Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 291: Do You Have A Master? (1)

What did Wi Seol-Ah mean by those words?

If the Sword Emperor and the Immortal Healer brought Wi Seol-Ah to turn her into a human…

Does that mean Wi Seol-Ah wasn’t a human to begin with?

It made me wonder.

No matter what part of Wi Seol-Ah I looked at, she was human.

She had told me before that it was to seal her power and because of the great vessel she possessed. Though her words were vague, I was able to somewhat understand what she meant…

Her presence.

Unlike before when I couldn’t feel Wi Seol-Ah’s presence at all, I could feel it quite clearly now.

That was likely the difference.

It was to the point I didn’t know if she was next to me or not unless I looked at her, or heard her voice.

Does this relate to the story she just told me?

There were people, occasionally, with weak presence ever since their birth.

This counted as a talent in a way, and most assassins possessed this talent.

Out of them, the Dark King’s natural talent was so great that people even believed that he was born with killing intent.

Namgung Bi-ah too had a similar quality, but it didn’t matter for her as her beauty attracted everyone’s attention anyway.

Wi Seol-Ah though,

She was an extreme case.

It wasn’t that her presence was faint; it felt nonexistent to begin with.

Moreover, there were times when she showed strength that ordinary people without Qi couldn’t, but at the time, I thought to myself.

Isn’t that understandable since she is the Divine Sword of the future?

That’s what I thought to myself.

But if Wi Seol-Ah isn’t a human, to begin with…

No… What is she if not human?

If Wi Seol-Ah wasn’t a human, then what did I have to see her as?

I didn’t know.

Even if that story was true, that wasn’t enough reason for the Sword Emperor to go to the Taeryung Clan.

There was the question of if it was possible to reach inside of a human’s vessel, and if the Immortal Healer really succeeded in doing so like Wi Seol-Ah said.

Then why did they have to go to the Taeryung Clan?

That didn’t give enough reason for them to leave the Gu Clan to go to the Taeryung Clan.

The Immortal Healer was in the Gu Clan.

I wasn’t able to understand at first why they had to go all the way to Taeryung Clan both in this and past life, but I was able to learn why the Sword Emperor had to go after hearing what Wi Seol-Ah said afterward.

-…There was a giant boulder with a blue light in the room.

A giant boulder with blue light.

It wasn’t a very descriptive explanation, but one thing came to mind after hearing her.

The Demonic Stone of Seal…?

I had experience with it in my past life.

It was what the grandson of the Immortal Healer and the brain of the Demonic Cult, Zhuge Hyuk, used.

Its effect was similar to formations and barriers.

It was a strange treasure that allowed a person to seal Qi or Demonic Qi in a certain range.

As far as I knew, the Heavenly Demon was the only one able to use their power within that area.

I heard it was installed to protect Zhuge Hyuk because he had a human body.

Taeryung Clan originally had possession of that item?

Moreover, I only believed it prevented others from using their Qi; I didn’t know that it was capable of sealing one’s Qi as well.

If the Immortal Healer did this, then was it a part of a medical technique?

I didn’t know.

If the Sword Emperor and the Immortal Healer went there knowing that the Taeryung Clan had possession of the Demonic Stone of Seal, it meant that the Immortal Healer had to use his own strength to use the stone, resulting in Wi Seol-Ah’s vessel being reduced and her gaining presence.

But how does this relate to Wi Seol-Ah becoming a human?

There were times when I couldn’t notice another person’s presence.

I explained one of them earlier; born with such talent to begin with.

The other was like how I felt whenever I looked at the Sword Emperor—it happened when the difference in power between me and my opponent was too great.

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However, it still only felt faint, and I wasn’t completely unable to feel any presence from someone like him.

To give a perfect example,

The Heavenly Demon was like this.

The existence who led the Demonic Cult brought calamity to the world and led the Central Plains to death.

The area around the Heavenly Demon was pressured down, and only silence remained whenever it walked, but that only happened whenever it exploded its presence. Normally, the Heavenly Demon felt different.

So, the Sword Emperor saying he wanted to turn Wi Seol-Ah into a human meant that she wasn’t a human,

And it could also mean that she’s not related to the Sword Emperor.

That was a possibility.

This could also mean there was another reason why Wi Seol-Ah and the Heavenly Demon was related which I always wondered in my mind.

…If they are related, does that mean that the Heavenly Demon isn’t a human?

Despite it having inhuman strength, I never actually thought it wasn’t a human.

Then what is it?

What was Wi Seol-Ah, and what was the Heavenly Demon?

