653 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Cheonhajeil-in's Childhood Friend - Chapter 653 > North Rabbit - Web Novel Archive 〈 Chapter 653 〉 Back to the Central Plains. Just past noon. After leaving the Jade Pavilion, I found myself in a particularly tranquil part of the palace. The area maintained a serene atmosphere, with only a handful of guards stationed around. It was also one of the few places in the Northern Sea that gathered physicians. Passing through the area, I arrived at a door and opened it to step inside. Creak. The old doorknob squeaked as it turned, revealing a familiar face inside. Namgung Bia was in the middle of eating, as if I’d interrupted her meal. She looked up at me and said. “…Hi…there….” “Finish eating before you speak.” Her muffled speech was somewhat amusing. As Namgung Bia continued to chew her food. “Yes, swallow what's in your mouth before you talk. It's only proper to learn such manners at the house.” A middle-aged man interjected slyly from the side. I frowned at him and said. “And what’s with the burp in the middle of talking?” Isn't it entirely unjustifiable to preach about manners? “Ha ha. My apologies. Perhaps my digestion isn’t complete?” I sighed at the middle-aged man’s lighthearted attempt to brush it off. His simultaneously well-meaning yet improper demeanor maintained an awkward distance. Namgung's white hair and blue eyes carried the distinctive family traits, and all were present in this man. Wudang Sect's so-called "Vagabond Immortal" Namgung Hyung. The one-armed man was smiling from where he sat. I asked him. “How’s your health?” “As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.” “If appearances were anything to go by, you’re anything but fine.” The Vagabond Immortal had lost an arm and suffered a penetrating wound that nearly killed him. It was only due to his formidable skills that he survived; a regular person wouldn’t have had a chance. ‘It’s amazing that he regained consciousness at all.’ According to the doctors at the Ice Palace, he should have remained bedridden and unconscious for at least another month. Yet the Vagabond Immortal had awakened just two days ago, eyes wide open. His recuperative abilities were strangely exceptional. Stealing a glance. I looked at his arm. As a swordsman who had lost one arm, his martial abilities must surely have been affected. “Today’s meal is quite delicious. Would you care to try some, Young Master?” “No, I’m fine.” “Then, I’ll continue to enjoy it…” “…Munch.” “…Niece, what sort of behavior is this?” “You…said…you didn’t want…any…” The Vagabond Immortal didn’t seem to mind, as he continued his usual odd antics. ‘I can’t tell if he’s genuinely fine or if he’s just putting up a front.’ Not a concern for me, I soon shifted my attention to Namgung Bia. “How are you feeling?” “I’m fine.” “...” Her casual response prompted me to poke her belly with a finger. As a result. “Ugh…!!” Namgung Bia grimaced in rare discomfort, letting out a slight groan. Seeing this, I sighed deeply. “There’s no way you’re fine. Stop lying.” “...” Perhaps it hurt, as Namgung Bia looked at me with a hint of resentment. But I wasn’t the type to simply let such things go. “Don’t give me those eyes. What have you done right to deserve to look at me like that?” I scolded her, and Namgung Bia sullenly averted her gaze. She had always been exceptionally stunning, but over time, I had developed a sort of immunity, allowing me to reprimand her nonetheless. “You didn’t listen when I told you not to go, and look at the state you’re in now.” “...” “What was so good about coming here that you ended up getting hurt? If you’d stayed quietly in the Central Plains, none of this would’ve happened. Does learning the sword require the cold? Of course not.” “Well…” “Don’t argue with me.” “…Okay…” Namgung Bia seemed to acknowledge her mistake and listened quietly this time. I had plenty more to say. “And speaking of which—” “Oh, Young Master!” Just as I was about to continue, someone interrupted me. Dang Soyul appeared, with the White Lotus Sword following behind her. "You’re here?" "Yes." Dang