Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 597: Crimson Feather (5)

Wuuuuuung.

Inside my body, demonic energy churns relentlessly.

Along with it, the pain resurfaces. My body, which had been painstakingly recovering, now screams in agony as I draw on my energy once more.

If I make even a small mistake, my recovery will be delayed further.

But...

I had no other choice.

I turned my gaze to the elderly man staring at me head-on.

Despite sitting down, his presence was overwhelming.

His massive body, covered with densely packed muscles, was extraordinary.

If I had to compare, he was on par with Elder Il—that old man’s frame was similarly colossal.

From what I’d heard, the Jegal Clan was supposedly more focused on formations and mechanisms, not direct combat.

But to think someone from that clan could possess such raw martial strength...

“He’s well beyond the Hwagyeong level.”

This man seemed far stronger than the elder I killed at Wudang last time.

While he probably wasn’t on par with the leaders of the Nine Great Clans or the Four Noble Families, he had a strength that rivaled them.

“So, this is the one...”

The person from the Jegal Clan who was said to be stirring up trouble in Hanam.

Looking at the old man, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

I was genuinely surprised this time.

If I weren’t wearing a mask, my expression would’ve given everything away.

“Wow.”

Why was I so surprised?

Was it because his martial prowess exceeded my expectations? No.

Was it because someone from the Jegal Clan appeared so powerful? That wasn’t it either.

The reason was simple.

The old man was someone I recognized.

In fact, I knew him very well.

I knew him so well that I could confidently say...

“This old man was from the Jegal Clan?”

His identity?

In my past life, he had been part of the Demonic Cult’s direct subordinates—the Cheonra Heukmangdae.

And not just any member. He was their leader.

“The Spearhead Demon.”

That old man was none other than the Spearhead Demon himself.

He was a master of blunt weapons. His real name? I couldn’t remember. Not that it mattered.

“It must’ve been an alias, anyway.”

Whatever name he had gone by in the past was likely a fake.

Now, he was the one leading the remnants of the fallen Jegal Clan.

Given that his real name was probably something along the lines of Jegal-something-or-other, it was clear:

“Even when he was acting as a demon, he used a false name.”

That conclusion seemed correct.

Additionally, seeing him as a descendant of the Jegal Clan revealed something else.

“No wonder.”

In the past, the Cheonra Heukmangdae had been a direct subordinate of the Heavenly Demon.

At the same time, they were the unit most often commanded by Jegal Hyuk, the Heavenly Wanderer.

Whenever Jegal Hyuk faced danger, it was this group that acted as his escorts.

This was why I’d targeted the Cheonra Heukmangdae first when I set out to deal with Jegal Hyuk.

Looking back, it made sense why the Heavenly Wanderer and the Cheonra Heukmangdae were so intertwined.

“Was it because both were from the Jegal lineage?”

It was just speculation, but based on the circumstances, I was now half-certain.

“If that’s the case, not only Jegal Hyuk but even the Heavenly Demon must’ve known this.”

In the end, it didn’t matter.

The fact that the Spearhead Demon was from the Jegal Clan was simply surprising.

If anything, this was good.

Another piece of the puzzle had fallen into place.

Hiding my expression, I spoke to the Spearhead Demon.

“Then, I’ll address you as the Leader of the Cheonra.”

“...As you wish.”

Thunk.

The Spearhead Demon placed something in front of me.

A cup of alcohol.

“I don’t have any fine liquor to offer a guest.”

I chuckled slightly at his words. The nerve of this man, offering alcohol to someone who barged in uninvited.

“I’m not really in the mood to drink.”

“Understood.”

He didn’t seem particularly bothered by my refusal.

It made sense.

“He’s busy trying to figure me out.”

Feigning nonchalance, his gaze lingered on me.

The Spearhead Demon was doing everything he could to determine who I was.

Resting my chin on my hand, I stared back at him.

Go ahead, try and see what you can figure out. That’s exactly what my behavior conveyed.

“...”

Seeing this, the Spearhead Demon adjusted his gaze.

He must’ve realized how futile his attempts were.

“This mask isn’t just for show.”

It was a rare treasure given to me by the Shadow King.

Unlike the other trashy artifacts out there, this one was genuinely useful.

It not only obscured my face but also hid the state of my body and my martial rank.

For someone like me, whose face betrayed every lie, it was the perfect item.

After a moment of silent observation, the Spearhead Demon finally spoke again.

“I heard you disabled the formation before entering. How did you do it?”

So, his first question was about the formation.

Understandable. That formation wasn’t ordinary by any means.

It was hidden subtly, blending into the surroundings. Even if someone discovered it, unraveling it would be no easy task—it was intricate and precise.

I wasn’t well-versed in formations, but even I could tell how extraordinary it was.

It’s just...

“For a cheap trick, it wasn’t too bad.”

...It wasn’t much of an issue for me.

Ah.

“Well, not for me, but for Seong Yul.”

Seong Yul had been the one to disable the formation.

Or rather, should I call it disabling? He just sliced through it with his sword, and that was that.

