732 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: *The Childhood Friend of the World's Greatest Martial Artist* Chapter 732 - Northern Rabbit *Crackle. Crack!* A sound of something tearing apart echoed through the air. An alien aura began to extend in all directions, affecting the surroundings. It seemed as though the very energy was screaming. *Keek! Keeeek--!!* With every step Gu Yangcheon took, the aura thickened. Whether it was an aura of killing intent or simply raw energy, it was fiercely untamed. Breathing felt suffocating. The mere touch of the energy threatened to tear his skin. It was too alien to be the energy emanated by any human. "Heh." Watching this from the pavilion, Mae Hwa Seon couldn't hide a chuckle. "…That child." *Crack.* Startled, a sound was heard in the pavilion. It seemed as though something had begun to crack somewhere. Luckily, a barrier was immediately erected around to dampen any effects. Mae Hwa Seon noticed the familiar aura and glanced somewhere. "You've worked hard." "…" The owner of the current barrier. It was Geom Je. He was in the pavilion. More precisely, standing next to the leader, regulating the energy. *Rum rum rum-!* A vibration could be heard beyond the barrier. Although the barrier was constructed by Geom Je, renowned as a top-tier master just beneath the Tri-Supreme. Even such a barrier was trembling, swept up by that energy. '…How bizarre.' With a serene expression, Mae Hwa Seon observed the combat field. What is this overwhelming presence? ‘I expected him to be the eye of the storm.’ He had recognized the child’s potential long ago. A spark, once confirmed, would quickly grow and become a blazing flame shortly thereafter. Mae Hwa Seon had been certain of it. Yet--- ‘He didn’t become the eye of the storm, but the storm itself.’ This was an unforeseen outcome. Mae Hwa Seon checked his hand. His fingertips, gripping tightly, were trembling slightly, and a faint cold sweat was forming on his palm. His body was tensed with stress. Elevated by the intense aura the young boy exuded uncontrollably. "Hehehe..." What in the world could have led that young boy to possess such strength? Beyond the combat field, Mae Hwa Seon spotted someone watching from a distance. ‘Is this what you’ve created?’ A young man with kind features and black hair. Currently known as Tu Ryong, yet in Mae Hwa Seon's memory, he went by another name. ‘Or… is this a flame the child ignited on his own?’ Yet no one could answer that. From the very first encounter, he was a peculiar child. In an age meant for happiness, his eyes seemed lifeless. Deep within, he held a blood-stained sword in his heart. One would wonder why he wielded such a blade. But on that day, it appeared dull and rusted as if it would break at any moment. ‘He has become sharp.’ A much sharper sword than before was perceptible. Moreover. ‘It’s a different sword from back then.’ Something seemed to have changed drastically. Feeling the aura, Mae Hwa Seon took a deep breath. *Swoosh.* He lightly enveloped himself in energy, feeling a bit more at ease. The overwhelming momentum remained, and the energy continued to leak without cessation. The scenery changed. The energy being released was altering the view. Mae Hwa Seon noticed this and surveyed the surroundings. All around, people watched the combat field with astonished eyes and beads of cold sweat. This was unlike the time with Tu Ryong. Back then, what was felt was the wall of a martial artist. This time. ‘There was no time even to sense a wall.’ He could only describe it as something bizarre. Gu Yangcheon seemed exactly that. Especially. In the very center stood Geom Seon, who watched the combat field without so much as a breath. Mae Hwa Seon frowned at him. In the overwhelming aura, Geom Seon's expression was inscrutable. Was he truly retaining his composure upon seeing all this? To others, it might have appeared so. ‘Geom Seon.’ But Mae Hwa Seon knew. That expression was far from calm. What thoughts were running through his mind to make such a face? As Mae Hwa Seon pondered this, *Kwoooosh---!!!* “…!” “Huh!” The sudden explosion made those nearby react. From within the encompassing aura, something broke through, shooting into the sky. What could it be? Though the situation was sudden, the identity was quickly discerned. *Boom! Thud-!* The energy kept erupting as if trying to disperse the tension. Imbued with a clear Buddhist energy. “Uaaaah-!” It was Shin Ryong. ***************** *Scratch---!* The aura poured down. ‘Gasp… Huff.’ He was at the center of the pressure pouring from all directions. The energy, laced with vehement intent to crush, surrounded him. Facing the impending disaster, Shin Ryong moved with all his might. ‘What is this?’ *Bam-!* The energy burst as he instinctively unleashed the Bebo Shinkwon. ‘What in the world is this?’ *Bam-! Pop-!* He continued to swing his fists without stopping. The energy kept draining from his dantian, but he couldn’t afford to dwell on it. ‘I’m scared.’ Fear surged up his throat. The energy emanating from him instilled terror. *Whoosh-! Roar-!!* How could he possibly overcome that? Crushed by the aura, nothing came to mind. Should he flee? Part of him wanted to do just that. *Step.* “…Huh.” He heard footsteps. Shin Ryong’s body tensed up. *Step.* Where was it? Where were the footsteps coming from? Where in the world…! “You’re losing your nerve already for doing barely anything.” “…!” Right beside him. Shin Ryong reacted to the voice in his left ear, but--- *Crunch!* “Gack….” The impact came from the right. *Thud! Crash-!!* With the sensation of bones crunching, his body was sent flying. As he soared rapidly, drowning in pain, Shin Ryong released his energy. *Scratch---!!!* He forcibly adhered his foot to the ground to create friction. *Scrape-!!!* His flying body barely managed to stop. “Huff… Huff….” When he noticed, he was at the edge of the combat ring. Meaning he had been sent flying this far from the center. *Throb-!* “Ngh…!!” Crouching, Shin Ryong clutched his right side. It was the spot where he’d received the impact earlier. A fracture in the bone, and the wound on his chest had opened. Drip. Blood trickled from the gaping wound. The pain was immense. As he gritted his teeth, barely enduring the agony, a voice came from beside him. "Not bad just now." Once again, the voice spoke from Shin Ryong's side. "Though you were caught in a feint, you wisely enveloped both sides with energy. That's what just saved you." A voice explaining the recent exchange. Even as he listened, Shin Ryong was already on the move. "However, if you hadn't been swept by the feint, you could've focused your energy on a single point to reduce the damage. What good is attainment if you lack experience in things like this?" Beakbo Shinkwon. The ultimate art of Shaolin erupted once again. Since the distance was short, he was sure he could inflict damage. Or so Shin Ryong thought. Boom! Before he could fully extend his arm, something pierced through his fist. It was Gu Yangcheon's fist. He was countering his own punch with a punch. 'Unbelievable...!' Beakbo Shinkwon was the most aggressive martial art of Shaolin. As a technique that gathers energy to explode violently, countering it at such close range could break one's hand. Was he intending to sacrifice himself? Shin Ryong momentarily thought so. Snap! Bam--!! "Ugh...!" Instead, it was Shin Ryong's fist that was flung back. An immense impact coursed through his wrist. It was clear. From that blow, his right fist was now unusable. "Beakbo Shinkwon... it's a powerful martial art. But did you know? It's not a technique that strengthens the fist itself." Thud! "Ugh!" A knee rammed into his solar plexus. As Shin Ryong groaned, blood spurted from his mouth. "The technique's main strength is releasing energy, built from internal friction, through the fist. It makes close-range combat easier because... Do you know why?" A fist slammed into his face, turning his cheek aside. "You break it before it detonates." It was a ridiculous claim. To stop it before it exploded—how could one even realize that split-second timing? If it failed and the technique went off, the opponent would be the one suffering. This wasn't a method one should recklessly attempt. Though he wanted to deny it, he couldn't. "When you dodge to the left, you should anticipate and counter the rebound. Instead, you resist. Are you an idiot?" Thunk! A blow to the joint made his knee buckle. "The force ratio collapses when you try not to bend a struck joint. Should a Buddha come and lift your collapsed stance?" Before his knee hit the ground, Gu Yangcheon's palm struck Shin Ryong's chin. His chin jerked high into the air. "Argh...!" Thus, his vision faced the sky. *Whoosh--!!* He heard the sound of something igniting. "If you don't compose yourself, you're dead." A menacing warning. Shin Ryong lowered his gaze to look at Gu Yangcheon. A blue sphere had formed in Gu Yangcheon's palm. Ah, that's genuinely dangerous... Hum-! "Namua Amitabha--" *KABOOM---!!* The heat exploded, flames bursting out to all sides. "Ahhh--!!" "Screeech!" Screams resonated even from the audience stands impacted by the massive range. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Gently spiraling plum blossom petals encircled the area, forming a protective barrier. Rustle. The dense smoke began to clear. Rather than dissipating, it was swept away by Gu Yangcheon's hand, vanishing swiftly from the combat stage. The heat remained, unable to fully dissipate, still seething across the stage. And at the center of it all. "Ha... Huff...." Shin Ryong was breathing heavily. Buzz--!! Still, his body was enveloped in a protective aura.