Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 364 (Part 2)



364 (Part 2)

“…Huh?”

Even while spitting it out my throat feels itchy.

It’s because I’m bringing up such ridiculous things myself.

“What did you say?”

“…You are sometimes referred to as the greatest martial artist. I was deeply impressed by the meaning of the alias.”

The former is somewhat true.

Although the martial arts we use are different using fists is the same.

If we talk about the master he was indeed a figure at the pinnacle of that field.

“So I contacted the Open Association and requested them to look into Bi-ga.”

This was also true.

I had indeed asked Chuoong who belongs to the Open Association to find out about Turong.

Of course it was because rumors had spread that I was the master’s disciple.

At that time I didn’t know how he would react upon hearing those rumors so I was just keeping an eye on things.

“So you’re talking about that raccoon guy.”

“Yes.”

The master himself was aware of Chuoong.

Ah did Chuoong say he was caught by the master?

In that regard all I could do was lend him a justification.

The master who had been deep in thought soon finished organizing his thoughts and spoke to me.

“I understand that you respected me and wanted to see me.”

“I didn’t say that much though?”

Why did a statement I never uttered come into existence?

I had never once said the word respect.

The master lightly ignored my words which I tried to deny.

“You know very well that doesn’t fit as a reason right?”

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That would be the case.

Sending someone to look into Turong and the fact that Bi-ui-jin has realized the master’s identity by now didn’t fit as an explanation.

Nevertheless the reason I brought this up was to let him know that I had been interested in the figure of the master from the beginning.

At this point I had to properly mention the reason I had thought of.

“I became certain around the time of the duel… to be precise I had some expectations even before that.”

“That means… you knew my identity from the start?”

“Not certain but yes.”

“How?”

The master’s reaction became a bit intense.

If I didn’t explain it properly here I felt like something—be it an arm or a leg—would really break.

Fortunately the reason I was about to spit out was simple and straightforward.

It was a part that had considerable validity compared to what I had thought.

There couldn’t be a more fitting explanation than this.

“…My Elder mentioned it to me casually.”

I could say that Elder I had mentioned it to me.

It was vaguely known that the two had connections.

Considering that Elder had received a letter of recommendation from the master in the past it was clear they had met even after experiencing the reversal of fate.

So the best thing to use right now was to sell out Elder.

Of course I would have to deal with the aftermath of that later.

‘…I’m sorry Elder but I’m going to sell you out a bit.’

What’s so good about family?

He calls me grandson every day; surely he would let it slide if I sold him out just once.

Now what mattered was the master’s reaction.

I pretended to be calm swallowing my tremors as I looked at the master.

The master whose eyes widened upon hearing my words soon showed a reaction.

“That crazy guy….”

It was a somewhat intense reaction but rather I could breathe a sigh of relief at that response.

“Gu-ryun… this rotten bastard really….”

The master covered his forehead as if he had a headache.

Seeing that it seemed their relationship wasn’t shallow.

It felt more like disbelief than anger at the moment.

“…Did Gu-ryun tell you?”

“He didn’t explain it properly. I just made a guess from a story I casually let slip.”

Still if I said I had told him everything properly I didn’t know what might happen later so I slightly downplayed it.

I didn’t know if this would work but…

“…Tsk.”

The master clicked his tongue as if he was displeased.

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I only just realized that the presence of the master which had been radiating around had completely receded.

‘When did it recede?’

It was such a powerful aura yet I hadn’t even noticed its disappearance.

“Ah hey….”

“Yes.”

Finally calming down the master spoke to me.

Would this be enough for an explanation? I wasn’t sure.

“Everything is fine. I understand that you somehow figured out my identity. But there’s something more important than that now so we can move on.”

Hearing the master’s words I thought to myself.

‘It seems he doesn’t believe everything.’

It seemed he didn’t fully trust me.

One thing was clear: there was something more important to the master than the truth of my explanation.

“The fact that you’re bringing up my identity now means you have some other intention right?”

“…”

The master was right.

I could just pretend not to know and keep quiet about the master’s identity.

Yet the reason I called him out and spoke like this now was for something else.

“Do you remember the suggestion I made to you last time?”

“I remember.”

“Is this matter then related to that?”

“Correct.”

It referred to the suggestion the master had made to me.

To become his disciple.

The master had clearly said that to me.

To become his disciple.

This was to give him an answer to that.

“It might actually be a good thing. Then the conversation will be easier.”

The master once again wore a somewhat relieved smile.

“My suggestion remains the same as before. I’m telling you to become my disciple.”

The atmosphere that had been so tense just a moment ago had vanished and he seemed somewhat excited.

Is it really such a good thing?

I didn’t know.

‘Does he think my answer will be what he expects?’

Did he not think I would refuse? I was in deep contemplation right up until I was about to respond.

To be precise it had been since the time I received the suggestion.

The benefits of becoming the master’s disciple were clear.

However I currently had no time to learn new martial arts as his disciple.

What he had achieved and the power he had shown in my past life were undoubtedly tempting.

I felt an overwhelming wall when facing him.

But the problem was clear.

To receive new martial arts I would have to rebuild everything in my body from scratch.

That was an impossible task.

That’s why it was difficult.

The Nine Flame Wheel Technique was also a martial art that could be called a divine skill.

So I thought just a few days ago that there was no need to become the master’s disciple.

But facing the Heavenly Demon brought about a change.

The speed was dozens of times faster than in my past life.

I thought that if I continued like this it would be enough.

I was arrogant.

And I was also complacent.

I had momentarily forgotten intoxicated by the praises of Jin-ryong and others.

I had forgotten what kind of being the Heavenly Demon was.

‘There’s no chance of winning.’

How could I win?

I wracked my brain every day.

No matter how I looked at it there was no chance of winning like this.

So I had to find another way.

Unless I chose to give up I had to find another method.

I had thought about going to my father to ask about the path forward.

But would that be enough?

I didn’t think so.

Including all the battles up to now.

What I had learned from living as a martial artist was also a problem.

‘Martial arts itself is lacking.’

The biggest problem was that my fighting skills were inflexible and lacking in many ways.

And the person in front of me seemed to be the most suitable figure to impart such teachings to me.

The master was the pinnacle of that lineage.

“…I would like to become Elder’s disciple if possible.”

Honestly I didn’t think that just becoming the master’s disciple would be a straightforward solution.

It was merely a struggle hoping this could be a way.

Moreover he seemed to want me to become his disciple.

I didn’t know what the master’s true intention was.

I just thought there must be a clear reason why the master who had never taken in any disciples wanted me so much.

“Before that there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“A request?”

At my words the master tilted his head in confusion.

I was nervous he might be uncomfortable but fortunately it didn’t seem to be the case.

The request wasn’t anything else.

While I did want to receive teachings from the master right now as I mentioned earlier.

I had no time to discard what I had built up until now.

Furthermore… there was something I wanted to confirm regarding this.

“I want to learn Elder’s martial arts while keeping what I’ve built up until now intact.”

I meant that I wanted to retain the Nine Flame Wheel Technique within me while also absorbing the master’s martial arts.

Upon hearing this the master’s expression crumpled.

My words were that absurd.