Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1076

Chapter 1076

After the storm subsided, I made my preparations in solitude, surrounded by a wall of silence from everyone else.

I could feel their constant stares. It was damn difficult to ignore, no matter how hard I tried.

Whispers swirled around me, a constant hum of voices.

I recognized the emotions behind them—curiosity, jealousy, envy. They were all too familiar.

“Who is that?”
“He seems so young. Which clan does he belong to?”
“…Perhaps he is from a family of the Seiga.”
“What could Paejon possibly see in him to take him as a disciple?”
“He doesn’t appear to be much… oh, but his expression is quite intimidating. Eek—!”

When I shot a glare at the man who had spoken dismissively, he immediately recoiled.

This was seriously irritating.

I released a long sigh, an old and unwelcome feeling stirring inside me.

‘That damn old man.’

Of all times, this had to occur just as I was trying to lay low and think. Could this really be a coincidence?

I didn’t believe so.

“Ha…”

I dragged my fingers through my hair.

‘What did Paejon detect?’

What exactly had Paejon perceived when he looked at me? He couldn’t have sensed my Tua Pacheonmu; I had concealed it thoroughly.

The moment I felt the resonance, I hid it. Paejon definitely didn’t detect that.

So, it wasn’t the resonance. That left only one thing.

‘This body, the result of reverse aging.’

I appeared young because my body had undergone reverse aging after shedding its limitations. That was what Paejon had been searching for so desperately.

That was likely the reason he was so determined to make me his disciple.

If that was true…

‘Is this about to happen all over again?’

I didn’t understand how Paejon had discovered it, but it seemed to be the reason he had suddenly approached me and begun feeling my body.

However…

‘Can he truly determine anything just by touching my arm?’

What could he possibly learn from merely touching my arm? He didn’t even channel any energy.

He was just feeling it, but Paejon must have sensed something.

‘Tch.’

This was problematic.

If Paejon became fixated on me, things would become extremely complicated.

‘What should I do? Should I create a new identity again?’

Altering my face and body was simple. Using my abilities, I could assume new identities as needed.

That part wasn’t an issue.

‘The problem is the timing.’

The Martial Alliance entrance exam. That was the complication.

I had heard the exam was today, and it was the final opportunity. Missing it meant I wouldn’t be able to join the Alliance until the following year.

Changing my identity now would be difficult.

‘Or perhaps…’

Could I steal someone else’s identity within the Martial Alliance and disguise myself?

That was a potential solution.

I was briefly considering the idea when—

“Next. Step forward.”

A voice called from the front. I looked up and saw a man on the sparring platform wearing a bored expression.

That was the first stage of the Martial Alliance entrance exam.

There were several other examiners standing on similar platforms nearby.

The first part of the exam was straightforward.

You spar with the examiners on the platform. After a few exchanges, the examiner decides if you pass.

It was an incredibly simple test.

And—

‘A disgustingly easy exam.’

The exam wasn’t designed for fairness. The most reliable way to pass was through bribery or connections.

‘I wonder.’

If this were the Martial Alliance I remembered, bribery and influence-peddling would already be widespread.

What about the current Alliance? I was curious.

‘But would it be different during the era when Jukcheon was in charge?’

Perhaps during the Martial Alliance’s prime, when Jukcheon was the leader, things were different. Holding onto that hope, I observed the sparring platform.

‘Huh?’

I hadn’t noticed at first, but—

My examiner.

‘Wait, I know that face.’

It looked familiar. Whose face was it?

I narrowed my eyes, trying to recall, but the memory didn’t come immediately.

As I stared, the man suddenly looked back at me. When our eyes met, his expression twisted, and he spoke.

“Step forward.”

‘Ah.’

Was it my turn? I stepped onto the sparring platform.

The examiner looked at me with a strange expression.

That look was unmistakable—it was pure disbelief. “This is the one who caught Paejon’s attention?”

“Ahem.”

He cleared his throat and then spoke.

“I am Bumdong from the Azure Dragon Division.”

“Ah.”

My eyes widened at his introduction.

No wonder he seemed familiar. Was it really him?

He was the one who used to provoke me and ended up getting beaten for it.

“What’s wrong?”

This was Bumdong in his youth. He appeared to be in his early twenties.

Noticing my odd reaction, Bumdong looked at me with confusion.

“Ah, it’s nothing. You just remind me of someone I know.”

“Hmph. Is that so? It’s rare to find someone who resembles me. But if you were about to say Ji Yeon, you’d better hold your tongue.”

Bumdong spoke indifferently, his tone leaving no room for argument. He was making it clear that he would not entertain any form of bribery.

Interesting.

‘Was he really like this back then too?’

In my memory, Bumdong was someone who had already fallen from grace, but here he seemed strangely upright.

As I studied him with curiosity,

“Don’t be too frightened.”

Bumdong drew his sword and addressed me.

