1191 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"What's this nonsense you're spouting?" Namgung Jin asked, glancing at me with a look of utter contempt. Hearing that, I responded to him, eyes focused and clear. "Didn't you hear me? I asked if you could come along with me to visit Do Yoon's family." "Do I really look like I'm asking again because I didn't hear you?" "If not, then why ask? You heard just fine." Grinding—! Namgung Jin clenched his teeth tightly. The discomfort on his face was evident. "I have no intention of going anywhere with you. Get lost." "Aww, come now." I waved my hand with a dismissive gesture at his cold words. "No need to be like that. Helping out a junior isn't so bad, is it? It'd be nice if you'd come along." "Rubbish." Namgung Jin's face twisted with irritation. "You, of all people, shouldn't be able to talk to me like that right now, should you?" "And why not?" "Have you forgotten? I saw you embracing my fiancée. Isn't it bold to act like this now?" He had a point. He did happen to catch me and Hyun So Young in a rather compromising situation. Under normal circumstances, he could have every right to rip me apart. "Why are you even bothered by something like that?" "What...?" Regrettably, I wasn't exactly the type to be particularly virtuous. "You don't even like your fiancée; you're interested in someone else." "..." I couldn't help but push his buttons. Namgung Jin's expression froze as he heard this. "Even tattling about it to a rival, isn't that embarrassing?" "Who told you that—!" Namgung Jin sprang up in anger. I chuckled at the sight. "So, no one told you?" "...No one told me." "Then, the Deputy Lord figured it out on their own?" "I have no obligation to explain anything to you." "Of course you don't. It doesn't matter to me anyway. And just so you don't get the wrong idea, I'm really not interested in Miss Hyun. That incident was unintentional." "That wasn't intentional?" "Yes. It might be hard to believe, but it really wasn't." "..." Namgung Jin squinted. For some reason, his gaze was really starting to annoy me. What's his deal? While we were exchanging tense stares, Namgung Jin suddenly spoke. "...So that's how it is, then?" To my surprise, Namgung Jin accepted the explanation much more readily than I anticipated. What's up with this guy? "Why are you so quick to accept it?" "I always thought it was odd." "Excuse me?" "Why would Miss Hyun turn her eyes toward you when someone like me is around? It must have been a misunderstanding, a pointless thought." "What did you just say?" "Let's go. Where are you planning to take me?" Namgung Jin walked past me, heading towards Do Yoon to ask about the schedule. I looked on in disbelief, but Namgung Jin didn't bother looking back at me. "Do you find this amusing...?" Do Yoon, who had been secretly laughing, quickly hid his expression when he saw me. What's going on? Even though things were working out, I felt quite irritated. * * * After receiving the head's permission, we escorted the group outside. I'd been out quite often, though this time, the purpose was different. "This way." Do Yoon seemed familiar with the area. It wasn't surprising since he was from Shanxi... 'It's close to the Gu family's territory.' This was a place close to the Gu family territory. It was a place one might say was effectively managed by them. The fact that he was moving around so comfortably implied he knew the place well... 'So the Do family must have been in Shanxi for a long time.' Yet, I had never heard of a Do family in Shanxi. 'What could it be?' Upon hearing Do Yoon's objective and his mention of aiming for the Shenlong of the Gu family, I tried to find out more about the Shanxi Do family. '...But there was little to find.' Not much information was available. It was simply a family of orthodox martial sects existing in Shanxi. A small but established one, not quite reaching the level of a renowned clan. Additionally, 'A place I haven't heard of.' Both in the current era and where I came from, it was a place unheard of. Quite strange. 'How could I not know of a Shanxi family?' Even if I wasn't familiar with other places, I was well aware of most families in Shanxi, yet the Do family was unknown to me. That was perplexing. 'Hmm.' Another curiosity was, 'Is my father, or any of the Gu family, aware of it?' When it came to reactions toward Do Yoon, My father seemed to take a peculiar interest... 'It feels like there's something more.' I thought as I looked ahead at Do Yoon's back. 'A strange fellow.' Indeed, he was strange. From hiding his true abilities to his inscrutable goal. Since I found myself in Shanxi, now was as good a time as any to look into it. 