Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 574: From the Sky (1)

The pale green hair shimmered under the moonlight.

The color, far brighter than the last time I had seen it, now seemed almost dazzlingly vibrant.

Her once shoulder-length hair now flowed all the way to her waist, carrying a faintly sweet fragrance.

Was it floral?

There was something undeniably alluring about the scent.

Her face, adorned with a subtle smile, had lost its youthful roundness, now showing traces of maturity that reminded me of someone.

No, it wasn’t someone else.

‘It’s her.’

The woman who had stood alone in Sichuan, holding back the demonic tide.

The last hope of the Tang Clan, who had lost her sight and drawn her final breath in my arms.

The woman before me now, Tang So-yeol, bore a striking resemblance to that memory.

The difference lay in the circumstances.

Back then, she had been frail, emaciated, and dying in agony.

Now, she stood before me, radiantly alive.

That stark contrast stirred something painful within me.

Why did it hurt?

I couldn’t understand the emotions rising within me.

Tang So-yeol, beaming brightly as she looked at me, filled my vision. I asked her,

“What brings you here?”

I swallowed the questions I truly wanted to ask.

They weren’t meant for her, even if they were about her.

Tang So-yeol, upon hearing my question, pouted her lips as if displeased.

“After I went through all this trouble to come here, you start with ‘why’? That’s all?”

“No, I was just curious.”

She had appeared so suddenly. How could I not be curious?

Of course, I had been forewarned.

‘The Shadow King did say he’d send her.’

He had mentioned that she’d be coming once her preparations were complete. I’d already known that.

But,

‘I didn’t expect her to arrive so soon.’

I didn’t know where she’d set out from, but I hadn’t thought Tang So-yeol would appear so quickly.

As I glanced around her, it became clear.

‘That explains why Nahi didn’t respond.’

Nahi was likely keeping watch over this area, ensuring everything was secure. For someone to bypass her defenses...

‘It would take someone near the Shadow King’s level.’

While I didn’t think Tang So-yeol was at such a level, she must be close.

Looking at her, I caught her gaze, and she smiled.

It was a smile I hadn’t seen in a long time.

But my thoughts were elsewhere.

Internally, I let out a silent sigh.

‘Shadow King, that man... What did he do to her?’

Her very presence felt different.

It was as though I had to focus just to register her existence.

Without doing so, it felt like she might slip away.

Her presence was so faint it was barely there, as if she were a shadow herself.

This was not the Tang So-yeol I once knew.

‘The only reason I can track her at all is because of the scent.’

That faint, floral aroma clinging to her made it easier to pinpoint her.

Otherwise, it would have been much harder.

‘It wasn’t like this before.’

The Tang Clan specialized in poison techniques and assassination.

As a result, their bloodline naturally tended to produce individuals with faint presences.

It was a trait honed through generations of martial arts training.

That said,

‘Tang So-yeol wasn’t particularly exceptional among them.’

To put it nicely, she was average.

Harshly speaking, her talent for concealment was below what was expected of a Tang Clan descendant.

By contrast, someone like Namgung Bi-ah, from the Namgung family known for their overwhelming presence, excelled in every aspect Tang So-yeol lacked.

‘Though Namgung Bi-ah is an exception to nearly everything.’

She could obscure her presence when necessary or amplify it when required.

Few could match her versatility.

But now, looking at Tang So-yeol...

Even in my current weakened state,

‘I couldn’t detect her.’

It wasn’t until she was right in front of me that I noticed her presence.

Even Nahi hadn’t intercepted her, and despite my injuries, this was no small feat.

Considering this, I spoke to Tang So-yeol.

“...You must’ve been through a lot.”

“Huh?”

She tilted her head at my words, but understanding quickly dawned on her face. She smiled softly and replied,

“It’s okay, young master.”

Her movements were slow and deliberate, her long hair swaying gracefully.

“I chose this path myself.”

“...”

Did she really?

I couldn’t bring myself to voice the thought.

Yes, I had made the request to the Shadow King. But it was Tang So-yeol who had accepted it.

When I had made the request, I’d been clear:

If Tang So-yeol didn’t want this, she could walk away at any time.

