy filled the air, laced with an ominous aura that chilled the bones of martial artists. Boom! Boom, boom! The forest echoed with a cacophony akin to a colossal monster's rampage, reverberating without pause. Drawn by the noise, countless individuals gathered. Embarking on this expedition, all were martial artists. They couldn’t ignore such an intense and palpable energy disturbance. Gradually, people gathered, forming a collective mass. From this, it became apparent that the noise wasn’t caused by a monstrous creature. A martial artist observing the center of the commotion whispered in awe. "Wow... incredible. How are they managing that?" His voice brimmed with admiration. "The synergy of the trio is seamless, despite their differing martial arts techniques." Two swordsmen coordinated attacks in close quarters. Whenever an opening appeared, delicate, poison-tipped daggers were deployed. Their swords danced uninterrupted, each movement avoiding obstructing the others. Such precision typically required years of coordination among seasoned martial cadets. So it was astonishing to witness such fluidity from these adolescents still growing into their potential. The junior who overheard this admiration wore a puzzled expression and asked the senior: "Is it really that remarkable?" "Oh, you fool! Can't you see it?" Even as the junior's face contorted at being called slow, the comment was justified. Each martial art has distinct characteristics. The energies needed for different techniques vary. Martial arts energies are often deeply aggressive. They often clash as if attempting to overpower one another. In combat against a common enemy, this is expected. But collaboration between martial artists inherently leads to complications. Their energies can interfere, hampering martial techniques. Rapid movements mess up alignments, leading to further issues. "Those kids move as if they're one." Regardless of how compatible the martial arts may be, moving without hindrance to each other at that level is a different story. Nodding slightly, the listening junior seemed to understand. Yet, there was still confusion. "It's an impressive feat but... it seems no strikes are landing." The fluid execution of their joint attacks was apparent. Their exceptional martial level for their age was clear. Even considering that, their opponent was overwhelmingly superior. The women's attacks barely grazed their target and were repeatedly driven back. "In that case, there’s nothing to be done. After all, the opponent is the Baekryeon Sword." The colleague’s words made perfect sense. Blame lay not with the trio, but with their opponent. The man's eyes rested on a woman moving effortlessly despite the collaborative assault from the three. Baekryeon Sword. A fierce contender for the title of Sword Empress. That description was more than sufficient. Among the gathered martial artists here, only a select few could match her. The Baekryeon Sword hadn’t been active for over a decade, leaving many in the dark about her whereabouts. Yet, those who had witnessed her prowess in her prime still recalled her vividly. "It’s somewhat enviable." "Sorry?" Simply crossing blades with the Baekryeon Sword was a fortuitous opportunity itself. The man found himself a tad envious of the late bloomers involved. The issue, however, was— ‘For a guided match, it’s rather intense.’ While no malice accompanied the abundant aura, suggesting it wasn’t a true battle… Even so, the ferocity of it all was apparent. One might feel compelled to intervene. As the man watched with slight apprehension, his companion marveled aloud. "Even amidst this, the Poison Phoenix is holding her own." "Hmm?" "The rumors claimed her skills didn’t match her title. But it doesn’t seem that way now, does it?" "Hmm..." The man's gaze shifted to the woman hurling daggers from the rear. Certainly, it was true. The Tang clan’s daughter, rumored to be less skilled than other famed Dragons and Phoenixes— Was handling herself surprisingly well in the energy-laden tempest. That her daggers flew unhindered in such chaos was proof enough. Moreover, her tactics revealed an effort to force the Baekryeon Sword to halt at key moments. "Indeed. Compared to the rumors, she seems much more competent." "I appreciate you saying so." "The compliment was for the Poison Phoenix, not something for you to accept—Ack!" The man suddenly turned, sensing something odd in the voice. It wasn’t his companion speaking. His junior stood frozen, eyes wide with fear at the unexpected interloper. Swallowing hard, the man realized whose voice it was. "The... The Tang Clan Leader...!" The voice