Childhood Friend of the Zenith

༺ An Unsatisfactory Act (2) ༻

We were about to board the carriages for our journey back to Shanxi.

I noticed a significant decrease in the bustling atmosphere than when I first came here after the tournament ended.

Which just showed how much interest the people had in the tournament.

Considering how the young prodigy tournament gained this much attraction, it made me wonder how wild the Heavenly Dragon tournament would be.

‘I definitely won’t be attending that time.’

Because I didn’t really like crowded areas and atmospheres…

Instead, I hoped to stay home, dedicating the day to training or something of the sort.

[People have always enjoyed watching others beat up each other ever since a long time ago.]

Said Elder Shin rather rudely, but it was true that people had always taken pleasure in witnessing others compete physically.

‘But I have no interest in that nonsense.’

I had to get on the carriage already, but my head began to hurt when I saw two fuckers blocking the path.

“Jeolyub, I won’t be losing next time.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Right, you should come to Hwangbo Clan sometime… “

It seemed like he heard that Gu Jeolyub was leaving because Hwangbo Cheolwi was saying his goodbyes to Gu Jeolyub.

Seeing them patting each other and shaking hands… it really felt out of place.

‘…Why are they acting like that?’

Why were they friendly to each other?

It seems like some story unfolded between the two without me noticing.

But seriously, why were they friends now?

Didn’t they used to hate each other?

Anticipating an endless conversation between the two if I just left them there like this,

I decided to intervene.

“Why are two grown men hugging each other? Can’t you just screw off already?”

When I appeared while growling at them, the two separated from each other after being startled.

And during this, Hwangbo Cheolwi, unable to meet my gaze, stiffened.

“…Ahem.”

Since he let out a fake cough to gauge the situation, I called him out.

“You.”

“…Yes? W-What, did I do something wrong?”

“Why are you scared?”

“…I’m not! What nonsense are you saying right now?”

When I raised my hand after hearing him, Hwangbo Cheolwi flinched.

Yeah, I’m sure you weren’t scared.

Did something happen to him after I hit him last time?

Why did this guy become a wimp?

“You’re acting like I nearly killed you. Stop being scared already. I’m not going to hit you.”

“Hey…! The mighty Hwangbo never fears anything! I just let my guard down back th-“

“Do you want to have a real battle then?”

“…”

I only said that as a joke.

But Hwangbo Cheolwi’s expression began to crumble right away.

Because his acts didn’t fit his giant physique, I smirked without being able to hold back.

“Just kidding.”

I threw in a joke that Peng Woojin had once used.

But Hwangbo Cheolwi took it offensively, puffing and huffing in anger.

Though he couldn’t actually yell at me like last time.

And speaking of Peng Woojin…

“Now that’s a familiar line I hear!”

Peng Woojin appeared for real.

“Perhaps, you also waited for me? I think our minds are connected to each other’s.”

“…When did you come, Young Lord Peng?”

Peng Woojin casually draped his arm around my shoulder after appearing.

I then made a disgusted expression right away and escaped from Peng Woojin’s arm.

Meanwhile, Hwangbo Cheolwi, witnessing Peng Woojin’s sudden appearance, displayed an extremely shocked expression.

I guessed even someone as arrogant and impudent as him recognized Peng Woojin.

Ignoring my reaction, Peng Woojin spoke to me with a bright smile.

“Congratulations, Young Master Gu! Oh, maybe I should start calling you the True Dragon now? I knew that you would be able to succeed.”

Peng Woojin completely disregarded Hwangbo Cheolwi’s presence, focusing solely on our conversation.

“…I prefer that you don’t call me by that title.”

“What’s wrong? Isn’t it cool? The Murim Alliance themselves approved of you as a real dragon!”

That’s the embarrassing part, you moron.

Being the Heavenly Dragon, he might not realize how awkward the title sounded.

“This Brother Peng watched all of little brother’s fights without missing a second of it. And oh, how amazing it was…”

“Why are you naturally calling me a brother? We are strangers to each other, Young Lord Peng.”

“I’m disappointed about that as well… Perhaps you want to take back my pretty little sister of mine? She already seems to have a hard future because of her harsh personality… so if you take her back, then you would naturally become our fam- “

“You crazy bastard!”

“Ugh!”

Before Peng Woojin could finish, someone appeared swiftly and sent him flying with a kick.

