Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 917

Chapter 917

I kept pace with Gubong as he hurried forward.

We left the narrow alley and emerged back onto the sunlit main street. Moving quickly, we soon reached a much broader, open space.

Was this the town square?

A strange statue stood at its center, encircled by what looked like a round pond.

Gu Yangcheon studied it with a curious gaze for a long moment.

“Over here,” the disciple said, and Gubong advanced with a severe look on his face.
I turned my attention to where they were going.

“You can’t do this!”

A powerful shout erupted from ahead.

“Raising the price now? We had an agreement!”

Who was yelling like that?
I looked toward the commotion and saw a group of people wearing familiar uniforms—the same attire of the Mount Hua Sect that Gubong had on.

And standing before them—

“How dare a mere insect raise its voice to me?”

A man with hair the color of snow falling down his back stood there, scoffing at the disciple. He was tall and powerfully built, with sharp, beast-like ears. From his looks, he appeared to be of a canine or wolf lineage.

“No matter which family you’re from, this is clearly—!”

*Slap!*
The disciple’s head jerked to the side. The man had just hit him across the face.

“A lowly wretch like you has no right to speak my family’s name,” he said, his voice thick with scorn and ridicule. “Know your place, you failures who ran away because you weren’t good enough.”

His words were poisonous. I tilted my head, thinking. “Not chosen?” What did that mean? I was about to listen more carefully when Gubong swiftly moved toward them.

“Baek Doryeong.”

Hearing Gubong’s voice, the white-haired man turned to face him.

“Well, look who it is.”

A grin spread across Baek Doryeong’s face, twisting into something smug and contemptuous.

“Our precious Heukya, isn’t it?”
“…”

Gubong flinched slightly at the name.

“I am Gubong of Mount Hua,” he stated firmly.
“Ah, yes. I suppose you are now,” Baek Doryeong replied, nodding as if it were a trivial detail he’d just recalled. “Though, a proud name like Heukya is wasted on a reject like you, isn’t it?”
“…”
“It’s been a while, Gubong. I see you’re leading this group?”
“I am. And it seems we have an issue…”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Baek Doryeong tapped the cheek of the disciple he had struck, his fingers brushing dismissively against the red mark.

“This worthless thing had the audacity to question me.”

Seeing this, Gubong reached out and pulled the disciple behind him by the shoulder.

“Master…”

The disciple’s face was twisted in shame as he looked up at Gubong.

“What happened?” Gubong asked.
“We paid the full price yesterday, as agreed. But now they’re demanding more money and won’t give us the goods unless we pay…”

Gubong’s forehead creased into a deep frown.

“Baek Doryeong. Is this true?”
“It is. Do you have a problem with that?”

Gubong’s expression grew even darker.

“A contract is a contract. Any changes should be discussed at the next negotiation. Forcing new terms now is unreasonable.”
“Unreasonable?”

Baek Doryeong let out a cold laugh, his smile oozing arrogance.

“Unreasonable, you say? Your words are too harsh, Gubong.”
“If this isn’t unreasonable, then what is—”
“This isn’t unreasonableness; it is the right of a noble.”
“…”

Baek Doryeong’s words left Gubong speechless.

“The strong have the right to enforce their will. Isn’t that the natural order? You, of all people, should understand that.”

Gubong bit his lip, his face a mask of conflict. Their history was evident, and Baek Doryeong seemed to relish seeing Gubong squirm.

“Ah, call it unreasonable if you wish. But then…”

*Tap. Tap.*
Baek Doryeong jabbed a finger into Gubong’s shoulder, pushing him back slightly with each prod.

“What do you plan to do about it?”

The disciples gritted their teeth in fury, but no one uttered a word. The air was thick with tension.

“Failures who couldn’t cut it and fled—what exactly do you think you can do?”

“This isn’t about status. This is a business arrangement between Mount Hua and the Baeksa family,” Gubong insisted.
“An arrangement? Let’s be precise. Your constant pleading moved my father to pity, so he decided to indulge you this one time. That is all this is.”
“Baek Doryeong…!”

Gubong’s voice rose in anger, but—

“If you don’t like it, then what? Do you want to fight me right here?”

Baek Doryeong’s taunt shut him down once more.

“It would be amusing to revisit the past, wouldn’t it? I’ve never lost to you. What’s the matter? Are you frightened?”

Baek Doryeong’s hand moved from poking Gubong’s shoulder to smoothing down his robes in a mocking gesture.

“Afraid you’ll mar this noble’s body and bring my family’s wrath upon you? Is that what stops you?”
“Baek Doryeong….”
“Of course you’re scared. If anything happened, your little band of rejects—what was it called? Mount Hua?—would be finished. That’s why you’re powerless.”

