Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 850

Chapter 850

Drip.
A trickling sensation made me scowl.
I looked down.
My chest—right where my heart is—had been run through.
A hand. I could see a hand, the very one that had punched straight into my chest.
With great effort, I lifted my eyes to see whose face it was attached to.
The owner of that hand was me. Or more precisely, the person I used to be.
Squelch.
The hand retracted, and a spray of blood followed.
“Guh…”
I choked on the blood filling my mouth as my knees hit the ground.
From this low angle, I stared up at him—at my former self.
He looked down on me with utter coldness.
Then, he lifted his arm and aimed his finger at me.
«Next time, come with an answer.»
«If you don’t, you should just kill yourself.»
With those crushing words,
Whoosh!
My head was consumed by black fire.

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

I bolted upright, gasping.
“…Haa… haa…”
Breathing hard, I grabbed at my chest. My shaking hands felt around, and I exhaled in relief.
It was still whole.
But—
“…Kuh…”
A deep, systemic pain flared through my body, my muscles screaming in protest. No, this was more than just soreness—it was something much worse.
This sensation…
My meridians are inflamed.
The energy channels throughout my body were swollen and burning.
The memory of what I had just endured crashed down on me.
“Ah, hell.”
I remembered collapsing, my mind hazy with agony. The taste of blood in my mouth as I fought desperately to control my wild, raging energy.
Scowling, I untied my robes to look at my torso.
The marks were still visible, faint lines on my chest.
The scars from where I had driven my own fingers in.
…Seems like it’s mostly closed up.
The wounds were shallow now. My body had already healed the critical damage. For someone like me, injuries of this nature weren’t life-threatening.
I released a long, unsteady breath.
It worked.
My energy had been moments from a catastrophic outburst, and I hadn’t been sure anything could rein it in. But the method… it had worked.
Stabbing my fingers into my own chest to redirect the energy—
It was a technique I’d learned from Cheonma in my past life.
I’d been on the receiving end of it countless times, and though I doubted my ability to perform it myself…
By gritting my teeth and forcing my way through, I had somehow pulled it off.
I can’t believe that actually worked.
Even to me, it seemed insane. But because of it, I was alive.
Otherwise, I would have been lost to Qi Deviation or torn apart by the rampaging energy. It was an escape by the narrowest of margins.
As the relief settled over me,
“…Damn it.”
I cursed, remembering the reason the energy had gone wild in the first place.
The cause was none other than…
That bastard from my past life.
I had faced him after taking a pill.
And I had been defeated.
“…Damn it.”
When I came to, my energy was already in chaos. There was no time to process what happened—only to fight for control.
That wasn’t the main problem. No, to say it wasn’t a problem would be a lie. But more urgent than my survival was…
“Why did I lose?”
Why had I lost?
That question ate away at me.
I couldn’t understand the result of that battle.
“I was stronger.”
My current level of cultivation had exceeded what I had achieved as the Black Flame Bastard in my former life.
I was certain I could beat him.
And yet, I didn’t.
Why?
“Was it because my flames were sealed?”
The fact that my Nine Flames Firewheel technique was locked away—was that why?
During the fight, I couldn’t use my flames.
But—
Is that really all there was to it?
Even without my flames, such a complete defeat didn’t make sense.
Could he be stronger than my memory of him?
No.
That wasn’t it. His strength was exactly as it was in my past life.
Which meant there was only one conclusion.
I was simply beaten.
I was inferior.
The me from my past life was superior to who I am now.
Gritting my teeth, I whispered, “Damn it.”
Why? What was the difference?
Who is he, really?
The sealing of the Nine Flames Firewheel—that bastard was undoubtedly behind it.
Why my past self is doing this, I have no idea.
Why now?
The timing was infuriating. I had just caught a fleeting glimpse of a higher path.
But now, my flames are sealed.
“I don’t have time for this.”
I needed to reclaim that sensation before it disappeared.
Yet that bastard is blocking my way. And I can’t defeat him?
It’s driving me mad.
“…Haaa.”
What do I do?
I knew, instinctively—I must fight him again.
And so—
“…I’ll challenge him again.”
There was no time to sit and ponder.
I wanted to go after him immediately.
The problem was…
“…Wasn’t today the day I was supposed to meet Ilcheon Sword?”
The swordsman I last met while disguised as the Celestial Stream Sect Leader—we had arranged to meet today.
If I go to him now and lose…
Everything I’ve built will be ruined.
It wouldn’t end with a simple loss. Knowing that, should I still go?
A part of me wanted to forget all my plans and just destroy that bastard.
But—
“Damn it.”
As frustrated as I was, my body was already in motion.
Even with my cultivation sealed, my responsibilities remain.
There is no room for pride anymore.
As I urged my throbbing body to move,
«Much has changed.»
“…!”
His voice echoed inside my head.
«Do you think you’ve changed as well?»
Those words… he’d said them as he ripped my left leg off.
«Don’t fool yourself. You only believe you’ve changed. In reality, you are still the same—filthy and weak.»
«Pathetic.»
The words he spat at me while breaking my body were as sharp as the pain had been.
“Bastard,” I snarled, my face contorting.
I didn’t know if I was cursing him or myself.
Why? Why couldn’t I answer him?
And…
“What do you want from me?”
What answer is he waiting for?
I still don’t know.

