Childhood Friend of the Zenith Chapter 1164

The qualification is enough. You can do it, so try it.

I couldn’t respond easily to those words.

‘…What does that mean?’

Is he saying I have earned the qualification?

“Does it mean I have achieved mastery?”

Am I being asked if it refers to the mastery of Nine Flames Firewheel? I tried to clarify.

“That’s just the starting point. You shouldn’t not know that.”

Gu Seongyeol reacted as if to say, “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t understand?”

What does he mean by not understanding?

I have no idea. I couldn’t make sense of it.

‘He says I’ve earned the qualification.’

Am I qualified now? You can do it, right? Why did Gu Seongyeol’s attitude feel so strange to me?

“I don’t know how to do that.”

If I knew, I would have done it by now.

Especially after all those near-death struggles. I would’ve tried it back then.

‘It was obviously something beyond the ordinary.’

It was a form that naturally evoked awe. It was something that couldn’t possibly be called human—something from a higher plane.

Maybe “Mastery” would be a fitting term? If Shin Noya heard that, he’d probably hate it, but for now, that was the only word that came to mind.

If I could do that—

‘It would make things easier.’

I knew it would greatly help me with the challenges ahead.

‘But how do I even do that?’

I had no idea.

Why did Gu Seongyeol assert that I could do it? I was still staring at him in confusion.

“…Hm?”

Gu Seongyeol, noticing my confusion, narrowed his eyes.

“You really don’t know?”

“Would I be standing here if I did?”

“…”

Whoosh.

‘This…’

Had my tone irritated him? Suddenly, Gu Seongyeol conjured flames in his hand.

“Ah, that’s not what I meant…”

I was about to apologize when—

“But didn’t the Master speak strangely?”

I couldn’t stop myself from adding that last bit. This damn mouth of mine always causes problems.

Maybe it was the words that I uttered that caused the problem.

Whoosh—!

“…!”

Gu Seongyeol’s hand suddenly pierced my chest.

I widened my eyes at the nonchalant way his hand sank in.

Right at the location of my heart.

‘Crazy.’

Was he planning to kill me? I didn’t feel murderous intent at first, so my reaction was delayed.

But—

Thump—!

‘What’s going on?’

The heart he was holding began to beat.

There was no pain. Just a warm sensation.

Thump. Thump.

Thump…

“…”

“What… did you do?”

“Ah, I see.”

Gu Seongyeol nodded as he held my heart in his hand. It seemed like he had figured something out.

Whoosh—!

His hand, which had pierced my chest, pulled away. Strangely enough, there was no wound.

“There was a barrier.”

“…A barrier?”

I asked, touching the spot where my chest had been pierced.

One.

“You’re the last.”

“Huh?”

This guy was still spouting things that didn’t make any sense.

Gu Seongyeol looked at me with strangely clear eyes.

“You are the last of the Gu family’s legacy. It wasn’t that far off, was it?”

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

If you’re going to speak, speak clearly. I couldn’t make sense of the random words he was spouting.

“What do you mean by ‘last’?”

“I wondered how you, who haven’t even become the Master, achieved this level. Someone must have helped you. Who was it?”

“….”

I froze at his certainty. So many possibilities flooded my mind.

“Furthermore, it’s not just a mere spark. The things of the afterlife have merged with you. What’s keeping you from collapsing?”

“….”

The body that had become like a dragon.

The energy I gained from The Mangye.

I had already surpassed humanity, and all of this was wrapped up in it.

And it was being supported by Demonic Heaven Absorption Art.

It seemed that Gu Seongyeol had caught on to it.

‘So that’s what made him mistake it?’

A body full of all sorts of things.

And naturally, that raised my level. When he saw that, I thought Gu Seongyeol must have assumed that I could also attain the Master’s level.

When I was thinking that, he spoke again.

“The barriers that were created are now preventing your true nature. That is the wall.”

“…Huh?”

That was an unexpected statement.

‘The things that made me so strong… are now getting in the way?’

The very things that had made me stronger were now supposedly hindering me. I frowned as I heard it.

“To put it clearly, the regrets you haven’t chosen are the same. What do you want to become?”

“….”

His words struck a chord with the doubts I had been wrestling with.

“Where do you want to remain? Or… where do you still remain?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Will you carry everything and manage it? Or will you empty everything and leave only one thing behind? You need to solve that before you can get what you long for.”

