Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 572: To the Sky (6)

As the meeting concluded, silence filled the air.

Drip.

The stillness was so absolute that the only sound was the occasional water droplet echoing in the cave.

Was it because of the shocking nature of what I’d just said?

After all, I’d just dropped a bombshell: that in three months, we’d attack Hannan—home to the Murim Alliance and the Shaolin Temple.

Ordinarily, such an announcement would be enough to leave anyone stunned.

But I didn’t think that applied here.

These people weren’t the type to be shocked by something like this.

As evidence, I glanced at the ceiling.

Amid the quiet,

Wooong—!

Energy gathered at the point where the ceiling met the walls, rippling in violent, chaotic waves.

I lowered my gaze and scanned the room.

Ten pairs of eyes stared back at me, their lips sealed but their expressions speaking volumes.

Some bore mocking smiles.

Others had eyes brimming with anticipation.

They all had different motivations, but their shared goal was the same.

There was no fear among them.

How could there be?

‘I handpicked them knowing they were incapable of such things.’

These were people who wouldn’t hesitate to resort to any means to achieve their objectives.

They didn’t flinch at displaying their greed or suppressing their emotions.

Among them were only the most skilled and ambitious, each one bound by an invisible leash.

‘Not that they’d think of it as a leash.’

What they thought didn’t matter.

What mattered was simple:

‘Whether I can use them or not.’

That was all.

As I pondered, a voice broke the silence.

“Three months, you say?”

The voice was young, carrying a slightly awkward tone.

I turned to the speaker immediately.

It was one of the few here with ordinary eyes.

Moreover—

“That’s right, three months.”

—he was one of the capable individuals filling in for my shortcomings.

The young man—no, the boy—frowned slightly at my answer.

“Hyung, didn’t you say before that we had half a year?”

“Plans changed.”

“...”

I answered calmly, and the boy rubbed his forehead in frustration, clearly exasperated.

Seeing this, I let out a chuckle.

Despite appearances, he’d figure things out eventually. He always did, even in my previous life.

‘Though back then, it was in ways that weren’t exactly ideal.’

This boy, exasperated as he was, was Jegal Hyuk—the grandson of the Divine Doctor.

Now able to speak, he was assisting me in my endeavors.

My gaze fell to the scar running vertically down his neck.

That scar was the reason he could speak now and the reason he was working under me.

After a brief glance, I addressed Jegal Hyuk.

“Also, I’ve brought someone along. Use him.”

With that, I gestured toward Seong Yul.

He looked utterly confused, clearly unable to grasp the situation.

It wasn’t surprising.

Who could understand a sudden declaration to attack Hannan?

Jegal Hyuk tilted his head as he observed Seong Yul, or rather, his eyes.

“This person... hasn’t received the ‘blessing’ yet, has he?”

Hearing that word, I scowled deeply.

“I told you not to call it that.”

Blessing? What nonsense.

Jegal Hyuk often referred to those I’d corrupted in such terms, but I despised it.

‘A blessing? Ridiculous.’

This wasn’t some sacred gift. It was—

‘A punishment.’

A severe punishment meant to bind the guilty, forcing them to struggle until they burned away entirely.

That was what I considered demonification.

At my growl, Jegal Hyuk lowered his gaze slightly and apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

Only then did I relax my expression.

Dragging it out any longer wouldn’t help the atmosphere.

For now, it was better to move on.

“...Forget it. Adjust the plans to three months from now.”

“That’s already cutting it close. It might not be possible.”

Jegal Hyuk had a point. Advancing something scheduled for six months to just three required an extraordinary effort.

In his past life, Jegal Hyuk—the famed strategist of the Demonic Cult—might have managed it.

But for the boy he was now, it might be too much to handle.

“If you succeed, I’ll grant you what you’ve been wanting.”

“...!”

Making the impossible possible—that’s all there was to it.

At my promise, Jegal Hyuk’s eyes widened.

“Hyung... are you serious?”

“Yes. If you pull this off, I’ll make it happen.”

What he wanted—

“A guesthouse in Shanxi. I’ll set it up for you.”

A small guesthouse where he could live peacefully with his grandfather.

He’d always enjoyed cooking as a child, and his dream was to be a chef running a guesthouse.

‘It’s a humble dream for someone so brilliant.’

A boy whose intellect could potentially rule Murim if he wanted...

and all he desired was a guesthouse.

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Still, it was better this way.

Becoming the strategist of the Demonic Cult would have been far worse.

“Really...?”

Jegal Hyuk’s eyes sparkled at the prospect of having a guesthouse in Shanxi.

Seeing his excitement over something so simple, how could I not make use of him?

“Of course. I’ll make it happen. A big one, if you want.”

After all, I’d just raided Guangdong and had plenty of funds to spare.

‘The items are already sent to the Baekhwa Trading Company.’

The sales would keep the coffers full, leaving no financial concerns.

‘Now, the remaining tasks are...’

Reinforcing our forces and acquiring weapons.

I nodded to myself, mentally reviewing the situation.

Reinforcements were already being organized.

As for weapons—

‘I don’t know many craftsmen capable of forging what I need.’

Hiring a skilled artisan seemed like the best option.

Buying weapons with gold would be the fastest route, but...

‘That won’t be enough.’

Ordinary weapons wouldn’t suffice.

I needed something much stronger.

Fortunately, I already had someone in mind for that task.

‘So, the only issue left is...’

Time.

Tch.

No matter how much I pushed, there wasn’t enough time.

