Childhood Friend of the Zenith

I stopped in my tracks, my expression dazed as I processed Gu Heebi's words.

‘Grandfather?

’ It was such an unexpected figure to be brought up that my thoughts ground to a halt.

Grandfather.

If the meaning was as I thought, it referred to the former head of the Gu family, my father’s father.

‘But who is that?

’ I didn’t know.

To be precise, I had never even heard of him.

Not in this life, and not in my previous one.

I only knew that he’d died before I was born.

The Gu family, unlike other clans, didn’t practice ancestral worship or ceremonies for the deceased.

So I’d naturally assumed he was long dead and never gave it a second thought.

But now, out of nowhere— ‘Does this mean he’s alive?

’ I’d heard rumors before.

Even the Shadow King had mentioned him once, though I hadn’t dwelled on it.

‘Grandfather entrusted Cheonma to Gu Heebi?

’ It was absurd—beyond absurd.

“What do you mean, Grandfather?

” I asked, my voice laced with doubt.

Before I could react further, Gu Heebi flicked my forehead.

I could have avoided it, but I didn’t bother.

Smack!

Rubbing my throbbing forehead, I glared at her.

“Brother, what’s with calling Grandfather just ‘Grandfather’?

” “Then what else am I supposed to call him?

” “Have some respect.

” “I never thought I’d hear the word ‘respect’ from you, of all people.

” It was laughable that the person infamous across Zhongyuan for her foul temper would lecture me about respect.

“I’ve never even seen the man’s face or heard his name.

Why should I care?

Is what you’re saying true?

” Whether or not Grandfather was alive didn’t matter to me.

I’d never met him, so his existence was irrelevant.

But— “Are you seriously saying Grandfather entrusted that to you?

Is it true?

” If he had truly entrusted Cheonma to her, the story changed entirely.

That would make this a family matter.

“Why would I lie to you, Brother?

” “I’m sure I could think of a reason.

” “That’s hurtful.

Is that all the trust we have?

After everything I did for you as a child—cleaning up your messes, playing with you—” “Sister.

” I cut her off before she could go on.

“I’m not joking around.

” “Hm.

” The conversation was dragging on, and my patience was wearing thin.

“Is it really true that Grandfather appeared and entrusted it to you?

” When I repeated my question with suspicion, Gu Heebi extended her hand instead of answering.

“Take my hand.

” I knew what she intended and grasped her hand without hesitation.

Buzz.

Qi stirred between us.

Her Qi intertwined with mine, resonating with my Nine Flames Firewheel Technique.

“I’m going to tell you the truth, starting now,” she said as her Qi flowed, binding us together.

It was a restriction—a self-imposed vow tied to my Qi.

“Starting with your earlier question.

” I didn’t waste time asking why she was going to such lengths.

We both knew this was the simplest way to resolve the matter.

“Yes, Grandfather entrusted that child to me,” she said.

The Qi remained steady.

No disruptions in her pulse or breathing.

It was the truth.

“Then...

since when—” “Brother, that’s not fair,” she interrupted with a sly smile.

“One question at a time, remember?

Don’t be so petty.

” “...

” What could she possibly want to ask me?

“Go on,” she urged.

Frowning, I replied monotonously, “I’ll answer your questions truthfully, starting now.

” “Good,” she said, smiling in satisfaction.

And then, she asked her question.

“That child.

Are you going to kill her?

” Her straightforwardness caught me off guard, but I nodded slightly.

There was no use dodging the question.

“Depends,” I replied flatly.

It wasn’t a firm answer, but my resolve had been made long ago.

“...

Why?

” she pressed.

“Because it’s something I need to do.

” That was the simple truth.

“You need to kill her?

That’s what you have to do?

” “Sister, stop calling her a child.

She’s not one.

” “Brother.

” “I’m tolerating this because I know you don’t understand.

Don’t make me lose my patience with nonsense,” I snapped.

Suppressing my irritation, I stared at her.

“...

You’ve changed, Brother,” she said softly, her eyes filled with an odd sadness.

Her gaze struck me painfully, but I ignored it.

