788 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Translated and Implemented Instructions Children of the Zenith, Chapter 788 (788/820) What did I just hear? 'It sounded like he said restricted entry....' Elder Il was whistling and avoiding my gaze, but it certainly seemed like he said that. 'Restricted entry...?' Whether it's restricted entry or prohibited access, the difference in terms isn't important. What's important is that Elder Il is the one affected by it. 'If he's affected, by whom?' From what he's saying, it seems like it's the Martial Alliance, but no matter how I think about it, it doesn't make sense. 'Why Elder Il?' How did that old man end up in such a predicament? To me, that's the biggest issue. Of course, his temperament is fiery, abrasive, and he's known to be as eccentric as anyone within the Gu clan, vying for the top spots. "Your expression is odd. Are you perhaps cursing this old man in your heart?" "There's no way I would." He's perceptive too, but he's not someone who would live life committing crimes. '…' I pause while recalling. Is it really not possible...? Memories of my past childhood flash vividly. "Ugh...!" "Yangcheon?" Suddenly, a wave of dizziness overcomes me. It seems like it's because it's a memory I don't want to recall. With that man, it might just be possible. Suddenly, such suspicion arises. But. '...No matter what, that's too much.' Unless he caused some significant trouble, the alliance wouldn't make such a decision. For it to reach the level of restricted entry means. 'It's almost impossible unless he's been labeled as unorthodox.' If he's a martial artist, then unorthodox. If it's other groups, they'd be distrusted and avoided by the alliance. That the Martial Alliance would prohibit access to a region carries that implication. 'Elder Il...?' A venerable elder of a prestigious family and a senior martial artist known as the Flame-Graze Fist being banned from entering Hanam? What on earth could he have done for that to happen? Moreover, having been subjected to such a ban but not being labeled as unorthodox, and not having heard about this incident anywhere, seems quite strange. "Elder Il... What on earth were you talking about just now?" "What do you mean?" "What you said just now." "So, what about it?" "No, being banned from entering Hanam, I mean...." "What are you talking about?" "..." I see. I nodded my head, observing Elder Il's reaction. ‘Does he plan to feign ignorance?’ Elder Il begins to act like nothing happened, as if he's determined to erase the event. Should I just let it slide? "No, you said it just now." I certainly can't do that. Determined to cling until I got an answer, I grasped and pulled at Elder Il's words. “You said something about being restricted by the alliance....” “Come to think of it, Yangcheon, I'm curious about what happens if you take the main seat, then what happens to promoting the Family Head (Sogaju / 소가주)?” "...There might be a case where I can't do it. Surely something must have happened?" “Isn't that right?” “Yes, definitely.” “Hahaha-!” “Hahaha….” I quickly changed the subject of our conversation. ‘This wretched old man….’ Indeed, I can't outwit the sly Elder Il. He pretended not to know, but Elder Il was fully aware of what I was concerned about. If I asked unnecessarily, he'd retaliate by rushing in on his own terms. ‘Darn it.’ Thus, I had no choice but to firmly shut my mouth. Even after all this time, he was still not an easy person to deal with. Thump. Thump. Large hands repeatedly patted my shoulder. "It's good to see that you seem to be doing well." "...Let me just ask you something." "Hmm?" "Is it even okay for you to be here despite the restriction...?" Though I chose not to ask why the restriction was in place, I had to inquire if it was acceptable that he was present. Could his presence here cause any issues? Filled with worry, I asked. "Uh-huh? Oh, hahaha-! It's fine with things like that." Elder Il responded with a hearty laugh. "As long as I'm not caught, what's the problem? Hahaha—!" "…" Hearing his answer, I immediately grasped the bridge of my nose. 'Gosh, that's basically saying it's not fine at all.' There's no solution. How could he be like this? Talking with him only made a sense of frustration rise within me. "Ha…." Unable to hold it back, I let out a deep sigh, and suddenly pain shot through my back. Bam-! "Ugh!?" "Tsk tsk, what worries could a young lad like you possibly have to sigh like that?" "…" Because of you, isn't it? Unable to voice those words, I merely shook my head slightly. Anyway. "For now, for now. Is that really the reason you came to see me?" Events involving the incident with the Hundred-Class Demon (Baekgeup Mamu / 백급 마물) and changes in my epithet. Did he truly come here because of those reasons? Curious, I asked. "Well, that's not the main topic, though it's a big part of it." Hearing Elder Il's words offered subtle relief. While it served as part of the reason, the crux of the matter lay elsewhere. I focused on those words. 