656 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: The Best Friend of the World's Greatest - Chapter 656: The Plan **656th Chapter: Plan** The time when the sun barely begins to ascend. As the quiet breeze blows, the birds that were asleep awaken, and the insects shuffle hesitantly. In the Central Plains, a massive object was racing swiftly across the sky above Hunan. **Whoooosh-!!** Given its size, the speed was outrageously fast. Even though its noticeable size should have caught immediate attention, for some reason, the people of Hunan paid little heed to the sky. It seemed as if they were unaware that something was even in the sky. A wonder indeed, how no one seemed to notice such a colossal object. Atop the building of the Martial Alliance in central Hunan, A man stood gazing intensely at the anomaly. "Hmm." "Is something the matter?" Asked a curious voice, and the man, Fan Dong, pointed towards the sky. "Sub-boss." "Yes." "Can you see that?" At Fan Dong's words, the sub-boss squinted, staring into the void. Even drawing upon all his senses, nothing appeared before him in the sky. "...I apologize." "No, there's nothing to apologize for... hmm." At the man's response, Fan Dong nodded slightly. 'The sub-boss can't see it.' Fan Dong focused intently on the sky, channeling energy into his eyes. And then, high up, the space seemed to distort, revealing something. A storm cloud, perhaps? Unlikely. 'A storm cloud that can only be seen through infused energy.' That, in itself, was even stranger. Though it was nighttime, raising his senses higher reached a limit. The sun was beginning to rise, but it wasn't enough. He figured that once proper light shone, he'd be able to see with certainty, so Fan Dong sat still, quietly watching the spot. Yet, "Huh?" Fan Dong furrowed his brow at something he saw. A gigantic form seemed to be getting sucked down somewhere. To Fan Dong's eyes, it appeared like a smoky black haze being rapidly drawn to the ground. Seeing this, Fan Dong stood up. "Sub-boss." "Yes, Boss." Fan Dong pointed to the direction he'd been staring at and gestured down below. "Do you remember what’s over there?" "You mean that direction...?" The sub-boss followed with his gaze. It lay in the direction of the western forest. An area also yet undeveloped. Recalling this, he added quickly to the chief. "It's land currently under development." "Development?" "Yes. The owner is probably..." After a few seconds of contemplation, the sub-boss answered. "The Baihua Commerce, most likely." "Baihua Commerce." A well-known entity. Ranking among the top commerce sections in the Central Plains. Though it funded the Martial Alliance, calling it truly aligned with them was ambiguous at best. Furthermore. "A place linked with the Gu family." The head of the commerce, Hui Xie, was said to be married to the head of the Shanxi Gu family. So, perhaps. 'There might be a connection.' The noise that's been shaking Hunan for the past few months might somehow be linked to 'them.' The coincidence of today's event falling near Baihua Commerce. The peculiar overlap made Fan Dong turn and move. "I'll have a look. Standby." "Yes? Where exactly are you going... Boss? Boss!" By the time the sub-boss hurriedly called out to him. Fan Dong had already vanished. ****************** Departing from the North Sea, now on the dawn of the third day. We had arrived at our destination. Much faster than last time. As I took stock of the forest below, I simultaneously reflected on myself. 'I used about half of the inner energy.' That was half of what had been a substantial reserve. In pure volume, it was a considerable amount, but from an efficiency standpoint, it wasn't overwhelmingly so. 'I managed this speed with stealth, so all things considered, it's decent.' Our hulking companion, Ddolddol, was so sizable that flying straight would've attracted too much attention. I chose paths less populated where possible and cloaked us all in energy to minimize our presence. After several days of using this much energy, half remained. 