Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 496



496

”’Chapter 497 – Just Give It to Me Once.

Kkuuk-.

The pressure on the doorknob is considerable.

Goesun had to contemplate whether to draw his sword or not.

‘This is…’

He soon realized what his mistake was and frowned.

In that moment he almost moved in response to the aura emanating from the small monster in front of him.

Small monster.

That term fits perfectly.

Looking at Gu Yang-cheon Goesun was once again convinced.

‘This is truly…’

No matter how flustered he was by Namgung Myung’s actions the fact that he couldn’t grasp Gu Yang-cheon’s movements and conversely that Gu Yang-cheon had understood his actions and moved accordingly was troubling.

How could that be?

This was not a matter that could be resolved by simply being the youngest Hwa-gyeong or anything like that.

Goesun drew his gaze to meet Gu Yang-cheon’s eyes.

He could see it.

The look in Gu Yang-cheon’s eyes as he looked at him.

The black pupils were tinged with blue and the boiling aura emanating from his body was unmistakable.

This kid was already a complete entity.

A martial artist on par with himself.

Not a prodigy that needed to be taught.

This kid should already be placed on the same level as him.

The ugly boiling aura reacting to his own body was proof of that.

‘Ah this is quite troublesome.’

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t engaged in swordplay for a while? His body was heating up uncontrollably.

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And that too against a peer of his disciple?

‘How pathetic. So pathetic.’

He thought he had left the heat of youth behind in his childhood but it seemed he was still stuck in that place.

Goesun while feeling absurd did not avoid Gu Yang-cheon’s gaze.

It was impossible to avert his eyes. Gu Yang-cheon’s gaze was too resolute.

“I asked what you were trying to do.”

His firm tone was filled with a heavy anger.

He thought that no matter what he said he wouldn’t be believed but he felt he had to explain so Goesun opened his mouth.

“… This is… well there are circumstances.”

“This is not a question for you Goesun.”

Goesun paused at Gu Yang-cheon’s words.

Not a question for him? Then who was it for?

Frowning at the incomprehensible words Gu Yang-cheon looked towards Goesun’s side and spoke.

“I am asking the Nocheon Ilgeum. What were you trying to do just now?”

“…!”

Goesun swallowed hard at Gu Yang-cheon’s words.

Only then did he recall that Gu Yang-cheon could also hear Namgung Myung’s voice.

‘Could it be that was why he moved?’

Goesun pondered the reason for Gu Yang-cheon’s quick reaction.

Could it be that he moved after hearing Namgung Myung’s voice?

‘Could it really be?’

Goesun quickly dismissed that thought.

His instincts were telling him otherwise. It couldn’t be that simple.

Moreover.

‘If he moved after hearing it it would be too late.’

If he had moved after hearing Namgung Myung’s voice it would have been a bit late.

‘How strong could he be?’

As he reached that conclusion a sudden curiosity struck him.

To what extent had this kid risen?

He thought he could see it when he first met him but now that thought had changed.

It was vague.

It meant he couldn’t see it properly.

‘That means…’

The implication that he couldn’t fully grasp Gu Yang-cheon meant that Gu Yang-cheon’s level was similar to his own.

Not just having crossed the wall.

It meant he was a fully established Hwa-gyeong.

‘How is that possible?’

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It was something unbelievable even when right in front of him.

He had heard that he had not yet reached his twenties.

What position does a martial artist who has not yet reached that age hold? The disciple he thought was a genius had reached his peak around that age.

That alone meant he was a heaven-sent talent receiving all the expectations of the Mu-dang.

Yet.

‘What is this kid?’

To be on the same level as those called Hwa-gyeong the current top masters at such a young age?

Goesun couldn’t contain his growing interest.

Namgung Myung’s words flashed through his mind.

– A bigger monster is attached…

Namgung Myung had certainly said that when referring to Gu Yang-cheon.

That means.

‘Does that mean something is attached to this kid as well?’

Just like himself?

At that moment while Goesun’s emotions were rarely racing.

Wooong.

The Nohwa in his arms began to resonate and vibrate.

[Remarkable.]

It was Namgung Myung’s voice.

[Though I was displeased since it wasn’t a sword master it seems Shin Cheol has indeed raised him well.]

“Ha.”

As expected Gu Yang-cheon let out a hollow laugh as soon as Namgung Myung finished speaking.

“It seems you are misunderstanding something senior.”

[What?]

There was a stark difference in tone compared to the last time. Unlike the relatively polite tone of their previous meeting.

Now with a slight smirk and a face full of irritation he seemed to be exhibiting a very corrupted official-like demeanor.

“Our Noya didn’t do much. I grew up on my own.”

[Huh…?]

Namgung Myung let out a breath of surprise at the nonchalant words.

It seemed he hadn’t expected Gu Yang-cheon to respond like that.

Goesun was convinced upon hearing Gu Yang-cheon’s answer.

Indeed someone was attached to that kid.

Shin Cheol.

That name sounded familiar…?

Just as Goesun was trying to recall who it was.

“I’ll ask again.”

Gu Yang-cheon spoke with a much more distorted face than before.

“What were you trying to do just now?”

[It’s none of your business.]

Gu Yang-cheon smiled at Namgung Myung’s words. It certainly looked like he was smiling but judging by his expression it seemed more appropriate to say he was angry.

“To say it’s none of my business means that you were indeed trying to touch him right?”

[… Do you not understand that this is a family matter?]

“Ha ha.”

Gu Yang-cheon let out a slight laugh.

In a low voice he spoke.

“Family matters are bullshit.”

Goesun flinched.