And yet, her presence here now meant she had refused to give up.

What’s more,

‘Considering her innate talent, for her to reach this level....’

What kind of training had she endured?

The last time I had seen her was roughly a year ago.

Back then, her cultivation level hadn’t been anywhere near this.

But now...

‘Has she reached the Hwagyeong?’

I couldn’t be certain, given the disarray of my senses, but it seemed likely.

How was that even possible?

I stared at her, wide-eyed with astonishment.

Noticing my gaze, Tang So-yeol chuckled softly.

“You know, young master?”

“...What?”

“Now I can see you. At least a little.”

“...”

“I worked really hard for this. I did well, didn’t I?”

Her words made me laugh out loud.

She was saying that by elevating her cultivation, she could now see some of my power—a hint of what had once been beyond her perception.

And now she was fishing for praise.

“...Yeah.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

“You’ve worked really hard. You did well.”

“Thank you!”

Tang So-yeol beamed at my words, practically bouncing in delight.

Her giddy movements were amusing, and as I watched her, her gaze suddenly shifted elsewhere.

“But... who’s that?”

Following her line of sight, I turned to see Seong Yul, who was still coughing and unsteady.

Ah.

I scratched my head awkwardly.

‘I forgot.’

Seong Yul was still suffering the backlash from his Heavenly Killing Star.

I had provoked him and let him deal with the aftermath, leaving him in this state.

I sighed, nodding to myself.

‘I caused this mess. I should take responsibility.’

No matter the reason, Seong Yul’s condition was partially my fault.

As I approached him, he looked up at me with dazed eyes. After assessing his state for a moment, I acted.

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“So...?”

Whack!

“Gah?!”

I smacked him on the head.

The force knocked Seong Yul unconscious, and he crumpled to the ground.

Thud.

As silence fell, I glanced at Tang So-yeol.

Had I been too violent for a reunion?

Pointing at the unconscious Seong Yul, I explained,

“He’s a friend. He’s just... having a rough day.”

“...”

It was a poor excuse, even by my standards.

But Tang So-yeol laughed instead, her expression oddly amused.

...Why?

Her smile carried a strange quality, almost as if she was relieved.

“Oh, I see!”

Grinning widely, she seemed genuinely at ease.

Watching her expression, I suddenly realized something.

It felt like...

‘She’s just glad I’m the same as always.’

The relief in her expression left me feeling oddly annoyed.

******************

Several days had passed.

Though it was only a short time, the season was shifting from spring to summer.

The heat was beginning to rise, just enough to make it noticeable.

Days, only a few.

Seasons, now just starting to change.

But in those brief moments, Zhongyuan had become rife with rumors.

“Have you heard? The Ghost Thief has reappeared.”

It was the kind of conversation heard frequently among those traveling through the streets of Hanam.

“Ah, you mean the rumor that the Ghost Thief sent a message to Wudang?”

“They say that’s a lie. The Ghost Thief disappeared decades ago! Even if he were alive, he’d be an old man by now. Do you think he’d still be stealing?”

A legendary figure who had vanished decades ago, the Ghost Thief, was rumored to have reappeared. Not only that, but he had reportedly sent a warning to Wudang.

The rumor had spread far and wide.

Of course...

“Does that even make sense?”

“It’s a bit hard to believe.”

Few people truly believed it.

After all, the Ghost Thief hadn’t appeared in person, only leaving behind a warning.

The only reason the story gained traction was because the warning had been sent to Wudang.

Had it been anywhere else, it would’ve likely been dismissed as nonsense.

The real issue, however, was...

“Forget about the Ghost Thief for a moment. Haven’t you heard the bigger news?”

There was a more pressing rumor circulating.

“Did you hear about Wudang being attacked?”

“Of course I did. They say even one of their elders was killed!”

Wudang, one of the nine great orthodox sects and the faction of the Murim Alliance Leader, had reportedly been attacked recently.

Rumor had it that an elder defending Wudang had been slain by the assailant.

“Can you believe it? Wudang, of all places, being attacked....”

Even in these turbulent times, Wudang and Hanam were considered among the safest places.

