Childhood Friend of the Zenith -
Chapter 375: Your Father is Terrifyingly Scary (1)
“Ugh…!”
I regained consciousness, my eyes snapping open wide.
Did I actually pass out?
I barely managed to calm my breath while dealing with a headache.
It felt like only a moment, but I had no idea how long I’d truly been unconscious.
I quickly fixed my posture.
Then, I realized that I was sleeping while leaning against something.
When I glanced over to see what it was,
“…Huh?”
“…”
I was met with sharp and scary eyes.
I realized, to my horror, that I’d been leaning against my father’s shoulder.
“…”
“…”
There was a moment of silence when I stared into my father’s eyes.
I’m fucked.
That was the singular, damning thought in my mind.
It seemed like I even drooled during my sleep judging by the stain on his shoulder.
Father didn’t say a word and only continued to stare at me.
Was this some silent command to bow in apology? So this was what it felt like to be scolded with a mere look.
My pupils shook crazily.
They were trembling so violently I could feel the sensation myself.
Was I getting goosebumps on my back?
Yes, definitely goosebumps.
“I’m sorry…”
First, I had to apologize rather than give an excuse.
Never in my life had I imagined I’d fall asleep leaning on my father’s shoulder.
Father didn’t respond to my apology and turned his head around.
Thankfully, he didn’t seem to be too mad about it.
This bastard…
I started to grind my teeth.
I whipped my head in the direction the Blood Demon had been, but he was already gone.
And it wasn’t just the Blood Demon.
The Alliance Leader and his army were nowhere to be seen either.
…Does that mean?
I quickly scanned my surroundings.
“…”
Only then did I realize.
The meeting had already ended, and everyone was already out of the room.
That meant I had slept through the entire meeting.
‘I’m fucked. I seriously am.’
I was called here as a blood relative of a noble clan, only to disgrace myself by sleeping through the meeting, drooling on my father’s shoulder, while the other Lords debated.
Cold sweat trickled down my face.
I couldn’t even begin to fathom what my father might be thinking.
Everyone had already left, yet he still remained in the room.
Was it because I’d been asleep all this time?
I didn’t know.
Still, I couldn’t imagine Father staying behind just because of me.
“…Yangcheon.”
I turned towards the loser-like voice I suddenly heard from next to me.
It was Cheol Jiseon, looking lost in thought.
“…Why… do you look like that?”
“Why… you ask?”
Confusion washed over me as I noticed the look on Cheol Jiseon’s face.
His face was one thing, but his eyes made him seem as if he held a grudge against me.
“Why, did something happen?”
“…”
Cheol Jiseon looked as if he had lost his soul.
What on earth had happened to make him like this?
“…Do you even know what happened in the meeting?”
“No?”
“Of course you don’t! Because you were asleep…!”
“Uh… Yeah, you are not wrong.”
I awkwardly responded to Cheol Jiseon.
It was indeed true that I fell asleep.
But for Cheol Jiseon, of all people, to be this upset… something big must have happened.
Right as I was about to ask him what happened,
Slide-
Father stood up.
I flinched when I saw him move.
“The meeting has ended. Let us go.”
“…U-Understood.”
Cheol Jiseon responded to Father before I could.
Why was he reacting before me?
I glanced at Cheol Jiseon, who had hurried to stand, and questioned him.
“Hey… What’s wrong with you?”
What was wrong with him? Did he get beaten by my father while I was asleep?
But Father isn’t the type of person to beat up anyone.
“…Let’s go for now.”
Cheol Jiseon didn’t reply; instead, he tapped my shoulder, urging me to follow.
Seriously, what gives?
I stood up dumbfoundedly.
Judging by the atmosphere, it felt right to leave first.
Outside the meeting room, I saw a crowd of people from various clans and sects.
In that crowd, I saw Lady Mi and Gu Huibi.
And…
That person is?
There was a familiar face in that crowd, and it was none other than the Head of the Wudang Sect.
He was an elderly man known by the title, Sword of Wudang.
Father walked towards them without hesitation while I paused.
The Sword of Wudang gazed towards Father after noticing him as well.
Though his physique wasn’t imposing, his gaze was piercingly sharp.
“It has been a while.”
“Have you been well, Lord of Gu?”
“I have.”
I approached them cautiously as their conversation continued.
It was only proper for me to show my respect as well.
“I greet the Head of Wudang Sect.”
The Sword of Wudang turned his sharp gaze toward me upon hearing my greeting.
“He is my son.”
“Ah, so this is the young man they call the Lesser King of Hell.”
“…I am called that, though I find it undeserved.”
I accidentally paused midway in my sentence because I wasn’t used to saying such a phrase.
