Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 481

The Heavenly Master (Cheonjon) had four children.

Three were born to his wife, and one to a concubine. Of these, the one appointed as the family head after Cheonjon was the concubine’s child, the youngest of them all.

His name was Namgung Jeohwi.

Though he lacked exceptional talent in martial arts, his political acumen and skill in dealing with people were formidable, allowing him to eventually win the family succession battle.

While all four great families had ruthless succession battles, the Namgung family was especially notorious for theirs. This time was no exception.

By the time Namgung Jeohwi had claimed victory and ascended as the head of the family, his defeated siblings had all perished. Stricken with shock, Cheonjon’s wife also took her own life.

Cheonjon, however, was unfazed.

To him, the victor established the law, and he felt only satisfaction that his child had risen to the position of family head. That was his nature.

It didn’t matter to him whether the successor was a child of his wife or concubine; as long as they had value, he respected them. This was Cheonjon’s philosophy.

With Namgung Jeohwi as the head, he fathered three children: two with his wife and one with a concubine.

Among them, the second child born of his wife was none other than Namgung Jin, the current Sword King.

When Namgung Jin was poised to succeed Namgung Jeohwi as the head, there was no opposition. Unlike Namgung Jeohwi’s ruthless battle for succession, Namgung Jin’s rise to the position wasn’t challenging.

The firstborn had passed away young due to poor health, and the third, considered a scoundrel and an illegitimate child, had been cast out by the Namgung family.

Thus, it was only natural that Namgung Jin, hailed as a genius, would be the next in line. None of the elders, including Cheonjon, raised objections.

At least, that was the case until “that incident.”

The incident that shook everything was when Raiga, the family’s prized artifact, chose not Namgung Jin but another bloodline.

The Namgung family had an ancient tradition: the heir would be the one chosen by Raiga, the family’s sacred weapon.

This was the dying wish of Namgung Myung, the Thunderblade, and it became the family’s guiding principle.

However, by Cheonjon’s predecessor’s time, this tradition had all but faded.

None of them, including Cheonjon, had been chosen by Raiga when they assumed their positions.

Cheonjon, too, didn’t give it much thought.

After all, the headship could still be claimed without Raiga’s choice, and the Namgung family was only becoming more prosperous.

Time passed, until finally, the incident erupted.

[Dammit...]

In a blood-stained storage room, a young man grabbed the collar of the heir, Namgung Jin, covered in blood, and glared at Cheonjon.

[That’s it, I’m done. Screw all of you.]

With eyes full of resentment and a sword gripped tightly, the young man’s hair shimmered with an electrifying aura as the blade of his sword buzzed with thunderous energy.

Watching this, Cheonjon belatedly realized the truth.

This was the power of Raiga.

This was Raiga’s chosen one.

But—

[I’m leaving. I’m done with this hellhole. Don’t expect me back.]

Raiga’s chosen master left the Namgung family and headed toward the Taoist path.

This day was one of Cheonjon’s few regrets.

The first was failing to recognize the child’s potential.

The second was letting the child leave without stopping him.

And the third was realizing too late that the family’s path had started to twist.

But by then, it was already too late.

"And so, what do you expect me to do?”

At the sound of a voice, Cheonjon turned his head. There he saw a man gulping down water.

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"Why do you keep pestering me?"

“Pestering you? That’s a strange way to put it.”

Cheonjon laughed, and the man clicked his tongue in irritation.

“Strange, my foot. If chasing me down even when I’m trying to get away doesn’t count as pestering, what is it?”

"Hyung.”

Cheonjon called out to him, and Namgung Hyung grimaced in disgust.

"Don’t call me that. It’s irritating.”

"It’s time for you to return to where you belong.”

Return.

At the bitter word, Namgung Hyung gulped down the remaining water in his flask.

"Are you still clinging to that nonsense?”

"You are part of the Namgung family. It’s only natural you should return.”

Namgung Hyung shoved a finger into his ear, looking like he’d just heard something unbearable.

"That’s something I discarded a long time ago. Right now, I’m a man of Wudang.”

Namgung Hyung stared coldly at Cheonjon, barely hiding his disgust.

The day he’d left the family, he’d shed not only the family name but everything else. The clothes he wore, the name he’d been given—he’d left it all behind. He hadn’t received much respect or care from the family anyway, so there hadn’t been much to leave behind.

But Namgung Hyung smirked inwardly, realizing he hadn’t quite left everything.

There was one thing he hadn’t been able to cast aside, and that was precisely why the old man before him wouldn’t leave him alone.

Reaching into his pocket, Namgung Hyung pulled something out and tossed it at Cheonjon.

Thud.

The item, a rod with a jewel embedded at its tip, seemed like an unremarkable trinket.

But it was anything but ordinary.

It was Raiga, the Namgung family’s sacred relic and a curse to Namgung Hyung.

"Knowing you, you probably came here for this, so take it and go.”

Cheonjon didn’t deny it. He simply reached out toward Raiga.

Crackle—

An intense surge of energy burst from Raiga, emitting a bright light, forcing Cheonjon to withdraw his hand.

"Seems Raiga’s sentiment hasn’t changed.”

Cheonjon chuckled as he spoke.

Whoosh—

Raiga floated into the air and slowly drifted back to Namgung Hyung.

Namgung Hyung hadn’t lifted it himself—Raiga was moving by its own will.

Thud.

Catching Raiga, Namgung Hyung’s face twisted in annoyance.

"This is exhausting. Can’t you just go?”

"Raiga still seems quite fond of you.”

Fondness. Cheonjon’s words made Namgung Hyung laugh bitterly. The old man still didn’t understand.

