Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 415 (Part 3)



415 (Part 3)

I knew immediately upon being struck.

It was because the Tuapachunmu contained within my body reacted on its own.

‘A martial art that teaches its own technique.’

It was absurd.

Even having experienced it firsthand I couldn’t comprehend it.

How could this be possible?

Right after being hit by the master.

As I gasped in pain the master left me with one piece of advice before disappearing.

– From now on figure it out yourself.

That statement was so ridiculous. He hits me and then tells me to figure it out? This old man must have lost his mind.

At that time I certainly thought so.

‘Why is this working?’

As the master said the Tuapachunmu was informing me of how I should move on its own.

If I wanted to extend my energy would move first.

It was as if it was creating a path guiding me on how to move.

Then I would instinctively understand.

How to apply the qi where to place my toes and how to twist my waist.

The energy was showing me the way.

If I moved contrary to the flow of energy.

The pain would serve as a marker telling me that it was wrong.

Looking at this while it might sound impressive as the master said it wasn’t that difficult of a technique.

After all it was just a single straight punch.

The overwhelming application of energy in that brief process was what didn’t make sense.

‘Compressing it is tough enough. Why is controlling it so hard?’

I compressed the wildly chaotic qi

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and gathered it into a single point in my fist through my body.

In that process the effort required to maintain the compression dulled my body and made it heavy.

But I had to endure and move.

Even amidst it all the pain persisted.

I had to delicately adjust the qi so it wouldn’t scatter between my dulled movements.

And I released it at the end of my fist extending in a straight line.

Only then did I achieve the first punch (一拳).

It wasn’t even a movement that could be called a technique.

But I could feel the multitude of realizations contained within it.

The problem was that the overload on my body after using this first punch was no joke.

It was painfully overwhelming enough to make the world turn yellow.

Because the energy was so rough as soon as I used it my acupoints and qi twisted.

Though the Tuapachunmu restored it like a ghost.

From the perspective of enduring it the pain was terrifying enough to make me hesitant to use it more than a few times.

‘If you think about it this martial art doesn’t have good cost-effectiveness.’

To end up like this after just one use if it were at a level similar to Yeomok it didn’t seem worth using at all.

What I could understand was.

‘This much power before even getting used to it.’

This was the amount of power I had in a state of complete inexperience.

Even if the accompanying pain and the prerequisites for use were extreme.

If this was the power of a martial art then it was indeed a divine skill.

I staggered to my feet.

My breathing was still erratic but I tried to appear calm as I looked back.

There stood the master arms crossed smiling at me.

He looked quite satisfied.

“Not bad for a first try.”

“…Do you not see that I look like I’m about to die?”

“You didn’t die did you?”

That damned old man…?

I had to frown at his excessively blunt words.

“How is it? Do you think you can manage it?”

“No. I can’t use it a second time.”

“So you can use it once. You like it don’t you?”

“…Why are you always so unnecessarily positive?”

Why is he so positive when I’m about to die?

“You seem quite excited.”

“Well I am. It’s much better than I expected.”

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“This?”

Looking at the mess caused by the martial arts it seemed I had used my power correctly.

But the aftermath of it was not pleasant.

But he said I did well?

When I looked at the master as if I couldn’t understand.

He chuckled and spoke.

“It seems you’re under some misunderstanding.”

“Excuse me?”

“I thought it would take two months but you did it in just seven days. How could I dislike that?”

Two months?

Was this a technique that would take two months? It was just a single punch!

The master approached me and continued speaking.

“It may look like a simple movement. Even if it’s the simplest it’s what I put the most thought into creating.”

Since it was the part that could be called the beginning of the technique.

I could vaguely understand the master’s words about how he had put in the most effort.

“Anyway you succeeded in using it so you should understand. You also know how complicated it is.”

“Yes….”

What I had called simple was only in reference to the movement.

It looked simple but the way it worked internally was incredibly intricate.

Compression maintenance adjustment release.

None of these four could be twisted so I had to finely tune them.

If I couldn’t do this the qi would burst out uncontrollably and explode within my body.

Then I would immediately be writhing in pain. I had repeated this countless times.

I had suffered for days. And now I had finally succeeded.

“Do you not realize how remarkable it is to have achieved that in just seven days?”

“…”

It wasn’t something I could feel strongly. Even if it was difficult in the end it was something I could do as long as I endured the pain.

Seeing my expression the master continued.

“My sister said this. Regardless of anything else.”

He seemed quite pleased with the smile on his face.

“In terms of my martial arts there’s no one who fits better than you.”

“…”

“Not bad. Well done.”

He patted my shoulder and walked past me.

I still felt strange being treated like a genius.

‘…A martial art that fits well.’

