Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 320



320

”'<Chapter 321: Listening to Cheol Ji-seon. (4)

Hmm.

As soon as Cheol Ji-seon felt a presence he sensed the surrounding atmosphere tightening.

He stopped his trembling body.

Cheol Ji-seon turned around.

It was because the person he had been waiting for at night had arrived.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No not at all….”

At the voice that came from behind Cheol Ji-seon turned around.

A handsome man with a bright smile.

Shin Seong Jang Seon-yeon.

He had come to find Cheol Ji-seon.

Cheol Ji-seon quietly gazed at Jang Seon-yeon.

And a little further back.

Gu Yang-cheon was watching the two of them having a secret meeting.

‘Hmm…’

Although he was watching the atmosphere was so thick that he couldn’t hear anything.

‘If I wanted to listen I could but…’

He would have to get closer than he was now.

If he recklessly tried to pierce through the atmosphere to listen Jang Seon-yeon would notice.

‘It’s just that his personality is terrible but he has skills.’

Even though he was a piece of filth in my eyes.

I had to acknowledge his talent.

I sat on a tree observing Cheol Ji-seon and Jang Seon-yeon from a distance.

Earlier when Cheol Ji-seon had conveyed a confession-like message to me.

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It was only when he finished speaking that he said he would go meet Jang Seon-yeon afterward.

‘Hmm….’

I remember the expression on Cheol Ji-seon’s face as he spoke.

For some reason he looked at me as if he were terrified.

‘Why? I said I would let it go.’

He didn’t lie.

The words I had spoken then contained the intention of sparing Cheol Ji-seon despite having actually tried to kill him.

‘But why is he so scared?’

If this wasn’t the problem.

Could it be that Jang Seon-yeon had told him to act accordingly?

That could be it.

Even if Cheol Ji-seon was smart he probably wouldn’t have thought about the meaning of those words.

Perhaps he simply thought to listen to that guy.

I had no intention of letting him go anyway.

He might have interpreted it in the same way.

‘Even so that’s his problem.’

It wasn’t something I needed to worry about.

I genuinely hoped that Cheol Ji-seon would handle things according to Jang Seon-yeon’s words.

Going a little further.

If Cheol Ji-seon really decided to side with me.

‘There is a way to utilize that power.’

But that was still something to think about.

It wasn’t something I hadn’t imagined.

If Cheol Ji-seon was indeed the strategist of the Murim Alliance from the future I knew.

The abilities he displayed were stronger than I had thought.

I didn’t know if the current Cheol Ji-seon possessed the same strength.

What was important was.

As much as it was a strong power.

It was dangerous.

It was true that it had a lot of potential for use.

But when considering whether it was worth keeping close while knowing the risks.

It was still something I needed to ponder.

‘What if I turn him into a demonic practitioner and bind him?’

That was the first method that came to mind when I thought about keeping him as a subordinate.

If I could turn others into demonic practitioners.

I could corrupt Cheol Ji-seon into a demonic practitioner and use him beneath me.

However.

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‘Not yet… not yet.’

I didn’t want to do that.

This was in part because of what Yeon Il-cheon had called a disaster directed at me.

And I didn’t want to do the same things that the Heavenly Demon had done in my previous life.

It wasn’t about feeling guilty toward Cheol Ji-seon.

I simply didn’t want to act like the Heavenly Demon.

Hmm.

There wasn’t much time to think.

It wasn’t even a matter worth pondering; in a situation where all powers had to be utilized.

I had fallen into a dilemma swayed by trivial emotions.

This was also the final line.

The line of crossing over to become a demonic practitioner like in my previous life.

And the middle line where I could live as an ordinary martial artist.

Once I crossed that line there would be no turning back.

I instinctively knew that.

My increasingly uncomfortable insides were bothering me.

I stroked my left arm.

The part wrapped in bandages.

“Let’s stop and get back up.”

It was a call directed at the old man who had appeared to help at a crucial moment and then fallen back asleep.

But still there was no answer.

Is that why?

The words that Noya had said to me still lingered in my mind.

– Have confidence in yourself.

The words to have confidence in myself.

It was truly a difficult thing to do.

If it were that easy.

I wouldn’t have lived like that in my previous life.

“Such pointless thoughts.”

It was a futile regret that I often recalled.

It wouldn’t be any different now.

‘Think only of the future. That’s more important right now.’

I summarized the information I had obtained from Bigo.

Additionally I needed to know what this rag tied around my arm was.

Aside from the information from Bigo I hadn’t really gained anything.

I had to find a way to reach the boundary quickly.

‘Is it really only the Baekma Stone?’

I recalled the method of explosively increasing qi to reach the boundary.

If I could obtain the Baekma Stone which was deeply submerged in the sea.

I would be able to reach the boundary immediately.

If not.

‘…It would have to be at least the Great Cycle Pill level of Shaolin.’

