1157 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Fwoosh--!! Flames brushed against her cheek. Startled, she hesitated. Frowning, she brushed away the energy around her. 'Daughter?' Did that woman just say daughter? Her daughter? She said it was the daughter of this household. If I didn’t hear it wrong, that’s what she said. 'What is she talking about?' Before even understanding, her words—daughter?— Kaboom-! She dodged the incoming flames. The woman kept busy, relentlessly attacking her with flames. 'Her level... About Five Stars?' The woman's mastery of Flaming Wheel Art had reached the Five Stars level. Her accomplishments and martial arts skills reflected this. Fwoosh--!!! In that state, she was emitting a substantial amount of fire at once. Her ability to control the firepower seemed impressive. 'It's excessive.' If someone asked if she had enough energy to release that amount, it was questionable. If she continued like this, soon enough—... "Huff... Huff..." "..." Just as expected. The woman seemed exhausted, panting heavily. Her energy was almost depleted. "You... damn... fool..." As she quietly stared at her, the woman looked at her with resentful eyes. "You just... dodge... and... isn't that unfair?" "So should I just stand still and let myself get hit? That seems more unfair." "While I'm... shooting at you like this... you could at least get hit a little..." "What kind of selfish talk is that? Seems like your conscience is dead." "Ha..." The woman panted for a while, then calmed down enough to wipe the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. Then she said, "Why are you speaking informally?" She asked this after regaining her composure, and the woman chuckled at that. "You started it first, didn't you? Weren't you inviting me to do the same?" "Aha?" The woman laughed at her answer. "So should I show manners to an intruder?" "That's good news. I don't plan to show manners to someone who throws the first punch either. It's easier that way." "Ha." The woman's face twisted as if at a loss for words from her response. Fwoosh. "You really know how to rile me up." The woman clenched her hands, flames engulfing them once more. "...Just a warning, but that's not a good idea." "Sorry." Thud-! The woman clenched her fist tightly. "I don't usually listen to others." Boom-! She kicked off the ground, rocketing towards her. Looking around, she knew with the commotion, a guard would surely show up. Or. 'Someone observing will make a move.' Some observer might make a move. If not— 'Then I'll make them move.' Finishing her thought, she stepped forward. Thud-! The ground trembled slightly. "What!?" The surprise caused the woman's stance to falter. As her lower body wavered, her upper body crumbled the same. Taking a step forward, she closed in. Now the woman was entirely within her sight. A distance suddenly shortened. The woman's eyes widened in realization. Ignoring it, she reached out. To grab her neck. She intended to tear her apart. With that intention and emotion, she moved her hand. "Stop." Whoosh---!!! With the voice, flames burst forth. Thud-! It was a man. Gu Sung Yeol appeared, grabbing her wrist. "Ugh!" The woman with the broken stance collapsed in front of her. "...What do you think you're doing?" Gu Sung Yeol narrowed his eyes at her. Only then did she loosen her grip. Gu Sung Yeol also released her wrist. "It was a sort of response." Her wrist felt a dull ache, testifying to the strength of his grip. "It seemed like you were going to kill her just now. A response, you say?" "I knew you would intervene. You had realized something was wrong and would have been watching." "..." Gu Sung Yeol said nothing for a moment, but soon he spoke to her again. "I told you to wait in place." "Ah. I'm sorry about that part." She grinned broadly. "I tend not to listen well to others." Echoing the woman's earlier words. "Ugh... my body..." The woman, still collapsed, slowly got to her feet. With a sheepish expression, she looked at Gu Sung Yeol. He returned her gaze silently. When their eyes met, the woman asked, "...Father. Am I in trouble?" Father. Inside, she clicked her tongue at the word. As she had expected when the woman was called a daughter. It seemed her assumption was correct. '...Did Father have a sister?' The woman belonged to the Gu family. She seemed to be her grandfather's child. Which meant she was her father's sister. 