Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 551 (Part 1)



551 (Part 1)

**Chapter 552: The Duel**

“What’s going on…?”

This was what Gu Ryeonghwa said as she witnessed the situation unfolding before her after finishing her morning training.

“What is it?”

Gu Ryeonghwa asked glancing at her brother who was yawning beside her.

Then Gu Yangcheon lazily wiped the sleep from his eyes and spat out a response.

“Can’t you tell? They’re dueling.”

“No I mean….”

Why are they suddenly doing this now?

Gu Ryeonghwa held back the questions she wanted to ask.

There were countless things she wanted to say beyond that.

‘What the hell is going on?’

She narrowed her eyes forcing herself to control her cheeks that were puffing up uncontrollably.

On the gravelly ground of the valley two young men stood facing each other.

One was a neat young man dressed in a white martial arts uniform symbolizing the Mount Hua Sect.

The other was a pale-skinned youth wearing a tattered martial arts uniform that looked like it had been picked up from somewhere.

Gu Ryeonghwa had heard that he was a friend of her brother someone her brother knew.

‘I think they said he was from the Kunlun Sect.’

It was something Gu Ryeonghwa didn’t know much about.

She had never seen a master from the Kunlun Sect but that young man seemed quite out of place to be called a master.

‘Something feels… chilly.’

Cold and sharp.

That was the impression Gu Ryeonghwa had of the young man.

“Are those two really dueling?”

“Well they’re standing there so they must be.”

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Gu Yangcheon’s characteristic rude tone grated on Gu Ryeonghwa’s ears.

‘This Oppa is really something.’

He hadn’t replied to any of the dozens of letters she sent.

And yet even after a long time apart his attitude was like this.

‘We weren’t that close but isn’t this a bit too much?’

The bond between siblings had not been strong for a long time.

It was somewhat awkward and uncomfortable which was to be expected.

Gu Ryeonghwa had made an effort to try and mend things.

However with her brother acting like this it was infuriating for her.

Even while feeling this way Gu Ryeonghwa suppressed her anger.

This was not the time to express such feelings.

She looked at her foolish brother and asked

“Do you really think that guy can beat Young Master Seong?”

She had heard that if the pale young man won this duel he would reveal why they were heading to the Wu Dang.

Upon hearing this Gu Ryeonghwa had to make a dumbfounded expression.

‘That’s ridiculous.’

At a glance the opponent looked like a martial artist of Young Master Seong’s age.

In fact aside from being tall he seemed to lack muscle.

His physique looked like it could break with just a light tap as if he hadn’t been eating well.

Could someone like that really defeat Young Master Seong?

‘No way.’

Gu Ryeonghwa asserted.

There was no way that could happen.

It might be different for someone else but with Young Master Seong it was a different story.

Who is Young Master Seong?

He is the youngest Plum Blossom Sword Master of the Mount Hua Sect.

Currently regarded as the most talented genius in the sect.

Moreover now that he had even received that person’s ‘miraculous encounter.’

It was certain that Young Master Seong would soar even faster.

A peer prodigy who could defeat Young Master Seong?

Gu Ryeonghwa saw none.

‘No….’

As she thought Gu Ryeonghwa glanced to the side.

There was Gu Yangcheon still yawning.

“…”

While Gu Ryeonghwa didn’t see it it seemed Young Master Seong thought there was someone else he considered superior to himself.

That person was her brother.

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‘…Why…?’

Feeling as if someone was talking about him Gu Yangcheon was digging into his ear with a frown.

That sight was quite unappealing.

‘…What on earth?’

Gu Ryeonghwa had a keen interest in Gu Yangcheon so she was aware of the events and rumors surrounding him from the past.

Jin-ryong who conquered the Dragon and Phoenix Society and received the name of the dragon.

Shortly after earning the title of the youngest peak.

The horrific incident that occurred at the Divine Dragon Pavilion where he heroically thwarted the masters of the unorthodox sects and put an end to the slaughter.

And thus the new alias he received So Yeom-ra.

At that time Gu Yangcheon’s name had spread throughout the Central Plains.

However no one believed the content of the rumors.

Not even Gu Ryeonghwa who was related by blood.

Do you know what nickname followed Gu Yangcheon after he became the youngest peak?

‘The youngest flower of the martial world. That’s absurd.’

It was truly a rumor but it was still ridiculous.

No matter how much they were related there were things that could be overlooked and things that couldn’t.

Gu Ryeonghwa was also a martial artist so she could tell how absurd those rumors were.

‘There’s no way that guy could do that.’

When she saw him at the volcano.

Gu Ryeonghwa had heard that Gu Yangcheon had solved some incidents but she had never seen him engage in battle directly.

She had only heard that he miraculously defeated a peak martial artist.

He wasn’t just some reckless person.

He had talent after all.

That was all she could see.

In contrast to Gu Ryeonghwa Young Master Seong seemed to view Gu Yangcheon differently.

Even when the rumors of him conquering the Dragon and Phoenix Society circulated.

‘As expected it’s Master Gu.’

When the rumors of him being the youngest peak spread.

‘As expected… it’s Master Gu!’

When he returned to the Mount Hua Sect after the Divine Dragon Pavilion incident.

‘…As expected… it was Master Gu….’

Those were the words Young Master Seong often had on his lips.