Although it was inferior to the Baekma Stone the Great Cycle Pill level of Shaolin would probably work.

‘What a joke.’

Even after thinking about it I found it absurd.

The Great Cycle Pill wasn’t some dog’s name.

Where would I even find such a high-level elixir?

In the end if there was a method.

It was to stabilize the heart qi a little more.

To ascend to the boundary if I were to examine myself a bit more closely.

The qi was overwhelming.

The body wasn’t lacking but it wasn’t at a level that was sufficient.

Then the problem lay with the heart (心).

‘There are too many issues there I wonder where to start untangling them.’

Even a slight thought brought up more than one or two problems.

I didn’t know where to start fixing them.

But I had to do it.

I had to build it up properly from now on.

To go beyond the boundary.

I would be able to see a higher realm than that.

If I were to raise my realm with the Baekma Stone.

I would quickly hit a limit.

From that point on no matter how much I devoured demonic beasts and absorbed the stones like a mountain.

I wouldn’t be able to ascend.

From there it would no longer be the realm of qi.

‘There’s no way. No way.’

I knew the shortcut but I also knew that taking the shortcut wouldn’t lead me to my destination.

In the end I would return to square one.

This is why the martial way (武) is so frustrating.

There are no shortcuts.

I had to dig into the orthodox path but there was no time for that.

I had no time to cultivate and raise my martial arts.

After thinking quietly.

I stood up.

‘Indeed… there’s no other way.’

While raising my realm according to the proper method.

A way to save time.

Unless heaven is my genius I can’t have both.

I knew how to solve this.

‘The problem is that I need that guy for it.’

That was the thought I had while looking at Cheol Ji-seon.

Originally I would have killed Cheol Ji-seon and removed him even if it meant giving this up.

‘More useful than I expected.’

The words and demeanor Cheol Ji-seon had shown during our conversation.

The words he had said about coming over here leaving Jang Seon-yeon behind.

If there was any reason that could be considered a reason.

‘Just a little more.’

It wasn’t certainty.

I was still at the stage of watching but… my heart was somewhat stirred.

For me the Shinryonggwan was the last line.

The moment I step out of here.

I would kill those who needed to be killed.

And take care of those who needed to be saved.

I had to prepare as well.

I couldn’t trust anyone.

If I had to move alone.

I would eliminate those who could become enemies.

That was the fastest and simplest method.

While stroking my left arm and looking straight ahead.

I saw a change in Cheol Ji-seon and Jang Seon-yeon as their conversation ended.

Jang Seon-yeon left with a ridiculous smile on his face.

‘Looks like there were no problems.’

The reason I had come to watch Cheol Ji-seon even though I already knew everything.

Was simply to prevent any issues with Jang Seon-yeon here in case he would do something foolish to Cheol Ji-seon.

Jang Seon-yeon wouldn’t kill Cheol Ji-seon or do anything to him if things went wrong here.

But there is always a possibility. So I followed them discreetly.

In the end it seemed there was no immediate problem.

After Jang Seon-yeon left.

Only after Cheol Ji-seon slowly disappeared from his spot did I rise.

“How much longer will it be?”

When Jang Seon-yeon couldn’t hold back and moved.

It probably wouldn’t be long now.

For now I was just waiting.

Now the useless excitement of being able to eliminate him was rising.

I suppressed it firmly.

Zing.

“…!”

In an instant I turned my head and scanned the surroundings.

“…What is it?”

Just now I felt a presence brush past my back?

Just in case I heightened my senses and spread them around.

But there was no discernible presence.

“Is it an illusion?”

If it had been a bit stronger I would have probably searched the area to confirm.

But it was truly a very faint presence.

..

..

.

.

I shook my head slightly and shook off my body.

Then I moved to return to my room.

And so the next day dawned.

As if to announce the morning sunlight streamed through the window frame.

While the other students sharing the same room were finishing their morning preparations by shaking off their blankets.

I had to express that I had just woken up with a dazed expression and my hair in disarray.

“…Huh?”

I wiped the drool marks from the corner of my mouth and asked back.

The others who were shaking off their blankets also seemed shocked and stopped their movements to look at me.

Where our gazes met.

There was someone kneeling quietly looking at me.

With white hands neatly clasped together.

With golden eyes staring at me intently.

She felt completely out of place in this place.

“Just now… what….”

“I like you.”

Just as I was about to ask if I had misheard a clear voice interrupted.

Having just heard it.

It was the same words I thought I had misheard.

“…Uh…huh?”

Wondering if it was a dream I pinched my arm but it hurt like hell. Does that mean it’s not a dream?

Isn’t there a worse dream than this?

It felt like that was more fitting.

While I was dazed and unsure of what to do.

The woman who had spoken looked at me with her unchanged gaze.

The woman who had come to find me early in the morning and suddenly blurted out something I didn’t understand.

Was Wi Seol-ah.”’