1078 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: The World's Number One Martial Artist's Childhood Friend Chapter 1078 > Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive I don't have many memories of my father. It was inevitable given how my life turned out. I never went out of my way to learn about him, either. The primary reason being, I never really cared to know about my father's life. What kind of a life did he lead? The man known as the head of the Gu family and the father of Gu Yangcheon. Who was he during those times when he wasn’t bound by those titles? I wasn’t curious. I didn’t think there was a need to be. Thus, even when I later heard stories about my father from others, I didn’t hold much interest. However, a question lingers in the back of my mind. 'Why did father settle for merely being among the top hundred experts?' I know that's not the case. My father is a powerful individual. Even now, having achieved transcendence and reached the level of the Three Masters, I still doubt whether I could best him in combat. They said he was called the Divine Dragon in his youth. I was well aware of that. During the Great Unification War, he earned the name Flame Demon for his countless achievements. ‘Then why?’ Why did my father end up simply being considered among the top hundred experts, without showcasing his full strength? Moreover. ‘Despite his achievements, why do so few people know of them?’ That seemingly insignificant acknowledgment of his feats and powers is another mystery. Although all heads of the Gu family in our time were like that, my father is still an enigma—shrouded in his own mystery. That was indeed the case. “…….” I gazed at the young man before me. Before me stood my father in his youth, causing a plethora of thoughts to rush through my mind. He looked slightly older than me. But surely, he couldn't be in his thirties. He was tall. Naturally so, as my father had always been much taller than me. Broad shoulders and strikingly masculine features. He was simply handsome. If my friend Shin Noya saw this, he’d probably exclaim something like: ‘Wow, the wonders of genetics. How could you two be so different?’ It seemed inevitable that he’d utter such a remark. Like all members of the Gu lineage, he possessed a naturally fierce appearance. Yet, his well-defined features masked that ruggedness with a refined grace. Moreover, his unusually tall stature, particularly atypical for the Gu lineage, complemented this impression. ‘Darn it.’ I held back a sudden sigh of exasperation. Even this trivial thought felt overwhelming right now. Thump-! Thump-! It was challenging to conceal the Gu Flame Wheel Energy that constantly threatened to surge out. ‘Ah, this is such a nuisance.’ The presence before me evoked a visceral reaction that was hard to conceal due to its intensity. Suppressing the thumping of my heart, I looked back at my father. He was young. That was apparent at first glance. ‘Oh my...’ He was formidable. Astonishingly so. He couldn’t yet be thirty... ‘...His level is indistinct.’ I couldn't clearly discern the level of attainment my father held. Of course, he was deliberately keeping his strength veiled. ‘The Gu Flame Wheel Energy seemed to have reached the eighth star?’ The state of his martial prowess, almost at its zenith, was astonishing. ‘I could peer if I tried.’ But forcing an appraisal of his level might alert him. That was how perceptive my father was. Meaning. ‘At least, he's a Hwagyeong level master.’ He had achieved mastery at a young age. ‘That's unbelievable.’ To have reached this level at his age? While there were prodigies like Namgoong Bia, Wi Seol-A, or Tang Soyeol who rose to such heights early on... ‘But this...’ He had already surpassed those prodigies’ accomplishments. It was truly astounding. As I marveled at my father's prowess with disbelief, "Mi Hyoran." A deep voice resounded. Mistress Mi flinched at my father's words. "What are you doing?" "……." His crimson gaze shifted to Mistress Mi. His expression impassive, making it impossible to discern his thoughts. Mistress Mi averted her gaze and replied. "Can't you tell...? I was working." It was indeed work. However. "Didn't I advise against moving within the main sect's premises without permission?" "……." Mistress Mi gave a slight cough at my father's stern words. "…I just happened to have some free time…" This too was surprising. Mistress Mi was now explaining herself to my father. It was intriguing to see her in such a light. Then, "See? If you just stayed put, you wouldn't be reprimanded." From the side, Bai Feng's Moyaeng Byeon chimed in, quite playfully. Mistress Mi shot him a chilling glare, seemingly aware of his antics. "Ahem..." In response, Moyaeng Byeon sheepishly hid behind my father's back. "…Sigh." Mistress Mi let out a soft sigh and looked over at me. "Anyway. I'm sorry. There were some unavoidable circumstances." The "anyway" bothered me a bit, but I chose not to dwell on it. I was already overwhelmed by my father's presence. Mistress Mi addressing me drew my father's gaze back in my direction. Our eyes met—his crimson gaze was intense. We stood silently, exchanging no words, just looking. "Ah, do you know who this is?" Moyaeng Byeon spoke to me informally, having jumped