Childhood Friend of the Zenith -
Chapter 372: Gathering of the Orthodox Faction (13)
While a storm raged in the waiting room, Gu Yangcheon found himself facing an entirely different kind of annoyance.
“Look at how thin you are. Are you sure you are eating well?”
“That outfit of yours is in terrible condition.”
“Didn’t sis tell you to eat well? You’re not growing because you keep skipping meals.”
“I’ll have a set of high-quality clothes prepared for you, so don’t forget to take them.”
The endless barrage of words from both sides was giving me a headache.
I had stepped out for a walk, thinking I had some time before the meeting started, but of course, I had to run into them of all people.
“Little brother, why aren’t you responding?”
“…Why are you even here, sis? Aren’t you supposed to be busy?”
I’d heard rumors that she might come, but I hadn’t actually believed them.
When I questioned her back, she smirked in response.
This person was none other than an older sister of mine, Gu Huibi the Sword Phoenix.
I hadn’t seen her in over a year.
“Of course I’m busy. But I made time for you, so you’d better be grateful.”
“You shouldn’t have bothered. You should’ve taken a break instead of wasting your precious time on me.”
“Do you want to die?”
With that, Gu Huibi ruffled my hair mercilessly.
Honestly, why was she even here? She should’ve been focusing on her duties in the army.
She could’ve gone to see Gu Yeonseo instead of bothering me.
Of all the things she could’ve chosen to do, she decided to come here for no apparent reason.
Someone stepped in to put a stop to Gu Huibi’s antics.
It wasn’t me, but instead Lady Mi.
“Why are you behaving so undignified with so many people around? Is this how mother raised you?”
Gu Huibi froze under Lady Mi’s sharp reprimand.
“…Sorry.”
“How can you treat your little sibling like that when he’s fully grown up now?”
“It’s just that he’s so cute…”
“Don’t give excuses.”
“Understood…”
It was always fascinating to see how powerless Gu Huibi became in front of Lady Mi.
Who would’ve thought a wild dog like her could be subdued so easily?
After scolding her, Lady Mi calmly began fixing my disheveled hair.
I had no idea where she got the brush, but she was already using it to neaten my hair.
“You must tidy yourself in an important setting like this.”
“…Understood.”
“Training may be important for a martial artist, but you must also learn to keep yourself presentable when necessary.”
I bit my tongue, trying to suppress the ticklish sensation as Lady Mi gently fixed my hair.
I reminded myself that this was purely for the sake of the clan’s and her merchant association’s image, so I couldn’t misinterpret her actions.
“I’ll send someone later with a new set of clothes for you. Don’t forget to take them.”
“I’ll make sure to remember.”
“Good.”
Once she finished fixing my hair, Lady Mi put away the brush and began glancing around.
Was she searching for something out of place?
After completing her inspection, she let out a quiet sigh and turned to ask me a question.
“I heard that a lot has happened.”
“It wasn’t a lot, but there were a few incidents.”
“Were you injured anywhere?”
“As you can s- …No, I mean.”
I nearly answered her in my usual tone but quickly adjusted my words midway.
I always found it difficult to talk to Lady Mi in my usual way of speaking.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“…”
Her words were probably nothing special, yet they stirred a faint warmth within me.
Was it because I’d recently learned my mother was alive?
I quickly erased that thought and asked Lady Mi a question.
“…Lady Mi.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know where Father is?”
“He’s already in the meeting room. He said there was something he needed to handle.”
“Take care of something?”
What business could he possibly have here? He came all this way and still couldn’t let work go?
Then again, this meeting could technically be considered work.
“Do you not need to go as well, Lady Mi?”
Since Lady Mi was here representing her merchant association, she likely had her own waiting room, just like Father.
There was no need for her to wait outside.
Then again, I wasn’t exactly using my waiting room either.
Lady Mi’s expression hardened slightly in response to my question.
“Even if I went, the room would just be full of greedy, pompous merchants. I have no desire to associate with people like that.”
“…Ah, I see.”
Her answer was far harsher than I’d anticipated.
I rubbed my arms, suddenly chilled, and glanced around.
“Now that I think about it, where is the First Elder?”
I was sure he’d been coming with us, yet he was nowhere in sight.
Gu Huibi was the one who answered my question.
“The First Elder said he had a business to take care of.”
“Business in Henan?”
“He said he’s going to go see his friends.”
“…?”
I frowned instinctively at Gu Huibi’s response.
He prioritized visiting his friends over me, even in a situation this serious?
This old man… he really does whatever he pleases, doesn’t he?
Still, I supposed it was understandable for the First Elder to act this way.
Also, friends in Henan? I wonder who-
As I began to think, a few names of people currently in Henan came to mind.
I wanted to believe otherwise, but I already knew that that was the answer.
“…Hmm.”
If my guess was right, the First Elder had likely gone to see the Dishonored Venerable.
After all, the two of them knew each other fairly well.
That would be problematic, though.
I recalled the time I sold out the First Elder when the Dishonored Venerable questioned how I had learned his true identity.
I did that thinking I would deal with the mess later, but at this rate the Dishonored Venerable might find out the truth before I could come up with a solution.
What do I do then?
Why do I even bother asking? If that happens, I’m just fucked.
I was expecting to run into this mess, but I didn’t think that it would be so soon.
Hmm… I’m fucked huh.
Surprisingly, I started feeling calm after accepting my fate.
All I was able to do was pray that the First Elder doesn’t see the Dishonored Venerable right now.
“Little brother, what’s wrong? You don’t look good. Are you hungry?”
