Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1153
Chapter 1153
Having accepted the woman’s offer, I entered the hut.
The inside was not far from what I’d imagined—or rather, it was even neater and more orderly than I’d expected.
Every item was carefully placed, and a faint, soothing scent hung in the air.
Just as I began to relax, releasing the subtle tension I’d held within—
“Please, sit down.”
The woman gestured gently toward the table.
“Forgive the intrusion.”
I took a seat without hesitation. Soon, two teacups and a plate of traditional sweets were set before me.
“I don’t have much to offer… I hope it’s acceptable.”
“Your hospitality alone is more than enough. Thank you.”
The soft sound of pouring tea followed. A deep, inviting aroma quickly filled the space.
‘This smell… I’ve never come across it before.’
What kind of tea was this? Even when I studied poison under the Poison King in Sichuan, I never encountered leaves like these.
I had seen countless medicinal herbs in my time, yet this fragrance was completely new.
Just then—
“It’s tea made from Gaeulcho leaves.”
As if sensing my curiosity, the woman offered an explanation.
“Gaeulcho?”
Her words genuinely surprised me. If it was Gaeulcho, then…
“…Isn’t that a poisonous plant?”
It was. Though its toxicity was relatively mild, enough of it could cause paralysis.
“That’s correct. However, if you wash Gaeulcho leaves in valley water during this season and dry them with heat, the poison fades away, leaving only this fragrance.”
“……”
I had never heard such a thing before.
Not even the Poison King had shared this knowledge with me.
‘So the toxin can be removed…’
Could that really be true? Though doubtful, I raised the cup without hesitation.
“Thank you. I’ll try it.”
Sip.
After all, my body was immune to all poisons, so this would do me no harm.
Just as the aroma promised, the flavor was smooth and richly satisfying.
“…It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
At my words, the woman smiled warmly. She carried an air of gentleness and calm.
‘…Who is she?’
That question lingered in my thoughts.
Who was this woman?
And why did a place like this exist within the Gu family’s grounds?
‘I’ve never seen this place before.’
Since I was born, I had neither heard of nor seen such a spot.
The path here was blocked off, and—
‘This place shouldn’t exist at all.’
Even if it had been concealed later, this area was meant to be nothing more than wild weeds and trees.
What was this place? And who was this woman?
As these questions began to form in my mind—
“So, young warrior, what brings you here?”
The woman was the first to ask my purpose.
“…Ah. I was merely walking around, exploring. It’s my first time here, and I was told I could look freely…”
“Oh, I see. The General Overseer permitted it, then?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must be a guest of the Gu family.”
I nodded respectfully.
“…Yes. I am Baek Yangcheon, of the Azure Dragon Division from the Martial Alliance.”
“My… the Azure Dragon Division.”
Hearing my introduction, the woman smiled and nodded in recognition.
“Welcome. My name is Jin Yeonryeong.”
Jin Yeonryeong.
Even her name was unfamiliar to me.
Since she didn’t carry the name Gu, it was clear she wasn’t part of the family.
‘…Hmm.’
Who was she?
And why was she living here, in this isolated hut within the Gu family’s territory?
Just as my curiosity deepened—
“Forgive me for inviting you so suddenly. I was feeling a little lonely. It happens as you grow older.”
The woman spoke with a slightly shy smile. I waved my hand lightly.
“Not at all. I appreciate your kindness.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Sip.
A brief silence followed.
During that quiet moment, I observed the woman closely.
‘She doesn’t seem to be a martial artist.’
I couldn’t detect any internal energy emanating from her.
Not only that, but she also lacked the subtle presence of someone concealing their strength.
She appeared to be an ordinary person—someone who wouldn’t be able to protect herself from even a low-level beast.
As for her age… perhaps past fifty?
It was hard to tell. Her face wasn’t heavily lined, but strands of white hair showed through, making her seem older than she might be.
‘Moreover…’
Her condition wasn’t good.
Most likely—
‘She’s ill.’
The woman was unwell.
She didn’t show it openly, but I could sense it.
I wasn’t a doctor, so I couldn’t judge the severity, but my instincts told me—
‘It looks serious.’
She probably didn’t have much time left.
That was what had caught my attention.
I had come to a place I would normally never visit.
I had done something I ordinarily wouldn’t do.
And it was all because of that.
“Excuse me… Ma’am, may I ask—”
I cautiously broke the silence.
I needed to learn who this woman was and why she was here.
Just as I was about to speak—
“How is my child doing there?”
“…Pardon? Your child?”
Child? What child?
