Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 491



491

**Chapter 492 – Do You Need It?**

“What kind of principle is this? It seems like a transformation technique but I’ve never seen such intricate sorcery before.”

It had been about half a moment since I had shown myself to the Master prepared to be scolded. Yet the Master still showed no interest in my current state and was solely focused on the gas transformation technique.

His eyes sparkled with excitement.

“How fascinating. Is it possible to shorten and lengthen arms or legs as well?”

“I haven’t tried it but… it seems functional.”

To use the gas transformation technique it didn’t require a lot of qi but it did need quite a delicate and precise operation.

I wouldn’t be able to use it in practice as the Master desired.

Would it be possible if I got used to it? I wasn’t sure about that.

[It is probably possible.]

“Huh?”

I was slightly startled by the sudden interjection from the deity Noya while I was lost in thought.

Possible? To lengthen limbs during battle to create confusion as the Master said?

[In fact it was something that the Tang Clan used during combat so it wouldn’t be impossible.]

‘…’

Noya’s calm words made me imagine it involuntarily.

The Tang Clan applying this during battle.

But what kind of limbs could stretch like dough? I didn’t know about efficiency but it would certainly look somewhat strange.

[… Setting aside the appearance the problem is that you shouldn’t carelessly show that martial arts.]

Seeing that Noya wanted to move past the appearance it seemed that even he didn’t think it would look good to fight using this.

Having heard that I decided to change the subject and asked something else.

‘You said I shouldn’t show martial arts?’

The issue was the statement that I shouldn’t carelessly show the gas transformation technique to others.

[Rather than saying you shouldn’t show it to others to be precise it means you should be cautious around the Tang Clan.]

‘What is the reason?’

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[You rookie you probably already guessed but the gas transformation technique is one of the Tang Clan’s secret arts.]

I nodded slightly. As Noya said I had anticipated this part.

With such intricate and excellent transformation techniques it was indeed worthy of being called a secret art.

[… Looking at the current situation it seems that the gas transformation technique has been lost.]

This was also the case.

Given that such transformation techniques were not known it was reasonable to assume that they had been lost a long time ago.

‘So if the Tang Clan finds out they will be furious. Is that what you’re saying?’

[Exactly. Even if it has been lost the Clan Head and the Elders would surely know about the records.]

‘I understand what you’re saying but… Noya.’

[Speak.]

‘Are you okay with me doing that?’

[…]

Noya seemed to ponder for a moment in response to my question.

The meaning of this question was simple.

Knowing that it was a lost secret art of the Tang Clan if this was given to me by the Tang Clan’s leader could I keep it without returning it to them?

Since it was given to me directly by none other than the Tang Clan’s leader it felt a bit wrong to swallow it without returning it.

‘Normally I would have just swallowed it whole.’

Thinking about Noya’s relationship with the Tang Clan’s leader made it a bit awkward to do so.

If Noya wanted me to return the martial arts verses to the Tang Clan I would have hesitated… no I would have hesitated quite a bit before returning it.

[There’s no need for that.]

Noya rejected the idea.

Even so I asked once more if it was really okay.

This time the answer was the same.

[Since Jeomun didn’t say anything specific to you there’s no need to worry about it.]

‘… One thing.’

[Given his personality if he wanted that he would have mentioned it first. The fact that he didn’t means you don’t have to do that and also.]

After a brief pause a moment of silence flowed.

[You don’t want to give it to the current Tang Clan.]

A rare cold voice came from Noya.

Hearing that I had no more words to say so I stopped the conversation.

Honestly it wasn’t a situation for further discussion.

“Hmm.”

The Master who seemed enchanted by the gas transformation technique was now touching various parts of my body.

“This isn’t a change caused by martial arts it seems.”

The Master seemed to recognize this immediately and interest sparked in his eyes.

“… Yes. That’s correct.”

Originally this was the main point.

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It was strange that the Master was so focused on martial arts while showing no interest in my transformed body.

If there was a slight problem.

“The body is solid. The density is surprisingly high.”

“Elder…?”

I knew he meant no harm but the sensation of him poking around wasn’t very pleasant.

Was he trying to assess the state of my muscles?

After feeling around for a while the Master finally withdrew his hands and asked me a question.

“It seems you had a miraculous encounter.”

‘…’

“It resembles Body Reformation but… it’s somewhat different. Is the qi gathered in the center of your qi also due to that influence?”

Did he figure that out just by glancing and touching a few times?

It was far too accurate for something he casually mentioned.

The Master’s gaze turned to my eyes.

I could see his characteristic clear yet unfathomable pupils.

“Your realm has stabilized.”

“… That’s correct.”

“I already knew you were a child with many secrets. It seems that those secrets are deeper than I expected.”

“…”

Each word he spoke felt heavy.

The Master always seemed uninterested in anything but martial arts.

‘But it feels like he sees much more than that.’

That strange sense of alienation brought a heavy discomfort.

“Right.”

The Master asked me.

“Is it something you can tell me?”

I couldn’t answer that question hastily.

Could I explain what had happened?

No way. Even if I had entered as the Master’s disciple and established a teacher-student relationship.

I hadn’t built that level of trust with the Master yet.

The same would be true for the Master.

In such a situation explaining this matter was burdensome in many ways.

Did he read my emotions? The Master slightly turned his head and spoke to me.

“If you can’t say it that’s fine. What matters to me isn’t that.”

I was momentarily surprised to see him retreat so easily.

I thought he would cling to the situation and try to find out.

Just like last time was martial arts really the only thing that mattered to the Master?

