- Childhood Friend of the Zenith

YUPyes Chapter 749: The World's Greatest Sword's Childhood Friend (749/750) Boom-! “Gah!” Peng Zhou was struck in the abdomen, sent flying, rolling across the ground. His massive frame skidded to a stop just as it reached the edge of the martial arts stage. “Ugh…” Clutching his abdomen as the pain shot through him, he attempted to stabilize his stance. Whoosh-!! Crash–!! A blade flew past him, embedding firmly into the ground. Peng Zhou glanced at his cherished weapon beside him. It was the weapon he had once dropped. “What a damn mess.” An irritated voice cut through the tension. “What is the meaning of this?” The speaker’s voice dripped with disbelief and irritation as they glared at Peng Zhou. “All I asked was for a slight delay. Was that too much for you?” “…!” A foot appeared right before his eyes. Peng Zhou tried to twist his head away but the foot changed its trajectory, striking his shoulder. Smack-! “Oof!” A tremendous impact erupted in his left shoulder, causing him to contort in pain. While the pain was immense, he managed to endure it. He grasped the sword embedded in the ground and drew it. Shing-! The weapon was unsheathed, enveloped instantly in a dark aura. But then— Thud-. “…!?” Peng Zhou's footing suddenly faltered. Another foot had snaked in and disrupted his movement. “O Mind Devil (心魔) lord his visage.” Crack-! “Aaugh!” A fist struck him across the face. His upper body folded over, then bounced back upright from the ground. “That alone makes a perfectly good excuse, doesn’t it?” Once more a fist drove into his chest. Boom-!! Thunk-! Crack–!! Peng Zhou’s body sank into the ground as cracks radiated outwards. “Gah—!” Blood spurted from his mouth. “I can't believe you're wrapping your own failures up in bullshit like that.” The words and the pummeling didn't stop. Bang-! Bang bang-! Bang-!! The blows kept raining down. The constant pain left Peng Zhou teetering on the brink of passing out. Abruptly— The assault ceased, as if awaiting this moment. Drip. Drip…. The soft sound prompted Peng Zhou to open his eyes, dim though his vision was. It was Gu Yangcheon. Blood dripped from the fist he held. It was probably his own blood. “Heh… cough…” Spitting out a glob of blood, Peng Zhou trembled slightly. “You…you… I am…the head of the Peng family…the Blade King (도왕)…Peng…” “What’s this now? Planning on introducing yourself?” At Peng Zhou’s words, Gu Yangcheon snickered, grabbing and tossing him effortlessly. Thud-! He landed awkwardly, managing to steady himself. “What… cough.” What had just occurred? What had transpired? ‘…I lost to this… this brat?’ Could it be that he, Peng Zhou, was bested by the son of Gu Cheolwoon— that detestable man? Peng Zhou touched his own cheek. The swollen cheek throbbed at the slightest touch. Of all places, it had to be the cheek. It was exactly where he had been struck by that man all those years ago. The pain was uncanny. “Grrrr—!” Grinding his teeth, Peng Zhou glared at his opponent, Gu Yangcheon. “Look at those eyes.” Seeing them, Gu Yangcheon scoffed. “Isn’t this the look of someone who's been thoroughly thrashed? Don’t you know your place yet?” “This wretched brat—!” Hatred twisted Peng Zhou’s features like a malicious spirit. He knew of Gu Yangcheon's strength. How could he not? He had witnessed the fight with the Divine Dragon and the clash with the young one from Mount Hua. He knew of Gu Yangcheon's prowess, yet— ‘It’s unreasonable.’ He hadn’t thought he’d be driven this far. ‘What kind of monstrous being is this…!’ Blinded by a Mind Devil (심마), yet Peng Zhou remained a martial artist. The stark difference in their abilities was unmistakable. To call Gu Yangcheon merely strong was an understatement—he was bizarre. It was absurd. Peng Zhou had gathered information about Gu Yangcheon. He knew the man had once been notorious as a delinquent in Shanxi (산서) as a child. ‘They called him a 'dog raised by a noble.'’ A term spoken of Peng Zhou in his youth. Hearing that the same was said of Gu Cheolwoon’s child—had brought him some peace of mind. He had once been pleased, believing it would provide leverage to suppress him. And yet, despite it— “What… exactly are you—!” Mid-sentence, Peng Zhou hastily raised his blade. Whoom-!! Gu Yangcheon's knee struck the blade's side. “Ugh—!” Screeech-! Peng Zhou was forced backwards from the impact. Clearly not interested in listening, Gu Yangcheon relentlessly advanced, again and again. Clang-! Clang clang-! How strange it was that the sound of fist meeting blade rang out as it did. This meant that Gu Yangcheon’s fists must be incredibly durable. Screech-! Blocking alone was proving difficult. This was different from battling the Dragon Warrior (투룡). The Dragon Warrior absorbed every attack, leaving no openings. This one— ‘He crushes with his cultivation realm.’ As if showing off his superior realm. His speed and power were overwhelming. There were plenty of openings. His large and powerful movements seemed filled with gaps, yet— Whack. “Gah!” No way to exploit them. Gu Yangcheon was far too swift. So this younger man truly had a higher cultivation realm? ‘…Damn it.’ Strength was imperative. Then, “Leg.” An invasive voice reached Peng Zhou, making him react. What did it mean? As he puzzled over it— Crack-! “…!!!” Gu Yangcheon’s shin struck Peng Zhou’s knee joint. He heard the sound of bone snapping. A foregone conclusion of a fracture. His stance collapsed as pain shot through his lower body. However, he had no time to indulge the agony. “Chest.” “…Gah!” His body responded to the voice again. Recalling the earlier blow, he instinctively shielded his chest. Crack-! “Kuhh!” But it was his left arm that broke, and not his chest. What had happened? Bewildered, he looked at Gu Yangcheon. “You believed that?” Gu Yangcheon smiled sardonically. “Such a naive mindset for the esteemed family head. What pity.” “You filthy—!!” Realizing he’d been deceived, Peng Zhou seethed with rage. But his fury had no direction. YUPyes Crunch-! Gu Yangcheon grabbed the left arm he had just struck. Pop-! Unexpectedly, two nails broke from his fingers. “Well, as promised, two have been removed.” Who had he made such a promise to? It was so sudden that Peng Zhou couldn't even muster a scream, let alone a reaction. Bam-! “Ugh!” His head snapped back up to the sky. What had just hit him? He couldn't even tell. Judging by the sensation, it seemed to be a foot. “Now it’s just venting.” With those words, Gu Yangcheon unleashed a torrent on Peng Zhou. Hands and feet. A multitude of attacks formed from their use. The sounds of something breaking and fracturing started erupting from his body. Crunch-! Rip-! Gu Yangcheon’s expression remained stoic as he tore into Peng Zhou. “Ugh…grr…!” Peng Zhou couldn’t even scream properly. Perhaps this was the reason the surroundings were filled with silence. “…Look at that… just look….” “So the Blade King is really being overwhelmed like that….” The one who had vanquished the Divine Dragon, Little Yama. There were those who doubted whether the Blade King could lose, given the prowess demonstrated then. However. “This is rather brutal, don’t you think?” “Shouldn’t we stop it…? He might actually die at this rate.” No one had anticipated such a merciless trampling. This wasn’t a duel. It was one-sided violence. Like a display of bullying the weak. Everyone felt uneasy as chills ran through their bodies. Such was the overwhelming difference in power. Even more so, when the one receiving this was a member of the Six Braves, and his opponent barely in his twenties. It was a scene that was hard to believe. Boom-! “Gah.” Blood sprayed from Peng Zhou's face as he was struck, staggering backward, then collapsing to his knees. “Gah…hah…hah…” He never had a pristine appearance to begin with. But at least, Peng Zhou, head of the Blade Family, always wore himself neatly. Now, however, he looked significantly different from before the duel had started. His battle attire in shambles, and his face so swollen from the blows that his true features were unrecognizable. Struggling even to breathe amid the blood, it was a sight so grim that many covered their mouths. “I really don’t understand.” Amidst this, Gu Yangcheon cracked his neck slightly as he spoke. “Family head, why did you act up when you’re weak?” “…!” Sharp words pierced through his heart. Drip. A drop of blood fell. It was the blood flowing from Gu Yangcheon's fist. “Grr…ugh…” With that sight, memories began to surface. In Gu Yangcheon’s visage, Peng Zhou saw the shadow of Gu Cheolwoon. “…What the…” His heart pounded. Facing a situation similar to that time, Peng Zhou’s emotions surged. It had been a long time. Over a decade had passed, and yet why was he facing the same situation? And his opponent was that man’s son. Being humiliated by the child of the one he had wished dead. In front of such a vast audience, no less…! “I will…kill…kill you.” His anger this time immeasurable compared to even against Dragon Warrior (투룡). Peng Zhou began to lose his grip on sanity. He no longer thought of it as a duel. Determined to draw on his primal force if necessary, he mustered his strength. “Hmm.” Gu Yangcheon nodded slightly at the sight. Had Peng Zhou started to exert his power? No. That wasn’t it. Bzzz. The energy within his heart was the reason. Bzzzz-! A signal from the Demonic Energy. Sensing it, Gu Yangcheon stifled a laugh with his hand. ‘It’s time.’ Perhaps after all that beating, more than a quarter-hour had passed. The awaited moment had finally arrived. Confirming it, Gu Yangcheon stepped forward. “Yes, no matter the means… I will kill—!” Crack-! “Ugh!” He interrupted Peng Zhou’s tirade with an uppercut to the jaw. Thunk…. Boom-! As Peng Zhou lost consciousness and collapsed, Gu Yangcheon nonchalantly kicked him aside. An incompetent that couldn’t even serve as a toy. Gu Yangcheon looked down at Peng Zhou with nothing but cold disdain. ‘Tch.’ A waste of effort. Having fought those who were whole recently, the exertion felt pointless. “Huh, huh…? What….” The referee bore a bewildered expression as he looked at Peng Zhou sprawled on the ground. After all, who could have foreseen such an outcome? The Blade King had fallen. One of the Six Braves and the head of the Blade Family. Defeated by someone barely past their twenties. He had been beaten into unconsciousness with an overwhelming gap. It was shocking. “Sa, Shaanxi district…” The judge was about to announce amid the bewilderment when Gu Yangcheon, looking at the sky, reacted. Whirr-. He moved the demonic energy within his heart, quickly sending it out. The intent of the energy was none other than— ‘Begin.’ A kind of signal. As it spread, “Gu Yangcheon wins…” Just as the referee was about to declare Gu Yangcheon’s victory— Rumble-! A massive tremor erupted. Roooar—!!! The Martial Alliance. Specifically, the entire Hanam region began to shake violently.