Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 325 (Part 2)



325 (Part 2)

“Of course that Elder back then tried to catch me and roll me around.

But I felt like I would really die if I got caught by that old man so I ran away.

Anyway.

If someone is willing to help.

I should be grateful and work hard.

Still I don’t like it.

These days tsk tsk.

Just thinking about the Nine Leaves makes my expression sour.

I could see Pae Woo-cheol flinch at the sight of my face.

What’s with this guy flinching again?

“So what is it?”

I asked with a hint of annoyance.

Pae Woo-cheol scratched the back of his head and replied.

“It’s nothing much… but if you don’t have any other plans I was wondering if you’d like to go with us to our house.”

“Your house?”

If I go it’s in Sichuan.

Isn’t that where the Tang Clan is located?

“…Sichuan.”

Originally I was supposed to go back home.

If I didn’t see any signs of crossing the wall by then.

I was thinking of going to find the White Horse Stone…

‘…Isn’t that in Sichuan?’

To be precise it’s not exactly in Sichuan but the direction was similar.

The White Horse Stone was buried deep beneath a lake created by a rampaging white-grade demonic beast centuries ago.

“Ugh…”

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E…

The direction was somewhat similar.

If I didn’t feel any signs of crossing the wall by then…

“I’ll think about it.”

“Oh…! Thank you.”

“You invited me so why are you thanking me?”

If I was invited I should be the one to be grateful.

I said this in disbelief but Pae Woo-cheol just smiled pleasantly.

“My father will really like you Hyung-nim.”

“I might not go you know.”

It was really a dilemma to go without being able to cross the wall.

The one guarding that place was dangerous so I had to think it over.

The reason I wanted to reach the White Horse Stone and consume it was partly because it was more efficient.

But more importantly I was worried if I could break through that ‘monster’ at my current level.

The only problem was.

‘…I hope not.’

There was also the risk of my father coming directly to drag me away.

Then I would be stuck with no way out.

‘Surely he wouldn’t do that.’

Unless the Jinma Gyeongmun occurred or something like the accident Gu Hee-bi experienced last time.

My father doesn’t easily move around in Shanxi.

Why else would the Ho-hyeop and Gu-ga be called the guardians of Shanxi?

‘Not going is a problem too.’

If the next Young Master caused trouble and ran off with Pae Woo-cheol instead of coming home.

That would be a problem in its own right…

But what can I do?

If you’re going to complain don’t make him the Young Master.

I should be able to indulge in that much deviation now.

Thinking that I chuckled once.

I told Pae Woo-cheol.

“Start heading back. It seems like it’s about to begin.”

“Ah. Understood.”

At my words Pae Woo-cheol slightly bowed his head and leaped away into the distance.

The reason I sent him off was simple.

There had already been instructions not to cooperate before the start.

We were told to keep our distance from each other.

It was a point where the fellow disciples were naturally separating.

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Moreover.

‘It would be a bit troublesome if Pae Woo-cheol was involved.’

Even if there were no such rules.

I was planning to start without Pae Woo-cheol.

It worked out well.

It was a good excuse.

I looked around.

….

!

Everywhere I looked the mountains were filled with trees.

Using qi I expanded my senses.

I could feel signs of life here and there. They were probably other disciples.

Among them those who felt a bit shallow.

They were probably the hidden instructors.

‘There are a few around me.’

On top of that there were demonic beasts scattered all around.

Even while observing this I found it quite fascinating.

What do those orthodox sects think they’re doing releasing demonic beasts in perfectly fine mountains?

How did they even manage to contain them in the first place?

Is there no one questioning this?

‘Or did they get rid of anyone who questioned it?’

That’s a fairly plausible story.

-Whizz

While I was looking around.

Arrows shot high into the sky.

It wasn’t just one or two.

It was just like during the entrance exam.

The arrows were infused with qi.

As they reached high into the sky.

Bang!

With a small sound the arrows burst. The qi contained within spread out.

It was a signal to start the practice.

I quietly watched it.

And slowly began to move.

With each step I took.

I could feel the presence of demonic beasts around me little by little.

But I didn’t move to catch them.

It couldn’t be helped.

After all my goal in this practice wasn’t the demonic beasts.

I attempted a short leap.

Using qi to conceal my presence.

As soon as I hid my presence I could feel some of those around me becoming flustered.

They were probably the instructors who had been watching me.

It seemed they were flustered because they lost sight of me.

Shaking off the instructors.

The place I found was the highest point in this mountain.

“…Oh my joints.”

I sat on a rock in front of me and tapped my knees.

My body was young so I shouldn’t be feeling sore.

But perhaps due to mental fatigue my joints had been a bit painful lately.

“Will it rain tomorrow?”

I muttered such trivial words.

And quietly looked up at the sky.

It was a clear day so it didn’t seem like it would rain.

I watched the clouds drifting by.

In the bright and clear sky the clouds that were slightly mixed in were a bit surreal.

“Why do they have to flow so slowly and annoyingly?”

I wasn’t particularly lost in thought.

There was nothing to see so I was just looking at that.

“When will it come?”

I had come all the way up here to find it.

It would be troublesome if I couldn’t find it.

It would be a bit embarrassing to go looking for it now.

So.

As I wondered if I should just pick some grass and whistle a tune.

Crisp.

At that moment I felt a presence from one side.

I shifted my gaze.

It wasn’t to confirm who it was.

It was an obvious story anyway.

If I had touched it that much.

It should burst now.

“I thought you weren’t coming.”

I said with a smirk.

The expression of the one who appeared stiffened considerably.

The usual smile he wore in front of others was gone.

A gloomy atmosphere filled the air.

I wondered how he could change so drastically.

But I welcomed that sight instead.

It was the very look I had longed for from him.

The one looking at me slowly parted his lips.

“…Were you waiting for me?”

“Not for long. I just arrived too.”

I greeted him as if I had met a long-lost friend.

But that guy.

No.

Jang Seon-yeon’s face only grew more rigid.”