Childhood Friend of the Zenith - Chapter 542
The ancient song that protects the mountain.
The mountain behind that ancient song.
Whoooosh….
The wind blew there.
Like the spring breeze that gently swayed the flowers.
It wrapped the flower-covered mountain in a faint embrace.
Whooosh-!
With each caress of the wind, the flower petals fluttered.
Though it appeared serene, there was a definite power within.
The wind continued its path through the forest, reaching the summit.
Following the end, a meadow of blooming flowers came into view.
The strange thing was that the wind was not blowing in one direction but swirling around a certain center.
In the center of the meadow, the wind was wrapping around someone.
In that center stood a woman.
She was a blonde woman enfolded by the wind.
With her hair shining like daylight and her skin almost transparently white.
Her sharp nose and delicately tinged lips resembled flower petals.
Her appearance seemed to encapsulate and concentrate the word “beauty.”
Just looking at her, one could feel an unsettling aura as she closed her eyes and felt the wind.
“…Huff….”
As she exhaled softly, the wind rustled.
The wind’s speed, which had increased somewhat, remained constant, and feeling this, the woman moved her hand.
Though there was nothing in her hand, the shape of her hand seemed to be holding something.
Swish.
Her arm slowly moved upward.
Then, as the woman was about to swing her hand through the air.
Startled.
“…!”
The woman’s brow slightly furrowed.
Fwooosh-! Bang-!
With a harsh sound, the rampaging wind vanished from sight.
The surroundings suddenly became calm.
The woman opened her eyes, still in the same position.
The woman let out a sigh of regret.
“Ah….”
Her sigh was filled with disappointment.
She had failed once again in what she had attempted.
“It seems not to be as I wish.”
Suddenly, a voice was heard, and the blonde woman, Weiselah, turned her head.
The direction of her gaze led to an old man standing behind her.
Dressed neatly in robes with his hair tied back.
Even his sharp eyes were filled with a blue hue.
His well-built physique and the sword at his waist hinted at his martial background.
The appearance of the old man revealed that he was not an ordinary person; he was Heaven’s Chosen, the Celestial Master of the Namgung Clan.
As the Celestial Master, he smiled lightly when he saw Weiselah’s bow of courtesy.
“I greet the esteemed Heavenly Master.”
Upon hearing the old man’s words, Weiselah lightly smiled in return, slightly bowing her head.
“Please do not apologize. I was about to stop anyway.”
Weiselah’s words made the Celestial Master smile more.
“Not easy, is it?”
“…”
“Well, it shouldn’t be easy. That’s only natural.”
The Celestial Master continued, making a gesture towards Weiselah.
“Don’t be too hasty. Just capturing a clue is already an impressive feat.”
“…All thanks to the esteemed Heavenly Master’s teachings.”
“I’m flattered, but that’s not true. I merely offered you some advice. It is your own power that caught it.”
…
Weiselah lightly smiled at the Celestial Master’s words and then slightly lowered her head.
“Thank you.”
“Of course, you’re welcome.”
The Celestial Master brushed his beard thoughtfully, recalling the wind Weiselah had conjured just now.
Fast yet powerful.
It wasn’t natural wind but wind conjured solely by Weiselah’s power.
Moreover, it wasn’t even written magic.
Thus, the Celestial Master was taken aback by the situation.
“The young one is already…”
Is she trying to reach the realm of “Shinsang” already?
The Celestial Master pondered this astonishing situation.
Despite having given only a few pieces of advice.
With just those little things, she was creating a sword within her heart.
And so, the Celestial Master felt a peculiar emotion welling up in his heart.
A deep emotion he wanted to avoid.
Just then.
“Tam-in-say-o?”
“…”
The voice from behind made the Celestial Master let out a sigh. When he turned around, he saw a young man sitting on the nearby rocks. The man had black hair and was dressed in dark-colored robes. The Celestial Master spoke as he observed him.
“That’s not it.”
“Just by looking at your eyes, I can tell you’re curious. There’s no need to pretend.”
The young man, no, the other Celestial Master, Feijon, took a sip of the drink he was holding before speaking to the Celestial Master.
“Anyone would want to pick up such expensive gems rolling on the ground. But you should refrain from it. That girl is not within the same realm as you.”
With just a few pieces of advice, he had built his own realm and found the key to the Heart Sword (Shingyeom).
He was merely in his twenties.
The Celestial Master had found the key well beyond his youth. To think that she found it at such a young age, it was only natural for Feijon to be jealous.
At Feijon’s words, the Celestial Master let out a bitter smile.
“…I know. Don’t worry. I understand that she’s not in a position to have such desires.”
