Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"Why haven’t we left yet?

"The innocent question, as if the speaker truly didn’t understand, was met with silence.

Perhaps it was because the sudden situation left me speechless.

I couldn’t think of anything to say.

‘What is this?

’Why is that man here?

I had gone out of my way to avoid causing a commotion and kept my mouth shut.

So how in the world did he end up here?

Countless thoughts flashed through my mind.

Especially now—it was the worst time to face him.

‘Considering I just sold out that old man…’Thinking about the "things" I had done involving Paejon, I couldn’t even bring myself to look him in the eye.

If he were to find out later about how I used his name for certain purposes...

‘It wouldn’t end with me just getting folded in half.

’Disciple or not, he’d likely rip off my limbs and scatter them in different rivers.

That man was entirely capable of it.

As I broke into a cold sweat at the thought, Paejon watched me silently before breaking the silence with a question.

"Why do you look like that?

You’re like someone caught stealing.

""...

What are you talking about?

When have I ever stolen anything?

"His perceptiveness was annoyingly sharp.

"That’s what makes it strange—""When did you two start acting like siblings?

""Ahaha, yes, that’s—"Moyong Hee-ah’s interjection caused Paejon to change his tone abruptly.

"Haha!

Must be my tongue acting up this morning.

""…"His clumsy attempt to smooth things over felt laughable, but of course, I kept that thought to myself.

“Uh, Young Master Bi.

”—Elder.

“Yes.

”—What is it, old man?

“Are you planning to join us?

”—Why would I, an elder, tag along?

Stay home quietly.

“It seems fun.

I could be of some help, so why not take me along?

”—Shut up and take him.

—Unless you want to die.

"…" "Ahaha.

"In the brief exchange, his true intentions were clear.

The final comment, in particular, sent a chill down my spine.

It conveyed Paejon’s unyielding determination not to be left behind.

As much as I wanted to ditch him outright...

‘It’s not like he’s someone you can just abandon.

’It would take everyone here working together just to push him back, and even then, it would be uncertain.

And if we somehow managed to push him away...

‘In the process…’I glanced briefly at Tang So-yeol and Moyong Hee-ah.

‘Who knows what he might do to them.

’You’d think I’d have some trust in my master, but...

‘I don’t.

Why would I?

’If there’s anyone in the current martial world who knows Paejon well, I’d rank among the top ten.

That man sees nothing beyond martial arts.

Even I, his disciple, am merely a stepping stone for his personal ambitions.

He’s a man too lazy to step outside but conveniently residing in the orthodox sects.

That’s the Paejon I know.

"Huuh…"I let out a low sigh.

Now that Paejon had decided, there was no escape.

"Please… behave yourself?

"—Please don’t cause any trouble.

"Living to hear such warnings from the Young Master Gu himself is a novel experience, I must say.

"—You’re the last person I want to hear that from.

—Are you testing me?

"…"After a completely unproductive conversation, I clicked my tongue lightly and turned forward.

“…Let’s get going.

”Just thinking about traveling with that man gave me a headache already.

But what could I do?

This was all my karma.

Of all people to choose as a master, why did it have to be someone like him?

I truly was cursed with terrible luck.

Suppressing my irritation, I tapped lightly on the maunt.

"Hey, let’s move as quickly as we—"“U-uh, excuse me…”The voice from behind made me frown deeply.

It was Yuri.

“What now?

”“If… if we’re going, how… how are we supposed to go?

”She was trembling as if she already had an idea but didn’t want to believe it.

Her anxious eyes darted around nervously.

It seemed she had hoped her guess was wrong.

Looking at her, I laughed and said, "Haha, what’s wrong?

Surely, you’re not worried about flying?

"Hearing my lighthearted comment, hope flickered in Yuri’s expression.

"Of course not!

Flying?

That’s ridiculous.

I mean, there’s no way—""Correct.

Smart guess.

"Tap.

Without letting her finish, I nudged the riding dragon with my foot.

And then—Whoooosh!!!

The massive body of the maunt flew into the air.

"Kyyaaaaaaaaaah!!!

"Yuri screamed and clung tightly to my back.

Her shrill cries echoed loudly.

The wind rushed past my face.

The speed was still something I couldn’t fully get used to.

Barely able to adjust to the sudden rise, I held on to the dragon as it leveled off in the air.

Only then did the landscape open before me.

The vast lands of Zhongyuan stretched beneath the clouds.

The breeze brushing against my cheeks was refreshingly cool, unlike the summer heat one might expect.

‘Not bad.

’It was one of the few things I genuinely enjoyed in my current life.

Of course…“Uuuugh!!

We’re flying!

This is insane!

What the hell is this?!

”The person behind me didn’t seem to share the sentiment.

Growl!

The dragon was steadily picking up speed as I asked.

At the same time, I set up a barrier in front of us.

The wind was too strong, and without it, someone might fall off.

‘At this speed, how long will it take?

’Without knowing the exact distance, it was hard to calculate, but I estimated the round trip would take about a month.

