Childhood Friend of the Zenith

“You met Grandfather...?

” That was what Gu Heebi said to me in my quarters.

“Yes.

” “How...?

” “He came to see me.

” I replied indifferently to her astonished question.

My ribs still ached faintly—maybe I should’ve hit myself a little softer.

“No, out of nowhere?

” “Yeah, out of nowhere.

” She kept pestering me with questions, unable to believe it, but my answers didn’t change.

“Sis, stop asking.

I was just as shocked.

” How could I have known that that man—no, was he even human?

—that person claiming to be my grandfather would show up?

Thanks to him, my ribs got cracked, and my mood got ruined.

‘Damn family ties.

’ The Gu family members were all insane.

Every last one of them cared about nothing but themselves.

How could someone like me, a normal person, live peacefully in a place like this?

‘I should just run away or something.

’ Every time I tried to get attached to this family, it became clear I couldn’t.

Truly a goddamn messed-up household.

“So....

” Trying to calm my irritation, I glanced at Gu Heebi and asked, “What exactly are you doing right now?

” “Hm?

” Gu Heebi tilted her head at my question and replied, “Isn’t it obvious?

I’m cooking.

” “...

” Does she think I asked because I couldn’t tell?

‘I’m asking because I can’t believe what I’m seeing.

’ Gu Heebi was cooking.

Casually dressed, she was making a few side dishes and placing them on the dining table like it was nothing.

How should I even describe this nightmarish scene?

I honestly had no idea.

“...

You know how to cook?

” “Now, a little bit?

” Her nonchalant response left me stunned.

Amused by my dumbfounded expression, Gu Heebi let out a small chuckle.

“Living with a child will do that to you.

” “...

What kind of mom-like statement is that?

” “Oh my, does it suit me?

” “No, not at all.

” Honestly, it did suit her a little, but the thought annoyed me for some reason, so I answered bluntly.

As I was observing this bizarre side of Gu Heebi, Thud.

Something was placed on the plate in front of me.

What was this?

I couldn’t tell.

It looked like food, but....

“What is this...?

” Completely clueless, I turned to the person who had put it there.

It was Cheonma, who had somehow ended up sitting next to me.

Cheonma was sitting there, casually placing more food in front of me.

“Stop—no, wait.

What is this?

” “Food.

” “I can see that.

I mean, why are you giving it to me?

” “It’s good.

You like it.

” “...

” What the hell was this situation?

Actually, I felt like it was too late to even try understanding it anymore.

Having no energy left to argue, I wordlessly picked up the food and put it in my mouth.

‘...

Huh?

’ I was surprised after taking a bite.

It tasted better than I expected.

And.

‘I actually ate it.

’ What shocked me even more was that I had just eaten food in front of Cheonma like it was nothing.

‘Even if I am immune to all poisons, still....

’ I was being way too careless.

Or maybe, it was because it was Cheonma.

‘She wouldn’t resort to poison.

’ She wasn’t the type to use cheap tricks like poisoning.

If she didn’t like someone, she’d just strike or cut them down directly.

Was that why I hadn’t worried about something so trivial?

Or was it because Gu Heebi was here?

I didn’t know.

Not knowing, I took another bite.

“Is it good?

” Gu Heebi asked.

“It’s alright.

” “Really?

” Hearing my response, Gu Heebi grinned widely and glanced at Cheonma.

“Yeon-ah, he says it’s good.

” “Okay.

” “...

Huh?

” “Oh, Yeon-ah made this.

” “...

What?

” At her words, I widened my eyes and stared at Cheonma.

What kind of bullshit was this?

“She...

made this?

” “Yes, didn’t she do well?

She’s surprisingly good with her hands.

” Gu Heebi patted Cheonma’s hair as if praising her.

Cheonma, without much resistance, simply let it happen.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t escape the shock of what I had just heard.

‘Cheonma cooked?

’ That Cheonma?

This was one of the most shocking experiences of my life.

And to make it worse, it actually tasted pretty good.

That made it even more unbelievable.

‘I don’t even know how to react anymore.

’ I felt exhausted, as if reacting to every surprise was draining me.

Setting down my chopsticks, I decided to cut to the point.

“Sis.

” “Hm?

” “What happened with Grandfather?

” “...

” Going straight to the point made Gu Heebi pause for a moment.

I stared at her, unyielding.

“Why did that old man leave her with you?

What exactly happened?

” “...

Hm....

” I asked again, making it clear I wouldn’t let her dodge the question.

Gu Heebi knew that too, judging by the awkward look on her face.

