Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 363 (Part 2)



363 (Part 2)

“I’m screwed.”

No matter how I looked at it it was clear that things had gone terribly wrong.

I had no intention of breaking off the engagement.

“No this isn’t my fault.”

It would be right to blame Moyong Hee-ah for acting without consulting me.

But looking at Moyong Hee-ah who was anxiously glancing around I couldn’t bring myself to say that.

“What was she thinking…?”

I wondered what Moyong Hee-ah was thinking but when I thought about it it seemed like it ultimately fell back on me.

Remembering that she was the type who wouldn’t say anything that couldn’t be resolved only made it worse.

“…What should I do?”

I couldn’t help but think that the heads of the three great families might do something to me because of their daughters.

“…No is it a problem because it really seems like they would?”

Everything was a problem in various ways.

As always when an accident happens it tends to happen in succession.

I always think about it but is it just my illusion that my life is particularly difficult?

“I don’t know.”

I thought a meeting might be held but judging by the reactions around me it seemed like there had been some kind of hint.

There were people from the Meng clan coming and going and it seemed there were also individuals who were unaware of the information.

But those were relatively lower-ranking descendants of the families or sects.

“Even in this situation they’re still dividing ranks? I’m so tired of this.”

It seemed that the Murim Alliance was still in a daze despite the accident.

I really didn’t understand why the central figures of the orthodox sects always handled things like this.

If it were up to me I would want to overturn everything.

“Oh right.”

“What now?”

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

“Just so you know my father will probably dislike you too.”

“…”

I frowned at Peng Ah-hee’s words.

What nonsense was that?

“…Do you like me? Sorry but that’s a bit…”

“Do you want to die…? Why am I the one getting rejected in this situation?”

Her sharp tone even carried a hint of killing intent.

I had just asked casually but her reaction was intense.

“Even if a handsome man said it it would be annoying… and you look like a praying mantis…”

Perhaps she was genuinely shocked as Peng Ah-hee who was about to retort suddenly had to shut her mouth due to the chilling aura emanating from the women around us.

The women who had looked tired just a moment ago were now radiating a sharp energy.

Namgung Bi-ah who had been yawning looked at Peng Ah-hee and said.

“…Praying mantis?”

“…No no I mean…”

She didn’t say much but Namgung Bi-ah’s voice was filled with discomfort.

Feeling that Peng Ah-hee flinched.

Namgung Bi-ah didn’t say anything further.

She merely stared at Peng Ah-hee with cold piercing eyes.

Feeling that gaze Peng Ah-hee awkwardly spoke up.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Yeah.”

Only after hearing Peng Ah-hee’s words did Namgung Bi-ah as well as Dang So-yeol and Moyong Hee-ah turn their gazes away.

Seeing that I clicked my tongue inwardly.

‘…These guys.’

I should be the one receiving the apology.

Why are they the ones apologizing and feeling better?

I hadn’t even received an apology yet.

“So… why does the Peng Clan Head dislike me?”

What reason could he have to dislike me… Ah there is one.

No matter how much I tried to forget I was still in an engagement with Peng Ah-hee.

An engagement that had fallen apart because I had blurted out something foolish.

‘It would be more unusual for the Peng Clan Head to like me.’

It wouldn’t be strange if he disliked me but Peng Ah-hee seemed to have a different story.

“It’s not specifically because of the broken engagement.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

Then what is it? Is there something else?

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

Peng Ah-hee brushed her short hair back and continued.

“My father. He’s a bit too jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“Yeah.”

As she said that Peng Ah-hee wore a somewhat bitter expression.

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

After the brief conversation I headed to a somewhat secluded forest.

I had confirmed that the kids weren’t skipping meals.

I also checked that Dang So-yeol and Namgung Bi-ah were gradually getting better.

That was a relief.

‘I was thinking of bringing back some miraculous herbs if things got dire.’

I knew of a few miraculous encounters that I hadn’t visited yet.

I thought I might need to bring something beneficial for the body from there.

Fortunately it seemed like there wouldn’t be any issues since the treatment was going well.

The only lingering concern was that Dang So-yeol would likely have a scar on her thigh.

For some reason that bothered me.

Dang So-yeol smiled brightly saying she was fine but I couldn’t feel completely at ease.

‘The meeting… will probably be held in a few months at best.’

Considering the distances everyone had to travel it would likely be before summer.

So about two months from now.

The biggest problem here was that for safety reasons we couldn’t return hastily until someone from the sect arrived.

If we were sent back and got ambushed there…

From the perspective of the Murim Alliance it would mean another accident.

That would mean I would have to stay here for several months.

‘Tsk.’

When I asked Gu Jeol-yeob he said that the Meng clan had already received word from this side.

He mentioned that I had been hiding and wandering around too much to relay the information.

It wasn’t particularly important information.

To summarize a messenger had been sent to the sect regarding the incident.

