793 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Translated and Implemented Instructions Chapter 793: Childhood Friend of the Zenith (천하제일인의 소꿉친구) The Shanxi Gu family (산서구가) is renowned for their mastery of fire arts. This has been the case from the time the Gu family emerged in the Jianghu until now. The family head and the direct lineage of the Gu clan all wield flame arts. The technique known as 'Sam-mae-jin-hwa' (삼매진화), kindling fire using one’s Qi, is a distinctive ability. At first glance, it seems similar to the martial arts of the Gu family, yet its core essence is different. The Shanxi Gu family has been a prominent force in Jianghu, with flame arts being their foundation. However, "Not all members of the Gu clan utilize flame arts." Even for a family deeply rooted in flame arts, not every member could wield it. Only the direct descendants born into the family head's lineage could embed the 'Nine Flaming Wheels Technique' (구염화륜공) within their dantian. Those in collateral lines learned different inner cultivation methods instead of the 'Nine Flaming Wheels Technique.' These inner techniques varied but shared a commonality: they all manipulated heat. Some techniques increased physical prowess by amplifying body heat. Others utilized it in their swordsmanship. Those unable to wield flame arts applied inner techniques alternatively. Some even reached a level comparable to the direct lineage's inner techniques through extreme training. Notably, Elder Il (일장로), Gu Chang-jun (구창준), exemplified this. Moreover, the enraged elderly figure before me. “Phew!” The current Elder Il. Yeom-a-gwon Gu Ryun (염아권 구륜). Likewise, he had achieved mastery. Boom—!!! With a single strike from the elder, the ground flipped. The sound and impact emphasized the intensity of the attack. Moreover, Bang! Bang-bang! Bang! The power was not only destructive but also swift. ‘Wow.’ I marveled inwardly as I evaded the punch. ‘The old man still has it.’ I knew Elder Il had reached the Fusion Realm (화경). How could I not? He was likely at Fusion Realm even before I was born. Roles like the Gu family elder could only be succeeded by direct descendants. Only the Gu Seonmun Clan Leader could become an elder without being from the direct line. This elder had defied that rule and ascended to the elder's position, a unique occurrence. This signified his considerable influence within the Gu family. It also meant he was strong enough to create such influence. Sizzle—!! I could see steam emitting from the elder's body. With rapidly escaping steam, his skin reddened. Simultaneously, the weight of the Qi around him changed. I frowned at the oppressive sensation. Whoosh—!! At that moment, a fist appeared right before me. I turned my head to evade his advance. Then, I twisted my waist. My body spun swiftly, and I used that force to power my kick. Thud—! My leg hit Elder Il in the abdomen directly. The elder staggered slightly but then, Snap! "Huh?" He suddenly grasped a nearby tree and uprooted it effortlessly. ‘Ridiculous.’ How could he pull out a tree so easily as if pulling a root from a field? Moreover, Whoosh—! Elder Il swung the tree at me with all his might. The ancient tree was massive, but the strength behind it made it fly with incredible speed. It was obvious that the tree seemed imbued with internal energy. Dodging seemed improbable. In this case— ‘It’s better to break it.’ I decided, channeling energy into my hand and swung it. I intended to shatter the tree with my fist. Crack!! ‘What?’ As expected, the tree broke with my punch. But the issue was— ‘It doesn’t have any Qi?’ The tree wasn’t imbued with any Qi at all. Only then did I realize. ‘Damn.’ It was Elder Il’s ploy. The tree broke too easily, causing my stance to falter. The fragments of the tree scattered in the air. Through the gap, Sizzle—! I heard the familiar sound of steam and saw a massive figure charging at me. Elder Il’s muscles were hugely swollen. He swung a huge fist toward me. My stance was already broken. I couldn't dodge. I could only raise my arm in defense. Crack—! Boom!! “…!” The impact was greater than expected, pushing me back several meters. Grating—! I braced against the ground, trying to regain control. When I barely stopped, “…Ha.” A chuckle escaped due to the pain resonating from my hands. "Isn't that going overboard?" I said incredulously as I addressed the elder before me. “What do you mean?” What did I mean? “I thought you'd go easy, but you're really hitting hard, aren’t you?” My arm wasn’t just aching; it was numb. This couldn't happen unless he was hitting with all his might. ‘My defense Qi got shattered.’ I had carefully enveloped myself in defense, yet his punch had broken through. This is just… “You call this etiquette training. If I endure one more blow, I might die.” “Hmph.” Thunk! Thunk! Even as Elder Il shook his foot lightly, vibrations could be felt. Though I was the one bearing all the punches, the elders before me seemed dissatisfied. What issue could they have? Curious, I examined Elder Il. “Yangcheon, are you belittling this old man?” Elder Il said, furrowing his brow at me. “What have I done?” “The old man is giving his all, yet why aren't you taking it seriously?” "…" I chuckled awkwardly at Elder Il's words. ‘...Guess I didn’t fool him?’ I was trying to get by without attacking if possible. It seemed Elder Il had already seen through it. That likely explained his displeasure. However, ‘I have no choice.’ This truly wasn’t something I could control. ‘Who knows what might happen to Elder Il if I hit him wrong.’ I still couldn’t entirely control my strength. At this moment, if I was to counterattack, even I couldn’t predict the outcome. Because of this, I couldn't hit back and had been avoiding attacks lightly. “Tut-tut-tut.” Perhaps displeased, Elder Il kept clicking his tongue. “You don’t seem matured. You’ve become like a dried squid since I last saw you.” “A dried… what?” “What are you so worried about that you're hesitating?” "…" “Do you really think this old man can’t withstand a little tap from his grandson?” I couldn’t answer. “If so, that’s a needless concern.” Sizzle—!!! The steam from Elder Il's body thickened even more. Translated and Implemented Instructions "I am Gu Ryun of the Yeomakwon." The heat he exhaled enveloped the surroundings. "They say you've become a king or are being lauded as a hero. Such talk clearly blinds you." Boom—!!! Soon, steam and internal energy from Elder Il’s form began blending, gradually amplifying his presence. "I am not so weak that I can't discipline my own grandson's antics." "No, that's not why... Ugh." A dilemma. For some reason, Elder Il seemed intent on not backing down. ‘If words aren’t getting through, maybe fleeing is best.’ If reasons fail, perhaps I should just make a run for it. Coming this far, the thought of escaping filled my mind as it had every time Elder Il proposed a spar. ‘But it's different now.’ Before, I ran because I didn't want to fight battles I couldn't win. Now, the situation was quite the opposite. I didn’t want to engage in a fight I couldn't control. Nor did I wish to cause harm. Just when I was busy plotting an escape, "Looking at your expression, it seems you're thinking of running again if things go south." "…" He caught me red-handed. "…That's not it." "Yangcheon." “Yes….” "Since when have you become so thoughtful that you fear battling the old man?" "People shouldn't be so quick to fight and cause trouble, shouldn't they?" "Haha." Elder Il burst into laughter at my words. "Yesterday, on the way here, I saw a yellow dog." "A dog, suddenly?" "What do you think it would bark if it saw you now?" "…How would I know that?" "It'd say, 'Don't be foolish.'" "…" "Even the neighborhood dog would call your bluff." "What in the world…?" "But then again, even if you're lacking a bit, you're still my grandson. What can I do but help you?" He interrupted, jerking his chin as he spoke. A cracking noise emanated from his neck with each motion. "I’ll give you a reason." "A reason, you say?" "Indeed. If you can defeat this old man… Shall I present you with a gift?" A gift? I frowned at the sudden mention. "Why are you bringing up gifts out of nowhere?" "You remember the cunning old man who came looking for you earlier?" Ah, the mention seemed to refer to the first Grand Master. "You asked who he is, right?" "…" "I'll tell you." "…!" My eyes widened instantly at Elder Il's words. "And, I'll divulge a secret of that old man to you." "You’re not talking about him being the founder of the Baekhwa Trading Company or something, right?" "Do you think me such a petty man that I’d deceive you with ridiculous tales?" "…" "Answer." "…Of course not." I was certain that was it but felt relieved when it wasn’t. Anyway. "So? Yangcheon." I looked back at Elder Il when he called out. "Even with this reason, do you intend to disregard me?" I listened and took a deep breath. "I think there’s a misunderstanding." A pulsating force stirred within my heart. Immediately, energy spread throughout my body. As my temperature rose and my body gradually activated, I continued speaking to Elder Il. "I have never once underestimated you, Elder." Indeed, never once. Not even once in my life have I disrespected Elder Il. Though I might have cursed him inwardly a few times… I never undervalued him. And this time is no different. ‘If anything, rather than disdain…It's concern.’ Though it's a statement embarrassing enough to die from shame, it’s the truth. I speak purely out of concern for Elder Il. “I don’t know why someone of your age insists on taking on such hardships.” “Huh? This young man’s tone….” Elder Il’s words halted as he widened his eyes. Szzzz–!!! I unleashed the power I had been holding back. As my body opened up, the Qi that had been restrained escaped control. Whoosh—!!! It gently flowed down my shoulders. As I thought. ‘I’ve overextended myself.’ It was far more than I desired. Although it permeated my body faster, the efficiency was too poor. “...Haha….” Noting this, Elder Il chuckled awkwardly. Though I was startled, how must Elder Il have felt? His eyes were filled with disbelief. Watching him, I asked, "Elder Il, do you intend to stop at this point?" “What?” Elder Il’s laughter deepened at my final question. “Stop spouting nonsense and come at me. As I already mentioned.” Elder Il pointed his big fist at me. “I am Gu Ryun of the Yeomakwon.” “Yes, indeed.” Stubborn old man. Sighing, I continued, “Elder, as I said before, I’m genuinely having trouble controlling my strength—” Mid-sentence, something caught my eye. It was similar to before. Elder Il’s fist. However, ‘Well now.’ It differed significantly from before, as Elder Il's punch appeared much slower. The rate at which I perceived things had changed. Consequently, my response time also altered. Whoosh—! Boom—!! His missed punch exploded with force into thin air. I slipped into Elder Il’s guard. "…Hup!" He swiftly altered his actions. His extended fist was too late to retract. Using his lower body, he attempted to counter. But by then, my fist had already touched Elder Il. Thud. A brief sensation. It seemed like an insignificant touch. However, Boom—!! “Ugh…!?” The subsequent impact shook Elder Il's entire body. He was swept up by a gust of wind and flung away. Elder Il flew quite a distance. I took a single step forward upon witnessing it. Tap. My foot lifted off the ground, and in no time, I was behind Elder Il. “Huh!!” Elder Il exhaled a breath of astonishment as he saw me. Simultaneously, he rotated his upper body, launching another attack. It was the same as before. Translated and Implemented Instructions The punch was powerful, and despite the swollen muscles, its speed was impressive. But. I was just a little faster. Tap-! Tap-tap-! I swung my hand like a whip, deflecting the attacks. My Mind’s Eye (심안) revealed all of Elder Il's moves to me. Though the speed was fast, it wasn’t difficult to parry his attacks this way. “Hahahaha—!” Elder Il’s boisterous laughter echoed in my ears. What could be so exhilarating amidst all this? Sizzle—!!! Steam burst forth, obscuring my vision. It was a deliberate move. The steam, being infused with Qi, momentarily concealed my Mind’s Eye. Whoosh—! The moment my vision was obstructed. Elder Il thrust his fist through the veil of steam. His sneak attack aimed at my face, but just before it made contact. Clasp-! “…!!” Unfortunately for Elder Il, his punch failed to reach its target. My hand had intercepted and gripped his wrist, halting its movement. I could feel it through my palm resting on his wrist. How scorching his body was, and how earnestly he intended to face me. “…” Sensing this, I clenched my fist. Thud-! The ring of flames entwined with my heart surged fiercely. As if proportional to the power given, tremendous energy coalesced in my fist. Tap. Flames sprouted at the tip of my skin. There wasn’t much to contemplate. My Qi had gathered, and now I simply needed to unleash it. Wooong—. My fist extended, reverberating with vibrations. It was smooth, as if awaited. Natural, as though guided by someone. What is this? An odd sensation flickered through my mind. This feeling. It seemed subtly different than usual. As if I was afloat. Different from my usual movements. Not only the motion, but the encapsulated energy also felt distinctly unusual. Almost as if entranced by Qi. Could this perhaps be enlightenment? Could this be enlightenment that unexpectedly arrived while sparring with Elder Il? Though I couldn’t quite grasp what the enlightenment was about, I knew something felt different. My instincts instructed me. To remember this feeling. As if lifted, yet natural. Uplifted, as though capable of achieving anything. To remember this. To fully capture it, I needed to lock it in. Although I was well aware of what needed to be done, “…” I altered the angle of my extending hand. The fist diverted past Elder Il’s chest, aiming for the open space at his side. Boom—!!! Immediately, flames erupted forth. The Nine Flaming Wheels Technique (구염태륜아). Azure flames burst out, sweeping in all directions. While the flames were much larger than usual, they surprisingly didn’t affect the surrounding environment. They simply blazed. I regulated my breathing as I watched the azure flames flickering like stars. “…” My breath wasn’t particularly ragged. While Qi had been expended rapidly, it wasn’t enough to become burdensome. However, the reason for my labored breathing was something else. ‘I missed it.’ I had lost something that seemed to be arriving. That breath. That sense. Missing that fleeting moment left me feeling empty. ‘…I shouldn’t have let it go, should I?’ It might have been a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Missing it was a tremendous loss, wasn’t it? But despite these thoughts, ‘I couldn’t help it.’ There wasn’t much I could do. There was no way I could deliver a direct hit on Elder Il. “Ah…” Thinking back on it sobered me. It wasn’t the moment to dwell like this. "Elder Il—" I hastily checked on him. Elder Il was staring at me with a dazed expression. ‘Whoops.’ His face bore a considerable amount of shock. Was it a bit much, despite his urging to go all out? Did I ultimately step over the line? I cautiously gauged Elder Il’s mood. “Ha—” “Pardon?” “Hahahahaha—!!” “…?” Suddenly, Elder Il burst into raucous laughter. “You rascal! You rascal!” He started to ruffle my hair wildly, as he always did. “Incredible—! Truly incredible—!!” “…No, wait… hold on….” Rather than looking appalled, he seemed elated. Why on earth was he acting like this? Did I accidentally hit his head? No, I was sure I hit him sideways…? Regardless, being shaken like this was becoming tiring, and I needed to get Elder Il to stop. “…No, just stop for a moment.” “Well done.” “…” “You’ve done well.” His words left me momentarily stiffened. “You rascal. How hard you must have worked to come this far.” The speech I was about to say melted away, and my attempts to push his hand aside stalled. Snap. Snap. Amidst the crackling sound of the azure flames still burning, I realized once again, during the all-too-familiar trivial moment, something I often forgot. No matter how much my skills increased and my realms advanced, there was a reason I could never act rashly toward Elder Il. “You truly did well. My grandchild. Proud of you.” “…” The sole person in my life who always praised me. For that reason, the memory suddenly surfaced again. ****************** Shortly after surrendering a mess of hair. It didn’t take long for the situation to settle down. “Hahahaha, you rascal—!!” Of course, even after that, Elder Il did not cease his laughter. Perhaps he wasn't bothered by the fact that I had beaten him. No, this seemed to be quite the opposite, as if he was genuinely pleased. Whatever he found so endearing, Elder Il kept patting my back nonstop. I was reaching my limit. “…At this rate, my back will burst.” “Ah, right. This old man must have gotten carried away in his good mood.” “What exactly has you so delighted?” “Hmm?” With all my talk of controlling strength and stepping over boundaries, I ended up winning—thinking that this would be annoying from Elder Il’s perspective, but, “How could I not be pleased?” Elder Il seemed to be a world apart from me. “To see how grown up my grandson has become. How could I not be pleased?” Strictly speaking, I wasn’t his grandson. I nearly pointed it out but held my tongue. I knew this wasn’t the moment for such words. “Yangcheon. How do you feel?” “What do you mean by that…?” “When you move your body, doesn’t your mind feel a bit clearer?” “…” Clear, huh. ‘Well.’ I wasn’t so sure. Translated and Implemented Instructions The complex thoughts didn't just vanish, and moving a bit wasn't going to solve everything. "It does help a bit." At least it was better than earlier. That was the feeling I had. Before I knew it, I was nodding, thinking it wasn’t too bad. ‘Wait a second… hold on.’ Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. “…Elder Il.” “Hm?” “I’m asking just in case.” “Go ahead, speak your mind.” “Did you perhaps do this on purpose?” I looked into Elder Il’s eyes as I asked. He had started the spar under the guise of discipline, but seemed only pleased to discover my strength. Even now, he was merely asking if I was okay. Which means. “...Did you do all this just to cheer me up from the beginning…?” “I have no idea what you're talking about.” “…” Elder Il smiled slyly, but that smile confirmed my suspicion. No wonder he suddenly challenged me to a fight. ‘This old man?’ This was unbelievable. Why did he, at his age, resort to such a blunt method? Just as I was about to express my exasperation with a sigh, “Elder Il….” “Oh, come to think of it, there was a wager, wasn’t there?” Elder Il, as if reading my mind, interrupted my words. “You defeated the old man. Therefore, according to our agreement, I shall tell you.” “…” The wager. It was the condition Elder Il proposed during our spar. If I managed to win the spar…. ‘He said he'd reveal the identity and a secret of the first Grand Master.’ It was something I was curious about. Who exactly was this so-called first Grand Master, speaking as though he was knowledgeable about the Gu family? What secret did he possess? Though curious, ‘...Given that Elder Il’s the one offering the information, it’s likely not very promising.’ Since we were in the middle of a conversation, I intended to finish this topic first. “The important thing here isn’t—” “That old man used to be part of the Gu family. And like you, he was from the direct lineage.” “Despite his age, continuously… What?” I froze, my words interrupted by what I heard. “…What?” This was an unexpected and utterly shocking piece of news.