749 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The World's Greatest Martial Artist's Childhood Friend, Chapter 749 > Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archives Bang-! “Ugh!” Peng Zhou, struck in the abdomen, was quickly sent flying, rolling across the ground. His massive body rolled across the stage, finally managing to come to a stop. “Ugh…” Clutching his abdomen, as if the pain hadn’t yet subsided. Whizz-!! Crash--!! A Taodao blade flew past him, embedding itself powerfully into the ground beside him. Peng Zhou glanced at his beloved weapon, which had landed by his side. It was the weapon he had lost some time ago. “Damn it.” A gruff voice rang out. “What do you think you're doing?” Disbelief was evident in the voice. A tone saturated with irritation. The voice poured down on Peng Zhou. “I didn't ask for much. Just hold out for a moment, didn’t I? Can’t even do that?” “…!” A foot appeared in front of him. Peng Zhou quickly turned his head, but. The incoming foot changed its trajectory, striking Peng Zhou’s shoulder instead. Smack-! “Argh!” There was an explosive impact on his left shoulder as Peng Zhou twisted his body. He felt the pain but could endure it. He moved, reaching for the sword embedded in the ground. Swoosh-! The sword was drawn, instantly engulfed in a dark aura. However. Thunk-. “…!?” Suddenly, Peng Zhou’s footing became tangled. Another foot had darted in, disrupting his stance. “The Heart Demon has become quite an honor.” Crunch-! “Ugh!” A fist struck his face. His upper body was thrown back, only to rebound off the ground. “That alone makes a perfect excuse, right?” Another fist came crashing down on his chest. Boom-!! Thud-! Crack--!! Peng Zhou's body sunk into the ground, spreading cracks in all directions. “Ugh-!” He coughed up blood. “Why disguise incompetence with such nonsense?” Even so, the words and fists did not stop. Bang-! Bang bang-! Bang-!! The relentless barrage of punches. With each repeated pain, Peng Zhou's consciousness was on the verge of snapping. Abruptly-! The assaults stopped, almost as if they had been waiting for this moment. Drip. Drip…. Peng Zhou faintly opened his eyes at the sound. What was that sound? He could see it clearly. It was Gu Yangcheon. Blood dripped steadily from the clenched fist he was holding. Probably his own blood. “Gah…ugh…” Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Peng Zhou trembled slightly. “You… You bastard…. I am… I am… the head of the Peng family… Doyang… Peng…” “What? Trying to introduce yourself?” Gu Yangcheon chuckled at Peng Zhou’s words before. Whoosh-!! Throwing Peng Zhou aside. Thud-! He barely landed on the ground, staggering to move. “Gah… Ugh.” What just happened? What kind of situation was this? ‘…To think I was overpowered by that mere boy…’ Could it be possible that he was defeated by none other than Gu Cheolwoon’s son, the one he had long despised? Slyly, Peng Zhou touched his cheek. Even the lightest touch was painful on his swollen cheek. Why the cheek, of all places. A reminder of an old scar from the time he was struck by that boy, highlighting the pain again. “Grrr-!” Clenching his teeth, Peng Zhou glared at his adversary, Gu Yangcheon. “Look at those eyes.” Gu Yangcheon noticed and immediately let out a derisive laugh. “After taking all that beating, why does your glare persist? Do you still not understand your place?” “You damned brat-!” Peng Zhou’s face twisted into one of malevolence. He knew Gu Yangcheon was strong. How could he not? He had seen the match with the Divine Dragon and even witnessed the fight with the followers of Mount Hua. Knowing those facts, he was aware of Gu Yangcheon’s strength. ‘This is impossible.’ He hadn’t imagined being driven into a corner like this. ‘What kind of monstrous creature is this?’ Even with his mind clouded by the Heart Demon, Peng Zhou was a martial artist. The disparity was clear enough from the recent gaps. Gu Yangcheon’s level was beyond mere strength; it was peculiar. It was truly an absurdity. Peng Zhou had been gathering information about Gu Yangcheon all along. He knew the boy was once infamously called a scoundrel in Shanxi during his younger days. ‘He was known as the ‘Tiger’s Cub.’’ A title that reminded him of his own youthful days. It was a moniker bestowed on Gu Cheolwoon’s child. How reassuring it had been to hear such words. Believing it could become a tool to crush that young man, he had once been pleased. And yet... “You… What exactly are-!” Peng Zhou broke off his words hastily lifting his sword again. Boom-!! Gu Yangcheon’s knee slammed into the sword’s flat side. “Argh-!” Creak-! Despite his effort, Peng Zhou was pushed back by the impact. Gu Yangcheon didn’t look inclined to listen to his words. He continued his relentless motion. Clang-! Clang clang-! The clash of fist against blade made an unusual noise. This indicated just how solid Gu Yangcheon’s fist strength was. Screech-! Even defending was a strain. This was a different sensation from facing the Twin Dragons. The Twin Dragons would nullify every attack, allowing no openings. But this guy... ‘He’s overwhelming me with sheer prowess.’ He was focusing on demonstrating his higher stage. Faster and stronger. The gaps were there. His movements were powerful and large, leaving enough openings. Thud. “Argh!” He could not exploit those gaps. Gu Yangcheon was simply too fast for him to attempt. It truly seemed the young man’s level was above his own. ‘…Damn it.’ He had to muster strength somehow. At that moment. “Leg.” The voice stabbed into Peng Zhou’s mind. What was that supposed to mean? Just as he was pondering this. Crunch-! “…!!!” Gu Yangcheon’s shin struck the joint of Peng Zhou’s knee. He heard the sound of breaking bones. They snapped; he didn’t even need to see to know. Pain shot up into his lower body, collapsing his stance. Yet, there was no time to dwell on it. “Chest.” “…Ugh!” This time, his body reacted to the voice. Remembering the recent impact, he instinctively shielded his chest, but. Crack-! “Gah!” It was not his chest but his left arm that was twisted. How did this happen? Startled, he looked at Gu Yangcheon. “You believed that.” Gu Yangcheon said, a smile playing on his lips. “A family head, yet so easily trusting—what use is that?” “You bastard---!!” Realizing he had been deceived, Peng Zhou roared with anger. “But not even a fool—” There was nowhere for that anger to go. Snap-! Gu Yangcheon grabbed Peng Zhou's freshly struck left arm. Squelch-! Two of his fingernails suddenly were ripped out. "There, as promised, I've taken out two." Who was that promise made to? Though it was a sudden development, he couldn't even muster a scream or any reaction. Thud-! “Ugh!” His head snapped back into the air. What had just hit him? There was no time to confirm. Based on the impact, it seemed like it was a kick. “From now on, this is just venting." With those words, Gu Yangcheon unleashed a torrent upon Peng Zhou. Hands and feet. Countless attacks crafted with those tools. A cacophony of breaking and shattering erupted from his body. Crunch-! Snap-! Gu Yangcheon dismantled him with an expressionless face. “Gah…ugh…!” Peng Zhou couldn't even manage a proper scream. Perhaps that was why there was not a single sound from the surroundings. “…That…that….” “To think the Blade King is being treated like this….” The one who had defeated the Divine Dragon, So Yeom La. With the might displayed back then, there were those who questioned if the Blade King would actually lose. They existed. But. “This is too brutal.” “Shouldn't someone stop it...? He might actually die.” No one anticipated he would be so ruthlessly trampled. A scene difficult to call a duel. This was unilateral violence. Like watching the bullying of the weak. Everyone shivered with discomfort at such a blatant disparity. It signified just how overwhelming the gap was. To think the recipient was one of the Six Champions, and his opponent was just past his coming of age. It was a sight hard to believe. Boom-! “Ugh.” Thud-! Peng Zhou, struck in the face, spat blood and stumbled backward, eventually collapsing to his knees. “Hah…hah….” He wasn’t the most immaculate figure to begin with. But as the head of one of the noble families, he at least dressed well. Yet now, he appeared vastly different from before the fight began. His clothes were a mess, his face so swollen it was unrecognizable. Gasping, bleeding, even breathing seemed a struggle. The sight was utterly pitiful, leaving everyone around to stifle their gasps. “I truly can't understand.” Gu Yangcheon said, loosening his neck. “Head of the Peng family. Why did you boast despite being weak?” “…!” The sharp words stabbed straight through to his heart. Drip. Blood droplets fell. It was blood flowing from Gu Yangcheon's tightly clenched fist. “Grr…ugh…” The sight pulled past memories into his consciousness. Looking at Gu Yangcheon's visage, he could see Gu Cheolwoon overlaid over him. “…Damn it…” His heart pounded. Perhaps because it felt like reliving that same moment from the past, Peng Zhou's emotions began to boil over. It had been so long since then. Over a decade had passed, yet why was he back in such a situation? And against the son of the man he once longed to kill. Beaten like this in front of such a large audience…! “I'll…kill…you.” An anger far beyond what he ever felt against the Twin Dragons. Peng Zhou was losing his rationality. He didn’t see this as a duel anymore. If needed, he was willing to pull every inch of his strength, even resort to using his innate Qi. “Hmm.” Gu Yangcheon tilted his head slightly, observing. Was it because Peng Zhou began tapping into his power? No, it wasn't because of that. Hum. It was due to the energy he felt throbbing from his heart. Hummm-! Signals from his demonic Qi. Gu Yangcheon smiled slyly, covering his mouth. ‘It's done.’ Seemed they had spent just over a moment in time. The time he waited for had finally arrived. Aware of this, Gu Yangcheon. “No matter what, I will…kill you—!” Smack-! “Ugh!” Just as Peng Zhou was spitting out his resentment, Gu Yangcheon approached and struck him on the chin. Thud…. Crash-! Peng Zhou lost consciousness, collapsing where he stood. Gu Yangcheon kicked the unconscious Peng Zhou to the side, uninterested. An unworthy fool, not even capable of serving as a plaything. His eyes looked at Peng Zhou only with indifference. ‘Tsk.’ What a waste of effort. Perhaps he had grown used to fighting only competent opponents. It seemed a shameful use of energy. “Oh, oh…? Oh….” Seeing Peng Zhou faint, the referee was left in stunned silence. It was probably because he hadn’t expected him to fall so easily. The Blade King had been defeated. A figure of the Six Champions and head of the Peng family, lost to someone just over twenty years old. Struck unconscious by an overwhelming barrage, it was a rather shocking affair. “Mount Sanseok...” The referee was about to announce Gu Yangcheon's victory when he suddenly reacted, momentarily ignoring Peng Zhou and looking up. Ssss-. He channeled his demonic energy rapidly from his heart. The intention of this energy was nothing other than. ‘Begin.’ It was a kind of signal. As that signal spread out. “Winner, Gu Yangcheon….” Just as the referee was about to declare Gu Yangcheon's victory. Thud-! A massive tremor erupted. Boommmm---!!! The martial alliance headquarters. More specifically, the entire vicinity of Hunan began to shake violently.