Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 573 (Part 1)



573 (Part 1)

**Chapter 574: In Henan.**

The light green hair shimmers in the moonlight.

The color much brighter than when I last saw it somehow appeared almost dazzling.

The hair that used to reach her shoulders now touches her waist.

The fragrance wafting through the air is somehow sweet.

Is it the scent of flowers?

There was an inexplicable sweetness filling the air.

Her smiling face and the subtle maturity reflected in her sunken cheeks were enough to remind me of someone.

No it would be strange to say someone.

‘It’s her.’

The woman who remained alone in Sichuan fending off demonic practitioners.

The last hope of the Tang Clan who took her last breath in my hands after losing her eyes.

The woman from that time and the current Tang So-yeol bore a striking resemblance.

If there was anything different it was that.

She was dying in a pitifully emaciated state back then.

Now Tang So-yeol radiated brightness.

Feeling that difference it was oddly painful.

Why does it hurt?

It was an emotion I couldn’t understand.

I see Tang So-yeol smiling brightly at me.

I asked her.

“What brings you here?”

I held back the words I truly wanted to ask.

Though it was a question I wanted to ask her it wasn’t something I could just ask her directly.

Upon hearing my question Tang So-yeol pouted her lips as if displeased.

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“You came all this way and you’re asking me why?”

“No I’m just curious.”

How could I not be curious when she appeared so suddenly?

Of course I had heard.

‘They said the Demon King would send her.’

I had already heard that they would send her once preparations were complete.

But.

‘I didn’t expect her to arrive so soon.’

I didn’t know where she had started from but I didn’t expect Tang So-yeol to show up already.

I glanced around while looking at her.

‘So that’s why Nahi didn’t react.’

Nahi must be managing this area completely. If she could penetrate her power.

‘It seems like she should be at the level of the Demon King.’

I didn’t think of her that highly but at the very least she should be at the level just below him.

Thinking that I looked at Tang So-yeol.

As our eyes met she smiled.

It was a smile I hadn’t seen in a long time.

Of course I was looking at something else more than that right now.

I had to swallow hard as I looked at Tang So-yeol.

‘The Demon King that man…’

What on earth has he done?

‘Her very presence has changed.’

Right now I had to concentrate quite a bit to see Tang So-yeol.

Otherwise I felt like I would lose track of her existence.

Her presence was that faint.

Even with her right in front of me I had to focus to perceive her as it was shallow and blurry.

It was a completely different state from the Tang So-yeol of the past.

‘The fact that I can feel this much is thanks to the fragrance.’

The fragrant floral scent emanating from Tang So-yeol.

Thanks to that it was easier to keep track of her.

If it weren’t for that I would have struggled even more.

‘It wasn’t always like this.’

The Tang Clan originally specialized in assassination primarily through poison.

Thus the clan members generally had a shallow presence.

It was a talent born from years of practicing martial arts.

However.

‘Tang So-yeol wasn’t particularly outstanding among them.’

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To put it nicely she was an average talent.

To put it harshly her innate abilities as a clan member were lacking.

In contrast Namgung Bi-ah a member of the Namgung Clan had an extremely heightened presence.

She was far superior to Tang So-yeol in that regard.

‘…No she’s just outstanding in everything so maybe that’s not fair.’

To diminish one’s presence one could do so.

To enhance it one could do that as well.

When comparing her to Namgung Bi-ah there were only a handful of people who could stand up to her.

But all the people around me felt that way so it couldn’t be helped.

Even in such a state.

What about the current Tang So-yeol?

Even though my condition wasn’t good.

‘I couldn’t sense her presence.’

It was a presence I could only catch when she got close.

Nahi had sent her and no matter how bad my physical state was.

This was an extraordinary matter.

Thinking of that I spoke to Tang So-yeol.

“…You must have had a hard time.”

“Pardon?”

Tang So-yeol tilted her head for a moment at my words but soon as if she understood she smiled brightly and said to me.

“It’s okay Young Master.”

As she moved slowly her hair swayed gently.

“I did it because I wanted to.”

“…”

Is that really the case?

I couldn’t bring myself to voice the words that came to mind.

It was I who had asked the Demon King for help.

But it was Tang So-yeol who accepted it.

When I made the request to the Demon King I had clearly stated.

If Tang So-yeol didn’t want to I would stop right there.

I had definitely conveyed that.

Yet the fact that Tang So-yeol was here meant she had absolutely not given up.

Moreover.

‘Considering Tang So-yeol’s talent for her to have reached this state…’

What kind of training must she have undergone?

The last time I saw Tang So-yeol was about a year ago.

At that time her level was nowhere near this.

But now.

‘Has she reached the Flower Realm?’

I wasn’t sure due to my muddled senses but it certainly seemed that way.

How could that be?

I looked at Tang So-yeol with wide eyes in surprise.

She seemed to catch the meaning behind my gaze and smiled brightly.

“Do you know Young Master?”

“Uh…?”

“About me.”

I wondered what she was trying to say when she continued.

“Now I can see you a little better Young Master.”

“…”

“I really worked hard. I did well right?”

Hearing that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

The fact that she could now see a bit of my power which had been hidden.

Using that to ask for praise.

“…Indeed….”

I had no choice but to smile.

“You really must have worked hard. Good job.”

“Yes!”

At my teasing praise Tang So-yeol beamed with joy.

She seemed to be in a good mood bouncing around a bit which was somewhat amusing.

After a while as Tang So-yeol moved around she glanced somewhere.

“By the way who is that…?”

At Tang So-yeol’s words I turned my gaze. There was Seong-yul still coughing awkwardly.

Oh no.

I had to make a sheepish expression upon seeing him.

‘I almost forgot.’

Seong-yul was in a bad state due to the backlash from the Heavenly Kill.

I had provoked him and then let the backlash hit so he was in a dazed state.

Seeing that I nodded.

‘Since I caused this mess I should take responsibility.’

Even if there was a reason Seong-yul’s condition was somewhat my responsibility.

So I moved to resolve it.

As I approached Seong-yul he looked up at me with dazed eyes.

After confirming his gaze for a moment.

“Seong…?”

Whack-!

“Cough!?”

I struck his head.

Seong-yul who took the hit immediately lost consciousness and collapsed.

Thud.

As Seong-yul fell to the ground a brief silence passed.

Perhaps it was too violent since I hadn’t seen him in a while?

I pointed at Seong-yul and said to Tang So-yeol.

“He’s a friend. A friend. He seems to be feeling a bit unwell today.”

“…”

Even I thought it was an excuse that didn’t make sense.