Flying nonstop would be faster, but that wasn’t possible.

At the very least, we’d need to rest once every three days.

That’s how I arrived at my estimate.

So…‘That leaves just under a month to resolve everything.

’Since I had to return within two months, it meant everything had to be dealt with in that timeframe.

Could I manage it?

I didn’t know.

But I had to try.

This was something I started knowing the stakes.

While steeling myself and reviewing my plans step by step…"Ugh… I think I’m going to vomit…""…"The voice from behind made me close my eyes.

Should I knock her out?

The impulse struck again, but I held back.

Dealing with someone unconscious would only be more of a hassle.

‘…We’ll get there eventually.

’As always, enduring was the only way.

With that thought, I let time pass.

Fortunately, we arrived at our destination faster than expected.

On the seventh night from the moment of our departure…We reached the North Sea.

******************We crossed mountains and traversed the sea.

There was enough to talk about for an entire night, given all that had happened.

But this wasn’t the right time to bring it up.

This journey wasn’t easy by any stretch.

I had anticipated it, but traveling like this was vastly different from using a carriage.

The speed was dozens of times faster, but the main issue was fatigue.

We couldn’t sleep properly, day or night, forcing us to stay up.

Since no one could take turns standing guard and everyone had to stay awake, our exhaustion doubled.

Although we stopped to rest every three days for the dragon, the breaks were good for us as well.

The speed was impressive, but from a personal perspective, I wouldn’t want to do this again.

If we had taken a more relaxed pace, it might have been fine, but the urgency of this journey made it especially grueling.

Even with my body enhanced by my Hwagyeong level of cultivation, this was the result.

“Ugh…”Yuri, who was only at the level of a first-rate martial artist, looked like she was dying every day.

She seemed to be trying hard not to show it.

But some things couldn’t be hidden.

At least she wasn’t whining, which was a relief.

‘She probably knows better.

’We were making this journey to the Ice Palace, which had descended into chaos because of her request.

What right did she have to complain?

She needed to keep her mouth shut and follow along quietly.

If she had whined the whole way…‘I would’ve just left her behind.

’Whether it was on a mountain or at sea, I really would have abandoned her.

She had avoided that fate by keeping her complaints to herself.

‘At least there’s one good thing.

’Whoosh!

A sharp gust of wind brushed my cheek, making me frown.

The wind was too cold.

Far too cold for summer.

Feeling the icy chill, I slowly lowered our altitude.

As we descended, the clouds parted, and a scene began to reveal itself.

It had been seven days and nights since we departed from Zhongyuan.

We had arrived in the northern martial world, at the North Sea.

It was earlier than I had expected.

“Wow…”Tang So-yeol let out a soft exclamation at the sight.

Snow was falling all around us.

Snow in the middle of summer—it was a surreal scene.

What about the ground below?

The snow was piled high, covering the earth completely.

Here and there, mountains stood tall.

Were they all made of ice?

‘They said this sight would be mysterious to people from Zhongyuan.

’That description was spot-on.

It was so unfamiliar, how could it not be mysterious?

The vast land stretched far into the distance.

Everywhere, snow fell without pause.

Everything was white.

There was something oddly unsettling about the view, though it was undeniably beautiful.

‘It’s strangely ominous.

’For some reason, my chest felt heavy, as if something was off.

Was I getting motion sickness from all this flying?

‘Tch.

’I ignored the feeling and scanned my surroundings.

Turning to Yuri, I asked, “Hey, where are we supposed to go?

”“Ah…”My words snapped Yuri back to reality.

While I was leading the journey, she was the one directing us.

“You mentioned a safe location.

”“We… we need to head west from here.

”Growl.

Hearing her words, the dragon changed course.

“If we head west, there should be a large iceberg.

That’s where the warriors are stationed.

”After days of barely staying conscious, Yuri seemed more lively now that we were back in the North Sea.

Her stammering speech had smoothed out, and a spark of energy had returned to her eyes.

Just a few days ago, she had looked like a corpse.

A large iceberg, huh.

I recalled what she had said earlier about the Ice Palace’s forces being stationed there.

I turned to her and asked, “How did they know when we’d arrive to wait for us?

”“I made sure they would stay until I returned.

”“…Even though you didn’t know how long you’d be gone?

”How could they have prepared to wait indefinitely, especially during wartime?

“The hideout is completely secure.

We also stocked six months' worth of supplies—food, water, everything.

”“Six months.

That’s the limit, then.

”“…Yes.

”They had endured for half a year, waiting for the little lady to return from Zhongyuan.

In other words…‘Her role was that important.

’It also meant that, even if a rebellion had occurred…‘They believed they could hold out for six months.

’That must have been the reasoning.

We slowed down our pace to search for the location.

As soon as we entered the North Sea, I surrounded the dragon with an energy barrier to conceal its presence.

Given its massive size, moving carelessly could draw attention.

As we continued on, Yuri pointed to a spot.

“There.

”Following her finger, I saw a massive iceberg distinct from the surrounding landscape.

