918 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 918: The Heavenly Emperor's Childhood Friend "Ugh---!!!" Baek Doryeong screamed in agony. He desperately tried to struggle, but his face was firmly pinned to the ground. "You... you bastard---!!!" "Ah, this brat is noisy." Crunch--!! "Krrraaaa!!!" Gu Yangcheon pressed his foot down firmly. Crack! A sound of something breaking came from Baek Doryeong's face. "Don't speak recklessly. Makes me wanna tear it apart." "Guh... Ughhh...." "Do you understand? You bastard, do you understand?" With a blank expression, Gu Yangcheon spewed harsh words. His disciples didn't dare to move a muscle. Bzzz-! Their whole bodies tingled. The aura emanating from Gu Yangcheon engulfed the surroundings completely. "This fucking brat really knows how to ruin someone's mood." Thud-! "Gahh!" He lightly lifted his foot and then kicked Baek Doryeong's temple. Baek Doryeong's body was about to fly away, but Gu Yangcheon swiftly grabbed him by the collar to hold him in place. And then. Snap-! "What? Live according to your place?" Snap--!! He continuously slapped Baek Doryeong's cheek with his hand. Snap-!! "Why do you get to decide that, you bastard? Who do you think you are?" Snap-! "Ugh... Gahh...." Snap---!!! His cheeks turned from side to side. With each hit, a sharp sound echoed, accompanied by a wave. It wasn't a matter of using proper force. Baek Doryeong's cheeks were progressively swelling, as though to prove this point. "Ugh... Ughhhh...." After a long barrage, Gu Yangcheon finally paused his hand. Drip-! Blood flowed. The blood from Baek Doryeong's mouth trickled down Gu Yangcheon's hand that held his collar. Drip. Drip. The bloody droplets hit the ground. Upon witnessing it, people hesitated to move. "What- what are you doing?! Save the young master immediately!" The individuals who looked like guards tried to rush towards Gu Yangcheon. "Hey." Gu Yangcheon glared at them with eyes gleaming. "Come any closer and this guy's finished." Crack-! "Grrr...." His words were no lie, as he tightened his grip on Baek Doryeong's neck. The sound of bones cracking resonated. Hearing that, the guards faltered. "You, you fool...! Do you even know who this person is that you're doing this to?!" One of the guards shouted desperately, but Gu Yangcheon's expression remained unchanged. "Then who are you?" "What...?" "Who are you to act like this with me?" "Aren't you the people from the Mount Hua Sect?" "That's right. Mount Hua. But... do you know who I am?" Gu Yangcheon's expression broke into a smile. At that moment. "Eek-!" "...Ugh...!" It was as if they had seen a ghost, their bodies quivered. Gu Yangcheon's smile was truly menacing. His confident words stumped the people in front. Thinking perhaps he might be a significant figure. "Who are you, sir?" "You don't know?" "..." "That's right, it's natural you don't know. I don't know you either. But." He moved the hand gripping Baek Doryeong's neck up to seize his cheek. "Grrr...." "When people don't know each other, they usually show respect. But you bastards have none." "Guh... Ughhh!" Baek Doryeong's pain intensified. "Stop at once! If you harm the young master further, there will be irreversible consequences...!" "Irreversible? Then what will happen?" As if urging them to speak, the guard scowled and answered. "The young master is... the heir of a noble family. If he is harmed, the head of the family will take action, and it won't be favorable for Mount Hua-." "Arrgh!" Before the guard could finish, Gu Yangcheon lashed out at Baek Doryeong again. The guard widened his eyes at this sight. "Ahh. So basically." "Guhhh...." "This bastard is nothing without his family. Then, it's okay if I kill him." Veins popped on his clenched hand. He genuinely seemed intent on killing him. Seeing this, the guard tried desperately to intervene. Before he could, someone stopped Gu Yangcheon. It was Gu Bong. With an urgent expression, Gu Bong grasped Yangcheon's wrist. "That's enough... Stop it, please." At these words, Gu Yangcheon turned a cold gaze on Gu Bong. The intensity of that gaze made Gu Bong's body tremble uncontrollably. It was cold, unbearably so. As if looking at a stone on the ground. No, perhaps it was even more disdainful than that. Such was the look in Gu Yangcheon's eyes now. Though he wanted to back down immediately, Gu Bong knew he must endure. "Please restrain yourself... Release Baek Doryeong, I beg you." "Why?" The tone implied genuine confusion. Why must he let him go? Gu Bong struggled to answer. "Baek Doryeong... is a noble. If you harm him further here, it will spiral beyond control." "Out of control?" Ha. Gu Yangcheon chuckled, as if finding it amusing. Yet. Thump. Seemingly convinced, he released his grip on Baek Doryeong. Thud-! The young master's body crumbled to the ground. Gu Yangcheon kicked him away. His guards hurried to support Baek Doryeong's body. "Take him and get lost." "You scoundrel...!" "If you don't leave now, you'll all die here." Swoooosh---!!! "…!!" The murderous intent emanating from him left their bodies stiff with fear. Witnessing this, Gu Yangcheon shifted his gaze slightly towards his second disciple. "What are you doing?" "Uh...?" The second disciple stood dumbfounded at Yangcheon's question. Watching him, he clicked his tongue before continuing. "Move that thing. Don't just stand there gawking." "Oh...!" The second disciple broke free from his stupor and moved hastily. Approaching a few carts, he grasped them. It was only upon holding them that the disciple questioned internally. Is it right to follow this order now? For a moment, such a thought crossed his mind. “You little shit. Why aren't you moving faster? What's taking you so long!” “I-I'm doing it now!” The second disciple hurried to obey the harsh voice. As the carts were finally cleared away, Gu Yangcheon turned his focus back to Baek Doryeong’s group. "What, you bastards ready for some more?" “...” The