Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1143

Chapter 1143

A honey cookie rested on a large, outstretched palm.

Gu Ryun held it toward me with a grin, acting as if this were the most natural gesture in the world.

“What do you think?”

What was I even supposed to say? I had no response, so I just stared silently at the offered treat.

After a long moment, I furrowed my brow and asked,

“……What is this?”

What in the world?

Why was he suddenly presenting me with a honey cookie out of nowhere? His unexpected appearance was strange enough, but the things he said and did were even more baffling.

“Why? Do you not like honey cookies?”
“……That’s not the point.”

Did he genuinely not understand that the cookie itself wasn’t the issue?

Gu Ryun appeared sincerely puzzled by my reaction.

“Huh…… I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like these before.”

He sounded almost disappointed as he tucked the cookie back into his sleeve. The motion sparked a memory.

‘He really did carry these with him every single day.’

That was how I always remembered Elder Il. Even while reprimanding me, he would still press a honey cookie into my hand. He always found some reason to give me one, even when there was no occasion for it.

And the most absurd part?

‘The old man didn’t even like honey cookies. He always said, “You eat it for me.”’

Elder Il himself had no taste for honey cookies. In fact, he disliked sweets entirely.

“Uh, Elder Il—no, Great Hero.”
“What is it?”
“Why do you carry those around?”

Why would a man like him bother to keep honey cookies on him? Given the oddity of the situation, I decided to just ask.

“Oh, this?”

Gu Ryun beamed at my question and answered plainly.

“The stone-faced bastard at my house likes them.”

“Stone-faced…?”
“Yes. You know exactly who I mean. That man who is your superior officer.”

…What?

“……What?”

Had I heard him correctly? I frowned at Gu Ryun’s words.

‘……Father likes honey cookies?’

Of all people, my father? And this man carried them for that reason?

‘……That’s impossible.’

No matter how I considered it, the combination was unthinkable. My mind went blank at the unimaginable revelation.

“……Are you serious?”
“Yes. Is it really that shocking?”
“It… is, a little.”

I could not picture my father eating anything sweet. I had never once seen him put such a thing in his mouth.

And yet, he had apparently liked honey cookies all this time?

‘This is unbelievable…’

It was beyond all comprehension.

“Hmmm. I suppose that’s fair. Well, never mind that. How about you have a little chat with this old man?”
“All of a sudden?”
“Yes.”
“……”

Seriously, what was with everyone today? First Paejon, and now this man—why was everyone so intent on detaining me?

‘……I’m incredibly busy.’

This was not the time for a conversation with Gu Ryun. I needed to see my father, and the Commander of the Azure Dragon Division, first.

“I’m sorry, but—”

Just as I began to refuse—

“It’s nothing heavy.”

Gu Ryun cut me off, disregarding my attempt to decline, and asked what he really wanted to know.

“Kid, are you by any chance from the Gu Clan?”

“……”

I froze.

What?

An icy chill shot down my spine.

‘Where could he have noticed?’

How did Gu Ryun possibly deduce that? My thoughts raced.

‘I didn’t leave any traces.’

As far as he should have known, I was Paejon’s disciple. So why was he suddenly asking if I was from the Gu Clan?

It made no sense. I had concealed my aura perfectly. With Paejon, it was understandable—he was one of the Three Masters, and he had physically inspected my body.

‘Wait… Could it be?’

A sudden idea occurred to me.

Back when Gu Ryun had put his hand on my shoulder.

Maybe, just like Paejon, he had sensed the sealed Nine Flames Firewheel inside me.

‘No, that can’t be.’

I dismissed the thought. However much stronger Gu Ryun was now compared to my memories, he wasn’t on a level where he could perceive something like that.

So how did he know? I forcefully suppressed my unease and replied.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Why would I be from the Gu Clan? I denied it outright.

“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t really get it either.”

Tap.

Gu Ryun suddenly reached out and lightly lifted my chin with his finger.

“These eyes of yours. There’s no way a person from another family would have a face like this.”

“……Huh?”
“Look at this. These sharp, ill-tempered eyes. This is the kind of face that looks like it could kill someone with just a glare.”

“……”

What in the world?

Was he insulting me? No, he was definitely insulting me.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance and pushed his hand away.

“What are you doing?”
“No, I’m just saying… No matter how I look at you, you resemble him.”
“……Who? Could it be—”

I thought of my father, who was probably close by.

“You mean the Deputy Commander?”

That, at least, would be logical.

“What are you talking about? How could you resemble Cheolwoon? You should apologize for saying such a thing.”

“……”

Damn it.

That one hurt.

I knew my father was handsome, but did he have to say it like that? The comment stung my pride.

“If anything, you look more like… the head of our household.”

“……”

I set aside my wounded ego and focused on what he had just said.

Head of the household.

