Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1141

Chapter 1141

Whoosh—!!!

The wind tore through my hair for what seemed an endless stretch of time. The violent gusts forced my eyes shut and made my forehead crease against my will.

…Just how far does he intend to take this?

Paejon.
How long had this obstinate old man been hauling me through the air?

By my reckoning, at least half a *keun*—roughly fifteen minutes.

Traveling at this speed for that long… just how much distance had we covered?

I really hope we haven’t left Hanam.

It was entirely possible. I couldn’t fathom a good reason to depart, but by rough estimation, it wouldn’t be surprising if we had.

And then, suddenly—

Boom—!!!

A heavy impact erupted as Paejon landed, the ground fracturing and rebounding under the force.

Swish—!

Paejon released his grip on me. My body spun uncontrollably, but I twisted my energy and landed firmly on my feet.

“Hoo—!”

I exhaled deeply. Paejon shot me a wide grin.

“It’s been too long since I stretched my legs like that. Felt good. Very good.”

“…I almost didn’t survive it, you know.”

What was his idea, snatching me by the neck and leaping into the sky? I relaxed my tense muscles and looked at him.

“Why did you bring me all the way out here?”

I had no clue where we were. Nothing but forest surrounded us, trees stretching in every direction.
Why drag me to a place like this?

At my question, Paejon’s eyes glinted.

“We have matters to discuss, don’t we? And you’re the one who wouldn’t want that conversation happening in front of the Sword Master, not me.”

“……”

I had no retort. He was absolutely right.

“You impulsive fool. You drop all that crucial information on me and then dash off to Hanam—what was I supposed to do with that? Did you think I’d just trot over to that old man and spill everything?”

“…No, of course not. I was rushed, I didn’t have many options.”

That wasn’t entirely true. I did have a choice. I ran. Because if I hadn’t, I had no idea what that old man would have done to me.

The one thing I could rely on was—

At the very least, he wouldn’t go reporting everything to the Sword Master.

Having known Paejon for a while, I was certain of that much.

Especially since this concerned something far from ordinary—

It’s about my martial art.

Paejon had devoted his entire life to mastering Tua Pacheonmu.

He never found a suitable disciple, and as age weakened his body, he even contemplated pursuing methods to reverse his aging.

And now, someone like me had appeared before him. There was only one thing occupying his thoughts.

Martial arts.

The Tua Pacheonmu that I had learned.

The knowledge within it.
That was the only thing on Paejon’s mind.

And true to form, he confirmed it with his next words.

“I’ve been pondering what you told me.”

Paejon stared intently at me as he spoke.

“I don’t know if what you’re claiming is true. It’s ludicrous, honestly… But.”

What an absurd thing to say.
I never expected him to believe me immediately.
But judging by his tone and the way he trailed off—

It doesn’t matter whether he believes me or not.

I never asked for his belief. That wasn’t the goal.

“The only thing that matters is the Tua Pacheonmu inside you. That is my only interest.”

He believed in martial arts.

Victory or defeat were irrelevant.
He sought only the art itself.

If there was one thing I understood about Paejon, it was that he wouldn’t trust words.

But he would trust power.

“I’ll ask you again.”

Clench.

Paejon tightened his fist.
It was twice the size of the young Paejon I recalled.
A rough, calloused hand.

“Are you truly my disciple?”

“…It appears so.”

There was no point in denying it now.

“Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, how far have you advanced in Tua Pacheonmu?”

“…Up to the Fifth Form, Heaven-Shattering.”

“Heaven-Shattering?”

Paejon tilted his head.
His face showed clear confusion.

“What are you talking about? The Fifth Form isn’t Heaven-Shattering.”

“…It isn’t?”

It wasn’t?
The Fifth Form I learned was definitely Heaven-Shattering.

“You don’t even comprehend what Heaven-Shattering is. Show me.”

Without a moment’s delay, Paejon walked to a nearby boulder and sat down.

Propping his chin on his hand, he watched me with a keen, amused light in his eyes.

Hah.

Now I get it.

His reaction made everything clear.

Dragging me all this way.
Pulling me aside not to talk, but to observe.

He’s curious.

If what I said was true—
If I had truly turned back time—
If I was genuinely his disciple—

Then—

What distinguishes the Tua Pacheonmu I learned—

From the one he is crafting now?

That’s all he cares about.

Whether I am truly his disciple.
Whether I really regressed.
None of that is important.

He is only interested in the divergence of our martial arts.

…Unbelievable.

I was constantly reminded of just how single-minded this man could be.

“I often think this, you know.”

“What?”

“You’re in a league of your own, old man.”

