Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 222: Omen (9)

→ Omen (9) ←

It was already a day before I went into my closed-door training.

I didn’t really have a schedule since I only had a day left, but there were a few personal things left that I needed to take care of.

One of them was about Tang Soyeol.

Because the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament ended, Tang Soyeol had to go back to Sichuan.

However, Tang Soyeol was still staying in the Gu Clan.

Namgung Bi-ah was an exception because she was a special case and she didn’t really seem to have any thoughts of going back to her clan either, but Tang Soyeol’s case was a little different.

So I asked when Tang Soyeol would return to her clan and she responded by saying that she would not be returning, as if nothing was wrong.

“You’re not gonna go back?”

“Yes.”

“…Why?”

“You know why.”

I scratched my forehead after hearing Tang Soyeol.

She meant that she wasn’t going back because of me.

‘Is she being real?’

I wasn’t asking if Tang Soyeol’s crush towards me was real or not.

Instead, I was asking if she really wasn’t going to go back to Sichuan.

“That’s not something you could decide that easily.”

“Right?”

What do you mean by right?

When I looked at Tang Soyeol speechlessly, she responded with a light smile.

“If I’m being honest, I had to go back to Sichuan. I wanted to stay here, but it’s possible that my father will come here himself if I stay here any longer.”

“…The Lord of Tang Clan?”

“Yeah, because he cares about me a little too much…”

The Poison King himself coming to Shanxi to drag Tang Soyeol back to her clan, huh.

That’s a bit, no, extremely scary.

‘I knew that the Poison King’s love for his daughter was a very well-known story.’

Hence the reason why Tang Soyeol didn’t have to marry anyone and was able to stay active as a martial artist.

Tang Clan too had other higher-ups that were similar to Elders, but because the Poison King had too much power, they were pretty much all pointless.

‘Which is all the more reason why I hope that Tang Soyeol goes back to Sichuan.’

How was she planning to stay in Gu Clan?

When I made a sour expression, Tang Soyeol spoke with a smile.

“I have my ways, so you don’t need to worry!”

What ways…?

“I think Father will like it as well because he has always wanted this.”

“What did you even do?”

“I decided to cooperate with the Moyong Clan.”

“…Hmm?”

After hearing Tang Soyeol, I had to stop drinking my tea.

‘Cooperate?’

What does she mean by cooperate with the Moyong Clan all of a sudden?

‘Do the two clans have something they could cooperate with…?’

Tang Clan was a clan that specialized in poison and steels.

Most of the blacksmiths that used steel in the world came from Tang Clan and besides the Black Assassins Army with the Dark King as the head of it, the only assassination army that worked directly under the Murim Alliance was the Tang Clan.

The Moyong Clan, on the other hand, definitely was a clan that specialized in using swords, but they weren’t like the Namgung Clan where they only focused on swords.

The Moyong Clan used threads of moth-type demons to make silk and clothing made with this material sold very well.

Because it was made with threads of demons, it didn’t break that easily. Thus, they were able to sell it at a high price thanks to its quality and since only the Moyong Clan knew how to make these products, they almost never collaborated with other clans when it came to business related things.

‘But she’s saying that they are collaborating with the Tang Clan all of a sudden?’

This obviously didn’t happen in my past life.

In what world would those two clans collaborate with each other?

Even the things they make are complete opposites.

‘The Moyong Clan was very well off when it came to business related things… So any clan would welcome the idea of working with them with both their hands wide open.’

And if it was a clan that knew the value of silk and clothing, there was no way that they would reject the idea of working together with the Moyong Clan.

There was no need to look any further for an example. After all, my father just did the same.

In order to fulfill a deal where he let the Moyong Clan set up their business in Shanxi, he sold his one and only son.

Though of course… I too did accept the offer when I saw what I would be getting from it.

“Because of this, I do have to go back to Sichuan for a little… but I think I’ll be leaving at a time when you won’t be available.”

Which means that she’ll be leaving during my closed-door training.

Two months were a very short amount of time for her to go to Sichuan and come back.

‘But I guess she will do it somehow.’

What Tang Soyeol meant in the end, was that she would come back to Shanxi no matter what.

“The Tang Clan working together with the Moyong Clan huh…”

Whether it was the Tang Clan’s sudden collaboration with the Moyong Clan, or the Moyong Clan deciding to build their business in the Gu Clan where it wouldn’t really be effective…

These sudden changes still felt difficult as ever.

‘Is Tang Soyeol thinking of using this as an excuse?’

It seemed like she wanted to stay in Shanxi using that as an excuse, but it didn’t seem as easy as she might think.

But Tang Soyeol probably knows that as well.

‘So it seems like she has something else up her sleeve.’

It seemed like she had something else she could use to come back to Gu Clan.

When I stared at her with the intent to learn more from her, the keen Tang Soyeol spoke before I could.

“Oh, about the business-related thing, I don’t think I could tell you even if it’s Young Master Gu. It’s a contract!”

“…I wasn’t curious.”

[You were super curious up until now, so what’s with the bullshit coming out of your mouth?]

‘How could you… What do you mean, bullshit…’

I was shaken for an instant because of his rather lowly remark of me.

