Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1117
Chapter 1117
“I refuse.”
The Heavenly Lord’s reply instantly chilled the air.
A refusal? That was not the answer anyone had anticipated.
‘What?’
I narrowed my gaze. Was he truly refusing? The idea was absurd.
“Are you stating that you will not lend your aid?”
Even my father, struggling to believe what he had heard, pressed for confirmation.
“Yes.”
The Heavenly Lord’s answer remained unchanged. It was unbelievable.
‘He truly will not act?’
This was no trivial matter—it concerned the Namgung family. No, beyond that, the entire Anhui region was at risk.
Moreover, the Crimson Magyeong Gate, which had not yet been contained, was advancing into a Grand Magyeong Gate.
It could erupt within days. And if it did, the scale of the devastation was beyond prediction.
Yet, the Heavenly Lord chose not to intervene?
‘What in the world?’
No matter how I considered it, his reasoning failed. This wasn’t out of fear—it couldn’t be.
I wasn’t the only one perplexed. No one understood. Then, instead of addressing us, the Heavenly Lord turned to Namgung Jeohwi and spoke.
“I abdicated my role as family head long ago. I intend to leave Zhongyuan and live in seclusion. As I have entrusted all affairs to the current family head, it would be improper for me to intervene now.”
“……”
Hearing this, I clicked my tongue silently. Superficially, it sounded reasonable.
‘The old man is speaking in circles.’
But when examined, none of it held weight.
‘He gave up his position? That’s ridiculous.’
Anyone could see he still wielded real authority.
Even now, Namgung Jeohwi was carefully reading his every reaction.
‘The elders are surely doing the same.’
The elders of the Namgung family—they, too, were undoubtedly monitoring the Heavenly Lord’s demeanor.
‘Naturally, Jeohwi’s modest cultivation is also an issue.’
A family head who hadn’t even attained Hwagyeong.
His lack of prestige and power was a significant burden. Yet, he had been selected as family head.
‘Perhaps he is as skilled as rumored in managing domestic affairs, but…’
It was obvious the Heavenly Lord’s influence had been a factor.
A man who still held de facto power claimed to have retired.
And now he asserted it was not his place to interfere?
‘Preposterous.’
It was an incredible claim. His stated intention to leave Zhongyuan was equally hollow.
He hadn’t left.
‘I know with certainty that in the reality I came from, he continued working covertly with the Martial Alliance.’
For at least another ten years, he would operate from the shadows.
And now he claimed he wouldn’t interfere in the family head’s matters?
‘Does he have another motive?’
He hadn’t even been aware of the Crimson Magyeong Gate.
If he knew the full situation and still refused to act—
‘The reason must lie up there.’
The space where the Heavenly Lord dwelled, the place we were preparing to ascend.
Something was there.
‘Ah, I see.’
It made sense now. I had wondered why he revealed himself before we could climb.
‘He means to stop us?’
Whatever was above, he did not want us to reach it.
‘I don’t know what it is, but one thing is certain.’
The Heavenly Lord would not be involving himself in this crisis.
‘Tsk.’
This was becoming complicated.
“……Father.”
Namgung Jeohwi also seemed unsettled, looking at the Heavenly Lord with uncertainty. But the elder’s gaze remained steadfast.
“Family Head. If you are truly the leader of this family, should you not at least demonstrate the capability to manage a crisis of this magnitude?”
“……”
At those words, Namgung Jeohwi fell silent.
“Withdraw. I will permit no further intrusion.”
It was a final warning. There was nothing more to achieve here.
Even if we could not comprehend his decision, it was the Heavenly Lord’s to make.
“……I understand.”
In the end, Namgung Jeohwi acquiesced with a nod.
And so, rather than proceeding upward, we turned and made our way back down to Namgung Manor.
**********
Back at Namgung Manor, I shared a brief exchange with Namgung Jeohwi.
He spoke of issuing evacuation orders and readying their defenses.
Then, he turned to Gu Cheolwoon and inquired of his intentions.
Would we join forces with the Namgung family to confront the Grand Magyeong Gate, or—
‘Would we retreat to Hanam?’
Would we withdraw and avoid any further entanglement?
It was a choice.
Leaving would not be unreasonable. Our original task had been reconnaissance.
We had already secured intelligence on the Magyeong Gate and its evolution.
Departing now and returning to Hanam could be justified.
This was formally a matter for the Martial Alliance, but the dangers were extreme, and ultimately, it was a crisis for Anhui.
However—
‘There is the question of duty.’