Growl.

Confirming the sight, the dragon began its descent.

Whoosh!

As he landed on the ground, a gust of wind mixed with snow came over him.

At least this time, the landing was gentle.

It seemed all my nagging had finally paid off.

Thud.

I stepped onto the ground, sinking slightly into the deep snow.

Growl.

The dragon let out a low rumble and began to clench its body.

The reduction in size was drastic—now it was dozens of times smaller than before.

It seemed exhausted from expending so much energy.

“Rest somewhere nearby.

”Growl.

The dragon replied and flew away, disappearing into the distance.

Even in the North Sea, there were monsters, so it would likely keep itself busy.

When needed, I could summon it back.

Wrapping my legs in energy, I took a step forward.

This time, my feet didn’t sink into the snow but remained on its surface.

It felt like stepping on solid ground—a method to avoid leaving footprints.

Paejon and Tang So-yeol were, of course, doing the same.

Seong Yul had already adjusted without needing instruction.

Seeing this, I extended my energy toward Yuri.

Hum…“…!

”Yuri floated into the air, startled.

I had lifted her using my energy.

Covering her mouth with her hands, she stifled the scream that nearly escaped.

With her level of skill, she wouldn’t have been able to do this on her own.

I had to take charge.

‘I’d rather not carry her myself.

’Yuri seemed to understand the situation, staying silent without complaining.

At least she had some sense.

Glancing at her, I noticed she was pointing again.

Following her lead, I nodded.

So that’s the direction.

We slowly walked in the direction Yuri indicated.

After about five hundred paces, we arrived at the massive ice wall we had spotted earlier.

Once there, Yuri extended her right hand, gesturing forward with her left.

She wanted me to send her closer.

I complied, letting her approach the wall.

Placing her right hand against the ice, she triggered a reaction.

Woooong…!

The ice wall began to tremble, emitting a faint light.

As I watched curiously, the wall shifted.

Rumble…The surface moved, forming a rectangular passage.

It was clear at a glance.

‘An entrance.

’This was the way in.

Without hesitation, I stepped forward.

Tap.

The sound of my footstep echoed as I entered.

The passage wasn’t long, and it didn’t take much time before I emerged into a new space.

It was a vast, circular area.

A few crates were scattered around, and the warmth I felt in the passage was more concentrated here.

Yet, it was still colder than Zhongyuan.

Then…“Aah!

”“My lady…!?

”Two men who had been inside noticed us and quickly rose to their feet.

Looking at their attire, I thought…‘Fur-lined clothing, huh.

’Thick garments designed to withstand the cold.

Over them, they wore what seemed to be metal plates—a unique design.

It looked cumbersome for martial arts.

As I examined them, Yuri spoke.

“They’re warriors of the palace.

”Her voice was full of relief.

Hearing that, I carefully set her down.

“My lady, you’ve returned…”“It’s such a relief.

Are you hurt anywhere, my lady?

”The warriors approached cautiously, concern evident in their voices.

Yuri responded to their questions.

“I’m fine… Thankfully, everything went well.

How is the palace lord?

”“The palace lord…”One of the men frowned deeply.

“…is not in good condition.

”“What…!

”Yuri’s face twisted with concern.

She pressed them urgently for details.

“The time has not yet come!

What happened?

”“That’s…”“For now, explanations can wait.

You must return to the palace immediately.

”“…Ah.

”Yuri turned to me, apologetic.

“I’m sorry.

It seems the situation is urgent.

We must—”But I wasn’t listening.

I tilted my head slightly, looking at the men.

Yuri furrowed her brow.

“Excuse me, the red badge—”“How should we handle this one?

”Before Yuri could finish, Paejon interrupted.

Hearing this, I addressed him.

“You’re going to step in?

”“Hmm, my body’s been feeling stiff.

I’ll help.

”“Then take the left one.

That one seems easier to interrogate.

”“I figured as much.

”“Wait, what are you talking abou—”Before Yuri could process what was happening, I moved.

Whoosh!

I darted toward the warriors.

“Huh?!

”“What the—!

”They reacted with shock, fumbling for their weapons.

Too late.

I grabbed the neck of the man on the right.

Crack!

“Grrk…!

”With a swift twist, his neck snapped.

Thud.

The man collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Looking to the left, I saw Paejon had already subdued the other.

He was holding the unconscious man by his collar.

It had all happened in an instant.

Yuri’s eyes widened in shock as she shouted.

“Wh-what are you doing!?

Why would you attack the warriors!?

”“Warriors, my ass.

”I looked at her.

“Do these guys still look like your warriors to you?

”“W-what?

”Yuri stammered, unable to comprehend.

I clicked my tongue silently.

She had insisted the hideout was secure.

Secure, my foot.

Annoyance bubbled up within me.

We’d barely arrived at the North Sea, and this was what greeted us.

Tap, tap.

I nudged the dead man’s body with my foot and said to Yuri.

“These guys.

”These bastards.

“They’re enemies.

”They weren’t on our side.