Childhood Friend of the Zenith Chapter 1147

Morning Breaks

The sun had risen. A bright, cloudless sky stretched overhead.

By the time morning fully arrived, I was finally able to step out of the training hall.

“Ngghhh.”

Stretching as I walked out, the sunlight greeted me.

Damn, it was blinding.

I clicked my tongue, scrunching up my face at the brightness. To anyone else, it was a beautiful day—but to me, it felt unpleasant.

Not to mention, I was exhausted from moving all night.

Crack—!

I stretched, loosening up my stiff body. Back in Mangye, my recovery was much faster, but here, where the air had a significantly lower concentration of internal energy, healing took longer.

Or maybe… it’s just because I haven’t trained in a while.

I had immersed myself in Tua Pacheonmu last night, and that technique was inherently brutal.

Without sufficient regenerative abilities, its energy tore through one’s meridians, leaving behind immense fatigue.

“It really is a savage technique.”

I had thought the same thing when I first learned it, but revisiting Tua Pacheonmu only reaffirmed that fact.

“How am I supposed to master this?”

I had already perfected Nine Flames Firewheel, reaching transcendence after focusing on it for so long. But the reason I was able to do so was because most of my insights had naturally aligned with Nine Flames Firewheel.

That allowed me to break through to transcendence and become stronger.

And yet—

“It’s not enough.”

Even after reaching transcendence, I still felt a thirst for more power.

If I had to pinpoint the reason—

“The fight against the Heavenly Lord confirmed it.”

That battle, where he had amplified his power using Thunder Fang, was the key.

“Right now, I’m still not strong enough to fight on equal footing with a Three Masters-level opponent using martial arts alone.”

Even against the Heavenly Lord, who had succumbed to Inner Demon Awakening, I felt this way.

Which meant—

“I wouldn’t be able to defeat Sword Master or Paejon in a pure martial arts duel.”

If I used my divine authority or my inhuman strength, that might be a different story.

But if it came down to just martial arts, I would lose.

Reaching transcendence had only solidified that realization.

“It’s not enough.”

I was still lacking.

Even though I had become incomparably stronger than in my past life, it still wasn’t enough—especially considering the enemies I would soon face.

“Whether it’s the Blood Demon… or that bastard Taechon.”

To fight against beings that had surpassed human limits, I needed to grow even stronger.

“And the fastest way to do that is…”

Mastering Tua Pacheonmu, a power I had yet to fully awaken.

I had become certain of this after witnessing Paejon’s demonstration of the Six Forms.

“It’s also crucial for enhancing Cheonma Divine Art.”

Cheonma Divine Art functioned by utilizing the friction of opposing forces.

It was a blend of sorcery, demonic energy, and countless other elements, ultimately forming a chaotic power.

But at its core, its strength came from friction.

And to amplify that friction—

“I need to balance both forces.”

Just as I had reached perfection with Nine Flames Firewheel, I needed to place Tua Pacheonmu on the same level.

The problem was—

“Easier said than done.”

Achieving mastery in Tua Pacheonmu was no simple feat.

“Even its creator failed to reach that level.”

Even Paejon was still struggling to master it, so the path ahead wouldn’t be easy.

“And then there’s Cheonma Divine Art itself…”

Last night, I had focused solely on channeling Tua Pacheonmu’s energy.

I hadn’t practiced the movements themselves.

At my level, even a slight miscalculation in controlling my strength could tear entire buildings apart.

So, I had only trained by circulating my energy.

“It feels like I’m close to something…”

Something had flickered across my mind during the process.

The problem was—

“…What was it?”

I had felt something, but I couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

Perhaps it had been a fleeting glimpse of enlightenment.

“Tsk.”

Still, the fact that I had felt something at all was progress.

But the fact that I couldn’t fully grasp it was frustrating.

“Should I ask Paejon?”

Consulting the Paejon of this era might be an option.

In fact, it might be the fastest method.

That man didn’t care about my regression or any other nonsense—he only cared about mastering martial arts.

“Hmm.”

I shook off my thoughts, exhaling as I released the lingering energy from my body.

For now—

I had somewhere to be.

I had to leave the training grounds.

The Azure Dragon Commander had summoned the division for assembly.

**********

Arrival at the Azure Dragon Training Hall

The place was already packed when I arrived.

I wasn’t late.

But looking at the crowd, it seemed like I was the last one to arrive.

“The way they’re staring at me is intense.”

Maybe because I was the youngest, but the glares I received were sharp.

Still, no one outright called me out.

Perhaps it was because I ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) had already clashed with Namgung Jin.

Or maybe because I had beaten up another member just last night.

“Seems like word has spread.”

Among those glaring at me, I recognized a few faces—some of the ones I had personally beaten to a pulp.

Ignoring their stares, I made my way toward Do Yun.

But before I could reach him—

“Baek Yangcheon.”

“Yes.”

It was Soi.

She shot me a sharp glare.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone else is already here, and you’re just strolling in now?”

I tilted my head.

“…Is there a problem?”

“What?”

