Childhood Friend of the Zenith

By the time Namgung Jin opened his eyes, the sun was setting.

Since I had been there since morning, I knew exactly how much time had passed.

Thanks to that crazy man eating up all my time by spacing out the whole day, my time was also wasted.

Ugh, I should’ve just left him there.

And of course, she had to come at the worst possible time.

Namgung Bi-ah crouched beside me, watching Namgung Jin.

I was considering leaving just now, but I couldn’t anymore since she came.

To be fair, if I didn’t say that I was standing by his side as a guard, then this wouldn’t have happened.

This mouth of mine is the problem.

As the sun continued to set,

“Whew…”

Namgung Jin finally woke up from his deep focus.

The aura I felt from his eyes was light but clear.

It became denser.

As a Fusion Realm martial artist, it was unrealistic for him to transcend to a new level with a single enlightenment.

I’d have to assume Namgung Jin was feeling more at ease now.

Though I didn’t know how big that felt to him.

When I looked at Namgung Jin with a blank expression, Namgung Jin closed his eyes and lowered his head to me.

“…Thank you…”

His words were sincere.

Was he not caring that Namgung Bi-ah was next to me right now?

Or perhaps he was so absorbed in his enlightenment that he didn't notice her.

“…Ah, yes. Congratulations.”

That was the only response I could give him.

This all happened by lucky chance, and all I did was just say what the Demonic Sword in the past told me.

In the end, I achieved what I wanted and could leave now.

But is this much enough?

I knew that I didn’t fully solve his issues.

I knew that the flawed sword of Namgung Clan didn’t come back to its full power just because I or Elder Shin gave Namgung Jin a few enlightenments.

It was impossible to find the sword art that was lost a few centuries ago this easily.

…Though of course.

Glance.

Thinking of Namgung Bi-ah next to me, that didn't seem too impossible.

I didn’t know what she went through, but the sword I saw from the Demonic Sword was the same as the sword that Namgung Jin was trying to achieve.

Looking at her, I spoke to Namgung Jin.

“…Just don’t forget about our promise.”

After hearing my words, Namgung Jin made a surprised expression after finally noticing Namgung Bi-ah next to me, but he nodded in response.

Promise.

To teach Namgung Bi-ah what you’ve learned himself.

That was the deal I made with Namgung Jin.

“I will not.”

I turned around after hearing Namgung Jin’s response.

I felt glad that everything had turned out somewhat fine,

Ache.

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue due to the sudden pain I felt from my Dantian from time to time.

It seemed it would take longer than I expected for my empty Dantian to refill.

To put it more accurately,

It would be better for me to say that I lost my Qi.

I used too much back when I turned Namgung Cheonjun into a Demonic Human.

Turning around, I asked Namgung Jin.

“I presume that you will continue training with your sword, my Lord?”

“…Yes.”

Namgung Jin gave me an affirmation in response.

That was as I expected.

I’m sure he wanted to see the difference in his sword after his recent enlightenment.

“Then I shall be taking my leave first.”

I left after saying those words.

Like I expected, the sun was already setting.

It meant that this took a long time.

Oh, right.

Now that I think about it, I told Namgung Cheonjun something before Namgung Jin dragged me away.

Does it matter?

It shouldn’t matter since it wasn’t important.

I continued walking.

I noticed Namgung Bi-ah following me out of the training ground, still glancing behind her.

I asked her,

“What’s wrong?”

Was she interested because her father had gained enlightenment?

She’s not asking me any questions either.

I’m sure she noticed that Namgung Jin gained enlightenment through my help, but Namgung Bi-ah didn’t ask me anything for some reason.

She seemed to think it wasn't important.

After hearing my question, Namgung Bi-ah shook her head.

“No… It’s nothing…”

After her response, Namgung Bi-ah started to walk with me once again, but her eyes were still aimed in the direction Namgung Jin was in.

I returned to my place after that.

I returned after telling Namgung Bi-ah to go back to her house.