'But what is it?' We're heading into increasingly deserted areas. The more we moved, the fewer people were around, did this kind of alley even exist? '...Such alleys actually exist?' I narrowed my eyes. There was a time when I roamed all sorts of questionable alleys in my rebellious years. But this one felt unfamiliar. "…What a filthy neighborhood. Do they not keep this place in order?" In contrast, the well-off Namgung Jin moved with his nose pinched. "Tsk... I didn't know such a squalid area existed." Snap. His words grated on me; I glared and retorted. "Anhui has alleys like these too. You just didn’t notice because you never visit such places." "...Why are you angry? You're not even from Shanxi." "Your tone is irritating. Why so rude? Maybe that's why you can't win over the woman you like." "What? Where did that come from all of a sudden—!" "We have arrived." At the moment when Namgung Jin was about to retort, Do Yoon informed us. I turned my attention forward, dismissing Namgung Jin. '...Huh?' My brows furrowed immediately upon seeing it. "...That place?" In disbelief, I asked Do Yoon again. "Yeah. A bit shabby, isn't it?" “...No, that's not it..." I fumbled my response. Truthfully, he was right. It wasn't just a little shabby. ‘...It's downright dilapidated. Is this a ruin?’ The place before us was barely a house—more like a crumbling structure on the verge of collapse, with dilapidated walls and walls that seemed ready to fall apart. Even the ground was a parched wasteland of withered weeds. To call this a house seemed like a stretch. Let alone a clan estate. 'A clan estate?' To label this place—which doesn't even deserve to be called a house—as a clan estate felt absurd. Yet, just as I was about to make a more diplomatic remark in front of someone else's home, I was interrupted. "What is that place, a decrepit ruin ready to fall apart?" Namgung Jin bluntly commented while looking straight at the Do family’s front door. I thought he was insane. How could he say something like that right in front of us? "Is this supposed to be a house? It can't be... This isn't what people usually call a house..." "Please, just shut up," I said exasperatedly. "…Why?" "Why do you think? Do you seriously not understand?" What could I do? I was mostly self-taught in etiquette as well, but is he the same? As far as I knew, he had both his parents, so why was he such a lunatic? "…Namgung Senpai." "What is it?" "Were you perhaps knocked around a lot as a kid?" "…What do you mean by that?" "I mean, you seem to have suffered some major head trauma." "If I'd been injured, do you think I'd have ended up with a face this handsome?" "…Can't you keep your mouth shut before I decide to break it?" My fist clenched threateningly, and only then did Namgung Jin finally close his mouth. Wow. It’s incredible how someone from a decent family could turn out like this socially. Well, maybe his family wasn't exactly 'decent' in every way. Anyway. "Haha..." Do Yoon laughed awkwardly at Namgung Jin's words. "It's a bit... unkempt, isn’t it?" "It's not just a bit..." "I said shut up, didn't I?" Smack. "Ugh...!" I punched him in the side. Namgung Jin gasped for breath. Without any use of Qi, my physical strength was still enough to do this. "You talk way too damn much." "You... damn..." "Do I need to rip your tongue out for you to stay quiet?" I had endured enough. I couldn’t understand why he was being so infuriating. "Just keep quiet, alright?" "Oof..." "If you can't stay quiet, should I help you with that? I swear..." "Baek Yangcheon... please... that's enough." I was about to stomp him further when Do Yoon intervened, calming me down. His constant babbling was a reminder of how much trouble an unchecked mouth could cause. "Geez... really now." Ignoring Namgung Jin, who was still groaning, I turned to Do Yoon. "Ignore his words. This guy’s never behaved like a decent human being, and I'm not bothered by it." Ruin or not, I've lived in worse places. This measly sight wouldn't unsettle me. 'I was more shocked given how it contrasted with Do Yoon’s standing.' From what I’ve seen, Do Yoon is one of the most talented individuals I've encountered since arriving on this world. It was surprising that a clan responsible for nurturing someone of such caliber was in such a state. "That thug got me by surprise..." Namgung Jin got to his feet, and I felt uneasy about what nonsense he might spew next. Perhaps I should just knock him out? Why did I even bring him along, thinking we’d find some glory? Regret gnawed at me. 'Yes, let’s just knock him unconscious.' I resolved to bring him down again before he regained his composure. But just as I moved to act— "Hehe." A chuckle came from somewhere. "Looks like we've got visitors." Creak. The decrepit door creaked open as someone emerged from within. "Ah, Father." Do Yoon addressed him as Father, indicating this was the head of the Shanxi Do family. As I instinctively moved to show my respects— "Ah, pardon me. I am... huh?" I hesitated upon seeing the clan leader’s face. "This can't be..." For it was a face I recognized.