Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 688: A Refined Madman (1)

“What exactly have you been up to?”

I asked this as soon as I encountered Paejon after finishing my training late in the evening.

Hearing my question, Paejon frowned deeply.

“Is that the first thing you ask your master after seeing him for the first time in days?”

“Well, of course, I figured you’d come back eventually.”

If possible, I had hoped he’d take longer to return. Maybe about seven or fifteen days?

That would’ve been ideal. Unfortunately, Paejon returned far too soon.

And not only that—

“I just didn’t expect you to return so noisily.”

Very noisily, in fact.

“Do you know how loud Hanam has been all day?”

“Isn’t Hanam always a noisy place?”

He wasn’t wrong.

As the most developed city in Zhongyuan, it was naturally bustling from dawn till dusk.

‘But today, the commotion was far beyond the usual.’

I looked at Paejon, recalling all the things I had heard today to the point of exhaustion.

“Are you seriously going to participate?”

The news that Toulong (Fighting Dragon) Biyo-jin was participating in the Bi-mu-je had spread like wildfire across Hanam.

All day long, the talk on the streets had shifted entirely. In the morning, it had been about me, but the moment this news broke, my story was swept away like a leaf in a river current.

Toulong, one of the Six Dragons, participating in the Bi-mu-je wasn’t that big of a deal on its own.

After all, Dokbong Tang So-yeol was also confirmed to participate, and even the Celestial Dragon’s participation was anticipated.

However, the reason for the uproar over Toulong’s announcement was simple.

Toulong had been revealed to be the direct disciple of Paejon, one of the Three Supreme Elders.The official recognition of Paejon’s disciple had caused an uproar that lasted all day.

But what the world didn’t know—

‘Was that Paejon himself is Toulong.’

I glanced at the man casually eating the dumplings I had brought earlier.

Though he seemed indifferent to my question, I knew better than to take it at face value.

“Why? Is there a problem with me participating?”

“It feels like you’re crashing a playground to cause trouble.”

“Ha.”

Paejon let out a laugh as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

“Disciple, do you think you’re any different?”

“I’m just a kid, aren’t I?”

“Look at this shameless brat.”

He sighed deeply, holding his dumpling. Watching him, I decided to ask,

“Elder.”

“Yes.”

“Is this what you were planning to tell me before?”

That day when I met the Celestial Dragon.

At the inn, Paejon had mentioned he had something to say.

Was this what he had been hinting at? I asked with that in mind.

“Yes.”

Paejon nodded in affirmation.

So it really had been his intention to tell me that he planned to participate in the Bi-mu-je.

Feeling exasperated, I asked, “Why are you even participating?”

“Doesn’t it sound fun?”

“You don’t like that sort of thing.”

He had always dismissed events like this as mere child’s play.

Even the sparring he did with me was less for practice and more to blow off steam while teaching.

No matter how big the festival, this man hated fighting weaklings. Why now, of all times, would he participate in a Bi-mu-je?

“Sometimes, things like this are necessary.”

“...By any chance.”

“Yes?”

“You’re not going there just to legally beat me, are you?”

Whoosh!

I dodged as he swung his hand at me, intending to flick my forehead.

After evading, I had to swallow my shock.

‘This crazy old man!’

There was Qi imbued in his strike.

“You dodged?”

“Were you trying to crack my skull?”

“You wouldn’t die even if you got hit.”

“...What kind of terrifying thing is that to say?”

He wasn’t wrong—getting hit might break my head a bit, but it wouldn’t kill me.

Still, hearing such words from my own master was absurd.

“If I wanted to beat you, I’d just do it like this.”

“Were you trying to demonstrate that by hitting me?”

“It was easy to understand, wasn’t it?”

“...Yes, it was incredibly easy to understand.”

So easy that it was infuriating.

“Furthermore.”

As I frowned in frustration, Paejon calmly continued.

“I initially intended to just make a brief appearance, but I figured it’d be convenient to spread my name a bit. Why not? It’s mine to use, after all.”

He wasn’t wrong.

No one would object to him announcing that Toulong was Paejon’s disciple.

After all, Toulong was Paejon.

