Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 412 (Part 2)



412 (Part 2)

The color was particularly beautiful momentarily stealing my gaze.

Even in such a distant and terrifying situation.

As if captivated by his eyes I quietly watched him.

So Yeom-ra spoke to the man.

“What is your name?”

“Ju…Ju-bok sir.”

“Ju-bok yes. Your only task is to return to Dang-deok with my message using those dull steps of yours. That is your job.”

As the man pondered what that meant a sudden movement occurred.

Twitch.

“…!”

He felt something burrowing into his qi center.

A very slight unknown energy that was.

Kuuuuung-!

“Cough!!?”

In an instant it expanded becoming the entirety of his qi center.

But that wasn’t all.

Immediately after seizing control of the qi center the energy burrowed straight into Ju-bok’s heart.

“Grrr…Kahhh!”

The pain that came with it was extraordinary.

It was more than any pain Ju-bok had ever felt in his life.

Did So Yeom-ra intend to torture him and kill him contrary to saying she would spare him?

Ju-bok thought so.

If not what else could explain this pain?

‘I don’t want to die…’

His desperation for life intensified.

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Ju-bok wanted to live.

And that was.

The emotion Gu Yang-cheon had longed for so much.

Becoming a demonic practitioner was like that.

Whether the purpose was revenge or a desire to survive.

There had to be something one yearned for desperately.

Otherwise one could not endure this transformation into a demonic practitioner.

Of course if he were the Heavenly Demon from his past life he would have done it in a better way.

But Gu Yang-cheon had no intention of taking such an approach.

He couldn’t from the start.

Starting with Namgung Cheon-jun this was the second time.

Just that alone was enough to realize.

That creating a demonic practitioner without inflicting pain on the opponent was conversely due to an absurd level of control on the Heavenly Demon’s part.

How the Heavenly Demon made such a choice was unknown but Gu Yang-cheon had no such thoughts.

‘Such beings don’t need that.’

Regardless of being righteous or evil there is no mercy for those who block the path one wishes to take.

That was his decision.

The Green King was one of the most vicious demonic practitioners in his past life.

His subordinates were no different.

They killed and toyed with civilians and the evil deeds committed in the name of demonic practitioners were not few.

From the earlier reaction it was clear that this guy was no different from those scoundrels.

Gu Yang-cheon didn’t particularly blame him for this.

He himself had been a demonic practitioner and had killed many with his own hands under the pretext of war.

This was merely a form of venting disguised as atonement. He had no intention of making excuses.

As a moment passed a change occurred in the man who had been called Ju-bok.

There seemed to be no significant difference in appearance but Gu Yang-cheon could tell.

Demonic qi was properly clinging to his qi center and heart.

Ju-bok had become a demonic practitioner in Gu Yang-cheon’s hands. Seeing this Gu Yang-cheon frowned.

‘He barely managed to hold on at this level.’

If it weren’t for a certain level he would have exploded from the demonic qi.

From the beginning he had observed Ju-bok’s survival instinct and appropriate level.

That was why he had chosen him from the start.

Once one reaches the peak in the first class there are limits to controlling with demonic qi.

At best it would be to impose restrictions on speech or prevent betrayal.

There was no need to mention the transformation.

In that regard Ju-bok was just right.

He was at a level that Gu Yang-cheon could handle perfectly.

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Ju-bok seemed to have immediately realized the change in his body looking at Gu Yang-cheon with astonished eyes.

His once shattered legs began to move.

They weren’t completely healed.

The demonic qi was merely piecing together the shattered bones to barely maintain them.

Seeing that Gu Yang-cheon rose. His expression was indifferent but inside he was quite surprised.

‘Was that even possible?’

He knew that with the Heavenly Demon’s demonic qi it was certainly possible.

But now he realized that his own demonic qi could also achieve such a feat.

Was it possible because Ju-bok’s level was low? Shouldn’t it be impossible if it were lower?

This part seemed worth investigating further.

For now this was sufficient.

The current goal was not to fix the righteous body with demonic qi.

After rising he looked at the man and said.

“You have one task.”

Ju-bok gazed at Gu Yang-cheon with trembling eyes.

His eyes were filled with fear and awe.

He couldn’t understand.

How could those who had become demonic practitioners with demonic qi look at him like that?

At least he had never looked at the Heavenly Demon in such a way.

He didn’t understand and didn’t care.

He had no interest in such things.

He only cared about the safety of himself and those around him.

Gu Yang-cheon continued speaking while meeting Ju-bok’s gaze.

“Tell Dang-deok that I said this.”

This was a choice for that purpose.

Ju-bok listened intently to the words that followed.

Ju-bok conveyed this.

“…Don’t do something ridiculous and show up yourself… you failure?”

To Dang-deok he relayed the same message.

Kudududuk-!

The heavy stone chair crumbled instantly under the grip of a clenched fist.

Along with that the one sitting in the chair began to emanate a terrifying qi causing the surroundings to tremble.