But I was starting to feel it to some extent.

That the Tuapachunmu was a martial art that suited me.

Not for any other reason.

The simple principle that I just had to endure and bear with it fit me perfectly.

Then I shook my head and cleared my thoughts.

I felt I shouldn’t get too excited over such trivial praise.

“Oh right. Aha.”

“Yes Elder.”

“I say this out of concern but you are also forbidden from using this in actual combat without my permission.”

“…”

“You are also forbidden from training outside of my sight. You know the reason right?”

“…Yes.”

The reason for the prohibition.

This martial art was one that could cause significant strain on the body if used incorrectly.

If an accident were to occur the only person who could help would be the master so he was telling me not to use it outside of his sight for now.

After hearing my response the master seemed satisfied and disappeared.

Left alone I immediately collapsed onto the floor.

“…Huh.”

The lingering sensations still made me feel dizzy.

I was finally able to exhale a sigh of relief after the master left and I was alone.

‘I did it.’

I had many worries about what I would do if I failed.

Fortunately I was able to succeed.

At the same time a slight irritation began to rise.

‘If I had two months of leeway I wouldn’t have done it like this.’

Since the master said it wasn’t that difficult I thought it wouldn’t take long so I spent nights working on it… only to find out he had expected two months.

“…As long as it worked out that’s what matters.”

I felt a bit wronged but if it worked out then it worked out. I decided to think that way.

While I lay there in a daze.

I sensed a presence approaching from a distance.

The moment I felt it I slightly raised my upper body.

Thud.

Someone flew in from afar and landed on the ground.

The one who appeared gracefully with a fluttering motion was Baekryeon-gyeom.

“Hello?”

With Baekryeon-gyeom’s characteristic bright greeting I nodded my head.

“Have you come?”

“What’s up? You came at the right time but why are you lying down?”

“…I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”

I raised my body again.

At my response Baekryeon-gyeom tilted her head but didn’t ask any further.

“You told me not to come close while training. What’s going on?”

“Just finished training… and I have something to tell you Baekryeon-gyeom.”

“Hmm? To me?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing my words Baekryeon-gyeom’s eyes sparkled.

I didn’t know what she was thinking but it didn’t seem like it was something to get excited about….

Thinking that I asked Baekryeon-gyeom.

“Are you free for dinner later?”

Upon hearing my question Baekryeon-gyeom’s eyes widened like lanterns.

Immediately after she smiled and gestured to me saying

“Oh my what? Are you trying to seduce this Noona? Oh my oh my. A kid who’s usually so shy is suddenly so bold….”

“That’s not it.”

I frowned at Baekryeon-gyeom’s nonsense and denied it.

What the hell is this lady talking about…. Who’s trying to seduce whom?

“Really?”

“Absolutely not.”

“…Is that so?”

Leaving behind Baekryeon-gyeom who looked somewhat disappointed for some reason.

I decided to get to the point.

“Last time…. Do you remember when I asked you for a favor?”

“I remember.”

When Baekryeon-gyeom said she wanted to continue accompanying me.

I had set a few conditions for her.

Among them was the condition that she would grant me one favor later on.

Baekryeon-gyeom had accepted that.

Even going so far as to make a golden promise.

“I’m planning to use that favor tonight.”

At my words Baekryeon-gyeom once again wore a displeased smile.

“Tonight…? See? You’re trying to seduce me….”

“No I’m not….”

“…Why not?”

Why not? It’s just not!

Why does this person keep leaning towards that thought? It’s truly absurd.

At my continuous denials Baekryeon-gyeom slightly furrowed her brows and asked.

“Then what is it?”

The favor I wanted to ask Baekryeon-gyeom was none other than.

‘The guy has arrived.’

Not far from here ‘the guy’ would have arrived.

Given the timing he should have arrived by now.

Even if that weren’t the case I could feel it.

I had already set up some ‘preparations’ for this.

The favor I wanted to ask Baekryeon-gyeom was related to this.

Tonight.

I was planning to confront the Green King directly.

He was a guy whose head worked well despite his clumsy body so he wouldn’t directly attack the transport team.

No matter what he wouldn’t be foolish enough to attack when both the clan head of the faction and the Poison King were present.

He would likely observe the situation until the moment he desired came.

So I would go to him first.

Since I didn’t want the Poison King and the Green King to meet directly either

this was actually a good part.

Even though it seemed dangerous to confront him directly.

I had already prepared for that so it didn’t matter.

As I organized my plans and slowly gathered my energy.

Baekryeon-gyeom suddenly asked me.

“So is that really not it?”

“…”

I had to wipe my face before I could even speak my request.

I already felt my energy being drained.

This is the last registered episode.