I would’ve had to train originally, but it was still very difficult right now because my Dantian hadn’t filled up yet.

How long will it take?

It didn’t feel like it was going to take a long time until I healed fully, but loss of Qi for a martial artist was still a huge deal even if it lasted for only a few days.

It meant I couldn't do anything if a problem arose during that time.

Though I didn't think anything while I was in Namgung Clan.

[…Grr… rr.]

The bastard that kept whining ever since earlier was also a problem.

It seemed to be whining out of hunger.

Stop whining, I’m already conflicted enough.

Even if it was hungry, I had no solution.

I couldn't obtain a Demonic Stone, nor could I hunt Demons right now.

Namgung Clan may have been rotting away, but because it was still a noble clan, they had many martial artists lined up as guards so Anhui had great safety.

I would have to go extremely far to hunt Demons since there weren't any nearby.

So just wait a few days. I’ll feed you once I’m able to leave.

[Grr…]

Ignoring the beast’s whining, I came back to my place.

Hongwa asked me if I wanted to eat as soon as I entered, but I told her I’d eat later.

“You didn’t go inside the room, right?”

“Ah, yes. I did as you ordered.”

“Alright.”

After confirming, I sent Hongwa away and entered my room.

Woong.

As soon as I entered, I set up a Qi barrier around my room.

My Dantian screamed in pain as I squeezed out the little Qi I had left, but I had no other choice.

“Ugh… Ough.”

Inside, I saw a man groaning in pain.

The man, head on the floor and sweating buckets, was none other than Namgung Cheonjun.

Seeing him, I smiled awkwardly.

“Sorry, I forgot about you.”

“…Ugh… You… fucking…”

Clap.

With a light clap, Namgung Cheonjun’s body loosened and collapsed.

I went up to the bastard that was struggling in pain on the floor.

“How was I supposed to know that your father will suddenly come to me and drag me away?”

“Pant… pant.”

Thanks to Namgung Jin appearing in the morning, Namgung Cheonjun was supposed to be kicked out of my place, but I gave him an order right before I left.

Stay here and put your head on the floor.

Namgung Cheonjun had been following that order all along.

But it feels a bit annoying.

I might have given the order, but thinking about how he sweated all over my room pissed me off.

Pow-!

I kicked Namgung Cheonjun’s leg.

“Agh!”

“Sorry, I was a bit pissed off.”

“…You… fucker…”

“Your spirit still hasn't died huh. Want to try that again?”

“…”

Namgung Cheonjun’s mouth became shut after hearing my response.

Seeing that, I smirked.

“Get up if you’re done resting.”

“…I-It still hasn’t even been a few minu- Ough!”

Namgung Cheonjun's exhausted body was forced to rise, whether he wanted to or not.

I spoke with a smile after seeing him.

“We might as well do some testing.”

“…”

Hearing my cheerful words, Namgung Cheonjun’s expression began to rot.

******************I called it testing, but we didn’t really do much.

I only tested if Namgung Cheonjun truly became a Demonic Human, what happened to him after turning, and how much control I had of him.

His body’s potential rose.

Namgung Cheonjun’s body was slightly more enhanced than before.

It might have been due to the Blood Qi enhancement, but more likely, the Demonic Qi had boosted his strength.

I must also see the side effects.

The side effect of Demonic Qi was madness.

In exchange for gaining power that transcends one’s original strength, they are consumed by madness.

Of course, they could prevent such a thing from happening if they reached a certain level.

But that level was at least over Fusion Realm.

Then what about Blood Qi?

What were the side effects of Blood Qi?

All types of given power required an exchange of something else.

Qi and one’s level was achievable through time and effort. Demonic Qi ate away one’s mind.

So what was the cost of Blood QI?

I felt exhaustion and pain when I used it.

Judging by the recoil that felt like a crack inside my Dantian, I believed the side effect of Blood Qi was,

The use of one’s life energy.

That was what I thought of it.

If it didn’t affect one’s mind, then it must affect something more fundamental.

A person's life energy.