A moral imperative. Could a martial artist who claimed righteousness simply walk away, abandoning civilians before a Grand Magyeong Gate?
That was the heart of the matter.
Naturally, in the broader view, it might not cause major scandal.
Which was why—
‘I don’t have long to decide. I will give my answer by midnight.’
My father, too, said he required time to consider. Namgung Jeohwi accepted this.
Later, all members of our group assembled in my father’s chambers.
All except Namgung Jin.
The goal of this gathering was clear—to determine whether we would return to Hanam or not.
And just as my father prepared to speak—
“We should leave.”
The first to answer, without a moment’s hesitation, was Mi Horan.
“There is no need for deliberation. The risk is far too great.”
Her resolve was evident in her eyes.
“The Grand Magyeong Gate is threat enough, but now it’s the Crimson variant? Its behavior is entirely unpredictable. And if the Heavenly Lord himself refuses to act, the situation is even graver.”
A logical stance. And not incorrect.
“You should withdraw, Young Master Gu. There is no cause for you to take a stand in this affair.”
It was a familiar, yet distant form of address.
It was precisely how Moyong Hee-ah always referred to me.
As she finished, my father shifted his gaze toward Mi Horan.
“No.”
From the opposite side, another voice countered.
It was Soi.
“……Are you seriously proposing we flee and leave the civilians to their fate? Do you understand what will happen if the monsters break through?”
“……Sword Peak.”
At this, Mi Horan’s brow furrowed deeply.
“That is sentiment speaking. Civilians? Yes, they matter. But where does this certainty come from that we can even halt the monsters?”
She wasn’t mistaken. If we succeeded, well and good. But if we failed, we would be consumed along with everything else.
Despite the cold logic, Soi’s position held firm.
“We might fail. I cannot be sure.”
“Then—”
“Even so. Even so, must we not try? We are righteous martial artists. We are the swords of the Martial Alliance. This is our purpose.”
“Haa…”
Mi Horan finally released a sigh. She seemed to realize further argument was futile.
“Sword Peak. I know you are still young, but regardless, this is not something we can possibly—”
“Lady Mi. You keep saying ‘we,’ but to whom exactly does that ‘we’ refer?”
“……What?”
“You are not part of the Sword Division, Lady Mi. The ones who will be fighting are ‘us.’ So why do you insist on intervening?”
Tch.
At Soi’s words, Mi Horan’s expression contorted instantly.
Well, then. I hadn’t expected her to play that card.
‘But she isn’t wrong.’
However logical Mi Horan’s points, Soi was correct—Mi Horan was not the one who would take the field.
And the bluntness of the remark clearly struck a nerve.
“Sword Peak. Have you said your piece?”
“No. I am only beginning. I would appreciate it if Lady Mi refrained from interference.”
“You—!”
Just as Mi Horan’s anger threatened to boil over—
“Enough.”
Shaa—!
My father’s low voice cut through the tension.
Immediately, the two women fell silent.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“……My apologies.”
“……I am sorry.”
With just a few words, they both retreated.
I had to admit, it was impressive authority.
While I was still taking that in—
“Yangcheon.”
“……Yes?”
Abruptly, Father called my name.
I started slightly as his piercing crimson eyes fixed on me.
“What is your view?”
“……Mine?”
“Yes.”
My view.
My opinion? I rubbed my cheek. Well.
‘In this situation, what opinion could I possibly offer?’
What would my former self have done?
‘Would I have fled?’
In my father’s place, I likely would have. No, it wouldn’t have been fleeing—I would have dismissed it. It wouldn’t have been my concern.
Civilians or not, I had never cared about strangers.
But.
‘If it were not my father’s situation—’
If the choice were mine alone.
‘I would act.’
I would intervene.
For Namgung Bi-ah’s sake. And—
‘……Especially since this catastrophe is my doing.’
The Grand Magyeong Gate—this entire phenomenon was my fault.
Knowing that, I could not simply turn away.
Therefore.
“Logically speaking, returning to Hanam is the correct course of action.”
I spoke first, addressing my father directly.
At this, Mi Horan’s expression brightened, while Soi’s face fell.
I ignored them and continued.
“But I will be remaining.”
“……Hmm?”
“What?”
“Excuse me?”
“Yangcheon?”
Even Do Yun, who had been silent until now, reacted.
They all stared as if they had misheard, but my words had been clear.
“The rest of you may return if you wish. But I am staying. That is all.”
At my declaration, Soi, who had been sinking into despair, suddenly looked up, her eyes wide.
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