Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 375



375

“Ugh…!”

As my briefly lost consciousness returned I opened my eyes wide.

‘Did I really lose consciousness after all?’

I had to wrap my head around the throbbing pain and finally catch my breath.

It felt like just a moment but I had no idea what had actually happened.

I staggered and straightened my body.

Then I realized that I had been resting my head on something.

Curious about what it was I turned my head.

“…Huh?”

“…”

I was met with a rough and frightening gaze.

It was my father’s shoulder that I had been resting on.

“…”

“…”

I had to endure a moment of silence while locking eyes with my father.

‘This is bad.’

That was the only thought running through my mind.

I even noticed a slight drool mark on my father’s shoulder indicating I had been sleeping deeply.

My father said nothing and just watched me quietly.

What is this? Is he expecting me to bang my head against something? I felt like I was being scolded with just his gaze.

My pupils trembled severely.

I could feel the trembling myself.

Was that a chill running down my back?

It seemed like it was indeed a chill.

“I’m sorry….”

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Rather than making excuses I decided to say what needed to be said first.

In my life I never thought I would end up resting my head on my father’s shoulder.

My father turned his head without saying anything in response to my apology.

Fortunately it seemed he had no intention of saying anything.

‘This bastard….’

I gritted my teeth.

I quickly turned my head to check the direction where the blood demon had been.

But it was already gone. Not just the blood demon.

The Alliance Leader and the members of the Murim Alliance who had been on the platform had also vanished right after.

…What does that mean?

I shifted my gaze from the platform to look around.

“…”

And I realized.

The meeting had long since ended.

Everyone was moving outside.

In other words.

I had been sleeping soundly throughout the entire meeting.

‘This is bad. Really bad.’

As a member of a prestigious family I had been directly summoned to the meeting.

Even while the Alliance Leader and the family heads were debating I had been resting my head on my father’s shoulder and sleeping.

I had even drooled while sleeping and now I woke up after everything was over.

Cold sweat broke out.

I couldn’t ignore my father’s gaze.

Even as everyone around was leaving the reason my father was still here was likely because I had been asleep.

I wasn’t sure about that.

I didn’t think my father was the type to do that.

“…Yangcheon.”

I turned my head at the whiny voice that came from the side.

There stood Cheol Ji-seon looking pale.

“…What’s wrong with you?”

“What do you mean… what’s wrong?”

I was quite taken aback by Cheol Ji-seon’s expression.

It was one thing to look pale but his eyes were filled with resentment as he looked at me.

“What happened?”

“…”

Cheol Ji-seon swayed as if his soul had left his body.

What’s wrong with him?

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“…Do you know how the meeting went?”

“I don’t know?”

“You don’t know! You were sleeping…!”

“Uh… yeah. That’s right.”

I awkwardly replied to Cheol Ji-seon’s words.

Regardless of the reason I had indeed been sleeping.

Given Cheol Ji-seon’s personality if he was this angry with me something significant must have happened.

Just as I was about to ask what had happened my father stood up.

I couldn’t help but flinch at his movement.

“It’s over. Let’s go.”

“…Yes yes.”

It was Cheol Ji-seon who reacted to my father’s words not me.

Why is he the one reacting first?

I asked as I watched Cheol Ji-seon quickly get up.

“What’s wrong with you?”

What’s going on? Did he get hit by my father while I was unaware?

I knew my father wasn’t the type to just hit people.

“…Let’s go. He’s telling us to go.”

Cheol Ji-seon was even tapping my shoulder urging me to get up quickly.

What the hell.

In a daze I also got up.

Looking at the situation I figured I had to go out for now.

Outside many other families and sects had gathered.

Among them I spotted Lady Mi and Gu Hee-bi.

And then.

‘Who is that person?’

In the midst of them there was a face I felt I had seen somewhere.

As I wondered who it was I realized it was none other than the Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect.

An old man known by the alias of the Wudang Sword Immortal.

As I hesitated my father walked over without any hesitation.

The Wudang Sword Immortal seemed to notice my father approaching and turned his gaze this way.

The old man wasn’t particularly large in stature.

However the sharpness in his gaze was quite striking.

“It’s been a while.”

“I’ve been well Gu Clan Head.”

“Yes.”

As they exchanged greetings I slowly walked over as well.

Naturally I had to greet him too.

“I’m honored to meet the Sect Leader of Wudang.”

At my greeting the Wudang Sword Immortal’s gaze turned toward me.

“He’s my son.”

“I see. This Master is that So-yeom line then.”

“…I’m undeserving of such a title.”

I didn’t want to say I was undeserving so I hesitated in my words.

What was most infuriating was that Gu Hee-bi was trying to hold back her laughter while looking at me.

‘…That crazy Noona.’