This wasn’t an energy that could be increased through time and effort.

Though it’s also not something that decreases forever just because it’s been used once.

This was a type of Qi, so it restores itself if a person uses it with control, but considering that this was a person’s life energy, they couldn’t afford to use it recklessly.

Furthermore, a low-level martial artist couldn't use this energy even if they wanted to.

But if Blood Qi used such an energy as a side effect,

It meant that Blood Qi consumed a martial artist’s life.

Which is why Blood Qi was able to achieve greater strength.

“This crazy fucker had possession of such power in his body.”

I tapped the almost unconscious bastard on the ground with the tip of my foot.

It was Namgung Cheonjun.

“Tsk.”

I pushed him through a few tests until he collapsed, but I learned many things in the process.

First, Namgung Cheonjun was able to use Demonic Qi.

It affected his Lightning Qi directly.

I noticed his Qi was mixed with a bit of Demonic Qi.

His Qi became more powerful, denser, and covered more range, but its color changed.

No matter who looked at it, it didn’t look like an ordinary aura.

Thankfully, he could also choose not to use it.

This meant,

That he could control it himself.

When I ordered Namgung Cheonjun to use Demonic Qi, he was shocked.

It seemed like he knew himself of how much stronger his Lightning Qi became.

Though of course, I ordered him not to use it, so he wasn’t able to use it on his own will.

It wasn’t power that he could afford to use wherever he wanted.

This immature bastard didn’t seem to understand that though.

For the amount of control that I have…

He followed my commands and did what I ordered him to.

I wondered how far I was able to take this, so I ordered Namgung Cheonjun to die, and he tried to end his own life by choking himself to death without hesitation.

Of course, it wasn’t on his own will judging by his expression afterwards.

So he does listen to everything.

Knowing this much was enough.

If I hadn't stopped him midway, he would have really died.

My control of him was real.

The thing that made all of this possible was the consumption of Demonic Qi.

Making him obey my commands or enhancing his body.

All of this was possible because I put my own power into him.

When I told him to kill himself, I saw that Demonic Qi was being consumed at a rapid rate, so the consumption rate must be different depending on what I ask of him.

Demonic Qi consumed whenever I gave him an order.

It was also consumed when Namgung Cheonjun tried to use Demonic Qi.

“How annoying.”

This was what I felt after confirming many things.

It really was rather annoying.

I didn’t want to learn such things.

I never expected to learn these things in the first place.

I clicked my tongue, looking at the unconscious Namgung Cheonjun.

He may have been a dumbass, but Namgung Cheonjun was a Peak Realm martial artist.

I broke into his fairly solid Dantian, put a ton of Demonic Qi into him to turn him into a Demonic Human, and seeing such a thing made me think that it wasn’t impossible for me to corrupt a person at a higher level than I was.

Would they also be devoured by madness, as I saw in my past life?

I didn’t know that part yet.

The important part was that Namgung Cheonjun turned into a Demonic Human, and that I was able to make such a thing happen.

…

This made me wonder if this was no different from the Heavenly Demon in my past life, and what the world wanted from me to grant me such powers.

I wanted to ask anyone.

To learn this,

I knew that the beast wouldn't respond to me even if I asked, and how could I find the Heavenly Demon when I didn’t even know where it was?

Which was why I had to go to the bastard that I was able to ask.

Thankfully, that one bastard came to mind.

There was one guy I believed knew about this.

I met them in my past life as well, and I may have been able to keep my life thanks to that meeting, but it also brought destruction and hell into my life as well.

It was a huge tree that called itself the world tree.

I had to find the tree that waited for someone in the false Abyss.

I felt like the bastard knew everything.

In order to do that,

I had to go to that location.

Which meant that I had to find a way to open a way into Abyss as soon as possible.

Thankfully, I knew a guy who knew how to do that.

I don’t know where they were currently,

But we will meet soon.

If things went as expected, he would enter the Heavenly Dragon Academy, and we would meet then.

This meant that I had another reason to enter the Heavenly Dragon Academy.