Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 556 (Part 1)



556 (Part 1)

”’〈 Chapter 557 〉 The Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief.

The Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief Nameless.

This is the alias and name of a figure who caused quite a stir in the Central Plains about thirty to forty years ago.

What is his gender?

Who is his true identity?

Which faction does he belong to?

What he aimed to do has not been revealed until now.

However aside from that secrecy he was the one who firmly etched his alias into the Central Plains.

That is the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief Nameless.

He was a gentleman referred to as a phantom thief.

‘Though it sounds grand he’s just a common thief.’

No matter where a precious item was if he desired it he could steal it.

There was a time when the entire Murim Alliance moved to capture him but they could not.

Not even a trace was left nor was there any information on what methods he used.

Was he a master of stealth techniques or perhaps a master of disguise?

No one knows.

He was as elusive as the wind hence the name Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief.

His identity remains unknown thus he is Nameless.

Furthermore.

‘He was a madman who robbed all the prestigious families.’

He plundered not only the four great families but also every precious item from the Nine Great Houses.

He even secretly stole from the Murim Alliance’s treasures.

‘What’s even more absurd is.’

The biggest reason the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief became famous.

Just like the letter the current Wudang possesses.

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‘He sent a notice in advance.’

He would give a hint about when he would appear and steal.

Truly he must be a madman.

‘What kind of thief sends a notice before stealing?’

But that’s exactly what he did.

Without a single failure the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief proceeded with his work and succeeded every time.

That’s why he became famous.

He was absurdly good at thievery and that’s the reason for his fame.

Moreover the incident that left him recorded in history was precisely this.

‘He returned all the stolen treasures.’

The Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief returned all fifteen treasures that made him famous to the Murim Alliance.

For those who were robbed it was utterly ridiculous.

He stole them only to return them all.

‘Moreover the reason was outrageous.’

The reason the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief gave when returning the treasures to the Murim Alliance was quite a spectacle.

[It’s no longer fun.]

He said he would return them because stealing had lost its thrill.

The Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief returned the treasures saying so.

‘How furious must the Murim Alliance have been upon receiving this?’

They couldn’t catch the thief they wanted and instead they received the treasures back for the reason that it was no longer fun.

In the midst of it all he returned them secretly and escaped without being caught.

He truly was a thief who would go down in history.

That was decades ago.

‘That gentleman hasn’t shown himself even once since then.’

Now the fact that he has sent a letter to Wudang is something I cannot comprehend.

In his previous life he did not act this way.

‘What is this busy gentleman doing now?’

For someone who knows the identity of the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief this is even more absurd.

Yes.

I know the identity of the great thief who stirred up the Central Plains in the past.

I may not know it well but I do know his identity.

‘It was revealed by the old man himself.’

It was not someone else but he himself who disclosed it.

When the Heavenly Demon caused bloodshed.

He was in the midst of a mission to infiltrate the Demonic Cult and when asked who would lead the infiltration into the Demonic Cult an old man stepped forward claiming he would take the lead.

He himself is the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief.

He was confident in infiltration more than anyone else.

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This means.

‘The Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief was a member of the orthodox sects.’

It also implies that he was a figure of high standing to participate in such an important operation.

At that time even amidst the war the repercussions of this were significant so I had no choice but to learn the identity of that old man.

The identity of the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief who was called a phantom thief.

That is.

‘The master of the King of the Dogs Chuoong and the boss of the Open Faction.’

He was also known as the former Alliance Leader the Sword of Justice.

Surprisingly he was the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief.

Why a man known as the boss of the Open Faction which is called the orthodox sects would engage in thievery is a mystery.

But at that time it was not the time to ponder such matters.

‘He said he couldn’t hear anything because U Bong Chwi Gae died during the infiltration.’

During the operation U Bong Chwi Gae met his end at the hands of the Heavenly Demon.

Because of that the reasons behind his actions became unknown.

However.

‘Now the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief appears.’

This information made me think of many things.

‘At a time when the Alliance Leader has changed and information is exploding. Does the boss of the Open Faction have time for such things?’

In an era of upheaval one would think the busiest people would be the Murim Alliance and other sects.

But in reality the ones who are the busiest are not them but those who play with information.

They must convey news and gather information according to the changes.

Only then can they respond to future events.

Especially in such a situation the Open Faction which is called the orthodox sects.

‘They must be moving tirelessly.’

They should be working without a moment’s rest.

‘But if the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief has appeared like this.’

U Bong Chwi Gae might be half-crazy due to dementia.

There might be a reason he has to do this.

Or.

‘U Bong Chwi Gae might not be the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief.’

It must be one of these three.

‘The most likely scenario is.’

In my view it’s the third reason.

It would make the most sense if U Bong Chwi Gae is not the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief.

One.

‘This is ultimately not a certainty.’

It’s just a guess so it’s not necessarily correct.

‘It could be an impersonation.’

It could be a playful trick pretending to be the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief.

Knowing that things had come to this point I finally understood why Wudang had become so vigilant.

‘No wonder they were acting so suspiciously.’

If it’s a letter from the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief that could be the case.

Moreover the Sect Leader is in the process of establishing himself as the Alliance Leader.

‘If the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief were to steal from them it would be quite a joke.’

As for me even if I’m not certain I have information about the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief so I could come up with various hypotheses.

But in this era they knew nothing about him at all.

For that reason it might be a natural course of action for them to move like this.

“So…”

As I was lost in thought U Baek broke through the silence and spoke.

“Since we are taking somewhat cautious actions in the main text I ask that our guests show great generosity.”

“What actions are you referring to?”

I understood that the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief was planning something but what kind of caution was he talking about?

I asked that and U Baek upon hearing my question took something out from his robe and placed it on the table.

It looked like a somewhat shabby string.

But seeing that I had to widen my eyes in surprise.

‘That… surely.’

“It is called the Connection Line.”

The Connection Line.

I am well aware of this item.

Like the Magic Line that can detect the appearance of the Demon Gate.

It is a product developed by Wudang that creates marvelous items.

Its effect is probably.

‘It allows the wearer to sense the presence of others.’

To be precise it is an item that allows captains to quickly notice the movements of their subordinates.

‘So this was out around this time.’

I remembered that it was supposed to come out about five years later.

It seems it had been completed much earlier than that.

“After wearing this I ask that you stay for a day. Just one day in the main text.”

U Baek who presented the Connection Line said with a smile.

“A day you say?”

I asked in response.

“What is it that makes you insist on such a thing?”

I knew the efficacy of the Connection Line but I pretended not to know and asked him.”’