Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 918

Chapter 918

“Grrraaah—!!!”

A raw scream tore from Baek Doryeong’s throat. He fought wildly to break free, but the foot pinning him down ground his face relentlessly into the dirt.

“You… you bastard—!!”

“Ah, be quiet, you irritating insect.”

Crack—!!

“Aaargh!!”

Gu Yangcheon increased the pressure, his foot bearing down with crushing force.

Crunch! A sickening sound of something fracturing came from within Baek Doryeong’s face.

“Know your place when you speak. It makes me want to rip you to shreds.”

“Huh… urk…”

“Do you hear me, you worthless worm? I asked if you understood.”

Gu Yangcheon’s face was a cold mask as he hurled his venomous words. His disciples watched, frozen, not daring to even twitch.

Buzz!
A palpable shockwave passed through them. The oppressive aura radiating from Gu Yangcheon saturated the air, imposing his will on everything around him.

“This garbage dares to spoil my mood.”

Bang!

“Guhh!”

He lifted his foot only to drive it sideways into Baek Doryeong’s temple with brutal force.

Baek Doryeong’s body was hurled backward, but before he could fly far, Gu Yangcheon moved in a blur, snatching his collar to halt his momentum.

And then—

Smack!

“What was that you said? To know my place?”

Smack–!!
Gu Yangcheon’s palm cracked against Baek Doryeong’s cheek once more.

Smack!

“Who are you to decide that, you fool? Just who do you think you are?”

Smack!

“Kuh… ugh…”

Smack—!!!
Each slap whipped Baek Doryeong’s head to the side, the sharp reports echoing as concussive waves of force rippled out.

He was clearly using his full strength. Baek Doryeong’s cheeks began to swell and distort under the assault.

“Ugh… guh…”

Gu Yangcheon finally ceased after the relentless volley of strikes.

Drip, drip.

Blood welled from Baek Doryeong’s mouth, streaming over Gu Yangcheon’s hand, which still clenched his collar.

Plop. Plop.

The blood fell to the earth. At the sight, several figures finally jolted into motion.

“What… what are you doing?! Save the young master, now!”

The bodyguards assigned to Baek Doryeong’s protection began charging toward Gu Yangcheon.

“Hey.”

Gu Yangcheon turned toward them, his eyes glinting like sharpened steel.

“Take one more step, and he dies.”

Crack–!

“Ghhhrk…”

To emphasize his point, Gu Yangcheon tightened his grip on Baek Doryeong’s neck, producing a sound of grinding bone. The bodyguards halted immediately upon hearing it.

“Y-you…! Do you have any idea who he is?!” one yelled in a panicked voice.

Gu Yangcheon’s expression did not change.

“And do you know who I am?”

“What…?”

“You recognize Mount Hua, don’t you?”

“We do. Mount Hua. But who are you?”

Gu Yangcheon’s cold facade broke into a grin, his lips twisting into something sinister.

At that moment—

“Hiik-!”
“…Ugh…!”

The bodyguards shuddered as if a ghost had passed by. His smile was utterly terrifying.

Seeing their fear, Gu Yangcheon spoke with menacing assurance.

“…Who are you?” one finally stammered out.

“You don’t know, do you?”

“…”

“Of course you don’t. I don’t know you either. But…”

He raised his hand and seized Baek Doryeong’s face, squeezing hard.

“Gahh… ugh…”

“When strangers meet, there’s a basic level of respect. But you scum seem to have forgotten yours.”

“Ggh… arrghh…!”

Baek Doryeong’s pained moans grew louder.

“Stop this at once! If you harm the young master further, you will live to regret it!”

“Regret it? What will happen then?”

Gu Yangcheon’s voice dripped with scorn, daring them to answer.

The bodyguard scowled and stuttered, “The young master… is the heir of the Baek family. If he is injured, the family head will respond. It will not go well for Mount Hua—”

“Gyaaaah!”

Before he could finish, Gu Yangcheon struck Baek Doryeong again.

The bodyguards stared in horrified disbelief.

