Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 714: The Divine Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (25)

One day, during a training session, the Sword Sovereign spoke to Wi Seol-ah.

"Seol-ah, the question isn’t how to swing the sword but what you should imbue it with."

Hearing this, Wi Seol-ah tilted her head, puzzled.

She didn’t understand.

Imbuing something into the sword?

A sword wasn’t a vessel, so what could she possibly put into it?

As a child, Wi Seol-ah couldn’t grasp the meaning.

Or rather, she chose not to understand. At the time, she was too impatient to think about anything beyond her immediate training.

It wasn’t until Wi Seol-ah surpassed Hwagyeong that she began to understand her grandfather’s words.

What kind of sword dance should she perform?

What path should her sword trace?

Where should she place her strength, and how should she guide her Qi?

Before pondering such techniques, she realized she needed to think about what she was putting into her sword.

What thoughts and emotions should she bring to her blade?

The Heavenly Master who taught her once said:

"A martial artist can be categorized by levels, but a swordsman cannot be defined so simply."

"What matters is how much of yourself you can pour into your sword. For a true swordsman, that is far more important."

How much of oneself could be placed into the blade?

It was a difficult concept, yet it was exactly as stated.

It was what they called Sword and Soul as One—the dream of all swordsmen to unite with their blade.

She began to grasp the meaning when she first felt that alignment.

But still—

“To place myself into the sword...”

What does “myself” even mean?

Even as she caught glimpses of understanding, she couldn’t fully grasp it because Wi Seol-ah didn’t know what “herself” truly was.

“Who am I?”

What exactly was she?

Wi Seol-ah pondered endlessly, but no matter how much she thought, she still didn’t know.

Would she come to understand someday if she continued to reflect quietly?

And if she ever truly discovered who she was—

Would that change anything?

Wi Seol-ah found herself inexplicably afraid of the thought.

“...”

Her closed eyes opened.

As her heavy eyelids lifted, her shaky vision was the first thing she noticed.

A few seconds later, Wi Seol-ah realized she was being carried in someone’s arms.

Though startled, she didn’t struggle.

Instinctively, she knew whose arms she was in.

“You’re awake?”

The owner of those arms, Gu Yangcheon, spoke to her as he walked.

“...Yes.”

A faint response.

Her body, exhausted and weak, felt limp. Despite her weariness, Wi Seol-ah asked:

“...Did I lose?”

“Yes, you lost,” Gu Yangcheon replied casually.

Wi Seol-ah nodded quietly at his straightforward answer.

Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon chuckled softly and asked:

“Does it bother you?”

It probably did. It had been a very close fight.

‘It really could’ve gone either way.’

Just a single difference.

If Wi Seol-ah had controlled one more sword.

Or if she had imbued just a bit more of her intent into her final strike.

The victor would not have been the Divine Dragon but Wi Seol-ah.

‘Hmm.’

Gu Yangcheon suppressed a small pang of pain rising from within. He had hastily erected a Qi barrier to block the impact of their clash.

Though he had deflected it completely, it was enough to leave him with minor internal injuries.

The injuries weren’t a big deal—they would vanish in less than a day.

The problem was—

‘The fact that I got injured at all.’

The clash between those two had been powerful enough to reach him.

The fact that their level had risen to this point left him with a strange mix of feelings.

‘Wi Seol-ah, I understand.’

She had been the greatest martial artist in her past life. He wasn’t surprised, knowing the strength she wielded at her peak.

No matter how much she had tried to avoid holding a sword, it was inevitable that this would happen once she picked one up.

But—

‘What about the Divine Dragon?’

What exactly was he?

Every strike of his Hundred Step Divine Fist carried intent.

It didn’t seem deliberate, yet his movements were imbued with it.

Compared to others, he would easily surpass figures like the “Forest Tempest” and likely defeat the Oil Sword without much effort.

‘And he’s only in his early twenties?’

It was absurd.

Gu Yangcheon had gained his abilities through reincarnation.

But the Divine Dragon displayed a level far beyond what he had achieved in his previous life.

‘Even if he’s weaker than the Ghost Monk, he’s vastly different from what he was in the past.’

The name Divine Dragon suited him and perhaps even exceeded it.

And, notably—

‘I couldn’t sense any trace of the Blood Demon’s aura.’

Even the part Gu Yangcheon had been suspicious of was absent. He had thought the Divine Dragon must have fallen victim to «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the wandering meteors.

But there was no sign of it.

‘Could I have missed it?’

It was possible, but Gu Yangcheon doubted it.

The Divine Dragon had likely reached this level through sheer talent and effort.

If so...

‘He’s insane.’

There was no other explanation. Gu Yangcheon was convinced of it.

‘What kind of life must he have led to end up like this?’

