Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 849

Chapter 849

«Young Master Gu—!»

The Poison King cried out, his eyes wide with alarm as he watched Gu Yangcheon abruptly collapse.

This was no mere stumble.

«Kkh—!»

A sickening, crackling sound filled the air. Gu Yangcheon lay on the ground, convulsing as he vomited copious amounts of blood so dark it was nearly black.

«This is…»

One glance was all it took to see the severity of the situation. The Poison King’s brow furrowed deeply as he assessed the young man.

«Young Master Gu, are you alright…?»

His words died in his throat. The Poison King’s gaze swept over Gu Yangcheon’s form, and the sight made him bite his lip hard.

*This is critical.*

Only moments before, there had been minor disturbances in his energy flow, but it had been nothing unmanageable. Now, his condition had deteriorated beyond all reason. The energy wasn’t just unstable; it was running amok, a violent and destructive force tearing through his meridians with utter abandon.

«Guhh… Hrrk…!»

Gu Yangcheon groaned in utter agony, his blood-streaked face a mask of suffering. It was easy to imagine the unbearable pain of such wild energy ripping through his body, like a storm of a thousand needles shredding him from within.

Yet, even witnessing this torment, the Poison King found himself paralyzed. A cultivator’s energy in such a berserk state was dangerously volatile to touch. Reckless intervention could cause a catastrophic deviation, a ruinous corruption of both mind and cultivation.

Not only would Gu Yangcheon be lost, but anyone trying to subdue the energy could also be pulled into the abyss.

But to do nothing and wait for it to subside? That was no solution.

If this continued, his energy would detonate within moments.

Intervene and risk causing a deviation; do nothing and watch his body explode from the pressure. Every path seemed to lead to despair.

«Damn it all.»

There was no time for deliberation. No time to weigh options. Or rather, there were no real options to begin with.

He had to act. He had to somehow rein in that energy. The true question was…

*Could he even control it?*

The Poison King held no such confidence. Meddling could very well see him consumed by inner demons as well.

That much was certain.

Should he leave it be? Would it be wiser to run for help instead?

Cold rationality whispered that might be the smarter choice.

«Don’t move.»

Despite this, the Poison King’s hand was already moving toward Gu Yangcheon.

He had to save him. For his daughter’s future, if not for the fate of Zhongyuan itself. This young man could not be lost.

Even if Gu Yangcheon was not to his personal liking, the thought of such a prodigious talent being extinguished before his eyes was unbearable.

This decision was not made by the Poison King of the Tang Clan, a master of venoms feared across the land. It was made by Tang Cheongi, the man—a father, a witness to genius, someone who could not stand by and let such a brilliant flame be snuffed out. He reached out, intent on stabilizing the raging energy. As he moved forward—

*Swish!*

«…!?»

Tang Cheongi froze. Gu Yangcheon, who had been groaning with his face pressed to the bloody ground, raised a hand to stop him.

«Young Master Gu…? Why…?»

«Don’t… come… closer…» Gu Yangcheon rasped, his words interrupted by violent, wet coughs.

Why was he stopping him, even in such dire straits?

Could it be?

Did he intend to die here?

Perhaps he feared dragging others down with him and had chosen to perish alone.

The chilling thought spurred Tang Cheongi into even more urgent action.

«Stop this foolishness and stay still! I am the Poison King! I will not be so easily defeated!»

Though anxiety clawed at him, Tang Cheongi forced a confidence he didn’t feel. Now was the time for unwavering resolve.

«Trust me and remain still. I will save you, no matter what.»

He ignored Gu Yangcheon’s protests and stepped forward again.

«Ah…! Just stay… still…!» Gu Yangcheon shouted, his voice a raw, torn thing. The effort forced another gush of blood from his lips.

«What is…?»

Tang Cheongi paused, bewildered by the resistance. But what happened next was even more shocking.

*Thump!*

«What!?»

Gu Yangcheon suddenly splayed his fingers and drove his own hand directly into his chest.

Blood immediately soaked his robes, spreading in a dark pool beneath him. Tang Cheongi could only stare, his jaw slack with disbelief.

*Hssssss—!*

«Kuhhhh…!»

From the self-inflicted wound, his energy began to shift.

«This is impossible…»

Tang Cheongi exhaled sharply, unable to comprehend the scene. He didn’t understand the method, but somehow, Gu Yangcheon was influencing the rampaging energy.

