Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 537 (Part 2)



537 (Part 2)

“Perhaps the only regret is that what you should have done was not to head towards a dead end. Rather you should have broken through the entrance.”

As he spoke the grip on the hand he was holding loosened.

It was just enough to barely open his mouth.

“…Who are you?”

The voice that flowed from Dang So-yeol was trembling heavily.

In a situation where the Tang Clan’s guards were spread all around he had entered her room without a care.

Just this alone allowed Dang So-yeol to gauge the opponent’s level.

She couldn’t win.

It was a desperate situation.

Seeing Dang So-yeol like that the man continued speaking.

“Your eyes haven’t died even while asking. That is also a passing mark.”

It was an incomprehensible statement.

A passing mark?

While glancing at the man Dang So-yeol’s eyes were scanning the surroundings.

How could she escape?

At the moment of being captured there was no way out.

Still she had to find a breakthrough.

Swoosh.

Was it a coincidence?

It seemed the strength in the hand holding the dagger had slightly loosened.

Should she pull her hand away and counterattack?

She hesitated but held back.

She felt a chilling sensation.

She still needed to test the waters.

Hiding her intentions Dang So-yeol bought time.

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“…Do you want something from me?”

“I do….”

As the man was about to speak Dang So-yeol tightened her grip.

Thud-!

Thank goodness.

Her hand slipped out smoothly.

Now she had to counterattack.

‘Where to?’

The neck or the hand gripping her mouth?

A fleeting moment of doubt crossed her mind.

That was the problem.

Whoosh-!

“…!”

The arm holding the dagger moved of its own accord.

For some reason the tip of the dagger that Dang So-yeol held was touching her neck.

“Plan thoroughly and execute until the end. With the hesitation you have now you are already dead.”

“Ugh…ugh….”

Was that even a warning?

Dang So-yeol was only exhaling shallow breaths in the face of death.

Was there another way? Was there no other way?

‘I have to survive.’

She couldn’t die like this.

She had to find a way.

Seeing Dang So-yeol like that the man’s eyes narrowed.

“Not bad.”

Saying that the man suddenly released his grip and stepped back.

Thud-!

Dang So-yeol freed from her restraints collapsed and gasped for air.

“Hah…ha…cough….”

As she gasped roughly Dang So-yeol lifted her head.

Looking up at the corrupted officials she saw the man sitting on the desk looking down at her.

She asked him.

“Who…who are you…?”

Who on earth was he?

Who was he to appear so suddenly and corner her like this?

Her mind couldn’t process the sudden situation.

Facing Dang So-yeol the man spoke.

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“I am darkness.”

At his utterance Dang So-yeol broke out in a cold sweat.

“And you too must become darkness.”

“…What do you mean…?”

Dang So-yeol’s eyes shook at the incomprehensible words.

Darkness?

Before she could ask again she had to close her mouth.

A smile had appeared on the man’s face which had been expressionless just moments ago.

Contrary to the corners of his mouth that seemed to rise in joy his gaze was cold and lifeless.

In the face of that chilling sight Dang So-yeol couldn’t open her mouth.

“Exactly three years.”

Dang So-yeol probably didn’t know.

“In three years I will turn you into a monster.”

This meeting would one day lead to her being called the Dark Empress.

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

A day passed and the sun began to rise.

The morning mist receded as sunlight gradually illuminated the Tang Clan.

It was still early for people to be awake.

Yet amidst that many were bustling about.

-Where should I put this?

-Ask Miss Mo Yong about that!

Several carriages of different colors.

Countless people were seen loading goods inside.

The reason so many were moving was that they had begun preparations to leave the Tang Clan since dawn.

They needed to get ready now to depart by noon.

It wasn’t that they had too much luggage but given the distance they had to move a bit hurriedly.

Yes that’s why it was so hectic.

“…What did you say?”

I had to frown deeply at the words I heard.

“What did you just say…?”

In front of me stood a righteous man.

The righteousness itself wasn’t a problem.

The issue was the old man standing next to him.

Dressed neatly in a blue martial arts uniform.

An old man with white hair tied back tightly.

He was tall and between his wrinkled features his blue eyes were striking.

He was someone who must have been quite handsome in his youth.

That old man was someone I knew well.

Of course I knew him.

He was the old man who had been beaten to a pulp by my father just a few days ago.

The identity of the righteous man was the Three Sovereigns known as the Heavenly Sovereign of the Central Plains.

And he was the one referred to as the actual master of the Namgung Clan.

Heavenly Sovereign Namgung Jeolcheon.

He suddenly appeared after a few days and spoke to me.

“I wish to entrust myself to the Gu family.”

“…”

I touched my brow with my finger at the words spoken by the Heavenly Sovereign.

It seemed this year was indeed a year of calamity.

While moving busily with several carriages around.

I had to frown at the words spoken by the Heavenly Sovereign.

“Where do you wish to entrust yourself…?”

I was sure he had said Gu family.

Gu family…?

‘…Where else is there a Gu family?’

I thought hard but no other Gu family came to mind.

If I looked there might be one….

But I knew well that the Heavenly Sovereign was referring to only one Gu family.

“Elder.”

“Speak.”

“Why the hell… I mean what do you mean by that all of a sudden?”

I barely stopped myself from cursing.

Well done. You’ve grown up; in the past I would have blurted it out.

I chose my words carefully trying to maintain decorum.

“Why would you leave a perfectly good home and come here?”

Who was the Heavenly Sovereign in front of me?

He was the old man who could rule the Namgung Clan leaving the Three Sovereigns behind referred to as the actual master.

To say he would entrust himself to the Gu family was absurd.

Especially after being beaten by my father just a few days ago.

The Heavenly Sovereign had been utterly shattered by my father not long ago.

The image of the Heavenly Sovereign engulfed in flames still lingered in my memory.

‘Fortunately he seems to be in good shape.’

Unlike how he had been burning.

The Heavenly Sovereign appeared to be in a pristine state showing no signs of what had happened.

Rather….

‘He seems to have become clearer?’

The dark and murky aura that had been felt from him had vanished.

It felt fresh and invigorating.

Should I say it was refreshing? What should I call it?

‘It felt similar to the sensations I felt from my father or the Patriarch.’

It was a subtle feeling that was sensed for some reason separate from his presence.

The important thing was that it was an energy that had not been felt from the Heavenly Sovereign before.

Looking at the Heavenly Sovereign I glanced at the righteous man beside me.

The righteous man was looking at me with a somewhat troubled expression which was rare.

He seemed to carry a hint of regret as well.

‘What the hell is going on?’

The righteous man was heading towards the Gu family due to the pact with Baek Ma-seok and me so that was understandable.

But what about the Heavenly Sovereign?

‘Is this really a year of calamity?’

I had met all three Sovereigns whom I would rarely see in my lifetime.

It seemed they would all have a history of having entrusted themselves to the Gu family.

If it were others it could be called a miraculous encounter and extraordinary luck but….

‘…What a load of nonsense.’

To me it only looked like a series of unfortunate events.

I wanted to flat out refuse.

“I would like to ask for your reasons first.”