'Right, that's more like it.' From Shanxi (Sanseo / 산서) to Hanam, the distance and the time it took for information to reach here. Considering it all, for Elder Il to hear about it and come immediately just doesn’t add up. Strictly speaking, it's possible, but. 'Elder Il is indisputably a master of the Fusion Realm (Hwagyeong / 화경).' Running at full strength, it wasn't exactly impossible. Especially since Elder Il possessed martial arts that could push his body to the limit. From this perspective, it wasn’t entirely impossible. ‘...I just hope that's not the case.’ I fervently hoped that Elder Il hadn’t come all the way here in such a manner. Hence, my relief at his response. "Do you know how startled I was on the way here? Scaring an old man like me, giving me a fright indeed." He tousles my hair once more. By now, it seemed there wasn't any undamaged hair left to mess up further. "...Nothing major happened, did it?" "Nothing major, huh-! You little rascal…!" “So, what brings you here then? Please tell me that first.” Interrupting what seemed like a long story, I asked, causing Elder Il to frown. Given his quite intimidating appearance, I was momentarily intimidated by his expression. Was he going to get angry? I readied myself to make a quick escape, worried that might be the case. “...It's nothing much.” Fortunately, Elder Il didn’t get angry, and he began to explain in a reluctant voice. "There’s an old man pestering me to come along, so here I am." "Eh?" Translated and Implemented Instructions "Whether it's senility or not, that old man, who rarely emerges from the back room, suddenly wants to go on a journey because he needs an escort." "...?" The more I listen, the more my expression sours. No matter how much I try to understand, it's not easy. So. 'Someone asked to travel together... and you were dragged along because they required protection?' Elder Il? Brought along just for such a minor role? 'What madness is this.' If this isn't utter lunacy, then what is? Elder Il is one of the few whom even my father from the Gu family cannot treat lightly. In terms of position, my father, as the Family Head (Gaju / 가주), stands above, but the relationship is more of mutual respect than subordination. Seeing how he created chaos in his younger days and treated me, his direct descendant, without special favors, yet still sat firmly as an elder, speaks volumes of his status. Yet, Elder Il going to Hanam as an escort? "What do you mean by that?" "Honestly, as if growing old gracefully wasn’t enough, he's only gotten more stubborn.... Tsk, tsk, tsk. That's why even his daughter dislikes him so much." "Elder...?" "Anyway, since it’s turned out like this, let's go." "…What suddenly happened? And where are we going, exactly?" Nothing had been resolved for me, yet Elder Il abruptly attempts to take me somewhere. I put up resistance, indicating I had no intention of going. "Hmm?" "Not just 'hmm?' Where are you suddenly trying to take me?" "Oh, it's no big deal. The old man just wants to see you for a bit. Isn't it good to just pop in while we're here?" "Why do you say it so casually, like we're just going for a meal? Why should I meet someone I don't even know...?" Judging from the circumstances, it seems like someone Elder Il brought along, but it feels strange for them to request my presence, especially when I see no compelling reason to go. I already have much to do today. I haven't even seen my own kids, so there's no time to meet someone else. Having made up my mind not to go, I was prepared to insist. "Hmm.... You say you don't know who it is. That's fair, but it's not someone entirely unknown to you." Elder Il stroked his beard thoughtfully as he spoke to me. "If you have to know, it's your grandfather." "...What?" My expression crumpled beyond repair at those words. The mention of 'grandfather' brought back unpleasant memories to me in recent times. ****** It was past noon, as the day transitioned steadily into midday. Hanam. Within a certain area managed by the Baekhwa Trading Company (Baekhwa Sangdan / 백화상단). Someone was walking through a path that seemed like a hill but was well-maintained. There were two people, both women with long hair, who possessed distinctive beauty. One had black hair with a hint of red, and her face constantly showed discomfort as if something was bothering her. The black-haired woman walking beside her seemed indifferent to her companion's reactions, more interested in taking in the surroundings. They continued walking for a moment when suddenly. They stopped. "...Why on earth did they call us like this?" One of the women, Gu Heebi (Gu Hee-bi / 구희비), spoke in a tone of concern. "Why, really? Did I do something wrong? No... I hid everything I did wrong without a trace, didn't I?" She picked at her nails nervously, showing the height of her anxiety. The woman watching Gu Heebi's behavior