In my past life, unraveling even a single formation would require multiple experts and a significant amount of time.

Now, seeing how easily Seong Yul handled it was almost laughable.

“Bringing him along was a good call.”

Even knowing the location wouldn’t have helped if the formation had barred entry.

And there was a funny moment when I asked Seong Yul, blindfolded, how he knew the way.

The Divine Doctor explained it like this:

“He memorized every step as he walked.”

In other words, he remembered the entire path he had taken.

It was then I realized: you need a mind like that to be Zhongyuan’s greatest.

Anyway.

That’s why I brought Seong Yul along.

Remembering how he’d sliced through the formation last time, I figured he’d handle it.

As expected, Seong Yul dismantled the formation with ease.

Watching it, I let out a hollow laugh.

“I can’t stand any of these geniuses.”

When I asked him how he did it, Seong Yul replied:

[It just... didn’t feel right over there.]

He said it with such simplicity it made my blood boil. Geniuses, I swear...

“Yeah, there was someone like that in my past life, too.”

In the old days, even Wu Hyuk had claimed he could hear formations and would destroy them.

In this life, Namgung Bi-ah would claim she could smell them and cut through them.

Including Seong Yul, all three of them were monstrous geniuses.

“So, formations are just another talent to them, huh?”

It was pointless to dwell on it now.

The only thing that mattered was the Spearhead Demon’s reaction to what I’d said.

The look in his eyes was no joke.

Was he upset because I dismissed the formation?

“Well, given how complex it was...”

If I had attempted to unravel it myself, who knows what would’ve happened.

I didn’t even want to imagine it.

“And if I’d torn through it by brute force?”

That might’ve been possible.

But I would’ve had to endure the backlash from forcibly breaking it. I didn’t want to deal with that, so I left it to Seong Yul.

Now, I wondered, what was the Spearhead Demon thinking as he looked at me?

Did he believe I’d dismantled the formation in one go?

Or did he think I’d smashed through it with sheer strength?

Whatever the case.’

He must see both options as extraordinary individuals.

That was precisely the reaction I wanted from the Spearhead Demon.

‘Seems like it worked.’

Judging by his response, the Spearhead Demon couldn’t accurately gauge me and was busy trying to figure me out.

Moreover, unsure of my strength, he was being cautious.

It was exactly the reaction I wanted from him.

As I silently stared at the Spearhead Demon, he spoke.

“I’ve heard the rumors.”

At his words, I tilted my head. Rumors? What rumors?

“The Heavenly Demon.”

My eyes widened slightly at his reply.

“A man wearing a cracked white mask and dressed in black destroyed Wudang, they say.”

I thought the rumors hadn’t spread much considering what I did, but the Spearhead Demon already seemed informed.

“I assumed he was no ordinary figure when I first heard the tale.”

“And now that you’ve met him?”

“...He’s even more than I imagined.”

Heh.

I forced an awkward chuckle. The sound of my laugh was a poor imitation, inspired by Paejon's.

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“How did you find this place? And how did you dismantle the formation? Coming here alone must mean you have business with me.”

“Didn’t I make it clear from the start? I came here because I have business with you.”

“Then, tell me—what business brings you here?”

The Spearhead Demon extended his hand into the air.

Suddenly—

Whoosh!

From the distant shadows, something flew into his grasp.

A weapon as large as his own body.

Boom!

With a loud thud, he struck the ground with the blunt weapon.

I recognized it immediately.

‘That’s the Spearhead Demon’s treasured weapon.’

It was the same blunt weapon he used to crush countless skulls in the past.

I remember him saying it was forged from a mix of eternal cold iron.

‘It’s just an exceptionally sturdy blunt weapon.’

But when wielded by the Spearhead Demon, it was no different from a weapon of a demonic warlord.

“If your purpose isn’t compelling, our next conversation won’t be as peaceful.”

“...”

It was a warning that any nonsense would lead to a fight.

I calculated my chances.

What would happen if I fought the Spearhead Demon here?

‘What would happen? I’d lose, of course.’

Defeat was inevitable.

My body wasn’t in perfect condition, and even at full strength, beating him would be nearly impossible.

That’s how formidable the Spearhead Demon was.

Still...

“Interesting.”

Wuuuuung—!!

“...!”

Even knowing this, I had no intention of backing down.

I opened my heart, releasing my energy.

The pain coursed through me, but I didn’t care.

If my body could barely endure this energy, it meant I was exuding power far beyond my usual limits.

The Spearhead Demon’s killing intent was fierce, but it wasn’t enough to crush me.

Crackle.

Our energies clashed, distorting the space around us.

I pushed forward.

Boom!

My energy swallowed and crushed his, dominating the exchange.

Though his energy quality surpassed mine, when it came to sheer quantity, I wouldn’t lose.

‘With all I’ve consumed, there’s hardly anyone in Zhongyuan who can match my energy reserves.’

Unless my past self were brought here, it was impossible for someone like the Spearhead Demon to overpower me.

“Hoo...”

