640 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The Greatest Under Heaven's Childhood Friend - Chapter 640: Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive 〈 Chapter 640 〉 The Thunderous Heavenly Sword. Flames burst from the earth and soared towards the heavens. A pitch-black night filled with cold. The flames consumed the sky, covering the dark ink-like void, and gradually ignited the world. The night receded. A white night has arrived. The spectacle before me was captivating beyond measure. The sight of the white night was wondrous in itself, but the fact that a mere human orchestrated this filled me with awe. My breath halted; I forgot even to breathe. The sky opened its eyes, and warmth spread through the cold world. The snow blanketing the ground melted away. An inexplicable warmth brushed against the tip of my nose. The cold was devoured, and now heat rampaged throughout the world. Fwoosh—!! The flames soared into the sky like a pillar. The crackling was audible, yet the view remained steady. It seemed more fitting to call it a pillar of light rather than mere flames. 'That...' What on earth is it? What could it be that holds my gaze so unwaveringly? [Do not avert your eyes.] Even without Gu Cheol-un's words, once you set eyes upon it, you couldn't possibly look away. Guh Yangcheon was utterly certain of this. Wooooong---!! “…!” Feeling something, Guh Yangcheon clutched his chest. The ring of Gu Rudra Flame Art implanted within him began to spin autonomously upon seeing the pillar. It was a resonance of energy. This implied that the pillar was also, ultimately, a manifestation of the Gu Rudra Flame Art’s power. It was a power Guh Yangcheon had never seen before. At least, not among the power he knew. Thump—! Thump—! Just by watching, his heart raced. Though he didn't understand the mechanics or the nature of the power, instinctively, he knew something extraordinary was occurring. Then. Rumble---…! The demon beast, which had been knocked away, reappeared. Was it planning another attack? Just as Guh Yangcheon was about to prepare a defense. “…What?” Faced with an unexpected situation, Guh Yangcheon revealed a stupefied reaction. For some reason, the reappeared demon beast did not charge as it had before. 'What's with that creature?' Was it gauging the situation? Soon enough, he noticed something peculiar. Rumble…. It seemed hesitant. Though hostility and aggression remained, an evident timidity clouded its demeanor. Observing this, Guh Yangcheon pondered. 'Could it be...' Was it scared? 'That creature...?' Though he doubted it, the creature's behavior was just that. Fear. The creature, which had relentlessly charged forward before, was now cowering before the pillar. Why would it act this way? Rumble---!! As if it was temporary bravery, the creature gathered its strength once more. It seemed poised to charge at any moment. Yet. Fwuush!! Simultaneously, the pillar of flames began to recede. Saaah—! Gradually, as the flames were being withdrawn to the ground, the ambient heat changed course and was sucked in. Fwooooooosh—!! An immense pressure ensued. It was necessary to exert strength just to withstand and stabilize one’s stance. The epicenter, naturally, was where the flames had erupted—where Gu Cheol-un stood. Scrrr---! Trying to withstand the pressure left marks as his feet scraped the ground. While Guh Yangcheon firmly anchored his body to endure. Kraaaa—! The monster seemed to welcome this, using the flow to hasten its advance. The demon beast, now accelerating, appeared far more intense. Its swelling muscles, seemingly prepared to exert every ounce of its power, were intimidating just to behold. Kyaaaarrrr---!! The earlier fearful demeanor was nowhere in sight, now eager to swallow the flames whole with its open jaws. On the brink of being devoured by the beast. Guh Yangcheon was about to leap in to block it when— Thud—! The emerging flames ceased. Whoosh—! The surrounding flames disappeared, revealing Gu Cheol-un's figure. Seeing Gu Cheol-un, Guh Yangcheon’s eyes widened. His hair, which was originally a fiery red, now shimmered brilliantly with light. The red martial garb symbolizing the Gu lineage flickered as if ablaze. Yet paradoxically, there was no visible fire. Despite the emblematic flame-filled martial arts style of the Gu lineage, Gu Cheol-un bore no visible flames. However. ‘I can feel it.’ Though unseen, it wasn't unfelt. Guh Yangcheon stared at Gu Cheol-un’s back without blinking. Gu Cheol-un did not ignite flames. Somehow, Guh Yangcheon felt he knew why. The reason being. ‘…Father himself is the flame.’ There was no need to ignite the flames. Cold sweat trickled down his cheek. With trembling eyes, Guh Yangcheon stared solely forward. Instinctively, he knew. That he must not miss this moment. There it was, unmistakably. ‘Where I must aim for.’ The place he needed to reach, somehow. That was before him now. Gu Cheol-un slowly began to move his hand. Sweeeeee---!!! A sharp gust emanated from his fingertips. No heat was felt. Though his hand glowed an intense red, there wasn’t even a hint of warmth. Boom—! Kyaaaa---!!! The demon beast’s fangs aimed for Gu Cheol-un. Nonetheless, he merely prepared his stance with deliberate movements. Swiish. Clenching his fist, he lowered his upper body. A simple punching stance. A posture that seemed ordinary, with just the perfect angle and weight distribution. However. [Ultimate Technique.] The power generated from his stance was anything but ordinary. [Gu Rudra: Extreme Grand Mountain of Enlightenment.] Gu Cheol-un's fist slowly extended toward the demon beast. Swoosh—! [Extreme Gu Rudra Wang of the Fangs.] Woom—! A tremor resonated from the tip of his fist. Flash—. The world flickered out. **************** Crkkk--!! The sound of something collapsing resonated. His eyes hurt. Even as he closed his eyes to escape the light, the world remained enveloped in brilliance. The suffocating heat made it feel like breathing was a struggle amidst all sides. Ten seconds had passed since the burst of light. During that time, I held my breath and remained in silence. Thump—! Thump—! Thump—! I struggled to calm my frantic heartbeat. I had to quell the overwhelming energy that threatened to explode. A few more seconds ticked by. Crrrrk…. Peace enveloped my closed eyes, and at last, I sensed the noise gradually fade into quietness. It was then I dared to open my eyes gently. “…?” The first thing I saw was the back of someone standing with hands clasped behind. A modest frame in black martial attire. A figure turned away from me. As I recognized him, I spoke. “…Elder?” It was Master Baejeon standing before me. “Hahaha—!” Baejeon released his characteristic laugh at my call. Remarkably, his once dry voice was now brimming with exhilaration. I wondered why he behaved this way. “Do you know?” Baejeon spoke to me. “I have never once regretted a choice I made.” Along with excitement, a clear hint of amusement was evident in his voice. The unsettling part was that his laughter sounded eerily chilling. “Even when I cast aside my family’s martial arts for the path I had to follow. Even when I sacrificed my cultivation to gain a ruined body of youth. Not once did I regret.” What was he suddenly talking about? As I watched him with a puzzled expression, Baejeon unclasped his hands and continued speaking. “But now, for the first time, I do feel regret.” “…What do you mean, all of a sudden?” “Before abandoning my cultivation, I should have fought your father once. That truly is something I regret to an insane degree.” I frowned at Baejeon’s words. He wished to fight my father? What foolish talk in front of a son, I thought. “I, the so-called unmatched martial artist Baejeon Bijoo, acknowledge it.” With a voice that seemed thrilled to the point of madness, Baejeon said to me. “Your father is a monster. A monster so unfathomable it is hard to grasp.” With those words, Baejeon stepped aside, almost as if offering me a view. Only then could I see it. “…!” The world, once filled with pure white snow, had burned away. Everything before me vanished, leaving behind only blackened char. How many miles would it be, I wondered. The distance was so vast, it was hard to measure, engulfed in flames as far as my eyes could see. Within that inferno. Scraaaape…. The carcass of what was once a formidable white-class beast lay crumbled into blackened ash. Its distinct hue gone, reduced to nothing but a charcoal state. Thud—! Its knees hit the ground, and the body crumbled away. It was a sight that bordered on the grotesque. Before such a scene, my father stood. With