Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Drip.

Something trickled down his lips.

Ilcheon Sword wiped his trembling hand across his mouth—it was blood.

Blood was dripping from the corner of his mouth.

How did it feel?

His struck cheek felt like it was about to split open.

A fiery heat radiated from it, an intense, burning sensation.

What the hell was happening?

Ilcheon Sword couldn’t comprehend the situation.

He was on the ground.

Why was he on the ground?

And those eyes...

Ilcheon Sword looked up into the cold, unyielding gaze fixed on him.

Blue eyes stared down at him, framed by shadowed features devoid of expression.

Grrrk.

The chill coursing through his body tightened around his throat.

His limbs lost their strength, and the oppressive killing intent enveloping the area weighed down on him.

"Ugh...

"His body froze under the crushing pressure.

The sensation was revolting.

Somehow, he managed to channel energy through his body, regaining some semblance of control.

His breath returned, but the pain remained.

“...

What just...

”What had happened?

He replayed the scene in his mind over and over, but it didn’t make sense.

How?

Wide-eyed with shock, Ilcheon Sword directed his trembling voice at Gu Yangcheon.

"Y-you...

You’ve been hiding your power...

"Boom!

"Urgh!

"His head jerked violently from the blow.

Once again, he had no idea what had hit him.

"That’s not an answer to my question.

"Gu Yangcheon grabbed Ilcheon Sword by the hair, holding his head firmly in place.

"Don’t you know?

""Wh-what...

are you talking about...?

"What did he mean?

Ilcheon Sword couldn’t grasp it.

The only thing his instincts could tell him was:‘Something is wrong.

’Something about Gu Yangcheon was fundamentally off.

Gone was the familiar smirk he always wore.

His face was expressionless, gazing down at Ilcheon Sword with a cold, empty stare.

But...

*'What...

is this Why was it so scary?

It wasn't hard to recognize the fear that was brewing in him - it wasn't like that.

"Hah...

Hah...

"He couldn't hold his gaze.

Looking into those eyes for too long, he felt consumed, as if he wouldn't get outIn the end, Ilcheon Sword turned him away“HmphGu Yangcheon nodded at this.

Then—Boom!

"Ghhk!

"His fist slammed into Ilcheon Sword's head again, harder this time.

The punch carried an infused energy, creating a shockwave upon landing With a dull thud, Ilcheon Sword's body fell to the ground.

Blood poured out of his nose, pooling on the floor.

The room fell silent as everyone stared.

Could it be...

"Did he kill him?

""Is he dead?

""Did our captain kill Ilcheon Sword...?

"Everyone shared the same thought.

With blood flowing freely and Ilcheon Sword lying motionless, it was natural to assume he was dead.

But Gu Yangcheon kicked Ilcheon Sword’s limp body lightly and spoke.

"He’s not dead.

Take him away.

""...

What?

"Not dead?

But in that state...?

"Take him and make sure he stays alive.

This one can’t die right now.

""Wh-what does that mean...?

""Are you not going to do it?

""...

"The words "can’t die right now" echoed ominously in everyone’s ears.

Quiet.

Yet chilling.

How could words spoken with such an indifferent expression feel so cold?

Gu Yangcheon had always seemed untouchable, like a towering wall.

But now...

he was something else entirely.

‘Someone else.

’This wasn’t the Gu Yangcheon they knew.

The suffocating killing intent, the way he looked at them—all of it was different.

He had always been fierce, but he had still treated them as people.

Now, it was as if...

‘He’s looking at livestock.

’Not even humans, but objects on the ground—insignificant stones underfoot.

That gaze sent shivers down their spines.

The team carefully lifted Ilcheon Sword’s limp body.

Judging by his dangling hands, he had truly lost consciousness.

Gu Yangcheon watched without a flicker of emotion, then turned his head.

He scanned the room, his gaze briefly meeting those of the others.

Those who caught his eye flinched, trembling or collapsing as their legs gave out.

The killing intent had lessened, but it was still palpable, emanating like a quiet storm.

"Proceed with the search.

"The command, spoken softly, rang out unnaturally loud.

None of the subordinates dared respond immediately.

But Gu Yangcheon didn’t seem to expect an answer.

His gaze fixed on a point in the distance, and he crouched slightly.

"Young Master...!

Wait—!

"Tang So-yeol called out urgently, but—Boom!

With an explosion of dust and debris, Gu Yangcheon leapt into the air.

The oppressive killing intent began to dissipate as he moved further away.

Finally, those left behind could breathe freely again, gasping for air.

"...

Young Master...

"Tang So-yeol bit her lip as she watched Gu Yangcheon disappear into the distance.

******************Why had it come to this?

He pondered deeply.

He shouldn’t have done it.

