Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 382



382

Crack-….

The surroundings were filled with the sound of something shattering. The smell of burning was thick in the air.

The world was charred black.

Flames surged up with a whoosh-!

Contrasting colors of fire clashed repeatedly as if fighting for territory.

The qi contained in both flames was incredibly dense and powerful.

With each collision vibrations spread in all directions.

Boom-! Boom boom-!

The raging energy made the air grow increasingly hot.

For an ordinary person merely approaching this place would be fatal let alone breathing.

The sky was an odd mix of red and black yet it seemed as if they were separated like oil and water.

Kraaah-!

A massive flame seemed to scream.

The flames gradually began to take the shape of a dragon.

And then it poured down to the ground.

Crash-!

The moment the flames collided with the ground the floor shattered and began to split apart.

The protruding fragments appeared to be half-melted.

It was hot.

All around everything was burning red.

The ferociously distorted flames swallowed up all the black flames scattered around before finally returning to the caster.

Shiiiii-! Even after the spread flames returned to their master the charred and melted world remained unchanged.

-…Hoo….

I looked at my opponent with weary eyes.

Though it was originally the same flame the black flames having become corrupted were undoubtedly much hotter and rougher than the flames I once possessed.

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In front of me the blazing red flames easily consumed me.

I tried to maintain a blank expression as I gazed at my opponent.

He still looked fierce. A man with a stoic expression.

His appearance resembled mine yet it was also different.

To be precise…. It would be more accurate to say that I resembled him.

Though not much time had passed it felt as if he hadn’t aged at all.

The man’s crimson eyes turned towards me.

-It’s been a while.

-….

I flinched at his words without realizing it.

That was the first thing my father said to me after years of separation.

-…Yes.

-I knew she would return. But you are far more brutal than I expected. To think you would send me to you.

The one my father spoke of was Heavenly Demon.

Heavenly Demon had been focusing on recovery since the battle of the past.

The aftermath of the fight must have been severe.

Recalling that I observed my father.

The wounds on Heavenly Demon were inflicted by my father.

It was said that he had never been harmed by anyone yet here he was injured by my father.

On the contrary my father appeared to be perfectly fine.

At least on the surface.

I knew that my father’s insides were not as they seemed.

-I know you are suffering greatly.

-….

My father’s eyebrows twitched at my words.

It was already evident.

His body was being consumed by demonic qi. Not just any demonic qi but Heavenly Demon’s demonic qi.

Yet despite that he was still walking around let alone breathing.

The only reason he could endure was sheer willpower.

The fact that my flames could not invade him in that state ultimately meant that my father’s power was that formidable.

-Third.

At his call my expression slightly contorted.

-…Isn’t it time to stop using that title?

-Do you dislike it?

-Do you still see me as your child?

At my question my father made a strange expression.

-Was it not so?

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His eyes closed tightly as if questioning what was wrong.

-Do you know that I killed Honghwa Gwanggeom?

Honghwa Gwanggeom was the alias of the deceased Gu Heebi. Upon hearing this my father’s eyes twitched slightly.

-Additionally I have come to kill you.

-…

-In this situation am I still your child?

Even with my words my father maintained a blank expression.

He must have known well that I was involved in Gu Heebi’s death.

Yet still.

He did not even show a hint of anger.

-From the beginning I wonder if you ever thought of me as your child.

If he had considered me his child he might have been angry at the sight of me now.

He might have laughed heartily asking how I could have become this way.

He might have tried to bring me back.

But my father did none of that.

Even when I fell to being a demonic practitioner.

Even now facing me…. my father did nothing. I truly wished he would have at least been angry.

Perhaps it was because the flames were burning.

I felt a heat rising within me.

-That day why did you save me?

I asked my father.

Around the time my name began to spread across the Central Plains after I fell to being a demonic practitioner.

My father had come to find me.

In that moment.

I sensed my death.

I never thought my father would save me after I had become a demonic practitioner.

I thought I would burn to death right there.

My father had looked at me and then turned his back disappearing.

-Why did you do that? After much contemplation I realized it might have been because you saw it as a good thing.

-…

-You needed someone to keep the Young Master position and the one you had been holding onto disappeared on its own. You must have seen that as a good thing right?

My words spoken as if I had given up were quietly listened to by my father.

-So even now…. you do not get angry with me.

-Did you wish for me to be angry?

-Well I’m not sure. But if that were the case wouldn’t it have been better?

There was a time when I wished for the world to look favorably upon the martial arts academy.

I thought that way back then.

But perhaps in reverse I wished for someone to care more than anyone else.

But it was already too late for that.

-I see.

My father nodded at my words.

Even that action felt frustrating.

With a look of despair I asked him.

-What was I to you…?

What was I to my father?

Was I just a foolish child who caused trouble?

Or was I the child of a concubine he didn’t even want to look at?

Was I merely a disgrace to the Gu family?

Perhaps due to the sudden loss of qi my head felt dizzy.

Moreover my father offered no response to my question.

Was it not worth answering?

Well my father was always that kind of person.

As I looked at him a slight smile escaped me.

Whoosh.

