Childhood Friend of the Zenith

After finishing my conversation with Muk Yeon and selecting the members for the mission, I headed straight to Elder Il.

I needed to brief him about the situation and our plans.

"So, you're saying you're heading to Sichuan?"

I nodded.

"Yes. It seems that way."

"You sure keep yourself busy."

"It just turned out like this."

Elder Il let out a dry chuckle.

Instead of returning to Shanxi, I now had to detour to Sichuan.

No wonder he found it amusing.

"I won't stop you if that's what you want, but... are you sure about this?"

"...Hmm."

His words carried weight.

"The other elders might give you trouble."

I was supposed to be preparing to take my seat as the Young Lord soon.

Yet here I was, running around as a unit commander instead of focusing on family matters.

It was natural for the elders to protest.

"I'll manage somehow."

I didn't take it too seriously.

Even if they raised objections, it wouldn't cause a huge disturbance.

The only real concern—

"What do you think, Elder? Should I just head straight to Shanxi instead?"

I valued Elder Il's opinion more than most.

His insight often pointed out things I'd overlook.

After a brief pause, he replied,

"You've already decided, haven't you? Asking now won't change much."

"..."

He wasn't wrong.

"Do as you wish. You'll bear the consequences, after all."

He didn't sugarcoat it.

Even I knew this wasn't the ideal choice.

I frowned slightly, and Elder Il caught it.

"What's that face for? Don't tell me you expected me to clean up your mess?"

"Of course not. Not that you'd do it even if I asked."

"Obviously not. Why would I?"

Another sharp remark.

He had a point, though.

If I made the call, it was my responsibility to handle the fallout—

Be it the elders' complaints or the chaos of my schedule.

'Which is why I can't afford to waste time.'

There were too many loose ends, and I had no time to tie them all.

I had to keep moving.

"Fine. Do what you want. Just don't forget one thing."

"What's that?"

"Pay attention to what actually matters."

Elder Il gestured toward something—or rather, someone.

Following his finger, my eyes landed on...

"...Huh."

Gu Ryunghwa.

My younger cousin and the fourth child of the Gu family.

She stood there glaring at me with her arms crossed, clearly furious.

"I heard you haven't even bothered to see her since she arrived. Is that true?"

"I've been busy..."

I knew she had arrived with the Mount Hua Sect.

But I hadn't gone to see her.

Not once.

I kept forgetting.

I was going to visit after Yung Pung mentioned her arrival.

But—

'I... definitely didn't go, did I?'

That probably explained why her face looked like it was about to explode.

Her glare was so intense that I couldn't even look at her directly.

I settled for quick glances instead.

And in those glances—

I noticed something.

Gu Ryunghwa looked more mature than before.

She hadn't grown taller, but her demeanor had changed.

'Hmm.'

Did she have a boyfriend?

I clenched my fist.

'Who the hell is he?'

Suddenly, I wanted to know.

Not that I was planning anything, of course.

'Just curiosity.'

After all, this was family business—and a cousin's dating life was naturally concerning.

'I'm not going to meddle... probably.'

Accidents happen, don't they?

'No big deal.'

Maybe I'd just ask for his name later.

"...Yangcheon."

'What's his martial title?'

"Yangcheon."

"Huh?"

I snapped out of my thoughts.

"Why do you look like you're about to kill someone?"

"What? I'm not."

"Your face says otherwise. Relax before you scare someone to death."

"..."

I almost coughed blood.

"I was just zoning out for a second."

"If you zone out twice, someone's going to die."

"..."

I got up before Elder Il could make another snide comment.

The moment I stood, Gu Ryunghwa flinched.

She looked startled—like she thought I was going to march straight over to her.

'Hmm.'

Well, I was already planning to talk to her.

Not doing so now would just be awkward.

"Hey."

She flinched again.

But her glare didn't waver.

"Hey."

This time, she narrowed her eyes and finally answered.

"...What."

At least she responded.

Her tone made it clear she wasn't happy about it, though.

"Are you mad?"

"No."

"Yeah, right. Your cheeks are practically swollen with anger."

"...!"

She immediately touched her cheeks.

Her eyes darted around as if she realized how puffy they actually were.

"I-It's just swollen! That's all!"

"Swollen? Why? Did someone hit you?"

'Who the hell did it?'

I was already visualizing broken bones and severed limbs.

"...No one hit me! It's nothing like that!"

"If you ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) say so."

I casually sat down beside her.

Immediately, she shifted away, increasing the distance between us.

"What do you want?"

"What? I'm just sitting here."

"Why here? Go somewhere else."

"It's my ass, and I'll sit wherever I want."

"This is my spot."

"Why would this be your spot? If anything, it belongs to Lady Mi."

"..."

Gu Ryunghwa pressed her lips together.

Technically, the place where the Gu family was staying did belong to Lady Mi.

Not to mention—

"Aren't you from Mount Hua Sect? If we're being specific, this should actually be—"

"I'm leaving."

"I'm joking. Relax."

She immediately tried to stand, but I stopped her and sat her back down.

"I was just trying to lighten the mood."

"Is this how you lighten the mood?"

"What? It works, doesn't it?"

