Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 552

“What’s going on here…?”

Gu Ryeonghwa asked as she took in the scene unfolding before her, fresh from her early morning training.

“What does it look like?”

She turned to her older brother, who was lazily yawning beside her, and asked. Gu Yangcheon wiped the sleep from his eyes and answered matter-of-factly.

“Isn’t it obvious? They’re about to spar.”

“No, I mean…”

Why now, of all times? That’s what she wanted to ask but held back.

There was more she wanted to say, a mountain of words she had to suppress.

‘What is this nonsense?’

Forcing herself to keep her swelling frustration in check, she narrowed her eyes at the scene ahead. On the gravel bank by the flowing stream, two young men stood facing each other.

One was a neatly dressed youth clad in the pristine white martial robes of the Mount Hua Sect.

The other, with pale skin, wore a tattered martial uniform that looked like it had been scavenged from somewhere. According to her brother, this youth was a friend of his—a supposed acquaintance of Yeongpung.

‘Did he say he was from Kunlun?’

Gu Ryeonghwa wasn’t entirely sure. She’d never seen a Daoist from the Kunlun Sect before, but this young man seemed far from what she imagined a Daoist would look like.

‘There’s something… chilling about him.’

Sharp and cold—that was the impression he gave her.

“Are they really going to spar?”

“Why else would they be standing there?”

Gu Yangcheon’s typically rude tone grated on her nerves.

‘This brother of mine…’

He hadn’t even responded to the countless letters she’d sent. Now that they’d finally met after so long, his attitude was as insufferable as ever.

‘We may not have had the best relationship, but isn’t this a bit much?’

Their sibling bond had never been particularly strong, but she had tried to bridge the gap. Seeing him act like this made her effort feel like a waste.

Even so, Gu Ryeonghwa swallowed her anger, knowing now wasn’t the time to let it out.

She turned to her brother and asked, “Do you really think that man can beat Yeongpung?”

She’d heard the stakes. If that pale stranger won the spar, they would reveal why they were heading to Wudang.

When she first heard it, she had to suppress a laugh.

‘That’s ridiculous.’

The stranger was clearly Yeongpung’s age and appeared far less physically imposing.

Thin and frail, as though he’d gone hungry for days. Could someone like that possibly defeat Yeongpung?

‘No way.’

Gu Ryeonghwa was confident. That wasn’t going to happen.

This wasn’t just anyone—it was Yeongpung.

The youngest Plum Blossom Swordsman of the Mount Hua Sect, hailed as the sect’s most talented martial artist in generations.

And now, with his recent fortuitous encounter, Yeongpung’s growth had only accelerated.

A fellow disciple of his generation capable of defeating Yeongpung?

In Gu Ryeonghwa’s eyes, such a person didn’t exist.

‘But…’

Her thoughts trailed off as she glanced at her brother.

There he was, yawning again, looking as nonchalant as ever.

“…”

Gu Ryeonghwa didn’t think so, but perhaps there was someone Yeongpung himself considered stronger than him.

And that person… was her brother.

‘…Why?’

As though sensing her thoughts, Gu Yangcheon frowned slightly, picking at his ear in an unrefined manner.

The sight was utterly unimpressive.

‘…Why him?’

Gu Ryeonghwa had always been curious about her brother. She was aware of the rumors and stories surrounding him.

The True Dragon who conquered the Young Phoenix Gathering, earning the title of Dragon’s Name.

Shortly after, he was dubbed the youngest Peak Martial Artist, and later became a hero in the aftermath of the Shinryong Pavilion Incident, where he stopped a powerful Demonic Sect master and ended a massacre.

For this, he had earned the title Little Flame King.

At the time, Gu Yangcheon’s name was widely spoken of across Zhongyuan. But no one truly believed the rumors—not even his own sister.

Even now, Gu Ryeonghwa knew the nickname that had been attached to him after his supposed rise as the youngest Peak Martial Artist:

‘The youngest Grandmaster? That’s absurd.’

The rumors were utterly ridiculous, even for family.

As a martial artist herself, she understood just how absurd those claims were.

‘There’s no way he could’ve achieved that.’

When she had last seen him at Mount Hua, she heard stories of his involvement in various incidents.

But she had never witnessed him fight. All she knew was that he had managed to survive by some miracle.

He wasn’t just a troublemaker; he had some talent.

That’s all Gu Ryeonghwa thought of him. But Yeongpung seemed to view Gu Yangcheon differently.

When the rumors of the Young Phoenix Gathering surfaced:

‘As expected of young master Gu.’

When the rumors of him being the youngest Peak Martial Artist spread:

‘It had to be young master Gu!’

And when he returned to Mount Hua after the Shinryong Pavilion Incident:

‘It’s always… young master Gu…’

That’s what Yeongpung would constantly say.

