Childhood Friend of the Zenith

“What...?

” Oil Sword’s face hardened as he stared at the woman.

Locking eyes with her faintly glowing light-green pupils, his temper began to stir.

“What did you just say?

” A chilling aura spread across the ground.

“Ah...!?

” “What the...!

” The surrounding martial artists flinched, their bodies trembling.

The overwhelming aura of a Hwagyeong-level master began to permeate the surroundings.

Spectators clutched themselves as though struck by an icy wind, while {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} martial artists gripped their weapons, instinctively surrounding themselves with Qi.

Hwagyeong was the realm of an absolute master.

A supreme level attained only through natural talent and relentless effort.

When the aura of a master at this level was released, even the summer air turned cold.

“Are you saying...

that those words were directed at me?

” Oil Sword’s stiffened expression and razor-sharp aura made the smirking man from moments ago disappear.

In his place stood a grandmaster, one of the Hundred Greats.

“I acknowledged your beauty and granted you value, yet you dare to crawl ever higher.

A worm?

Did you just call me, Oil Sword, a worm?

” Young and beautiful.

Even as her family had fallen, she was still a noble daughter.

He had approached her deliberately, deeming her worth his attention.

“A worm?

” What exactly had this insignificant woman just said to him?

Oil Sword couldn’t comprehend it.

‘The bloodline of a fallen clan still hasn’t cast away their pride?

’ The Tang Clan had lost its former glory and now lived in shame, enduring ridicule from the world.

And yet, it seemed this woman hadn’t realized their fall.

‘Well...

’ ‘When you’ve stood so high, collapsing all at once...

it must be difficult to accept.

’ This was the Tang Clan, one of the Four Noble Houses.

They had once been the unrivaled source of Dokgong—poison techniques—and the origin of most of the iron weaponry in Zhongyuan.

Had they remained as they were, holding their position would have been no issue.

But in their arrogance, they crossed a line that should never have been crossed.

When the truth came to light, the Tang Clan crumbled, their position shattered.

They lost their strength as a noble family.

Most of what they had slipped away, scattered like air.

And now, what was the Tang Clan’s position?

That answer could be found in the gazes of those looking at the woman.

Cold and cutting.

There was no admiration or envy directed toward the Tang Clan’s descendants anymore.

The moment they learned she was of Tang blood, the contempt in their eyes became almost palpable.

That was the reality of the Tang Clan now.

‘And yet, what makes this brat think she can hold her head so high?

’ The woman’s eyes, though filled with contempt and revulsion, were undeniably beautiful.

Those eyes, full of strength, met Oil Sword’s gaze directly, unshaken despite the suffocating pressure in the air.

‘She’s tempting.

’ Without realizing it, Oil Sword felt the thought arise.

Her beauty aside, her inexplicable confidence filled him with both anger and desire.

He truly wanted to claim her.

That thought alone made his Danjun stir with power.

“Do you not know your place, or have you simply forgotten it?

Your words are truly reckless.

” What had she said again?

That he wouldn’t have her, even in death?

“...

Hah!

If you said that thinking the Tang Clan is still what it used to be, you’re gravely mistaken.

Or is it that you don’t know who I, Oil Sword, am?

” “How could I not?

I know you well, senior.

” The sharp tone she had moments ago disappeared, replaced by a polished and refined politeness.

But for Oil Sword, who had already seen and heard enough, it didn’t matter.

“And yet, you dared to act that way toward me?

You must be greatly mistaken, my lady.

” Oil Sword’s eyes flashed as he unleashed an even greater surge of his aura.

“Urgh!

” “Damn...!

” The surrounding martial artists let out muffled, almost screaming, sounds of distress.

“It’s not that you are too good for me, my lady.

Rather, you fail to realize that I am far too good for you.

” Confidence was fine, but one had to know their place.

To raise her nose at him?

Such arrogance could not stand.

Pfft.

A burst of laughter came from in front of him.

That sound made Oil Sword’s brow crease deeply.

“You’re laughing?

” “Oh, my apologies.

I couldn’t help myself.

” Even as she spoke, Tang So-yeol seemed unable to stop herself from laughing.

“What’s so funny?

Do my words amuse you that much?

” “Yes.

I tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t help it—they’re just too ridiculous.

” Tang So-yeol, briefly covering her mouth as though to hold back her laughter, continued to speak to Oil Sword, her gaze full of mockery.

“Should I thank you for finding my body desirable, or should I find it disgusting?

It’s quite the dilemma.

” Oil Sword frowned at her words.

Her sharp tongue was one thing, but there was another problem.

‘When did she...?

’ “I was definitely holding her wrist, yet somehow, Tang So-yeol had pulled her hand back at some point.

” He hadn’t let go.

Not once.

“Well, allow me to express my gratitude while forcing myself to feel honored.