He had thought this monk was odd ever since he saw him scarfing down dumplings. Now it was clear—the Divine Dragon defied all imagination.

Even without hair, he was a force to be reckoned with.

A pure genius, born to transcend the ages.

Even with every accolade imaginable, it wasn’t enough to explain him.

‘You have to literally carve away at your bones and flesh for this.’

To achieve such purity of Qi and strength at this age required a lifetime of relentless dedication to training.

‘Though I suspect he’s eaten quite a few supreme pills.’

Still, downing dozens of those wouldn’t be enough to elevate someone to this level. Even that had limits.

‘If it were that simple, I would have transcended long ago.’

Gu Yangcheon, who casually popped pills comparable to Dokcheon-dan, knew better.

‘...That guy is the real deal.’

Among the few true martial artists in today’s Zhongyuan, filled with impostors, the Divine Dragon was genuine.

And so, Gu Yangcheon had let it pass.

‘I was ready to step in and destroy everything.’

He had planned to burn it all down if the Alliance had continued scheming.

But he tolerated it because the Divine Dragon was real.

It was also a silent apology for having dismissed him inwardly.

‘Not bad.’

Yellow Radiant Armor.

In his previous life, he had never seen Shaolin’s ultimate technique.

The Ghost Monk had never used it, so he had missed it.

‘...This life seems to be vastly different.’

Even if weaker than the Ghost Monk of his past, the current Divine Dragon held boundless potential.

Gu Yangcheon, a martial artist yet distant from martial ways, felt a faint stir of ambition.

The Divine Dragon was extraordinary.

Which made him wonder—

‘Will he interfere?’

Would the Divine Dragon get in the way of the plans Gu Yangcheon had laid for the future?

If so, he would kill him.

He pondered carefully.

‘I don’t know yet.’

He couldn’t decide. He needed to observe a little longer.

‘What could have happened to him?’

What had caused the Divine Dragon to change so drastically?

Was it dumplings? Had dumplings been the key?

Had the Divine Dragon simply not eaten dumplings in his past life?

But honestly, was it normal for a monk to eat dumplings in the first place?

‘Who the hell fed him?’

Surely, the Divine Dragon hadn’t found them on his own.

Gu Yangcheon wanted to see the face of whoever had done it.

They couldn’t possibly be normal.

Just then—

“...I’m disappointed.”

Wi Seol-ah, still in his arms, spoke softly.

What?

Gu Yangcheon blinked, then remembered.

‘Ah, I asked her, didn’t I?’

That’s right. He’d asked if she was disappointed.

Of course, she would be. Wi Seol-ah must have known how close the match had been.

As someone who had fought the duel herself, she couldn’t be unaware.

But then—

“Oh... It’s not the loss I’m disappointed about.”

Wi Seol-ah’s words puzzled him.

“Hmm? Then what are you disappointed about?”

“...”

Not the loss? Then what was it?

Gu Yangcheon asked again, but Wi Seol-ah avoided his gaze instead of answering.

“...What is it?”

What could it be?

Why wouldn’t she answer after making him curious?

Still, he didn’t press her further.

Judging by her reaction, she wouldn’t have answered even if he insisted.

Noticing the faint redness of Wi Seol-ah’s ears, he briefly thought about teasing her but decided against it. He simply chuckled softly.

“Let’s get you checked out and grab a meal. She’s waiting for us.”

Namgung Bi-ah had already gone outside to wait.

“...Yes...”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Meat. I want meat.”

“Uh, sure. Let’s go with that.”

Gu Yangcheon sighed inwardly with relief.

She was still the same Wi Seol-ah.

And for him, that was all he needed.

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

After the second day of the finals ended, the entirety of Hanan was buzzing with stories.

Naturally, the discussions were about the matches from the tournament.

“Did you hear? They say the Sword Dragon of Mount Hua...”

“The duel performed by the Poison King was like a masterpiece...”

“I never imagined there were so many hidden masters in Zhongyuan.”

The events of the first day had all but faded into the background. At most, people still mentioned the scene where Dokbong crushed the Oil Sword.

Among the sea of stories being shared, one topic dominated above all.

“The youngest master to reach Hwagyeong—it was truly a remarkable duel.”

“The name Divine Dragon is not only fitting but well-deserved.”

“Fitting? I dare say he might be the greatest Divine Dragon in history.”

“To think I’d witness such a match in my lifetime... It felt like a dream.”

Most of the stories revolved around the Divine Dragon’s duel.

How could they not? The sight was so dazzling and intense that it left an indelible mark on everyone who witnessed it.

“Perhaps the reincarnation of the Radiant Buddha Sovereign?”

The Radiant Buddha Sovereign (Hwang Ah Bulyeong)—a legendary Shaolin hero who had once quelled a bloody catastrophe.

