Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 558



558

**Chapter 559: The Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief**

The last day the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief was to appear.

As the sun began to set a presence was felt near Mount Wudang.

Rustle-!

Someone was moving quickly through the bushes.

Dressed in all black with a black mask covering their face they moved at a rapid pace.

One thing that seemed odd was that perhaps due to their speed they appeared somewhat anxious.

Tap-!

After a while of moving the figure landed on the ground hiding their body.

In front of them was a small dwelling and Wudang’s disciples were standing guard keeping a watchful eye.

Seeing this the figure’s eyes gleamed.

That was the place.

The location of their objective and goal.

‘The place where the precious items are located.’

A place where the treasures of the volcano and Wudang were gathered.

That was exactly where they were.

After the scheduled five days tomorrow the treasures would be returned to the volcano and Wudang parting ways.

This was a method to safely guard against any unforeseen circumstances.

The figure shifted their gaze to observe someone.

Among the guards was a woman with a graceful appearance.

Dressed in a well-pressed white martial arts uniform peeking out from a light blue martial arts uniform.

She was the current Sword Mistress Mae Hwa.

She was also standing guard to protect the treasures of the volcano.

Seeing this made the figure bite their lip.

‘In half a breath.’

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After half a breath the Sword Mistress would leave her post.

It would only be a fleeting moment but that was enough for the figure.

Time passed.

Holding their breath just as half a breath had passed.

The Sword Mistress who had been standing still began to react and move.

Now was the moment.

The awaited instant. The Sword Mistress would only be gone for a few seconds.

The opportunity was now.

The figure concealed their cold sweat and drew up their ‘Qi.’

All they had to do was rush in and seize the treasures.

Yes that was all that mattered.

Everything was for Wudang.

Just as the figure was about to throw themselves forward.

“Hello?”

With a voice that rang in their ear.

Crack-!

“Gah…!?”

As they felt a grip on their neck the figure’s vision twisted.

There was no time to assess the situation. Their vision was distorted and a gust of wind swept past their body.

They tried to react and move but it was then that the figure realized.

The raging wind was the result of their own body being lifted into the air.

How fast must they be moving to exert such pressure on them?

A sense of fear flickered in their mind.

But that too did not last long.

Thud-!

At some point the wind stopped and with the sensation of being thrown their body rolled on the ground.

They had to get up.

Survival instincts urged them to act.

But just then something plunged into their chest pinning them down.

“Cough!”

They spat out a muffled cry of pain.

Looking down at their chest.

Someone’s foot was stomping on it.

At that moment.

“By any chance.”

The owner of the foot spoke to the figure. They lifted their head in response to the voice.

And the figure had to feel the pain.

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As they tried to shrink away pain shot through their chest and injured shoulder.

“Did you forget what I said? That would be a bit disappointing.”

Though the words were spoken with a smile there was a sharpness to the voice that felt dry.

The owner of the foot was someone completely unexpected.

Swoosh-!

Moonlight illuminated the scene.

The figure hidden in darkness was revealed.

Perhaps due to the moonlight their hair shimmered with a faint blue hue.

Along with a fierce-looking face their blue eyes shone brightly.

Just this morning they had red eyes yet for some reason the young man’s eyes now bore a blue tint.

“I told you.”

The young man spoke.

“If you draw your sword you die. Did you think I forgot?”

His voice echoed in the figure’s ears.

It was the same words they had heard at the inn during the day.

Yes the figure’s identity was none other than the second disciple of the Wudang Sect the Dragon Sword Ji Cheol.

“…How… how….”

Ji Cheol struggled to speak.

The situation was so incomprehensible.

How could this person be here?

They should be at the dwelling under the watch of Wudang’s guards by now.

How could they be in this situation standing right in front of him?

Perhaps sensing Ji Cheol’s confusion.

The young man with blue eyes Gu Yang Cheon smiled slightly at the question.

Then he relaxed his foot freeing Ji Cheol.

Only then could Ji Cheol finally exhale the breath he had been holding.

“Haah… haah….”

As he gasped for breath Gu Yang Cheon spoke to Ji Cheol.

“Seeing you so surprised I guess it’s strange for me to be here?”

At those words Ji Cheol moved his hand.

He intended to draw the sword at his waist.

“…!”

But his hand grasped nothing.

The sword that should have been at his waist was nowhere to be found.

“Looking for this?”

In front of Ji Cheol Gu Yang Cheon waved something.

It was indeed Ji Cheol’s sword.

“If a sword master treats their sword carelessly what good is it?”

“…When…!”

Crack-!

“Gah!”

Ji Cheol whose chest was struck screamed and rolled on the ground a couple of times.

Afterward the weakened Ji Cheol clutched the ground rolling his eyes.

‘What on earth is happening?’

The pain he felt and the unknown appearance of Gu Yang Cheon were both incomprehensible.

But more than that the pressing question was the current situation.

‘How…?’

How could this person be here?

By now surely.

‘They should be under guard….’

“They should be at the dwelling.”

“…!”

As if reading Ji Cheol’s mind Gu Yang Cheon approached and continued speaking.

“But I really hate feeling constrained. So I took a little night walk.”

Though the words were spoken casually it was an impossible story.

The disciples of Wudang would never allow such a thing.

Yet Gu Yang Cheon continued as if he didn’t care about that at all.

“As I was leisurely walking I thought ‘Oh my what’s this? I just happened to see our dojo master.’”

“…”

“It doesn’t seem like your character to be out for a walk. What’s the reason for moving in such a secretive outfit?”

How should he respond?

The contemplation didn’t last long.

“I had something to do over there for a moment… Gah!?”

Crack-!

As he tried to make an excuse Gu Yang Cheon suddenly grabbed Ji Cheol’s neck.

