924 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

# Chapter 924: The Arrival at Huashan Sect "Have you arrived?" "I greet the Grandmaster..." Upon reaching the Huashan Sect, Shin Noya was waiting at the entrance. The disciples promptly showed their respect upon seeing Noya. "You've all worked hard." "Ugh." Noya nodded slightly with a gentle smile. It was somewhat annoying, as if he was pretending to be kind. "It's late, so leave the organization for tomorrow and rest." "...Grandmaster..." At these words, Gu Bong stepped forward slightly. He seemed to have something to say. "Rest. You'll get the explanation from the one standing behind you." Shin Noya pointed toward me as he spoke. Hearing this, Gu Bong widened his eyes. "Grandmaster, but there is still a report I need to..." "You can report to me tomorrow. Now, go inside." "But..." "Go now." "..." At Shin Noya’s insistence, Gu Bong bit his lip. There seemed to be something more he wanted to say. "...Understood." He swallowed his words and merely bowed his head. "Dismissed." With that command, the disciples showed their respect and slowly dispersed. Before leaving, Gu Bong continued to glance back at Noya and me. Especially toward me, his gaze was unmistakably clear. He seemed to be hoping for something. If I had to guess, it would be: 'Please don't mention what happened.' It was blatantly obvious. He was silently pleading for discretion. Likely with some eye signals too. 'Like that would work on me.' There was no way the expression of a man like him would sway me. Of course, I planned to reveal everything. "Let's go." With those words, Noya went inside his quarters. Watching this, I turned to the Heavenly Demon and said, "Stay here." Though I didn't specify where, she nodded briefly and disappeared. ************* It was a room with nothing lit. Not even a trace of light. The air in the room was cold and stale. This could only mean one thing. 'This man has been outside for a long time.' It suggested that Shin Noya had been waiting outside rather than inside. I snapped my fingers. *Snap!* Immediately, a spark ignited, lighting the lamp on the table. "Why didn't you turn on the light? Are you being stingy?" Feigning ignorance, I asked, drawing a slight cough from Shin Noya. "I was just too lazy." His expression was an open book, easily revealing his fib, but I ignored it too. We both knew but pretended not to. Sitting on the desk, I noticed the amusing fact that the tea was already prepared. As if he anticipated the two of us would come in. While silently drinking tea. "So." Noya spoke. "How was it?" Suddenly, without any context. It was clear. He believed I understood what he intended. Annoyingly, he was correct. "It was shitty." I answered honestly. Shin Noya's face twisted comically at my words. "You sure speak your mind." "Sorry. There were just too many things today. I couldn't help but curse." "..." My comment seemed to embarrass Noya slightly. The man seemed to be aware of his own wrongdoing. "But... the outcome was effective, wasn't it?" "You're talking about effectiveness? If it were twice as effective, I'd have passed out." "...Haha." Normally, a punch would have come flying by now, but Noya simply laughed. After a brief chuckle, Noya said. "I apologize." His expression sobered when he said that. Hearing Noya actually apologize left me wide-eyed. It was unexpected. And a little unsettling. "...It's fine." I responded reluctantly. I didn't like feeling this way. "What's with the apology? It doesn't suit you." "As I said, I believed this was the fastest method." I sighed at Noya's explanation. I somewhat understood. After experiencing it, I could see his point, but, 'Even so.' I couldn't erase the thought that Noya had been a bit impatient with his choice. To be precise, "That's not like Noya." It differed from the actions I knew of Shin Cheol. That had been bothering me since earlier. Was that why I kept wanting to change the topic? "Let's drop it... Surely, there's something you're curious about." Noya nodded at my words. His reason for sending me. While part of it was hoping I'd understand the world better, I knew there was another reason. So. "When I first went to that place called Yawol." I began to recount the story Noya had been curious about. ******* The tale wasn't very long. I summarized it as best as I could, wrapping it up before I finished my cup of plum tea. "..." Noya remained quietly in thought. Perhaps because the events aligned with his predictions. Or maybe they were more complex than he had anticipated. Or perhaps for some other reason. I watched Noya as he deliberated. His introspective demeanor somewhat reminded me of myself. It wasn’t a resemblance of appearance, but somehow that thought crept in. '...Or maybe.' I unconsciously wished to emulate him. "I see." After a moment of silence, Noya spoke. "As I expected." His face reflected both understanding and a hint of complexity. I remained silent, waiting for Noya to continue. Because naturally, 'I already know.' I already knew what he was going to say next. Having come this far, there was only one thing he could say to me. After a brief wait, "Yangcheon." Noya called my name. My ears perked up. I frowned. -Yangcheon. Noya typically addressed me as a rookie. He rarely called me by my name. For Shin Noya to specifically call me that, it bore several significant meanings. "You have a request—" "Don't." I interrupted Noya's words. As I mentioned earlier, I already knew what Noya was going to say to me. It had been clear since I pieced together the situation during my time at Yawol. Therefore, "Don't apologize or make requests of me." Would a man like Noya be different? Would he truly not realize what