Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 319 (Part 2)



319 (Part 2)

‘…I can’t give up.’

But I couldn’t give up.

I had to grit my teeth.

At the same time Jae-gal Jin-seon was racking his brain.

He had to pass the third exam.

‘Since I can’t use strength should I set a trap?’

Excluding the option of hunting for a prodigy.

It would be better to use the terrain to set a trap and catch a demonic beast.

Considering the content of the third exam.

It seemed like a test to determine how to hunt demonic beasts as well.

In this regard he felt somewhat confident.

‘…Alright.’

Just as he was about to prepare the trap.

At that moment while searching for suitable terrain.

“Hmm?”

In the view of Jae-gal Jin-seon who was pushing through the bushes.

Someone appeared.

‘A person…?’

A surge of tension ran down Jae-gal Jin-seon’s spine.

What bad luck to run into a person like this.

Should I go into a combat stance? Can I win?

The chances of winning were probably slim.

The only fortunate thing was…

‘…They’re lying down?’

In the midst of taking the exam the opponent was lying on the ground.

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Breathing slowly with their eyes closed.

It felt like they were sleeping.

Sleeping in a situation like this?

‘What kind of person is this?’

They clearly weren’t in their right mind.

‘…Is this then an opportunity?’

Perhaps due to the sudden discovery.

Jae-gal Jin-seon who was planning to dig a trap to catch a demonic beast.

Thought it was unexpected luck.

He approached the opponent.

After all they happened to have the band he wanted.

Carefully suppressing his presence Jae-gal Jin-seon reached out to the opponent.

At that moment what Jae-gal Jin-seon couldn’t have anticipated in his excitement was.

In this bloody exam setting.

The audacity of someone lying on the ground and openly sleeping.

Could they really be weak?

Crack!

Just before his fingertips touched the opponent.

Jae-gal Jin-seon’s perception flipped in an instant.

Before he even recognized it the opponent’s hand had grabbed Jae-gal Jin-seon’s neck.

– Who are you?

A voice that sounded uncomfortable as if they had just hit puberty.

With a cold emotion contained within it.

Jae-gal Jin-seon trembled involuntarily.

The gaze was as if.

‘A demonic beast….’

It resembled the eyes of the demonic beasts he had faced.

– What are you?

– I-I’m sorry…

Crushed by fear he couldn’t even speak properly.

I must have touched a nerve.

I might die in an instant.

Humans can have such terrifying eyes…

Ah could it be that they are a human wearing the guise of a demonic beast?

He knew it was a strange thought.

But it was that frightening.

This was the first impression Jae-gal Jin-seon had of Gu Yang-cheon.

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As if interrogating him Gu Yang-cheon asked Jae-gal Jin-seon questions.

After seemingly obtaining all the information he wanted.

He briefly wore a satisfied expression and then spoke to Jae-gal Jin-seon.

From now on let’s be friends.

In the face of such a sudden change in situation.

Jae-gal Jin-seon couldn’t even react properly.

The person who had just been glaring at him with murderous intent.

Suddenly asked to be friends leaving him dumbfounded.

The amusing part was.

This person’s identity was none other than Jin-ryong the youngest peak martial artist in recent times.

Known as one of the Six Dragons and Three Peaks.

He had even helped Jae-gal Jin-seon pass the third exam as if he intended to keep his word.

Until that moment Jae-gal Jin-seon thought.

Gu Yang-cheon was planning to treat him like a slave under the name of friendship.

Since he couldn’t enter the Shinryong Hall with his attendants it was clear he intended to use him like a servant.

There was no one as malicious as the rumors suggested.

He had judged that way.

However the Jin-ryong he faced was somewhat different from Jae-gal Jin-seon’s delusions.

Though his words and eyes were fierce.

He didn’t particularly torment for no reason… No there were those who tormented like that but.

When he thought of him as a human he seemed to want to take care of him.

He often went to check on what his group was doing.

While he would scowl and curse when he heard someone badmouthing him.

The moment he heard someone insulting his group.

He would crush the opponent as if showing the reincarnation of a malevolent spirit.

Far kinder than the rumors… not that he was kind but.

