Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 401



401

Freckled cheeks.

He was on the shorter side compared to me and he looked to be around thirty.

At first glance he seemed like just an ordinary attendant but I could tell.

‘He’s the Shadow King.’

I realized that the man’s true identity was the Shadow King.

Until I heard his voice I felt uncertain but after hearing his telepathy I was convinced.

Moreover.

‘There’s a sense of alienation.’

Knowing that I could feel a strange sense of alienation.

The vibrations I felt from my arm were the same.

‘…What the hell is this?’

Was there a heart in the scaly part? It was pounding like crazy.

Why is this happening?

I tried to ignore the vibrations and looked at the Shadow King.

He seemed flustered by my gaze sweating coldly.

No he was pretending to be that way.

‘Why are these people such good actors?’

Both the Patriarch and the Shadow King. Their acting skills were utterly incomprehensible.

As I looked at the Shadow King my gaze naturally shifted to the Patriarch.

As if asking what the hell was going on.

Could it be that the Patriarch didn’t know either?

‘This old man….’

Seeing the Patriarch smirk at me I realized immediately.

This man surely knew something.

‘Could it be that the Shadow King and the Patriarch have a connection?’

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I didn’t know what kind of connection it was but at least it didn’t seem like a good one.

Moreover I had no idea why the Shadow King was involved in this.

Avoiding the Shadow King’s gaze I asked the Patriarch.

– What is it…?

– What do you mean?

– I’m asking why that person is over there.

– Don’t worry about it. He’s just one of the attendants.

– What does that mean…? Are you feeling unwell or something?

Knowing he was the Shadow King and yet telling me to ignore it and think of him as just an attendant.

What kind of crazy talk is this?

I asked in disbelief and the Patriarch simply replied with a nonchalant expression.

– By chance I have something to ask of him that’s all.

– Something to ask…?

The Patriarch’s words made my mind race seriously.

Asking the Shadow King for a favor?

– Who are you planning to kill?

That was the only thought that came to mind.

Honestly I thought that was the only thing one would ask the Shadow King for.

Hearing my words the Patriarch momentarily frowned and looked at me.

– What are you thinking…? Hmm…

He seemed to be about to say something absurd but then tilted his head slightly.

What’s with that?

– …Maybe it’s somewhat similar?

– …Excuse me?

– Hmm it’s probably somewhat similar. Just think of it that way.

What on earth does that mean?

So in any case the Shadow King is going to kill someone.

Hearing that the Patriarch made such a request to the Shadow King felt somewhat strange.

But I didn’t press further.

Everyone has their own circumstances. For me as long as I could learn martial arts from the Patriarch that was enough.

The Patriarch only hoped for me to achieve complete mastery of his martial arts so our relationship was just that.

It was awkward to call each other master and disciple.

At least that was how I perceived my relationship with him.

A teacher-student relationship formed out of necessity.

It was a rather ambiguous relationship I had never heard of before.

So the fact that the Shadow King was mingling with the people of the Rain family and heading to Sichuan was a bit concerning for me.

However if it was something unrelated to me then it was somewhat acceptable.

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Only.

‘Could it really be unrelated?’

That thought lingered slightly.

‘The Shadow King’s main family was the Rain family.’

Not only that but I realized that the Shadow King was a descendant of Yeon Il-cheon and Sichuan was a place where traces of the Rain family remained.

So the fact that the Shadow King was heading there made me feel strange in many ways.

‘But… is this right?’

As I thought about one or two people I began to feel that the group heading to Sichuan was a bit odd.

Including the Shadow King who was the King of Assassins and the Clan Head of the Tang Clan known as the Overlord of Sichuan.

And the Patriarch who was one of the top martial artists in the Central Plains.

Everyone leaving for Sichuan seemed like a bunch of people who would go somewhere and let out a fart so when I saw that.

‘At least it doesn’t seem like we’ll be ambushed.’

I felt quite certain about safety.

For the situation to turn bad here it would likely only be if the Shadow King suddenly decided to kill everyone.

I wondered if some crazy person would ambush the Tang Clan’s transport cart.

But even if that were the case I didn’t think I would have to worry much.

It seemed that the Overlord had brought considerable forces to take the criminals to Sichuan.

If he had known that the Patriarch and the Shadow King were among this group would he have brought such forces?

Probably not right?

As I thought that I began to distance myself from the Shadow King.

Just then someone approached me and hugged my neck.

“…?”

It felt more accurate to say they were squeezing me rather than hugging.

As I was about to break free I paused at the familiar scent coming from behind.

“Little brother are you really going?”

This was the scent of Gu Hee-bi.

“…What are you doing sister?”

“Are you really going to that far place? Aren’t you coming home with Noona?”

“I have to go.”

“To home?”

“No to Sichuan.”

At my answer Gu Hee-bi tightened her grip around me.

“What on earth… are you doing?”

“Just wandering around outside the house. You’ve hit a wrong phase of adolescence. You used to be so cute back in the day.”

