Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1140

Chapter 1140

The man’s untamed hair, streaked with white, bristled as though resisting the very pull of the earth.

His towering physique was well over eight feet, every inch corded with hardened muscle.

A rough-hewn face, bearing the unmistakable marks of the Gu family, was half-hidden behind a coarse, thick beard that amplified his fearsome demeanor.

He appeared to be in the uncertain years between middle and old age.

Most striking of all were his crimson eyes, a vivid declaration of his bloodline and allegiance.

He was staring at me with an expression of pure astonishment.

And I found myself mirroring his shock.

‘…What is this old man doing here?’

This man was Gu Ryun.

Elder Il of the Gu family, and someone who had been like a grandfather to me.

‘…Damn. He looks so young.’

His mere presence here was strange, but what was even more startling was his youthful appearance.

Of course, this was the past; it was to be expected.

‘But *this* young?’

The contrast with the Elder Il I remembered was staggering.

For an instant, I wondered if I had misidentified him, but…

‘No, it’s definitely Elder Il.’

I could never mistake him for anyone else.

His sheer presence, the intense heat rolling off his body, and that unique stance—it was all unmistakable.

However.

‘…His cultivation is different.’

The energy radiating from him was nothing like what I knew.

The Elder Il from my memory was at the Hwagyeong stage.

Somewhere in the early to mid-stages—a capable but unexceptional master for a great family elder, his name counted among the Hundred Masters.

But the Gu Ryun standing before me now was nothing like that.

‘He’s powerful.’

Immeasurably more so.

Early Hwagyeong? Mid-stage? The idea was almost laughable.

He was at the very peak of Hwagyeong, hovering on the brink of true transcendence.

‘…How can this be?’

If this was Gu Ryun in his prime… then what became of the Elder Il I knew?

‘Could it be…?’

Was this the reason?

Elder Il used to grumble often about how much stronger he had been in his youth.

I had always dismissed it as the bitter complaints of an old man.

‘But he was actually telling the truth?’

The gulf between this man and the one I knew was like the heavens and the earth.

Compared to his prime, he had been reduced to a shadow.

‘No wonder he was so full of regret.’

It was a wonder he could still manage to laugh and joke about it.

At that moment—

“WE GREET THE GREAT MASTER YEOMAH FIST…!”

Soi, along with Do Yun and Namgung Jin, hurriedly dropped into deep bows.

“Hahaha! Yes, yes, good to see you all.”

Gu Ryun gave a broad grin and waved a dismissive hand.

“The sharp-tongued little disciple from Mount Hua grows more lovely each time I see you. Is that old fool of a sect leader treating you well?”

He spoke to Soi with familiar ease, making her jump slightly in surprise.

“A-Ah, yes… My master is kinder to me than anyone.”

The way she referred to him made it obvious—it was almost certainly the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.

Hearing her quick defense, Gu Ryun clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk. He’d better be. You’re the only disciple he managed to snag before his twilight years. If that mad dog finally learned some restraint, it’s because of you.”

A mad dog?

That wasn’t a term I would ever associate with the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.

Soi seemed to share the thought, offering an uncomfortable smile.

“Haha… No, my master has always been gentle.”

“…Gentle?”

Gu Ryun’s face contorted in disbelief.

“This is what happens when people age. If you knew what your master was like in his youth, you’d probably pass out on the spot.”

Shaking his head as if to dispel a foul memory, he then turned to Namgung Jin with a smirk.

“And our Namgung brat. It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“…I greet the great master.”

Namgung Jin offered a stiff, reluctant bow.

Gu Ryun snorted.

“Still as discourteous as ever. Well, I suppose that’s to be expected from your lot.”

He didn’t press the issue further, but his expression said everything—*Those damn Namgungs are all the same.*

Next, his attention fell on Do Yun.

“And who are you? I don’t believe I know your face.”

“…I am Do Yun of the Sanseo Sword Family. I greet the great master.”

“Hm?”

At the mention of the Sanseo Sword Family, Gu Ryun’s demeanor shifted slightly.

A flicker of recognition passed through his eyes.

“I see. Do your best, then.”

“Thank you.”

After nodding at Do Yun’s polite response—

*Grip.*

A heavy hand clamped down on my shoulder.

“And you. Who are you?”

“…”

“This is odd. For a second there, I thought you were that brat Cheolwoon… but you’re someone else entirely.”

“…Great master.”

Soi cautiously spoke up.

“…With all respect, he doesn’t look anything like the Vice Commander…”

…What?

That sounded suspiciously like an insult.

Not just different, but *doesn’t look anything like* him?

“Well, of course they don’t. If anything, only the eyes bear a slight resemblance. But between the two, Cheolwoon is a hundred times more handsome.”

“Yes… It’s difficult to disagree…”

“The hell? What are you two talking about, right in front of my face?”

Irritated, I swatted Gu Ryun’s hand off my shoulder.

“Oh?”

Gu Ryun’s eyes sparkled with newfound interest as he studied me.

I met the gaze of this younger Elder Il and spoke plainly.

“I am Baek Yangcheon of the Baek Family. I greet the great master Yeomah Fist.”

“Baek Yangcheon?”

Gu Ryun’s eyes widened at the name.

Then, abruptly—

“Ahaha! So it’s you! The one that caught that lunatic’s eye.”

