423 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Chapter 424: The Northern Rabbit - The World's Greatest Martial Artist’s Childhood Friend** *Title: Snakes.* What is this? The situation underwater rendered sight and sound useless. I carefully controlled my breathing to avoid disturbing the water's surface and surveyed the surroundings. Something felt off; it was as if the sound had neither come from outside nor inside the water. It was too clear. [Why... Why...] The voice echoed endlessly in my mind, confirming that it wasn't a mistake. Could it be? -Are you there? I sent out my thoughts, much like whispering to a beast, and the creature twitched subtly. […Oh great being….] What on earth is this creature? Was a demon really speaking to me? ‘…A talking demon?’ It wasn’t entirely out of the question. I recalled a time when a giant snake had spoken to me at the ancient grounds of Geumcheon. And now, this one was a snake too. ‘Can snakes inherently speak, perhaps?’ The thought briefly crossed my mind, even though in my past life, I had never encountered anything like this. -Who are you? Do you know me? I tried to communicate again, but— KRAAAAH-! Instead, it only let out a piercing scream as it was consumed by flames. I tried to retract the fire quickly, but the life drained from the creature’s eyes, and it ceased moving altogether. ‘Damn.’ I frowned at the sight. Seemed it had some significance, but it died too quickly for me to learn anything. Recalling its murmured words while withdrawing my impaled arm, I pondered, ‘Great being?’ It had clearly referred to me as such. What could that mean? ‘Calling me that makes it seem like we're allies or something.’ How absurd, to think a demon could be an ally. Those creatures, driven purely by instinct to devour others, couldn't possibly be on our side. ‘Though it’s not unheard of.’ Even as I considered this, past memories surfaced where such anomalies occurred. Cheonma (Heavenly Demon). I remembered countless demons bowing their heads before her, offering their lives at her small gestures. ‘…This is.’ The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Could all this be a coincidence? No, it seemed far too deliberate. The sudden appearance of the red demon, the skewed timing of events, and the feeling that I was somehow at the center of it all made it all too suspicious. ‘Something seems off.’ The flow of events felt wrong, tangled. While it was one thing for everything to be complicated, what was certain was that I was involved. ‘Did the red demon appear because of me?’ An unbelievable notion. I wanted to brush it off, but the circumstances seemed to point fingers at me, making me uneasy. ‘Damn.’ I bit my lip, reclaiming the flames from the demon’s body. There was no certainty in this, nor was it the time to ponder it. I searched the demon's corpse, using my senses. Given its massive size, it was difficult to navigate. If left alone, its body would eventually drift to the riverbed, so I had to be quick. I expanded my senses to scan its body. ‘…!’ Finally, I found a concentrated spot of energy within the demon's body. I channeled my energy there and tore its scales apart. Despite the toughness, tearing it open wasn’t difficult since it was already lifeless. RIP—! I forcefully yanked at the flesh, reaching deep inside. I couldn't reach just yet. I had to push my body further into it. The feel of the creature’s flesh and blood was unpleasant. This dislike was why I avoided hunting underwater... damn it. Clearing away bones, I reached further until something brushed against my fingers. This is it. I grasped the tangible object firmly and pulled it out. RUSTLE—! Once I had what I wanted, I emerged from the demon’s body, clutching the item. In my hand was a stone about the size of a child’s head—this was the red demon's magical core. I confirmed its presence with a slight nod of satisfaction. Despite the unsettling event, obtaining this core was somewhat more comforting than walking away empty-handed. ‘Better than getting nothing.’ This was still a gain in its own right. I was headed to Sichuan to obtain a white magic stone to perfect my incomplete state, after all. Though uncertain how things unfolded, the energy held within this red magic stone was substantial. With that thought, I moved to absorb the stone’s power underwater. HUMM— ‘Hm?’ Something emanated from the stone in my hand. Leaving behind the sinking carcass of the demon, I turned my attention to the stone. And then— “Urgh…!” I involuntarily gasped in surprise. Air bubbled from my mouth as it rose to the surface, mixing with the demon’s blood-filled water, which I took in substantial amounts. But that wasn’t important at the moment. ‘What is this now?’ I examined the stone with widened eyes. No matter how I looked at it... The state of the magic stone seemed odd. --- After Gouyangcheon was swept into the river along with the demon, the waters heaved with chaos from the demon’s cries and thrashing. But then the surface calmed, leaving only silence, as if nothing had happened at all. Minutes passed, yet neither the demon nor Gouyangcheon surfaced. On land, a few minutes seem trivial, but underwater, it becomes a different matter. For an ordinary person, those minutes could mean death. While a martial artist at the peak could last longer than an hour, being submerged with a demon was significant. Namgung Bia, watching from the bank, was about to plunge into the water with a tense expression when— GRIP—! Someone seized her arm. It was Woo Hyuk. Just as Namgung Bia turned her head toward Woo Hyuk, halted in her tracks, Woo Hyuk felt a pang of surprise at meeting her gaze. The eyes that had once belonged to the calm and serene Namgung Bia were now filled with a fierce intensity, glaring at Woo Hyuk. "Let go." Her voice, like her gaze, was brimming with a palpable menace. Observing this, Woo Hyuk managed a faint smile and spoke to her gently. "Calm yourself." "I said let go." Her intention clear, Namgung Bia seemed ready to sever his arm if he refused. Just as she began to channel energy into her sword— "Sister-in-law, he'd hardly appreciate that sort of action." Was it the unexpected title? Namgung Bia’s resolve wavered slightly at his words. "You know he's not someone who'd die so easily." "…" "He wouldn't have gone in without a plan. Let's wait a little longer." Slowly, as Woo Hyuk spoke, Namgung Bia's murderous aura began to dissipate, a sight that brought Woo Hyuk some relief. ‘…That was close.’ Though he maintained a smile outwardly, Woo Hyuk wasn’t entirely composed either. The murderous intent she had shown was genuine. If he had been just a moment later, she truly would have cut his arm. ‘Such a fierce love indeed.’ Internally, Woo Hyuk felt a tinge of envy towards Gouyangcheon, who lived surrounded by such beautiful women, although seeing this displayed such possessiveness made him pause. It was clear that the difficulties of dealing with passionate lovers weren't limited to Namgung Bia alone. Turning his head slightly, Woo Hyuk noticed another woman, sharp-eyed, staring at the waters below. Wei Seol-ah, wasn’t it? The successor of the Sword Sovereign? Since including the Dragon Inn, they had traveled together for several months now, but Woo Hyuk had rarely spoken with her. To be precise, aside from Gouyangcheon, hardly anyone engaged in conversation with Wei Seol-ah. Her demeanor shifted dramatically depending on Gouyangcheon’s presence. If she was usually like a gentle lamb or a loyal dog when with him, without him, she was akin to a finely-honed blade, offering no quarter for anyone to approach. Observing this, it was clear to Woo Hyuk that both women would soon throw themselves into the river. And that decision… ‘I feel the same, actually.’ Like him, Woo Hyuk was no exception. Right after Gouyangcheon entered the river with the demon, Woo Hyuk’s senses were overwhelmed. -Gouyangcheon… -What’s that scholar doing… -Observe the surroundings… Voices assaulted his ears, from close by to those on distant, withdrawing boats. ‘This is troublesome.’ Maintaining a façade of composure was strenuous as it became clear that being apart from Gouyangcheon revived such noise in his ears. It had been a long time since he heard so much noise, like before meeting Gouyangcheon. Having been spared hearing it recently, the abrupt return of the clamor was exhausting, bringing a headache he could not ignore. ‘What's going on?’ Probing the water’s depths, Woo Hyuk contemplated the sudden resurgence of the noise, which had begun minutes after Gouyangcheon plunged into the river. The phenomenon appeared just as the demon’s thrashing subsided and the waves calmed. This left Woo Hyuk wondering if perhaps something was amiss with Gouyangcheon. Additionally. ‘The others too.’ His gaze shifted between Namgung Bia and Wei Seol-ah. Immediately as the noise invaded his senses, he noted the sudden shift in their expressions. ‘Could they also be experiencing something unusual?’ Seeing this, he speculated that they too might have their abnormalities, but those thoughts deferred to the immediate priority—Gouyangcheon’s safety. Recollecting the words Gouyangcheon had shared with the group before pursuing the demon. [Just do as instructed. Don’t be surprised if something odd happens.] He indeed said so. Had it been anyone else speaking, it would likely have sounded nonsensical. For some reason, however, Woo Hyuk trusted his words. Not that Gouyangcheon was particularly dependable or reliable by nature... Yet, he still instilled a strange sense of confidence. Acting upon his words indeed allowed them to face the demon successfully. It was indeed bewildering. How could this possibly be? Woo Hyuk recalled the initial shock when sensing the demon’s barrier. A barrier that absorbed qi. What kind of thing could exist this way? Moments of shock faded as Gouyangcheon directed them with precision, and when swinging his sword as instructed, Woo Hyuk was struck by another realization. He began to understand vaguely why Gouyangcheon issued such directions. Upon a few swings of the sword. Woo Hyuk discerned subtle differences within the transparent barrier. Identifying such nuances was incredibly challenging for Woo Hyuk, yet Gouyangcheon seemed to perceive everything from afar and guide them. ‘…An incredible guy indeed.’ The more he observed Gouyangcheon, the more Woo Hyuk sensed a seemingly insurmountable wall. Aware of his own talents, Woo Hyuk had never become arrogant but was cognizant of his abilities compared to his peers. Yet, facing Gouyangcheon often rendered that knowledge moot. The path was different. Though born in the same era, something distinct separated Gouyangcheon. Barring no unforeseen changes, Gouyangcheon would ascend to greater heights, surpassing them in unimaginable ways. Woo Hyuk was certain of this. And he found himself curious about such a future. And so. ‘Hurry and come out.’ Gripping his sword, he intently focused on the waters. Gouyangcheon was not someone meant to perish in such a place. At least, that’s what Woo Hyuk believed. As impatience gnawed at him and his brow furrowed— SHA-LAAA—! “…!” The sensation from beneath the water caused Woo Hyuk’s eyes to widen. Simultaneously, he realized the noise that had plagued his ears disappeared, almost mystically. And it wasn’t just Woo Hyuk. Namgung Bia and Wei Seol-ah seemed to sense it as well, and they sprinted across the water toward the source of the ripple. Bubbles began to rise from that spot, and suddenly— "Phwah…!" A head burst from below the water, gasping for air. "Wow… Damn. I almost died—AH!" The fierce-looking young man tried to speak, but Namgung Bia and Wei Seol-ah dove forward, embracing him tightly. "Wa—wait a second…! This is a bit dangerous right now!" Even as Gouyangcheon flailed to rid himself of the women dragging him back underwater, Woo Hyuk could finally breathe a sigh of relief witnessing the scene. --- The chaos caused by the demon subsided, and they returned to the boat immediately. Normally, they would have retrieved the monster's carcass to secure bones or hide, but it had sunk too deep, and with the situation unresolved, retrieving it seemed impossible at that moment. Under the Dokwang's command, they made their way back to the deck. Upon arrival, I remembered Dokwang’s astonished expression. Understandably so, for the area was filled with monstrous corpses. It appeared these creatures had aimed to raid the boat alongside the red demon, but fortunately, they were all dead. The number of bodies, both floating around the water and strewn across the deck, was immense—so much so it was difficult to count. In the midst of it all stood a martial artist silently wielding a spear: Tang Deok. Before jumping off to supposedly hunt demons, I had instructed him to protect the crew. He had no choice but to shield them, however begrudgingly. His expression soured at the idea of protecting the people of Tang Clan himself, but that was not my concern. It was amusing to watch his face when Dokwang thanked him. Dokwang’s expression mirrored the peculiarity. Amidst the comedy, I was assured of one thing. ‘Dokwang doesn’t know Tang Deok.’ With the distinctive hair hidden under a cloak, and even though he hadn't mastered his poison techniques, the fact Dokwang didn’t find anything amiss when meeting him face to face confirmed it. ‘Unless Dokwang is an excellent actor himself.’ Delving into that possibility felt too convoluted. Already the appearance of a red demon had thrown everything into disarray. Martial artists, unsettled by the creature's return after centuries, were unsure whether it was wise to continue or return to report the event. Ultimately, Dokwang, being the leader, maintained that the priority was ensuring the convoy reached Sichuan safely. He sent a brief message to the Martial Alliance, deciding the matter. Thus, regardless of others' displeasure, no changes occurred. Unless they wished to abandon ship and swim back, they had to remain aboard peacefully. For now, no one could choose the latter, with the red demon’s majesty and power still fresh in memory and the uncertainty of more lurking. Conclusively, stopping the journey to Sichuan wasn’t feasible. “Haa…” I sat alone on a bunk, sighing heavily. Truly unexpected situations had arisen, keeping me tense from head to toe. Only now, as things had settled, could my taut muscles relax. Returning to the boat also brought a scolding from Tang Soyeol and Moryong Hia. They insisted I stop taking such reckless risks. From my perspective, it felt unfair. How could I not act when a creature appeared right before me? Sticking to the boat wasn’t an option. “…Even so, it might’ve been better to stay put.” Almost drowning was a rather ridiculous outcome—had I known, I would have stayed on the boat. I sighed repeatedly, extending my hand in front of me. The reason I nearly drowned, despite having killed the demon? “…Come out now.” It was all because of this little thing. Slowly, something slid out from inside my sleeve and down my hand. It was about the thickness of a little finger, and its length spanned from my wrist to my elbow at most. The creature wriggled, wrapping around my hand, and turned a tiny head to face me. Flick. Its tongue darted out, accompanied by a familiar yellow gleam in its eyes—like something I’d seen not long ago. Yes, just like the eyes of that monster I had confronted. The sensation and kind felt the same. A snake. Indeed, a small snake with crimson scales stared back at me, coiled around my hand.