As I pondered this it was no surprise.

“What matters in the end is whether you can inherit my martial arts or not. Is there a problem with that?”

The Master asked whether my transformed body could learn the Tuapa Cheonmu.

In response to that I answered.

“No there isn’t.”

Fortunately there was no problem. I had become something other than human and the position of my qi center had changed but it didn’t seem like it would hinder my ability to learn martial arts.

Hearing my answer the Master nodded slightly.

“Then that’s good.”

As long as I could learn martial arts that was all that mattered.

For some reason that statement sent a slight chill down my spine.

It truly felt like martial arts was everything to the Master.

[At that level it’s obsession.]

The obsession and desire for martial arts. The more I stayed by the Master’s side the more intense it felt.

If I were to look at it this way he might be the most qualified person to be called a martial artist.

“Your body has been strengthened but it seems you’re not accustomed to moving it.”

“…!”

I had to widen my eyes at the Master’s words.

He hit the nail on the head.

Since I had maintained my old body with the gas transformation technique upon arrival I had insufficient time to adapt to my enlarged body.

Moreover I had been moving busily so I hadn’t even properly checked how much stronger I had become right after my realm increased.

“Hmm.”

The Master seemed to fall into thought for a moment.

“Well this is a good opportunity.”

He smiled slightly as if a thought had crossed his mind.

I felt a bit scared by that smile.

“What do you mean… it’s a good opportunity?”

“Since your body is unfamiliar and your realm is not yet stable there’s a perfect method for that.”

“What…?”

I was about to ask what he meant when the Master loosened his body slightly and smiled at me.

“Come at me.”

Huh?

What?

“Elder?”

“I was just curious how much you’ve changed. This is a good opportunity.”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean by a good opportunity?”

Is he saying it’s a good opportunity to hit me?

I looked at the Master wondering if that was really the case.

“You can tell by looking in my eyes.”

“…?”

“You’re eager to find out for yourself. Wouldn’t that be a good thing for you?”

“…!”

I swallowed hard at the Master’s words.

The changed body and the strengthened power. I had been feeling frustrated because I couldn’t properly grasp how much I had changed.

He wanted me to check that… in this way.

It was indeed something I needed as the Master said. But I had no intention of confirming it by fighting the Master.

I didn’t particularly enjoy being beaten up.

‘Wait maybe it won’t be one-sided anymore?’

As my realm had increased things might be different from before.

Thinking that I felt a slight heat rising.

“It might be necessary to crush the arrogance of my overconfident disciple.”

“…”

The Master seemed to have sensed this thought and spoke with a smile.

Damn it he saw right through me.

It was ridiculous how everyone could read my expression.

After a slight sigh I raised my arms.

Given the Master’s demeanor it didn’t seem like he would let it go even if I said I wouldn’t do it.

Moreover as he said it was necessary to check it out once.

How long had it been since I fought the Master?

I had had a few one-sided duels to practice the Tuapa Cheonmu but this would be the first time I was seriously fighting since the Shinryonggwan.

“This time you can use other techniques besides the Tuapa Cheonmu. Do whatever you can.”

“… Are you really okay with that?”

“Oh? Are you worried about me?”

The Master chuckled at my words finding it amusing.

“I’m not weak enough to be beaten by a snot-nosed kid so don’t worry.”

Even so I couldn’t help but think.

There was definitely a clear difference in our realms.

“I can see what you’re thinking so I’ll give you a qi.”

“Qi?”

“Yes. If I get hit by you even once in this fight I will call you Hyung-nim for the next seven days and nights.”

“…”

“What do you think? If you don’t like it we can do something else…!”

Hooook-!

While he was speaking I threw a punch.

The Master turned his head and dodged my outstretched fist.

Damn I failed.

“Huh.”

The Master looked at me as if he couldn’t believe my actions.

He seemed surprised that I would throw a punch while talking.

“It didn’t work.”

“Haha… How did I end up with such a disciple?”

I thought it was the perfect timing for a surprise attack.

But I failed. What a shame.

Crack I heard a cracking sound from the Master’s body.

“It seems… I need to teach you a lesson.”

I felt a cold sweat break out as I sensed the slight anger behind those words.

It felt a bit too much.

[Rookie why do you always throw the first punch?]

At the same time I heard Noya’s voice sounding disappointed.

I gathered all my strength and charged at the Master.

********

As the night passed and the sun began to rise.

Shin Yi frowned at the unexpected visitor who had arrived early in the morning.

It was surprising enough that someone would come to see him at such an early hour.

Thus he had to ask something other than qi upon seeing the visitor.

“… I’m sorry for coming so early.”

“I heard you had something to ask me….”

“Yes it’s just that….”

“No first of all.”

Shin Yi cut him off.

He simply couldn’t help but ask.

“Why does your face look like that?”

“…”

At Shin Yi’s words Gu Yangcheon fell silent.

The reason he asked this was simple.

When they had coincidentally met yesterday Gu Yangcheon’s face had been perfectly fine but now it looked as if he had been beaten all day swollen and bruised after just one day.

“… Did you get into a fight?”

He couldn’t bring himself to ask if he had lost but it was clear that he looked like someone who had been defeated.

However.

“Hehe.”

“Huh?”

Upon hearing this Gu Yangcheon suddenly started to chuckle.

Had he been beaten so much that he had lost his mind…?

Shin Yi felt a slight distance and frowned.

“But… I won in qi.”

Gu Yangcheon said something incomprehensible and continued to laugh.

However his face looked so ridiculous that it was quite amusing to see.