697 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**The World's Greatest Martial Artist's Childhood Friend Episode 697: Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive** Boom-! Boom-! Boom-! As the flames touch my skin, my heart races wildly. The Nine Flame Wheel Art begins to spin uncontrollably, energy raging as if it were in rebellion. My blood feels scorching. Beyond my twisted breaths, I face the flames. "What a perfect vessel." What are these flames that speak to me? I didn't ponder too heavily. The resonance that I felt could only mean one thing: the Nine Flame Wheel Art. And this power unmistakably belonged to a direct bloodline. The blazing flame before me is the power of the Nine Flame Wheel Art. The problem is, this is the first time I'm seeing such flames. Which means… 'A bloodline I've never known.' That's what it means. 'Then who could it be?' There was no point in dwelling on it for long. In the past, I might not have known. But now, there was one suspicious figure. Crrk. I tried to move my body. I was stuck. An unknown restraining force was suppressing my body. I attempted to open my lips, but it was the same. My hardened lips wouldn't part easily. Whirr. I focused strength into my heart. Thankfully, I could move my energy. Whiiiiir---!!! I spun it faster. I released the bound energy, compressing it even more powerfully. Fwoosh. Gathering the roaring flame into a focal point. Pop-! I burst it open. Kraaaash--!!! Blue flames erupted from my body in all directions. They roared like a typhoon for a long time. Vast energy filled the surroundings. Crrk-! I dismantled the suppressive force holding my body, using the flames as the pivot. "Phew…." Thanks to this, my mouth finally freed. Perhaps because of the sudden utilization of energy, even my blood circuits and bones felt numb. I had to use an overwhelming amount of energy. "Hooh." As I moved my body all around, I heard a tone filled with admiration. "Amazing." "…" I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked at the figure and asked, "Let me ask you something first." I spoke, raising my senses to the extreme across my entire body. In that state, I asked, "Are you my grandfather?" "Hmm." Could it be my imagination? The flame seemed to be smiling at my words. It was composed entirely of flames, so I couldn’t see any facial expressions properly. Yet somehow, it felt like it. "Curious. Your father never spoke of me…. How did you know?" Hearing the flame's response, I clicked my tongue. As expected. That flame indeed was my grandfather. Upon hearing this, I sighed as I spoke. "How are you still alive?" "Hoho." Asking someone why they're not dead to their face—isn't that quite an odd question? Even though I admitted it was a bit crude, I had to ask. "That's a perplexing question." "I'm the one who's more perplexed." How could I not be startled when a flame in human form appeared, claiming to be the dead grandfather? Moreover. "He called me non-human." He had asked how I became non-human upon seeing me. That meant he recognized that I wasn't entirely human. Was that why? "What are you?" My words flowed out with a sharpness fueled by my heightened caution. "Why have you come seeking me?" I asked, my eyes narrowing. The flame replied, "As your grandfather, is it so strange for me to seek out my grandchild?" He uttered words that sounded somewhat logical. I couldn't help but chuckle in response. "If that's the case, then why have you never shown up until now?" I've never met him in my life. Not even in my past life. But now he shows up, claiming to be my grandfather. How should I react to this? And then. "With such an aggressive encounter at that." "It was merely a gesture of goodwill." "Doing it twice might end up killing someone." Listening to his laughter, I rolled my eyes. Scanning my surroundings, silence persisted. Ignoring it, I turned my gaze back to the flames. 'Grandfather.' The previous head of the Gu family. I've never heard any stories about him, nor did I know what he did in life. Perhaps that's why. Even as I look at him, I feel nothing. The person who felt like a grandfather to me was Elder Jang, making this sudden appearance seem all the more distant. "Child." The flame called out. "It's been so long since we've met, yet it’s good to see you’ve grown well." His unexpected compliment made me frown. What was he talking about all of a sudden? "The flames you've raised through your hard work are indeed beautiful." It was definitely a compliment, but it felt oddly unsettling. "The vessel is solid, and your body is upright, so the next generation should be of little concern… But." The flame's hand gripped my shoulder. "How did you turn non-human with such potential? That's what puzzles me." "…" Crackle. Feeling the burning touch on my shoulder, I gazed at the flames. Turning away from this subject seemed pointless. "I just lived, and that’s how it turned out." Merely clawing for survival left me as such. That was the limit of what I could say. "Hmm…." The flame tilted its head at my answer. Then it spoke. "Perhaps I should have burned that woman. Contaminants have mixed with the precious flame." Hearing