Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Two days later—just another ordinary day.

The weather was as usual.

Autumn had settled in, and winter was slowly creeping closer.

I walked with a more composed pace than usual.

For the record, I hadn’t spoken with Moyong Hee-ah since the incident.

I tried to approach her, but Moyong Hee-ah refused to meet.

Her avoidance was so clear that I even sought out her relative, the White Lotus Sword, to speak on my behalf.

[Hmm...

This is beyond even me.

] Even the White Lotus Sword, who acted far less mature than her age suggested, raised her hands in surrender.

This situation was starting to weigh on my mind.

‘Looks like I really messed up this time.

’ It didn’t seem like something that would pass as a minor grudge.

What should I do?

How could I resolve this mess?

Everyone aware of the situation was against me, so there was no doubt that I was in the wrong.

‘Tch.

’ To make matters worse, this wasn’t the only issue hanging over my head.

That was the biggest problem of all.

It was also the reason I had to keep a level head despite the turmoil in my mind.

I continued walking quietly along the street.

The district was still under reconstruction.

Just like before, refugees and merchants were directly involved in the repairs.

The progress was remarkably fast.

Of course, it had to be.

Not only were two of the largest trading groups involved, but even martial artists had stepped in to assist.

There was no way it could be slow.

Since the first day of construction, the town had been rebuilt bit by bit with impressive speed.

The noise had been constant and overwhelming.

But today felt different.

‘...

’ I glanced around.

Eyes were still on me.

Ever since my title changed, this kind of attention had become the norm.

But today, the atmosphere was far quieter than yesterday.

It was too silent.

The gazes directed at me, the air surrounding me—everything felt unnervingly subdued.

Despite noticing this, I didn’t stop walking.

I simply looked forward again.

As I passed by, people quietly bowed their heads or offered silent greetings.

Not long ago, they had been falling over themselves to sing my praises.

Why the sudden change?

It might have seemed puzzling, but I knew the reason better than anyone.

Today was just one of those days.

Damn it all.

—It’s done.

Nahi’s voice rang out through a sound transmission as I walked.

Hearing it, I stopped momentarily.

—As you instructed, the funds have been divided through Dae-Mokri.

Anonymous deliveries will begin within four days.

‘Good.

’ I gave a slight nod.

Not long ago, I had spent more than half of my accumulated wealth—scraping together precious metals and rare resources.

It hadn’t been a planned expense, but it was necessary.

‘Don’t follow me any further.

Stay back and wait.

’ —Understood.

With Nahi retreating as ordered, someone immediately approached me.

“Greetings, Star King.

” The man wore the uniform of the Martial Alliance.

That meant I had arrived at the Martial Alliance’s headquarters.

This time, however, I wasn’t here to meet Ink Ghost.

It wasn’t for personal reasons either—although, maybe it was, in a way.

“Please, follow me.

” Our conversation didn’t last long.

The martial artist turned and began walking, and I silently followed.

Like the streets outside, the Martial Alliance felt strangely quiet.

Even the man leading me wore a tense expression.

What stood out most, however, was the flash of black clothing beneath his official robes.

Though he wore the Martial Alliance’s formal attire, I could see black combat gear peeking through underneath.

It was unusual, but no one commented on it.

In fact, nearly everyone I passed was dressed similarly.

After walking for a short while without speaking, my guide brought me to a certain hall.

His job complete, he quietly departed the way we had come.

At that moment, someone addressed me.

“You’re here.

” It was Hwangbo Yeolwi, the Tiger King, another martial artist ranked as a king.

He stood there, his body wrapped in bandages.

I asked, “...

How’s your condition?

” “I can manage.

” Tiger King answered with a faint grimace.

The subtle look in his eyes carried traces of both pain and irritation—as if he found it annoying that a younger martial artist like me was worrying about him.

‘Impressive.

’ How did he manage to convey so much with just one look?

He barely seemed injured, yet his expression made him appear gravely wounded.

The gap between us felt stark.

Tiger King clearly had a talent for acting that I lacked.

...

Anyway.

As our brief exchange ended, I sensed others approaching.

“Star King.

” Hearing my title called, I turned toward the voice.