'Not bad.' The sense of improving mastery was a satisfying outcome. Phew. I raised my head to the breeze I felt. The scent of the air had changed. Unlike the air of the North Sea, the air of the Central Plains had its own unique quality. Perhaps because it was my birthplace. Or maybe because the North Sea was foreign. Regardless, breathing this familiar air was calming. As I looked around, I gently stroked Ddolddol's scales. "Let's descend slowly." Grr. Understanding my words, Ddolddol gradually reduced his altitude. There happened to be a perfect spot for a landing. Ddolddol, as if knowing my wishes, lowered speed and approached the location. Hisss. Though his massive body touched the ground, there was no disruptive wind pressure, nor did the earth break apart, unlike last time. Having been scolded before, he seemed to be following orders well now. As soon as we landed safely, the passengers finally stepped onto the ground. "Ughhh...!!" As soon as Yuri dismounted from Ddolddol, she rushed into the bushes. It was Yuri, expectedly. Perhaps her lower level of inner energy made enduring it quite challenging. The speed had been significantly faster this time, and predictably, it pushed her to her limit. Lucky for her. 'If she had thrown up from above, I would've tossed her off.' Yet, she managed to endure. Thanks to that, she preserved her life. Otherwise, I would have killed her. "Wow... This is quite something. I never thought I'd experience this again." Following her dismount were Gwaeson and Baekryeongeom. Baekryeongeom's expression was a mix of slight gloom and excitement, while Gwaeson was delighted staring at Ddolddol with fascination. "Living long enough to ride a mythical creature, huh." Grrr! Perhaps nettled by the phrase "mythical creature," Ddolddol growled at Gwaeson. Startled, Gwaeson quickly gestured. "Sorry. Seems I upset you." Grr... Upon hearing the apology, Ddolddol turned away. Content, perhaps. In any case, it was an easy creature to please. Gwaeson, finding the situation amusing, chuckled heartily and gazed into the distance. "This guy is quite amusing, isn't he?" "...Yes." Someone hesitated before responding to Gwaeson's remark. This time, it was Woo Hyuk. He flinched, visibly startled his teacher addressed him, which made me click my tongue. 'Tsk tsk.' He looked like someone who couldn't shake off his guilt, much like myself. Which was exactly why it annoyed me, though I couldn't say anything about it. It was a problem solely for Woo Hyuk to resolve. Gwaeson was likely addressing him precisely because he understood this fact. Of course, having a conversation with only one arm might not be easy for Woo Hyuk to accept, but still. 'Ugh, what a fool.' This remark was directed both at Woo Hyuk and at myself, seeing my own reflection in his demeanor. Ignoring the thought, I waved my hand. Wooong. With a flick of my fingers, energy flowed forth, gently lifting Namgoong Bia and Dang Soyeol from the sky to the ground below. Dang Soyeol was slightly surprised but soon wore a smile, while Namgoong Bia, half asleep, showed no reaction. "You sure know how to do everything." Paezon reacted with disbelief, but I ignored him lightly. 'Seems like we've arrived well enough.' Now, should I make a report by returning to the Baihua Commerce? "We should head this way.... Going roughly east... Hey, grab her." As Namgoong Bia subtly tried to wander off, Dang Soyeol took hold of her. Great, that meant we needed to head in the opposite direction of where Namgoong Bia wanted to go. Just as I was confident in leading everyone and starting to move. Snap. "Hmm?" I sensed a presence from afar. I didn't feel tense. It was just one person, and their energy level was low. I dismissed it as perhaps a passing herbalist. "Excuse me." To my surprise, the person who appeared was someone from the Baihua Commerce. "My name is Seok Hon from Baihua Commerce. Are you, by any chance, the young master Gu Yangcheon of the Shanxi Gu family?" I stepped forward, curious about how accurately he addressed me. "That's correct. How did you know to come here?" I hadn't sent any word of our arrival. A sense of oddity led me to ask, and Seok Hon replied. "The branch manager sent me." "...The branch manager?" Referring to the branch manager here, 'That's Moryong Hia.' How on earth did she know to send someone? In this incomprehensible situation, Seok Hon spoke again. "The branch manager anticipated your return and strategically placed personnel at likely landing sites to respectfully escort you upon arrival." "...Ha." I let out a sarcastic laugh. Not only predicting the timing of my arrival but also where I would land, and having someone ready in advance—it was an astoundingly meticulous and intimidating action. 'Anyway...' I almost wanted to laugh at this jaw-dropping response. A woman like a ghost, that description was spot on. "May I assist you with directions?" Suppressing my laughter, I nodded at Seok Hon's offer. "Lead the way." Hearing about Moryong Hia made the realization much clearer. That I had indeed returned to the Central Plains. 