Childhood Friend of the Zenith Chapter 1144

A honey cookie, placed on a large hand.

Gu Ryun held it out to me, grinning, as if this was a completely normal thing to do.

“What do you think?”

What did he even expect me to say? I had no idea how to react, so I just stared at the honey cookie in silence.

After a long pause, I frowned and asked,

“……What is this?”

What the hell?

Why was he suddenly handing me a honey cookie out of nowhere? It was already ridiculous enough that he had appeared out of nowhere, but the things he was saying were even stranger.

“Why? Do you not like honey cookies?”

“……No, this isn’t about whether I like them or not.”

Did he really not get that the problem wasn’t the damn cookie?

Gu Ryun looked genuinely confused by my response.

“Huh…… I’ve never seen someone who doesn’t like them before.”

As if disappointed, he slipped it back into his sleeve. Seeing that, I couldn’t help but recall the past.

‘He really did carry those around every day.’

That was how Elder Il had always been in my memories. Even while scolding me, he’d still hand me a honey cookie. Even when it wasn’t necessary, he’d always find a reason to give one.

And the funniest part?

‘The old man didn’t even like honey cookies. He always said, “You eat it instead.”’

Elder Il himself never liked honey cookies. In fact, he didn’t like sweets at all.

“Uh, Elder Il—no, Great Hero.”

“What is it?”

“Why do you carry those around?”

Why would someone like him even bother carrying honey cookies? Given the situation, I decided to ask.

“Oh, this?”

Gu Ryun smiled brightly at my question and answered.

“The stone-faced bastard at my house likes them.”

“Stone-faced…?”
𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

“Yeah. You know who I’m talking about. That guy who’s your superior officer.”

…Huh?

“……What?”

Did I mishear that? I furrowed my brows at Gu Ryun’s words.

‘……Father likes honey cookies?’

Of all people, my father? And this guy had been carrying them around because of that?

‘……That makes no sense.’

No matter how I thought about it, that combination was impossible. My face went blank at the completely unimaginable revelation.

“……Are you serious?”

“Yes. Is that really so shocking?”

“It… kind of is.”

I couldn’t picture my father eating anything sweet. In fact, I had never once seen him put anything like that in his mouth.

And yet, he had apparently liked honey cookies all this time?

‘This is shocking…’

It was completely beyond imagination.

“Hmmm. I suppose that’s understandable. Well, that’s not important. Anyway, kid, why don’t you have a little chat with this old man?”

“All of a sudden?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Seriously, what was with everyone today? First Paejon, now this guy—why was everyone so desperate to hold onto me?

‘……I’m busy as hell.’

Now wasn’t the time to be talking with Gu Ryun. I needed to meet with my father first, not to mention the Commander of the Azure Dragon Division.

“I’m sorry, but—”

Just as I was about to refuse—

“It’s nothing serious.”

Gu Ryun cut me off, ignoring my response entirely, and asked what he actually wanted to ask.

“Kid, are you by any chance from the Gu Clan?”

“……”

I froze.

What?

A chill ran down my spine.

‘Where did he notice it?’

How the hell did Gu Ryun figure that out? My mind reeled.

‘I didn’t leave any clues.’

As far as he should know, I was Paejon’s disciple. So why was he suddenly asking if I was from the Gu Clan?

That made no sense. I had hidden my aura well. With Paejon, I could understand—he was one of the Three Masters, and he had physically examined my body.

‘Wait… Could it be?’

A thought flashed through my mind.

Back when Gu Ryun had placed his hand on my shoulder.

Just like Paejon, maybe he had sensed the Nine Flames Firewheel that I had sealed inside me.

‘No, that’s impossible.’

I dismissed the thought. No matter how much stronger Gu Ryun was now compared to how I had known him, he wasn’t at the level where he could perceive something like that.

Then how did he know? I forcibly hid my unease and responded.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Why would I be from the Gu Clan? I flatly denied it.

“That’s what I’m saying. Even I don’t really get it.”

Tap.

Gu Ryun suddenly reached out, lifting my chin slightly with his finger.

“These eyes of yours. There’s no way someone from another family would have a face like this.”

“……Huh?”

“Look at this. These sharp, ill-tempered eyes. This is the kind of face that looks like it could kill someone with just a glare.”

“……”

What the hell?

Was he insulting me? No, he was definitely insulting me.

I clicked my tongue in irritation and swatted his finger away.

“What are you doing?”

“No, I’m just saying… No matter how I look at you, you resemble him.”

“……Who? Could it be—”

I thought about my father, who was likely somewhere nearby.

“You mean the Deputy Commander?”

That would at least make some sense.

“What are you talking about? How could you resemble Cheolwoon? You should apologize for saying such a thing.”

“……”

Damn it.

That hurt.

I knew my father was good-looking, but did he have to say it like that? That one actually stung.

“If anything, you look more like… the head of our household.”

“……”

I pushed aside the wound to my pride and focused on what he had just said.