By piercing his own chest, he had made direct contact with the source of his power. He was using that brutal connection to wrestle the wild force back under his command.

Ordinarily, energy this far gone was beyond any cultivator’s control. It was untouchable. Any attempt to command it would bring—

Unimaginable agony.

Especially in Gu Yangcheon’s current state. The pain must have been excruciating.

And yet… he was enduring it to seize control?

Even as he watched, Tang Cheongi could scarcely believe it. The bulging veins in Gu Yangcheon’s neck and face were a testament to the extreme torment he was undergoing.

And yet…

*What kind of monstrous will is this…?*

Bit by bit, the overwhelming energy was being forced into submission. The sight was incomprehensible.

«Keu… hhh…»

Gu Yangcheon’s body was drenched in a mix of sweat and blood. His trembling form revealed the excruciating cost of the ordeal, yet he remained utterly focused, channeling every ounce of his being into controlling the energy.

As the rampage gradually quieted, Tang Cheongi could only watch in stunned, silent awe.

Nearly half an hour passed in this way.

«Haa… haa…»

Gu Yangcheon’s breathing was ragged and heavy. His entire body shuddered with sheer exhaustion, evidence of how completely drained he was.

Tang Cheongi finally let out the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

*He actually did it.*

Against all odds, the rampage had been quelled. Though Tang Cheongi couldn’t fathom how, the crisis was over. He cautiously approached the trembling young man.

«How… what in the world happened? Why did this occur so suddenly…?»

He moved carefully as he asked. In response—

«…Ah… arm…»

Gu Yangcheon muttered weakly.

«What was that?»

Tang Cheongi leaned in closer, sharpening his hearing to catch the faint words.

«…fuck… fucking…»

«…Huh?»

«“Damn strong… that damned dog, that damned bastard…”…»

Gu Yangcheon spat out a string of incoherent curses before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed fully into the pool of his own blood.

«…What?»

Tang Cheongi stood frozen for a split second before springing into motion.

«Young Master Gu…! Stay with me!»

He quickly lifted Gu Yangcheon onto his back and sprinted from the building.

The Tang Clan’s meticulously crafted maturation chamber, a place of great prestige, was left in a shambles, its floor stained crimson. Tang Cheongi paid it no mind.

***

The forest near Sichuan.
A location some distance from the Martial Alliance branch.
The sun was dipping below the horizon, and the shadows were steadily deepening. Soon, the moon would reign. In the gathering twilight, two women walked through the woods.

A single glance revealed they were anything but ordinary.
Both possessed stunning, sharply defined beauty. Their attire was equally exceptional, radiating an aura of elegance and nobility.
One had hair of shimmering gold that seemed to hold its own light, illuminating the darkening trees. The other had a striking mane of silvery-white.

As they picked their way carefully through the forest, the golden-haired woman, Wi Seol-ah, spoke to her companion.
«Unni.»
«…Hm?»
«Do you know the way around here?»

At Wi Seol-ah’s question, Namgung Bi-ah shook her head.
«No.»
«…»

Namgung Bi-ah’s confident denial made Wi Seol-ah nod in resigned acceptance. It confirmed her suspicions.
«I think we might be lost.»
«Yeah.»
«This doesn’t look like the place marked on the map, does it?»
«…No…?»
«…Let me check again.»

Wi Seol-ah sighed and pulled a scroll of parchment from her sleeve. It was a map provided by Gu Yangcheon himself.
She was certain this map was meant to guide their investigation.
«…»

As she studied the details, her brow furrowed. Namgung Bi-ah noticed her expression.
«What’s wrong?»
«Well…»

Wi Seol-ah bit her lip before speaking hesitantly.
«…Even looking at this, I can’t make sense of it.»
«…»

Though she had confidently decided to recheck it, she was just as lost as before. Scratching her cheek in mild embarrassment, Wi Seol-ah offered a sheepish smile. Namgung Bi-ah reached out and gently patted her hair.
«It’s fine.»
«…You’re right. We’ll figure something out. Let’s stay strong.»
«Mm.»

