Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 403 (Part 1)



403 (Part 1)

A man was looking up at the darkened sky.

At first glance it looked like the night sky but it was just past noon.

When he looked at it he could tell that the sky was not in a normal state.

As the man raised his head indifferently to gaze at the sky he heard a loud sound.

Boom-! Boom-!

A massive noise brushed against his ears from somewhere.

Just as he was wondering what that sound was the man could feel it.

Someone was approaching him from afar.

Feeling a heavy presence the man shifted his gaze toward the direction of the sound.

There he saw.

Grudgingly-!

Someone was dragging a demonic beast roughly the size of a small hill with one hand. The demonic beast was already dead.

Its body was pockmarked with skin pierced and bones protruding showing signs of having been treated quite violently.

There was no need to ponder what had brought the demonic beast to such a state.

The man’s gaze turned to the one dragging the demonic beast.

With dark green hair and a crooked smile.

A man soaked in madness whose massive physique and the blood smeared on his jaw strangely matched.

He was the figure known as the Green King to those in the Central Plains.

The man looking at the Green King asked.

[Captain what is the meaning of this?]

[Ah Captain. It’s been a while.]

Seeing the Green King respond with a grin the man frowned.

[This is a gift. I caught it on my way here because there’s a certain someone who’s been causing a ruckus.]

[…]

The man waved his hand dismissively at the Green King’s words.

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At that moment.

Whoosh-!

The demonic beast that the Green King was holding was suddenly engulfed in black flames and began to burn.

[Tsk.]

Confirming that the Green King clicked his tongue and briefly extended his fist toward the demonic beast.

Bang-!

Crash-! Whoooooosh-!

The pressure from the fist obliterated the demonic beast leaving no trace behind.

Though only ashes remained it was a formidable display of power.

[You brought it all this way and you disregard my goodwill.]

[What’s your business?]

[Hehe… You’re such a boring human.]

The man showed no particular reaction to the Green King’s words.

He merely gazed at the Green King with his indifferent purple eyes.

Watching this quietly the Green King finally snorted and spoke.

[Have you heard the news that the Cheonraheukmangdae has been annihilated?]

At the Green King’s words a flicker of interest appeared in the man’s eyes.

He was also aware of the news. The Cheonraheukmangdae one of Heavenly Demon’s direct subordinate units.

It was said that a unit which was one of their considerable forces had been wiped out in an instant.

[It was all at the hands of one person.]

A master known as the monster of the Peng Clan.

The Sword Emperor Peng Woo-jin.

[Isn’t it fascinating? I never imagined that old man would lose to such a character.]

[What do you want to say to me Captain?]

[No I just find it interesting.]

Chuckling the Green King continued to speak but the man found his demeanor quite irritating.

[If no one helped wouldn’t it be impossible?]

[…]

At the Green King’s words the man tilted his head and then stood up.

At that moment.

Boom-!

A tremendous rumble began to resonate in the darkened sky. It was as if a castle had collapsed and the black heat gradually started to swirl.

[What are you trying to say?]

[Well.]

[You want to say that the death of Bidulma is related to this Captain?]

The Green King’s words implied that he suspected the man was involved in the death of Bidulma the Captain of the Cheonraheukmangdae at the hands of Peng Woo-jin.

[That’s not exactly what I meant… Are you feeling guilty?]

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[…How ridiculous.]

Crack.

A rough sound emanated from the man’s body.

As he moved the Green King’s eyes gradually filled with madness.

[Green King.]

[Speak.]

[I hear you covet the position of this Captain. Is that what you’ve been saying?]

At the man’s words the Green King’s smile deepened.

[Which fool has been spreading that rumor?]

It was true.

The Green King was coveting the man’s position.

Hearing this the man let out a faint sigh.

[…The Cult Leader told me to refrain from unnecessary matters. I had been turning a blind eye to your trivial desires.]

There were a total of four units under the direct command of the Heavenly Demon.

The Green King was the Captain of one of those units.

This meant that he was a demonic practitioner in a relatively high position within the Demonic Cult but the Green King was not satisfied with that.

