Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 502 (Part 1)



502 (Part 1)

**Chapter 503 – Just Give It to Me Once.**

A curse was placed upon humanity.

I mulled over the words of the new Noya.

‘A curse.’

What kind of curse was it?

‘Is it that the power gained by martial artists has diminished?’

The overall strength of martial artists who were building their realms had decreased.

This statement raised several questions.

Did it mean that the limits had been lowered?

Or was it that the power gained itself had diminished?

I didn’t know. I didn’t know but if what the new Noya said was true…

‘We’re screwed.’

No matter how I looked at it I could tell that the future would be fraught with difficulties.

The powers that were trivial in Noya’s era had become unattainable in the present.

That meant…

‘It means we couldn’t even stop the Blood Demon with that.’

It was a truly dire situation.

‘No the Blood Demon is sealed but…’

I tried to think that way but looking at the Blood Demon’s reactions and the way it openly displayed itself I felt that it might not be the case.

The Blood Demon seemed like it could break free from its seal at any moment.

Yet seeing it maintain its state made me feel that somehow…

‘It’s waiting for something.’

It seemed to be waiting for a certain situation.

What could that possibly be?

Also.

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‘What about the Heavenly Demon?’

It wasn’t just the issue of the Blood Demon; the Heavenly Demon was also a problem.

Huff-!

I felt the ground beneath me as I twisted my waist.

Thud-! The ground sank under the pressure.

The qi of the Tuapachunmu was writhing within my body.

Pain surged.

Even though I had shed my skin the pain remained.

It still hurt and was agonizing but now I could endure it without flinching.

I extended my arm.

Bang-!

A sound of explosion erupted in the space my fist brushed past. Along with it.

Whoosh-!

At the same time as the sound a blue flame burst forth slightly.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue at that sight.

That flame was not something I had hoped to ignite.

‘It’s hard to control…’

Was it a problem that my blood energy and body had fused?

Every martial art I performed was infused with flames.

It wasn’t a bad thing.

Compared to the crimson flames I used to wield the blue flames possessed overwhelmingly stronger power.

And since the backlash that came late with using blood energy had disappeared I realized that the side effects were gone.

As the flames of the Guyeonhwa-ryun-gong seeped into my martial arts my strength increased.

I understood that it was quite beneficial in battle but…

‘… It’s hindering my training.’

It was somewhat obstructive to my training in Tuapachunmu.

Every movement I made was mixed with flames making it hard to concentrate properly.

Tap tap.

I shook my fingertips and redirected the qi of Tuapachunmu that was circulating in my body back to my heart.

‘Hmm.’

I surveyed my surroundings. Right now I was releasing the Qi Transformation Technique and returning my body to its original state.

It was to check my physical condition.

My heightened vision was still dizzying but I had become somewhat accustomed to it after the last battle with the Pajeon.

Even when I was getting beaten I could understand various things but.

When I checked alone I could discern other things as well.

‘For sure. Using the Qi Transformation Technique feels a bit taxing.’

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This was during the battle with the Gwaeseon.

Since I couldn’t reveal my true form I had to fight with my old body forcibly.

At first I thought it wouldn’t matter since the Qi Transformation Technique itself didn’t consume much energy.

But.

‘It’s more bothersome than I expected.’

The impact of the Qi Transformation Technique on my body was greater than I had anticipated.

‘Energy aside maintaining it is a hassle.’

Usually it didn’t show but the problem was that I was maintaining the transformation of my physical body through the Qi Transformation Technique.

Even if it was a small amount of energy I had to keep my balance using it.

It was just annoying to maintain this during battle.

‘… Should I just let it go?’

Should I just release it? For a moment that thought crossed my mind but.

‘That would be impossible….’

There were various issues with that.

First and foremost the biggest problem was that it would stand out too much.

I touched my cheek with my hand. A strange sensation arose as my fingertips brushed against my skin.

‘… Tsk.’

From a distance I looked no different from an ordinary person but upon closer inspection it was evident.

The skin had been superficially altered.