Even as he advanced in his own martial path and mastered the Plum Blossom Sword to dazzling perfection, Yeongpung’s eyes were always fixed on one person.

To surpass him.

To stand beside him.

Yeongpung was chasing after something far away. Gu Ryeonghwa knew it was her brother, but she didn’t understand why Yeongpung held him in such regard.

Still, to see Yeongpung sparring with a stranger instead of her brother—it baffled her.

“Do you think he’ll lose?” Gu Yangcheon asked casually.

Gu Ryeonghwa didn’t answer, but her silence was a clear affirmation.

Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon smiled slightly, which made her scowl.

“What are you smiling about?”

“I just think your reaction is expected.”

Gu Yangcheon seemed to acknowledge that the situation was unusual.

However…

“Just watch,” he said, his gaze steady as always.

“I don’t think things will go the way you expect.”

At those words, Gu Ryeonghwa turned her eyes back to the two young men standing on the gravel.

*

Swoosh—!

The sound of the waterfall echoed around the valley.

A gentle breeze carried through the air, and clouds drifted lazily above.

In the serene atmosphere, Yeongpung stood silently, his gaze fixed ahead.

Before him was a young man holding a sword.

His disheveled hair and pale skin were striking, and his movements betrayed no hint of vitality.

As Yeongpung studied him, his eyes shifted slightly.

He glanced toward Gu Yangcheon, who stood off to the side, watching the two of them with his characteristic, sharp gaze filled with interest.

‘What are you thinking?’

Yeongpung wondered as he looked at him.

What was going through Gu Yangcheon’s mind?

Why had he paired Yeongpung with Seong Yul?

Was it because he thought Yeongpung wasn’t ready to spar with him? The thought brought a faint, bitter smile to Yeongpung’s face.

‘He wouldn’t be wrong.’

Yeongpung had known the moment he saw Gu Yangcheon.

‘…I can’t feel anything from him.’

He could barely sense his presence, let alone discern his level.

This could only mean one thing: Gu Yangcheon’s level was far beyond Yeongpung’s grasp.

It had been the same in the past, but now it felt as though Gu Yangcheon had climbed even higher, soaring to unreachable heights.

And that fact…

‘As expected.’

It didn’t dishearten Yeongpung; instead, it motivated him.

No matter how hard he pushed himself forward, Gu Yangcheon was always ahead.

And not just ahead—he moved faster, farther, leaving Yeongpung struggling to catch up.

Yet, Yeongpung continued to chase him, determined to close the gap.

When they first met, it was Gu Yangcheon who had shattered Yeongpung’s illusion of greatness.

He had broken through Yeongpung’s arrogance and shown him the vast sky beyond the well he had been trapped in.

Gu Yangcheon had given him an unrelenting goal—something to strive for endlessly.

And so…

‘I thought I’d gotten a little closer.’

But no. He realized how far he still had to go.

Even after inheriting the intent of someone great, he was still lacking.

‘How far do you plan to go?’

Yeongpung marveled at Gu Yangcheon.

Where was he headed? How could he move forward at such a pace?

Whenever Yeongpung felt pride creeping in, whenever he thought of relaxing his efforts, Gu Yangcheon would come and crush that arrogance beneath his heel.

It was exhausting yet invigorating—a strange contradiction that Yeongpung couldn’t help but find amusing.

Still…

‘Whatever the reason.’

Gu Yangcheon always had his reasons. This time would be no different.

Although he felt some regret at not being able to spar with Gu Yangcheon and mild dissatisfaction at being paired with Seong Yul instead, Yeongpung trusted him.

Facing Seong Yul, Yeongpung raised his sword.

“Please take care of me, young master Seong.”

“…”

Seong Yul said nothing. He simply raised his sword in silence.

The air around him felt uneasy, a strange and disconcerting aura emanating from his still form.

‘What is this?’

Yeongpung couldn’t make sense of it.

Why was Seong Yul’s presence so light and ungraspable?

He didn’t know. But that didn’t mean he would let his guard down.

If Gu Yangcheon had chosen Seong Yul as his opponent, there had to be a reason.

“Let’s begin.”

At those words, the match commenced.

Yeongpung immediately unleashed his energy.

Whoosh—!

From his danjeon, an overwhelming surge of Daoist energy erupted, enveloping his body and radiating outward.

‘Urgh…!’

The intensity of the energy made Yeongpung grit his teeth.

It was too powerful—so much so that he could barely control it.

The sheer volume of energy was immense, and it was turbulent.

‘The plum blossoms are raging.’

That was how it felt.

The once-gentle petals of the Plum Blossom Sword were now infused with a wild, chaotic force.

Complete control was out of the question.

Yeongpung could only wrap the energy around his body, struggling to regulate its outward flow.

Thud!

What should have been a light step carried weight and force.

Then…

Boom—!

Yeongpung launched himself forward like a shooting star.