Unfortunately, my body is already spoken for.

” “Are you saying you’re engaged?

” “It is merely a love I carry alone.

I simply have no intention of allowing anyone else to have me.

” “Hah.

” Not even engaged, yet speaking of a one-sided, undying love?

Oil Sword let out a dry chuckle, but just as he was about to scoff further— “However, if someone greater than him appeared, perhaps both my body and heart might waver.

But...

” Tang So-yeol ran a hand through her hair, her gaze piercing straight through Oil Sword.

“...

you, senior, are no better than a worm.

No one is.

So, don’t feel too disappointed.

” “...

Well, this is something.

” The moment Tang So-yeol’s words ended, Oil Sword smiled.

At the same time, his Danjun roared to life, and his aura erupted even more fiercely.

Hwaaaaah!!

The pressure intensified, crushing everything around him as murderous intent filled his gaze.

“Are you saying the only man worthy of claiming your body would have to be the greatest under heaven?

” The sheer arrogance.

The audacity.

It was unbelievable.

“These are not words I can simply let go of.

” Precious and beautiful.

Young and desirable.

For all those reasons, he had tried to endure.

But this—this was too much.

“I’ll have to teach you a lesson.

” It no longer mattered whether or not he possessed her body.

All that remained was to teach this foolish “junior” the harsh reality of the world.

“I’ll show you the truth of the world.

” With that thought, Oil Sword reached for his blade.

“You really are a filthy old man.

” A voice rang out from behind him.

‘What?

’ Oil Sword turned his head sharply to the right, but there was no one there.

Confused, his eyes darted around.

Thunk.

“...!

” A hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder.

Then, a voice came from his left, light and playful.

“It must be hard to act like this in front of so many people, right?

” The voice, tinged with laughter, made Oil Sword tense.

He tried to unsheath his sword and shake the hand off, but— “Huh...!

” It wouldn’t move.

Crrrrunch!

No matter how much strength he exerted, his body remained bound, as if tightly shackled.

A wave of unease washed over him, and he funneled all his energy into his Danjun.

Kwaaaaah!

Qi surged from his core, but— “What...!?

” Though the energy was indeed surging outward, it failed to explode fully into the air.

The person gripping Oil Sword’s shoulder was absorbing it all.

They weren’t just stopping his Qi—they were nullifying it entirely.

And they were doing so while standing this close?

‘This is impossible!

’ Grinding his teeth, Oil Sword strained to release more Qi, but— “Hey, old man.

” A dry voice cut through his efforts.

“Let go of the sword.

Stop wasting your energy.

” Crunch!

“Gah...!?

” The overwhelming pressure bore down on him even more.

The Qi he was desperately releasing was crushed, replaced by an even greater force pressing him down relentlessly.

His legs trembled involuntarily.

It felt as though he would collapse to his knees at any moment, but even that was denied to him.

The one gripping his shoulder wouldn’t allow it.

Who was this?

Who on earth had the power to unleash such overwhelming pressure?

Beads of cold sweat formed on Oil Sword’s forehead.

And all the while, the atmosphere around them shifted strangely.

“Ahh...

the pressure...

it’s gone.

” “Finally, I can breathe again...

” The martial artists around them let out sighs of relief, freed from the crushing aura Oil Sword had unleashed earlier.

“Did Oil Sword withdraw his aura?

” “Then what’s going on now?

” Hearing the murmurs of those around him, Oil Sword swallowed dryly.

‘...

The pressure is gone?

’ They said the crushing aura had disappeared.

And yet, he still felt the suffocating weight bearing down on him.

Which meant— ‘The pressure is focused on me alone.

’ Whoever was doing this was controlling their aura so precisely that no one else could feel it.

They had fine-tuned it to target only Oil Sword, pouring this overwhelming force directly onto him.

And the sheer magnitude of that pressure...

‘...

This is impossible.

’ How could such a thing even be possible?

Even Oil Sword, skilled as he was, couldn’t manipulate pressure with such precision—let alone at this scale.

The chilling, bone-deep terror crept over him.

To think that someone had not only approached him this closely without him noticing but was now completely restraining his movements.

‘No matter what, I need to get out of this.

’ Escape first.

That was the conclusion Oil Sword reached.

He prepared to channel all his martial arts techniques into his hand to break free.

Clink.

The moment Oil Sword’s blade began to leave its sheath— [Put it back.

] Thud.

“What!?

” At the sound of that voice, Oil Sword reflexively shoved his sword back into its sheath.

What was this?

Oil Sword’s eyes trembled violently, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

As his mental state began to crumble— “You two, put those away as well.

” The voice spoke again, this time addressing others.

It was directed toward Tang So-yeol and another woman.

It was only then that Oil Sword noticed it.

Tang So-yeol was gripping a dagger in her hand.

