Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 739

Drip.

“Cough.”

Blood poured from Yung Pung’s nose and mouth.
The impact must have been severe—he couldn’t even gather his senses properly.

To make matters worse, he had been sent flying to the edge of the sparring arena.

This meant that if the arena hadn’t been expanded for the main match, unlike during the preliminaries, Yung Pung would have been disqualified on the spot.

‘Damn it.’

I hit him too hard without meaning to.
I didn’t intend to leave him in such a state with one blow, but my fist flew out on instinct.

‘And of all faces, it had to be that one.’

An old man with an unlucky and unpleasant face.
I had only seen him properly once before, but the moment I caught sight of him, my fist lashed out.

Was it instinct?

‘What the hell?’

I frowned as I looked at Yung Pung, who was coughing violently.
Now, he looked completely normal again.

It was as if the previous state had been an illusion, and he had returned to his original form.

Then what exactly had just happened?

‘It didn’t seem intentional.’

It wasn’t a hallucination or an illusionary formation.
In other words, Yung Pung hadn’t done it deliberately.

Moreover—

‘The audience doesn’t seem to have noticed anything.’

If they had seen the change just now, they would have been shocked.

But the crowd was only reacting to Yung Pung being sent flying—they didn’t seem to notice the earlier anomaly.

Which meant—

‘I was the only one who saw it.’

This phenomenon had happened in my perception alone.

‘Just now… that face was Shin Noya’s.’

It was the face I had seen in that broken vessel—etched into my memory, clear and vivid.

What I saw in Yung Pung just now was undoubtedly Noya’s face.

What the hell is going on?

While I was lost in thought, trying to make sense of the sudden development—

“Huff… huff….”

Yung Pung slowly pushed himself up.
The bleeding had stopped—he must have used his Qi to staunch it.

Staggering to his feet, he reached out his hand—

Clang—! Shiiiing—!!

The sword he had lost earlier shot into his hand as if drawn by a magnetic force.

“Haa….”

After steadying his breath, Yung Pung assumed a stance.
Suddenly, the faint scent of plum blossoms that had vanished earlier began to linger again.

“I apologize… I was too overexcited and failed to respond properly.”

The words sounded oddly composed, despite his swollen nose and lips, but his eyes carried a weight of seriousness.

“Thank you… for holding back.”

“…”

I nodded slightly.

I had been a little surprised at how far he’d been sent flying, but Yung Pung’s condition was not what I expected.

‘He’s taken less damage than I thought.’

I threw that punch out of reflex.
Even if it wasn’t my full strength, it was still a pretty heavy hit.

And yet—

‘He blocked it with his Qi.’

Right before the punch landed, Yung Pung had gathered his energy to defend against my attack.

The Qi shaped like plum petals absorbed most of the impact, allowing him to stand back up.

‘He’s gotten stronger.’

Much stronger than the last time I saw him.

Back then, his Qi was a mess—he couldn’t even control it properly.
That’s why, during his fight with Seong Yul, he was either on equal footing or even at a disadvantage.

But now—

‘He’s not quite there yet, but it’s close to Hwagyeong.’

At least in terms of presence, he’s almost there.

The unstable Qi he has now will soon become a seed.
And it won’t take long for that seed to sprout.

But—

‘Is it really yours?’

I wanted to ask him.

‘The power you’re wielding—is it truly yours?’

Thump.

Thump.

Every time Yung Pung’s aura surged—
Every time the plum blossoms scattered from his blade—

A familiar, subtle fragrance brushed past my nose, making my heart pound wildly.

The demonic energy was silent, and the heat remained calm.

Only the lingering trace of the Dao tied them together, revealing a hidden emotion.

It was a gift left behind by that foul-mouthed old man who had passed away.

That Qi was starting to stir.

Resonance.

The sharp energy inside me, the remnant left by that cranky old man, was resonating with Yung Pung’s Qi.

‘Damn it.’

This cursed sensation annoyed me every time I felt it.
What made it even worse—

‘I’m the only one who can feel it.’

I was the only one sensing this resonance.

