Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 365



365

The fierce expression on the face of the master twisted as he spoke.

“…What are you saying right now?”

“I’m saying exactly what I said.”

Leaving the qi already contained within my body as it is.

It meant that I intended to contain the master’s qi as well.

Upon hearing this the master frowned deeply and spoke to me.

“Should I take that to mean you want to die? If you wish I can kindly help you in a better way.”

It was a statement suggesting he would rather beat me to death.

How terrifying.

To this I replied.

“It’s not a joke.”

“If it’s not a joke then what? Are you playing with me?”

“That’s not it either. I’m being sincere.”

“Ha.”

I understood the master’s reaction.

Normally one cannot contain two types of qi within their body.

The qi contained through each type is entirely different.

If qi of different natures collide all the acupoints would be destroyed and one would likely become a cripple.

Isn’t there a story about the master himself?

How he abandoned all his energy to start anew for the martial arts he created.

He had to give up even being a master to rebuild from scratch.

This was something that a true martial artist could not avoid.

In that situation I was telling the master that I would learn his martial arts as it is.

From the master’s perspective it was utterly absurd.

“Do you even know what you’re saying right now?”

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

“I do.”

“If you know then you shouldn’t be saying that unless you’re mocking me.”

Gradually anger mixed into the master’s voice.

He seemed to think I was really joking around.

But I was being sincere. Ignoring the master’s reaction I continued speaking.

“I know that you have certain expectations of me.”

The master paused at my words.

Of course the reason he was letting my actions slide was clear.

There must be a reason he wanted me to become his disciple to this extent.

“I also have something I cannot abandon.”

“So you intend to contain both? Do you think that makes sense?”

The master’s gaze grew increasingly fierce.

“You underestimate martial arts.”

Even if one could contain several within their body when it comes to martial arts mastering even one completely is a challenge.

My insistence on trying to contain both which was impossible would surely not sit well with him.

Even so.

“If you think it won’t work I will give up. But.”

I spoke my final words without avoiding the master’s gaze.

“Unless it’s this way I have no intention of becoming your disciple. You might as well kill me.”

“…”

As I spoke while meeting his eyes the master’s expression showed no sign of softening.

However I didn’t feel any reaction beyond that.

Whether he was suppressing his anger inside or contemplating whether to crush me I couldn’t tell.

Though I had spoken if he truly came at me to destroy me I was prepared to dodge.

I couldn’t die here.

I was subtly assessing my escape route.

Fortunately it seemed he had no intention of killing me.

After a long pause the master finally responded.

“…What do you plan to do if you try and find it doesn’t work?”

That’s good.

I nodded inwardly at the master’s words keeping my reaction hidden.

I said to him.

“If that happens I will empty what’s inside me and fill it anew as you wish.”

The master seemed to be deep in thought again at my words.

But to me it seemed he had already made up his mind.

I had boldly declared that I would abandon the martial arts I had been using.

But naturally I didn’t actually intend to give it up.

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

I had a certain conviction.

I was confident that I could learn the master’s martial arts without abandoning the ones I was currently using.

And that conviction fortunately turned out to be correct.

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

The owner of the Baekhwa Trading Company and the lady of the Sanseogu family Mi Hyo-ran held a white fan and gazed at her husband.

He was still buried in paperwork at the desk.

His eyes were still fierce but he looked somewhat exhausted.

While that sight was somewhat concerning the letter in her hand was more important at the moment.

“What do you plan to do?”

She was slightly surprised by the sharpness in her own voice that slipped out unconsciously but she didn’t bother to correct it.

The man who heard Mi Hyo-ran’s voice the Clan Head of the Sanseogu family Gu Cheol-woon lifted his head.

His glaring red eyes were still as vivid as ever.

Clan Head Gu Cheol-woon asked Mi Hyo-ran in return.

“What do you mean?”

His words seemed to imply he didn’t understand.

Mi Hyo-ran’s brows furrowed sharply.

“…Didn’t you receive it as well?”

Mi Hyo-ran then placed a letter on Gu Cheol-woon’s desk with a thud.

The blue seal on it was undoubtedly from the Murim Alliance.

“They said a meeting will be held. Is that true? That you won’t go?”