“…Pardon?”

“What a shame… To think you drew the attention of that madman…”

“…What?”

“I heard he was suddenly hunting for a disciple, so I had to come see for myself. Now I understand why.”

“…”

I didn’t need him to elaborate to know exactly who he meant.

And as if summoned by the thought—

“Gu Ryun.”

A low voice called out from behind.

A man in black robes stepped forward.

He wasn’t as tall as Gu Ryun, but his presence was no less imposing beside the giant.

“P-Paejon! I greet the great master!”
“…I greet the great master Paejon…!”

The sky of the orthodox sects.

One of the Three Masters—Paejon.

“What are you doing here?”

Paejon’s gaze was dark as it settled on Gu Ryun.

Gu Ryun, however, just smirked, amused by his arrival.

“What else? I heard you took a disciple, so I came to have a look.”

“…”

Paejon’s eyes shifted toward me.

“…A disciple.”

His gaze was inscrutable.

As if he were weighing something. Or perhaps, his decision was already final.

A brief silence hung in the air.

Then, Paejon spoke.

“It’s true. He is my disciple.”

With those words, the very atmosphere seemed to tremble.

Paejon had formally declared me his disciple.

“Isn’t that right?”

“…”

I couldn’t even form a response.

All I could do was curse this damned bastard inwardly.

‘Son of a bitch.’

Just look at those eyes.

He was already planning to make trouble for me.

Anyway.

‘I thought getting away to Anhui for a while would help, but…’

Instead, it seemed he had simply been waiting for an opportunity.

Paejon’s gaze was sharp—lethal, even.

“I heard you made quite a stir in Anhui.”
“…I didn’t do anything of note.”
“Is that so? My impression differs.”
“…”

He knew something. Or rather, it seemed he was anticipating something.

“Well, no matter. This is perfect timing. I was on my way to find you.”
“Me?”

He came to find me? A sense of dread shot down my spine.

“Oh, in that case, I’ll see you later. I just finished an important mission and need to report to the Alliance Leader first. I’ll find time to meet—”
“Unnecessary. I’ve already secured that man’s permission.”
“…What?”
“He said I could take you with me.”
“No way, that’s absur—!”

*Clunk!*

“Gah!?”

Paejon’s hand shot out and seized me by the scruff of the neck.

“Shall we go and have a heartfelt talk? Master to disciple?”
“Wait, hold on—just a second!”

There was no time to argue. Before I could process it—

*Whoooosh—!!!*

The world around me blurred and changed.

“Ah, damn it… Life really is the worst.”

I muttered the words in utter resignation.

As always, nothing ever went my way.

**********

Just like that, Paejon had appeared out of nowhere, snatched Baek Yangcheon, and disappeared.

“…”
“…”

In the sudden quiet that followed, the group stood frozen in place.

Then—

“Hahahahahaha!!!”

Gu Ryun finally erupted in laughter.

“Ahaha… Ahahahaha! That crazy bastard.”

It had been years since he had last seen his old friend.

Lately, the man had been secluded in the mountains, claiming to have found some profound enlightenment.

And now, out of the blue, he had come to the Martial Alliance—declaring he had taken a disciple.

The sheer absurdity had been enough to draw Gu Ryun’s curiosity.

“And he really did pick a strange one.”

He had found himself a disciple just as odd as he was.

But more than that—

‘This kid is unusual.’

His eyes were brazen. His entire face was etched with a profound dissatisfaction with the world—it made Gu Ryun want to cuff him on the head.

And yet.

‘That’s all.’

Normally, such insolent eyes would have earned the brat a lesson in manners.

But instead of irritation, Gu Ryun felt only a vague amusement.

It was peculiar.

Why did he feel this way?

More importantly—

‘Why did I mistake him?’

Why had he, even for an instant, confused him for Gu Cheolwoon?

Gu Ryun couldn’t comprehend it.

They shared no resemblance.

To exaggerate, Gu Cheolwoon was a hundred times more handsome.

And yet, for a fleeting moment, that brat had seemed the spitting image of him.

His aura was different. His presence was different.

And still, something had deceived Gu Ryun’s senses.

“Hmmm…”

Even more than that—his eyes.

There was something about Baek Yangcheon’s eyes.

It was a look one could only earn through experience, through a specific kind of life.

And yet—

‘Has there ever been another family with such defiant eyes?’

Eyes that one was simply born with.

They were strikingly similar to those of the Gu family.

No, even among the Gu, they were exceptionally Gu-like.

It was a ridiculous notion, but Gu Ryun found himself tilting his head in puzzlement.

And just then—

*Creeeak—!!!*

The doors to the Alliance Leader’s Office swung open, and a figure emerged.

It was the man Gu Ryun had been waiting for.

“…Lord of the First Sword Division?”

Gu Cheolwoon stepped out, his own eyes widening slightly at the sight of Gu Ryun.

Yes, that face.

Gu Ryun nodded to himself in understanding.

Then, with a curious expression, he posed a question to Gu Cheolwoon.

“What brings you here…?”
“Cheolwoon.”
“Yes.”
“By any chance…”

Gu Ryun chose his next words with deliberate care.

“Do you happen to have… a half-brother?”
“…?”

Gu Cheolwoon’s gaze wavered.

It was perhaps the most absurd thing he had ever been asked.