917 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Followed hastily after Gu Bong. After exiting the alley they entered earlier, they returned to a brightly lit street. As they moved away hurriedly from that location, a much broader space came into view. Was it a plaza? There was a peculiar statue erected, and a circular formation resembling a pond was constructed. Gu Yangcheon stood there, observing the scene with curiosity. "It's over there." At the disciple's words, Gu Bong, wearing a frown, moved forward. He followed the direction of this indication with his gaze. "This is absurd!" He could hear a commotion ahead. "Suddenly raising the price? That's not what we agreed upon." Who would be shouting like that? Looking toward the sound, several figures in familiar martial clothing came into view. They were wearing the clothes of the Hwasan sect, same as Gu Bong. And in front of them. "How dare you raise your voice, you insignificant being." There was a person behind them, hands clasped behind their back, sneering at the disciple. His long white hair reached down his back, and he had an imposing physique. As expected, with ears resembling those of a beast - perhaps a dog or a wolf. "Irrespective of your familial standing. This is clearly...!" Slap-! The disciple's head turned. The man had slapped him across the face. "Who dares mention the family in their filthy mouth?" His eyes were filled with contempt and laughter. "Know your place. A renegade, avoiding choice." He nodded slightly, observing as he did so. The choice not made? What did he mean? As he pondered, Gu Bong swiftly headed in that direction. "Young master Baek." At Gu Bong's words, the white-haired youth turned to look at him. "Who do we have here?" The corner of the man's lips curled up toward the sky. "Isn't it our Heuk-ya?" "…" Gu Bong flinched at his words. "...I am Hwasan's Gu Bong." "Ah, yes. Indeed, indeed." The youth nodded repeatedly as if he'd just realized. "Indeed. Such a name is a luxury for a loser." "…" "It's been a while, Gu Bong. You're the one in charge this time?" "Indeed. However, it seems there are issues..." "Ah. It's nothing much." Tap. Tap. The man touched the face of the disciple, whom he had slapped. "This clueless fool dared to question me?" Seeing this, Gu Bong pulled the disciple back by the shoulder. "...Master...." The one slapped looked at Gu Bong with a crumbling expression. "What is happening?" "Well... I distinctly remember paying the agreed price yesterday. But suddenly, they're saying the price has increased, and unless we pay more, they won't release it...." Upon hearing this, Gu Bong's brows furrowed. "Young master Baek. Is there truth to these words?" "Yes, and is that a problem?" "...Once a contract is made, further negotiations should occur in subsequent dealings. This is unreasonable." "Unreasonable?" Young master Baek chuckled. It was quite a disrespectful smile. "Saying it's unreasonable. Gu Bong, those are strong words." "If this isn't unreasonable, then what..." "This is not unreasonable; it's merely the privilege of nobility." "..." At young master Baek's words, Gu Bong remained silent. "The right that comes with power. You should understand better than anyone, shouldn't you?" Hearing these words, Gu Bong bit his lip. It seemed they knew each other. Finding Gu Bong's expression amusing, young master Baek's smile widened. "Oh, yes. If you say it's unreasonable, then fine, let's call it that. But." Tap! Tap! The man's fingertip tapped Gu Bong's shoulder, continually pressing him. "So, what can you do?" Hearing this, the disciples grit their teeth and fell silent. The atmosphere was tense. "Those who couldn't bear insignificance and fled, what can they possibly do?" "This has nothing to do with status. This is a matter solidified through a contract between Hwasan and the Baek family." "A contract, indeed? Speak correctly. It was merely an indulgence of my father because you pleaded so much." "...Young master Baek...!" Gu Bong's voice rose in anger. However. "If you are dissatisfied, should we settle it here?" At young master Baek's provocation, Gu Bong fell silent again. "It might be nice to try, just like before. Isn't it? I've never lost to you before. Why? Afraid?" He retracted the hand that had been poking him and adjusted Gu Bong's robe. "Are you terrified of leaving a blemish on this noble self of mine? Afraid our family might get angry? Is that what scares you?" "Young master Baek...." "Of course, you'd be scared. Because if that happens... What was it? Your group of losers?... Ah, Hwasan, was it? They'd face problems. That's why you can't do anything, is that it?" Creak. Gu Bong's shoulder trembled furiously. He seemed ready to explode at any moment, but he was barely managing to keep his cool. Young master Baek laughed, seeing the trembling shoulders. "Are you angry? Then go ahead, hit me. See what happens." "…" "If you want to break the contract, try it." With a relaxed smile, young master Baek continued. Gu Bong quivered and finally asked the man. "...What do you want?" "Hmm? Didn't I say? I asked for more money." "I know full well it's not just money you're after. Yet you continue like this because there's something else you desire." "Wow." Clapping his hands in amazement, young master Baek spoke. "Still as sharp as ever." "What is it you seek...?" "Oh, nothing big, really." The man said to Gu Bong. "Just entertainment." "What...?" "Seeing those shunned and discarded desperately struggle for survival. I can't stand sights like that." "Young master Baek...!" "Those that are stepped on remain stepped on. Why do they squirm so to continue living?" Young master Baek's gaze shifted, scanning each of the disciples surrounding him. "If you're a loser, act like one. Speak according to your rank." "..." "If you're not satisfied, lodge a formal complaint using that Hwasan sect name of yours." His giggling elicited laughs from those behind him. "Then you'll not only breach the contract but pay the penalty in full." "Clench." Gu Bong gritted