“That kind of answer won’t do. In this conversation I’m the only one allowed to lie.”

“Gah… guh….”

“Oh but that seems a bit unfair. So I’ll share some of the things you’re curious about.”

Curious things.

As he said this Gu Yang Cheon showed his wrist.

“I left the connection line behind. It’s a bit of a hassle.”

“…Gah…?!”

At those words Ji Cheol’s eyes widened.

He left the connection line behind.

That was an incomprehensible act.

If he truly left that behind it made no sense for Gu Yang Cheon to be here.

Finding Ji Cheol’s reaction amusing Gu Yang Cheon smirked.

“This is quite an interesting item. It allows you to check the status of the wearer.”

An item that allows for quicker status checks of team members when hunting demonic beasts or carrying out missions.

Ubaek had explained it that way.

“But the most important part wasn’t explained was it?”

“…Gah….”

“This thing if severed sends a notification right?”

“…!”

“Am I right?”

At Gu Yang Cheon’s words Ji Cheol’s heart began to race.

It was indeed as he said.

The connection line served to inform each other of their situations but if there was a problem with the line itself it would notify someone at the Captain level.

Though the distance was quite limited it wouldn’t be difficult to ascertain within Wudang.

This meant that at the same time as checking the wearer’s status.

Abnormal behavior could be detected and if they were close enough their movements could also be tracked.

How did this person know about such details?

Moreover.

‘How did he get out of there?’

How did he come this far while leaving the connection line behind?

Questions filled Ji Cheol’s eyes.

Gu Yang Cheon found this quite amusing.

“Knowing that made me feel something was off.”

The foul smell he had sensed during the day.

Gu Yang Cheon had thought long and hard about the identity of that foul smell.

Eventually he vaguely recalled the reason.

“Their reactions seemed like they were… watching us. But the important part was that they didn’t act.”

“Gah….”

Just as Ji Cheol was trying to comprehend what that meant.

“Not a single person suspected us.”

Ji Cheol realized what Gu Yang Cheon was implying.

“Isn’t it strange? The Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief appears after decades to steal Wudang’s treasures yet they don’t seem to suspect us while being on guard against outsiders.”

At first he thought it was to keep the connection line cold to avoid confusion with the hidden Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief.

He had assumed there was an intention to monitor as well.

But it felt somewhat unsettling and foul.

‘I’ve never heard of the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief reappearing in a past life.’

He wondered if he had caused too much trouble leading to something being twisted.

But this kind of gut feeling had never been wrong so he thought there must be something.

So he pondered.

“And then suddenly.”

He felt like he understood something.

However….

“I wasn’t entirely sure.”

That was the point; it wasn’t certainty.

If it wasn’t certainty what should he do? The answer was incredibly simple.

“So I thought I should ask right?”

He could just ask.

What was going on?

He could kindly (?) and gently (?) inquire.

Coincidentally he had a ‘gift’ to offer to someone suitable for asking so he thought he should check it out.

But.

“Something feels off.”

They were moving.

At such a rapid pace in the dead of night.

It was too strange to be training.

And it was also odd to be chasing someone.

It didn’t fit the idea of going somewhere.

He could see where they wanted to go but the path they took was bizarre.

As if.

“To obscure their presence.”

“Gah…!”

“It wouldn’t be easy for someone in poor health to do that.”

Ji Cheol’s shoulder was shattered. That injury was from today.

Though he had the skill to heal moving at such a rapid pace in the dead of night was indeed strange.

He flinched.

At Gu Yang Cheon’s words Ji Cheol trembled greatly.

Seeing that reaction Gu Yang Cheon continued.

“So I wanted to ask.”

Thus he grabbed Ji Cheol.

That was not a difficult task for Gu Yang Cheon.

He had embedded his energy when he shattered Ji Cheol’s shoulder.

The energy that he would never let slip away.

Wriggle.

“Gah…!?”

Ji Cheol felt something wriggling within him.

Deep within his qi center.

Something unknown was slowly moving from that place.

Along with that Gu Yang Cheon’s blue eyes shone even brighter.

With the light his presence gradually grew beginning to envelop Ji Cheol’s entire body.

The grip on his neck loosened slightly.

Just enough for him to speak.

“Hey.”

Gu Yang Cheon asked Ji Cheol.

“Are you the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief?”

“…!”

At the question Ji Cheol felt his heart sink.

But.

“Or.”

That wasn’t the end.

“Are you the ‘role’ of the Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief?”

Tremble tremble.

Ji Cheol’s body shook uncontrollably.

But Ji Cheol bit his lip and made a vow.

He must not let anything slip.

No matter how much fear surged no matter what torture he faced he vowed he could not reveal that much.

“Answer me.”

“…That’s… correct…?”

At the command he heard Ji Cheol’s mouth answered on its own.

His expression was one of disbelief.

This was not his will.

To that.

“Right.”

Gu Yang Cheon simply smiled in satisfaction.

That smile was filled with the satisfaction of having found an answer to a frustrating matter.

As if he wouldn’t hide it Gu Yang Cheon laughed even louder.

“Thank goodness.”

Truly thank goodness.

“Wudang is more foolish than I thought.”

Thanks to that it seemed he could make use of the situation.

Very pleasantly indeed.

******************

The next morning.

Ji Cheol the second disciple of Wudang was found dead on the back mountain of Wudang.

Circumstantial evidence suggested he had taken his own life by severing his neck.

And to prove this a letter was found on the ground.

As had been foretold five days prior.

The Wind and Cloud Phantom Thief successfully stole the treasures.

However.

For some reason they left behind the treasures of the volcano and only took Wudang’s treasures.

Perhaps because of that.

The atmosphere in Wudang was turned upside down from the early morning.