“If only you knew Raiga’s true nature.”

No one knew, except him, the hidden personality of Raiga.

If Cheonjon understood that, he’d never speak so lightly.

“Enough. Return home. This isn’t where you belong.”

How many times had he heard this?

Every now and then, Cheonjon would seek him out, making life just a bit more difficult.

It was truly maddening.

“Why do you get to decide where I belong? As I’ve said, I’m a man of Wudang.”

"Did Wudang truly respect you? They’ve cast you aside, after all.”

“Hah.”

A sigh escaped him.

"I don’t see what you’re boasting about. What has the family ever done for me?”

Cheonjon had no reply.

In truth, Namgung Hyung had lived as something less than a dog within the Namgung family.

“You might as well kill me to get Raiga back.”

"How could a grandfather do such a thing to his grandson?”

"Tch. You never treated me like a grandson anyway. Have you finally gone senile?”

Namgung Hyung chuckled, crossing the line with his words, and though Cheonjon’s face darkened, he held back.

“What do you think Sword King would do if I went back? Does he know you’re here?”

"Don’t worry about Jin. The important thing is you.”

“Forget it. Lives are on the line.”

Even if Namgung Hyung returned, there was no guarantee Namgung Jin would accept it.

The position Namgung Hyung had left vacant had yet to be secured by Namgung Jin.

Cheonjon said, “If only you were willing, I could make you head of the family instead of Jin.”

The offer stunned Namgung Hyung.

Return, and he could take the headship.

That meant Cheonjon still had more influence than the Sword King, and if he wished, he could easily make Namgung Hyung the head.

Namgung Hyung laughed, feeling grateful.

"Thank you for staying true to yourself, grandfather.”

The offer only reaffirmed his belief in his decision to leave long ago.

"You’re still as despicable as ever.”

He managed to suppress his laughter, extending his middle finger at Cheonjon.

"Screw you.”

"...”

"Even if I lose my arms and legs, I’m never going back.”

Snap.

Cheonjon’s body tensed at the insult, but he controlled himself.

Would he draw his sword? If he wanted to fight, Namgung Hyung was ready to oblige.

As Namgung Hyung was about to prepare himself, Cheonjon turned his back.

"...I’ll be leaving for now.”

Namgung Hyung spat on the ground.

“Don’t come back. I’ll just hide again.”

"Perhaps next time, you’ll give me a different answer.”

With a crackle of energy, Cheonjon vanished, leaving Namgung Hyung in silence, and he continued eating his leftover rice.

“When I see that student of mine, I’ll make sure it’s somewhere else.”

His student had hinted at visiting him soon, but he’d make sure to meet them elsewhere.

Meeting them here would only add to unpleasant memories.

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

Foundation Shifting Technique (기체변역술):

A martial art capable of transforming not only the human body but even one’s gender. It’s a power I acquired through a verse gifted to me by Tang Jemoon.

This power is proving to be extremely useful for me right now.

After crossing over to the other realm, my body, along with my appearance, underwent changes. It hadn’t seemed like much time had passed in the original world, making it difficult to explain my altered appearance.

Thanks to this, I could keep it hidden.

‘It’s a bit awkward, but… not bad.’

Apart from the considerable energy and focus required to maintain this altered body, there seemed to be no significant issues.

‘What a fascinating power.’

Of course, the difference between using it and not using it is significant, but it's manageable.

However…

‘I don’t think I’ll be able to change my gender.’

Switching gender like Tang Jemoon did was beyond me.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t learned to use it to that extent, or perhaps it wasn’t something Tang Jemoon intended to pass on.

‘It doesn’t really matter.’

To be honest, I had no desire to become a woman, so it wasn’t a problem.

For now, I’m just grateful. This, too, was a fateful encounter.

‘Though it’s unfortunate that this part remains unchanged.’

I muttered, glancing down at my hand.

The biggest abnormality that arose with the transformation of my body—my left arm, from shoulder to fingertips, was covered in blue scales, and unfortunately, even with the Foundation Shifting Technique, it couldn’t be changed.

Its size could be reduced, but the scales themselves couldn’t be removed.

‘Tsk.’

The blue bandages wrapped around my arm covered it, but it was impossible to ignore entirely.

Oh, and there was one other crucial thing.

Shhhh-!

I nodded, hearing the faint sound of something stirring in my clothing.

‘This is the most fortunate part.’

The Foundation Shifting Technique didn’t apply only to me but also to the Red Water Snake. Its species had changed, and its body had grown too large to conceal easily, leaving me pondering what to do with it.

But with the Foundation Shifting Technique, I could shrink it as well, which was a major advantage.

This way, I could carry it hidden within my robes again.

‘I’ll assess the more important aspects later….’

There were plenty of other things I needed to test out, but for now, I intended to leave it at this.

There were too many complications to fully comprehend it in the current situation.

“…Young Master Gu, what did you just say?”

A voice asked in disbelief, trembling slightly, hinting at surprise, causing me to laugh without realizing it.

“Say it again. What did you just say?”

“…Well, I mean.”

The man’s expression contorted in anger at my reaction.

The man before me was none other than the Poison King (Dokwang), the head of the Tang Clan.

I was meeting him in the clan leader’s quarters because we had matters to discuss, including the incident with the lake.

What was it he just asked me to repeat?

Ah, right—he wanted me to say it again. That wasn’t too difficult.

The issue was…

“I might need to kill the elders of the Tang Clan. Would that be acceptable?”

It was a strange thing to say, to say the least.

As expected…

The Poison King’s expression turned menacing, and a deadly aura began to fill the room.