Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 848

Chapter 848

Everyone carries memories they would prefer to forget. Martial artists are no exception to this.

At the end of the day, martial artists are still human.

Whether they are supreme grandmasters of peerless skill or beginners still stumbling over the fundamentals, each holds onto moments they wish they could wipe away. Memories they would reverse time to change, or that chill them to the bone with a single thought.

I was not an exception.

In truth, my situation was far worse than most.

For me, simply forgetting wasn’t sufficient. I wanted to tear the memory to shreds, burn it to cinders, and scatter the ashes until nothing remained.

I wanted to bury it so profoundly it could never emerge again, lost to the void for all time.

But the harder I tried, the more fiercely it held on. My mind, so adept at forgetting other things, clung to this one with vicious stubbornness.

Maybe, in some perverse sense, this was my punishment—my own personal karma.

A cruel sentence decreeing I must never be free of it, that I must bear this memory until my final breath.

The memory I couldn’t lose had become my curse. A chain meant to bind me for life, growing heavier with every step I took.

And as destiny would have it—

“Look at those damned eyes.”

That very chain now stood before me, looking exactly as it did all those years ago.

***************

The ragged, faded black martial robes weren’t just worn—they were an embarrassment. I instinctively wrinkled my nose at the sight.

“In heaven’s name, don’t you ever wash your clothes, you wretch? The smell of blood is suffocating.”

The odor of blood radiated from the robes, so thick and potent it turned my stomach.

Had I ever worn something that foul?

Probably not. As careless as I’d been, I would have at least cleaned something that disgusting…

‘…Or maybe I didn’t.’

Dismissing the thought, I abruptly recalled the war against the Kunlun Sect. I had slaughtered so many that blood gathered around my feet and soaked my garments.

If it was from that period, then perhaps I truly did look like this.

Seen in that light, it was perfectly logical.

‘What a disaster.’

His eyes glared at the world with pure, undiluted rage, as if it had personally betrayed him. A savage, malicious stare, combined with an aura of raw demonic energy he made no effort to restrain.

Just being near him felt dangerous, as if he might rip someone apart at any second.

The whole spectacle was so absurd I let out a dry laugh.

“Seeing you again is infuriating. Are you some kind of wild animal? What’s wrong with your eyes? Damn it, people accused me of crimes I didn’t commit because of that homicidal look you carried.”

And that aura…

The heavy, oppressive feeling smothering the area, subtly weighing down on my shoulders, was entirely his doing.

As I’d said before, as one’s skill advances, so does their capacity to control their killing intent, to suppress it when they choose.

“But then, you never cared about any of that, did you?”

My footsteps echoed on the hard ground as I closed the distance between us.

“I’ve spent a lot of time wondering why you behaved that way.”

His eyes fixed on mine, overflowing with bloodlust, self-hatred, and resentment.

It made me want to rip them out on the spot.

“I’ve thought about it deeply—from every angle—but the answer always comes out the same.”

The closer I moved to the throne, the more intense the vibrations in the air grew.

“It’s because you’re just a fool. A total and utter imbecile.”

If anyone asked why he was like that, that’s the only reply I could give.

Was it because he wanted to be seen as a monster? Or because he craved recognition of his existence?

Those lofty ideas were ridiculous. They were far too generous and noble for someone like him.

No, the truth was simpler: he was an idiot. A pitiful, crawling wretch who knew no other way. That was all.

“So, you idiot. Are you going to say something, or not?”

*You’re an idiot.*

It was something I’d wanted to tell him for a very long time.

But my words were met with silence. He didn’t move, like a statue.

“You have a tongue, don’t you? You were plenty talkative before. Why go quiet now?”

He wasn’t paralyzed, either.

I could see the life in his eyes, and the tremors in the air were getting stronger.

RUMBLE—!!

The ground shook with such violence the entire world seemed to quake.

Clicking my tongue in annoyance, I spoke to him again.

