611 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The idea of finding Namgung Bia immediately crossed his mind. He wanted nothing more than to drop everything and storm out, but the paucity of information forced him to hold back his impulses, for now at least. There was no way he'd manage to hold out for long, already teetering on the brink of his limits. Stepping outside from where the master of the palace had been, he found Baek Ryeongeom waiting for him. “You’re here?” His gaze at Baek Ryeongeom was less than warm. How could it be, considering the circumstances? He was told to visit, and hardly had he awakened when he went to see the master, only to endure trying ordeals. Seeing his expression, Baek Ryeongeom offered an awkward smile. “Seems like you ran into some trouble.” “Yes, I ran into quite the mess.” It wasn’t just any interrogation; it was a sequence of cursed events. He would have charged and confronted that master of the palace, but his body wasn't in the condition to do so. It was a regret, one he found hard to shake. It left little room for pleasant feelings towards Baek Ryeongeom, who had guided him there. Regardless of their friendly reunion. He asked Baek Ryeongeom as soon as he saw her. “Did you know?” The question was loaded with meaning. Did she know the meeting with the master would turn into an interrogation? Also, “Did you know he’s from the Northern Sea?” That Woo Hyeok, born from the clan of the Blue Wolf or whatever it was called, hailed from the Northern Sea. Did Baek Ryeongeom know that too? Upon hearing his pointed question, Baek Ryeongeom responded with a bitter smile. “I didn't know what the master had in mind for summoning you.” “Do you know now?” “If you explain, I’ll listen…” Judging by her expression, it seemed she only knew something was off. He clicked his tongue inwardly upon seeing her expression. “Never mind…” There wasn’t much more to press someone unaware about. Even if there was room to probe further. Pressing Baek Ryeongeom now would be merely venting his frustrations. “Let’s move on to the next question.” “...” When he inquired about Woo Hyeok, Baek Ryeongeom hesitated with her words. “If it’s about him, I’ve only known for a short while.” “What you’re saying is true, then?” “...” Indeed, Woo Hyeok was from the Northern Sea. Additionally, “Is it true he incited a rebellion?” “…Yes.” He clenched his teeth at Baek Ryeongeom's words. ‘What the hell is that bastard thinking?’ He hated the idea when Namgung Bia was heading to the Northern Sea. But with Gwaeson, Baek Ryeongeom, and even Woo Hyeok going, he had felt some reassurance. Woo Hyeok, albeit peculiar, wasn’t someone who caused trouble. Even if something went wrong, he thought they would manage somehow. ‘Who knew he’d be the source of the biggest mess.’ His head began to throb. ‘What rebellion?’ The notion was absurd; there was no reason for an uprising in a nation in peace. The man, who never seemed the greedy type, to lead a rebellion? It was beyond comprehension. ‘Why?’ Why would he cause such turmoil? If it were indeed true that Woo Hyeok not only participated in the rebellion but also ignited it himself. ‘What was the reason?’ What compelled him to do so? Such thoughts came first. He must have had a compelling reason for causing such a storm. He was indeed that kind of person. Strangely, he held onto such a belief. [Go on.] [Thank you for being a friend until now.] “...” The words and expression Woo Hyeok wore before dying off came to mind. Damn it. He shouldn’t have left such indelible memories. He could’ve avoided smiling as he died. Pushing aside those annoying thoughts, he asked Baek Ryeongeom something else. “Then, her… No.” Pausing briefly, he frowned and spoke. “What about Namgung Bia?” Though hesitant to utter her name directly, Now wasn’t the time to hold back over such things. “…She.” Baek Ryeongeom, after hesitating as well, replied cautiously. She knew failing to answer him here would mean he wouldn’t hold back. Seeing the emotional tension in his gaze, Baek Ryeongeom spoke. “…Bia was guarding the master of the palace.” “Guarding?” The word caught him off guard. Guarding? “…She was guarding the master of the palace?” “At first, she was tasked with guarding the young noble or those of blood relations….” “Wait.” He cut off Baek Ryeongeom, who was about to continue. There was something he needed to know first. “…Why was she guarding?” Why was Namgung Bia suddenly tasked with guarding duties? He needed clarification on that. She had left to train, so why had she taken up guarding duties? Though he had heard it before, the story was just too absurd. Baek Ryeongeom explained, “I heard it was through a direct contract with the master initiated by Hyeong.” “Hyeong….” Likely referring to Gwaeson. Did that man make a contract with the master for Namgung Bia to take up guarding? ‘Has he lost his mind?’ After granting permission for her to go, what’s he doing with the child? Stopping her from training by making her work? It was infuriating. Suppressing his emotions, he continued asking. “So, she was briefly the young lady's guard. Is that what you meant?” He had heard before. She was actively serving as some kind of white fox. “Yes, that’s what she did.” “In that case, why this mess?” Why was Namgung Bia now missing? As a guard, she should have been nearby. Why did she vanish? “…In the chaos of the uprising, during their hurried move to a hiding place….” The explanation made him grimace. The master of the palace had to leave in order to hide. During this time, enemy forces continued their relentless pursuit. Had things continued, the master would have been in grave danger. “She chose to act as a decoy, you’re saying?” “...” To ensure the master moved safely, Namgung Bia diverted enemy attention by acting as a decoy and went missing in the process. Is that what she meant? Moreover. "And at the scene of the battle, there were no other traces found..." These were murmured words, drifting from his thoughts as he absorbed the explanation. He was furious. That child had thrown herself into danger for people she barely knew in this strange land and with someone who proved to be useless. Such realization made his teeth grind involuntarily, yet at the same time, his mind seemed to cool, processing things with precision. It grated on him. There was something oddly troubling about this. 'Why did she do it?' Why did Namgung Bia volunteer to be the decoy? Was it truly for the peace of the Lord and Binggung? Surely not. He believed that Namgung Bia had other reasons for her actions. As he tried to figure it out with a cool head, his thoughts were interrupted. "I'm sorry..." Baek Ryeongeom's apology pierced through his reflections. "If I had been there, it should have been me, not her..." Her voice was laden with guilt. She seemed to genuinely lament not having taken Namgung Bia's place. Watching Baek Ryeongeom, he asked. "Where were you then, senior?" He wasn't blaming her for not taking Namgung Bia's place. Nor was he suspicious of her. He didn't know Baek Ryeongeom well, but he trusted that she wouldn't resort to cowardly tactics to save her own life. "...At the time, I was carrying someone else to the hideout." She was transporting someone else and thus wasn't part of the main group. In that case. "What about Gwaeson? What was Senior Gwaeson doing?" "…" What was the whereabouts of Woo Hyeok’s teacher, Gwaeson? If Woo Hyeok had indeed led a rebellion, where was Gwaeson now? He imagined his position couldn't be a favorable one. Upon hearing his query, Baek Ryeongeom said, "Would you follow me?" Instead of an answer, she led him somewhere. They didn’t go too far. Up to an upper level of the cave, a quiet place devoid of guards. Arriving with Baek Ryeongeom, he saw a single bed. And lying there was none other than Gwaeson. The problem was, 'What the...?' Gwaeson’s state was far from normal. His left arm was missing, and his overall appearance was far from good. He was barely clinging to life. “What is this—?” What had happened to this man? Gwaeson was a highly skilled martial artist at the peak of excellence. He was among the top masters, easily within the top hundred. So, what kind of circumstances led to this condition? As those questions brushed past him, "The day the rebellion began." Baek Ryeongeom offered her explanation. "Woo Hyeok appeared with a bloodied Gwaeson." "That guy?" "Yes." At her words, his eyes widened. Woo Hyeok had shown up with Gwaeson? "He suddenly came, leaving Gwaeson in our care. All he said was sorry, then disappeared. That was the last time." To abandon his nearly dying master and vanish? On the day of the uprising, no less? "You said Woo Hyeok initiated the rebellion." The notion of leaving his master at such a critical moment was incomprehensible. What could possibly explain this situation? In his mind's eye, as he tried to piece it together, something surfaced. He turned to Baek Ryeongeom to inquire, "Earlier you said you had carried someone ahead. Was that Gwaeson, by any chance?" "..." Baek Ryeongeom's silence was her answer. Acknowledging it as a confirmation, he quickly processed his thoughts. Baek Ryeongeom had carried Gwaeson to safety. Namgung Bia later took the lead, acting as a decoy to protect the master and was last seen during the ensuing chaos. Were all these occurrences mere coincidence? He initially thought the rebellion was meticulously timed. Yet, considering everything now. 