Childhood Friend of the Zenith - Chapter 544
Seasons are coming, spring is here.
The time when flowers start to bloom.
In a small village in Gwangdong region, there was a constant buzz about a certain matter day and night.
“Hey, Un-hyung, have you heard about it?”
“Yeah?”
Un-hyung, who worked as an herbalist, perked up his ears at the neighbor woodcutter Ju’s words.
“What did you hear?”
“Oh my, Un-hyung, you’re always the last to hear the news.”
Pretending not to know, Un-hyung urged Ju to spill the beans.
“They say there will be a martial arts tournament in Hanaam this time.”
“A martial arts tournament?”
Ju’s words piqued Un-hyung’s interest. A martial arts tournament all of a sudden?
It was an unheard-of story for him.
“What kind of martial arts tournament?”
Why would there be a martial arts tournament at this time of the year?
Curious, Un-hyung asked, and Ju grinned as he replied.
“I’m not sure about the details, but I heard it’s going to be held in honor of the new young master.”
“Oh, I see.”
A commemorative event, huh.
“Come to think of it, they say this young master is a prodigy from a shaman family.”
“Well, that happened quite a while ago, didn’t it?”
Ju’s words were correct.
The shaman’s young master, Mungang Geomseon, had been in the position of the young master for three years now.
At the time, he was the first young master from a martial family, and during the turbulent times, everyone was worried. But…
“He’s been leading us well, and it’s been a pleasure to watch.”
“Um.”
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Mungang Geomseon managed to gain the people’s favor.
In a time of upheaval with the emergence of the Red Demons, he did the first thing as the new young master: reorganize the martial arts schools in each region.
With the threat of the Blue Demons significantly reduced due to the changing times, some small schools or obscure sects in the regions were blocked from entering the martial arts schools. However…
As the Red Demons appeared, causing cracks in the world, Mungang Geomseon first placed more martial schools in various regions.
Furthermore…
“On top of that, the recruitment of new disciples has increased.”
“With more schools placed, there’s naturally more need for personnel.”
Originally, the martial schools were a place where ordinary people couldn’t enter. Only those from prestigious families or those who had gained fame in the central plains could go to the martial arts schools. But now, anyone who was a nobody and passed the test could become a member of the martial arts schools.
Because being a martial arts disciple came with tremendous honor, many people took the test.
Among them, outstanding talents rose to prominence and became members of the martial arts schools.
With the increase in the number of disciples, the damages caused by the Red Demons still existed, but the situation became more manageable.
“Oh, by the way, I heard that your grandfather’s grandson became a disciple this time.”
“Really? The boy who used to shout that he’d become a nobody in the future actually made it?”
Un-hyung chuckled at the news.
“The world has changed a lot. It’s just been a few years.”
“That’s all thanks to the young master, Un-hyung.”
“This guy always attributes everything to the young master. Anyway, tell me more about the martial arts tournament. They say it’s related to the martial arts schools?”
“Well, don’t be surprised by what I’m about to tell you. Rumor has it that they will be selecting the next Shindragon.”
Upon hearing Ju’s words, Un-hyung’s eyes widened with disbelief. It was only natural.
“…Shin, Shinryongdae?”
Shinryongdae (神龍隊), or the Divine Dragon Squad, was a prestigious faction within the martial arts world, consisting of elite martial artists. It was the direct unit of the Martial Arts Young Master and had long been regarded as the symbol of the martial arts world.
Known for their unparalleled martial prowess, they were among the best in the generation, and some of the most outstanding individuals were selected to join their ranks. The leader of Shinryongdae often went on to become the next Martial Arts Young Master, a tradition passed down through generations.
However…
“That… Isn’t the Shinryongdae the disbanded unit from the past?”
By now, it was just a remnant of the past.
In the past, during the time of the Martial Arts Young Master, a group of Shinryongdae members had ventured into the Grand Makyung Gate in Hanaam. However, except for a few, most of them perished in the incident.
As a result, the then Martial Arts Young Master stepped down, and Shinryongdae was practically dissolved.
Several decades had passed since then.
The idea of Shinryongdae reemerging seemed far-fetched.
“Are they saying that Shinryongdae is coming back now?”
“Well, why not? It would be great if they do.”