*Crack.*

Gubong’s shoulders shook violently. He seemed on the brink of erupting, but he choked down his rage.

Seeing this, Baek Doryeong’s smirk widened.

“Are you angry? Then go on, take a swing. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“…”
“If you want to void the contract, be my guest. Try it.”

Baek Doryeong’s goading was accompanied by a smug grin.

Gubong continued to tremble, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles were white, but he did not respond.

“Of course, I doubt you’ll find anyone else who will do business with you, even if you did.”

The disciples, burning with humiliation, remained silent. Their quiet was deafening. No one dared to challenge him.

“Ah, but I am a magnanimous man, so I will offer you one chance,” Baek Doryeong said, his eyes locked on Gubong.

“Gubong,” he called, and as Gubong looked at him, Baek Doryeong spoke again.

“Get on your knees and beg.”
“…What?”

Gubong’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“I’ve always wondered if your knees were still as stiff as they used to be. So, what do you say?”
“…What are you saying?”
“I’m telling you to kneel right here, right now. Beg me, and I’ll sell you the goods at the original price.”
“…”

The ones who reacted were not Gubong, but the other disciples.

“Master! Don’t! It’s not worth it!”
“He’s right! There’s no need to listen to this—!”
“Silence.”

*Clang!*

Swords were pressed against the disciples’ throats.
Baek Doryeong’s guards had closed in on them without a sound.

“Who gave you filth the right to speak?” Baek Doryeong sneered at them with utter contempt. “Shut your mouths and watch. Let’s see what your master does.”

He then stepped in closer to Gubong, leaning in until his mouth was right beside Gubong’s ear.

“I don’t have all day. My time is precious, unlike yours. Make your choice—will you kneel, or will you return to your filthy hovel empty-handed?”

*Crack.*

Gubong clenched his fists so hard it seemed his bones would break.
His body quivered with the effort of restraining himself.

But after a moment of shaking, Gubong’s hands slowly went still.
Then, as if in defeat, he unclenched them.

Had he reached a decision? Or had he simply surrendered?

It appeared to be the former.

As if to prove it, Gubong’s body began to slowly sink downward.

“Hahaha!” Baek Doryeong burst into laughter, as if he had been waiting for this very sight.

“Master!”
“You mustn’t!”

Despite the disciples’ cries, Gubong kept his mouth shut and continued to lower himself.
Baek Doryeong watched with immense satisfaction and said, “I knew it. This is the view that suits you best—”

Then.

“Idiot.”

Gubong’s descent came to a sudden halt.

“…!”

His eyes shot open in shock. He hadn’t stopped himself—someone had grabbed his arm and yanked him back up.

“What in the…?”

Gubong turned to see who had intervened but his words died in his throat.
The intense blue eyes staring back at him stole his voice.

“I didn’t take you for such a fool. You’re even more stupid than I imagined,” Gu Yangcheon said, his tone flat and devoid of feeling, yet dripping with disgust and annoyance. “I thought you might be someone of substance, since the old man always defended you. It seems he was mistaken.”
“…You!”

Gubong tried to argue, but Gu Yangcheon was no longer looking at him.
His gaze was fixed on Baek Doryeong, who was also staring—his face contorted with fury.

“Who do you think you are?” Baek Doryeong roared, enraged that his amusement had been ruined. “You dare interrupt? Do you have a death wish?”

Gu Yangcheon didn’t answer. He just stared into Baek Doryeong’s eyes.

“You worthless piece of—!”

Whatever Baek Doryeong intended to say, Gu Yangcheon cut him off.

“Check complete.”

Without any warning, he swung his hand.

*Smack!*

“Urgh!”

Gu Yangcheon’s slap snapped Baek Doryeong’s head to the side.

“Huh…?”

Baek Doryeong touched his stinging cheek in shock, unable to process what had just occurred.
A trickle of blood escaped the corner of his lip.

“What… What is this?”

Had he just been hit?
He—the noble Baek Doryeong—had been struck by this trash?

As the realization set in, Baek Doryeong’s face twisted into a mask of pure rage.

“You filthy bastard—!”

*Boom!*

“Guah!”

Before Baek Doryeong could finish, Gu Yangcheon’s fist smashed into his face, driving him into the ground.

*Crash!*

The pavement cracked and debris scattered in every direction.
Everyone present stood frozen, staring in utter disbelief.

“Urgh… guh…”

Baek Doryeong, half-embedded in the broken earth, trembled violently.

“Not many latrines in this area, are there?”

Gu Yangcheon looked down at him, his voice cold as ice.

“Maybe that’s why you’re spewing so much waste from your mouth. It’s disgusting.”

His expression was utterly blank, completely empty of emotion.

And that, more than anything, revealed the true depth of his fury.