I didn’t even have to think who it was that kicked Peng Woojin because it was obviously Peng Ah-Hee.

“I should’ve known this was going to happen when I saw him run off first! How can you speak nonsense as soon as you arrive here?”

“Ah… Ah-Hee, I think your brother got hit in a not-very-good spot…!”

“Who cares if you got hit there! Not like you’ll ever have the chance to use it anyway!”

Damn… that’s a bit harsh.

Peng Woojin finally managed to get up after falling down to the ground.

And judging by how he was still struggling, it really seemed like he got hit in a critical spot.

“…What a treatment to give to your older brother.”

“And you don’t know the dogshit treatment that you gave to your little sister?”

“I was just trying to connect you with a great man! What’s the problem with that? A winner of a tournament is more than enough!”

“This guy really is crazy… what do I do with him?”

“What’s the big deal about breaking off an engagement? Just redo the engag-“

“Brother, it won’t be me kicking, but me crushing it with my feet next time instead.”

“…”

She made even Peng Woojin shut his mouth. It made me realize that Peng Ah-Hee was a capable girl.

When Peng Woojin finally shut his mouth, Peng Ah-Hee let out a sigh and spoke to me.

“…Sorry, it seems like the crazy bastard of my clan caused trouble once again.”

“Uh, no problem…”

She already destroyed him enough, so I didn’t have much to add.

Despite being the young lord of his clan, he was being called a crazy bastard by her.

It seemed like Peng Ah-Hee had lots of anger piled up inside her.

“You’re going back now, right?”

“Yep. Aren’t you also going back?”

When I asked, Peng Ah-Hee shook her head, glancing at that crazy Peng Woojin beside her.

“Because this guy has lots of things to do in Hanam, I don’t think I could return any time soon.”

As she spoke, I recalled that Peng Woojin had come to Hanam for business matters.

I took that information as it was back then, but recent revelations about the possible involvement of the Murim Alliance with the Blood Demon and the mention of the Meteor group made me reconsider.

‘It doesn’t seem like he has any Blood Qi.’

The Blood Qi was the energy that Jang Seonyeon and Namgung Cheonjun had.

I couldn’t find a better term, so I stuck with Blood Qi for now.

Thankfully, it didn’t seem like Peng Woojin had any Blood Qi.

‘And thinking about how he never turned evil in the future…’

Could I just take it as that Peng Woojin never involved himself around those bastards?

However, I knew it couldn’t be that simple.

“Oh right, you still have the black pass right?”

“Black pass?”

“The thing that my brother gave you last time.”

Oh, that black thing?

The pass that Peng Woojin handed me around the end of Nine Dragons Day.

“…I do have it. I think I put it somewhere in my room?”

Did I put it in my drawer?

I couldn’t really remember.

Peng Ah-Hee let out a spiritless laugh at my response.

“That’s not an item that should get such treatment…’

“Want me to give it back then?”

“It’s not something that could be given or given back so easily like that. It seems like you are kind of similar to my brother, judging by how both of you try to get things done so thoughtlessly like that.”

“You went rather far with that one, you tryna fight? I’m not afraid to hit a girl.”

How could she utter such a statement so casually?

Any remnants of a positive impression I had of her shattered completely.

“…You lots, I’m listening to everything you guys are saying.”

“Why are you listening? you should’ve covered your ears.”

Peng Woojin interjected in a sad tone, only to be promptly ignored.

“Anyway, come to my clan with that, along with Soyeo- …I meant Lady Namgung and Soyeol.”

Peng Ah-Hee invited me to her clan, her words subtly changing as she noticed something behind me.

I wondered why she was acting that way, but there wasn’t anything that really caught my eye.

Besides the fact that Namgung Bi-ah was dozing off with her chin on Wi Seol-Ah’s shoulder?

I then looked back at Peng Ah-Hee and responded.

“I’ll see.”

I didn’t know if I had the time to visit Peng Clan, given my current busy schedule.

“You’ll come if you have the opportunity then? I’m good at waiting, Young Master Gu.”

“…I’ll at least let you know that if I do come, it won’t be for you, Young Lord Peng.”

“So you’re saying you will come!”

Interacting with him felt like a constant headache, even just having a few exchanges of words.

I could’ve sworn that the Sword King I saw in my past life wasn’t like that.

‘Maybe this guy also went through the Abyss and changed.’

It came to the point that I even had a thought like that.