Shiiing.

Yung Pung swung his sword.
Plum petals began swirling like a storm around him.

No matter what I was thinking—
Yung Pung was focused solely on this sparring match.

Did he think he could beat me?

‘No way.’

Yung Pung knew better than that.

And yet, he was still stepping forward.

His footwork danced lightly.
His disheveled clothes fluttered, and his sword rebounded smoothly.

Plum Blossom Sword Dance.

The flowers cultivated by Mount Hua bloomed at the tip of his blade.

Shiiiik—!!

The elegant dance concealed sharp and deadly intent.
It was swift and precise.

I dug my feet into the ground, preparing my stance.

Shiiik—! Shik-shik—!

Twisting my upper body, I dodged the blade.
But the sword kept moving unpredictably, pressing closer with each motion.

‘Huh?’

Back when I pummeled Yung Pung before, I had one thought—

His sword was too straightforward.

A sword that was honest.
An essential quality for a swordsman, but without variation, it was useless.

His sword had been so predictable back then—

‘But he’s changed it.’

Multiple feints.
Unorthodox movements.

And yet, the essence of the Plum Blossom Sword Dance remained intact.

I couldn’t help but feel impressed.

Shiiing—!

As I dodged, my senses caught something.
Not just one—

Dozens of attacks.

Every single plum petal carried intent as they flew toward me.

In terms of momentum alone, it felt like hundreds of sword techniques bearing down on me.

‘This is terrifying.’

Whoosh—!!

The rising flames burned away every falling petal.
Not a single one could be left intact.

‘It was like this back then too.’

The petals Yung Pung had shown before had turned to ashes.
Would it be any different this time?

Would his swordplay, which had clearly evolved, display something new?

I clenched my heart, bracing myself for what came next.

Whoosh—!!!

The fiery ring of the Nine Flames Firewheel Technique spun rapidly. Then—

Fwoooosh—!!!

Blue flames erupted from my body, surging in all directions.

Nine Flames Spiral Fang (Guyeomhwaryungong).

It was the technique that had tormented Yung Pung in the past.

Now, how would he respond?
I waited in anticipation of Yung Pung’s reaction.

“…Hooo…!”

Facing the flames, Yung Pung seemed to steel himself and began to stir his energy.

More plum petals filled the air.

Swish—!!

Yung Pung swung his sword at an unbelievable speed.

The sword energy, dyed with the color of plum blossoms, pierced into the flames.

One strike caused the flames to waver.
Ten strikes began to shatter them.

Before I knew it, over a hundred strikes had landed.

‘Crazy bastard.’

As the flames steadily died out, I cursed under my breath.

‘So that’s his plan?’

Unbelievable.
I thought he’d pull out some special technique, but he just hacked away at the flames like a madman.

‘Hah.’

Still, I wasn’t disappointed.
No, I actually liked it.

I only realized it now—
I had a soft spot for reckless idiots like him.

Boom—!

Before the flames could completely fade, I stomped down and charged forward.

Yung Pung didn’t stop swinging his sword.
In fact, he sped up.

A ridiculous number of sword strikes rained down on me.

Should I dodge?
I could, but I chose not to.

Creak—!

I braced my legs and twisted my waist.
As my upper body spun, my fist ignited with blue flames.

Slightly slower than the speed of sound—
Flames compressed and twisted into a rotating mass.

Great Flame Orb (Daeyeomok).

It was just a larger version of the Flame Orb, but its destructive power matched the sheer amount of Qi I poured into it.

I hurled the massive orb at Yung Pung.

Boom—!!

The sword energy clashed against the orb, pushing it back.

An overwhelming amount of Qi.
Would he dodge and counterattack? Or block it head-on?

I had only anticipated two options.

Clang—!

But Yung Pung defied my expectations.

Instead of dodging or blocking, he suddenly gripped his sword with both hands.

I wondered what he was planning, but the answer quickly revealed itself.

Hwoooosh—!!

His surging energy infused the blade, emanating a chilling intent.

