670 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith
Chapter 670: Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive I was forced to halt, slightly dazed, after hearing Gu Hee-bi's words. 'Grandfather?' An entirely unexpected figure had emerged. Grandfather (祖父). If my understanding was correct, this referred to the previous head of the Gu family, my father's father. 'Who could that be...?' It was someone I had never known. To be precise, it was someone whose name I had never even heard. In both my previous and current lives, I had never met a grandfather nor heard anything about him. All I knew was that he had died before I was born. The Gu family, unlike other clans, did not engage in ancestral rites or ceremonies, so I naturally assumed he was deceased and had never given it much thought. And now, suddenly, he had popped up? 'Is he saying Grandfather is alive?' I had heard the story a few times. Even the Empress had mentioned it once, but I had never given it much thought. 'Is Grandfather the one who entrusted Gu Hee-bi with the Heavenly Demon?' Could it be any more unexpected? "Grandfather, all of a sudden? What do you mean by that?" As I questioned with a hint of skepticism, Gu Hee-bi flicked my forehead. I could've avoided it, but I didn't bother. Thwack-! Clutching my throbbing forehead, I looked at Gu Hee-bi. "Little brother, calling him just 'grandfather' is impolite." "Well, what else should I call him?" "You lack respect." "I didn't expect to hear the word 'respect' from you." It was absurd for someone known throughout Central Heaven for her harsh temper to speak of respect. "I find it excessive to show respect for someone whose face and name I don't even know. So, is what you're saying true?" Whether Grandfather was alive or not didn't matter to me. In both this life and the previous, he was someone I had never met, so his existence was irrelevant. But. "If Grandfather entrusted that to you, Sister, is that true?" If he had entrusted the Heavenly Demon to Gu Hee-bi, it would change the narrative entirely. It would become a matter of the family. "Why would I lie to my little brother?" "You might have a reason if I looked for it." "That's disappointing. Is our relationship really that shallow? I cleaned up after you when you were a child and played with you so much…." "Sister." I cut her off, sensing she was about to ramble. "I'm not joking." "Hmm." Time dragged on, testing my patience. "Is it really true that Grandfather entrusted it to you?" I asked suspiciously, and instead of answering, Gu Hee-bi reached out her hand. "Grab it." Knowing what she intended to do, I grasped her hand without hesitation. Woom-! Energy stirred. Our energies intertwined, and Gu Hee-bi's mastery of Gui Yeum Hwa Ryun Gong resonated with mine. "From now on, I'll speak nothing but the truth to you." As Gu Hee-bi spoke, the energy began to bind us. A binding vow. Gu Hee-bi had linked her energy with mine, casting a binding vow upon herself. "Starting from the question you asked earlier." I didn't waste time with unnecessary questions like why she was doing this. We had long known that this was the most comfortable way for us. "Yes. Grandfather entrusted that child to me." The energy remained still. Her pulse and breathing were steady. It was the truth. "Then.... since when-." "Little brother. That's not how it works." Just as I was about to inquire further, Gu Hee-bi interrupted me with a smile. "One question each. Don't be greedy and ask everything at once." "..." Did she even have anything to ask me? "Go on." Despite frowning at Gu Hee-bi's words, I whispered without much consideration. "From now on, I'll answer your questions with only the truth." "Good." Gu Hee-bi seemed satisfied with my response and smiled. Then she asked me a question. "Will you kill that child?" The abruptness of the question caused me to nod slightly. It was direct, so I answered immediately. "It depends." Though ambiguous, my mind had long been set. I wondered if I hadn't been too hasty in voicing my thoughts. "...Why?" "Because it's what needs to be done." My stance on this remained unchanged. "Killing that child is something you need to do?" "Sister, stop treating it like a child. It's not." "Little brother." "I know you're speaking from ignorance, so I'm holding back. Don't push me with strange words." Annoyance was rising. I had tried to hold it in, but she was making it impossible. As I calmed my growing irritation, I looked at Gu Hee-bi. "...Little brother, has something changed about you?" With an expression tinged with sadness, Gu Hee-bi observed me. Her gaze pierced my heart, making it ache. "I have changed. I needed to." But even so, nothing was different. "Sister, you've changed too. Why do you keep defending it?" "Well." Facing my inquiry, Gu Hee-bi laughed as she continued. "But, I believe once you come to know that child, you'll change your mind too. So,." "I don't want to know." Ridiculous. I didn't need to hear more. 