And if that thought of mine was true, then I hoped he would change sooner rather than later.

“Young Lord Peng.”

“What’s the matter?”

“I ask this now, but are you here to bid me farewell?”

“Why else would I come here?”

Good point.

But the problem was, why was a young lord of the clan acting like this toward me?

He said that he watched all my fights.

But I couldn’t see him during my fights, so where did he watch them from?

“Oh, I did have one thing I wanted to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I think I asked this same question around this time of last year as well, but are you thinking about going to the Heavenly Dragon Academy?”

He inquired, bringing up the topic seemingly out of nowhere.

I knew that the Heavenly Dragon Academy was set to open next year…

“I’m not sure.”

But I didn’t really feel the need to go.

Attending the Heavenly Dragon Academy was essentially a requirement for those intending to combat demons…

‘But I don’t think I want to waste my time by going there.’

My goal wasn’t to hunt some demons.

The clan would probably pressure me to attend, but all I had to do was bring myself into a position that allowed me to not go.

A strong position that allowed me to be stubborn.

“Judging by your expression, it doesn’t seem like you really want to go.”

“That’s not entirely true.”

He had keen eyes.

When I responded to him while slightly avoiding eye contact, Peng Woojin continued to speak with a smile on his face.

“But it is true that there is nothing for Young Master Gu to gain even if you went there.”

“…”

“And it seems like Young Master Gu certainly knows that. Thankfully.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m saying it’s good to see that you know your own value.”

I felt the chills when I saw him speak with that kind smile on his face.

Ew, disgusting.

“But despite that, I still really hope that you go to the Heavenly Dragon Academy.”

What he said just now contradicted his words from earlier.

“You said yourself that I won’t be gaining anything there, so why are you saying that?”

“It’s just my intuition I suppose? But I know that Young Master Gu won’t be listening to my words anyway, so don’t worry about it too much.”

Indeed, I barely paid attention to anything Peng Woojin said.

His words went in one ear and out the other.

But I did have to think a little differently about this matter this time.

‘The Heavenly Dragon Academy, huh?’

It was a useless place for me to go at this point of time, but there wasn’t completely nothing for me to gain there either.

Underneath that place, there were a bunch of artifacts that were similar to a treasure.

They were items that were only able to be found in the war against the Demonic Cult in the future.

But the dilemma arose from uncertainty about whether I truly needed those artifacts.

To be more accurate, I had to weigh the worth of attending the academy to obtain the artifacts against waiting for them without attending.

‘But I don’t really need to think about it right now.’

With some time left until the academy opened, I deferred the decision-making process for the time being.

“Young Master.”

Hongwa whispered cautiously from behind.

“We should start going.”

“Alright.”

Peng Woojin stepped back slightly upon hearing Hongwa’s words.

Despite being interrupted by a servant, Peng Woojin thankfully didn’t appear offended.

“It seems like I’ve taken too much of your time.”

Instead, he waved his hand with a smile on his face.

Signaling me to leave.

“We will become closer when we see each other next time. I’ll be waiting for that.”

“Why are you saying such a disgusting thing… don’t wait for it.”

And why was he assuming that we’d even see each other again?

“Brother, you should also start going. You said that you don’t have too much time.”

Peng Woojin nodded after hearing Peng Ah-Hee.

“Oh, right. I’ll be leaving first. Young Master Gu, have a safe trip on your way back.”

“Yes, you as well.”

“You’re not even going to stop me! How cold!”

Peng Woojin slowly began to leave after my response.

More accurately, he seemed to be dragged away by Peng Ah-Hee’s hand rather than walking away on his own.

It felt like a storm had just passed by.

[Quite a special guy is living under Peng Clan.]

Elder Shin, who had been quiet throughout, finally spoke up.

I found myself in agreement with his assessment.

“We should start going too, and could you leave already?”

Hwangbo Cheolwi and Gu Jeolyub were both looking at Peng Woojin with fascination.

“What are you looking at?”

“…Young Master, it’s that Peng Woojin. Aren’t you the weird one for speaking to him like that?

“The ex-Heavenly Dragon… his presence itself feels overpowering.”

I dismissed their comments with a tsk.

It seemed like they still thought of the title, Heavenly Dragon, as some mighty thing.

Or maybe I was just dull.

“Stop speaking nonsense, and get on already.”

I kicked Gu Jeolyub, who was standing dumbfoundedly, and got on the carriage.

