Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 505 (Part 1)



505 (Part 1)

”’Chapter 506 – Just Give It to Me Once.

Wow this is awkward.

The thought that came to Gwaeseon as soon as he saw Gu Cheol-un standing with his arms crossed.

It had been roughly over a decade since he had seen Gu Cheol-un not to mention the White Lotus Sword.

It wasn’t even a proper meeting. Their encounter had been brief just a moment shared while fighting against the unorthodox sects so it couldn’t really be called a meeting.

‘What the hell is that?’

Gwaeseon had to swallow his breath as he looked at Gu Cheol-un.

The reason was simple.

Why was he suddenly in Sichuan? And why did he have to appear just when Gwaeseon was there? Leaving that aside.

‘Nothing feels off?’

Gwaeseon had to avert his gaze from Gu Cheol-un.

He felt nothing. That was the problem.

He recalled the past. The time when he was pushed by that foul-tempered old man to face off against Hyeok Eochun in a life-and-death duel.

What was Gu Cheol-un like at that moment?

As Gwaeseon remembered.

‘He was disgustingly strong.’

With the intense heat radiating from him and the overwhelming presence that lightly pressed down on the surroundings Gwaeseon had to sense defeat.

Even Namgung Myung upon seeing Gu Cheol-un had said on the spot that if he were an enemy he should run away immediately.

Such was his presence.

At that time the level of intimidation Gu Cheol-un possessed was palpable yet now he felt nothing.

What did this mean?

Was Gu Cheol-un so weakened compared to then that Gwaeseon couldn’t feel anything?

That couldn’t be. Gwaeseon knew the reason why Gu Cheol-un’s presence had faded.

It was the opposite.

It was Gwaeseon who couldn’t feel it. The gap had widened so much that he couldn’t sense it.

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‘Hah…’

Thinking of that Gwaeseon swallowed a sigh. A small sense of pride bubbled up within him.

But before that fear pressed down on him.

To feel a sensation he had only felt from his grandfather from Gu Cheol-un.

As Gwaeseon held back a cold sweat while watching Gu Cheol-un he noticed that Gu Cheol-un was also looking at him.

As those crimson eyes approached Gwaeseon slightly trembled.

“Gwaeseon it has been a long time.”

Gwaeseon’s eyes widened at Gu Cheol-un’s words.

“… You remember me?”

It was a fleeting connection. They had crossed paths a few times during his prodigy days.

Even that was a trivial connection and their last meeting had been one-sided.

Gwaeseon remembered Gu Cheol-un because of his overwhelming presence.

Conversely it was surprising that Gu Cheol-un remembered Gwaeseon.

As Gwaeseon expressed his surprise Gu Cheol-un tilted his head and replied.

“You weren’t someone so insignificant that I would forget.”

“…”

So of course he remembers. Gwaeseon made a strange expression at the implication of those words.

‘Oh dear.’

Experiencing a story he had only heard as a rumor was quite peculiar.

‘If she were really a woman I might have fallen for her.’

Gwaeseon chuckled.

It felt like confirming the truth behind the strange rumors that had circulated in the past.

Thinking that he casually glanced to the side. The problem was that it wasn’t about him.

He felt a trembling presence beside him as if an earthquake had struck.

The once powerful female general was nowhere to be found replaced by a woman who looked utterly fragile.

‘Ah…’

Baekryeon-gum couldn’t believe this situation.

Why was that person here facing him?

He had avoided seeing her for so long that he couldn’t bring himself to go.

How long had it been since he last saw her face? It was too many days to count.

‘She has wrinkles now.’

She had changed.

Baekryeon-gum thought.

The young man who had felt the pressure and loneliness on his back burdened by his intense features had now become middle-aged.

Wrinkles were visible around his eyes and here and there.

One.

‘…’

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Baekryeon-gum immediately realized that such things were not important.

The gaze the warm eyes that had quietly watched over him now felt much deeper and richer with the passage of time.

Perhaps it was because he was meeting such eyes.

Thump…

Baekryeon-gum realized that his heart was starting to race too strongly.

At that moment it was already too late.

“… Ah….”

What should he say? Many words came to mind but they wouldn’t come out.

It couldn’t be helped.

Baekryeon-gum was in a state where it was difficult to maintain his composure.

‘What should I do?’

It was dangerous. The emotions he had been distancing himself from were now stirred just by meeting his gaze.

He didn’t want this and he thought he was finally getting better.

Perhaps it was because he had been with his child constantly recalling memories of the past. The impact was significant.

‘… If he had aged he could at least look less handsome.’

It was unfair. Other people seemed to age a bit but why did that man still look the same?

Baekryeon-gum hated that.

Even after all this time that man was still so handsome. It was infuriating.

“Baekryeon-gum.”

“…!”

A deep voice called out to him.

At that voice Baekryeon-gum flinched. He bit his lip at the action he had unconsciously taken.

He felt so small in that moment. However he couldn’t show it. Trying to hide his actions Baekryeon-gum spoke awkwardly.

“O… It’s been… a long time.”

Why was his voice trembling again?

Was it because he still wanted to look young despite being a middle-aged woman?

Even he thought he looked too shabby so he tightly closed his eyes.

But Gu Cheol-un seemed to pay little attention to that.

” I heard from your wife. She said you visited once in Henan.”

“…”

Miss Mi must have mentioned it.

Baekryeon-gum had to resent Mi Hyo-ran for Gu Cheol-un’s words.

… She had clearly said not to mention it.

“… I had some urgent matters… so I only saw Miss Mi.”

“Miss Mi.”

Gu Cheol-un reacted to the title Baekryeon-gum used.

Did he not like being called Miss Mi?

Just as Baekryeon-gum thought about correcting herself.

“That’s a nostalgic title.”

A voice laced with a slight smile.

At Gu Cheol-un’s words Baekryeon-gum bit her lip once more.

It was a warning directed at herself.

Not to waver.

What would happen if she did it again?

“I heard that Baekryeon-gum is protecting our child.”

“Ah… that is…”

“Thank you.”

“…!”

Baekryeon-gum staggered at Gu Cheol-un’s expression of gratitude. To hear a thank you from Gu Cheol-un was unexpected.

Caught off guard by the sudden attack Baekryeon-gum’s mind wavered.

Seeing this Gwaeseon hurriedly supported Baekryeon-gum.

“Why is this lady suddenly acting so strange?”

“… I’m fine.”

Baekryeon-gum regained her composure and pushed Gwaeseon’s arm away.

“… It’s not something to be thanked for. It was just a little matter.”

“Whatever the reason may be as a father I can only be grateful to you.”

“Something… has changed a lot. You… have changed too.”

He had changed. Upon hearing those words Gu Cheol-un narrowed his eyes.

“Do I look that way?”

“Yes. It feels like you have changed a lot… a lot.”

It seemed like he was speaking more. His unique deep voice remained but there was a subtle warmth in that voice.

Having recalled those times every day Baekryeon-gum could feel the differences even more distinctly.”’