1295 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

How many hours had passed? No, it would be more accurate to say days. Without the use of shortcuts, their speed was significantly reduced, and I had to keep running frantically, taking much longer than usual. “Ugh… Ugh…” Young Lady Hyun, who had agreed to switch from being carried over the shoulder to being carried on the back, continued to groan in discomfort. "It feels like my entire body is being crushed." She complained, but her words caused me to frown. "This is the best we can do." "I know. I'm just whining." "……." Her straightforwardness left me speechless. "…We’re almost there." We weren’t far now. Normally, it wouldn't have taken even a day, but running on legs made the journey painfully slow. At least we could reach our destination. 'We barely encountered any monsters, too.' Even if they showed up, they were only of the Blue Grade level, which was easy to deal with despite our exhaustion. As we continued forward, I spoke to Young Lady Hyun who was perched on my back. "As I asked before, are you sure it's okay to leave?" "What do you mean?" "There was a reason you left the hideout, wasn't there?" Mentioning her disappearance after the incident with Namgung Jin, she responded calmly. "Well, I left to search for something... also, there was something I needed to give to Young Master Namgung. But now, it’s fine." "……." Searching for something. ‘And giving something.' She probably meant the ‘Thunder Fang.’ It seemed she had started acting on her own because of it. Now, she says she can return. It seems something has been resolved. 'Hmm.' Resolution… Namgung Bi-ah should wake up for me to ask about it, but she showed no signs of waking, despite the days that had passed. 'Regardless.' Having ensured her safety, a thought inadvertently crossed my mind. Amidst this grim situation, these thoughts floated up. I consciously dismissed them from my mind. Now wasn't the time to dwell on such matters. 'I have to think about returning.' As quickly as possible. We originally had to hurry, pushing the limits if necessary. 'I’ve roughly identified the Sword Queen’s base and her abilities.' The location was known, and her abilities… 'The power of enhancing others.' It seemed to amplify the stats of her emissaries. There could be other abilities, but… 'That's all the information I have for now.' There was nothing more I could observe. 'Tsk.' Despite gaining information, it wasn’t satisfactory. Even in this dire state, it was hard to gain an advantage with just this. '…Paejon and mother, as well.' I thought of them being tied to a tree. 'Hmm.' It was Namgung Bi-ah who tied mother. But what was it with that tree binding Paejon? Why was Paejon there in the first place? 'Judging from Cheolhyun Buseon’s reaction, it seems like he’s somehow involved in Paejon’s condition.' They must be alive, right? I had heard heartbeats when I got close, indicating they lived. 'Ugh...' What happened to that old man? 'An individual who seemed unbeatable in the world.' Paejon even during his prime. If he had weakened in his youth, I would've understood, but seeing him like this during his prime was baffling. 'Infuriating.' Thinking of the helpless Paejon tightened my eyes, and recalling Cheolhyun Buseon who raised constant winds clenched my fists. 'Damn it.' If only the duration of the main transformation had been a bit longer, I might have torn him apart. Breathing accelerated with regrets when— "…Ugh...!" Sensing my simmering hostility, Young Lady Hyun flinched. "Why all of a sudden…?" "Oh, I'm sorry. My mind wandered." "Is it usual to unleash hostility when your mind wanders…?" "I'm sorry." I cleared my throat and pushed myself harder. The distance wasn’t much now, so I intended to get there as fast as possible. As I ran, we arrived at the vicinity of the hideout I remembered. "It should be around here somewhere." While rolling my eyes to pinpoint the location accurately— "Huh?" "Hmm?" Young Lady Hyun and I reacted simultaneously upon discovering something. The entrance to the cave, which was meant to be the hideout’s entry— "What’s that?" —was in disarray. Not just the entrance, but everything nearby looked like it had been scorched to ashes. At the sight of this, my gut churned. Not just because of the disarray but… ‘This aura.' The remnants of this aura around. This is— ‘The Gu family’s fire.' It was the Gu family's blaze. This meant— ‘Father’s fire.’ There were only two Gu family members in these parts. Since it wasn’t me, the owner of this blaze was Father. Fixating my eyes ahead, I moved forward. Upon reaching the cave, I unceremoniously set down Young Lady Hyun. “Ack!” Ignoring her yelp, I ventured deeper into the cave. Inside, the soot was even denser than before. I pushed through it, descending further when— "…Who’s there…!" An aura was sensed. Detecting my presence they showed aggression, which I swiftly suppressed by extending an arm. “Ugh!” With his arm restrained and collar gripped, the man glared at me. "Another Apostle… Oh?" Recognition flickered in the man's eyes. I asked him upon realizing it. "You are…?" "What happened here?" The man stammered, trying to respond to my question when— “What’s happening?” “An invasion…!” “Another attack!” The people inside appeared at once. Swords clenched, they emerged, several being familiar faces. Finally, the most familiar face among them, Tae Hoan, appeared. "Young Master…?” "Divine Dragon Deputy Leader, what has happened here…?" Examining the wrecked state of the cave, I voiced my thoughts. "……." Tae Hoan paused in silence at my question, as I awaited his answer. "Seriously. You couldn't have just accompanied me down instead of tossing me like that…?" Young Lady Hyun appeared from behind. "Uh…?" "Deputy Leader Hyun…?" Her appearance astonished those present. "…Young Lady Hyun." "Ah, it's been a while, Divine Dragon Deputy Leader." Young Lady Hyun greeted him with a bright smile. Her cheerful demeanor made everyone pause momentarily. "Deputy Leader, could you tell us what happened?" I asked Tae Hoan again. "……." His lips moved silently before he finally spoke to me. "…There was an attack." "An attack? By whom? Apostles?" "…Yes." "…The Apostles... Could it be?" I narrowed my eyes and asked. "Was it the Blue Dragon Deputy Leader?" "……." At the mention of my father, Tae Hoan's face twisted. "…Yes." "……." So, my father attacked this place? Is that why the cave ended up like this? ‘Why would Father suddenly…’ Last time, he was near Mi Hyoran's hideout. But this time, he came for Tae Hoan's? What is going on? "When did the attack happen...?" "It was two days ago..." "…Two days." No wonder the fiery energy seemed a bit diminished. After assessing the situation, I needed to know something important. "What about the injured or the deceased? What happened to Miss Mi?" Mi Hyoran's wellbeing was what concerned me most. When I inquired about her, Tae Hoan shook his head. "Miss Mi is safe. She fainted from the shock but she’s unharmed." "…That’s a relief." I let out a sigh of relief. But then. "…The problem is not Miss Mi." "What?" Tae Hoan implied there was something else concerning. It wasn’t Mi Hyoran? Then what was the problem? As I pondered, someone shouted. "…Baek Yangcheon!" A figure burst from the midst of the people. He rushed forward, grabbing my collar abruptly. Instinctively, I was about to twist and break free, but seeing the person's face, I froze. ‘The Poison King?’ It was Tang Cheongi, the young Poison King, who had seized me. "What is it? Why are you suddenly grabbing my collar…?" "Please… save my elder sister…" "What?" I flinched at Tang Cheongi's words. Elder sister? He clung to me desperately, then slowly collapsed as if his strength had left him. Moreover. ‘What's wrong with his body?’ Tang Cheongi was in a state that made it a wonder he could stand. While he didn't have fatal injuries, he was… ‘…in extreme exhaustion?’ He seemed to have exhausted all his energy. His ribs appeared cracked too. He was in no condition to rush at me. "Please… I beg you… just this once…" "Calm down for a moment…" "Save my elder sister… He's taken her… my elder sister…" Thud. "Damn." Tang Cheongi, who was speaking, finally collapsed. Seeing him, the others quickly came to support him and carried him away. He must have fainted from exhaustion. Watching him being carried away, I asked. "What did he mean by that?" What was all this about? Tae Hoan provided the answer. "…The Apostle, Gu Cheolun, appeared and ravaged the cave." "I understand that. But what's all this about his elder sister?" "When asked how he could do this, that’s what he said." Tae Hoan’s gaze turned towards the now absent Tang Cheongi. "He demanded we hand over the Poison Phoenix. He said if we handed her over, we'd be spared." "…What?" The Poison Phoenix? Father demanded the Poison Phoenix? My eyes widened in disbelief. "…That's how the Apostle, Gu Cheolun, kidnapped the Poison Phoenix." "……." Now I could understand Tang Cheongi's reaction. The Poison Phoenix had been suddenly abducted. By my father, no less.