Eventually, she spoke cautiously.

“It was around the time my Sword Unit disbanded.

” The Sword Unit of the Gu family, which Gu Heebi once led, had temporarily disbanded amidst the chaos of recent events.

The exact cause was likely the infighting over the position of the next leader of Gu Seonmun.

Because of that, Gu Heebi had taken a break and left to wander the martial world.

If I recalled correctly, that was about two years ago.

“It wasn’t a particularly unusual day.

Just another day of traveling.

” It was spring, just as the flowers were blooming.

While walking along Cheonghae, she suddenly encountered Grandfather.

—“You must take this.

It’s for the sake of the family.

” Cheonma, who appeared unconscious, had been in Grandfather’s hands.

He entrusted Cheonma to Gu Heebi.

“...

And you just accepted her like that?

” She took her in without question?

That sounded ridiculous.

When I looked at her with disbelief, Gu Heebi responded with a slightly defensive tone.

“When Grandfather says it’s for the family, what choice do I have?

” Even if she was known for being wild and reckless, Gu Heebi couldn’t refuse when the former head of the Gu family—long thought dead—spoke of family matters.

But still.

“And what if it wasn’t really him?

What if Grandfather was an imposter?

” Even so, it didn’t make sense.

What made her trust him so easily?

When I voiced my doubts, “And how did you confirm he was really Grandfather?

” “...

” Her words left me speechless.

It was the same method I had used to realize it myself.

‘The resonance of Nine Flames Firewheel.

’ That alone was enough to confirm if someone was part of the same bloodline.

“But even so, when dealing with something as dangerous as those flames, shouldn’t you at least be cautious...?

” “What flames are you talking about?

” “...

What?

” Her response caught me off guard.

She didn’t understand?

‘This is strange.

’ I asked her again with a sense of unease.

“Sis, do you remember what Grandfather looked like?

” “His appearance?

” “Yes.

Wasn’t he surrounded by flames or something similar?

” “Did you eat something bad?

There’s no such thing.

” “...

” Her expression was utterly dismissive, like she thought I was being absurd.

“No, seriously...

Grandfather didn’t look like that?

” “Not at all.

He looked completely normal.

White hair, a strong build...

he resembled the current family head a lot.

” “...

” The more she explained, the deeper I frowned.

Her unhesitating description confirmed that she had seen Grandfather in a human form.

‘What’s going on?

’ It made no sense.

When I saw him, he had been entirely made of flames, yet Gu Heebi saw him as a human?

‘He said his form looked strange to me because I wasn’t ready yet.

’ And yet Gu Heebi saw him as human?

‘What the hell is going on?

’ It was a strange, unsettling inconsistency.

No, more importantly— “Why?

” Why did he entrust Cheonma to Gu Heebi?

When I asked this, Gu Heebi responded as if the answer was obvious.

“I don’t know.

” “...

What?

” “How would I know?

He just told me to look after her for a while.

” “...

” Unbelievable.

“You’re no help, Sis.

” She really was useless sometimes.

“Do you want me to smack you after all this time?

” “No.

I’m past the age where I let you hit me, so forget that.

” Cutting her off, I brought up something else.

“Then why are you staying in a dump like this?

You could’ve just told Lady Mi.

” Why was she staying in such a shabby place in Hanan instead of telling her mother?

“I did tell her.

” “And?

” “I told her, but do you think I’d be here if she agreed?

She turned me down, so here I am.

” “...

” That was an impeccable response.

Of course.

If she didn’t get permission, she’d end up here.

“And besides,” Gu Heebi glanced at Cheonma [N O V E L I G H T] and added, “That kid wanted to stay here.

” Cheonma?

Cheonma chose this place to stay?

Why?

The question lingered in my mind, though I asked something different aloud.

“Then is Sis’s sudden breakthrough unrelated to Grandfather?

” “Ah.

” Gu Heebi hadn’t reached Irip (Rising Stage) yet.

The fact that she managed to ascend to Hwagyeong was significant, and if Grandfather hadn’t done something to help her, how had she achieved it?

I asked because I was curious.

“While raising a child, I just...

came to understand something.

And when I realized it, it happened.

” “...

” “Isn’t it amazing?

” Yeah, it’s really amazing.

That was the most absurd answer I’d heard all day.

‘Gaining enlightenment while raising a child...?

’ As if enlightenment were just some pet dog’s name.

If raising a child could grant enlightenment, wouldn’t every mother in the world be a superhuman?

