669 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**The World's Greatest Fighter's Childhood Friend, Chapter 669: Northern Hare - Web Novel Archive** As the sun gradually sank below the horizon, I stood at the heart of a tranquil forest, glaring at the figure before me. The person boasted the distinctively sharp eyes characteristic of the Gu family, complemented by long ebony hair and blazing red eyes. It was a face so familiar that I had to brace myself. The woman nodded slightly and addressed me. "Brother?" The long-unheard term made me scrunch up my nose. "...Sister." The words escaped my lips, and I found not only my nose but my entire expression twisted in a grimace. The woman’s true identity was none other than Gu Huibi. Sword Phoenix, Gu Huibi. The eldest daughter of the Gu family and my sister. And then. Clinging right to Gu Huibi's back, I noticed a Celestial Demon peeking its head out. How should I even describe this damn situation? It was a complete mess. No other word seemed suitable to me. "Brother, it’s been a while, hasn't it?" Gu Huibi greeted me with a smile. I couldn’t bring myself to reciprocate. With a swish. The sacred spear in my hand was retracted the moment I laid eyes on Gu Huibi. The energy smoothly returned to my heart. My senses were still on high alert. Like a sharp needle, the aura spread around me as I steadied my breath. As I surveyed the situation cloaked in energy, the Celestial Demon, with its head still poking out, pointed a finger at me. "Sister." "Hmm?" "He followed me." The wary words it uttered made Gu Huibi tilt her head in curiosity. Simultaneously, I fixed my widened eyes on the Celestial Demon. '...What did it just say?' What exactly did that Celestial Demon say to Gu Huibi? Did it just call her sister? 'What kind of crazy talk is this?' I had no idea how the situation had come to this. However. "No, Yeon-a, that..." "Hey." “…!” Gu-gu-gu-guhoog-! I unleashed my aura across my entire body. As my heart opened fully, the energy that had seeped deeply within awakened. The energy suddenly emitted, and Gu Huibi's eyes widened as her body tensed. "Step away." "..." As I released my intent, the Celestial Demon’s expression turned sour. "I said, get out." "I don’t want to." "Don’t want to?" Kiiing-! The aura that seeped out was tinged with murderous intent. All feelings of fear and anxiety vanished. I would kill it. I would slay it and remove it from Gu Huibi. My mind was consumed with only that thought. "Then die." I had to remove it by any means necessary. If it was something I’d eventually have to deal with, it wasn’t too late to address it now. The doubt that I might not win had disappeared long ago. I would kill it. With that determination, I extended my hand. Gu-gu-gu-rook-! The energy that surged from my heart flowed into my arm. It bound tightly, forming a powerful aura. I brandished it toward the Celestial Demon like a sword. My fingertips came close. They would clasp around its neck and tear. As I reached out with that thought, my wrist was suddenly gripped firmly. It was Gu Huibi, casually holding it. "Brother." Her cool voice drew my eyes to her. Gu Huibi’s red eyes were vividly alight. Though her eyes glowed with heat, the emotions within were oddly cold. "What are you trying to do?" "..." Chi-iiing. The heat from her grip made my eyebrows knit together. I then looked at Gu Huibi again. "...Sister." "Yes." "You've reached a new height." "..." At my abruptly spoken words, a hint of surprise flickered across Gu Huibi’s face. The same was true for me. ‘…How did she ascend?’ Gu Huibi had reached a new realm of power. I was certain after sensing the heat just now and discerning her aura through our contact. This meant my very own sister had ascended to a new level of martial prowess. But how? Suddenly all the animosity vanished like a dead rat, only to be replaced by a well of questions. ‘Is this even possible out of the blue?’ Sword Phoenix, Gu Huibi. Gu Huibi had showcased overwhelming talent since her youth, earning the title of the most promising among the younger generation. She inherited her mother's beauty to some degree but was infamous for her extraordinarily fierce demeanor. Terribly fierce and dreadfully fierce at that. Being a sword-wielding heroine, she earned the honorable nickname "Sword Phoenix," but later, she came to be known by a nickname that meant "Insane Crazy Lady." Insane Crazy Lady. Does that mean crazy, crazy woman? ‘How bad could it be to use the word "crazy" twice?’ Gu Huibi’s temperament was notoriously difficult, even within the Gu family. ‘A good-natured guy like me couldn't possibly withstand it.’ In any case. No matter how infamous Gu Huibi’s reputation might have been, there was only one irrefutable truth: ‘…Her talent outweighed even her infamous temperament.’ She had been lauded as the greatest of her generation, surpassing even the celebrated talents of the Wudang Sect's Dragon Youngpung and the Jade Dragon Uhyuk. Although her family was once renowned, it had since become a small, weakened household in Shanxi. Many wondered how the offspring of a martial artist, who was ranked among the lowest of grandmasters, could possess such talent. ‘…What's there to wonder about. She was just born a prodigy.’ After all, sometimes a dragon is born of a tiger. Life is full of unpredictable outcomes, isn’t it? ‘Even dogs are born from tigers sometimes.’ Naturally, I was the dog. Lost in self-recrimination, a thought suddenly surfaced. ‘No, perhaps a dragon was born of another dragon?’ Having glimpsed my father’s strength, Gu Huibi’s talent wasn’t all that surprising. One could easily say she heavily resembled our father. And that summed it up perfectly. Thus, Gu Huibi was exactly in that position. A monstrous woman who inherited her father’s talent. Considering her status, being called a prodigy wasn’t unexpected. ‘Yet, reaching such heights is peculiar.’ Her current level was oddly advanced. ‘How did it happen?’ It's not that I doubted Gu Huibi's talent. I simply found it excessive. ‘…It's true there are many who have reached new heights around me.’ Beyond Just Namgung Bia and Wi Seola, both Dangsoryeo and Uhyuk. I am aware that they’ve all experienced rapid growth, unlike in past lives. ‘That’s due to my intervention.’ Dang Soyeo is the only one I felt I had directly influenced, but it's undeniable that my actions caused ripples. Still. ‘I didn’t do much for Gu Huibi.’ Yet in this context, Gu Huibi had reached such heights. Although she had the talent to eventually reach there, the speed seemed unusually rapid. ‘Could this also be because of me?’ Or perhaps... ‘Is it because of that?’ I caught sight of the Celestial Demon glaring at me. Could it have done something to Gu Huibi? No, why are the two of them even sticking together in the first place? Questions piled up. Before I could exert my strength to unravel these mysteries, Gu Huibi stepped in front of me. "Brother. Enough." At Gu Huibi’s words, the Celestial Demon scowled. A subtle aura flickered around its hands as well. It was clearly preparing to fight me. However. "Yeona, your sister is speaking." "..." "Stop it." Gu Huibi’s stern voice subdued the Celestial Demon, who finally relented and retracted its energy, its face tense in annoyance. In this insane situation, I found myself at a loss for words. The Celestial Demon, listening to someone—it was a bizarre sight indeed. As I observed this in bewilderment, Gu Huibi sighed lightly and said, "We should move from here. This place…" "Sister, do you even know what that thing is you're keeping with you?" "…" "If you don't even understand what it is, then why—" "Just follow me." Gu Huibi cut me off. "I’ll explain once we're there. Just come along." With that, Gu Huibi turned her back on me and began to walk. The Celestial Demon cast a sharp glance my way before trailing after her. “…Ha." Watching them walk away, I swallowed my emotions. I observed the backs of Gu Huibi and the Celestial Demon. I bit my lip as I stared at them intently and finally set off to follow them. Throughout it all, my gaze was fixed solely on the back of the Celestial Demon. ******************** I followed them. Though the walk wasn't particularly long, night had fully fallen by the time we stopped. When I was beginning to wonder where we were headed, we finally arrived at our destination. Deep within a deserted forest, atop a lonely hill stood a small cabin. Was she really living here? Just as that thought crossed my mind, Gu Huibi entered the cabin. "Come on in." "..." Almost as if it had been waiting for her words, the Celestial Demon quickly slipped inside the cabin. Its movements were surprisingly familiar. In the pitch-black room, Gu Huibi waved her hand. With a whoosh—! A flame flickered to life in the extinguished lamp, revealing the somewhat messy interior. The Celestial Demon tilted its head, puzzled. "Sister, you were supposed to clean today." “…Ahem." Gu Huibi cleared her throat at the remark. "...I had something come up and forgot." “Uh-huh.” "I'm serious." “Uh-huh.” The Celestial Demon nodded expressionlessly at Gu Huibi's excuses. I watched this interaction in silence. And as my patience was wearing thin. "Yeona, would you step out for a while and take a walk?" Gu Huibi instructed the Celestial Demon. “Uh-huh.” Once more, without further comment, the Celestial Demon obeyed. As it turned, my gaze locked with its eyes for a moment. I felt my hand clench tightly as our shoulders brushed past one another. Creak. Thud. The door closed slowly, and the Celestial Demon's presence faded away. Only then did Gu Huibi finally sit down on the floor. “I don't have tea or anything. Do you need something?” "And if I say I do?" "I'd have to send someone for it. After a few errands, they get surprisingly good at it." "…" I didn’t need to ask who she meant by "someone." Was she seriously thinking of making the Celestial Demon run errands? "No need." I sighed and declined. I hadn't even wanted any tea in the first place. "Just explain things to me." "We haven't seen each other in so long, and you can’t even spare a word of greeting? This sister of yours feels quite hurt." "I'm not in the mood for jokes." At my frown, Gu Huibi chuckled softly. I didn’t appreciate that smile at all. "Explain what’s going on. Why are you keeping that thing with you?" I’d only half-believed what Morong Heeya had said. I never thought it could be true. But seeing this, her words were indeed credible. Gu Huibi was really carrying around the Celestial Demon. How could this be happening? At my question, Gu Huibi’s smile turned bitter. "That thing, brother? That's no way to refer to a person." "Stop