Though he could not look up to the position of his master the Heavenly Demon at the very least he needed to rise to just below that.

From that perspective the man was a stumbling block for the Green King.

It was said that there were four units under the Heavenly Demon.

Each one was a killing unit composed of formidable masters that sent chills down one’s spine.

The Green King was a demonic practitioner leading the Green’s Violent Unit.

Cheonraheukmangdae.

Gyeochalgeomdae.

Green’s Violent Unit.

And the last one.

There was a main unit that governed the three above.

The man before him was the master of that group.

He was the one just below the Cult Leader.

The man began to take steps closer to the Green King.

As he approached a seething heat radiated from his body.

[You covet my position… ]

What emotion was beginning to linger in his deep purple gaze?

The Green King judged it to be an overwhelmingly heavy annoyance.

With that gaze the man spoke to the Green King.

[You?]

Feeling the heavy rhythm the Green King was enveloped in fighting spirit.

Though their physical sizes were nearly two heads apart the man’s presence did not yield to the Green King at all.

Finally as they stood face to face the man looked at the Green King and said.

[Kneel. Is your gaze too high?]

That was the turning point.

The Green King flexed his muscles and swung a fist at the man.

From the man’s body black flames erupted and scattered in all directions in an instant.

After this fight ended.

The Green King lost one eye becoming a cyclops and the southern Taesan which had been a sparse thicket transformed into a wasteland as half of its scenic beauty was blown away.

******************

As I recalled that I finally regained a bit of my senses.

…Was it a dream?

Was it because I had thought of that guy just before falling asleep? I had conjured up useless memories in my dream.

It was a memory of the Green King who was somewhere in Sichuan.

‘How annoying.’

It wasn’t a particularly pleasant memory so I felt an inexplicable discomfort as soon as I woke up.

It wasn’t a nightmare but it certainly wasn’t a good dream either.

Since I couldn’t just lie there I was about to get up when I heard a whisper in my ear.

“…Cheek…”

“Or…”

It felt like I was slowly waking up.

It seemed like someone was saying something but I couldn’t hear it clearly. After forcing myself awake with qi my body still felt weak.

“Ugh…”

Rubbing my bleary eyes I sat up.

Perhaps startled by my movement I felt a rustling around me.

When I opened my eyes again the first thing I noticed was that the owner of the knee I had been resting on had changed.

I was sure I had been sleeping on Namgung Bia’s knee.

But for some reason there was Wi Seol-ah sitting in that position.

So I had been sleeping on Wi Seol-ah’s knee?

‘She… is…’

Come to think of it.

Did Wi Seol-ah say she would come with me? I couldn’t remember her saying anything specific to me…

In the midst of that I somehow felt refreshed and not tired at all.

Having circulated my qi what had happened?

“Young Master…?”

As soon as Wi Seol-ah saw me slightly staggering she called out in surprise.

Though my blurry vision was bothersome I could still clearly see Wi Seol-ah’s brilliant golden eyes.

“…Huh.”

“Are you okay…?”

“You…”

Meeting Wi Seol-ah’s worried gaze I first asked what I wanted to know.

“…Are you okay?”

“Yes?”

“…Is it alright if I go with you?”

“Ah.”

Wi Seol-ah seemed taken aback by my sudden question her eyes wavering.

It was quite an abrupt question to ask right after waking up.

“Ah…”

After hesitating for a moment while looking into my eyes Wi Seol-ah smiled slightly and said to me.

“It’s okay.”

Was that dazzling smile just an illusion seen in my drowsiness? Probably not.

“From now on… I decided not to worry about such things.”

With that smile Wi Seol-ah spoke to me.

Just as I was about to say something to her a voice echoed in my ear.

-If you’ve regained your senses you should come out soon. How long do you plan to rest?

I frowned at the voice.

How did he know? It was the old man the Master calling me.

That ghostly old man. Had he been watching me all along?

-Tsk tsk if you’re awake you should get out. Have you already become so enamored with women?

-…I was just about to go out.

-That’s true.

-…

Letting out a sigh at the Master’s sarcasm I gently ruffled Wi Seol-ah’s hair then opened the carriage door and stepped outside.