742 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Title: The World's Greatest Martial Artist's Childhood Friend, Chapter 742: Northern Hare - Web Novel Archive** Begun tearing the Inferno Jewel endlessly. He clicked his tongue while watching. "Tsk." Is this too much? I had hoped otherwise, but as expected. The old man's gaze turned this way. The eyes that met mine were speaking. Is that all? Is this the end? Being able to show such ease even while moving so intensely? It's truly ridiculous. "Ha." A wry smile emerged as I focused my strength. I didn't stop creating more Inferno Jewels. I had to proceed simultaneously. Only then could I block his movements. Whoosh—! Attempting to proceed simultaneously, the aura seemed on the verge of tangling. It was a close call, but I managed. While pouring out the Inferno Jewel, I grasped the Flame Spear in my hand. I wielded martial arts simultaneously. A single mistake would twist the airflow and lead to deviation from martial principles. So what? If I feared such a thing, I shouldn't have engaged in this battle. Smash—! I stomped the ground. Ink splattered. "Huff—!!" Using all my might, I hurled the spear. Screeeeech—!! The spear flew with a tearing sound. Just before its tip reached the old man. Rustle. A refreshing sound was heard from somewhere. The scent of flowers brushed the tip of my nose. I saw it. Whoosh—! Plum blossoms bloomed from the old man's body. Leaves floated in the air from the blooming petals. Thin and tender plum leaves. They appeared to flutter helplessly. Thud—! Thud, thud, thud—! "...!" My eyes widened at the unfolding scene. The scattered leaves were blocking the torrent of Inferno Jewels. What power could such small leaves possess to stop that? 'So, that was possible too.' Even though it could be utilized, he resorted to wielding a sword. Is this his way of showing leniency by going easy on me? It's infuriating. Swish—! While the leaves were blocking the Inferno Jewels. The old man cut down the Flame Spear. The halved spear passed by him. To slice a spear so effortlessly was absurd. 'That was part of the plan too.' It was already anticipated. 'Explode.' Boom—!! I immediately detonated the halved spear. It was an attack utilizing the fact that it would explode unless bound by will. The old man was engulfed in the explosion. Watching this, my legs gave out. Thud—! "Hah... Huff." My breath came in gasps. My wager was approaching its limit. Even if one has a lot of energy, pouring out this much was bound to deplete it. Wiping away the cold sweat, I stared straight ahead. It should have been chaos, but the ground was covered merely with ink, as if nothing had happened. And then. Rustle... rustle... Petals were drifting down where the spear had exploded. Perhaps scorched by the flames, the petals gradually withered. Watching this, I frowned. A shield formed by the plum leaves was spread out in a circle. Did that thing block the explosion? [Well.] The old man's voice sounded. Rustle—! The shield disappeared, revealing the old man. His appearance was no different from before. [If I had been a little slower, I would have been caught. I admit it. You are strong, young one.] Though his expression seemed genuinely surprised, it only irked me. As if it hadn't been ineffective. "…" [To use martial arts in such a manner. Who is your master?] "Would you know if I told you?" [Ah, right.... They're already dead and gone, so even if you told me, I wouldn't know.] I truly despise that sneering face. He would surely know if I told him. 'You were the one who taught me those things, of course you'd know.' Even if my hand-to-hand combat was taught by Pajeon, everything else, I learned from you. I've never called you that, but I consider you my master. That thought came to mind and I brushed it aside. What disciple act is this from someone who isn't even from Hwasan? That's for Yeongpung. Specifically, a name meant for disciples of Hwasan. ‘Phew….’ I steadied my breath and raised my head. ‘I see.’ Cooling my head, I finally realized. ‘I was jealous.’ I felt jealous of Yeongpung. Since I heard he became the successor of the Hwasan Divine Sword. Since I learned he would carry on those old names. It must've been bothering me, unconsciously. Realizing this made me laugh. 'What a fool.' It's not even funny. 'Someone who's not even from Hwasan, feeling jealousy?' I never learned swordsmanship. I'm a martial artist; the Hwasan sword is meaningless to me. I never learned his internal cultivation either. Though I was aided by the Taoist tools, I have no knowledge of Hwasan's inner arts. In fact, I've erased Hwasan in a past life. How could someone like me possibly become his successor? Swoosh. Knowing this, I clenched my fist. ‘Know your place.’ Once again, I grasp my standing. ‘I can't win.’ I can't beat him. I knew this from the beginning, yet I charged ahead. Why? Did I think I could win under such conditions? No. I could tell just by looking; I couldn’t win. What infuriated me was the notion of Yeongpung being regarded as the successor. So I charged recklessly. Even thinking it fake, hearing it said out loud infuriated me. How hard I've been struggling until now, and he just shrugs it off. It's due to such trifling emotions. ‘Honestly, I've been struggling terribly.’ Even apart from my goal, being entangled with Shin Noya was also a reason. He himself had said it. That he was entrusting to me what he couldn't handle himself. So. ‘I deserve at least this much.’ I had to grasp at something. Let Yeongpung become the successor of the Hwasan Divine Sword and carry on his legacy. It's not mine anyway. But. ‘I'll take just one thing.’ I don't care about the title of Hwasan Sect Leader or the hero Hwasan Divine Sword. I will be the successor of the gruff Shincheol. That much, I must. [Young one.] "Yes." [Your ten times are up.] "Is that so? Shame, could you grant me ten more?" [Do you think an answer would change if I did?] "No." Even given a hundred more chances, I couldn’t win. I just laughed. It was similar to the laugh the old man had given. [What will you do now?] "What do you mean what?" I shook the fist I held. "I'll see it through to the end." [Oh?] Swish. At my words, the old man's presence stirred. A chilling aura brushed past my shoulder. [I don't know who you are. However, I apologize for calling you a spy of Blood Demon.] **"Do not let your gaze be drawn to the sword." "A swordsman lives with deception. What you should be watching is not the sword, but the swordsman." I recalled Shin Noya's words from some time ago. "If you clash bodies, you will know." "You are a warrior." His words resonated within my chest. Hearing such words from that damnable voice made it even more so. "It's a pity. It would have been great if a child like you had been born in Hwasan." "…" That’s quite a compliment, though I mused, ‘I don’t quite fit with the way of the Tao.’ Someone like me living in the Hwasan sect would have been disastrous. Suppressing my emotions, I replied, "You have a sharp tongue." "Indeed. But thanks to that, haven't I granted you recovery time?" He was right. Just a short rest, and my breath was beginning to return. "So, do not forget the promise." His voice echoed. There was no visible form. I squinted. It wasn’t a problem with my eyes. The shape was truly blurry. Beyond the hazy sight, what appeared was not a human form. ‘A tree?’ It was a tree. A gigantic tree. A brightly shining ancient tree stood there. Perhaps merely an old plum tree of Hwasan. Or maybe, the largest plum tree there was. Whoosh. The tree swayed, although no wind blew. Leaves scattered. Branches danced. My gaze was captivated. Even my breath halted at the serene sight. "This is a reward." "Engrave it deeply. It's a gift, for I found it slightly enjoyable." As the voice continued. Abruptly. The movement stopped. "Plum Blossom Slash." From the tree branches, petals bloomed. The sound of blooming flowers could be heard. Shiiing. Clang—! The blooming sound was surprisingly dull. "…What?" I heard a voice of surprise. I opened my eyes at that sound. In front was the savage face of the old man. His sword was extended toward my neck. Eyes wide, I saw his swing aimed to slice in one stroke, yet the blade did not reach my throat. "You brat…?" His blade was stopped by something unseen. It was my protective artifact that intercepted the old man’s attack, having secretly encircled my neck. An unbreakable treasure. I had used its unique properties for defense. As his eyes trembled upon realizing this. Grip—! I seized the old man's hand. "…!!" There was a surge of strength. A movement to force his hand free. Sensing it, I spoke. "Entangle." Swish—!! "What?!" The artifact around my neck unraveled and bound our hands together. And more than that, it unfurled. Swish—!! The artifact slipped away from the old man's grasp and into mine. Instantly, it reshaped into a gauntlet. The fabric binding, transitioning from crimson to blue, was visible. "What in the world!!" The shock of the artifact’s sudden betrayal stunned the old man. Incomprehensible indeed, for his own treasure to turn against him. But what could he do? "Of course, it’s better to side with the living than the dead master." The martial fight ended in those ten previous exchanges. Now then. 'It’s time to do it my way.' After all. 'I never intended to play nice and win.' From the moment I set those conditions, everything was calculated for this. To defeat an unbeatable opponent, one must disregard all qualms about means and methods. Crack—! The old man sought to break free. His strength was no joke. I felt as if my arm, entwined by the artifact, would be torn asunder. But it didn’t matter. Hadn't I said before? Get them accustomed, and people eventually adapt. Thus, if one were to present an anomaly, this was the moment. "Freeze." "…!!" At the command, the old man's body froze. Though it wouldn't last more than a second. Using such authoritative speech against someone stronger brought not only brevity but backlash. Watch. Gulp—! Blood welled up with pain from within and pooled in my mouth. Swallowing the blood down at once. Who cares if it doesn’t hold for long? As long as I could seize the moment, it was enough. Creak—!!! The Tua Pa Cheonmu enveloped my body. Energy coalesced upon my fist. "This--!!" The old man strained to gather strength. Was even the command insufficient? Still, it was fine. I had one more way to hold him. "Did you know? The Dangjemun is actually a woman." "What? What does that—?" In the brief pause of his befuddlement. Tua Pa Cheonmu (鬪牙破天武). Fourth Stance. “Distorting the Heavens.” The punch I extended struck directly at the old man's chest.