Gu Seongyeol extinguished the flames he had wrapped around his hand and spoke.

“Even if you carry a lot, it will never be filled. Because the shapes are different, gaps will remain. That creates imperfection. Make your decision early. It doesn’t seem like there’s much time left.”

I couldn’t respond to those words.

The dilemma I had been dealing with recently was exactly what he had pinpointed.

There wasn’t much time left.

What did that mean?

‘My power? Or…’

Was it referring to my situation?

The way Gu Seongyeol spoke made me feel like it was definitely related to my strength, but…

I still had doubts.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“…”

Why would Gu Seongyeol be telling me this? That was the question.

“You’re not exactly close to me, are you?”

I was from the Gu family, the son of Gu Cheolwoon, Gu Seongyeol’s son.

He might have helped me, but I was still not someone he would normally share such teachings with.

The Gu family was not exactly a warm or good place, and I knew that. Gu Seongyeol knew that too.

I could understand the teachings of Paejon, but—

‘Why is this old man doing this?’

Gu Seongyeol had shown me Mastery in front of me.

It was meant for my father, but—

‘He seems to want to show me something.’

The form and the power he used.

It seemed clear that he had shown me this.

That’s why I had doubts.

“What do you want from me?”

He must be hoping for something, otherwise, why would he do this?

I directly asked him what he wanted.

“….”

Gu Seongyeol didn’t answer.

‘That’s right.’

It is correct to say that I have the qualification.

What? Is there something I can do for him?

While I was wondering, he asked.

“I’ll ask you one thing.”

Gu Seongyeol asked me.

“In the place where you are living… what happened to my wife?”

“…”

I widened my eyes upon hearing the question.

What is he asking?

‘Is he asking about my grandmother?’

Could it be…

“…Was that what you’ve been asking all along?”

He had been concerned about my mastery of my condition and giving me guidance, but now it turns out it was all for…

‘For his wife?’

Was he asking for information about his wife?

‘This is ridiculous.’

I had already sensed that he was a bit of an oddball from before.

But also…

‘…Should I even answer this?’

I heard the question, but I didn’t know if I should answer.

Well, it doesn’t matter, right? After all…

‘Things I shouldn’t say…’

Maybe it was just filtering itself, given that I hadn’t received permission.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

So I answered honestly.

“I don’t know about your wife. I only met her when I came here.”

“…”

“I’d like to say more, but that’s all I know. I’ve never heard anything about her from my father… or the Clan Leader’s son.”

I’ve met my grandfather, but I wouldn’t really call it a meeting.

As told by my ancestors…

‘At that time, my grandfather wasn’t really my grandfather.’

A being who had discarded all emotions, keeping only the belief that he must protect the door while maintaining his duties.

My ancestors said it should be treated separately from the being that existed before.

So, I leave my grandfather aside.

‘As for my grandmother…’

She was a presence I had never encountered in my life. And the same goes for my aunt, Gu Seon.

So, I didn’t know much.

After answering honestly, Gu Seongyeol’s expression became clear.

He was bitter.

His face clearly showed deep bitterness.

“In the end, that’s how it ended.”

“…Clan Leader?”

“Thank you for telling me. Rest now.”

“Pardon?”

The brief emotion that showed was instantly withdrawn.

He turned his back and began to walk away. Wait, is that it?

While I stood there staring at him.

“Oh, one more thing.”

Gu Seongyeol stopped walking and turned to look at me.

“Don’t pay attention to the underground area for a while. This is advice, not a warning.”

“…!”

Whoosh!

He spoke those words and immediately disappeared into the flames.

“…This is crazy.”

I had to force a laugh.

“What a sharp man…?”

He must have known that I had business in the sect’s underground area.

‘But “advice,” not “warning”?’

It was a confusing suggestion to say, “don’t go there.”

“Hmm.”

What should I do?

‘I was thinking of going today.’

But now, it seems kind of awkward to head there.

If I heard something like that, it feels like I really shouldn’t go.

‘…For now.’

I turned my gaze. My eyes were fixed on a place far from here, a place that was quietly managed by sect.

‘If it’s not the underground, I should head there.’

Since he told me not to go underground, I have one other option.

It was the place I originally planned to go to when I arrived at sect, and now I have a reasonable excuse to go.

The front lines.

The cursed land, teeming with ma-mul, is rigorously managed under the name of the righteous sect.

It seems like…

“I guess I should go?”

It looks like I’ll have to go there today.