“…Hmm?”

“I get called a madman quite frequently. But every time, you teach me a lesson.”

That there are people out there who are far more insane.

“…What was that, boy?”

“Nothing. Just sit there and watch.”

He took my side.
Acknowledged me as his disciple.
The least I could do was offer this in return.

I steadied my core.

Boom—!!

A wave of force burst forth.
My meridians expanded.
The energy of Tua Pacheonmu flooded through my body.

Saaah—!!

Wild. Unpolished.
Yet ferocious and untamed.

I mastered the beast within, allowing my body to awaken.

Heaven-Shattering breaks the sky.

And to break the sky—
The sky must first be present.

The Fourth Form, Azure Sky, had to be activated first.

Twitch—!

Heat flared through my meridians.
The violent energy threatened to rip my body apart.

But Paejon had been seeking a Heavenly Martial Body.

Whether through Rebirth via Destruction or Dragon’s Reconstitution, my body had been remade.

It could endure the backlash.

And so—

I compressed the very sky into my fingertips.

Whoooosh—!!!

“Huh?”

Paejon let out a stunned breath.

A sphere of gray energy coalesced in my palm.

It swiftly took shape—
a perfectly round orb.

I closed my hand.

Heaven-Shattering.

Crack—!

The formed sky shattered.

A storm unleashed.

Kuaaaaahhh—!!!

A shockwave radiated out.
Not merely an explosion—
a spiraling vortex of slicing winds tore through everything around me.

Kugagagaga—!!!

Stone, trees, the earth itself—
all were devoured.

And just as it was about to reach Paejon’s feet—

Ssss—!!!

I pulled the energy back, reabsorbing it.

In that moment—

«Ha ha.»

Paejon looked at me and laughed.

«Hahahaha—!!»

He roared with laughter, as though immensely pleased. I stared, baffled by his reaction.

«This is what you call the Fifth Form?»

«Yes. That’s the name I was given.»

«…You’ve conceived something strange. I always pondered what could possibly fit in the middle, and you decided to integrate Azure Sky?»

I couldn’t tell if he was disappointed or impressed. His expression was inscrutable.

His shining eyes were just disconcerting.

«The Fifth Form, Heaven-Shattering, eh? Not bad.»

With that brief assessment, he rose to his feet.

And then—

Whoooosh—!!!

«…!»

A gray sphere materialized above his palm.

Heaven-Shattering.

What in the world? When did he—?

I was stunned.

Did he just replicate Heaven-Shattering? No, that wasn’t it.

I didn’t sense him using Azure Sky at all.

Azure Sky, the technique that grants immense power to the body. There was no sign of it.

And yet, he conjured Heaven-Shattering just like that?

…No question about it.

Paejon’s control of energy was far beyond what I remembered.
Now I grasped just how much Rebirth through Destruction had cost him.

Whoosh—!!

Paejon tossed the Heaven-Shattering sphere casually into the air.

And then—

Kuaaaaaah—!!!

It detonated high above, shockwaves rippling outward like tides across an ocean.

It was powerful.

The sheer force was staggering.

«Good. This will be suitable for the Fifth Form.»

Paejon nodded to himself, apparently satisfied.

Then—

«So, after this, you never learned the Fifth—no, the Sixth Form?»

«Correct.»

«Why? Did I decline to teach you?»

«No. It wasn’t that.»

Too much occurred before I had the chance to learn it.

Mastering Nine Flames Firewheel alone consumed me. I scarcely had opportunity to study Tua Pacheonmu.

«Hmm… Is that so?»

Paejon tilted his head.

«It doesn’t appear you lacked the potential… Hmm. I see.»

«Why do you ask?»

«Ah, it simply works out perfectly.»

«…What does?»

«I witnessed something worthwhile today… And if it were me, I wouldn’t have altered the Sixth Form either. It’s impossible to make it more perfect than it already is.»

«What are you—»

Before I could finish—

Tap.

Paejon materialized directly in front of me.

Thump—!

Instantly, my focus sharpened.

My Tua activated automatically.

My heart hammered. My instincts flared, violently pulling energy through my body to produce Force Qi.

A raw, survival-driven reflex.

«I’ll instruct you in the Sixth Form now. And… the finest way to learn is through the body, don’t you agree?»

There was no time to answer.

My arms were already moving.

«The name of the Sixth Form is One Fist.»

A blunt, straightforward name.

And exactly as named—Paejon’s fist extended with effortless grace.

«Remember it well. Because no one can withstand this.»

What followed was far from simple.

Thud.

A slight impact—

Rumble.

—and the entire world contorted.