Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 421 (Part 2)



421 (Part 2)

The Poison King filled with qi thrusts the dagger in his hand towards the demonic beast without hesitation.

The dagger imbued with the energy of Hwa-gyeong swiftly flies towards the demonic beast’s forehead.

Normally the Poison King’s dagger would pierce through steel effortlessly.

Ting-!

“…What!?”

Just before the Poison King’s dagger could reach the demonic beast it bounces off weakly.

As if blocked by an invisible wall.

In that moment of unexpected confusion the demonic beast alters its trajectory turning towards the Poison King. It opens its mouth wide attempting to swallow him whole.

At that moment.

Someone grabs the Poison King’s nape and throws him backward.

Thanks to that the Poison King narrowly avoids being eaten by the serpent.

“Wow is it crazy? Why is it so fast?”

The one who threw the Poison King was none other than Baekryeon-gyeom.

The Poison King lands on the surface of the river after being thrown backward.

It was the cornerstone of the mysterious technique that could only be used upon reaching Hwa-gyeong.

Baekryeon-gyeom arrives beside the Poison King and he gives her a brief nod.

“Thank you. Thanks to you I was able to escape danger.”

“Thanks are unnecessary… but what was that just now? It seemed like the enhanced qi bounced off.”

“…That’s right.”

The Poison King replies with a frown at Baekryeon-gyeom’s words. Just as she said he could confirm that the demonic beast had deflected his previous attack.

To bounce off enhanced qi… how could that even be possible?

As the Poison King struggles to comprehend the situation another figure appears beside him.

It was Pa Du-yeol the Clan Head of the Pa family and a renowned master of the Central Plains known as the Iron Fist of Martial Protection.

“I will join you.”

The Poison King nods at those words.

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Three masters who had surpassed Hwa-gyeong stand side by side on the surface of the river.

The boat gradually begins to change direction and move.

The demonic beast however was not looking at the boat but at the three people ahead.

It knew as well. If it didn’t kill the three right in front of it it wouldn’t be able to reach the boat.

Seeing that the Poison King felt a sense of confusion.

‘Could it be… the boat is its target?’

The thought that the demonic beast’s goal seemed to be the boat crossed his mind.

That couldn’t be true. The Poison King shook his head.

Regardless of the suddenly appearing red demonic beast he needed to focus on protecting that boat.

As the Poison King drew his dagger and steadied his breath Baekryeon-gyeom spoke while looking at the demonic beast ahead.

“Wow… it’s huge. Really disgustingly big.”

The Poison King felt a slight loss of strength at her words but he recalled that it was not something he could deny.

Just as she said.

Compared to the demonic beasts he had seen until now that monster boasted an absurd size.

What would have happened if such a creature had been on land instead of in this river?

What if there were not just one but several of them?

The Poison King clenched his dagger at the horrifying thought.

The serpent was not charging in as if testing the waters.

Demonic beasts typically acted solely on instinct and it should have been charging in with all its might.

Yet it seemed to be observing the situation instead.

And the same could be said for the Poison King.

‘I need to understand what just happened.’

The Poison King recalled the moment his dagger had bounced off.

The dagger had been properly infused with enhanced qi and there had been no issue with the trajectory.

So why did his attack bounce off before it could reach the demonic beast?

He couldn’t understand.

While he was lost in thought Baekryeon-gyeom swiftly swung her sword and shot enhanced qi at the serpent.

It was a sudden attack.

Swoosh-! The light blue enhanced qi flew swiftly towards the serpent aiming to cut it.

Crunch-!

Just like the Poison King’s dagger Baekryeon-gyeom’s enhanced qi also crumbled before an invisible wall.

“Of course… it doesn’t work?”

Baekryeon-gyeom uttered with disappointment but the Poison King was taken aback.

“Baekryeon-gyeom…! What are you doing all of a sudden!”

“Why? I just wanted to see if this would work. I can’t just stand by and watch can I?”

With her remark that they had to fight anyway the Poison King had to cover his forehead.

Fortunately the attacked demonic beast merely stuck out its tongue and observed the situation but it could become a problem if it were provoked to attack.

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Of course he was surprised by Baekryeon-gyeom’s actions but it wasn’t without its gains.

Thanks to her he could be certain that attacks did not work on the demonic beast.

Having confirmed that the Poison King quickly began to think of a solution to the situation. Soon something flickered in his mind.

Could it be…

‘…Does that mean red-grade demonic beasts are beings that qi cannot affect?’

The chilling thought that arose unconsciously made the Poison King swallow hard.

Though it wasn’t recorded it was a possibility that couldn’t be ignored.

