Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 377 (Part 2)



377 (Part 2)

“I thought you had something to say to me.

Anyway that was how mealtime ended.

Since we were just eating there really wasn’t anything too important exchanged…

‘Ah.’

There was one thing exchanged.

While we were eating Namgung Jin asked my father.

– When would be a good time for the wedding?

Hearing that almost made me vomit while eating.

Why would he ask that?

It wasn’t a problem for me; I was of an age where getting married wouldn’t be an issue.

On the other hand if Namgung Bia wasn’t a martial artist it would be considered late.

It was a topic Namgung Jin could have brought up without hesitation.

But it seemed he didn’t expect the atmosphere to turn so cold because of it.

Wi Seol Ah’s eyes shook as if there was an earthquake.

Gu Hee Bi’s glare at Namgung Bia intensified.

And.

Namgung Bia showed no particular reaction only looking at me.

That gaze was quite burdensome.

It wasn’t a look that seemed to be asking for an answer.

The situation was just burdensome for me.

In that situation my father spoke to Namgung Jin.

– The child is still busy so let’s think about it when the situation becomes more comfortable.

Fortunately it was a rejection for now.

With all the inflated talk about the wedding and my schedule to head to Sichuan I turned it down.

‘Someday.’

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Someday a proper conversation will come up.

What should I do then?

Along with that.

‘The Young Master position.’

The Young Master position of the Gu family that I received as soon as I turned twenty in my previous life.

If there are no major issues in this life.

No even if there are major issues I will probably receive it.

Perhaps it will be decided even sooner.

‘I was thinking of running away to avoid that.’

By the time I got here the situation had become too tangled. Including truths I didn’t know.

I realized that our family was entangled in more than one matter.

It had become difficult to escape easily.

Now that it has come to this do I have to bear it?

‘If there was a way not to I would have done it long ago.’

Right now I couldn’t see any other way.

The remaining time was only a few years.

I had a pile of things to do within that time.

‘Is it just an illusion that it seems to be piling up more and more?’

I would prefer it to be an illusion but unfortunately it probably isn’t.

“Hah.”

I exhaled while taking in the outside air. The night view of Henan was still bright.

“Ugh…”

Soon after someone came out of the inn. It was Wi Seol Ah looking exhausted.

Seeing that I asked her.

“Are you okay… or not?”

“…I’m okay.”

She looked somewhat worn out as if she had been tormented by Gu Hee Bi all day.

“It seems like you couldn’t eat well.”

“No I… ate a lot.”

“You’re lying.”

It seemed like she barely finished one bowl.

Eating a lot? Nonsense… Normally she would have eaten at least five bowls.

“Did she… bring you here Namgung Bia?”

“Ah yes. Unnie suddenly said she had somewhere to go and brought me here. I’m sorry. It must have been a nuisance.”

“…It’s not a nuisance so don’t worry about it.”

I didn’t know about others but at least I didn’t think it was a nuisance.

Upon hearing that Wi Seol Ah’s eyes widened for a moment.

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“That’s a relief then.”

She smiled brightly seemingly pleased with my words.

I quietly observed Wi Seol Ah’s smile before turning my head away.

It was hard to look at her smile for too long just like with Namgung Bia.

“I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“Did your grandfather not come?”

“…”

As I brought up the topic of the Sword Lord Wi Seol Ah quickly fell silent.

I had felt it before but whenever I mentioned the Sword Lord her expression would darken.

‘It seems Wi Seol Ah doesn’t know either.’

The one who attacked was none other than the Black Dragon Sword.

Since he had some connection to the Sword Lord I thought he might attend this gathering but.

The Sword Lord did not come.

In that situation I asked Wi Seol Ah.

“What are you going to do now?”

“I…”

“Are you going to go back? Or…”

Are you going to come with me?

I wanted to ask her that but it wasn’t something I could just ask.

Wi Seol Ah was also hesitating unable to answer easily.

Perhaps she was hoping I would suggest going together.

“Think about it.”

I thought it would be meaningless.

Above all Wi Seol Ah’s will was what mattered.

After a long hesitation Wi Seol Ah seemed to want to say something to me.

– Where did the cutie go?

“Eek…! I’ll go ahead Young Master…!”

“Ah okay see you later….”

Hearing Gu Hee Bi’s voice from behind Wi Seol Ah left without even listening to my response.

She must have really been tormented.

How bad must it have been for her to act like that?

As I watched Wi Seol Ah’s back as she quickly jumped away and disappeared.

“Hmm.”

This time someone else who had business with me approached.

“Are you… doing well?”

It was Namgung Jin.

I knew this man had been watching me for a while but I had been pretending not to notice.