'Did he have someone like that?' Like with Jin Yeon Ryeong, she didn't know about this woman. At that moment— "Gu Sun." Gu Sung Yeol called the woman by her name. It seemed her name was Gu Sun. It was a name she had never heard before. "Yes..." Gu Sun hesitated, replying. "What do you think you’re doing?" "Well, you see..." It seemed like she was being given a chance to explain herself, so Gu Sun pointed directly at her. "I heard Mother was injured and rushed over. Then that unidentifiable guy was loitering around, hesitating to come in or not. So I figured it must be an intruder and decided to deal with it." "Deal with it, huh? You just started throwing punches." She intervened, expressing an unwillingness to let it pass. Gu Sun looked at her and shouted, "Hey! Can't you be quiet!?" "Why should I be quiet just because you told me to? Is my mouth yours?" "That—!" "Quiet!" Gu Sung Yeol interrupted, silencing them with a thundering voice. "Your mother can hear you. Do not behave recklessly." "But… this person..." "Your brother brought him. He is not an intruder." "What? Brother?" The words took Gu Sun by surprise. "That blockhead is back? When...?" "Probably when you were skipping training." "Aha! I see!" I didn't know that! Gu Sun said, scratching her cheek bashfully. "Well... if you had told me, I wouldn’t have done it." What is with that? The flames licked the air with a loud whoosh, as she brushed the searing energy past her face, startled into a slower reaction than usual. She scrunched her brow, contemplating the woman’s peculiar proclamation. 'Daughter?' Did she truly hear that right? A daughter? More specifically, the daughter of this household was mentioned. If she hadn't misheard, surely, such had been uttered. 'What nonsense is this?' Even before she could fully grasp the words: Crash-! She dodged yet another barrage of flames from the woman's relentless attacks. 'Her level of power... about Five Stars?' The proficiency of the Flaming Wheel Art she wielded neared the five-star level. Her mastery and martial skill seemed commensurate with such prowess. Whoosh--!!! Even in her tired state, she managed to emit a significant amount of fire instantly. Her control over such firepower was seemingly notable. 'It’s excessive.' If asked whether such expenditure was wise, it was somewhat likely questionable. If she continued with this onslaught, how much longer could she sustain it...? “Huff... Huff...” “……” As anticipated, the woman was already appearing exhausted, out of breath. Her energy was nearly depleted. "You... damn..." As she watched her in silence, the woman glared at her with eyes full of resentment. “Only dodging… isn’t that a bit unfair?” “So should I just let myself be hit? That seems even worse.” “If I’m shooting so hard, you could at least get hit a bit…” “What kind of selfish talk is that? Seems like your conscience is dead.” “Ha…” The woman gasped heavily for a moment, then wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Then she continued, "Why are you speaking informally to me?" Pausing to compose herself, the woman’s words brought out a small chuckle from her. "You started it first. Wasn’t it an invitation?" "Ah, really?" She laughed again at that response. "So, do I owe politeness to an intruder?" "Perfect. I don't plan to extend any to someone who starts a fight either. It’s easier if we just drop it." “Ha.” With her words, the woman’s face twisted in frustration. Fwoosh. "You really know how to tick me off." Clutching her fists again, flames swirled around them. "Just a tip, but it might be better not to take that approach." “Sorry.” Thud-! The woman clenched her fists tightly. "I don't usually listen to others." Boom-! She shot off the ground. Glancing around, an ensuing fuss would surely bring attention from the guards. Or. 'Whoever's watching will make a move.' Someone might be observing and make a preemptive move. If not, then— 'I'll make them act.' Determiningly, she extended a foot forward, causing a minor quaking on the ground. "What!?" The tremor disrupted the woman's stance. Her legs wobbled, causing her upper body to falter. As her distance narrowed rapidly, their eyes met. Her surprise-filled eyes grew wide like illuminated lanterns. Unperturbed, she extended her hand. Aiming to seize her neck. Intending to shut her down. With calculated intent and fervor, she moved her hand. “Stop.” Whoosh---!!! A twining voice echoed, followed by an explosion of flames. Thud-! A man. Gu Sung Yeol emerged, clutching her wrist tightly. “Ugh!” The staggering woman slumped down right in front of her. “…What are you trying to do?” Gu Sung Yeol narrowed his eyes at her, prompting her to finally release her grip. As she loosened her grip, Gu Sung Yeol also withdrew his grasp. “It was a measured response.” Her wrist ached dully, evidence of his potent hold. “You seemed intent to kill just now. You call this a response?” “I expected you to step in. Recognizing the situation, wouldn’t you have reacted?” “…” Gu Sung Yeol hesitated briefly, but then turned back to her. “I instructed you to remain standing by.” “Ah. About that, I do apologize.” She grinned widely. “I’m generally not good at listening to others’ instructions.” Echoing the words she had heard earlier from the woman. “Ugh… my poor body…” Still seated, the woman finally stood up again, scratching her face slightly, and then glanced over to Gu Sung Yeol. Matching her gaze, Gu Sung Yeol turned his attention toward the mentioned guest, Jin Yeon