Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 424 (Part 2)



424 (Part 2)

As I climbed the stairs a little the deck appeared.

It was nighttime and the air was filled with the unique smell of the river.

When I stepped outside there were already a few people on the deck.

Most of them were the ones on watch duty.

Perhaps because of the incident that happened during the day there was an unusually heightened sense of vigilance.

I glanced around as I moved my steps.

There was someone I was looking for.

As I walked toward the front of the ship a figure sitting at the very edge caught my eye.

I approached him slowly while looking at him.

He seemed to sense my presence and turned his head toward me.

Perhaps it was the night but his green eyes appeared to shine unusually bright.

After greeting him I asked “Why are you out here Clan Head?”

“Gu Mister.”

I faced the Clan Head the Poison King.

“It’s late at night. You must be tired so why are you outside?”

“…It’s a night when sleep doesn’t come easily.”

“Is that so?”

From his expression it seemed he was quite worried.

After all the appearance of the red demonic beast must be a significant issue for the Clan Heads.

They hold countless sponsorships and reputations under the pretext of maintaining peace and safety in the region.

Those who are most sensitive to unexpected changes would be them.

Especially the Clan Heads of the prestigious families known as the Four Great Houses.

‘But that doesn’t seem to be the only problem.’

There was a strangely different atmosphere suggesting there was more to it.

However it wasn’t the time to pinpoint that directly. I doubted he would answer even if I asked.

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After exchanging brief greetings the Poison King and I merely stared at each other without any further conversation.

A few seconds of silence passed.

Surprisingly it was the Poison King who spoke first.

“…What is it?”

His voice was laced with subtle wariness. Why was he suddenly on guard against me?

Although I had been somewhat displeased I didn’t think he would be wary.

“I didn’t come to see you for any particular reason. I just stepped out for a walk and you happened to be here…”

“I know you came to see me with some intention.”

“…!”

I swallowed hard at the Poison King’s words.

How did he know? We hadn’t even had much of a conversation yet he had already caught on.

‘This guy is sharp.’

Indeed he seemed to be the most Clan Head-like among the current Clan Heads of the Four Great Houses.

Thinking that inwardly I pretended not to know outwardly.

“What intention? I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I know that Mister is not someone who approaches without any intention.”

“…”

Ha.

I let out a short laugh at the Poison King’s words.

I adjusted the somewhat friendly expression I had been maintaining back to its original state.

Now that I had been found out there was no need for unnecessary pretense.

Noticing that my expression had changed the Poison King spoke to me with narrowed eyes.

“What do you want?”

A brief statement that required no further explanation.

It seemed the Poison King already knew what justification I had for approaching him.

I had helped in defeating the red demonic beast.

In truth there was no need to expect anything in return for that.

Even if I hadn’t stepped in the red demonic beast would have been defeated.

However if I hadn’t intervened there might have been more casualties due to the chaos caused by the enemy forces.

It was a part I could easily brush off by saying I was just fortunate to have survived.

But from the perspective of the Clan Head of the Tang Clan the Poison King would find it hard to let it go.

That’s how relationships work.

The responsibilities that come with being a Clan Head are like that.

Moreover.

‘Although he seems to be wary of me it must mean he doesn’t intend to ruin our relationship.’

The Poison King had not yet given up on my value or potential.

So he asked about the matter first.

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Sensing that I slightly raised the corners of my mouth.

“No I’m not hoping for anything too big.”

At my words the Poison King frowned. It meant that even if it wasn’t something big I still had some expectations which would likely irritate him.

However his silence implied a tacit acceptance.

“It’s really not something big. Just…”

“Before that.”

Just as I was about to make my request the Poison King interrupted me.

What could it be?

“I have something I want to ask Mister.”

“What is it?”

He wanted to ask me something. As I looked at him with a questioning gaze he asked.

“The weakness of the red-grade demonic beast. How do you know about that?”

“Hmm.”

Ah.

Only upon hearing that question did I understand.

The reason the Poison King was looking at me with suspicion.

The sudden appearance of the red demonic beast which hadn’t been seen for hundreds of years was astonishing enough.

It was only natural that he would find it strange that I had casually hunted such a demonic beast.

He probably didn’t expect that I had done something.

But it was clear he found it odd.

Ha.

‘This is ridiculous.’

After all I did to help is he doubting me?

Look at this guy.

I understood but I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

‘If it came to that I would have saved him from the ambush too.’

If I had managed to save the subordinates that the Tang Clan had been holding from the ambush.