“I have.

I had to change.

” But that didn’t matter.

“And so have you, Sister.

Why are you defending her?

” “Well...

” She chuckled lightly, her answer evasive.

“But I believe that if you got to know her, you’d understand.

So—” “I don’t want to know.

” It was ridiculous.

I didn’t need to hear any more.

‘How much more is there to know?

’ I’d endured enough of this in my previous life.

There was no reason to dig deeper or bear the consequences.

‘Cheonma is nothing like Namgung Bi-ah or Jegal Hyuk.

’ People could change.

That was something I’d come to understand in this life.

But Cheonma...

she was on a different level entirely.

Could she change?

Perhaps.

But— ‘How can you be so sure?

’ What if she didn’t?

Could I bear the consequences of such a failure?

Without that certainty, it was better to end things before they began.

“Do you really think this is the right thing to do?

” she asked.

“Right or wrong doesn’t matter anymore.

I told you before—it’s something I have to do.

Now answer me,” I demanded.

My frustration began to bleed into my Qi, and the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) air around us grew heavier.

“Why did Grandfather entrust her to you?

” “...

” The old table between us trembled under the weight of the turbulent Qi.

I wasn’t trying to intimidate her—it was simply the result of my unstable emotions leaking out.

“...

” “...

” Our eyes locked, both of us unwavering.

Time stretched, though it was only a fleeting moment.

Finally, Gu Heebi broke the silence.

I thought she was about to answer, but instead— “I’m not going to tell you,” she said calmly.

“...

What?

” Her words made my already tense expression contort further.

I froze for a moment, staring blankly at Gu Heebi after hearing her words.

‘What kind of nonsense is this?

’ “If you’ve already decided what to do, Brother, then there’s nothing more to say.

Isn’t that right?

” Her meaning was clear—she wouldn’t budge.

I glared at her, but Gu Heebi’s demeanor remained unchanged.

That left me with only one option.

“Do as you like,” I said flatly.

If she didn’t want to talk, I wouldn’t force her.

The restriction she placed on herself only ensured she wouldn’t lie—it didn’t compel her to answer.

“Because I’ll just do as I like, too.

” Family business?

A request from Grandfather?

None of it mattered to me.

I’d simply do what I had to.

With that thought, I began to rise.

Shing.

The sound of a sword being unsheathed echoed through the room.

Vrrrm!

A heavy, ominous resonance filled the air, and the chilling intent made my gaze harden.

“Sister,” I said without turning around.

The one who had drawn her sword was Gu Heebi.

She was pointing its tip at my back.

Fwoosh.

Flames ignited from her hand and enveloped her blade.

The heat radiated outward as the flames swirled and intensified.

Though there was no hostility, the resistance was clear.

Gu Heebi’s sword spoke for her.

“What is this supposed to mean?

” I asked coldly.

“Exactly what it looks like,” she replied with a bitter smile.

“As long as your intentions remain the same, I can’t let you go near her.

” “And what?

Are you going to fight me?

” “Fight?

Do you think this sister of yours is that delusional?

” Fwoosh!

The flames flared brighter, the heat almost palpable.

“I’d probably lose in an instant.

You’re strong, Brother.

” “...

” Her matter-of-fact statement left me momentarily speechless.

The proud Gu Heebi, admitting defeat so readily?

Even so, her expression didn’t waver.

If it were the Gu Heebi of old, she’d have stubbornly refused to acknowledge my strength.

Yet here she was, sword drawn despite accepting the disparity.

‘Did reaching Hwagyeong bring about some inner change?

’ I couldn’t be sure.

Whatever transformation she’d undergone in recent years was beyond my understanding.

But still— “You know that and yet you still won’t let me pass?

Sister, have you gone insane?

” The anger in my voice was unmistakable.

“Is she really that important to you?

” Important enough to point your sword at me?

The words caught in my throat as another thought surfaced.

Though we shared the same father, we had never been close enough to truly call ourselves family.

I couldn’t bring myself to say it aloud.

How could I, when I was the one responsible for her end in our previous life?

‘Be happy.