that interjected was none other than that of the Tang clan's leader. The Poison King. Understanding this, the man broke into a cold sweat. What had he said just moments ago? His heart pounded uncontrollably. He hadn’t known, yet he had carelessly spoken of the Poison Phoenix in front of the Poison King, a mistake that could easily provoke wrath. "I-I apologize profusely...!" Bowing his head in a hasty apology, the man expressed his regret. The Poison King waved a dismissive hand, signaling it was fine. Thankfully, he showed no anger toward the man. Instead, he offered a slight smile, expressing gratitude. "Thank you for acknowledging my daughter's efforts." As the Poison King spoke, the man repeatedly bowed, seized his junior, and discreetly withdrew. Watching them momentarily, the Poison King sighed before turning his gaze to his daughter. '...What on earth.' In the midst of an aura so intense it made even the Poison King feel a twinge of apprehension— His daughter stood entrenched. After receiving the report, the Poison King had hurried over. Assessing the situation, he was ready to put an end to the match. '...This.' His momentary hesitation was due to the sheer determination on his daughter's face, a first for him. Though the match posed significant risk, sparring with the Baekryeon Sword could prove to be a valuable opportunity for Tang Soyol. He didn’t dislike seeing his daughter stand as a true martial artist. Thus, he continued watching the match, albeit with a cautious eye. 'It cannot go on much longer.' Despite the intrigue, the match was fraught with problems. It wasn’t just his daughter; the entire scenario had gone awry. The intense heat emanating from the Baekryeon Sword was particularly troubling. Watching this, the Poison King rubbed his aching temple. '...Baekryeon Sword.' The woman had always been notorious for her unpredictability. Why she was indulging in such an exchange with these children was perplexing in itself. With the stronger party in such a state, there was potential for serious mishaps. ‘If it gets too far...’ The Poison King contemplated intervening before things escalated. In the given situation, only a master from the Paega clan or himself could adequately mediate and cease the match. Ending such a fierce contest would require at least a master of the Flower Realm. Among those gathered, only he, in the absence of the Paega clan leader, was capable of stepping in. Any warrior with eyes could attest to that. Driven to action by the deepening aura of the match, the Poison King watched with mounting tension. As the match continued, the atmosphere grew even denser with energy. Normally, such a battle wouldn’t last long, but the relentless exchange persisted. Because it was meant as a guided sparring, the Baekryeon Sword refrained from lethal intent— That is to say, if she had desired to truly harm them, it would have ended much sooner. Watching this unfold with anxious eyes— The Poison King’s gaze fixed intently on the Baekryeon Sword. Suddenly, his eyes widened to lanterns. Because a potent force began to gather at the tip of her sword as she deflected the attacks. ‘That’s...!’ It was dangerous. Perhaps caught in the moment, the Baekryeon Sword appeared poised to breach a significant threshold. Recognizing this, the Poison King summoned his energy with urgency. He intended to intercede before things erupted catastrophically. As he clenched his jaw, preparing to leap into action— Someone acted before him. Fwoosh—! From somewhere, flames flared. “What?” “What is that...” Even the Poison King, amassing his energy, uttered his surprise, as did the onlookers. An unfamiliar young man appeared amidst the swirling chaos of the combat zone. "...!" Even those engaged in the sparring were taken aback and tried to alter the direction of their blades, but it was already too late—the strike had been initiated. Sword tips hurtled towards the suddenly appearing young man, moments away from slicing him. Tsk— A brief click of the tongue was heard. Whoosh—! “What…?” “Ugh!” “Ack!” “Eek…!” Suddenly, the sparring women were launched into the air, tumbling across the ground. The onlookers, taken aback, struggled to make sense of what had just transpired. What on earth had happened? The earlier chaos vanished, leaving a sudden, unsettling calm. In this newfound quiet, the young man stood tall at the center, pinching the bridge of his nose with two fingers. “Sigh.” He let out a deep sigh, addressing the women who were slowly getting back on their feet. “…I'm already exhausted, and what is this nonsense from the morning?” His voice was laced with considerable annoyance.