Childhood Friend of the Zenith Chapter 1140

The tense and desolate atmosphere inside the carriage, fortunately, didn’t last long.

Father had only checked the interior to assess the condition of the carriage or perhaps Mother’s state.

Once he saw that everything was fine, he closed the door and left. It was just that, given the situation, I remained unusually cautious.

“…You can stop now.”

As I grew tired of eating and spoke up, Mother tilted her head.

“Are you full?”

“Yes.”

Honestly, I wasn’t that full. Martial artists burn so much energy that their food intake is hardly normal. A few rice balls weren’t nearly enough.

I was just saying it because I was getting annoyed.

“Alright. Then the rest is mine?”

“…Please, have it all.”

I sincerely hoped she would. I couldn’t understand why Mother insisted on sitting right next to me and feeding me.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one confused by this. After Father and Mi Horan left, Soi, who was still inside with us, gave me a peculiar look and muttered,

“…That’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“I’ve never seen that lady offer her food to anyone before.”

“…”

Was her appetite really that strong? Now that I thought about it, I had noticed she ate quite a lot before.

How should I put it…

‘She was just like Wi Seol-ah.’

Like Wi Seol-ah when I first met her after returning to the past. Her appetite had been so intense that the way she devoured food still lingered in my mind.

Thinking about it…

‘She used to share her food with me too.’

She would often offer me whatever she was eating.

Why, though…?

‘Do I look that malnourished?’

I ate well enough. I wasn’t exactly starving, so I couldn’t figure out why people kept giving me food.

Well, whatever.

‘…It’ll probably pass without issue.’

Father’s gaze had been unsettling when he checked the carriage, but I figured things would blow over just fine.

Surely, he wouldn’t misunderstand, right?

Believing it wouldn’t be a problem, I turned to Soi and asked,

“So, when are we leaving?”

“The Vice Commander still has things to discuss with the Namgung Clan Leader. Once they’re done, we’ll head out immediately.”

“Hmm…”

Hearing that, I glanced out the window. As expected, I could see Father and the Namgung Clan Leader engaged in conversation in the distance.

The Namgung Clan Leader looked utterly exhausted, as if he had aged years in just one night.

Well, considering the countless incidents that had occurred since dawn, it was only natural.

‘What are they talking about?’

I wanted to heighten my senses and listen in, but…

‘No, I can’t.’

With Mother sitting next to me, my energy perception was acting up again.

Then, I saw the Namgung Clan Leader handing my father a letter.

Judging by the movement of his lips,

‘…Please entrust this to the Sword Master…’

It seemed to be a letter for the Martial Alliance.

At least I could interpret their lip movements—if I couldn’t listen, I could still try that.

Tap, tap.

“Hm?”

Someone knocked on the carriage.

Looking down, I saw Hyun Soyeon.

“What is it?”

“You’re leaving, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then shouldn’t you at least say goodbye? We did spend the night together, after all.”

“…What nonsense—”

“Spent the night together?”

Before I could respond, Soi reacted first. She immediately pulled Mother into an embrace and dragged her away from me.

“Ugh!”

“…The night?”

“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s not what you think.”

“Oh, really? But last time, you came to my residence at dawn and entered my room, didn’t you?”

“Damn it.”

So this was about the time I had visited her to ask about Namgung Hyung.

“That was different.”

“How so? Nothing I said was wrong.”

“Well…”

It was because of the situation involving Hyun Soyeon and Namgung Hyung.

I was about to say that, but I shut my mouth. That wasn’t something I could carelessly bring up.

Click.

I clicked my tongue lightly and turned my head.

Hyun Soyeon smirked.

“I’ve been thinking this for a while.”

“…What?”

“You’re much kinder than you appear, Young Master Baek. Did you know that?”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

First, she provokes me, and now she’s throwing around baseless compliments?

She should take a proper look before speaking. Soi’s face was a complete mess after hearing that.

“I’ll stop joking around. I just wanted to tease you since you were leaving without saying anything. It’s too cold-hearted not to say goodbye.”

“This is ridiculous… It’s not like we’re close enough to need a farewell.”

“Not close enough? Like I said, we spent the night toge—”

“I’ll take my leave first. It was an honor to have such an enjoyable time. I hope you fare well.”

Before she could spout more nonsense, I cut her off and bid my farewell.

Only then did Hyun Soyeon grin, looking satisfied.

The problem was…

‘She’s smiling, but…’

There was an unmistakable weariness and concern beneath her expression.

“…I do sincerely hope you do well.”

“Then does that mean everything else you said was a lie?”

“Maybe half of it?”

“Hah…”

Hyun Soyeon let out a short laugh before stepping closer and speaking in a lower voice.

“Young Master Baek.”

“Yes?”

“The beautiful and elegant fiancée waiting for you back home—take good care of her.”

“…What?”

“Don’t let your eyes wander. Cherish her and live well. She has a good personality, right? Usually, if someone’s as pretty as me, they have a nice personality too.”

“…”

Did she really?

I had my doubts, but I didn’t bother arguing.

“…I’ll handle it.”

“Alright then. Since we’ve said our goodbyes, I’ll be off too. I need to have a chat with my fiancé as well.”

“Alright.”

Hyun Soyeon finished her words and turned to leave. As she walked away with a leisurely sway, she suddenly glanced back at me.

“See you again, won’t we?”

Leaving those parting words, she walked off.

“…”

See each other again? Did we have to?

