Childhood Friend of the Zenith
Chapter 249: Return (2)

Dribble.

Cold sweat ran down his back.

His fist was shaking due to him clenching it hard.

This meant that he was feeling extremely tense, and Hwangbo Cheolwi himself knew that he was feeling nervous as well.

…I can’t even look into his eyes.

Hwangbo Cheolwi couldn’t dare to look into the eyes that stared at him as he was seated with his legs crossed.

Even though Hwangbo Cheolwi was from the mighty Hwangbo Clan which was top amongst the noble clans.

When that thought passed by his mind, Hwangbo Cheolwi had to erase his thoughts.

It is all worthless by this point.

The world was a big place, and the name of Hwangbo was quite a grand honor to have, but he knew that he was too insignificant to live up to that name, and he believed that it would take far too long for him to change his attitude.

While embracing the dense Qi that flowed inside the tent along with the pressuring heat, Hwangbo Cheolwi thought to himself about how he ended up here.

Why did I come here…?

His goal wasn’t clear, but he knew that he came to see him.

Hwangbo Cheolwi moved his stiff head and forced himself to look at the man in front of him.

The person who overpowered his strong and fierce brother Hwangbo Cheok and brought him to his knees.

True Dragon…

The True Dragon, Gu Yangcheon.

That was the title and name of the person he was in front of.

Back when he was watching from outside, Hwangbo Cheolwi knew.

He knew that his eyes met Gu Yangcheon's and that Gu Yangcheon smiled while staring at him.

Did this person really kill the Sixth Elder?

Hwangbo Cheolwi knew that Hwangbo Cheok sent the Sixth Elder to Gu Yangcheon.

If he wasn't satisfied or had a problem, he would get rid of them at any cost.

That was who Hwangbo Cheok was, and Hwangbo Cheolwi thought that Gu Yangcheon got unlucky to get on Hwangbo Cheok’s bad side.

…But was that really the case?

Despite that thought, Hwangbo Cheolwi had a strange feeling when he saw Hwangbo Cheok trying to harm Gu Yangcheon by using the Sixth Elder.

That was the problem.

Could the Sixth Elder really harm Gu Yangcheon?

…And I thought it was a pointless concern.

The Sixth Elder was a Fusion Realm martial artist.

Since he had reached the Fusion Realm, it was only a matter of time before he became one of the Hundred Masters of the World without much trouble.

He was given an Elder position of the clan for his hard work after all.

However, Gu Yangcheon was only a young prodigy compared to him.

He may have earned the title of Dragon, but he was still a new martial artist who was just beginning to make his name known to the world.

This made Hwangbo Cheolwi wonder why he had such a concern.

He didn’t even know why he had such a thought.

As he was thinking of his past memory,

“I thought the Hwangbo Clan only had bears there.”

Gu Yangcheon spoke and his voice made Hwangbo Cheolwi’s back stiffen.

“But I guess that’s not entirely true.”

“…True Dragon.”

Slam…!

At the same time Hwangbo Cheolwi spoke, the table next to him broke, causing him to roll on the floor.

Hwangbo Cheolwi swallowed nervously as he saw the table crumble into pieces.

“I don’t really like when others call me by my title. It’s going to be your chin next time, alright?”

The tent might have been small, but there was still quite a distance between Gu Yangcheon and Hwangbo Cheolwi, so it wasn't a distance where he could just reach out and touch him.

Which meant that this happened after Gu Yangcheon made a move, but Hwangbo Cheolwi didn't see Gu Yangcheon move at all.

…Even though I was watching him with my own two eyes. I can’t believe the difference between us is so great.

He wasn’t certain, but he knew that Gu Yangcheon was roughly two years younger than him.

Was it a difference in talent?

The presence Gu Yangcheon was giving off.

The gaze that was staring at him.

And even the energy of a conqueror coming off of him in thick threads.

It’s way too terrifying for it to be called talent.

Their levels were far too apart for Hwangbo Cheolwi to understand.