‘Or...

is it just because I don’t have a mother that I don’t understand?

’ Even Lady Mi, who didn’t practice martial arts, seemed to exude an extraordinary aura, so maybe there was some truth to it— “...

Damn it.

” I caught myself before spiraling further into nonsense.

Ultimately, this meant Gu Heebi had no useful information.

“Then what about you?

” “Hm?

” If that was the case, what about Cheonma?

“What are you, and why were you captured?

” “...

” How had she ended up in Grandfather’s hands?

Last I knew, she had disappeared along with the Black Night Palace Master.

Cheonma seemed to seriously ponder my question before finally answering.

“I don’t know.

” She was no different.

“I woke up, and it was like this.

” “...

” Her ridiculous answer irritated me.

But at the same time, I had to consider if she was telling the truth.

Because, clearly, there were too many strange elements.

“Then why didn’t you escape?

” She’d come to her senses, realized she’d been handed over to Gu Heebi, yet hadn’t run away.

How?

Why hadn’t she tried to escape?

That was the biggest question that came to mind after hearing her answer.

“You could’ve escaped if you wanted to.

” Cheonma was strong.

Whether or not she was currently using her powers, I was certain after seeing her wield the Cheonma Divine Sword against Grandfather earlier.

‘She’s strong.

’ Very strong.

Maybe even stronger than me right now.

Even if her temperament had changed, her inherent danger hadn’t.

Her history of unleashing a bloodbath in a past life, combined with the uncertainty surrounding her identity, made her a significant threat.

Moreover— ‘She’s connected to the Blood Demon.

’ Cheonma’s ties to the Blood Demon were undeniable.

That also meant— ‘Wi Seol-ah....

’ The thought of her filled my mind.

She might also be connected.

My mouth turned bitter at the thought, but I swallowed it down.

So why hadn’t Cheonma tried to escape?

As I mulled over the question, “It didn’t matter.

” Cheonma quietly muttered, looking at me.

“It didn’t matter?

” “Yeah.

I actually liked it.

Because I got to see it.

” For a comment delivered with such a blank expression, her tone was oddly emotional.

What had she liked seeing?

The outside world?

Gu Heebi?

Or something else entirely?

I didn’t know, and I didn’t care to dwell on it.

Cheonma’s feelings weren’t the issue here.

“Then, do you know where Hellsmith is?

” “...

” At the mention of Hellsmith, Cheonma’s eyes flickered subtly.

“Hellsmith?

” “Yes, Hellsmith.

” The master craftsman who designed the machinery of the Demonic Cult.

And.

The artisan who created artificial demonic artifacts.

I needed him for my plans and figured Cheonma might know his whereabouts.

Of course— ‘Whether she’ll tell me or not is another matter.

’ If my prediction was correct, even if she knew, she wouldn’t share it willingly.

If she refused, it would only deepen my suspicions about her.

In that case, I already had contingencies prepared.

So, naturally, I expected resistance.

“He’s in Shingang.

” “What?

Of course, you wouldn’t...

wait, what did you say?

” Cheonma’s matter-of-fact statement left me frozen.

‘Shingang?

’ Hellsmith is in Shingang?

Again?

What was Shingang, some kind of den of evil?

Everyone seemed to be congregating there.

Was she lying?

Even putting that aside— “Shingang...

Shingang...

why would you tell me that?

” When I asked why she so readily shared that information, Cheonma’s face showed emotion for the first time.

She looked at me with clear disbelief.

“You asked.

” “...

” Right, I asked.

But why answer so easily?

“Ah...

ha....

” I dragged a hand down my face, feeling drained.

Nothing made sense anymore.

‘This is so tiresome.

Should I just destroy everything?

’ For a moment, I felt my old self bubbling up.

Sensing this, I stood up.

“I’m leaving....

” “Huh?

Brother?

” Gu Heebi and Cheonma widened their eyes as I spoke.

Ignoring them, I walked out.

“Thanks for the meal.

” It wasn’t just empty words—the food was surprisingly good.

It had been unexpectedly satisfying.

“You’re leaving already?

” “Yeah.

” Gu Heebi sounded disappointed, but I was already walking away.

If I stayed longer, I might actually lose my mind.

I’d asked all the questions I needed for now, so I planned to head back to my quarters.

I stepped out and closed the door behind me.

The stars shone brightly in the night sky, but they didn’t feel beautiful.

My mind was too cluttered to appreciate them.

‘What’s in Shingang, anyway?

’ Namgung Myung, Grandfather—why did they all keep telling me to go there?

