Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 548 (Part 1)



548 (Part 1)

”’〈 Chapter 549 〉 Why Are You Here?

Four days have passed.

I had now left the Guangdong region and arrived in Hunan.

Swoosh.

The sound of waves reached my ears.

As night was approaching I found a valley and sat down casually.

It felt like I had walked quite a distance yet I was still in the woods.

“Hmm.”

There was a slight sense of relaxation but it wasn’t too much.

It was still okay.

‘Things have gone smoothly.’

I had gained some time to spare.

The reason I had been in a hurry in Guangdong was for three main reasons.

The first was.

‘Eternal Iron.’

The hidden treasure of Eternal Iron accumulated in the Guangdong region.

That was my goal.

Finding it wasn’t particularly difficult.

I had more detailed information than I expected.

‘There were some issues along the way.’

I had a conflict with a certain person named Gu Gwonjeokma which led to a battle.

However I was able to use that to resolve the next task.

‘I killed Wi Seok.’

The second purpose of my visit to Guangdong.

It was to kill Wi Seok the head of the current Murim Alliance’s Guangdong branch.

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This was somewhat diluted in terms of revenge.

‘It was a twofold purpose.’

It was simply to take care of it while I was there.

‘And I need to spread my name as well.’

I had already made sure that a martial artist named Seo Dong was aware of that so it shouldn’t be a problem.

‘There’s a possibility he might not say anything.’

I had instructed him to report but there was certainly a chance he wouldn’t.

Even so that didn’t matter.

What was important was that I had killed Wi Seok.

Because of this the Guangdong branch would likely take about a month to recover.

There would only be one casualty the branch head.

‘It’s almost like turning everything upside down.’

It would be as if an unidentified person had destroyed the branch.

If the report had gone up as seen there would likely be several changes on that side.

‘One to two months.’

Time to send a new branch head and to manage the remaining situation.

That would probably take that long.

It’s not a long time but dealing with incidents caused by demonic beasts during that period would be delayed.

Then there would likely be casualties.

So.

“Just keep an eye on that part.”

In the quiet of the night I whispered.

[Understood.]

A voice responded from the darkness.

I didn’t bother to turn my head.

[I will assign personnel by region.]

While the alliance was in turmoil I meant to ensure that there were no casualties in the Guangdong region.

Ah.

“While you’re at it spread some rumors too.”

[Understood.]

Just as I thought I had finished what I needed to say.

[And….]

A telepathic message came through as if continuing my words.

[The Captain has a message for you.]

“Is it about the Demon King?”

I widened my eyes in surprise and the voice continued.

[‘The child is ready. I will return him now.’ That was the message to convey.]

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“…”

I exhaled softly upon hearing those words.

I knew who that referred to.

‘It’s about time to see him.’

The last time I saw him was two years ago.

It had been that long since I left with the Demon King for necessary training.

I nodded slightly and spoke.

“Understood.”

As I finished speaking the presence behind me disappeared.

Only then did I rise from the rock.

I moved my steps.

I left the place and walked toward the sound of the waves.

As I got a little closer.

Swoosh-!

The moonlit river was swaying under the influence of the waves.

And I could see someone sitting near the river.

Splash-! Splash-!

Someone was crouched down washing something in the river.

Having taken off their upper clothes their pale skin was clearly visible.

Seeing that I asked.

“What are you doing?”

“…!”

The person who had been diligently washing their clothes in the river flinched at my call.

Then they turned their head with a creaking sound and looked at me with a gesture.

The first thing that caught my eye was their tired yellowish eyes.

The identity of the young man was none other than.

In his past life he was the Sword Demon and the Celestial Killer.

Moreover.

He was likely a disciple of the former Sect Leader of Kunlun Cheonghaeilgyeom.

Seongyul.

“What are you doing right now?”

“…”

In response to my question Seongyul slightly showed the clothes he was holding.

“…I was… washing my clothes.”

“At this hour?”

“…Yes… the timing wasn’t right.”

“Hmm.”

It was true that there wasn’t really a situation to wash or not wash.

But still no matter how you looked at it.

‘He’s not in his right mind either.’

In this situation he was washing his clothes in the valley.

In the meantime I could see the upper body of the guy who had taken off his shirt.

For someone who had reached a high level as a martial artist his muscles were quite lacking.

His bones were large but he was probably just thin.

In particular scars were visible all over his body including his chest.

‘Those are.’

They weren’t scars inflicted by someone else.

They were marks left from self-inflicted wounds.

“Hey.”

“Yes…?”

“Give me that shirt.”

“…?”

Despite Seongyul’s puzzled expression at my words he obediently handed over the shirt.

I grabbed the damp shirt as if snatching it and infused it with qi.

Whoosh-!

“…!”

In an instant heat burst forth drying the wet shirt in an instant.

Immediately after I tossed the now-dry shirt toward Seongyul.

He caught it in a hurry his face blank.

I found the scars quite unpleasant to look at.

Looking at him I asked.

“Surprised you didn’t run away huh?”

“…Ah.”

It hadn’t been long since I disappeared but if he wanted to run away there had been enough time.

In the few days since we started traveling together.

There had been similar situations in between but Seongyul had never attempted to escape.

In response to my question Seongyul spoke without any noticeable change in expression.

“Even if I tried to run there’s nowhere to go.”

“Why? Just go home. You have a place in Cheonghae.”

When I brought up the Kunlun Sect Seongyul’s expression darkened slightly.

“…That place… is no longer where I can go.”

Every time I mentioned Kunlun his expression was always like that.

If I had learned anything about Seongyul over the past few days.

‘He’s not yet thirty.’

He said he was twenty-five now.

‘He seems to belong to Kunlun.’

Either he is currently affiliated or he ‘was’ affiliated.

In my view it was one of the two.

Moreover.

‘He is indeed related to Cheonghaeilgyeom.’

Though he hadn’t directly mentioned it it was certainly the case.

So why was he.

‘What is he doing here like this?’

It wouldn’t be strange for him to have fallen into a murderous rampage as the Celestial Killer.

However if he was a martial artist who belonged to the Kunlun Sect it would lead to several problems.

‘The Celestial Killer is supposed to be executed upon discovery.’

This is one of the rules set by the alliance.

The Celestial Killer must be reported to the alliance immediately upon discovery.

This is a law that orthodox sects must adhere to.

‘If Cheonghaeilgyeom who should know that was ignoring it.’

And if he had even taken him in and raised him.

‘What was his intention?’

I didn’t know that much. What was important was.

‘It has become a somewhat troublesome situation.’

If he was just a madman who killed in the past.

What would the Sword Demon be like now?

At least from what I could see he seemed a bit dull but was still a sane person.”’