Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 516 (Part 2)



516 (Part 2)

Starting from the white horse stone the elixirs that are considered elixirs are mostly astonishing enough to surprise even me who has seen many.

‘This is on a whole new level.’

Beginning with the poison army it is a masterpiece created by the Tang Clan over nearly a hundred years.

Just by being a subordinate the body transforms and the poison it possesses is maximized.

There is no elixir that is as incredible as it sounds but the conditions for consuming it were the problem.

‘First of all it must be a woman.’

The first condition for consumption is that it must be a woman.

If it were a man the energy would go out of control and lead to an explosive death.

The second is…

‘It must not exceed the age of maturity.’

For most martial artists the age of maturity is when they begin to enter their prime.

In other words it means they must be a prodigy.

Additionally.

‘There must also be a vessel capable of handling this amount of poison.’

It is clearly an absurd amount of poisonous energy.

No matter how resistant to poison a person is it is unreasonable to handle this much poison.

It is impossible with an ordinary body. Considering these conditions.

Ultimately it meant that it was appropriate for those from the Tang Clan who had built up resistance to poison since childhood to consume it.

If we consider a female prodigy of the Tang Clan who has not exceeded the age of maturity…

‘… it can only be Tang So-yeol.’

It was clear how the Elder planned to have Tang So-yeol consume this.

If there was something unsettling about it.

‘It’s not just that Tang So-yeol meets the conditions. It feels like it was made specifically to fit her.’

The conditions fit too perfectly.

That bothered me but.

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‘Even so.’

I.

Intended to have Tang So-yeol consume this.

[… Hmm….]

In such thoughts Shin Noya let out a breath as if uncomfortable.

That sound was quite irritating to my ears.

It couldn’t be helped.

As a hero it was natural for Shin Noya to dislike such methods.

However.

‘… You’re not trying to stop me are you?’

Noya did not stop me.

She showed signs of discomfort but instead of saying not to do it she didn’t say anything at all.

Ironically that bothered me even more.

Hmph.

Shin Noya snorted.

[Did you think I would stop someone who was going to eat it?]

‘You’ve been consistently trying to stop me knowing that very well.’

[That may be true but… tsk.]

Noya let out a dry laugh for a moment before continuing.

[Not only would you not listen if I tried to stop you but this time there’s no need to do so.]

‘… Does that mean you don’t care if I have Tang So-yeol consume this?’

It is a culmination of countless lives.

If only demonic beasts were used it wouldn’t be such an annoying item but the lives lost in processing this were beyond my imagination.

The number of corpses discovered was in the dozens.

Considering the time there must have been dozens of times more lives lost.

Despite being an elixir created in such a way Noya would just let it be used by her.

I couldn’t understand that from Noya not to mention the pressure it would put on the Tang Clan moving forward.

Looking at the Poison King’s actions it didn’t seem like he intended to hide this.

It was a bit pitiful for the Poison King who would die because of the mess created by the ancestors and the current Elders.

But that didn’t matter right now.

‘If it’s now I can do it.’

This gem infused with immense energy.

If successful I would gain an excellent body and considerable poison.

However if I carelessly fed it to Tang So-yeol now there was a risk that she would not be able to control the energy and her body would be ruined.

That was something I could easily control.

With the right body of myriad poison immunity.

Even if the poison were to burst I could absorb it and control it.

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Thus it meant that I was the only one who could safely have Tang So-yeol consume this.

While I was thinking like that.

[From there you are still a rookie.]

Noya suddenly gave me a sharp remark as if she found me pathetic.

‘… Then what exactly is the problem?’

[Tsk tsk…. Enough. Finish the conversation you were having with the child of the Tang Clan.]

I felt a bit annoyed by Noya’s words but as she said I decided to finish my conversation with Tang So-yeol.

Tang So-yeol also seemed to be waiting for the conversation.

“It’s literally… don’t you want to become stronger?”

“Huh?”

“I think I can make you strong.”

“You Young Master…?”

“Yeah.”

Tang So-yeol tilted her head at my words.

It was strange to suddenly come and ask if she wanted to become stronger.

‘Just one word.’

Just one word is enough.

If she says she wants to become stronger that would be sufficient.

With that one word I would bear the burden of this ugly gem instead of Tang So-yeol.

I could do at least that much.

With that thought I waited for Tang So-yeol’s answer.

After a little while Tang So-yeol slowly opened her mouth.

“Um… if that’s the case will I become stronger…?”

“Probably. You’ll become very strong.”

I didn’t know how effective it would be.

But if the poison from my previous life was influenced by this elixir she would likely become quite strong.

Or she would gain the potential to become stronger.

“So Young Master is going to help me with that?”

“Yeah.”

After hearing my words Tang So-yeol seemed to ponder for a moment.

“Then….”

She smiled brightly and said to me.

“I don’t want to.”