“…”

Mi Hyo-ran’s eyes were chillingly cold.

She had intended to act immediately after receiving the letter but she was holding back as much as she could.

“The meeting with the Moyong Clan that was supposed to take place at the Baekhwa Trading Company has been canceled by them.”

“…”

“I suspect they might have heard about this first.”

Her words were more of a prediction than a certainty. Moreover the reason Mi Hyo-ran brought this up was not for any other reason.

They were heading to Henan even at a loss.

What on earth are you doing here?

Gu Cheol-woon’s gaze also fell on the letter.

While his expression remained unchanged as he read Mi Hyo-ran could vaguely sense that he was not in a good mood.

“I know you didn’t attend the last meeting either.”

The previous orthodox sects meeting that took place over a decade ago.

At that time Gu Cheol-woon had not attended either.

“I also know that because of that the family’s standing has diminished.”

Whether to attend or not was a choice when a meeting was held.

However not attending the orthodox sects meeting meant that the family would inevitably fall behind.

Of course Mi Hyo-ran didn’t care much about that aspect.

While the family’s standing was quite important from the perspective of the Clan Head what Mi Hyo-ran was focused on was solely her position as a ‘parent.’

“I won’t blame you because I understand your reasons.”

“What do you want to say?”

Eventually Gu Cheol-woon had to show his discomfort at Mi Hyo-ran’s repeated words.

However even under Gu Cheol-woon’s anger Mi Hyo-ran didn’t flinch.

“I heard that the First Princess the First Elder and the First Sword Captain will be sent in your place.”

This was a matter conveyed to the family by Clan Head Gu Cheol-woon through the chief envoy.

It was a party organized to head to Henan in place of the Clan Head.

Including two Elders and some blood relatives it could be seen as a gesture of respect even without the Clan Head attending.

But Mi Hyo-ran didn’t like that.

“Are you really okay with that?”

“…”

Seeing that Mi Hyo-ran spoke wearily.

“I won’t tell you to always be a good father. I haven’t been a good mother either.”

Saying that Mi Hyo-ran turned her back.

There were too many things she didn’t like.

“Still you can’t keep this up forever.”

While she felt pity for the man trapped in Sanseo her children beneath him were always on her mind.

“Even if you don’t go I intend to attend as the Baekhwa Captain.”

Even if it wasn’t the top trading company it was a significant trading company and the amount they had supported the Mount Hua Sect and the alliance until now was considerable.

Mi Hyo-ran had more than enough qualifications to attend the meeting.

“If you wish I will go and bring the children back.”

Even after saying that Gu Cheol-woon still showed little reaction.

She could only sense that the air in the room had grown a bit warmer indicating his discomfort.

Feeling that Mi Hyo-ran added one more thing.

“I heard the child was badly injured.”

Thud.

Gu Cheol-woon’s hand which had been examining the letter abruptly stopped and his gaze turned to Mi Hyo-ran.

“There was no mention of that in the message.”

“Seems you read it all.”

“…”

In fact the messenger who delivered the letter had reported that two blood relatives and one collateral were safe without any major issues.

However.

“That doesn’t give you a reason not to go. You know that well.”

“…”

“I won’t say more. I apologize for the intrusion.”

After that Mi Hyo-ran closed the door and left.

Left alone in the room Gu Cheol-woon slowly wiped his face with his hand.

Then suddenly the letter on the desk caught his eye.

Gu Cheol-woon quietly stared at the letter sent from the alliance.

“Chief envoy.”

He called out to the chief envoy who was quietly waiting outside.

The door opened and the chief envoy bowed to Clan Head.

“Clan Head you called for me.”

Gu Cheol-woon who was gazing intently at the chief envoy issued a heavy command.

“I will revise the personnel heading to Henan. Inform them that this Clan Head will also attend.”

“…!”

The chief envoy who had been bowing his head flinched at Gu Cheol-woon’s words.

But without showing any reaction he raised his head and replied to Gu Cheol-woon.

“Understood.”

He didn’t ask for a reason or express any doubts.

After hearing the chief envoy’s response Gu Cheol-woon issued a guest order to him.

Once he confirmed the envoy’s departure he quietly closed his eyes.

Thus.

Two months passed.

By the time countless people began to arrive in Henan.