'What more do I need to understand here?' It was something I'd dealt with exhaustively in my past life. It was a matter that held no further importance or needed understanding. 'The Heavenly Demon is not like Namgoong Bia or Jegal Hyuk.' People can change. Living this life had taught me that, but the Heavenly Demon was on a different level. Could the Heavenly Demon also change? Perhaps. However. 'How can you believe that so confidently?' And if it didn't happen? Would I be able to handle the consequences? Without certainty, it was better to address it before events unfolded. "Is that really the right decision for you, little brother?" "It's beyond right or wrong now. As I said earlier, it's simply something that must be done. Now tell me." I've reached my limit. Emotion started blending with the energy. "Why did Grandfather entrust that to you, Sister?" "..." Creak. The old table began to tremble from the energy. It wasn't intended as a threat. It was merely the result of not being able to fully suppress my turbulent energy. "..." "..." Our eyes met, carrying the heat of our resolve. Time passed. Though it was but an instant, the moment felt unusually prolonged. As time flowed, it was Gu Hee-bi who broke the silence first. Just as I thought she was about to answer— "I'm not going to answer." "...What?" At her words, my already creased face twisted even more. "...What kind of madness is this?" "It seems there's nothing more to say to a brother who's already made up his mind, don't you think?" In essence, she was telling me to take it or leave it. I glared at Gu Hee-bi, but her demeanor remained unchanged. That left me with only one recourse. "Do as you please." If she wouldn't speak, I wouldn't press further. The binding vow simply ensured that lies wouldn't be spoken. "I'll just do as I please too." Family matters? A request from Grandfather? What do I care? I would simply do what I had to do. With that thought, I stood up. Screech. There was the sound of a sword being drawn. Whooo-! A dark sword resonance filled the room. Chilled by the ominous energy, my gaze hardened. "Sister." I spoke without turning my head. It was Gu Hee-bi who had drawn a sword. She turned and pointed its tip at my back. Fwoosh. Flames flowed from her hand, enveloping her sword. Heat radiated outward. With flames spinning, the heat intensified. There was no hostility, yet there was resistance. That stance was clearly expressed by Gu Hee-bi’s sword. "What does this mean?" "It means exactly what you see." Gu Hee-bi said, a bitter smile on her face. "As long as your intentions are clear, I can't let you approach that child." "So? Do you intend to fight me?" "Fight? Do I look like someone with no sense to you?" Fwoosh-! The flames intensified. "It'd be a one-sided loss. You're strong, after all." "..." Her straightforward admission left me momentarily speechless. For someone as prideful as Gu Hee-bi to admit something so paltry. Even as she said this, there was not a flicker of change in her expression. Normally, she would have gritted her teeth and refused to acknowledge it. Yet even having resigned, here she stood with sword drawn? 'Did achieving enlightenment bring about a mental change?' I couldn't tell. Whatever changes Gu Hee-bi experienced in the past few years were beyond my understanding. Nonetheless... "Even knowing that, you won't let me pass? Have you lost your mind, Sister?" Regardless of the reasons, I was becoming more infuriated by the minute. "Is that thing so precious to you?" So precious that my sister would point a sword at me? I said nothing else. Just as the words were about to leave my mouth, I stopped. Though we shared the same father, our relationship had never been close enough to be called family. And so, I didn't say it. To call her family would be presumptuous, especially since I was the one who orchestrated her last moments. [Be happy.] Even as she bled and closed her eyes, Gu Hee-bi had implored me to be happy. Remembering that infuriated me. 