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

I turned to the Poison King, my body still sore, meaning to thank him and exchange a few words.
«…Just where do you think you’re going?»
The Poison King’s voice was thick with disbelief as he spoke to me.
«Do you have any idea what condition you were in when you fell?»
«Yes, I remember. You must have been shocked, and I thank you for looking after me.»
I was sincere.
I’d learned what happened after I collapsed—that the Poison King had taken me to a doctor and, more importantly—
«I also heard you intentionally didn’t tell Lady Tang. I am truly grateful for that…»
He had made sure Tang So-yeol wasn’t notified, sending her on to the Martial Alliance ahead of us. That was what I appreciated most.
If Tang So-yeol had found out, she would have been sick with worry.
The Poison King must have understood that, which is why he did it.
«The physician said your meridians are severely strained. He advised several days of rest. So how can you already be on your feet?»
«My body is alright, and I have too many pressing matters. I will find a proper way to thank you on my next visit.»
«You—!»
«I apologize for causing you concern.»
Even as I said it, I knew how ungrateful I sounded.
The Poison King had gone to great lengths to help me after I collapsed, and here I was, announcing my departure without explanation.
And then there was my secrecy.
«You still refuse to explain, is that it?»
That made it even worse.
Why did I suddenly need the Dokcheon Pill? What caused me to collapse after taking it?
Even though I trust the Poison King more than almost anyone, I still couldn’t bring myself to tell him.
«…I’m sorry. I will explain it all when I come back.»
«…»
«I promise.»
At this point, I should have invented some excuse, however thin.
Now, the plan…
I needed to meet Ilcheon Sword with the Shadow King. After disrupting Ilcheon Sword’s focus one final time, I could set up a private meeting with the Celestial Stream Sect Leader.
And in doing so, I could plant subtle doubts about Ilcheon Sword…
It was vital to maintain a careful tension between the Celestial Stream Sect Leader and Ilcheon Sword. I needed their mutual distrust to deepen before orchestrating their confrontation.
No, wait… if I do that, it could interfere with the mission I assigned to Cheol Ji-seon.
Should I try to delay? But that wasn’t possible in my current state.
I can’t even rely on my own body right now, so how could I extend the schedule? Even if I could… how?
Suppose I managed to buy time. Would it even help?
I was already running low on red spirit stones to make another Dokcheon Pill.
No matter how I looked at it, the situation was tightening around me.
I had to juggle securing a justification for my actions, advancing the plan, and keeping everything on track.
There were too many variables.
Damn it, what should I do…?
I needed to prioritize my tasks while evaluating my physical condition and securing a pretext for what came next.
My head pounded. I clutched my forehead, wanting to push all these thoughts away, but I couldn’t.
…I have to sort this out.
Even if I didn’t want to, it was necessary.
I’m not Moyong Hee-ah, Jegal Seon, or Cheol Ji-seon.
I’m not a genius. I will make mistakes, but I have to ensure they are containable.
To do that, I needed to sacrifice sleep, drive myself harder, and grind out the details.
I bit down hard on my tongue, muttering to myself.
Think. Keep thinking.
Just find a way…
«Young Master Gu—!»
«…!»
A sharp call snapped me out of my thoughts.
I turned to see the Poison King watching me.
It brought me back to the present.
«Are you alright?»
«…Ah. My apologies. I was just thinking too hard.»
I forced a smile, trying to ease his worry.
It was a bad habit, and I sighed internally as I regulated my breathing.
«…Really, I’m sorry. I’ll explain the circumstances when I get back—»
«Young Master Gu.»
«Yes…?»
«Are you really alright?»
«Pardon?»
His question left me momentarily stunned.
«…Ah, yes. I’m completely fine. I was just overthinking and zoned out for a second, that’s all.»
«…»
The Poison King wasn’t persuaded. His expression changed into one I detested.
«My daughter said something to me today.»
A face full of concern—a look I hated more than anything.
«She said you haven’t seemed well lately.»
«…I’m not sure what she means. I am perfectly fine.»
«The time I made for her was meant to be precious. Yet she spent the whole day talking about you. It left me unsettled. But…»
The Poison King went on, his eyes holding mine.
«Seeing you now, I think I understand what she meant.»
Once more, he asked me,
«…Are you really alright?»
«…»
I bit my tongue until it hurt.
What was he asking? Why was he asking it?
I was the one who crashed into his life, stirred up trouble, and involved his beloved daughter in my schemes.
I couldn’t comprehend the Poison King’s perspective.
And so, there was only one answer I could give.
«I’m fine.»
I was fine.
No.
I must be fine.

