Childhood Friend of the Zenith

“How about it?”

For a moment, I just stood there, dumbfounded, as Bi Eejin’s question hung in the air.

What is this guy talking about?A disciple?Did he really just say his master was looking for a disciple? And he wantedmeto fill that role?

Sure, Bi Eejin mentioned his master, but we both knew that his so-called “master” was none other than the Dishonored Venerable—Bi Eejin himself.

I couldn’t help but think to myself, Is this guy not even a little bit embarrassed…?

Any shred of respect I had for him from my past life? Gone, just like that. This man was more out of it than I thought. And a disciple, really? Was he seriously asking me to be his disciple?

I shot back an immediate response.

“I’m not buying it.”

My rejection was instant.

“That’s good, then I shall… What?”

Bi Eejin’s face twisted into an expression of shock that was completely out of place for him. Did he really expect me to accept? Isn’t that a bit arrogant? Then again…

It is him, after all.

This was a chance to become a disciple of one of the Heavenly Venerables, and the Dishonored Venerable at that.

Becoming a disciple of one of the top three people who reached the very pinnacle of the Martial World, the Heavens itself, meant not only learning martial arts from him but also inheriting his fame and honor.

So, yeah, it made sense that he’d be shocked by my refusal. But even so…

The Dishonored Venerable, huh?

He really made me think.

The martial arts he created hadn’t existed in the world for more than a hundred years, just like the Moonlight Dance the Sword Emperor used. When you consider that the current Divine Arts of the Ten Sect Alliance and the Four Noble Clans took centuries to perfect, it made me wonder if his arts were flawed, or perhaps incomplete.

But there’s no way that’s the case.

I could guarantee it. I saw it with my own eyes. The Dishonored Venerable’s martial arts were anything but incomplete. I’d never witnessed such a dumb yet overpowering technique in my life.

Compared to the Sword Emperor, who modified existing martial arts to make them his own, the Dishonored Venerable claimed he created his arts from scratch.

Is that really possible?

I couldn’t even begin to imagine reaching the level of a Heavenly Venerables in under a hundred years while also creating my own martial arts. That’s what made his martial arts so valuable. Any martial artist with half a brain would kill to learn something like that.

But sadly, I didn’t have time to master an entirely new martial art.

“Shouldn’t you check if I’m even eligible to learn it in the first place?” I asked, summoning flames in my hand and showing them to Bi Eejin.

Oh, fuck… my Dantian hurts.

My body was already brimming with the Qi of the Destructive Flame Arts, and I’d also reached the mature stage of the Peak realm, meaning my body was nearly one with my Qi.

To learn new martial arts, you had to have learned Mind Arts that matched them so that you could stack them on top of each other.

For example, since Destructive Flame Arts mainly used Flame Qi and Combat Qi, my Qi had developed to complement those. But to learn a completely different martial art in my current state…?

Is he trying to make my blood vessels explode?

The idea itself was absurd.

Bi Eijin’s shock started to fade, maybe my reason for denying his offer had convinced him?

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that,” he said, as if trying to reassure me.

What the? There’s actually a way? I perked up, listening closely.

“It’s possible once you empty everything inside you and fill it with something else.”

“…Fucking hell.”

I cursed out loud, stunned by Bi Eejin’s words. The man was crazier than I’d imagined. He was telling me to purge all the Qi in my body and replace it with a new Mind Art to learn his martial arts.

“How about you stop with this nonsense?”

He was basically telling me to throw away everything I’d built up just to learn a whole new Divine Art.

What nonsense.

Who would be crazy enough to do such a thing? Especially someone at the Peak realm at tha-

…

Midway through my thoughts, I remembered something. If he was saying this like it was obvious, did that mean this crazy bastard had actually did it himself?

That was possible.

It would explain why he spoke as if it was a normal thing to do. A normal person wouldn’t do such a thing, but someone who became one of the Heavenly Venerables? None of them were normal.

But I had no plans to do such a thing.

“I’m not going to do it. You think I’m crazy enough to empty everything I have now and fill it up with a whole new thing?”

My answer remained firm. I had built up too much Qi, and I still had much further to go. I couldn’t afford to throw all that away just to learn a new Divine Art.

I don’t have much time.

Time was something I lacked to begin with.

I might look like a genius to that man, but I’m not that.

I wasn’t gifted enough to start learning a whole new martial art after losing everything. The Dishonored Venerable was likely offering this because he thought I was the perfect candidate to inherit his martial arts. In other people’s eyes, I probably looked like a genius sent from the heavens.

That’s how most masters think—they want to pass down their legacy, teach what they’ve mastered. Sure, some might not care, but most of the ones I knew did. It’s one of their driving forces.

But why go through the trouble of teaching their martial arts to disciples?

It’s probably because they want to be remembered in history.

They want their legacy to live on through their disciples. They’re chasing things like the honor of their clans, the reputation of their Sects, the importance of their names. But to me, it’s all the same—pointless.