his usual composed stance unaffected by the chaos. The fiery red hair had returned to its original dark color. As the beast’s upper body fell past him to the ground. Boom—!! Crash-! The beast’s body shattered upon impact, but my father showed no lingering attachment, turning away without a second glance. Even with the expanse before him turned to ash, the spot where I stood was still covered in partially melted snow. The stark contrast was as if a connection to the realms of the living and infernal had been made. Crunch—! My father approached. Not a hint of fatigue marked his steps. Watching him calmly walk closer, I reflected. '…I don’t know how to put it.' He seemed larger than usual. His already tall height looked even grander. Whirrrrr…. The wind, which had paused, began to blow once more. My father, having approached, ended up standing beside Baejeon, looking at me. I could only return his gaze with somewhat dazed eyes. There was no particular reaction I could muster. 'I can’t erase it.' The martial might my father demonstrated. The heat and resonance I felt then. It filled my mind completely. As my trembling eyes replayed the scene in my mind. “Third.” My father called to me. “I told you, didn’t I?” His voice, heavy, reached me as I sat in a daze. “Do not get absorbed. I distinctly warned you.” “…!” The cold words snapped me back to reality. Do not become absorbed. It was a warning my father had given beforehand. Trying to recall that, I shook my head. But no matter how much, it couldn't erase. That mighty scene was so vivid. Taking uneven breaths, trying to calm my disrupted breathing. “Third.” “…Yes.” My father questioned me again. “What did you see?” “...” I didn’t question what he meant. I wasn’t foolish enough to ask for an explanation. However, I couldn't easily answer. I knew the implication, but not the answer. What did I observe from what I saw? I tried to capture everything with my eyes, but what lingered was simply the image of my father becoming one with the flames. “…I don’t know.” Thus, I answered truthfully. I had seen a lot, yet I understood nothing. I was disappointed in myself to that extent. “Hmm.” Upon hearing my answer, my father let out a brief sound and, as usual, nodded slightly. “I see.” It was a response devoid of satisfaction or disappointment. A reaction that seemed befitting my father. At that moment. Thump. “…!” A rugged hand rested upon my head. It was my father's hand. Rustle. An affectionate pat devoid of delicacy. It felt like a clumsy gesture born from little practice. Even while feeling this. I said nothing. “...” “...” My father was silent as well. An awkward but strangely comforting atmosphere settled between us. After a few silent seconds of patting my head, my father finally spoke. “You’ve done well.” “...” It was a praise awkward and clumsy. Even so, I remained speechless and unmoving. All I could muster was a nod. “…Thank you….” “Yes.” “...” “...” An overwhelmingly stifling atmosphere lingered. At this point, one would expect him to pull his hand back. But my father’s hand remained on my head. Caught in indecision, I pondered whether to step back, ultimately deciding to stay put and look to my father as I asked. “Um, Father….” “Now that you mention it.” Just as I was about to ask how he was even here, "I have something to tell you about your mother." “…!” My eyes widened at my father's sudden remark. “Are you talking about Mother?” I was told that once I reached mastery of the Gu Rudra Flame Art, I would know where she is. Yet, I haven’t reached mastery. So, is this about something else? Despite the unexpected nature of his words, my entire focus shifted to my father. Sensing my reaction, he continued. “Yes, about your mother….” With anticipation, I looked at my father, my heart pounding. "Hmm." He was about to say more but suddenly closed his mouth, wearing a subtle, curious expression. It seemed like he had sensed something amiss. "Is something wrong?" "Ah, I see." With a nod, my father seemed to realize something. Then he turned to me and said, "Time's up." "Excuse me?" "I'll be going ahead. Be sure to return soon." "What do you mean by—" Fwoosh. “…Eh?” Before my eyes, he was engulfed by flames and vanished. “…?” Whoooooosh. Left alone in the cold wind, I pondered. What on earth just happened?