Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 493 (Part 2)



493 (Part 2)

It felt quite unpleasant for me to make someone like that look so pathetic.

Narrow-minded and sordid.

I knew that all too well myself.

But still I had to do it.

“Now… I have one last question.”

The question I had asked earlier was in reality a story that didn’t matter much whether it was true or not.

What was important was the question I was about to ask now.

“I would like to ask about Wi Seol-ah.”

“…”

It seemed as if the deity had anticipated this as one corner of their eye twitched.

“I heard that Elder Geomjon and the deity did something to that child using the sealing stone.”

The sealing stone that had been in the room of Cheon Yu-rang from my previous life.

And Wi Seol-ah who had regained her presence.

I judged that there must be some connection between these events.

Recalling what I had heard from Wi Seol-ah I wanted to ask the deity.

Why did Geomjon make such a choice?

What is Wi Seol-ah’s current state?

I was determined to find out no matter what means I had to use.

“…”

Upon hearing my question the deity’s face was filled with a cloud of contemplation.

After a long pause.

The deity’s mouth opened with difficulty.

“Does that child still resent the Alliance Leader?”

It was a somewhat unexpected statement.

When they mentioned the Alliance Leader did they mean Geomjon?

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

The former… no now it was the former former Alliance Leader but it surely referred to Geomjon.

And if they were asking whether Wi Seol-ah resented Geomjon now.

“Yes.”

I knew it.

The uncomfortable expression she made every time she brought up her grandfather.

Hearing my answer the deity sighed and spoke to me.

“I don’t particularly like the Alliance Leader. I acknowledge his abilities but he prioritized other things over his beliefs making many wrong choices as an Alliance Leader.”

In terms of standing excluding the first Alliance Leader Yeon Il-cheon he was the most influential figure among all the Alliance Leaders in Murim history.

Yet it seemed the deity did not think so.

“However separate from that I do understand. I know he is human.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“It shouldn’t have been that way because he was the Alliance Leader. But as a father and a grandfather I can understand.”

There were various emotions mixed in the deity’s voice.

As the deity spoke I felt resentment but within that I sensed a sudden tinge of sorrow and empathy.

“The reason the Alliance Leader had to do that to the child is solely one. Just that one reason and even if it was unsatisfactory I helped.”

“What is that reason…?”

The moment I asked hiding my unease.

The deity calmly replied.

“If he hadn’t sealed the child’s potential.”

She had been breathing just fine until now.

“That child would have surely died in no time.”

The moment I heard the deity’s words I felt a strange lump in my throat.

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

In the garden path leading to the Clan Head’s office.

Under the bright weather a woman walked gracefully among the blooming white flowers.

From her poised posture and elegantly shaped upper body it was clear that she was a person of high education.

Yet for some reason there was an unusually bright expression on her face as she walked.

As she walked the steward tending to the flowerbed noticed her and immediately showed respect.

“Greetings my lady.”

The identity of the woman was none other than Mi Hyo-ran the mistress of the Gu family and the captain of the Baekhwa Trading Company one of the Central Plains’ three trading companies.

She stopped her steps and slightly bowed her head to the steward.

“Is he inside?”

“Yes.”

“Can I go in now?”

At Mi Hyo-ran’s words the steward slightly stepped aside.

It was a sign of permission.

Only three people could enter the Clan Head’s office without permission.

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

Starting with the current Elder Gu Ryun the steward of the Gu family and the mistress Mi Hyo-ran.

However she always sought permission from the steward before going to the Clan Head’s office.

Even though she had been told it wasn’t necessary.

Seeing her the steward asked.

“My lady.”

“Yes.”

“It seems you have something pleasant to share.”

“Ah.”

At the steward’s words Mi Hyo-ran smiled slightly.

“No not particularly.”

Saying that she headed toward the Clan Head’s office.

But anyone could see that she was someone who had something good to share. After all it was rare for Mi Hyo-ran to smile so vividly.

Seeing that the steward also smiled and began to tidy up the flowerbed again.

Tap tap.

There was definitely something light in Mi Hyo-ran’s steps as she headed toward the Clan Head’s office.

Though she said otherwise to the steward she was indeed in a good mood.

The reason being the letter she held in her hand.

It was a letter sent by Gu Yang-cheon.

It was probably the first time.

That Gu Yang-cheon had sent a letter specifically to Mi Hyo-ran.

The letter that had flown in since morning bore the seal of the Baekhwa Trading Company.

It seemed to have been sent through a branch but more than that the content written inside was what mattered.

– I apologize for reaching out like this. I hope you have been well.