He seemed to be a decent person.

However.

Jae-gal Jin-seon realized one more fact about Gu Yang-cheon.

That he being called a friend and kept close.

Was not within his inner circle.

The feeling was that way.

The gaze was that way.

When did he realize?

Was it the moment Shin Seong came looking for him?

Or after that?

No.

To be precise it was from the very beginning.

The way Gu Yang-cheon looked at him had been that way from the start.

When he first saw him.

That was what he meant when he said it resembled the eyes of a demonic beast.

With prey right in front of him.

The eyes of a demonic beast that stared for a long time.

Even the gaze that contemplated how to devour him knowing it could kill him at any moment.

The way Gu Yang-cheon looked at him was similar to that.

Beyond the demonic realm he had torn apart.

The gaze of the demonic beast he had encountered once was also like that.

So he had spoken.

‘You intend to kill me.’

In the conversation with Gu Yang-cheon. He casually threw out the words to turn his assumptions into certainty.

And then.

Confirming the gaze of Gu Yang-cheon as he looked at him.

Jae-gal Jin-seon was convinced.

Interest.

The emotion contained in the eyes of Gu Yang-cheon at that moment.

‘…I’m sure.’

At that moment Jae-gal Jin-seon truly realized that Gu Yang-cheon intended to kill him.

Why?

If he intended to kill him then why?

What had he done?

Or did Gu Yang-cheon know that he was from the Jae-gal clan?

If he intended to kill him how would he do it?

He couldn’t do that in the Shinryong Hall.

Could he really be thinking of killing him?

Was it his misunderstanding?

Was it really right to go to Shin Seong?

Amidst all these myriad thoughts.

Jae-gal Jin-seon answered Gu Yang-cheon’s question.

– I… can open the demonic realm gate.

It was a confession of sorts.

He couldn’t read the flow at all.

And feeling the energy emanating from Gu Yang-cheon.

It was a word he had unconsciously blurted out wanting to live.

Now that he thought about it even if Gu Yang-cheon decided to kill him.

He knew it wouldn’t be an easy task.

But perhaps if that situation came again.

Jae-gal Jin-seon felt he would make the same choice.

Gu Yang-cheon was different.

There was something different from other prodigies.

So were beings like Jang-ryong Geom-ryong Seol-bong and Dok-bong.

By Gu Yang-cheon’s side?

“It’s difficult…”

His head throbbed.

Is this the right thing to do?

He had acted without thinking but he had no certainty.

The reason Jae-gal Jin-seon was so confused.

Was not only because he couldn’t gauge Gu Yang-cheon’s reaction.

But also because of the words Gu Yang-cheon had said with a smile after hearing about his power.

– So… from now on rather than Shin Seong…

– No. There’s no need for that.

Rejecting Shin Seong’s proposal.

With the intention of going to Gu Yang-cheon. Gu Yang-cheon shook his head with a smile.

—-어遫

Upon hearing that he could open the demonic realm gate.

Without questioning how he could do such a thing.

Without asking if he really had that power.

As if he had known from the beginning.

Gu Yang-cheon said to Jae-gal Jin-seon or rather Cheol Ji-seon.

– Finish what you were doing.

– …What?

– Do everything you’re told next to that bastard.

– What do you mean… I…

– Right I know you want to come to my side. I’ll spare you… no I’ll listen to you.

The smile on Gu Yang-cheon’s face was terrifying.

He felt he vaguely understood the meaning behind that smile.

– Do what I told you to do next to that bastard. That’s your job.

To the bewildered Cheol Ji-seon.

Gu Yang-cheon clearly said that.

‘Why?’

And regarding that statement Cheol Ji-seon still didn’t understand.

Do as you’re told?

Join in on Shin Seong’s intention to get rid of Gu Yang-cheon?

That’s my job?

‘What on earth does that mean?’

With an unknown tremor.

Cheol Ji-seon clenched his fists.

Was it really the right thing to have spoken to Gu Yang-cheon?

He was still in doubt.

Even so since he had already spoken it out loud.

He couldn’t take back his choice.

At that moment.

Rustle.

He felt a presence beyond the bushes.