Childhood Friend of the Zenith
Chapter 248: Return (1)

“She’s back?”

An image of a person flashed through my mind as I responded to Gu Huibi.

A woman of dignity who had the qualities of Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo.

The Lady of White Flowers, Mi Hyoran.

She was the wife of the Lord, Gu Cheolun the Tiger Warrior, and also the mother of Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo.

Furthermore, She was also the current Lady of the Shanxi Gu Clan.

Why…?

There was still a long time left until she returned to the clan.

It should have been at least when I was over twenty.

Though it was weirder to argue at this point.

Because of how so many things had changed, it wasn’t that weird for another thing to be changed anymore, but it still felt strange.

The Gu Clan didn't really leave Shanxi very often, and the fact that they were able to maintain sufficient resources and their noble clan status despite receiving no outside support was due to none other than the Lady of White Flowers, Mi Hyoran.

If the Cheonil Merchant Association was known as the biggest trading company in Shanxi, it was said that the White Flower Merchant Association couldn't keep up, but I knew how much money those people were hiding.

If we just talked about money, they could probably buy out the Gu Clan completely.

And that woman returned to the clan.

It was very unprecedented for the Clan Lady to be outside the Clan, but it was ultimately Father's fault.

I didn’t know the full details, but even Father admitted that it was his own fault.

I didn’t ask him much further, but I’m sure it relates back to my mother.

The way he treated his legal wife and concubine felt so different that it almost seemed like favoritism, and even I was able to see the difference, so it wasn’t strange for Mi Hyoran to become angry.

Anger.

Is it correct to say anger?

I thought about correcting myself when I thought of Mi Hyoran, but whatever it was, it was true that she ended up spending her time outside the clan for some reason.

A few years at that.

It got so bad that even when Gu Huibi earned the Sword Phoenix title, and when Gu Yeonseo showed great results in the tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes, Mi Hyoran only sent a few letters but never actually came back to the clan, saying that she was busy as an excuse.

On the contrary, I heard that Gu Huibi or Gu Yeonseo visited her every few years, but I didn’t really know much about it.

I wasn’t in the position to intervene after all.

For such a person to return to the clan.’

This made me think that something important had happened, whether it was to their household or to Mi Hyoran herself.

I stared once again at Gu Huibi who was delivering the message.

“Mi Hyoran returning to the clan is nice and all… but what about it?”

I get that the Lady of the clan returned, but why was she telling me this?

After hearing my question, Gu Huibi grabbed the letter next to her and handed it over to me.

“What is this…”

When I opened up the letter, I saw a short line written inside.

-The first son of the clan will return immediately.

“…”

It was Father's handwriting and the stamp inside the letter was also the Lord's.

Moreover, a stamp being inside the letter meant that it was an order.

The fuck is this, it’s scaring me.

This letter was for me, and it seemed like Gu Huibi got a letter of her own as well judging by her reaction.

But the problem was I couldn’t connect my reason to go back to the clan with Mi Hyoran returning to the clan.

“Am I the only one going?”

“I think?”

“What do you mean you think, give me a clear answer.”

When I hurriedly asked her, Gu Huibi shrugged her shoulders.

“I wasn’t given the order to return.”

God... I can't believe she's so irresponsible.

“Si, you told me that you would come with me when it was time for me to return.”

“…”

"You were the one who talked about love for siblings or whatever, so how could a person change so quickly like that?"

Back then it was me who preferred to go alone, but now it was Gu Huibi instead.

“…Brother.”

“Yeah.”

“People are meant to change.”

I noticed that her pupils were shaking wildly as she responded while turning her head away.

Fucks sake.

I knew it was hard for Captain Gu Huibi to leave the front and return to the clan in the first place, but it was also strange for me to go back to the clan alone even though Mi Hyoran had returned.

What is going on?

I didn't know what was happening, but at least I knew it wasn't a good situation for me.

Mi Hyoran.

Because I was the only male child of the clan, I was confirmed as the Young Lord of the clan, even though I was the child of a concubine.

Not only that, I also found Mi Hyoran difficult as she was a legal wife of the Lord and also had great influence in the clan.

What a nuisance…

So I hoped, if possible, never to meet her.

Which was why this letter with the stamp made me rather annoyed.