While Hwangbo Cheolwi was reading the room while constantly swallowing nervously, Gu Yangcheon asked him a question.

“Why did you come here?”

“…About that.”

“Keep it short and simple. I’m a bit busy right now.”

Judging by the noises outside and people moving around busily, that seemed understandable.

“…Are you leaving?”

“I am. I can’t afford to stay here forever after all.”

Although it was a good thing, it seemed like something was conflicting with him because Gu Yangcheon didn't have the best expression.

“So, why did you come.”

“…”

“Is it because I beat the shit out of your brother?”

“…!”

Hwangbo Cheolwi choked on his breath after hearing Gu Yangcheon’s sudden words because he didn’t expect him to be so blunt.

After saying those words, Gu Yangcheon observed Hwangbo Cheolwi from head to toe.

It seemed as if he was trying to read him.

“I doubt that you came here to complain out of loyalty for your brother.”

Complain?

Hwangbo Cheolwi knew that he couldn’t complain against Gu Yangcheon after seeing how Hwangbo Cheok got beaten up by him.

“…I didn’t come for that reason.”

“That’s what I thought. It’d be faster for you to snitch to your clan anyways.”

Hwangbo Cheok was threatened by the Gu Clan's Gu Yangcheon.

It also seemed like Gu Yangcheon played a trick on him.

It was enough to send a letter with these two lines to the clan.

Then, Hwangbo Cheok's image would fall as he would be known as a person who lost to a young prodigy and was even threatened by him, but overall things would work out easily.

Because ultimately, the Hwangbo Clan was a noble clan.

However, Hwangbo Cheolwi didn’t do such a thing.

Even though he saw his own brother being defeated and even threatened by Gu Yangcheon, he just kept watching.

Why though?

…Why.

Why did Hwangbo Cheolwi feel delighted inside when he saw Hwangbo Cheok being destroyed?

He didn’t know.

“Hey, wake up.”

“…!”

“Why do bastards always blank out on me every time? Do I look like a joke?”

“…N-No, not at all.”

Was there really anyone in the world that thought of Gu Yangcheon as a joke?

Hwangbo Cheolwi thought that it wouldn't be easy.

“So, I asked why you came.”

“…I came here because I wanted to ask the Tru-, no, Brother Gu something.”

"You used to be good at talking to me informally, so why are you suddenly so respectful? It gives me the creeps."

“…”

It’s because I’m worried that you’ll beat me up…

Hwangbo Cheolwi didn't even dare to say those words because he thought that he would really be beaten up if he did.

While noticing that he was sweating on his back, Hwangbo Cheolwi asked Gu Yangcheon.

“…Why didn’t you stop me?”

That day.

Their eyes met, and he probably could’ve easily caught him and got rid of him.

So Hwangbo Cheolwi wanted to know the reason why Gu Yangcheon didn’t.

Then.

Ha-

Gu Yangcheon let out a short laughter. What did he find funny?

"You should just be grateful that I let you go. You came all the way here to ask me that?

“…I felt like I needed to know.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“What…?”

Gu Yangcheon leaned a bit forward.

Did he find something interesting?

If that wasn’t the case, what did it mean?

To Hwangbo Cheolwi who became confused, Gu Yangcheon slowly started to speak to him.

"It’s not because you wanted to know, you came here hoping for something."

“…!”

“Am I wrong?”

Gu Yangcheon's soft voice turned into daggers and stabbed directly into Hwangbo Cheolwi's chest.

It felt like those daggers dug deep into his chest and reached his heart.

"Stop playing with your words and be clear. I find it a bit annoying and irritating."

Hwangbo Cheolwi didn’t know what to say after hearing Gu Yangcheon.

When did it start?

When he started to realize.

The fact that his Hwangbo blood, which he believed to be omnipotent and supreme, was actually not that valuable.

And the fact that he started to feel embarrassed about believing in his own blood and looking down on people.

When did it start?

