Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 507 (Part 2)



507 (Part 2)

I felt something mentally different from the moment my body changed.

I think this might be the biggest influence.

The more I felt this way the more I had to keep my wits about me.

I couldn’t let my mind be consumed.

“Think about who I am.”

It wasn’t some philosophical concept or a silly thought about finding the meaning of existence.

The reckless one of the Gu family.

Do not forget that simple and clear nickname. I only thought of that.

[… brat.]

“Please don’t call me that. I’m perfectly fine.”

I could feel the worry tied up in the voice of Shin Noya.

I asked him not to do that.

I wouldn’t crumble under such things.

Not because I was strong.

I simply wouldn’t crumble because I couldn’t afford to.

I walked along stabilizing my mind and body even while using qi.

This should be enough.

By the time I thought that I had arrived at the place where I was staying.

“…”

I paused.

As soon as I entered the place I stopped in my tracks.

I could feel it.

“It’s hot.”

For some reason the temperature in the place felt elevated.

Feeling that hot energy I cautiously stepped inside.

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The attendants outside showed me respect but their expressions were filled with tension.

Where had the guards of the Tang Clan who were supposed to protect the place gone? I couldn’t tell.

It wasn’t the time to worry about such things.

I climbed the creaking stairs and grabbed the doorknob to open it.

The room was certainly dark but somehow it appeared distinctly bright.

I could see teacups. Two teacups placed on the table.

And someone sitting quietly in a neat posture.

From the dim shadows I could tell it was my father just by the sight of his red eyes.

“…”

Feeling that I slowly took a step forward.

Then.

Whoosh-!

The room suddenly brightened. A small flame ignited in the air.

Though small it was quite bright.

Bright enough to make my eyes squint slightly.

As I endured that brightness and looked towards my father.

He didn’t direct his gaze towards me but suddenly pulled something out from his robe.

“…!”

I had to swallow hard at the sight. The item my father pulled out was none other than the Nightshade liquor.

Why is that coming from my father…? My eyes trembled as if there was an earthquake at the unexpected appearance.

At that moment my father turned his head and looked at me.

Facing those bright red eyes my body instinctively stiffened.

I swallowed dry saliva in my mouth which had been forced into silence.

My father spoke to me.

“Sit down.”

“…”

At those words my stiff body moved on its own sliding into a seat in front of the table.

Unintentionally kneeling and placing my hands together neatly.

In front of me my father took a sip from the teacup.

As the atmosphere began to form feeling like I might choke on the Nightshade liquor that had been carelessly dropped in the middle.

Tap.

My father having lightly drunk the tea set the cup down and said.

“Explain.”

“…”

Hearing that I thought.

No matter how I looked at it I should have stood out much earlier.

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“Explain.”

There weren’t many words I had laid out in response to my father’s command.

I spoke as slowly as I could.

While speaking I had to mix various thoughts in my mind.

I had thought of excuses in advance but I had to avoid making mistakes when I spoke.

‘Still it’s just an excuse.’

Damn it.

I never expected my father would come and find out about the Nightshade liquor I had handed over to the Baekhwa Trading Company.

When on earth did he go?

Because of that I had to reorganize my words while speaking.

Thus the explanation (excuse) I gave to my father was this.

First I accidentally fell into a lake and discovered the Tang Clan’s secret base there.

From there I obtained a lot of Nightshade liquor and Poisonous Heaven Elixirs and after consuming the Poisonous Heaven Elixirs I underwent Body Reformation.

I brought the Nightshade liquor out and even sold it to the Baekhwa Trading Company.

But then a problem arose.

I learned that the Tang Clan was up to something strange at the secret base.

I thought my comrades might be at risk so I intended to inform the Poison King to prevent any incidents.

“…”

As I continued to speak I realized deep down that I was in trouble.

There were many contradictions and gaps in my story.

The fact that consuming the Poisonous Heaven Elixirs doesn’t easily lead to Body Reformation. Why did I even go to the Poisonous Heaven Lake and end up falling in?

Also how did I discover the secret base after falling into the lake?

How did I find out that the Tang Clan was causing trouble at a secret base that I didn’t even know existed?

The more I spoke the more I felt I was in deep trouble.

From my father’s perspective he might have thought “What nonsense is this kid talking about?”

Moreover saying that I sold the Nightshade liquor obtained from the Tang Clan’s secret base to the Trading Company was no different from admitting that I had stolen the goods.

‘… Damn it.’

I never thought my father would come and if I had known it would turn out like this I would have taken my time and used a different method.

‘What should I do?’

After finishing my words I glanced at my father.

He listened to my story without interrupting a single word quietly taking it all in.

Only when I finished speaking did he take a sip of tea.

Moistening his lips my father looked at me with slightly narrowed eyes.

In that moment my body was filled with all kinds of tension.

I would be scolded. I hadn’t been hit by my father since the last sparring match. I thought I might get hit once more in this life.

I hoped it would be a less painful hit so I turned my gaze here and there.

“How is your body?”

“… What?”

The words that came from my father were somewhat unexpected.

How was my body?

“I heard you underwent Body Reformation. How is your condition?”

“… Well.”

I was momentarily flustered by the completely unexpected question.

“… The divine… person checked my pulse. They said my condition is good….”

It wasn’t a lie. I had just received a check-up from the divine person right before this.

“I see.”

My father nodded seemingly satisfied with my answer and opened his narrowed eyes slightly.

The problem was that it was only for a moment.

Tight.

I felt a pressure around my heart. The air shifted.

As I opened my eyes to the unknown sensation.

“So it is true that someone fed you poison.”

My father said.

“Third.”

“Uh… Yes.”

“It was a good decision to handle the matter differently to give the Poison King a reason.

But…”

My shoulders felt heavy.

The pressure emanating from my father was weighing down on me.

‘… Damn it.’

I thought I had become much stronger but I still couldn’t withstand even this pressure and had to bite my lip.

“I’ll have to scold you for trying to swallow poison for that.”

“… I… apologize.”

Ah so I will be scolded after all.

Thinking that as I gulped suddenly.

Swish.

My father abruptly stood up. I raised my head wondering if he was going to hit me.

“One.”

My father’s gaze was directed not at me but at the door.

“It seems there is someone else who will punish you first.”

“… Clan Head…?”

I called out to my father sensing something strange but he did not respond and quietly stepped towards the door.

Whoosh-! The door that I couldn’t reach opened on its own.

Creak.

The moment my father stepped outside the door.

Whoosh-!

“… What?”

Light poured in.

I could clearly see it.

The dark sky with the moon rising suddenly transformed into a blue sky.

The sun.

That which should have been asleep at this hour.

Had somehow appeared in the air.

I was left speechless at that absurd sight.

“Wait here.”

My father looked at me with his characteristic expressionless face.

Whoosh.

My father’s black hair slowly began to change color. It turned red the same color as his eyes.

It was a battle stance of my father that I had never seen before even including my past life.

“I will return before the tea gets cold.”