Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 398



398

About half an hour had passed since the incident occurred. I was observing the situation while holding my forehead.

First I checked the faces of the women sitting on my bed.

From the far left a woman with brown hair mixed with golden strands.

It was Wi Seol-ah.

I asked her while looking at her.

“What’s going on?”

“Huh?”

As I questioned her Wi Seol-ah flinched and responded.

Looking at her face I could see her eyes wildly shaking.

I asked looking into Wi Seol-ah’s eyes.

“Why are you all here?”

“…Well um….”

Wi Seol-ah glanced sideways at my question. Next to her Namgung Bia was still half-asleep swaying and dozing off.

What’s with that gaze?

As I quietly observed Wi Seol-ah mumbled on.

“…Unnie was going so… I followed.”

“…”

I looked at Namgung Bia at Wi Seol-ah’s words.

Namgung Bia seemed to have recognized my gaze rubbing her eyes and mumbling.

“…You didn’t… come….”

“What does not coming have to do with you coming into my room…?”

“…Huh?”

At my words Namgung Bia looked at me as if to say “Why wouldn’t it matter?”

What’s with that look?

It’s true that Namgung Bia had a habit of sneaking into my bed occasionally so I could let that slide.

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

But I couldn’t understand why Wi Seol-ah followed her.

“Why did you follow her?”

“…She said she was going… so I just….”

Upon hearing my question Wi Seol-ah averted her gaze her ears turning red.

Seeing that I let out a deep sigh.

“…Are you starting to resemble her? Why are you trying to sleep on someone else’s bed?”

“I’m sorry….”

“You’re… fine.”

I was about to say something to Namgung Bia but let it go.

She wasn’t the type to listen anyway.

I decided to just give her a light tap on the forehead with my fist.

“Ow…!”

Namgung Bia let out a short scream covering her forehead.

Soon after her expression as she looked up at me was a mix of drowsiness and resentment.

“Why are you opening your eyes like that?”

“…”

“You took my blanket last time didn’t you?”

“…!”

Namgung Bia’s eyes widened at my words.

Did she really think I wouldn’t know?

She had taken it quite openly not sneakily at all.

“Why do you keep stealing other people’s bedding?”

“Because I don’t have enough….”

“What’s lacking? A pillow? Or a blanket? If you don’t have it just ask for it. Why take it without permission?”

The Namgung Clan isn’t a place that lacks money. I couldn’t understand why she was being so stingy.

Namgung Bia’s gaze narrowed as if my words displeased her.

“…That’s not… it.”

“Then what is it?”

“…Forget it….”

Was she sulking? She started avoiding my questions.

What’s with her sulking over something like this?

Leaving Namgung Bia aside I turned my attention to the last person sitting to her right.

A woman with light green hair looking a bit pouty.

It was Dang So-yeol who had shared a meal with us the previous evening.

“…You know.”

At the sound of my voice Dang So-yeol flinched.

It seemed she instinctively realized I was talking to her.

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

“Usually when entering someone else’s room you don’t just barge in like that do you?”

I was referring to the fact that she had kicked the door open just moments ago.

Normally one would knock before entering.

Or at least mention if it was okay to come in.

But she had just opened my door and walked in without a word.

Upon hearing my criticism Dang So-yeol quietly looked at me then suddenly turned her head away and puffed her cheeks.

In that moment she looked like a squirrel with its cheeks stuffed full of acorns.

Why is everyone making such expressions?

What did I do wrong?

“What’s with that expression…?”

“To be honest I did do something wrong but….”

Just as I was about to ask why she was acting like that Dang So-yeol squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out.

“This is all Young Master’s fault!”

“…What?”

I looked at Dang So-yeol in disbelief at her outburst.

Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bia who were next to her nodded in agreement with her words.

“What did I do wrong…?”

How is this fair?

All I did today was wander around all day eat my fill and come back to my room for my clothes.

And suddenly it’s my fault?

As I stared at Dang So-yeol in disbelief the three of them stood up simultaneously as if they had made a pact.

I was slightly taken aback and stepped back.

Then the three women walked towards my door stomping their feet.

Are they really planning to leave like this?

I could clearly feel their displeasure in their steps.

Honestly it felt like it would be better to let them go.

If I didn’t it seemed like my energy would be completely drained.

Just as I was about to let them go without saying anything.

“…Wait a minute.”

I stopped Namgung Bia who was about to leave.

Namgung Bia caught by my hand looked at me with an expression of anticipation for some reason.

I didn’t know what she was expecting.

…But the words that would come out of my mouth would likely be different from what she hoped for.

“…Could you ask the Namgung Clan Head when I can visit him?”

When I mentioned Namgung Jin I could see Namgung Bia’s beautiful brows furrow deeply.

It wasn’t the right time to ask but since I had to train in the future I needed to ask while I had the chance.

‘I can’t just let it slide.’

Honestly I would prefer to let it go but given Namgung Jin’s personality that wouldn’t happen.

He would likely cling to me trying to teach me something.

In the current situation I had a perfect excuse to use.

I thought it would be better to meet him and resolve it in advance.

Thinking that I asked Namgung Bia.

Upon hearing my words Namgung Bia didn’t hide her furrowed brows and replied.