Behind her, the young woman who had been with her—a supposed successor of the Sword Lord—had partially drawn her blade.

“There are a lot of eyes watching.

” At the young man’s calm remark, both women quietly complied.

Clang.

As the dagger and blade disappeared from view, the suffocating pressure on Oil Sword eased slightly.

Feeling the change, Oil Sword managed to squeeze out a word.

“...

Who are you?

” Oil Sword, overwhelmed by the crushing pressure, forced the words out.

Who could this person be to wield such overwhelming power?

“And what would you do with that information?

” The young man’s mocking tone completely crushed the question.

His voice carried on.

“I was planning to just watch, but here you are, an old geezer ogling a fresh-faced young girl.

Did you leave your conscience behind while advancing to your level?

” The voice, tinged with annoyance, also sounded oddly young.

“Play with people your own age.

Looks like the days of swinging your cock around recklessly are long gone.

Am I wrong?

You piece of shit.

” The crude, sharp words carried so much pent-up fury that Oil Sword swallowed hard.

The sheer venom in his tone was undeniable.

“What’s with this nonsense you’re pulling right in front of everyone?

Should I just rip it off?

Make sure you can’t use it again?

Would that help?

” Rip what off?

Oil Sword wanted to ask, but the answer felt so obvious that the question died in his throat.

“No, wait.

I shouldn’t even ask.

I just need to rip it off.

That’s the right thing to do.

Scum like you shouldn’t have it.

That’s justice.

” “...!

” The chilling words made Oil Sword’s spine tingle, cold sweat dripping down his back.

The crushing pressure and his defiance didn’t matter anymore—he had to escape.

If he didn’t...!

“St-stop!

” “Hah!

” “Click.

” Just as Oil Sword felt his life teetering on the edge, a voice broke through.

A figure pushed through the crowd, a warrior bearing the emblem of the Murim Alliance.

“Stop this!

Unapproved fighting before the Bi-mu-je begins is strictly forbidden!

” As the warrior’s words echoed, the suffocating pressure vanished in an instant.

The hand gripping Oil Sword’s shoulder disappeared just as suddenly.

Finally freed, Oil Sword stumbled backward, gasping for air.

“Hah...

hah...!

” He struggled to catch his breath, his gaze darting around to find the one who had restrained him.

“...!!

” When his eyes landed on his opponent, Oil Sword’s jaw dropped in shock.

He was young.

Far too young.

At most, he looked to be barely in his twenties.

His sharp, ferocious features aside, his youthful appearance was striking.

He might have even been younger than he looked.

At best, he was no more than a late-stage junior.

And yet...

this boy had completely subdued him?

“What’s with the staring?

Gonna look away, or what?

” The young man furrowed his brows, his tone sharp and disdainful.

Without realizing it, Oil Sword averted his gaze slightly.

‘Damn it—!

’ Feeling the humiliation burn in his chest, Oil Sword’s hand instinctively moved toward his blade.

“Stop this...!!

If this continues, I’ll have no choice but to disqualify both of you!

” The Alliance warrior’s stern warning held him back just in time.

Oil Sword gritted his teeth and suppressed his anger.

He couldn’t afford to lose the chance to participate in the Bi-mu-je.

After all, he had come here to make a name for himself.

It seemed his opponent understood this as well.

Steeling himself, Oil Sword’s trembling voice steadied.

“You...

are lucky.

” “What?

” “To think you dared lay a hand on my body.

I could have severed it right here, but the Alliance’s rules have spared you.

” Confident that his opponent wouldn’t push things further and risk disqualification, Oil Sword thought he could end this here.

But he underestimated his opponent.

“You won’t have such luck next time, so prepare y—” “What the hell are you even saying, you piece of shit?

” The opponent—Gu Yangcheon—wasn’t the type to let such words slide.

Whoosh—!

“Huh?

” Before Oil Sword could react, Gu Yangcheon’s foot shot forward.

Seeing it, Oil Sword instinctively cloaked himself in Qi.

A Hwagyeong master’s defensive aura enveloped his body—a powerful, nearly impenetrable barrier.

And yet— Crack!

“...!!!

” Gu Yangcheon’s kick shattered Oil Sword’s defensive aura like tofu.

It was unbelievable.

Oil Sword tried to dodge, but before he could even move, Gu Yangcheon’s leg struck again.

Crunch!

“!

” The tip of Gu Yangcheon’s foot landed squarely between Oil Sword’s legs.

A sickening crunch echoed in Oil Sword’s ears.

“Ugh!

” “Oh...

damn.

” “Ah...!

” The men watching couldn’t help but flinch, instinctively covering their groins.

It was an uncontrollable reflex.

Thud.

Not long after, Oil Sword collapsed to the ground.

And then— “Guuuuooooooohhhh!!!

” Oil Sword was plunged into a new universe of pain.