Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Dawn arrived as the night gave way.

I hadn't slept. There was simply too much to handle in the interim.

Besides, going without sleep for a few days didn't strain my body. The night was spent tackling tasks, as always.

By now, Cheol Ji-seon should already be in motion. The others, too, would be carrying out their respective roles.

While it was uncertain how the Ilcheon Sword would react, moving up the plan meant I had to keep a close eye on variables.

With everyone mobilized for this purpose, I couldn't afford to remain idle.

So, before the sun fully rose, I took my first steps toward my destination: the Tang Clan.

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

"Greetings," I said.

"...Welcome," replied the Poison King.

His expression was peculiar, no doubt puzzled by my sudden visit. Judging from the scene, he had just been eating breakfast.

"Young Master...?"

And not alone—he was with Tang So-yeol.

I couldn't help but smirk. It seemed whatever concerns ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) they had were now resolved.

"My apologies for interrupting your meal, but this matter is rather urgent."

The Poison King shot an annoyed glance somewhere, likely at the gatekeepers or the Tang Clan's warriors. He was probably wondering why they had let me in without question.

I could understand his irritation at having his precious time with his daughter disrupted, but...

'What can you do about it?'

Regardless, there wasn't much the Poison King could do to me.

After all I had done for him, he wouldn't dare block my path. Knowing this, he could do little more than grimace.

"...So, what brings you here at such an early and busy hour?"

His tone carried a trace of sarcasm, which made me chuckle.

Oh, he's giving me attitude now?

"Yes, I understand the timing is inconvenient, and I apologize. But this really is urgent."

Of course, I wasn't about to back down. My situation was genuinely pressing.

"It's a bit awkward to bring this up..."

"Then don't bother—"

"But I've already decided to ask anyway."

I met his gaze and continued, "Please give me one of the Dokcheon Pills I made."

"..."

"I realize this is sudden, but I'm happy to wait until you finish your meal."

"You're truly insane..."

"I can hear you."

"I said it for you to hear."

"Ah, I see."

I nodded, acknowledging his point. Given the volume of his voice, it was clearly intentional. As I stood there, nodding like it was a reasonable statement, the Poison King let out a deep sigh and spoke.

"...Will one suffice?"

Grinning, I replied, "For now, yes."

Although I might need more later, one was sufficient for the moment.

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

After waiting briefly outside, the Poison King appeared, wearing the same displeased expression.

"Did you enjoy your meal?"

"Not at all, thanks to you."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that."

"...What?"

"I'm joking."

Though my tone was playful, he clearly didn't appreciate it, judging by his furrowed brow. I added, "I haven't eaten yet either, so no need to glare at me like that."

"That's your problem, not mine."

"Haha. That's rather cold of you, considering I went out of my way to set things right for you."

"..."

At this, he fell silent for a moment, turning his head awkwardly before muttering, "...That much I do appreciate. I owe you."

As always, the Poison King knew when to acknowledge favors. It was one of the reasons I held him in relatively high regard.

"Think nothing of it," I replied, focusing my gaze straight ahead.

Though I was curious about whether Tang So-yeol's situation was completely resolved, now wasn't the time to dwell on it. My own urgent matters took precedence.

Walking side by side, we eventually arrived at the same building I had been to before.

It was where I had spent hours sweating to craft the Dokcheon Pills. Entering the building, we descended directly into the underground chamber.

A cool breeze brushed against my cheeks. Though it was already autumn and the outdoor air was brisk, the underground chamber was even colder.

'No, it's not just because it's underground.'

The environment here had clearly been deliberately altered to store the energy pills. That was the most plausible explanation.

I had no idea how they achieved it.

'I don't have much knowledge about this stuff.'

I was entirely ignorant when it came to energy pills. Even in my previous life, I had never delved into them. There had never been a need.

'With a technique like Demonic Absorption Technique, who cares about energy pills?'

The Shaolin's Great Rejuvenation Pill, the Mount Hua Sect's Jasodan, and countless other powerful pills—none of them mattered to me.

Sure, they were helpful, but it was far more effective to hunt and consume Crimson-Rank beasts.