placed a hand on her arm. "Sister, don't chew them." "...Oh, right." "Calm down." "...You seem a lot calmer than I do." "...Am I?" Gu Heebi's words were a lie. The woman knew it. From the moment she received the letter earlier that morning, her face had turned pallid with fear. “Really, I’m fine.” She tried to smile, but her crooked lips shattered her credibility. "Okay." The woman nodded, choosing not to press further. If she said she was fine, then she must be, and there was no need to pry further. "I... I must be fine.... It’ll be okay. Right?" "Should we just go back home?" "No... If we just go back now, I might really die." "Why?" "Didn’t I tell you before?" Gu Heebi rubbed her own arm. It seemed she’d gotten goosebumps. “There are exactly two things I fear in this world.” Only two. In the whole world, Gu Heebi feared only two things. And one of them was. "An angry mother." "Your mother?" "Yes, when Mother is angry, she’s really terrifying." Just imagining it is frightening enough. Her mother, Mi Horan (Mi Horan / 미효란), who hadn’t learned even a bit of martial arts, had always turned Gu Heebi into nothing more than a wet mouse when angered. “...Once, I got into trouble while playing around with my younger brother.” Her brother. The only brother among them. While boisterously playing together, he had tumbled from a height. Back then, Gu Yangcheon (Gu Yangcheon / 구양천) had said he was scared and didn't want to do it, but Gu Heebi had pushed him, insisting it would be fun. -Sis, this is too scar... Aaaaah-! At the time, she didn’t realize. Gu Heebi herself would easily land when falling from a height, so she assumed Gu Yangcheon could do the same. Acting on this belief... Unfortunately, Gu Yangcheon couldn't, and so he fell to the ground, getting a wound on his face. It was a wound that could have scarred if not treated in time. Thankfully, Gu Yangcheon received proper treatment and faced no lasting issues, yet... ‘…The problem was.’ Her mother, Mi Horan, was the real issue. Learning of the situation, Mi Horan had dropped everything and returned to the Gu family. She called Gu Heebi to her in secret after reviewing the situation with the injured Gu Yangcheon. ‘…Ugh….’ Recalling that event made Gu Heebi tremble. That day was hell. Gu Heebi learned what it meant when words could kill. She received not just one hundred to two hundred reasons why she shouldn't have done that, but also a frightening warning of what would happen if it occurred again. She spent months experiencing a life focused on correcting lacks in her concept of life. Even the normally stern Family Head (Gaju / 가주) had to step in to halt her at some point. An angry Mi Horan was scarier than anything in the world. This was Gu Heebi's sentiment throughout her life. Whenever Mi Horan was furious... ‘...This is how she sends a letter.’ Translated and Implemented Instructions Instead of going herself, she calls for them to come to her. They are to come on their own and be scolded, as if preparing their heart beforehand. Knowing this, Gu Heebi’s mind races quickly. "…What is it, really…?" What kind of trouble could she have caused? Or, more accurately, what trouble of hers has been discovered? The more she recalls, the dizzier she feels. 'Too many.' The troubles she's caused are far too numerous. Was it a problem when she stomped on the groin of an unknown Family Head (Sogaju / 소가주) who was leering at her? Or was it because she burned off the hair of that potbellied merchant leader she saw harassing attendants? Rumor had it that merchant was loosely associated with the Baekhwa Trading Company (Baekhwa Sangdan / 백화상단). If it's neither of those... 'Did she find out I secretly sold the porcelain Mother treasured…?' The possibilities are endless. It wasn’t just one or two incidents. Could it be that more than one has been uncovered? 'All of them?' What if all of them were discovered? That’s the punishment for sure. Maybe she should just run away? Yes, that might be the best course. Having made up her mind, Gu Heebi turns around, but. "Young lady." "…" Her foolish feet had already reached their destination, and the person who spotted her had already come out to greet her. Gu Heebi, upon seeing him, forced a crooked smile. "...It's been a while since we last met." "Have you been well in the meantime?" "...Of course…." "From now on, I will guide you." "Ah, but it seems I’ve forgotten something. I was thinking I might go back to quickly retrieve it…." "Ah, is that so? The Leader has been waiting. I’ve actually been ordered to guide you here since it seemed you were taking a bit of time…. But if it cannot be helped…." “Let’s go.” It seems running away is out of the question. Gu Heebi’s expression turns white as if realizing life’s harsh truths. Filled with uneasy thoughts, she follows the guide. Just as the path leading here was so, the interior of the place was even more meticulously maintained. It felt as if they were blessing