The words Gu Yang-cheon spat out made the atmosphere around them grow cold. Woo-hyuk who had been watching from behind covered his mouth with his hand and widened his eyes.

Namgung Bia who was next to him turned his head and closed his eyes.

From that sight a strong feeling of ‘here we go again’ was palpable.

[What did you just say…?]

Namgung Myung asked Gu Yang-cheon as if he had misheard but Gu Yang-cheon’s expression remained unchanged.

“Ah anyway what the hell. Are all the men with the Namgung surname insane? Why does everyone want to draw their swords first? If you want to draw can’t you do it a bit more peacefully?”

Even the corrupted officials-like etiquette he had been holding onto shattered.

Was that his true self?

[You…! Are you insulting the Namgung Clan right now?]

“I’ve been through so much that I can afford to curse a bit. Family matters are bullshit; I’m trying to endure but the world just won’t help. What does a dead man care about family matters? That’s just senility senior.”

“Wow.”

Goesun couldn’t help but admire Gu Yang-cheon’s words which poured out like a rapid-fire.

Because all the words he wanted to say to Namgung Myung were contained in that.

In the midst of it it did sting a bit when all the men with the Namgung surname were being insulted at once.

No matter how much Namgung Hyung wanted to abandon it his surname was still Namgung.

Goesun’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Gu Yang-cheon.

To curse so freely without any reservations was something he couldn’t even do.

Grinding his teeth Gu Yang-cheon suddenly looked into the air and growled.

“Ah what am I supposed to endure? The situation is already fucked up and I’m trying to endure it. They started it first didn’t they?”

It seemed he was speaking to someone other than Goesun or Namgung Myung.

“Why is that even coming up? If it were Noya would you have endured it? See? But why are you only saying something to me?”

“… That. Small monster… no Mister. Please calm down for a moment.”

Goesun tried to calm the situation but.

That was where the problem arose.

“No why is that family acting like that? No wonder martial arts are twisted.”

Kung-!

With the words Gu Yang-cheon spat out a shock was felt from the Nohwa. Only then did Goesun realize the gravity of the situation.

But it was already too late.

Gu Yang-cheon had brought up the topic that Namgung Myung wanted to avoid the most. Martial arts being twisted.

Whether that kid knew about the Namgung Clan’s issues when he said that was uncertain but.

[Descendant.]

That would have been a sufficiently irritating matter for Namgung Myung.

His voice was much lower than usual.

Goesun could tell from that voice that Namgung Myung was genuinely angry.

As expected.

[It seems I need to teach that kid a lesson.]

Goesun had to tightly shut his eyes at Namgung Myung’s words.

‘Old man I really don’t want to do that you know?’

That meant he was telling him to discipline Gu Yang-cheon.

The problem was that unlike the boiling aura Goesun did not want to mix hands with Gu Yang-cheon.

He wanted to treat him as an equal martial artist.

However the very act of fighting with a friend of his disciple was something he found extremely uncomfortable.

‘Well since it’s just a child speaking if I let it slide…’

He thought to wrap it up lightly and let it go.

But.

[It’s an order.]

‘… Huh?’

Goesun swallowed hard at Namgung Myung’s words.

‘Old man are you in your right mind?’

An order.

That was a promise between Namgung Myung Goesun and Namgung Hyung.

Exactly five times.

For those five times Namgung Hyung would listen to Namgung Myung’s words no matter what.

It was a pact made when they were escaping the Namgung Clan.

That meant that if Namgung Myung said it was an order he would follow it.

That was the promise.

Out of those three had already been used.

The first order was that according to Namgung Myung’s will he would learn the true sword path of the Namgung Clan and pass it on to the Namgung Clan in the future.

The second was when they had to stop the great magical gate that had occurred in the civilian area.

The third was… something he didn’t particularly want to remember so he skipped over it.

‘Ha you would use an order just to discipline that kid?’

Goesun spoke to Namgung Myung as if he couldn’t believe it.

But Namgung Myung was resolute.

[I can endure other things but I cannot let insults against the Namgung Clan go unpunished. That is why it cannot be allowed.]

‘This is insane.’

How could that nauseating praise for the Namgung Clan not be allowed?

Namgung Hyung truly thought so.

But there was nothing he could do.

A promise was not something that could be ignored just because he didn’t want to.

At that moment as Goesun made up his mind.

Taang-!

“…!”

The fingertips of Gu Yang-cheon who had been pushing the sword handle were flicked away.

Even though Goesun had shown no action the recoil caused his hand to be flung back.

As he looked at his numbed hand Gu Yang-cheon widened his eyes.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard but it seems I need to discipline you.”

Goesun calmly spoke to Gu Yang-cheon.

“… Goesun.”

“Ah I really hate this kind of thing. Especially in front of my disciple.”

Goesun scratched the back of his head in annoyance.

It seemed he hadn’t washed for a while as flakes of dandruff fell with every shake of his white hair.

Gu Yang-cheon widened his perception upon seeing that.

“…”

He held his breath.

He could feel it.

The aura slowly rising from Goesun’s body.

It was too rough and crude to be called righteous energy.

A complete Hwa-gyeong.

No it was even a bit higher than that.

The realm just before the transcendence that the master had spoken of. The pressure from Goesun which was surely close to that was so heavy.

A fierce feeling that tightened around his neck.

It seemed that Goesun was genuinely thinking of fighting him.

As Gu Yang-cheon felt the prickling chill spreading from that he could let out a sigh of relief.

‘Phew.’

It was a sigh of relief.

Because after all.

‘As planned.’

Fortunately things were going as he had planned.”’