Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The pressure pushing down on the hilt was considerable.

The Hermit hesitated, debating whether or not to draw his sword.

‘This is…’He suddenly realized his mistake and furrowed his brow.

For a split second, he had almost moved in reaction to the aura coming from the young monster before him.

Small Monster (小怪).

The term suited him perfectly.

Looking at Gu Yangcheon, the Hermit was more certain than ever.

‘This one truly is…’No matter how startled he was by Namgung Myung’s actions, the fact that he hadn’t caught Gu Yangcheon’s movements—and the realization that Gu Yangcheon had anticipated his—came to mind.

How was that possible?

This wasn’t a matter of being the youngest master.

It was something far beyond that.

The Hermit met Gu Yangcheon’s gaze directly.

He could see it.

The look in Gu Yangcheon’s eyes as he stared back.

The black irises had turned blue, and the overwhelming aura radiating from his body was palpable.

This boy was already a completed being.

An equal to himself.

He was no mere junior to be instructed.

This boy was someone he had to consider as a peer.

Even his own body, reacting instinctively to the aura, was proof of that.

‘Ah, this is rather troublesome.

’Perhaps he hadn’t been involved in combat for a while?

His body was heating up on its own.

And to think, he was reacting like this to someone as young as his disciple?

‘Pathetic.

Truly pathetic.

’He had thought he left the fires of youth behind long ago, yet here he was, still standing in that same spot.

The Hermit was frustrated with himself, but he didn’t shy away from Gu Yangcheon’s gaze.

There was no avoiding it.

Gu Yangcheon’s eyes were unwavering.

“What were you trying to do?

”The tone was firm, thick with anger.

He doubted he’d be believed no matter what he said, but he felt he had to explain, so the Hermit opened his mouth to speak.

“…Well, it’s just… the situation was a bit…”“I’m not asking the Hermit.

”Gu Yangcheon’s response made the Hermit pause.

Not asking him?

Then, who was he asking?

As the Hermit furrowed his brows in confusion, Gu Yangcheon’s gaze shifted to the Hermit’s side.

“I’m asking the Thunder Blade of Murim*.

What were you trying to do just now?

”“…!

”The Hermit swallowed, realizing that Gu Yangcheon could hear Namgung Myung’s voice.

‘Is that why he moved so quickly?

’The Hermit wondered if Gu Yangcheon had reacted upon hearing Namgung Myung’s voice.

‘Could that be?

’He dismissed the thought almost immediately.

His instincts told him that wasn’t it.

Furthermore—‘If he moved after hearing it, he would’ve been too late.

’If he’d waited for Namgung Myung’s voice, it would have already been too late.

‘How powerful is he?

’Realizing this, a spark of curiosity flared in him.

Just how far had this boy reached?

Initially, he thought he could measure him, but now, that perception had shifted.

Vague.

It was unclear, as if something was obscuring his view.

‘Which means…’The fact that he couldn’t clearly read Gu Yangcheon implied that Gu Yangcheon’s level was close to his own.

Not merely someone who had just crossed the threshold.

This was someone who had fully settled into the pinnacle.

‘How is that possible?

’It was unbelievable even with the proof before his eyes.

He’d heard that Gu Yangcheon hadn’t even reached the age of twenty.

To reach this level before that age… His own disciple, a prodigy, only reached the pinnacle around that time, and for that alone, he was revered by Wudang.

But this boy…‘Just what is he?

’Achieving the pinnacle, standing on equal ground with the world’s greatest, and at such a young age?

The Hermit couldn’t help but be intrigued.

A memory of Namgung Myung’s words flitted through his mind.

“A greater monster is attached to him…”Namgung Myung had indeed described Gu Yangcheon that way.

Which meant…‘Is there something attached to this boy, too?

’Like himself, perhaps?

As the Hermit’s heart began to race with rare excitement,Woom.

Thunder Fang in his arms began to vibrate, resonating.

[Amazing.

]It was Namgung Myung’s voice.

[I never liked that he wasn’t a true swordsman, but I must admit, Shen-cheol has raised him well.

]“Ha.

”Clearly, Gu Yangcheon heard Namgung Myung’s voice, for he scoffed immediately after he finished speaking.

“Senior, you seem to be under a misunderstanding.

”[What?

]The tone was suddenly different from their last encounter.

Previously, Gu Yangcheon had shown some courtesy.

Now, however, his slightly raised lips and irritated expression suggested he was barely keeping it together.

“Our dear Noya didn’t do much.

I grew up just fine on my own.

”[What…?

]Namgung Myung let out a faint gasp, seemingly taken aback by Gu Yangcheon’s response.

The Hermit, however, felt certain from Gu Yangcheon’s answer.

Clearly, someone was indeed by his side.

Shen-cheol.

A name he vaguely recalled from somewhere…As the Hermit tried to recall where he’d heard it,“Let me ask again.

”Gu Yangcheon spoke, his face contorted even more than before.

“What exactly were you trying to do just now?

”[It’s none of your concern.

]Gu Yangcheon laughed.

He seemed to be laughing, but his expression suggested something closer to rage.

“So, by saying it’s none of my business, you’re admitting you were about to do something to her?

”[Can’t you understand the concept of family matters?

]“Hah.

”Gu Yangcheon let out a brief laugh before muttering in a low voice.

“Family matters, my ass.

”Hmph.

