Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 711

Rustle!

I gripped the match chart tightly in my hand. My gaze burned with fury as I stared beyond the martial arts stage toward a pavilion.

It was likely where the Leader and the executives were gathered.
As I looked at it, my face twisted in disgust.

“These fucking bastards.”

Emotion wavered in my voice as I forcefully suppressed the energy that threatened to spread out.
Control wasn’t easy, which only meant my anger was boiling over inside.

Yu Yeon and Wi Seol-ah were paired up.

Just knowing that was enough to feel like a thorn had sprouted in my throat.

The old schemes of the Alliance.
Even with a new Leader, nothing had changed. It was laughable in the worst way.

‘You sons of bitches.’

The reason for such an obvious setup was plain as day.

Wi Seol-ah had recently been gaining subtle recognition as the successor of the Sword Master.
This was due to her distinctive physical traits.

‘Those who learn the Moonlit Dance Sword gain golden hair and golden eyes.’

It was a characteristic of the unique martial art used by the Sword Master, officially acknowledged by the Sword Master themselves.

Her already extraordinary appearance played a role as well, but that wasn’t all.
The martial prowess she demonstrated back at the Divine Dragon Hall had also made an impression.

Even if she had lived quietly, no one would have forgotten the news of a successor to one of the Three Masters,
especially the Sword Master.

Take Tu-ryong, for example.
When it was revealed that Tu-ryong, who had only been known as one of the Six Dragons and Three Peaks, was a disciple of Paejon, his value skyrocketed.

Such was the worth of being a successor to one of the Three Masters.

And among them, the Sword Master stood closest to the title of Heaven’s Best.

A former Leader of the Alliance, still regarded as a mountain the current Sword Saint must surpass.
The successor of such a figure had appeared at the martial tournament.

‘So they couldn’t resist exploiting it, could they?’

Even looking at the match chart, their filthy intentions were clear.

The Divine Dragon of Shaolin defeats the successor of the Sword Master.
This not only elevates Shaolin’s current standing but also...

‘Erase the name left behind by the Sword Master?’

It was a blatant political move to further solidify the current Sword Saint’s position.
They sought to crush the symbols of the past and erase any trace of them.

From a political standpoint, it wasn’t a bad method.

After all, the names of predecessors often became burdens for those who came after them.

But.

‘This feels disgusting.’

And Wi Seol-ah was the one placed in that position.

That was what made it so revolting and infuriating.
So much so that I wanted to charge in and kill them all right now.

Kuuugh.

My clenched fist trembled uncontrollably.
What should I do? I couldn’t calm down.

At that moment, I felt a cold sensation on the back of my hand.

It was Namgung Bi-ah’s hand.

“...”

Without a word, Namgung Bi-ah enveloped my hand in hers.

Perhaps it was the coolness of her touch, but fortunately, I didn’t explode. I managed to hold myself back.

Yes, I could hold back.

It didn’t mean I was calm or at ease; I was merely enduring it.

‘Please, let this pass.’

Let nothing go wrong.
Please let none of my fears come to pass.

Because if they did—

‘I don’t know what I might do.’

I might lose control and turn everything around me into ruins.
I desperately prayed that it wouldn’t come to that.

   ******************
   

The first round of the main tournament had begun.

On the martial arts stage, just like the previous day, two pairs of martial artists were already engaged in duels.

Those whose matches were scheduled later sat in the waiting area, maintaining a quiet atmosphere.

Wi Seol-ah was no exception.
She, too, sat perfectly still in her seat, barely moving.

The only thing moving was her mouth.
Wi Seol-ah was chewing on something diligently, having popped it into her cheek.

It was a honey cookie.

The sweet flavor spread throughout her mouth as she chewed it with a leisurely yet quick rhythm.

Finishing one, she picked up another and ate it.

Even while eating snacks, Wi Seol-ah’s expression remained indifferent. It was a stark contrast to how excitedly she ate in front of Gu Yangcheon.

In truth, Wi Seol-ah didn’t particularly like snacks.

She had enjoyed them as a child, but as she grew older, her taste for sweets faded.

Over time, snacks became something she ate only when given.
?ookie, however, was an exception.

Not because it tasted particularly good, but because it brought back memories.

They were things he had prepared for her, and those moments had left an impression.
Eating cookies now was her way of revisiting those memories.

"It’s sweet."

Sweet and even sweeter.
He probably still thought she liked snacks.

