823 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Translated and Implemented Instructions --- **The Childhood Friend of the Zenith, Chapter 823** Flames flickered and danced out from the tips of Gu Cheolwoon’s toes, spreading and transforming into a blazing inferno. The fire began to consume the ground, shifting into heatwaves, burning intensely with the fervor of its master’s emotions. How could he not be angry? The urge to set everything ablaze was overwhelming. Yet somehow, he restrained himself. Gu Cheolwoon’s life, if one were to describe it, was a perpetual exercise in restraint and suffering. Such was the order all born of the Gu family must endure, their ancestral burden to bear. Especially for Gu Cheolwoon, his life was the epitome of this legacy. A family born to atone for the sins of their ancestors and to inherit their burden. Among them, no one like Gu Cheolwoon had ever existed in the history of the Gu lineage. Everything about him was unprecedented. When his father was still merely his father, he often remarked to Gu Cheolwoon: “There has never been anyone like you in the history of the Gu family.” Indeed, as if to prove those words, Gu Cheolwoon was extraordinary. Unlike the typically smaller stature of the Gu descendants, he had a remarkably large frame. Moreover, as soon as he began learning the Nine Flaming Wheels Technique (Guyeomhwa Ryungong / 구염화륜공), he immediately reached rationality. It took him less than a year to enter the Fifth Star (Oseong / 오성), a process that usually requires five years. Growing stronger simply by breathing and sleeping. That phrase, often heard as a jest, seemed to apply to him. A genius bestowed by the heavens. A monster, perhaps, comparable to Yeon Ilcheon who was said to have prevented a blood calamity. Gu Cheolwoon was just such an existence within the Gu family. Confined in Shanxi (산서), a talent too remarkable to lose its brilliance within the confines of the Gu lineage. Thus, his father, the head of the Gu family at the time, made a choice. For the first time in history, a direct descendant of the Gu family was sent out into the world. An unprecedented decision. Though it's possible to venture outside upon becoming the Family Head (Sogaju / 소가주), never before had someone been sent out this way. What prompted such a choice remains incomprehensible. The questions linger, but it’s too late to seek answers now. The former head of the family is no longer with us. Whether called 'father' or 'former Family Head,' he is no longer the man he was. This is because he accepted the duties the head of the family must carry—a path that Gu Cheolwoon must follow someday. So, in line with the Family Head's will, Gu Cheolwoon ventured into the world at the age of nineteen. He harbored no specific aspirations, merely accepting his father’s wish to experience the world. Occasionally, Gu Cheolwoon ponders. Did those experiences prove beneficial? Seeing things he didn’t need to see, experiencing things he didn’t need to experience back then... Did it lead to the right outcome as his father wished? The answer that comes to mind is “no.” Nothing in the world changed at all. If anything, things worsened rather than improved—nothing progressed for the better. The only change was within himself. And is that the right outcome? No, he couldn't claim that either. To begin with, deciding what was right or wrong was impossible. Even within himself, he lacked the ability to discern what was right. Such was life for everyone. What does living for so long even mean? What significance lies in a belief devoid of purpose? He didn’t know, nor did he care to find out. Just like this. Living quietly and steadily, without the grandeur of belief—wasn’t it enough to simply keep going? That was the heart held by the young man. Until one day, he met a woman, and a crack appeared. Emptiness began to fill with something. It didn’t take long for him to realize that this was called emotion. Simultaneously, a new resolve formed within him. It wasn’t much. Initially, it was merely about listening. “Don’t do it.” Before doing anything, he began to think it over again. Whenever possible, he restrained himself. “You should have a meal? Be careful, it’s cold.” “Alright.” “And... don’t get into fights with people.” “Alright.” Those seemingly small things strangely filled him up inside. Ironically, it allowed him to endure the harshest times too. Eventually, he stopped thinking about what was right or wrong. By the time he realized it, there was only one thing that mattered to him. It’s nothing grand enough to be called a belief. It was merely a wish. Simply, the