Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1145

Chapter 1145

The Night of Converging Moons

Clouds obscured sections of the sky, deepening the darkness of the night.

“You claim to be from the Gu Clan?”

Paejon, after leading me to a secluded spot, deployed an aura barrier before posing his question.

I did not reply.

Seeing my silence, Paejon fixed an unblinking stare on me. The message in his gaze was plain—he would not look away until I provided an answer.

What should I say? That was not the real question. My response was already predetermined.

If I was not going to remain silent, there was only one possible reply.

“…Yes.”

The instant the Bloodwheel Pearl activated, Paejon must have seen it all. Denial was pointless.

“Hmm.”

Paejon continued to watch me.

“I thought there was something familiar about you… but I never expected you to be that bastard’s grandson.”

I pressed my lips together.

That bastard.

The words left a sourness in my mouth. Not because I held any love for my grandfather—I did not. But hearing it spoken aloud still filled me with a deep discomfort.

Oddly, Paejon also bit his lip, his face showing a strange mix of irritation and frustration.

“That bastard has obscenely good luck with his descendants. It’s almost enough to make me jealous.”

He was clearly talking about my father and me.

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue and went on.

“Are you an illegitimate child?”

“You could say that.”

“Makes sense. Knowing the Gu Clan’s leader, he would never have left you alone if he were aware of you.”

His tone was flat, almost bored. Even after confirming I was a Gu, his demeanor did not shift.

“Strange. That bastard never struck me as the type to scatter his seed carelessly.”

“That’s a vulgar way to phrase it.”

“I could be far more vulgar, but I’m choosing to restrain myself.”

“…”

“Whatever. Anyway, Gu Ryun is going to be a nuisance for a while, so you should prepare yourself.”

With that, Paejon started to turn away. I tilted my head slightly.

“You’re leaving?”

“Yeah. What, did you want to train or something?”

“…No, not particularly.”

I had not even spoken, yet he was already walking off. It was unexpected.

“Don’t you have any more questions?”

“Hmm? What else is there to ask?”

Paejon looked at me as if I were the one being odd.

“I confirmed you’re a Gu. What more is there? Should I ask how you found out?”

His expression showed a complete lack of curiosity.

“If I wanted to, I could ask a thousand questions. But that would never end. Besides, it doesn’t seem like you want to talk about it.”

“…That’s true.”

“Then that’s that. I’m not that interested, and anyway…”

Paejon shot me a sidelong glance.

“If you were truly my disciple, you’d know I couldn’t care less about things like that.”

“…”

“Tell me, disciple. What is the one thing I value above all else?”

“…Martial arts.”

“Good. You understand.”

Paejon grinned, appearing satisfied.

“Then let me ask you another question. Does your situation interfere with my pursuit of martial arts?”

“That…”

To be honest, I was not certain. Perhaps it did, perhaps it didn’t. There were too many factors to give a definitive answer.

But.

“It does not.”

“If it did, I wouldn’t have taken you as my disciple in the first place.”

His tone was utterly indifferent.

He had known all along and still accepted me as his disciple. That meant he did not consider it a matter worth any concern.

“So just keep doing what you were doing. If Gu Ryun decides to cause trouble, handle it.”

Paejon’s expression turned serious as he looked at me.

“From the way you speak, it seems you already know Gu Ryun quite well. Am I wrong?”

“…”

Once again, I found myself with no answer.

Paejon possessed an irritatingly sharp perception.

Seeing my hesitation, he turned away again.

“I’m leaving. I’ll return tomorrow. Be ready.”

With those words, Paejon vanished into the night.

I clicked my tongue in frustration.

“Tch.”

No matter which world it was…

Whether it was this Paejon or the one from my past…

Both of them had a talent for rendering me speechless.

For better or for worse.

**********

Tack.
Tak.

The faint quiver of a small flame wavered in the dim room. It was a fragile light, vulnerable to the slightest breath of wind.

On the other side of the trembling fire, a man with Golden Eyes sat in silence—Wi Hyogun.

“Azure Dragon Division Vice-Commander.”

“Yes, sir.”

The young man, Gu Cheolwoon, responded to Wi Hyogun’s summons.

At that moment—

Fwoosh.

The weakly flickering fire suddenly swelled, flooding the room with light.

Even as the flames danced, Wi Hyogun remained perfectly composed. His sharp gaze rested on Gu Cheolwoon.

“I understand an incident occurred.”

“My apologies.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Gu Cheolwoon offered a bow of apology.

Wi Hyogun waved a hand dismissively.

“It was not your fault. By all accounts, it was a calamity.”

Gu Cheolwoon remained silent.

They were discussing the events in Anhui, where a White-Rank Demonic Beast had run rampant through the Magyeong Gate.

“What was the condition of the White-Rank Beast?”

Wi Hyogun had already discussed this earlier in the day, yet he asked again.

“It was powerful.”

Gu Cheolwoon’s answer was brief and direct.

Wi Hyogun gave a soft chuckle.

“A simple answer.”

It was unimportant.

The detailed reports had already been filed. He was asking for a different reason.

“Yes, powerful indeed. But what is more intriguing is the one who eliminated such a powerful being with such ease.”

At these words, Gu Cheolwoon’s expression changed.

