Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 372



372

At the moment when the waiting room of the family was in the midst of a storm.

Gu Yang-cheon must have been experiencing quite an annoying situation.

“Look at you. Are you even eating properly?”

“Your clothes are in bad shape.”

“Noona said to take care of your meals. If you don’t you won’t grow taller.”

“I’ll order a high-quality martial arts uniform for you so make sure to take it with you.”

The words coming from both sides made my head throb.

I had come out for a walk since there was still some time left before the meeting started.

And the first people I ran into were these two.

“Little brother. Why are you so quiet?”

“…Why are you even here Noona? Aren’t you busy?”

I had heard she was coming but I didn’t expect her to actually show up.

At my question someone chuckled softly.

The one who laughed was my Noona Gu Hee-bi known as the Sword Mistress.

It had been about a year since I last saw her face.

“I’m busy. But I’m grateful that you’ve taken the time to come see me.”

“You didn’t have to. You could have kept your precious time to yourself.”

“Do you want to die?”

Gu Hee-bi spat out harsh words and ruffled my hair.

Why did this busy person come all the way here? She could have at least gone to see Gu Yeon-seo instead of me.

If not that she could have done something else. I wondered what she was doing here.

Just as Gu Hee-bi was having her fun messing up my hair someone intervened.

It wasn’t me. The one who intervened was Mrs. Mi.

“There are so many people around. How can you behave so disgracefully? Is that how your mother raised you?”

At Mrs. Mi’s righteous reprimand Gu Hee-bi flinched.

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“…I’m sorry.”

“How can you treat your older brother so carelessly?”

“I just thought he was cute….”

“Don’t make excuses.”

“Yes….”

Gu Hee-bi was completely at a loss for words in front of Mrs. Mi.

It was truly astonishing.

To think that the Sword Mistress could shrink back like that.

Then Mrs. Mi carefully tidied up my disheveled hair.

I didn’t know where she had pulled a comb from but she was fixing my tangled hair.

“You need to pay attention to your appearance since this is an important occasion.”

“…Yes.”

“Training as a martial artist is good but I hope you understand that you also need to groom your appearance to match the occasion.”

“I’m sorry.”

As my hair was being tidied up I had to bite my tongue to suppress the unpleasant feelings that arose.

Mrs. Mi was doing this considering the standing of the Gu family and the Trading Company.

I had to erase any unnecessary thoughts.

“I’ll send someone to deliver clothes later so don’t forget to wear them.”

“I’ll remember.”

“Good.”

Once my hair was finally sorted out Mrs. Mi put the comb away and began to inspect me.

Was she checking if there was a problem?

After carefully examining me Mrs. Mi let out a small sigh and asked

“I heard there have been many events.”

“It’s not that many; just a few things happened.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Not really… no I’m fine.”

I was about to speak casually as usual but had to organize my words.

It felt somewhat difficult to use my usual tone with Mrs. Mi.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“…”

It was a statement that held no particular meaning.

Yet for some reason it made my heart ache a little.

Was it because I had found out that my mother was alive?

Having recalled that I wiped my emotions clean and asked Mrs. Mi.

“…Mrs. Mi.”

“Yes?”

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“Where is my father?”

“He went to the waiting room first. He said he had some things to organize.”

“Organize?”

What was he organizing? Was he planning to work even here?

Well I suppose this was work in a way.

“Don’t you need to go Mrs. Mi?”

Like my father Mrs. Mi was attending from the perspective of the Trading Company.

There must be a separate waiting room for the Captain.

There was no need for her to stay outside.

Of course it was the same for me as I wasn’t going inside the building either.

At my words Mrs. Mi’s expression turned slightly cold.

“There’s probably nothing but greedy pigs there. I don’t want to mix with them and exchange words.”

“…Ah I see.”

That was a much scarier statement than I had expected.

I brushed off my slightly cold arms a few times and looked around.

“By the way I don’t see Elder Il.”

I was sure he had said he would come with us but I couldn’t see Elder Il.

As I expressed my confusion it was Gu Hee-bi who answered.

“Elder Il said he had something to take care of.”

“Something in Henan?”

“He said he was going to see some friends.”

“…?”

At Gu Hee-bi’s words I couldn’t help but frown.

Given the situation he was going to see friends instead of coming to see me?

This old man really… was living life as he pleased.

In the midst of that I couldn’t help but think that Elder Il would be just the type to do that.

If it were Elder Il it would make sense.

‘In the midst of it all friends in Henan. Who could he be talking about….’

As that thought crossed my mind several people who were staying in Henan came to mind.

I thought it couldn’t be but deep down I had already found the answer.

“…Hmm.”

If my guess was correct Elder Il might have gone to see the Sword Master.

I knew that the two had some connections.

‘That could get troublesome.’

When the Sword Master had asked how he knew about his identity Elder Il had thrown me under the bus.

I had let that slip thinking I would deal with it later.

If this continued the Sword Master would find out.

‘What should I do?’

What could I do? It was already a mess.

I had a feeling it would turn into a mess later but I didn’t expect it to happen this soon.

‘Hmm… I’m in trouble.’

Surprisingly as I resigned myself to it I calmed down.

All I could do now was hope that Elder Il wouldn’t meet the Sword Master.

“Little brother. What’s wrong? You look upset. Are you hungry?”

“…Do you think I’m your Noona? If I’m hungry would I look upset?”

“Why are you suddenly throwing punches with your mouth? Is my little brother trying to make Noona angry?”