“…Well, that’s true.”
Ju’s words were valid.
The Central Plains’ martial artists always revered the masters, and Shinryongdae symbolized the prowess of martial arts.
For them, the reemergence of Shinryongdae was nothing short of a thrilling prospect.
“If this works out, they might even restart the Yongbong Association, don’t you think?”
Ju said with excitement, referring to the annual event that hadn’t been held since the aftermath of the Siji massacre in Shinryongguan. It used to be a festival showcasing the emergence of new talents and the future leaders of the Central Plains.
Especially in this generation, known for their exceptional abilities, the disappointment at the event’s cancellation was palpable.
“But there’s not even a single hint of confirmation. It’s just baseless rumors spreading around.”
The biggest problem caused by the Yongbong Association’s suspension was this.
The generation hailed as the most exceptional was left unknown to the world, leading to rampant speculation.
Rumors like “[The disciple of a certain rumor faction gained enlightenment and broke through a barrier]” or “[A certain master from the previous generation was reborn as a genius]” abounded.
Among them, the most widely circulated tales were related to the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes (육룡삼봉, 六龍三鳳), without a doubt.
Even within this small tavern, such stories had been heard dozens of times.
“Geomryong supposedly received personal instruction from Saramim.”
Jeil Kaejae, a member of the Five Phoenixes, was said to have learned martial arts from Saramim and finally cultivated a plum tree.
“Noryong is said to have gone into seclusion.”
Noryong (Thunder Dragon), Nam Gung Chun-joon, was reportedly actively learning swordsmanship from his father, Geomwang, but for some reason, he didn’t leave his quarters.
“What about Turyong and Jangryong? There are no particular stories about them.”
“Turyong has always been quiet, but there’s no specific story about Jangryong.”
“What story?”
“I heard someone saw him in the Northern Sea.”
“The Northern Sea?”
How could Jangryong, who should be in the shaman realm, appear in such a place?
Since outsiders were strictly forbidden to enter the Northern Sea, the rumor itself was likely baseless, and few people would believe it.
Apart from that, the various unverifiable rumors continued to grow.
Sanseo’s Geombong had achieved enlightenment in Hwayeong.
Seolbong unexpectedly joined the Moyongga faction.
Then there was the significant event caused by the Damun; the Dangmun’s bloodline, Dokbong, entering the Chulyeonsalsuda faction.
All these unbelievable stories were circulating during that period.
“Un-hyung, have you heard about this?”
“What are they saying now?”
“This time, a new Shinryong has been chosen.”
“Huh?”
Un-hyung’s expression became more puzzled after listening to Ju’s words. Just a moment ago, he was lamenting the suspension of the Yongbong Association.
“All of a sudden, they’re talking about a new Shinryong. It’s absurd, right?”
“Well, it is strange, especially coming from nowhere. But it seems it’s official news released by the Martial Arts Young Master’s sect.”
“From the Martial Arts Young Master’s sect…?”
“Yes, it seems a post-warrior has become the new Shinryong in the So-rim Faction. And… brace yourself.”
Ju was about to reveal something extraordinary.
“…This new Shinryong is, believe it or not, a martial artist from Hwayeong.”
“What?”
The words that cautiously escaped Ju’s mouth were quite shocking.
“Hwayeong…? And even a post-warrior?”
Even if they had reached their peak, it was still surprising.
To think that someone at the post-warrior level would reach Hwayeong, that was an absurd claim.
How could a Hwayeong martial artist emerge from a post-warrior?
It was utterly inconceivable.
“Whether you believe it or not, it’s what the sect officially announced,” Ju replied.
“No matter what they say, does it even make sense?” Un-hyung questioned.
“What’s wrong with hoping it’s true?” Ju said, trying to maintain a cheerful demeanor.
Un-hyung gave a faint smile in response.
“Sure, but… It’s just that it sounds too unbelievable.”
Ju understood Un-hyung’s doubts and his complex feelings in the midst of these tumultuous times.
The current era was experiencing a series of events and the emergence of the Red Makyung Gate, leading to a period of upheaval. The Central Plains had been constantly changing for several years, causing anxiety among many.
