Childhood Friend of the Zenith
chapter-238

The Hwangbo Clan, affiliated with the Murim Alliance, was a prestigious Orthodox Clan considered to be one of the top clans, just below the Four Noble Clans.

The martial artists of Hwangbo Clan were known for having resilient bodies akin to the Peng Clan, and they specialized in close combat, much like the Dishonored Venerable Bijuu's clan.

Their reputation in close combat couldn't be underestimated, especially considering that some of their members inherited the title of “Lord of the Fist” from Yeon Il-Cheon, the Zenith who had stopped the Blood Fiend's Blood disaster in the past.

However, their pride in their clan had led them to arrogance, making the Hwangbo Clan no different from other clans consumed by self-importance.

It was to be expected, really.

The Hwangbo Clan had made a name for itself in the Central Plains in the past, and boasted renowned masters blessed with exceptional physique. As long as they weren't in the presence of the Four Noble Clans or the Ten Sect Alliance, they had no reason to downplay themselves.

Their inherent talent and blessings from their clan alone were enough to hold their heads high, their pride soaring to the heavens.

Like with other noble clans, this was often the fate of martial artists of the direct lineage of the clan.

It was actually rarer to see one staying humble and respectful.

Hwangbo Seon, who belonged to a collateral line of the clan, particularly resonated with this notion.

Because he wasn't from the direct lineage, but a collateral one.

Being from a collateral line meant he didn't possess the Hwangbo blood that granted the clan's distinctive large physique, subjecting him to a life of contempt and disdain from others.

His frail bones and small stature made it difficult for him to learn the martial arts of the Hwangbo Clan, making him an easy target for the predators of the clan due to his weakness.

For Hwangbo Seon, a talentless member of a collateral line, life felt like a living hell.

To him, the Hwangbo Clan was a place infested with monsters who toyed with him, a place filled with arrogant people hiding behind the noble clan's title.

Yet, despite it all, Hwangbo Seon couldn't escape from the grasp of the clan solely because he bore the Hwangbo surname.

That single fact bound him to the clan for life.

He would likely live his life as a slave to others, suffering in an eternal hell.

How could he dare to revolt against the main clan, especially when they held such noble status?

He had no choice but to submit to it and endure.

That was the bleak future that Hwangbo Seon foresaw.

It was inevitable.

What in the world…

However, what he witnessed before his eyes filled him with shock, making him forget about all the pain he felt from his battered and bruised body. It shattered all his preconceptions.

Crack-!

“Agghhh!”

The sound of bones breaking and agonized screams reverberated through the air.

The ones clad in dark yellow garments collapsed, one after another, their condition far from fine.

Each of them had broken bones or were vomiting blood.

Crack-!

“Ugh…!”

Another figure fell to the ground, writhing in pain and vomiting blood, soon losing consciousness.

Hwangbo Seon couldn't help but be surprised when he recognized the fallen figure.

“…Gasp!”

It was none other than the Vice Captain of the guards, who was in charge of escorting the blood relatives of the main clan.

From what Hwangbo Seon knew, this martial artist had overcome his wall despite being middle-aged, yet he succumbed so easily.

“…Unbelievable…”

It was inconceivable for all these people to end up in such a state simply because they couldn't defeat one person.

“…Just who is that person?”

Clutching his chest in pain, Hwangbo Seon glanced at the lone martial artist standing nearby.

He couldn't bring himself to meet the fierce gaze in his eyes. Surprisingly, the martial artist appeared to be around the same age as himself.

The martial artist didn't even have a big physique like the others on the ground.

It was actually on the smaller side, possibly even smaller than him.

But how can someone like him…

Hwangbo Seon couldn't comprehend it, especially when he saw who was in the young man's grasp.

The Young Master …lost?

In the martial artist's hand was Hwangbo Cheok, the future Young Lord of the Hwangbo Clan, and the one who would lead their clan in the future.

The martial artist's small hand gripped Hwangbo Cheok's thick neck tightly.

Despite Hwangbo Cheok's imposing physique,the martial artist effortlessly held him aloft. It was as if Hwangbo Cheok's massive frame meant nothing to the young man.

Hwangbo Seon saw it with his own two eyes.

The fear-inducing Hwangbo Cheok, who had always instilled terror in him, was now being pummeled without being able to fight back.

The young man shattered Hwangbo Cheok's fist, despite the significant size difference, and brought him down to his knees as easily as snapping a tree branch.

How was this even possible?

What's more, even when the other martial artists of the Hwangbo Clan joined forces to help, the young man effortlessly dealt with them despite the difference in numbers.

I couldn't even follow…

Hwangbo Seon didn't know what happened at all.

He couldn't even see the young man's movement with his own eyes.

As Hwangbo Seon was being conflicted with shock and shame,

“Tsk.”