“Oh, so what you’re telling me is…”

“Grrhh…”

“…This brat is nothing without his family’s name. So, it’s fine if I kill him, right?”

The tendons in Gu Yangcheon’s hand stood out as he tightened his grip, his murderous intent clear. The bodyguards tensed to lunge forward, but someone else moved first.

It was Gubong.

Gubong seized Gu Yangcheon’s wrist, his expression desperate.

“Please… you have to stop.”

Gu Yangcheon turned his frigid gaze on Gubong.

The ice in that look made Gubong tremble violently. It was the look one would give a stone on the ground—or something even less significant.

Gu Yangcheon’s eyes left no room for doubt. Though every instinct screamed at him to let go, Gubong held firm.

“Please, control yourself… Release Baek Doryeong.”

“Why?”

Gu Yangcheon’s tone was genuinely puzzled, as if the request were absurd.

“Baek Doryeong is… from a noble family. If you injure him further here, the consequences will be… severe beyond repair.”

“Severe beyond repair?”

Gu Yangcheon let out a hollow, mocking laugh.

Yet—

Thud.

The words seemed to have some effect. Gu Yangcheon opened his hand, letting Baek Doryeong’s body slump to the ground.

Thud! The young master collapsed, motionless. Gu Yangcheon gave him a final kick, sending him rolling toward his men.

The bodyguards scrambled to gather Baek Doryeong’s limp form.

“Take him and disappear.”

“You monster…!”

“If you’re not gone in the next moment, you all die.”

Swoosh—!!!

“…!!”

The killing intent pouring from Gu Yangcheon rooted them to the spot.

He turned slightly, his gaze falling on his fellow disciples.

“What are you all doing?”

“Pardon…?”

Seeing their stunned faces, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Move the carts. Stop standing around like fools.”

“Ah…!”

Jolted from their stupor, the disciples scrambled to haul the carts and finish their work.

“Dammit. Aren’t you going to get it done? Why are you all dragging your feet?”
“We… we’re moving them now!”

At Gu Yangcheon’s sharp tone, the second disciples hurried into action. The path was soon cleared, but Gu Yangcheon’s attention returned to Baek Doryeong and his group, who remained.

“What is it now? Do you want another round?”
“…”

The bodyguard holding Baek Doryeong grimaced in fury.

“The Baek family… will not let this matter with Mount Hua rest—”

Smack!

“Ugh!”

Gu Yangcheon’s fist slammed into the man’s face, snapping his head sideways. Blood gushed from his nose, and several teeth clattered to the ground.

“You talk too much. Should I cut out your tongue?”
“Gah… urrgh…”
“Shut your mouth and get out of my sight.”

The sheer irritation in his tone finally broke them. They hesitated, then began a hurried retreat.

The weight of countless watching eyes pressed in from all sides. A crowd had gathered, drawn by the violence, but Gu Yangcheon ignored them completely.

The second disciples had departed. Confirming this, Gu Yangcheon turned to leave. Ahead stood Cheonma, watching impassively, and Gubong, whose complex gaze was fixed on Gu Yangcheon.

Ignoring them both, Gu Yangcheon began walking back to his original position.

“Wait—…!”

Gubong moved to grab Gu Yangcheon’s arm, to stop him.

Smack!

“Ugh…!”

Instead, Gu Yangcheon backhanded him across the face without a moment’s hesitation.

Gubong’s head snapped to the side. He barely kept his feet, his eyes wide with shock.

“You idiot.”

Gu Yangcheon glared at him with pure contempt.

The insult twisted Gubong’s features in frustration.

“Why are you behaving like this…?”

He couldn’t comprehend it. If anyone had a right to anger, it was him.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done…?”
“And what exactly did I do?”
“You… you assaulted a noble! We cannot afford to make an enemy of his family!”

Gubong was acutely aware of Baek Doryeong’s malice, and he knew it was likely directed at him. It was something he believed he could have resolved personally, without dragging Mount Hua or the other disciples into it.