his teeth, but beyond that, he couldn't speak further. "Of course, I wonder where else you'd find anyone willing to contract with you but here." Young master Baek's words silenced Gu Bong and his disciples alike. Their faces were filled with humiliation, yet none dared to counter him. "Oh, but I'm quite magnanimous, so I'll offer you one chance." Young master Baek said, specifically to Gu Bong. "Gu Bong." The moment he called him, Gu Bong looked at young master Baek. "Kneel and beg." "...What?" Young master Baek stated. Gu Bong's eyes widened at his words. "Gu Bong, I'm curious if your knees are still as heavy as ever. What do you think?" "...What are you suggesting..." "I'm saying kneel on both knees and beg me here. Then I'll let it go for the original price." "..." "How about it?" There was a sincerity in young master Baek's tone. Reacting to this, not Gu Bong, but the second-generation disciples spoke up. "Master! You mustn't! Just let it go...!" "Indeed! There's no need to listen to such...!" "Silence." Clink-! Swords were pointed at the necks of the second-generation disciples. The guards of young master Baek had quietly moved closer. "How dare you rebut me?" Young master Baek looked at the disciples with disdain. "Just shut up and watch. Let's see what he chooses to do." As he spoke, he approached Gu Bong. Leaning close to Gu Bong's ear, he whispered, "Time is running out. Unlike yours, my time is precious, so choose quickly. Kneel or return empty-handed." Press... Gu Bong's fists clenched so tightly they seemed ready to burst. The trembling indicated the extent of his exertion. But soon, the shaking stopped. He opened his hand, as if releasing the tension. Had he made a choice or simply given up? It seemed like the latter. To prove it, Gu Bong's body gradually lowered. "Hahaha!" Young master Baek laughed mockingly as if he had been waiting for this. "Master, no!" "You can't!" Despite the disciples' pleas, Gu Bong silently continued to kneel. Young master Baek watched with a satisfied smile and said, "As expected, that's the image that fits you..." Then. "Pathetic." Gu Bong's descent stopped. "...!" His eyes widened as if something had interfered. Someone had intervened and was lifting Gu Bong by the arm. "What the..." Gu Bong began to speak, looking at the owner of the arm, but couldn't continue. For the man's blue eyes were harsh and piercing. "Didn't expect you to be this pathetic. You're worse than I thought?" The words were harsh, lacking even vocal tone, but filled with profound disgust and annoyance. "The old man spoke highly of you, thought you might be decent. It seems he was terribly wrong." "...You...!" Gu Bong tried to retort, but the young man, Gu Yangcheon, was no longer looking at him. He was looking at young master Baek, who was staring back, his face contorted. "What do you think you're doing?" Young master Baek roared, feeling his amusement interrupted. "How dare you interfere? Do you have a death wish?" Gu Yangcheon maintained eye contact with young master Baek without responding. "You piece of trash...!" As young master Baek continued to speak, Gu Yangcheon briefly glanced at him. "Verification complete." Suddenly, he muttered. "Do you even know who I..." Slaaap---!! "Argh!" He swung his hand, striking young master Baek across the face. The man's head snapped around. "What...?" What just happened? Young master Baek couldn't comprehend the situation unfolding before him. He clutched his stinging cheek. Drip! Something trickled down his lips. Blood. "What is... What is this?" Was he just struck? Not by anyone else but by this piece of trash? As he realized the situation, his rage boiled over. "You filthy..." Boom--!! "Ugh!" Gu Yangcheon launched another punch, driving it into young master Baek's face, smashing him into the ground. Crack---!! The earth shattered with the impact, scattering debris. Witnessing this, those around clamped their mouths shut. "Ugh... ugh..." Young master Baek trembled, embedded in the ground. "Seems like this place lacks proper latrines, huh?" Gu Yangcheon remarked to the downtrodden young master Baek. "Is that why your mouth spews filth? Disgusting." Gu Yangcheon's expression was eerily stoic as he spoke. This signaled something. He was genuinely furious, a rare occurrence. 3 Comments 3.1 / 80 Hideto 2024.10.16 07:33 Report Rising as a king and returning to the martial arts world?? 0 Bread Bank 2024.10.19 20:33 Report Looks like there's going to be quite a mess soon. 0 Yeonwoo 2024.10.29 04:57 Report Yangcheon wouldn't just stand by and do nothing. 0 Only logged-in members can post comments. Weekly Best Adult BL/GL +391 The abandoned 6★ heroes cling +2092 How to live as a wizard in a magic school +693 The slaves I freed cling to me +284 Apocalypse, but it’s too easy for me +155 The genius predator of a destroyed world +1426 Drug-taking genius wizard +227 My skill tooltips are strange +478 Became a necromancer in a zombie world +699 Double agent in the Heavenly Demon Sect +14910 Best Friend of the World's Number One Fighter +3911 Mistaken for a genius professor +512 Infinite evolution hunter +9013 Correcting the villainess at the academy +4914 Life is easier when you're handsome +2315 A VTuber, but I go to work +2416 Ranked 1 with assets of 10 trillion won (yeojang) +1317 Mistaken for a genius strategist +2818 Normalizing dark fantasy +6219 The king of the underworld is tired +1420 Became a goddess in a new world New Posts + More New Why Americans hate using knives on burgers . All-Knowing Scholar 11.11 First time registration (...) lost 11.11 Request for "The Reigning Third-Generation Chaebol" 11.11 Request for "I'm Strongest, Though I'm a Villainess" +7 11.11 Yay, It's Rice Cake Dayヾ(*´∇`)ﾉ +48 11.11 Why's everyone groaning... +3 11.11 Something about Secret Juju seems familiar +3 11.11 Looking for a webtoon~~~!! +7 11.11 When life gets tough, I crave sweet stories, but... 11.11 Lost all favorites on my phone... +18 11.11 Night vibes 💕 Best Friend of the World's Number One Fighter 917화 (917/1059)