The face looked both unfamiliar and vaguely recognizable.

It didn’t take long to place him.

‘Myeonggung.

’ He was none other than Song Yoo, the leader of the Red Dragon Unit and one of the few master archers remaining in Zhongyuan.

He bowed politely before speaking.

“Thank you for visiting us despite your busy schedule.

” “...

It’s nothing.

This was something I had to do.

” I responded with a slightly awkward smile.

Yes, this was something I had to do.

No one else may have known it, but I did.

“Oh, and Chief Song.

” “Yes?

” “There’s something I forgot to mention earlier—thank you.

” “...!

” Song Yoo’s eyes widened in surprise.

He seemed to know exactly what I was referring to.

“...

So you noticed?

” “How could I not?

In Hanan, there’s only one person capable of firing a shot like that.

” “...

Haha...

” The reason for my gratitude was simple.

During our recent battle with the White Demon Beast, a single arrow had turned the tide.

Infused with Qi, it struck the beast cleanly and gave me the opening I needed to escape danger.

“Thank you.

” Of course, I knew there was only one person in Hanan capable of such a shot.

It had to be the leader of the Red Dragon Unit.

“...

It was nothing...

” Despite my thanks, Song Yoo’s reaction was noticeably uneasy.

Why did he look so troubled?

It didn’t seem like he was particularly happy.

Was he in a bad mood today?

I brushed off the thought and turned my gaze away.

Several others stood out as well.

In addition to Song Yoo and the other chiefs, there were figures from prestigious clans and sects.

It was almost comparable to the martial arts tournament in scale.

Despite the large turnout, however, the atmosphere was vastly different.

Quiet.

But then again, it would be even stranger if it weren’t.

On a day like today, this kind of silence was only fitting.

Like the streets outside, the Martial Alliance’s hall was filled with an unusual stillness.

Breathing deeply, I steadied myself, blending into the somber mood.

The reason so many had gathered here was clear.

Today was the memorial service for those who had fallen during the recent attack.

********************* Mourning Ceremony It sounded like an impressive term, but in reality, it wasn't much.

It was merely an event where countless people gathered to express their condolences and sympathize with grief.

The only difference here was that it was being held by none other than the Murim Alliance, which meant attendance was practically mandatory for many.

There was no way around it.

It wasn't just because it was the Alliance—given the current situation, no one dared to skip it.

Everyone’s emotions were already a mess due to the recent incident, and not attending this event would invite some truly vicious stares.

Perhaps because of this, I spotted several faces at the ceremony that I hadn’t seen even during the Martial Arts Festival.

Figures who hadn’t appeared during the attack, prominent leaders, and those of significant influence filled the scene.

Among them— The current Sword King, the head of the Namgung Clan.

Not far beneath him were key figures from the great clans and the sect leaders of the Nine Great Schools.

“Cheonan.

” Cheonan—the head monk of Shaolin.

I spotted him as well.

“Didn’t even show his nose during the attack.

” I had heard that Shaolin’s martial artists had participated in the defense.

Of course, they did.

Henan wasn’t just the base of the Murim Alliance—it was also Shaolin’s domain.

Even so, the number of Shaolin martial artists who showed up wasn’t particularly large.

I wasn’t sure how the Alliance assessed it, but— “By my count, fewer than thirty.

” Barely thirty.

Compared to other groups, it might have seemed like a decent number, but considering Shaolin’s size and influence, it was embarrassingly low.

Especially since Henan was their home ground.

“Unless they only sent elites—but that wasn’t the case.

” Suspicion crept in.

What was Shaolin thinking?

Though they avoided harsh criticism by participating at all, public sentiment toward them wasn’t exactly positive.

Could Shaolin have failed to notice this?

“Impossible.

” Even if they were full of fools, they couldn’t have missed it.

It was said that the Blood Demon’s faction had infiltrated Shaolin as well, but even so, their response was unconvincing.

This could only mean— “There must have been another reason.

” A reason Shaolin had to act that way.

“What was it?

” I hadn’t figured it out yet.

Should I send Nahi to infiltrate them?

“No.

That’s a waste.

” I already had too many things to deal with.

