Childhood Friend of the Zenith

༺ It Is Fate (1) ༻

Hanam and Shaolin, which lay within Hanam, held significant meaning.

It was undoubtedly one of the territories of the Ten Sect Alliance.

The formation of the Murim Alliance in Hanam owed much to Shaolin, and this alone carried great significance.

Among the Ten Sect Alliance, Shaolin boasted the largest number of followers and garnered considerable support from various sources.

In a way, Shaolin represented the very essence of the Orthodox Faction.

However, I held a different perspective.

‘A group of bald headed and black hearted monks.’

Home to those who had discarded their decency along with their hair.

At least that was my view of Shaolin.

“When do you plan to visit Shaolin then?”

Tang Soyeol asked during our meal after the banquet had ended.

It had become rather obvious by this point that we regularly ate together.

“Hmm, I am thinking of going there before I go back home.”

I said it earlier, but I didn’t really have a personal reason for me to go to Shaolin.

If it wasn’t for Elder Shin’s request, I didn’t really need to go there.

‘Well, I guess I would’ve had to go there at some point.’

It wasn’t like I had a good reason to go, but I should, considering the effort it took to come all the way to Hanam.

Also, it wasn’t that there was nothing for me to do there.

‘And I’ll see the future Heavenly Dragon if I get the chance to.’

A young individual who already held the official spot of the Heavenly Dragon.

This title had been granted through negotiations between the Murim Alliance and Shaolin, but in my eyes, this individual was deserving of such a title even without those discussions.

‘However, they do become a demonic human in the future.’

But, that event lay in the distant future, if it even occurred at all in this lifetime.

A young child bearing the hopes of Shaolin becoming a demonic human –such a notion was truly absurd and it wouldn’t be long before such an event unfolded in the world.

As I contemplated this, nibbling on a dumpling with my chin resting on my hand, Tang Soyeol spoke up quietly.

“Umm… Young Master Gu…”

“Hmm?”

“Then um… Are you planning to accompany Lady Moyong to Shaolin?”

Tang Soyeol’s question stirred memories of the encounter with Moyong Hi-ah because I could never imagine Moyong Hi-ah suddenly approaching and saying that to me.

‘Why did she say those words to me?’

We weren’t talking just about anyone, but that almighty Moyong Hi-ah.

Such a cold and emotionless individual wouldn’t engage without a purpose.

I knew that she was a woman capable of fully hiding her emotions in her words and body gestures to make sure her plans succeeded.

-No.

Which was why I denied her.

As firmly as possible.

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Moyong Hi-ah, but I simply saw no need to involve myself with her unless it was absolutely necessary.

And thankfully, Moyong Hi-ah only nodded and left without being stubborn when I denied her.

I thought she would at least tell me the reason if she came all the way to me to ask.

Dribble-

When I looked in the direction of pouring water, Namgung Bi-ah was filling back up my empty teacup.

When I looked at her wondering what she was doing, Namgung Bi-ah spoke with half-sleepy eyes.

“Drink… water. You look thirsty.”

I wasn’t necessarily thirsty, yet I drank it anyway since I was thankful.

I quenched my throat with water and asked Namgung Bi-ah.

“How are you feeling?”

“…Fine.”

Since the sword didn’t cut deeply into her, the doctor said that it won’t leave a scar and Namgung Bi-ah’s healing process was quick as well thanks to her being at a relatively high martial realm.

‘Good.’

It had been bothering me for a bit, but I’m glad that she’s feeling fine.

After hearing our conversation, Tang Soyeol suddenly spoke out.

“You must be glad.”

“Hmm…?”

“Well you did visit her room every day.”

“…Did I…?”

“Strange… I could’ve sworn that you went every day.”

When did she see me?

I made sure to be discreet.

So when did she notice…?

Thanks to that, I was put into a hassle of a situation.

After hearing what Tang Soyeol said, Namgung Bi-ah started to stare at me with suspicious eyes.

And because of the way she stared at me, I slightly avoided her eyes.

What a hassle this was.

“…I just went because I had nothing else to do.”

…Was the excuse I used, but the way she looked at me didn’t change.

Was this what she wanted? Tang Soyeol started to giggle at the back.

“You find this funny?”

“Well it is funny.”

I don’t know what part of this she found funny.

I let out a sigh and started to eat dumplings again.

It felt like I was going to get sick with the way Namgung Bi-ah was staring at me, but I did have to fill my stomach.

As I was putting a whole dumpling into my mouth, I looked at the person next to me who had barely touched the food.

It was none other than Wi Seol-Ah.

Seeing her like that, I let out a scoff.

‘And you say you have nothing going on?’

If Wi Seol-Ah was ignoring her food, that had to mean that something major had happened.

I had asked her a few more times after that, but Wi Seol-Ah hadn’t given me an answer.