“Who do you mean…?”
Unable to understand, I asked again.
Still smiling, the woman replied.
“I heard my son serves as a Deputy Commander in the Azure Dragon Division.”
“…Excuse me?”
What?
Her son was a Deputy Commander in the Azure Dragon Division?
That meant…
“You’re… the mother of the Azure Dragon Division’s Deputy Commander?”
“Yes. I am Cheolwoon’s mother.”
“……”
I was speechless.
If she was my father’s mother, then that meant—
‘…She’s my grandmother?’
She was my grandmother.
And on that day—
For the first time in my life, I met my grandmother.
**********
Jin Yeonryeong.
She looked to be in her late forties or early fifties.
A woman whose gentle nature matched her appearance perfectly.
If I had to compare her to anyone, she reminded me of the Sword Queen I had met in my past life.
At the very least, she carried a grace seldom found among those I knew.
Moreover—
‘The Mistress of the Gu Family.’
In this world, she was the lady of the house during my grandfather’s leadership.
Seeing her made me reflect on many things.
‘…So this is my grandmother.’
I had never heard anything about her.
Like my grandfather, she was someone my father had never spoken of.
I had neither seen nor heard mention of her, so I had always assumed she was dead.
‘…So she was still alive at this time.’
I’d never given it much thought before, but now, facing her, it felt strangely unreal.
For now—
‘She doesn’t look like Father.’
There was little resemblance to my father in her features.
My father was quite handsome—exceptionally so—yet he still carried the distinct traits of the Gu family.
‘But this woman…’
Jin Yeonryeong had none of those qualities.
She simply seemed like a warm and kind person.
Furthermore—
“Has my child been eating well?”
“…Yes. He eats properly.”
She had the manner of a mother concerned for her son.
“I should have prepared some traditional sweets for him before he traveled so far… It weighs on me. Do you like them?”
“…They’re truly delicious.”
She had made sweets for him.
Gu Ryun had mentioned it once—my father was very fond of these sweets.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Jin Yeonryeong smiled again at my response.
She smiled often.
Not that it was unpleasant—it made the atmosphere feel warm.
‘Grandmother.’
Unlike the resentment I felt toward my grandfather, this felt comforting.
Perhaps that was why I felt so at ease.
“You seem to have finished. Would you like more?”
“Ah, no. This was plenty—”
“Still, have just a bit more. One should eat when something tastes good.”
“…This is more than ‘a bit more.’”
In no time, the plate in front of me was heaped with sweets.
Her idea of “a bit more” and mine were vastly different…
“…Ah, well… Th-Thank you.”
I reached for one.
How long had it been since I’d eaten sweets like these?
Truthfully, I’d never had them before.
‘This is going to be difficult.’
No matter how well they went with tea, this was too much.
Yet, strangely, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
So I simply took one and ate it.
As I was chewing—
“How old are you, Young Warrior Baek?”
Jin Yeonryeong asked unexpectedly.
“…Ah, I turned twenty this year.”
I paused briefly before answering.
I had to think about my own age.
“I thought so. You look quite young… What of your family?”
“My family…?”
“Yes. Your parents, perhaps?”
“Ah… well…”
What should I say?
After a short silence, I responded.
“My father is alive.”
“I see…”
Technically, my mother was also alive, but…
It was too complicated to explain, so I left it at that.
I didn’t know why she was asking, but I answered anyway.
“I see… I apologize if I overstepped.”
“It’s alright. But why do you ask…?”
It felt a little odd talking about my parents with my grandmother, but I continued.
Jin Yeonryeong seemed about to say something when—
“Ah, it’s nothing really… I was only—”
At that moment—
Crackle.
“…!”
The sound of a spark snapping.
A chill shot down my spine.
It came from directly behind me.
I turned my head instinctively—
And there—
“……”
Someone was standing there.
A middle-aged man in red martial robes.
His eyes glowed crimson as he looked down at Jin Yeonryeong and me.
When had he arrived?
I hadn’t sensed his presence at all.
A cold sweat formed on my back.
Tension seized my entire body.
“Madam.”
The man addressed Jin Yeonryeong.
His voice was low and resonant—not as deep as my father’s, but undeniably powerful.
And the moment I heard it, I knew.
‘…This voice.’
The voice of flames.
The same voice that had once looked at me and spoken of my duty as the heir.
The voice of flames.
And just now, he had called Jin Yeonryeong “Madam.”
Which meant—
‘It’s him.’
This man was—
‘My grandfather.’
The current Head of the Gu Family.
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