778 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 778 of "The World's Best Martial Artist's Childhood Friend" - Northern Rabbit "Dad..." "...What?" The unexpected title stopped my thoughts altogether. It was a word I had neither spoken nor heard in my entire life. What exactly did I just hear? ‘Did someone just call me Dad?’ The unfamiliar word made me squint in confusion. No matter how much I looked, this child bore a striking resemblance to my younger self. At most, the child looked to be seven, definitely not older than ten. The small frame was just like mine before I shed my cocoon, regardless of age. Their small eyes seemed full of discontent, yet they gazed at me steadily. Even though they seemed confused, their gaze remained fixed on me. "..." There was no mistake—this child looked exactly like me. But the question remained. ‘What in the world is this?’ So, who or what is this child supposed to be? Certainly, he wasn't a version of me from the past. Why was this child here, especially perched on Namgung Bia's lap? "..." "..." For a brief moment, the child and I locked eyes. After a few seconds, they made the first move. The little one, who had been nestled in Namgung Bia's arms, began to wriggle free. "...Ah..." As the child left her embrace, Namgung Bia let out a short, wistful sigh. Surely, the disappointment I sensed was just my imagination...? As the child landed softly on the ground, they walked over to me calmly, keeping their eyes fixed on mine. As they drew closer, my impression of them grew stronger. They had a truly prickly demeanor. Since they were young, it didn’t stir up any outright rejection, but they didn't look like a child with a gentle temperament either. The child, without hesitation, approached me. Thud. "…?" Unexpectedly, they wrapped their arms around my leg. Because of my stature after shedding the cocoon, their tiny figure could only manage to encircle my leg. "What is this?" Taken aback by the sudden embrace, I tried to pry them off. "...Dad." But instead, the child uttered the same title as before. Perplexed as to why this was happening, I tried again to detach them when I felt a vibration near my heart. "...!" As soon as contact was made, a short tremor, a faintly resonating sensation. The moment I felt it, my eyes widened. ‘Ah.’ Now I understood this little mystery's true identity. So that’s what it was... “You—.” Just as I was about to speak about what I'd realized. "...Dad? You definitely said Dad, right?" "Are you really saying you're a dad?" "...Dad? But the kid’s so young." "Impressive, you're more manly than I thought, Young Master Gu. Yes, a man should... Don't look at me like that, Madam Nongyo." "..." With all the voices coming at me from every direction, I had to clamp my mouth shut. I raised my head, looking away from the child to the gathered assembly of people, all focused intently on me. Their stares were nothing short of terrifying. Particularly, Moyong Hee ah's glare was intense. Her expression, shifting from doubt to conviction, unsettled me. Seeing their reactions, I let out a sigh in disbelief. “What are you all thinking?” I knew they were harboring some wild misconception, but it was so outlandish I couldn’t even find words. “It's not like that.” I wondered if I should offer an explanation, as the looks on their faces made clear that staying silent wasn’t an option. “It's not, right?” “Of course not. Does it make sense to you?” I was too young to be a parent. Add to that... “Look at the kid's age.” No matter how young you supposed this child might be, six, maybe seven, certainly under ten at least. Putting that together with my age, the implication was absurd. “At what age would you have to have a kid? It doesn't add up at all.” Though I wouldn't be the one giving birth, the point was it couldn’t be true. At least five years ago, that would have meant... ‘That's when I was buried in training.’ It was a time not long after my regress, where I was busy planning and training. In those times mainly devoted to cultivating, how would I have sired a child like this? ‘Considering age, I’d have needed the child years ago.’ That's considering my past life too, not just this one. ‘Truthfully, it’s even late for marriage now...’ Even if I had married, it should’ve happened sooner. If there were any children, they should've been born around now. For now, delaying it was all I could do. ‘There’s only so much one person can handle with the responsibilities I’m juggling.’ Both marriage and fatherhood would be too burdensome, adding weaknesses and vulnerabilities that I preferred to avoid. For those reasons, I continued to delay these commitments. “What kind of nonsense are you all entertaining?” Perhaps not realizing my situation, others continued wearing expressions full of doubt. Even acknowledging it was difficult, it’s understandable why they might think that. "...But, objectively." "You two look just...exactly alike." "And they did say Dad, right?" "..." As much as I would like to deny it, they were right. Even to me, the resemblance was uncanny. How would it seem to an outsider? Especially given the child clinging to me, calling me Dad, it made the unbelievable seem plausible. However. "…Regardless, it isn't my child. I'm telling you, it’s not." It was a wrongful accusation against me. ‘Damn. I'd feel less wronged if I had any involvement.’ I've been living a forcibly innocent life. Though the previous life may have had its sins, this one's been nothing but clean. As I displayed my sense of injustice, Moyong Hee ah, with a deeply furrowed brow, addressed me. “So, exactly who is this child then?” "…Can you give us an explanation? Why is she here?" "From your reaction, it seems like you know this child." "..." Moyong Hee ah's inquiry prompted me to gulp slightly. I considered pretending ignorance, but that would be unreasonable. ‘Claiming ignorance would only complicate matters further.’ Not only was the face identical, but I knew this child’s identity too. Though why they looked like this was a mystery, feigning ignorance here would be a disastrous move. As I hesitated, unable to yet provide an explanation, Moyong Hee ah continued coldly. “…The child was discovered in your quarters. Naked, as a matter of fact." “What?” Discovered in my quarters? By Namgung Bia? I looked at Namgung Bia with a puzzled expression. It seemed it happened around the time I passed out from expending too much energy, but why did this kid end up in my quarters? As I examined Namgung Bia's face with skepticism, she averted her eyes. Is there something she's hiding? I was about to ask why she went there, but Moyong Hee ah spoke up first. "We dressed the child, but they kept calling for Dad. And just look at them…" Doesn't the child look exactly like you? It was an undeniable fact. "So, everyone gathered here thinking the child was mine?" "Not exactly knowing. It seemed necessary to confirm." "What confirmation? You all seemed pretty convinced." They were ready to threaten me if I didn't show up. That implied they already believed the child was mine. Even now, despite my insistence that the child wasn't mine, there's no sign on their faces that they believed me. The doubt had not waned. Moyong Hee ah's expression clearly showed it, as she asked me again. "Are you truly saying it's not true?" "It's not," I replied, trying to keep my frustration in check. The annoyance was building up. "I'm aware they look like me, but there's no way…" As I was about to continue, I felt a tug at my pants. Looking down, the child was pulling on my clothes. "What now?" I asked, feeling bewildered. The child's expression was changing rapidly. "...Dad...?" Their eyes filled with tears, looking increasingly forlorn. What is that look...? "I'm not… your dad...?" "..." Their eyes, seemingly in shock, began to quiver, moisture welling up at the corners. Uh-oh, this isn't good. "Hey, hey! Why are you about to cry?" "Dad..." "Why do you keep calling me Dad! I'm not your Dad! Go away!" Something felt terribly wrong. Frantically, I stepped back to distance myself, but naturally— "...Jerk." "You're a jerk." "How could you, Young Master...?" "..." "Hey…." The atmosphere around me grew ominous. To everyone else, I now appeared as the heartless man denying his own child. This damned expression on the kid's face only added fuel to the fire. As I searched for a way to quell this crisis, a voice called out softly. "Come here…." It was Namgung Bia, who had been sitting silently. When she called, the teary-eyed child turned and toddled into her arms. I watched in disbelief as she lifted the child with practiced ease, wrapping them gently in her embrace, then gave me a steady gaze. "..." The expression was unchanged, simply an unyielding stare, but to me, it felt like a demand for an explanation. ‘What explanation can I give?’ Even confronted with those eyes, all I could say was one thing. "Again, it's not true." "Not true…?" "Yes. I am not this child's father…." "…Understood…." "What?" Namgung Bia nodded at my response, leaving me speechless. She seemed uninterested, too absorbed in cuddling and soothing the child, softly brushing their hair. That scene made the others fall silent, their faces slack with surprise. Moyong Hee ah's expression in particular was hard to read. She seemed both angry and bewildered. In my view, it was both. “Machang….” Moyong Hee ah eventually addressed Namgung Bia. “Is that all?” “…?” Namgung Bia tilted her head in confusion, as if not understanding the question. “…What's…?” “Is that all you had to ask?” “…Yes….” Namgung nodded casually, speaking as if it was the most natural thing. "…He said it wasn't him." That was enough for her. However, it seemed Moyong Hee ah was struggling to comprehend Namgung Bia's acceptance. "You just believe that?" "…Yes…." "How can you trust so easily…." "Hee ah." "..." About to explode, Moyong Hee ah stopped abruptly at the sound of Namgung Bia calling her name. Even I found it surprising. It