Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 461 (Part 1)



461 (Part 1)

”’Chapter 462 – Back in My Day

Crack-!!

A massive vessel shatters and the water that spills out engulfs the Gu Yang Cheon.

Soon the previously endless space begins to fill with the water flowing from there.

“…”

The water rises to his toes.

As if standing on a tranquil lake Shin Cheol calmly stood atop the water.

Not a single ripple disturbed the surface.

The broken debris sank to the bottom. Somewhere in this place Gu Yang Cheon would also be submerged.

Feeling this Shin Cheol slowly raised his head.

The sky was nowhere to be seen. All that was visible was pure dark darkness.

This was the inner space of Gu Yang Cheon.

That dreadful darkness expressed the essence of Gu Yang Cheon.

The rising water represented his regrets and lingering attachments.

“You foolish child.”

Shin Cheol murmured softly as he felt this.

He was trying to move forward in any way possible yet in the end he couldn’t overcome anything.

It was merely the inner self of a child who had endured and contained everything within.

At the sight of that pathetic and messy state Shin Cheol could only let out a hollow laugh.

He gazed down at the water that had filled the space.

He searched for Gu Yang Cheon who must be submerged somewhere.

Shin Cheol’s gaze wandered here and there but nothing was visible.

This meant that the creature’s regrets and attachments were profound.

Seeing this Shin Cheol shook his head.

He respected the creature’s choice but he also knew that it did not know what lay at the end of that choice.

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‘You don’t know do you?’

Could that child truly open their eyes?

Even if they did would it be entirely that child?

And if by chance Gu Yang Cheon opened his eyes while remaining Gu Yang Cheon.

Would he be able to properly gather all these remnants of regrets and energies?

This was something even Shin Cheol could not be certain of.

The very idea of becoming a different being was something that could not exist in Shin Cheol’s understanding.

As he quietly watched the water.

Whooo-!

He felt the space tremble for a moment.

Then.

Bang-!

Swoosh-!!

Something enormous fell onto the water creating a tremendous wave.

When the water that had surged up fell back down it resembled rain.

“…”

Shin Cheol looked at something writhing on the water’s surface.

It was truly massive.

It was large enough to fill this vast space. That black dark entity boasted a size greater than any creature Shin Cheol had ever seen.

Such a monstrous being.

Huff… huff…

It lay on the water seemingly exhausted releasing heavy breaths.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Shin Cheol offered words of comfort as he looked at the curled-up creature.

In Shin Cheol’s eyes he could only perceive its size; he could not properly recognize its form.

The disparity in the level of existence was simply too great.

It was akin to the difference in perception that arises when martial artists are at vastly different levels.

Initially Shin Cheol had feared it due to this difference.

But now that level of fear had somewhat diminished.

After all both it and he were merely struggling for the sake of a foolish child who had nothing which had fostered a sense of unnecessary kinship.

“… You must have had a hard time fighting with that large body crammed into this small one.”

Grr… grrr…

It wriggled and exhaled.

It seemed to be responding.

Watching its breath Shin Cheol nodded slightly.

“Now you should rest.”

It felt like the remaining burden was his to bear.

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“Damn it.”

Spitting out a thick curse Shin Cheol burst into laughter.

Even in death he wondered what kind of hell this was.

The mutual understanding seemed to have crossed over.

With such trivial thoughts in mind.

Shin Cheol gradually exhaled plum blossoms.

******************

“I bet it tastes good.”

At the playful tone Cheon Jon frowned.

What did that creature just say?

“… What did you just say?”

“You seem to be asking a question after hearing everything. Tsk tsk your ears must be getting dull already.”

“You little brat!”

Despite Cheon Jon’s angry roar In Young only chuckled.

“Don’t shout. You have quite a good voice for someone so young.”

“How dare you joke with me knowing who I am?”

“How could I not know? That kind of attitude is found only in one place in the Central Plains.”

Crack.

A rough sound erupted from Cheon Jon’s hand gripping the sword.

“A life like a moth to a flame. I had shown mercy by sparing you yet you don’t know your place.”

It seemed the strange creature had regained its senses. However it appeared to be half-mad.

Otherwise it wouldn’t dare act this way towards him.

Grrr-!

As Cheon Jon took a step forward the surrounding air began to tremble again.

The energy forming in the air started to take shape little by little.

Once the transformation of the energy was complete all of it bore a sharp aura.

Such energy filled the air too numerous to count.

“…”

It was magnificent. That was the perfect way to describe it.

As In Young watched.

No as Shin Cheol observed.

“Tsk.”

He had to click his tongue as if he found it unsatisfactory.

“If Myung saw this he would rise from his grave and spit blood.”

Shin Cheol himself harbored many ill feelings towards Namgung.

Due to matters concerning the Moyong Clan and so on.

However.

Even Shin Cheol acknowledged the sword of Namgung Clan.

To be precise he recognized the sword of Namgung Myung the best sword of Namgung Clan.

Shin Cheol scrutinized the energy.

Each of the countless energies contained considerable power and enlightenment.

“Foolish beings.”

It was truly disgraceful to call that the power of Namgung Clan.

“Not only have they lost their purpose but they have also shattered their form.”

A hollow laugh escaped him.

The very purpose that Namgung Myung had risked his life to protect was nowhere to be found.

Shin Cheol turned his gaze to Cheon Jon.

“Ah hey.”

“… What?”

Cheon Jon frowned as if he had misheard.

Ah hey? That was an incredibly belittling way to address him.

“What do you think the sword of Namgung is?”

“… Ha.”

At Shin Cheol’s question Cheon Jon’s expression darkened with anger.

What did he think the sword of Namgung was? Did he dare to ask him that?

To the one who was the best sword of Namgung?

Struggling to control the corners of his mouth Cheon Jon replied to Shin Cheol.

“If you intend to provoke my reason I would like to say you have succeeded.”

Creak-!

The energy floating in the air erupted with a rough noise as if it were about to charge at Shin Cheol.

Along with that a heavy pressure descended upon the entire forest.

The Emperor’s Sword Form.

The seasonal energy of Namgung Clan began to erupt from Cheon Jon’s body.

“…”

A situation that would make anyone tremble just by looking at it.

In such a situation Shin Cheol’s eyes remained calm.

It was only natural.

‘It’s crude.’

In Shin Cheol’s view.

It was far too crude and unrefined to be called the martial arts of the later generations.

Shin Cheol felt a sense of frustration and trembling but even that was unsatisfactory.

This too was fake.

The true Emperor’s Sword Form was not something so crude.

It was not merely about spreading intimidation to bind one’s feet.

‘Is this what you worked so hard to leave behind?’

The memory of a friend who had bled to leave behind just one sword surfaced making him feel sick.

While it was indeed a magnificent and beautiful energy.

When recalling the essence of Namgung Clan it should not have been like this.

‘The sword of Namgung is not about grandeur.’

The martial arts that Namgung Myung demonstrated were not at all grand.

Rather it would be more accurate to say they were rigid and monotonous.

“A martial art that leaves no meaning has no future.”

Recalling an old saying he had once heard from the Sect Leader Shin Cheol took a step forward.

His gaze remained fixed on Cheon Jon.

“The martial arts of Namgung do not fundamentally rely on energy.”

At Shin Cheol’s words Cheon Jon’s anger deepened.

“Are you saying you dare to teach me about the sword of Namgung right now?”

Has he truly lost his mind? Cheon Jon no longer wished to associate with him.

“Having painted the surface with empty grandeur the weight and solidity that should have been lost has vanished.””’