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Childhood Friend of the Zenith (Web Novel) - Chapter CH.1130: The World of Ascension (60)
Chapter CH.1130: The World of Ascension (60)
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After the fight ended, the Namgung household was thrown into complete chaos.
In the middle of the banquet, an important figure from the Azure Dragon Division—no less than the Vice Commander himself, Divine Dragon—along with his subordinate, had caused an uproar.
Everyone's attention had been drawn to the sudden battle. Given its sheer intensity, it was impossible to ignore.
Flames had ravaged the area, massive explosions had erupted. The structural damage inside was substantial, but more than that, the banquet had been forcefully interrupted.
And even more problematic was—
“...That young lord has disappeared.”
The young lord of the Namgung family, Namgung Hyung, had vanished without a trace.
And it wasn’t just a disappearance.
“He took Thunder Fang with him...?”
Crack—!
Bang—!!
Namgung Jeohwi slammed his hand onto the table. The impact was so powerful that the table split in two.
“What the hell were you all doing?!”
His face twisted in rage. The sheer force of his fury made the martial artists around him flinch.
His anger was palpable.
“You mean to tell me that worthless fool managed to escape with Thunder Fang, and no one stopped him? Do you think that even makes sense?! If you have a mouth, then use it—give me an explanation!”
He growled the words, but none of the martial artists dared to speak.
Grit.
Namgung Jeohwi clenched his teeth at the heavy silence and turned his sharp gaze toward two people.
The ones responsible for this mess.
The ones who disrupted the banquet and started this chaos.
Gu Cheolwoon, Divine Dragon, and Baek Yangcheon, his subordinate.
“What exactly... were you thinking?”
Despite barely suppressing his emotions, Namgung Jeohwi's voice trembled with restrained fury.
Gu Cheolwoon bowed his head.
“My apologies.”
“A day of celebration, meticulously prepared... And this is what comes of it.”
“......”
The banquet had been meant to celebrate the successful defense against Magyeong Gate.
It was supposed to be a night filled with joy and triumph.
And yet, it had been utterly ruined.
Rumors had already begun to spread throughout the Namgung household.
And amidst the disorder, Namgung Hyung had escaped with Thunder Fang.
That was what was truly giving Namgung Jeohwi a headache.
Damn it.
He had always expected that trouble would come one day.
But he had never imagined it would happen like this.
Ungrateful bastard.
They had raised him, clothed him, and this was how he repaid them?
The fact that Namgung Hyung had fled with Thunder Fang sent Namgung Jeohwi’s rage skyrocketing.
“...Dismiss all the guards who were in charge and order the search units to capture him. Also.”
His chilling gaze turned to another figure.
“If the situation escalates upon discovery, it does not matter if his arms and legs are cut off. Subdue him.”
“...Understood.”
The subordinate who received the command left immediately.
The banquet was well and truly over.
After issuing his orders, Namgung Jeohwi turned back to Gu Cheolwoon.
“I have a question, Vice Commander.”
“Speak.”
“Why did you start this fight?”
“......”
“I don’t take you for a man so ignorant that you’d fight inside another family’s household without reason.”
Namgung Jeohwi struggled to suppress his anger as he continued.
“...Was this battle intentional?”
“......”
An intentional fight.
Was the chaos at the banquet deliberately orchestrated to aid Namgung Hyung’s escape?
The distraction of the battle had certainly made the escape possible, and Namgung Jeohwi was clearly fixated on that point.
Well, he’s not wrong.
From my perspective, Namgung Jeohwi was quite sharp.
Because that had been the real intention.
At least on my part.
Father may not have known, but I had planned it.
If Father and Namgung Hyung had directly clashed, all eyes would have been on them.
That would have ruined everything.
Namgung Hyung’s escape would have failed.
Bringing Thunder Fang out of the estate would have become impossible.
And I, who had been aiding him, would have been in trouble as well.
So I had chosen another path.
If everything was going to fall apart anyway...
Then I would just break everything myself.
That’s why I had chosen to fight Father.
And the result wasn’t bad.
The attention had been diverted, and Namgung Hyung had successfully escaped.
That was the outcome.
The problem was—
The outcome was good... but now what?
It was great that Namgung Hyung had escaped.
But what was I supposed to do now?
Namgung Hyung had fled with Thunder Fang.
From an outsider’s perspective, my father had tried to stop him.
If Father now explained what had actually happened, I would be done for.
I quietly observed, waiting to see what Father would say.
Then, after a long silence, he finally spoke.
“It was... a lesson.”
Huh?
An unexpected answer.
“What? A lesson?”
