Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 567: To the Sky (1)

At a time when Wudang was busy dealing with the aftermath of recent events, only the Sword Queen and Ubong Chwigye remained after the children had been sent away.

The Sword Queen quietly waited for Ubong Chwigye to speak, and after observing her, the elderly man finally opened his mouth.

“It’s been a long time.”

How many years had it been? It must have been at least ten years since their last meeting, back during the incident at Shinryongdae. Since then, the Sword Queen hadn’t seen Ubong Chwigye even once.

“It has indeed been a long time, Lord Ubong,” she replied.

“How have you been?” he asked.

The Sword Queen smiled faintly. “Don’t you already know, my lord?”

“Hol hol...” Ubong Chwigye let out a faint chuckle at her words, which carried a subtle edge of reproach. She was right. There was very little in the world that Ubong Chwigye didn’t already know.

There were countless beggars in the world, and they served as Ubong Chwigye’s eyes and ears.

“Don’t resent me too much. I only asked out of concern for you,” he said kindly.

The Sword Queen took a sip of tea without replying, and Ubong Chwigye’s expression turned a bit wistful as he watched her.

“It seems you’re still harboring quite a bit of resentment,” he observed.

“That’s not true,” she replied. “A lot of time has passed.”

“Then...”

“I just believe that, for the sake of those who sacrificed everything in the past, I can’t easily let my feelings waver.”

The Sword Queen’s voice was calm, but the air around her carried a cold intensity that was absent when the children were present.

“I see,” Ubong Chwigye sighed as if he had expected her answer and had nothing more to say. He and the Sword Sovereign, at least, had no grounds to argue with her feelings.

“I do appreciate what you’ve done for the children, Lord Ubong,” the Sword Queen said, breaking the silence.

“Oh? And what would that be?”

“Thank you for not detaining them and letting them leave.”

The Sword Queen referred to his decision not to interrogate the children further. Had he wanted to, Ubong Chwigye could have kept them under suspicion for longer, but he chose not to, likely out of respect for her.

“Well,” Ubong Chwigye said, “there was also enough evidence to conclude they were uninvolved.”

He continued, “And besides, I figured I could just ask you directly about the situation.”

The Sword Queen had expected this. She knew that Ubong Chwigye wouldn’t have come to Wudang for no reason, and that he likely intended to speak with her all along. This aligned with her own intentions, as she had wanted to speak with him as well.

“Before we begin, may I ask a question, Lord Ubong?”

“Go ahead.”

“Did you come all the way to Wudang because of me?”

Ubong Chwigye tilted his head slightly at the question, then answered with a simple shake of his head.

“No, I did not.”

His response was direct.

“This matter was at the request of the Lord of the Murim Alliance...” Ubong Chwigye trailed off as though realizing he might say something he shouldn’t. “At any rate, I did not come here specifically because of you, Sword Queen.”

“I understand.”

She didn’t press further, knowing she wouldn’t get an answer even if she tried.

“Well then,” Ubong Chwigye said, “if that answers your question, shall we get to the matter at hand?”

“Please speak. I am listening.”

A subtle hum filled the air as Ubong Chwigye created an energy barrier around them.

“Wudang has been utterly devastated,” he said bluntly. “For all their pride, they’ve ended up in such a sorry state.”

“...Lord Ubong,” the Sword Queen interjected, frowning.

“People have died. Such words are inappropriate, don’t you think?”

Even though the victims, such as Woo Baek and Ji Cheol, weren’t her favorite individuals, speaking about them so dismissively still didn’t sit well with her.

“You’re as kind as ever,” Ubong Chwigye said with a faint smile.

“I’m just...”

“Still,” he interrupted, “if you knew the true intentions of those who lived and died here, you might not be so generous.”

“...”

Ubong Chwigye always knew more than anyone else, and that hadn’t changed.

“Now then,” he said, “let me ask you what I really wanted to know, Sword Queen.”

“...Yes?”

“Tell me about the person who attacked Wudang. I’ve heard you were nearby when it happened.”

The Sword Queen felt her stomach churn at the question. The mere act of recalling that figure was enough to stir discomfort.

The piercing blue eyes that shone through the mask. The ominous energy that seemed to ooze from his presence. The sheer weight of his existence that pressed down on the very air around him.

He was unlike anyone the Sword Queen had ever encountered.

She spoke his name softly, almost reluctantly. “Cheonma....”

Ubong Chwigye repeated the name under his breath. “Cheonma...”

“Do you know of him?” the Sword Queen asked.