Plum Blossom Flying Shadow Slash (Maehwabiyeongcham).

Slash—!

A crimson arc cleaved the Great Flame Orb in half.

Boom—!!!

The split orb exploded, sending heat in all directions.
The flames obscured my vision, but then—

Whoosh—!!

Yung Pung burst through the fire, charging straight at me.
I moved instinctively.

At that moment—

Throb—!

“…!”

Pain shot through my chest.
The wound that had been regenerating reopened.
Blood poured out as the injury tore apart.

‘Tsk.’

The pain slowed my movements just slightly.

Slash—!

Yung Pung’s blade grazed my palm.
Even with my protective Qi barrier, it cut through.

The compression of his energy was absurd.
Despite the difference in our levels, he managed to slice through my defense.

Just how sharp had he refined his Qi?

There was no time to be surprised.

As Yung Pung pressed forward, I swung my injured hand.

“…!?”

Splurt—!

Blood sprayed from the torn wound.
I manipulated my blood vessels to increase the pressure.

The spray shot toward Yung Pung’s face, meant to obstruct his vision.

But he dodged it effortlessly.

It didn’t matter.
The important part was the opening it created.

As Yung Pung moved, my foot swept against his ankle.

Tap—!

“Urgh!?”

His footing collapsed.

He tried to regain balance, but of course, I wouldn’t let him.

I drove my knee into his stomach.

Thud—!!

“Ugh!”

Yung Pung cried out as he was sent flying.
I didn’t stop there—

Fwoosh—!!

I unleashed more flames, aiming them at him mid-air.

Boom—!!

The blue flames roared, threatening to burn him to ash.

But it didn’t work.
In that split-second, Yung Pung raised his sword to block the flames.

‘You blocked the impact? Fine. But what about the recoil?’

Even if he avoided being burned, how would he handle being knocked out of bounds?

At this rate, he’d be forced out of the arena.

Naturally—

I had no intention of stopping.

“Grghh…!”

Whoosh—!!

The flames surged even stronger.

I watched him with cold eyes, curious to see his next move.

Thunk—!

Suddenly, light burst from Yung Pung’s sword.

A crimson glow erupted, causing a small shockwave.

‘He compressed his energy and detonated it inside the blade?’

“Urgh!”

Yung Pung let out a strained grunt.
Detonating it internally meant he couldn’t avoid internal injuries.

But thanks to that, he managed to push himself just far enough to avoid the flames.

And with that tiny opening, he twisted his body mid-air.

Swish—!

He slipped through the flames and came rushing back.

Despite everything, his eyes remained sharp, and his blade stayed steady.

I had already seen this during his match with Bong Soon—
His growth was nothing short of remarkable.

There were still a few things that bothered me…
But for now—

‘I’ll entertain him.’

I decided to respond.

Boom—!

I launched myself at him.

Yung Pung’s eyes widened at my sudden charge, but his sword flew toward me without hesitation.

It might be hard to dodge in mid-air—

‘Sorry, but this is my specialty.’

I was an expert in aerial combat.

Snap—!

I flicked my fingers, igniting the flames.
A chain explosion erupted, generating a powerful shockwave.

Swish—!

I twisted my body, dodging the blade, and used the momentum to kick out.

Boom—! Yung Pung blocked with his sword.

It didn’t matter. This wasn’t meant to attack but to push him back.
I planted my knee firmly and shoved against his blade.

Bang—!!

“Ugh!?”

With no solid footing, Yung Pung was forced backward.

I drew my palm back and immediately unleashed flames.

Whoosh—!

The explosion propelled me forward at high speed.

I closed the distance and threw a punch.
Yung Pung panicked, hastily raising his defense.

‘Clumsy.’

His Qi reinforcement was weak, and his aerial movement lacked weight.

Of course, it made sense.
At his age, how much experience could he have in aerial combat?

I smashed my fist down like a hammer.

Boom—!!

“Argh!”

Yung Pung failed to block and crashed into the ground.

He couldn’t even roll to break the fall—it looked painful.
But he couldn’t afford to stay down.

