Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 407 (Part 1)



407 (Part 1)

**[Miss]**

The night when Moyong Biyeon faced Mi Hyo-ran. It was the first time she saw Mi Hyo-ran open her eyes so wide.

She had always thought of her as a cold and unwavering person yet such great agitation.

Could it be that she has aged too?

It feels like something that was once rigid has crumbled a bit.

Yes.

Everyone has aged.

It has been at least a decade so it’s only natural.

Every time she recalled this obvious truth something uncomfortable stirred within Moyong Biyeon.

Hiding such feelings Moyong Biyeon spoke to Mi Hyo-ran.

[It’s been a while Miss.]

[…You….]

[Have you been well?]

On the face of her long-lost friend the passage of time was palpable.

Not in terms of skin differences or wrinkles but in the atmosphere they carried.

Should she say it has become a bit more sophisticated?

Just like how treasures gain value as time passes the friend before her had become a more noble person through her experiences.

Seeing that Moyong Biyeon thought.

[How unfair.]

[…What?]

[Nothing. Just forget it.]

Because of her demeanor she didn’t think he would have chosen Mi Hyo-ran.

Because it was the best choice.

In the past she had often made excuses to herself like that.

But.

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Was that purely a matter of the ‘past’?

Perhaps she was still lingering in those memories.

Just as Moyong Biyeon was slowly being consumed by nostalgia.

Mi Hyo-ran looked at her and asked.

[How have you been…?]

[Oh me? I’ve been well as always.]

[I sent a few messages. I didn’t get a reply. Was something wrong?]

[Ah….]

That letter was probably still somewhere in the Moyong Clan.

She had told the Clan Head in advance not to send anything to her no matter what happened in the family.

The Clan Head had diligently respected Moyong Biyeon’s insistence.

[I’m sorry.]

What Moyong Biyeon could say to Mi Hyo-ran was this and it was the best she could do.

She didn’t utter any excuses.

She had none and it was a result of her own choice.

[I was just a bit busy.]

[Is that so?]

Mi Hyo-ran nodded at Moyong Biyeon’s words and that was the end of it.

Whether it was really true or if it was too much she left behind the doubts and resentments that were entirely reasonable.

The way Mi Hyo-ran approached it was with trust and calmness.

Since Moyong Biyeon said so she chose to believe it.

Seeing that Moyong Biyeon was once again convinced.

That she still could not surpass her.

[…Miss is still the same.]

[You are too.]

Moyong Biyeon had to suppress a bitter smile at Mi Hyo-ran’s words.

[Just like the last time we met you haven’t changed a bit.]

[…]

Since that time when they both wanted to go their separate ways after everything ended.

Moyong Biyeon had not changed at all.

Whether it was in appearance or in her heart.

Should she really like that?

For Moyong Biyeon it was somewhat frustrating that she hadn’t matured at all.

Seeing Moyong Biyeon like that Mi Hyo-ran asked.

[Did you come to see me for something?]

[Um…. I just happened to be passing through Henan. I heard Miss was here so I came to see you.]

[At this hour?]

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[I’m sorry….]

[It’s okay. It’s been a while since you visited.]

The slight edge in her words was particularly sharp.

Even after time had passed Mi Hyo-ran still spoke in a way that felt like Mi Hyo-ran.

While making a somewhat awkward expression Mi Hyo-ran hesitated and asked one thing.

[So did you come just to see me?]

[…]

[If it’s to see him….]

[No I only came to see you Miss.]

Just as Mi Hyo-ran was about to say something Moyong Biyeon cut her off.

[…It’s not like that.]

She denied it once more.

But it was a lie.

Moyong Biyeon’s original purpose was to arrive in Henan and meet that person but she had simply made a different choice by now.

The reason for changing her choice was probably because she had encountered that person’s child.

Was it because she witnessed a young man who resembled him walking around with her own eyes?

Or was this just an excuse and was she simply afraid of meeting that person?

This was something even Moyong Biyeon couldn’t be sure of.

What mattered was that she still didn’t want to face him.

Whether she had realized Moyong Biyeon’s feelings or not Mi Hyo-ran looked at her with a strange gaze.

[…Are you okay?]

[Of course! I’m always fine. There’s no problem at all.]

Moyong Biyeon smiled while hiding various emotions.

As always.

Though so much time had passed the feelings that hadn’t dulled had only deepened.

Moyong Biyeon thought she had forgotten all of it.

That’s why she thought she could finally meet that person.

But the moment she faced his son she realized that such thoughts were wrong.

She still found it impossible to forget him.

So Moyong Biyeon couldn’t meet him.

With the feelings she had now she couldn’t face him with a smile.

That would be something she couldn’t do to him or to her friend.

Hiding such feelings Moyong Biyeon continued speaking to Mi Hyo-ran.

[Oh by the way Miss did you know? I met Miss’s daughter earlier.]

