Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 550



550

**Chapter 551: The Shaman**

A day has passed.

After the sudden encounter with Gu Ryeonghwa and Yeongpung.

Since it was already quite late I spent the night simply around the area.

And so it became early dawn.

I had just finished my usual early morning training.

And beside me was Yeongpung.

Thud-!

I casually threw the rock I was holding.

The rock fell among the gravel and I wiped the slight sweat off my brow as I looked at Yeongpung.

“Phew…!”

Yeongpung seemed busy regulating his breath still engrossed in his training.

In the meantime I observed Yeongpung.

‘He seems to have gained a lot of muscle.’

His height hadn’t changed since the first time I saw him.

At that time Yeongpung was already at the end of his physical growth so that was to be expected.

However.

‘…How did he get so big?’

Yeongpung who used to have a slender physique had significantly changed in his upper body over the past few years likely due to some experiences.

His muscles were solid and well-defined.

It wasn’t to an overwhelming degree but it was far too different from his past appearance.

‘What on earth has he been through?’

It felt different from just training.

Could it be Body Reformation?

‘No that seems strange too.’

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There was a sense of something alien about it.

Moreover.

“Yeongpung.”

“Yes?”

At my call Yeongpung who had been swinging the rock around turned his gaze toward me.

I said while watching him.

“Your energy is leaking out.”

“Oh!”

Upon hearing my words Yeongpung was startled and began to gather his energy.

Since the start of his training Yeongpung had been unable to control his energy letting it spill out abundantly.

It wasn’t aggressive and since it was the energy of a Taoist it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable.

But it was indeed strange for it to be leaking out like that.

“Ah I’m sorry. Hahaha….”

Hearing my remark Yeongpung looked a bit embarrassed and started to rein in his energy.

I had noticed it yesterday as well but it seemed that.

‘He must have had a miraculous encounter.’

A sudden physical growth.

And the amount of energy had increased so rapidly that he couldn’t control it.

In my view the only situation where a martial artist would experience something like this was if they had consumed a special elixir.

‘Did he take some elixir?’

If it were the famous elixir of the Mount Hua Sect it would likely be from the Jaso Dan.

The fact that he was spewing out such deep and dense energy without being able to control it might be due to that.

“Hmm.”

I decided not to pry further.

If Yeongpung didn’t want to talk about it I thought it wasn’t something I should force myself to find out.

‘Only…’

There was something that bothered me….

‘The energy feels somewhat familiar.’

The energy Yeongpung was emitting felt oddly familiar to me.

What could it be?

Where had I felt such energy before?

I tried to recall but nothing came to mind at the moment.

‘Tsk.’

It would have been easier if that irritable old ghost from the Mount Hua Sect were here.

‘But right now’ I couldn’t call him.

Things were tangled up for various reasons.

So I decided to move on and ask Yeongpung something else.

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“So Yeongpung.”

“Yes Gu Master.”

“Do you know that guy over there?”

I gestured vaguely toward a direction.

There was Seongyul who was watching the carp swimming in the valley water.

“Oh are you talking about Seong Dojang?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing my question Yeongpung also put down the rock and continued speaking.

“I don’t have a close relationship with him but I remember meeting him when I was young.”

“When you were young?”

“Yes. I believe… it was around the time when the Kunlun Sect Leader set foot on the volcano.”

He was referring to when Cheonghae Ilgeom visited the volcano.

“At that time I briefly saw Seong Dojang.”

“Briefly?”

“Yes if that young Taoist was indeed the one brought by the Kunlun Sect Leader I remember him clearly since he was around my age and came from the same place.”

Now in his mid-twenties Yeongpung and Seongyul were indeed of similar age.

If there was any doubt it was that.

It was quite a long time ago yet it was a bit surprising that Yeongpung could recall it so accurately.

I knew Yeongpung was a genius but could he really have such an exceptional memory?

Moreover.

‘That guy seemed to recognize Yeongpung too.’

When Yeongpung recognized Seongyul.

It seemed that Seongyul also recognized Yeongpung.

From the discomfort visible on his face it appeared there was some connection between them.

‘But so what.’

What was important now was that Cheonghae Ilgeom had visited the Mount Hua Sect with the young Seongyul.

This meant that it was clear Seongyul had some connection to Cheonghae Ilgeom.

‘That’s enough.’

One of my doubts was resolved.

For now that was sufficient. After sorting my thoughts a bit I looked at Yeongpung and continued speaking.

“Dojang can I ask you one more thing?”

“Yes please go ahead.”

Yeongpung spoke with his characteristic warm smile.

“Then what is the reason you and Ryeonghwa are going to the shaman?”

Upon hearing my question he wiped the smile off his face.

At the same time I felt the atmosphere around us shift slightly.

“…Master.”

Yeongpung called me.

“Yes.”

“I don’t recall mentioning to you that I was heading to the shaman.”

“That’s true.”

“Then how did you know?”

This was the first time I had seen Yeongpung with such a serious expression.

I hadn’t known him long enough to be aware of such things but since he was always smiling it felt somewhat unusual to see him with that expression.

I smiled back at Yeongpung.

“It’s not that difficult to figure out.”

“What do you mean…?”

“It’s just the circumstances.”

As I spoke I pointed my finger into the air.

“Yesterday the direction you and Ryeonghwa were heading.”

My finger pointed north.

“If you go that way there’s Mount Wudang right there.”

“…Is that really the only reason?”