I honestly had no desire for that.

Feeling utterly drained as if I had just weathered a storm, I shut the carriage window. I didn’t even get to watch Father and the Namgung Clan Leader’s conversation.

“Ugh…”

I was exhausted. Somehow, this felt more tiring than my fight with the Blood Demon.

As I leaned back against the seat, half-reclining from fatigue…

I felt a sharp gaze from the side.

What now?

I glanced over, puzzled, only to see Soi looking at me with pure disdain.

…What was her problem this time?

“…You had a fiancée? And yet, with Lady Hyun…?”

“No, I—”

“You beast…”

“That’s… Ah, forget it.”

I gave up on explaining.

I was too tired for this.

As I closed my eyes, wanting to do nothing at all—

Clunk.

The carriage door opened again.

It was Father and Mi Horan entering.

“We’re departing.”

Father, having finished his talk with the Namgung Clan Leader, spoke lightly.

At last, the affairs in Hanam were over.

It had been a weighty yet not-so-weighty matter.

And now, I was on my way back to Hanam.

**********

Time passed. Several days had gone by since we had left Anhui for Hanan.

As usual, nothing particularly eventful had happened.

We arrived in Hanan relatively peacefully.

“Identity confirmed.”

As soon as we reached Hanan, our numbers were checked, and we entered the Martial Alliance. Thanks to my father’s reputation as the Vice Commander of the Azure Dragon Division, we didn’t run into any unnecessary trouble.

The only difference from when we had departed was…

“…I heard a White-Rank Beast appeared in Anhui.”

“In Anhui…? Not a Red-Rank Beast, but a White-Rank one?”

“Yes. It was quite the significant incident.”

Inside the Martial Alliance, rumors about the White-Rank Beast had already spread widely. Everyone was discussing it.

“A White-Rank Beast in this world…”

“Apparently, they managed to prevent almost any casualties.”

“No casualties from a White-Rank Beast? How…? Ah, did the Blood Demon intervene?”

Whenever Anhui was mentioned, it was natural to think of the Blood Demon.

Since he was in Anhui, it was only logical to assume he had dealt with the White-Rank Beast.

“Surprisingly, they say he didn’t.”

“What? It wasn’t the Blood Demon? Then who…?”

“No idea. They couldn’t confirm the identity, but apparently, an unknown martial artist took care of the White-Rank Beast and left.”

“That’s even possible? Was the White-Rank Beast weaker than expected?”

“No. According to the rumors… that unknown master was at the level of the Three Masters…”

The one speaking suddenly clamped his mouth shut.

A martial artist on par with the Three Masters. That was not something to be said lightly.

The Three Masters were the very symbols of the orthodox sects, the sky itself.

To claim that someone stood on the same level as them was not something an orthodox martial artist could say carelessly.

Because of that, no one took the rumor too seriously, whispering about it instead.

‘So the rumors spread this far.’

I couldn’t help but make a strange expression as I listened.

It was impressive how fast the news had traveled. I hadn’t expected what happened in Anhui to reach Hanan this quickly.

‘Is it because there were so many witnesses?’

That was likely. There hadn’t just been a few people present during the incident. Even among those who participated in the battle, there had been hundreds.

It wasn’t strange for the rumors to spread.

“Wait here.”

Father spoke to the personnel.

“I will report to the Alliance Leader, so remain on standby.”

“Understood.”

We waited near the entrance to the Alliance Leader’s office.

Mi Horan and Mother had already disappeared. The only ones left were Do Yun, Namgung Jin, Soi, and me.

‘So he’s reporting directly to the Sword Master.’

Normally, he would have reported to the Azure Dragon Commander first before meeting the Alliance Leader. The fact that he went straight to the Sword Master meant that this was an urgent matter.

‘Hmm… well, that means the business in Anhui is wrapped up.’

One matter was settled. Now that our mission was complete and we had returned, I could at least allow myself to relax a little.

Though, there were still unresolved issues—Sanseo, the Blood Demon, Do Yun, and my mother among them—so it wasn’t truly a time to rest.

‘I do need to take a breather, though.’

There was too much information to process. I needed time to organize my thoughts.

Just as I was thinking that and adjusting my breathing—

Sssssssshhhh.

‘Hmm?’

A strange sensation crept over me.

Heat.

A massive presence.

‘What is this?’

Even though I had suppressed my energy perception, I could still feel it. I instinctively turned my head.

And at that moment—

“WELL, WELL, WHO DO WE HAVE HERE? AHAHAHAHA!!!”

With a thunderous shout, someone charged straight at me.

There was no killing intent.

Since I sensed no hostility, I reacted a bit slower.

WHAM!

“Ugh!?”

A large hand gripped my shoulder tightly.

“Our esteemed Young Lord! Hahahaha! I came running the moment I heard you had arrived— Hm?”

“…Huh?”

A middle-aged man with a thick build and a loud voice.

At the sight of him, my body froze.

And he, in turn, froze as well.

His hair was mostly dark, but strands of white had begun to show.

A giant of over eight feet tall with crimson eyes.

A fierce appearance, yet a face I was all too familiar with.

The man standing before me was someone I knew better than anyone.

As I stared at him blankly, he looked at me with confusion and asked,

“…Who are you? You’re not that brat Cheolwoon.”

“…”

The man who spoke—

‘…Elder Il?’

Gu Ryun, Elder Il of the Gu family.

But this was his younger self.