Especially Nahi—she had her hands full, so assigning her to this felt excessive.

Throwing Cheol Ji-seon into the fray instead?

“Not a bad idea...

” The thought passed through my mind, but— “...

” I quickly erased it.

Not because it was absurd— But because now wasn’t the time to entertain such plans.

“...

It has been a difficult time, but we have endured.

” I looked out over the gathered crowd.

Beyond them, the endless sea of people stretched so far that counting was impossible.

Even though precautions had been taken to limit attendance due to the recent attack, the numbers were staggering.

And yet— “Despite this many people...

” The only sound was the voice of the Sword Saint speaking from the stage.

Not a single other noise broke the silence.

Heads bowed, hands clasped together—they stood in solemn prayer.

The mood matched the name of the ceremony.

“...

We will never forget that day.

No—we must remember it.

” The Sword Saint’s words elicited no reaction.

The only emotions I sensed were faint resentment and distrust— Mingled with grief masked as mourning.

It wasn’t the sound, but the emotions that lingered.

While the voiceless discontent directed at the Murim Alliance hung heavy in the air, I focused on the Sword Saint’s words.

Remember it.

Remember the sacrifices made during the attack.

That phrase echoed in my head.

As the atmosphere of mourning spread and the Sword Saint’s hollow words droned on, my eyes locked straight ahead.

The families and loved ones of those who died in the attack.

Their expressions carried faint yet unmistakable emotions.

I burned each one into my memory.

I recalled what I had said to the Divine Doctor— “I’ll make sure nothing happens.

” I had fought tooth and nail to resolve the situation, but in the end, I couldn’t save everyone.

Did I not foresee this outcome?

No.

I knew.

From the moment the attack began.

From the moment that ridiculous performance unfolded.

I knew this would happen.

So, look closely.

This is why I stood here today.

Those faces—they were my doing.

“Don’t you dare justify it as necessary.

” I reminded myself.

I had to hold onto this memory until the day I died.

I couldn’t apologize.

I couldn’t offer explanations.

All I could do was keep this moment in my heart.

I provided financial support under the guise of aid for the victims.

I poured money into rebuilding what was lost.

Half the fortune I’d amassed since returning to this timeline—money I hadn’t even seen in my previous life—vanished in an instant.

I didn’t regret it.

It wasn’t really my money anyway, and wealth could always be regained.

But no matter how much I spent, nothing changed.

It didn’t ease the guilt.

Their expressions wouldn’t soften, and their emptiness couldn’t be filled.

All I could do was remind myself— “This is the path I chose.

” To sacrifice the innocent.

To climb higher by stepping over corpses.

To swallow the decay within and continue forward.

“For the sake of the world?

” Another excuse.

“I never cared about the world to begin with.

” Since when did that become my goal?

That was just a byproduct.

“Sigh.

” I let out a breath so subtly that no one noticed.

It was to calm my churning emotions.

Oddly enough— “It’s easier to bear now that I’ve become a dragon.

” Perhaps it was because I was no longer human.

The weight I once felt had lessened.

In fact, I even found myself mocking these insignificant deaths.

“No.

That’s too far.

” I couldn’t allow myself to cross that line.

It was fine to steady myself, but losing all sense of humanity was dangerous.

I closed my eyes.

In the blackened void behind my eyelids, I focused on my breath.

This wasn’t a prayer or mourning— If anything, it was self-indulgence.

“Let’s end this indulgence here.

” I would never forget.

That was all I could do.

When I opened my eyes again— “...

The Murim Alliance will not only mourn but also implement significant reforms following this attack.

” Coincidentally, the Sword Saint was wrapping up his speech.

“What was he talking about?

” I hadn’t been paying attention, so I had no idea.

Not that it mattered.

Might as well ignore it—probably nothing useful anyway.

And sure enough, the Sword Saint’s next words carried quite the weight.

“From this moment onward, we shall declare the demonic cult known as the Magyo an enemy of the righteous path and vow to eradicate the entire unorthodox sects from Zhongyuan.

” Murmurs immediately rippled through the crowd.

Total annihilation of the unorthodox sects.

There was undeniable significance in those words.