The beginning was a light greeting but the content that followed was somewhat intriguing.

It mentioned that he had made a miraculous encounter and sold goods through the Trading Company.

And in the process he had used Mi Hyo-ran’s name.

That was the problem.

– While talking with the branch manager there was an unavoidable situation where I had to refer to Madam as my mother.

How long had I paused at that part?

Perhaps it had been quite a while.

– I apologize in advance if you feel uncomfortable upon learning this later.

Apology. I couldn’t understand why Gu Yang-cheon was apologizing to Mi Hyo-ran.

As she gathered her scattered thoughts Mi Hyo-ran continued reading the letter and unfortunately she soon reached the last line.

The letter wasn’t very long.

– Ah and. The branch manager of the Sichuan branch seems to be doing well.

– Then I will see you next time.

After reading the brief letter Mi Hyo-ran took a few breaths.

‘Sichuan branch manager…?’

The content written at the end of Gu Yang-cheon’s letter.

If it was the Sichuan branch manager Mi Hyo-ran knew that person as well.

‘He had a keen eye for people but he was a man of dark ambition and greed.’

What was his name… something like Dai…? She couldn’t remember that part.

He was not particularly important either. After all she planned to deal with him soon.

However.

‘If that child thought well of him there must be a reason.’

Gu Yang-cheon thought well of him.

That one statement could change the treatment of the Sichuan branch manager.

Immediately Mi Hyo-ran wrote a letter to be sent throughout the Trading Company stamping it with the captain’s seal.

The content was to halt all activities and prioritize the tasks entrusted by Gu Yang-cheon.

After sending the letter with somewhat shocking content through a messenger.

She carefully folded the received letter and tucked it away then moved on.

Her destination was the Clan Head’s office where Gu Cheol-woon was.

Mi Hyo-ran was trying to hide her emotions but it was undoubtedly for the sake of pride.

She couldn’t contain her desire to present the letter she received to Gu Cheol-woon.

Before long she reached the door.

Mi Hyo-ran grabbed the door to the Clan Head’s office and opened it.

“That child sent a letter…”

Normally she would have greeted him first but in her haste she intended to get straight to the point.

However unfortunately she was not successful.

“… You?”

The atmosphere inside the Clan Head’s office was unusual.

Gu Cheol-woon sat at his desk with the same expression as always.

But the aura emanating from him was strange.

Anger.

The emotion felt from Gu Cheol-woon was undoubtedly anger.

It was a considerable anger that Mi Hyo-ran felt for the first time in nearly a decade.

Without saying a word Mi Hyo-ran first observed Gu Cheol-woon.

With one hand stroking his beard and the other looking at the letter.

It was a seal from a place she recognized.

‘Tang Clan?’

It was the seal of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

The Tang Clan was the destination Gu Yang-cheon was heading toward and considering the timing he must have arrived around this time.

The fact that a letter had come from there meant.

‘Is something happening?’

As she thought that Mi Hyo-ran’s expression slightly hardened.

Creak.

Gu Cheol-woon stood up.

Hooosh–!!

In that moment a heat surged through the room felt even by Mi Hyo-ran.

“… Ugh!”

Though Mi Hyo-ran was a merchant before being a martial artist her level was merely from the second tier to the first.

It was just a power she had built to protect herself so it wasn’t very high.

Because of that she found it difficult to withstand the energy emanating from Gu Cheol-woon.

That was why it was even more surprising.

Usually Gu Cheol-woon would suppress his power to prevent those around him from being harmed.

What could have happened to provoke such a fierce reaction?

“What on earth is going on….”

“Four days.”

Gu Cheol-woon’s eyes filled with intensity turned toward Mi Hyo-ran.

“I will return in four days.”

“What do you mean…? You have a schedule with the Trading Company after this…!”

Mi Hyo-ran hurriedly tried to add more words.

But with a snap-!

Gu Cheol-woon turned into a spark and vanished before her eyes.

Seeing that Mi Hyo-ran immediately turned and dashed out of the Clan Head’s office.

To catch Gu Cheol-woon? That was impossible. Mi Hyo-ran couldn’t catch him.

This was none other than to convey the message to the steward and to bring up the matter with the Trading Company.

She had to warn them to prepare for what seemed to be a problem.

After all in her younger days.

Whenever Gu Cheol-woon had reacted so violently and disappeared nonsensical events would inevitably occur.

One day the leader of an unorthodox sect would burn to death and vanish.

Or a sect that sought to form an army would be erased from the map.

Having experienced all those events Mi Hyo-ran felt the urgency to act.

She had no idea what her furious husband would do this time.