“…Ah yes. It’s been a while.”

“Hmm…”

Namgung Jin whom I hadn’t seen in a while felt somewhat different.

The usual unpleasantness hadn’t disappeared but.

It felt a bit dulled perhaps.

‘…Or maybe he’s trying to ask me for something again.’

If that were the case it would be quite troublesome.

The teachings I had given him were things I didn’t know myself.

Initially it was something Shin Noya had taught me.

The second time I had just passed on what I had heard from the former Demon Sword Queen.

I had nothing more to teach Namgung Jin so it was quite troublesome.

In the midst of that Namgung Jin spoke to me.

“First of all congratulations.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I heard you received a new alias.”

“…Ah yes.”

Is that really a congratulations?

It felt like a backhanded compliment.

Amidst my sulking feelings Namgung Jin approached me subtly and said.

“Um…”

“I have a prior engagement with the Clan Head so I’ll see you later.”

I left quickly leaving Namgung Jin who seemed to want to say something.

If I got caught here it would be really troublesome.

Even if it would cause problems later it was still troublesome now.

So I made an excuse about my father and ran away.

I thought he wouldn’t come after me but fortunately it seemed he didn’t.

I kept an eye on Namgung Jin’s presence and headed to the location I had previously arranged with my father.

Thus.

Left alone Namgung Jin quietly watched Gu Yang Cheon leave before shifting his gaze.

Towards the entrance of the inn.

He watched there and quietly opened his mouth.

“Are you sure it’s okay not to go together?”

At Namgung Jin’s words someone appeared.

It was his daughter Namgung Bia.

Namgung Bia approached Namgung Jin and parted her lips.

“…He has business to attend to.”

“Right.”

A brief silence passed.

There hadn’t been much progress between the father and daughter.

It was already too late to turn back which was a problem.

Whether it was Namgung Bia or Namgung Jin there was also the fact that they didn’t particularly care about this matter.

“Princess Il.”

“Yes.”

Namgung Bia responded to Namgung Jin’s call.

“…I conveyed your wishes to him.”

“…”

“Before heading to Henan he gave me a response.”

At Namgung Jin’s words Namgung Bia’s eyes took on a strange expression.

Who was the person Namgung Jin was referring to?

That was none other than.

“Your great-grandfather wishes to see you.”

One of the Three Honored Ones.

Heavenly Honored One (天尊). Namgung Jeol Cheon.

He was the one looking for Namgung Bia.

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

The place I headed to after leaving Namgung Jin was an open space in Henan.

I had already finished discussing meeting my father here.

I just had to wait quietly until my father arrived.

I wondered when he would come. It didn’t seem like it would be too late.

If I were to talk to my father what should I start with?

‘Should I start by asking where my mother is?’

That was the most important question for now.

The beast inside me the advice to contain the energy of the divine sword within me.

All of it was related to my mother.

Moreover.

– Even the Abyss Lord within you.

That was what the Blood Demon had said while looking at me.

Does that mean the beast is such a significant being that it uses honorifics?

What was my mother’s intention in putting something like that in me?

To understand this I ultimately had to meet my mother who was still alive somewhere.

‘Moreover the Blood Demon is also a problem.’

The Blood Demon who had taken over Jang Seon Yeon’s body often descended upon her in that manner.

But this meeting felt distinctly different from that.

Moreover….

It even seemed related to the skin that had sprouted on my arm.

‘I had called that pain an enemy.’

The Blood Demon had clearly seen the pain I felt during the gathering.

He had labeled it as animosity towards himself.

That meant the Blood Demon was aware of this.

‘Did he say he would change his plans upon seeing this develop in me?’

What on earth were the Blood Demon’s plans or thoughts?

As doubts about this grew stronger.

Swoosh…

I felt a presence approaching from behind.

‘Is it my father coming?’

He arrived earlier than I expected.

Thinking that I turned around.

“Uh…?”

The presence I felt was not my father.

It was so quiet that I thought it was my father who had erased his presence.

But the person who appeared was someone completely unexpected.

In a light blue martial arts uniform adorned with his unique embroidery he looked beautiful.

The sword at his waist and the ornaments beside it looked expensive at a glance.

The shabby man who had been wearing ragged clothes and a bamboo hat was gone.

In front of me stood a neat middle-aged man.

“Nice to meet you.”

The man spoke to me.

“…How did you get here?”

Swish.

The man Baek Cheon Gyeong Joo Mo Yong Tae quietly drew his sword while looking at me.

And he said.

“Are you now willing to tell me your name?”

“…”

Seeing that I couldn’t help but frown.

Why is this man acting like this again…