Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 537

The rare shared mealtime didn’t last long.

Given the situation with the Tang Clan, it wasn’t a time for a festive or cheerful atmosphere.

Throughout the meal, Tang So-yeol’s face remained particularly somber.

"Her expression was downright grim."

Although Poison King likely tried to shield her from the details of the situation, he couldn’t have hidden everything. Tang So-yeol must have learned enough to grasp what was happening.

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I had expected she would find out eventually, but I couldn’t just leave her alone, so I forced her to join us.

Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah stuck close to her, doing their best to console her, but it wasn’t enough to make everything better.

In the end, the meal was little more than a chance to see familiar faces.

“So, what’s the plan?”

“For what?”

I asked Moyong Hee-ah as we walked along a quiet path after the meal. Our quarters were in the same direction, and I had a question for her.

“You knew Poison King would make that decision, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

Her response was calm, almost indifferent. That only made me more curious.

“How did you know?”

“Hmm? Didn’t Young Master Gu realize it?”

“I didn’t. That’s why I’m asking.”

How could anyone have predicted such a thing?

The patriarch tearing down his own family—who could have foreseen that?

Moyong Hee-ah brushed her hair aside with her delicate fingers and replied,

“I wasn’t entirely sure. It was just a possibility.”

“But you acted like you were certain.”

Her swift and decisive response made it seem like she’d known for sure. Yet now, she admitted she wasn’t entirely confident.

She blushed slightly, perhaps embarrassed by her earlier actions.

“...It wasn’t certain, but there was a high chance.”

“What chance?”

“That Poison King would choose righteousness.”

“...”

Her words made me pause internally.

“I considered various possibilities. There were better options given the situation, but in the end, I couldn’t see Poison King doing anything else.”

Better options.

From Moyong Hee-ah’s perspective, that meant managing the Tang Clan’s secrets to minimize leaks, absorbing the elders’ factions, and consolidating power before eliminating them.

That would have been the most effective course of action from both her perspective and mine.

But Poison King didn’t take that route.

And why not?

"Because he said he was ashamed."

Ashamed as a martial artist, as a patriarch, and as someone who claimed to represent righteousness.

He couldn’t stand to take any other course.

I couldn’t understand it.

"It’s complicated."

Some would call it an incompetent choice.

Others might deem it foolish.

But I couldn’t bring myself to say either.

The reason was simple.

"Conviction."

I recognized it as Poison King’s conviction.

It was something I could never do—no, something I wouldn’t even consider.

When he declared his path with such certainty, I couldn’t refute it because I lacked a conviction of my own to match his.

So…

"I need to find one."

I needed to find something I could believe in, something I could follow without wavering, something that would keep me steady in times of turmoil.

“Young Master?”

Moyong Hee-ah’s voice broke my thoughts.

“Sorry, I was thinking about something. So what did you do?”

“What else? I cleaned up everything related to the Tang Clan.”

She sighed as she spoke, her exhaustion evident in her face.

So she’d cleaned up the mess with the Tang Clan.

“Does that mean you ended your dealings with them?”

I was asking if she had severed the Moyong family’s agreements and partnerships with the Tang Clan.

Normally, such contracts couldn’t be terminated so easily.

"But given the circumstances…"

With everything that had happened, even if the Moyong family broke ties unilaterally, the Tang Clan wouldn’t be in a position to complain.

However:

“No, I didn’t cut ties completely. If I had, I’d be less busy.”

Moyong Hee-ah shook her head.

“I just renegotiated the terms and adjusted all the ratios.”

Ah.

So that’s why she’d been so busy.

She had restructured the agreements and rebalanced the trade ratios.

"…Impressive."

Hearing that made me see Moyong Hee-ah in a new light.

I’d always known she was capable, but this was beyond my expectations.

"Her standing in the Moyong family must be higher than I thought."

It wasn’t just her ability to assess the situation and act swiftly.

What impressed me was her authority to make such changes without prior approval from the family head, the Baekcheon Sword Lord.

Of course, he would eventually review and stamp his seal of approval on her decisions.

"But the fact that she acted without hesitation suggests she had that authority."

For Moyong Hee-ah, to act first and think later meant she was confident her actions would be endorsed.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, she tilted her head and asked,

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I just realized you’re more impressive than I thought.”

“…Huh?”

Her eyes showed she thought I was speaking nonsense.

I was genuinely impressed, but she didn’t seem to believe me.

Still, I had a question.

“Why didn’t you cut ties completely?”

The Tang Clan’s collapse would undoubtedly bring trouble to its partners, including the Moyong family.

Surely she understood this better than anyone. Yet she had only renegotiated rather than severing ties entirely.

Her answer came as she averted her gaze slightly.

“To be honest, I wanted to.”

“Understandable.”

“When the ship you’re on catches fire, you don’t stay aboard.”

Fair enough.

“But…”

“But?”

“You can’t live your life purely by calculations.”

Her words surprised me.

Coming from someone I’d always seen as calculating and pragmatic, it was unexpected.

“What’s with that face?”