“I wasn’t late. I actually arrived early. My seniors just happened to come even earlier.”

If I had actually been late, I might have apologized.

But them arriving too early wasn’t my problem.

“…”

Soi went silent for a moment.

I had already noticed this before—the future Sword Queen wasn’t particularly sharp with words.

“That’s…”

Which meant she was easy to tease.

“Ah, surely the future leader of Mount Hua wouldn’t stoop to scolding me just for being the last to arrive, would she?”

“Such an outdated, rigid mentality… You wouldn’t seriously be caught up in something that trivial, would you?”

“…”

Soi’s face crumbled.

At the same time, her ears turned slightly red.

I smirked internally.

“She’s such a softhearted person. I don’t know why she acts like this.”

The Sword Queen was fundamentally a kind person.

Out of all the people I knew, she was one of the most selfless and compassionate individuals.

There was no way she was behaving this way of her own volition.

This was likely—

“Someone put her up to it.”

Soi wouldn’t have done this on her own.

Some bastard had pushed her into it.

Of course—

“She probably doesn’t like me much either.”

It was possible that her own dislike of me played a part.

But she wasn’t the type to personally initiate something like this.

“Isn’t that right, senior?”

“That…”

Soi hesitated.

She must have realized that her actions weren’t entirely justifiable.

Someone had clearly put her up to this.

And there was a simple way to find out who.

“Unbelievable.”

Found him.

There was only one kind of person who would insert themselves into this situation.

All I had to do was wait for him to show himself.

Right on cue, someone stepped into our conversation.

A man I had never seen before.

“A recruit should set an example. There are duties you are expected to fulfill. Are you intending to disregard the regulations of this division?”

“Hmm.”

Who the hell was this guy?

He had narrow eyes and a sharp, thin jawline. Looked to be a bit past thirty.

“…Why are you staring at me like that?”

Noticing my gaze, the man frowned.

“Oh, nothing. I just have no idea who you are. Who are you?”

“…!”

The people around us flinched.

“You don’t know who I am?”

“Nope. Oh, I do know you’re part of the Sword Division.”

I just didn’t know who he was.

At my response, the man’s face turned red with anger.

“You little—! The Commander may favor you, but you have no idea how the world works, do you?”

“…Why are you getting mad?”

“You dare not recognize me—Bi-Moon Sword Wi Seok?!”

“…How would I— Wait, Wi Seok?”

I paused.

Hearing that name, I stiffened slightly.

Wi Seok smirked, thinking I had finally come to my senses.

“Hah, so you finally get it. Yes, I am the great Bi-Moon Sword, Wi Seok!”

“…Wi Seok?”

He proudly declared his title, exuding confidence.

But my reaction wasn’t due to his title—it was because of his name.

“Wi Seok…”

That name belonged to—

The man who, during the Great Righteous-Demonic War, had been appointed as the Commander of the Snowflower Unit upon its formation.

And—

The Branch Leader of Guangdong, the man I killed on my way to meet the Sword Demon.

That was his name.

Recalling this, I stared at him in silence.

“…Now that I think about it, he does look familiar.”

Yeah, he looked exactly like the person I had executed.

Was this really him?

Could it be—?

“The bastard who betrayed Wi Seol-ah?”

The scum responsible for that betrayal—was it him?

I was still lost in thought when Wi Seok, oblivious to my memories, let out a smug laugh.

“Well, as long as you recognize me now. If you show the proper respect, I’ll overlook today’s rudeness.”

Then—

“Now, kneel before—”

Crack!

“Ugh…?”

My body moved before I even realized it.

My foot slammed into his knee, sending him staggering as something snapped inside.

“Ah, damn it.”

Watching him falter, I let out a quiet laugh.

“What a great way to start the morning.”

“Guaaagh—!”

Realizing the pain belatedly, he tried to scream—

But I clamped my hand over his mouth.

“Mmph! Mmph!”

His eyes widened in agony as he struggled.

I whispered.

“Hey.”

“Mmmph—!”

“Shut up before I rip your throat out.”

“…!!”

Sssss…

A thin wave of killing intent seeped out, making the nearby onlookers freeze.

Ah, this was bad.

“I need to control myself.”

Seeing a dead man walking in front of me—one who deserved to die—made it hard to hold back.

I tried.

But it wasn’t easy.

This wasn’t just anyone—it was him.

I thought about letting him go, but my grip only tightened instead.

I was dangerously close to ripping his head off.

Right at that moment—

“Oh my, what’s all this?”

I froze.

My head turned instinctively toward the voice.

“…?”

Our eyes met.

A woman stood at the entrance, watching the scene with amusement.

And the moment she met my gaze—

She smiled.

“Nice to see you! Or should I say, it’s been a while? Well, not really, but still.”

A bright, cheerful voice.

The face was identical to someone I knew, but the atmosphere was completely different.

“…Lady Hyun?”

Hyun Soyeon.

The mother of Namgung Bi-ah.

Someone who shouldn’t be here.

And yet, here she was.

At the sight of her, my fingers loosened their grip on Wi Seok.