Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 565 (Part 1)



565 (Part 1)

”’〈 Chapter 566 〉 Why is this old man here?

If someone were to ask me what the most important thing is in building power

I would answer without hesitation “Force.”

In the face of overwhelming power everything else is futile.

No matter what measures are taken.

No matter how hard one tries to stop it.

If one has the strength to break and tear everything apart then all the processes that come before it are nothing but meaningless struggles.

I have painfully felt this truth in the past.

That is why I can speak with such conviction.

However.

The kind of force that can destroy everything is something that cannot be possessed in ordinary circumstances.

For ordinary people while strength is important in building power there is something they consider even more crucial.

Some call it the flow of the world.

Others say it is something stronger than a sword.

Though it has no physical form it holds the value of billions.

Yes.

That is.

“Information.”

It was information.

No power can dare to ignore it.

Even the greatest martial artists cannot afford to overlook this precious treasure.

In fact at the Peng Clan one of the four great families it was said that the amount invested in a strategist for the formation of an intelligence unit was several times greater than the amount spent to recruit a martial artist from Huajing.

This indicates just how much they value quality information.

Moreover it was not just the Peng Clan; most prestigious families and clans felt the same way.

Every family or sect operated its own intelligence unit. This could be seen as a form of warfare.

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In a way it is a natural principle.

Since one cannot obtain the force to break and tear everything apart it is common sense that one must gain an advantage through information to expand their territory.

The difference between those who know and those who do not is as vast as the sky and the earth.

And.

Within that framework of information the person who could be called the best was sitting right in front of me.

“Ho ho.”

The old man laughs while sipping the tea placed before him.

A light and mischievous laugh.

His back bent like a bow with wrinkled skin.

His thin arms and legs pitifully frail for a martial artist.

He looks like an old man but among those sitting around there would be no one who could afford to ignore him.

Even the Sword Sovereign of the world regarded this old man highly.

How could anyone dare to disregard him? No one would be able to do so.

The old man is the very embodiment of the current orthodox sects known as the Murim Alliance’s source of quality information.

In terms of the amount of information he is the head of the Gu File Room which is expected to have the most in the Central Plains.

He was the old man known as the ears of the former Alliance Leader the Sword Sovereign.

The boss of the Gu File Room was U Bong Chwi Gae.

Since it is said that most rumors flowing out of the Central Plains are managed by the Gu File Room

the position of the Gu File Room in the Central Plains is extremely vast.

There is also the Rogues’ Guild of the unorthodox sects that forms a counterpart to them but as the unorthodox sects have fallen into a disadvantageous era

the Rogues’ Guild now feels like it is a step behind the Gu File Room.

In contrast during the time when the Sword Sovereign was the Alliance Leader

when the Sword Sovereign swept the battlefield with powerful force U Bong Chwi Gae was said to have been his eyes and ears providing the wings he lacked.

Thanks to that the Murim Alliance played a significant role in suppressing the unorthodox sects and becoming the backbone of the Central Plains.

Now this remarkable old man was saying

“Ho ho… Even after a long time So Yi is still beautiful. Especially her figure it’s a work of art.”

…He was making lewd comments while looking at the Sword Princess.

“That such a pretty girl who must be of age by now still hasn’t found a partner… This old man’s heart truly aches ho ho…”

“Haha…”

It was the first time I had seen the Sword Princess smile with such an uncomfortable expression.

U Bong Chwi Gae kept sticking to her trying to engage her in conversation.

The usually kind Sword Princess was openly uncomfortable.

“If it were up to me I would want to match you with someone… But since I cannot it’s just regrettable… So how about this old man…”

“I’m sorry Boss. I have no intention of getting married.”

“Ho ho… Still so resolute.”

The Sword Princess firmly rejected U Bong Chwi Gae’s ridiculous advances.

What can I say? Watching it felt oddly familiar.

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It was as if she had already experienced this several times before.

In any case that was the atmosphere.

Thanks to that a few people seated around had no choice but to sip their tea unsure of what to do.

Gu Ryung Hwa’s eyes were shaking wildly.

Young Pung also looked visibly flustered.

At least Seong Yul seemed to be okay but that guy was originally just staring blankly so I’ll let that slide.

I was curious about the current situation.

‘What is going on?’

I subtly shifted my gaze.

The place was a building set up near the Sect Leader’s residence.

It looked like a venue for hosting distinguished guests.

In such a place.

‘Why are we here?’

I wondered… no we were all gathered here for what reason.

It was a situation that was not easy to understand.

‘This isn’t simple.’

The one who had moved the location here the Mu Dang Sword Master was currently absent dealing with matters related to Mu Dang.

He must have been busy due to Ji Cheol’s self-determination or Woo Baek’s death.

Some wicked person had turned Mu Dang into a mess so it would take even more time because of that.

It was a plan that was intentionally aimed at that.

‘I didn’t expect that old man to come here.’

I had to swallow hard as I looked at the hunchbacked old man in front of me.

He looked like a beggar with nothing to offer yet beneath that appearance he was quite a significant figure.

It is said that although he is mixed with farming

there is a saying that if U Bong Chwi Gae is not in the Murim Alliance the Murim Alliance cannot function.

That meant the old man held considerable influence.

“Ho ho.”

In the awkward atmosphere U Bong Chwi Gae chuckled.

That was the beginning.

“It seems I startled many of you.”

“Oh no.”

Gu Ryung Hwa hurriedly responded to U Bong Chwi Gae’s words. It was a quick reaction.

It seemed he was learning social skills well from the Sword Princess.

‘That’s good.’

Social skills were something that could not be learned in the Gu family.

It would be better to be under the kind Sword Princess than in a place full of reckless people.

U Bong Chwi Gae looked at the visibly tense Gu Ryung Hwa and smiled slightly.

He then began to speak slowly.

“Ho ho. I am U Bong a beggar from Henan.”

The most famous beggar in the Central Plains introduced himself.

As he spoke he looked at each person with his barely visible eyes.

“Is this the famed Sword Dragon that Mei Hwa has been boasting about lately?”

He was speaking to Young Pung.

Young Pung was slightly surprised and responded with a bow.

“I am Young Pung the third disciple of Hwasan meeting the Boss of the Gu File Room.”

“This pretty girl here must be our So Yi’s disciple.”

“…I am Gu Ryung Hwa the second disciple of Hwasan meeting the Chairman of the Gu File Room.”

One by one even without proper introductions he knew their names.

A chill ran through me though I couldn’t quite place why.

“And this one is….”

U Bong Chwi Gae’s gaze suddenly turned to Seong Yul.

At the same time I felt a hint of confusion from him. Did he not know much about Seong Yul?”’