'Not so much timed as orchestrated.' His head throbbed. If only Moyong Hia or Jegal Hyuk were present, resolving these matters would have been simpler. His scarce intelligence couldn’t piece it all together. Though it seemed hard to believe Woo Hyeok orchestrated everything, he wasn't completely unconnected. 'The ending is bothersome.' Even with Baek Ryeongeom and Gwaeson disappearing, Namgung Bia's self-sacrificial act bore the scent of something amiss. Without a desk to drum his fingers against, he tapped his waist with them. What was he missing? What had slipped through his grasp? Thinking through it all for a long moment, All motion suddenly ceased. "For now... we should continue scouting, you should also—” "I'll step out for a bit." "Wait, what?!" He didn’t wait for Baek Ryeongeom to finish before stepping outside. Originally, he planned to check on the others, but even that had to wait. Walking unfamiliar pathways, ‘I can’t think of it.’ Reaching a conclusion was painfully difficult. The information was sparse, the situation abrupt. Yet there was one thing he understood. 'Woo Hyeok had a hand in Namgung Bia's disappearance.' Was this realization based on faultless logic? Not entirely. It was simply what felt right. Every path he considered pointed towards this answer. And thus, he had unwavering faith in his judgment. The question now was what to do. 'How to proceed when the answer was clear from the start.' Go to Woo Hyeok. Ask him directly. That was always the conclusion. Find Woo Hyeok and demand answers. Ask him why. And if Woo Hyeok refused to talk, he’d make him talk, even if it meant using force. ‘For that, I need to locate Woo Hyeok.’ If his hunch was correct and Woo Hyeok was indeed tied to Namgung Bia's disappearance, there was one way to go about it. Vwoom—! A presence felt faintly from afar. A fervent sensation surged straight through his heart, as if reaching out to him eagerly. That place. He couldn’t pinpoint its exact location, yet the presence was unmistakable. He wasn’t entirely sure whether Namgung Bia or Woo Hyeok would be there. But at the very least, ‘Nae Ah (Thunder Fang) is.’ The Thunder Fang, which she presumably possessed, was likely there. Especially since it was an item few could touch, this hinted at traces of Namgung Bia's presence. That was his destination. For now, he guided his movements with that sole thought. […Please—! Please open it—!] A voice cried out nearby. He recognized it. Not far off. Perhaps on a higher level from here? He moved without hesitation. And as he did, he suppressed his presence. Thankfully, the path wasn’t too complex. After walking a bit towards the source of the sound, he arrived to find a few figures armed and standing guard at what seemed to be an entrance. Thankfully. Unsure of the way, he might have simply smashed his way out, but it appeared this was the entrance. He had found it correctly. Towards that apparent entrance, “My Lady… you mustn’t do this!” “That’s nonsense…! It can’t be true. I— I have to see for myself.” A woman with strikingly pale hair was pleading earnestly with the soldiers. It was Yuri. “…There’s no way Bi Oigun did that…! There must’ve been a reason.” “My Lady! That man is a criminal charged with treason. Why do you speak like this?” “He wouldn’t have started a rebellion…! He promised me…!" Yuri, her voice choking with emotion, protested, and one of the guards responded. “…It seems she hasn’t grasped the situation correctly. Escort her back to her chambers, politely.” They seemed to conclude that Yuri wasn’t in the right state of mind. “Yes.” The soldier reached towards Yuri, likely intending to gently restrain her. However, That hand never reached Yuri, merely brushing past her. Kneeling, the soldier collapsed to the ground. Thud—! He fell. “What’s this…?” Reacting to the incident, another immediately responded, yet, Thwack—! “Gah—!?” In an instant, the other soldier also went down, struck on the chin and knocked unconscious. “…Huh?” Yuri, startled by the sudden turn of events, looked around in confusion. She couldn’t quite grasp what had happened. Approaching Yuri, he spoke. “What you were just saying.” "…!" Startled by the voice coming from behind, Yuri turned suddenly. There, “Say it again.” He stood, staring directly at Yuri.