Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 544



544

”’〈545th Episode〉 Sword Demon.

Sword Demon.

Captain of the Heavenly Demon’s new combat unit the Inspection Sword Corps.

His age is somewhere between thirty and forty.

I don’t know exactly. I’ve never asked.

Before becoming a demonic practitioner he was known for killing anyone and everyone without discrimination a member of unorthodox sects.

He was infamous for his brutal combat style which seemed to revel in slaughter.

The method of torturing his subdued opponents to death was enough to send chills down one’s spine just by hearing about it.

At that time the alias that spread throughout the Central Plains was probably.

‘Killing Ghost Sword (殺鬼劍).’

It was an alias that fit him perfectly.

In fact the alias Sword Demon seemed almost refined in comparison.

Given how insane he was it was only natural that he would fall into the ranks of demonic practitioners.

The Demonic Cult preparing for war must have been a place where he could express his instincts without restraint.

After becoming a demonic practitioner it is said that he received the power of the Eye of the Fighting Ghost (鬪鬼) from Heavenly Demon.

‘Was it to perceive the opponent’s movements more accurately?’

He could see the flow of qi and grasp clear movements.

In some ways it seemed similar to the realm of sensing qi but I think it was said to be more intuitive than that.

‘Not that I know for sure.’

Since I had never used it myself I wouldn’t know what it felt like.

Immediately after taking charge of the Inspection Sword Corps he was a figure who led the charge in battle.

Compared to the Demon Sword Marquis he was a madman in a different sense.

‘He particularly hated the Demon Sword Marquis.’

If I were to look for a reason perhaps it was because he couldn’t obtain the position of Vice Captain of the Black Flame Corps.

I don’t know if that was the real reason but it’s true that he would charge at the Demon Sword Marquis as if he wanted to kill him every time he saw him.

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The Inspection Sword Corps which primarily carried out assassination missions would have suited him better than the Black Flame Corps which had no particular movements.

I have no idea why Sword Demon coveted that position.

‘If he was going to do something he should have coveted the Captain position.’

If he had coveted my position like the Green King it would have been better. Sword Demon didn’t seem to care about the Captain position at all.

He fought with the Demon Sword Marquis over their positions until the end but the Demon Sword Marquis never lost his position.

Later he died in battle at the hands of the Divine Sword.

To summarize Sword Demon briefly.

A madman obsessed with slaughter.

That single line would suffice.

Thud-!

With the debris pouring from the wall I sensed a presence.

Seeing that I nodded my head.

I had intended to knock him out but judging by his movements it seemed he hadn’t suffered much damage.

‘He slipped away slightly in the meantime.’

I recalled feeling a sensation in my hand.

He seemed to have instinctively evaded my attack even though it looked like he hadn’t grasped it.

Is this what it means to be a master who would later be called Sword Demon?

Step by step.

After a moment he revealed himself.

The blood flowing from his reddened cheeks and lips contrasted sharply with his pale skin.

He gripped a sword in one hand and looked at me with somewhat murky yellow eyes.

I nodded upon seeing his pupils.

‘That’s right.’

Yellow irises. Those pupils signify only one thing.

‘Heavenly Killing Star (天殺星).’

A fate born to kill people from the moment of birth until death.

It was said that those who possess such eyes are exactly like that.

‘This is my first time seeing it too.’

By the time I met Sword Demon he had already become a demonic practitioner and his eyes were dyed purple.

Moreover the Heavenly Killing Star is rare because it is evident from birth and its lifespan is not particularly long.

‘If discovered they would be killed.’

With a fate destined to become a murderer how could they be left alive?

In this situation it was nothing short of miraculous that he had lived to this age.

‘It’s not that he’s dying now but he’s somehow managed to endure and become Sword Demon.’

Thinking that way it wasn’t so bad.

It was good that I had discovered him now.

That wasn’t bad at all.

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“What are you…?”

He asked me. Looking into his eyes I felt he was half out of it.

It seemed I had heard such questions quite a lot over the past couple of days.

I smiled and said to him.

“I’m the third of the Gu family here to catch you.”

“…”

Hoo-oooh-!

“Oh.”

Perhaps my words had disturbed him as an immense killing intent erupted from his body.

As if he were trying to announce that he was the Heavenly Killing Star the aura was overwhelmingly intense.

It was so thick that it felt like it was taking shape and pressing down on everything around.

‘How fascinating.’

I looked at him with a sense of wonder.

I felt like I could vaguely understand the power he had used in his past life.

‘What was he wrapping around himself while fighting? Was this what he was using?’

He seemed to have concentrated the energy of the Heavenly Killing Star and wrapped it around his sword.

Conversely it seemed he also used it as enhanced qi to protect his body.

I had thought it was simply part of martial arts. Was it the power of his constitution?

As I observed this with interest his mouth opened.

“…Don’t… interfere.”

Hearing that I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

“Who the hell? I’m the one being interrupted while eating why are you throwing a fit?”

His yellow irises were growing darker as time passed.

If the golden eyes of Wiser Ah were gradually shining his eyes were instead turning darker.

His aura was also gradually growing stronger.

Soon it began to affect the surroundings.

“Hi… hick.”

I heard a sound and looked to the side.

The guests had already fled in fear but it seemed the innkeeper couldn’t bring himself to leave.

I looked at him and said.

“Sir.”

“Yes… yes?”

Suddenly being addressed the man looked startled.

He seemed terrified.

Seeing that I pulled something out of my pocket and tossed it to him.

“Gah…!?”

The man’s eyes widened as he caught the object.

“That should be enough for repairs later.”

I had thrown him a handful of money from my pocket.

In terms of value even if the shop collapsed it wouldn’t be a problem to rebuild it.

