Childhood Friend of the Zenith

༺ Know Your Place (5) ༻

Sky-blue-like flames swirled around the body and light was brought down upon the once-shrouded darkness.

Crash-

Behind this, the after effect of the sword strike that the First Elder unleashed still continued to further crumble everything in its path.

Looking at the environment that was being destroyed, a slight tremor ran through my shoulders.

That really would have killed me even if it only skimmed me.

Because of that, I had to bring this out.

‘I didn’t want to use it.’

Looking at the blue flames that were surrounding my body gave me a headache.

It was due to the energy that the Blood Demon gave to me, and the mysterious power that Jang Seonyeon used.

I decided to call this ‘Blood Qi’.

The Blood Qi elevated both body and martial prowess to unparalleled heights.

This power that was somewhat similar to Demonic Qi made my flames turn blue and more destructive, and my body was also enhanced just like my flames.

The disparity in my strength with the mere utilization of this energy was staggering, marking it as an extraordinary force.

However, as great as it was, there was a clear consequence to using this power.

The use of this energy rapidly depleted the Qi residing in my dantian.

Despite my Qi being largely untouched when I engulfed the surroundings in flames, the introduction of this mysterious power accelerated its drainage.

‘How is this even worth the price?’

Of course, it was only thanks to this power that I was able to turn the situation around, but it wasn’t so welcoming.

‘It would’ve been dangerous if I didn’t use it.’

In the past, there was once a time when I told myself I would never use Demonic Qi, but after realizing that I couldn’t afford to be picky with things, I decided to just use it.

Even so, an energy that belonged to evil never felt clean to use.

Which was especially more the case if I didn’t know what the energy even was.

‘I wanted to hide it as best as I could.’

Because it changed the color of my flames completely, I couldn’t afford to use this power wherever I wanted.

Furthermore…

Slam-!

“…Phew.”

As soon as I retrieved all my flames, my body started to feel recoil, so I had to clench my teeth to not let my pain show, being cautious of my expression changing.

‘Fuck me… it hurts like hell.’

During the trip on the way home, to learn more about the energy, I used it a few times during training, but because this was my first time using it in a real battle, I failed to think about the recoil that comes after.

But even so, this was a bit too much.

‘And I thought I got used to pain.’

My body might have not been the case, but I thought that my mental strength was very hard to break at least.

But still, this was way too much.

‘As I thought, I can’t use this often.’

It might have been fine if it only ended with a mild recoil, but if I got this much pain every time I used this power, then my body could be permanently damaged.

Even now, I had to conceal the slight tremor in my arm.

Nevertheless, the experience illuminated the potency of this power.

‘It might not make me as powerful as a Fusion Realm martial artist, but…’

Even if it didn’t make me powerful enough to reach a whole new level, it still came remarkably close.

I knew this just by thinking of Jang Seonyeon showing the power of a Peak Realm martial artist when he was only a first-rate martial artist.

‘…Then if I used this power at a higher stage, would I get the same boost?’

The thought crossed my mind, but I promptly dismissed it.

Such a thing wouldn’t happen.

After all, no one could cheat their way to reaching a whole new realm.

“Cough…! Huff…”

Splatter-

A splatter accompanied the sight of blood emerging from the First Elder’s mouth as he knelt.

Concealing my trembling hand, I directed my gaze at the First Elder.

The old man, his hair disheveled and body battered, looked up at me with shaky pupils in a way that made him look utterly pathetic.

It was the downfall of a Master who used to be one of the strongest of the Gu Clan.

So seeing him like that wasn’t the most welcoming feeling, even if he had swung his sword at me.

“Hughh…”

Only a weak sound came from the First Elder’s mouth.

It was because all his teeth were pulled out and shattered.

“All the things you caused are probably recorded in that basement of yours.”

“Hughh… N…o…”

I couldn’t understand him easily because of his pronunciation, but I knew what the First Elder was feeling.

“Are you still going to try and struggle so pathetically? I suggest you don’t.”

“How… How are you…! Why is it that you…!”

“I know, I wonder why it ended up like this. How unfortunate for you.”

I remarked callously.

Even if I lived my life lazily as the First Elder expected, this old man was already bound to meet his end.

This situation was only brought upon early because of the First Elder’s desperation.

