385 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Title: World's Greatest Martial Artist's Childhood Friend - Chapter 386 > Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive A strange ceiling. That was my first thought as soon as I opened my eyes. Sunlight was streaming through the window. Judging by the conditions, it felt like it was just past noon. I immediately sat up. I needed to assess the situation. But as I tried to get up by supporting myself on the bed... “Ouch...” A pounding headache forced me to cradle my forehead with my palm. What is this? Why does it hurt so much? '...This is.' Holding my forehead, I scanned the room. It was a room I'd never seen before. Judging by the state of it, it seemed to be an inn's room. But it was different from the Baekrim Inn where I'd been staying. It was only after reaching that conclusion that I remembered what happened right before I lost consciousness. The moment when my father's fist was right in front of my face. Was I knocked out by a punch? 'Then, this is beyond embarrassing...' I had gone through the trouble of executing skillful moves, only to be knocked out by a single punch. Despite all my blustering, that was a disgrace. Moreover… 'Since I lost... I won't even get to hear anything?' I had sparred just to inquire about my mother's whereabouts. All I had to do was succeed with a single attack, but I ultimately failed. Even with the condition that my father wouldn't use one of his arms, I still couldn't overcome the gap in skill between us. 'Losing was expected, but still...' I never thought I could win, but I didn’t expect to lose so pathetically. It means my father was at a higher level than I anticipated. I staggered as I raised my upper body. First, to figure out how long I had been unconscious and what happened after I fainted. At that moment. “Huh?” As I reached out, I felt an unfamiliar sensation. Someone was lying on one side of the not-so-large bed. “…What…?” Startled, I quickly withdrew my hand. Who is it? Who is lying on my bed? My mind quickly cleared, and thoughts raced. There were at most two... no, three people who could sneak into my bed while I was asleep. Among them, the most likely... 'Namgoong Bia?' She has snuck in occasionally before. Though she seemed to have stopped doing that recently, if anyone had, it would be her. Nervously, I pulled back the covers with a slightly hesitant hand. If Namgoong Bia was there, what would I do? I'd probably just scold her like usual and then go downstairs together to eat.... “Hm?” Instead of the expected sight of white hair, black hair came into view. Black hair...? Who would have black hair? “Urgh…” The deep groaning voice was distinctly not feminine. Maybe I was hearing things because I had just woken up. While I was bewildered and fumbling, the other person seemed to sense my presence and began to stir. “Ugh... Is it morning... Ugh!” The moment I confirmed who was slowly getting up, I kicked without thinking. He was pushed off the bed by the unexpected blow. “Ouch...! What a cruel guy, hitting a monk!” Clutching his belly and yelping, was Jamryong Woo Hyuk. “…What are you doing here?” Why is that bastard here? And why is he shirtless? The sight of his unnecessarily well-built body was unavoidable. How was it? It was annoying as hell. Waking up and seeing a guy's bare body first thing could only make one’s mood bad. I swallowed my disgust as I began to speak. “Why are you here?” I've gotten kinder too. In the past, I would have started with a punch. Now I'm at least asking questions first. “Why would a person be in a bed? Of course, to sleep... Put your hand down. Why are you clenching your fist?” Of course, that didn't last long. I was barely holding back even now. Struggling to control my feelings, I spoke to Woo Hyuk. “I’ll count to three.” “What kind of counting do you mean?” “I’m counting how many times I’ll hold back before I beat you up. Answer within that time.” “What’s with that misleading and arbitrary standard? That’s ridiculous!” It was even more absurd coming from the person who imposed such arbitrary standards on me. Ignoring his reaction, I unfolded one finger. “One.” “Wait a moment. Why this hostility between friends? There's no need for violence.” “Two.” “Hey! At least hand me a sword so I can defend myself! How cheap!” Woo Hyuk panicked and looked around, but there wasn’t anything usable. “We should resolve this through conversation, not...!” “Three. You, this bastard, come here….” “I ran away from home!” Abruptly. I paused in my attempt to grab Woo Hyuk's head. What did he say? “…Ran away?” “I ran away. I ran awa—ugh!” Unable to resist, I smacked Woo Hyuk on the head. With an aggrieved expression, Woo Hyuk looked at me. “I told you, why did you hit me?” “Sorry, but how could I not when you’re spouting bullshit?” That was some first-rate bullshit. Running away? What's that about running away? Isn’t it absurd for someone who’s already staying away from his family at Wudang Sect to say that? Moreover, knowing Woo Hyuk’s