Although, I don’t think that man… has such a goal.

Not that I cared enough to find out his true intentions. I just wanted to stay out of this spotlight.

In his eyes, I probably seemed like I had an Omnipotent Body. That’s probably how I looked to everyone. But I wasn’t talented enough to learn the Dishonored Venerable’s martial arts, nor did I have the luxury of time.

Every minute was important to me. And even if I had the time, I wasn’t sure I could learn a whole new martial art.

“Go look for another person, I’m not going to do it.”

I turned around and started to walk away. I honestly did have a second thought.

Taoist Qi, Blood Qi, and even Demonic Qi were mixed with each other, so wouldn’t I be able to add another one on top of that?

Maybe it was because of my Demonic Absorption Arts or a hidden power within the Destructive Flame Arts, but I was able to use each and every one of those Qi without my body exploding. I briefly considered learning the Dishonored Venerable’s arts…

But that’s a gamble…

I don’t know what would happen if I tried such a risky thing.

“I hope you find a good ki—disciple, I meant disciple. I’ll be taking my leave n- “

Just as I was about to bolt after getting far enough from him, I heard his voice from behind.

“How problematic. I didn’t think that you would refuse such an offer.”

I turned my head, and to my shock, the Dishonored—no, Bi Eejin—was suddenly right in front of me.

Fucking hell.

I failed to sense his presence due to my inability to use my Dantian properly, but his speed played a part too.

Bi Eejin spoke again. “According to my master, it would be a bit difficult for him to find someone other than you.”

“…And how long has Brother Bi known me for?”

“…”

Bi Eejin hesitated, clearly caught off guard by my question. It seemed he’d messed up.

“…Rumors spread throughout the whole world, you know.”

“Ah, I’m sure. But so what? What are you going to do?”

Was he going to force me to go with him or something? I didn’t think he was that bad-tempered, but his current actions suggested otherwise.

Running away and hiding, hmm… It’ll be difficult.

I realized from his earlier ambush and his movements just now that escaping from him in my current state wasn’t possible.

As I wondered what to do, Bi Eejin raised his hand up and showed me something—a blue band.

For a moment, I thought the blue band belonged to Bi Eejin, but then…

“…Huh?”

I felt something strange. I searched my pocket and realized the band he was holding was mine.

I laughed like a madman and asked, “…You’re going to take that away from me?”

Nothing really changed just because I lost a blue band. I could always get another one from someone else or take it from the Demons in the forest.

Bi Eejin held the band tightly in his hand and spoke again, “I understand where you’re coming from, so how about I give you a different offer?”

His tone changed. I wasn’t sure if he did it on purpose, but it probably was his normal way of speaking. I didn’t comment on it, though.

“If you can take this band away from me, then I’ll give up.”

I was dumbfounded, finding his apparent kindness amusing, “And why do I need to do such a thing?”

“If you don’t, then I’ll continue to follow you and keep bothering you. Does that sound good?”

“What?”

What was he even saying?

“I’ve thought about it and observed your reactions. It seems you don’t really care about anything from the Heavenly Dragon Academy. You’re probably similar to me.”

“…No? I really want to go.”

How did he know?

“It didn’t seem that way, but if that’s true, then shouldn’t you accept this offer?” He said, waving the blue band in his hand.

He was more cunning that I thought. He was doing this because I said I wouldn’t?

What an oppressive person.

I didn’t see him like that. If that wasn’t the case, then it meant he needed me so much that he had to do this.

Why is he even doing this?

I studied Bi Eejin’s eyes. He had no intention of letting me go. He seemed ready to disqualify me if I didn’t accept his challenge.

“…What will you do if I fail to take the band away from you?”

“It’s a bit stupid of you to think you’ll lose before the fight.”

“I’m just poor like that.”

I wasn’t going to be swayed by his words.

“I won’t have to become a disciple or anything, right?”

“Of course, I’m not the type to force someone to do things they don’t want.”

“You mean Brother Bi, right?”

“…That’s right. I misspoke. I meant my master.”

He smiled. How absurd. How had he not been found out yet with behaviour like this? Oh, was that maybe why he didn’t leave the clan much?

“However, if you fail to take this band away from me…”

“If I fail?”

“Then all you have to do is meet my master just once.”

“…The Dishonored Venerable?”

“That’s right.”

What did he mean by meeting him once? He was literally standing in front of me right now.

…Not as if I can say that though.

What was Bi Eejin’s intention? Why was he asking me to meet the Dishonored Venerable.

Is this his last-ditch effort?

Well, I didn’t know. It was highly likely that he would try to convince me, but if all I had to do was meet him, then…

“Then I shal- “

Pow-!

I felt a painful impact on my face, snapping my head back.

“Ugh…!”

What the hell was that?

“…Oh?”

Bi Eejin seemed impressed after swinging his fist. I had to steady myself from falling.