Well, she did answer.

She said that nothing was going on over and over.

Looking at her for a bit, I quietly patted Wi Seol-Ah’s head.

Well, If she doesn’t want to tell me that badly, then pushing it would only make it worse.

I continued my meal, and Muyeon approached me from behind, whispering.

“Young Master.”

“Speak, I’m listening.”

Muyeon hesitated for a little, then continued.

“A man from the Beggar’s Sect has come looking for you, Young Master.”

I stopped my hand that was picking up a dumpling.

“Who?”

“He revealed himself as Chuwong of Beggar’s Sect. He said that he had made a promise with the Young Master. Should I send him back if you don’t wish to meet him?”

Only Chuwong had sought me out after the tournament ended.

It was right for me to respond to him, but I wasn’t obligated to do so.

Muyeon, who had noticed my reaction, started to speak to me.

“Then I’ll send him back.”

Hearing Muyeon, I stopped him with a gesture.

“Nah, tell him I’ll go see him after I finish eating.”

Although it seemed bothersome to meet a beggar immediately after a meal, it was none other than Chuwong who would eventually be known as the King of Beggars.

He might seem like a wimpy man now, but he was a person that would truly shine and eventually become a hero when the disaster occurs.

‘I guess it would be beneficial to build a small relationship with him.’

The value of my name had gone up quite a bit after the tournament, so now was a good opportunity.

Eating the last dumpling on my plate, I got up from my seat.

“Finish your food and rest easy. I’ll be back right away.”

Wi Seol-Ah and Tang Soyeol responded with a ‘Kay!’ to my words.

Seeing the girls with their similar behavior felt like I was looking at two small animals, it warmed my heart.

Of course, I didn’t let that emotion show.

After leaving the building, I saw some hobos wandering outside.

People were walking away from them with repulsion.

It seemed like they weren’t able to say anything to them since they knew that there was a good chance those hobos were from Beggar’s Sect, well this was Hanam after all.

“Why are you just out here in the street?”

When I spoke to them wondering why they were wandering the streets, Chuwong, who stood at the front, smiled awkwardly.

“Hehehe… Young Master Gu, wouldn’t it be weirder for hobos to enter the building and wait there?”

That is a fair point.

I asked Chuwong, observing him.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

“Ah… Let me first congratulate you on your victory, Young Master Gu. Oh, maybe I should call you The True Dragon now.”

“…No, I prefer the former.”

Just hearing that title gives me goosebumps.

Who in the world decided that my title would be ‘True Dragon’? Was it the Alliance Leader?

When I denied with a bothered expression, Chuwong also seemed to have been a bit shocked.

Well, it did make sense, since a young prodigy after getting a title was not showing any happiness, but rather showing that he was bothered by it instead, it may seem weird in his eyes.

“A-Anyway… I’m very grateful that you came out here to see me.”

“It’s not as if this is some great meeting, so you don’t need to be thankful.”

It was a great meeting.

For Chuwong that is.

“How isn’t this great! I’m meeting the victor of the tournament.”

Well, though I was being rather modest, I knew that as well.

But if I were to brag about it too much, it would cause me more harm than good.

“Also, are you planning on talking here like this?”

There weren’t many people, but this was still a street where people walked by.

It wasn’t the best place to have a conversation in.

It seemed like he had the same idea, because Chuwong began to guide me to what seemed to be an already arranged place.

“It may not be as neat as your residence, but it won’t be uncomfortable!”

I nodded to Chuwong’s words.

I honestly didn’t care even if we just sat on the floor to have a conversation, but I did have to maintain my image as the heir to a noble clan, so I had to act at least a little.

The building Chuwong brought me to did indeed seem not as neat, but neither did it look uncomfortable.

“D-Do you want me to bring you some tea?”

“You have tea?”

I couldn’t have imagined that there would be tea here no matter how much I had looked at it.

Chuwong solved my curiosity right away with his words.

“Well we don’t have them, but we can bring them right away if Young Master Gu wants!”

“…Well, it’s fine then.”

Of course there wasn’t any tea here.

I crossed my legs and sat in a comfortable position.

I didn’t really have to show any nobility here.

Soon after I sat down, Muyeon, who had followed me, started to look around, as I had expected.

He let out Qi signaling to the others that he was watching them.

Seeing that, Chuwong lifted his eyebrows a little.

He had noticed that Muyeon was at an extremely high realm for an escort.

Well, that was how I saw it as well.

‘Not long left.’

It seemed like it wouldn’t take much longer until Muyeon overcame the Peak Realm wall.

‘Still, it does seem like Namgung Bi-ah will reach it earlier than he will.’

Namgung Bi-ah was also at a point of facing her wall, but judging by her talent and the enlightenment she had received during her fight…

It wouldn’t be much longer until she overcomes her wall.

