Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 749

Boom!

“Urgh!”

Peng Zhou’s body was sent flying, crashing and rolling across the floor of the arena. His massive frame tumbled before he barely managed to stabilize himself.

“Khugh…”

Clutching his stomach, the pain still gnawed at him—

Whoosh—!!

Thud—!!

A blade flew past him and buried itself deep into the ground. Peng Zhou’s eyes locked onto it.

His weapon.

The one he had let slip from his grasp.

“What a goddamn mess.”

A rough voice rang out.

“What the hell is this supposed to be?”

Frustration dripped from every word. Annoyance practically oozed from the speaker’s tone, and it was all directed at Peng Zhou.

“I didn’t expect much. Just hold out for one fucking minute. You couldn’t even manage that?”

“…!”

A foot appeared in front of his face. Peng Zhou jerked his head aside, but—

The incoming kick shifted angles midair and slammed into his shoulder.

Smack!

“Gah!”

Pain exploded in his left shoulder, twisting his body.

The pain was sharp but bearable. Gritting his teeth, Peng Zhou lunged for the blade buried in the ground.

Shlick—!

The blade slid free, immediately enveloped in a dark aura.

But—

Thud—.

“…!?”

His foot suddenly slipped.

A leg had swept in and shattered his stance.

“Is your inner demon some kind of damn excuse?”

Crunch—!

“Guah!”

A fist smashed into his face.

Peng Zhou’s upper body crumpled and bounced off the ground.

“Using that as a cover to hide your own incompetence, huh?”

Another punch pounded into his chest.

Boom—!!

Thunk! Crack—!!

His body slammed into the floor, spreading fractures outward in every direction.

“Guhh—!”

Blood splattered from his mouth.

“And you’re dressing up your bullshit with excuses?”

The voice—and the fists—didn’t stop.

Bang! Bang bang! Bang—!!

Blow after blow rained down. The repeated impact drove Peng Zhou’s mind to the brink of breaking.

Thunk—!

Then, as if waiting for the moment, the attacks ceased.

Drip.

Drip…

A faint sound pulled Peng Zhou’s consciousness back.

There he stood—Gu Yangcheon. Blood dripped steadily from his clenched fist.

Most likely, it was his own blood.

“Kh… urgh…”

Peng Zhou coughed up another mouthful of blood, his body trembling slightly.

“You… damn brat… I… I’m the head of the Peng Clan… the Blade King Peng…”

“What? Giving me your fucking résumé now?”

Gu Yangcheon smirked before—

Whoosh—!!

He grabbed Peng Zhou and hurled him aside.

Thud—!

Peng Zhou barely landed on his feet, staggering as he tried to keep himself upright.

“Cough… ugh.”

What the hell just happened?

What the hell was this situation?

‘…Did I… lose to that kid?’

Not just anyone—but the son of Gu Cheolwoon. That bastard’s son had done this?

Shlick.

Peng Zhou touched his swollen cheek. Even the slightest touch sent waves of pain rippling through it.

His cheek, of all places.

The same spot that bastard had struck before. It stung like hell.

“Ghh…!”

Grinding his teeth, Peng Zhou glared at Gu Yangcheon.

“Look at those eyes.”

Gu Yangcheon sneered, mockery dripping from his words.

“After getting your ass handed to you, you still don’t get it, do you?”

“You fucking bastard—!”

Peng Zhou’s face contorted into something monstrous.

He knew the kid was strong—how could he not?

He’d seen the duel with the Divine Dragon. He’d seen the fight against that brat from Mount Hua.

He knew Gu Yangcheon was strong.

But—

‘This is insane.’

He’d never thought he’d be pushed this far.

‘What kind of monster…?’

Even with his mind clouded by the demon within, Peng Zhou knew.

The gap between them was monstrous.

Unnatural.

He had gathered information about Gu Yangcheon.

He knew the kid was a troublemaker who’d earned the nickname ‘Scourge of Shanxi’ as a child.

‘Like father, like son.’

He’d heard the same phrase used to describe Gu Cheolwoon.

It had comforted him at the time.

It gave him hope—hope that this brat would be just as easy to crush.

But now—

“You… what the hell are you—”

Before he could finish, Peng Zhou raised his blade in desperation.

Boom—!!

Gu Yangcheon’s knee smashed into it.

“Urgh—!”

Screech—!

Peng Zhou stumbled backward, the impact driving him off balance.

Gu Yangcheon didn’t wait for his words—he just kept pressing forward.

Clang! Clang clang!

Blades clashed with fists, but the sound was all wrong.

Gu Yangcheon’s fists weren’t normal—they were like iron.

Creak—!

It was a struggle just to block.

This wasn’t like the fight with the Twin Dragon.

The Twin Dragon’s attacks neutralized everything, leaving no openings.

But this—

‘He’s overpowering me with sheer force.’

Gu Yangcheon wasn’t hiding his strength—he was flaunting it.

Faster. Stronger.

Openings? Sure.

But—

Smack.

“Guhh!”

He couldn’t exploit them.

Gu Yangcheon was always faster.

Was this kid really stronger than him?

‘…Damn it.’