The Spearhead Demon sighed, clearly shaken after losing the energy clash.

He appeared to have sustained minor internal injuries.

“Spearhead Demon.”

I called out to him.

“I’ll overlook this once, as a gesture of goodwill.”

Gathering the energy that lingered in the air, I hurled it toward the wall.

Crash—!!

A thunderous sound echoed from the unseen barrier.

Ah, did I throw it too hard?

“But don’t reveal your intentions recklessly again. There won’t be a next time.”

“...”

The grip on the Spearhead Demon’s weapon loosened slightly.

“My apologies.”

He took a step back.

Good. I was worried he might charge at me recklessly.

“Are your games over? If you want to continue, go ahead.”

I feigned confidence, all the while internally screaming for him not to take the bait.

“I simply wanted to confirm whether you were truly the figure of those rumors.”

The Spearhead Demon remained motionless, unaffected by my provocation.

Internally, I let out a sigh of relief.

It felt like I had narrowly avoided disaster.

“Did you get your answer?”

“...”

The Spearhead Demon nodded slightly.

“What reason would someone like you have for coming to this place?”

Finally, after the intense standoff, we got to the main point.

Though things had turned out well, I had to work hard to hide the sweat running down my back.

“It just so happens that I have some business here myself...”

I smiled, my eyes narrowing as I looked at him.

“I heard someone was planning to stir up trouble in Hanam. I figured I’d meet them face-to-face.”

“...”

At my words, the Spearhead Demon’s expression hardened, a hint of hostility surfacing.

“Are you suggesting this area belongs to you and that no one can act without your permission—”

“Wrong.”

Sensing the growing danger, I cut him off.

“Do as you please. I don’t concern myself with petty matters like that.”

“And if I do?”

“But.”

I raised two fingers, showing them to the Spearhead Demon.

“There are two things you need to do for me.”

“What?”

“If you accomplish them, I won’t interfere, no matter what you do.”

Crunch.

The Spearhead Demon’s body trembled, his killing intent rising once more.

“I acknowledge your confidence, but it seems you ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) don’t know your limits.”

Groooan.

This time, his energy was of a different caliber. It seemed he was genuinely revealing his true power.

My fingertips trembled, and I discreetly hid them within my sleeve.

“If you think I’ll spare your life after such treatment—”

“You wretched remnant clinging to the past.”

Pause.

At my words, the Spearhead Demon froze.

“Your name erased, your clan fallen, and yet your pointless pride remains unbroken.”

“You—!”

The Spearhead Demon tried to unleash his power, but I interrupted him again.

“Do you not wish to destroy those who tore apart your clan?”

He stopped at my words, his expression twisting in anger.

“Such things wouldn’t matter, whether or not you were involved.”

His confidence was evident.

I didn’t know what he was planning, but it was unlikely to be anything trivial.

‘He probably failed in my past life, but who knows now.’

The circumstances were entirely different from before. Moreover, the Alliance Leader was particularly distracted right now.

With the martial tournament preparations underway and the incident at Wudang, now was the perfect time to strike Hanam.

However...

“Spearhead Demon.”

That was only true if I weren’t here.

“Do you think my words are a request? Don’t misunderstand.”

“...!”

“I don’t make requests.”

This was crucial.

Ignoring his killing intent, I leaned back nonchalantly.

“This is a test I’m giving you.”

I needed to convey absolute confidence—that his treasured weapon meant nothing to me.

“If you can’t even pass this simple test, you’ll die here.”

The Spearhead Demon’s eyes widened in surprise.

I couldn’t help but wonder.

What? It’s too early to be surprised.

“If you fail, not only will your revenge be impossible—”

“I see.”

What?

Before I could finish my sentence, the Spearhead Demon interrupted.

I was utterly caught off guard.

I hadn’t expected him to cut me off like that.

Worse still, his next words were even more shocking.

“...Hearing that, I think I now know who you are.”

‘What the hell?’

My heart sank at his statement.

He figured it out? How?

I resisted the urge to check if my mask was crooked. Doing so would’ve been the end of me.

Where did he get this information? If he really knew, this was a serious problem.

Countless thoughts raced through my mind as I swallowed dryly.

“To defeat a Wudang elder in a single blow, and to emit such overwhelming energy...”

The Spearhead Demon spoke with confidence, as though he’d confirmed his suspicions.

I glanced around, quickly assessing my escape routes.

If things went south, I’d need to bolt immediately.

“That’s right. You must be...”

Then, he said it.

“...The vanished Third Honor.”

“Hm?”

The words slipped out unintentionally in my real voice.

“The Fallen Honor”

The name was so unexpected, I couldn’t help but be taken aback.

“It must be you.”

He stared at me, eyes wide with shock, as though he’d uncovered a great truth.

I adjusted my stance, preparing myself.

I had to choose my next move carefully, and quickly.

“Heh.”

I let out a faint laugh and looked at him.

“Your intuition isn’t bad.”

There was no hesitation in my voice.

I didn’t know where this was heading, but in this moment...

I decided to become the Fallen Honor (Paejon).