A giant man with dark green hair.

Boss Dang-deok the leader of the bandits gathered at Gwi-mun Mountain repeated the words that had been spat out by the one in front of him.

“That bloodied thing told me to relay that.”

“…Yes… Yes Boss.”

Dang-deok looked at the one delivering the message.

Was it Ju-bok?

He was said to be a subordinate of the guy who had reached the peak last year.

Recalling that guy Dang-deok’s brow furrowed.

The Dang Clan Head having sent him to see the path of that vermin.

‘Everyone died and only this guy returned alive?’

Ha—

He even heard that the messenger he sent was lost as well.

Dang-deok could only chuckle at the somewhat absurd situation.

Kududuk.

Just after letting out a slight laugh.

Dang-deok stood up grabbing a spear larger than his own massive frame.

“…You know my name and even dare to provoke me.”

So Yeom-ra was it?

What an interesting fellow.

Dang-deok smiled as he looked at Ju-bok.

As he smiled the other bandits around him flinched and trembled.

“Ju-bok.”

“Yes… Boss.”

“Everything is fine but.”

There was still a question.

“Why the hell did you come back alive?”

“…Boss…?”

At Dang-deok’s words Ju-bok’s eyes shook.

“If your brothers died there without achieving their mission you should have died too you bastard.”

“Boss…! Please…!”

“Yet you shamelessly return alive? What a thick face you have.”

Growling Dang-deok lifted Ju-bok by the neck.

Ju-bok was not a small figure but compared to the giant Dang-deok he appeared infinitely small.

“You worthless piece of trash… I have no need for useless things anymore.”

“P-please spare me Boss! I beg you… please!”

Ju-bok repeatedly begged for his life as if he had lost his mind.

But Dang-deok seeing that desperation did not hesitate to apply more force.

“Go and bow to your brothers. You filthy bastard.”

Wooduk-!

With a savage sound Ju-bok’s neck snapped and he met his death.

At that moment.

Woom-!

“…Hmm?”

A change occurred in Ju-bok’s body which Dang-deok was holding. It was a vibration.

From the lack of life in his eyes he must have been dead right?

What was happening?

“What is this….”

The moment Dang-deok questioned.

Paan-!

A sound erupted from Ju-bok’s body and an enormous amount of blood gushed from his mouth drenching Dang-deok.

“…”

In an instant Dang-deok was covered in blood. The others seeing this hurriedly offered cloths to wipe it off.

But Dang-deok simply swept his face with his massive hand.

And then he thought.

Suddenly Ju-bok who had died was spewing blood.

He didn’t know what was going on but at least Dang-deok felt he understood one thing.

This was a provocation from the one who sent Ju-bok.

Kuk-kuk….

Dang-deok began to laugh loudly as he wiped away the blood.

Hahaha-!

After laughing for a while his mouth split wide as he said.

“So Yeom-ra was it?”

The one who sent Ju-bok to him. That bloodied thing had the audacity to tell him to come see him directly.

Recalling that Dang-deok began to move.

The blood-soaked mess didn’t seem to be worth cleaning any further.

‘If it were originally I would have moved a bit more cautiously.’

But if he had received such a provocation there was no choice.

Dang-deok whispered quietly chuckling.

“Get the weapons ready.”

With that those waiting nearby quickly scattered to prepare for battle.

Among them the most distinct killing intent and aura was of course Dang-deok’s.

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

While I was in the middle of eating I suddenly felt a change and looked up.

“Ah.”

“What’s wrong?”

Wi Seol-ah tilted her head noticing my reaction as she placed side dishes on my rice.

Seeing that I shook my head slightly and took a handful of rice.

“It’s nothing.”

At my reaction Namgung Bi-a and Mo Yong Hi-a seemed to sense something and exchanged strange glances.

But I had no intention of answering them.

I merely clicked my tongue a few times inwardly.

Tsk tsk.

‘I was going to spare him as promised.’

The reason I reacted like this was simple.

I realized that Ju-bok had ultimately died.

This was due to the restriction I had placed on him.

The restriction placed on Ju-bok was not just to relay a message to Dang-deok.

It was set to activate if he was to be killed by Dang-deok.

To burst his heart and make him vomit blood.

From this it seemed Ju-bok had been killed by Dang-deok.

I hadn’t killed him with my own hands.

I simply knew that Dang-deok would kill a subordinate like this.

‘He must be very angry.’

Considering Dang-deok’s fiery temperament he must be quite furious.

‘I’ve laid all the groundwork.’

Even if Dang-deok didn’t come directly as expected he could still enter the starting point of the plan.

For now I just had to wait for a while.

“Do you want some water?”

“Yeah.”

As I drank the water Namgung Bi-a poured for me I surveyed my surroundings.

It was a forest that was no different from mine but the changes were sufficient.

‘Is this now the territory of Sichuan?’

As I set out on my journey summer was approaching.

Before I knew it I had entered the territory of Sichuan my destination.