Soyul approached with her characteristic bright smile and promptly took a seat next to me. “Have you eaten?” “I’ve had a bit here and there.” That was a lie. I hadn’t eaten for the past two days. I spent too much time understanding my newly acquired abilities and elevated standing. “I see.” Listening to my reply, Dang Soyul silently observed me. Her gaze grew increasingly burdensome. “You haven’t eaten, have you?” “...” She saw right through me. Her intuition was annoyingly sharp. “…I haven’t been hungry.” “Hmm…” She didn’t seem pleased. After staring at me for quite a while with dissatisfied eyes, she tilted her head. “Young Master.” “Hmm?” “Is something the matter?” The unexpected question made me widen my eyes slightly and look at Dang Soyul, chuckling softly in resignation. ‘I’ve been found out.’ How did she notice? Having just dealt with Wheok, I wasn’t in the best of moods, and perhaps Dang Soyul picked up on that directly. And it seemed it wasn’t just Dang Soyul. ‘…Tsk.’ I could also sense Namgung Bia’s indirect gaze directed at me. She seemed to have realized it earlier. “It’s really not…” As always, I tried to brush it off, but their expressions subtly changed, making me stop and reconsider my words. “…Something did happen, but it’s resolved now, so don’t worry.” “...” “...” Choosing to say this seemed better than my usual denials, and only then did tension slightly leave Namgung Bia and Dang Soyul’s faces. Observing this, I sighed in relief internally. “Really, don’t worry. It’s nothing major.” Following up with this, Dang Soyul nodded. “Regardless, you still need to eat.” “…I’ll make sure to eat.” Saying so casually. I suddenly grabbed Namgung Bia’s wrist, surprising her. “What…?” She looked at me, puzzled. Ignoring her, I began to channel energy. Swoosh-! “Uh?” The sudden influx of energy made Namgung Bia flinch. Even understanding this, I continued to circulate the energy. Warmth flowed into Namgung Bia’s body, making a complete circuit. As the energy returned to me, it carried a significant amount of negative energy that I extracted and sent away with my hand. Then. Whoosh-!! I ignited a flame at my fingertip, burning off the impurity. There was a slight stench, but it seemed I managed to separate it well. After shaking off my hand, I turned to Namgung Bia and said, “It seems like your energy isn’t in too bad a shape. I’ve also removed the remaining impurity, so you should be able to move around by tomorrow without much issue… Why are you all looking at me like that?” Everyone in the room was staring at me with inquisitive eyes. What’s with these looks? A brief silence swept over the room. “What did you just do?” The White Lotus Sword asked me with surprised eyes. “What do you mean?” “What you did just now. What was that?” “Oh, I simply extracted the impurity and burned it.” Seeing discomfort, I checked and, as expected, Namgung Bia had some impurity in her energy. It seemed to have arisen from her body's regeneration process, so I merely extracted it and burned it away. I didn’t use any demonic art or special technique. ‘I just separated it with heat and burned it. Why such a reaction?’ It shouldn’t have been a particularly difficult task. Their reaction was odd. “You separated the impurity? And burned it?” “Yes.” “How?” “Pardon?” I frowned at the White Lotus Sword’s repeated question. “What do you mean how? You just separate it.” “But impurity is embedded within the energy, isn’t it?” “Yes.” Impurity is subtly embedded within the energy flowing through the meridians. If left alone, it would dissipate naturally over time, but it’s generally bothersome, so separating and eliminating it quickly is beneficial. Yet, both the White Lotus Sword and Namgung Hyung’s reactions were unusually serious. What’s this? Did I do something peculiar? “You didn’t just remove your own impurity, but you sent your energy into someone else’s body and extracted only the impurity?” “Yes.” “How is that even possible…?” “Well, if you keep asking how….” Just send energy to identify and extract only the impurity from the flow, isn’t it? Admittedly, with the energy