“Yes. During our conversation, an act of insubordination arose, and I decided to educate him accordingly.”
“Hah... You’re saying this battle was an educational lesson?”
“That is correct.”
Father nodded, his face completely expressionless.
Of course—
“You expect me to believe that?”
Namgung Jeohwi wasn’t someone who could be easily deceived.
Even if he wasn’t the strongest martial artist, he was sharp and politically astute.
However—
“Yes.”
Father’s attitude remained unchanged.
“......Vice Commander.”
“Speak.”
“This matter will not be so easily dismissed. No matter how much the Azure Dragon Division has done for the Namgung family, this is an entirely separate issue.”
“I am aware.”
“And yet, you still give me this explanation?”
“That is correct.”
“Hah—!”
Namgung Jeohwi’s face finally twisted in frustration.
His previous words had been a clear warning.
This was not a matter that could be brushed aside.
Yet despite hearing this, Father’s attitude remained unchanged.
“I sincerely apologize for the disturbance caused within the Namgung household. We will also fully compensate for the damaged walls and buildings.”
“...That’s not the issue—!”
Namgung Jeohwi had been about to shout, but he shut his mouth.
He realized that arguing further would be pointless.
That simplified things.
Father’s words essentially meant:
Yes, we regret that a fight broke out within the Azure Dragon Division.
Yes, we will take responsibility for the damages.
But we simply fought—nothing more.
We had nothing to do with that young lord’s disappearance.
That was what he was saying.
Crrrack.
Namgung Jeohwi clenched his fists, rubbing his temple with his other hand.
“Huuu...”
He let out a slow breath before turning his sharp gaze back to Father.
“...Leave. We need to conduct our own investigation.”
“Understood.”
“However, if the investigation reveals anything that contradicts your statement... you had best be prepared.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Father gave a respectful bow and stepped out of the head family’s chamber.
The night was still deep.
When the incident had begun, it had already been past midnight.
Now, it was nearly dawn.
By morning, the Namgung household would be in complete turmoil.
As I thought about this, I spoke to Father, who was walking ahead.
“Vice Commander.”
“......”
Father halted his steps.
Then, he turned his gaze slightly toward me.
“...Why didn’t you say anything?”
I met his crimson eyes without avoiding them.
Why hadn’t he explained the situation?
I asked because I was genuinely curious.
“Baek Yangcheon.”
“Yes?”
Instead of answering, Father asked his own question.
“How did you help?”
“...Excuse me?”
“I asked why you helped that young lord.”
“...Ah.”
Why, huh?
I paused to think.
Why did I help him?
Well.
“Just because.”
It was a simple answer, but it carried a lot within it.
If I had to pinpoint a reason, it was because of the words Namgung Hyung had spoken.
The way he had desperately declared that this place was hell, that he wanted to escape it.
I didn’t know what kind of life Namgung Hyung had lived.
But I had reacted to those words.
As I recalled that moment, Father quietly observed me.
“Just because?”
“...Yes.”
Was he about to scold me?
I probably deserved it.
A lunatic who helped a Namgung family member steal a sacred relic and run away—
And the only reason I gave was just because?
It was utter nonsense.
I was mentally preparing myself for whatever he would say next when—
“I was the same.”
“...What?”
Father’s response was completely unexpected.
He was the same?
I blinked in confusion.
As I struggled to understand, Father clarified.
“That is my answer to your question.”
“...Ah.”
Only then did I grasp his meaning.
It was his response to my earlier question—
Why didn’t you say anything?
You got me there.
It meant he didn’t want to explain himself either.
With this, he had sealed my mouth while also sealing his own.
Tch. That left me with no choice.
I awkwardly scratched the back of my head.
“Follow me.”
Father turned and started walking.
Where is he going?
I hesitated for a moment before following him.
We walked in silence for a short while before arriving at a training ground.
Why here?
I frowned in confusion as Father strode inside.
Reaching the center, he turned back to look at me.
His gaze told me to step in.
“......”
I cautiously approached him.
“...Why are we here?”
As soon as I asked, Father’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“Repay me.”
“...Huh?”
“Repay me for what I have done for you.”
“...What do you mean—”
Was he asking for compensation just for keeping his mouth shut?
Suddenly demanding repayment?
A moment ago, he had acted like he helped me just because.
And now he wanted something in return?
But then—
“Do it properly.”
“...!”
Father exuded a surge of fighting spirit as he continued.
“Show me your full strength.”
Zzzzzzzzt.
The rings in my body began to spin.
“That is the repayment I want.”
Qi eruption—!
The energy radiating from Father was completely different from before.