Some were beginning to believe that the Divine Dragon could stand shoulder to shoulder with such a figure.

And why not? With talent of that magnitude, it seemed entirely possible.

Through this tournament, the Divine Dragon had cemented his presence.

As the hope of Shaolin and the strongest among the Five Dragons and Three Peaks, he was now recognized as a future leader of Zhongyuan.

But he wasn’t the only one to leave such an impression. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

“And what about the Sword Sovereign’s successor?”

“That young lady was incredible too! She truly lived up to the title of the Sword Sovereign’s heir.”

“The way her controlled swords floated through the air, so beautiful... Who knew martial arts could be so elegant? I’d only heard the rumors, but they were true.”

“And her appearance too...”

The Moonlit Dance Sword.

The Sword Sovereign’s signature martial art was renowned for its grace. Its golden aura and sword trajectories, which seemed to hold the glow of moonlight, were mesmerizing.

Particularly striking was the ability to manifest Qi into controlled swords.

Shaping Qi into physical forms required an extraordinary level of precision. To turn it into swords and wield them in the air spoke to an unimaginable mastery.

For someone so young, barely in her twenties, to execute such techniques was naturally astounding.

As a result, Wi Seol-ah gained a new title, whispered subtly among the crowd.

“The Crescent Moon Sword... She truly seemed like the Sword Sovereign reborn.”

“A fitting title.”

The Crescent Moon Sword (Seomwol-geom).

It was likely inspired by the crescent-shaped slash Wi Seol-ah had displayed at the end of her duel.

Hearing the name, Gu Yangcheon thought to himself:

‘The Crescent Moon Sword... Compared to her past life, it feels a bit lacking.’

In her past life, Wi Seol-ah had been known as the Little Sword Saint (So Geomseong).

While the new title wasn’t as grand, it wasn’t bad.

Gulp.

Seated in a high-tier guesthouse, Gu Yangcheon sipped his tea.

He found the sound of the chatter below intriguing, choosing not to block it out with a Qi barrier. He wanted to hear the stories being spread about Tang Soyeol and Wi Seol-ah.

Listening carefully and filtering through the noise, he overheard a conversation nearby.

“...It seems the Emei Sect isn’t making any moves. They’re probably lying low after what happened last time.”

Cheol Ji-seon, sitting beside him and eating, continued speaking.

It was late into the night, and they had come out to this guesthouse in the city for a reason: to gather information about how the rumors were spreading.

At Cheol Ji-seon’s words, Gu Yangcheon glanced his way, raising a hand to form a Qi barrier around them.

Hummm.

Now it was time to get to the real discussion.

“You’re saying all the watchers have disappeared?”

“Yes, at least according to the reports.”

“Pity. I was hoping they’d be a bit more reckless.”

So it seemed that the Powder Immortal wasn’t entirely incompetent.

Well, after the warning they’d received, if they were still making moves, they should have stepped down from their position long ago.

“And what about the others?”

“Lord Hwangbo sent a message. He says the preparations are complete and is waiting for your word.”

“Good.”

The speed of progress was satisfying.

The eagerness of Lord Hwangbo to assume the long-coveted position as head of one of the Four Great Clans was evident.

That desire made him easy to handle.

“Tell him to wait a bit longer.”

“Understood.”

There were less than ten days left. To ensure everything aligned perfectly, waiting for the right moment was crucial.

‘The most important piece isn’t ready yet.’

Gu Yangcheon thought it was about time for news to arrive when—

“Oh, and one more thing... Lord Hwangbo sent another message.”

Gu Yangcheon turned his attention to Cheol Ji-seon, noticing the slight hesitation in his voice.

“Speak. It’s fine.”

“...Ilryong Leader is escorting a captured martial artist from Hubei. A member of the Demonic Cult who attacked Wudang...”

Cheol Ji-seon spoke slowly, and with each word, Gu Yangcheon’s breath grew more measured.

“They say his name is Tang Deok.”

Clink.

Gu Yangcheon gently set his teacup down, choosing not to take another sip.

Cheol Ji-seon’s gaze turned curious, observing Gu Yangcheon’s reaction.

Would he ask if Gu Yangcheon was alright? Or perhaps inquire about how they might extract Tang Deok?

But no, Cheol Ji-seon wouldn’t ask either of those. At least, not the Cheol Ji-seon Gu Yangcheon knew.

Instead, he would ask this:

“So... Yangcheon, was this your doing?”

“...”

At Cheol Ji-seon’s question, Gu Yangcheon allowed a faint smile to creep onto his lips.

As expected, the man was sharp.

“Yes.”

He had gotten the answer right.

____________________

TL Notes: The next 2 chapters will appear today, but later. I need 6-7 hours to settle some things. Hope you are doing well ))