Ryeong, also lying within the splintered door interior. "Are you blaming me now?" “Blaming might be a strong word. It’s more like suggesting perhaps you had your own share of the mistake.” “Oh, so it’s my fault? You immediately threw flames at a guest, and now you’re blaming me?” "When did that happen? You’re twisting the story." As their exchange quickly devolved into a quarrel, it became clear that she and this Gu Sun woman were inherently mismatched from the start. “You…” Just as the argument was about to escalate, Gu Sung Yeol seemed poised to intervene when— “That’s enough, both of you.” “….” “….” The sudden interjection turned the fervent debaters into silent, muted onlookers. The voice belonged to Jin Yeon Ryeong, who was resting in a bed within the damaged room. “…Please, stop this.” “…Wife.” Gu Sung Yeol now turned his gaze towards his wife, Jin Yeon Ryeong, with a look of concern. “Gu Sun, what kind of disrespect is this?” “Uh, mother… it’s not like that…” “Apologize, quickly.” “What? Me…? But…” “Don’t make excuses, hurry.” With her firm voice, Jin Yeon Ryeong’s expression made Gu Sun flinch. Her eyes trembled with uncertainty. Eventually, she met her gaze but bit her lip hard. Then, “…Sorry.” She managed, through what seemed like gritted pride, to pass on an apology dripping with bitterness. “…Oh, alright.” Seeing no reason to reject it, she accepted for now. This seemed to further bruise Gu Sun’s pride, though. “Dammit…!” With that, she uttered an inconsequential curse and dashed out. “Sun-ah! Oh dear…” Watching her go, Jin Yeon Ryeong rubbed her forehead with her hand. “…I wonder when she’ll finally mature.” Her tone was filled with deep-seated concern. Her gaze then shifted to the guest. "…You’re Young Master Baek Yang Cheon, correct?" “Yes, Lady Jin.” “….” “….” For a moment, they locked eyes in silence. She had nothing to say particularly. Meanwhile, Jin Yeon Ryeong focused on him with an observant intensity. ‘Clarifying things now might be better, given the circumstances.’ The spectacle of an elder's craft was chaos indeed. He was not, after all, a child of the Gu Family head. An attempt to clarify that seemed proper. For matters regarding the Blood Wheel’s events, would not Gu Sung Yeol perhaps address those explanations? Surely that would suffice. ‘Jin Yeon Ryeong might not take any fondness towards me.’ The sudden emergence of a stranger posing as her husband's son. How many would genuinely welcome a step-child? ‘Positioning myself as an illegitimate here too would be undesirable.’ Having endured the stigma of being illegitimate elsewhere didn't garner any favor here. She had no wish to repeat it. Thus resolved, she approached to speak-- “Ma’am, you see, the truth is--” “…You must have been through a lot.” “…Pardon?” She paused, struck by the unexpected sentiment in her words. “Just so young… and to endure so much hardship…” Jin Yeon Ryeong’s eyes shimmered with a slight tear as she regarded him. What is this…? Why was she reacting like this? It was bewildering. “No, Lady…?” “…I inquired something detestable… I apologize.” “Apologize for… what. What do you mean…?” “When I asked about your parents… You told me your father was alive.” “…Uh, yes…” His mother was still among the living too, but it felt too ambiguous to voice that out plainly. He had simply said that his father was alive because he indeed was. However, the issue lay in— “…Loosing a mother, with a father nowhere to be seen… how painful it must have been for you.” “….” Jin Yeon Ryeong seemed to have misunderstood that aspect entirely. “No, Lady Jin. It’s not quite that… In fact, I'm not even... a child of the Gu household head.” “No, address yourself as the son. Young Master Baek… or Young Sir Baek, there’s no need for hesitation.” “Lady… Perhaps listen to me first.” “It’s unthinkable to not call your father as such... Young Sir Baek. I know you have endured much. But let yourself stay henceforth, with us here.” “It’s not like that…” Oh dear. She misunderstood significantly, and exchange of words was proving futile. In Jin Yeon Ryeong’s eyes, I was already perceived as Gu Sung Yeol’s offspring. “…I did feel he resembled our Cheol Woon to an extent…” “……” A similar demeanor seemed to have greatly influenced the mistaken belief. I mean, to think I resemble Gu Sung Yeol? “Do I appear as daunting as that…?” “……I do not think I come off as fierce like that…” “What’s that?” “Pardon?” Simultaneously, Gu Sung Yeol and I cast a glance at each other. …Did this man feel the same? As I was about to voice more words of disbelief— “…What are you implying?” “…!” A profound voice interjected, cutting into the atmosphere. Everyone present swivelled their attention to one spot. There: “Release me— you brute!... Strong but clueless, aren’t you?” With her entangled within a large hand was Gu Sun. “...What did you mean by those words?” It was Gu Cheol Woon who stood there, having clearly heard the preceding conversation.