this, my body tensed up. "That woman?" I could instinctively tell whom he was referring to. "I should have dealt with her when I first saw her. Things would have turned out better." "…" "Such a shame. The vessel is so pristine, yet something vile has mixed, dimming the light… Hmm?" While continuing his words, the flame looked at me and tilted its head. "Why do you wear such an expression?" What kind of expression am I making for him to say that? I can guess it’s probably not a pleasant one. How could it be? "You're speaking so horrendously. Can it be pleasant?" Even if he is my grandfather, calling my mother a contaminant—how could that be pleasant? Crack. I loosened up slightly and spoke to the flame. "To me, you don't seem quite so human either." The title had changed. Trying to acknowledge him as my grandfather just didn't sit right with me. Moreover, wrapped in flames, his form. No matter how kindly I speak, he wasn't human. He merely took on the 'shape' of a human. In response to my words, the flame spoke. "You cannot truly see me because you lack the qualifications." "Qualifications...?" Was it referring to a level of mastery? Or quite literally, 'qualifications'? "Is it because I haven't yet succeeded to the position of So Ga Ju?" I asked directly, not beating around the bush, and the flame smiled. "That's right." Since I haven't assumed the position, I cannot perceive it properly. But if I were to succeed as So Ga Ju, would I be able to see beyond the flame? I don’t know. Even in my past life where I assumed the position, I never met my grandfather. That only makes me more curious. "Why have you come?" Why did this entity, claiming to be my grandfather, seek me out now? "As I said before, it's only natural for a grandfather to..." "Enough with the unnecessary pretense of kindness. Speak truthfully." "…" I couldn't tolerate it any longer and cut him off. What a farce. "There's not a hint of affection in your eyes or voice, so why pretend? Speak honestly. Your false pretense is maddening." "Hooh…" I spat out my irritation, and then— "Well, well…." The flame's atmosphere shifted instantly. "So, it wasn't the right approach." Even the subtle gentleness disappeared from his voice, replaced by a harsh, chilling tone. The emotionless demeanor I felt from the Dark King—a similar aura enveloped the space. "That's too bad. I thought this might be effective." "You didn't even try to hide it. What nonsense are you going on about?" The look in his eyes was different, and so was the tone of his voice. Grandfather? The word brought Elder Jang to mind. When I thought of 'grandfather,' only he came to mind. I didn't know much, but at least this wasn't the gaze a 'grandfather' should have when looking at their grandchild. "What is it? What do you want from me?" It's certainly not mere sentimentality. That implies a purpose. When I questioned him again on this matter. "Because the time has come." The flame began to provide answers while looking at me. "I understand that you are prepared. The time has passed, and the surplus time granted to your father is also gone. However." Fwoosh. I could sense the heat around me intensifying. "Child. You have yet to receive the key." "…" The key. With that word, I recalled. It seemed to refer to the Gu family’s seal, which only the So Ga Ju could receive. "The time has come, and you must continue the venture. This is what we must do." Just hearing it made my heart heavy. "Did you come all this way just to tell me that?" To rush me? The old man who pretended to be dead arrived for such a reason? I continued my inquiry, harboring doubts. "No. It was purely out of curiosity." "Curiosity?" "Despite our kind being those that most disdain and must distance from the non-human, you, who must carry on the venture, have turned into a vile being." "…Ha." So, in the end, he’s claiming he came because I became a dragon? Does becoming a dragon pose an issue in continuing the task? 'How does he even know?' Beyond becoming a dragon, did he move because he realized I'm no longer human? 'Wait a minute….' While mulling over the mystery, a sudden thought crossed my mind, and I asked the flame. "...Could it be, are you involved in the incident with the head of the family?" My father was reputedly unable to arrive in Hanam because of an incident. Lady Mi mentioned it involved something only known to the So Ga Ju. But now my grandfather appeared before me? Could this truly be a coincidence? I doubted it. I questioned the person claiming to be my grandfather. "Yes." "…!" The flame confirmed it. That meant my suspicions were correct. "Why…. What have you done to the head of the family?" "It was done according to reason. Your father is guarding the ‘gate’ in my stead." 