It was planned to hold a meeting of the orthodox sects based on the Alliance Leader’s opinion.

The more precise details would likely be discussed once the Cheonghae Il-gyeom who was currently bedridden regained consciousness.

‘The Meng clan is one thing but Kunlun will also be in trouble.’

Regardless of the circumstances.

Although the Sinryonggwan belonged to the Meng clan the current administrator was from Kunlun.

The fact that they couldn’t prevent the ambush would surely lead to discussions about the Kunlun Sect.

After all Cheonghae Il-gyeom had been defeated.

‘…Tsk.’

In a world overflowing with people who love to talk that was certainly the case.

‘…It seems to be going better than planned yet still unsatisfactory.’

Even with various accidents happening and learning about things I didn’t know it was definitely going better than the plans I had set.

I had thought I needed to reach the Hwa-gyeong before I turned twenty and I was able to reach it a few years earlier than expected.

I had also planned to escape from Sinryonggwan within this year.

With the incident happening like this that plan was practically non-existent.

‘I’m still worried about Jang Seon-yeon.’

There were no traces of her. I couldn’t even ask the World Tree.

It was certainly true that things were going better than planned.

Yet the mixed-up matters within it were quite bothersome.

Rather than feeling at ease my mind was just complicated.

Perhaps it had become more complicated since the moment I met the Heavenly Demon.

‘At this pace it’s impossible.’

I had reached the Hwa-gyeong at an age where my body hadn’t fully matured.

It was true that I had felt a moment of arrogance about that.

I thought it would be enough to continue at this pace.

I thought that at the current speed it would be sufficient.

I even thought that I might be able to take the place of the Divine Sword.

But.

‘That was a foolish thought.’

Facing the Heavenly Demon made me realize once again.

It was far too slow. It was far too slow to reach the goal I aimed for.

To take the place of the Divine Sword? With this state of affairs how could I?

‘I need to be faster.’

Noya told me.

I needed to forget my impatience.

To believe in myself.

I had resolved to reach the Hwa-gyeong and had finally begun to understand what that meant not just with my head but with my heart.

But aside from that.

‘How could that be possible Noya?’

It wasn’t easy to put that into action.

The situation wasn’t allowing it to happen.

“It’s frustrating.”

No matter how I thought about it the idea of slowly and steadily progressing was impossible.

If there was no shortcut I had to create one.

Crack.

Just as I was breathing heavily feeling exhausted.

I sensed a presence behind me.

I shifted my gaze toward the source of the presence.

“Have you finally decided to talk to me?”

With a voice that was neither high nor low the calm tone was impressive.

The figure that appeared was none other than the person known as the Two Dragons Bi-ui-jin.

And within me he was more like the youth known as the Great Elder.

Should I call him a youth?

He must be an old man inside.

Bi-ui-jin waved his hand at me as he approached.

I wasn’t particularly surprised since I already knew he would come.

To be precise it was closer to me having called him.

“Why are you hiding and watching instead of just coming over?”

I had known since yesterday that Bi-ui-jin was intentionally circling around me.

Thinking back to his identity he must have been deliberately making his presence known for me to notice.

If I were to think of the reason.

‘…It must mean that he wants me to come to him when I’m ready to talk.’

I thought it might have been his way of showing consideration.

As he said there was definitely a conversation I needed to have with Bi-ui-jin.

He must have seen me transforming into a demonic practitioner and witnessed how my martial arts changed due to the demonic qi.

“Master seemed very busy so I was just waiting.”

“…Thank you for your consideration.”

“That’s enough. I didn’t come here to receive such greetings. So can I take it that you are now willing to talk with me?”

“Yes. But before that.”

I pondered for a while about what to do.

What explanation should I give what did Bi-ui-jin want from me?

I also wondered if I could answer the questions he might have but I thought that this was the fastest way for now.

I spoke while moving my hands to perform a clasped hands greeting.

As soon as I suddenly performed the clasped hands greeting Bi-ui-jin’s eyes widened.

“Master. Why are we doing a clasped hands greeting…?”

“…How could I not?”

Bi-ui-jin who had been trying to speak suddenly stiffened. It felt like he had caught on to what I was about to say.

Hoo…

In that moment a chill ran down my spine.

But I didn’t stop speaking.

“I’m sorry for not recognizing you sooner.”

Upon hearing my words Bi-ui-jin slowly brushed his hair back with his hand over his forehead.

In that fleeting moment.

The expression Bi-ui-jin had been wearing vanished.

Though he still looked like a young man without a wrinkle the expression he wore now was certainly that of someone else.

To be precise it was the expression that Bi-joo would have had.

As I caught a glimpse of that expression.

I uttered my final words.

“The foolish junior greets the Great Elder.”

As soon as I spoke those words.

Guuuuuu-!

An immense presence began to emanate from the Great Elder.