‘It’s not as bad as my arm but….’

While it wasn’t as severe as my left arm which had changed color and sprouted scales.

There was some degree of change in my skin as well.

‘The color of my hair and eyes is also a problem.’

Could it be that the Guyeonhwa-ryun-gong I had within my body had undergone changes?

Things that had gradually turned red were now shifting to blue.

How would I explain this at home?

‘Especially since my father is here.’

To make matters worse my father whom I least wanted to explain this to was present.

Should I run away?

Would I really run away? Isn’t this the perfect opportunity to escape that I had been longing for?

I genuinely thought about it.

I felt like I could just bolt right now.

However.

[… Is that all you can think of?]

As expected the new Noya interjected.

Now I also recalled the common sense that it was quite late for that.

‘… If the situation has come to this can’t I just escape a little?’

[…]

It was a remark made in jest but Noya didn’t respond to me at all.

It seemed even that old man had nothing to say.

I just had to try.

That was what the new Noya had said but if the heavens had blocked that effort then I had no direction to go.

No matter how I thought about it it felt quite unfair.

‘To throw a tantrum just because of a little failure.’

He blocked every path just because things didn’t go his way. It was truly frustrating and unfair.

In the midst of it all a question arose.

‘Noya.’

[… Yes.]

‘You mentioned that the lady said it was a curse.’

[Not a lady?]

‘Anyway.’

That wasn’t the important part right now but even in this moment he was nitpicking.

He was quick to catch on.

‘If that’s the case then it must be so but I have a bit of a question.’

[What is it?]

‘No just.’

The world placed a curse that lowered the quality of martial artists.

Noya having heard the words of the Dangje-mun was saying that.

‘… Something.’

There was something that bothered me different from that.

-What do you think will happen in a world where the master has disappeared?

This was something that both Yeonilcheon and the Blood Demon had mentioned.

A world where the master who was originally supposed to reside in this land had vanished.

That was the current world.

And a mad world was trying to overturn such a world.

When I heard what they were doing it wasn’t strange for them to make a fuss about curses and such.

‘In a world where the master has disappeared. Is there really no problem with this?’

I simply had that question.

If the master of the world is the connection point with all life.

Then this world which he vanished for the sake of karma is it really intact?

‘Could it be that it’s not a curse…. but rather an influence of that?’

I was certain that the limits of humanity had been lowered.

When I pondered the reasons I suddenly thought it might be that.

‘… Either way neither is important right now.’

It was time to consider something else rather than that.

‘Noya.’

[Yes….]

I called out to Noya and tightened my grip.

Then the Gyeojeong that was bound to my left arm responded.

It wriggled.

The sensation changed.

The Gyeojeong began to move according to my will.

It slithered down. I sent the Gyeojeong which had been resting on my forearm to my fingertips and bound it.

Using Noya’s words about using it as a sword I changed it to be used like a fist weapon binding it to my hand.

It would never break or shatter.

Using the power that the Gyeojeong possessed it would become a very good weapon.

Moreover.

‘With this level of sensation it’s not uncomfortable at all.’

In reality it felt similar to bandages so for me who was reluctant to use fist weapons despite being a martial artist it was the best kind of equipment.

Thus I had to make an effort to become more accustomed to the Gyeojeong.

I had tried it once before and it was quite good.

“The world has placed a curse upon humanity. You said that right?”

[But?]

“Then I’m curious. What happens to me?”

[… What? What do you mean what happens?]

“I’m no longer human am I?”

[…!]

Why was I so calm after hearing such a shocking statement?

I had pondered over it throughout my training but I didn’t know.

It was just.

I felt more indifferent than I expected.

“If it’s a curse placed on humanity…. then doesn’t that mean it has nothing to do with me anymore?”

[… Huh?]

Upon hearing my words Noya reacted as if to ask what I meant.

In reality that was the case.

If it was called a curse placed on humanity then I thought it had nothing to do with me.

‘I’m not even a person anymore.’

I hated to admit it but I had to acknowledge it.

If I was no longer a person then this part shouldn’t matter right?