Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 418 (Part 2)



418 (Part 2)

“Did I sense something? I could feel the energy of Dangdeok resisting it.

Seeing that it seems my expectations were correct.

It wasn’t just Gu Yangcheon who felt something unusual; Dangdeok raised his knees from the ground and began to pat his belly.

Perhaps he was starting to feel a bit more comfortable. Dangdeok smiled slightly and said

“It doesn’t seem to be poison.”

“And why do you think that?”

“If it were poison I wouldn’t recover this easily.”

Given that he was a former Wuhand Dangdeok if it had been poison rather than demonic qi it would have been a fatal blow.

I never expected the blood of a demonic beast to play such a role.

“I acknowledge it. So Yeomra.”

“…What?”

“You are strong. It’s truly surprising that you can wield such power at your age….”

“What’s the main point?”

Upon hearing the question Dangdeok laughed fiercely.

“I can tell enough from just now. Still you’re weak. At least compared to me.”

“…”

With a whoosh he swung his spear briefly and the pressure of the wind spread out.

In that gust the black flames surrounding him were swept away and disappeared.

I can only acknowledge it.

I had known from the beginning that I was weaker than Dangdeok.

If the demonic qi began to be ineffective it would be a crisis for Gu Yangcheon.

If he wanted he could pour out more demonic qi but that would also be another burden.

To a martial artist of that level he would need to exert considerable energy. Dangdeok had to put in even more energy making the fight increasingly difficult as it dragged on.

Gu Yangcheon was aware of that.

“I told you didn’t I? Don’t get too cocky. You little brat are you going to beg now?”

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Dangdeok must have known as well.

At first he had seemed flustered and furious but after grasping the situation he quickly began to show a confident demeanor.

The odds were starting to tilt in his favor.

Gu Yangcheon let out a slight snort.

It was undoubtedly a crisis given the unexpected situation.

Yet for some reason I wasn’t worried nor was my emotion greatly shaken.

I simply thought to myself that it was a bit disappointing.

‘My method isn’t working.’

I realized that my fighting style wasn’t effective.

Then.

What about a different method?

As soon as I thought that I reduced the size of the Gu Yeonhwa Ryun Gong.

“Hmm?”

Dangdeok couldn’t help but smile at the gradually shrinking flames of Gu Yangcheon.

“What? Have you given up…!”

Just as he was about to mock Dangdeok raised his spear again boosting his momentum.

Something felt different about Gu Yangcheon.

‘What is it?’

What I had felt until just now was still there.

It was still fiery and the enormous presence was still palpable but something was covering it. No perhaps it was better to say it was being supported from below?

I couldn’t tell. What was certain was that something was changing.

Crack.

Seeing Dangdeok trying to grasp the situation Gu Yangcheon moved slightly as if to loosen his body.

‘It hurts.’

I thought it might be a bit better but it still hurt like hell.

Gu Yangcheon was now using a new energy.

He filled his heart with demonic qi.

He wrapped his body in Gu Yeonhwa Ryun Gong.

And he coated his entire body with the qi of Tuapachunmu.

The face of the master who had told him never to use it in real combat flashed in his mind but Gu Yangcheon decided to forget it for a moment.

Doing this was excruciating.

That was the first impression.

Yet perhaps because it was a sensation he had been wrapped in for the past few months he felt oddly comfortable.

Had he become accustomed to pain?

Had he become accustomed to energy?

I didn’t know but in any case it felt comfortable.

‘Is it possible to use three without strain?’

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The reason he was moving his body little by little was this.

He had used two before but he had never used three simultaneously so he wondered if it would be too much. Contrary to that worry however.

There was still no problem.

The only difference was that an unknown fighting spirit had begun to boil.

Gu Yangcheon observed Dangdeok in front of him.

He too seemed to have noticed the qi of Tuapachunmu watching cautiously.

‘His instincts are quite sharp.’

It must be an invisible change. For him to notice and become tense Gu Yangcheon thought as he took a step forward.

His body was heating up but his mind was cooling down.

The fighting spirit rising in his body was colorless while his vision remained calm and clear.