Moreover.

“If you’re not busy could you wrap up some dumplings too?”

The cost of wrapping the dumplings was included as well.

“Yes yes!”

Whether it was the money or not the man who had looked like he had lost everything just moments ago quickly rushed into the kitchen as if he were afraid of dropping what he held.

It seemed he was genuinely trying to wrap dumplings.

‘…Isn’t it a priority to evacuate first?’

I wondered if that was possible in this situation.

“Who cares.”

Honestly it didn’t matter much to me.

Not particularly.

‘It doesn’t seem like there will be any damage.’

As I thought that I turned my head.

Swish-!

The tip of the sword brushed past my face.

If I hadn’t dodged I would have been cut.

“Hmm.”

Fast.

There was no hesitation.

Swish-!

Naturally it didn’t seem like it would end with just one strike; he began to swing his sword continuously.

Moreover he was persistent.

His desire to cut me down was palpable.

The speed was so fast that it left an afterimage in the air.

With killing intent pouring out of his body the sword path was impeccably clean.

Every place he aimed for was a vital point.

‘His level… is a bit ambiguous though?’

I could feel that he had lightly surpassed the peak. Just looking at the intensity and speed of his aura made that clear.

The reason I found it ambiguous was.

‘He’s straddling the line.’

He felt like he was straddling somewhere between a mature peak and a transformation.

After dodging the sword once more I pushed a little forward.

He swung his sword repeatedly as if he wouldn’t be pushed back.

But amidst the countless sword paths I reached out slightly.

Thud-!

“…!”

The palm of my hand precisely pierced into Sword Demon’s chest.

The impact caused him to stagger backward.

“Cough….”

Perhaps his breath was twisted as he coughed.

The physical pain was minor but the disruption of his aura would likely have a significant backlash.

‘Wow.’

Seeing him I couldn’t help but admire him inwardly.

Though I said his level was ambiguous it was still impressive.

Considering Sword Demon’s age it was quite remarkable.

I didn’t know exactly how old he was but he was undoubtedly a prodigy.

That’s why I was puzzled.

‘Why has someone like this not been known until now?’

Seeing it firsthand made it even more so.

The reason I had come to the Guangdong region at this time.

It was because I knew he had started his activities around this time.

This meant that someone with this level of skill had just begun to act now.

It was far too late.

As a Heavenly Killing Star if he had been living in hiding I could understand.

But then it was even stranger.

‘It doesn’t seem like he’s been alone.’

To grow his power and for survival there must have been a backing.

Otherwise he wouldn’t have survived until he became a Heavenly Killing Star.

Of course.

‘Whatever it is.’

It was a good thing for me.

‘It’s just the right time.’

Now that he was just starting to become active.

This was the perfect opportunity.

To catch the one who would later become Sword Demon.

“I’ll kill you…! I’ll kill you!”

Perhaps because he was only being attacked and not landing any hits his expression twisted even more.

At the same time his killing intent thickened significantly.

Boom-!

With a heavy pressure he quickly lunged at me.

The manifested killing intent gathered into his sword.

It looked quite threatening.

But.

Swish-!

“Ugh…”

In any case if I didn’t get hit it was pointless.

I severed his sword path and struck him squarely in the face.

The one who took the hit staggered.

‘There’s nothing more to see.’

It seemed pointless to drag this out.

Shall I wrap it up soon?

Thinking that I nodded my head.

‘After all I’ve already spent too much time.’

I had consumed two days just to catch this one guy.

In the end I was glad I caught him but it was also thanks to luck.

For that reason I needed to finish this quickly and handle the next matter.

I took a step forward.

Seeing that he moved at the same time.

Even though it was a light hit it must have been quite painful yet madness filled his eyes.

That was rather good for me.

‘It means he’s still a villain.’

A guy who wouldn’t be a problem even if he became a demonic practitioner.

I liked such people.

It made it easier for me to use them.

I immediately drew up my qi.

‘To avoid any trouble later let’s just break one of his arms or legs.’

As I intended to move my body with that in mind.

He also began to cross his sword.

The sword flux and killing intent mixed in his blade.

It was an awkward sword path that aimed solely for vital points.

I thought to dodge appropriately and smash his leg…

“Hmm?”

Just as I was about to continue my movement something caught my eye.

The slashing sword path that was coming at me like a flurry.

As I dodged it with my footwork I noticed something strange.

Swoosh-!

The tip of the sword wavered in a semicircle.

Thud-!

I lightly landed on my toes as if to support myself.

Due to the overwhelming killing intent I hadn’t noticed it but now it was particularly clear.

‘What is it?’

That movement.

It was bothersome to my eyes.

I twisted my footwork and lunged forward.

Swish-! The blade grazed my cheek. I felt the blood flowing.

Perhaps due to the sudden advance confusion appeared in his eyes.

Not stopping there he swung his sword again.

Clang-!

“…!!”

I caught the blade he swung with my thumb and index finger holding it in place.

Then.

I struck his chin hard.

Bang-!

“Crack…!”

It landed perfectly.

As evidence he let out a scream and fell to his knees.

Thud.

I didn’t bother to support him.

It didn’t seem like his body would break from something like this.

Moreover it wasn’t the time to worry about such things.

I looked at the fallen Sword Demon with a question in my mind.

“What the hell is this guy?”

A sword filled with killing intent.

Murky yellow eyes that proved he was a Heavenly Killing Star.

An aura soaked in madness.

It was undoubtedly the Sword Demon I knew.

So why?

“Is he using the techniques of the sect?”

Moreover not just any sect but one of the nine great sects.

A prestigious sect known as the protector of the Qinghai.

‘Kunlun Sect.’

His swordsmanship clearly bore traces of that place.”’