"...I feel bad for the women around you."

"..."

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

It felt like claws had raked across my chest.

Still, at least I managed to get her to sit back down.

For a while, we sat there quietly without saying anything.

Eventually—

"...Sorry about that."

I broke the silence, apologizing awkwardly.

Gu Ryunghwa glanced at me.

"What are you sorry about?"

"For saying I'd visit and then not showing up?"

"...Hmph. I didn't really care."

Sure, like hell she didn't.

Her face practically screamed that she was already over it because I apologized.

I had no idea who she took after to be so terrible at lying.

"I was just busy. It wasn't that I didn't want to see you."

Trying to smooth things over, I quickly added an explanation.

"I know."

"Huh?"

Her response caught me off guard.

"I know you were busy."

"...How do you know that?"

"Is there anyone in Hanam who doesn't know? All I ever hear is people saying they saw you here and there. Just how much do you run around?"

"..."

Had I really been moving around that much?

It didn't feel like it, but apparently, I'd been noticed more than I realized.

'I'll have to be more careful.'

The number of eyes on me was higher than expected.

"So... are you okay?"

Gu Ryunghwa suddenly asked.

"Huh? Okay?"

I tilted my head.

"...I heard you were hurt. Are you fine now?"

"Oh."

She must have meant the incident with the Crimson-Rank beast.

"As you can see, I'm fine."

"..."

Despite my answer, Gu Ryunghwa kept scanning me suspiciously.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Are you really fine?"

"I said I'm fine. Do I look like someone who's still injured? I wouldn't be walking around if—"

"Then why didn't you come see me?"

"...Maybe I'm still a little hurt."

"..."

"..."

I averted my gaze.

I'd walked straight into that trap.

She'd gotten smarter since the last time I saw her.

While I fumbled for a response, Gu Ryunghwa sighed.

"Forget it... It's not like I wanted to see you that badly."

It made sense.

We weren't particularly close, so her words were believable.

I nodded, convinced—

Until—

"That's funny coming from someone who ran straight here when she heard Yangcheon was hurt."

"E-Elder! What are you talking about?!"

Elder Il's laughter echoed behind us, and Gu Ryunghwa's face turned scarlet as she yelled.

"When did I do that? That never happened!"

"Really? Then I guess the servants must have been mistaken..."

"Elder!"

"Hmm. Perhaps this old man misheard."

"..."

Despite Elder Il's retreat, the damage was already done.

'Wait. When did that happen?'

I hadn't heard about it.

I turned to Gu Ryunghwa.

Her cheeks were bright red, and she avoided my gaze entirely.

'Hmm.' Ifyou'renotonM*VLEM*PYR,you'reviewingacopy.

So it was true.

And with that realization, I felt a small pang of guilt.

If she had come to see me, I could guess why we didn't meet.

'I was probably unconscious back then. Or maybe she didn't step inside.'

I had been under Moyong Hee-ah's care during my recovery.

She might have noticed Gu Ryunghwa's visit—but hadn't mentioned it.

Which meant—

'Did Ryunghwa choose not to let me know?'

"You could've just come to see me if you were here."

"...I told you, I didn't."

Seeing how Gu Ryunghwa kept denying it, it seemed like she planned to stick to her story no matter what.

I didn't press further.

I hadn't made the effort to visit her either, so it wasn't like I had any right to pry.

"Sure, you didn't."

"You don't sound like you believe me."

"I believe you."

"...Alright."

And then, silence fell again.

It was a familiar quietness.

We were used to sitting silently rather than talking.

Our relationship had become one where the absence of harsh words was already a big improvement.

As I gathered my thoughts, Gu Ryunghwa suddenly spoke.

"You know..."

"What?"

Her tone was oddly hesitant.

"I think I'll be going back to Shanxi."

"...What?"

My eyes widened.

She was going back?

"Not completely. I'll just spend the rest of the year there. Lady Mi wanted me to, and the Sect Leader gave permission."

Oh.

So it wasn't a permanent return.

It was just a short break—or at least, that's how she made it sound.

But what caught me off guard the most was—

"Lady Mi wanted that?"

"Yeah? Yeah."

That was unexpected.

"Wait—you actually talk to Lady Mi?"

"Huh? Uh, sometimes?"

That was surprising.

I'd thought Gu Ryunghwa didn't speak to Lady Mi at all.

I must've looked visibly shocked, because Ryunghwa gave me a strange look.

"Why do you look so surprised?"

"It's just... unexpected."

I left the rest unsaid.

I had assumed she resented Lady Mi.

I thought she hated everything about this place—enough to leave and find freedom elsewhere.

That had been my understanding of her.

But then—

"I don't hate her."

"..."

Even though I hadn't voiced it, Gu Ryunghwa somehow understood what I was thinking.

"...It's not like she ever did anything wrong. It's just a little awkward and distant. Isn't it the same for you?"

"..."

I didn't answer right away.

She wasn't wrong.

"...And honestly, if anyone had the right to hate, it'd be her, not us."

Her voice wavered slightly as she continued.

"But she doesn't hate us. So... why should we hate her?"

Her words lingered in the air, leaving me swallowing hard without realizing it.