Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 736

“So…”

Namgung Bi-ah, who had been lying quietly, looked at me and asked,

“…Did you get hit?”

“...”

I instinctively rubbed my head.

There wasn’t a lump, but the lingering soreness was undeniable.

The exact spot where Moyong Hee-ah had smacked me.

“…She’s definitely hiding her level.”

It still hurt.

She must have hit me with far more force than her supposed rank suggested.

Moyong Hee-ah was definitely concealing her true strength.

‘…Either that, or her hands are just unnaturally heavy.’

It was meant to be a half-joking comment, but she swung at me without hesitation.

Thanks to that, my head still throbbed.

‘I mean, how was I supposed to stay calm after reading those conditions?’

From my perspective, I had every right to feel wronged.

Those insane terms practically begged to be accepted.

Jang Yoo-myung’s proposal was so outrageous that it only made sense if he’d completely lost his mind.

So, naturally, I blurted out something inappropriate without thinking.

Still, I was trying to figure out what Jang Yoo-myung was really after.

‘What exactly does he want from me?’

What was worth offering such terms?

I couldn’t help but wonder.

‘…But honestly, even if there’s a hidden motive, wouldn’t it be worth considering?’

Even if it came with strings attached, it was tempting enough to accept with a smile.

“…But, you know…”

“What?”

After hearing my story, Namgung Bi-ah looked at me and said,

“I think you deserved to get hit…”

“...”

I had hoped at least Namgung Bi-ah would take my side, but even she said that.

Was it really that bad?

I scratched my head awkwardly and changed the subject.

“Anyway… how’s your body?”

“I’m… fine.”

She seemed to understand my intent and went along with the shift in topic.

“Did you eat?”

“…I ate….”

“Good. Don’t skip meals.”

“Okay.”

She nodded as she sat up.

Namgung Bi-ah’s condition had improved significantly.

There might be a few scars left, but her internal injuries were mostly healed.

‘The tainted energy has almost completely cleared.’

I had stopped by regularly to purge any residual energy in her body.

With her recovery at this level, it seemed there was no longer any need to worry about the taint.

She’d probably be able to move freely within a few days.

“I’ll drop by again tomorrow if I can.”

I handed Namgung Bi-ah a set of clothes I had brought.

She accepted them eagerly, as if she’d been waiting for them.

It was one of my outfits.

Namgung Bi-ah had asked me to bring one of my clothes every time I visited, and I obliged.

‘What does she even need these for?’

I had no idea, but she said she needed them, so I brought them.

They weren’t expensive or flashy—just plain black clothes.

I had no clue what she planned to do with them.

As Namgung Bi-ah carefully folded the clothes, I shifted my gaze to the other bed in the room.

There lay Seong Yul, looking half-dead.

“You alive?”

“…Barely….”

A groan escaped his bandaged body.

He was in rough shape.

“Tsk.”

“…Ugh…”

Even talking seemed painful for him.

I pressed down on his chest.

“Gahhh! Young Master, wait—!”

“Stop whining.”

I knew full well that his injuries weren’t as bad as mine.

He had no right to complain.

“This wouldn’t have happened if you’d done your job properly.”

“…Ugh….”

“Pushing yourself just to prove something? Look at you now, idiot.”

I pressed down a few more times, and Seong Yul writhed in pain.

It wasn’t just for fun—I was also checking his condition.

‘His reaction is odd.’

It seemed like he was experiencing more pain than his wounds warranted.

‘Is this the aftermath of activating the Heavenly Killing Star?’

I pushed harder.

“Wait…! I-I’m seriously dying…!”

“You’ll be fine. Trust me. People don’t die this easily.”

“Arghhhh!”

I continued my examination.

The result?

‘I’ll need to check again later.’

There were still too many uncertainties about Seong Yul’s condition.

Could he control the Heavenly Killing Star at will?

I knew it boosted his combat strength, but could he sustain it?

And most importantly, could I control him while he was using it?

There was a lot I needed to test.

‘They said it’d take one or two months for him to fully recover.’

When he was healed, I’d make sure to push him hard.

“…Ugh?”

Seong Yul suddenly shivered, as if sensing my intentions.

His instincts were sharp, at least.

‘But this has to be done.’

If I wanted to use Seong Yul properly, this was a necessary step.

Otherwise—

‘I’ll have to turn him into a demon.’

I might need to push him to the brink and fully corrupt him if it came to that.

It was for his own good, of course.

Not that his opinion mattered.

“Just focus on recovering.”

With my checks complete, I was about to leave when I suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, right.”

“Yes…?”

“When you’re healed, I’ll tell you what I promised.”

“…!”

Seong Yul’s eyes widened in surprise.

I had promised to tell him about the Azure Sword if he won his match against Peng Woojin.

“You’ll… really tell me?”

“You lost pathetically, but I’ll be generous this time.”

I never expected him to win anyway.

And he’d need to know eventually.

“Then… can’t you tell me now—?”

“No. I said I’d tell you when you’re healed.”

I shut him down immediately.

If I told him now—

‘He might try something reckless in this state.’

I’d wait until he was fully healed and controllable.

“…”

Seong Yul pouted but didn’t press further.

He must have realized I wouldn’t budge.

“Just rest. Don’t do anything stupid, or you’ll end up even more useless.”

“…Yes, sir….”

Seong Yul grumbled in reluctant acceptance.

I left the room, mentally preparing for the tasks ahead.

‘How many Dokcheon Pills do I have left?’

I’d need to give Seong Yul one or two soon.

