379 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: The World's Greatest Martial Artist's Childhood Friend – Chapter 380: Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive Watching the blazing flames, the feeling that arose was bewilderment. '...Has he truly reached the realm of transcendence?' Gazing upon the true visage of So Yeom-ra, once only the subject of rumors, Mo Yong-tae's insides churned. What followed after was jealousy. A competitive spirit inherently held by martial artists. A jealousy that grows vigorously towards the talents possessed by others. Even though Mo Yong-tae had truly laid down his sword. As a warrior himself, witnessing a genius destined to be recorded in history, he felt both astonishment and jealousy. The Flame Realm, reached even before turning twenty. Once one attains that level, can it truly be called mere talent? No matter how many call So Yeom-ra a monster or the true star of this era upon seeing him. Ultimately, without seeing it firsthand, it remains intangible. In that sense, Mo Yong-tae had to inwardly acknowledge Guhyang Cheon. '...Indeed.' Having witnessed it personally, acceptance came quickly. Mo Yong-tae was certain. The person before his eyes. Was the future world's greatest. A star burning the brightest. Only after feeling its heat did Mo Yong-tae acknowledge it. That Guhyang Cheon would become the center of this era. However. 'That doesn't mean I can view it favorably.' Whether he is the future world's greatest or the center of this era, it doesn't matter. To Mo Yong-tae, the only thing that mattered was his daughter. -“The descendant of the Sanseo Mo Clan greets Lord Mo.” Reflecting on what Guhyang Cheon said while looking at him. 'Too late.' Words that were already long overdue. If he intended to speak, he should have done so when first asked. The past few days. All Mo Yong-hee had done while with Mo Yong-tae was talk about Guhyang Cheon. -“That scholar.” -“Dad, you know the scholar.” -“This is something the scholar likes.” '...' Listening to his daughter's bright laugh and words, Mo Yong-tae felt his heart tearing apart. Seeing the daughter he raised with utmost care and affection be enamored with some scoundrel and smiling goofily. How could that feel good? Even if he was the only man who could save his daughter. Mo Yong-tae found it hard to maintain his composure. However, ironically, his daughter was the very anchor holding his rationality together. -“Please don't hate the scholar too much. Just once. Can’t you see him in a good light just this once?” No matter how he looked, he couldn’t see it in a good light. For the first time, Mo Yong-hee was being stubborn with her father. A child who had never been stubborn in her life. Disliking that her sickness caused harm to the clan. A child who endured pain, never showing signs of suffering. That she, enduring such pain, was saying this. Was a great shock to Mo Yong-tae. Thus, he knew he had to face Guhyang Cheon. ‘What are you?’ What could his identity be, to steal away his precious daughter's heart? Just how incredible must he be for such a thing? Mo Yong-tae needed to know. Had Guhyang Cheon refused to reveal his name and decided not to confront Mo Yong-tae, As he had mentioned earlier, he wouldn’t have taken Mo Yong-hee back to the clan. The only way known to treat Mo Yong-hee, tormented by chronic illness, was through Guhyang Cheon. How Guhyang Cheon’s fiery energy aided his daughter was unknown to him. But it was certain to be a treatment for an illness even divine intervention couldn’t resolve. Thus, he would not gamble with his daughter's life. Instead, he would have obtained confirmation. A guarantee that he would sever all ties with Mo Yong-hee post-treatment. He would have secured that. Nonetheless, Guhyang Cheon eventually submitted his name. Unacceptable. 'He might as well have remained silent.' And yet Guhyang Cheon, aware of the meaning behind Mo Yong-tae's request for his name. Even knowing that, he not only revealed his name, But also initiated a duel. ‘…I dislike this, too.’ If not for Mo Yong-hee's petition, There wouldn’t have been any confrontation. Mo Yong-tae had to suppress the unease creeping up. He had to teach this insolent person a lesson. And a response needed to be received. What can you do for our daughter? Is there room for my daughter in your ambitions? Mo Yong-tae needed to know. As Guhyang Cheon rushed forward, Mo Yong-tae moved his body. In doing so, the sword he held gleamed with light. A sword aura known only to masters who have surpassed their limits. Guhyang Cheon had already transformed into a flame, closing in on Mo Yong-tae. ‘Fast. Remarkably so.’ Seeing this, Mo Yong-tae widened his eyes. Surprised by Guhyang Cheon's speed for a moment. However, Mo Yong-tae was not to be outdone in speed either. The tip of his sword split the air. The target was Guhyang Cheon's chest. Offering leeway because of seniority? Such a notion didn’t exist. This was a fight involving his daughter. A father doesn’t gamble when his daughter is at stake. That was Mo Yong-tae's conviction. As Guhyang Cheon surged forward, Mo Yong-tae’s sword blade emitted light. Upon observing this, Guhyang Cheon furrowed his brows slightly. Swish-! Guhyang Cheon twisted his body to evade the sword. The sword cleaving through the air was followed by traces of sword aura. Slash-! The trees behind were sliced through consecutively. Evidence of the sword aura's mark. Guhyang Cheon didn’t bother checking behind. He could get beheaded in that brief moment. Instead, he advanced a step towards Mo Yong-tae. Pressure emanated from the foot that stamped the ground. Because he had set it as the pivotal point. His waist twisted. Consequently, energy gathered in his fist. Focusing the energy into one point, he extended straight. Flame Wheel. Flare-! A beast-like flame erupted right before his eyes, enveloping Mo Yong-tae as it passed. Seeing this, Guhyang Cheon immediately shifted his gaze aside. Turning his head, he already saw the sword blade flying toward him. It meant that Mo Yong-tae had evaded the flames from the start. Guhyang Cheon wrapped his hand with qi and swung it. Clang-! Striking the sword face to alter its trajectory. Mo Yong-tae hadn’t anticipated that Guhyang Cheon would counter in such a manner. ‘Striking the sword face?’ In the face of an incoming sword blade, to strike the flat side and alter its trajectory? Such a move was uncharacteristic for someone not specialized in swordsmanship, especially in a battle against a swordsman. With the sword aura enveloping the blade, one careless mistake could lead to instant demise. Yet, Guhyang Cheon merely swung his arm nonchalantly. 'This guy...' Mo Yong-tae realized he had to revise his perception of Guhyang Cheon. These were movements built upon extensive combat experience. However, based on the information about Guhyang Cheon, he seemed too young to have accumulated such experience. Could it be pure talent, then? Mo Yong-tae squinted. He had no intention of showing his true skills, but to what extent should he go? He felt his chest begin to tingle. Instinctively, with just a few exchanges, he acknowledged Guhyang Cheon as an adversary. At that moment. Pah-! Guhyang Cheon closed in on Mo Yong-tae, thrusting his fist forward. Yet, the incoming punch appeared slightly slow. 'A feint?' Ready to slice through, he hesitated. The move seemed too obvious to be just a feint. At that moment. Hwaaaa-! Flames erupted from Guhyang Cheon's fingertips, obscuring Mo Yong-tae's vision. Was the feint for this? ‘Foolishness...!’ Mo Yong-tae's sensory range remained active, so he immediately swung his sword to dispel the flames. He located Guhyang Cheon at once. In that brief instant. Guhyang Cheon had widened the gap, already opening his palm while maintaining distance. On his palm lay something completed—a large orb. '...Is that?' Mo Yong-tae swallowed dryly. The overwhelming aura emanating from the orb made him involuntarily freeze. Dangerous. His instincts screamed it. With that realization, Mo Yong-tae immediately infused his sword with energy. Guhyang Cheon, without hesitation, hurled the fiery orb at Mo Yong-tae. As the massive orb radiated heat while soaring toward him, Mo Yong-tae swung his sword imbued with white energy. He understood avoiding it was the correct move, yet Mo Yong-tae couldn't evade. He had to confront it. Righteous Dragon's Preemptive Sword (義隨備先劍). Righteous Dragon's White Art (義隨白藝壹). The Mo family's ultimate technique unfolded from Mo Yong-tae’s sword stance. Flying toward the fiery orb hurled by Guhyang Cheon. Crash—! “…What?” The white sword aura Mo Yong-tae unleashed cut through the fiery orb with surprising ease. Witnessing this, Mo Yong-tae couldn't help but voice his shock. Judging by the tangible energy, it shouldn’t have been so easily severed. Boom-! Whoosh—! The orb exploded mid-air, creating a pressure wave, but its power seemed not as formidable as expected. Something was amiss. Just as Mo Yong-tae sensed something off, his senses picked up another presence. “Damn…!” It was Guhyang Cheon's aura. Using the explosion's pressure and flames as cover, Guhyang Cheon had closed in right under Mo Yong-tae’s nose. He launched a punch. It was then Mo Yong-tae realized. From then until now, every action performed by Guhyang Cheon had been a calculated feint aimed at this single chance. Hah. 