Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 869

Chapter 869

The Pursuit in the Moonless Woods

Tap, tap—!!

Someone was fleeing through the black heart of the forest, driven by a frantic, desperate energy. His breath came in ragged, painful gasps, and his twisted face was a mask of pure agony.

“Huff… huff!”

He drove his wounded body onward, each step a fresh torment, but the will to survive pushed him past the pain.

Damn it all—!!

Ilcheon Sword clenched his jaw, forcing his legs to keep moving. How had he ended up here? His mind, still reeling, had been overruled by a base instinct to run.

What of the Celestial Stream Sect Master? What was his fate?

How had everything unraveled so completely and so fast? How had it escalated to this?

Why… why did it have to be *him*?

The instant the Star King, Gu Yangcheon, had burst into the Azure Dragon Unit’s barracks and started speaking of sins, Ilcheon Sword’s only thought was to escape.

The confrontation—more accurately, the brutal, one-sided assault—had left his body broken. His mind, clawing back to awareness, was now wholly consumed by the primal urge to survive.

When Gu Yangcheon spoke of sins, Ilcheon Sword knew with chilling certainty.

That man wasn’t guessing. He knew.

He wasn’t operating on suspicion, but on cold, hard proof.

That was the terror that had made him abandon his post and his men to flee in a blind panic.

Was it fear of punishment? No. It was the deeper, more profound horror of having his crimes laid bare for all to see.

He had sacrificed his ideals and convictions long ago. By conspiring with heretical sects, he had defiled the very honor of the Martial Alliance he was meant to uphold.

That guilt was a physical weight on his soul.

Fighting back was impossible. Ilcheon Sword had understood that the moment Gu Yangcheon’s power washed over him.

That man… is a monster.

Gu Yangcheon existed on a different plane entirely. Even at his full strength, Ilcheon Sword stood no chance. How could someone barely into his twenties rival the legendary Ten Grand Masters? The reality was so absurd that experiencing it firsthand felt like a nightmare.

Ilcheon Sword gritted his teeth, pouring the last of his strength into his battered legs.

Where was he running? He didn’t know. His mind was empty of everything but the need to move.

Where does a martial artist who has betrayed his honor and virtue possibly go?

He had no destination, only the desperate, animal urge to put distance between himself and his pursuer.

Should he turn back and try to plead his case? No. The killing intent radiating from Gu Yangcheon had been absolute, a force that no words could ever hope to appease.

Damn it.

How had it come to this? No matter how many times he turned it over in his head, he found no answers.

Where did it first go wrong? Was it his first encounter with Gu Yangcheon?

Or perhaps…

Was it the very moment that man appeared?

Regardless of the cause, the central problem was Gu Yangcheon. Why had such a monster emerged from nowhere to stand in his way?

I…

He was meant to climb higher, to reach the pinnacle. This couldn’t be where his journey ended.

His thoughts grew muddy. Was there even a point to running?

Shouldn’t he have stood his ground and fought alongside his subordinates?

Ah, but he had abandoned them. He had fled, leaving them all behind.

As his scattered thoughts slowly coalesced, Ilcheon Sword’s expression darkened into one of profound despair.

The more he thought, the clearer it became: there was no way back.

Damn it all…

If he returned to the Martial Alliance, it would mean his utter ruin.

He needed a strategy.

Maybe he should leave Sichuan altogether?

Perhaps he could seek refuge with his clan and then work to clear his name, to denounce the charges as fabrications—

*Ssshhhiiiing—!!*

“…!!”

Ilcheon Sword dropped into a crouch on pure instinct. Something whistled through the air just above his skull.

*BOOOM—!!!*

A thunderous explosion tore through the space behind him, the shockwave rattling his bones. He stopped and whirled around to see the path he’d just been on now completely obliterated.

He recognized the destructive force; it was an attack fueled by pure martial energy.

Without a second thought, he snapped his gaze forward. A figure stood there, watching him with a look of sheer disappointment.

“Ugh! I missed!”

The speaker was a woman with short hair that barely reached her chin. She held a staff taller than she was, and from her emanated a sinister aura that made the hairs on Ilcheon Sword’s neck stand on end.

He scowled, recognition dawning.

She’s… the descendant of the Spirit Sword Queen.

The daughter of that woman the Alliance refuses to even speak of.