flowing continuously like a water stream, isolating just the impurity wasn’t merely simple. “But it’s not particularly difficult, is it?” “…What? Not difficult at all?” “Huh?” The White Lotus Sword’s eyes widened in shock at my answer. Seeing his expression, which I couldn’t comprehend, I threw out a final question. “Is it difficult for you, senior?” “...” “Why is it difficult…? Isn’t it relatively easy?” I didn’t understand why they thought it was such a big deal. “Huh…ah…ha.” Hearing my answer, the White Lotus Sword seemed to malfunction, like a broken machine. Behind him, Namgung Hyung looked at me with a dumbfounded expression, forgetting his usual demeanor. Why are they reacting like this? Feeling a bit suffocated, I abruptly stood up. Dang Soyul sent me a disappointed look, but since she had to care for Namgung Bia, she wouldn’t join me. “I’ll be heading out now. Please rest well and, as mentioned before, I’ll be returning to the Central Plains by tomorrow.” I addressed the White Lotus Sword and Namgung Hyung. “Will you be coming with me?” I didn’t bother seeking their consent. I only needed to take Namgung Bia, Dang Soyul, and a couple of others with me. The White Lotus Sword and Vagabond Immortal seemed to have other obligations here, so if they chose not to come, it wouldn’t affect my plans. “I should go along. Staying here like this seems pointless…” The Vagabond Immortal looked at the White Lotus Sword and continued. “The same goes for her, doesn’t it?” “...” The White Lotus Sword wore a somewhat bitter expression at his words. There seemed to be more to the situation, but it wasn’t my concern or interest. “If you’re returning, please make sure to be ready by noon tomorrow.” “Noon…that’s cutting it a bit close. Wouldn’t it be better to leave at dawn?” “Dawn? Oh.” At first, I was puzzled by his suggestion, but then I realized they didn’t know how I had arrived here. “It’s fine. We’ll be flying, after all.” “I see. Flying… Hmm? Flying?” “Then, see you tomorrow.” Without further explanation, I turned and walked out. They’d understand it fully by tomorrow, explaining now seemed like a hassle. ‘The number of people might be a concern, but it shouldn’t matter.’ In the past, carrying five people might have been a stretch. Yet with the current strength and size of my flying companion, it wouldn’t be a problem. Creak. Thud-! I closed the door and walked away. For a moment, I gazed up at the sky. Though the cold remained, the clear sky was visible after the cold snap passed. Tilting my head as I watched the drifting clouds. ‘Is it time to go back?’ There were tasks awaiting me. For those, it was high time to swiftly return to the Central Plains. ****************** Baekhua Merchant Guild, Hanam Branch. Inside an upper-level room there. A beautiful woman frowned over a seemingly endless pile of documents. With jet-black hair and flawless, white skin. The woman with sharp, chilly eyes often knit her brows. The sheer volume of her work was overwhelming. If people saw the current situation, they’d probably name her the busiest person in Hanam, even more so than the head of the alliance. Such was the state of her workload. In this backdrop, the woman, no— Baekhua Merchant Guild's Hanam Branch Leader. Seol Bong, also known as Moryong Hia, couldn’t help but click her tongue inwardly while facing the visitor. She couldn’t show this outwardly. The visitor was an important figure, and above all, intimidating. Moryong Hia composed herself and greeted the woman before her. “It’s been a while.” The woman in front gave a sly smile. A fierce smile that reminded her of someone else. “Good to see you, Seol Bong. How many years has it been?” Her light greeting made her distinctive black hair sway. “I’m not quite sure… It seems to have been about three years.” “You still look drained. Aren’t you being taken care of well? I know the owner here wouldn’t neglect you…” “I’m eating well enough, so you don’t have to worry about me. But why have you come looking for me?” Her eyes turned cold as she addressed the woman. “Geom Bong (Sword Phoenix).” At Moryong Hia’s words, Gu Hee-bi, the