Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 347 (Part 1)



347 (Part 1)

Heavenly Demon (天魔).

One day a demon descended from the heavens.

The master of the Demonic Cult which sought to devour the entire Central Plains and stain it with blood.

A monster that single-handedly killed all three revered beings who had transcended humanity.

Until he was ultimately killed by the divine sword Wi Seol-ah.

Even as the master of the Demonic Cult known as an evil being he was still referred to as the world’s best.

And it was no wonder.

Every step Heavenly Demon took caused the ground to rot beneath him.

His mere breath exuded a presence that weighed heavily on those around him.

The difference in power was so vast that one could hardly comprehend it.

Just the existence of Heavenly Demon paradoxically evoked a sense of immense presence.

Simply facing him made one feel compelled to bow their head as if in the presence of an emperor.

Heavenly Demon was the embodiment of that.

The master of ten thousand demons.

The fundamental figure behind countless demonic practitioners spread across the heavens.

When recalling the reason the Demonic Cult could invade the Central Plains in an instant

It ultimately stemmed from the demonic qi used by demonic practitioners.

Demonic qi (魔氣) is a lethal energy for martial artists.

The moment it seeps into a martial artist’s body it takes root in their qi center.

That root grows quickly beginning to block the pathways through which qi flows.

When qi fails to flow smoothly it becomes a significant problem for martial arts.

Moreover not only does it block qi but it also gradually causes the body infused with qi to rot away.

For a martial artist demonic qi is akin to a deadly poison.

Heavenly Demon is the source of such demonic qi used by demonic practitioners.

He is like a god who bestows powers upon some of them.

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Tearing through dimensions above the Murim Alliance

He declared that he would now unleash bloodshed.

The image of him smiling as if challenging anyone to try and stop him remains vivid in my memory.

As he swept his long hair aside

The gaze that looked down upon the multitude enveloped in energy was imbued with a chill that could turn a bright day into night in an instant.

The eyes from that time.

And the gaze I faced now were no different.

“Why….”

The Heavenly Demon who would not appear for several years stood before me now.

He looked younger than before his expression alluring and filled with confidence yet it was unmistakably him.

Dudududuk….

The small amount of demonic qi within me was boiling.

As if resonating.

This alone allowed me to recognize that the being before me was the Heavenly Demon but what solidified my certainty was his eyes.

His black hair corrupted to shoulder length

And skin that appeared as pale as death.

His emaciated body seemed as if it would break with a mere touch yet what I was seeing was unmistakably him.

I was only gazing at the face of the one before me.

Alongside the face that looked just like Wi Seol-ah cradled in my arms.

The violet eyes contained within.

The eyes of the Black Night Palace Head were also violet but

They were different from those of the Heavenly Demon.

The violet eyes shone more distinctly filled with an unknown energy.

They appeared almost like jewels.

That meant they were that beautiful.

However no matter how beautiful they were the energy emanating from them was not beautiful.

‘Heavenly Demon.’

Knowing that the being before me was the calamity I had so carefully feared in the future

I felt an overwhelming fear.

‘Why.’

Tightening my grip on Wi Seol-ah’s shoulder I pulled her closer into my embrace.

Heavenly Demon watching this tilted his head still gazing at Wi Seol-ah.

Their features were identical.

The only differences were that Heavenly Demon was abnormally thin and had different hair and eye colors.

Everything else was the same.

It was truly strange.

How could this be possible?

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And

It seemed I was not the only one surprised.

The figure slumped behind now a bloody mess also looked astonished as they gazed at Wi Seol-ah.

“The heavens… have two?”

Curious about who it was I looked closer and to my astonishment it was the Black Night Palace Head.

I had no idea why he was sitting there in such a hardened state.

But the energy I felt confirmed that it was indeed the Black Night Palace Head I had met back then.

‘He didn’t show up when I was looking for him…’

The first time I saw the Heavenly Demon in this life was at the Black Night Palace.

The Black Night Palace Head had been holding the Heavenly Demon and that was the last I saw before he vanished through the opened demonic gate behind him.

Since then I had tried to gather information to find both the Heavenly Demon and the Palace Head.

I had no idea where they had hidden themselves so well yet here we were meeting unexpectedly.

“How… is that possible?”

The Palace Head was still staring at Wi Seol-ah who was cradled in my arms with a dazed expression.

Of course.

How could it not be surprising when they looked so alike?

Heavenly Demon was also gazing at Wi Seol-ah with a peculiar look as if he found her fascinating.

Feeling that gaze I pulled Wi Seol-ah closer to me.

As if to hide her.

At that moment.

“Young Master….”

Wi Seol-ah’s fingertips wrapped around my hand. I trembled involuntarily at her touch.

I lowered my head to look at Wi Seol-ah.

Her golden eyes were also directed at me.

“It’s okay.”

“…What?”

Her sudden reassurance caught me off guard and I found myself asking.

What was okay?

“I’m okay. Please let me go.”

“…!”

Was it a problem that I was holding her so tightly? I loosened my grip slightly at Wi Seol-ah’s words.

But I couldn’t completely let go.

Sensing that Wi Seol-ah exerted a bit of strength to try to break free from my hold.

Though I wanted to keep holding her I couldn’t do so because of the look in her eyes I had seen moments ago.

As Wi Seol-ah slipped from my grasp and gradually rose to her feet

She faced the Heavenly Demon.

Swish.

She pointed the tip of her sword at him. The sight of two identical faces standing in the same space was almost surreal.

Wi Seol-ah facing the Heavenly Demon opened her mouth.

“Who are you?”

She didn’t seem flustered at all even while looking at her identical face.

Of course the same could be said for the Heavenly Demon.

Step.

Hearing Wi Seol-ah’s words the Heavenly Demon took a step forward.

Even that small movement had my nerves on edge.

I spread my senses wide directing them solely at the Heavenly Demon.

So that I could respond to whatever might happen.

Of course whether I could actually respond was uncertain.

Wi Seol-ah also raised her energy upon witnessing his action.

It was a vivid golden light.

So bright that it felt almost like a contrast to the Heavenly Demon.

Despite facing such energy the Heavenly Demon’s expression remained calm.

To be precise it was as if he had no interest in Wi Seol-ah’s energy at all. The Heavenly Demon’s steps were not directed toward her.

But toward me.

The Heavenly Demon was approaching me.

Upon confirming this Wi Seol-ah’s eyes flashed as she swung her sword as if to say she would not allow him to come closer.

Swish-!

The sword slicing through the air was swift.

The pure energy contained within the sword path left a golden trace.

There was no hesitation in the steady sword path.

However.

Sssssss-!