Yes it was a bit lacking to predict it based solely on that reason.

So I decided to add more to my reasoning.

“The martial artists of the Mount Hua Sect especially those moving under the name of the Sect Leader would likely have a quiet journey. Since there happens to be a shaman nearby I thought it might be related.”

“That reasoning feels a bit awkward Master. It’s more likely that it’s not the case isn’t it?”

“That’s true. But.”

I didn’t erase my smile at Yeongpung’s words and countered.

“What if it is?”

“…!”

“Or what if it isn’t?”

It was either one or the other.

Hearing my words Yeongpung let out a deep sigh.

It seemed he had just realized that I was probing him.

‘He’s too obvious about being a novice.’

This was possible because Yeongpung had little experience in the Central Plains.

To fall for such a simple probe so easily was quite surprising.

“Gu Master… you’re much scarier than I thought.”

“You’re still too naive Dojang.”

To put it negatively it was a bit lacking.

When I had experience similar to Yeongpung’s if I had been asked such a question I would have denied it to the end no matter how ugly it might have been.

I might have even growled asking for evidence.

It was fascinating from my perspective that Yeongpung had positively affirmed it instead.

‘The shaman huh.’

Though I had only probed him once.

If that were indeed the case it was somewhat puzzling.

‘Why?’

Why were the two of them heading to the shaman?

Especially without a top disciple or elder.

Since they were visiting the same Gu Pae Il Bang it seemed like an important matter.

It was strange that only two prodigies were moving around.

‘Something must be going on.’

While I didn’t need to show much interest in Yeongpung’s growth.

This matter was a bit different.

‘Since Gu Ryeonghwa is involved.’

It just so happened that the child was entangled in this.

I hoped it wasn’t something dangerous.

“Ugh.”

Yeongpung let out a short groan.

He looked as if he hadn’t expected to be caught.

He really couldn’t lie very well.

Seeing Yeongpung like that I asked.

“How are you heading to the shaman?”

“…”

Yeongpung’s expression crumpled slightly upon hearing my question.

Was it something difficult to talk about?

After a brief moment of contemplation Yeongpung fell silent for a few seconds.

Then.

“…It seems this is due to the Sect Leader’s orders.”

Upon hearing his words I nodded. It seemed like a refusal.

‘That’s troublesome.’

There were various issues with obtaining qi like the others.

It was the situation I was most uncomfortable with.

If Yeongpung couldn’t do it.

‘Should I coax Gu Ryeonghwa?’

I briefly considered coaxing the daughter of the same mother.

“…So there’s a condition.”

“Hmm?”

Yeongpung spoke to me.

A condition?

“What kind of condition?”

As I asked with a strange look Yeongpung smiled like before and said to me.

“Would you duel with me?”

“A duel?”

I widened my eyes slightly at Yeongpung’s words.

It was quite an unexpected statement.

A duel?

The condition for sharing information was a duel.

What was his intention behind that?

‘It doesn’t seem to be a simple intention.’

It felt like he wanted to fight me simply because we hadn’t seen each other in a while.

But it also felt like there was something more mixed in.

‘Could it be…’

I narrowed my eyes at the fleeting thought and asked.

“Is it because of the energy?”

“Haha….”

Yeongpung laughed as if my words were correct.

As expected.

‘It must be quite difficult for him to control his energy.’

The immense energy he had gained through a miraculous encounter.

Yeongpung was unable to control it and it was often spilling out of his body.

In such situations a master would usually take the lead to help stabilize the energy.

‘Or they would suppress it by forcefully releasing it.’

They would typically either forcibly expel it or use a duel to release it.

It seemed Yeongpung wanted to choose the latter method.

‘Hmm.’

Just like before.

I found a question in Yeongpung’s words.

‘Why a duel?’

Even though he belonged to the Mount Hua Sect which was filled with masters.

It was strange that he couldn’t control his energy like that.

They wouldn’t have intentionally left Yeongpung’s energy unchecked.

‘That means.’

It was likely that the people of the Mount Hua Sect didn’t know about Yeongpung’s condition.

This implied.

‘He must have gained that miraculous encounter outside the sect.’

It seemed that the claim of going to the shaman under the name of Mae Hwa Seon wasn’t a lie.

But regarding the miraculous encounter I felt my assumption was correct.

Having thought that far I looked at Yeongpung and said.

“Alright. Let’s do it.”

“…!”

As I spoke nonchalantly a flush of excitement appeared on Yeongpung’s face.

If I were to duel with Yeongpung it would probably be the first time in several years.

I had seen him at the Sinryonggwan but it was a brief encounter and we hadn’t talked much.

So the last duel would likely have been when I was heading to the volcano.

Yeongpung seemed to be looking forward to it as a bright expression was evident in his eyes.

‘…What’s so great about a duel?’

I didn’t understand why he was so happy about dueling with me.

A slightly creepy feeling crossed my mind.

Moreover.

‘I feel a bit sorry too.’

A feeling of guilt passed through me.

Because.

“However I won’t be the one to duel with you.”

It wouldn’t be me who would duel with Yeongpung.

“Yes?”

It seemed Yeongpung was taken aback by my unexpected words.

Seeing that I called out to the back.

“Hey.”

“…”

Seongyul who had been watching the carp turned to look at me.

His yellow eyes glimmered slightly.

I looked into his eyes and said.

“Come here and duel with him.”

“…?”

A look of confusion appeared in Seongyul’s eyes.