“What’s the idea of summoning me here if you’re just going to sit there like a stump?”

At the word *summon*, a light flickered in his eyes.

“What, are you going to deny you called me? Don’t waste my breath. You know exactly what you did.”

It was the truth. While it may have seemed like I came of my own will, that wasn’t the case.

This was a deliberate invitation.

“You were causing such a commotion inside me, how could I possibly ignore it?”

The feeling of chaos, the way my flames were stifled—all of it was his work.

“Now that I’m here, start talking. What is all this nonsense?”

Why did he go to such extreme lengths to bring me here?

“And why did it have to be the Dokcheon Pill that got me here? Don’t you think that’s a ridiculously high price to pay?”

The Dokcheon Pill… or, it wasn’t really that anymore.

Given how it built a resistance to flame energy, it might as well be called the Flame Resistance Pill or something like it.

Whatever its name, my guess was right. Ingesting that pill was what allowed me to reach this place.

And now, here I stood, directly in front of him.

“Do you have any clue how valuable that pill is, you miserable—”

[You talk too much.]

“What?”

His sudden interruption made me glare.

“What did you just say?”

I talk too much? This bastard…

Just as I was ready to unleash a stream of curses—my one genuine talent—he spoke again.

[You once said you hated the sound of your own voice, but now you’ve found the energy to chatter this much?]

“…”

A torrent of insults rushed to my throat, but I couldn’t force out a single word.

[Do you still have that habit of grinding your teeth when you’re forced into something you dislike?]

It was a subconscious thing I did when frustrated.

[Do you still contort your insides to conceal what you feel? Or—]

His violet eyes glinted with a sinister light, his gaze so vile it made me want to turn away.

[—do you still bare your fangs to push everyone away?]

His lips, once still, were now relentless, each word landing with a weight I could scarcely endure.

Creeeak.

He rose from the throne.

[No. Now you are nothing.]

Standing before me, he was physically smaller.

I had shed my old form and grown taller after my transformation. I should have been looking down at him.

And yet, he felt larger.

Even from my higher vantage, it seemed as though he were the one looking down on me.

I narrowed my eyes at him, but he continued speaking.

[Why are you still alive?]

The same question he’d asked previously.

With considerable effort, I forced a response.

“You wretched fool, why do you keep wishing death on me? Does it anger you that much that I’m living?”

[It was the opportunity you craved.]

“What opportunity?”

[A chance to punish yourself in a time before anything occurred. That was your opportunity.]

His voice dripped with disbelief, as if he genuinely could not comprehend.

[So why didn’t you take it?]

“…”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

Was it because the answer was unknown? No. I knew. I simply refused to confront it.

And as if he knew that, he answered for me.

[You grew greedy because no one would remember. You thought you could rewrite everything, as if it never happened.]

A sharp pain lanced through my heart.

[You dared to hope for a life of peace and happiness? How revolting.]

His words, saturated with contempt, tore at my chest.

[You don’t deserve it.]

They were the same words I had repeated to myself endlessly. Yet hearing them from him hurt infinitely more.

[Do you remember all the people you killed, justifying it as necessary?]

I did not.

There were too many to count. Remembering would have been unbearable.

[Then what did you gain from that life? You even killed your own father. What was waiting for you at the end of it all? Nothing. That is all your life was ever meant to be.]

Nausea welled up in my throat. I swallowed hard to force it down, but it was a struggle.

[So I’ll ask you again.]

Veins stood out on my neck as I fought for control.

[Why are you still alive?]

Once more, I had no answer.

“…”

I tried to move my lips, but they were frozen.

No sound emerged.

That’s when I noticed—I was chewing on my own tongue.

The silence grew thick with lethal intent.

After a moment, he gave a slow nod and said,

[You can’t answer.]

His tone was smug, as if this was the outcome he’d anticipated. It was maddening.

And then—

[Fine. Then it’s decided.]

WOOOOOM—!!!

“…!!”