The term echoed in my ears.

‘If he means the current head of the Gu Clan…’

My grandfather.

In the world I came from, he was the one shouldering the responsibilities of the Gu Clan as its acting master.

“You resemble that man quite a lot…”

“……”

I had heard this before.

That I didn’t take after my father, but rather my grandfather.

The only reason people sometimes associated me with my father was because our internal energies felt similar.

But in terms of facial features, I had always been told I favored my grandfather.

‘I never expected to hear that here.’

And from Gu Ryun, of all people.

Did I really look that much like him?

“If you look this much like him… No matter how I think about it, it’s suspicious.”
“Suspicious?”
“Yes. I mean… that man… don’t you think he might have had an illegitimate child somewhere?”
“……”
“I even mistook you for Cheolwoon. If you were a half-brother, that would at least make sense, wouldn’t it?”
“No……”

My head throbbed. His train of thought was so absurd it wasn’t even funny.

‘……But strangely, it almost makes sense.’

I couldn’t exactly refute it, given that we were blood-related.

“So, you’re saying you think I’m the illegitimate son of the head of the Gu Clan?”
“It was a fairly reasonable guess. What do you think?”
“…How is that reasonable?”

Who just assumes someone is an illegitimate child based on a resemblance?

It was utterly ridiculous.

“I’m nothing like that. If you’re done—I’m leaving.”

There was no reason to continue this conversation.

Listening any longer would only worsen my headache.

There was a strange, sharp undercurrent to his words that made the exchange utterly exhausting.

So, as if making an escape, I took a step back.

“Hm? Really? Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. Sorry for doubting you.”

It seemed Gu Ryun had no intention of pressing the matter further, and I assumed that was the end of it.

Until—

Thunk! Roll—

“Ack, oh no!”

Something fell from Gu Ryun’s sleeve and rolled across the floor toward me.

A bead. A bead tinged with a faint crimson hue.

“……Hm?”
“Oh dear, my apologies. Could you pick that up for me?”
“……”

Since it had rolled to my feet, I bent down and picked it up without thinking. Just as Gu Ryun stepped forward to take it from my hand—

Grab—!

“……!?”

He suddenly seized my wrist.

“What are you doing?”

I was about to snap at him when—

Fwoooosh—!!

“……Huh?”

Out of nowhere, Gu Ryun clenched his fist, and a wave of heat erupted from it.

Ssssshhhhh—!

Steam rose from his skin as his fist glowed a fierce, burning red.

And then—

Fwoooooshhhhhh—!!

It was visible to anyone—pure, overwhelming energy erupted from his body. A tingling, massive surge of qi poured out of Gu Ryun.

What in hell?

What was this madman doing? This was no simple trick. The amount of energy radiating from him was terrifyingly immense.

I had to break his grip. Just as I gathered energy into my own hand to shake him off—

Whhoooosh—!!!

“……Huh?”

A strange force coiled around my wrist, and suddenly, the bead in my hand began to glow.

What now?

What was happening with this thing?

Caught by surprise, I instinctively froze for a split second.

“It’s done.”

In that instant, Gu Ryun withdrew his energy and pressed something against the bead. It looked like a simple bamboo tube.

Then—

Drip.

Something dripped from the tube onto the bead.

Blood.

“……What are you doing?”

What was this? I yanked my arm out of Gu Ryun’s grip. Unlike before, his hold was weak, and I pulled away easily—he had let go.

“What exactly is—”

I started to demand an explanation.

Fwaaaaaaa—!!!

Before I could finish, the bead suddenly burst into a radiant, shimmering light.

A deep crimson glow. It wasn’t blinding, nor did it spread far, but the bead was undeniably luminescent.

“Hm.”

Seeing this, Gu Ryun nodded in satisfaction, then offered a belated explanation.

“Oh, this is the Blood Wheel Bead. I won it from your master while gambling over some relics.”

“……You did what?”

Gambling over relics…?

The bizarre phrase made me instinctively grimace.

Wait… hold on. A Blood Wheel Bead?

I recognized that name.

Right.

That thing.

It was mentioned in the Gu Clan’s secret archives—a relic.

Wait a second…

……Didn’t that object have a very specific function?

The moment I remembered its purpose, my eyes widened in shock.

“The function of this relic is quite simple,” Gu Ryun continued. “One infuses the bead with their qi, then spills another person’s blood onto it. Depending on the circumstances, the bead may or may not react. If it does—as it just did—”

That could only mean one thing—

“It serves as proof that you and the blood’s owner share the same lineage. Ah, and by the way, the blood I used just now?”

Gu Ryun’s eyes gleamed with mischief as he smirked.

“It’s fresh from Cheolwoon. What do you think?”

“……”

“So, do you still insist you’re not from the Gu Clan?”

Damn it.

What a cunning old fox.