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

Worn out.
That was the only word for how my mind and body felt as I left the Tang Clan and compelled myself to walk.
I hadn’t slept at all the previous night, and somehow, another day had ended and the sun was down.
Every step sent a dull throb through me. My inflamed meridians were still not fully recovered.
Though I had stabilized my energy, the pressure on my heart remained.
And beyond that—
The exhaustion was accumulating.
I could feel it dragging at my limbs.
Or was it a mental weariness, since my body hadn’t given out completely yet?
Maybe I should rest.
It seemed like the time to take a break had come.
But resting wasn’t a choice.
“…Haa.”
I dragged my hand down my face, fixing my expression.
Hoping for sleep tonight was pointless, same as every night.
First priority—the Shadow King.
Once I got there, I would find him and execute the plan, one step at a time.
I swallowed the sigh that wanted to escape and pushed onward.
Endure it.
I will not collapse.
I vowed to myself that I would endure.
Still, there was one thing I desired—
…I need to see the kids.
Before anything else, I felt a strong pull to see their faces.
Not that I planned to do anything specific.
Just seeing them would be sufficient.
It would allow me a moment to catch my breath, to take another step when I wanted to quit.
“Hah.”
I let out a soft, involuntary laugh at the thought.
How ridiculous.
Not long ago, I was the one telling them not to follow me.
Now, I was the one seeking them out.
How contradictory.
I knew how pathetic it was, but I couldn’t help it. I needed something—anything—to serve as a crutch.
In the distance, the Sichuan branch came into view.
The sight of it made me straighten my stooped shoulders.
I steadied my breath and arranged my features into a calm mask.
«Leader!»
The instant I arrived, a branch member hurried over to me.
I gave a slight wave and a small smile.
«My apologies for being so late. I didn’t mean to cause concern.»
It felt awkward.
I’d dumped a load of work on them, then vanished, collapsed somewhere, and returned late at night. If anyone asked where I’d been all day, I had no good answer.
“…Nothing major has happened, I hope?”
«Leader… something awful has occurred.»
«What is it?»
«Namgung and Wi are… they’re gone.»
Crack.
Something inside me, something that was already hanging by a thread, finally snapped.