The vibrations swelled to an unbearable peak, and then—

FWOOSH—!!!

A dense, sickening black fire exploded from his body.

[If you can’t provide an answer—]

The instant I saw it, I reacted.

[—then you might as well die here.]

The conflagration of darkness surged forward to devour me.

******************

“Sss….”

Approximately half an hour had passed since Gu Yangcheon swallowed the energy pill. It wasn’t an especially long duration, but it was enough for the Poison King to become deeply anxious, his breaths short and uneasy.

‘…Can I really just leave him like this?’

The focus of his worry was Gu Yangcheon himself.

The moment Gu Yangcheon consumed the pill, he had frozen in place, his eyes closed.

For the next thirty minutes, he hadn’t moved a muscle—he hadn’t even breathed.

If he had merely been still, it might not have been so alarming. But the complete absence of breath made the situation deeply concerning.

‘He did this the last time as well.’

The first time Gu Yangcheon took the Dokcheon Pill, he had also locked up in a rigid state.

Back then, however, he had recovered after a fairly brief period. This time, it was taking significantly longer.

Why was it happening now?

‘Could there be an issue with the pill itself?’

It seemed improbable. The Poison King had taken an identical pill and achieved a breakthrough; the pill wasn’t faulty.

So why was Gu Yangcheon the only one affected this way?

Even as questions swarmed his mind, the Poison King held himself back from acting.

Gu Yangcheon’s final instruction echoed in his memory:

«No matter what happens, don’t interfere.»

Gu Yangcheon had said this with a grave expression, and the Poison King had agreed.

But now…

“What in the world is going on?”

The situation was escalating to a point where inaction felt irresponsible.

Especially because of…

‘This energy….’

Even while standing utterly motionless, Gu Yangcheon’s body was emitting an aura that pulsed with a violent, unstable intensity.

That hadn’t occurred the previous time.

‘And this quantity….’

The sheer volume of energy was staggering.

Just from observing, the Poison King could tell it was comparable to his own total reserves.

Which meant Gu Yangcheon’s internal energy was multiples greater than his.

‘How is that even possible…?’

Such overwhelming power was unheard of. Not even the combined strength of the Three Sovereigns could match it. It was enough to inspire awe.

And that made it all the more alarming.

“How can energy of this magnitude be so turbulent?”

What was Gu Yangcheon doing to make his energy fluctuate so wildly?

It was like a violent storm, as if he were locked in a fierce battle while standing completely still.

Occasionally, his body would twitch, as if reacting to an invisible blow. It mirrored the motions of a martial artist in combat.

If he was fighting… who—or what—could he possibly be fighting in this state?

The Poison King couldn’t understand it. He could only wrestle with his doubts.

‘Should I truly not intervene?’

Gu Yangcheon had asked him not to interfere, but could he honestly stand by in a situation like this?

The Poison King believed Gu Yangcheon was a man of his word. If he said he could manage it, he probably could.

Yet…

A thought of his daughter passed through his mind.

*Father…*

His daughter, Tang So-yeol, whose fate was so deeply intertwined with Gu Yangcheon’s.

If anything happened to him, she would be shattered.

Realizing this, the Poison King reached a decision.

He could not remain a bystander.

Approaching Gu Yangcheon with extreme caution, he prepared himself. With energy in such a volatile state, any rash action could trigger a catastrophe.

His intention was to first get a closer look at the energy.

As he drew near to Gu Yangcheon…

A sudden flash burst forth.

FLASH!

“Gah!”

Gu Yangcheon’s eyes snapped open.

Relief washed over the Poison King.

He’s awake. Thank goodness.

“Gu Gongja, are you alrigh—”

Before he could finish, Gu Yangcheon clutched at his chest and crumpled to his knees.

“Guhhhk!”

A vicious cough wracked his body as blood vomited from his mouth.

“Young Master Gu!”

The Poison King’s eyes widened in alarm as he shouted.

The blood poured onto the floor in a great quantity.

And it was black.