610 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The World's Greatest Martial Artist's Childhood Friend - Chapter 610 > North Rabbit - Web Novel Archive 〈 Chapter 610 〉 The Distant Army. “How’s your condition?” “…” At the sound of the question, Namgung Bia remained silent. She merely observed the young man before her. “In case you were worried...” The young man pointed towards Namgung Bia’s waist. “I wasn’t the one to treat you. I had another woman handle it, so there's no need to worry.” “I’m not worried.” “I see.” Namgung Bia’s firm response earned her a sheepish smile from the young man. “Let me ask again, how’s your condition?” “…” Namgung Bia once again did not respond to the young man’s inquiry. Instead, she simply showed him the restraints binding her hands. Clink. The chains around her hands made a sound. As the young man looked at them, Namgung Bia spoke to him. “Release me.” “Haha.” The young man laughed incredulously at her words. How bold of her to demand such a thing. “If I could, I would have already set you free.” “Then set me free now.” “Sword Dancer, that’s not possible.” “...Why?” “…” Why, indeed. The young man found himself momentarily speechless. How should he respond to this? Facing the woman’s genuinely puzzled expression, he couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. “This is the only way to keep from killing you.” The words that escaped his mouth inadvertently tore at his own heart. His explanation felt unbearably pathetic. “Don’t even think about escaping. Those aren’t restraints you can easily slip out of.” “…” Upon hearing this, Namgung Bia’s expression subtly changed. She had already been testing the cuffs with her strength, trying to find a weak point. In that moment, she understood. ‘It’s my power.’ The restraints were blocking her energy flow. Did he notice her struggles? “Your internal injuries likely haven’t healed yet, so just rest for now.” The young man offered these words casually. “…” Hearing this, Namgung Bia quietly released the tension she had been holding in her body. Then she turned her gaze, scanning her surroundings. The persistent buzzing in her head was a nuisance, but assessing her situation took priority. Though the darkness obscured her view, she sensed this wasn't a normal prison. The scent reaching her nose prompted Namgung Bia to speak to the young man. “An enchantment?” “Yes.” The space was indeed under a veil of enchantment. While she knew it, the specifics of her situation eluded her. Have they distorted the space itself? The restraints hindering her energy flow made it difficult to learn more. In essence, she was left with no immediate options. “Hm…” With that realization, Namgung Bia suddenly shifted her position, lying down comfortably. “Huh?” The young man let out a surprised breath. He was incredulous. Namgung Bia simply lay down. It seemed she intended to rest as if she had no other care in the world. “…What are you doing?” Seeing this, the young man asked, and Namgung Bia turned her head slightly to respond. “…I’m going to sleep.” “In this situation…?” “…You said you wouldn’t release me.” “Well, yes, but….” How could she be so audacious? The young man hadn’t anticipated such indifference. Without a hint of hesitation, she’d laid herself down. It made his heart ache even more. He had to ask. “Why… haven’t you asked anything?” Why didn’t she ask? He couldn't help but inquire. Her silence only prompted a slight discomfort in the air between them. She knew what he wanted to ask. Why had he done this? How could he bring about such a situation? It was the unasked question that lingered between them. “I already did, remember?” She had asked before she had lost consciousness. And he recalled his answer then as well. “You said there’s something you must protect.” “...” Something to protect. He thought back to how he’d alluded to that truth. You have something too. I just had something I needed to do too, and thus things had to unfold this way. They’d had an exchange like that. “What more is there… beyond that?” “…Nothing.” That was the extent of what he could say. That was the limit of the young man’s explanation. But for the listener, it was a frustrating response. Namgung Bia didn’t press any further, knowing this. Yet, it was something the young man couldn’t comprehend. “Don’t you resent me?” The one who hunted Namgung Bia down was none other than this young man. He had orchestrated forces to block her escape route. He had sent a grand general and dozens of soldiers capable of inflicting external and internal injuries upon her. Was that something that truly needed to be done? The young man himself couldn’t come to terms with it. Claiming it had to be done seemed a mere excuse. While admitting it shouldn’t have been done at all wouldn’t take back the deeds. In the end, it was he who had saved Namgung Bia, but that too was nothing more than a balm for his own guilt. Hearing the question, Namgung Bia gave a response. “…Not really?” She expressed having no particular thoughts. How could she not harbor resentment? Just as the young man was about to form an inquiry from her response— “It's your choice, wasn’t it?” Namgung Bia spoke matter-of-factly. “I assume you had your reasons….” “…” Her words carried an unwavering belief. Hearing them, the young man forced the bitter smile from his lips. He could no longer even muster the energy to laugh. “You’re his friend.” Those words were like a sword, piercing Wu Hyuk’s heart. Though he now refrained from referring to himself as Wu Hyuk. Those memories should remain distant. To live in the present. “Haha… that's your reason for trusting me?” “Do you need more?” “Under normal circumstances, a lot more.” Yes, much more. Reason upon reason would be needed. But. For you, it’s enough. That’s what it seems to mean. Wiping away the