After watching the First Elder practically throw up his emotions, I responded coldly.

“Gu Sunmoon’s Head, Gu Changjun.”

I declared, causing the First Elder’s eyes to shake heavily.

“Because you collaborated with outsiders, caused harm to our clan, and attempted to harm the clan’s bloodline, you will be relieved of your position as an Elder.”

“What makes you think you bastard has any power to remove me from anything…!”

“Why wouldn’t I? Do you think it’ll change if I go get the Young Lord position right now?”

Even if I couldn’t, the outcome would remain unaffected.

And the First Elder was aware of this as well.

If Father saw what happened here after returning, wouldn’t the First Elder be punished for it?

“There are so many things… that I did for the clan up until now! How dare a lazy brat like you try to remove me from my position!”

Like he said, the things the First Elder did for the clan weren’t small.

He had been leading Gu Sunmoon for decades.

Gu Sunmoon existed as the Sword of the Gu Clan and they definitely played a big role in securing peace for Shanxi, but…

“Even so, that doesn’t justify crossing the line you shouldn’t.”

“What do you know…?”

“Do I have to know? I’m not curious about your sob story.”

It’s a position he couldn’t reach because he wasn’t from the main clan.

No matter how hard he tried, he could never reach it.

I don’t know what story he hides in his past, but…

“There is no point of me knowing.”

I don’t know what kind of life the First Elder lived, but that was his own life.

Whatever decision he makes, it means that the old man is also responsible for it.

After my body finally stopped shaking because of the recoil, I reached my hand out and grabbed the First Elder’s neck right away.

The First Elder gathered his Qi while faltering his body to resist, but he coughed out blood right away.

It seemed like the First Elder’s body wasn’t listening to his command.

“…Let… go…! Bastard…! Even if you are the Lord’s son, you won’t be able to do anything to me. There are clear rules in the clan…!”

“I wonder why you did all this despite knowing the rules of our clan.”

I put more strength into my hand grabbing his neck.

I had to kill the First Elder here.

Even if I left him alive here, the possibility of the First Elder surviving after Father returned to the clan was close to none, but…

‘He saw my flame.’

Since the First Elder saw me use Blood Qi in order for me to dodge his attack and counterattack, I couldn’t afford to let him live.

“At the very least, you won’t die that painfully like last time.”

In my past life, Father killed the First Elder slowly, burning him alive, but I didn’t want to use this power any longer just because of that.

Shortly after, right as I was about to break his neck by putting more strength into my hand…

“Young Master…!”

My body froze after hearing the voice that came from behind me.

And the same applied to the First Elder.

“N…No.”

After seeing the individual who appeared from behind me, the First Elder let out a voice of despair.

He didn’t want to be seen like this.

And I felt the same way.

‘How did he know?’

Turning around with shocked eyes, I found Gu Jeolyub standing there, panting heavily.

I told Muyeon to watch Gu Jeolyub before he did anything, so how did Gu Jeolyub manage to reach Gu Sunmoon?

‘But that’s not the important thing right now.’

His grandfather was vomiting blood with his appearance in a mess and the one grabbing his neck was none other than me.

“Huff… Huff…!”

I noticed Gu Jeolyub’s pupils shake heavily after seeing this.

And because he was panting, he couldn’t even speak properly and was breathing heavily.

“Y-Young Master. W-What is this…”

Shortly after, he called me with a shaky voice, unable to understand what was going on.

“Tsk.”

To this, I turned my head around after clicking my tongue.

What a shitty situation this was.

It was also a situation that I preferred to avoid if it was possible.

[Kid.]

“Sigh…”

The sound of Elder Shin calling my name urged me to make a decision, and I let out a deep sigh.

This was precisely why I preferred to stay out of people’s sight.

I tightened my grip on the First Elder’s neck.

Crack-!

Along with a heavy sound, the light in the First Elder’s eyes began to fade.

Shortly after, the First Elder’s body fell to the ground powerlessly.

“G-Grandfather!”

Gu Jeolyub rushed to his fallen grandfather.

His shaky voice and sobbing face bothered me quite a bit.

“Gu Jeolyub.”

However, putting aside that emotion of mine, I called Gu Jeolyub.