Why was there such a change?

Could it also be the effect of Tuapachunmu?

Somehow I didn’t think so.

‘It doesn’t matter what it is.’

For now I had to focus on the opponent in front of me.

Dangdeok watched Gu Yangcheon approach slowly as if on guard.

His movements seemed full of openings and he didn’t know what he would do.

Moreover an inexplicable sense of alienation continued to prick at his instincts.

‘What is it?’

How many surprising sights would he show?

That bizarre appearance and strange energy were odd but something had been added to it.

At the moment Dangdeok swallowed hard at that incomprehensible change.

Gu Yangcheon vanished from his sight.

“…!”

Dangdeok immediately moved his body.

The spear swung.

Though he had lost sight of Gu Yangcheon he did not lose track of his presence.

The presence was clearly to the side….

Whoosh-!

“Ugh!?”

The presence was to the side but a sudden punch that dug into his abdomen made Dangdeok gasp.

What was this? A vibration echoed through his body.

Fortunately it wasn’t to the point where he couldn’t endure it. Dangdeok maintained his stance and unleashed his spear arts toward Gu Yangcheon.

Thud-!

Just before Dangdeok’s movements unfolded Gu Yangcheon reached out and altered the trajectory of the spear arts.

The difference was slight but the result was significant.

Whoosh-!

The moment the tiny difference occurred the qi that had been flowing through his body scattered.

The movement could not be completed creating an opening.

“This is absurd!”

Unbelievable…!

Dangdeok gasped in shock and immediately tried to distance himself from Gu Yangcheon.

Thud.

But Gu Yangcheon was faster.

A small fist in stark contrast to Dangdeok’s massive frame landed on his chest.

It was light.

It was merely a fist placed against his chest. Yet Dangdeok understood.

He could tell that something was happening at the tip of that small fist.

Wooooo….

At first it was a small wave.

A tiny wave mixed with flames seeped into Dangdeok’s body as if it were being passed along.

As if the wave would cause no harm it was gentle and kind.

But that was only for a moment.

As Dangdeok’s body moved slightly away from Gu Yangcheon the wave immediately revealed its true form.

Grrrrrrr-! Kwangagagagak-!

“Ughhhhh!”

The sudden surge of vibrations expanded Dangdeok’s body from within.

The vibrations mixed with an unknown heat added to the pain.

Thud thud thud thud-!

In just one second dozens of intense waves erupted and the wave could no longer contain itself within that suffocating body bursting forth into the outside world.

Kwahhh-!

The energy that erupted from Dangdeok’s body attacked the wilderness behind him.

The pressure mixed with heat spread violently. Before long it left a wide mark behind Dangdeok.

As the aftermath of the wave subsided and the deafening sound was muffled.

Thud….

Dangdeok knelt down.

His eyes rolled back clearly having lost consciousness.

And then.

The massive body slowly collapsed to the ground.

Thud-!

Finally as Dangdeok lost consciousness and fell.

“…Cough.”

Gu Yangcheon as if he had been waiting for this moment spat out blood.

Drip! Blood splattered on the ground.

The first technique of Tuapachunmu.

The aftereffects of using Tuamukwon (斗牙無拳) were hitting him.

His mind was spinning.

Due to the recoil his qi and blood twisted and the qi began to move violently.

‘This is bad.’

It felt like he could collapse at any moment.

The energy was already damaged and Tuapachunmu would take care of it but losing consciousness now would be troublesome.

Dangdeok was still not dead.

Though his insides were likely in turmoil he was still alive.

If by any chance Dangdeok woke up before him he would find himself in a dangerous situation.

Thinking that Gu Yangcheon desperately tried to hold onto his consciousness but the overwhelming pain pushed him to his limits.

In the end just as he was about to let go of the consciousness he was holding and collapse to the ground.

Thud.

Suddenly someone appeared and supported Gu Yangcheon to prevent him from falling.

“Hah….”

The one who supported him let out a deep sigh as if he was quite displeased and then spoke with a mix of lament.

“I took in a disciple in my later years and he’s quite the madman…. Tsk tsk.”

It was the master.