Speaking in a somewhat moist voice, the Celestial Master suddenly noticed the frown on Feijon’s face.
“Ah, I feel so out of place now. The taste of this alcohol has dropped.”
Feijon looked as if he found it entertaining.
That worthless and unlucky human had changed so much.
Feijon could never adapt to this situation no matter how many years had passed.
“Tsk, I wonder what Googaju did to the senior.”
“Googaju should always be grateful.”
“Ha.”
At the Celestial Master’s affectionate tone, Feijon threw the bottle he was holding without warning. It meant he couldn’t drink anymore.
“Senior, are you really losing your mind? I’m genuinely worried.”
“What does it look like? If this is losing my mind, then I’d rather have it this way.”
“Or, maybe it’s not that…”
Feijon must have intended to tell the Celestial Master about the sword manual.
He decided to swallow the words he had been trying to say.
The Celestial Master probably wouldn’t tell him anything about Googaju, the old man.
Knowing that, the Celestial Master continued with a smile.
“If you’re going to show such kindness, wouldn’t it be better to show it to your disciples?”
Living in the Namgung Clan yet not showing any interest in its members, Feijon found that puzzling.
In response to that, Feijon made a face as if to say it was nonsensical.
“If you’re going to tell me that, is it something I should hear from you?”
“…”
Feijon slightly closed his mouth at the Celestial Master’s words. It was a fitting remark.
Since Feijon wasn’t interested in the members of his own bloodline, there was nothing to say to the Celestial Master about it.
As if acknowledging this, the Celestial Master spoke with a smile still on his face.
“At least I have no intention of taking others’ children as my disciples.”
“Tch.”
Feijon clicked his tongue, thinking about how a person would dare to address him as his disciple.
“I still have good instincts. Senior.”
“Ha ha.”
As the Celestial Master laughed, Feijon pulled a scroll from his pocket and threw it at him.
The Celestial Master lightly caught the scroll and looked at Feijon.
His gaze seemed to ask, “What is this?”
“The morning kid brought it to me. It seems to be the symbol of the Wumang Sect, and that kid is up to something.”
Rustle.
Hearing the words, the Celestial Master unfurled the scroll.
The first thing that appeared was a Chinese character representing the Wumang Sect. And there were words written after it.
– The opening of the Shindragon Martial Arts Festival.
…
Seeing this, the Celestial Master wiped the smile from his lips.
“The Wumang Sect… What about that kid?”
“Does it matter? It looks interesting anyway.”
…
Feijon laughed, and the Celestial Master’s expression seemed to be lost in thought.
“It seems like I’ve sent that too.”
The Celestial Master had sent the scroll to his disciple as well.
“So, whether she goes home or to Hanam, it’ll be fine.”
It would be easy to meet in either place. Then, after that…
“I’ll have to toughen up after a long time.”
The tender touches between the priests were planned.
The problem here is…
“These days, it seems that doesn’t go well either.”
Unlike in the past, his disciple’s body seemed to be less receptive to spells.
“Anyway, it doesn’t matter much.”
Feijon forced himself to ignore the mixed feeling of excitement and enthusiasm.
“Besides, I think she’ll be fine now.”
“What do you mean?”
When the Celestial Master asked, Feijon smiled.
“At least, it seems like she’s doing well now.”
Feijon looked at the Celestial Master with his characteristic black eyes and said, “I don’t think she’ll go and fight anymore.”
“…”
“Even if I tell her not to go, she’s not the type to listen.”
As he spoke, Feijon clenched his fist.
“Look at her now. She’s not even coming back despite me telling her not to.”
He had said he was going to the Kuangdong region. He said he would definitely come back since he still had training to do.
The next morning, she had disappeared without anyone knowing.
Leaving only one scroll, saying she would return soon.
“So, I sent that too.”
The Celestial Master received the scroll from Feijon, and Feijon continued.
“If she does come back home or to Hanam, we’ll meet again.”
It would be easy to meet. And then…
“I might as well send her off.”
Feijon said as if it were a ridiculous thought.
“But she’s still not listening to me. She didn’t come back just now.”
He must have said Kuangdong or something. It meant he would go there and come back after finishing his training.
But she disappeared without a trace.
“Anyway, I don’t really care.”
Feijon laughed, as if he was filled with fire and enthusiasm.
“Besides, now she’s probably okay.”
“What do you mean?”
When the Celestial Master asked, Feijon smiled.
“At least, I think she’s okay now.”
Feijon’s eyes that seemed so dark showed concern.
More accurately, it was not just concern for the individual, but concern for the world.
Is it okay to let her go into the world?
Is the world not pitiful?
It felt like that.