'Gate?' What gate could he mean? "Something your father should have done long ago, and something you will eventually have to do." "…Protecting just a mere door?" "It is a venture to protect it, how could you belittle it so?" A venture to guard a gate. Does the Gu family's raison d'être, unknown to me, lie there? It's something my father knew, but I did not. This implied it was a truth that required ascending beyond So Ga Ju to head of family status to learn. With these thoughts in mind, I asked. "If being non-human is such a problem, doesn't that mean I can't do it anymore?" To imply something became problematic due to becoming a dragon, considering the words like 'vile' and 'wrong.' Doesn't that mean the venture itself faces an unexpected turn? Speaking with this in mind, I asked. "Yes, it's a problem. That's why I came." The flame continued in a composed tone. "To burn the impurity and restore things to how they were. That's why I personally came." "…Tch." Hearing this, I mustered up my energy. To annihilate it through fire. Did that mean to kill me? Ugh. I focused power into my heart and glared at the flame. Flames surged all over my body. To prepare for any attack, I heightened my senses and stared at my opponent. "But." The flame, hands clasped behind its back, continued speaking. "I've made a deal with your father, providing you with a bit more time for now." "What did you say?" A deal with father? "What on ea—." As I was about to shout at the flame in shock, at the audible— Snap-! Fwoosh-! "…!!" Simultaneously to the snapping sound, the flames enveloping my body vanished. My surprise was short-lived. I attempted to reignite the flames. Sizzle-! Fizz-! Only faint popping sounds emerged, and the flames refused to ignite. The ring of the Nine Flame Wheel Art also remained dead still. 'Why has this suddenly happened?' Though the energy was flowing, the flame wouldn’t rise. In my deep astonishment, I had to swallow it down. Just then. "So, for now, I’ll take the fire seed from you." The flame's words made my eyes widen. It meant my grandfather had halted my ability to use the Nine Flame Wheel Art. But how? As I stood there shaking, my grandfather now held up a hand where a blue flame flickered. That familiar energy. Could that possibly be my flame? "I sought you out today for that very reason. If you wish to reclaim it." As I stared at the vividly glowing fireball, my grandfather spoke to me. "Come find me in 'Xinjiang.'" I gasped involuntarily at his words. 'Xinjiang?' His statement about Xinjiang caught my attention even more than the fact that my flame had gone. Xinjiang? 'If it's Xinjiang….' [Go to Xinjiang.] Namgung Myeong had mentioned it through Woo-hyuk’s body in the North Sea, and it was the very place where the Demon Cult's headquarters existed in my past life. And now, my grandfather is in Xinjiang too? What kind of thread ties this together? The situation is too absurd to be mere coincidence. "I cannot give you much time. Your father mentioned a year, so consider that." Upon hearing this, I immediately replied. "Wait." As my grandfather tried to conclude the conversation arbitrarily, I braced my legs. I couldn’t just let him take it away like this. The sudden appearance was already bizarre enough—why does everyone act on their whims and chaos? Boom-! I exerted force but still, no flame emerged. Frowning, I concentrated on a different energy. Even without the flame, there are things I could still do. Twisting my waist, I gathered strength into my fist. 'Tua Pachunmu (斗牙破天武).' I imbued my body with Touma's energy and swung. Crash-! The force exploded from my fist, sweeping across the front. Creak-! "Hmm." In response to the harsh wind pressure, my grandfather slightly moved his hand. Whoosh---!!!! Flames erupted from the ground, forming a barrier. Roar-! The wind pressure failed to breach the wall and dissipated. Seeing that, I swung my fist once more. This time, it was not Tua Pachunmu. 'Heart Fist (心拳).' I unleashed my energy with all my might. Boom-! The Heart Fist crashed into the flame barrier. Paang-!! The barrier shattered under the force, revealing an opening in the space. "Hmm." My grandfather let out a short, reactionary sigh at this sight. By then, I had already reached him. Swiftly, I grabbed the flame in his hand. Clench-! Crushing the flame tightly, warmth flowed back into the corner of my heart. Whoosh-! Finally, the flame reemerged. "Phew…." Indeed, it was my flame after all. However, even with the flame's return, I couldn't relax. I didn't know what method he used, but my grandfather could seemingly take it at will. As I considered this and heightened my guard. "Haha." I heard my grandfather’s soft laughter. "Good." Chills ran down my spine at his voice. Having grown tense, I swallowed dryly. What the hell is this unsettling feeling? "As expected. You're the best choice." My grandfather took a step forward, uttering incomprehensible words. At that moment— Whoosh-!!! Boom--!! Something suddenly dropped from the sky between my grandfather and me. Whooo---!!! A dense, black energy circled around, displaying an aggressive stance. The immense aura caught me off guard for a moment. But soon, the energy dissipated, and I saw a small figure before me. Slender shoulders, long black hair tinged with a purplish hue. A petite figure stood blocking my grandfather in front of me. Seeing her, I spoke in a low voice. "You…." The woman turned her head to look at me in response to my voice. Our eyes met, her pupils a striking violet. Heavenly Demon (天魔). It was she who stood between my grandfather and me.