Then again—

‘The Poison King already sent word.’

Cheol Ji-seon had delivered a report from the Tang Clan.

They had finally succeeded in reproducing the legendary Dokcheon Pill.

‘Looks like I’ll have to visit Sichuan soon.’

It wasn’t a complete success, but they’d made significant progress.

There was one issue preventing completion.

I’d figure out what it was once I got there.

If it could be resolved, the advantages would be overwhelming.

Dokcheon Pills (Venom Heaven Pills) were spiritual elixirs rivaling the Great Rebirth Pill pills that the Shaolin produced only once or twice a year.

While they no longer offered me much benefit—

‘It’s different for the others.’

There were plenty of people I needed to strengthen for the future, so this development was highly promising.

Thinking about it, I stepped outside.

The moment I did, a single leaf drifted down in front of me.

It was half-colored, its edges tinged with autumn.

I looked up.

The once-green leaves were gradually shifting colors.

Summer had ended, and autumn had begun.

“...”

I caught the falling leaf, and suddenly—

-Come back in autumn.

I remembered what the Heavenly Demon had said once.

When I asked why, he had replied—

Because the autumn leaves were beautiful?

Because the scenery was breathtaking?

I couldn’t remember exactly, but it was something along those lines.

Why was I recalling that now, out of nowhere?

I didn’t bother to ponder the question.

Fwoosh—

I burned the leaf in my hand, reducing it to ashes.

“...”

There was no need to dwell on meaningless memories.

   ********************
   

I left the residence.

The crowd was still thick—traders and curious onlookers alike—but moving through them was no trouble.

“…I greet the Cult Leader.”

A man, looking to be over seventy, knelt before me.

This was Pillduma, heir of the Jegal Clan and leader of the Cheonra Division.

After leaving the residence, I had come straight to see him.

Wearing the mask after so long felt strange, but I addressed him regardless.

[How are the preparations?]

My voice was altered, and my body modified using Qi Transformation Techniques.

It was excruciating due to my injuries, but for now, it was necessary.

“All preparations are complete. We can act the moment you give the order.”

[Not bad.]

“If I may ask…”

[Go ahead.]

“When should we begin?”

The plan involved summoning a disaster-level beast—a dragon—sealed beneath Hanam, using six stone monuments scattered across the area.

‘I heard a dragon was sealed underground.’

That’s what Pillduma had claimed.

Had I heard that in the past, I would have dismissed it as nonsense.

But now—

‘I can sense it.’

I felt faint vibrations coming from beneath the earth.

There was something down there—a dragon, most likely.

Though the signals were subtle, I was sure of it.

‘Could this also be related to the Blood Demon?’

Given the circumstances, it seemed plausible.

Still, whether the plan succeeded remained uncertain.

However—

‘Failure doesn’t matter.’

Success was never the goal.

If it worked, great.

If it didn’t, it didn’t matter.

What truly mattered was this—

‘He’s a descendant of the Jegal Clan. And he’s making moves in Hanam.’

That was the only point I cared about.

[Cult Leader of Cheonra, you seem anxious.]

I let out a faint laugh as I spoke.

Asking about the timing was a sign of impatience.

Pillduma didn’t deny it.

[Don’t worry. It won’t take more than a few days.]

“…If I may be honest, I’m still concerned about trusting you.”

He wasn’t sure if he could rely on me.

That much was clear.

[Haha.]

I laughed louder this time.

[Believe what you will. But as I said before, we share the same goals. And besides—]

I retracted my Qi.

The oppressive force weighing on the area dissipated.

The people around me gasped for breath.

[Isn’t the fact that your lives are in my hands proof enough?]

“...”

I had suppressed them with my presence and then released it.

Any hesitation would breed doubt, so I made sure to display my dominance.

[Be patient. The time is near.]

“…Understood.”

Despite his reluctance, Pillduma nodded.

He was a tough old man—his willpower wasn’t easy to break.

But that only made him more useful.

I could use him until he was no longer needed.

After a few more exchanges, I left the cave.

By the time I emerged, the sun was already setting.

I had spent the entire day on this.

‘Time flies.’

Too quickly.

What I needed most was time, yet it seemed to slip through my fingers the fastest.

‘I just told Pillduma not to be impatient, and here I am, the most impatient of all.’

I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.

‘At least this part is ready.’

Now it was my turn.

I glanced back.

Behind me, a figure appeared and knelt.

I wasn’t surprised.

I had sensed her long before she arrived.

It was a woman with green hair, looking exhausted.

Nahi.

I had sent her to Hubei some time ago.

“Welcome back.”

I greeted her with a smile, and she bowed deeply.

“…I greet my master.”

Her voice was dry, as if she would crumble any moment.

She didn’t appear injured, but her fatigue was evident—likely from overusing her Qi.

“How did it go?”

Rather than expressing concern, I went straight to the point.

Any further delays would be problematic.

Nahi’s arrival meant everything was in place.

Sure enough, her report confirmed my expectations.

“…The leader of the First Blade Division has just delivered the target to the Martial Alliance.”

The news I’d been waiting for.

And yet, there was something simmering beneath her voice.

Exhaustion and resentment.

I wasn’t sure if it was directed at me or the First Blade Division leader.

Frankly, it didn’t matter.

“Is that so?”

There was only one thing that mattered to me.

‘Everything is ready.’

The trap was set.

Now it was time to lay out the bait.

A bait so tempting, the starving beasts would have no choice but to pounce.

“Lord Hwangbo needs to know.”

It was time to unleash chaos in Hanam.

At long last.