'Still, if I had known it would come to this, I might've paid more attention.'

Who could've predicted that not only would I consume energy pills like crazy, but I'd also end up making them?

Even I found the current situation surreal; there was no way the past me could've foreseen it.

It was a pointless regret.

Guided by the dim light of the lanterns, we continued descending. The end of the staircase came into view.

The Poison King stepped forward, grabbed the handle of the door ahead, and pushed it open.

Creak.

As the door swung open, a faint breeze drifted out.

'Oh.'

Like before, the air stirred, but this time it carried a fragrant aroma.

The scent was rich and deep, like finely brewed medicinal herbs mixed with the distinct freshness and earthiness of spiritual plants.

Following the Poison King inside, I quickly identified the source of the scent.

The room was colder than before, and the air was thick with the fragrance.

All of it emanated from the energy pills stacked ahead—particularly the Dokcheon Pills.

"Is this where you store them?" I asked.

"More like where they mature. They need at least four months to fully age," he explained.

"And you chose this place specifically because...?"

"This place?!"

My phrasing seemed to offend him, and he burst out indignantly.

"This is a sacred space of the Tang Clan, reserved exclusively for direct bloodline members."

"...This place?"

To me, it was nothing more than a cold, cramped room.

Then he continued, "It was created long ago by Tang Jeolcheon."

"Oh..."

That changed things. A space crafted by the legendary Tang Jeolcheon, the one who transformed the Tang Clan into a righteous sect? Such a location undoubtedly carried profound significance.

"...It truly is an extraordinary place. Hearing that makes it feel sacred indeed," I said.

"Of course! I see you understand."

"Yes, anything created by Tang Jeolcheon must have immense meaning... But, wait. Was it really okay to bring me here? You said only direct bloodline members are allowed."

It struck me as odd. Why had he brought me here when I had only asked for the pill?

Even if I were an ally or benefactor, allowing me into such a sacred space didn't seem appropriate.

In response to my question, the Poison King replied nonchalantly, "It's fine."

"Excuse me?"

"Roughly speaking, it'll all even out in the end. Don't you agree?"

"...What do you mean by 'even out'? Shouldn't we be certain about these things?"

His vague answer felt unsettling. What was he hinting at?

When I pressed him for clarification, he simply feigned ignorance and continued walking ahead.

"Clan Leader—"

"So, what exactly do you need?" he interrupted.

"..."

Realizing he had no intention of answering, I sighed and let it go.

"I need the pill I made," I said.

The Dokcheon Pill, infused with my own energy and unique effects.

"Ah, there's just one left," he said, pulling back a cloth.

Underneath were three Dokcheon Pills I had crafted earlier, stored together. Beside them sat one pill, set apart. Find this chapter's source on MV-LEM-PYR.

The Poison King gestured to it and spoke.

"Take it," said the Poison King in a casual tone.

Surprised, I asked, "Excuse me? You're just giving it to me?"

"...Why are you so surprised?"

"Well, it's an energy pill, after all."

"You made it, and you asked for it, didn't you? Besides, if I refused, would you walk away empty-handed?"

"No, I'd probably hesitate for a moment... then steal it anyway."

"Then why bother asking... Haah."

At my bold response, the Poison King sighed, seemingly resigning himself.

"Fine. If you don't want to just take it, why not marry into the Tang Clan—"

"Thank you, I'll take it now."

Not bothering to listen to the rest, I snatched up the energy pill. There was no need to entertain pointless chatter.

The pill felt familiar in my hand. It was the same as before—yet, there was something different.

"Young Master Gu," the Poison King called.

"Yes?"

"Now that I think about it, what are you planning to use that for?"

His question made me pause. Come to think of it, I hadn't even explained why I needed it.

And yet, he handed it over without hesitation. Strange.

The Poison King wasn't the type to give things away so easily, even to someone who had helped him.

'Maybe he's letting it slide because I made it myself,' I thought.

If that was the case, it made sense on the surface, but something about it felt off.

The Poison King wasn't a simple man. Even if I had helped him, he wouldn't act without expecting something in return.