Whether as Biyo-jin or Bijoo, both names came from the Seoan Bi family, so he had plenty of justification.

It was just—

“You’re not the type to enjoy spreading your name....”

In his past life, Paejon had been someone who stayed quiet until war broke out.

If he hadn’t told others that he had undergone rebirth and rejuvenation, no one would have known, even until his death.

What could have made him decide this was convenient? I was about to ask when—

“There’s no better way to quash pointless rumors.”

“...!”

Hearing Paejon’s words, I had to swallow my breath.

At the same time, I looked at him with slightly widened eyes.

Those words—could he mean—

‘Is this because of the rumors spreading in Zhongyuan?’

Rumors about the sudden appearance of a sect called the Demonic Cult.

The whispers about its leader, the Heavenly Demon, being none other than Paejon, had begun circulating faintly.

Though the rumors weren’t widespread yet, and most dismissed them as nonsense, the situation was at a point where even faint suspicions could grow.

‘Could it be...?’

Was Paejon taking action because of these rumors?

If so, why?

Was it because such misunderstandings bothered him?

‘No, he’s not the type to care about petty rumors.’

If anything, Paejon would scoff at such gossip and dismiss it entirely. He wouldn’t go to these lengths over something so trivial.

Then why?

If I tried to reason it out, there was one thing that came to mind.

‘...Me?’

Because of me.

If Paejon thought I might be connected to the Demonic Cult, and if he wanted to personally dispel those rumors, this might be his way of doing it.

Claiming that Toulong was his disciple and that he was training me would make it much easier to suppress those rumors.

If I had to come up with a reason, that might be it.

‘But... that’s probably not it.’

It couldn’t be.

Paejon wouldn’t act on my behalf.

When he received the earlier information, he might have been suspicious, but he wouldn’t take action just because of that.

He wasn’t the type of person to do such a thing.

That’s what I wanted to believe.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No reason....”

“Annoying brat.”

At my response, Paejon let out a soft chuckle.

“In any case, I’ll be participating, so keep that in mind.”

“...Understood.”

A Bi-mu-je with Paejon.

‘Will this be alright?’

I was already keeping track of every participant one by one.

Now, with Paejon entering the fray, would my plans still work?

‘I guess I’ll find out.’

It would depend on how things unfolded.

At least it didn’t seem like the situation would change drastically.

“...Now I can beat you up openly. Heh heh heh.”

I ignored the quiet muttering I heard behind me.

With a sigh, I turned to Paejon with a sudden thought and asked,

“Oh, Elder.”

“What now?”

“Just out of curiosity....”

I paused briefly before continuing.

“Do you know anything about my grandfather?”

“Hmm?”

Paejon tilted his head, seemingly puzzled by the question.

It must have seemed strange for me to bring up my grandfather out of the blue, but I had my reasons.

‘Paejon is close to Elder Il and the Shadow King, and the Shadow King mentioned my grandfather.’

If the Shadow King knew about my grandfather, then perhaps Paejon did as well.

That was the reasoning behind my question.

“Well.”

Paejon gave a vague answer.

“Do I know him or not...? That’s a tricky question.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means exactly what I said. But why are you asking about him?”

“I was just curious, that’s all.”

Not wanting to explain further, I deflected the question.

“Didn’t your father tell you anything?”

“No.”

My father had never once mentioned my grandfather.

At least, not in my memory.

From the moment I was born, the Gu family patriarch had always been my father, and the same was true in my past life.

“Hmmm....”

Paejon seemed to ponder my words deeply, as if deciding how to respond.

‘Is this really something to think so hard about?’

I had only asked out of simple curiosity about what kind of person my grandfather was.

Yet, it seemed something was weighing on Paejon’s mind.

“If I had to say... I suppose you’re about half like him.”

“What?”

I couldn’t hide my confusion at his unexpected response. What did he mean by that?

“He was a mix of your father and you. Half and half.”

“What does that...”

“To put it simply.”

As if suddenly realizing something, Paejon clapped his hands together.

“A refined madman.”

“...?”

“That’s the best way to describe him.”

He seemed satisfied with his own explanation, but—

‘...What is that supposed to mean?’