If they weren’t humans, were they some different species or aliens?

How absurd.

I didn’t think this world only had humans in it.

It was a world where Demons emerged from the Demon Gates and I also knew that it wasn’t just ‘Demons’ that came out from it.

On top of that, it was also hard to call ‘me’ a human.

So in the end, the Sword Emperor went to the Taeryung Clan for the Demonic Stone of Seal?

The treasure I believed the Heavenly Demon gave to Zhuge Hyuk after finding it itself.

Was it stolen from the Taeryung Clan then?

Or was there another Demonic Stone of Seal?

But the biggest question I have is something else.

The biggest question I had.

If Wi Seol-Ah’s life in both this and past life wasn’t different, it also meant that the Divine Sword in the past also had her Qi and vessel sealed.

It was possible that didn’t happen, but there was one reason why I believed it to be the case.

The presence I felt from Wi Seol-Ah now felt more similar to the presence I felt from Wi Seol-Ah in my past life.

The state she achieved after reducing her vessel and Qi.

Does that mean Wi Seol-Ah fought against the Heavenly Demon in a sealed state then?

Despite being in such a state, Wi Seol-Ah achieved the Peak realm in just a couple years of training with her  sword.

Then if her power wasn’t sealed…

If she had picked up a sword without sealing her vessel, then what would have happened?

If there was a way to break the seal inside Wi Seol-Ah, wouldn’t it be easier to stop the calamity the Heavenly Demon will bring?

That thought suddenly passed my mind,

Clap.

But I dismissed it immediately, clapping my cheeks.

I knew the most efficient way was to make Wi Seol-Ah train with her sword and make her stronger than she was in my past life, but I had to realize why I didn’t choose such a path in this life.

I didn’t say I would bite my tongue and kill myself for no reason if I was going to give up so easily just because I found an easier and more definite path.

Wi Seol-Ah had to live her own life.

Not the life of a hero or the Divine Sword.

Also, what was the Sword Emperor thinking for him to seal her powers?

It likely wasn’t to avoid attracting too much attention because his granddaughter had such great talents and possibilities.

There must have been another reason.

I wouldn’t have asked him, even if I was curious, since it seemed dangerous to do so,

…But do I have to go see the Sword Emperor?

If it related to Wi Seol-Ah, I had to try to find something. I honestly didn’t want to see him as I felt scared, but I couldn’t afford to be afraid right now.

It was possible this was also related to the Heavenly Demon.

While spacing out, as I was organizing my thoughts,

“…What are you doing?”

Someone approached me and spoke.

“…I was just thinking a bit.”

“You’re bleeding though.”

“Hmm?”

I saw blood when I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

It seemed I had slapped my cheek a little too hard.

The one who told me this was none other than Peng Ah-hee.

“What happened, were you in a fight?”

“…I just tripped.”

“That’s the excuse of someone losing in a fight. Did you lose to someone?”

“Why provoke me when you just came here?”

“This isn’t me provoking but more of a joke? Your expressions seemed like it was rotting.”

“…”

Peng Ah-hee chuckled after her words.

This was the first time I had seen her after around a year.

“Are you coming to the Academy as well?”

Hearing my question, Peng Ah-hee shrugged her shoulders and spoke.

“As you can see, my household won’t allow me to not go.”

Fair.

The Four Noble Clans were rather sensitive about the Heavenly Dragon Academy.

Considering how Peng Woojin used to be the Heavenly Dragon, then there was no way that Peng Ah-hee could not go.

“Not like I could do anything even if I do go though.”

Peng Ah-hee was the only one who didn’t earn a title for herself and didn’t manage to join the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes from the Four Noble Clans.

There was a reason I felt calm about this though.

I knew the title she would earn in the future after the calamity is brought down to the world.

Although it wasn’t as impressive as the Dao Emperor like her brother’s.

“Work hard, I’m sure you’ll do good.”

Hearing my words, Peng Ah-hee suddenly made a strange expression.

Huh, that expression of hers is a bit annoying for some reason.

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

“That was a bit creepy, coming from you. Are you trying to hit on me right now?”

“I almost cursed right to your face just now. Be careful.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t really like guys with a lot of girls. Plus, our relationship is already over.”

“…I told you I wasn’t trying to hit on you.”

I already had a headache, and she’s making it worse.

“I think remaining as friends is perfect for us. Thank you, though.”

“I want to end our friendship right now, is that okay?”

Peng Ah-hee ended up laughing, hearing my words.

I knew that she was joking, but why was she acting like that?

“Aren’t you in the first group?”

“That’s right, I am indeed in the first group.”