'...This is unsettling.'

What could he want from me? The thought flickered briefly, but for now, the pill took priority.

"Use it? Well, it's an energy pill, so naturally, I'll eat it," I replied.

"...Hmm?"

The Poison King tilted his head.

"Didn't you just consume one yesterday?"

"Yes."

"And now you're taking another one?"

"Yes."

"..."

"Don't worry. I'm not crazy."

I understood his expression. Any martial artist would know what it meant to take energy pills in succession.

Too much of anything is harmful, and energy pills were no exception.

The energy contained in a single pill was immense. Martial artists could only absorb so much energy at once, depending on their level.

Even the Poison King himself, after consuming one Dokcheon Pill, couldn't fully digest its energy and had to let it circulate around his body.

He likely planned to gradually absorb it over a month or two to extract its full potential.

If he took another pill in this state, the excess energy would spill out, leaving him unable to retain even half of it.

Moreover, the overwhelming energy could strain his body.

Given that, it wasn't surprising the Poison King looked at me as if I were insane.

Of course, none of that applied to me.

'This has nothing to do with me.'

No matter how much energy I consumed, I could digest it all and store it within my body.

That was why I had been able to grow so rapidly in my previous life.

"I have my reasons, so don't worry," I said to reassure him.

The Poison King's response, however, caught me off guard.

"I'm not worried," he said.

"Pardon?"

"If Young Master Gu is taking it, I assume you have your reasons. From what I can tell, you're the type who never suffers a loss, even if it's downright shameless."

"..."

It sounded like a compliment, but the last part stung. Why "shameless"?

"Then why are you looking at me like that?"

"I was curious about what you were up to. But now that you're taking two pills in a row... It's just absurd. Do you have no conscience?"

"...I see. I think that's enough commentary."

Before he could say more, I cut him off.

"Anyway, I have no choice but to take it due to certain circumstances."

"Fine. Go ahead, devour it all."

"...Excuse me?"

"Just kidding. Hahaha."

"..."

It didn't feel like a joke. No, it definitely seemed like revenge.

Probably payback for interrupting his meal with Tang So-yeol.

'Tch... these old men are so petty.'

Clicking my tongue, I raised the pill to my mouth. As I prepared to consume it, I turned to the Poison King.

"Clan Leader Tang."

"What? Changed your mind? If so, I'll—"

"If something happens after I take this, please don't interfere."

"..."

He stopped mid-sentence, his expression turning serious in an instant.

"I understand."

"Thank you."

Grateful that he didn't press me for an explanation, I popped the pill into my mouth and chewed it.

The taste, the fragrance, the energy—it was identical to yesterday's pill.

Gulp.

The moment I swallowed, the energy surged through me, spreading rapidly and taking control.

It was deep, potent, and overwhelming.

However...

'Was I wrong?'

I didn't sense anything unusual.

If my assumption was correct, the pill should have triggered something, but nothing seemed to change.

'What a letdown... So this wasn't it?'

A mix of disappointment and an inexplicable sense of relief washed over me as I turned to face the Poison King.

"Clan Leader Tang, I apologize, but it seems—"

I froze mid-sentence.

"...Ah."

The emotions swirling inside me flipped in an instant.

What I had thought was wrong... wasn't.

"...Damn it."

The world around me had changed.

The sky, the ground—everything was shrouded in pitch-black darkness.

It was the same place as before, except this time, I wasn't outside the door.

I was inside.

This could only mean one thing:

"...This saves me the trouble of looking."

The one I had been searching for was right in front of me.

A throne, black as the world around it, cracked and crumbling as if it were about to collapse.

And atop it...

He sat there.

"Hey," I called out.

He slowly lifted his head to meet my gaze.

His sclera, blackened, and his pupils, dyed a haunting violet, radiated malice.

The murderous intent pouring from him was suffocating.

Our eyes met, and nausea overwhelmed me, threatening to make me vomit. I held it back, steadying my breath.

"Nice to see you, you bastard."

I addressed him directly.

"Shall we have a little chat, brother?"

RUMBLE—!

The ground shook violently, as if answering in his stead.