Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 554 (Part 2)



554 (Part 2)

“Whoosh—!

“Ugh…!!”

Upon hearing the words Jicheol hurriedly pulled back.

His forehead was drenched in cold sweat.

Did I infuse too much killing intent into my words?

No it couldn’t be just that.

‘It’s not easy to control.’

I had to brush my hand lightly over my neck to dispel my disappointment.

I had used this on Seongyul last time but using it like this was somewhat complicated.

What was it called again?

‘Dragon Speech was it?’

Dragon Speech.

The power to infuse energy into words and express it to the opponent.

A telepathy to convey words a bit further and more secretly.

It was different from the Lion’s Roar which temporarily seals the opponent’s movements by infusing qi.

It was said to be the power to overwhelm the opponent with one’s voice.

The Dark King had expressed it that way.

But I still didn’t fully understand it.

I slightly nodded my head and looked at Jicheol.

Aside from my inability to control it well it seemed to resonate quite effectively with him.

His face was dripping with cold sweat.

A look in his eyes that couldn’t believe the current situation.

“How dare you… just a prodigy…!”

“You’re lucky to be old. I’m also lucky to be young.”

“People praise you as great and it seems you’ve become arrogant!”

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Haha.

Hearing that made me chuckle.

“Are you laughing?”

“I find this quite amusing.”

How could it not be entertaining?

“Usually those who say such things don’t realize they are doing the same. It’s quite a sight to behold.”

Who has become arrogant just because they are praised as a shaman?

Certainly not me.

Jicheol’s face turned red upon hearing this.

Fortunately he seemed to realize how embarrassing it was.

“…I won’t forgive you.”

Swish—!

Unable to contain his anger Jicheol drew his sword.

“I must teach you a lesson here.”

“You’ve drawn it huh?”

Jicheol couldn’t finish the words he wanted to spit out.

By the time he was about to speak my hand was already on Jicheol’s neck.

“What did I just say?”

If you draw your sword you die.

I had definitely said that.

Perhaps recalling this Jicheol desperately tried to swing his sword.

But that wouldn’t be enough to stop my movements.

I was about to grab and break it.

“Just stop there.”

At the voice that came I had to halt my hand.

I turned my gaze.

An old man had appeared out of nowhere and was approaching us.

The shamans upon seeing the old man all wore surprised expressions.

Especially Jicheol’s expression was remarkable.

“Elder…!”

The old man approached calmly not giving Jicheol a glance and spoke to me.

“I am Yubaek of the shamans.”

At the introduction of Yubaek I withdrew my hand from Jicheol’s neck.

Then I lightly bowed and said “It’s an honor to meet you Senior Biseonggeom.”

“Hoho….”

Yubaek’s true identity was one of the top masters of the Central Plains and a representative master of the shamans.

Biseonggeom Yubaek.

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He was a well-known master I also recognized.

“…Thank you for recognizing me.”

“How could I not recognize someone of your stature?”

As I buttered him up a bit the corners of Yubaek’s eyes slightly drooped.

“It seems my children have committed a great offense to our guests.”

Yubaek surveyed the situation for a moment and then spoke to me and my party.

“I apologize.”

And then he offered an apology.

“I will apologize on their behalf so please could you forgive them?”

“Elder how could you apologize to this scoundrel…!”

The moment Jicheol clumsily interrupted.

Slap—!

Yubaek waved his hand and struck Jicheol’s cheek.

It wasn’t a light hit; Jicheol was sent flying from the force of the slap.

Crash—! Jicheol fell knocking over a table.

“Ugh…”

As blood trickled from his mouth and he trembled Yubaek said “Foolish child.”

“Elder….”

“Shut your mouth. Your treatment will be decided in the main text.”

The tone in which he spat those words was extremely sharp.

At first glance it seemed he was very angry.

However.

‘Tsk.’

I knew it was a pointless act from my perspective.

Yubaek quickly relaxed his previously twisted gaze and continued to speak while looking back at me.

“I will scold the child severely for his mistakes so I ask you to forgive him for the sake of this old man.”

Saying this Yubaek bowed his head once more.

As the great elder of the shamans humbly sought forgiveness the shamans behind him had to tremble.

Seeing that I pondered for a moment.

Should I push further?

If I wanted to I could.

It seemed possible if I played my cards right.

“Yes. I understand. I will accept the apology.”

I decided not to push it further.

Not because I was pleased with Yubaek’s apology.

But because if I carelessly tripped him up here it seemed the justification would shift to their side.

As I accepted the apology Yubaek smiled and said “Thank you for accepting it. Also if our guests are alright we have prepared someone outside. Would you not come to the main text? This time I will ‘politely’ host you without any mistakes….”

“Well I heard there’s something to confirm. Is that alright?”

“Such a process is indeed necessary but how could I impose that on esteemed guests? It is something that can be sufficiently done in the main text. Please show some generosity.”

