Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1100

Chapter 1100

“What did you just say?”

I bolted upright from my bed and stared at Do Yun.

What?

What in the world had I just heard?

‘Did I hear that correctly?’

I couldn’t process it, so I asked again.

“…Who is it you want revenge on?”

At my question, Do Yun’s expression tightened slightly as he answered.

“I said Gu Cheolwoon.”
“…The Gu Cheolwoon I am aware of?”
“Correct.”

Do Yun gave a single nod.

“The Divine Dragon, Gu Cheolwoon. I have a score to settle with him.”
“……”

Words rushed to the tip of my tongue.

What in hell could my father have done to you?

Gu Cheolwoon of the Shanxi Gu Clan.

What had he done to Do Yun of the Shanxi Daoist Clan?

I wanted to demand an answer. But the words wouldn’t come.

Damn it.

I had vowed to remain detached, but this—

This was undeniably something I couldn’t ignore.

‘…Do I have to?’

Did I truly have to?

For an instant, I wavered.

Whatever occurred in the past did not happen in the future.

Do Yun was not a name I had ever encountered.

And my father had continued to live unimpeded, eventually rising to lead the Gu Clan.

‘Would it not be wiser to not get involved?’

Wouldn’t it be more intelligent to just stay out of it?

But then—

I looked at Do Yun.

And I recalled what my mother had told me about the arrangements she had made.

‘Is it him?’

Perhaps my reason for being here had nothing to do with my father.

Maybe it was about this person instead.

That idea shot through my mind.

⋆ ⋆ ⋆

Two days went by.

In that time, Do Yun and I carried on as usual.

We shared a room but exchanged few words.

We trained together during scheduled training.

We ate together at mealtimes.

Nothing had changed.

Just the same mundane, ordinary routine.

And then—

“Baek Comrade, it’s time to leave.”
“…Right.”

I stood and moved toward the meeting point.

Leaving my room, I walked to the Azure Dragon Division’s entrance, where Soi was already waiting.

And beside her—

“Huh?”

I paused for a second when I saw who was with her.

“You…”

The other person’s face twisted into an ugly scowl the moment they saw me.

A young man, his face still puffy and marked with bruises.

Namgung Jin.

“You…!”
“Well, well. Look who it is.”

I gave a faint smirk as I approached, which only made the Sword Dragon’s glare deepen.

Before the situation could worsen, Soi moved between us.

“…Stay calm.”
“Stay calm?”

Namgung Jin’s face contorted with anger.

“How can you expect me to stay calm after what this bastard did to me?”
“It was a fair duel.”
“I don’t care! There’s no way I can just—”
“Sword Dragon.”

Soi’s voice turned icy.

“This is an official mission. Shouldn’t you set aside personal grievances?”
“……”
“Or would you prefer I inform the Division Leader you are refusing to cooperate?”

Grit.

Namgung Jin clenched his teeth in fury.

After a moment, he let out a sharp, frustrated breath and looked away.

It was clear he had been forcefully subdued.

“You’re on time,” Soi said, turning her attention to me and Do Yun.

At that, Do Yun broke into an overly cheerful grin.

“Naturally! It’s my very first mission. How could I possibly be late?”
“……”

I had never seen him act so energetic around me.

Was this an act?

‘He’s skilled.’

He was actually very skilled.

I might need to learn from this.

“If I had known you seniors would be here so early, I would have come at daybreak! I feel like such a neglectful junior. Hahaha.”

He laid on the false praise thickly.

Namgung Jin looked thoroughly disgusted, while Soi remained entirely indifferent.

“…Just be on time. We are still waiting for one more person.”

“Who else is coming?”

I asked offhandedly.

Soi narrowed her eyes at me.

What?

It was just a question.

Why was she looking at me like that?

I felt a little aggrieved.

“…There is.”

Soi finally replied.

“This mission was originally meant to include a Squad Leader.”

‘A Squad Leader.’

Even though I had been assigned quarters, I hadn’t actually been placed into a squad yet.

Which meant I had no idea who my Squad Leader was.

I had no way of knowing who would be accompanying us.

“Tch. Of all people…”

Namgung Jin clicked his tongue in clear displeasure.

It was obvious he wasn’t happy about who was coming.

And soon, I understood the reason.

“They’re here.”

Soi looked toward the entrance.

I followed her gaze.

A familiar, scorching aura brushed against my senses.

‘Ah.’

I had been wondering who our Squad Leader would be.

But…

‘This is above a Squad Leader.’

Someone of an even higher rank had arrived.

“Vice Commander, we greet you.”
“Gree…tings…”

Soi immediately bowed her head.

Namgung Jin, visibly displeased, offered a reluctant bow as well.

The person now standing before us—

Was my father.

The Divine Dragon, Gu Cheolwoon.

‘So my father is coming with us?’

Was this also part of the plan?

I thought back to my meeting with the Sword Master.

