Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Wooong—!

I circulated my energy to assess my physical condition.

The energy flowed through my meridians, completing a couple of cycles before returning to my heart.

That alone was enough to check.

'A slight internal injury and a crack in the shoulder.

' It seemed I sustained internal injuries when sealing my martial energy, and my shoulder cracked when I attempted a feint.

Thanks to defending with Qi, this was the extent of the damage—otherwise, my shoulder might have been shattered.

'Nothing else, it seems.

' I barely used even a fraction of my strength, and the crack would heal by the end of the day.

The internal injury would recover before long as well.

That’s all there was.

Pain and wounds at a level one could sustain even during training.

'Is this...?

' Were these the only marks left after trampling one of the Ten Great Masters of Zhongyuan?

I clenched and unclenched my fist several times while gazing forward.

"Cough!

" The old woman—Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal—was slumped on the ground, coughing up blood.

It was black blood.

Not fatal, but a sign of minor internal healing.

"I’ve stabilized it enough, so she won’t die.

" Her internal state was a wreck from the battle.

Twisted Qi and significant external injuries—if left as they were, she would’ve died.

So, I took some measures.

"Huff...

huff...

" Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal kept trying to catch her breath.

I nodded slightly as I looked at her and recalled the recent match.

To be honest, there wasn’t much to recall.

'Disappointing.

' It was boring.

That was the only thought I had about the match.

'What the hell was that?

' I felt nothing but disappointment.

Was it because I compared it to my match with Paejon?

There was no sense of desperation at all.

'Was she careless?

' Could it be that Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal was caught off guard?

I mulled it over and quickly rejected the idea.

'No way.

I made sure that wouldn’t happen.

' I’d prepared sufficiently to keep her on high alert.

I had overwhelmed her Qi barrier and even demonstrated a certain level of my cultivation.

No matter how senile the old woman might be, she couldn’t have overlooked what I’d shown.

'If she did, then she deserves to die.

' If someone who had risen to the position of sect leader in the Emei Sect was careless despite what I displayed, she might as well relinquish her position and disappear.

Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal wasn’t careless.

No, perhaps she was a little, but not to the point of being defeated so helplessly.

Then what was it?

'Am I just that strong?

' Could it be that I had grown this much stronger?

I looked at my clenched fist and pondered.

'I expected to win.

' I always tried to objectively evaluate the extent of my strength.

Knowing my limits was crucial to making plans.

So I never thought I’d lose against Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal.

I was confident I would win—but...

'I didn’t think it would be this easy.

' The ease of it was what felt strange.

'There’s no way she’s this weak.

' I’m strong.

I’m definitely not weak.

I might lose to someone near the level of the Three Saints, like the Plum Blossom Swordmaster or the Sword Emperor, but I wouldn’t lose to most of the Ten Great Masters.

Even so, I shouldn’t have won this easily.

'I was prepared to use Dragon Speech or demonic energy—or at least Sacred Spear.

' But it ended after releasing just a bit of flame and using Eternal Bind.

This was more than strange—it was downright bizarre.

I approached Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal and knelt down on one knee.

Looking into her eyes, I asked, "Sect Leader, why are you so weak?

" "...!

" She flinched at the direct question, her expression contorting.

"Are you mocking me?

" "No.

I knew I’d win anyway.

I’m not mocking you—I’m genuinely curious.

" Her bitter laugh followed my blunt words.

"...

I should be the one asking that.

" Blood trickled down as she wiped her mouth and questioned me instead.

"How...

how did you reach the realm of Imprint?

" The Realm of Imprint.

A profound state all martial artists strive to reach.

Not a stage like First-Class, Peak, or Hwagyeong, but a realm where life’s accumulated insights materialize into form.

She looked at me with wide eyes, clearly seeing that I had reached it.

'Hmm.

' It made sense why she reacted this way.

The martial art Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal had tried to use earlier— The energy contained within it wasn’t just Qi but included traces of Imprint.

To counter it, I had to mix in my own Imprint, and she must have noticed.

How did I reach it?

Well...

"By surviving desperately.

That’s all.

" "...

" She clearly didn’t believe me.

Not that I expected her to.

After a moment of silence, she spoke with suspicion.

"Could it be...

have you undergone Rejuvenation?

" "I’m not some idiot who’d do something so stupid.

" "...

" I shut down her ridiculous suspicion immediately.

"Sometimes, inexplicable things just happen in this world.

" I had no intention of explaining or making excuses.

If she didn’t believe it, so be it.

Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal wasn’t in a position to question it.

"Now answer my question, Sect Leader.

" I locked eyes with her again.

"Why are you so weak?

" "...

" "I’m not mocking or insulting you.

I’m genuinely curious.

" As I said earlier, I had a clear grasp of my own abilities.

I could beat most of the Ten Great Masters.

'But I’d lose to those near the Three Saints.

’ Paehjon was a special case, so I excluded him.

Heavenly Lord would probably defeat me within twenty exchanges.

The Sword Emperor?