Things would have gone a bit more smoothly without this incident.

The appearance of the red demonic beast had complicated things a bit.

In the first place where did the bandits waiting in ambush go?

‘They were all eaten of course.’

If they had been waiting around at that time they would have either fled upon seeing the red demonic beast or been caught and eaten by it.

“Are you doubting me? That I intentionally tried to disrupt the transport?”

“I don’t believe Mister has such intentions.”

“Really?”

“The reason I have doubts is because of your actions at that time.”

The way I had nonchalantly hunted the red demonic beast without any hesitation.

Seeing the absurd barrier that absorbed qi the Poison King must have found it incomprehensible that I had attacked without a moment’s hesitation.

“…I cannot understand how you could do that.”

“There’s no need for you to understand.”

“What?”

The Poison King’s expression crumpled at my response. Did he think I was being sarcastic?

“If you can’t understand it then it’s just something that can’t be helped.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You say you can’t understand something that should be obvious. How can I explain it to you?”

I had already thought of an answer when I set out to hunt the demonic beast.

It wasn’t something I had to think about.

It was simple.

“You see I know where the weakness is. That’s why I had the kids catch it.”

“…!”

At my bold statement the Poison King’s expression changed.

From a crumpled look to one of disbelief.

The meaning of my words was nothing special.

I know because I see.

So I did it.

Is it my fault that you don’t know?

It was something like that.

If someone else had said it they would have been scolded for saying such a thing.

What title do people call me by?

The youngest peak martial artist and if the rumors spread further they would surely know I had reached the realm of transformation.

The Poison King was already aware of this fact and reaching the realm of transformation at such a young age meant.

‘It signifies an extraordinary genius.’

In the Central Plains they would already see me as a talent bestowed by the heavens.

At first I found that title irritating and cringeworthy but now I had somewhat given up on it.

Since it had come to this I had to make good use of the rumors.

The Poison King’s dumbfounded expression felt unusually sweet.

“Such a thing… right now….”

“If it’s not this do you think I’ve been dealing with red demonic beasts since the past? You wouldn’t think that would you?”

That’s right. I had dealt with them since my previous life.

“I just wanted to help. I didn’t expect to be doubted like this… It hurts a little.”

It didn’t hurt at all.

On the contrary I was secretly pleased to have caught onto something.

The Poison King’s expression continued to waver as I kept speaking without pause.

I had done it with great enthusiasm. This excuse was always a universal one.

As long as the rumors and power supported me I could use them however I wanted.

Look at him now; the Poison King seemed at a loss for words merely moving his lips.

“…I’m sorry. This matter is my mistake.”

Although the suspicious gaze didn’t disappear perhaps feeling there was no other way the Poison King offered me an apology.

Seeing that I slightly relaxed my face.

“It’s alright… Thank you for your apology.”

In truth having this conversation was just a bother.

If I didn’t clean up after this it could become even more troublesome later.

Moreover since the Poison King had apologized first it made it a bit easier to make my request.

“Clan Head if it’s alright with you may I ask for one thing now?”

“…Speak.”

“There’s no need to be so uncomfortable. It’s not a huge request.”

Did he think I was going to make a huge request?

It wasn’t anything like that.

‘From my perspective it’s big but from the Poison King’s perspective it probably isn’t that significant.’

I wasn’t asking for anything material.

The Poison King seemed somewhat tense about what request I might make.

But what I was about to say wasn’t that grand.

I could have asked for an incredibly expensive spirit pill or a famous sword worthy of the Tang Clan’s name.

What I wanted was simply….

“I heard there’s a lake belonging to the Tang Clan.”

“Hmm?”

At the sudden mention of the lake a look of curiosity appeared on the Poison King’s face.

“I believe it’s called the Poison Lake…”

A legacy left by the hero who stopped the Blood Demon and the ancestor of the Tang Clan Poison Zhechen.

The water of the deep lake is entirely composed of a deadly poison making it a dangerous place where anyone who gets too close would be poisoned and die.

Such poison is also used as a material for the poisons employed by the Tang Clan.

Since no one could figure out where such poisonous water came from.

People regarded it as one of the rare treasures.

“I’ve been curious about it since I was young. May I see it once?”

I said with a smile but the Poison King’s gaze didn’t change.

He looked as if he couldn’t understand why I would want to see that.

‘Would I want to see it?’

Why would I want to see such a dangerous place?

There was only one reason.

‘The White Horse Stone.’

The space where this stone was hidden.

It just so happened to be hidden at the bottom of that lake.