“But why did you follow me here?”

I asked Gu Jeolyub who was just bluntly standing behind me.

“I had ordered you to just eat.”

Gu Jeolyub hesitated a little, then spoke after hearing my words.

“…Because my order from the clan was to be your escort.”

“Then you should’ve done your job earlier as well, why are you here now when you didn’t even show yourself at all during the tournament?”

“…”

“Your intentions are transparent, idiot.”

“Ahem…”

It was definitely because of the sword I had received from the Alliance.

As I had said that I would either give this to Muyeon or to Gu Jeolyub, having heard that, Gu Jeolyub’s eyes lit up in flames and he continued following me around.

It was as if he was a dog.

“Ugh, what a hassle…”

“I only want to do my job as an escort of the Young Mas- “

“Who’s escorting who? You’re weak as shit.”

Gu Jeolyub faltered after hearing me.

His expressions seemed deeply hurt, but he couldn’t really say anything since he knew that was the reality.

I heard someone bursting out in laughter from next to him.

It seemed like Muyeon was the one that laughed.

Gu Jeolyub looked at Muyeon in shock, Muyeon covering his mouth like nothing had happened.

‘Both of them are clowns.’

‘Tsk Tsk’

Clicking my tongue, I looked back at Chuwong.

“Anyway, what is it that you wanted to talk about?”

Chuwong, who seemingly woke up from his daze, fixed his posture immediately.

“It’s nothing much… but I had something that I wanted Young Master Gu to take care of.”

Something that the Beggar’s Sect wanted me to take care of?

Several items came to my mind, but before all that I had to ask.

“Why?”

I had to ask for the reason.

To be honest, I already knew the reason, but I had to keep the flow of the conversation going.

Chuwong knew this as well, so he probably had an explanation that he had prepared beforehand.

As expected, Chuwong started to speak without stopping.

“From generation to generation, the Beggar’s Sect has been giving some I guess you could call support, to talented young prodigies.”

“Support huh, are you giving money?”

“Jeez, what hobos would have money.”

“Then?”

“Support from Beggar’s Sect would be information! We are looking to give information to Young Master Gu.”

Chuwong carefully took out a wooden plate from his pocket and handed it to me.

After seeing that, I looked at Chuwong bluntly.

‘Information huh.’

The word ‘support’ sounded good,

But this was only them doing this so that they have something to use against me when something good happens to me in the future.

‘The Beggar’s Sect has given you help ever since then, so don’t forget about the help we gave you,’ it was something like that.

‘This is a bit of a cheap deal.’

Because of me knowing Chuwong’s future, the words he spoke to me now held no value to me.

It seemed like he read my emotions from my expression because Chuwong continued to speak after being slightly flustered.

“This wooden plate is only given to very few people of Beggar’s Sect.”

“What’s good about having it?”

“You can get every information that our branch could provide you with!”

Information I could get from a branch of Beggar’s Sect.

That was a pretty good deal for a young prodigy.

The noble clans kept a good relationship with Beggar’s Sect already and the fact that information held a lot of power was something young prodigies already all knew.

So this meant that a part of Beggar’s Sect was giving me a special treatment.

This was certainly something that could help me,

But I would say something like ‘Do I bother?’ to this.

I already had a lot of information that the Beggar’s Sect didn’t, and yes, there could be moments where I need the Beggar’s Sect’s help, but it was also a problem that I didn’t really trust the Beggar’s Sect.

“Hmm…”

What should I do?

I couldn’t just say that I don’t need it at all and my original goal was to just build a relationship with Chuwong.

I had already achieved that with the conversation we had, but…

‘It feels like a waste.’

Rather than the Beggar’s Sect, I wanted to keep a relationship with Chuwong.

Not too much, but just enough.

Tap tap-

I tapped my fingers onto the table.

I needed some time to think.

Chuwong probably was wondering why this kid even hesitated about this.

Because there hasn’t been a moment where the Beggar’s Sect had actually claimed some credit to an individual’s achievement saying that their help had played a role.

This was just one of the Beggar’s Sect’s numerous ways of livelihood.

I stared at the plate for a bit, then I pushed it back towards Chuwong.

This meant denying his offer.

“Huh?…Uhhh… True, no, Young Master Gu? This was a really good—”

Chuwong tried to explain further about the pass, panicking slightly at my denial, but after taking it out of my pocket and showing it to him, he was flabbergasted, his mouth remaining wide open.

“I don’t need the pass, nor do I need the support.”

The thing that I took out was the wooden pass that the Immortal Healer had given me telling me to use it if I ever needed help from the Beggar’s Sect.

He said something like I could even meet the head of the sect if I even just showed it to them.

I spoke while looking at Chuwong who seemed to be malfunctioning.

“Could I ask you a favor? A personal one.”

It was a request he couldn’t easily decline.

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