'Monster... you're a monster indeed.' Despite not going all out, to still be overpowered in spirit by such a young fellow was almost laughable. How could such a being be born in this era? Even as he contemplated, an overwhelming sense of futility washed over Mo Yong-tae. While musing over these thoughts, Mo Yong-tae instinctively raised his sword into a defensive stance. Crack—! The protective energy surrounding Mo Yong-tae was crushed under the weight of Guhyang Cheon's punch. The punch clearly packed significant force. Bang—! The punch met the flat of Mo Yong-tae's sword. Mo Yong-tae struggled to suppress the shock coursing through his body, but couldn’t completely absorb it, causing his legs to lift off the ground. In an instant, Mo Yong-tae was blown back, swept away by the impact, rapidly being pushed into the air. “Urgh.” Thud—! He anchored his sword into the ground, slowing his momentum. Still, he felt he had been pushed quite far back. Just as he managed to halt his soaring body. Mo Yong-tae quickly darted his gaze back to Guhyang Cheon, cautious of any potential follow-up attack. But Guhyang Cheon simply stood still, at the spot where their clash had ensued. Seeing this, Mo Yong-tae furrowed his brow. 'Is he waiting for me?' It seemed as if he was waiting for Mo Yong-tae to regroup and ready himself again. To be reduced to this, especially by a junior, no less the rascal who had ensnared his daughter, was unthinkable for Mo Yong-tae. Rising flames simmered within Mo Yong-tae's spirit. Nonetheless, he had words to say. "My apologies." Guhyang Cheon blinked in surprise at Mo Yong-tae's apology. He hadn't expected such words to come from him. "What do you mean all of a sudden...?" "I apologize for underestimating you and not committing earnestly to the duel." Mo Yong-tae, having regarded Guhyang Cheon as a weaker opponent, hadn't been serious. Thus, this apology was due as a martial artist, addressing his opponent. "You are strong. Thus, I shall face you with my full might." "There's no need for that... I'm fine with just admitting I lost…." Crack. Guhyang Cheon’s words seemed unheard as Mo Yong-tae readied his stance, raising his sword. Immediately, formidable energy radiated all around. "...Ugh." Sensing this newfound energy, Guhyang Cheon had to bite his lip. The level was vastly different from what he had initially felt. Indicating that Mo Yong-tae had been holding back against Guhyang Cheon. 'Damn it.' This wasn't what he intended. Guhyang Cheon frowned. He hadn't anticipated this turn of events. He thought proving his worth to the White Sword Master would be enough. Unexpectedly, the White Sword Master's sudden shift unsettled Guhyang Cheon. 'What now? He's serious about this.' Without conferring his body with energy protection, Guhyang Cheon’s clothes might have been shredded by the aura the White Sword Master emitted. Such was its intensity. '...Should I just flee now?' The urge to flee welled up inside him, but witnessing that expression suggested fleeing now would spell ruin. 'Must I truly fight him seriously?' Just as he began to wrestle with the notion of fighting the White Sword Master in earnest, Thud… An imposing presence suddenly made itself known, causing Guhyang Cheon to instinctively turn his gaze. Between the White Sword Master and Guhyang Cheon, someone had appeared. And swiftly after— Roar—! A powerful aura began to emanate from the newcomer. The energy of the White Sword Master and the heat radiated by Guhyang Cheon were both abruptly suppressed. “…Ugh.” Feeling this, Guhyang Cheon swallowed a nervous breath. It was scorching. Even for Guhyang Cheon, adept in fire techniques, the heat was palpable. Accompanying this was a resonance. The fiery art coiled inside him, Guyeomhwa Techniques, was resonating with the oppressive heat pressing down on him. It was inevitable. This heat matched the power of his own in essence. However. The level that had been cultivated was so vastly different that it overwhelmed him, unable to even resist. The master of the oppressive heat turned his gaze to Mo Yong-tae, who had drawn his sword. The red robe the man wore fluttered in the wind. His burgeoning presence expanded further. "White Sword Master." “…!” In a deep, weighty voice, the man addressed Mo Yong-tae. Guhyang Cheon understood. That the man was rare in showing anger. Caught off guard by the torrential energy, Mo Yong-tae was momentarily startled. The man, Gu Chul-un, looked at Mo Yong-tae and finally spoke. "What on earth do you think you're doing?" As he spoke, Gu Chul-un's dark hair began to wash over in red.