Even when his level rose.

When the plum blossoms contained in his sword became increasingly splendid.

Young Master Seong’s gaze was fixed solely on one place.

He wanted to defeat someone.

He wanted to reach someone.

Young Master Seong’s eyes were looking at something far away.

Gu Ryeonghwa thought it was Gu Yangcheon but she couldn’t understand why Young Master Seong looked at Gu Yangcheon that way.

In any case.

If he was to duel with someone like that it was only natural to think it would be Gu Yangcheon.

Yet seeing him in such a situation with someone she had never heard of Gu Ryeonghwa couldn’t comprehend it.

“Why do you think he’ll lose?”

“…”

Gu Ryeonghwa didn’t respond to Gu Yangcheon’s question but it was a positive reaction.

Seeing that Gu Yangcheon smiled slightly.

Gu Ryeonghwa’s brows furrowed at that.

“Why are you laughing?”

“No I just thought it was a natural reaction.”

It seemed Gu Yangcheon was aware that the situation was strange.

However.

“But let’s just watch for now.”

Gu Yangcheon’s eyes were the same as always.

“I don’t think it will go as expected.”

At that response.

Gu Ryeonghwa slowly shifted her gaze back to the two.

*

Swoosh—!

The sound of the waterfall echoed around the valley.

A gentle breeze blew and the clouds moved slowly.

In the tranquil atmosphere Young Master Seong stared straight ahead.

He saw a young man holding a sword.

With disheveled hair and striking pale skin.

There was no sense of energy emanating from his movements.

As he looked at that young man Young Master Seong slightly shifted his gaze.

In the direction of Gu Yangcheon.

He was watching the two with his characteristic keen eyes intrigued.

‘What are you thinking?’

Young Master Seong pondered.

What on earth was Gu Yangcheon thinking?

Why did he make him fight against him?

Or did he think he was still not ready to face him? Remembering this Young Master Seong smiled bitterly.

‘That’s not wrong.’

The moment Young Master Seong saw Gu Yangcheon he understood.

‘…I feel nothing.’

He could only faintly sense the presence of a corrupted official.

He couldn’t gauge Gu Yangcheon’s level.

This meant that Gu Yangcheon was at a significantly higher level than Young Master Seong.

It had been the same in the past but now Gu Yangcheon felt like he had ascended to an even higher sky.

That fact made Young Master Seong feel strangely pleased.

Whenever he tried to move forward Gu Yangcheon was always ahead of him.

He even increased his speed going faster and further.

Watching that Young Master Seong desperately tried to keep up.

From the moment they first met.

Gu Yangcheon was the one who made him realize he was just a frog in a well.

He shattered the arrogance that had built a wall around him.

He was the one who set an unending goal for him.

A goal that allowed him to run without rest.

Because of that.

‘Maybe I’ve gotten a little closer.’

But unfortunately it still felt far away. That thought came naturally.

‘…Even after receiving the great one’s energy.’

He had inherited the will of the great one. Yet he still felt lacking.

‘Just how far are you planning to go?’

Young Master Seong found Gu Yangcheon fascinating.

How far was he trying to go? How could he move ahead at such a speed?

Whenever Young Master Seong felt even a hint of arrogance and tried to lift his shoulders.

It felt as if Gu Yangcheon came to press him down.

Even though it felt exhausting it was also comforting perhaps because Young Master Seong was not in his right mind.

Thinking about that made him feel a bit ridiculous.

But.

‘Whatever it is.’

Gu Yangcheon always had his own intentions.

It would be the same this time.

Despite the regret of not being able to duel with Gu Yangcheon and the subtle dissatisfaction of having to face Seong Yu Young Master Seong believed in Gu Yangcheon.

He raised his sword toward his opponent.

“Please take care of me Young Master Seong.”

“…”

At Young Master Seong’s words Seong Yu simply raised his sword in silence.

There was no response.

Moreover an uneasy energy filled the air.

Seeing that Young Master Seong had to tilt his head in confusion.

‘What’s going on?’

Why was he acting so flippantly?

He couldn’t understand.

One thing was for sure he wouldn’t let his guard down.

The fact that Gu Yangcheon had insisted on having him face Seong Yu meant he deemed him worthy.

“Let the duel begin.”

The voice rang out.

Young Master Seong immediately unleashed his qi.

Whoosh—! Starting from his qi center an immense amount of energy burst forth.

Soon it began to erupt from his body and spread in all directions.

‘Ugh…!’

Feeling the overwhelming energy engulfing the surroundings Young Master Seong swallowed hard.

It was too powerful.

The amount of energy was so vast that it was beyond his control.

Moreover it was rough.

‘The petals are boiling.’

That was the impression he had.

The plum blossom petals which had been fluttering softly were now mixed with roughness.

It was impossible to control it perfectly.

Young Master Seong could only wrap the energy around his body and adjust the amount he was releasing.

Boom—!

The footwork that should have been light felt heavy.

Just like that.

Boom—!

Young Master Seong shot forward like an arrow.

“Oh.”

Gu Yangcheon let out a small exclamation as he watched Young Master Seong.

Swoosh—!

The sword blade cutting through the air was wrapped in powerful energy.

‘So smooth.’

Young Master Seong was sweating as he swung that sword.