Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 433



433

**Chapter 434: Please Deliver the Message**

Poisonous Heaven Tang Je-mun.

One of the five heroes who stopped the Blood Demon’s blood calamity.

A figure who helped transform the Tang Clan which was then regarded as an unorthodox sect into an orthodox sect and subsequently assisted in the founding of the Murim Alliance.

A person I had heard of several times from Shin Noya.

I had heard he was one of the madmen.

‘…He’s not a madman. He’s an old man.’

I examined Tang Je-mun’s appearance with astonished eyes.

Long flowing hair that reached down to her waist.

A subtly shimmering green hair color especially a beautiful light green that could not even be compared to Tang So-yeol or the Poison King.

I wondered where I had seen that hair color before.

‘It’s similar to the color of a lake.’

It created an illusion as if it were glowing.

Her slightly closed dreamy gaze and the pupils within sparkled like jewels.

At first glance she seemed to resemble Tang So-yeol but she exuded a much more feminine and mature aura.

Especially her chest…

‘…’

Though not as much as Namgung Bia she seemed quite uncomfortable using martial arts.

Could this woman really be Tang Je-mun?

Or could she be Tang Je-mun’s sister or Noona?

If not…

‘Could it be that Tang Je-mun was a woman?’

It wouldn’t be strange for there to be a female hero but how did her name end up being associated with righteousness…

As I stared at the self-proclaimed Tang Je-mun with a bewildered expression she… no she approached me.

Shhaaa-!

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The Blood Beast displayed a strong hostility towards her.

What’s wrong with this guy?

Seeing the hostile Blood Beast Tang Je-mun tilted her head and spoke.

[It’s fascinating. You have a spiritual beast with you.]

“Spiritual beast… you mean?”

It sounded familiar but I couldn’t quite remember where I had heard it.

[Who exactly are you?]

“…”

[You’re definitely not Shin Cheol but I can feel Shin Cheol’s energy.]

I forced a smile at Tang Je-mun’s words.

Hearing her I felt I could understand a bit about the identity of this place.

‘So this place too.’

Preparations made for Noya.

It was what Buyeong had mentioned and Yeon Il-cheon had confirmed.

Was the Poison Lake of the Tang Clan also a preparation made for Shin Noya?

If Tang Je-mun was here it was probably certain.

“Noya… no I have a bit of a connection with Shin Cheol.”

[Are you his successor?]

Successor.

Could I dare to call myself a successor when the Mount Hua Sect was perfectly intact?

“Yes.”

I knew it.

If I hesitated here Shin Noya would surely scold me later.

She would probably say something like “After I raised you you pretend not to know?”

“I am his successor.”

So I no longer hesitated.

[…]

Upon hearing my answer Tang Je-mun’s expression darkened slightly.

Why? Why does she have that expression?

[…So Shin Cheol ultimately could not return.]

“Ah.”

Was that a sense of regret?

Every time I met heroes from the past they all seemed to express regret or despair about this.

The fact that Shin Noya could not return.

This was an important matter for them.

[I have something I want to ask the successor.]

“Do you believe I am the successor?”

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Her calling me a successor without hesitation made me more flustered.

Tang Je-mun looked at me with a puzzled expression.

[Isn’t that so?]

“No… it is but…”

Swoosh.

As I hesitated Tang Je-mun approached me and pointed her finger at my chest.

[You feel ominous.]

“…”

I swallowed hard at her sudden words.

Along with that a chilling energy brushed against my neck.

In the past I remembered hearing similar words from Yeon Il-cheon in the secret room of the Shinryong Temple.

– You are a calamity.

He had definitely said that to me.

And now I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease inside me wondering if that was indeed true.

[There’s an overwhelming presence I can’t comprehend and your unstable appearance is burdensome in many ways.]

“…”

[But.]

Tang Je-mun’s fingertips drew closer and then poked my chest.

I didn’t feel any actual contact.

[I can feel Shin Cheol within you.]

“…!”

[That’s enough for me. You are indeed his successor.]

“Could it be that I obtained this… in a bad way?”

[If that were the case he would have been angry. Shin Cheol is that kind of person.]

Her belief was so firm.

I looked into her eyes.

In her luminous green pupils I felt an unusually deep emotion.

That emotion was so solid and profound that I could understand how Tang Je-mun viewed Shin Noya.

‘This old man they said she never experienced love.’

After being so stubborn with me this was quite unexpected.

Just try to get up. I’ll question you about everything.

While I was thinking that Tang Je-mun called me again.

[Successor.]

“Yes Senior.”

[…Have you ever seen Shin Cheol?]

“…”

Her tone was somewhat cautious.

I could sense a mix of anxiety and anticipation in her words.

“I have seen him.”

A glimmer of joy crossed Tang Je-mun’s eyes.

“…He’s still with me.”

[That… is?]

Tang Je-mun who wore the brightest expression I had ever seen made me feel an inexplicable sense of guilt.

‘Isn’t he supposed to get up at a time like this?’

I felt resentful towards Shin Noya.

When I met Yeon Il-cheon last time he had at least stirred for a moment.

Why was he silent now?

Seeing Tang Je-mun filled with anticipation I briefly explained the time I met Shin Noya in the past.

[…]

After my explanation.

All that remained in Tang Je-mun’s eyes was disappointment.

When I heard that I had absorbed Shin Noya along with the energy of the spirit creature and had been together for several years she seemed to be filled with joy at the fact that Shin Noya existed.

But now the fact that he had been asleep for nearly a year without waking up seemed to have greatly disappointed her.