Before he could gather his breath, Yung Pung moved again.

He rose quickly, returning to the spot where he had fallen.

Crash—!!

My foot slammed into the ground.

If he hadn’t stood up, he would’ve been crushed.

Blades of light poured out as Yung Pung’s sword dance continued, undeterred—even after barely avoiding death.

His speed had slowed slightly, but his momentum remained unbroken.
I blocked the sword energy with Qi and countered with punches.

Defense, evasion, and attacks.
It turned into an intense close-quarters battle.

My brows furrowed.

Through my Heart Eye, all I saw was Yung Pung’s sword paths.

Countless feints and unpredictable trajectories made my head ache just watching.

‘This is insane.’

Every time I dodged, the sword curved at a strange angle.
Every time I blocked, it slipped an inch closer.

Could a sword technique be this chaotic?

I was impressed—

‘Damn it, this is driving me crazy.’

Facing his sword, I couldn’t remain unaffected.

‘It’s familiar.’

Yung Pung’s sword felt oddly familiar.

Maybe it had always been like this—

From the moment I faced those falling plum blossoms until now.

It was the same reason I hadn’t ended this match earlier despite being able to.

I had—

I had seen this sword before.
No, more than that—

‘I’ve used it.’

I had wielded this sword with my own body before.

When Shin Noya borrowed my body.
The old man had briefly used this very technique.

The flow of Qi in the sword dance—
The sharp and precise movements that mirrored the old man’s stubborn personality—

Even someone like me, who knew little about swords, could recognize it.

‘This isn’t…’

This wasn’t just Mount Hua’s Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

It was closer to Shin Noya’s sword.

Slash—!

Yung Pung’s blade grazed my cheek, drawing blood.

It was getting sharper.
Regardless of his level, I had to acknowledge his swordsmanship.

However—

‘Is this sword truly yours?’

Twelve strikes came at me.
I dodged seven and took five with my body.

There was no other way.
I had to endure to close the distance.

I pressed forward, ignoring my wounds, and grabbed Yung Pung by the collar again.

I had questions.

Thump—! Thump—!

My heart pounded wildly.

The Guiding String wrapped around my arm pulsed as if ready to move.

Shin Noya’s traces, found suddenly in Shanxi, and the other Guiding String left behind—

Everything was a mystery.

Whoosh.

I compressed the flames and shaped them into a spear.

Yung Pung instinctively tried to counter, but he was too close to react properly.

“What…? Young Master Gu…?!”

Did he realize what I was about to do?

I felt his panic.
We were too close—he knew what would happen if this power exploded here.

I looked at him calmly and said,

“I think you’ve had enough.”

“…What are you—”

“It’s time for you to come out.”

Although I was speaking to Yung Pung, the words weren’t meant for him.
They were directed at something deeper.

“Young Master Gu…?”

Confused, Yung Pung’s eyes trembled.
He must’ve thought I had lost my mind.

I didn’t care.
I knew the real target could hear me.

Still not coming out?
I smiled.

“Then let’s die together.”

Whoosh—!

I prepared to detonate the flame spear.

[Well, well.]

A voice echoed in my ear.

[What a nasty brat.]

Suddenly—

Whoosh—!

My vision turned black.
Before I knew it, I was somewhere else.

I wasn’t alarmed.

This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

I calmly surveyed my surroundings.

[Tsk tsk….]

I turned toward the familiar sound of someone clicking their tongue.

In the distance, a lone rock jutted out awkwardly in this empty space.

Someone sat atop it.

Splash.

I stepped forward, and the ground rippled like ink.

The wet, sticky sensation was unpleasant, but I endured it as I approached the figure.

Dressed in white robes that clashed with the dark surroundings—

Snow-white hair and crimson eyes stood out.

Tall and slightly gaunt, with long fingers resting against his chin.

I walked up to the rock and met his gaze.

[Hmm.]

“Hmph.”

I stared at the familiar old man’s face and spoke.

“Wow. Shin Noya, you really look annoying.”

[And you look like a disrespectful brat.]

We spoke at the same time.