For Wudang to be attacked, and for one of its elders to be killed, was almost unthinkable.

“Hold on, what do you mean, ‘just attacked’? The person responsible for this isn’t some ordinary figure.”

This follow-up made everyone listening adopt serious expressions.

“Even though the Wudang Sword Saint wasn’t there... they say the one who attacked was no ordinary demonic cultivator.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well...”

The speaker lowered their voice, drawing the group in closer.

“What? They tamed a demonic beast?”

“With just a wave of their hand, they destroyed half of Wudang? How could that be...!”

“They killed an elder in a single strike?”

The attacker, appearing suddenly on a massive demonic beast, had reportedly forced everyone to their knees with sheer presence alone.

With a single gesture, they destroyed half of Wudang and defeated an elder in one blow.

Afterward, the figure had reportedly mocked Wudang before vanishing.

“That’s absurd! Even if you exaggerate, that’s too much!”

Naturally, it was a hard story to believe.

“No, I swear, that’s what the Beggar’s Sect reported!”

“Still...”

“They’re also saying the same person was responsible for attacking several Murim Alliance branches recently.”

“Good heavens....”

Several Murim Alliance outposts across various regions had suffered mysterious attacks, leaving behind significant damage.

If the same person was responsible for those incidents and the attack on Wudang, it was a grave matter indeed.

In an era already fraught with danger from the appearance of crimson-ranked beasts, the thought of someone directly opposing the Murim Alliance was chilling.

If the rumors were true, the assailant was undeniably powerful.

Perhaps...

“...Perhaps this person is on the level of the Ten Great Masters of Zhongyuan?”

“That’s ridiculous! How could you even suggest that?”

The Ten Great Masters, often referred to as the Seven Irreplaceable Peaks and Three Celestial Guardians, represented the pinnacle of martial arts in Zhongyuan.

“And yet, who else but someone of that caliber could attack Wudang, kill an elder, and leave unscathed?”

Though some furrowed their brows at the suggestion, no one could refute it outright.

Deep down, they all understood.

If the rumors were true, this attacker was no ordinary figure.

And the real issue was that this person seemed to be targeting the Murim Alliance—a symbol of justice.

“...So, who is this person?”

“No one knows. All we know is that it’s a tall man wearing a mask.”

The figure was described as nearly seven feet tall, clad in black martial robes and wearing a white mask.

It was said that with every step they took, those nearby were forced to their knees by sheer pressure, and their gaze from behind the mask struck fear into everyone who met it.

Their tone was arrogant, their words casual, yet no one dared respond.

Aside from their gender, nothing else was known about this enigmatic figure.

No one knew where they had come from.

No one knew what they had been doing before.

No one knew why they were targeting the Murim Alliance or attacking Wudang.

All that could be gleaned was...

“When introducing themselves, they said...”

The masked figure had declared:

“Cheonma.”

The word echoed like a dark omen.

A Heavenly Demon.

The two characters signifying this title had begun stirring unrest not just in Hanam, but across all of Zhongyuan.

At that very moment,

“Achoo!”

The self-proclaimed Heavenly Demon wiped their nose after a sudden sneeze.

Sniffling, Gu Yangcheon glanced around with sharp, annoyed eyes.

“Ugh, who’s talking about me now?”

“Should I fetch you a handkerchief?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll just wipe it off.”

Behind him, Tang So-yeol fished a handkerchief out of her belongings, but Gu Yangcheon dismissed her with a grunt before swallowing his sniffles.

Turning back, he faced the enormous building before him, craning his neck to take it all in.

The structure loomed so large that looking up made his neck ache.

With a sigh, Gu Yangcheon muttered,

“Should I just... go somewhere else first?”

No matter how he thought about it, he didn’t want to go in.

This place housed someone he found particularly irritating—one of his top three least favorite individuals.

He hesitated for a while, but in the end, there was only one conclusion.

He had to deal with this now. Delaying it wouldn’t change anything.

Steeling himself, Gu Yangcheon turned his gaze to the sign on the building.

It read:

Baekhwa Trading Company, Hanam Branch.