“They called themselves… ‘Cheonma,’ was it?”

The man who had claimed the title Cheonma.

He had effortlessly slain the rampaging White-Rank Beast—

And beyond that.

“Even the Heavenly Lord… was defeated.”

One of the Three Masters, the Heavenly Lord, had been ambushed. His defeat had allowed Namgung Hyung to escape with the Thunder Fang.

Because of this, the Namgung Clan had formally requested the Beggars’ Union to investigate Namgung Hyung’s disappearance.

The fall of the Heavenly Lord.

In other words—

It meant the Cheonma was, at minimum, a combatant on the level of the Three Masters.

“Where on earth did such a figure emerge from… Not only is he immensely strong, but he also commands demonic beasts?”

“We cannot be certain, but the accounts from witnesses suggest it is so.”

Not only did this Cheonma possess overwhelming martial prowess—

But the creatures under his command were far from ordinary.

A Black Demonic Beast, massive in size, rivaling a White-Rank Beast.

A humanoid demon, with wings upon its back.

They all followed the Cheonma’s orders.

“A human controlling demonic beasts…?”

Historically, this was unheard of.

Beasts of the Magyeong Gate saw even their own kind as prey. The idea that they would obey a human was inconceivable.

However—

“During our research on the Red Demonic Beasts, we confirmed they can control Blue and Green Demonic Beasts.”

The Red Demonic Beasts had led the lesser beasts in coordinated attacks.

If beasts could obey those of a higher rank, then perhaps…

“But he is human.”

“…That is correct.”

This Cheonma was human.

Even if no one had seen the face behind his mask—

There was no denying it.

A human… controlling demonic beasts.

The Truth Had Yet to Spread Across Zhongyuan

Even if they could not completely suppress the existence of the Cheonma, the Beggars’ Union was at least managing to contain one crucial fact. They were actively preventing the full truth from spreading—to avoid plunging the world into chaos.

“…This requires an immediate investigation.”

Wi Hyogun narrowed his eyes. This was not an issue to be taken lightly.

Who exactly was this person?

A warrior of such caliber could shift the balance of power within the righteous sects. He needed to dedicate his full attention to the matter.

And aside from the concerns about the Cheonma—

“Vice-Commander, what of the matter I entrusted to you?”

There was still something left to discuss.

Hearing this, Gu Cheolwoon’s gaze sharpened.

The task he had been assigned.

Wi Hyogun had ordered him to investigate Baek Yangcheon and Do Yun.

It was for that reason he had inserted two new recruits into the mission.

So—what was the result?

Had he managed to uncover anything of significance?

Gu Cheolwoon hesitated.

It had been a long time since he had felt this reluctant to deliver a report. And for good reason—

“I do not know.”

That was the truth. He simply did not know.

Regarding Do Yun, he had managed to gather a reasonable amount of information. Even amidst the chaos, there had been chances to observe him.

But Baek Yangcheon…

Just thinking of that name, a peculiar unease settled over Gu Cheolwoon.

“He is… bizarre.”

Yes, bizarre—that was the only word for him.

His presence was deeply unsettling.

He was detached and indifferent, yet radiated an overwhelming intensity.

Even when one tried to ignore him, it was impossible.

Gu Cheolwoon found his attention constantly drawn to him.

His concealed strength, the full extent of which remained unknown.

And more than that—

“…”

The fact that she—

The woman who never shared anything—had voluntarily given him food.

That detail gnawed at him.

“Ridiculous.”

It was just food.

All she had done was offer him something to eat.

And yet, for some reason, it troubled him.

Gu Cheolwoon did not know why.

All he could say at this moment was—

“I still do not know.”

He had yet to fully comprehend Baek Yangcheon.

“…Hmm. I see.”

Wi Hyogun nodded. He neither pressed for more details nor reprimanded him.

He simply returned to reading through Gu Cheolwoon’s report.

“So… you wish to take a mission to Shanxi?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Judging by the personnel you have listed, this mission is connected to recent events, is it not?”

“That is correct.”

Wi Hyogun studied the document for a moment before setting it down.

“I will inform the Azure Dragon Commander separately. For now, remain on standby.”

“Understood.”

“Dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.”

Gu Cheolwoon bowed respectfully and stepped back.

At that moment—

“It seems your discussion has concluded?”

Before Gu Cheolwoon could open the door, Paejon strode in as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.

“…Vice-Commander, I believe I told you—”

“Ahaha.”

Wi Hyogun scowled as Paejon casually barged in.

Gu Cheolwoon, paying them no mind, exited the room.

Tak.

The door to the Alliance Leader’s Office shut behind him, leaving him standing in the darkened hallway, its walls stained with soot.

Creak.

As he walked down the corridor, a name kept surfacing in his mind.

Baek Yangcheon.

An unknown figure who had appeared so suddenly.

Ever since his arrival, something had begun to fracture.

“This is bad.”

He had a terrible feeling about all of this.

And if he were to go to Shanxi, it would become an even greater problem.

Because if he went there, then without a doubt—

“My father will take an interest in him.”

His father.

The current head of the Gu Clan, Gu Cheolwoon’s father, would surely develop an interest in Baek Yangcheon, just as Gu Ryun had.

And that…

That was what worried him the most.

A feeling of profound, unshakable dread.