visage of a friend, the young man responded. “Sword Dancer.” “Yes.” “Do you still think he sees me as a friend?” “I don’t know.” Her words conveyed uncertainty. Of course, deep down, the young man thought otherwise. When the truth of these events becomes known. What expression would his friend have towards him? It was a thought he didn’t want to entertain. Whoosh. A Chilly Breeze Between Two People. “…And what about you?” At this point, even thinking about it— Trying to retrace the path he had come— It was far too late. Creak. The young man stood up from the chair he had been sitting on. He left her question unanswered. “I should be going now.” “…” Namgung Bia didn’t seem to expect an answer. The young man turned his back and headed for the door. As she quietly watched him, she suddenly spoke. “…Even so.” Her voice halted him in his tracks. “When you see him… apologize.” Startled, the young man froze. Her tone was filled with firm and cold resolve. Though she seemed detached from her own situation and pain, on this matter, she was different. “He’ll be very hurt.” “…Hurt? That friend of mine?” “He’s a sensitive person.” Sensitive—what an unfitting word for someone like that friend. In the young man’s eyes, that friend was someone who wouldn’t crumble even if the world fell apart. “If you make him cry, I won't forgive you.” “...” That wasn’t a typical thing to say in such a situation, was it? But he didn’t contest it. He had no right to. “…Alright. If I ever meet him, I’ll definitely apologize.” Around this time, he’ll be in Zhongyuan. When news reaches him, and if his friend comes to Beihai— ‘I won't be here by then.’ He’ll no longer be on this earth. That’s just how it is. Exactly how it should be. ‘If my apology could be accepted that way, it’d be nice.’ He wondered if sacrificing his own life as an apology would be of any help. Such unimportant thoughts drifted through his mind. Creak. The young man grasped the door handle and stepped outside. As he walked through the doorway, he erased the thoughts from his mind. For now, there was only one thing his mind needed to focus on. [Cheong-ah! Cheong-ah!] Memories from a long time ago. Back when the young man was called by a different name, not Wu Hyuk. The happiest memories of his life. A vision of a cheerful white-haired girl, running towards him to ask him to play, filled his mind. [Let’s play!] The girl seemed utterly unconcerned with the boy’s predicament. She smiled as she sought him out. Just memories, nothing more. Ordinary days that might have been someone else’s routine. Memories that were his to privately cherish. On the day he left Beihai for Zhongyuan. The boy remembered what he had said to the girl. [If, just if. I survive and see you again.] Even with an arrow lodged in his back, blood flowing freely, he spoke to the crying girl. [At that time—] The memory, which had started to surface, shattered like mist. The young man shook his head to dispel it. No need to recall it any further. It was all just an excuse. An excuse no one would accept. The young man moved on. Thud. His footsteps echoed through the corridor. The dark hallway was not lit by a single lamp. ************* The full moon hung in the dark sky. The surroundings were dim, emphasizing the late hour. Snow was falling relentlessly in the night. “This is freaking insane.” He swore as he trudged through the blizzard. Why does this mad weather show no sign of letting up? The more he saw, the more he disliked it. What kind of land is this? Absolutely unbelievable. They said it snowed all year round in Beihai. After the Blood Demon’s chaos, something apparently happened, altering Beihai's environment. When he heard the tale, it was just an exaggerated story. Seeing it in person, the reality was much worse. “How can people possibly live here?” The unceasing cold and constant snow meant farming was out of the question. In such an environment, food must be scarce, and hunting seemed the only option. But in this cold, how many animals could there possibly be? Seeing people survive even in such conditions, they must have found a way. Yet, no matter what, it remained a wretched land. Swoosh— The blizzard was so dense he couldn’t see an inch beyond his nose. Finding a path in this seemed impossible, yet it didn’t matter where he looked. Vroom— He simply focused on the vibrations felt from his heart as his guide. Adjusting his steps, he moved accordingly. ‘From here, head north.’ He altered his direction based on the energy he sensed. Still, no matter how far he walked, all he could see was snow. Looking at it, he said: “This place is just hell.” To think people actually lived here. It made him fume. Gnashing his teeth, he cursed through clenched jaws. “Ahem…” An uncomfortable cough sounded from behind him. “No matter what, speaking like that in front of someone who lives here…” “What, do you have a problem with it?” “...No.” Though he wanted to snap back, the woman behind him just meekly silenced herself. Smart choice, as she knew he might abandon her if she protested too much. After hearing her silence, he glanced forward again. “Such bad luck.” As if the situation wasn’t irritating enough. “With this damned weather, having to carry such a heavy load with me…” “Heavy, you say?” The woman’s voice grew louder, clearly offended by the words. “What else would you be but heavy baggage?” “…I’m not heavy.” But she didn’t deny being baggage. “Not heavy? No conscience, huh? Then again, if you had one, you wouldn’t have followed me.” “No…!” “Ah, quiet. Say another word and I’ll leave you here.” “...” The stern warning brought immediate silence. Exhaling a heavy sigh, he resumed walking. The path ahead stretched endlessly under the falling snow. And so, alongside the Second Princess of Beihai, Yoori, whom he carried on his back, he continued.