Did she like the idea of working together with the Moyong Clan?

After all, I was struggling with Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah, but Tang Soyeol didn’t really say anything special to me.

Instead, she seemed like she was happier than usual.

“Oh, right, Young Master Gu.”

I looked at her after hearing her call.

Her curling her body with her ears turning red as if she was embarrassed, seemed strange.

“It’s not anything special… but if it won’t cause you any trouble, how about we go to the streets together…?”

“Oh.”

Because I would be confined starting tomorrow, she was asking me to go to the streets before that happened.

I had some stuff to do, but I felt that it would be fine to go with her for a little after I was finished with my tasks.

So I was about to say yes to Tang Soyeol.

But then…

“Ye- “

“Sure.”

“Huh?”

It wasn’t me that answered her.

After hearing a response from someplace close to us, both Tang Soyeol and my gaze moved at the same time.

“…Let’s… go together.”

In that spot, there was Namgung Bi-ah with her bluish white hair tied upwards for some reason.

“What’s with you?”

“Hmm…?”

“Where did you come from?”

“I came… after my training…?”

Only then, I noticed Namgung Bi-ah’s appearance.

It seemed like she trained hard because her clothes were drenched in sweat making her bodyline visible.

Moreover, the air around her was warm because of her Qi.

“I finished… just now…”

‘No, it seems like you ran here in a hurry.’

Judging by her breathing and her body movement, it seemed like she came here in a hurry, but she was saying otherwise herself, so she must be right.

Namgung Bi-ah asked me.

“Streets… are you going?”

“Are you thinking of going as well?”

“Yeah.”

After hearing Namgung Bi-ah’s response, I checked on Tang Soyeol.

As I expected, Tang Soyeol was making a sulky face as if she wasn’t fond of this idea.

The only thing I was able to do was scratch my cheek after seeing her.

‘No matter what side I choose here, I will be fucked.’

That’s what my very few survival instincts were telling me.

I only had to just sit still and watch.

[Wow…]

When I stood still with a blank look, Elder Shin showed a surprised reaction.

‘What’s wrong?’

[I can’t believe a bastard like you developed such tact… I must see what side the sun comes up from tomorrow.]

‘…’

Why is this old man always like this?

After putting aside my slightly dizzy mind, I responded to both Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah.

“It’s nice and all to go out…”

“Yeah.”

“Yes.”

“…But let me go somewhere first.”

Their eyes filled with excitement were very overwhelming.

When I told them that I would be going somewhere, Namgung Bi-ah held onto my sleeve as if she was nervous.

It seemed like she was thinking that I would run away again.

“Where…?”

I responded while staring at Namgung Bi-ah.

“I have to go to the jail.”

After hearing my response, Namgung Bi-ah responded while tilting her head.

“Again?”

“…”

What do you mean again…

It was a bit hurtful.

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

After the Lord of the Clan, father’s approval, and the steward guiding me, I went to the jail.

My goal was obviously the old man that was inside the jail.

Snore-

I was already able to hear him snoring from far away as I was walking through the hallway.

When I arrived at his cage wondering if he was responsible for that sound, the old man was on the floor comfortably as if the cold floor of a jail was a bed for him.

“…”

What the… Why is he sleeping so comfortably?

“Ouughh…”

He was even grinding his teeth.

“Elder, please get up.”

“Mmph…”

I loudened my voice to wake the old man up, but he only turned his body around as if he couldn’t hear me at all.

After seeing that, I quietly whispered.

“…Maybe he’ll get up if I burn his beard off.”

“Ooof…! I’m feeling tired…”

Right as I thought of waking him up using a rather violent method, the old man woke up instantly as if he was listening the whole time.

The old man looked around after waking up, then spoke with a tired tone of voice.

“I was having a good sleep… but it seems like a guest is here.”

The old man’s appearance didn’t change all that much compared to when I met him for the first time.

It’s just that he was now wearing clean clothing that wasn’t stained with blood and dust.

The old man’s gaze aimed towards my direction.

“Did you come here to tell me that I could leave soon?”

It was rather shameless of him to say those words.

“Unfortunately, that’s not really in my control.”

“…Ugh… Tsk. What are they planning to do with an old man like me to make me go through all this hassle.”

The old man was the Lord of the Hao Clan that was stuck in the Black Palace. We put him in jail as soon as we brought him to Gu Clan, but he adapted to this environment and was doing better than I expected.

I came closer to the cage that the old man was in.

“There was something that I wanted to ask.”

After hearing me, the old man changed his position with a lazy expression.

I couldn’t really see his face clearly because he had his eyes covered, but I was able to know just by looking at his mouth.

That he was so bothered by me visiting him that he might die from it.

“You’re asking me while imprisoning me inside this cage, so I’m sure I’ll give you answers.”

“What do you mean imprison. You came here with your own two feet.”

We rescued him because he asked for it, he’s making it seem like we captured him or something.

“If you are going to make the decision to rescue me, then you should free me as well!”

“Now you are asking for too much…”

We rescued the Unorthodox Faction, the Hao Clan’s Lord out of all people, so how could a clan of Orthodox Faction send him off right away?

