Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 419 (Part 1)



419 (Part 1)

”’〈 Chapter 420 〉 Su-ryong River.

Crack-! Thud-thud-thud-!

“Ugh…!”

I endure the pain while lying face down. The Tua Pa Cheon Gong manifested in my body is diligently circulating the broken energy.

The twisted qi begins to flow smoothly again gently coursing through my acupoints.

Although my body wrecked from the backlash of battle has not fully recovered at least I can breathe properly now. I can exhale the breath I had been holding in.

“Hah… Hah….”

As I breathe roughly while lying on the ground the person touching my back clicks their tongue repeatedly.

“Tsk tsk…. If you hadn’t done what you were told not to you wouldn’t be in this state.”

“….Huh…”

Normally it would take a long time for my body to return to its original state. Perhaps it was because I had someone to help me that it felt at least twice as fast.

Crack.

As I try to rise my muscles scream reminding me that the backlash has not yet ended.

I managed to sit up without showing any signs of discomfort.

Then I looked at the person who had been helping me.

The first thing I noticed in their eyes was a clear expression of disdain.

“You look quite the sight.”

“…How did you get here?”

I wiped the traces of blood from my hand and asked the Master.

How on earth did this person come here?

‘He must have concealed his presence when he came out right?’

I was surprised that someone had supported me but I was even more shocked to realize that it was the Master.

I was grateful but I had to ask.

He must have assessed the surrounding presence and situation before coming out.

Even if there was someone who came out with me it couldn’t have been a common martial artist like Baekryeon-geom who would make such a mistake.

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

In that case it would be correct to assume that the Master had secretly followed me with all his strength.

Then.

‘…How long has he been following me?’

When did he start following me?

He must have been quite far away before he decided to follow me.

No matter how much the Master is a Triad there are limits especially since he is currently at the peak level.

It would be difficult for him to sense my presence.

‘Does that mean he didn’t even notice me following him?’

It was a situation filled with questions.

Did the Master confirm my doubts? He smiled and spoke to me.

“Ah you see. No matter how much you try to escape you are still in my palm.”

“···”

“I had a feeling you would cause some trouble… And here you are coming out to fight in the middle of the night. Couldn’t you contain your energy?”

I had to swallow hard at the Master’s teasing words.

I could hear all his mockery and sarcasm but that wasn’t what was important right now.

‘What did he see?’

What exactly did the Master witness?

That was all I was worried about.

The Master knows that I possess an unknown power but he doesn’t know the details.

The battle with Dang-deok was viewed from a much more detailed perspective.

Not only did I cast demonic practitioner transformation from the start but I also showcased enhanced martial arts using demonic qi.

I declared my territory with the corrupted Jeokcheon and my appearance as I faced Dang-deok with blackened flames needed no further explanation.

It was a sight full of dissonance for someone to be called an ordinary martial artist.

If the Master were to ask for a detailed explanation about this I would be in quite a difficult position.

“…”

I had no particular way to explain it.

While I was worrying about that the Master initiated a conversation with me.

“Ah you see.”

“….Yes.”

“We have something to discuss don’t we?”

“…”

Damn it.

A cold sweat trickled down my back at the Master’s words.

“What happened just now?”

“…”

As expected he asked me. How should I respond to this?

“That is….”

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

Should I explain how I obtained demonic qi? Or should I explain why I came out to find this guy in the middle of the night?

All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind.

Moreover I might even have to talk about my regression which was starting to give me a headache.

The Master was looking at me with a very serious expression.

It was as if he was saying he wouldn’t let it go easily if I didn’t tell him.

At that moment I felt I had to say something.

“Well you see….”

“How on earth did you mix your qi?”

“Actually… uh…?”

Just as I was about to calmly start explaining I widened my eyes at the Master’s unexpected question.

He asked how I mixed my qi?

“…What do you mean?”

“When you used the technique. You definitely mixed the heat of your fire technique with Tua Mu Kwon. Am I right?”

“That’s correct.”