“Then can you please screw off to your group?”

Did she forget why the instructors separated us into groups?

Why was she testing my patience, coming all the way here?

“It’s fine since the exam hasn’t started yet.”

“Instructor! There is this crazy girl who…!”

“Ugh! I’ll leave, I’ll leave alright!”

When I tried to call an instructor without hesitation, Peng Ah-hee quickly stopped me.

So why start this whole thing in the first place?

“It’s just… there was one thing that’s been on my mind. I came here to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“…Don’t think too weirdly of me, it’s just a feeling.”

As she leaned to me with a darkened expression.

Just as I was about to push her away as she was too close for my liking,

“The Meteor Sword guy. He seems a bit strange.”

Hearing Peng-Ah-hee, I had to pause.

“…He’s rumored to be super kind and all, but something feels fishy. The way he looked at you seemed strange.”

“…”

That was unexpected.

I didn’t think Peng Ah-hee was sharp.

Moreover, she came to tell me.

Saying that, she followed,

“Take it with a grain of salt though, it’s just the feeling I got.”

It may seem strange for her to say such a thing considering how well Jang Seonyeon managed his appearance, but Peng Ah-hee bothered coming all the way here to tell me anyway.

Despite Peng Ah-hee and I starting on bad terms, it seemed like we built up a decent relationship.

“…I’ll have that in mind. Thanks.”

Saying those words, I reached my hand out of habit.

I did this without thinking in order to pat her head since she had a similar physique to Wi Seol-Ah and Tang Soyeol, but Peng Ah-hee lightly grabbed my hand.

“Nuh-uh, you can’t do that to a girl you don’t have feelings for.”

“…Oh, sorry, that’s just a habit of mine.”

“Fix it if that’s your habit. The pretty big sisters around you are going to get mad if you bring more girls, you know?”

“…”

“I didn’t think you had a face that was popular with girls, so I guess this was your problem then.”

“I’ll be careful.”

Peng Ah-hee let go of my hand and smirked after hearing my response.

Like she said, I needed to be careful.

It was a problem that I had gotten used to.

“Oh, right. Also,”

“Hmm?”

“Did something happen between you and Brother Hyuk, perhaps?”

“…Who’s that?”

“The Water Dragon.”

“Hmm?”

An unexpected name came out of Peng Ah-hee’s mouth.

Why did that name come out from her?

“Are you close with that bas… No, Brother Water Dragon?”

“We aren’t close or anything, it’s just my brother knows Brother Hyuk.”

The Water Dragon and Peng Woojin knew each other?

I was not even aware of this.

I don’t ever remember the Water Dragon bastard mentioning Peng Woojin.

I understand him not telling me about this, but they really knew each other, huh.

“So?”

“It’s just, he asked about you.”

“About me? The Water Dragon did?”

“That’s right. So I wondered if something happened between you two.”

The Water Dragon bothered going to Peng Ah-hee to ask her?

I wonder why…

Oh, there was one thing that came to mind.

“Something did indeed happen.”

“What happened?”

“It’s nothing special.”

I thought about when I first arrived in Henan.

“He was fighting in the streets, so I beat him up because I was pissed by it..”

“…That is something special.”

Peng Ah-hee showed a disgusted expression after hearing my calm response.

What… It’s those crazy fuckers’ fault for fighting there.

I’m the problem now? How absurd.

“Is that the reason then?”

“No, that didn’t really seem like the reason… Just ask him whenever you guys meet next time.”

“You’re going now?”

Peng Ah-hee started to walk away without regret after finishing her words.

It seemed like she really only came to deliver her words.

“Yes, I’m going. My life will be in danger if I stay near you for too long.”

“What does that even mean?”

"It's just like that, you idiot."

Teasing me with her tongue poked out, Peng Ah-hee lightly moved her steps towards where the first group was.

Watching her back, I sighed.

Thanks to her, it feels like some of my frustration has lessened.

It felt like my complicated thoughts went away a little, although it wasn't Peng Ah-hee's intention to relieve my mind.

I was grateful nonetheless.

I shook my head to clear off my thoughts.

Let’s focus on the things I have to do for now.

Because I used my Secret Arts the day before yesterday, I still wasn’t able to use my Qi smoothly.

My Dantian still aches in pain.

Despite taking a rest and circulating my Mind Arts, I still wasn’t able to fully heal.

Oh, though of course,

I doubt I ever need to use any of my strength in a playground filled with children.

I thought I could just get by casually, but there was one thing that I overlooked.

Among all these kids, there is a real monster hiding besides me.