Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 577 (Part 1)



577 (Part 1)

”’〈 Chapter 578 〉 The Miracle of Shaolin.

There was a martial artist known as the Ghost Monk (귀승).

He was a demonic practitioner belonging to the Heavenly Demon’s direct subordinate unit the Cheonraheukmangdae before the creation of the Gwichalgeomdae led by the Sword Demon.

He was also a figure who had once operated as a killing unit under his command.

Despite his background at the time he was notorious for his brutal actions as a demonic practitioner.

However I had little connection with him.

At the time when the Ghost Monk was active as a demonic practitioner I had just been captured under the Heavenly Demon.

Since I had not yet belonged to or operated any unit at that time I had no prior encounters with him.

Even before he became a demonic practitioner I had never seen his face.

It was only natural.

‘I was a complete fool and over there….’

Among the generation of meteors that soared high.

He was known as the most outstanding figure.

That was the Ghost Monk… or should I say.

‘Should I call him the Divine Dragon now?’

Alongside Jang Seonyeon he was a martial artist hailed as the rising hope of the orthodox sects and the miracle of Shaolin.

He was a figure of a different caliber compared to me who was called the disgrace of the Gu family and the rogue of the mountains.

He was the Ghost Monk and the young man standing before me.

I looked straight at him.

Perhaps due to the moonlight his unusually shining head was the first thing I noticed.

Beneath it were his faintly yellow eyes. His physique was robust standing just under seven feet tall.

Observing his trained body.

‘Martial arts lineage.’

I could guess he was an exceptional martial artist who had trained his outer arts to an extreme level.

Naturally if he was a martial artist from Shaolin he would belong to the outer arts lineage.

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

‘It’s fascinating to see him like this.’

I felt a unique sentiment.

I never expected to meet the author in this way.

It was truly a remarkable thing for the two of us to face each other like this.

‘The miracle of Shaolin.’

Or the last Divine Dragon or an unprecedented genius.

Those were the titles that called for his flexibility.

Among those three words I did not deny any of them.

‘All three are true.’

In some ways I could add more.

Although he was not selected as the Divine Dragon purely based on merit but rather through some backdoor dealings.

Considering the circumstances at that time….

‘That guy is more than qualified to be the Divine Dragon.’

He was certainly not someone lacking in qualifications to ascend to the Divine Dragon.

‘As for his age… I think he’s about the same age as me.’

He might be a year or two older at most.

If he reached the realm of enlightenment at that age it wouldn’t be strange to call him an unprecedented genius.

I had reached that realm at a younger age but.

‘That’s a separate matter for me.’

It didn’t matter if he was called the youngest to reach enlightenment or labeled as an unprecedented genius.

In fact if I hadn’t been there he would have been called that.

Moreover looking at it that way it was rather strange.

‘With that level he shouldn’t have needed to resort to any tricks.’

Looking at the current state of the Divine Dragon he could have ascended to the position without needing to engage in any underhanded dealings with Shaolin.

He was more than sufficient.

If he had reached enlightenment at a young age he would have more than enough qualifications.

Yet if he had to resort to such tricks….

I thought there must be some reason behind it.

And that was.

‘Could it be related to why he abandoned Shaolin and fled?’

Was it connected to the fact that the Divine Dragon turned his back on his homeland and fell into corruption?

I pondered such thoughts.

Of course it was something I couldn’t know.

By the time I emerged into the world under the name of a demonic practitioner the Ghost Monk had already met his death at the hands of other Shaolin martial artists.

‘They said dozens of masters from the alliance and Shaolin had come together to kill the Ghost Monk.’

When they killed the Ghost Monk it was said that half of his power had vanished.

‘I’m curious.’

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

I looked at the Divine Dragon with interest.

What reason did he have to become a demonic practitioner?

Such questions bubbled up but it wasn’t the time to ask those.

I had to bring up another topic while looking at him.

“Do you like meat?”

“…”

At my sudden question the Divine Dragon frowned.

He seemed displeased.

After all asking a Shaolin who refrains from eating meat was somewhat impolite.

However.

The situation was a bit different now.

‘He ate it didn’t he?’

I had clearly seen it.

Just before in the inn I had seen him eating dumplings.

No…. To be precise I hadn’t seen him eating.

‘I saw what was left over.’

That was enough.

“The dumplings there are delicious but I didn’t expect a monk to find them tasty.”

It was a flavor that could tempt even those who abstain from meat.

I thought it was quite a remarkable promotional line for the inn.

Chuckling I spoke and only then did the Divine Dragon open his previously closed mouth.

“I don’t understand what you mean benefactor….”

The expression he had just a moment ago was nowhere to be found replaced by a gentle and upright demeanor.

Seeing that I nodded.

Ah I see.

‘He’s trying to play dumb.’

Since there was no evidence he seemed to want to maintain ignorance.

Unfortunately there was evidence.

“If that’s the case you could have wiped the grease off your mouth.”

At my words the Divine Dragon hesitated and began to wipe his mouth.

Seeing that I continued.

“There’s something stuck in your teeth.”

“…!”

Once again he hurriedly tried to move so I added.

“Oh that’s a lie.”

As I said this with a smile he froze like a stone.

His expression changed.

He probably realized that there was no longer an escape route.

Seeing this I also laughed.

A brief silence passed and the Divine Dragon cleared his throat.

“Ahem….”

He changed his somewhat ungraceful action and straightened himself.

“Do you have business with me benefactor?”

It seemed he wanted to disregard the conversation we just had.

How ridiculous.

I chuckled and took a step forward.

It was an action taken without any prelude but the Divine Dragon showed no particular reaction.

Was he not concerned?

It certainly seemed that way.

Yet my heart reacted involuntarily as I moved.

I could feel it.

Whoooom-!

The energy began to spread gradually from the tips of the Divine Dragon’s feet.

The dense energy radiated outward creating a single domain.

In a short time.

Before I knew it the area around us was completely enveloped in the Divine Dragon’s domain. I smiled at this sight.

‘Nice.’

The way he used his energy was swift detailed and meticulous.

The tightly woven energy was impressive to behold.

It wasn’t bad.

Feeling that I spoke.

“Is it acceptable for a Buddhist pursuing reincarnation to be this violent?”

As I spoke while sensing the energy the Divine Dragon replied.

“Still you have not answered my question benefactor.”

“Hmm.”

Hearing his words I nodded.

If he had merely spread his energy to create a domain it would have been one thing.

‘But the energy feels a bit rough.’

My heart was reacting involuntarily to the energy I felt.

This meant.

It indicated that the energy he had spread was mixed with hostility.

‘Did he feel offended by my teasing?’

Was that why he was reacting this way?

That could be possible.

Having grasped that much I immediately spoke to him.

“If you felt bad I’m sorry.”

“…?”

“I mean can’t a monk eat some meat? How can a person live without eating meat?”

As I spoke with a smile his expression turned to one of surprise.

He seemed not to expect an apology.

Then I focused my heart and released my energy.

Whoooom-!

The energy flowing from my heart pushed back the Divine Dragon’s energy slightly.

Only then did it become a bit easier to breathe.

Thud-!

At the same time I slightly relaxed my body.

However I did not close the distance any further.”’