Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 511 (Part 1)



511 (Part 1)

”’Chapter 512 – Just let me hold it once.

Srrng—

I reach out my hand.

The tip of the sword responds smoothly swinging as if in agreement.

A space shrouded in darkness barely visible.

Within it the righteous blade of the sword holds light.

For a martial artist darkness is not much of an obstacle.

The eyes contained within the activated body can pierce through even that.

Hoo-wook—!

Kwah-ah-ah—!

With a single swing of the sword a gust of wind rushes forth. The wind gathers at the tips of my toes supporting the ground.

The footwork has become a storm.

Pazijik.

Then the wind mixes with the thunderous energy.

Only after swinging the righteous sword four or five times.

Swiik—shwik!

A delayed sound follows.

As I move afterimages continuously linger in the air.

It was a sight that surpassed the speed of sound.

Chuncheon Mu-ae Sword.

A sword technique cultivated and tamed by the Namgung Clan over many years.

The ultimate technique wrapped in qi and infused with thunderous energy unfolds without rest from the righteous hands.

Though wrinkles have formed on the skin in old age and the vitality of youth has faded the level of mastery possessed is more than sufficient to wield martial arts.

No it would be more accurate to say that it has matured even further over the long years.

Though strength may have diminished the methods of utilizing it have become exceptional.

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

The old man was confident in his own sword.

He had become much sharper than before.

Thud.

The tips of my toes brushed the ground.

I lean forward and launch myself. I infused my soles with thunderous energy to increase my speed.

Using this recoil I draw energy up to my right arm.

Chunryong Step a footwork meticulously researched to better utilize agility and thunderous energy.

The old man’s steps having achieved complete mastery are faster than anyone else’s.

The remaining afterimages are so vivid that it seems as if there are many of me.

That meant I was that fast.

One.

‘It doesn’t reach.’

Even as I gradually increased my speed the wrinkles on the old man’s forehead showed no signs of smoothing out.

It does not reach.

Not just the sword wrapped in thunderous energy. Not the body that launches forward nor the agility that surpasses sound.

In the end it could not penetrate a certain line.

‘Haha.’

Is it a problem of space?

I couldn’t recklessly destroy this place so I was suppressing my strength.

Is that the problem?

‘Indeed….’

The old man shook his head inwardly.

He drew his sword in humiliation but he did not fall into oblivion to the point of losing his mind.

It was simply that it did not reach.

His sword and body just did not reach that man.

That fact came to the old man with various meanings.

The righteous blue eyes turned toward the man.

In the thick darkness devoid of a single light.

Even within it a particularly red eye shines brightly.

A gaze that shows no signs of wavering.

Even if it was a brief encounter could one be so calm?

Seeing that the old man had to change his calculations inwardly.

‘Has he been hiding his strength all this time?’

The tiger hero Gu Cheol-un.

Years ago he was the captain of the Shinryong Corps known as the direct subordinate unit of the Alliance Leader.

Before that he was called the greatest prodigy and was given the alias of Shinryong.

Currently he had become the Clan Head of the Gu family and his presence had diminished drastically.

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

However Cheonjon had a vague understanding of what kind of person Gu Cheol-un was.

Though not widely known Gu Cheol-un was the one who met and subdued all the members of the Samaoje.

Moreover he had a record of withstanding and winning against their joint attack.

It was astonishing.

Cheonjon also thought that such a feat was not impossible but considering Gu Cheol-un’s age at that time it was absurd.

He must have just crossed the threshold of adulthood back then.

Of course since then he had gradually hidden his presence so Cheonjon had also momentarily forgotten that fact.

Was that why?

Cheonjon could not understand the current situation.

No matter how strong the tiger hero was back then.

‘The current situation makes no sense.’

Swiik—!

The sword brushed through the air once more.

Again it cut nothing.

I turned my gaze.

It was to ascertain Gu Cheol-un’s position.

But there was no need for that. Gu Cheol-un had never left Cheonjon’s line of sight.

It was as if.

‘Go ahead try to catch me. Is that what it means?’

It felt like that.

‘Haha.’

Cheonjon let out a laugh.

Not just anyone but himself? It was truly the height of arrogance.

However even while feeling that way Cheonjon had to acknowledge it.

Even a brief encounter was enough to understand.

Gu Cheol-un was a person who could afford such arrogance.

It was rather astonishing.

The fact that he had lived while hiding such a presence.

‘Anything beyond this is just troublesome.’

Cheonjon tightened his grip. He had no intention of killing Gu Cheol-un.

He merely intended to convey a message.

One must not dare to disrespect the Namgung.

He represented the Namgung Clan. This much he could not back down from.

If the opponent had insulted the Namgung Clan he had to deliver a fitting punishment.

Thus Cheonjon could not back down.

Namgung was himself and he was Namgung.

Boom—! Cheonjon momentarily focused his qi center.

If it does not reach then the priority is to make it reach.

Hoo-wook—!

A heavy energy filled his body through the acupoints. Cheonjon’s blue eyes glimmered with light.

At that moment.

Kwah-ah-ahk—!

An immense pressure erupted from Cheonjon’s body.

A vast energy that could crush the space.

It was the secret technique of the Namgung Clan known as the King’s Sword Form.

Kugugung….

The pressure burst forth shaking the walls of the space.

Even though he used it with maximum restraint it could not withstand it.

Controlling the qi that erupted like a roar Cheonjon changed his grip on the sword.

Gu Cheol-un faced the pressure of the King’s Sword Form head-on.

In that instant his body must have been constrained.

Just as Cheonjon’s energy-filled sword was about to unleash a flash toward Gu Cheol-un.

Chills—!

“…!”

Cheonjon suddenly stopped his movement and twisted his body.

A sudden chill had swept over him.

As Cheonjon retracted all his movements and burst forth with qi something pierced into the place where Cheonjon’s chest had been.

Swiik—!

It was Gu Cheol-un’s arm.

Then.

Hwa-ruk—!

A small spark flew from Gu Cheol-un’s hand.

Kwah-ah-ah-ah—!

An enormous flame erupted.

The flame was hot enough to melt the walls.

‘What…?’

Cheonjon’s eyes widened at the sight.

How?

He had clearly received the King’s Sword Form head-on yet he had immediately acted?

Cheonjon’s mind went blank. It was an entirely unexpected situation.

Let alone the speed.

If he hadn’t genuinely twisted his body he would have been hit directly.

Hwaak.

A sound of sparks flew from the front.

Immediately Cheonjon twisted his sword to switch to a defensive posture.

Kwaduk—!

“… Kugh…!?”

A sound of bones shattering echoed from his shoulder.

The flames had vanished and Gu Cheol-un had attacked Cheonjon’s shoulder.

He could not block it.

Only then did Cheonjon realize.

The sound of the sparks just now was a feint.

But it was already too late.

His shoulder shattered and his posture collapsed.

It would take time to regain his stance. For others it might be a mere moment.

But in the fight of martial artists it was a crossroads of life and death.

At that moment Cheonjon had to sense his own defeat.

Yet.

“…?”

Nothing happened afterward.

Gu Cheol-un did not take any action until Cheonjon regained his stance.

Not only that.

As Cheonjon looked on in confusion Gu Cheol-un stood still merely watching him.

While Cheonjon was filled with questions about this strange situation and gazed at Gu Cheol-un.

“Now.”

Gu Cheol-un slowly began to speak.

“Have you finished your careless complacency?”

“…!”

“Then draw your sword properly again.”

The calmly spoken words pierced through Cheonjon’s heart.

A shameful embarrassment surged up to the top of his head.

“H… Haha…. This is something.””’