one on the way to their life’s end. “Ha ha.” “Pardon?” “No, it’s just…the butterfly’s appearance made me chuckle a bit.” “The butterfly… you say?” “Yes.” Even though it was an odd answer, the attendant chose not to inquire further. As they resumed their steps, Gu Heebi glanced over to her side. Amidst the grass, buds of flowers peeked out, white and in bloom. "…" Staring at them, Gu Heebi spent a moment looking at them. The names of these flowers she could hardly remember. Not the type that Mi Horan enjoyed, but these were the flowers she cultivated most. Gu Heebi knew who liked these flowers. - As expected, our Heebi is beautiful; these suit her too. Yeonseo, would you like to join as well? The person who used to adorn her ears with a flower’s touch that felt both warm and cool. They liked these flowers. And these flowers were in full bloom throughout this residence. Flowers that had long been removed from the Gu household, nonetheless. While lost in thought, gazing at such flowers. “Young lady?” The attendant called to Gu Heebi, and upon hearing, she quickly turned her gaze. “I’m coming now.” Brushing off her thoughts, Gu Heebi moved forward. Yet. "…" The black-haired woman walking with them was also observing the flowers quietly. Even as Gu Heebi slowly moved away, she remained focused. Watching the flowers intently as if imprinting them in her mind. "…" She too turned and followed after Gu Heebi. ****** Eventually, they were guided into the residence. The closer they got, the more Gu Heebi’s expression soured, but there was nothing she could do. Since the attendant was already there, it meant everything was within Mi Horan’s control. Running now would only result in Gu Heebi facing more trouble. Later, when caught again, she would be reprimanded more harshly. ‘Right.’ If she is to be reprimanded, better to face it now. Surely, as her own daughter, she wouldn’t kill her, right? With such thoughts, Gu Heebi nodded her head. “Well then, I'll take my leave.” “Wouldn’t you stay just a bit longer…?” “Pardon?” “No, it’s nothing.... Nevermind.” She considered for a moment trying to hold onto the attendant, but it seemed too desperate, so she decided against it. The perplexed attendant left. Left in the somewhat stark space, Gu Heebi turned her head. As always, the residence felt too large and luxurious for one person to live alone. Though not the main house, the residences Mi Horan set up in each region always shared this feel. Homes unnecessarily spacious for a single person. Almost as if prepared to welcome someone. Yet, knowing Mi Horan’s personality, it wasn’t likely for her to willingly invite or warmly receive anyone. Yet, every place she lived had this atmosphere. As a child, Gu Heebi merely thought she liked this type of house, but as she grew older, her thoughts shifted slightly. Could there be a reason? Gu Heebi often pondered such thoughts. “…Where could Mother be?” Gulp. Swallowing dryly, she glanced around. Her expression was filled with tension as if she was about to face the King of the Underworld (Yeom Wang / 염왕). Gu Heebi searched around with anxious eyes. Then. - …This…. - Yum! Voices could be heard from not far away. ‘There?’ Following the sound, Gu Heebi moved. Moving closer made the voices become more distinct. - This is good too! - Really? That's a relief. - Yeah! - Then, try this one too. - Okay! It's delicious! - Haha. You eat well. ‘Huh?’ Gu Heebi's face slightly contorted. Something was off. 'There are two voices.' In a residence where her mother was supposedly alone, why were there two voices? And one of them was a child’s voice. With a tone that Gu Heebi felt she’d heard somewhere before. The kind of tone that made one want to tease relentlessly? And the other voice was. - Oh dear, you shouldn’t spill while eating. Let me wipe it for you; come here. - Okay. "…" Though it sounded like her mother’s voice, Gu Heebi couldn’t quite believe it. 'What is this?' She had never heard such a gentle and soft voice from her mother. The conversation, too. Saying ‘let me wipe it for you, come here’? 'That's impossible.' Her mother was the type to lecture about table manners if something was spilled while eating. Yet, to use such a gentle tone? No matter how she heard it, it wasn’t right. Listening to it, Gu Heebi took a shaky step forward. Translated and Implemented Instructions - Can I have more of this, Leader? (Danju / 단주) - Sure, shall I give you something else? - Yes! I like the Leader! - I told you to call me by something else, not Leader. - Oh, right. Gu Heebi had, by this time, reached the door. She grasped the door with trembling hands. Creak-! The closed door swung open. At that moment. "Grandma, I like you!" "Yes, I like my grandchild too—" Mi Horan, who was in the room holding and smiling at a child, turned her gaze, meeting Gu Heebi's eyes. "…" "…" An unspoken silence hung in the air as they stared at each other. For Gu Heebi, this was a different kind of hell.