Seeming to understand this, the Celestial Master couldn’t help but shudder slightly.
He must have known what kind of monster Feijon had created.
***
In a forest in the Guangdong region:
“Ah-choo!”
Amidst his busy day, a sudden sneeze escaped from him.
“Ugh, darn it.”
He raised his hand to wipe his nose, and there was a bit of mucus stuck to his clothes. He quickly wiped it off.
Am I catching a cold?
“Can’t be.”
He didn’t think he, with his sturdy constitution, would catch a cold. Maybe it’s just an itchy ear.
“Who’s talking bad about me?”
That thought came to him naturally.
The problem is…
“Who could it be?”
There are so many potential people to curse at him that he doesn’t know who it might be.
“Well, someone must be doing it.”
To be honest, he didn’t really care.
A few curses won’t hurt. It’s not like he’ll die from them, so he didn’t pay much attention to it.
Of course, if they cursed him to his face, he’d probably break their front teeth. But since he doesn’t see them right now, it doesn’t matter.
In any case, what’s important now isn’t that.
He looked up at the sky. When he raised his gaze, he saw a reddish sky.
It was quite an unusual sight for midnight.
“Hmm…”
No matter how you look at it, that’s what it is.
As he took a bite of deer meat, he felt a reaction from his side.
-Crunch.
The little guy, who was lying down as if he were sleeping, showed his teeth. It seemed like he was regaining his appetite.
Seeing that, he asked, “Are you hungry?”
-Crunch.
He growled as if in agreement, and a slight headache came over him.
“Why are you always hungry? It’s not cost-effective at all.”
Even after eating everything he saw on the way, he’s still hungry?
-Crunch…
I sighed, feeling a bit annoyed. What’s the point of saying that you’re hungry?
“Alright, good things are good, I guess.”
After swallowing the meat he was eating in one bite, he got up.
The little guy also got up at the same time.
Then, with a thud-! a loud sound, his body began to grow at the same time as the little guy’s body.
As his body grew, it became quite huge.
Even though the space for a bonfire was not too narrow, it was still surrounded by his body.
“What’s funny is that it’s not just growing.”
If he wanted to, he could grow even bigger. It’s just that it’s too conspicuous, so he doesn’t do it.
Probably because he fed him so much.
As the days passed, his body grew, and now he reached a point where he couldn’t grow any bigger.
“It’s not because of the food, though.”
Of course, growing bigger wouldn’t be due to eating a lot. If you look for the reason…
“It’s probably because my energy has gotten stronger.”
That was his guess, and it seemed plausible.
As his energy grew stronger, the little guy’s body also got bigger.
“Maybe that’s why it’s taking too much energy to shrink him down now.”
He wasn’t sure why, but because the little guy had the ability to transform his body.
Keeping that size hidden was easy.
But as his body grew bigger, it took too much energy to do so.
“Even now…”
“The amount you eat has also increased.”
-Crunch?
“You eat a lot, damn it.”
Though the little guy must have understood, he just swished his tail without paying attention. It seemed like he was getting more brazen lately.
“Sigh.”
Suppressing a sigh, I poked him.
Then,
-Crunch-!
He growled fiercely as he bounced up from the ground.
Paaang-!
His massive body let out a thunderous roar, and the dust flew in all directions. The little guy’s gaze was fixed at the center of the red sky.
Seeing that, I spoke.
“Keep it quiet. Deal with it calmly. Don’t go around wrecking everything like last time.”
-Crunch.
He nodded as if understanding, but I wasn’t so sure. There had been a few incidents in the past.
Not too long ago, he was somewhat timid and adorable. Now, he seems to be getting more ferocious.
“Is he going through adolescence or something?”
It seemed like all demons go through that phase, but I couldn’t think of any other reason.
In no time, the little guy disappeared from sight, and I attempted to finish my meal again.
“Hmm?”
I felt a strong presence from a distance.
About seven people?
“Hmm.”
Feeling intrigued, I expanded my senses.
The aura spread from my toes and covered the surrounding forest. Then, I noticed a group of people rushing towards me.
“Looks like the Maengui group.”
I smiled inwardly.
It was quite fortunate as I was having some business in the Guangdong region. I thought of checking them out while I was here.
“Finding them has been more difficult than I expected.”
According to my memories, they were active in this area around this time.
Since this was before their nicknames and names became well-known, it made finding them challenging.
If things were as they usually were, they should have left the Guangdong region by now. But they seemed to be lingering around, wasting my time.
In this situation, I could at least smile and feel that things worked out nicely.
“Maybe I should ask them some questions.”
Saying that, I changed my direction.
No need to rush.
Since they seemed to be heading in the same direction, I could afford to take my time.