My father had been present then, too.

And if the Sword Master was the one who gave this order—

‘Is he meant to be my watcher?’

Was my father the one tasked with observing me?

With that thought, I stole a glance at Do Yun.

His expression—

Was completely neutral.

He had told me himself—the target of his vengeance was my father.

But if that was true, then why—

Why was he showing no reaction at all?

‘He’s skilled.’

If this was an act—

Then it was a masterful one.

As I was studying him—

“Is everyone prepared?”

“Yes, all members are present,” Soi reported.

My father nodded.

Then, his gaze fell on me.

Our eyes met.

His expression was unreadable.

I couldn’t discern what he was thinking.

As usual.

After a brief moment, he turned his attention to Namgung Jin.

He stared at Namgung Jin’s badly bruised face.

Studied it for a second—

And then.

He smirked.

‘…Huh?’

Did my father just… laugh?

If I was seeing correctly, he had just laughed.

And from the look of it, it wasn’t a friendly laugh.

It was a derisive, mocking smirk.

Namgung Jin must have seen it too, because his eyes suddenly flashed with outrage.

“Did you just laugh—?!”
“The carriage is prepared.”

Right as Namgung Jin was about to erupt, a large carriage pulled up from the entrance my father had come through.

Hiiiiiing—!!!

A team of formidable-looking horses trotted into view.

And this wasn’t just any carriage—it was enormous, nearly the size of a small house.

And displayed on its side—

A familiar emblem.

‘…Baekhwa?’

The insignia of the Baekhwa Trading Company.

Which meant—

“Shall we leave right away?”

‘…Mi Buin?’’

A beautiful woman leaned out of the carriage window.

It was none other than a younger Mi Buin.

‘What is this?’

Why was Mi Buin here?

I was still trying to make sense of it when—

“……Kuh!!?”

The Sword Dragon suddenly flinched and covered his face.

‘Huh?’

I frowned at the sight.

His bruised, swollen face suddenly gained a faint reddish hue.

Even his ears were turning red.

‘What’s his problem now?’

His reaction was bizarre.

It looked like he was trying to hide his face, but the attempt only made him more conspicuous.

“What are you all standing around for? Get in already—huh?”

Mi Buin’s gaze finally landed on Namgung Jin.

“…Young Master Namgung?”
“Oh, ah, yes.”
“What are you doing over there?”
“……Nothing. I was just… watching some ants on the ground.”
“…You were watching ants?”

Mi Horan’s face showed pure disbelief.

Even to me, it was the most pathetic excuse I had ever heard.

Was he that ashamed?

I was the one who had beaten him, so I shouldn’t really judge—

But was it something he needed to hide so desperately?

I stared at Namgung Jin for a long moment.

Then, I glanced at Mi Horan.

Back to Namgung Jin.

Then Mi Horan again.

And then—

It suddenly made sense.

‘…No way.’

Was he smitten with Mi Buin?

His reaction was too transparent to ignore.

Even I could tell, which meant he was already finished.

‘Hah?’

What kind of ridiculous situation was this?

The sheer absurdity left me utterly speechless.

“Get in now. We need to depart soon, correct?”

Mi Horan had already lost interest in Namgung Jin.

She urged us to board the carriage.

At her words, my father nodded and stepped inside.

“We are departing. Prepare yourselves.”

With that, we all began to approach the carriage.

Naturally, to get in.

Or so I assumed—

“Stop.”

Just as I was about to step up, Mi Horan’s voice turned frigid.

“Where do you think you’re going?”
“…What?”
“What?”

We all froze.

Wasn’t it obvious we needed to get in the carriage to leave?

I took another step forward, but Mi Horan blocked my path.

What was this about?

Do Yun and I exchanged confused glances before looking back at her.

She simply raised a hand and pointed behind us.

“You two are in that one.”

‘…What?’

I turned to look—

And saw another carriage behind the first one.

The issue was—

“……”

It was in a sorry state.

It wasn’t completely falling apart, sure.

But compared to the carriage we were about to board?

It was the difference between heaven and earth.

‘She expects us to ride in that?’

I turned back to Mi Horan, completely bewildered.

The first carriage had plenty of room.

Even with my father and Soi inside, there was space for everyone.

But Mi Horan had no intention of letting us in.

She kept pointing insistently at the second carriage.

“What are you waiting for? Get in.”

“……”

Her tone brooked no argument.

With a sigh, I reluctantly stepped back and headed toward the other carriage.

Inside, Namgung Jin was already seated, arms crossed tightly.

His expression was dark with fury.

“Damn it…”

His anger wasn’t aimed at me.

He was glaring venomously at the first carriage.

The one Mi Horan was in.

Watching him, I silently took a seat.

Do Yun followed, squeezing into the already cramped space.

“……”
“……”
“……”

And so, the three of us sat in total silence.

All thinking the exact same thing.

This mission…

Was going to be incredibly troublesome.