‘Honestly, I wasn’t planning to go at all.

’ I didn’t care about their demands.

If they wanted something, they could handle it themselves.

Shingang wasn’t part of my plans.

But.

‘If Cheonma’s telling the truth, I’ll have to go, whether I want to or not.

’ If Hellsmith really was in Shingang, things changed.

To confirm her words, I’d need to verify if she was lying.

‘...

Not now, though.

’ Right now, I didn’t want to do anything.

I was utterly exhausted.

So, for now, I decided to return to my quarters.

Just as I prepared to leap into the night— “Take care.

” A voice stopped me mid-motion.

Cheonma had come out and was waving at me.

“...

” I stared at her silently.

I didn’t respond or say anything.

I just stood there, watching her.

The person I had once wanted so desperately to kill.

Now, she was waving at me.

The bitter taste it left in my mouth was still unpleasant.

Cheonma, unaware or unconcerned, continued speaking.

“Come back.

” Her violet eyes were fixed entirely on me.

Was this really Cheonma?

A ridiculous doubt crossed my mind.

Then.

“If possible, come when the leaves are red.

” Her words finally made me speak.

“...

Why the hell red leaves?

” Why autumn leaves?

The question somehow annoyed me.

“They’re pretty.

I like them.

” “You like autumn leaves?

” “No.

” “What?

” “Not me.

You.

” “...?

” I frowned at her response.

What was she talking about?

‘I like autumn leaves?

’ I didn’t hate them, but did I like them that much?

And how the hell would Cheonma know that when even I wasn’t sure?

“So come then.

” “...

” Ignoring my reaction, Cheonma finished speaking and went back inside.

For a moment, I stared at the spot where she’d been as if under a spell.

My gaze lingered longer than I expected.

After a brief pause, “Tch.

” Clicking my tongue in frustration, I leapt into the night.

Whoosh—!

The wind brushed against me as I soared.

The night sky above was bright, but my thoughts felt too cramped to take in the stars.

It was that kind of night.

****************** A day had passed.

At dawn, as the sun rose, I too got up from my bed.

The place I woke up in was, of course, the bedding in my quarters.

“...

Sigh.

” With a deeply furrowed brow, I sat up.

The reason was simple.

I hadn’t slept well after returning to my quarters.

I hadn’t even slept for an hour, and even that short amount of sleep was restless.

“Another stupid dream.

” It was because of the recurring nightmares I’d been having recently.

They left me irritated upon waking, yet I couldn’t even remember what I had dreamed about.

That made it all the more infuriating.

It wasn’t as though missing some sleep made my body tired, but the lingering discomfort was unbearable.

Running Qi through my body for a moment, I felt a sharp twinge.

The pain radiated from my ribs.

Sigh.

Still, it was better than yesterday.

After some rest, my body had started to heal.

‘I should focus on lower-body training today.

’ It seemed best to leave my upper body alone for now.

As I clicked my tongue in mild frustration, Knock, knock.

There was a sound outside my quarters.

“Young Master, are you awake?

” The voice wasn’t familiar.

Who could it be?

“Who is it?

” “This is Baek Yeon, one of the attendants.

” “Ah.

” Hearing the introduction, I remembered.

Someone I’d heard about recently.

She was one of the newly recruited attendants for the Gu family.

“What is it?

” Crack.

Stretching my neck carelessly, I asked.

The attendant responded.

“Lady Baekhwa instructed me to prepare tea for you if you woke up.

Do you require any?

” Lady Mi preparing tea in the morning?

At this hour, no less?

“Bring it in.

” I felt something odd about the situation, but I decided to have it brought in for now.

Upon receiving my permission, the door opened, and the attendant stepped inside.

Tap.

The moment her feet touched the floor of my quarters— ‘Hmm.

’ Something caught my attention as I observed the attendant closely.

At the same time, a sweet fragrance wafted to my nose.

It was a scent I had smelled before, sparking my curiosity.

Noticing my reaction, the attendant immediately explained.

“This is plum tea sent by Madam Plum Blossom to Lady Baekhwa.

” The fragrance was identical to the tea I’d had during a visit to the Mount Hua Sect.

The attendant carefully placed the tea before me, and without hesitation, I reached for it.

“Ah!

Be careful; the tea is hot—!

” The attendant tried to warn me, but I had already grabbed the teacup and, of course, felt no discomfort.

I lifted it and took a sip.

“...

Hmm.

” As I drank, I nodded.

Just as I’d expected.

‘Poison.

’ The plum tea was laced with poison.