I couldn’t make sense of it.

Half and half, then suddenly he’s a refined madman?

‘Does that mean I’m the refined one and my father is the madman? But my father isn’t like that at all....’

As I turned the thought over in my mind, Paejon continued speaking.

“If you’re still curious, ask your father or the Shadow King when you see them.”

“You mean the Shadow King?”

“Yes. He would know better than I do.”

“...”

His response resolved nothing, leaving me with more questions than answers.

Neither my father nor the Shadow King had returned yet.

Which meant—

‘I’ll have to find Gu Heebi.’

Eventually, I’d have to ask her.

There was no other choice.

‘Might as well do it soon since there’s no point in delaying.’

I turned my gaze toward the drawer.

Specifically, to the damaged Gui Artifact, the Jade of Gui Sha hidden inside.

It was a relic my father had supposedly given to his late wife.

‘I need to meet her because of this.’

To repair the damaged artifact, I’d inevitably have to seek out Gu Heebi.

Or rather, the Heavenly Demon she was with.

I’d have to meet her and, through her, find one particular person.

‘...If it’s the Heavenly Demon, they should know.’

The old man who oversaw the mechanisms of the Demonic Cult.

And—

‘The one who artificially created artifacts.’

The artisan of mechanisms, Taejeol Gui.

If anyone knew where he was, it would be the Cheonma.

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

As the sun rose high into the sky, Hanam's streets were teeming with so many people that not a single empty space could be seen.

“Everyone, be careful!”

“Don’t step too far forward! You might get hit by the horses!”

It was only natural.

Even the wide streets were packed with countless people, made even more cramped by the attempts to control the crowd. Inevitably, everyone was crushed together.

The sight alone felt suffocating. How could such a crowd gather without leaving a single gap?

‘If it were me, I’d go crazy from the claustrophobia.’

Just watching it made me want to run away.

Yet, the people on the streets wore faces full of anticipation.

The reason was clear.

“They’re coming!”

“Where? Where are they?”

“It’s the Emei Sect!”

From the entrance to Hanam Castle, martial artists could be seen entering.

Horses slowed their pace as they pulled carriages through the gate. Seeing the fluttering banners, I nodded slightly.

‘The Emei Sect, huh....’

I knew of them. They were famous, after all.

One of the Nine Great Sects, the Emei Sect was a prestigious group based in Sichuan.

‘I don’t recall having any direct involvement with them.’

In my previous life, I had heard news that the Sword Demon had killed the Emei Sect’s leader during the conquest of Sichuan.

As a result, the sect wasn’t completely annihilated but came close.

Beyond that, ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) I had little memory of them. Perhaps I just didn’t consider them significant.

Watching their procession with a somewhat detached gaze, I heard a voice from the front.

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“I didn’t expect the Emei Sect to be the first to arrive.”

Turning my head, I saw Moyong Hee-ah sipping tea as she spoke.

“Why is that?”

“The women of the Emei Sect are particularly proud. I didn’t think they’d want to be the first to show up.”

Ah, yes. The Emei Sect was known to consist entirely of women.

‘I see.’

The order of arrival was likely part of a subtle power play among the sects. While it was a bit unusual, there must have been a reason for it.

It wasn’t something I particularly cared about. It was just one of many trivial matters.

As the Emei Sect drew the crowd’s attention and passed by, more groups began to enter.

“Plum Blossom—! It’s the Mount Hua Sect!”

The commotion naturally drew my gaze.

‘Hmm.’

This time, it wasn’t carriages but people on foot. Their distinctive robes were instantly recognizable.

The faint scent of plum blossoms wafted through the air as their white uniforms, embroidered with plum blossom patterns, came into view.

It was none other than the Mount Hua Sect, known as the guardians of Shaanxi.

A faint smile crossed my lips.

“It’s been a while.”

Without horses or carriages, dozens of individuals walked forward in an orderly fashion.

At the front was an elderly man with a kind demeanor.

“It’s the Plum Blossom Immortal!”

“Wow—!”

The elder was none other than the head of Mount Hua, one of Zhongyuan’s Ten Grandmasters, the Plum Blossom Immortal.