To my call, Gu Jeolyub raised his tear-filled eyes to meet mine.

Gu Jeolyub’s face was filled with a storm of emotions along with endless tears coming out of his eyes.

I could decipher his feelings if I chose to, but I had no choice but to look away right now.

“He is removed from the position of Gu Sunmoon’s Head, so you will inherit that spot.”

“…What-What… are you saying right now? How did this happen?”

“I won’t hear any objections.”

“Young Mas…!”

Gu Jeolyub shouted back at me, but I only stared back at Gu Jeolyub calmly.

When his eyes met with my own, Gu Jeolyub tried to draw his sword in anger.

“If you do that, I have no other choice but to kill you.”

After hearing my words, Gu Jeolyub’s body froze.

He had to since I was letting out a massive amount of killing intent on purpose.

It was likely unbearable for Gu Jeolyub right now.

“Why, just why…!”

But even in this situation, Gu Jeolyub was trying his best to move his body.

He was showing clearly that he couldn’t understand the current situation and his emotions right now.

A young man, who hasn’t even reached the age of twenty, was bound to do that.

After a brief contemplation, I delivered a light chop to Gu Jeolyub’s neck, rendering him unconscious.

As he fell without even being able to react, I moved to catch him.

[So you decided not to kill the child.]

‘…’

[Did you come to like him more in that short amount of time you spent with him?]

I didn’t give any response to Elder Shin’s question.

Shortly after, I sensed numerous approaching presences from the entrance.

It seemed like the members of the main clan were finally arriving after learning about the current situation.

I briefly put Gu Jeolyub on the ground and turned my back.

[There is nothing scarier than showing mercy. You probably know better, that it’s better for both you and that child.]

‘…’

[I won’t be speaking any further since this is your choice, but you will regret it for sure.]

I brushed my hair aside after hearing Elder Shin.

There were already so many things for me to regret, so adding one more to the list wouldn’t change anything.

At least that’s what I decided to think for now.

To be more accurate…

I had no other choice but to think that way.

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

In the basement of the Black Palace…

A lady who had lost consciousness slowly opened her eyes.

“Gasp!”

As soon as she regained consciousness, the woman looked around her surroundings.

It was a dark room and there were iron bars in front of her.

The room was filled with only silence, so much to the point it felt strange.

‘…Where am I?’

The lady, Gu Huibi, started to work her mind aching in pain, to try and remember what happened at the last moment.

After all, she had to learn why.

Why she was here, and where she was right now.

“…!”

Thankfully, her memory returned swiftly.

But Gu Huibi had to clench her teeth right after in anger.

It was because of the absurd power of the martial artist who intruded on the battlefield, as well as the disappointment in herself, who was powerless in front of such power.

“…Fuck.”

The image of the Second Elder, valiantly fighting to protect her only to be fatally wounded by the enemy at the last moment, lingered in her mind.

And the memory of her losing consciousness right after that.

It was a memory that made her feel incompetent.

This was also the appearance that she hated the most.

With a heavy heart, Gu Huibi turned her head to survey her surroundings carefully.

“Where am I…?”

First, she had to learn why all of this even happened.

However, there was only one thing that she was able to learn by looking around.

“A prison…?”

She was surrounded by iron bars, confined in a prison.

As Gu Huibi continued to look around with a confused expression…

“How about you stay still? You are bothering me.”

A voice interrupted her thoughts, emanating from not too far away.

Gu Huibi, who had failed to notice their presence, immediately distanced herself upon hearing the voice.

“Ugh…!”

Gu Huibi grunted as she tried to move, only to fall to the floor due to her hands and feet being tied.

“Haha, I knew that would happen.”

Clang.

A rough sound of steel scraping against the floor drew closer to Gu Huibi.

As the sound got closer, Gu Huibi tried to get into her battle stance while regulating her breath, but…

For some reason, her Qi did not answer her.

‘Acupuncture…?’

Judging by how her dantian felt fine, it seemed like there was acupuncture administered on her so that she couldn’t use her power.

When the sound reached right in front of her nose, she saw the figure of a person after her eyes got used to the dark.

“…!”

It was an old man.

An old man with a frail and abnormal-looking physique.

His body bore numerous torture marks…

And most noticeably, his eyes were wrapped around with cloth.

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