I wrapped my body in black flames once more.

-There’s no need for further conversation.

-…

As I looked at him my father also surrounded himself with flames.

Immediately the heat erupting from my father’s body soared into the sky. At the same time my body began to be forcefully pressed down.

It was the influence of the Red Sky (赤天).

Determined not to lose I activated the Black Sky (黑天) and began to draw strength from my body little by little.

Demonic qi swirled at my fingertips.

I condensed it to form flame jewels.

Not just one.

I created countless flame jewels not only in my palms but also above me.

And I shot them directly at my father.

Though it was power enough to obliterate the surroundings just before reaching my father the flame jewels vanished as if they had never existed.

-…

Even though that immense energy disappeared in an instant there was no pressure or even a sound.

I frowned at that. I bit my teeth and leaped.

As I moved my body I observed my father’s hands.

There lay the reason.

-That is….

The secret technique of the Gu family that could only be used when the Nine Flame Wheel reached its peak.

The power that had wounded Heavenly Demon.

The very essence of all the Gu family’s flames.

As long as that power existed.

I would never be able to defeat my father.

No even without it I would not have been able to defeat him.

I knew that all too well.

Yet I sought out the Gu family alone.

To finish what Heavenly Demon could not do to my father?

The justification as a demonic practitioner might be that.

But it was different.

I came here not to kill my father.

I came here to die at my father’s hands.

Whoosh-!

I continuously unleashed flames.

As I poured all the emotions that had been bottled up the flames appeared even darker.

Was it an illusion?

Perhaps it was an illusion.

The massive flames surged forth without pause.

Yet they did not touch my father at all.

I bit down hard enough to break my teeth.

Kraaah-!

The flames erupting from my father’s feet blocked me but I forced my way through.

It was hot.

Even though my body was trained in fire arts my father’s flames were exceptionally hot.

My clothes burned away.

The flames that penetrated through my enhanced qi also scorched my skin.

I felt like I would lose consciousness from the pain but still I did not stop.

As I charged recklessly I saw a change in my father’s gaze.

I gathered flames at my fingertips.

I condensed all the qi I could into a single handful.

This was different from the flame jewels.

It was not some intricate martial arts technique; it was merely something condensed from my emotions.

I would die here.

It was no longer possible.

Even if I had grown numb to slaughter my mind was not clear. Even if it was a life for someone else it was not enough to endure.

The goal had long since begun to fade away.

What was I living for?

There seemed to be something at first.

But now I could hardly remember.

I was exhausted and weary and I wanted to stop.

Would this death serve as atonement for someone?

-No.

A childish desire gave rise to self-loathing.

This was merely a way to soothe my own selfishness.

But even so at this point it didn’t matter.

Thinking that way I stepped forward.

The red flames grew stronger as they approached my father.

He seemed genuinely intent on burning me.

I had hoped for that yet on the other hand a bitter emotion rose within me.

I did not wish for this kind of relationship.

To die at the hands of the father I had feared and resented so much.

Even until the end it was a miserable fate.

As that thought crossed my mind I found myself smiling without realizing it.

It felt like a fitting end.

Snap.

Whoosh-!

Flames in the shape of a dragon and a tiger wrapped around me. Was it to bind my legs?

I immediately exerted strength to break free. The flames flared obscuring my vision. I cleared that away as well.

Then right in front of me I saw my father.

Originally I would have been wrapped in that red flame.

With crimson eyes and hair he looked at me.

What expression was that?

I could not tell.

My father’s hand moved.

It was a hand activated by the secret technique of the Gu family.

The moment it touched my body it would be the end. I felt that and reached out my hand.

What expression would my father make if I were to die?

Would he maintain the same blank expression as now?

That seemed likely.

I could not imagine him making any other expression.

Just as I was thinking that my father’s hand drew closer.

It was a large rough hand.

Though it must have been moving quickly it felt strangely slow.

Was he trying to recall some memory?

I hoped he wouldn’t.

The memories he might recall would be filthy and sordid.

Or perhaps only miserable memories.

Right now I just wanted to close my eyes.

Just before my hand could reach him my father’s hand touched me.

Was this the end?

Suddenly—

-…!

In that instant the flames surrounding my father dissipated.

The disappearance of the flames meant he had released his power.

It also meant that the enhanced qi enveloping his body had vanished.

There was no time to assess the situation.

Just as I was about to release the strength in my hand in a hurry.

My father pulled my hand back.

Boom-!

My fist connected with my father’s chest sending shockwaves through the air.

Whoosh-! The pressure burst outwards.

I had to struggle to comprehend the situation.

-What is…. What is happening…!

I lifted my creaking head.

And when I finally saw my father’s face.

-…!

Blood was flowing from the corner of my father’s mouth.

Just before the attack landed he had desperately tried to release his power.

But he had not been able to fully regain his strength.

That force had struck directly at his unguarded body.

In a situation where he could have easily died my father stood firm not budging an inch standing tall on both legs.

-What…. What is this…!

Perhaps it was because I could not fully comprehend the situation.

I could not find the words.

At that moment.

I felt something resting on my head.

It was my father’s hand.