639 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

# Chapter 639: The White Night The unexpected event occurred while they were traversing through a dense forest. “Ha… ha…” It was on the path through the forest toward Hanam, a place they had chosen for camping. Leaving the cart with the red flag fluttering behind, they entered deeper into the forest. “Phew…” Beyond a gravel field, water flowed quietly in the valley. A woman was kneeling on one knee there. Clatter—! She was using her sword as a cane to barely hold herself up. “…Ha… hoo…” The blonde woman gasped heavily, wiping away the sweat. Her vision was blurry, and from her appearance, she looked like she could collapse at any moment. It wasn't just appearances. She knew. Her body had long reached its limit, and she knew it would be no surprise if she collapsed right then and there. However, she couldn't afford to fall. At least not in front of the person standing there. “Grr…” With a strained groan, she forced herself to her feet. Her whole body ached. Since the start of what was supposed to be a journey but felt more like a trial, she'd been in this state continuously. Yet, there was no regret. Everything was her choice. “Phew…” Trying to calm her still-unsteady breathing, she gathered her hands. Suppressing her trembling, she offered a gesture of respect. “…Thank you for your guidance…” “Mm.” In response to Wi Seol Ah's expression of gratitude, the man in front of her nodded. The gravel field had been in ruins for a while. Ragged sword marks covered the area, and the ground was battered from the aftershocks. Yet, the space where the man stood remained untouched. Like a haven amidst a passing storm. Wi Seol Ah swallowed hard at the sight. ‘…I didn’t reach him at all.’ She had swung relentlessly without pause. But her sword hadn’t touched him, nor had he moved a single step. What a vast difference in ability. Grrrr.... Woong—! The sword stuck in the ground still hummed with energy. It had been a while since she recalled her strength, yet the blade still vibrated. It signified Wi Seol Ah's high level as a swordswoman, though that was meaningless to her opponent. “Calling it guidance feels inadequate. You likely felt nothing.” The man's deep voice caused Wi Seol Ah to gulp dryly. “…I’m sorry.” “That wasn’t said in expectation of an apology. It was merely the truth.” Clap. After stepping back from the accumulated gravel, the towering figure of Gu Cheolwoon began to walk slowly. Towards Wi Seol Ah. “It seems there is no more meaning in exchanging moves. You’re aware of this, I believe.” “...” Wi Seol Ah had to bite her lip at Gu Cheolwoon’s words. The disparity was too vast. There was nothing more to learn from their exchanges. Despite the seemingly cold truth of Gu Cheolwoon’s words, Wi Seol Ah sighed inwardly. “Thank you. I have gained much from you, Patriarch.” Her choice was to acknowledge this. Gu Cheolwoon nodded at her remark. Then he spoke to her. “I don’t know your thoughts, but if you seek a higher path, you might want to visit your grandfather.” “...” Wi Seol Ah’s eyes twitched at Gu Cheolwoon’s words. It was because of the mention of her grandfather. Wi Seol Ah couldn’t easily respond to Gu Cheolwoon’s remark. “Hmm.” Upon seeing this, Gu Cheolwoon showed no particular reaction and continued walking. It wasn't something he’d said expecting an answer. Merely a piece of advice. Whether or not to act upon it was up to her. As Gu Cheolwoon moved, he took note of the surroundings. A quiet and still forest. It had been roughly ten days since they set out on their journey. How much farther to the destination? It wouldn’t be long now. At most, not even seven days remained. ‘Hanam, was it?’ As Gu Cheolwoon considered their destination, he retrieved a letter from within his clothes. A letter from the Alliance, precisely regarding a significant event scheduled to take place months later. The Celestial Dragon Martial Arts Festival. A grand festival for warriors hosted by the Alliance. Upon seeing this letter, Gu Cheolwoon retained a calm expression, but there was a hint of excitement in his eyes. Was it interest in the festival now? Certainly not. For Gu Cheolwoon, such things were meaningless. It was simply curiosity. ‘Indeed.’ What kind of performance would that child display? With thoughts of his only son, Gu Cheolwoon— “Patriarch.” He turned his attention to a voice from ahead. A small-framed woman with slightly arched eyebrows stood there. She was Gu Yeonseo, the second daughter of the Sanseogu family. With a somewhat hesitating expression and a soft voice, she spoke to Gu Cheolwoon. “Dinner is ready… I wondered if you might join us….” With her characteristic uncertainty, Gu Cheolwoon nodded without any particular reaction. “I’ll be there shortly.” “Oh! Yes!” Gu Yeonseo’s face lit up with delight at Gu Cheolwoon’s reply. Witnessing this, Gu Cheolwoon felt a peculiar emotion. Amidst the multitude of feelings, the most prominent was possibly self-reproach. Nothing less than that. ‘It’s almost time.’ Time was steadily approaching. Even as he tried to delay, Gu Cheolwoon couldn't halt or restrain time itself. The time was approaching. ‘The child has passed the age of twenty.’ The time was nearing to bestow the position of successor of the Gu family. ‘It is not easy.’ Whether it’s what he has done or the responsibilities accumulated, none of it was easy. Such were his thoughts. Whooosh. A warm breeze blew. A reminder of the summer season, mingling with the air. As Gu Cheolwoon felt this, he prepared to move forward again. Woong—! He halted. A vibration from his chest caused Gu Cheolwoon to stop. Instantly, he reached into his clothes to retrieve something. In his large hand was a yellow pouch. With a gesture more urgent than usual, he ripped the pouch open. Rip—! The fabric tore like paper, and the item inside floated in the air. A red jade orb. Gu Cheolwoon's brow furrowed at the sight of it. This was the Guis' Jade, one of the eight precious artifacts held by the Gu family, specifically a gift Gu Cheolwoon had given to his wife, Mi Hyoran. The jade of Guis held two powers. One of them was that if someone with a similar orb imbued their will into it, the orb would react. Moreover. Gu Cheolwoon had instructed Mi Hyoran to use it in times of danger. Knowing her personality, she would never put herself in a dangerous situation. ‘Yet the fact that it’s glowing…’ Clench. Gu Cheolwoon grasped the orb tightly. Creak—! Briefly, the gravel surrounding his feet began to tremble. It seemed that the situation was becoming rather urgent. Gu Cheolwoon, as he slowly gathered heat into his body, pondered. Fortunately, the orb did more than just send signals to its holder; it possessed another power. That second power was its saving grace. Crack. Gu Cheolwoon crushed the orb in his grip. Suddenly, flames engulfed Gu Cheolwoon’s body in an instant. “Oh, Patriarch. Also… huh?” When Gu Yeonseo turned back to look at Gu Cheolwoon, who had been walking ahead of her, he was no longer standing there in the gravel field. ****************** A guttural growl reverberated, and a massive form trembled as it hit its knees. Thump—!! Its knees struck the ground, creating a vibration. From its left shoulder down through its waist. With much of its snout gone, the beast fell. Despite the combined efforts of three martial artists of the Flawless stage and one seasoned master of the Extreme stage, their attacks barely scratched it. Yet here it was, falling so easily. Kaaaargh…!! Perhaps in pain, it let out a wail. Pae Joo, seeing this, let out a sudden chuckle. “Heh. It’s surprisingly resilient.” Despite having half its torso blown away, which should’ve caused immediate death, the creature was still howling. A remarkably tenacious and fascinating life force. The amusing part was not the bizarre creature. But rather the fact that someone had struck it down with a single blow. Pae Joo turned his gaze to the side. Because the person responsible for this feat just happened to be standing next to him. A man approached with deliberate steps. Slightly over eight feet tall with broad shoulders. His red robes were trimmed with golden threads billowing in the wind. Shiiiing… Heat rose from the right shoulder, and with it, his hair gradually took on a crimson hue. “Heh heh.” Pae Joo chuckled incredulously. Though he was smiling, physically, he was the opposite. His arms were tingling with goosebumps, and an inexplicable cold sweat trickled down his back. Merely witnessing his presence caused his body to be on high alert. Such were Pae Joo's impressions. ‘Truly, those with that family name are on a different path altogether.’ The man walking beside him was already so close to breaking out of the confines of the human realm and being rightfully called a monster. Or perhaps. ‘Even if I regain my prime strength, predicting the outcome would be impossible.’ Though it seemed his prime was exceedingly superior as it looked now. There was no guaranteeing anything. Since the level had reached a point where it was beyond sensation, nothing was for sure. Nug. Pae Joo repressed the competitive spirit rising within him. Seeing such a strong figure awakened his fighting spirit unexpectedly. ‘Why on earth would such a person be here?’ The Guardian of the Mountains. A being silently acknowledged by the Martial Alliance as belonging to another realm beyond mortal bounds. His friend’s child and a father to his disciple. And. ‘Perhaps.’ A man who might have touched transcendence. The Valiant Tiger, Gu Cheolwoon. He slowly walked and stood beside Pae Joo. Saaah—! The surrounding heat caused a thirst in his throat. Somehow, the chill that had been creeping in had vanished, leaving only the hot air swirling around them. “You’ve used a rather discomforting method.” Pae Joo responded with a grin to the weighty voice. He knew what Gu Cheolwoon was referring to. ‘So, I've been discovered.’ Pae Joo contemplated as he looked at Gu Cheolwoon. Gu Cheolwoon’s gaze remained straight ahead, never veering toward Pae Joo. And so, Pae Joo spoke. “You seemed not to be appearing, so I acted rather rudely. My apologies.” Though he didn’t know when Gu Cheolwoon had arrived, Pae Joo knew he had been watching the situation unfold. Thus, he resorted to somewhat trivial tactics. Telling his disciple to run while he held the line—a statement that wasn't sincere. Pae Joo had zero intention of dying. And as expected, his stubborn disciple showed signs of anger. Such actions were enough to draw out the observer. “…Father…?” Amidst the scene, Gu Yangcheon spoke in surprise. Yet, even now, Gu Cheolwoon didn’t turn his gaze. Holding his focus solely on what lay ahead. Grrr…! The downed creature was moving. It was quickly regenerating its lost flesh. Slowly but surely, its bones and flesh filled in the gaps. A grotesque sight to witness. Kyaaa—!! In mere seconds. The body, previously severed, was wholly restored. A speed as inexplicably rapid as it was disturbing. As its body healed, it immediately lunged at Gu Cheolwoon. Thump—! Crash—! Charging with tremendous velocity. Swipe—! Razor-sharp claws aimed directly at Gu Cheolwoon. However. Woosh—! Once more, a brief burst of heat flared. Crack—!! Boom! Krrk—!? The beast's arm and upper body, poised for attack, were destroyed again. The edges of its burst flesh bore burn marks. Once more, the charred skin commenced regeneration. Gu Cheolwoon, seemingly unfazed, drew back his fist. Whish—! With a crude motion, he swung his fist at the beast. Boom—!! Kyaaa—!!! A shockwave erupted, hitting the regenerating side of the beast, causing it to stagger. “Insane.” Gu Yangcheon uttered a rough declaration at the sight. He had barely been able to break through the creature’s defenses after exerting all his strength and imagination. Crack—! Gu Cheolwoon’s fist effortlessly shattered its barrier. Thud—! Crash—! Kyaaa… kraaaagh—! The onslaught continued as the creature thrashed desperately, yet it could not muster an adequate counterattack against Gu Cheolwoon's strikes. Boom—! Kyaaa—! Although Gu Cheolwoon was a large man, the monster was ten times his size. Yet, the difference in size seemed laughable, as each of Gu Cheolwoon’s blows made the creature tremble. Could it be that it was weakened from the previous battle? ‘…That’s not it.’ The monster’s regenerative ability and strength hadn’t diminished. It was simple logic. ‘…The barrier can’t regenerate fast enough.’ With each punch from Gu Cheolwoon. Snap—! The monster’s barrier would break, and any attempt to regenerate would be in vain. Crash—! Krrrr—!! He would simply destroy another part. It was nothing short of sheer violence. What Gu Cheolwoon inflicted on the monster was pure brutality. How was this possible? ‘Isn’t the barrier supposed to break only through the power of an ideal?’ According to the information and circumstances Pae Joo had assessed, it seemed that way. What, then, was this situation? The barrier crumbled under Gu Cheolwoon’s touch with surprising ease. …Could it be? ‘Could each of his attacks inherently carry the power of an ideal?’ Did this mean that without any special effort, his movements were inherently imbued with such power? If that were the case, how was it possible? Besides. ‘…Why is Father here, anyway?’ The most pressing question for Gu Yangcheon was why his father was here in the first place. Why had the elder, who was supposed to be in Sanseo, suddenly appeared here? Kraaa—!! The monster, now driven purely by instinct, lunged continuously, its twisted arms aiming the fangs at Gu Cheolwoon. Then. Groan—! Instead of dodging, Gu Cheolwoon reached out and caught its jaw. Groan—! The monster’s strength seemed immense, as Gu Cheolwoon was slightly pushed back while holding its jaw. “Hmph.” A short breath mixed with a sound of exertion was heard. Gu Cheolwoon tightened his grip and ripped the monster’s jaw apart. Tear—! Kraaaa—!! The monster let out a pained scream as it thrashed wildly. Leaping toward it, Gu Cheolwoon swung his fist again. Thud—! As the fist burrowed into the monster’s torso, Boom—! an explosive force sent its body flying through the air with a burst of qi. Thud!! The massive form hit the ground with a powerful impact, causing a significant tremor accompanied by a blizzard of snow. “...” Gu Yangcheon, watching this, found himself at a loss for words. What words could convey this? The spectacle was too shocking for words to come to mind. “…Just now…” What did I just witness? The situation, which had seemed so bleak, was reversed in an instant. Apart from that. ‘…Was Father always this powerful?’ Gu Yangcheon found himself staring in a daze at his father’s back. Tossing the white monster as if it were a toy, his father's already impressive stature seemed even larger. He had always known. That his father was far stronger than the rumors suggested. ‘A low-ranking member of the Orthodox Hundred Masters?’ What a joke. If he were among the lower ranks of the Hundred Masters, the Heavenly Demon War would have ended long ago in the Alliance's favor. His father was never just at that level. In fact. ‘He even defeated Cheonjong.’ He had a record of defeating one of the three Sovereigns, Cheonjong, in an underground battle against the Tang Sect. ‘Of course, Cheonjong was in a peculiar state at the time.’ But defeating him was still the fact of the matter. This means his father was comparable to the Tri-Sovereigns. Or perhaps. ‘Might he be even stronger?’ No less than his father had dealt a critical blow to the Heavenly Demon. Though weakened in the aftermath due to being caught in the dark qi, he had pushed the Heavenly Demon to the brink of death. ‘Just how strong is he?’ Noya had said that the world now was cursed, with a thicker and lower boundary than in the past. In such circumstances, how powerful had his father become? What was his father’s level? ‘Could I ever reach that position?’ Gu Yangcheon suddenly wondered. Then. “Third son.” Gu Cheolwoon’s distinctive deep voice made Gu Yangcheon flinch. “…Yes.” “How is your condition?” “I’m, I’m fine.” In truth, he wasn't entirely okay. The wound on his chest was staunched with qi, and his energy was nearly depleted from using techniques continuously in the fight. However, he didn’t express this. Because acting weak felt embarrassing. “Is that so.” Gu Cheolwoon nodded slightly at Gu Yangcheon’s answer. That was the end of it. “...” “...” Their father-son conversation fell into silence. ‘…I should ask why he’s here.’ But Gu Yangcheon could not bring himself to ask. There was no significant reason. ‘We haven’t met since I got scolded….’ After severely injuring himself while training with the Flame Piercing Spear at the Gu family, Gu Yangcheon had been scolded by Gu Cheolwoon and hadn’t seen him since. He had passed messages as needed through others but had not met him directly in a long time. It wasn’t intentionally avoiding him…. ‘…I was avoiding him, wasn’t I?’ He corrected his thoughts mid-thought. Honestly, he had been avoiding him somewhat. As a result, it was a rather awkward encounter. As the uncomfortable silence continued. “Third son.” It was Gu Cheolwoon who broke the silence first. “Yes.” “Is that martial art something you developed yourself?” “…?” Unsure of what he meant, Gu Yangcheon eventually realized that Gu Cheolwoon was referring to the Flame Piercing Spear. ‘He must have seen it.’ His father seemed to have witnessed the modified techniques he had used with Flame Piercing Spear. ‘Then, how long had he been watching?’ He didn’t know. He couldn’t tell. What mattered was. ‘…Am I going to get scolded again?’ At this age, he found himself worried about getting scolded by his father. Having done something he was told not to do, he was concerned about receiving another stern rebuke. “Well done.” “…!” To his surprise, Gu Cheolwoon praised him. “It wasn’t bad.” Hearing the unexpected commendation from his father, a smile involuntarily crept onto Gu Yangcheon’s face. Realizing this, Gu Yangcheon quickly turned his head and covered his mouth with his hand. Even as he hid it, the bright emotion was evident. It was a remarkably juvenile emotion to indulge in. As Gu Yangcheon tried to suppress and dismiss it forcibly. Whoosh—! “Huh?” Noticing a presence in front of him, Gu Yangcheon turned his head. It was a familiar energy. There. “…What?” Gu Cheolwoon had formed a Flame Core in the palm of his hand. A Flame Core, sturdier and faster than Gu Yangcheon's own. Was he creating it to throw at the monster? That was the thought crossing Yangcheon’s mind. Whizzzz—! The Flame Core began to spin faster. Creak—! “…!?” And then it began to change shape. WHOOOSH—! An immense energy emanated simultaneously. Creak—! The Flame Core warped and compressed. Even so, it remained stable without bursting or becoming volatile. A much more refined and powerful control over his qi. Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened as he watched. How could they not? Before him was the Flame Piercing Spear that he had long desired to perfect. Gu Cheolwoon had crafted the completed form of it and held it in his hand. He did not need to forcibly create a vessel of mental imagery to contain it due to uncontrollable explosive power. Using only his power, he had completed the martial art. Gu Cheolwoon was showing it to Gu Yangcheon. Studying the lance in his grasp carefully, Gu Cheolwoon soon spoke. “Though somewhat unsteady and rough, it was a commendable effort and result.” In a concise manner, he provided his evaluation to Gu Yangcheon. Then. “Continue to strive forward.” With those parting words, Gu Cheolwoon retrieved the qi from the lance, as if he had no further attachment. Whoosh—! The energy of the lance dissipated into the air, and with a trembling voice, Gu Yangcheon asked him. “…How, how did you do this?” It was a martial art he had developed and refined himself. Despite Gu Cheolwoon being of a higher echelon, it was unreasonable for him to utilize it so effortlessly. And to execute it even better. How was that possible? Gu Yangcheon inquired, his words tinged with confusion. Turning to face Gu Yangcheon, Gu Cheolwoon replied with a puzzled expression of his own. “You showed me, didn’t you?” “…With just that?” The last desperate strike he had haphazardly crafted to launch at the monster. Was he implying that he mimicked it based solely on that observation? It sounded implausible. Gu Yangcheon’s expression conveyed disbelief as he struggled to comprehend. Gu Cheolwoon then delivered a final statement. “Was it so difficult?” “...” Hearing this, Gu Yangcheon reflected. ‘Blast it all.’ To hate someone's natural talent as much as he did was unprecedented. A sigh almost escaped him, born of overwhelming helplessness. Grrrr—... A distant sound stopped him short. ‘That damned thing.’ The monster, which Gu Cheolwoon had sent flying, was rising again. Even after all it had suffered, it was still getting back up. ‘Is there no way to kill it?’ With such regenerative capabilities and vitality, was there no method to bring it down at present? The thought drove him to frustration. Just then. Rustle—! A voice flitted through the air as a red robe billowed in the wind. “You have shown a fine display. I will grant you a reward.” “Pardon?” Crunch—! Gu Cheolwoon tread forth, his feet crunching the snow. Kyaaaa—!!! In the distance, the creature let out another horrifying cry. Heading towards this adversary, Gu Cheolwoon continued to walk steadily. “Third son.” Gu Cheolwoon addressed Gu Yangcheon. “This is an order.” The tone was firm and decisive. “From now, do not avert your eyes from me, not for a single moment.” Instinctively, Gu Yangcheon fixed his gaze on Gu Cheolwoon’s back upon hearing this. “Also, do not become fixated on what you see. This is not only a lord’s….” His words paused briefly. Taking a step forward, he continued. “...This is the guidance a father imparts to you.” Whoosh…! From where Gu Cheolwoon's foot touched, heat surged outward. Seeing this heat, Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘Guidance?’ Suddenly claiming something as a lesson? What was happening? Yet such questions were soon utterly shattered. Sssaaa…!! Blazing heat began melting the surrounding snow. A small ember gathered on Gu Cheolwoon’s back. In that instant. Snap—! With a sound like friction. Kwooosh—!!! A tremendous blaze soared into the sky. It was an ultimate technique. "Heavenly Flame Grand Mountain Shape." As the heavens were swept up in flames. The night retreated, and white night descended.