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

After finishing my conversation with Gu Huibi, I put the letter in my pocket and left her tent.

I gave her a brief report about my trip to the forest center, but she probably didn't listen to much because of the letter telling us that Mi Hyoran had returned to the clan.

When I went outside while putting my hair up,

“Were you waiting for me?”

I saw Namgung Bi-ah greeting me while sitting on the ground.

I wonder why she was here like this when there were perfectly fine chairs everywhere.

“…Uh, did you guys… have a good talk?”

Even I thought my tone sounded bad, but I couldn't ask such a question proudly either.

Nod.

Namgung Bi-ah nodded to my question, then came towards me slowly after getting up.

I watched her while standing still, wondering what she was up to.

Stretch.

“…Uehh?”

Then she used both her hands to stretch my cheeks.

It didn't hurt much because she didn't use much force, but I couldn't understand what this act of hers meant.

After repeatedly squeezing my cheeks for a long time, she let go in an instant and walked away quickly.

“Wha, hey!”

I hurriedly called Namgung Bi-ah, but she seemed to have no intention to stop.

Even though she was the one who told me to explain everything to her earlier.

Just as I was about to walk with her after wondering if I should follow her, Namgung Bi-ah stopped when she noticed my movements and turned her head in my direction.

“…Not… me.”

“What?”

After leaving those words behind, Namgung Bi-ah leaped away and disappeared from my sight.

It was a way too short of a meeting considering how long she waited for me.

I really could have followed her at that speed, but I felt like she'd be really angry with me if I followed her there, judging by the atmosphere she gave off, so I could only look in the direction where Namgung Bi-ah disappeared.

“…Not me?”

What did she mean by that?”

Even though I asked such a question, I felt like I knew what Namgung Bi-ah meant, so I stared at nothing but air while feeling uncomfortable, then I finally started to move.

I made a few steps towards my destination that wasn’t too far away, but the quiet mood gave it a strange feeling.

My surroundings weren't really that calm, but the fact that I felt that way probably meant that I was feeling quite conflicted inside.

I came to the plains after passing through a forest.

I didn’t come here because I had a reason, but I just felt that she would be here.

“She’s sitting down too.”

As I expected, just like Namgung Bi-ah from earlier, I saw someone sitting down in the same position without a single movement.

It was Moyong Hi-ah who disappeared earlier along with Namgung Bi-ah.

What is that atmosphere around her?

It was full of mystery.

It seemed like it showed Moyong Hi-ah's mood as the ice qi lingered around her.

I told her not to do that.

If she wanted to cure her condition, she couldn't be allowed to use her Ice Qi.

I found this out only after a few times of me giving her heat.

When my heat met Moyong Hi-ah's Ice Qi, it resisted my heat and prevented it from flowing into her body.

Because of that, Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t even train properly this past year.

Taking a break from martial arts was critical to a martial artist.

This was even more the case for a young prodigy who should grind and train endlessly to reach a higher level, especially if they were a blood relative of a noble clan.

It was to cure her condition, and such a time was a miracle to Moyong Hi-ah, but also a time that made her feel uneasy.

Putting that aside, what is that atmosphere around her?

She looked as if she lost an argument against a friend.

But that shouldn’t be possible?

The Snow Phoenix was known for winning over people with her words.

There was no way that such a person like that lost against Namgung Bi-ah, who was known as the slowest speaker of the Central Plains in a verbal argument.

After watching Moyong Hi-ah's back for a while, I slowly approached her and spoke to her.

“What are you… “

Doing there?

Was what I was going to ask,

But Moyong Hi-ah stood up before I could even ask.

She immediately stood up and swung her head in both directions.

It seemed like she did that to shake something off, but did she really have to do it that way?

Does her head not hurt?

“…”

I couldn't really say anything after seeing Moyong Hi-ah do such a thing that didn't suit her at all, and as I continued to stare at her in disbelief, Moyong Hi-ah turned around and came this way after seemingly calming down.

Because of that, her eyes met with mine that were watching her.

“…”

“…Oh.”

It seemed like she didn't notice my presence because she seemed rather shocked when she saw me standing behind her.

And,

…Hm.

I too was extremely shocked inside.

Moyong Hi-ah's eyes were red and swollen, and judging by the dampness in her nose, it looked like she was sniffing a bit.