The orthodox and unorthodox factions had never been on good terms.

They had fought wars multiple times before.

Although a ceasefire of sorts had existed for now, the Sword Saint’s declaration— A declaration of war.

It meant the Murim Alliance was formally reigniting the battle against the unorthodox sects, which had paused momentarily for peace and recovery.

“The Murim Alliance will never back down in this fight against the unorthodox sects.

As long as they threaten peace, we will stand and fight until victory is ours.

Defeat is not an option.

” His resolute voice rang out across the hall.

The speech was stirring, but it wasn’t nearly enough to rally the exhausted crowd.

After suffering through the recent attack, the last thing people wanted to hear was talk of war.

The Sword Saint likely knew this—yet he pressed on with his words for one reason.

“I understand how difficult and daunting this task may be.

That is why the Alliance has brought forth an honored guest.

” At his signal, a figure emerged from the back of the platform.

“It has been a long time.

I am Muk Yeon.

” Muk Yeon—the famed strategist who once served the Murim Alliance.

The murmurs in the crowd swelled.

Muk Yeon, who had guided the Alliance to its peak in the past.

Some even claimed the Alliance had risen so high because of him.

Now, one of the heroes of the golden age had reappeared in their time of crisis.

The very air in the hall seemed to shift.

“What a clever move.

” It was the easiest and most effective way for any organization to overcome a crisis— Bring back a symbol of their prime.

Muk Yeon was exactly that.

Rumors about his return had already been circulating in Henan, but having him appear publicly at the mourning ceremony confirmed it.

—“Is that really the strategist?

” —“I can’t believe I’m seeing him again before I die...

” The effects were immediate.

—“If it’s him...

” Doubt and distrust began to waver.

Perhaps, just perhaps, things would be different with Muk Yeon—the man who had once led the Alliance alongside the Sword Sage.

“Hmm.

” I had anticipated this much, but the results seemed even better than I expected.

“Did I underestimate Muk Yeon’s influence?

” I hadn’t realized just how valuable he was.

I certainly didn’t expect his mere presence to cause such a dramatic shift.

And then— “Furthermore, we have lost pillars of the Murim Alliance.

” The Sword Saint wasn’t done.

Muk Yeon wasn’t the only card he’d prepared for this ceremony.

“We mourn the loss of three brilliant heroes.

Yet as much as we grieve, we cannot dwell in sadness forever—not with the unorthodox sects sharpening their fangs.

In their honor, the Alliance has decided to fill the void left behind.

” With those words, the Sword Saint stepped aside slightly.

For what purpose?

“Allow me to introduce our shining star—Gu Yangcheon, the Star King—who has chosen to walk alongside the Murim Alliance as one of its new pillars.

” It was to introduce me.

“...

Shit.

” I grimaced as the words sank in.

“Shining star?

What the hell is wrong with him?

” What kind of ridiculous introduction was that?

The sheer cringe of it made me want to grind my teeth, but I forced myself to maintain a neutral expression.

—“The Star King?

Joining the Alliance?

” —“Why would he...?

” The ones who hadn’t heard the rumors looked shocked, while those who had were busy confirming that the rumors were true.

“Damn it.

” I could feel the weight of countless eyes on me.

I’d never liked this kind of attention, and this situation wasn’t any different.

What was I supposed to do?

Wave?

That wouldn’t be appropriate at a mourning ceremony.

While I hesitated, unsure how to respond— “The unit that the Star King will lead is the Star Dragon Unit.

It will serve as a vital force in our battle against the unorthodox sects.

” Apparently, even the name and purpose of my division had already been decided.

“So they’re planning to use me...

like a hunting dog?

” That’s certainly what it sounded like.

“No way.

” Would they really assign me, of all people, to that role?

I glanced toward Muk Yeon.

“That old man must have had a hand in this.

” There was no way he’d entrust me with such a role unless— “He’s suspicious of me.

” He probably thought I had ties to the Blood Demon or Cheonma.

With that level of distrust, why would he give me command over an anti-unorthodox task force?

“If he really did, what’s his angle?

” What was his reasoning?

I couldn’t make sense of it.