As Hwangbo Seon grappled with shock and shame, he heard the mysterious martial artist click his tongue in annoyance after defeating everyone around him.

“…Ugh, I beat them all up because they were getting on my nerves… I'm fucked.”

Unlike the noble image presented by his incredible martial prowess, his words were nothing like that.

“If that lunatic catches me, I'll be in deep trouble… What should I do? Maybe I should just bury them all so there are no witnesses…”

Hwangbo Seon initially thought he had misheard.

Those words were far too brutal.

Bury them in the ground… How terrifying…!

“But there is a witness who can attest to that…”

“Gasp…!”

The young man's gaze turned toward him.

Hwangbo Seon had to stifle a scream as he met the young man's fiery red eyes.

The intense gaze, coupled with the young man's fierce demeanor, sent chills down his spine.

How can a person look that scary…?

An unexpected sound caught Hwangbo Seon's attention from behind.

“Pff…”

It seemed like he wasn't the only one who felt that way.

Hwangbo Seon turned towards the sudden sound that came from behind him.

“Huh…?”

To his surprise, another person was standing behind him.

“S-Second Young Master…?”

“...”

It was Hwangbo Cheolwi, the second son of the Hwangbo Clan.

Hwangbo Cheolwi was a comfortable presence for him.

Hwangbo Cheolwi had always looked down on Hwangbo Seon, much like Hwangbo Cheok, but at some point, he had stopped such behavior.

…Did the Second Young Master not join in on the fight?

Why did he choose not to though?

To be fair, no one would willingly involve themselves in such a one-sided battle.

But Hwanbo Cheolwi's decision to merely observe while his brother was being beaten up, seemed strange to Hwanbo Seon.

His confusion was short-lived.

“Hey, you over there.”

“…!”

The young man who had laid waste to his surroundings now approached them.

Hwangbo Seon desperately wanted to run away, even if it meant crawling away, but his legs refused to move.

“I've been wondering who you were.”

The young man smiled as he saw Hwangbo Cheolwi.

The young man's smile, to Hwangbo Seon, was nothing short of terrifying, causing a shiver to run down his spine.

…I-I think I've wet myself.

He prayed that he hadn't, but he couldn't be certain, as he had no sensation in his lower body.

The young man approached with a smile.

“You came here too?”

Who is he speaking to?

Hwangbo Seon briefly wondered about it, but then he heard a response from beside him.

“…It has been a while.”

To his surprise, the young man was speaking to Hwangbo Cheolwi, and judging by his reaction, it seemed they were acquainted.

“Nice to meet you. It's been a year, hasn't it?”

“That's… right.”

Hwangbo Cheolwi took a step back as the young man approached.

“I heard that the Hwangbo Clan came to the frontlines, but they sent two whole blood relatives of the main clan?”

“…”

“T-That's right…! I couldn't attend last time, so we came here together.”

Hearing Hwangbo Cheolwi's panicked response,, the young man turned his gaze to the person standing behind him.

“So, that's your older brother?”

“…Yes, he's the one who'll become the Young Lord of the Hwangbo Clan.”

“…”

The young man seemed to mockingly question the suitability of someone like Hwangbo Cheolwi becoming the Young Lord.

Even after learning that he had defeated the future Young Lord of the Hwangbo Clan, the young man appeared unfazed.

If anything he seemed even more displeased.

Hwangbo Seon found that strange.

“I should've known when he spoke so annoyingly… I would've beaten him up even more if I had known.”

“Wait… perhaps I should do it, now that I've said it.”

As the young man started to approach Hwangbo Cheok, seriously considering beating him up even more, he glanced at Hwangbo Cheolwi once again.

“Oh, right.”

“…?”

“Do you want revenge?”

“Pardon…? W-What did you just say?”

“Your brother, I beat him up. So I'm asking if you're going to fight me now.”

“…”

The young man's witty banter made him appear annoying and repulsive to Hwangbo Seon, but his earlier display of skill indicated that he was more than a mere bully.

At the same time, he was curious how Hwangbo Cheolwi would respond.

Although the young man's speech was strange, it was undeniably true that he had defeated Hwangbo Cheolwi's brother right before his eyes.

“…Um… about that.”

Hwangbo Cheolwi hesitated, his eyes darting around as he contemplated his decision.

From a distance, Hwangbo Seon could sense the depth of Hwangbo Cheolwi's thoughts.

Would Hwangbo Cheolwi do nothing in response to his brother being beaten?

Or would he stand up and fight in honor of his clan and his brother?

In a brief moment, it became clear that Hwangbo Cheolwi had made up his mind. He looked at the young man with a resolute expression.

Even Hwangbo Seon could see his iron will.

