424 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: The World's Greatest Fighter's Childhood Friend - Chapter 425 > Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive Chapter 425: The Snake Den (2) How am I supposed to deal with this? This thought crossed my mind as I observed the snake gazing intently at me. Its yellow eyes were striking, but it was the red scales that stood out. This creature... ‘It seems to be the same one I just killed.’ No matter how I looked at it, it seemed so. Of course, there was nothing particularly strange about this. The red-hued beast that appeared by the river was known as the Red Water Snake. Red Water Snakes could appear anywhere, regardless of whether it was a river or the sea. They were quite large compared to other red beasts, but they weren’t difficult to deal with due to their bulky and sluggish movements. If there was a problem, it was solely their aquatic habitat. Moreover... ‘I thought it had poison.’ Its fangs carried lethal poison, and if that wasn't enough, it was said to emit toxic fumes from its mouth. Yet, when I faced this creature, I didn’t get that impression. Perhaps some don’t use poison.... ‘This is peculiar.’ The way it called me something grand and incomprehensible, as though it intentionally avoided attacking me, was intriguing. Why was that? Why me? It was already odd for a beast to speak, but what was more surprising was its show of goodwill towards me. ‘And then there's this fellow.’ Shifting my gaze to my hand, a small Red Water Snake was staring blankly at me. The biggest issue I was currently facing was this little one. What was this supposed to be? As I locked eyes with the Red Water Snake, I scowled. ‘I almost died because of this thing.’ Right after extracting the core from the beast's body. Sensing something unusual, I inspected the core. Upon seeing it, I realized instinctively that something inexplicable, a movement or pulse, was occurring within. A core pulsating — it wasn’t an egg, so why on earth was there movement? The shock almost made me gulp down river water. But what astonished me even more was that upon discovery, I instinctively knew how to hatch it. Incubation. Yes, I could hatch this core. What could emerge if I succeeded? I didn’t know, but there was one certainty. What should I do about it? There wasn't time to dwell; before I realized, driven as if under a spell, I was already pouring my energy into it. ‘This is...’ The method to hatch it was straightforward. Instead of absorbing the energy from the core with the Demonic Heavenly Absorption Technique, I poured my energy into it instead. Just as one could inject demonic energy into others to corrupt them into demons. The same principle was applied to the core. As if someone had told me this was the way. The only issue was... ‘Why does it consume so much...!’ The core was devouring my energy like a mad entity. I expected it to take some, but the amount was extreme. Despite having gained plenty of energy from various martial arts encounters and fortunate events, even at my level, it was ravenously consuming it. ‘It feels like it's already swallowed half.’ I thought I would have plenty left, given that I hadn’t used much in recent battles. The rate was alarming. Moreover, I couldn't stop the transfer. ‘This cursed thing...?’ Initially, it was my conscious decision to inject energy, but at some point, the core had begun actively absorbing it. Normally, such a link could be severed, but this time was different. The manner in which it absorbed energy suggested that forcibly breaking the link would twist my meridians, leading to internal chaos. Worse yet, in water, it was difficult to struggle, and with energy being siphoned, I felt at my limit. If it continued, I truly might die. Determined not to perish in such a place, I steeled my focus. Despite that resolve, I didn’t have a solution. My energy reserves were dwindling. ‘Damn it.’ At this rate, every bit of energy might be drained. What could I do? As I sensed this growing crisis, realizing I would need to try something drastic. Thunk-! Finally, the energy drain halted. ‘...Sigh.’ With that relief, I immediately checked my body. Most of my energy had been leeched away, leaving only a small reserve. Had it drawn just a bit more, it might have been over. Relief faded in as I realized I wasn't dead— Crack-! A sudden change occurred in my grasp on the core. Cracks appeared on the core. Then, I felt something in my hand. With a furrowed brow, I saw a red snake coiled around my arm. Although I ought to be concerned by this sight, surfacing for air was my priority. Depleted energy meant I was running out of breath. Desperately needing to live, I rapidly broke for the surface, disregarding the snake. Time passed to the present. “What are you?” Now, I stood facing the snake that emerged from the core. A beast emerged from a core— ‘…Is this normal?’ It couldn’t be. I had never heard of beasts emerging from cores. Nor had I witnessed it. Granted, I had never researched or showed interest in monster breeding or birthing. Yet, surely monsters didn’t arise from mere cores. ‘So, what is this?’ It was bizarre. That a beast suddenly emerged from the core by consuming my energy, and its behavior was peculiar. Shaa— The Red Water Snake flicked its tongue, licking my finger. At least its behavior didn’t appear hostile. I was at a loss. Monsters typically showed no affection towards humans, yet here it was. This was a significant event. The Martial Alliance had long desired to tame beasts, but concluded it was impossible, abandoning the effort. Monsters inherently were brutal, leaving only greed and hunger. They could never be domesticated and must be hunted for peace. This was the answer the Martial Alliance arrived at through prolonged experience. The Red Water Snake, as if trying to show goodwill, continued to lick my arm. I couldn’t help but look at it with a sense of disbelief. "Speak up. What exactly are you?" I kept trying to coax some sort of response from it, but the snake remained silent, offering no answer. Expecting a beast to answer was ridiculous, but remembering what had happened earlier, it wasn't entirely unfathomable. The creature had indeed spoken to me before. "Are you different from the one I killed earlier?" I was asking if this Red Water Snake was different from the one I had eliminated, but it just stared blankly and flicked its tongue in response. "Hey, you were answering just fine before. Why are you so quiet now? Speak up." Shhaaa? As if it didn’t comprehend, the snake tilted its head. "Sigh..." I could feel irritation bubbling up, my patience wearing thin. Here I was, in the dead of night, having a ridiculous conversation with a snake. Already overwhelmed and now thoroughly frustrated. Grab-! Shhak-! Unable to restrain my anger, I seized the snake by the neck. "After pouring my energy into you, you're turning out to be useless." Shhha...! Shaaa! The captured Red Water Snake struggled for air, thrashing wildly in my grip. "Answer or I’ll end you here. Speak clearly." The losses were too great. Giving up a red-grade core and wasting invaluable energy on this thing wasn't worth it. Time was limited enough without this frustrating waste. Shhaaa... shaaaa…. "You must have a core since you're red-colored, right?" It seemed weak, and its diminutive size suggested it wouldn’t have anything worthwhile inside, but... I needed something. I had to recover at least a bit of what I’d lost. With that thought, I maintained the grip, clenching it as I stared into the creature. Shhaaa.... All it did was flail and continue licking my hand, showing no hostility or unique reaction. If anything, the most notable behavior was its odd show of affection by licking my hand even now. Why was a beast acting so favorably toward me? I wasn't pleased with the sudden appearance of this red beast, nor with the universe seemingly having expectations of me. It should have tried to sink its fangs into me to survive; that it exerted so much effort trying to show affection made it all the more irritating. Its demeanor was eerily similar to how I used to be in a past life. The similarity left me feeling quite uneasy. "...Damn it." With a scowl, I finally let go of the grip. The snake fell to the floor with a dull thud. Thud-. Shaaa.... No sooner had it fallen than it crawled back up my body, settling once more on my arm. What was compelling it to try so persistently? Could it possibly think I’m its parent or something? ‘Being the parent of a monster, what kind of nonsense is that?’ There's a tale that newborns view the first thing they see as their parent. Although this idea is often used elsewhere, it doesn’t apply to monsters. This means... Either this Red Water Snake is different from normal beasts, or... ‘There's something different about me.’ Monsters had attacked even during my travels. While I often hunted them, I had never encountered anything like this. 'What could it be?' A red beast appearing, a young beast emerging from a core. Even a single addition would be cumbersome, but having two at once was overwhelming. "Sigh..." All I could do was sigh. Shaaa? Hearing my exhale, the Red Water Snake poked its head out, as if asking if something was wrong. Slightly furrowing my brows, I responded: "I'm leaving, so get back inside." Whether it understood me or not, the snake slipped back into my sleeve, disappearing from view. This creature, it seemed to comprehend my words... ‘Is it truly different?’ It was still unclear. I couldn't be sure if it was a spawn of the beast I killed or the same one reborn. I had no certainty. The easiest option would be to eliminate it and move on, but somehow, I hesitated. ‘For now, I’ll keep observing.’ Since it seemed to understand me and didn’t appear to be causing harm, I decided to watch it — for now, at least. Eeeeeak. I opened the door and stepped outside. Ascending a few steps revealed the ship's deck. The air was filled with the distinct scent of a river, and the night was dark. Several people were already on deck, most likely on watch duty. The security seemed heightened, likely due to the incident earlier during the day. After a quick survey, I moved to find someone. Near the ship's bow, I spotted a person sitting at the edge. I approached him slowly. Noticing my presence, he turned to face me. His green eyes seemed to glow eerily under the night sky. After offering him a small bow of respect, I addressed him. “Why are you out here tonight, Clan Leader?” "Young Master Gu." I was facing the Poison King, a major figure in our clan. “It’s late. Surely you must be tired. Why are you out here?” “…It’s simply one of those nights where sleep eludes me.” “Is that so?” Judging by his expression, he seemed burdened with worry. Indeed, the appearance of red beasts would be a significant concern, particularly for clan leaders. Holding significant authority and resources to maintain regional peace and safety, unexpected disruptions would be particularly alarming to them. Especially for the heads of prestigious families known as the Four Great Houses, who occupied lofty positions. ‘Though it seems there might be more to it.’ There appeared to be other undercurrents beyond just this issue. However, asking directly would yield no answers, as he likely wouldn’t divulge the details. After a brief exchange of courtesies, Poison King and I stood in silence, content with the quiet. Seconds passed. Unexpectedly, the one to break the silence was the Poison King. “…What's your business here?” A hint of wariness edged his voice. Why the sudden distrust? He hadn't shown such caution despite not being particularly fond of me. "I wasn't seeking you out for any specific reason. I was just taking a walk and happened to find you here," I responded. "I know you came to me with a motive," the Poison King stated. "...!" His words made me catch my breath. How did he know? We hadn't even exchanged many words, yet he’d already figured it out. ‘He's quick to catch on,’ I realized. Indeed, among the four prestigious clan leaders, he truly embodied the essence of leadership. Despite thinking this, I feigned ignorance outwardly. "What do you mean by motive? I’m not sure I understand." "I know you're not someone who approaches others without intent." "..." With a short laugh, I dropped my friendly façade. Now that my intentions were exposed, there was no need for unnecessary pretense. Noting the change in my expression, the Poison King, with narrowed eyes, questioned me. "What are you after?" His succinct remark needed no further elaboration. He seemed to know the pretext I used to approach him. I had assisted in dealing with the red beast. It wasn't something done with expectations of reciprocation. Even if I hadn’t intervened, the red beast would have been defeated. Without my involvement, however, the Red Water Snake’s rampage might have resulted in more casualties. Others could simply be grateful they survived, but for the Poison King, who was overseeing the current transport, simply glossing over it wasn’t an option. Relationships were inherently complicated like that. The responsibilities of a clan leader were just as intricate. Even if. ‘He seems wary of me but doesn’t wish to ruin our alliance.’ He hadn't yet let go of the value or potential he saw in me. That’s why he inquired about my motives. Sensing that, I smirked slightly. “Oh, I’m really not asking for much.” The Poison King furrowed his brows. Even if it wasn’t much, I did have a request, which likely displeased him. Yet, his silence indicated tacit approval. “Truly, it’s not a big deal. Just—” “Before that.” As I was about to state my request, the Poison King interrupted. What was it? “There’s something I’d like to ask you.” "What would that be?" Curious about what he wanted to know, I looked at him questioningly. His gaze fixed on me, he asked, "How did you know the weakness of a red-grade beast?" "Ah." Of course. Hearing this question, I understood why the Poison King was wary of me. The sudden appearance of a red beast, after centuries of absence, was itself surprising enough. And there I was, nonchalantly hunting it down, prompting suspicion from him. He wasn’t directly accusing me of anything, but he clearly found it strange. Hah. ‘Is this how I’m repaid for helping?’ Wasn’t it ironic for him to suspect me after I’d saved them? I couldn’t help but find it amusing. Given these circumstances, I understood his perspective, though it left a bad taste in my mouth. ‘If things had gone smoothly, I likely would’ve intervened in the attack...’ Originally, I planned to assist if the henchmen accompanied by that Tang family member launched an assault. Without the unexpected appearance of the red beast, matters would have progressed more fluidly. As for those bandits who were supposed to attack us, where had they vanished to? ‘They must have been devoured.’ If they were stationed nearby, they either fled upon witnessing the red beast or got devoured by it. “Are you accusing me of attempting to intentionally disrupt the transport?” “I don’t believe you have such intentions." “Then what is it?” "I’m curious about your actions at that time." Seeing me confront the red beast unflinchingly and watching the implausible scene of me absorbing its energy with no hesitation puzzled the Poison King immensely. “…How could you manage that? I simply don’t understand.” “There’s no need for you to understand.” “What?” The Poison King’s expression twisted at my response. Did he think I was mocking him? “If you can’t grasp it, then it’s something inevitable.” “What on earth do you mean?” “You claim ignorance of something that was evident at first glance. How could I explain that to you?” I had prepared an answer for this query as soon as I decided to hunt the beast. It wasn’t something that required much contemplation. It was simple. “I saw it, knew where its weakness was, and instructed my people to capture it.” “…!” The Poison King's expression shifted from a frown to one of bafflement. My statement carried no extra meaning. I saw it. So I acted. Is it my fault you didn’t know? Such a line, coming from anyone else, would invite a reprimand. But what was my reputation? The youngest peak martial artist, and once word spread, the fact that I’d reached the higher realm would follow. The Poison King was aware of this, and reaching such heights before even reaching the coming-of-age marked me as— ‘An extraordinary genius.’ Jianghu likely already viewed me as a prodigious talent bestowed by the heavens. Initially, I found such titles distasteful, but I’ve since mostly come to terms with it. With things at this point, I’d decided to use the rumors to my advantage. The bewildered expression of the Poison King felt especially satisfying. "Incredible... that's..." “If not, were you suggesting I’ve faced such red beasts before?” Right. I had encountered them in a past life. “I intended to help, but didn’t expect to be met with such suspicion… It truly wounds me.” It didn’t hurt at all. In fact, I was internally delighted at having seized this opportunity. As I continued to speak, the Poison King's expression wavered. The excuse of my exceptional capabilities always proved versatile. Given my reputation and the strength to back it up, it could be wielded in any situation. Even now, look at him; the Poison King is at a loss for words, merely moving his lips. “…I apologize. I made a mistake this time.” Though suspicion still lingered in his eyes, perhaps recognizing the futility of further questioning, the Poison King offered his apology. I put on a façade of softening my expression slightly. “It’s fine… Thank you for apologizing.” Truthfully, engaging in such conversations was a nuisance. But failing to reconcile now could lead to even greater troubles in the future. Moreover, with the Poison King having apologized first, it was a bit easier to ask for the favor I had in mind. “Clan Leader Tang, if it’s alright with you, may I make a small request?” “…Go on.” “You don’t have to feel uneasy. It’s not a huge request.” Did he think I was going to ask for something grand? It wasn't anything of the sort. ‘While significant to me, it wouldn’t be too burdensome from the Poison King’s perspective.’ After all, it wasn’t something material that I sought. The Poison King seemed a little tense, perhaps anticipating an unusual request. But what I wanted to say was not extravagant. I could have asked for an expensive elixir or a legendary sword befitting the Tang Clan’s reputation, the masters of poisons and weaponry. What I desired, however, was... “I heard there’s a lake within the Tang Clan’s grounds.” “Hmm?” A look of puzzlement crossed the Poison King’s face as I suddenly mentioned the lake. “They call it the Poison Logic Lake (독리호수), I believe...” A legacy left by Dok Jeolcheon, a hero and an ancestor of the Tang Clan who once sealed away the Blood Demon. The lake’s waters were so venomous that merely approaching them could result in fatal poisoning for ordinary people. The Tang Clan used the toxic waters as a key ingredient in their poisons. Since the source of such a hazardous lake couldn’t be determined, people often considered it a kind of mystical artifact. “I’ve been curious about it since I was young. May I have a look?” I spoke with a smile, yet the Poison King’s expression remained unchanged, not comprehending why I would wish to see it. ‘Do you think I want to see it?’ There was no rational reason to desire visiting such a perilous place unless... ‘For the Black Demonic Stone.’ The peculiar Black Demonic Stone’s hiding place... Unfortunately, it was concealed at the bottom of that very lake.