“I’ll take it easy on you. I have no intention of going hard on someone at your level.”

From his words, Bumdong seemed to be around my age.

Since he mentioned the Azure Dragon Division, he must have already been a member.

His level…

‘Peak stage.’

He had just entered the peak level, if I had to estimate.

For his age, that was truly remarkable.

Even the Bumdong I knew was a Hwagyeong master, so his innate talent must have been exceptional.

“What weapon do you use?”
“I don’t use weapons.”
“You’re a fist fighter then. Good.”

Bumdong adjusted his stance, pointing the tip of his sword toward me.

“Attack whenever you’re ready.”
“……”

I silently observed the sword.

“I’ll let you make the first move.”

Thud.

Bumdong, who had been speaking, crumpled to the ground.

“Huh?”
“……What?”
“What just…?”

The spectators stared with wide eyes. I casually kicked the fallen Bumdong, sending him sliding away.

“You said I could attack anytime.” I moved in and struck his chin, finishing it.

As much as I wanted to crush his face, there were too many witnesses.

Smirking, I pushed Bumdong aside and turned to the exam official.

“Do you require any further confirmation?”
“…Uh… uhh.”

The flustered official spoke to me.

“Baek Yangcheon of the Baek family from Guangdong. Y-Yes… you have passed…” I had passed the first round.

It was to be expected.

**********

I proceeded directly to take the second exam. Fortunately, it wasn’t overly elaborate.

When I arrived at the next location, those who had already passed were seated and working on something.

Looking closer, I saw papers spread out on desks, and most people seemed deeply concentrated.

“Are you here for the exam?” a voice from inside inquired.

“Yes.”
“Please take a seat here.”

I moved to the indicated spot. On the desk were a paper and a brush, just like before.

I sat down and examined the task.

‘This.’

It was literally a written exam.

The questions were all about demonic beasts.

“Write down your answers to the questions. You have half an hour.”

“……”

I quietly studied the paper. Most questions concerned green and blue demonic beasts. There were a few about red ones as well.

But the number of questions was very small.

Of course.

‘It’s because red demonic beasts aren’t emerging at this time.’

The demonic beast incursions had stabilized, and relatively systematic countermeasures were in place.

With that threat managed, this was the period when humans began to turn on each other more and more.

“Hmm.”

I looked over the questions.

But…

‘This is too simple.’

The questions were far too easy.

‘I did earn first place in the Shinyong Hall exam.’

For a first-rank scholar of Shinyong Hall, this was nothing.

I picked up the brush and quickly wrote the answers. Soon after, I raised my hand to signal the examiner.

“Hm?”

The examiner let out a light chuckle when he saw my raised hand.

“Try a little harder. If you give up already…”

“I’m finished.”

“What…?”

The examiner’s eyes widened at my response.

“…You’ve completed everything?”
“Yes.”
“…That’s impossible.”

We were given half an hour, and I hadn’t even used half of that time.

Yet, I claimed to be done, and the examiner seemed genuinely shocked.

“Don’t just write down nonsense.”
“I didn’t. You can check it.”

“……”

The examiner took the paper with suspicion and looked it over.

After a short pause…

“Hah…”

He let out a brief, exasperated sigh.

“…They’re all correct?”

Not a single answer was wrong.

“May I leave now?”

“No…”

How was this possible? After a moment of thought, the examiner nodded as if something had occurred to him.

“…I see. Just who are you, exactly?”

“Pardon?”

“…Never mind. There’s no point in asking. Go ahead.”

The examiner spoke with a somewhat disturbed expression.

He seemed displeased. Looking at him, I understood.

‘Ah, this guy.’

Because I finished so quickly, he suspected I had gotten the answers in advance. It seemed he thought I had cheated.

Judging by his words…

‘Who else would have done this?’

It seemed someone else had caused trouble before.

‘Hmm.’

It was ridiculous to be misunderstood like this, but… anyway, I had passed.

I turned and headed out immediately.

‘The third one…’

Once I finished the final exam, I would finally enter the sect, right?

‘Really…’

In my past life, I had been so unwilling to come here, and now I was taking tests to enter that very place again.

It was absurd.

I was scratching my cheek as I prepared to leave when—

“Excuse me.”

“Hm?”

Someone called out to me.

I turned my head.

“Are you the one who just passed the exam?”

It was a woman with a low, cool voice. Wondering who it was, I looked at her.

And then…

“…Huh?”

Upon seeing the person addressing me, I couldn’t help but react strongly.

She was a beautiful woman.

With rather cold eyes and an aura that seemed to radiate frost, she was the type of beauty who would be recognized as such anywhere.

She seemed to be just beyond her teenage years, and she reminded me of the captivating daughter of the Moyong family.

But more than that, I knew this woman.

“If that’s the case, I have a proposition for you-.”

“Mi… Madam…?”

“…What did you say?”

At my words, the woman, Mi Horan of the Baekhwa Sect, frowned.