‘I’ll have to make up for the deficit by any means necessary.’

If time was lacking, I’d create more of it.

It was a moment to devise solutions quickly.

“So, try to cut down the plan.”

“I’ll... I’ll do my best.”

Jegal Hyuk’s response carried a note of reluctance.

‘It must be tough.’

The fact that he didn’t guarantee success was telling enough.

But—

‘What choice do I have?’

I had to use every available resource. There was no time for hesitation.

After a moment, I added something.

“Oh, right. One more thing.”

Just as I was wrapping things up, I remembered something to ask Jegal Hyuk.

“Where’s your grandfather?”

“Grandfather?”

At the mention of the Divine Doctor, Jegal Hyuk’s eyes widened slightly.

“Are you hurt, Hyung?”

He quickly deduced my reason for asking—my injuries.

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.

“A little. It’s not serious, but it could get troublesome if I leave it.”

“When you say ‘a little,’ it’s never just a little, is it?”

“Since when? Name one time!”

“Last time, when you tested that new technique and ended up rupturing your—”

“That’s enough! Just tell me.”

I cut him off hastily, unwilling to revisit that embarrassing episode.

‘That was reckless.’

Back then, I’d underestimated the sheer volatility of the new power I’d tried to test.

Jegal Hyuk gave me a disapproving look before answering.

“Grandfather is in Hannan.”

“Hannan?”

That was unexpected.

“I thought he was staying with the Moyong family?”

Last I heard, he’d been working on a commission for Baekcheon Sword Lord in Liaoning.

So why Hannan now?

‘Well, that works out.’

Since I was heading to Hannan anyway, I’d see him there.

When I asked why the Divine Doctor had gone to Hannan, Jegal Hyuk explained.

“He said someone was coming to meet him.”

“Someone he’s waiting for?”

I frowned.

The Divine Doctor was the type to curse and ignore even summons from the current leader of the Murim Alliance.

So who could be important enough for him to wait in advance?

‘If he’s in Hannan, then fine.’

At least I knew where to find him.

With that, I waved my hand dismissively.

“Alright, that’s it. Everyone, disperse.”

I’d delivered the main message, and there was nothing more to discuss.

Though it might seem trivial to gather everyone just for this,

‘I needed to check their condition anyway.’

It was essential to confirm their state—whether their energy was stable or if they were planning anything reckless.

Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be any issues.

As soon as I gave the order, the cave emptied rapidly.

When I blinked, only three of us remained: Seong Yul, Jegal Hyuk, and me.

I turned to Jegal Hyuk, who lingered.

“Why?”

It wasn’t unusual for him to leave slower than the others.

But his expression told me he had more to say.

“There’s something I still want to ask.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why push the plan forward to three months? What’s the rush?”

Originally planned for six months, the timeline had been halved.

Jegal Hyuk wanted to know why.

“Hmm.”

I pondered for a moment, considering how to answer.

Time constraints were part of it, but that wasn’t the whole story.

The real reason?

After a moment’s thought, I spoke.

“It’s nothing grand. I just figured...”

I looked Jegal Hyuk in the eye and smirked.

“Since I’m already a villain, I might as well try being a hero too.”

“...?”

Jegal Hyuk’s face filled with confusion at my nonchalant reply.

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

As spring neared its end, bidding farewell to the blossoms, a lone figure ascended a steep mountain path in Hannan.

Thud... Thud...

The mountain trail, beautifully decorated with the remnants of the season, contrasted sharply with the appearance of the man climbing it.

A young man, carrying an enormous iron ball larger than himself, trudged steadily up the steep incline.

Sweat dripped heavily with each step, and his breath grew increasingly ragged, but his gaze remained fixed on the summit.

Despite his visibly weary state, he didn’t falter.

After what seemed like an endless climb, the young man finally reached the peak.

At the end of the trail stood an ancient, towering tree.

Only then did he carefully set the massive iron ball onto the ground.

Thump.

But even now, he couldn’t rest.

Without a moment to catch his breath, he assumed a respectful posture and bowed deeply.

“Greetings, Abbot.”

With palms pressed together, he lowered his head toward the elderly man standing beside the ancient tree.

“Hoho...”

The elder, none other than Abbot Cheonan of the Shaolin Temple, let out a soft chuckle as he observed the youth.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing.”

The Abbot’s gaze lingered on the young man.

Merely looking at him seemed to exude an overwhelming aura.

Though the boy had only recently passed his twenties, he had already surpassed countless walls, reaching an extraordinary height in martial prowess.

A masterpiece of Shaolin.

The youngest to reach the Hwagyeong realm.

The most brilliant Shinryong in history.

These were the titles bestowed upon him by this era.

And to Cheonan, he was more than that.

A beacon of hope for Murim.

The Abbot saw the youth as a spark of resistance against the unknown calamities looming on the horizon. To him, the boy was undoubtedly destined to fulfill that role.

Cheonan spoke with a warm tone.

“A grand festival will soon take place in Hannan.”

At those words, the young man’s shoulders twitched ever so slightly.

A grand festival in Hannan—there was no mistaking it.

The Shinryong Martial Tournament organized by the Alliance.

“I trust you’ll do well. Can I count on that?”

The Abbot’s question carried both encouragement and expectation.

“Yes, Abbot.”

Without hesitation, the young man responded.

“I will give my utmost effort to ensure that I do not tarnish Shaolin’s name.”

His golden eyes flickered with determination as he spoke.

“I will do my very best.”

Seeing this, Cheonan allowed himself a small, satisfied smile.