In the battle with Dang-deok although I had somewhat transformed into a demonic practitioner at the end I had used the flames of Gu Yeom Hwa Ryun Gong simultaneously with Tua Pa Cheon Mu.

Additionally when using Tua Mu Kwon I had also mixed in the heat as the Master had taught me.

As evidence behind where Dang-deok had fallen there were clear traces of a massive demonic beast having swept through and the heat of Gu Yeom Hwa Ryun Gong was certainly left behind.

“How is that possible?”

“…”

The Master continued to ask me questions with a serious demeanor but I needed to understand what was happening first.

After coming this far he was asking that?

“Is that what you’re curious about?”

“Hmm? Then what else should I be curious about?”

The Master’s words as if it were obvious made me think differently.

Could it be that he didn’t see everything? That could be possible.

I had thought he had been following me from the start but perhaps he arrived late and didn’t see what I was doing.

As that thought crossed my mind the Master spoke to me.

“As I said before I don’t care what you are hiding or what power you possess.”

“…”

I bit my lip slightly at the Master’s words.

That meant he had seen everything I was doing.

He must have realized about the demonic qi when he faced the Heavenly Demon.

If I didn’t mention it he would have let it go.

However now that we were here it would be worth asking.

After seeing everything is the only question he has how I used my qi simultaneously?

“What matters to me is whether you can reach the end of Tua Pa Cheon Mu or not. That is all. I won’t concern myself with anything else.”

“That is….”

He must have a strong obsession with his martial arts.

I couldn’t shake off that thought regarding the Master’s reaction.

Even after coming this far that was what he was thinking.

It’s truly absurd.

Whether he knows my feelings or not the Master continues to ask me questions.

“How was it? Was it easier to maintain for a bit longer?”

“Not particularly.”

This was the truth.

Trying to use it alongside Gu Yeom Hwa Ryun Gong made it more difficult not easier.

‘As for the results.’

I glanced at the devastation created by Tua Mu Kwon.

The casting motion was short and while the martial arts itself was strong the problem was that I couldn’t use it twice.

It was only natural that my body ended up like this after using it once.

Upon hearing my words the Master made a slightly disappointed expression.

“Hmm…”

Why is he disappointed? After all I couldn’t use more than two.

Not only was he disappointed but he also retracted his hand that had been reaching out to me and stood up.

“I thought it wasn’t bad but if you can’t use more than two qi it would be meaningless.”

“Are you going to at least try?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you think everyone in the world is as strange as you?”

“…”

Hearing that made me frown involuntarily but the Master suddenly turned around as if he was going back.

Seeing that I asked in a flustered tone.

“Elder where are you going…?”

“I have to go back. Where else would I go? What is there to do in the middle of the night?”

“Just like this?”

What is this person doing?

Is he really just going to clean up after himself and leave? I should be glad he’s leaving without hearing an explanation but it feels so unsettling that he’s actually leaving.

Did the Master notice this feeling of mine? He looked at me and said.

“You seem to not want me here yet why do you make such a face?”

“When did I ever give you that impression?”

“The Baekryeon-geom behind you. That child too. Don’t you have business with that big guy?”

“…”

He was throwing out words that I couldn’t refute leaving me truly speechless.

How much does this old man know?

“You must be dealing with something you don’t want to show me so you will handle it alone. Knowing that I also won’t concern myself with it.”

Hearing that a slight contradiction arose in my mind.

“Then… how did you follow me this time?”

I asked with a puzzled expression and the Master laughed helplessly.

“I clearly warned you not to use it in actual combat yet I had a bad feeling and followed you. I thought it was just a hunch. Ah do you not know that words are meant to be heeded?”

“…”

I regretted asking and ended up getting scolded more.

As I averted my gaze the Master clicked his tongue repeatedly.

“Tsk tsk…. If I hadn’t followed you you might have died right here. Did you not realize that?”

“…I am grateful.”

“Of course you would be. It’s not like you were bowing down to receive a greeting.””’