“…My father… has left.”

“What did you say?”

I paused for a moment after hearing Namgung Bia’s words.

He has left…? Where to?

Out of the blue where did that man go?

As I looked at Namgung Bia with a strange expression she finally gave me a proper answer.

“…Anhui.”

She said that Namgung Jin had returned to Anhui where his family home was.

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

After finishing the conversation.

I sent the girls away first then asked a servant to help me change clothes before heading to the cave.

After that I began to grapple with the cave as usual casting the Tua Pa Cheon Gong but my mind was filled with thoughts about the situation.

‘Namgung Jin has returned to Henan.’

Just before Namgung Bia had clearly said that.

The first thought that crossed my mind upon hearing that was the question “Why?”

It’s understandable to return. It’s not strange for the Clan Head of the Namgung Clan to go back to his home.

However it was somewhat puzzling that someone like Namgung Jin who desired to elevate his martial arts left without seeking any enlightenment from me.

Of course from my perspective it was a good thing that he didn’t ask me anything before leaving but…

‘…I had nothing to tell him anyway.’

At first I had shared what I learned from Shin Noya.

The second time I had relayed information I had vaguely heard from the Demon Sword Master in my previous life.

But now I had nothing to tell him.

So Namgung Jin’s disappearance wasn’t a bad thing for me.

However the fact that he left for Henan so suddenly weighed on my mind.

‘Is something happening in the Namgung Clan?’

Otherwise he wouldn’t leave so abruptly.

I tried to recall if anything had happened in the Namgung Clan during this time but nothing came to mind.

Crack—

I smashed the cave wall as I pondered.

The reason I was reacting so sensitively to Namgung Jin’s departure was simple.

I was worried that I might have changed something.

That was what weighed on my mind as I contemplated.

‘It’s not just Namgung Jin.’

There were several things that had changed.

Along with the attack on the Shinryong Temple the fall of the Nakgeon and the rise of a new Alliance Leader were also among them.

The Alliance Leader after the Nakgeon should have originally been Wi Seol-ah.

That timing had been advanced by at least ten years.

And it was due to unfavorable repercussions.

‘If this continues who will be the next Alliance Leader?’

I had no idea.

If someone were to run for the position it would likely include the Gu Pae Il Bang and the four great families.

Just like the Nakgeon there would be many candidates from prestigious martial artist families.

The situation had changed so drastically that I couldn’t grasp it easily.

‘This is really confusing.’

I was trying my best to roll with the punches.

But in this regard I still felt lacking.

Am I really managing to do well?

I pushed myself to train harder but I knew well that it wasn’t enough.

‘Moreover… the changes are the same for the family.’

The numerous changes couldn’t be avoided by the Gu family either.

The issues that arose from my elimination of the previous Elder.

The changes and reforms in the Gu Seon Mun were that problem.

Currently the Gu Seon Sect Leader was being filled in by the Il Geom Captain as a proxy.

I heard that he was also from that side so he would likely do well but…

‘By the way where did the Il Geom Captain go?’

Since the Il Geom Captain was officially my father’s bodyguard I had heard he came along for this trip to Henan.

But I had never seen the Il Geom Captain.

‘Is he doing something separately?’

That was quite possible but it wasn’t certain.

‘Mu Yeon didn’t come either.’

I had assumed my bodyguard Mu Yeon would naturally come along but I heard he didn’t participate in this trip to Henan.

From this it seemed that the Gu Seon Mun had some intention to manage Mu Yeon.

They must have realized his talent was exceptional when he reached his peak.

And since he was from the Gu Seon Mun they likely wanted to nurture him properly.

‘Are they planning to use him as a Sect Leader?’

That was the only thought that came to mind.

Even Gu Joo-yeop upon hearing this seemed to have the same thought as me as his expression darkened for a while.

Seeing that all I could say was to work hard and not fall behind.

If Mu Yeon were to completely establish himself in the Gu Seon Mun…

‘That could be quite good.’

From my perspective that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Because I had certainly realized something after facing the Heavenly Demon.

‘I need power.’

Not just personal strength but a force that is commensurate with it.

I realized that it was overwhelming to face the enemy with just my own strength.

I had always known this but it became even clearer from that point onward.

If I truly wanted to take the place of the Divine Sword.

Then I needed to build my own power accordingly.

So if Mu Yeon were to establish himself in the Gu Seon Mun.

I was also considering putting in a bit more effort to completely secure my own power.

At first I thought about joining a specific organization like the Murim Alliance.

‘There’s no place I can trust.’

There wasn’t a single group I could trust.

Looking at it this way I could feel how rotten the Central Plains were.

So rather than thinking of joining an untrustworthy place.

‘…I’ll create it myself.’

I concluded that it would be better to gather people myself and create something.

That’s why even though the alias of So Yeon Ra was quite ridiculous.

Even if I had to grit my teeth at the rumors spreading about it.

I endured it thinking of the reputation that would come with it.

Not only that.

I was also organizing one person at a time to include as a subordinate.

If there was something that bothered me about this part.

‘If… I gather the people I’m thinking of into one place.’

There was no possibility that they would be called orthodox sects in the Central Plains.