into the conversation. "This is the famous Divine Dragon. Isn't he impressive? You'd never encounter such a person. You're truly lucky. Oh, and he's also my spouse." "Gu Cheolwoon." Before Moyaeng Byeon could utter more nonsense, my father introduced himself to me. Then, he extended his hand. His large hand became the focus of my vision. I stared at it for a moment before gripping my father's hand. "I'm Baek... Yangcheon." We shook hands. There was no particular sensation. I had done my best to conceal the Gu Flame Wheel Energy, so it should go unnoticed. "……." "……." An additional momentary silence fell, broken once again by my father. "You've come to take the examination." "Yes, I have." My response was met with a nod from my father. "I see. I wish you great success." "Thank you. It’s an honor to meet you." "The pleasure is mine as well." "I should… head off now, as I have another trial to attend to." I released my grip on his hand and swiftly turned away. I hurried my steps, feeling an urgent need to escape. I feared my pounding heart might reach my father's ears. I made my way quickly as if fleeing from something. * * * After Baek Yangcheon disappeared from view, Gu Cheolwoon stood silently, watching the direction the young man had gone. Could his hurried steps be because he was heading to take the exam? As Gu Cheolwoon observed keenly, Mo Yong Biyeon, who was standing next to him, spoke up. "Isn't that interesting?" Gu Cheolwoon turned his eyes toward her at her words. "Since when did you start taking an interest in others? Especially men. Oh, do you perhaps fancy men...? Gasp! Is that why you've never been interested in me—" "That's not it." He quickly dismissed the nonsense. It was not something he wished to entertain. As he was about to ignore her and redirect his attention, Mi Hyoran spoke. "Did you sense something?" "Sensed what?" "Yes. That person, the Padjon declared to take him as a disciple." "..." "What? The Padjon!?" Mo Yong Biyeon was visibly shocked by Mi Hyoran's statement. "The Padjon himself!?" "Yes, that Padjon." "...Uh, why? He didn’t seem particularly extraordinary." At a glance, he seemed just like any martial artist. He had a fiercely striking appearance and his eyes were peculiarly blue, but... He didn’t leave a particularly strong impression. Could it be that the Padjon offered to take that young man as a disciple? As Mo Yong Biyeon displayed her bafflement, glaring at Gu Cheolwoon with eyes full of doubt. "......." Gu Cheolwoon maintained his curious gaze in the direction Baek Yangcheon had disappeared. Wondering about his unusual behavior when he usually didn’t take interest in others, Mi Hyoran tilted her head and asked. "You must have felt something? You're acting differently than usual." "......." "You introduced yourself first, and even extended a handshake. You never do that, so why?" "Who knows." Why did he act that way? Gu Cheolwoon checked the hand he'd used to shake hands. There was no particular sensation to speak of. He seemed like an ordinary person at best. Thump... 'How peculiar.' His heart, which had inexplicably reacted the moment he saw him, was bothersome. Even his dantian, subtly heated, added to the enigma. Was there something he should have picked up on? He narrowly restrained himself from letting his energy flow through the handshake by reflex. 'Baek Yangcheon,' An unfamiliar name. The young man with the blue eyes. While Gu Cheolwoon was imprinting that name into his memory, Mi Hyoran wasn't finished. "And you, too." "Huh?" Mi Hyoran shot an annoyed glance at Mo Yong Biyeon, who flinched under the unexpected scrutiny. "Why... me?" "How could you suddenly speak informally to someone you've just met? It's rude." Mo Yong Biyeon had addressed Baek Yangcheon informally from the get-go, which had irritated Mi Hyoran enough to call her out. Clapping her hands, Mo Yong Biyeon realized her mistake. "Oh, right. I did do that, didn't I? Why did I do that, I wonder." She had casually spoken in informal speech. Though she typically had a carefree nature, this was unusual even for her. "…Why did I do that?" Mo Yong Biyeon couldn't quite fathom her own actions. It was as if... "It just felt like the right thing to do." "...What does that even mean?" "Doesn't he resemble someone, though?" "Who? Young Master Baek?" Where did that resemblance come from? In her puzzlement, Mo Yong Biyeon gestured towards Gu Cheolwoon, standing nearby. "This guy. I thought he looked somewhat like that young man." "Are you crazy? How could you compare them?" "…Why're you getting angry? It's just… if I'm wrong, I'm wrong." What's there to get angry about? The faces were entirely different, so what was she talking about? It was absurd. ‘If anything, maybe his eyes were similar, but everything else is entirely different.’ The eyes and their gaze seemed somewhat similar, but that was it. Just an aura, nothing more. "Hmm... Had Dangseon seen him, I bet she'd like his face." "……." He didn't deny that statement. Knowing her, that would indeed be the case. …Baek Yangcheon, was it? 'He intrigues me.' While Mi Hyoran was labeling his name in her mind, Gu Cheolwoon spoke up. "Let's go." With his words, Gu Cheolwoon moved ahead. As he started moving, the two women quickly quieted and followed after him.