“You just said the most surprising thing I’ve heard all year.”

“What?”

“I’m kidding.”

Not really, but I quickly backtracked when her eyes narrowed at me.

"Moyong Hee-ah, of all people…"

This was the same woman who had ruthlessly discarded anyone she deemed unnecessary during the Magyeong Gate incident, prioritizing survival above all else.

For her to handle matters out of sentiment or obligation was… unexpected.

I couldn’t help but mutter,

“Who is it? You must really care about them.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

She snorted, wrinkling her brow.

“Well, given the circumstances, you should prepare yourself too, Young Master.”

“Prepare for what?”

“The Gu family will have to respond to this. Surely you have a role to play?”

“…I suppose they will, but I won’t be involved.”

If the family took action, it would fall to Father, the elders, or even Gu Heebi—not me.

"What could I do, anyway?"

Even if I could, I had no intention of getting involved. Not yet.

“You don’t seem very interested in family matters.”

Embarrassingly, she was right.

My focus was solely on matters related to the Blood Demon.

Seeing my lack of interest, Moyong Hee-ah’s expression shifted slightly.

“…I guess I’ll have to prepare for more responsibilities when we’re married. Should I start studying early?”

“What?”

“Nothing. If you don’t have any plans, why not look after Tang So-yeol? She seems to be struggling.”

She ignored my question and left after throwing out her suggestion.

“...What?”

Left alone, I absently touched my lips.

"Hmm…"

Her parting words lingered in my mind, along with the image of Tang So-yeol’s dark expression during the meal.

I recalled the day I visited her about the gemstone. She had refused it, saying:

"I can overcome this."

She had been aware of her inferiority complex and believed she could conquer it on her own.

Seeing that determination, I had decided not to use the gemstone on her.

But now…

"Still, I can’t just leave her alone."

Back then, she hadn’t known what was happening.

Now, everything was different.

Using the gemstone on her at this point was out of the question.

Her determination had been inspiring, and I had no intention of undermining it.

So, should I comfort her instead?

"No, that’s not it."

Comfort wasn’t what Tang So-yeol needed.

What she needed was a path forward—a way to move on.

Even without Moyong Hee-ah’s suggestion, I’d already been considering how to help.

Whether it was the right approach or not would be up to Tang So-yeol to decide.

All I could do was present her with what seemed like the best path.

After a few deep breaths, I looked into the empty space ahead and called out softly.

“Senior.”

“Yes.”

The reply came immediately, from behind me.

Turning, I saw Amwang kneeling there.

"I didn’t even sense him."

Though I had summoned him, I hadn’t detected his presence.

Fortunately, he had been nearby.

Looking at him, I spoke.

“You mentioned something last time, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll grant your request.”

“...”

Amwang’s eyes glimmered at my words.

“I don’t know how to break your curse, but the second part of your request—I can handle that easily. I’ll grant it.”

His request to be killed.

That much, I could do. Even now, if he wished.

But:

“Not right now. I still need you, Senior.”

Not yet.

“It won’t take long, but once I’ve accomplished what I need, I’ll fulfill your request.”

“...”

“Is that acceptable? If not, there’s nothing I can do.”

If he refused, I wouldn’t honor the request. My words carried a veiled threat.

Amwang showed no reaction, likely because he already understood.

"He knows I intend to use him."

Amwang was fully aware of his own worth and had still pleaded with me.

“What do you require of me, Great One?”

As expected, he calmly accepted.

"That title again…"

I sighed inwardly but pushed the thought aside and asked,

“How far are you willing to go for me?”

How much was he willing to do for me and for his own goals?

Amwang replied,

“If it’s within my power, I will do anything.”

His unwavering declaration caught me off guard.

“Anything…?”

“If you wish someone dead, I will bring you their head, no matter who it is.”

“Oh…”

I couldn’t help but admire his resolve.

As Zhongyuan’s foremost assassin, his words carried undeniable credibility.

Still…

"Is assassination the only thing I can ask of him?"

Even so, I hadn’t planned to make such a request.

Targets like Cheonma or the Blood Demon weren’t suitable for an assassin’s blade, and I had other plans for them.

"Good. That’s not what I need from him."

If Amwang offered his loyalty, that meant access to the Cheolyeosal Assassins.

With them at my disposal, one of my long-term plans could be completed far sooner.

"This will work."

The Cheolyeosal Assassins weren’t just useful for killing—they were invaluable for gathering intelligence.

Having them on my side was a massive gain.

However, there was something more urgent.

“I appreciate your offer, but there’s something else I need you to do first.”

It wasn’t about killing anyone.

Although I had many enemies to eliminate, I preferred to deal with them myself.

And the ones I wanted dead…

"I plan to turn them into demonic beasts instead."

Since I intended to corrupt them, I wouldn’t waste Amwang’s skills on them.

What I needed from him now was something entirely different.

I envisioned a woman with bright green hair and looked at Amwang.

“Senior.”

Amwang lifted his gaze to meet mine.

“I need you to take on a disciple.”

“?”

Confusion flashed in his eyes.