was rare for Namgung Bia to call someone by their name. "Why the sudden formality…." "You already understand." "What do you mean?" "He said it wasn't him. So it's not. In this matter, at least, that’s the truth.... You know that, Hee ah." "..." Moyong Hee ah was silent following Namgung Bia's firm statement. Logically, one would expect the analytical Moyong Hee ah to offer a rebuttal to such a claim. Surprisingly, no words came. Moyong Hee ah clenched her delicate hand into a fist. Her expression suggested she had much to say. Yet, nothing was said. Does that mean she agreed? Soft pats echoed softly in the room, as Namgung Bia gently consoled the child. As silence cloaked the gathering, Moyong Hee ah turned her attention back to me. "Then, who is this child?" "What...?" "...The child isn't yours... yet was found in your quarters, holds such resemblance, and you know the child. So, who are they?" "..." I swallowed hard in response to Moyong Hee ah's inquisitive stare. It wasn't true, and yet her demeanor demanded an explanation. Understandably, she couldn't just brush it off like Namgung Bia did. Of course, I needed to explain. But. ‘How do I explain this?’ The child nestled in Namgung Bia’s arms… Or rather, what used to be the child. ‘Why did that little one turn out like this?’ My head throbbed with frustration. Yes, I did know this one. Even though I didn't understand why it resembled my young self, or how it ended up in my quarters. It was certain this was someone I recognized. I should have noticed immediately, though perhaps the drastic change in appearance delayed my recognition. The identity of this little one was none other than... ‘Doldol Yi….’ It was Doldol Yi. A few years prior, I had hunted a red beast in Sichuan. He was born from the beast’s magic stone that absorbed my energy. Initially, he was a little snake, but as time went on, he grew larger and more fearsome. Perhaps linked to my own development, Doldol Yi seemed to transform more dramatically as I grew stronger. Recently, whenever he reached his maximum size, he would grow as large as a mountain, making it impossible to keep him by my side easily. That’s how things had been, though. ‘Why has he changed like this?’ Now, he wasn't an enormous beast but had taken on a human form. I wondered if it wasn’t Doldol Yi, but that was impossible. ‘No, it has to be him.’ The connection directly linked him to me. Even now, I could feel the familiar bond with my heart coming from him. This child was Doldol Yi, I was sure of it. But why had this gigantic creature turned into this form? If I were to identify the cause, one clear reason came to mind. ‘Is it because of me again?’ Doldol Yi's form altered as I grew stronger. This means that his new appearance might be due to some change within me. Especially after fainting alongside the magic stone. With my body undergoing significant transformations, there was no other plausible cause. Something altered, and because of that, Doldol Yi assumed a human form. It seemed reasonable to conclude that. As for why he now resembled my younger self... ‘Could it be because he carries my energy?’ Being a creature born of my energy, it’s an explanation that makes sense. That would mean... ‘...by this logic, is he my child?’ Theoretically, it could be argued that he is somewhat akin to a child of mine. ‘...But claiming he’s my son is just strange.’ The problem lay in the fact that I couldn't openly admit or explain this entire scenario to everyone. "Young Master." "…" If he's not your child, then what is he? Those eyes demanded an explanation more insistently now. How was I going to resolve this predicament? Should I just own up to it? ‘Ah, maybe not.’ Even I, no matter how foolish, knew acknowledging it here would be a disaster. Or... ‘Should I just brazen it out?’ Yes, he's my child. What does it even matter to you all? We don’t exactly have a close relationship, do we? I didn't mention it because no one asked me. For a moment, I considered this audacious approach. ‘...This is... not the way.’ Logically, it might make sense, but internally, my mind vehemently resisted this path. It screamed that speaking those words would bring ruin. ‘Then what can I do….’ As I grappled with a hundred thoughts a second, a thought suddenly sparked. "Ah." A realization dawned on me. "Young Master? Will you say something…?" "He's my brother." "What?" Moyong Hee ah's eyes widened in disbelief at my abrupt declaration. Her expression showed she thought she must have misheard. "What did you just say…?" "I said he's my brother. This kid, he’s my brother." "Are you saying…?" "Yes, exactly. I’m not his father." I gestured towards myself and made the assertion. Then pointed at Doldol Yi, adding, "Our father is his father." Crash—! "Eh?" A sound of shattering glass reached my ears. I turned around. There, on the floor, were the shards of what was once a glass. And standing there was... "...Mrs. Mi?" Mrs. Mi stood frozen, her expression hardened in shock.