The possibility that from the red demonic beast onward the energy created by qi would not work.

This was a terrifying scenario just to imagine.

If that were the case the value of martial artists who killed demonic beasts using qi would diminish and it would signify the downfall of humans who could not stop the demonic beasts.

It was a delusion but the vague sense of reality in that imagination made the Poison King swallow dryly again.

At that moment he sensed movement from the demonic beast.

Shaaah-!

Just as the serpent was about to charge at the three martial artists showing its fangs.

Swoosh-! Bang-!

“!”

A rough thunderclap shot from somewhere striking the serpent’s head.

Shaaah-!

With a loud noise the serpent’s head shook.

The angle of the head that was about to charge in changed as it screamed.

The massive head fell into the river and the impact sent waves soaring into the sky.

The high waves soon fell back down.

It looked as if it were raining.

The Poison King’s eyes widened at the sight.

He had just witnessed that qi-infused attacks did not work so what was that just now?

The Poison King looked back in surprise.

He turned to see the martial artist who had struck the serpent.

Finally confirming the martial artist the Poison King exclaimed.

“What…? Why are those kids…?”

Ignoring the Poison King’s incredulous reaction.

Kyaaaah-!

The demonic beast which had briefly disappeared underwater quickly re-emerged and charged again.

As the three Hwa-gyeong martial artists raised their momentum to assess the attack.

“From the left eye four paces to the right.”

A voice came from behind and immediately another presence charged at the serpent. There was no hesitation.

Three blades left traces in the air as they plunged into the serpent.

They struck precisely at the serpent’s left eye extending slightly behind it and then the energy burst forth from the sword tips creating a shockwave.

Bang-!

Shaaah-!

Just like before the serpent’s head shook.

The Poison King could clearly see it.

The moment the martial artist’s strike hit the serpent the transparent barrier cracked.

What was different about them? Even as he pondered that question the voice continued.

“From the next jawline five paces down. Strike upwards.”

As the words were spoken there was no hesitation in executing them.

The sword wrapped in golden energy slipped beneath the serpent and unleashed sword qi.

Bang-! Once again it was the same.

The serpent’s jaw shot upwards upon being struck by the sword qi. Crunch! The transparent barrier surrounding the serpent slightly shattered.

A faint gap appeared feeling hazy.

“Woo-hyeok.”

Was a short call enough? The handsome Mister immediately raised his sword and shot the infused sword qi through the gap.

Then an attack that had not reached until now grazed the serpent’s scales inflicting a wound.

Pik-! A wound burst forth from the serpent’s neck scattering bluish-green blood into the river.

Kyaaaah-!

Perhaps due to the injury the serpent let out a rough cry and slightly distanced itself.

The serpent began to curl up as if wary of them.

In that fleeting moment the Poison King had to drop his jaw in astonishment.

The ones who had been relentlessly attacking the serpent until just now flew back and landed on the surface of the river.

Splash.

Standing on the surface of the river where the three martial artists had returned was a young man who had been there all along.

He was the one who had been giving orders until now.

Seeing him the Poison King whispered quietly.

“Seo Yeon-ra?”

At the Poison King’s call Gu Yang-cheon’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

He seemed to be in a somewhat bad mood.

That aside who were those who had just been attacking the serpent?

Even the Hwa-gyeong martial artists were pondering what to do.

Clearly prodigies who were at their peak had pushed the serpent back without a care.

The sword dancer of the Namgung Clan the successor of the Sword Sovereign and the Jang-ryong of the Mu-dang.

They stood around Seo Yeon-ra holding their swords as if waiting for the next command.

The energy wrapped around their swords bore different colors creating a strange sense of pressure.

Moreover how could those who had not even reached Hwa-gyeong be standing on the surface of the river?

The Poison King could only watch the unfolding scene in utter disbelief.

At that moment Seo Yeon-ra who was at the center looked at the Poison King’s group and spoke.

“From now on I will take command.”

“…What? Mister what do you mean all of a sudden….”

“I will not accept any objections. If you don’t like it just stay quiet and don’t interfere.”

The Poison King tried to say something in response to Gu Yang-cheon’s words but.

Suuuu-!

He had to close his mouth at the feeling of the demonic beast’s movement.

He sensed a massive writhing beneath the river.

Gu Yang-cheon seemed to feel it too as he looked around and said.

“Prepare.”

Swoosh.

At his brief command the three prodigies sharply raised their momentum. They looked like well-trained swordsmen.

Even if the three were like that what was Gu Yang-cheon who was giving them orders so casually?

The Poison King had to question the unknown pressure he felt from Gu Yang-cheon.