1109 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**The World's No. 1 Martial Artist's Childhood Friend Chapter 1109** “…….” “…….” He visited the quarters abruptly and met with Namgung Hyung. With a somewhat dazed look on his face, likely from having just woken up, he stared at me. Gradually, focus returned to his eyes as he wrapped his arms around his body. “…Are you here to kill me?” He cautiously asked, a trace of fear evident in his expression. “No,” I replied with a sigh. Suddenly, Namgung Hyung burst into laughter. “Aha, just teasing you. You don't have much of a reaction, do you?” “Want me to make it real for you?” I retorted. “Ah, no thanks,” he replied, the relief evident on his face, suggesting his earlier reaction wasn’t an act but genuine. “So, why did you come to see me?” he asked. “To silence you.” “Didn’t you just say you weren't here to kill me?” “Killing isn’t the only way to silence someone.” “Ah, good point,” he nodded in understanding. Then he said, “Hold on a second.” He went to a corner and retrieved something—a small table. Where did that come from? Placing it in front of me, he drew out something from a drawer. It was two teacups and some tea leaves. Why did those come out of there? “I don’t have much to offer, but would you like some tea?” he asked. “The quality looks poor. How old is it?” The condition of the tea leaves didn’t appear consumable at all. “Not sure.” “No thanks.” “Alright then,” Namgung Hyung said as he shoved the teacups back into the drawer. “Well, I have nothing else to offer.” “Don’t worry about being a host.” “I’ve always heard you should offer something when you have a guest.” He appeared slightly embarrassed as he settled in front of the table. “Anyway… How do you plan to keep me quiet?” It was a curious juxtaposition; the way he casually picked his nose didn’t match his refined appearance. “I didn’t go into the restricted area on purpose,” I started. “Oh, come on, why play coy with another player?” Namgung Hyung grinned slyly. “If you wanted to let it slide, you shouldn’t have knocked me out.” “That’s because you attacked first.” “I had a reason. You didn’t, did you? Are you saying we're the same?” “What are you suggesting? You're an intruder too, weren't you? Sneaking in just the same?” Admittedly, sneaking in together was technically true. “What are you talking about? I’m still blood of this family.” Namgung Hyung was a member of the Namgung clan by blood. That was precisely the issue. “I would just end up getting scolded. But you, Shenlong, it’s different for you, isn’t it?” “No.” “Then tell me. What are you up to? Got business with our family? Oh, perhaps…” Namgung Hyung’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you planning to kill my father?” “What sort of nonsense is that?” I frowned at the chilling comment. What madness was he spouting? “Oh, wasn’t it?” “Are you insane?” “Why? It’s something that could happen from time to time, isn’t it? It’s awkward, but I could turn a blind eye if it’s that…” “What are you talking about?” The absurdity of him suggesting he would overlook killing his father, Namgung Jeo-Hwi, almost drew laughter from me. Just then, Namgung Jeo-Hwi gestured toward the room with his hand. “Can’t you see? I’m not really treated well in this family?” “Are you saying you want to kill your father then?” “No, even then, I wouldn’t do such a beastly thing. But if someone else did, it might work out.” “Madness.” “It’d be even better if the entire Namgung family were burned down.” “Are you insane?” “A little?” Namgung Hyung’s smile seemed strangely off. “Living like this here can drive you crazy.” “……” A stillness crept through the dimly lit room, a silence that spoke volumes. Namgung Hyung had already been broken in some way. ‘Is this why he stole the Dragon Seal and fled?’ From this standpoint, it wasn’t such a surprising action. “So if it’s that kind of thing, I can pretend not to notice.” “Sorry, but that’s not going to happen.” Killing Namgung Jeo-Hwi would unleash unforeseen consequences. Plus. ‘Though the bloodline is irksome…’ I didn’t know much about it yet, but I wanted to avoid getting involved with Namgung’s affairs if I could. Especially considering Namgung-Bia. “Is that so? What a pity,” Namgung Hyung nodded as if genuinely disappointed. “If not for that, how did you plan to keep me silent?” "……." "I don’t suppose you have something in mind?" “Is killing the only option?” “If you’re muttering to yourself, keep it down, I can hear you.” “I meant for you to hear.” “Wow.” Namgung Hyung marveled at my words. “You’re crazy too, aren't you?” “…….” …By ‘too,’ he must be admitting he knows he’s not normal, right? “I don’t mind dying, though it seems a bit of a waste… You clearly have something you want; just nothing against the Namgung family, right?” “…I just had some business.” “In a family stronghold? Outsiders?” “……” “Will you answer if I ask what business?” “Haven’t thought up any excuses.” “Oh… so you’re not planning on telling me?” With bemusement, Namgung Hyung looked at me. “This is quite… troublesome. If I don’t stop, you really might kill me, right?” “……!” His words made my eyes widen for a moment. It was a consideration I had but didn’t expect him to catch onto. “Wow, was it true? I was just guessing.” “That wasn’t my intention.” “Don’t kid yourself. You could kill with those eyes just now.” What was in my eyes? It was just surprise, nothing special. “Scary. They call you a Shenlong… You’re even more bizarre than I expected. Are you sure you’re from the righteous path?” “Somewhat?” I wasn’t really Shenlong, but I didn’t bother correcting him. Because right now, it seemed more beneficial to leave it at that. “I’d prefer not to die… but it doesn’t sit right to just ignore it. What should I do about this?” Faced with the possibility of being killed if he didn’t keep quiet, he remained unnervingly calm. Looking at Namgung Hyung’s younger self, the more peculiar he seemed. ‘Has he grown saner with age?’ Though eccentric, he wasn’t this much off the rails. “Ah, right.” Suddenly Namgung Hyung seemed to have recalled something. “Could you do me a favor?” “A favor?” Suddenly? Puzzled, I looked at Namgung Hyung, who erased his smile and gazed at me seriously. “Yes, a favor.” "What kind of favor?" "It's nothing major. Oh, by the way, when are you leaving?" "…Not sure. Maybe in about seven nights?" "That sounds about right. So here's the thing." Namgung Hyung leaned in closer. "During that time, if I have something to ask of you, could you help me with it?" "I’d need to know what it is first." "It won't be anything big. If you don't like it, you can refuse. How about it?" "……." It sounded like a hassle. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became that the best course was to keep him quiet by any means necessary, rather than getting involved in whatever he might request. Even though using mind control or a sealing technique was unappealing in this era, it seemed better than encountering unforeseen complications from getting involved in matters beyond understanding. As I mulled this over, a thought crossed my mind. 'Just endure it three more times.' Tsk. The future disciple of this person came to mind. That was the issue. ‘Damn it.’ Not helpful in the least. "Alright." "Oh! Really?" "I'll try my best. Is that enough to keep quiet?" "Of course." "And we don't have to cast any seals or anything?" "A man’s word is his bond, right?" "…Alright then." I stood up. I wasn’t entirely sure how this conversation resolved so easily. Perhaps it's because I have no particular attachment to the Namgung family? Or maybe it's because... 'I know the kind of person Namgung Hyung is.' That’s why such a deal could be made. It was all terribly odd, yet it somehow worked out. As I was leaving Namgung Hyung’s room, a thought struck him. "Oh, and one more thing." “Hmm?” I paused and turned back to look at Namgung Hyung. "You seem to be under a misconception, so let me clarify. I’m not a Shenlong." "What?" "Just letting you know." "What? Wait a minute—!" Ignoring his attempt to grasp the situation, I leapt into the air. Dismissing everything, I soared into the sky, quickly altering my viewpoint. ‘Ah, right.’ As I flew, I remembered something I had forgotten. '…I should have asked about that burrow.' Why was there a burrow connecting under Namgung Hyung's quarters to the restricted area? It was something I wanted to ask but had missed the chance. ‘Tsk.’ Should I go back? I pondered it for a moment but decided against it. It wasn’t something I needed to worry about. After all. 'As long as Namgung Myeong's presence isn’t in the restricted area, there’s no reason to meddle with Namgung family business.' The only matters that concerned me now were relating to Do-Yun and my father. And my mother. As I flew toward my quarters again, suddenly— Bang-! “Hmm?” A rough sound echoed in my ears. Bang-! Clang! Bang! The noise of chains clashed with rapid succession. I turned my gaze toward the direction of the sound. It came from within the Namgung family’s training hall. "…." Bang-! Bang-! Was the noise an issue? Without realizing it, my feet began to move toward the source of the sound. As I gradually approached the area, there was— “Hup!” Clang–!! A lovely woman was swinging a flail with chains, endlessly whirling it. Crunch-! Her elegant movements yielded a violent outcome. The head of a wooden mannequin shattered as the flail tore through it. ‘Hyun Soo-Yeon.’ The daughter of Sunho Merchant Guild and the fiancée of Namgung Jin. Additionally. ‘She was to be Namgung Bi-Ah’s mother.’ Anyone could see she was destined to give birth to Namgung Bi-Ah. I heard she was part of the guild. ‘Why is she doing that?’ Why was someone from the guild swinging a flail in her practice hall? It was the same when we first met. When I first encountered Namgung Bi-Ah in this life. Hyun Soo-Yeon appeared chasing after a monster. I remembered that moment. A well-trained body for someone from the guild. Her skills even measured up to an elite martial artist, and her weapon was... ‘A flail…’ Neither sword nor spear, but a flail. A weapon that didn’t match her appearance at all, yet she wielded it as if it were natural. “Hup!” Whirr-! Clang Bang-! The flail spun through the air, methodically destroying the targets. Her precision was impressively sharp. ‘She didn’t train haphazardly.’ It indicated that she was serious about martial arts. “Hm.” I watched the woman with interest. Her concentrated face reminded me of someone. Clang. The sound of the chain gradually became mistaken for the sound of a sword. Swoosh-! Swish! A woman dancing with her sword under the moonlight. Overlapping with the image of Namgung Bi-Ah. "……." As a result, my gaze lingered. Helplessly. Even as it was merely practice, I found myself watching. “She’s beautiful.” A voice chimed in from beside me. I smiled in response. “Indeed.” She truly was beautiful. That statement represented how I felt, and I couldn’t help but agree,…. "...?" Wait. "Who’s there?" Why had the voice come from beside me? I turned my head quickly. Someone was standing next to me. “Oh? Hello?” As we locked eyes, a woman smiled and waved at me. "……." There she was—with maroon eyes and a faint maroon hue in her almost imperceptible presence. A white-haired woman. It was my mother.