“…Do you think I’m you? My expression doesn’t change when I feel hungry unlike you.”
“You really know how to punch someone with your words sometimes. Dear brother, I’m starting to get angry, you know?”
“You’re just honest with your emotions. Take it as a compliment.”
“Whatever. Who is he over there?”
Gu Huibi raised her finger, pointing at someone.
I wondered who she was pointing to, and it was none other than Cheol Jiseon who was reading the atmosphere.
When Gu Huibi pointed her finger at Cheol Jiseon, he flinched in response.
“Huh? Why are you stalking from far away?”
“Eek…!”
“Hey you, come he- agck!”
Just as Gu Huibi was about to call him over in her usual brash manner, Lady Mi stomped on her foot.
While Gu Huibi winced in pain, Lady Mi turned to Cheol Jiseon with a gentle smile.
“I’m sorry. My daughter still has yet to mature.”
“I-It’s no problem at all…”
“I heard that you are my son’s friend?”
“Ah… yes. I am Cheol Jiseon from Cheol Clan. I heard a lot about you.”
“Hey, what do you mean you heard a lot, since when did I talk about her with y- “
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Lady Mi interrupted me and continued the conversation.
“Master Cheol, is it? I trust you’ll continue to stay close to my son.”
“W-Will do…”
Cheol Jiseon couldn’t deny Lady Mi’s request.
After being satisfied with his answer, Lady Mi nodded.
From the way things unfolded, I could imagine it would’ve always been like this if she’d been around.
She always made everything so unnecessarily uncomfortable.
…I will ask my father as I planned.
I’d planned to question Father after returning to the Gu Clan, but since he was here in Henan, I decided to do it sooner.
I must ask him about my mother’s whereabouts, and my Destructive Flame Arts.
While lost in thought and distracted by Gu Huibi’s antics, someone from the Alliance appeared with a message.
“The meeting will start soon.”
I stood up after hearing him.
Cheol Jiseon’s shoulders began to tremble nervously again, so I pulled him closer.
Just as I was about to head toward the meeting room,
“Yangcheon.”
Lady Mi stopped me.
I flinched in shock after hearing her call.
It was the first time in years she had addressed me by name.
“Yes…?”
“Are you planning to return to the clan once this is done?”
She was asking me if I was going back to Gu Clan after the meeting. I had to think about this.
Returning to the clan might have been the better choice given my situation, but I had other priorities.
“No.”
Lady Mi’s face formed a wrinkle after she heard my response.
A frown creased Lady Mi’s face at my response.
Not only did I have to continue the Dishonored Venerable’s training, but I also had to take care of other things as well.
I had already discussed this with the Dishonored Venerable beforehand.
“I don’t think I’ll be returning to the clan.”
“…Do you have somewhere else to visit?”
“Yes.”
After a moment’s thought, I gave Lady Mi my answer.
“Sichuan. I have something to take care of there.”
Sichuan, home to the White Demonic Stone and the secret vault of the Golden Sky Yeon Clan, was my next destination.
I planned to go there after I was done with everything here.
Oh right, I’ve yet to say this to him.
“Friend, you heard what I just said, right?”
“Huh? That you’re going to Sichuan?”
“Exactly. And by the way, you’re coming with me.”
“…I see… Wait, what?”
“You like the idea? I knew you would.”
Cheol Jiseon blinked, as though he’d misheard me, but it was already too late.
****************
Gu Ryoon, the First Elder of the Gu Clan and famed as the Flaming Fist of the Central Plains, was climbing a mountain behind Henan.
“…These insane bastards.”
He was grinding his teeth during it.
With his beast-like expression, the towering old man sent the nearby wildlife scattering in fear.
Him climbing the mountain was one thing, but his hands were full with a bunch of food.
“How dare they put an old man on food delivery duty.”
If I were just a little younger, I would’ve caught him and crushed him.
Gu Ryoon couldn’t help but reflect on how pitiful his situation had become.
After all, he was being treated like this because he met a bad friend.
After a long time, Gu Ryoon finally reached the cave that was his destination.
“…What even is this place?”
Gu Ryoon paused when he looked around inside the cave.
The cave was clearly man-made, with traces of dense Combat Qi lingering throughout its walls.
Moreover, this Qi felt familiar to him.
This is…
Bijuu, it’s that bastard’s doing huh.
Bijuu, the Dishonored Venerable.
His Qi could be felt everywhere in the cave.
To think that he dug out a cave using his bare hands.
Did his brain regress as well along with his body?
That was certainly possible.
Gu Ryoon became certain after seeing this sight.
He swore to himself that he wouldn’t go through Eternal Youth even if it meant his death.
He thought about living a longer life as he was being entertained by his grandson, but he shook his head after seeing what his bastard friend had been doing.
But there was something Gu Ryoon hadn’t realized.
This cave wasn’t dug out by the Dishonored Venerable, but instead Gu Yangcheon who Gu Ryoon treated as his own grandson.
Without knowing that, he walked through the path lit up with torches, and he started to see the bastards that were enjoying themselves with drinks.
One appeared to be a middle-aged man, while the other had the youthful look of someone in their twenties.
“You are late, Gu Ryoon.”
The Dishonored Venerable greeted Gu Ryoon with a sly smile the moment he noticed him.
There was already a drink in his hand.
Another figure also greeted Gu Ryoon. Upon seeing him, Gu Ryoon tossed the food he’d been carrying, and the man effortlessly caught it before setting it neatly on the ground.
Once he finished arranging everything,
“It’s been a while.”
The man greeted Gu Ryoon.
It was a man with white hair and eyes.
It was none other than the Dark King himself.
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