real name made it even more nonsensical. “…So, you ran away from where?” “Put your fist down and tell me. Where would I run away from? Obviously, I left the sect.” He seemed to avoid mentioning anything about his family clan entirely. Well, it made sense, considering how much Woo Hyuk detested that place. “So you're telling me you left the Wudang Sect?” “Are you crazy? What about my dantian? It's just a runaway; I’ll go back someday...” Generally speaking, when someone wants to leave a sect, they collect all martial arts techniques and wagers one mastered there, and in severe cases, they might even destroy the dantian. After hearing that, I sighed and asked Woo Hyuk. “What’s this sudden runaway about?” “...” “One…” “You have such a damned impatient temper.” “Spill it fast.” As I questioned with an air of indifference, Woo Hyuk didn't respond immediately and just licked his lips as if reluctant to speak. It seemed like he didn't want to say anything. Normally, I wouldn't bother asking, but... “Two.” I'm annoyed enough right now to insist on finding out. As I slowly began to channel my inner energy into my hand, Woo Hyuk flinched and finally spoke up. “It’s a protest.” “A protest?” “Yes... a protest.” “Who are you protesting against?” Out of nowhere, what was this talk about a protest? Running away as a protest, seriously? Even with repeated questioning, Woo Hyuk only wore an awkward grin. I knew that face too well; when he made that expression, it meant he'd never spill the beans. Once he got to that point, even beating it out of him was useless. Tsk. I clicked my tongue inwardly and changed the line of questioning. “Fine, whatever. A runaway protest, I get it. But why are you here?” Personal matters aside, what mattered to me was why Woo Hyuk was here now. Woo Hyuk beamed as if expecting this question. Whenever a guy as good-looking as him smiled, it always ruined my mood. “Oh, that. Since I ran away, I lost my place to stay.” “So?” “I’m not running away for just a day or two, you know.” Grinning broadly, Woo Hyuk continued. “So while I'm on the run, I thought I'd impose on you at your place... Just kidding! It was a joke! Put the fire away! The whole place will burn down!” With a smile, I had summoned a flame around my body, and Woo Hyuk hastily waved his hands, trying to stop me. “Right? It was a joke, wasn’t it? Good thing, or I might have burned you alive here.” “You talk about it so brutally...” Woo Hyuk whimpered in reply to my reaction. Was he actually thinking of leeching off my place? Seeing my unimpressed face, Woo Hyuk chuckled softly. “Don't worry, it was half a joke. I have a place to stay.” “That’s a relief.” “Aren’t you curious about where it is? I'm a bit disappointed.” “You'll tell me even if I don’t ask.” At my nonchalant response, Woo Hyuk feigned a look of surprise. “It amazes me every time. Could it be that we've been close since we were kids?” “Stop spouting nonsense.” “No, seriously, I'm curious about how you know me so well when most people don’t.” “Just spit it out. Stop beating around the bush.” Annoyed by my directness, Woo Hyuk scrunched his nose. “I heard you’re going to Sichuan.” I had to give him a slightly stunned look at that remark. “How do you know that?” “Huh? Young Master Cheol told me.” Nonchalantly, Woo Hyuk revealed the source of his information. And, of course, it had to be Cheol Jiseon. ‘…Just wait till we meet.’ I didn't expect Jiseon to be such a blabbermouth. He's going to get it from me.... While I simmered with anger internally, Woo Hyuk continued speaking. “Coincidentally, my master is in that area. So how about we travel together up to there? I plan to stay around.” His mention of a master made me wonder. A master? ‘Did he have a master?’ I assumed he was learning alongside elder figures like Yeongpung. Or were his relationships more like Gu Ryeonghwa and the Sword Queen? This was news to me. A master for Jamryong? And coincidentally in Sichuan? “He usually travels around often, but now he's happened to be in Sichuan.” “So you have a separate master?” “Yeah. I didn’t learn much, but... Oh, if you hear their name, you might recognize it? They’re kinda famous.” “Who is it?” I couldn't imagine someone that famous. If they were that well-known, it was strange I didn’t know about Woo Hyuk’s master. Curiosity brewed as I asked, and Woo Hyuk straightened himself to answer. “Gyu Do.” I had to tilt my head at Woo Hyuk’s mention. The name seemed unfamiliar to me because I hadn’t heard it before. I wondered about this supposedly famous master that I hadn't recognized. “Their title is.” Woo Hyuk added further detail, which made my eyes widen in shock. “Wudang’s Eccentric Sage.” “…!” “That’s my master.” Certainly a renowned figure, in many ways. Wudang’s Eccentric Sage Gyu Do. One of Wudang Sect’s most prominent masters. And one of the most disgraceful monks in the eyes of the sect. Also, a precious relic of the Namgung family. The future owner of the precious sword used by the Demon Sword Queen, the Thunder Fang (雷牙).