I was about to say? I thought not. "I don't need any of that. Just carry on as you always have." "..." It irked me to see him apologizing or making requests despite knowing better. I chuckled and said, "The grumpiest old man in the world is getting embarrassed, huh?" "...You cheeky brat." Noya looked at me with an incredulous expression. Watching him, I stood up. "I'll handle it. I wasn't pleased to begin with... and it seems necessary if I want to return." The first statement was genuine; the latter a narrative for Gu Hal, untrue. Necessary to return? I didn’t think so. It might have been slightly related, but minimal at best. However, "So put the steel back in your gaze. Seeing you weak is off-putting." I hated seeing this old man pretend to be frail. "Goodbye." I turned and reached for the door without further ado. As I stepped out beyond the door, "Thank you." I heard Noya’s voice faintly. Yet again, I left him without a reply. ******* Every time I close my eyes, visions of that moment surface. A night drenched with rain countless decades ago. Finding refuge weakly within tree crevices, hiding my tears in the raindrops wetting my face. - Huff, huff... Crouching, clutching my aching abdomen. The body weary and exhausted beyond the point of sobbing, hunger and fatigue reigning over emotion. What should I do now? My mind remained blank. - Huff... Maybe I'm just going to die like this. Maybe I'll be abandoned and left to die. The child grew scared and eventually resigned. Ah. Dying like this doesn't matter anyway. If I die now, no one will remember. Neither my father nor my siblings, nobody who knew the child would. I'd just crumble into the earth and be forgotten. I'm useless anyway. So, it's fine. The child deliberately killed any desire for life while entertaining such thoughts. -I want to live... Then folded their face and cried. -Please save me... Even so, I wanted to live. I wanted to survive somehow. The child trembled and cried in the face of death. "Well, well." A voice spoke up from in front. Startled by the sound, the child flinched. Quickly on guard. Were they coming to finish me off? The child, terrified, tensed up. "Such lousy luck, indeed." What turned up was an old man wearing tattered clothes. A white-haired man with crimson eyes. His gaze was fierce, clutching something mysterious. Round and glowing a reddish-purple, it seemed almost like a jewel upon first glance. "Seeing black hair, I thought it might be him. Shouldn't have bothered." Clicking his tongue. The old man looked at the child. And the child had to stare, confused. Wasn't he here to kill me? When that curiosity sprouted. "Hey, didn't you say you saw something and insisted we come? Crazy fool. Assume anyone with black hair is the guy? You said you found someone extraordinary, but it's useless." Suddenly, the old man began speaking to thin air. To see this made the child more terrified. Ah, I see. He's a crazy old man. Realizing this, I saw something unseen before. ...a tail. The old man lacked the usual ears and tail. What is this? A creature I've never seen. "Ah, perhaps..." Is it the monster Mother told about, the one who escorts you as you near death? Is that why I'm truly dying now? The child thought of this, reaching out a trembling hand. A tiny hand clutched the old man's pant leg. "Mm?" Startled, the old man reacted. "Save me..." "What?" "Save... save me... I want to live... please..." He sobbed. Tears that should have dried flowed again, no longer able to hold them back. "Heh..." The old man gave a derisive laugh. "I’m in no situation to take in or look after anyone." His voice was clearly troubled. Yet. "Nevertheless, black hair, seldom seen around." The old man eventually began stroking the child's hair. "Is this all fate? Or do you have something you intend to gain?" Speaking as if pondering aloud, the old man sighed and asked the child, "What's your name, little one?" "..." Name. Hearing that word, the crying child clammed up. Afraid to say it, worried about being discarded. Thus he remained silent. "...I don't know." That was all he could reluctantly whisper. A strange answer if ever there was one. "Really?" Paying it no mind, the old man spoke more. "Then shall I give you one?" "..." The child nodded. There lay no right of refusal. "Mm... let me think." After a brief pause, the old man clapped his hands, having found inspiration. "Ah, the man I sought had the surname Gu. How about Gu Bong, so you never become a pawn? From now on, you’re Gu Bong." And that was when the child's name became Gu Bong. It was the moment Gu Bong found salvation through the old man. "..." Upon finishing that memory, Gu Bong awoke. Immediately sitting up, "...Huh." He sighed. Perhaps due to the previous day's events, he dreamt again of the past he rarely dreamt of. While essential to remember, dreaming it now boded ill. For, it connected closely to the one the Grandmaster had awaited every day. This realization made Gu Bong scowl. “…Damn." Glimpsing the one presently residing in Huashan added to Gu Bong’s frustration, as he swore under his breath. "Why the harsh words first thing in the morning? Did you have a nightmare?" "It wasn't a nightmare. Just... huh?" Gu Bong widened his eyes at the interruption. He heard a voice he shouldn't have. Turning his head quickly, there stood— "Hello?" Gu Yangcheon, the guest of the Grandmaster and the very person Gu Bong was concerned about. "You're awake?" Gu Yangcheon greeted Gu Bong with a smile. "...What?" Gu Bong was bewildered by the strange situation. At that moment— "Then let's go get some work done." "What the—!?" Gu Yangcheon suddenly grabbed Gu Bong by the collar and effortlessly lifted him. It all happened in an instant.