Head of the household.

That word stuck in my ears.

‘If he’s talking about the head of the Gu Clan right now…’

My grandfather.

In the place I came from, he was the one acting as the temporary master of the household, carrying the burdens of the Gu Clan.

“You resemble that man quite a lot…”

“……”

I had heard this before.

That I didn’t look like my father, but rather my grandfather.

The only reason people sometimes mistook me for my father was because our internal energies felt similar.

But in terms of appearance, I had always been told I took after my grandfather.

‘I never thought I’d hear that here.’

And not from just anyone, but from Gu Ryun.

Did I really resemble him that much?

“If you look this much like him… No matter how I think about it, it’s suspicious.”

“Suspicious?”

“Yes. I mean… that man… don’t you think he might have had an illegitimate child somewhere?”

“……”

“I even mistook you for Cheolwoon. If you were a half-brother, that would at least make sense, wouldn’t it?”

“No……”

My head hurt. It wasn’t even funny how far his thoughts had gone.

‘……But weirdly enough, it does make sense.’

I couldn’t exactly argue against it, given that we were related by blood.

“So, you’re saying you think I’m the illegitimate son of the head of the Gu Clan?”

“It was a fairly reasonable guess. What do you think?”

“…How the hell is that reasonable?”

Who the hell just assumes someone is an illegitimate child just because they look similar?

That was completely ridiculous.

“I’m not anything like that. If you’re done talking—I’ll be leaving now.”

There was no need to continue this conversation.

Listening to any more would only give me a bigger headache.

There was something strangely sharp mixed into his words, making the conversation all the more exhausting.

So, as if to escape, I took a step back.

“Hm? Really? Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. Sorry for doubting you.”

It seemed that Gu Ryun had no intention of clinging to the subject any further, and with that, I thought the matter was settled.

Until—

Thunk! Roll—

“Ack, oh no!”

Something fell from Gu Ryun’s sleeve and rolled toward me.

A bead. A bead tinged with a faint crimson hue.

“……Hm?”

“Oh dear, my apologies. Could you pick that up for me?”

“……”

Since it had rolled toward me, I picked it up without thinking. Just as Gu Ryun stepped forward to retrieve it from my hand—

Grab—!

“……!?”

Suddenly, he seized my wrist.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I was about to voice my irritation when—

Fwoooosh—!!

“……Huh?”

Out of nowhere, Gu Ryun clenched his fist, and heat surged from it.

Ssssshhhhh—!

Steam rose from his skin as his fist glowed red from the intense heat.

And then—

Fwoooooshhhhhh—!!

Anyone could see it—pure energy radiated from his body. A tingling, overwhelming surge of qi poured from Gu Ryun.

What the hell?

What was this lunatic suddenly doing? This wasn’t just a prank. The amount of energy surging from him was absurdly high.

I had to shake off his grip. Just as I thought that and began channeling energy into my hand—

Whhoooosh—!!!

“……Huh?”

A strange force coiled around my wrist, and suddenly, the bead in my hand started glowing.

What the hell?

What was with this thing now?

Caught off guard, I instinctively froze for a moment.

“It’s done.”

At that instant, Gu Ryun withdrew his energy and pressed something against the bead. At a glance, it looked like a simple bamboo tube.

Then—

Drip.

Something trickled down from the bamboo tube.

Blood.

“……What are you doing?”

What the hell was this? I yanked my arm free from Gu Ryun’s grip. Unlike before, his grasp was weak, allowing me to easily pull away—he had released his hold.

“What exactly are you—”

I was about to demand an explanation.

Fwaaaaaaa—!!!

Before I could, the bead suddenly erupted with a radiant glow.

A deep crimson shimmer. It wasn’t particularly intense, nor did it spread far, but the bead was definitely glowing.

“Hm.”

Seeing that, Gu Ryun nodded in satisfaction, then belatedly offered an explanation.

“Oh, this is the Blood Wheel Bead. I happened to snag one while gambling over relics with your master.”

“……You did what?”

Gambling over relics…?

The bizarre phrase made me instinctively scrunch up my face.

Wait… hold on. A Blood Wheel Bead?

I had heard of that name before.

Oh.

That thing.

It was recorded in the Gu Clan’s secret archives—a relic.

Wait a second…

……Didn’t that thing have a particular effect?

As soon as I recalled its properties, my eyes widened in shock.

“The function of this relic is quite simple,” Gu Ryun continued. “One infuses the bead with their qi, then spills another person’s blood onto it. Depending on the situation, the bead may or may not react. If it does—like it just did—”

That would mean—

“It serves as proof that you and the blood’s owner share the same lineage. Ah, and by the way, the blood I used just now?”

Gu Ryun’s eyes gleamed mischievously as he smirked.

“It’s fresh from Cheolwoon. What do you think?”

“……”

“So, do you still insist you’re not from the Gu Clan?”

Damn it.

What a sly old bastard.