escort supporting Baek Doryeong scowled deeply. "The Baek family... will not easily overlook this incident with Mount Hua today...." Smack-! “Argh!” The escort's head whipped to the side as he was struck across the face. Blood dripped from his nose, and a couple of teeth clattered to the ground from his mouth. "You talk too much. Should I rip your tongue out?" “Gugh... argh....” “Shut up and get lost.” Only after those words, filled with annoyance, did they begin to retreat, hesitantly. The presence of numerous onlookers was palpable. Although attracted by the sudden commotion, Gu Yangcheon paid no mind to the gazes around him. With all his disciples having left, Gu Yangcheon turned his back. There, Cheonma stood watching with an impassive expression. Nearby, Gu Bong looked at Gu Yangcheon with an unreadable expression. Ignoring them, Gu Yangcheon moved to return to his original spot, when— “Wait-…!” Gu Bong caught hold of Gu Yangcheon. Or rather, attempted to. At that moment— Smack-! “Ugh…!” Without hesitation, Gu Yangcheon slapped Gu Bong across the face. Gu Bong's head turned with the blow, eyes wide with shock as he struggled to meet Gu Yangcheon's contemptuous gaze. That fierce insult made Gu Bong’s expression twist with tension. “Why are you doing this all of a sudden…?” He couldn't understand. If anything, it should be he who was enraged. “Do you even know what kind of trouble you’ve caused?” “What have I done?” “You attacked a noble…! We mustn’t get entangled with them. Don't you know that?” Gu Bong understood that Baek Doryeong harbored malice. He was certain that the root cause was himself. But as long as he could resolve it personally, that would suffice. It could be handled without affecting Mount Hua or its other disciples. Kneeling was the least he could do. “You ruined everything…!” Gu Bong, unable to hide his despair, spoke to Gu Yangcheon. “Do you know how hard it was to secure that agreement… If this incident becomes an excuse for the Baek family to turn against Mount Hua…!” “And then what.” “…Mount Hua will face significant consequences. Beyond what we can handle. I orchestrated all of this while keeping that in mind…!” You ruined it all. Though Gu Bong spoke with that sentiment, Gu Yangcheon merely scoffed. “What a load of crap.” “You…!” “Shut your mouth, you bastard.” “…!” Gu Bong's lips clamped shut at those charged words. “Don’t make excuses.” With a cold tone, Gu Yangcheon silenced Gu Bong the moment he tried to reply. “I’m not making... excuses….” “Not making excuses? Bullshit.” Gripping tightly—! “Guh!” Gu Yangcheon tightened his grip on Gu Bong’s throat. “Getting into trouble because you pissed off the nobility? Oh, how frightening. But you know what?” “Gghh….” “Why do you forget that they started this in the first place, you bastard.” The pressure on his grip increased. Gu Yangcheon had to exert all his control. “And yes, I did beat that little shit up. But he was talking disrespectfully first.” With each word, his anger heightened. “So I beat him. But hey, that was your role originally.” “…!” Gu Bong’s eyes widened at Gu Yangcheon’s words. He couldn’t speak, his voice restrained under Gu Yangcheon’s hold. “Holding back because of the trouble it might cause Mount Hua? A convenient excuse to hide behind an idiotic mindset.” “Guh... hrrr….” “And why do you get to decide that? Are you the sect leader? Or did that old man tell you to endure when things turn ugly?” Ha ha ha ha. Gu Yangcheon let out a low laugh. His laughing mouth didn't match the intensity in his eyes. “It wouldn’t be like that, would it? If that foul-tempered old man went through this...” His expression suddenly shifted. Gu Bong’s heart pounded in response to Gu Yangcheon’s change. “He’d beat them half to death rather than leave them be. Know why?” Gu Yangcheon's eyes were filled with conviction. “Because that’s about protecting one’s dignity.” It was a certainty that didn’t waver in the slightest. “And whatever happens afterwards? Deal with it. Why? Because it’s better than letting Mount Hua’s reputation fall.” “...” “Getting used to swallowing insults and shame? No, make that clear. You chose comfort because you didn’t want to handle it.” Thud. “Ugh!” Gu Bong hit the ground and let out a dry heave. “Gasp... Huff….” Above him, Gu Yangcheon continued to look down without losing that cold stare. "After stirring up things, Mount Hua might face difficulties. So what? Is that difficulty more important than the dignity of Mount Hua?” “…!” Gu Yangcheon's words struck Gu Bong like a bolt of lightning. “You almost tossed the Mount Hua that old man built into the gutter...” There it was. That was what infuriated Gu Yangcheon. Gu Yangcheon wasn't angry at Baek Doryeong, but at Gu Bong. He was furious that the old man's cherished Mount Hua. Even if he didn't know what times it had seen, the disciples nurtured in its embrace were being disrespected. Moreover. Even after being treated with such disrespect, they neither faced it head-on nor took responsibility. That was why he was so angry. “Kneeling under the name of Mount Hua is as good as having your sect leader kneel. Do you not recognize that?” Suppressing emotions made his voice seem even rougher and more intense. “That’s how it is. Being a representative of Mount Hua carries that weight.” Thud-! “Ugh!” Gu Yangcheon kicked Gu Bong’s chest, sending him flying. “You think it’s fine if only you endure? You spew nonsense.” Crunching through the ground with each step, Gu Yangcheon spoke as he passed by Gu Bong. "If you can't manage and can't uphold your pride, then take off those clothes right now." As Gu Yangcheon passed by, he looked Gu Bong up and down. "Because clothes like that aren't meant for someone like you who can't protect even that." With those words, he moved past Gu Bong. Cheonma followed closely behind. "..." In the place where Gu Yangcheon had passed, Gu Bong sat there in a daze. And he remained like that for a very long time.