The solution to this anxiety was often a hope for a brighter future, a possibility of overcoming the current challenges. And it usually came in the form of a certain existence, referred to as “hope” by the Central Plains people.
In such a turbulent era, the appearance of a Hwayeong martial artist directly announced by the Maeng was undoubtedly enough to quell the anxieties of many.
Ju was probably thinking along the same lines when he spoke with a peculiar expression.
However, Un-hyung had a different train of thought, recalling someone else.
“A few years ago, there was someone else…”
He tried to remember the name, but it seemed to have slipped his mind. That person’s actions had been quiet compared to the massive rumors surrounding them.
For the past three years, there had been no significant rumors about that person. The topic had become relatively quiet compared to the commotion of the past.
“He’s Geombong’s younger brother and should belong to the Gu faction.”
Un-hyung pondered, unable to recall the name. Fortunately, the nickname was firmly etched in his mind.
“His nickname was Soyeomra (소염라, 小閻羅).”
Ju nodded in recognition, recalling the same person.
“Ah, right! That friend also existed. I wonder how he’s doing now.”
“He’s from a noble family, so he must be doing well.”
“That’s true.”
Un-hyung smirked and took another sip of his drink.
“There’s no need for us to worry about how well he’s living.”
“Yes.”
Despite the lighthearted conversation before, their voices now carried a sense of complexity.
“…Has he still not been caught?”
Ju nodded in response to Un-hyung’s question.
“It’s terrifying.”
“Indeed, that’s an understatement. A murderer…”
Their conversation took a darker turn, and the atmosphere in the tavern turned chilly, not only for them but for everyone present.
The term “murderer” had spread throughout the current generation, becoming a recent rumor in the Central Plains.
It had been happening for the past month in some part of the province: every morning, when the sun rose, dismembered corpses were found. The bodies were in a gruesome state, indicating that they had suffered a brutal death.
Despite a month passing since the first discovery, the culprit remained at large, and such incidents continued to occur every few days. It was putting a strain on the martial artists who were already occupied with the menace of demons.
In the past, they would have prioritized such cases due to the lower threat level posed by demons. However, in the current situation, they couldn’t afford to shift their focus.
Ju sighed as he tried to grasp the situation. He expressed his desire for the criminal to be caught so they could see their face.
Un-hyung pointed out that it was impossible to understand the mind of such a deranged individual. The way these people killed their victims, dismembering them with a sharp sword, was a horrifying and merciless technique.
Ju then mused about the possibility of capturing the criminal alive to know the reasons behind these atrocities.
Just then, a sound came from a corner of the tavern. Someone was quietly rising from their seat.
The figure that stood up was a young man with disheveled, long hair, and an unusual feature: his eyes were a bright yellow color.
With a serene expression, the young man turned his gaze toward Ju and Un-hyung. He was holding a sword at his waist.
As he took a step forward, Ju told him to sit down, and the young man paused.
However, the man didn’t follow the suggestion and continued to approach them.
Ju asked, “Who are you?”
The young man replied casually, “I heard this place has good food. I’ve been eating terrible stuff lately, so I came here to enjoy some decent food.”
The man’s nonchalant attitude annoyed Un-hyung.
“Do you know what you’re doing? This is not a place to act like that.”
The man then asked Ju, “Do you know? This food is so tasty that I can’t stand the smell of blood. Do you understand?”
The young man’s remark gave Ju a slight shiver, and his eyes widened as he realized the true intention behind the words.
Then, with a sudden movement, the young man swung his sword. But before he could hit his target, he found himself pushed back, flying through the air, and crashing into a wall.
The sound of the impact resonated throughout the room.
The collapsed wall sent wood fragments and dust scattering in all directions, causing everyone in the tavern to startle. Amidst the chaos, the figure wielding the brush continued to remain calm and composed.
Without moving an inch, he nonchalantly picked up a few more dumplings and resumed eating them. The only change was that his gaze was now fixated on the shattered wall.
He looked at the ruined wall with a slight smile on his face and mused, “As expected.”
The smile sent shivers down the spines of the tavern’s patrons, who quickly distanced themselves. The reason for their fear was evident.
“You enjoy watching others suffer, don’t you?” The man’s smile was unsettling and eerie.
His smile was so unnerving that it made his otherwise ordinary face look terrifying.