Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1146

Chapter 1146

The sun was up. An expanse of clear, brilliant blue hung above.

By the time morning had fully settled, I finally stepped out from the training hall.

“Nnngh.”

I stretched my body as I emerged, and the daylight met me.

It was painfully bright.

I clicked my tongue, squinting against the glare. To anyone else, it would be a perfect day—but to me, it felt harsh.

Not to mention, I was completely drained from training through the night.

*Crack—!*

I stretched again, working out the stiffness in my limbs. Back in Mangye, my body recovered much quicker, but here, where the air held far less internal energy, healing took more time.

Then again… maybe I was just out of practice.

I’d spent the night immersed in Tua Pacheonmu, and that art was inherently vicious.

Without strong regenerative abilities, its energy shredded through your meridians, leaving behind deep exhaustion.

“It really is a brutal technique.”

I’d thought the same when I first learned it, and returning to Tua Pacheonmu only confirmed it again.

“How am I supposed to master this?”

I’d already perfected Nine Flames Firewheel, reaching a state of transcendence after such intense focus. But that was only possible because my insights naturally aligned with that technique.

It allowed my breakthrough and made me stronger.

And yet—

“It’s not enough.”

Even after reaching transcendence, I still craved more power.

If I had to name the reason—

“That fight with the Heavenly Lord proved it.”

That battle, where he amplified his strength using Thunder Fang, was what did it.

“Right now, I’m still not strong enough to compete on equal footing with a Three Masters-level opponent using martial arts alone.”

I’d felt it even against the Heavenly Lord after his Inner Demon Awakening.

Which meant—

“I wouldn’t be able to defeat Sword Master or Paejon in a pure martial arts contest.”

If I used my divine authority or my inhuman strength, things might be different.

But in a duel of pure skill, I would lose.

Reaching transcendence had only made that clearer.

“It’s not enough.”

I was still lacking.

Even though I was stronger than I had ever been in my past life, it still wasn’t sufficient—especially considering the enemies I knew were coming.

“Whether it’s the Blood Demon… or that bastard Taechon.”

To fight beings that had surpassed human limits, I needed to grow even stronger.

“And the quickest way to do that is…”

Mastering Tua Pacheonmu, a power I hadn’t yet fully awakened.

I’d become sure of this after seeing Paejon demonstrate the Six Forms.

“It’s also essential for improving Cheonma Divine Art.”

Cheonma Divine Art worked by harnessing the friction between opposing forces.

It blended sorcery, demonic energy, and countless other elements into a single chaotic power.

But at its heart, its strength came from conflict.

And to amplify that conflict—

“I need to balance both forces.”

Just as I’d perfected Nine Flames Firewheel, I needed to bring Tua Pacheonmu to the same level.

The problem was—

“Easier said than done.”

Mastering Tua Pacheonmu was no simple task.

“Even its creator never reached that level.”

Even Paejon was still struggling to master it, so the road ahead wouldn’t be easy.

“And then there’s Cheonma Divine Art itself…”

Last night, I’d only focused on channeling Tua Pacheonmu’s energy.

I hadn’t practiced the physical movements.

At my level, even a slight misstep in controlling my strength could tear whole buildings apart.

So, I’d limited myself to energy circulation.

“I feel like I was close to something…”

Something had brushed against my awareness during the process.

The problem was—

“…What was it?”

I’d felt it, but couldn’t quite grasp it.

Maybe it was a flash of insight.

“Tsk.”

Still, feeling anything at all was progress.

But not being able to hold onto it was frustrating.

“Should I ask Paejon?”

Consulting this era’s Paejon might be a good idea.

In fact, it could be the fastest way.

That man didn’t care about my regression or any of that—he only cared about the pursuit of martial arts.

“Hmm.”

I shook off my thoughts, breathing out as I released the remaining energy in my body.

For now—

I had somewhere to be.

I had to leave the training grounds.

The Azure Dragon Commander had called for a division-wide assembly.

**********

When I reached the Azure Dragon Training Hall, the place was already full.

I wasn’t late.

But judging by the crowd, I was the last to arrive.

“They’re sure staring hard.”

Maybe because I was the youngest, but the glares aimed my way were sharp.

Still, no one directly challenged me.

Perhaps it was because I’d already clashed with Namgung Jin.

Or maybe because I’d beaten up another member just the night before.

“Seems like the news got around.”

Among those staring, I recognized a few—the ones I’d personally pummeled.

Ignoring their looks, I moved toward Do Yun.

But before I could reach him—

“Baek Yangcheon.”

“Yes.”

It was Soi.

She fixed me with a sharp look.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone else is already here, and you’re just walking in now?”

I tilted my head.

“…Is there an issue?”

“What?”

“I wasn’t late. I arrived early. My seniors just got here even earlier.”