For that, he would have been willing to kneel.

“You’ve ruined everything!”

Gubong’s voice was thick with resentment as he addressed Gu Yangcheon.

“Do you know how difficult it was to secure that agreement? If this gives the Baek family a pretext to move against Mount Hua—!”
“And if they do, what then?”

“…It will mean disaster for Mount Hua. A catastrophe we cannot withstand. That is why I made my choice!”

You’ve ruined everything. That was the accusation burning in Gubong’s eyes.

“What nonsense are you spewing, you fool?”

Gu Yangcheon sneered at him.

“You…!”
“Shut your mouth, you worthless piece of trash.”

“…!”

The venom in Gu Yangcheon’s words forced Gubong into silence.

“No excuses.”

Gu Yangcheon’s tone was absolute, brooking no argument.

“I… I’m not making excuses…”
“Not excuses? Don’t lie.”

Clench!

“Urgh!”

Gu Yangcheon’s hand shot out and seized Gubong by the throat.

“Laying hands on a noble causes a disaster? How terrifying. What a profound disaster. But you know what?”
“Guhh…!”
“That piece of trash threw the first punch, you imbecile.”

Gu Yangcheon’s grip tightened as his anger mounted.

“And yes, I beat that garbage to a pulp. But it’s because he couldn’t keep his foolish mouth shut.”

The more he spoke, the hotter his anger burned.

“So I hit him. But that’s not my duty. It should have been yours.”

“…!”

Gubong’s eyes widened at Gu Yangcheon’s words. He couldn’t speak—the grip on his throat prevented it.

“You’re scared of angering the Baek family? What a noble excuse for your own pathetic cowardice.”
“Guh… ugh…”
“But who gave you the authority to make that decision? Are you the Sect Leader? Did that stubborn old man order you to sit down and take this humiliation?”

Gu Yangcheon let out a low, derisive laugh.

“No, he wouldn’t have. That foul-tempered old man—if he were here, he wouldn’t have stood for it. Do you know why?”

His eyes shone with absolute certainty.

“Because protecting one’s pride is what matters.”

The conviction in his voice was unshakeable.

“And what comes after? We handle it. Why? Because that is better than letting the name and spirit of Mount Hua decay in the mud.”
“…”
“Enduring humiliation because it’s convenient? No, let’s name it truthfully. You chose the easy path because you didn’t want to face the trouble.”

Thud.

“Gah!”

Gu Yangcheon released him, letting Gubong fall to the ground, choking and gasping for air.

“Hah… hah…”

As Gubong struggled to breathe, Gu Yangcheon looked down on him with cold disdain.

“Mount Hua will face trouble after this? So what? Is that trouble more important than Mount Hua’s pride?”
“…!”

Gu Yangcheon’s words struck Gubong like a thunderclap.

“You nearly dragged the entire legacy of Mount Hua through the mud with your cowardice.”

That was the heart of it. That was what had enraged Gu Yangcheon. He wasn’t truly angry at the foolish Baek Doryeong, but at Gubong.

The fact that Mount Hua, a sanctuary built by a stubborn old master, was being disrespected.
And worse—

The fact that its disciples could not stand tall and bear the weight of that legacy.

That was what infuriated him.

“Kneeling while you speak for Mount Hua is the same as forcing your Sect Leader to his knees. Do you not understand that?”

Gu Yangcheon’s voice, though controlled, was razor sharp.

“That is the weight of representing Mount Hua.”

Bang!

“Guh!”

Gu Yangcheon’s kick sent Gubong sprawling once more.

“You think it’s acceptable as long as you endure? What absolute rubbish.”

Crunch.

His footsteps left deep impressions in the earth as he walked past Gubong.

“If you cannot bear the weight or uphold your pride, then take off that robe.”

Gu Yangcheon’s gaze swept over Gubong’s crumpled form.

“You are not worthy to wear it.”

With that, he strode away. Cheonma followed silently behind him.

“…”

Left behind, Gubong sat in a daze, unable to move.
For a very long time.