And that monster’s subordinate.

She was one of Gu Yangcheon’s followers.

Which could only mean—

“You idiot. You should’ve hidden your presence better.”

Another voice cut through the night, and Ilcheon Sword’s mouth went dry. In the darkness, two points of blue light flickered to life. They were unmistakably eyes.

“I told you to practice, didn’t I? Seems you didn’t listen.”

“I-I did! I swear I did!”

“Hmmph.”

The young man clicked his tongue in disapproval and stepped out of the shadows.

Ilcheon Sword ground his teeth at the sight of the very author of his misery.

“…You…”

The youth turned to him, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Ah, nice to see you again.”

He offered a casual wave before speaking again.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about, don’t we?”

There was no mistaking him. It was Gu Yangcheon.

****************

The Broken Ilcheon Sword

Observing the completely shattered state of Ilcheon Sword, I couldn’t suppress a cold laugh. He was a ruin, barely recognizable.

Of course, I was largely responsible for that. I’d broken several of his bones and left him in a condition where walking should have been impossible.

That he had managed to run at all in such a state was a testament to sheer desperation. The pain must have been excruciating, yet he had pushed through it.

So, his terror was that powerful, enough to override even agony.

It was deeply amusing.

A man who had once cloaked himself in honor now lay broken in the dirt, both in body and spirit. The sight was so pitiful it was almost funny, though I pressed my lips together to keep the contempt from showing on my face.

“You said something to me before, didn’t you?” I addressed the broken man before me.

His eyes, burning with pure hatred, lifted to meet mine.

“You swore on your name that you had never once betrayed the principles of righteousness and honor.”

“You bastard…”

“They say a man’s word is his bond. I’ve never cared for the phrase myself, but you seemed to believe in it. What happened to that?”

His only answer was another ragged, wheezing breath. But his eyes spoke volumes, blazing with loathing.

“No answer?”

“How dare you…! How dare you do this to me…!”

“That isn’t an answer. I asked what became of that solemn vow you made.”

“Hah…!”

Ilcheon Sword swayed as he forced himself to his feet, words grinding out between clenched teeth.

“What crime have I actually committed to deserve these false accusations?”

“False accusations?”

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

“You continue to astonish me. Truly, in every way possible.”

“This is all lies and slander! You’ve clearly orchestrated this entire scheme to frame me!”

Well, well.

He wasn’t entirely incorrect. He wasn’t a complete fool. But it changed nothing.

“Do you think I went through the trouble of gathering evidence for my own amusement? Are you insane?”

“…What evidence?”

“Evidence for every single thing you’ve done.”

Did I really need to spell it out? It was tedious, but I supposed I would indulge him.

“To start, you hired an assassin to poison me. We have the testimony of the Tang Clan and the full confession of the one who delivered the toxin.”

The poison itself wasn’t difficult to identify, even without the Tang Clan’s expertise. Catching the culprit had been the simple part.

“Then there’s your collusion with the Celestial Stream Sect Master in your attempt to have me killed. We’ve gathered both physical evidence and witness accounts.”

“Lies—!”

“Lies? Does any of this seem like a lie to you now?”

I rolled my shoulders, continuing without a pause.

“To be honest, it wouldn’t have mattered all that much if you’d actually succeeded in killing me.”

That part was at least half-true.

“People kill out of hatred and jealousy all the time. The attempt itself, while irksome, is something I could overlook. But you…”

I fixed him with a glare, letting each word land like a hammer blow.

“You aligned yourself with heretical filth. You dared to drag the very concept of righteousness through the mud.”

“….”

“You claim to pursue honor and justice? That you are more virtuous than anyone? Don’t make me laugh. Look at the honor you displayed so proudly—it’s lying in the dirt right now.”

I nudged the ground with my toe, gesturing to his pathetic state. Ilcheon Sword said nothing.

“I have nothing but contempt for the so-called righteous sects. The Martial Alliance included.”

This was true in both my past life and this one. Of course, the heretical sects were worse, but that didn’t excuse the hypocrisy of the righteous ones.

“To be precise, it isn’t righteousness I hate. It’s scum like you who hide their rot behind a gleaming mask of virtue.”

Those who wore honor as a disguise while their souls were blackened—those were the ones I truly despised.