If I’d actually been late, I might have apologized.

But them arriving too early wasn’t my fault.

“…”

Soi fell silent for a moment.

I’d noticed before—the future Sword Queen wasn’t particularly quick with words.

“That’s…”

Which made her easy to tease.

“Ah, surely the future leader of Mount Hua isn’t scolding me just for arriving last?”

“Such an old-fashioned, rigid way of thinking… You wouldn’t really cling to something so petty, would you?”

“…”

Soi’s expression faltered.

At the same time, her ears turned faintly red.

I smirked inside.

“She’s so softhearted. I don’t get why she acts like this.”

The Sword Queen was a kind person at her core.

Of everyone I knew, she was among the most selfless and compassionate.

There was no way she was doing this on her own.

This was probably—

“Someone put her up to it.”

Soi wouldn’t have started this herself.

Some bastard had pushed her into it.

Of course—

“She probably doesn’t like me much either.”

It was possible her own dislike played a part.

But she wasn’t the type to personally initiate something like this.

“Isn’t that right, senior?”

“That…”

Soi hesitated.

She must have realized her actions weren’t entirely justified.

Someone had clearly put her up to it.

And there was an easy way to find out who.

“Unbelievable.”

Found him.

There was only one kind of person who would jump into this.

All I had to do was wait for him to reveal himself.

Right on schedule, someone stepped into our conversation.

A man I’d never seen before.

“A recruit should set an example. There are duties you must fulfill. Do you intend to ignore the rules of this division?”

“Hmm.”

Who was this guy?

He had narrow eyes and a thin, sharp jaw. He looked to be in his thirties.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Noticing my stare, the man frowned.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just don’t know who you are. Who are you?”

“…!”

The people nearby flinched.

“You don’t know who I am?”

“Nope. Well, I know you’re in the Sword Division.”

I just didn’t know his name.

At my reply, the man’s face flushed with anger.

“You little—! The Commander might favor you, but you have no respect for how things are done, do you?”

“…Why are you angry?”

“You dare not recognize me—Bi-Moon Sword Wi Seok?!”

“…How would I— Wait, Wi Seok?”

I paused.

Hearing that name, I went still.

Wi Seok smirked, thinking I’d finally understood.

“Hah, so you get it now. Yes, I am the great Bi-Moon Sword, Wi Seok!”

“…Wi Seok?”

He announced his title proudly, full of confidence.

But my reaction wasn’t about his title—it was about his name.

“Wi Seok…”

That name belonged to—

The man who’d been appointed Commander of the Snowflower Unit when it was formed during the Great Righteous-Demonic War.

And—

The Branch Leader of Guangdong, the man I killed on my way to meet the Sword Demon.

That was his name.

Remembering, I stared at him in silence.

“…Now that I think about it, he looks familiar.”

Yeah, he looked just like the man I’d executed.

Was it really him?

Could it be—?

“The bastard who betrayed Wi Seol-ah?”

The scum behind that betrayal—was it him?

I was still deep in thought when Wi Seok, misreading my silence, let out a smug laugh.

“Well, as long as you recognize me now. Show the proper respect, and I’ll overlook today’s disrespect.”

Then—

“Now, kneel before—”

*Crack!*

“Ugh…?”

My body moved before I could think.

My foot slammed into his knee, and something gave way with a sickening crunch.

“Ah, damn it.”

Watching him stumble, I let out a soft laugh.

“What a great way to start the morning.”

“Guaaagh—!”

He tried to scream as the pain hit him—

But I clamped my hand over his mouth.

“Mmph! Mmph!”

His eyes bulged in agony as he thrashed.

I whispered.

“Hey.”

“Mmmph—!”

“Shut up before I tear your throat out.”

“…!!”

*Sssss…*

A thin thread of killing intent seeped out, freezing the nearby onlookers.

Ah, this was bad.

“I need to control myself.”

Seeing a dead man walking in front of me—one who deserved to die—made it hard to hold back.

I tried.

But it wasn’t easy.

This wasn’t just anyone—it was him.

I thought about letting him go, but my grip only tightened.

I was on the verge of ripping his head off.

Just then—

“Oh my, what’s all this?”

I froze.

My head turned instinctively toward the voice.

“…?”

Our eyes met.

A woman stood at the entrance, watching the scene with amused interest.

And the moment our gazes connected—

She smiled.

“Nice to see you! Or should I say, it’s been a while? Well, not really, but still.”

A bright, cheerful voice.

The face was identical to someone I knew, but the feeling was completely different.

“…Lady Hyun?”

Hyun Soyeon.

Namgung Bi-ah’s mother.

Someone who shouldn’t be here.

And yet, here she was.

At the sight of her, my grip on Wi Seok loosened.