He had to find an opening somehow—

“Leg.”

The word slipped out like a command.

Peng Zhou flinched.

What? What the hell did that mean?

Crunch—!

“…!!!”

Gu Yangcheon’s shin smashed into Peng Zhou’s knee joint.

He didn’t need to look.

It was broken.

Pain shot through his leg, toppling his stance.

But there was no time to register it.

“Chest.”

“…Khugh!”

His body moved instinctively to guard, recalling the last strike—

Crack—!

“Ghah!”

Crack!

This time, it wasn’t his chest but Peng Zhou’s left arm that bent the wrong way.

What the hell just happened? He stared at Gu Yangcheon, eyes wide with shock.

“You actually fell for that.”

Gu Yangcheon smirked, his voice dripping with condescension.

“How does someone as fragile as you lead a clan?”

“You bastard—!!”

Realizing he’d been deceived, Peng Zhou roared in fury.

“Idiot.”

But there was nowhere for that anger to go.

Snap—!

Gu Yangcheon grabbed Peng Zhou’s already injured arm.

Shlick—!

Without warning, two of Peng Zhou’s fingernails were ripped out.

“There. I promised I’d take two.”

Promised who?

The sudden attack left Peng Zhou frozen—he couldn’t even scream.

Smack—!

“Ugh!”

His head snapped back. What the hell just hit him?

Judging by the impact, it felt like a kick.

“From now on, it’s just for fun.”

Gu Yangcheon’s words marked the beginning of hell.

Fists and feet.

A storm of attacks poured down on Peng Zhou.

Crack! Crunch!

The sounds of breaking and shattering echoed as his body absorbed blow after blow.

“Guhh… kuh…”

Peng Zhou couldn’t even manage a proper scream.

And the audience? Silent.

“…Is that really…?”

“The Blade King’s getting destroyed like this…?”

The Scourge of Shanxi who had defeated the Divine Dragon.

Some had doubted Gu Yangcheon could win. They remembered his previous displays of strength but still wondered—could he take down the Blade King?

But—

“This is too brutal.”

“Shouldn’t someone stop this? He’s going to die!”

No one had expected it to be this one-sided.

It wasn’t a duel.

It was violence.

The kind of sick display you’d see from a bully tormenting the weak.

And that discomfort rippled through the crowd.

The gap between them was undeniable.

A member of the Six Pillars, overwhelmed by a man barely past twenty.

It was hard to believe.

Boom!

“Guhh—!”

Peng Zhou spat blood, stumbling back before collapsing to his knees.

“Hah… haah… hah…”

He hadn’t been the most refined-looking man, but as the leader of a prestigious clan, he’d always dressed the part.

Now?

His clothes were in tatters. His face was so swollen that he didn’t even look like himself anymore.

He bled with every breath, struggling just to stay conscious.

The audience covered their mouths, horrified.

“I really don’t get it.”

Gu Yangcheon rolled his neck, looking down at his opponent.

“Why’d you step up if you’re this weak?”

“…!”

His words cut deeper than any blade.

Drip.

Blood fell from Gu Yangcheon’s clenched fist.

“Ghh… ah…”

Peng Zhou’s memories stirred.

Gu Yangcheon’s face blurred, overlapping with another.

Gu Cheolwoon.

“…That… bastard…”

His heart pounded.

The humiliation—

It was the same as back then.

Years had passed—decades, even—but here he was, reliving the same nightmare.

And this time?

It wasn’t the father.

It was the son.

In front of all these people.

“I’ll… kill you… I’ll kill you!”

His fury dwarfed even what he’d felt against the Twin Dragon.

He’d lost all sense of reason.

Dueling be damned.

Peng Zhou tapped into his inner energy, ready to burn every ounce of strength he had left.

“Hm.”

Gu Yangcheon tilted his head.

Was it the sudden surge of energy?

No.

It wasn’t that.

Buzz.

The energy from his heart pulsed.

Wooooom—!

The demonic aura flared, and Gu Yangcheon smiled.

‘Finally.’

Beating the man half to death had bought him time.

It had worked.

And now—

“I swear… no matter what it takes… I’ll kill—!”

Crack!

“Guhh!”

Peng Zhou’s jaw snapped shut as Gu Yangcheon’s fist slammed into it.

Thud.

The Blade King collapsed.

Gu Yangcheon kicked his unconscious body aside, as if he were nothing more than garbage.

There wasn’t a shred of emotion in his eyes.

‘Tch.’

What a waste.

Beating him had felt empty. Maybe he’d been fighting opponents who were too weak lately.

“Uh… uh…?”

The referee stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened.

No one had expected this.

The Blade King had lost.

A member of the Six Pillars.

Defeated by a man barely out of his twenties.

And not just defeated—beaten into the ground until he passed out.

“G-Gu Yangcheon…”

The referee barely managed to get the words out.

Ssssss—.

Gu Yangcheon stirred the demonic energy within his heart.

The signal was clear.

‘Begin.’

Just as the referee opened his mouth to declare the winner—

Rumble—!

A massive tremor erupted.

Roooar—!!!

The Murim Alliance—

No, the entire Hanam region—

Began to shake.