“I’m just being honest with my feelings so it’s a good thing.”

“Enough of that. Who’s that?”

Gu Hee-bi pointed with her finger at someone.

I looked over to see Cheol Ji-seon standing a distance away looking nervous.

As Gu Hee-bi pointed at herself Cheol Ji-seon flinched.

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you sneaking around?”

“Eek…!”

“Come here…!”

As Gu Hee-bi tried to call someone over as usual Mrs. Mi stepped on Gu Hee-bi’s foot.

In the midst of the sudden pain Gu Hee-bi groaned while Mrs. Mi smiled slightly at Cheol Ji-seon.

“I’m sorry. My daughter hasn’t been properly educated yet.”

“Oh it’s fine….”

“Really? I heard he’s a friend of your son?”

“Ah… yes. I’m Cheol Ji-seon from Cheolga. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Hey what have you heard? When did I say anything….”

“Nice to meet you.”

In the midst of my interrupted words Mrs. Mi spoke.

“You said your name was Mister Cheol? Please continue to be close with my child.”

“Yes yes….”

Cheol Ji-seon responded flustered by Mrs. Mi’s words.

Mrs. Mi seemed pleased with his reaction and nodded.

Watching that reaction made me think.

If my mother were here wouldn’t she have acted just like this?

It was a truly unnecessary and uncomfortable thought.

‘…After the meeting I’ll have to ask my father.’

When I returned to the Gu family I would ask him.

Since my father had come to Henan I would take this opportunity to ask about my mother’s whereabouts and the upcoming Gu Yeonhwa’s situation.

After thinking that I was still being teased a bit more by Gu Hee-bi when a person from the Mangseok appeared and delivered a message.

“They say the meeting will start shortly.”

Upon hearing that I stood up.

Cheol Ji-seon who had just relaxed seemed to tense up again shaking his shoulders.

I simply pulled him along.

Just as we were heading toward the President’s room.

“Yang-cheon.”

Mrs. Mi called me to a halt.

I was startled by her call.

It had been years since she had called my name.

“Yes…?”

“After this is over do you plan to return to the family?”

This matter.

She was asking if I would return to the family right after the meeting. I hesitated for a moment.

In this situation returning to the family would be better in many ways.

However there were still many things I needed to do.

“No.”

At my refusal Mrs. Mi’s brows furrowed.

Seeing that expression made me flinch.

But I had my own matters to attend to.

I needed to train under the Sword Master but at the same time I had other things to do.

This was something I had already discussed with the Sword Master.

“I don’t think I’ll be returning to the family.”

“…It seems you have somewhere else to go.”

“Yes.”

I recalled my destination in my mind and spoke to Mrs. Mi.

“Sichuan. I have some matters to attend to there.”

Along with Baek Ma-seok.

Sichuan where the secret of the Golden River Song was located.

I planned to head there right after my schedule was over.

Oh right. There was still something I hadn’t mentioned.

“Hey did you just hear the news?”

“Hmm? That you’re going to Sichuan?”

“Right. I haven’t told you yet but you’re going too.”

“…Huh? Wait what?”

“Is that okay? Got it.”

Cheol Ji-seon seemed to have misheard my words but it was already too late.

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

On the back mountain of Henan.

Elder Il of the Gu family known as the Flame Fist in the Central Plains was currently climbing a mountain.

“…These crazy bastards.”

He gritted his teeth as he spoke.

The enormous old man wore a face like a demon causing the surrounding wildlife to flee in fright.

Why he was climbing the mountain was secondary.

In his hands Gu Ryun was carrying a lot of food.

“Sending an old man like me on a food errand.”

If he were just a bit younger he would have caught them and folded them up.

Gu Ryun thought to himself that his situation was truly miserable.

He was in this state because he had chosen the wrong friends.

After climbing for a while Gu Ryun finally spotted a cave that seemed to be his destination.

“…What is this place?”

As Gu Ryun surveyed the area around the cave he instinctively flinched.

It was clearly an artificially made cave.

There were terrible signs of conflict scattered throughout the cave.

Moreover the energy felt somewhat familiar.

This is….

‘Is this the work of that crazy Biju?’

The Sword Master known as Biju.

His energy was felt throughout the cave.

To dig and create a cave with bare hands.

‘He said he was getting younger but has he also gotten younger in the head?’

That might be the case.

Seeing this Gu Ryun was certain of one thing.

He would never do the Half-Return to the Flow no matter what.

He would rather live until he was old and senile than ever do the Half-Return to the Flow.

Recently he had thought about living a bit longer because of the antics of a kid who seemed like a grandson.

But recalling the foolishness of that friend made him shake his head.

Gu Ryun was unaware.

That this cave was not made by the Sword Master but by Gu Yang-cheon who thought of him like a grandson.

As he unknowingly followed the torches embedded in the cave he gradually approached.

In the distance he could see some rotten fellows who had already started drinking.

Unlike the old man he was one of them looked middle-aged while the other appeared to be in his early twenties.

“You’re late Gu Ryun.”

The Sword Master who spotted the approaching Gu Ryun greeted him with a grin.

He was already holding a wine glass in his hand.

And there was one more person welcoming Gu Ryun and upon confirming that person Gu Ryun immediately threw the food he was carrying.

The man also casually caught the food and spread it out on the ground.

After laying out all the food.

“It’s been a while.”

The man greeted Gu Ryun.

A man with white hair and white eyes.

It was the Dark King.