Just you wait. I knew the alias Gu Hee-bi would eventually come up with.

Based on this memory I would tease her mercilessly later.

“I was curious because I heard you were quite exceptional. Now that I see with my own eyes I understand. It seems the Gu Clan Head is blessed with a talented child.”

“Too much praise.”

“It seems insufficient to call it praise though.”

After saying that the Wudang Sword Immortal turned to me and asked a question.

“I hear you are close with our Hyuk.”

“Oh. Yes… that’s right.”

Hyuk as mentioned by the Wudang Sword Immortal referred to Jang-ryong.

Seemingly satisfied with my answer the Wudang Sword Immortal nodded.

“A true friend is a precious thing in life. Please take good care of our Hyuk. He’s a child who lacks more than you might think.”

“Yes.”

I had to stifle a laugh at the Wudang Sword Immortal’s words.

It was quite different from the attitude he had shown me in my previous life.

What did he say back then?

He said that only those of the same caliber could understand each other.

The old man who had openly criticized the mismatch between Jang-ryong and me was now asking me to take care of him.

It was a moment that made me think of many things.

The Wudang Sword Immortal smiled slightly and shifted his gaze back to Lady Mi.

It seemed the two had something to discuss.

“Well then… I hope for a good answer.”

“Yes. I will think positively about it.”

After Lady Mi’s response the Wudang Sword Immortal acknowledged her and headed toward the exit with his sect members.

From the looks of it it seemed they were making some sort of deal with the Baekhwa Trading Company.

‘The Wudang Sect is dealing with the Baekhwa Trading Company.’

I had no idea what a sect like Wudang would want to do with a trading company.

“Yangcheon.”

“Yes?”

“Are you not hungry?”

As I pondered this question Lady Mi suddenly asked.

Am I not hungry…?

“Yes well… I’m fine.”

My body wasn’t one that would have problems from a few days of hunger even if I felt a bit hungry.

So I didn’t really care about it.

Upon hearing my answer Lady Mi nodded slightly.

What is this? Was she really just asking if I was hungry?

Just as I was wondering what was going on Lady Mi brought up another topic to my father.

“Yeon-seo you’ll go to pick up Gu Yeon-seo right?”

She meant to go pick up Gu Yeon-seo who would be staying at the inn.

Though her tone seemed to be asking for an opinion.

For some reason it felt like I couldn’t refuse.

Perhaps sensing this my father also nodded in agreement.

While I thought my father’s reaction was unusual Lady Mi added a word to me.

“After it’s over I plan to rent an inn and have a meal together.”

“Rent an inn…?”

“Right.”

I wondered why one would rent an inn just for a meal.

But I knew that the Baekhwa Trading Company had considerable financial power and Lady Mi as the captain of that company was also an enormous asset.

So that wouldn’t be a problem.

The issue was on my side.

‘That’s a bit uncomfortable.’

As much as I sought comfort during meals there was no place more uncomfortable for me than a family meal.

Just as I thought I shouldn’t stand out too much.

“And this time I hope.”

Lady Mi’s gaze turned frighteningly serious as she looked at me.

“I want everyone to attend.”

It was a warning that if I stood out I wouldn’t be left alone.

Lady Mi was undoubtedly an ordinary person without any qi.

Yet for some reason the pressure I felt from her was immense.

Was it because of that?

“…Yes.”

In the end I had no choice but to nod.

Only then did Lady Mi seem satisfied and turn to head toward the exit.

As I watched her I sent a telepathic message to my father who was about to follow.

-Clan Head.

He stopped abruptly.

Though he didn’t turn to look at me I could tell he was waiting for my next words.

-After the meal could you spare me a moment?

Since I had many things to ask my father I decided not to hesitate.

-I have something to ask you about my mother Clan Head.

“…”

Upon hearing my telepathic message my father slightly turned his head to look into my eyes.

I still couldn’t discern what emotions were hidden in my father’s gaze.

It was a gaze that was that calm.

My father who had been quietly watching me.

-Okay.

He replied affirmatively and began walking back toward Lady Mi.

After hearing his response I finally let out the breath I had been holding.

What was so difficult about just asking for a little time?

I wondered how I had gotten so tense.

I was sweating profusely.

“Hah…”

Honestly this was harder than fighting someone.

It was just as exhausting.

‘Anyway… that’s done… what’s left.’

It seemed I had managed to handle my father.

Now there was only one thing left.

I looked over at Cheol Ji-seon who was standing there blankly.

“Hey.”

“Uh…?”

“Now tell me.”

“Uh-huh?”

“The meeting.”

I hadn’t heard a single thing about the meeting because I had been drooling while sleeping.

“What happened?”

I needed to hear from Cheol Ji-seon about what had happened during the meeting.