The core of the problem was that the two of them had been sent out together. At least one of them should have been someone adept at navigation and investigation.
But Gu Yangcheon had paired them without a second thought, so it was little wonder things had gone awry.
Even so, neither Wi Seol-ah nor Namgung Bi-ah voiced a complaint. They understood his reasoning.
«…Anyway…»

Wi Seol-ah muttered softly, and Namgung Bi-ah gave a slight nod.
He was intensely possessive.
He likely didn’t want them interacting too much with other men. It was a petty dictate, but they chose to indulge him for now.

Wi Seol-ah, still scrutinizing the parchment, looked up at the darkening sky.
«It’ll be night soon. Should we head back?»
«…Yes.»

Their orders had been explicit: return by nightfall. With the moon already beginning its ascent, it was time to go.
The only issue was…
«…Where do we go?»
«…»

They were, after all, quite lost.
It was only a nearby mountain, and if they truly focused… Well, even if Namgung Bi-ah couldn’t, Wi Seol-ah could likely find the way without much trouble.
In fact, Wi Seol-ah knew one quick and infallible method.
«Unni.»
«Yeah?»
«Which direction do you think we should go?»

Wi Seol-ah asked. Namgung Bi-ah thought for a moment before pointing decisively in one direction.
«…That way.»
«Got it. Let’s go.»

Without a moment’s hesitation, Wi Seol-ah grabbed Namgung Bi-ah’s wrist and started walking.
In the exact opposite direction of where Namgung Bi-ah had pointed.
Namgung Bi-ah frowned slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features, but this method was their most reliable strategy.
It had worked for them before.
«Unni, remember? We found our way last time using this method too.»

In a similar predicament, this approach had led them to the correct path. It was remarkably effective.
Confident it would work again, they set off.
The forest was quickly swallowed by darkness, but neither woman was afraid of the dark.
Furthermore, Wi Seol-ah’s keen eyesight allowed her to navigate the shadows with ease.

After they had walked for some time…
«…»
«…»

They both stopped at the same instant, their eyes narrowing. In a moment of silent coordination, they exchanged a glance.
*-Unni.*
Wi Seol-ah’s voice echoed directly into Namgung Bi-ah’s mind.
*-Do you sense something?*
*-Yes.*

Wi Seol-ah nodded. Namgung Bi-ah’s reaction confirmed it. They both detected something ahead.
Namgung Bi-ah immediately launched herself upward into the air.
The moment she leapt, her presence vanished completely from the world.
It was a masterful display of stealth.
Hovering above the canopy, Namgung Bi-ah scanned the forest below.

*Sniff.*
«…»

She wrinkled her nose in distaste. It was clear now—something was definitely there.
Descending soundlessly back to the ground, Namgung Bi-ah glanced at Wi Seol-ah, who was already in a low combat stance, her sword drawn.
*-Should we move in?*
Namgung Bi-ah shook her head.
*-No. If we discover anything, we’re supposed to report back immediately.*
*-But it seems like a formation. If we don’t confirm it now, it might disappear later.*
*-No.*

Namgung Bi-ah’s mental voice was firm. His orders were absolute.
After all, she had already been severely reprimanded for taking the Martial Alliance entrance exam without permission a few months prior.
For now, she was resolved to follow instructions meticulously. That way, when she inevitably caused trouble again, she might be treated with more leniency.
«…»

Wi Seol-ah pouted at Namgung Bi-ah’s unwavering stance but eventually sheathed her sword in reluctant agreement.
Having confirmed there was something there, they prepared to leave. But just as they were about to move—
[…Do you not think so?]

A distant voice carried on the wind, making them both freeze. Simultaneously, they sharpened their senses to catch the conversation.
[Leader, Ilcheon Sword’s actions seem odd. The lack of communication is suspicious as well.]
[Has Mok Branch Leader reported anything unusual?]
[No, sir. He reported no abnormalities.]
[It seems you don’t trust his report.]
[That’s correct.]
[Hm… It doesn’t matter. Whether it’s that one or another, they’re all destined to be eliminated.]
[But, Leader—]
[You seem concerned about the Star King. Don’t be. I have plans….]

*Click.*
The voices cut off abruptly.
The presences they had been tracking vanished completely.
Wi Seol-ah turned to look at Namgung Bi-ah.
«Unni… shouldn’t we go check this out—huh?»

She was about to suggest investigating when she realized Namgung Bi-ah was no longer beside her.
Looking ahead in alarm, she saw—
«…»

Namgung Bi-ah had already drawn her sword and was charging forward into the darkness.