To make matters worse, Gu Huibi was clearly struggling to suppress her laughter as she stared at me.
…This crazy sister of mine.
I’d make sure to get back at her later. I already knew the title she’d eventually earn, and I’d use it against her.
I will remember this humiliation and get you back.
“I’ve heard much about your talents, and I can see the truth of it at a glance. It seems the Lord of Gu is blessed with exceptional children.”
“You flatter me.”
“Flattery would be an understatement.”
After those remarks, the Sword of Wudang turned to me with a question.
“I heard that you were close with our Hyuk.”
“Ah, yes… I am.”
The Sword of Wudang was referring to the Water Dragon when he said ‘Hyuk’.
Satisfied with my answer, he gave a small nod.
“Friendships are very important in life. I hope that you stay as his friend. He lacks more than you would think.”
“Gladly.”
I let out a hollow laugh in my mind at his words.
His treatment of me now was a far cry from how he’d regarded me in my past life.
What was it he’d said back then?
People could only get along with those at similar ranks as them?
This was the same old man who once belittled me, claiming I wasn’t worthy of standing alongside the Water Dragon.
And yet, here he was now, asking me to look after him.
This moment really made me think a ton.
The Sword of Wudang smiled lightly and turned towards Lady Mi.
It seemed like the two of them had a business with each other.
“Well then… I will wait for a favorable response.”
“Yes, I shall certainly consider your offer.”
With Lady Mi’s polite reply, the Sword of Wudang offered a respectful bow and departed with the other members of his sect.
Judging by what just happened, it seemed like he made an offer to the White Flowers merchant association.
Wudang Sect making an offer to the White Flowers merchant association huh.
I couldn’t help but wonder what the Head of the Wudang Sect wanted from a merchant association.
“Yangcheon.”
“Yes?”
“Are you hungry at all?”
Lady Mi’s unexpected question interrupted my train of thought.
Am I hungry…?
“Ah… No, I’m not.”
I was now in a state where I wouldn’t get hungry even if I starved for a few days, so I was feeling fine.
Lady Mi nodded after hearing my answer.
Wait, was that really all she wanted to ask?
While I was still wondering about her intentions, Lady Mi turned her attention to Father.
“Yeonseo, you’ll come with us to go see her, right?”
She was asking him to go see Gu Yeonseo with her.
It may have been a question, but it for some reason felt like an ultimatum.
Father, whether he noticed or not, simply nodded.
As I was a little shocked by my father’s reaction, Lady Mi said another thing to me.
“After we are done, we are planning to borrow an inn to have a meal.”
“Borrow… an inn?”
“That’s right.”
I wondered if there was really a need to borrow a whole inn for a single meal, but it was true that the White Flowers merchant association and Lady Mi had a ton of money, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
But it makes it a bit uncomfortable.’
I valued comfort above all else when it came to meals, and dining with my family was the farthest thing from comfortable.
As I was thinking about running away,
“This time,”
Lady Mi’s gaze on me suddenly became scary.
“I hope that everyone comes.”
She was saying that I wouldn’t hear the end of it if I ran away.
Though Lady Mi was an ordinary person without Qi, her sheer presence felt overwhelming in that moment.
Because of that,
“…Understood.”
All I was able to do was nod in the end.
Satisfied with my compliance, Lady Mi turned and made her way toward the exit.
As she left, I sent Father a telepathic message just as he was about to follow her.
- My Lord.
Pause.
Father paused mid-step, halting as my voice reached him telepathically.
Father didn’t turn to face me, but I could tell he was waiting for me to speak.
- Could you spare me some time after the meal is over?
I decided not to hesitate as I had many questions to ask.
- I would like to ask you about my mother.
“…”
At the mention of my mother, Father slowly turned and locked his gaze with mine.
His eyes remained unchanged, I still didn’t know what emotions he held behind.
It was impossible for me to know.
After a moment of silence…
- Yes.
With that, he gave a short nod and resumed his walk toward the exit Lady Mi had gone through.
I exhaled a quiet sigh of relief at his response.
I was simply asking him to spare some time, yet I became this nervous.
I even started to sweat because of it.
“Sigh…”
This was honestly more nerve-wracking than any fight.
It was mentally exhausting, too.
Anyway… that’s one thing done… what’s left.
I was done making a request to my father, and now I only had one thing left to do.
I turned to Cheol Jiseon, who stood there looking completely lost.
“Hey.”
“Huh…?”
“Now tell me.”
“Hmm?”
“About the meeting.”
The meeting I missed because of me falling asleep,
“Did something happen?”
I needed Cheol Jiseon to fill me in on what I’d missed.
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