Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 429 (Part 1)



429 (Part 1)

**Chapter 430: Insensitivity (2)**

Death.

The word feeling both familiar and distant furrows Gu Yangchen’s brow.

“What do you mean…?”

It was such a sudden statement.

To think that I would die soon?

With wide eyes Gu Yangchen looked at the deity who calmly continued to explain.

“Every human has a vessel. You must know this as well.”

“…Yes.”

A vessel unique to each person which can be seen as a mold for containing energy or the source of one’s presence as a human.

What could be the deity’s intention in bringing up this vessel?

Gu Yangchen waited for the continuation with slightly downcast eyes.

“Your vessel has reached its limit.”

The deity’s words felt like a cold wave washing over him.

“…What do you mean by that?”

“The ability to use multiple energies simultaneously is one thing. The fact that the vessel containing them has reached its limit is another.”

Even if the risk of energies colliding and exploding has been resolved it means that the vessel overflowing or breaking is a different matter.

A question arose.

“I don’t recall hearing such a thing before.”

Even after several examinations by the deity he had never heard this kind of talk.

Hearing Gu Yangchen’s words the deity let out a series of incredulous sighs.

“I never thought you would dare to take in another energy. Do you really think it’s normal for someone to push their vessel to its limits?”

“…”

“Your vessel is not small compared to others. Yet it is filled to the brim almost overflowing. Do you not understand what this means?”

If the water in the vessel overflows the energy that cannot be contained will burst forth from within the body.

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Even if it doesn’t overflow it implies that at any moment the vessel could break and create chaos.

“Is there no way to fix this?”

“As I mentioned before the quickest way is to close your qi center.”

The fastest and safest method is indeed to close the qi center to stop it.

“…That’s not an option.”

That choice was no different from death.

There would be more than one or two things happening in the future.

For Gu Yangchen destroying his qi center and becoming an ordinary person was not an option.

“Is there no other way?”

At Gu Yangchen’s words the deity’s brow furrowed deeply.

He was blaming the foolishness of having to protect martial arts even in this situation.

To the deity a martial artist was always seen as:

‘Fools who value power more than their own lives.’

If one must protect their life they can see their loved ones.

To live is to promise a future.

These fools were no different from moths to a flame.

The deity not fully understanding Gu Yangchen’s situation could only feel frustrated.

Is that more important than death?

Thinking of the martial artists who had died the deity could only frown.

“If you dislike that there are two methods.”

Yet he still offered a solution.

At least he thought that was what a physician should do.

So there is a way. As Gu Yangchen began to change his expression.

“You can stop increasing the amount of energy. If you maintain your current state with a bit of luck you might live out your life.”

“…”

What that meant was.

It was a suggestion to stop training and not increase qi any further.

Even if it’s not qi it meant to give up on increasing any other energy.

To stop growing and live by maintaining the present.

Perhaps that could be the right thing to do.

If he could just tidy up the uncomfortable parts that felt like an incomplete transformation he was in relatively good shape.

Considering that the number of martial artists in the Central Plains barely reached the thousands maintaining his current state might allow him to live comfortably.

But…

‘That too is futile.’

He knew better than anyone that it was not possible.

Seeing Gu Yangchen’s troubled expression the deity let out a deep sigh.

He realized that this too would not work.

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“You are no different from the other fools. You cannot let go of martial arts can you?”

“…I’m sorry.”

The deity would not know.

Gu Yangchen had always been ready to abandon martial arts.

If he wished he could close his qi center and live as an ordinary person at any moment.

‘But who would save them?’

This was something that had to be done.

It was not a grand statement about saving the world.

The person he needed to save was someone close by.

This was martial arts for that purpose.

So he could not give up on growth.

“Is there… no other method?”

He had mentioned that there was still one more way.

Could that be the only hope?

As Gu Yangchen swallowed his anxiety the deity began to speak with a sigh.

“While it may not be a cure it is possible to extend this period.”

“What do you mean…?”

“It means that it is possible to lower the risk through medicine. A cure is impossible. That is something I cannot do myself.”

“…”

Gu Yangchen listened to the deity’s words and fell into thought.

The deity quietly observed him.

Throughout their conversation the deity felt an inexplicable sense of alienation.

Had Gu Yangchen finished his thoughts? He touched his lips with his hand and asked the deity.

“…Is that medicine something only you can create?”

“Indeed. It is something that only I can do in the Central Plains.”

That would be the case.

He had never heard of a medicine that could maintain a vessel on the verge of breaking.

It could be considered good news but there was something more important.

“Do you intend to give that to me?”

Whether the deity would actually create that medicine for Gu Yangchen.

“No. I have no intention of doing so.”

The deity firmly stated his refusal.

“Even if it only extends the period I will not do anything for you who refuses to take other viable methods.”

“…”

At the deity’s voice filled with anger Gu Yangchen could only silently watch him.

The deity felt that gaze was truly subtly approaching.

“Deity.”

In the tense atmosphere Gu Yangchen asked.

“If that would prolong my life how long could I live?”

At this point Gu Yangchen was only asking that which gradually made the deity feel more irritated.

“No matter how well the medicine works you will not surpass your forties. If your body does not respond well to the medicine you might live beyond ten years but it could be a corrupted existence.”

Hearing this Gu Yangchen seemed to ponder something as if calculating.

Seeing this the deity added.

“Do not think of extending your life with medicine while waiting for a cure. This medicine…”