Hwangbo Cheolwi couldn’t remember.

When he began to feel embarrassed for his brother, and if it was really okay for things to continue like this, his rationality began to break into pieces and pile up in one place.

“So speak clearly.”

Gu Yangcheon thrust the final dagger into Hwangbo Cheolwi.

“Tell me that you want help from me so that you could be in charge since you find your brother really shitty.”

Despite him speaking so bluntly, the weight of his words was unbelievably heavy.

“I find it strange that you want to ask me out of all people, but isn’t that what you want to say?”

Hwangbo Cheolwi wanted to deny it right away.

The fight for the position of Young Lord of the clan had been going on for several years, and Hwangbo Cheolwi had been out of the fight from the beginning.

He had talent, but he wasn’t much compared to other blood relatives, nor did he have the luxury of being the first child.

He also didn’t have authority, so he wasn’t in the best situation.

How could he even think about becoming the Young Lord in such a situation?

Despite this thought, Hwangbo Cheolwi replied to Gu Yangcheon.

“…Can you help me?”

His voice shook, but his words were clear.

“Hmm…”

After hearing Hwangbo Cheolwi, Gu Yangcheon stared at him and made a strange expression.

To Hwangbo Cheolwi, it almost felt as if he was standing on a scale.

And on the other side of the scale…

It seemed as though Hwangbo Cheok was looking at him.

Nevertheless, he had no regrets about the words he had spoken.

He didn’t know why, but there was no hostility in Gu Yangcheon’s eyes, unlike back when he looked at his brother.

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

Shit flavored stew or stew flavored shit?

That was my problem right now.

You may be wondering what kind of disgusting thought I had, but this is what I thought after I sent Hwangbo Cheolwi away.

Hwanagbo Cheolwi was a shit flavored stew, and Hwangbo Cheok was a stew flavored shit.

This meant that neither of the choices was a good one.

But if I had to choose, shit flavored stew would be better.

Hwangbo Cheolwi was a better choice if I had to choose one.

I wanted to get rid of Hwangbo Cheok after using him anyway, so I imbued him with demonic qi so that I could get rid of him whenever I wanted.

Though Hwangbo Cheolwi was a bit different than I expected.

I didn’t know much about the bastard.

I just knew that he was a blood relative of the Hwangbo Clan.

Considering how I didn’t know about him from my past life, it meant that Hwangbo Cheolwi didn’t really spread his name out.

This also meant that he didn’t show his excellence, so he probably wasn’t that influential of a person.

The Lord, huh.

Whether it was him or the other bastard, I didn't understand why they were so obsessed with the position of the Lord.

It’s a very bothersome and annoying position that also holds a lot of responsibility.

They don't know how to be grateful for the fact that they have the opportunity to choose.

Those bastards probably don’t know how lucky they are to be given options.

I’ll think about those Hwangbo bastards later.

I acted as if I could help Hwangbo Cheol-wi, but in reality I couldn't do much because I didn't have much influence.

If I wanted to put a blood relative on the throne of the Lord, I had to have enough influence to be able to do such a thing.

I might be able to do that if I was one of the Three Venerables.

It might have been possible if I'd been one of the omniscient Three Venerables or the Four Emperors and Five Kings who were known as the center of the Unorthodox Sect.

This meant that it was impossible for me to do such a thing.

Though I could probably give him enough help.

This too was a future me problem.

I just hope that Hwangbo fatass takes good care of the Silent Fist.

I told both Hwangbo Cheok and Hwangbo Cheolwi to go easy on the Silent Fist, so I’m sure they will.

It was funny how I was now taking care of my past subordinate at this point, and it made me feel full inside since it was a pointless generosity.

But I’ll do it when it’s still on my mind. I’m gonna forget it later

I couldn't afford to go to every single person to help them, so I helped them one by one as I met them.

It would be a tad bit difficult for me otherwise…

“Young Master, we’ve finished our preparations.”

“Alright.”

A day passed.

While I was stretching my body, a servant approached me and asked.

