Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 537 (Part 1)



537 (Part 1)

“…”

Concerns about Gu Yang-cheon.

To be precise it was a dilemma about whether to follow Gu Yang-cheon who was going to Shanxi tomorrow.

Under normal circumstances I would have naturally followed.

But given the state of my family as a direct blood relative I couldn’t act recklessly.

In that case it didn’t matter.

“Go ahead and follow.”

“But….”

Even with the Hall Leader’s words Tang So-yeol seemed unable to make up her mind easily.

“Actually it might be better to go. Being by Mr. Gu’s side might be more helpful for you than staying here.”

“…”

“Since you’re going anyway try to charm him a bit. After all you’re not someone who would be easily overlooked.”

“Orabeoni…!”

At the Hall Leader’s joke Tang So-yeol let out a squeal.

Compared to the women around her she might not seem like much.

But in reality Tang So-yeol was quite pretty.

She was more on the cute side than the mature side like the women around Gu Yang-cheon.

And.

‘If things go well and the relationship improves it would be the icing on the cake.’

No matter how much the Tang Clan crumbles.

If her brother-in-law and brother-in-law-to-be is the next world’s best he wouldn’t be easily overlooked anywhere.

In the Hall Leader’s mind Gu Yang-cheon was already the future world’s best.

Tang So-yeol looked at the Hall Leader with a bewildered expression.

“Are you joking even in this situation…?”

“Is it really an impossible situation?”

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“Seriously….”

“Anyway don’t think too much about it.”

Leaving behind a smile the Hall Leader stood up.

“It seems there’s nothing more to discuss and it’s late so I’ll take my leave now.”

“…Thank you Orabeoni.”

It was gratitude for coming to see her late at night.

Tang So-yeol thought that the Hall Leader must be the most exhausted right now.

The current Tang Clan belonged to the Poison King.

But the one who would manage it afterward would be the Hall Leader so she couldn’t imagine how much he must be worrying about the shaken Tang Clan.

The Hall Leader smiled at the gratitude filled with such emotions.

“Right.”

Indeed it seemed that his sister had matured.

That was the most regrettable thing for him at the moment.

Tap.

As the door closed.

Right after the Hall Leader’s presence disappeared Tang So-yeol lay down on her bed.

“…Haah….”

A sigh escaped her lips.

She was afraid of what was to come but it was largely due to the worries the Hall Leader had left behind.

‘…Young Master.’

At the meal earlier in the day.

There Gu Yang-cheon had expressed his intention to return to Shanxi tomorrow.

It was only natural.

After all Gu Yang-cheon was a guest and with the Tang Clan’s troubles he couldn’t stay long.

The expressions of the other companions were calm.

It was only natural. No matter where he went they seemed to have the intention to follow.

If that were the case.

‘What about me?’

What should she do?

Tang So-yeol still couldn’t provide an answer to herself.

Under normal circumstances she would have said she would follow without hesitation.

But given the current state of her family she couldn’t do that.

No matter how much the Hall Leader said it was okay.

Knowing that Tang So-yeol’s night was filled with turmoil.

In the midst of her repeated worries Gu Yang-cheon’s voice brushed against her ear.

– I feel like I could die for you.

“…”

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A voice that had just passed through puberty still retaining a hint of youth.

The calm yet somewhat affectionate tone made Tang So-yeol’s ears turn red.

“…Ugh….”

What a terrible person.

Without doing anything substantial he still managed to stir someone’s heart like this.

Of course it wasn’t something she should say as she was the one following him around like a lovesick fool.

‘…If that’s the case then he shouldn’t be looking so far away.’

If she had one complaint about Gu Yang-cheon.

It was that he stirred the hearts of not just her but everyone around him.

Yet he himself was not looking in that direction.

‘Always….’

Always looking further away.

His eyes were like that.

While he was here his gaze was fixed somewhere far away.

As if this place was not where he belonged his eyes always seemed ready to leave us behind.

Tang So-yeol had always been afraid of that.

Recently it seemed like the corrupted officials were paying attention to this place.

But sometimes Gu Yang-cheon looking far away only made her anxious.

His eyes gazing at an unknown place were chillingly cold.

That was why Tang So-yeol didn’t want to leave.

‘While I’m not here.’

She was afraid he might disappear.

This feeling was likely not just hers but shared by others as well.

The reason they didn’t speak up.

Was that they didn’t want Gu Yang-cheon to know they were thinking that way.

Knowing that he was looking at them with difficulty.

They didn’t want to burden him.

“…It’s hard….”

Thinking this way she hated her own helplessness.

She needed to be of help.

If he was looking far away and if he wanted to go far away she needed to grow stronger to be able to go with him.

It should have been that way….

‘…What should I do?’

Now that the fate of the Tang Clan was uncertain.

What value did she have left?

She thought she had at least retained the value of being the daughter of the Tang Clan.

But now even that was fading.

“…Ugh….”

She wiped her eyes.

Tears had fallen without her realizing it.

She thought it was ugly and disgusting.

‘…Even in this situation. Thinking about such things?’

In a situation where her father and brother were so troubled she was thinking about the diminished value of the Tang Clan.

It was pathetic.

“Ugh….”

Should she have held his hand then?

If she had held the hand that promised to make her stronger.

Would she have had to endure this pain?

The emotions that surfaced shallowly in Tang So-yeol’s heart were regret.

Anger towards her own incompetence seeped in.

She wanted to be buried in darkness like this.

The only thought that arose now was that.

Thus.

Tap—

Just as her emotions began to twist.

Whoosh.

“…!”

Tang So-yeol who was wiping her tears suddenly sat up.

She pushed the blanket aside and quickly moved to lean against the wall.

“…”

A low hum.

Then she breathed in qi to spread her senses.

“…Suuuh….”

She forced herself to suppress her growing breath.

Chills ran down her spine.

‘What is it?’

The room was quiet.

Given the time it was only natural for it to be quiet.

‘…Too…quiet.’

The silence was unnaturally thick.

The moment she felt that Tang So-yeol’s instincts were telling her.

That it was dangerous.

Swoosh.

A dagger was suddenly in Tang So-yeol’s fingertips.

It was something she always carried with her.

Sweat dripped down.

She wished this current sensation was just a delusion.

But Tang So-yeol was sure it was not.

“…Who are you…?”

Words spat into the empty air.

The moment Tang So-yeol let those words slip.

Whoosh-!

The lamp on the table went out.

“One shichen.”

“…!”

The voice came not from the front but from Tang So-yeol’s left side.

Swish-! She immediately swung the dagger in the direction of the sound.

Thud-!

Before Tang So-yeol could properly launch an attack someone grabbed her wrist.

And right after that.

Thud-!

“Ugh!”

A hand reached out and covered Tang So-yeol’s mouth.

“Guh…ugh!”

She struggled with all her might but it didn’t loosen at all.

Who was in front of her?

She couldn’t see well.

She could only make out the figure’s shape.

The person presumed to be a man was wearing a half-mask.

Perhaps because of that his presence was hard to discern.

“Just one shichen that’s how long it took for you to recognize my energy.”

“…Guh….”

“Fortunately it seems your senses are not bad. I thought it would take at least two shichen.”

What was he talking about?

Tang So-yeol couldn’t understand what the man was saying.

Was he an assassin? If so who sent him?