desire to protect someone. And the determination that he must protect them. A vow to keep them safe, no matter what storms may come. At that time, that was enough for Gu Cheolwoon. Even now, that would be enough. The difference now being that it wasn’t just her anymore. He survived every storm. He only cared to live for one thing, ignoring right and wrong altogether. A life lived for someone else wasn’t entirely bad. He wanted to give them anything they desired. Thus, when it came to the end of the time he fiercely created, sending the woman more precious than life with his own hands... it was because of that. “I entrust them to you.” He echoed his last words. It was a truly wicked thing to say. How could he manage it without her? Gu Cheolwoon swallowed the words he couldn't bring himself to say. As he believed. Without her, Gu Cheolwoon was nothing. Unable to do anything but watch as the children fell apart, a helpless fool. Not until that moment did Gu Cheolwoon realize he hadn’t lived a day as their father. Nothing was impossible. If he wished, he could accomplish anything. But that wasn’t true when it came to being a father. His daughters, who began to fear him. His son, who viewed him with terror and resentment. He didn’t know how to handle them. The emptiness was enough to destroy something. He turned away. Not because there were no other options. He chose to cowardly avert his gaze. He covered his eyes. He closed his ears. Even if something could be done, he chose not to. Wouldn’t it suffice to grow numb as it is? To just let the tide swallow and collapse him? Somehow, such thoughts flitted by. He didn’t know how many years passed. Gradually, he buried himself. Nothing mattered anymore. Then, while living another mundane day, “...I guess I have to do it, right?” Suddenly, a voice pulled him back. “Yes. I have to do it.” His once-clouded thoughts began to clear a bit. It was something different than usual. “Do I really have to...?” “...?” “Yes. I’ll go out now...” --- **Newly Encountered Words:** - **None encountered in this passage.** Translated and Implemented Instructions --- It was his own son. As he glanced over, the boy flinched and departed, his muttered complaints lingering in the air. Gu Cheolwoon tilted his head, puzzled. What was it? Something felt different. Yet, he couldn't quite grasp what had changed. At a glance, his son seemed just as broken as he’d been since that day. Knowing this, Gu Cheolwoon felt powerless to act, shackled by an immobilizing fear he couldn’t overcome. By the time he realized it was fear holding him back, it was already too late. He thought so—thought he was far too late. That it was beyond the point of return for anything. That was what he thought. "The Young Master (Il Gongja / 일공자) has engaged in a duel with the Thunder Dragon (Neryong / 뇌룡).” Surprisingly, a change had occurred. "The Thunder Dragon?" "Yes. And he has achieved victory…” His child was evolving. Realizing this didn’t take as long as he’d feared. "The Young Master has done such in Shaanxi (섬서)...” "In this gathering of the Dragon and Phoenix (Yongbong Jihoe / 용봉지회)..." "At the Divine Dragon Academy (Shinryonggwan / 신룡관)..." It happened in an instant. From the moment he recognized that something about his son had altered, until now. While he stood still in place, his son prepared to rise on his own. Despite scars and resentment undoubtedly lingering. Whether trying to endure it or overcome it, his son strove to transform himself. Had there been a mental shift or process? Was it perhaps due to accepting the Sword Lord (Geomjon / 검존) and his granddaughter? Gu Cheolwoon didn’t know. He wasn’t fit to be the subject of such understanding; what mattered was singular. Perhaps his child, who had suffered more pain than he, was struggling so arduously to stand again. And what was he doing? “I entrust the children to you.” The voice he had tried to forget spoke again. Once he thought that after sending away what he was supposed to protect, nothing would remain, but he was wrong. There were so many things he should have held and protected from the start. Yet he had done nothing. Such were those ten years; a decade where he had accomplished nothing. Time passed while his child changed, while he had done nothing. “Father.” One day, his son called him father. A word he’d thought he’d never hear, a word he hadn’t sought either. Because he felt woefully inadequate to be called a father. Yet, that word resonated deeply within him. It was the moment he physically felt the weight of what he must protect. “Please.” The words echoing daily were always the same but different each