“Can we head out right away then?”

"Yes, we informed the Alliance, so you can transfer to the carriage they send."

“They should just let me go, how bothersome.”

I had to stop at the Murim Alliance branch on the frontline for a checkup.

It was bothersome, but it was required since I was from affiliated with the Orthodox Sect.

Tsk tsk.

After clicking my tongue out of annoyance, I asked the person next to me.

“Do you have to do it too?”

“We already did it.”

It was Moyong Hi-ah who had her face covered with a mask.

“You did it already?”

“All we have to do is give them a message.”

“…This unjust world.”

Since the Moyong Clan was one of the Four Noble Clans, Moyong Hi-ah could just send a letter, unlike me who was from the Gu Clan.

Power is everything.

What a disgusting world I live in.

“Then she also doesn’t have to do it?”

I was referring to Namgung Bi-ah who walked in this direction while half asleep.

When Moyong Hi-ah saw Namgung Bi-ah come this way, her shoulders flinched.

“…The Sword Dancer doesn’t have anyone from her clan with her, so she probably has to head there herself as well.”

“That’s bothersome. They really can be complicated.”

As I was complaining, Namgung Bi-ah came close and rested her chin on my shoulder.

She might have felt comfortable in the past when I was small, but she probably feels uncomfortable now that I am taller than her.

But it seemed like Namgung Bi-ah didn't care about such things because she rested her chin like this from time to time.

“Did you not sleep well?”

Namgung Bi-ah shook her head in response to my question.

“Then why do you look so tired?”

“…I’m… sleepy.”

“How can you be sleepy when you slept well? Go sleep over there if you feel tired then.”

“…Kay.”

Namgung Bi-ah started to move after hearing my response, but then she suddenly shifted her gaze towards Moyong Hi-ah.

When their eyes met, Namgung Bi-ah stopped and stared at her, and Moyong Hi-ah too stared back without avoiding her gaze.

When I began to wonder why they were like this, since they've been like this for a longer time than I expected,

“…Hmph.”

Moyong Hi-ah let out a snort and headed back towards the location where the other members of Moyong Clan were located.

Namgung Bi-ah who watched that happen, clenched her fist lightly and whispered to me.

“…I won.”

“…Huh?”

What did you win?

Staring contest…?

It seemed like they had some kind of weird competition, but I decided not to ask Namgung Bi-ah because her reaction seemed unusual.

This wasn’t the only thing I had my focus on anyways.”

“I had no plans to take a break…!”

It was because of Gu Huibi who was being sent off by other members of the Swordsmen army.

She complained every time she was being sent off which gave me a headache.

After seeing such a sight, I let out a deep sigh and spoke to her after walking towards her.

“Stop complaining. You were the one that once said that you wanted to come with me.”

“My brother should be enough… so why am I being dragged along!”

"Did I ask you to come with me? It was Father. But seriously, how could the eldest daughter try to play a trick so she wouldn't have to go?"

It wasn't a special reason for Gu Huibi to end up returning to the Gu clan with me, even though she said she wasn't given such an order.

It was simply because I received a letter containing an order for her to return to the clan as well.

You are not running away.

I wondered why Gu Huibi didn't want to return to the clan to the point that she refused to listen to an order, but when I thought about Mi Hyoran's personality, I understood Gu Huibi somewhat.

It was only her that was capable of having control over Gu Huibi as if she was a rat after all.

But still, her complaining like this was still very frustrating for me.

“Jeez, let’s leave already!”

In the end, we were able to leave only after I dragged Gu Huibi with me myself.

Also, Gu Jeolyub was in charge of leading the carriage again.

Seeing Gu Jeolyub getting ready to lead the carriage without me telling him to do so made me feel proud for the first time in a while.

How nice would it be for him to act like that for everything else? I’ll make him roll around later and learn.

“Hgh…!?”

I saw Gu Jeolyub look around after feeling an ominous air.

He was really sharp when it came to such things.

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