At those words Mi Hyo-ran’s expression changed.

Daughter? If it’s a daughter….

[The second daughter. Her name was Yeon-seo right? She was a lovely child.]

Hearing that Mi Hyo-ran felt relieved.

Thank goodness.

If it was the second child then she was probably an ordinary person so nothing must have happened.

[…That’s a relief.]

[What?]

[Nothing. So?]

Mi Hyo-ran seemed slightly flustered by the sudden mention of Gu Yeon-seo.

Moyong Biyeon contemplated whether to mention that she was involved with the Peng Clan but decided to move on and said something else.

[She was really pretty you know? Maybe she takes after you Miss.]

[…]

Mi Hyo-ran subtly averted her gaze at Moyong Biyeon’s words.

Seeing that Moyong Biyeon couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

That shy behavior seemed to remain unchanged even after all this time.

[And I also met the child who is said to be famous these days. Was it Gu Yang-cheon?]

[…!]

At those words Mi Hyo-ran’s eyes lit up as she looked at Moyong Biyeon.

She hadn’t expected the topic of Gu Yang-cheon to come up here.

[How did you come across that child…?]

[He resembled him a lot.]

[The White Lotus Sword….]

At the name Mi Hyo-ran called Moyong Biyeon smiled bitterly.

Hearing her refer to her alias felt strangely unfamiliar.

[Please don’t call me that Miss. It feels… it feels a bit off.]

[Then how should I call you?]

[Just like before Moyong Miss or Biyeon Miss is fine. Or if it comes to that you can even call me something like ‘the doomed year’ or ‘the year to kill’ like in the old days….]

[I’ll call you Moyong Miss.]

[Alright.]

As Moyong Biyeon brought up a dark history she wanted to erase Mi Hyo-ran quickly interrupted her.

Back then they were particularly sharp with each other so such things were bound to happen.

Now it would be a memory.

Hmm.

Mi Hyo-ran might not know but at least Moyong Biyeon thought so.

[Anyway I saw the child and he was amazing. He looked just like my father.]

[Isn’t that right?]

Perhaps because she praised Gu Yang-cheon a brief smile appeared on Mi Hyo-ran’s face.

That smile particularly resonated with Moyong Biyeon.

As far as Moyong Biyeon knew Gu Yang-cheon was not just that person’s child.

She had heard he was the son of a mischievous child she knew.

Why was Mi Hyo-ran making such an expression?

It was something Moyong Biyeon who had never given birth to a child couldn’t quite understand.

But one thing was clear.

[You’ve become a mother Miss.]

[What?]

Unlike her maiden days Mi Hyo-ran was now being called a mother.

Unlike herself who was still stuck in that time.

Is that why?

The image of her niece’s eyes suddenly came to mind.

Because she resembled herself who had poured all her emotions and moments into one man it particularly weighed on Moyong Biyeon’s heart.

She hoped her niece wouldn’t end up like her.

So what should she do?

Would it work to dissuade her?

To tell her to stop that such love would bring nothing good.

Would saying that resonate?

Probably not.

It was a painfully obvious fact.

Once she reached the level of making such an expression it was already over.

No one knew that better than Moyong Biyeon herself.

So what should she do?

Moyong Biyeon thought.

To help her niece while also finding a way to sort out these unnecessary feelings of hers.

Though it was just a thought Moyong Biyeon had already come up with a method while on her way to meet Mi Hyo-ran.

[So Miss.]

At Moyong Biyeon’s call Mi Hyo-ran looked up.

Since Moyong Biyeon had never been one to handle clever methods the idea she had come up with wasn’t particularly brilliant either.

As always what she knew how to do was only to charge in headfirst.

With a puzzled expression on Mi Hyo-ran Moyong Biyeon asked.

[Do you perhaps need a guard for your son?]

[…What?]

At that sudden remark Mi Hyo-ran had to frown.

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

Recalling that moment Moyong Biyeon scratched her head awkwardly.

‘What’s a guard what’s a guard.’

She had shouted but it was indeed a somewhat absurd method.

To help her niece while trying to forget him by staying close to his child and experiencing reality.

Wasn’t that a rather ridiculous method?

Moyong Biyeon knew that all too well.

‘What can I do? I’ve already done it.’

Since it was already done Moyong Biyeon decided to forget about the past.

As was her usual nature she didn’t dwell much on what had already passed.

The only thing she clung to was one thing.

Right now Moyong Biyeon was walking around the campsite feeling the morning.

‘The expression was amusing though.’

Just after saying she would be a guard for him the expression Gu Yang-cheon had made came to mind.

‘He’s similar yet different.’

She was gradually feeling that.

Unlike his father who had no change in expression Gu Yang-cheon showed such changes well.

Especially in unpleasant situations his expressions were fascinatingly transparent.

While one would usually hide it Gu Yang-cheon openly displayed his dislike.

Seeing that Moyong Biyeon raised a small question.