Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Crackle—!!

A deep blue. Or perhaps, a fleeting white.

The faint energy wrapped around her irises flickered, sending out a barely perceptible current. It was a sensation I knew all too well—one that made my body tingle.

‘That’s Lightning Qi.’

A form of energy that mimicked lightning itself. A branch of Lightning Qi.

And more specifically—

‘…Namgung Clan’s Lightning Qi.’

A technique derived from the Azure Sky’s Thunder, created within the Namgung Clan. For a moment, I wondered if I was mistaken, but there was no way I would misidentify it.

‘I’ve seen it too many times.’

I had witnessed it countless times from Namgung Bi-ah.

Even beyond that—

‘From observing the Celestial Master. And also…’

When I handled Thunder Fang, I had felt it as well.

My body, engraved with these experiences, made it clear:

That was Namgung Clan’s Lightning Qi.

The problem was—

‘Why does Hyun Soyeon have it?’

How was she harboring Lightning Qi within her body?

“…Lady Hyun? What exactly—”

I was about to ask what was happening, cautious and on guard—

Thud!

“…!”

She suddenly threw herself into my arms.

I reacted too late. I hesitated, debating what to do, and missed my chance.

Because I couldn’t sense any killing intent.

What now? Should I react now?