794 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Translated and Implemented Instructions --- Chapter 794: Childhood Friend of the Zenith (천하제일인의 소꿉친구) The first head of the Baekhwa Trading Company (백화상단) is a direct blood relative of the Gu family (구가). Hearing Elder Il's (일장로) words, I could only stand there, frozen. No reaction came easily. I couldn't quite grasp how to respond to such a crazy notion. After stammering for a while, I finally managed to speak. "What nonsense is this?" "And why is it nonsense?" "...Are you seriously saying that?" Did he truly not understand why it sounded absurd? 'How could that even be possible?' If he really was a direct relative of the Gu family, wouldn't it complicate things with Lady Mi (미 부인)? 'Lady Mi was born into the Mi family (미가), after all.' Yet if the first head is supposedly of the Gu bloodline, the surname is different. Of course. 'Unless he's a son-in-law, I wouldn't know...' Given the chaotic father-daughter relationship, there's a chance they might have taken their mother's surname. That could be conceivable. After all, surnames aren't particularly important. The crucial thing is: 'Then how does it work with Father?' It would mean that they are blood-related. Since he is a direct relative, it can't be that he's Father's brother. It must mean there's some connection with Grandfather. Then? 'Does that mean they're cousins?' It implies a rather close relation. In such a scenario, if Father married Lady Mi and even had children... 'Is that even okay?' From my understanding, it seemed rather perplexing. '...No wonder.' As soon as I saw that first head, I thought that old man's temper wasn't pleasant. Was it because he was from our family? Could it be that Lady Mi's cold demeanor was somehow related to this too? Our family appears to be caught in this cycle, unable to escape. Come to think of it, it's not even surprising. 'Why be shocked at this point when the family has always been disordered?' Our family has never been exactly flawless, to begin with. But even as I thought about it. '...Wouldn't it be insane not to be surprised by this?' I immediately thought of the contradiction. No, could this even be plausible? Even as I tried to view it in a positive light, I simply couldn't. While contemplating how to digest this information, unsure of how to keep my eyes from spinning in thought. "Your expression is quite amusing." "…" Elder Il chuckled heartily, clearly finding my expression entertaining, which genuinely annoyed me. "How can you laugh at a time like this?" "To have such a funny face and complain when others laugh—there's not much difference from a rascal." What's so wrong with my face? Although that wounded my pride, what mattered more was what Elder Il said next. "Though predictable, there's no need to fret; it's not a serious matter." "Not serious?" "Indeed." "…How so?" What could possibly be untroubling about this? Still, I pressed for answers. "Oh? I don't recall wagering up to that point." "..." Elder Il grinned and shut his mouth. Damn it. 'He's indicating that he won't tell me.' Unbelievable. Trusting him, even for a moment, was my mistake. In any case... 'So the old man truly is of the Gu family?' If Elder Il's words were truthful, the first head belongs to the Gu family. After all, he's likely a sibling of Grandfather. Thus, it wouldn't be particularly odd for him to speak about the Gu family. However. 'The fact that I remained unaware of a living direct relative.' And despite being a direct relative, he hadn't learned martial arts; more precisely, I sensed nothing from him. This alone was peculiar. 'And yet, Elder Il suggests it's somehow acceptable?' Elder Il seemed completely unbothered about this. Though Elder Il has always had a carefree nature, there must be a reason for this particular reaction. 'Indeed, if there were an issue, they couldn't have wed in the first place...' Even if the Gu family isn't the most prestigious, it's still a respectable lineage. Especially in the current dynamics, where the power of the elders is weak, and Father's position is formidable. 'For that, Father must hold a substantial reputation.' If Father had caused major troubles in his youth, such a union would be impossible. Marrying into the head of the Baekhwa Trading Company? Even if it was beneficial, it's hardly a minor matter. 'This is a problematic scenario, regardless.' Direct line marriages are troublesome enough. Yet, to still be in this state means... 'As Elder Il claims, there must have been some acceptable reason.' If not... 'Few must be aware.' It was possible the information was simply unknown. Still, 'I lean towards the former.' I was more inclined to the first reason. With that in mind, I glanced at Elder Il again. "Elder." "Yes?" "You do realize you're sly, right?" "What did you say?" Elder Il looked at me with disbelief, but all I could do was sigh as I watched him. '…Who here is truly absurd?' By now, I could comprehend. The reason why Elder Il shared such information with me. Was it merely because he lost the bet and felt compelled to inform me? That wasn't solely it. The old man was a direct relative of the Gu family. Therefore, there was nothing strange about him knowing the Gu family’s secrets. Also. '...Their side is just as chaotic, so it's like saying, "Try to understand."' Elder Il was leveraging the revelation of a secret to explain its circumstances to me. So that I might at least try to understand the first head's actions. 'Huh.' In any case, he seemed to excel at being an annoyance. '...Setting that aside.' Whether Gu's bloodline matters or not. Though surprised, it honestly didn't concern me. 'So what?' As I mentioned earlier, I've known since childhood that our family is a mess. If there’s anything that changed... 