'Damn it.' Sighing in frustration, I cursed inwardly. Whoosh. I circulated my energy to calm myself. I couldn't let emotions take over. Now was a time to be particularly cautious. Furthermore. "Sister, you keep misunderstanding. It's not about whether you win or lose." Gu Hee-bi was remarkable. How she reached her current strength, I couldn't say, but achieving such a level at her age pointed to her potential to become a future Sword Empress candidate. Nevertheless. "If I end it before it starts, that's all there is to it." Considering my own abilities, it would likely take no more than three seconds. With that, all I had to do was defeat her and move on. Crunch. I launched myself towards Gu Hee-bi. I needed to finish it quickly and leave. "…!" I closed in so quickly that Gu Hee-bi's eyes widened in surprise. In that instant. Crash--!!! Something crashed through the collapsing roof of the hut. Boom-! Crrrraccck---!! As energies collided, a powerful wave exploded outward. Dominating energy swept the area, obliterating the old hut and turning the ground into a chaotic mess. Amidst the swirling dust stood a figure blocking my path. The swirling energy was a deep, unlit black. It seemed to stabilize the turbulent energy before me, glaring fiercely in my direction. "...Who are you?" "…" "Why are you bothering my sister?" As I looked at the woman before me, I felt my heart turn cold. The Heavenly Demon. The Heavenly Demon stood protectively in front of Gu Hee-bi, her eyes sharp and transformed. Her violet eyes were more brilliant than the moon. Her dark hair, tinged with purple, was more beautiful than a starry night. Apart from her unique aura, it was the same appearance as the Heavenly Demon from my past life. "Don't bother my sister." "...Ha." Her words forced a laugh from me. How could I not laugh? "This isn't right. It's too absurd." Wasn't this going too far? "Of all things, you shouldn't be standing there like that." "…" The change was too extreme. To witness this... Seeing the Heavenly Demon standing protectively before Gu Hee-bi... How could things be so perversely contradictory? Watching her, the emotions I had repressed began to tremble. Anxieties vanished. Lingering fears disappeared. And the guilt that remained turned cold, transforming into fury. "That place was never meant for me, and it's certainly not for you." A position of protecting Gu Hee-bi. It didn't matter who occupied it, but it should never be me or you. That had to be the case. "Especially if you're so ignorant of it all." The Heavenly Demon furrowed her brows at my words, tilting her head in confusion. "I don't understand what you're saying. Just don't bother my sister." "Yeon-ah, hold on…." "If you keep bothering my sister." The Heavenly Demon nodded slightly and spoke to me. "Even 'you' won't be forgiven." "…" Her words resonated within, shaking me to my core. Forgiveness? Was the Heavenly Demon speaking to me about forgiveness? "You dare to utter such a thing?" It was absurd. Both of us. Standing in positions where forgiveness should be unattainable, how could we speak such words so casually? As I stood facing the Heavenly Demon, a fragmented saying floated to the surface of my mind. - Forgetfulness is a blessing. I couldn't clearly recall when or from whom I'd heard those words, but they seemed to resonate eerily well with the current situation. Indeed, forgetfulness is a blessing. It was likely her inability to remember anything that allowed her to speak as she did. 'No, even if you remembered, you'd still be the same.' That's what makes one the Heavenly Demon. She'd feel not an ounce of guilt and would eventually engulf the world in a tide of blood once more. The being before me was precisely that. It had to be. Crack. I unfurled my energy, letting it course through my body. It started from my heart, diving through my meridians, overtaking my entire being. Hsss. My hair turned a darker shade of black, and blood vessels rose in my eyes. The sword wrapped in my hand, Gui-jeong, grew deeper in color. "Right, perhaps I've been overthinking this. Ending it here is all it takes." "Little broth—!" Gu Hee-bi began to shout, attempting to stop me, but— Boom! My body had already reached the Heavenly Demon. Clench— "!" I seized her throat with a tight grip. I unleashed my energy, propelling us upwards. This was everything I had envisioned from the moment I resolved to prevent a bloodbath. No matter what, I would kill the Heavenly Demon. Now was the moment to act on that resolve.