My thoughts raced— But before I could reach a ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) conclusion— “And one more thing.

” The Sword Saint spoke again, signaling that there was still more to come.

"With the establishment of the Star Dragon Unit, we also aim to revive a brilliant symbol of the Murim Alliance’s history.

” I frowned at those words.

A symbol?

The Sword Saint’s words implied only one thing about the Murim Alliance’s symbol.

And just as I expected, he continued.

“...

Starting today, the Divine Dragon Unit will be revived to protect Zhongyuan once more.

” The murmurs that followed were louder than ever.

The strategist who had retired returned.

I was named the leader of the Star Dragon Unit.

But the revival of the Divine Dragon Unit— That announcement caused the biggest stir.

The sheer magnitude of the reaction made me narrow my eyes.

“Is it really this big a deal?

” I expected a strong reaction, but nothing like this.

I knew the Divine Dragon Unit had been a symbol of the Alliance, but— “It must’ve been a huge deal back then.

” The fact that merely mentioning its revival during a mourning ceremony had such an impact said it all.

I hadn’t encountered the Divine Dragon Unit in my previous life, nor did I know much about its history.

This was my first time experiencing its legacy firsthand.

And it hit me.

“It really was that important to them.

” Much like Muk Yeon’s unexpected value, the Divine Dragon Unit carried its own weight—far more than I had anticipated.

“I wondered why they’d announce this during a mourning ceremony.

” I had questioned their decision to make this announcement at such a somber event, but— Now I understood.

The tearful eyes in the crowd sparked with faint embers of hope.

Relief.

The emotions that had been withering were stirring once more.

And this shift came solely from the promise of revival— Even though the Divine Dragon Unit hadn’t even begun operating yet.

“I’m not sure if I should be impressed or concerned.

” It was enough to leave even me speechless.

Just as I felt a bitter laugh creeping up— “That is why, although the timing may not feel right, we wish to offer you some comfort today by introducing someone.

” The Sword Saint continued.

“A person who will protect Zhongyuan and stand as the new sword of the righteous path.

” At the same time— “Let me introduce the new commander of the Divine Dragon Unit.

” “...

What?

” The words made my eyes widen.

“Commander of the Divine Dragon Unit?

” This wasn’t part of the plan.

I was told the ceremony would introduce Muk Yeon, announce the revival of the Divine Dragon Unit, and establish me as the leader of the Star Dragon Unit.

But nothing about introducing its commander.

I assumed they hadn’t chosen one yet or that the commander wouldn’t appear today.

Yet here he was.

I barely had time to process my confusion before— Swish.

“...!

” I felt movement beside me.

I turned my head, only to see someone brushing past me.

“Who...?

” I swallowed my surprise.

There had been no one next to me a moment ago.

Yet someone had appeared without me noticing?

Worse— “I didn’t even sense him approaching?

” Even in my current weakened state, not noticing someone this close was absurd.

It was too strange.

I turned to glare at the man walking past me.

He wore the white robe that marked him as a commander.

Roughly seven feet tall with a lean frame.

His black hair was tied back tightly.

A sword hung on his left hip—indicating he was left-handed.

His steps were steady and composed.

“Who the hell is this guy?

” I tried to make out his face, but— He wore a mask.

A yellow mask that concealed his features.

I recalled that commanders of the Divine Dragon Unit always wore masks to hide their identities until they stepped down.

This confirmed it.

The man calmly approached the Sword Saint and stood beside him.

The Sword Saint greeted him with a warm smile.

“This is the new commander of the revived Divine Dragon Unit.

” The masked man bowed slightly in acknowledgment.

He didn’t speak.

Just a small gesture of respect.

Yet all eyes were drawn to him.

Because of the title.

The weight of the name—Divine Dragon Commander— Even I couldn’t take my eyes off his back.

An unknown figure.

A man strong enough to bypass my senses entirely.

That alone made him worthy of attention.

But— “Ha.

” That wasn’t the only reason.

As I narrowed my eyes at his back— I couldn’t ignore it.

“So that’s why I thought something felt off.

” It wasn’t just his presence.

It was what I sensed emanating from him.

The Blood Demon’s aura.