eldest daughter of the Gu family and known as Geom Bong, smiled slightly. “Is this somewhere I’m not supposed to be?” “Not at all. As a daughter of the owner, of course, you can come and go as you please. I was merely curious.” Moryong Hia put down the documents she was holding and looked at Gu Hee-bi. “I was just wondering why you sought me out instead of visiting the owner. That’s all.” “Oh, that? Mother stepped out today, so I thought I’d come by to see Seol Bong, the branch leader…” “I heard you came straight to me after arriving at the merchant guild?” “…Information travels fast, doesn’t it?” “Thank you for the compliment.” Moryong Hia offered a faint, professional smile and continued. “Moreover, I’ve heard you didn’t even ask about the owner. Knowing that she had stepped out, isn’t it safe to say you intended to see me specifically?” Her words left no room for escape. Hearing these words, Gu Hee-bi’s eyebrow twitched slightly. “Still sharp as ever. Doesn’t sit well with me.” “Should I say thanks again?” “So positive. It was an insult, you know.” “Yes, I’m aware, and choosing to ignore it, so no need to worry.” “Haha.” “Hehe.” A cold breeze swept through the room. As layers of ice seemed to form, Moryong Hia addressed Gu Hee-bi again. “What brought you to me?” In truth, she didn’t enjoy asking these questions. Recalling what Gu Hee-bi had done to her in the past, she felt like fleeing or cursing right then and there. But Moryong Hia held back. ‘Of all people.’ The woman before her was essentially her sister-in-law. Moryong Hia had heard countless times that in most families, relationships with a sister-in-law aren’t ideal. She considered this as she endured. Moreover, ‘I’m curious about what she found important enough to seek me out for.’ This wasn’t just anyone; it was Geom Bong. Despite her arrogance earning her the nickname “the arrogant one,” her innate talents had silenced all her critics. For someone like her to come specifically, it was intriguing enough. ‘…When you think about it, she really resembles him.’ Somewhere in their family line, there must be a shared trait. Moryong Hia couldn’t help but smile, thinking of the eldest son of that family. “What’s with that face?” “Pardon? What about it?” “For a moment, I thought you were someone else. Didn’t know you could make such expressions.” “…Ahem.” Embarrassed by the comment on her expression, Moryong Hia quickly steadied her face. It was a slip-up. Fortunately, Gu Hee-bi didn’t seem too bothered by Moryong Hia’s reaction. Perhaps her matter was pressing enough that everything else faded into the background. “…Anyway, I have a favor to ask.” “A favor?” Moryong Hia’s brows furrowed at Gu Hee-bi’s words. She was taken aback. The idea of Geom Bong asking for a favor was unexpected. Particularly asking a favor from her. ‘A favor?’ Not from her mother, the head of the Baekhua Merchant Guild, but coming directly to her? Thinking this over, Moryong Hia’s mind raced. “What favor is that?” Even while pondering, she kept her lips moving. She couldn’t let on that she was deep in thought. “Would you help?” “I’ll have to hear it first. I might be able to consider it.” “…Hmm.” Gu Hee-bi pondered for a moment, touching her lips. Despite her foul temper, her beauty, inherited from her mother, showed through, making her movements somewhat endearing. Even a wild beast appears adorable when it stays calm. After hesitating for a while, Gu Hee-bi finally spoke to Moryong Hia. “Well… I was hoping you could find a position…” “…What?” Moryong Hia responded as if she had heard wrong. “…A position?” Had she heard incorrectly? The formidable Geom Bong was asking her for this? Seeing Moryong Hia’s expression, Gu Hee-bi hurriedly waved her hand, offering a clarification. “Oh, it's not for me…” Thankfully, it wasn't something Gu Hee-bi needed. But still. “Then for whom is this position?” “For…my younger sibling.” “…?” Moryong Hia was further perplexed by Gu Hee-bi’s continued explanation. It made sense, though, as she thought, ‘Sibling?’ Which sister was she referring to? That was the question that puzzled Moryong Hia.