'It's the possibility that Lady Mi and I might share blood.' Our distance may have diminished slightly. That was probably the extent of it. Nothing more. Additionally, what truly matters now is, after all. "So, do you know why he’s looking for me? The very reason?" "Oh-!" Why the old man sought me out. Hearing Elder Il’s words only made it more mysterious. It surely couldn't have been to reveal the secrets of the Gu family. 'If that were the case, we should have met in the past life.' Only now appearing to find me didn’t seem to justify it. This pertains to my growing stature and the spreading of my name across Jianghu (중원). Translated and Implemented Instructions --- It was inevitably linked to the fact that news of my increased influence reached the ears of the first head (초대 단주) of the Baekhwa Trading Company, and that it was not a coincidence. ‘If the first head heard about this and decided to act, it had to be connected.’ Linking the expansion of my influence with the movement of the first head, I needed to understand this connection. When I asked Elder Il about it, he responded: "Hmm." "Why? Is this also a question you’re unwilling to answer?" "No, that’s not particularly it." Elder Il replied while continuously stroking his beard. "It seems to be intertwined with the secret I intended to reveal to you." "...What?" A secret he intended to tell me? What could he mean? And then it dawned on me. ‘Ah, right. There was that too.’ Along with revealing the identity of the first head, he mentioned he would disclose another secret. But how is that secret related to this matter? Just as this curiosity surfaced. "The reason why that old man summoned you has to do with a secret." "Yes." "It's because he's overly fond of his daughter." "Pardon?" I frowned at Elder Il's words. What was he on about? "He is, without exaggeration, a doting father." "...?" His answer made absolutely no sense to me. **************** Afterward, I returned to my quarters. There were more words to be exchanged, but Elder Il refused to answer any further questions, claiming he needed to meet someone and suddenly disappeared. As always, he was like the wind. Truly. I envied that a little. Living so freely is something perhaps worth emulating. Though Elder Il stays at the Gu family residence, he mentioned he would visit often, and of course, I told him not to come. Not that my words would keep him away, but I still preferred not to see him. Thus, I returned to the quarters. Sitting in an empty room, I drifted into thought. The conversation with the first head? The role held by the Gu family head? Maybe questions about the Heavenly Demon? That wasn't what occupied my thoughts. Instead, what filled my mind was something entirely different at the moment. ‘What was that sensation earlier?’ The sensation I felt during the sparring with Elder Il. In that brief moment when I was weightless, the numerous phenomena I sensed in my body. I was trying hard to recall that fleeting moment, often referred to as enlightenment. They say that if a martial artist doesn’t grasp enlightenment when it comes, it becomes a lifelong regret. It signifies that it was both precious and significant. ‘...Alas.’ I failed to seize it. Why it came seemingly out of nowhere. I couldn’t be sure it was truly enlightenment, but I believed so. No, I felt convinced. Instinctively, I was sure. It was definitely enlightenment. Both my thoughts and energy were affirming this. That's why it was all the more frustrating. ‘If only I had seized it.’ If I had managed to grasp enlightenment at that moment, how would things have turned out? Would something have changed? In keeping with the name of enlightenment, wouldn’t a new world have been unveiled before me? It seems possible, but one can't be too certain of miracles. After all, why did enlightenment suddenly arrive then? ‘I don’t have an explanation.’ Even though enlightenment is said to come without warning, it wouldn't come for no reason at all. Especially such an epiphany during a spar? ‘This is a first for me.’ For me, it was an occurrence I had rarely faced. In theorizing the cause. ‘...Could the White Marrow Stone (백마석) be the reason?’ The White Marrow Stone, which I hastily consumed. The enhanced sense and power because of it—was it the cause? Possibly. In fact, considering the cause, it couldn’t be anything else. ‘...Not that it matters now.’ As I mentioned, the timing to grasp it had already passed. Had I swung my arm with better precision back then to seize the enlightenment... ‘Perhaps Elder Il would have been gravely injured.’ Realizing this, it was an insight never meant to be captured. Ultimately, it was merely a lament of what could have been. ‘Tsk.’ I clicked my tongue, staring out the window. The sun had already set. Not a single scheduled task was completed, and thus, the day was coming to an end. ‘This will make tomorrow a bit bothersome.’ Once things get tangled, they seem to weave into an inextricable mess—that's how my life goes. While it was concerning in one regard. “Somehow, I’ll manage….” Eventually, when it piles up too much, everything becomes tedious. Somehow, it’ll work out. If it can't be handled presently, the future me will manage it. So for now. "Let’s go see the kids." Recharging with joyful endeavors when exhausted and weary, with that thought, I moved my body and headed outside. Having released the frustration from sparring with Elder Il, now it was time to dissolve lingering discontent with happiness. That realization lifted me to my feet. Moving with a fatigued expression of discontent. Tired as I was, my focus had waned. So much so that I failed to notice. Fwoosh. The flames flickering ominously across my back as I moved. Additionally. "Speak." "Ugh... urgh…." Tomorrow, I would... "Keep barking. You filthy dog." ... end up clashing with one of the commanding figures.