That’s why, whenever he returned from somewhere, he always brought her something.

Quite a lot of it, too.

“Hoohoo.”

The thought brought a faint smile to Wi Seol-ah’s otherwise expressionless face.

He wouldn’t know.

The reason she ate so much and appeared to enjoy it was solely because he watched her with an affectionate gaze, as if she were cute.

"I hope he never finds out."

Always. Always, it would be better if he didn’t know.
So she could continue to stay by his side, like a child.

Harboring a slightly selfish wish, Wi Seol-ah picked up another piece of cookie.

Even though many eyes were drawn to her—whether because of her appearance, her connection to the Sword Master, or simply out of curiosity—Wi Seol-ah didn’t pay them any mind.

She was long accustomed to such attention.

She simply recalled something she had forgotten.

"I forgot the veil again."

The veil he had given her, insisting she wear it.
Once again, she had forgotten to bring it. Would she get scolded later?

Just as she began to feel slightly uneasy, someone approached her.

“Lady Wi.”

Hearing the voice, Wi Seol-ah raised her head to see a neatly dressed young man standing before her.

He wore a white martial uniform embroidered with plum blossoms.

It was a familiar face.
It was Yeongpung of the Sword Dragon lineage.

“You are Lady Wi, correct?”

“Ah.”

When Yeongpung spoke with a smile, Wi Seol-ah nodded.

“Hello.”

“Ah, it’s good to see you. How long has it been? I believe the last time was at the Divine Dragon Hall. Do you remember me?”

“Yes.”

She remembered him.
He was someone Gu Yangcheon had spoken of favorably, so she knew him.
That was all—nothing more, nothing less.

“When I heard you were participating in the martial tournament, I thought I’d come by to say hello.”

“Ah… nice to see you.”

“It’s a shame. If Young Master Gu were here, I’d have greeted him as well.”

His expression genuinely reflected his disappointment.

“Ah, I also heard that Young Master Gu has done something remarkable again. He truly is an extraordinary individual.”

“Isn’t he? Young Master Gu is amazing.”

Wi Seol-ah smiled. She responded instinctively to the praise of Gu Yangcheon.

“Yes, truly incredible. If you happen to see him, could you let him know I’m watching him closely?”

Yeongpung’s request made Wi Seol-ah tilt her head slightly.

“Why don’t you tell him yourself?”

If he wanted to see him so badly, why didn’t he go?
As the question crossed her mind, Yeongpung explained.

“Until we meet as opponents in this tournament, I’ve resolved not to see Young Master Gu.”

Yeongpung’s expression became firm, a display of his determination.

“That’s why I’m cautiously asking you to deliver the message for me.”

The sentiment was hard to understand.
Still, Wi Seol-ah nodded.

“Alright.”

“Ah! Thank you.”

Yeongpung smiled at her response and offered a polite bow.

“I apologize for disturbing your break. I hope you achieve great results in the tournament.”

“Thank you.”

With that, their brief conversation ended, and Yeongpung walked away.

Watching him for a moment, Wi Seol-ah soon shifted her gaze.
Yeongpung’s cheerful face quickly faded from her mind.

Her emotionless eyes scanned her surroundings.

Occasionally, her gaze met someone else’s by chance.
Most of them were already looking at her, so it wasn’t surprising.

Each time their eyes met, the reactions varied.

Seventy percent would avoid her gaze immediately.
Twenty percent would freeze in shock.
The remaining ten percent would either look at her with desire or show vague hostility or animosity.

Everyone had different eyes.
How could they be so diverse?

Watching them, Wi Seol-ah found herself with a peculiar impression.

"It’s uncomfortable."

Being in the same space as such people.
Breathing the same air as them.

For some reason, it felt stifling and uncomfortable.

Just as her breathing grew a little heavier, she thought of Gu Yangcheon.
That alone was enough to calm her down slightly.

This wasn’t normal.
Her unusual tendencies might trouble him.

She thought about it, over and over again.

"I mustn’t let him know about this discomfort."

Because he would worry.
He would look at her with concern and try to do something about it.

Wi Seol-ah didn’t want that.

So she endured.

Quietly calming herself, she mindlessly ate another piece of cookie.
The cookies was nearly gone.

Looking at it, Wi Seol-ah felt a tinge of regret.

Was there anywhere she could get more?
As she pondered this, she glanced around.

“...”
“...”

Once again, her eyes met someone else’s.