I was taken aback by Gu Hee-bi’s words.

“What do you mean wrong phase?”

I wasn’t at an age to be going through adolescence.

Moreover it was hard to understand how she could say that the past was cuter when the past was already strange.

As I roughly loosened Gu Hee-bi’s arm and looked at her.

She was frowning as if something was displeasing to her.

Seeing Gu Hee-bi like that made me feel nauseous as if she was pretending to be cute.

Has she forgotten her age?

Why is a grown woman acting like this?

“I really don’t like this….”

“Sister.”

“Hmm?”

“Aren’t you getting married? Isn’t it about time?”

“…”

I asked out of curiosity thinking about Gu Hee-bi’s age.

The moment she heard my question her expression changed instantly.

It was like a demon’s face.

Right after I confirmed that expression I took a slight step back and said.

“…No I just… asked out of curiosity….”

“Little brother do you want to burn all your hair off? Just say it Noona is good at that kind of thing.”

“Sorry.”

She seemed genuinely angry her eyes not ordinary.

I really just asked out of curiosity. She seemed to be in a really bad mood.

‘Well it’s not about age but who would want to marry someone with that crazy personality?’

Her marriage prospects were overflowing but Gu Hee-bi was neither engaged nor married… no she couldn’t be.

Recalling that she hadn’t married in her previous life either I wondered if she intended to grow old as a lifelong spinster.

Such figures were widely known among martial artists so it wouldn’t matter.

But judging by her reaction it seemed she was concerned about it.

“If you say you’re going home I’ll let it slide.”

“That’s impossible.”

“You’re so resolute. It’s annoying.”

At my answer Gu Hee-bi clicked her tongue and turned her head sharply.

As if she had nothing more to say to me she walked toward where the Gu family members were.

“Do as you please whether you come or not.”

As she walked away she suddenly shot back a retort.

When will that person’s personality soften?

Probably never.

‘It’s probably impossible.’

If she was born with that blood it seemed unlikely.

Right after Gu Hee-bi left.

The next person to appear as if waiting for her to leave was Elder Il.

Why do they keep coming one after another? It would be easier if they all came at once.

I had to frown at Elder Il who approached me. Elder Il also frowned at me.

“…To see an old man and make such a face what kind of manners is this?”

“What are you trying to give me this time? I won’t accept anything.”

“Ha do you think I’m giving you a gift because you’re pretty?”

“Whether it’s a gift or not is the problem.”

Recalling the items I had received every time I met Elder Il they all brought about incidents and accidents.

It was clear that this time would be no different so I was determined not to accept anything.

With that resolve I glared at Elder Il and as expected Elder Il pulled something out of his robe.

Seeing that I immediately shouted at Elder Il.

“Ah I’m not accepting it! Hey hey! What are you trying to give me again!”

“You brat! Do you think I want to do this!?”

“Then you don’t have to give it!”

I started a ridiculous argument with Elder Il.

I was determined not to accept whatever it was.

Why does this person keep trying to put me in trouble?

Just when I was trying to escape without accepting it Elder Il added.

“This is not from me but from your father.”

“…Excuse me?”

“The rich are both useless. Sending errands to an old man like me.”

Elder Il grumbled but my mind was focused on the item in Elder Il’s hand.

‘My father?’

Is it really my father who is giving me something?

Thinking that I glanced over at my father. Just then our eyes met as he was looking this way.

In that brief moment my father looked away first.

Seeing that it seemed that Elder Il’s words were indeed correct.

‘What is this?’

Having confirmed that I received the item. If it wasn’t Elder Il giving it it wouldn’t matter.

…It looked like an ordinary metal plate.

“What is this?”

“I don’t know. The Clan Head just asked me to pass it on.”

“Then you could have delivered it yourself. What’s the….”

“That’s what I’m saying. If you’re really curious go ask him yourself.”

“No that’s a bit….”

“Ha ha… The rich are both useless.”

Elder Il shook his head as if tired.

It was better than before but it was still quite awkward to ask my father about such things.

‘…It must be something useful for him to give it to me.’

Thinking that I casually tucked the plate into my robe.

I thought it wouldn’t be anything strange.

“What will you do when you go back Elder Il?”

“What do you mean? I’ll just laze around.”

“…Ah yes.”

For someone saying that if I had to pick the busiest person in the Gu family the first would be my father and the second would be Elder Il.

The old man was so active in his old age that it seemed Elder Il was constantly going out of the family.

As I glanced at Elder Il I pointed at someone with my fingertip. This was a personal question.

“Then… are you really taking that guy with you?”

Elder Il’s gaze followed my finger.

The direction my finger pointed was none other than Gu Joo-yeop who was standing somewhere with a dark expression.

Seeing that Elder Il’s expression twitched slightly.

The reason I asked about Gu Joo-yeop was simple.

He had said he wouldn’t be participating in this trip to Sichuan.