'It didn’t take that long.' Yet it felt oddly prolonged. ****************** With Seok Hon’s guidance, we arrived at Baihua Commerce. It was early dawn, so there weren’t many people, and thanks to Seok Hon’s careful choice of less crowded paths, our entry was discreet. Hisss. I felt something against my forearm. Hiss... A black and blue snake slithered out from my sleeve, flicking its tongue. To my surprise, the snake was none other than Ddolddol. By shrinking his immense size, he had reverted to a nearly similar appearance as before. Previously, even with significant reduction, he could barely fit outside, but perhaps due to my increased level, he was now small enough to hide in my sleeve. ‘I’ll let him out eventually since keeping him is a hassle.’ That said, he now hunts for his meals independently, unlike before. And having him around means incessant chattering, so it's preferable to leave him on his own. Right now, I've kept him due to the extensive use of my energy, and there were matters to check. "Tea has been prepared." As I sat quietly, a servant appeared with tea. Gwaeson and Namgoong Bia needed treatment, so they were sent ahead to presumably where medical professionals were. Meanwhile, I was left waiting with the rest in the branch manager’s office. I glanced around the room. As expected of the branch manager, the room was spacious. The neat and organized environment juxtaposed with the neatly stacked documents and correspondence gave a truly Moryong Hia-like impression. However. ‘When is she coming?’ The owner of the room, Moryong Hia herself, wasn't present. I hadn't waited long, but being that the person was Moryong Hia, it bugged me. 'It's unusual for her to keep anyone waiting.' Sure, Moryong Hia often arrived late on purpose to throw others off or used it as a strategic business tactic, but such occasions were rare. Curiosity piqued, I asked Seok Hon sitting nearby. "Why is she delayed?" To my question, Seok Hon responded with a slightly awkward expression. "The branch manager was unexpectedly called to an urgent matter... She may be a bit late." "An urgent matter?" "Yes." Seok Hon didn't divulge further. Intentionally choosing to remain silent, no doubt. Watching him, I slowly rose to my feet. Seok Hon, apparently surprised by my action, called out. "Young Master?" "Oh, I just need to visit the lavatory." "I can show you the way..." "No need for an escort. Planning to watch me do my business?" "..." Seok Hon hesitated. Seeing this, I chuckled lightly and quickly exited the room. Thankfully, this time, Seok Hon didn't try to stop me. Ah, to be clear, I indeed intended to visit the lavatory, so it wasn't a lie. ‘However.’ I also planned to search for Moryong Hia while at it. Yes, it was a two-for-one deal. **************** On the first floor of the commerce. A single teacup was placed in the room reserved for esteemed guests. Steam still rose from the tea, indicating it hadn't cooled, but oddly, there was one cup, though there were two people in the room. Beyond the empty table sat a beautiful woman, icy in demeanor—Moryong Hia. She was observing her counterpart with her characteristic sharp gaze. Despite Moryong Hia's piercing look, the man across from her was unfazed as he took a sip of tea. Sssip. As the man moved, the epaulettes on his shoulder caught the light briefly. Moryong Hia’s eyes narrowed minutely at this sight, though she quickly masked her reaction, parting her delicate lips to speak. "I apologize for the humble reception." "It's of no matter. I'm grateful just for the chance to have tea. I should be the one apologizing for this unexpected visit." “…Thank you for understanding. If I may ask—" Moryong Hia strengthened her gaze of light blue eyes as she inquired of him. "Why has the Grand Chief of the League seen fit to visit us?" The man was none other than Fan Dong, the Grand Chief of the Martial Alliance's direct troop, the Flying Dragon Brigade. At Moryong Hia's inquiry, Fan Dong nodded slightly. "Nothing much. We received reports of a strange occurrence nearby." "Nearby here, you say?" "Ah, not exactly here... We were informed of an anomaly at the site your commerce is developing." Moryong Hia's brow furrowed at Fan Dong's words. "So, that's why you've come here, then?" "Not necessarily just that. I was also curious to see how the commerce is faring." His sly smile caused Moryong Hia's expression to grow colder even faster. "Without proper investigative authority, would it be correct to say that coming here overlooks the standing of our commerce?" "Haha, you're quite sharp. As I've said, this isn't a formal investigation. I was merely in the area and decided to drop by." Despite his words, the underlying meaning was obvious to anyone listening. Doubt. There was unmistakable suspicion in his tone. "Coming