“Kuh…”

Ilcheon Sword let out a choked, guttural sound. Still, he offered no defense. It didn’t matter.

I took a step back, creating space, and spoke again.

“Honestly, if you were truly innocent, you wouldn’t have run. Isn’t that right?”

My words found their mark, and he stiffened. Seeing the opening, I pressed on.

“As much as I want to end you right here, I’ll extend a chance to you.”

“…What?”

Hearing the word “chance,” Ilcheon Sword finally looked at me with something other than hate. I met his gaze and placed a hand on Bong Soon’s shoulder.

“Defeat her.”

“…Huh?”

“If you can beat her, I’ll let you go. I’ll pretend I never saw you again, and you can do whatever you want next.”

He seemed unable to process the offer. The confusion on his face was almost pitiable.

“What? You don’t want to? It’s a generous deal, especially since you have no desire to fight me.”

“…Are you out of your mind…?”

“Not at all. If you require it, I’ll swear on my family name, my clan, and even my parents.”

“….”

“Just win. Then you walk away free.”

“….”

A strange mix of emotions flickered in Ilcheon Sword’s eyes. Slowly, his hand moved to his waist, his fingers closing around the hilt of his weapon.

Silent, but resolved. Perhaps the last shred of pride he possessed was finally stirring.

“…You’ll regret this.”

“Yeah, I’m sure I will.”

Even now, his arrogance was grating. But that was fine. This was precisely why I had brought Bong Soon.

“Can I fight now?” Bong Soon asked, her expression slowly shifting to comprehension.

“Yes, fight.”

Her face lit up with a simple, terrifying joy.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“How far can I go?”

“As far as you want.”

“Really?”

As the exchange continued, a chill ran down my spine. The air grew cold.

“Then, then…”

Bong Soon’s lips stretched into a wide, unnerving grin. In that moment—

“Can I kill him?”

*Hisssss—!!*

An overwhelming wave of killing intent erupted from her small frame.

“…!”

Ilcheon Sword flinched backward. This was malice in its purest form, uncomplicated and absolute. It was his first time facing a bloodlust so singular and focused.

Bong Soon’s intent was just that—simple, direct, and lethal.

“Sure, kill him,” I replied, my voice flat.

“Hehehehe—!!!”

Satisfied, Bong Soon burst into a peal of gleeful laughter.

*Krrk—!!*

The staff in her hands began to contort and change. The blunt end sharpened, lengthened, and transformed into a lethal spear.

*Whirr—!!*

She spun the spear experimentally, her movements unrefined yet unnaturally fluid. Her body settled into a low, crouching stance, one hand gripping the spear, the other braced against the earth like a predator poised to spring.

It was an unorthodox posture, unlike any recognized spear technique. She looked less like a martial artist and more like a beast ready to pounce.

Ilcheon Sword hesitated, bewildered by the bizarre stance.

“Draw your sword,” I warned him. “If you let your guard down for even a second, you will regret it. She is dangerous.”

“…What is this…”

Ignoring my advice, Ilcheon Sword remained confused. Seeing his hesitation, Bong Soon let out another wild howl of laughter.

“Kyahahahahaha—!!!”

With that, she launched herself forward, her spear driving toward him in a straight, ruthless line. Ilcheon Sword barely had time to unsheathe his blade and bring it up to block.

*Crash—!!*

The spearhead slammed into the flat of his sword.

*Boom—!!*

The force of the impact was immense, hurling him backward through the forest. He crashed through several trees before finally tumbling to a stop.

*Crack—!!*

“Hahahahaha—!!!”

Bong Soon gave him no time to recover. Laughing maniacally, she charged after him.

“…Good grief.”

Watching the chaotic scene unfold, I found a nearby rock and sat down.

I had my concerns. When Bong Soon entered this state, she was nearly impossible to control. But for someone like Ilcheon Sword, even in his wounded condition, she was the ideal opponent.

The only question was, how long would it take?

Not long, I concluded.

Whether Ilcheon Sword was defeated or Bong Soon wore herself out, it would be over soon enough.

As I turned the thought over in my mind, my hand slipped into my robes, my fingers brushing against something smooth.

A fractured mask.

“Well then…”

Once this little diversion concluded…

“…it will be time to spring the next trap.”

There was far bigger prey waiting.