deflecting. You can't possibly understand what that is, can you, sister?" "How could I not?" "What?" Her response made me furrow my brows. Does she know the Celestial Demon's true nature? How could she possibly know? Just as a wave of intense unease and doubt began to surface. "We both encountered something at the Black Night Palace—after witnessing that spectacle, how could I not know?" "..." Gu Huibi seemed to speak of the young Celestial Demon form we had seen at the Black Night Palace. At least it suggested she wasn't fully aware. However. "And you’re keeping that around even knowing what it is? Are you crazy?" Even from that brief encounter, it was evident that the Celestial Demon wasn't a normal being. Certainly not human. I was confident of that. "What are you planning by having something so dangerous by your side?" "And how do you know it's dangerous, brother?" "...Huh?" Gu Huibi's voice carried a sharp edge as she spoke, irritably. "How can you be sure whether that child is dangerous or not?" If I didn’t know, then who would? In a world of unknowns, I alone knew the truth. The Celestial Demon is a danger. It's simply not something that can easily be proven. Yet, it was a truth I alone held. "Isn't it obvious?" "There's no such thing as obvious, brother. Especially not for 'us.' Don’t you understand that?" "..." Gu Huibi's words left me speechless. Things were not going well. Her attitudinal firmness suggested her stubbornness would not easily break. Naturally. "Sister, I distinctly said not to deflect." When it came to obstinacy, I was just as inflexible. "I’m asking why you're keeping that with you. Keep dodging the question, and I’ll do things my way, conversations be damned." I’m holding back right now. At this point, I didn't care what Gu Huibi thought or wanted. I had a purpose right before me. I had decided no longer to avoid it. There was only one thing to do. "Explain. Before I decide to act." "It all ends if I stand up," I said, letting the gravity of my words sink in. "…" A deep sigh escaped Gu Huibi’s lips. "If you stand up...? Are you planning to harm the child?" I didn’t answer. My intentions were clear enough. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for her reply. "Hmm." In response to my silence, Gu Huibi calmed her previously fierce gaze, adopting a more composed demeanor. Contrary to my angry heart, I watched her with a sense of surprise. To see her remain calm rather than angry—I hadn't expected such a transformation since the last time I saw her. It had been years, and it seemed, just like her martial arts, she had undergone a significant change. And if it was indeed the Celestial Demon that had brought about such change, it was even more infuriating. "Brother." Gu Huibi, having thought things through, finally addressed me. "You can't." Her words made my eyes harden. "Are you trying to dismiss me?" "No, anyone else maybe, but not you. I'm being sincere here." Gu Huibi smiled. It was a light, refreshing smile, resembling that of our mother's. But it didn’t resonate with me. "Sister, I'm not in the mood to entertain nonsense." "The reason I’m with that child... It concerns the family." "…!" Her words made me freeze. Not just the words, but I ceased the energy I had been ready to unleash. 'Family business?' This was Gu Huibi speaking, no one else. Family business. This meant that Gu Huibi's reason for having the Celestial Demon was somehow related to the Gu family's affairs. "That's nonsense." Frustrated, I let my thoughts spill out. It sounded ridiculous. "Nonsense? You're really running out of things you won’t say to your sister, aren’t you?" "What else am I supposed to call it? Have you really lost your mind?" Gu Huibi wouldn’t be foolish enough to invoke family matters lightly. Even during my rogue days, I knew better than to misuse such words. Such matters held an unfathomable weight within the family. "How can you even add this to the family’s business?" "It’s exactly as it sounds." "Sister." "If you knew who 'sent' that child to me, you'd realize I'm telling the truth." Gu Huibi's words gave me an uneasy feeling. Someone sent the Celestial Demon to Gu Huibi? ‘Could it be a family member of the Gu clan?’ Is that why Gu Huibi referred to it as a family matter? 'Who could it be?' I racked my brain but couldn’t come up with any names. Who in the Gu family had the authority to declare something as family business just by sending someone? 'Aside from Father, there's no one else, is there?' Even with the elders and sword instructors in mind, the Gu family decisions revolved around the head of the family. Then, was it my father? 'No, it couldn't be.' I immediately rejected the notion. Father wouldn’t do such a thing. There was no way he would send something like that to Gu Huibi. Could it be Elder One? Though Elder One held considerable sway, it didn’t make any sense. 'If it were Elder One, he’s even less likely.' Then could it be the other elders? 'Those old goats are useless.' They're just hangers-on bearing the Gu surname, hardly the type to meddle in family affairs. 'No matter how I think about it, there's no one.' My mind came up blank, laden with deepening questions. Then, Gu Huibi provided the answer, gazing at me. "Grandfather." "…What?" What? "It was grandfather who sent the child to me." An entirely unexpected figure emerged.