time, as they were that day. What is a father? He didn’t know. He had never properly experienced it himself. Is it all right to start figuring this out so late now? The question crossed his mind, but it wasn’t a time to hesitate. In hesitating, it was already too late. It couldn’t get later than this, so what was there to hesitate about? “Speak.” He must do what is necessary. Unable to before, he must accomplish it in the future. Crack. “Urgh!” The neck of the old man that could easily be snapped. Holding it tight, he spoke. “Erase the thought of making excuses. Do you think I wouldn’t see that’s your intent?” He was on the verge of igniting everything but barely restrained himself. The habit of pausing before action was something he’d developed decades ago. He loosened his grip slightly. “Huu… huff.” To hear the answer. “Speak.” Depending on the response, Gu Cheolwoon would make his decision. To erase the Martial Alliance (Moorimmaeng / 무림맹) from this world or to restrain himself. As he considered this and looked toward Mok Yeon (묵연), “…Gu Daeju.” Mok Yeon addressed him. Hearing the title, Gu Cheolwoon's brows furrowed as he responded. “Address me correctly. Do I still resemble a Grand Leader (Daeju / 대주) to you?” “My apologies…” “I’m not waiting for an apology. I asked for an explanation, didn’t I?” Faced with Gu Cheolwoon’s stern demeanor, Mok Yeon fell silent for a moment. After deliberating on how to proceed, he finally spoke. “…Gu Gongja (구 공자) was necessary for the alliance. It was a decision he made, knowing this.” “So you’re going to excuse it as if it was the child’s own choice?” “Gu Gongja desired something from the alliance. The main alliance had expectations of him as well, so it was simply a transaction—" "I see." Mok Yeon struggled to explain, but Gu Cheolwoon nodded as he listened. “Still shifting blame elsewhere, I see.” Hearing this, Mok Yeon’s eyes widened. He realized what Gu Cheolwoon had decided. “You are unnecessary. It was the same back then and it remains true now.” Whoosh. Flames burst forth. Gu Cheolwoon’s body enveloped in fire. He had made his choice. Today, he would erase the Martial Alliance from the world. Whatever ensues, he will bear the consequences. As an inadequate father, he could at least do that. Moreover, “The burden too.” He would sever the burden and shackles held by the Gu family. He wouldn’t pass that unnecessary atonement to his son. With such thoughts, Gu Cheolwoon released his energy. The Sword Emperor (Geomje / 검제) moved. The broken sword held firm energy. Seeing this, Gu Cheolwoon moved first, extending his hand. The intense fire moved at his touch. Before the Sword Emperor could lift an arm, Gu Cheolwoon’s hand reached his face. Then, Shwaa-!! A gust of wind suddenly blew, separating Gu Cheolwoon and the Sword Emperor. “…!” Seeing this, Gu Cheolwoon retrieved his hand. He stepped back, furrowing his brows. There was no need to evade. Originally, he would have ignored the gust and taken the Sword Emperor’s head. Yet he retreated. This was because of who owned the windstorm. The gust that split Gu Cheolwoon from the Sword Emperor was a brilliant gold. As if it held the moonlight. ***************** Wiping his hands clean with a cloth, he stepped outside. They were stained with blood that required even a quick wiping. “Tch.” He clicked his tongue briefly. His mood was far from pleasant. Not that killing left him feeling dirty now. “The information is unsatisfactory.” The amount of information he gleaned was disappointingly little. Despite the heavy toll taken, none of them uttered anything useful before dying. More accurately, it wasn’t that nothing was said, but rather… “They knew nothing.” These individuals knew nothing. Why they were doing this, or what their ties to the Golden Nature Clan (Gyecheonmun / 계천문) were. --- **Newly Encountered Words:** - **N/A** Translated and Implemented Instructions --- No matter how much he pressed them on what they were, the response remained the same: they knew nothing. Were they merely pawns? With such a lack of information... He even resorted to transforming them into demons (mainhwa / 마인화) to extract answers, yet their replies remained unchanged. Ah, there was one thing he was able to discern. They were part of a faction. Not that it was anything significant, just the name of their group? Further investigation was needed to uncover more, but that was the only immediate clue. And that name was likely... "Ilcheongyo." Ilcheongyo (일천교 / 一天敎). A group he had never heard of in his previous life. --- **Newly Encountered Words:** - **Ilcheongyo (일천교 / 一天敎):** Name of a faction or group.