’ Even as she bled and her eyes closed, Gu Heebi had asked me to be happy.

The memory made me feel sick.

‘Damn it.

’ I cursed inwardly, letting out a long sigh.

Vrrrm.

I circulated my Qi to calm myself.

I couldn’t let emotions cloud my judgment now—not at this critical moment.

“Sister, you’re misunderstanding something.

This isn’t about winning or losing.

” Gu Heebi was remarkable.

I didn’t know how, but she’d reached Hwagyeong at her age, making her a strong candidate for the title of Sword Queen someday.

But even so— “It doesn’t matter.

I just have to finish this quickly and move on.

” For someone at my level, three seconds would be enough.

In that time, I could incapacitate her and proceed.

Crunch.

I pushed off the ground and charged at Gu Heebi, determined to end this swiftly.

“...!

” Her eyes widened in surprise as I closed the distance in an instant.

But just as I was about to reach her— Crash!

The roof of the hut collapsed as something crashed through it.

Boom!

Rumble!

A blast of turbulent Qi swept through the air, scattering debris in all directions.

The old hut was obliterated, leaving only a chaotic mess of dirt and shattered wood.

Through the cloud of dust, a figure emerged, blocking my path.

Their aura was an inky black, absorbing all light.

This figure controlled the wild Qi around them, locking their sharp gaze onto me.

“...

You.

What are you?

” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“...

” “Why are you bothering my sister?

” I felt my chest tighten as I stared at her.

It was Cheonma.

She stood protectively in front of Gu Heebi, her sharp, violet eyes glaring at me.

Her violet-tinged black hair shimmered like starlit skies, and her presence radiated an otherworldly beauty.

The appearance was unmistakably that of the Cheonma I remembered from my past life.

But— “Don’t bother my sister,” she said, her tone firm.

“...

Ha,” I let out a laugh.

How could I not laugh?

“No, this can’t be happening.

” This was too much.

“At the very least, you shouldn’t be standing there,” I said, my voice laced with incredulity.

“...

” It was too absurd.

In what world could I have imagined Cheonma standing there, blocking me to protect Gu Heebi?

The sight was so contradictory it made my emotions churn violently.

The fear and unease I’d felt dissipated.

In their place, guilt turned cold and hardened into fury.

“That’s a position neither I nor you should ever take,” I said coldly.

It didn’t matter who stood there—but it couldn’t be us.

Especially not her.

“You, of all people, should never be in that place,” I said.

Cheonma furrowed her brow and tilted her head slightly, as if confused.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.

Just stop bothering my sister.

” “Yeon-ah, wait...

” Gu Heebi tried to intervene.

“If you keep bothering her,” Cheonma continued, cutting her off, “then even if it’s you, I won’t forgive you.

” “...

” Her words reverberated within me.

Forgive?

Did Cheonma talk about forgiveness?

“How dare you say that to me?

” I asked, my voice low and filled with disbelief.

The audacity.

Neither she nor I could ever deserve forgiveness, yet she spoke as if it were so simple.

Looking at her, a phrase floated to the surface of my mind.

"Forgetfulness is a blessing.

" I couldn’t remember where or when I’d heard it, but it resonated now more than ever.

Yes, forgetfulness was a blessing.

It was the only explanation for how she could say such things.

‘No, even if you remembered, you’d still be the same.

’ Because she was Cheonma.

She felt no guilt, and she would inevitably bring chaos and bloodshed again.

That was who she was.

Crunch.

I began to draw my Qi inward.

Starting from my heart, it coursed through my meridians, saturating every part of my body.

Hiss.

My hair darkened further, and blood vessels appeared around my eyes.

The black Qi coiled around my hand, intensifying in color.

“You’re right.

I’ve been overthinking this.

I’ll just end it here.

” “Br—” Gu Heebi tried to stop me.

Boom!

But it was too late.

I was already in front of Cheonma.

Grab!

“!

” I wrapped my hand around her throat and unleashed my Qi.

With a leap, I propelled us both into the air.

I had made my decision long ago: I would stop her at all costs.

And that moment was now.