The old man spoke with a thin and long tongue.

In those words he conveyed that while it was originally necessary he wouldn’t do it for our sake and that there was a procedure to confirm things in the main text.

“I understand.”

Hearing that I had to nod since I could no longer twist things further.

I picked up the letter from the table and handed it to Yeongpung.

Yeongpung accepted it with a bewildered expression.

Seeing that I asked “What’s wrong? If you don’t like it should I push further?”

“Oh no…! I’m just a bit flustered….”

Was this his first time experiencing such a situation? Yeongpung’s confused expression was somewhat amusing.

‘Tsk tsk how is he going to endure this harsh world like that?’

Most newcomers to Jianghu are like that.

Seeing such a frustrating sight made me quite concerned.

In this world if you don’t know you get taken advantage of.

If you realize too late and lack the strength to turn things around you must be thorough.

I glanced at the fallen Jicheol and Yubaek who was looking this way and led my party out of the inn.

I regretted not being able to beat Jicheol a bit more.

But this was enough.

Just this much.

******************

Right after Gu Yangcheon left the inn.

Yubaek was staring at the entrance they had exited with calm eyes.

The face that had just been smiling was nowhere to be found replaced by a cold and chilling expression.

As Yubaek looked on the fallen Jicheol began to rise.

“…Elder….”

Upon hearing Jicheol’s voice Yubaek turned to him.

A cold piercing gaze.

Jicheol trembled as he felt it.

“…I’m sorry.”

He spoke with a trembling voice but it did nothing to change Yubaek’s expression.

“Useless fool.”

“…”

“You can’t even handle this one matter forcing me to step in.”

At Yubaek’s words Jicheol secretly clenched his fist.

“Elder… But they were more formidable than expected….”

“Are you making excuses to me now?”

“Oh no! How could I…!”

“You were the one who said they were just prodigies and that you could handle them easily. Have you forgotten?”

Jicheol trying to divert the conversation spoke urgently to Yubaek.

“I was too careless. If you could just give me one more chance. This time I will definitely…!”

“No need.”

“…!”

At Yubaek’s firm words a shadow fell over Jicheol’s expression.

It was the thought that he had been deprived of a chance.

However Yubaek was thinking differently.

When he said it was unnecessary for Jicheol it wasn’t that he was taking away the opportunity.

‘The level doesn’t match.’

He had judged that it was not something Jicheol could intervene in.

‘Just now that child.’

A face popped into Yubaek’s mind.

The face of the young man who had just been pressing Jicheol.

The one who had tried to grab Jicheol’s neck in the end.

‘Was it So Yeomra?’

Just a few years ago he had caused quite a stir in the Central Plains.

Was he the youngest to reach the Hwa Gyeong?

Yubaek had never believed that rumor.

But now it was different.

Tightening.

Yubaek looked at his own hand.

His palm was subtly damp with sweat.

“…”

Was he nervous?

This Biseonggeom Yubaek?

‘Hoho.’

Feeling a fierce emotion Yubaek cooled his head.

‘He really was trying to kill him.’

If Yubaek hadn’t intervened Gu Yangcheon would have truly killed Jicheol.

His gestures and gaze clearly indicated that.

However the amusing thing was.

‘Knowing I was here.’

Even while acting that way Gu Yangcheon was aware that Yubaek was watching from the sidelines.

‘He knew everything.’

From the moment Gu Yangcheon entered this street.

He had known Yubaek was around.

Yet he acted that way.

As if to show Yubaek.

‘How terrifying.’

Even though it was a time when the shamans were in trouble.

It seemed like a bothersome matter had come to Yubaek.

At that moment.

“Gahhh!”

Suddenly the fallen Jicheol began to scream.

In this strange situation Yubaek looked at Jicheol with slight surprise.

“Why is he suddenly like this…?”

And soon he could understand.

Jicheol was clutching one shoulder.

‘That arm.’

It was definitely the shoulder Gu Yangcheon had grabbed while dealing with Jicheol.

Recalling that Yubaek examined Jicheol’s shoulder.

“Ha.”

Then he let out a breath of disbelief.

Jicheol’s shoulder was shattered.

In fact the bone was crushed into tiny pieces.

Had it really been done in such a short time?

‘But why is this child suddenly feeling pain now?’

Jicheol who had been quiet until just now was suddenly in agony.

Yubaek couldn’t comprehend this.

However one thing was certain.

“…This is not good.”

It didn’t seem like their visit would lead to a favorable outcome for the shamans.

Especially in a situation like this.

Swish.

Yubaek rose from where he was leaving Jicheol screaming behind.

He spoke to the shaman disciple beside him.

“Send a letter to the Sect Leader immediately.”

The disciple trembled greatly upon meeting Yubaek’s gaze.

It was an extremely cold look.

“It seems something has happened in the main text.”