Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 391 (Part 1)



391 (Part 1)

It was already dark by the time I finally pulled my body out of the cave.

My whole body was drenched in sweat. Even though I usually don’t care about being a bit dirty I felt a level of discomfort.

‘…This is exhausting.’

I dragged my tired body out.

Taking a breath of the night air that blew in as if it had been waiting for me felt a bit refreshing.

How long had I been making holes in the cave?

I couldn’t really tell but since I had skipped meals it must have been quite a while.

‘Ah come to think of it I didn’t say I wouldn’t eat.’

I realized that only after coming out. Usually I would either eat before coming or tell my companions that I would eat when I arrived.

But today I couldn’t say anything because I was too focused.

‘It should be fine right?’

Surely they wouldn’t skip meals just because I wasn’t there…

‘Hmm.’

I wanted to believe it wouldn’t be the case but I was a bit worried because there had been instances in the past where that had happened.

Should I walk a bit faster?

Once I left the cave and started descending the mountain it didn’t take long before I could see the town.

Even though it was nighttime the streets of Henan were still bright.

Of course “not long” is based on my own standards.

If I used qi to speed up a bit I could close the distance quickly.

‘This has changed too.’

As I felt it memories of the past came to mind.

I recalled the time I was gasping for breath while walking determined to find a way to Bigo in Sichuan.

‘Back then Wi Seol-ah had secretly followed me.’

It was only when I was nearing Bigo that I noticed Wi Seol-ah was chasing after me.

What was embarrassing was that while I was struggling to run Wi Seol-ah was following me without any trouble.

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

‘It was strange back then.’

It was already odd but the deeper I went the stranger it became.

I don’t know about the current Wi Seol-ah but the Wi Seol-ah of that time had something that made it hard to call her human.

Her presence was minimal and her strength was absurd for an ordinary person among other things.

Of course by now I had a vague understanding of the reasons behind it.

In reality there wasn’t much to know.

‘She just wasn’t human.’

Wi Seol-ah is not human.

That was a statement that resonated with me now. It was true that there was something about Wi Seol-ah.

However it was just that I didn’t want to think of it that way.

‘Wi Seol-ah is a person.’

If I think so then that’s how it is.

It felt like I was glossing over it but I just wanted to think that way.

Even now look. Isn’t it true that the memory of Wi Seol-ah being strange at that time is overshadowed by the memory of me leaping and carrying her?

Her identity was not a particularly important story for me.

‘Back then this street was quite tough too.’

It was around the time I had a miraculous encounter and I was just reaching the second tier of my skills.

What kind of guts did I have to say I would carry Wi Seol-ah and jump?

‘Ah.’

That’s right.

Wi Seol-ah had asked me to carry her.

Did she say she was tired and wanted me to carry her? Thinking back on it made me chuckle.

It was not a bad memory.

As I recalled such random memories I found myself already arriving in the town.

As soon as I arrived I took out my death note.

‘…Tsk.’

How embarrassing it was to walk around with a death note fearing someone might recognize me. This was truly a shameful reason.

Becoming too famous is a problem.

Especially since many people from other regions were also in town now it felt even worse.

Damn Murim Alliance folks.

‘Can’t you spread rumors a bit more moderately?’

While they were doing a terrible job they were also good at spreading such ridiculous rumors.

There were now so few people in Henan who didn’t know my alias and me.

In a way fame is a form of power for a martial artist so such rumors might not be entirely bad…

‘…No I think it’s bad.’

I let out a deep sigh.

Honestly I didn’t welcome this kind of attention.

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

It was different from the interest I had in my past life but the gazes of people still felt more uncomfortable than enjoyable.

Should I say that I would eventually experience this?

‘How do others endure this kind of thing?’

I thought of the four great families.

They had embroidered their family symbols on their martial arts uniforms so it was usually easy to tell.

It indicated that a member of the four great families had appeared.

When I was younger I thought it was embarrassing that they walked around like that but as my perspective widened a bit I could understand immediately.

That was a form of value.

They could avoid unnecessary disputes. They received privileges unless something happened anywhere.

The treatment they received would differ based on their status and they could start from a higher position.

The power of fame was like that.

If I looked more closely it would be much more complicated. But that was how I saw it.

Of course even if there were many good things.

‘Until things settle down… I should lay low.’

No matter how I looked at it I felt like I didn’t fit in with that crowd.

I pressed down harder on my death note.

After moving my qi to erase my presence I hurried my steps.

I needed to get to the inn quickly.

As I walked a bit more.

Suddenly—

My steps came to a halt at a certain place.

It looked like a tavern. I recognized it.

It was the place where Mo Yong-hee sometimes bought dumplings. I had said it was delicious so she always brought them from here.

“…Hmm.”

I pondered for a moment but didn’t think too long. I went straight into the shop and ordered food.

By the time I came out of the shop something hefty was in one of my hands.

I had bought a bit more than usual but since there was someone who would eat it all anyway I thought it was fine to buy a little extra.

Should I buy some medicinal herbs too?

If I see any while passing by I should get some.

Thinking that I walked again towards the inn.

The crowd was still large.

The night in the streets was bright.

The smell of food wafted from my hands.

I walked while enjoying the streets for a moment. Even though I disliked such streets I was paradoxically hoping for them.

Seeing many people made me feel that the bloodshed hadn’t come yet.

Thinking that I moved my steps slowly.

Not long after that as I walked a bit more I felt the crowd gradually thinning.

I was passing through the bustling streets and getting closer to the inn.

‘But even so there are too few people?’

As I wondered if something was going on with the unexpectedly reduced crowd.

“Hmm?”

As expected I saw something in the distance.

It felt like a crowd was gathering. Were they doing something?

‘No wonder the crowd was less than usual.’

That seemed to be the reason.

Just as I was about to turn around and head back.

“…I’m sorry.”

A familiar voice reached my ears.

I turned my head. Following the voice I saw a woman with a righteous demeanor.

It reminded me of the conversation we had earlier about symbols.

The symbols of the four great families represented value as I had said.

The same goes for the Gu family.