This time, the gaze was peculiar.
The person didn’t look away, nor did their expression mirror the reactions of others.

"Who is that?"

She didn’t know.
Judging by the shaven head and robes, they appeared to be from Shaolin.

Their gazes remained locked.
Seconds passed.

Nod.

The monk from the other side bowed politely to Wi Seol-ah before withdrawing his gaze.
Wi Seol-ah returned a slight bow in response.

It was a peculiar kind of stare.

But she quickly forgot about it.
It wasn’t worth dwelling on for long. After that, she remained silent for a considerable time.

Time continued to pass. Until her turn came, Wi Seol-ah built an invisible wall around herself, preventing anyone from approaching her, and kept her eyes closed.

Only when her turn arrived did she open her eyes.

And stepping onto the martial stage, she realized something.

The Shaolin monk who had been staring at her earlier was her opponent.

“I am Yu Yeon of Shaolin. I look forward to your guidance.”

The Shaolin monk who had watched her earlier introduced himself as Yu Yeon and once again greeted her.

“I’m Wi Seol-ah.”

They exchanged greetings with the referee standing between them.

For some reason, the atmosphere in the audience felt unusually heated.

There were sounds coming from the crowd, but Wi Seol-ah heard none of it.
It was like the barking of dogs—nothing worth paying attention to.

She focused solely on the opponent in front of her.

The same eyes as before.
Now that they were closer, she could sense the emotions within them more clearly.

She had to ask.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Pardon?”

Yu Yeon hesitated at Wi Seol-ah’s unexpected question.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…What do you mean…?”

“What makes you feel so sorry?”

“…!”

Wi Seol-ah tilted her head as she asked, and Yu Yeon’s expression crumbled.
She could see it clearly—that was the look of someone who had been caught.

“Why do you feel that way toward me? Do you have a reason?”

Her tone was sharp yet innocent.
Hearing her question, Yu Yeon remained silent.
He bit his lip, his eyes showing turmoil.

Wi Seol-ah couldn’t understand.
Why did he feel sorry for her?

Eventually, Yu Yeon spoke slowly.

“…I’ve heard that you are the successor of the Sword Master.”

Wi Seol-ah’s brow furrowed at his words.
It was an irritating topic.

“So what?”

“I am called the Divine Dragon of Shaolin.”

The Divine Dragon of Shaolin.
It was a name she had heard before, though she didn’t know much about it.

“I suspect there may be many reasons why we’ve ended up standing here together.”

Wi Seol-ah didn’t understand. She was never one to grasp the complexities of the world.

“Because of that, I’ve been distracted and failed to act appropriately. I will restrain myself.”

Yu Yeon’s emotions were conflicted, his demeanor uneasy.
Even after hearing his explanation, Wi Seol-ah still didn’t get it.

“Why does that matter?”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t know about any of that. So, right now—”

With her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, she asked Yu Yeon.

“Are you saying you won’t fight me?”

“…”

“No matter the situation, if you’re not refusing to fight, focus.”

What did the Divine Dragon of Shaolin have to do with anything?
What did his feelings have to do with anything?

Wi Seol-ah didn’t care.
None of it mattered.

“The apology or courtesy you owe me is to fight properly.”

Her calm tone made Yu Yeon’s eyes widen.
Perhaps he hadn’t expected such words, or maybe it was the fact that a young woman was admonishing him.

Yu Yeon, who had been stiff, began to regain some composure.

“…I apologize.”

This time, his apology sounded different.
Having said this, Yu Yeon assumed his stance.

Seeing this, Wi Seol-ah also drew her sword.

Sreung—

The sharp blade gleamed in the light.
The referee nodded upon confirming that both combatants were ready.

“Let the duel begin!”

At the referee’s command, Yu Yeon took a deep breath.

Yet, hesitation lingered in his movements.
He bit his lip slightly, his expression tightening.

Then—

Swish.

The sound of something being sliced echoed.

Yu Yeon’s gaze dropped.

A piece of fabric, cut cleanly from his clothing, fluttered to the ground.

It was a cloth belt.

Yu Yeon’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at it.
The belt fell to the floor.

“I just said something, didn’t I? Didn’t you hear me?”

A voice came from ahead.
Yu Yeon immediately turned his head to the young woman.

She stood there, sword in hand, in the same calm stance as before.

“Focus.”

Her tone was steady, as if she hadn’t even swung her blade.

“I said, focus.”

Sweat began to form on Yu Yeon’s bald head.