“Oh,” Gu Yangcheon murmured, a note of admiration in his voice as he watched.

Swish—!

Yeongpung’s sword cut through the air, wrapped in potent Daoist energy.

‘Smooth.’

Though Yeongpung was clearly straining, Gu Yangcheon’s impression was different.

The Plum Blossom Sword style of Mount Hua emphasized fluidity and grace.

Like petals scattered in the wind, it was elegant and serene—a sword style of unparalleled beauty.

But few understood how difficult it was to achieve such elegance.

‘A smooth sword path means it’s hard to apply force.’

Imbuing a delicate sword with sharpness without disrupting its path required an extraordinary level of control.

And…

‘That’s why Mount Hua’s martial artists are so physically exceptional.’

Gu Yangcheon recalled his visit to Mount Hua, where he had been astounded by their intense physical training and formidable bodies.

Now, he understood.

‘To master that sword, you need a body capable of handling its demands.’

Mount Hua’s sword required precision, strength, and resilience in equal measure. A soft and graceful sword demanded a solid foundation.

And so…

Swish—!

Yeongpung’s sword cleaved through the air.

The energy radiating from his body merged seamlessly with the blade, scattering like petals in the wind.

Watching this, Gu Yangcheon smiled.

‘He’s different now.’

The Yeongpung he once knew, who could barely bloom a single petal, had transformed.

Now, his sword bore the full bloom of the Plum Blossom Sword—a display worthy of a true swordsman of Mount Hua.

Whoosh—!

Though he still struggled to control his energy, the display was nothing short of extraordinary.

‘Yeongpung has surpassed the limits of the younger generation.’

He had stepped beyond the realm of ordinary martial artists. If this version of Yeongpung were to show himself to Zhongyuan, he might even earn the title of Sword Dragon.

Perhaps, in another decade…

‘He might even challenge the title of Sword King.’

Maybe sooner. Yeongpung’s talent was blossoming rapidly.

‘This life is different.’

Yeongpung was one of the few people who had taken a better path in this life.

The genius once crushed by his own talent had found a way forward.

But despite Yeongpung’s brilliance…

‘His opponent won’t be easy.’

Clang—!

The clear ring of clashing swords echoed through the valley.

“…Huh?”

The sound of someone’s shocked exclamation broke through the atmosphere, coming from beside Gu Yangcheon.

It was Gu Ryeonghwa. Her expression was one of pure astonishment.

And with good reason.

Clang! Screeech—!

The sword of Yeongpung, hailed as the prodigy of Mount Hua and someone who had surpassed the limits of the younger generation, was…

“What is… this…?”

…being parried effortlessly by Seong Yul.

‘Well, he’s no ordinary opponent. He was once a candidate for the title of Sword King.’

The title of Sword Queen had eventually gone to the Demon Sword Queen in a previous life. However, the Sword King title had remained unclaimed.

That vacancy existed because the Demon Sword Queen had killed her own father, the Azure Sky Sword King, not long before.

Though no one officially claimed the position, there had been notable candidates. Yeongpung wasn’t among them due to the fall of Mount Hua and his subsequent disappearance in that timeline.

However, the Sword Demon was different.

He had been one of the strongest contenders for the Sword King title.

While he hadn’t officially received the title—lacking the fame of toppling entire factions like the Demon Sword Queen—his skills were undeniable. Had he claimed the title, he might’ve earned a moniker akin to Demonic Sword King.

‘A bit of an opportunist, given the times.’

With so many masters of the sword having perished, the claim to the Sword King title would have been less contested.

But even with such caveats…

‘He was still a candidate.’

The Sword King title wasn’t handed out lightly. That the Sword Demon was considered for it spoke volumes about his ability.

And now, Seong Yul was proving that legacy.

Clang! Clang!

The youthful Sword Demon stood firm against Yeongpung’s blossoming mastery.

He disrupted Yeongpung’s sword path with subtle twists and…

Swish!

…exploited even the smallest openings with surgical precision.

‘He’s using technique to bridge the physical gap.’

Seong Yul was clearly at a disadvantage when it came to strength and physicality. Yet he compensated by flowing with Yeongpung’s attacks.

Screeech—!

Using the flat of his blade, Seong Yul deflected Yeongpung’s strikes, redirecting their force.

The changes were evident on Yeongpung’s face.

‘What is this?’

Every time he thrust his sword, Seong Yul was already in motion, twisting the path of the attack.

Even a slight deviation from the intended trajectory drained the sword of its power, leaving it ineffective. When Yeongpung tried to adjust his footwork to compensate…

Tap!

“…!”

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Seong Yul matched his movements step for step, maintaining the exact same distance.

Yeongpung couldn’t close the gap, nor could he create distance. The strange, unyielding equilibrium felt deeply unsettling.

Seong Yul’s level was far higher than Yeongpung had anticipated—on par with his own, despite the fortuitous encounter that had elevated him.