“Okay then I’ll… huh?”

I naturally reached for the gem but I paused at Tang So-yeol’s answer.

… She said she wouldn’t do it? Did she just say she wouldn’t do it?

“You’re not going to do it?”

“Yes. I don’t want to.”

“… Why? If you’re worried I can make sure it’s not dangerous…”

“Young Master.”

I was about to persuade her thinking she might not trust me.

Tang So-yeol firmly grasped my arm with her small hand.

The strength felt strangely strong.

“I don’t think Young Master would help me with something dangerous. You’re not that kind of person.”

“Then why…?”

“Can I ask one thing?”

“… Uh sure.”

“If I accept this Young Master will get hurt right?”

“…!”

I swallowed hard at Tang So-yeol’s words.

I hesitated for a moment and was about to deny it.

“But whether it’s physically or emotionally it’s clear that you’ll have to sacrifice something because of me.”

Tang So-yeol spoke to me as if she was already convinced.

“… That’s not it. I’m just helping a little you know?”

“But why do your eyes look so sad?”

“…”

Without realizing it I touched my eyes with my hand.

What kind of expression was I making for Tang So-yeol to say such things?

Was my action the problem?

Tang So-yeol gently caressed the area around my eyes.

I couldn’t bring myself to stop that touch.

For a moment as she touched my eyes Tang So-yeol smiled slightly and said to me.

“I’m sorry.”

“… What… for?”

“I’ve been showing an embarrassing side lately and it seems to have worried you Young Master. Right…?”

“…”

Her words pierced deep into my heart. I swallowed hard at Tang So-yeol’s words.

Thanks to that I missed another moment to deny it.

“… It’s embarrassing. I didn’t want you to find out even if others did.”

It seemed she was aware that she was feeling inferior.

Yet how could she still smile?

I couldn’t smile.

As I looked at Tang So-yeol with trembling eyes she continued to speak.

“That’s right…. Compared to others I feel like I’m not helping you Young Master. That made me a bit upset.”

“You don’t need to worry about that….”

“Even if you say you don’t care I do. I didn’t want to be someone useless by your side. If that’s the case I wouldn’t be able to stay by your side.”

“…”

“So I wanted to become stronger. I wanted to become much stronger so that I could be by your side.”

“If that’s the case….”

Then you can just borrow my strength. I was about to say that when she continued.

“But you know Young Master. No matter how much I want to become stronger.”

Tang So-yeol moved her hand from my eyes to my cheek and spoke softly.

“I don’t need a power that would hurt you Young Master.”

“…!”

“I wouldn’t want to be by your side if I became strong that way. I can overcome this. Rather I think it would be embarrassing to be by your side if I didn’t.”

“…”

“I’m sorry. You came to see me with concern…. Hehe… I’m okay.”

Seeing Tang So-yeol smile shyly I couldn’t say anything.

It felt like I had been hit hard on the head with a hammer.

Where did it all go wrong?

‘Was it the beginning?’

It must have been.

Why.

Did Tang So-yeol think she was the same as me?

Why did I think that Tang So-yeol would also crumble under feelings of inferiority like me?

The premise was wrong.

She was not someone weak like me.

Tang So-yeol was someone who thought about overcoming this even if it was difficult now.

‘Ah.’

Something shook.

I looked at Tang So-yeol again.

The Tang So-yeol that had felt so small earlier now seemed much larger for some reason.

[Didn’t I tell you? You are still a rookie.]

Noya’s tone which was smiling rose slightly.

Because I had seen her as small.

Tang So-yeol had appeared small.

She had been someone who was confident that she could overcome this from the start which is why she seemed so small and weak.

But now she looked much stronger and brighter.

‘So that’s it.’

It suddenly came to mind.

When Sichuan was conquered.

There was a woman who while single-handedly holding off the demonic practitioners evacuated the people of the Tang Clan to Henan.

She was on the brink of death.

Knowing she could not endure.

Even with her eyes gouged out and in a terrible state.

She steadfastly held her ground.

“Haha….”

I chuckled as I recalled her image.

Until now I thought she had that much strength and could do it because she was called the Poison Empress.

But that was wrong too.

‘It wasn’t because she was the Poison Empress.’

It was simply because she was Tang So-yeol.

She was someone who was inherently like that.

Something that had been thick felt like it was clearing away.

When I cleared the hazy fog and looked at Tang So-yeol again.

I could feel a sense of certainty.

“Ah…! That that’s not because I absolutely don’t need Young Master so I’m rejecting it…!”

The refreshing feeling from earlier was gone and Tang So-yeol was now looking at me with a face that was completely red.

Looking at her I said.

“You know.”

“Yes yes…?”

“I think I can die for you now.”

“… Uh… eh…?”

I blurted out the words that came to mind.

“Kuue…??”

Upon hearing my words Tang So-yeol fainted immediately.