here without any formal investigation or evidence does suggest your intended meaning, does it not?" Fan Dong, the chief of the Flying Dragon Brigade. He was a figure Moryong Hia knew well. He was the second strongest among the five chiefs of the league and ranked highly among the world’s top martial experts. Rumors painted him as someone who would go to any lengths for an investigation, known for particularly cruel methods. A rather troublesome figure. Especially during these sensitive times, he was likely more alert. Moryong Hia kept her thoughts spinning internally. Meanwhile, despite her stewing thoughts, Fan Dong waved his hands dismissively, as if genuinely disinterested. "Simply visiting isn’t any trouble, is it? It’s just something within my capabilities." "Yet having the Grand Chief himself visit makes it a bit hard for us to accept." "Hmmm. This is indeed tricky." Fan Dong stared at her intently following her comment. "The Branch Manager would surely understand as well." "Please address me correctly. I am the Branch Manager here." He raised an eyebrow at her correction. Moryong Hia didn’t miss that slight change in expression. "...Alright, the Branch Manager would understand, I presume. There's been quite a lot of noise lately, hasn't there?" "I'm aware." The 'rumors' that have been circulating over the past month not only around Hunan but in various places. Especially sensitive from the viewpoint of the league. "And so, we're somewhat overly cautious. If you could understand this, it would be greatly appreciated." Fan Dong spoke with a smile, prompting Moryong Hia to mirror the expression. "Of course. I don’t know what anomaly has occurred, but should you bring the correct investigative authority, we would gladly cooperate. Until then, you'll remain an esteemed guest." "Haha, is that so?" "Hohoho. Yes, indeed." After brief laughter, silence engulfed the room. Moryong Hia opened her fan, concealing half her face, while Fan Dong couldn't entirely hide his smirk as he watched her. Simply put, 'What a nuisance.' Internally, they were both scrutinizing one another. ‘What an annoyingly astute woman.’ Fan Dong clicked his tongue mentally. He gathered she wasn’t even in her thirties, yet she was annoyingly flawless. ‘They said she was smart, and it seems the rumors weren’t wrong.’ I wondered why Baihua Commerce placed a girl from a noble family as a branch manager, but here it was. She had tenacity unusual for her age. ‘What to do?’ He sensed there was something more. Instinctively, Fan Dong felt this. Whether it was about the rumors or something else, he wasn’t sure. It didn't seem directly related to the rumors, though. ‘It’s unsettling.’ The something he’d seen in the sky earlier. That alone pricked at his mind, and somehow it connected with the commerce. Especially since it was not a commerce favoring the Martial Alliance that operated in Hunan. ‘There’s a smell.’ A faint, but foul odor. ‘Should I probe further?’ Despite how brilliant the woman before him might be, in the end, she was just a young girl. If he continued the conversation, he might find a chink in the armor. If necessary, ‘Perhaps, a slight intimidation could work.’ Fan Dong had various methods, so he considered pushing a bit further. ‘Let’s start with a scare?’ The simplest method. Especially when dealing with those of lower cultivation levels, nothing was easier. Barely a whisper of energy. Just enough to slightly unsettle the adversary. With that in mind, Fan Dong slowly gathered power in his core. Ssss. The faint energy seeped out, gradually heading toward Moryong Hia. Unnoticed, should it be pointed out, it was designed to slip away instantly. Thus manipulated, the energy approached Moryong Hia. But just at the moment it was about to reach her— Thunk. “...!” The energy was suddenly crushed and vanished without a trace. As Fan Dong instinctively reacted, Crash-! Clink-! The teacup on the table split in half, spilling hot tea across the surface. Boom---!!! "Guhhhh!?" A tremendous pressure filled the room, pressing down on Fan Dong's shoulders. Simultaneously, "Ah, that explains why the dogs were so noisy on the way here." Someone opened the door to the guestroom, their voice cutting through the air. "Oh my?" Moryong Hia widened her eyes, confirming the intruder. It was a young man with a fierce gaze, whose slightly upturned lips matched perfectly with his annoyingly smug expression. The young man, having suddenly appeared, glanced at Fan Dong seated before him and casually remarked, "Ah, so there's a barking dog here. A very noisy one, at that." Fan Dong's expression contorted with anger at the cutting words.