Even more startling, though, was this:

‘I don’t sense Kunlun’s swordsmanship.’

Seong Yul’s sword carried none of the signature qualities of Kunlun’s techniques.

The unique style of that sect was entirely absent.

Swish! Clang!

Their blades clashed again, sparking energy that sent vibrations through the air.

The difference in strength was evident as Seong Yul’s body shook from the impact.

Yeongpung seized the moment, pressing forward with a low stance.

He adjusted his grip, aiming to strike with the flat of his blade rather than cut with the edge.

As he swung toward Seong Yul…

“…!”

Seong Yul’s expression shifted. His eyes sharpened, and he increased his speed.

Despite the strain on his body, Seong Yul forced his movements, pushing past the limits of control.

It was unnaturally fast—impossibly so for someone in his condition.

Swish—!

‘What the…!’

The erratic, almost monstrous attack forced Yeongpung to change his own sword path, aiming to block instead of counterattack.

But Seong Yul’s strike was disturbingly swift, leaving Yeongpung no room to evade.

Had Seong Yul been holding back all this time? The thought flashed through Yeongpung’s mind.

And then…

[Stop.]

“…!”

Gu Yangcheon’s voice echoed in Seong Yul’s ear.

The instant it did, Seong Yul’s movements slowed.

Yeongpung’s sword slipped past, narrowly grazing Seong Yul’s cheek.

Screeeech—!

Their blades scraped together as both combatants pulled back, creating distance.

Whoosh—!

Yeongpung exhaled deeply, steadying his breath as he looked at Seong Yul.

Seong Yul stood still, his hand lightly touching his cheek.

A thin line of blood trickled down.

It seemed Yeongpung’s sword aura had cut him.

“…”

Yet Seong Yul didn’t seem concerned about the wound. Instead, his eyes widened slightly in surprise, as though something else had shocked him.

Seeing this, Yeongpung spoke.

“…Young master Seong.”

Seong Yul’s gaze shifted to meet his.

“Why did you slow down at the end?”

The attack, which could have easily overwhelmed Yeongpung, had been deliberately pulled back. Yeongpung wanted to know why.

Seong Yul replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

“…I thought I might… kill you.”

It was unclear whether he didn’t understand the urge to kill or why he had stopped himself.

Yeongpung couldn’t tell.

“…Hah.”

With a sigh, Yeongpung sheathed his sword.

“…I’ve lost.”

Though his expression wasn’t entirely content, there was a sense of relief in his admission.

“…The world is still full of people I don’t understand, and I still have a long way to go. I suppose that’s what you wanted me to see, young master Gu.”

Yeongpung smiled faintly, convinced this had all been part of Gu Yangcheon’s plan.

“…Huh? Oh, uh… yes. Sure,” Gu Yangcheon mumbled, unsure of what Yeongpung was rambling about.

‘What’s he going on about?’

Though puzzled by Yeongpung’s interpretation, Gu Yangcheon didn’t bother correcting him. It wasn’t a bad conclusion, after all.

‘He actually won.’

Gu Yangcheon himself found the outcome surprising.

He hadn’t expected Seong Yul to lose outright but hadn’t thought he’d defeat Yeongpung either.

‘I was just testing something.’

This spar had been a way to learn more, not a serious contest.

Yeongpung wasn’t weaker than Seong Yul; rather, he had failed to fully control his energy. If they fought again after Yeongpung gained mastery over his aura…

‘Yeongpung would win.’

Objectively, that seemed likely.

But that wasn’t what mattered.

Gu Yangcheon’s focus was on Seong Yul’s condition.

Seong Yul, with his wide, startled eyes, was now staring directly at Gu Yangcheon, as though realizing something.

Gu Yangcheon smiled.

‘So, it works.’

During the spar, Seong Yul had been on the verge of unleashing the power of the Heavenly Killing Star.

Gu Yangcheon had intervened, suppressing that power.

Seeing the result, he judged the experiment a success.

Of course, there was still more to test, but…

‘He might actually be useful.’

Gu Yangcheon felt confident now—he had found a way to suppress the Heavenly Killing Star’s influence over Seong Yul.

*

As the sparring concluded and noon rolled around, we found ourselves preparing to grill the fish Seong Yul had caught from the valley.

But then, Yeongpung said something that left me completely dumbfounded.

“…What did you just say?”

Following the agreement made during the sparring, I had asked them to explain why the two of them were headed to Wudang.

The response that came out of Yeongpung’s mouth, however, was utterly absurd.

Still holding the fish in my hands, I froze, staring at him in disbelief as he cautiously continued.

“…I think…”

He lowered his voice, clearly wary of anyone overhearing, and spoke with great care.

“…I may have become the successor to the Mount Hua Celestial Sword.”

“…?”

His words made absolutely no sense to me.