The chill in the air thickened with Gu Yangcheon’s words.

Woo-hyuk, observing from behind, covered his mouth in shock, his eyes wide.

Namgung Bi-ah, standing beside him, turned her head away and closed her eyes, as if to say, ‘Here we go again.

’[What did you just say…?

]Namgung Myung asked, as though he couldn’t believe what he had heard, but Gu Yangcheon’s expression remained unchanged.

“Ah, for crying out loud.

Is there a single Namgung man who isn’t a mess?

Why do all of you immediately go for your swords?

You couldn’t be a bit more peaceful about it?

”Even the last vestiges of courtesy slipped away.

This must be his true nature.

[You…!

Are you insulting the Namgung family?

]“I’ve put up with enough that I think I’ve earned the right to curse.

‘Family matters,’ my ass.

Here I am, trying to be patient, but it’s like the world won’t let me.

Why is a dead man so obsessed with family issues anyway?

That’s just senility, senior.

”“Well…”Hearing Gu Yangcheon’s rapid-fire response, the Hermit couldn’t help but admire him.

The boy had expressed all the words he had wanted to throw at Namgung Myung.

Yet, he did feel a twinge of pain when Namgung men were all cursed in one breath.

After all, as much as he wanted to distance himself, he still bore the Namgung name.

The Hermit’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Gu Yangcheon.

Such brazen, unrestrained words were something even he wouldn’t dare to say.

Gu Yangcheon clenched his teeth and looked into the air, growling.

“Oh, am I supposed to just endure?

The situation is already terrible, and I’m barely holding it together.

But they started it!

”He seemed to be speaking to someone other than the Hermit or Namgung Myung.

“What’s that got to do with anything?

Would Noya have stayed quiet if it was him?

See?

Then why is it only my fault?

”“…Young monster…no, sir.

Please, calm down.

”The Hermit tried to pacify the situation.

But this is where the problem started.

“Seriously, why is that family all like this?

No wonder their martial arts are twisted.

”Boom!

A surge of energy burst from Thunder Fang.

Realizing his slip, the Hermit felt a sinking feeling.

But it was too late.

Gu Yangcheon had just hit on the very topic Namgung Myung wanted to avoid: their twisted martial arts.

Who knew if the boy had realized the Namgung family’s issue, but—[My descendant.

]It was enough to provoke Namgung Myung.

His voice was colder than usual.

From that alone, the Hermit could tell that Namgung Myung was truly enraged.

And sure enough—[It seems this brat needs to be taught a lesson.

]The Hermit had to close his eyes tightly.

‘Old man, I’d rather not do that.

’The implication was clear—Namgung Myung was ordering him to punish Gu Yangcheon.

The problem was, despite the simmering aura, the Hermit really didn’t want to fight Gu Yangcheon.

Although he saw him as an equal martial artist, fighting the friend of his disciple felt too awkward.

‘If we could just overlook it as a child’s slip of the tongue…’He was about to lightly brush it off—[It’s an order.

]‘…What?

’The Hermit swallowed hard at Namgung Myung’s command.

‘Old man, are you serious?

’An order.

It was an agreement between Namgung Myung and the Hermit, or rather, Namgung Hyung.

Only five times.

Only five times would Namgung Hyung obey any command Namgung Myung issued.

They made this pact when Namgung Hyung fled from the Namgung family.

Whatever the order, if Namgung Myung invoked it, he would follow.

It was their binding agreement.

Three of these commands had already been used.

The first was to learn the true sword path of the Namgung family and later pass it down.

The second was to block the demonic gate in the village.

The third… was something he’d rather not remember.

‘You’re really using one just to scold this brat?

’The Hermit spoke to Namgung Myung in disbelief, but Namgung Myung was resolute.

[I can overlook many things, but I cannot ignore an insult to Namgung.

This will not stand.

]‘This is insanity.

’That damn Namgung pride.

Was there no end to it?

The Hermit thought so sincerely.

But there was no choice.

An oath could not be broken on a whim.

With that, the Hermit made up his mind.

Thunk!

“…!

”The force behind Gu Yangcheon’s grip on the hilt suddenly repelled his hand.

Though the Hermit hadn’t visibly moved, Gu Yangcheon’s hand was jolted away from the sword.

Gu Yangcheon, looking down at his tingling hand, widened his eyes.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but it seems I have to teach you a lesson.

”The Hermit spoke calmly to Gu Yangcheon.

“…Hermit.

”“Ah, I hate this kind of thing.

Especially in front of my own disciple—it’s embarrassing.

”The Hermit scratched the back of his head irritably.

A few flakes of dandruff drifted down from his messy, white-blue hair.

Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon extended his senses.

“…”And he held his breath.

He could feel it.

The aura rising steadily from the Hermit’s body.

It was far too rough and unrefined to belong to a Daoist.

A fully realized master.

No, even beyond that.

It was the aura of a transcendent, as Paejon had once described.

A being nearing the pinnacle, the Hermit’s pressure was that heavy.

The overwhelming feeling of a throat being squeezed tight.

It seemed the Hermit was truly serious about fighting him.

Feeling the chill spread through him, Gu Yangcheontook a quiet breath of relief.

After all—‘As planned.

’Things were going exactly as he had anticipated.

______________TL Notes: Namgung Myung (남궁명) — Known as the "Thunder Blade of Murim" and "Thunder God," one of the Five Heroes.