‘I didn’t think he’d come in person.’

Just as he hadn’t attended the last orthodox gathering, I didn’t expect him to appear in Hanam either. Yet here he was, leaving Shaanxi to attend.

Hearing the cheers of the crowd, the Plum Blossom Immortal raised his hand slightly, making the commotion grow even louder.

I watched the scene unfold from a window in the inn.

The room had been reserved in advance by the Baekhwa Trading Company, offering an excellent view of the bustling street below.

“It looks like everyone’s gathering now.”

Following my gaze, Wi Seol-ah and Tang So-yeol peeked their heads out the window.

“Of course. It’s about time.”

It wasn’t just the Emei Sect and Mount Hua.

The majority of the Nine Great Sects—or perhaps all of them—would gather here. Along with them, countless masters from renowned clans and noble families were arriving.

A grand assembly.

The core of the orthodox factions was gathering in one place, drawing a crowd several times larger than on the first day.

The sheer number of people was overwhelming, far greater than on any previous day.

As more groups continued to arrive, I turned to Moyong Hee-ah.

“Is the Moyong Clan coming?”

I asked, curious whether the Moyong Clan, one of the Four Great Clans, would attend the Bi-mu-je.

To this, she replied, “No, I heard they won’t be attending.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and the family head said he can’t make it to Hanam either.”

“Hmm....”

The Moyong Clan’s leader, the White Heaven Sword Lord, wasn’t coming to Hanam?

‘That’s unusual.’

I had assumed he would attend.

Being a skilled politician and businessman, I thought the White Heaven Sword Lord would definitely make an appearance.

This was unexpected.

‘What could be more important than the Bi-mu-je?’

Though the thought lingered, I shook my head to dismiss it.

There must be a reason.

‘If the Moyong Clan isn’t attending, that means only two of the Four Great Clans will be present.’

The Peng and Namgung Clans had already confirmed their attendance.

As for the Tang Clan...

‘Tang So-yeol is participating, but it’s a bit ambiguous.’

Given the Tang Clan’s current weakened position, the Poison King wouldn’t be coming to Hanam.

Effectively, only two of the Four Great Clans would be participating.

“Two clans and at least five from the Nine Great Sects....”

“Hmm?”

“Nothing. Just thinking aloud.”

The numbers seemed reasonable.

Organizing my thoughts, I turned my attention back to the window.

“It’s the Precious Eastward Sword of the Geum Family!”

“And next to him is the Silent Demon-Prevention Fist! That means the Silent Sect is participating too?”

“The Golden Iron Saber is here as well!”

Not just sects and clans, but even notable masters with illustrious titles were arriving.

With so many martial artists gathering in one place, even the air seemed charged with their Qi.

It was a natural phenomenon caused by the sheer concentration of experts.

Feeling the energy, my gaze sharpened.

‘They’ve arrived.’

The gathering of the strong.

Seeing it unfold made the weight of the situation undeniable.

‘The Celestial Dragon Martial Tournament.’

The official event hosted by the Martial Alliance, where chaos would surely break loose, had finally arrived.

While Gu Yangcheon was quietly observing the crowd, someone else stood atop a nearby roof, looking down.

The figure clasped their hands behind their back, their gaze flitting curiously among the masses.

The elder, who seemed oddly fascinated by the bustling crowd, spoke aloud.

“So many. Truly so many.”

Had it always been this crowded?

The elder tried to recall but found their memory hazy—it had been far too long.

Having forgotten much, it was only natural for the details to elude them.

“So many that I’m tempted to burn them all.”

The words, spoken with an unchanging expression, were chilling in their nonchalance.

Should they try it?

A sudden impulse surged, but the elder didn’t act on it.

“...”

They refocused on their purpose.

They hadn’t come here to crush insects.

“...Yes, there’s a reason.”

Shaking their head, the elder slowly turned away.

As they stepped forward, no sound accompanied their movement.

“Now, where should I go?”

Where could they find their “grandchild”?

Pondering this question, the elder’s crimson eyes gleamed briefly before their form vanished in a sudden blaze of fire.