It’s fortunate enough that the Murim Alliance didn’t know about it.

“Then when are you going to free me?”

“Why are you asking me that question?”

Only Father would know.

And it was very possible that he had no intention to let him off. 𝐟𝗿ee𝘄𝗲𝗯𝐧o𝘃el.𝐜o𝚖

“…And here I thought I escaped a snake’s cave, but of course I had to be bitten by a tiger…”

“Save your lamentation for next time. I want to ask you something.”

“What a dogshit personality you have, only saying everything you want to.”

“What did the Lord of the Black Palace want from you for him to imprison you?”

“You really are identical to your father. “

I heard Elder Mook say those words with a hollow smile.

“Now you are just ignoring me.”

“Child, do you really think I would tell you, when I didn’t tell those bastards?”

Considering that he protected his information by enduring all of those tortures, there was no way that he would tell me such important information so easily.

“I knew that you wouldn’t.”

“Yet you still visited me to ask?”

“To be more precise, I wanted to make a deal.”

“Ha.”

I heard Elder Mook laugh after hearing my words.

It was as if he found me absurd.

“You want to make a deal with me?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s just hear it first. What is it that you want? Money? Women?”

“I want to get information out of you, so I also thought of using information as a trade.”

Hahaha!

The Lord of Hao Clan began to laugh harder after hearing my response.

It seemed like he found this very hysterical.

Which was understandable, since I was telling him that I would use information as a trade against the Lord of a clan that was known for having immense amounts of information just like the Beggar’s Sect.

“You seem to have known who I was.”

“I do know a little.”

“No child, you certainly know who I am. I could see it clearly.”

“How can you see when your eyes are like that?”

“…The way you speak is somehow ruder than your sister.”

Underneath the bandages, I was able to feel that Elder Mook’s gaze was aiming towards me.

“…It is quite fascinating that something that seems so light and soft is, instead, so heavy and hard.”

“I’m young so I’m having a hard time understanding such difficult words.”

“I cannot understand. Child, what are you?”

His question could not be weirder.

What do you mean what am I?

“As you can see, I’m the son of this household.”

When I responded to Elder Mook apathetically, the old man stayed silent for a bit.

Then he started to chuckle.

“That was a pointless question I see. Alright, let’s first hear it. What information will you use to trade?”

An information that the Lord of Hao Clan might desire.

I honestly didn’t know of such a thing.

I was not concerned with something like this in my past life.

And during the time the Hao Clan fought the Black Palace, I wasn’t really concerned with what was happening in the world, so I passed this incident off without much thought.

However, I did know one thing that happened to the Hao Clan after this incident occurred.

Though I didn’t know if Hao Clan’s Lord would care about this information.

“White Demonic Stone.”

After hearing the words that came out from my mouth…

“…!”

I saw his shoulders flinch a little.

His expression that held a light smile changed and the atmosphere around us became quiet.

It wasn’t a change that occurred with the use of Qi, instead it was simply that the old man’s atmosphere had changed.

When I stared at him, Elder Mook asked me.

“What did you… say just now?”

After seeing the old man’s reaction, I had to check if he was putting up an act or not.

Because after seeing such a reaction from Elder Mook,

I had to think of two possibilities.

‘One of them is the possibility that he is putting up an act.’

The fact that the old man showed such a shocked reaction when he has heard all types of stories in his long life meant that I had to consider the fact that he was acting.

‘The second, is that it’s that important to him.’

That the information was so shocking that it was possible to make that old man show such a reaction.

White Demonic Stone.

Also known as the White-Grade Demonic Stone.

It was a Demonic Stone that wasn’t possible to get anymore, as it could only be earned by killing white ranking demons.

“I thought that Elder Mook might be curious about the location of a White Demonic Stone.”

The White Demonic Stone that should be hidden underneath the ocean that was located at the end of the land of north.

The bastard that was guarding that place was so strong that I couldn’t afford to go there yet, but I knew where a White Demonic Stone was.

‘Though it wasn’t me that found it.’

It was the Hao Clan that found it.

After many sacrifices and a long time, the Hao Clan was able to find a White Demonic Stone that, for some reason, didn’t disappear.

And they were successful in obtaining it.

But then…

‘It was taken away by the Heavenly Demon.’

I didn’t know why they needed that stone, but the Demonic Stone that the Hao Clan had possession of, went into the Heavenly Demon’s hands not too long after.

Then, it was given to me as a present.

I didn’t know if this information was shocking to the Lord of Hao Clan, but I prayed that that was the case.

‘Though I have no intention to give it to him either way.’

Even if I decided to give him this information, if I thought about my experience when I absorbed that White Demonic Stone in my past life, I had zero intention to give that stone to him.

Especially when I thought about the power I got from that stone.

Elder Mook didn’t give any response and kept silent.

As if he was wondering how I knew such a thing.

And as if he didn’t know what to say.

He wasn’t giving me a single response.

After I endured that uncomfortable silence for a little…

“…I see, now I understand.”

Elder Mook spoke.

It was as if he realized something.

“You are the owner of the Ancient Book.”

His response was so random that it was something I didn’t expect at all.

“…What?”

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