“It’s a name I’ve been hearing more and more lately,” he replied.

The name had started cropping up at the far edges of Zhongyuan and had gradually gained attention. Stories claimed he had single-handedly attacked branches of the Murim Alliance.

“A demon descended from the heavens,” Ubong Chwigye muttered, pondering the ominous implications.

The reports thus far hadn’t seemed overly alarming, but this recent incident had changed everything. A branch of the Murim Alliance could be dismissed, but now Wudang—a member of the Nine Great Clans—had been attacked, and two martial artists at the Transformation Realm had lost their lives.

Even more concerning was what came next.

“I’ve heard he’s taming beasts,” Ubong Chwigye said.

“Yes,” the Sword Queen confirmed. “It appeared so.”

If Cheonma was truly taming demonic beasts, and red-ranked ones at that, the implications were enormous.

Even the Murim Alliance, despite endless experiments, had never succeeded in taming a single green-ranked beast.

“And you said there was someone else besides Cheonma?” Ubong Chwigye asked.

“Yes,” she replied. “There was one other—a large man who seemed to be his subordinate. He called Cheonma his leader.”

“A leader...” Ubong Chwigye murmured, dwelling on the term.

It wasn’t a word commonly used anymore, and its implications were clear. This wasn’t just one man—it was an organization. And it was one openly hostile to the Murim Alliance.

Summing up the details, Ubong Chwigye sighed internally. The situation was dire.

A new threat had emerged—one with power beyond imagination and a vast, organized force behind it. Cheonma wasn’t just an individual; he was a calamity in the making.

“Thank you for telling me, Sword Queen,” Ubong Chwigye said at last.

“I hope my account was sufficient,” she replied humbly.

“It was very helpful. I’ll confirm details with other witnesses, but you’ve provided significant insight.”

With that, Ubong Chwigye stood, and the Sword Queen followed suit.

“I’ve also spoken to the Alliance Lord,” Ubong Chwigye added. “This incident won’t bring you any undue trouble.”

“What do you mean?”

“The matter of the relics and this incident won’t complicate things further. I’ve ensured that with the Alliance Lord.”

The Sword Queen bowed her head slightly, gratitude evident in her expression.

“...Thank you for looking out for us.”

“Hol hol... It’s the least I could do after seeing you again after so long,” Ubong Chwigye said, laughing lightly.

However, as he turned away, the jovial expression vanished from his face, replaced by a sharp, calculating look.

“Cheonma,” he muttered under his breath.

With countless thoughts swirling in his mind, Ubong Chwigye resolved to act.

“I’ll have to contact Shinan. We must rebuild the Shinryongdae immediately.”

With that decision, Ubong Chwigye continued walking, heading toward where the Wudang Sword Saint awaited.

+++++++

One Spring Day

At the Baekhwa Trading Company’s branch in Hanam, someone was hurriedly walking through the halls.

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With every graceful step of her long legs, the woman exuded a faint floral fragrance. The delicate scent intertwined with an inexplicable cool breeze, spreading softly around her.

Those who witnessed her approach bowed their heads in greeting.

“Greetings to the Branch Chief.”

“Greetings to the Branch Chief...!”

Acknowledging their gestures, the woman offered a light wave of her hand as she passed. Watching her retreating figure, many couldn’t help but express their admiration.

“Wow... The Branch Chief is as beautiful as ever today.”

“Exactly. She looks even more radiant than usual, doesn’t she?”

“When does she not look stunning?”

“Well, you’re not wrong there.”

The men continued their conversation, stunned expressions plastered across their faces.

It was inevitable. The newly appointed Branch Chief of Hanam, assigned just last year, was strikingly young by their standards—and breathtakingly beautiful.

What’s more...

“She’s not just beautiful, but incredibly competent, too.”

“I heard she’s still far from her thirties. How can she be so capable at such a young age?”

Reportedly only in her mid-twenties, the new Hanam Branch Chief was remarkably talented. Although the Baekhwa Trading Company was known to appoint only the most exceptional individuals as branch leaders, this one was being touted as unprecedented, even among her illustrious predecessors.

As the chatter about her continued, one man chimed in with an additional observation.

“Wasn’t she already famous? Being from one of the Four Great Families, it’s hardly surprising.”

“Oh, come on, must you always ruin the mood?”

“I’m just saying—it’s unusual. Someone from the Four Great Families, one of the ‘Six Dragons of the World,’ no less, working for the Baekhwa Trading Company? It’s peculiar, isn’t it?”