At the same time, he berated himself.

"I shouldn’t have called him.

"He knew Ilcheon Sword had been watching.

In that case, he shouldn’t have summoned him in the first place.

Was it because of the killing intent radiating from him?

Or was it for some other reason?

He should have figured that out first.

Even if he had called him, he shouldn’t have shown his power.

He shouldn’t have pressed him, asking if he knew something.

He shouldn’t have crushed him out of sheer irritation.

After all, there had been a plan.

He had crafted a meticulous strategy to make use of Ilcheon Sword.

"Why did I do that?

"All the preparation he’d done had gone up in smoke, and it was his own doing.

Why?

Even he didn’t know.

It was just...

Really, it was just...

"I was tired of it all.

"Everything felt exhausting.

Thinking about things.

Crafting plans and executing them step by step.

In a moment, he let go of the carefully held reins of reason.

What had the eyes of those around him looked like then?

They must have been filled with fear.

Yes, just like in his past life.

The eyes of those who had looked at him then were the same.

Even Tang So-yeol had been like that.

He recalled how she couldn’t meet his gaze.

He had hated that and tried to live differently.

Yet he had abandoned that too.

Why?

He had sworn to himself, "Never again.

"So why had he given up so easily?

He had worked tirelessly for a cause.

Everything he’d done until now had been for that cause, to ensure that even if he acted, there would be no fallout.

"I don’t know anymore.

"Now, he didn’t even want to think about it.

At this point, there was only one thing he could do.

Not kill Ilcheon Sword and let him live.

That was all he could manage.

No, even that felt distasteful.

Why should he let such a pathetic creature live?

The others around him were the same.

There was no reason to keep them alive.

He didn’t need them with him.

Wouldn’t it be easier to kill them all and go his own way?

That’s what had crossed his mind then.

The funny thing was, even now, he thought it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Something was off.

He realized his thoughts were different from usual, but was that truly a mistake?

"This is who I’ve always been.

"When had he ever been altruistic or rational?

If something displeased him, he broke it.

He never worried about the aftermath.

He had never held anyone close.

Never carried anything with him.

No, even if he had carried something, no one should have known he was carrying it.

That was who he had always been...

"Do you think you’ve changed?

You haven’t.

You’re still the same.

"He remembered those words and felt his eyes grow colder.

They were right.

Looking at himself now, he hadn’t changed.

He was just pretending.

Boom!

The impact as he landed tore through the ground, leaving the forest in ruins.

This wasn’t the western forest.

In fact, it was the opposite direction.

Even though he was supposed to be looking for them, he had come here instead.

"Is this the place?

"[Yes.

]His narrowed eyes followed Shadow King’s telepathic response.

[It’s not certain, but this was the last known location.

]"...

Understood.

"This was where Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah were last reported.

Neither Shadow King nor the others had been watching them closely, so they couldn’t pinpoint their exact location.

But it was enough to know they had been in the vicinity.

With Namgung Bi-ah involved, things wouldn’t have gone smoothly.

Even with Wi Seol-ah there, Namgung Bi-ah likely made the final call.

Those two, though different in many ways, were surprisingly similar.

He clenched his fists, channeling energy from his heart through his entire body.

The swollen blood vessels throbbed painfully, but he ignored it.

Pushing his senses to their limit, he spread his aura outward.

Through his ears and nose, an overwhelming influx of information poured in.

He discarded it all.

That wasn’t what he was looking for.

"Where is it?

"He sought the faintest trace—some tiny remnant left behind by Wi Seol-ah or Namgung Bi-ah.

Or even their lingering presence.

It would be best if nothing had happened.

But he already knew better.

Those two were both at the Hwagyeong level and had even reached the early stages of Mind Sword.

They wouldn’t fall easily to anyone.

But still...

"There’s something.

"He knew the Celestial Stream Sect’s master was plotting something, and it wasn’t ordinary.

He had planned to approach cautiously.

But now, with things as they were...

cautiousness no longer mattered.

Whoooooosh!

He pushed his senses to their absolute limit.

Truly the limit.

Ever since consuming the White Demon Stone, his sensory capabilities had reached extraordinary heights.

He unleashed them fully, spreading them as far as they could go.

His head throbbed, and his heart pounded faster and faster.

"Do you sense anything?

"He steadied his breathing and asked Shadow King.

[Not yet.

]Even Shadow King couldn’t detect anything.

Should he assume there was nothing here?

No.

He knew there was something.

He trusted his instincts, no matter how irrational.

"I’ll search here.

Can you check elsewhere?

"[Understood.

]He sent Shadow King toward the west as a precaution, maintaining his own focus.

The pain grew sharper, his body feeling the toll.

Drip.

A trickle of blood flowed from his nose.