She had a face that shouted ‘I cried like a child.’

“Uh…”

What was it? What happened to make her end up like this?

Namgung Bi-ah seemed perfectly fine, although she seemed a bit moody.

But she didn’t seem as bad as Moyong Hi-ah.

It seemed like she also knew that her face was a mess right now, because Moyong Hi-ah hurriedly covered her face with her hands.

“W-Why are you here right now?”

“She told me to come here.”

“…Who?”

“The girl you fought with.”

“…”

When I mentioned Namgung Bi-ah, Moyong Hi-ah paused for an instant.

After seeing that reaction of hers, I was able to know.

It seemed like something did really happen between the two.

“…The Sword Dancer?”

“Yeah.”

“Sigh…”

After hearing my response, Moyong Hi-ah let out a deep sigh.

“…Even though her beating from earlier was so one sided.”

“Beating? What the, did you guys actually fight?”

Was it not verbal, and they actually became physical?

But then Moyong Hi-ah shouldn’t be able to stand right now…?

Namgung Bi-ah was extremely aggressive when it came to a duel or a fight after all.

“It’s not like that…! It’s just, just…”

Moyong Hi-ah, who was giving me an answer, suddenly closed her mouth and hesitated to speak.

“…I just lost.”

“So you guys did fight?”

“I lost without a fight.”

What did she just say?

What is she even saying? Losing without fighting?

Is she also learning from Namgung Bi-ah?

Her explanation was shorter than ever, so there was no way for me to understand.

However, since Moyong Hi-ah was like that, it meant that she was hiding it on purpose, so I couldn't afford to ask her any more.

When I stared at Moyong Hi-ah with a strange expression, she avoided my eyes and mumbled to herself.

“…I won’t lose next time.”

“Uh, um, yeah… Good luck.”

As she said those words with her red, swollen eyes, she didn't look strong at all.

Plus, she said that she lost without a fight, so what does she mean by she’ll win next time?

Did she really lose in a verbal argument?

No matter how much I thought about Namgung Bi-ah, she wasn't someone who could win against someone in a verbal argument.

All she could do is keep her lips shut and make a frown on her face.

…Maybe I don’t know her?

Perhaps.

Unless Namgung Bi-ah was playing a trick on me, that wouldn’t happen.

When I awkwardly scratched my head, Moyong Hi-ah wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

She didn't seem to notice her nose because she didn't wipe it, but I just stood there because I couldn't afford to point it out.

“Please give the Sword Dancer… my thanks.”

“You want me to give her your thanks when you lost to her in a fight? Doesn’t that sound very strange?”

“I don’t want to say that I’m sorry.”

It was pride that I couldn’t understand.

“I could do it since it’s not difficult, but putting that aside,”

“Yeah?”

Moyong Hi-ah wore a hopeful expression as if she was expecting me to comfort her, but unfortunately I wasn't very good at that, so I got straight to the point.

“Go pack your stuff.”

“…Huh?”

“I think I have to go back home immediately tomorrow.”

“…?”

Moyong Hi-ah’s swollen eyes widened after hearing my words.

Her round eyes didn't suit her, which made me burst out laughing, and Moyong Hi-ah, seeing me laughing, rubbed her eyes even more.

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

It was around night time.

I was expecting to leave in a few days, but since the clan ordered me to return immediately, I had to prepare for my return trip in a hurry.

My direct servants began to pack our things fast, and since some escorts would be leaving, they had to sort things out with the Fifth Army.

In addition, Moyong Hi-ah's clan also had to prepare to leave since I was leaving, so it was going to be a very busy schedule until the next morning.

But the problem in the middle of this,

-Young Master.

“Yeah.”

-We brought him here as you wished.

A guest had also come this late at night.

I did tell him in advance since I expected him to visit me, but I can’t believe he actually came.

“Let him in.”

Srrrg

After my command, someone came into the tent.

A tent of a reasonable size was completely filled just because another person had entered, and because of his massive size, he had to lower his head so that it didn't hit the ceiling.

I slowly lifted my head up and spoke to the guest.

“You are quicker in taking action than I expected.”

“…”

“Good to see you.”

The giant who avoided my eye contact.

Hwangbo Cheok’s little brother.

It was Hwangbo Cheolwi.

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