It had been too long since I saw him, but he’d probably beat me even faster.

That was my approximate level.

Then what about Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal?

'She felt comparable to the Sword Emperor earlier.

' Her presence and aura seemed that strong.

I’d prepared to face her accordingly.

'But this...

' Honestly, she felt weaker than the Divine Dragon, who fought Wi Seol-ah.

So much so that it seemed like Tang So-yeol might win in a nighttime assassination if the situation was set up right.

Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal’s strength felt too pitiful for one of the Ten Great Masters.

That’s why I questioned it.

"It’s not the internal injury.

Physical decline due to age is understandable—but your Qi?

What’s wrong with it?

" Her skills didn’t match the power she displayed.

If I had simply overwhelmed her with sheer strength, that’d be one thing.

But that wasn’t the case.

"Your Qi didn’t flow properly.

Is there something else wrong?

" "...

" Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal frowned deeply at my words.

Did she really not understand what was wrong?

'She doesn’t know?

' Even in this state?

I tapped my arm, sensing that something about this situation didn’t add up.

"Ah.

" I let out a breath and smirked.

"What...?

Why are you laughing?

" "Nothing.

It’s just...

a little pitiful.

" "What?

" Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal looked at me with confusion, but I had no intention of explaining further.

'So that’s what it is.

' I more or less figured it out.

It wasn’t something worth digging too deeply into.

'I just need to figure out later whether it’s connected to the Alliance.

' With that thought, I organized my mind.

"Anyway, since I’ve won, let’s stick to our bet.

" Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal glared at me as if she wanted to kill me.

I ignored her hostility and asked, "What’s your objective?

" "...

" "Why are you looking for Pi Yeon-yeon?

Is it the artifact itself, or something related to it?

" At my casual question, her glare faded into a hollow laugh.

"You really don’t care at all about having defeated me, do you?

" "It’s not something worth caring about.

" What, was I supposed to feel excited or proud?

"So what if I defeated someone important?

" "...

" "I feel nothing about it, so just answer the question.

" Cough.

Drip.

Blood trickled from her lips.

Her pristine white martial robes were already soaked in red.

It was a miserable sight, but my expression didn’t waver.

"And if I refuse to answer?

" "The restrictions I placed weren’t weak.

You can refuse if you’re ready to face the backlash.

And even if you aren’t...

" My gaze turned cold.

"There are plenty of ways to make you talk—not many of them peaceful.

" My words carried a clear implication: If I wanted answers, I would get them.

Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal’s eyes wavered.

"You’re serious...

You’d really torture me?

" "If necessary.

" "Are you really a member of the righteous sects...?

" Ha.

I let out a laugh.

"I hear that often.

Isn’t it funny?

" "What’s funny about it?

" "The days when righteousness meant anything are long gone.

The roots have rotted, but you still cling to that miserable pride?

" "...

" Righteous sect or not—what did it matter?

To me, the so-called righteous and unorthodox sects weren’t all that different.

If there was one distinction: 'I kill unorthodox sect members outright, while I at least try talking to those from the righteous sects.

' Though, most of those talks still ended in death.

"If we’re defining affiliations, then yes, I’m part of the righteous sects.

My father is, after all.

But—" I tilted her chin up with a finger.

"That doesn’t mean much to me.

It’s just a tag I wear.

" Something I could throw away anytime.

That was all the so-called righteousness meant to me.

"So drop the righteous sect nonsense and just answer the question.

We had an agreement, didn’t we?

" I shifted my finger slightly toward her throat.

It was a reminder that I could end this at any time.

"Pi Yeon-yeon.

What’s the connection to the Emei Sect?

" I waited, silently counting to five.

Right before I reached the fifth count— "Pi Yeon-yeon.

It’s related to her mother.

" I stopped.

"Her mother?

Who are you talking about?

Are you referring to Madam Mok?

" I feigned ignorance, steering the conversation.

Madam Mok was the matriarch of the Seoanpi family.

Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal looked at me with a strange expression.

Had she caught on?

I smiled faintly at her suspicion.

Seeing my smile, she flinched.

"N-no.

The child’s mother isn’t who you’re referring to.

" "Then who?

" "That child is...

" She hesitated but then continued.

"...

the descendant of the previous Sword Queen.

" "What?

No way!

That’s...

shocking!

" "...

You already knew, didn’t you?

" "I just acted surprised!

Why are you so sure?

" I thought my acting was flawless.

Why was she convinced otherwise?

How annoying.

'Not that I planned to hide it anyway.

' Still, it left a sour taste.

"So you knew and supported her despite that?

" "Sorry, but I’m the only one asking questions here.

" I shut down her attempt to turn the conversation around.

"Whether Pi Yeon-yeon is the Sword Queen’s descendant or not, that’s not what I care about.

" "...

" What I wanted to know was why the Emei Sect was after her.

Growing impatient, I pressed again, letting a hint of irritation slip into my tone.

"Why is the Emei Sect looking for Pi Yeon-yeon?

" Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal hesitated before finally speaking.

"Because the previous Sword Queen originally belonged to the Emei Sect.

" "Oh?

" Now this was interesting.

'The Sword Queen was from the Emei Sect?

' This was new information.

'I thought she was unaffiliated.

' The previous Sword Queen was known as a lone martial artist—not tied to any clan or sect.

Yet Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal claimed otherwise.

'How did no one know this?

' Even if the Emei Sect’s techniques were subtle, traces should have remained.

Of course, it wasn’t impossible to erase all signs.

In my past life, the Sword Demon had completely erased Kunlun’s style from his techniques.

But...

'That was because his killing aura consumed everything else.

' The Sword Demon’s murderous aura devoured even the soft essence of Kunlun’s techniques, making it untraceable.

Still, this didn’t sit right.

For now, I pushed that thought aside.

"If that’s why the Emei Sect is after her, it’s still odd.

" Fine.

Let’s say the Sword Queen was from the Emei Sect.

But then— "Why are you trying to find her?

" What’s the point?

So what if she was from the Emei Sect?

Given that she lived as an unaffiliated martial artist, it meant she either hid her background or left the sect long ago.

"Isn’t it strange for the Emei Sect to be so desperate to find the daughter of someone like that?

" There had to be another reason.

They couldn’t be searching without cause.

At my question, Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal spoke.

"Do you...

know what happened to the Sword Queen?

" "Roughly.

" That was a lie.

Not roughly—I knew very well.

I’d collected every bit of information I could to use it.

Of course I knew.

Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal was referring to the end of the Sword Queen.

The previous Sword Queen—once praised as a heroine by female martial artists and admired by the righteous sects.

Her end, expected to be as radiant as her prime, was instead more miserable than anything.

'The Sword Queen was accused of plotting a conspiracy and executed as a heretic.

' The Sword Queen, hailed as a heroine and a dream for female martial artists, was accused of scheming to dominate Zhongyuan.

It was said that she secretly gathered heretics, forming an army in the shadows.

This led to the outbreak of the Great Conflict between the righteous and unorthodox sects.

During that conflict, both the current Plum Blossom Swordmaster, Soi, and the White Lotus Sword, Moyong Biyeon, famously opposed her.

The conflict was long yet short—lasting less than two months.

By its end, the righteous sects emerged victorious, and the Sword Queen, accused of inciting war, was captured and executed by the Martial Alliance.

A woman who had once been a hero of the righteous sects—reduced to a heretic at the end.

That was the history remembered about the Sword Queen.

But...

'That’s not the full story.

' The truth behind that tale was darker and murkier.

If that was all there was, I wouldn’t have bothered using Bong Soon.

And clearly— "That’s not the truth.

" Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal knew as well.

"The Sword Queen never intended to start a war.

She was never a heretic.

" "Is that so?

" "...

There’s something hidden behind it all.

" Was she pretending not to know the full truth, or was her understanding only vague?

Either way, she clearly knew something.

"You’re saying the Sword Queen was framed?

" "...

You.

" My response seemed to startle her.

Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal’s expression shifted oddly.

"You knew this too...!

" "You’re showing your age, Sect Leader.

I already told you—you don’t get to ask questions.

" I leaned in closer.

The conversation wasn’t over yet.

"But then what?

" "What...?

" "Why is the Emei Sect looking for Pi Yeon-yeon?

" I’d heard enough of her story.

Now it was time to get an answer.

Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal widened her eyes for a moment, then replied in a slightly hurried voice.

"It’s only natural.

Even if it’s too late, the Sword Queen was one of our own.

We need to clear her name.

" "And for that, you need Pi Yeon-yeon?

" "Yes.

" "Why?

What difference would she make?

" "If we can prove that child is the Sword Queen’s descendant, there’s a way.

" "Ah.

I see...

" So if Bong Soon could be proven to be the Sword Queen’s daughter, there was a way to clear her name.

I nodded slightly at Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal’s words.

It made some sense.

After listening, I tilted my head and said, "Well then.

" "What are you—" Snap.

"...!

" "Did you think I’d let that slide just because I listened patiently?

" I grabbed Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal’s mouth, cutting off her words.

Her eyes widened in shock, and she struggled, but I held her firmly.

"If you’re going to plot something, at least °• N ? v ? l i g h t •° do it without being so obvious.

Listening to you is pissing me off.

" "Mmph...!

Ngh!

" Her wrinkled eyes grew even wider.

I tightened my grip, making it hard for her to breathe.

Her already pale complexion darkened rapidly.

The reason I was doing this was simple.

While listening to her, one thought kept nagging at me.

I looked at the panicked Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal and said, "Do you think I’m an idiot?

" "Mmph...!

" "It was your people who framed the Sword Queen, wasn’t it?

Why leave that part out?

" "...!

" Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal froze.

Her trembling body went completely still.

Even the faint whimper she’d been making stopped.

Seeing that, I was certain.

"Ha.

I knew it.

" I was right.