Gu Jeolyub’s screams from the back could be heard, but I ignored it for now since I was tired.

That settled, but…

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“…Pardon?”

I interrupted Gu Jeolyub, who was attempting to board a carriage.

When I called him, Gu Jeolyub made a confused expression.

“You are leading the horse, why are you getting on a carriage?”

I questioned, causing Gu Jeolyub’s expression to sour.

“Did you forget?”

“No, it’s uh…”

“You piece of… I should beat you up like last tim- “

“Yay…! Time to get on the horse…!”

Gu Jeolyub hurriedly ran toward the horse and seated himself onto the saddle.

He should’ve done that from the beginning. How dare he try to sneak his way out.

Satisfied with that, I leaned back on the carriage seat.

“Young Master, are you tired?”

Wi Seol-Ah, already sitting next to me, inquired after observing me.

Namgung Bi-ah was already asleep with her head leaning against Wi Seol-Ah’s shoulder.

“A little.”

“Did you not get enough sleep?”

“It’s just my mind gets tired every time I talk to guys who are not in their right minds.”

“Then! You should come here too, Young Master!”

WI Seol-Ah got into a posture, signaling me to lean against her shoulder.

Even though Namgung Bi-ah probably felt heavy to her on the opposing side.

I hesitated for a moment but eventually relented, pretending to have lost against her.

I was too tired to refuse her offer.

‘It feels soft.’

Wi Seol-Ah’s shoulder felt softer than I expected.

It felt like I might fall asleep right away.

I closed my eyes while leaning against Wi Seol-Ah’s shoulder.

Not long after that, the carriage started its journey back to Shanxi.

******************

Right as the carriages began their journey back to the Gu Clan…

There were people watching the carriages from above the roof of a building.

– The target started to move. We will proceed with the operation as planned.

After hearing the man, who had his face covered with a black mask, the concealed figures all began to move at once.

Their acts seemed suspicious, but it seemed like the people of Hanam didn’t notice them.

Which meant that they were well-trained.

These covert maneuvers did not escape the watchful eyes of Peng Woojin, observing from a distance.

‘Who is it?’

His unamused expression contrasted with the one he had while conversing with Gu Yangcheon.

‘Who is it, I wonder.’

It was the first time Peng Woojin saw such a group.

They were on Peng Woojin’s mind ever since he first began talking to Gu Yangcheon.

It was hard for him to notice them because of their concealed presence, but it was easy for Peng Woojin to find them with his ‘Eye’.

Because guys like them were bound to have a dirty color.

‘Hmm…’

Judging by their movements and reaction, it seemed like they were targeting Gu Yangcheon.

‘How dare they.’

He didn’t know why they were targeting that boy, but it was rather annoying for Peng Woojin.

To the point that he wanted to go and kill them this instant.

With that thought, a death aura began to envelop Peng Woojin.

He wanted to charge at them right this instant, to stop them from doing any nonsense.

However…

He swiftly suppressed the aura, turning away without further consideration.

It was as if he had never been interested in the first place, his expression changing in an instant.

Initially, he contemplated taking matters into his own hands, but Peng Woojin was able to know after talking with Gu Yangcheon.

That just like him…

Gu Yangcheon was also aware of those bastards’ presence as well.

He was certain about it.

Peng Woojin realized that Gu Yangcheon’s sights and Qi were pointed toward a specific direction.

Though he didn’t understand why Gu Yangcheon showed no reaction.

‘That means I won’t be interfering.’

If Gu Yangcheon had a plan in mind, Peng Woojin needed to restrain himself.

He was destined to shine even brighter, and Peng Woojin couldn’t afford to cast a shadow on his light.

He didn’t need to add any more firewood when Gu Yangcheon was capable of burning passionately himself.

‘However, I am a bit disappointed.’

Peng Woojin was intrigued by why Gu Yangcheon let them be, so Peng Woojin was very disappointed that he couldn’t see the end of it.

Though tempted to sneak away and observe, he didn’t know what Peng Ah-Hee would do to him this time, so he had to stop himself this time.

‘I’m disappointed that our meeting this time was short, but I hope that you shine even brighter than now next time we meet, Young Master Gu.’

Along with the hope that Gu Yangcheon shined in a more radiant light in their next meeting, Peng Woojin disappeared after turning into a black wind.

The wind headed toward the Murim Alliance.

Where Shaolin’s Chief Abbot was waiting.

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