It was from forcing his swollen blood vessels to work beyond their limits.

"Was I mistaken?

"Could his instincts have been wrong?

He didn’t know.

"Then...

just a little longer.

"Even if this wasn’t the right place, he had to exhaust every possibility before moving on.

Little by little.

Even further.

He extended his senses beyond their limits, ignoring the strain on his body.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity—Woom.

"...

"A faint trace emerged.

Immediately, he retracted his senses.

Wiping the blood from his nose and mouth, his eyes gleamed.

"I’ve found it.

"This was it.

******************A damp and silent space.

The air carried a faint hint of moisture, each breath saturated with its presence.

The room was vast and dark.

What purpose could such a place serve?

It didn’t seem like a naturally formed cave.

The sharp, angular walls proved it wasn’t natural—nature didn’t create such straight lines.

Leaning against the shadowed wall, Wi Seol-ah surveyed the area and spoke.

"Unni, do you think we’ll be scolded a lot when we get back?

""...

Yes.

"Namgung Bi-ah affirmed her words without hesitation.

They certainly would.

This time, the reprimand would likely be severe.

"...

That’s a big problem," Wi Seol-ah sighed.

"Yes...

""Shouldn’t we just go back now?

""Seol-ah...

""Yes?

""...

Do you know the way back?

""...

"Wi Seol-ah fell silent at Namgung Bi-ah’s pointed question.

It hit the mark.

She wasn’t as directionally challenged as Namgung Bi-ah, but something about this place felt wrong.

‘At some point, we lost our way.

’Where were they now?

How far down had they come?

None of it made sense anymore.

"...

It feels like something’s been laid over this space.

""Yes...

"Namgung Bi-ah nodded, and Wi Seol-ah let out a soft sigh as she watched her.

"...

Unni, you’re the one who suggested we turn back to avoid getting scolded, but then you rushed in anyway!

""...

Sorry...

"Namgung Bi-ah chose to apologize rather than make excuses.

It was true; this was her fault.

The moment Gu Yangcheon’s name was mentioned, her body had moved on its own.

But...

"No, I’m sorry...

I shouldn’t blame you for this either.

"Wi Seol-ah was no different.

If Namgung Bi-ah hadn’t rushed ahead, she would have been the one to charge in.

"The problem is...

we don’t even know how much time has passed.

"They had likely already missed their return deadline by a wide margin.

Since neither of them had gone back, their absence would have prompted action on the other side.

"I just hope Young Master doesn’t get involved...

But he probably will, won’t he?

""Yes.

"Both of them were certain.

Gu Yangcheon would definitely be searching for them.

That was what worried them.

He wouldn’t care about the cost or consequences, and they feared it would be their fault if he caused a disaster.

"We need to get out of here quickly.

"Wi Seol-ah’s golden eyes glimmered faintly as she scanned the darkness.

‘If this isn’t the way, then where is it?

’They had already explored countless paths.

They had descended and ascended, wandered in circles.

How far down had they gone?

How far up?

How could such an enormous underground space even exist?

That was incomprehensible in itself.

‘And we lost track of the ones we were following.

’They had initially snuck in, tailing voices in the darkness.

But somewhere along the way, they lost the ones they were shadowing.

Now, without an exit in sight, they were trapped in a maze of confusion.

At that moment—Grip.

"Unni?

"Namgung Bi-ah tugged at Wi Seol-ah’s sleeve.

Wi Seol-ah turned to her, questioning.

"Let’s...

try going this way.

"Namgung Bi-ah pointed forward with her fingertips.

Ahead of them stood a massive iron door.

Compared to the walls and ceiling, it looked absurdly out of place—huge and imposing.

It was a door they had stumbled upon while searching for an exit.

Now, the two stood in front of it, hiding their presence.

Should they enter?

Wi Seol-ah hesitated for a moment.

"...

"No solution came to mind.

And yet...

‘Something...

’Something about the door nagged at her.

It was a thought that struck her the moment she saw it.

That door...

there was something behind it.

"...

Shall we go in?

""Yes.

"The two cautiously moved toward the door, their senses heightened as they checked their surroundings.

Before long, they reached the iron door and began inspecting it.

It appeared to be nothing more than a rusty, worn-out slab of metal.

There didn’t seem to be anything special about it.

Especially—"There’s no handle.

"There was no visible way to open the door.

How was it supposed to be opened?

Push it?

Wi Seol-ah hesitated but decided to try, placing her hand against the door.

In that instant—Whoooosh!

The door began glowing brightly.

Both Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah instinctively reached for their swords.

Creak...

The door groaned as it slowly began to open.

Through the small gap, they could see what lay inside.

"What?

"Wi Seol-ah let out a gasp as she caught sight of it.