The mention of her prestigious lineage caused the group to fall silent. It was a question they all had been curious about but never dared to voice.

Then, someone broke the silence.

“Oh, I actually know why.”

A young clerk, busily moving documents, suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention. He was the youngest member of the Hanam branch.

“You know? How?”

“Why she joined the Baekhwa Trading Company,” he said confidently.

“And how would you know that?”

Faced with their incredulous stares, the young man replied nonchalantly, “I asked her.”

His answer left the room in stunned silence, with every gaze fixed on him in disbelief.

“...You asked the Branch Chief herself? Are you out of your mind?”

“Why wouldn’t I ask?”

“Oh, no. Don’t talk to him. He’s as good as gone. Clearly not long for this branch...”

“What? What are you talking about?”

The seniors murmured among themselves, deciding it would be best to emotionally distance themselves from the young man, who was likely to be reassigned—or worse—soon.

“Anyway, what did she say?”

Despite the awkward atmosphere, the junior answered.

“What did she say... Oh, right.”

He paused briefly to recall, then spoke.

“She said, ‘I’m training to be a good daughter-in-law.’”

His response was met with collective expressions of incredulity.

Eventually, one of the men snapped.

“You idiot! And I trusted you!”

“That’s clearly a lie! What nonsense.”

“But it’s true—”

“Shut up and get back to work. We’ve wasted enough time already.”

The young man, now the subject of scorn, wore an aggrieved expression as the others dismissed him.

Meanwhile, the young Branch Chief had reached her destination, briskly striding forward to meet someone.

The faint sound of rustling paper filled the room as Moyong Hee-ah, the Baekhwa Trading Company’s Hanam Branch Chief, approached the figure before her and offered a polite bow.

“I greet the Master of the Trading Company.”

At her perfectly measured greeting, the person seated at the desk lifted her head.

“Have you been well?”

The voice was cold, devoid of emotion.

“Yes, Master.”

The person Moyong Hee-ah faced was none other than Mi Horan, the owner of the Baekhwa Trading Company. As Mi Horan set aside the documents she had been holding, she continued speaking.

“Your results are impressive. To have achieved this much in just half a year—remarkable.”

“...Thank you, Master.”

Watching Mi Horan, Moyong Hee-ah swallowed nervously. Through years of mentorship, she had come to understand one thing: when Mi Horan started with praise, it always meant there was more to follow.

“But.”

As expected, Mi Horan’s tone shifted.

“There are some issues in the reports. There’s also room for improvement in some areas you’ve handled.”

“...Please tell me, and I’ll make the necessary corrections.”

“Words alone won’t suffice. I’ll prepare a detailed list and send it to you by tomorrow. Review it thoroughly.”

Hearing this, Moyong Hee-ah inwardly sighed. She had believed her work to be flawless, but it seemed even her best efforts couldn’t escape Mi Horan’s discerning eye.

Mi Horan, catching the subtle change in her expression, smiled faintly and added, “By the way, I heard you’ve broken through to the next level. Is that true?”

Moyong Hee-ah’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected Mi Horan to know.

In truth, three months ago, she had indeed surpassed a major threshold in her martial cultivation—a feat achieved not long after resuming her training.

“...Yes, it’s true.”

“Congratulations. You’ve been diligent even amidst your busy schedule.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Moyong Hee-ah struggled to suppress the smile tugging at her lips. It wouldn’t do to show even a hint of complacency, especially in front of Mi Horan.

At that moment, Mi Horan handed her an envelope.

“It’s not exactly a celebratory gift, but I have something for you.”

“Pardon?”

Her eyes widened further as she accepted the letter.

“It’s an important matter. Can you handle it?”

“Oh! Of course, Master. I’ll do it.”

Hearing that Mi Horan was entrusting her with a significant task, Moyong Hee-ah couldn’t hide her delight. Such trust was a clear acknowledgment of her abilities.

She eagerly opened the envelope to examine its contents.

But then, she froze.

The stamp at the bottom of the letter made her pause. Glancing up at Mi Horan, she stammered, “...Master, this...?”

Her voice trembled, unable to conceal her shock.

It couldn’t be helped.

The seal at the bottom belonged to the Northern Ice Palace.

And the contents of the letter were just as troubling.

The message?

The Young Mistress of the Northern Ice Palace was coming to Zhongyuan.

Moreover, the letter entrusted the responsibility of guiding her—not to the Martial Alliance, but to the Baekhwa Trading Company.