Hwangbo Cheolwi's thick muscles tensed, and an air of mystery surrounded him.

It seemed that Hwangbo Cheolwi had decided to fight the young man.

Crack-!

The young man cracked his neck, his gaze fixed on Hwangbo Cheolwi.

Could he really defeat the young man who had toyed with Hwangbo Cheok as if he were a child…?

With Hwangbo Seon's pupils trembling with anticipation, Hwangbo Cheolwi growled as he stared at the young man.

“Men can settle things with their fists. It would be unmanly of me to interfere in this situation!”

“...”

“I, Hwangbo Cheolwi, will respect my brother's will and shall not taint it.”

“…Uh, I see.”

In the end, he was all bark and no bite.

Hwangbo Seon felt a sense of embarrassment wash over him.

Hmm…?

Was I mistaken?

Hwangbo Seon couldn't shake the feeling that the young man's gaze was directed at him rather than Hwangbo Cheolwi.

I-I don't think I'm mistaken…

Unfortunately, the young man's two eyes were fixed on him.

His fiery red pupils were aimed right at him, and Hwangbo Seon couldn't bring himself to meet that gaze.

…W-Why is he looking at me?

His faint smile only added to the unease.

Perhaps… he is thinking of beating me up in place of Hwangbo Cheolwi?

Filled with fear and confusion, Hwangbo Seon could only avert his gaze, staring at the ground.

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

After throwing those idiots aside to the ground, I turned to the fat Hwangbo… What was his name again? Ah, who cares.

Anyway, I told the Hwangbo guy to take care of the sorry bunch lying on the ground.

He agreed, though his tone suggested otherwise.

But he would probably do it anyway.

I honestly was angry enough to want to beat them up again…

But I'll hold back since I saw a familiar face.

I let them get away for now.

He may give off a different aura now, but it was definitely this guy.

The man who struggled on the ground, bruised and tattered.

The weak-looking martial artist with an ordinary physique that didn't correlate with his surname.

The Silent Fist.

In my past life, he was a Demonic Human and a subordinate of mine, the Silent Fist Hwangbo Seon.

I was certain that it was him.

I heard briefly about him through the Beggar's Sect, but I didn't expect to run into him here.

In my past life, The Silent Fist gained notoriety by hunting down Demonic Humans, until some incident within the Hwangbo Clan pushed him into the clutches of the Demonic Cult. He then lived his life as a Demonic Human.

Though his aura feels too different.

If I thought about the Silent Fist of old, he was a man of few words, living up to his title. He carried out orders without question, fighting against anyone regardless of their strength.

He was far from being a weakling.

So he was still like this at this time, huh?

The Hwangbo Seon before me appeared far weaker than I had expected, his scared demeanor made it hard for me to watch.

Interesting.

The martial artist who mastered the art of Hwangbo Clan's martial arts, was reduced to such a weak state in this time period.

It was very interesting.

Maybe he gained some Enlightenment in the near future?

As for the future Young Lord of the Hwangbo Clan, there wasn't really much to think about it. He possessed a strong physique, but couldn't make good use of it.

In contrast, Hwangbo… Cheolwi, who was sneakily watching from the sidelines, seemed more promising in terms of talent.

Maybe I should've beaten him half to death.

Only disappointment awaited a bastard like him.

Hwangbo Cheok, the one responsible for driving the Silent Fist, Hwangbo Seon, to become a Demonic Human.

In the past, upon returning from his Demonic Human hunts, Hwangbo Seon discovered a shocking sight within his clan.

Driven by jealousy over Hwanbo Seon's growing reputation in the Central Plains, Hwangbo Cheok murdered Seon's wife and child, plotting to end Seon's life as well.

Although I had considered getting rid of that wretched Hwangbo Cheok, I ultimately opted to refrain.

Vengeance can't be done for someone else.

The Silent Fist, in our past life, would have asked me not to do such a thing.

He at most would have asked me for some assistance with his vengeance.

Recalling the man who once stood beside me as a Demonic Human, I nodded subtly.

“…I can at the very least do that much.”

Aiding him would prove far more challenging than simply getting rid of Hwangbo Cheok myself, but I was willing to help him.

Though I don't know if the current Hwangbo Seon wants that.

For he seemed rather scared.

Why is that, though?

I looked at him with the utmost kindness, appreciating the sight of him.

“Oh.”

Was he scared of the guy standing next to him?

Fair, who wouldn't be scared when standing beside such a giant?

If I were in his shoes, I would be scared shitless especially when I'm in pain like that.

“But since I saved him, I must have made a good impression, no?”

I'm sure I did.

In Hwangbo Seon's eyes, perhaps I appeared as a hero?

Hm, how refreshing.

Doing a good deed was something I wasn't used to, but my exhausted body felt as if it had been fully revitalized.