[The reason you didn’t seem surprised when you looked at me… was because of that wasn’t it?]

“…Yes.”

Having met so many times I had come to have a rough idea of it.

‘The most surprising thing is that Tang Je-mun was a woman.’

I had never imagined she would be such a delicate and slender figure.

Tang Je-mun still looked half-dead with disappointment in her eyes.

I wondered if it would be better to leave her alone for now.

But since I had no time I had to ask what I needed to ask first.

“Lord Geum Cheol Gwon called me a calamity.”

At my words Tang Je-mun’s eyes lit up with interest.

[Was it Yeon Il-cheon?]

‘Oh?’

It might be a misunderstanding but I thought I saw a hint of hostility in Tang Je-mun’s eyes when she mentioned Yeon Il-cheon.

“Yes he called me a calamity.”

And I almost died.

Just thinking about that time was terrifying. If it hadn’t been for Shin Noya’s intervention I might have really died.

“Do you also think that Senior?”

I had to think a lot before asking this.

It would be troublesome if Tang Je-mun tried to kill me like Yeon Il-cheon did.

The reason I dared to ask was that I believed in the feelings she had for Shin Noya.

I thought that at least she wouldn’t kill me if I was a successor.

In response to my question Tang Je-mun said to me.

[What did Shin Cheol say about that?]

What did Shin Cheol say?

The words Shin Noya had said to me back then…

Clearly.

“…He told me to believe in myself not in others.”

That’s what he had said.

How could a martial artist not believe in themselves?

Tang Je-mun smiled faintly upon hearing my words.

[That sounds like Shin Cheol.]

It seemed she was pleased with my answer.

[Yes… If that’s the case he would have definitely answered that way.]

“What do you think Senior?”

[Well.]

Even if that was Shin Noya’s answer what about Tang Je-mun’s answer?

In response to my question Tang Je-mun looked at me with a somewhat cold gaze.

And then she spoke.

[If it were me I would have probably given the same answer as Yeon Il-cheon.]

“…!”

I involuntarily flinched at the chill in her voice.

It was definitely ‘thoughts.’ How could both Yeon Il-cheon and Tang Je-mun possess such an aura?

Just as I was about to look around fearing something might happen.

[But….]

Tang Je-mun quickly erased the chill and continued.

[If Shin Cheol said that then it must be right.]

While I felt relieved by her words I also felt a mix of emotions.

Every word contained Shin Noya.

How much emotion must be contained for that to happen?

“It seems you trust Noya a lot.”

[…]

There was no response to this question.

Tang Je-mun simply continued to watch my chest quietly.

Her eyes seemed to be searching for Shin Noya.

“Senior…?”

Hearing my call Tang Je-mun turned and headed somewhere.

It was the darkness where Tang Je-mun had appeared but before long the darkness cleared revealing a small platform.

‘What’s that…?’

A fist-sized stone sat on the platform.

A pure white stone that emitted a soft glow.

I widened my eyes at the sight.

‘White Demon Stone.’

The White Demon Stone that a white-grade demonic beast would have possessed.

The item I had longed for was right there.

[As the successor might know I am the lingering thought of Tang Je-mun.]

While I was captivated by the stone Tang Je-mun slowly continued speaking.

[It is one of the preparations made for Shin Cheol… and the lingering regret and remorse left for him. That is me.]

“Regret and… remorse.”

Hearing that an inexplicable question crossed my mind.

Setting aside the regret and remorse.

I understood that this was the secret room prepared by Tang Je-mun.

‘But why did she prepare the White Demon Stone?’

The stone is generally of little use to ordinary people.

No matter how much energy it contains.

It’s not something that can be absorbed like a spirit pill or inner pill so it was somewhat strange that she had prepared the White Demon Stone for Shin Noya.

I was about to ask Tang Je-mun about that when.

[Successor.]

Before I could speak Tang Je-mun called me.

“Yes.”

[To possess this Poison Heaven Pill you must pass a test.]

“Yes?”

[This was also prepared for Shin Cheol but… if you are the successor….]

“W-wait a moment.”

[What is it?]

I felt like I had misheard something from Tang Je-mun just now.

“…Poison Heaven Pill?”

She had definitely said that. Poison Heaven Pill.

At my question Tang Je-mun tilted her head.

[Yes. Didn’t you know?]

Tang Je-mun pointed with her fingertip to somewhere. I turned my head.

As my gaze shifted slightly I finally noticed.

Next to the White Demon Stone was a vessel and on top of it a round inner pill was stacked.

…Why did I only see that now?

‘Could it be that all of those…’

Is that what they call the Poison Heaven Pill?

Gulp…

I unconsciously swallowed dryly.

What is the Poison Heaven Pill?

It is the divine pill of the Tang Clan which they can no longer produce as they have lost the manufacturing method.

It is said to be superior to the Great Cycle Pill of Shaolin which is currently the most famous in the Central Plains…

‘There are so many stacked up…?’

Not just one but it looked like there were at least ten.

Noticing my strange reaction Tang Je-mun asked.

[Could it be that the successor doesn’t need the inner pill….]

“No I absolutely need it. I came here for that.”

[Is that so.]

At my resolute statement Tang Je-mun nodded as if she expected that.

Of course I came all the way here to obtain that.

I had to get it no matter what.

The White Demon Stone? What’s that?

Is it something to eat?

“I will take the test immediately.”

I had come to obtain the Poison Heaven Pill with my life on the line.

I was not afraid of any test.

Shhaaa…

The Blood Beast oblivious to the situation let out a whimper as it looked at me but after giving it a glare I tucked it into my sleeve.