“To dodge it slightly in that split second. You’re impressive, as I expected.”

“Jeez… Just what are you doing right now?”

“Hmm? What are you talking about?”

I made a speechless expression while rubbing my nose. Bi Eejin waved the blue band in his hand with a smile.

“Did you perhaps think it would be as easy as you stealing the band?”

“…What?”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t going to hit you.”

This cunning old man!…Wait.

I’d seen this exact thing before.

Oh. I remember!

I recalled when the current First Elder, who used to be the Second Elder, knocked out Peng Woojin in one strike because he begged to participate in the Nine Dragons Tournament.

-…Second Elder, weren’t you supposed to be the one dodging?

-Haha! This old man said no such thing!

Sigh… They do say birds of a feather flock together.

That old man had no normal friends at all.

The punch thankfully skimmed past me, but it didn’t change the fact that it made my world spin.

I almost got hit in the chin.

If I hadn’t moved instantly, I would’ve fainted on that spot.

“…Sigh.”

To be involved with this man, of all people… Seriously, was I being punished just because I bullied Gu Jeolyub a little?

Crack.

How annoying. I already have a lot to do.

After lightly stretching my body, I strengthened my Dantian.

Ache—

I still felt pain, but I could endure it for now if I clenched my teeth. Keywords: for now.

Sss…

I charged my inner Qi. I felt my body expanding as my Qi flowed from my Dantian. If I couldn’t use my Qi properly, I had to cheat and use something else.

[ Grrr.! ]

This damn beast reacted fiercely when I flowed my Qi. The bastard was weirdly sensitive to this Qi.

Blood Qi.

It should be better than using Demonic Qi for now. This was a more effective way of enhancing myself in an instant.

Will once be enough?

I didn’t know, but well, I had to try for now.

“Hmm?”

Bi Eejin’s expression changed as he noticed the change…

Press.

But I shot towards him as soon as my feet pushed off the ground. I moved my left shoulder and reached my arm out. The power of Blood Qi, which I was using for the first time in a while, was greater than expected.

Bi Eejin flinched and moved as well. He noticed that my arm was aimed right at his wrist, which held the blue band.

But my target wasn’t his wrist.

Because I was much faster than he expected, he was slightly late in noticing that it was a fake. My arm broke off its track.

“…!”

Only then did Bi Eejin realize what I was aiming for,

Wham-!

But it was too late. My fist had already dug into Bi Eejin’s stomach. After confirming my attack was successful…

Swoosh!

I immediately exploded Qi from my fist.

Kwaaa-!

Qi scattered everywhere, forming waves that stormed and turned everything into a mess.

*****************Slaaam-!

A mysterious explosive sound echoed from the other side of the mountain. Namgung Bi-ah stood motionless in a field, her gaze steady as she scanned her surroundings.

She could sense the hidden eyes and the foul stench of those watching her, but such threats were trivial to her now.

…Yellow.

She reached into her pocket, feeling the red and blue bands she had already secured.

She still needed to find a yellow band, and she had found someone who had one—or rather, the yellow band had found her.

Across the field stood the source of the stench that permeated the air. Namgung Bi-ah frowned slightly, trying to place the figure before her. There was something familiar about him.

Who was he…?

“What a coincidence, for us to run into each other here.”

“? Oh.”

The young man’s voice triggered her memory. It was the same man she’d seen with Wi Seol-Ah last time. There was something else about him—something she couldn’t quite remember—but the details eluded her.

“I hope you remember who I am this time, Sword Dancer.”

“…”

Namgung Bi-ah remained silent as he spoke, he acted as if he was familiar with her. For some reason, she felt no urge to respond, and the memory of him was faint.

The young man’s face twitched slightly as he noticed her lack of recognition.

“There’s this bastard… and now this…”

His muttered words drifted past her ears, tingled with frustration.

“I’m not fond of it… Not at all…”

The kind eyes he had once shown her sharpened, growing cold and predatory. But the transformation was brief; he quickly masked it with a smile.

“It seems like we both have something the other wants. So, how about it? A moment with me.”

He needed a red band, and she needed a yellow one. His malevolent intent mingled with the stench, making Namgung Bi-ah’s stomach churn.

But then, memories of her fiancé surfaced in her mind, bringing her a sense of calm.

She longed to see him, but she knew she had to wait.

Namgung Bi-ah realized she needed to stand up for herself, to become stronger and more capable. Only then could she truly be of help to him, could she stand proudly by his side.

Determined, she resolved to overcome the vile presence before her and any other obstacles that stood in her way.

“…”

In response to the young man’s offer…

Shwish—

Namgung Bi-ah drew her sword, pointing it at him with unwavering resolve.

Then…

Crackle—

Lightning Qi crackled around her, causing her hair to lift and wave.

“…Sky of Thunder.”

And she quietly spoke, the once clear, colorless sky erupted into a storm, lightning bolts striking the field with fierce intensity.