Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 584: Glad to See You (3)
The Northern Sea.
A land where snow falls endlessly, and a blade-sharp cold cuts through the air.
According to stories, the already harsh cold became a full-blown disaster after the death of the White-Rank beast, Snow Dragon.
I’d never been there in my past life.
It wasn’t technically considered part of Zhongyuan; it belonged to a place referred to as Outer Martial World (새외무림).
Yes, the Outer Martial World.
Even with the vast expanse of Zhongyuan, the Outer Martial World was a realm beyond its borders.
A place untouched by the influence of the Martial Alliance, where the two worlds coexisted under mutual wariness rather than cooperation.
Relations hadn’t always been hostile, nor amicable, but that changed about twenty years ago.
Back then, the ruler of the Northern Sea, the Ice Palace Master, visited Zhongyuan, and trouble followed.
The Ice Palace Master fought the Sword Lord, didn’t they?
No one knew the exact reason, but the Ice Palace Master clashed with the Sword Lord, who was the Martial Alliance Leader at the time.
The resulting battle reportedly devastated nearby mountains and large swaths of land.
Afterward, the Martial Alliance declared an embargo on all travel to the Northern Sea.
And those who traded with the Ice Palace suffered for it.
I don’t remember much about that time, only that the records documented such events.
Decades later, the relationship between the Martial Alliance and the Ice Palace remained strained.
While they weren’t classified as hostile forces, Zhongyuan’s martial artists were effectively banned from traveling to the Northern Sea.
Technically, travel was allowed if permitted by the Alliance.
But in the years since the ban, no such permission had ever been granted.
The law was more of a façade; the Martial Alliance had no intention of approving any requests.
And yet...
Here I was, hearing about the Ice Palace’s Young Lady.
What is this?
Lady Mi’s words left me momentarily speechless.
This was unprecedented—something that hadn’t occurred in my past life.
During the bloodbath caused by Cheonma in my previous life, the Northern Sea had remained silent.
None of its bloodline ever set foot in Zhongyuan.
At least, none that I was aware of, aside from one notable exception—Moyong Hee-ah’s mother.
She was said to be a member of the Ice Palace’s bloodline, but that was before the Ice Palace Master’s infamous incident.
And now? The Young Lady of the Ice Palace, here, connected to the Baekhwa Trading Company instead of the Martial Alliance?
It doesn’t make sense.
If what Lady Mi said was true, this meant the Martial Alliance had allowed a member of the Ice Palace’s bloodline to enter Zhongyuan.
Moreover, instead of handling the matter themselves, they delegated it to the Baekhwa Trading Company.
There’s no way that could happen.
For the Alliance to tolerate such a breach of their authority, the Ice Palace must have presented them with a condition they couldn’t refuse.
What was it?
What kind of terms did the Ice Palace offer, and what consequences would this bring?
The implications gnawed at me.
Damn it.
As if I didn’t have enough to worry about.
But...
It looks like I’m already involved.
Whatever the connection was, it clearly had something to do with me.
Lady Mi’s request likely revolved around the Ice Palace.
What business could I possibly have with the Ice Palace?
I couldn’t tell.
I turned to Lady Mi, deciding to wait for her explanation.
As I watched, she began to speak again.
“The Ice Palace Master’s fourth child arrived in Hanam earlier today.”
“...”
I widened my eyes at the revelation.
Not coming, but already here.
“They should be arriving at the Trading Company soon...”
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As Lady Mi spoke, her gaze shifted slightly as she looked at me.
There was something peculiar about her expression.
What kind of look is that?
“As you’ve probably guessed, I have a favor to ask.”
“...Yes.”
So it was about the Ice Palace after all.
The situation was growing more troublesome by the second, and I couldn’t help but frown.
What kind of favor would it be? Could I refuse?
Probably not.
Damn it.
“What kind of favor?” I asked cautiously.
“It’s about the Young Lady...”
Before Lady Mi could finish her sentence, the sound of hurried footsteps reached my ears.
Bang!
The door swung open, and a man burst into the room. Judging by his attire, he was part of the Trading Company.
His lack of decorum made Lady Mi frown—a rare sight.
“L-Lady Mi!”
His anxious voice immediately shifted the atmosphere in the room.
And as always—
“Something has happened!”
“What happened?”
“Well... the Young Lady... she...”
For some reason, whenever I was involved, things never went smoothly.
“...She’s run away.”
This time was no different.
******************
The wide, bustling streets.
The blazing sun overhead.
An oppressive heat filled the air, accompanied by a sea of people.
This was a typical noon in Hanam-hyeon.
Especially now, as summer approached, the streets were more crowded than usual. With the Martial Alliance’s upcoming martial arts tournament drawing closer, the number of visitors had noticeably increased.
“Phew, this year’s heat is something else.”
“You say that every year.”
“True enough.”
Under a shaded canopy, people gathered to escape the sun, fanning themselves lazily as they passed the time.
“Hey, did you hear about Old Jin passing—eh?”
A man, mid-conversation, noticed the crowd’s attention shifting elsewhere. Turning his head, he quickly understood why.
Among the throng, one figure stood out like a sore thumb.
“What the...?”
“Isn’t that person hot?”
“They must’ve gone mad from the heat... What on earth are they doing?”
The reason for their stares was obvious.
In this sweltering weather, where even a light fan felt insufficient, someone was walking around in fur clothing.
Their face was completely obscured by a deeply hooded cloak, giving the impression of someone prepared for the dead of winter—perhaps even a blizzard.
It was entirely inappropriate attire for summer, drawing stares and whispers from those around.
Yet the person in question seemed utterly indifferent to the attention.
She focused solely on one thing.
‘There are so many people.’
The streets were packed with life. Though she could feel the curious gazes directed her way, she found herself captivated by the lively scene.
She could feel the heat, so unlike the biting cold of her homeland.
Unlike the desolate streets left barren by the freezing temperatures back home, this place was alive with the sounds of people.
It was exactly as she’d read about in books.
She liked it—she liked it a lot.
‘Yes... This is what I wanted to see.’
The sight she’d longed to witness.
It was just as she’d imagined, and she relished every moment.
She touched her shoulder lightly, wincing at a faint twinge of pain.
‘Did I hurt myself?’
Probably not—it wasn’t bad enough to require treatment.
Earlier, she had been shoved to the ground by a hurried man while wandering the streets.
This discomfort was likely from that incident.
‘Huh...’
Even this, something she would’ve never experienced back home, felt strangely novel.
Zhongyuan truly was a fascinating place.
“What should I see next?” she murmured to herself, taking a step forward.
Time was limited.
Though she had managed to escape for now, she doubted it would last long.
Even if she wasn’t caught, she would eventually have to return.
If not, her father would truly be furious—a prospect too dreadful to consider.
Of course, none of this would have happened if she hadn’t run away in the first place.
‘But how could I not? I had to see it for myself.’
It was something she’d dreamed of for so long. If she didn’t seize the chance now, she might never have it again.
So, she resolved to make the most of her time.
‘Where should I go next?’
She’d seen enough of the town—for now.
Though she wasn’t entirely satisfied, there were other places to visit.
Her pale blue eyes peeked out from beneath her heavy hood, glancing toward a particular alleyway.
‘That’s where...’
It was the direction the hurried man had run after shoving her aside.
‘What’s down there?’
She was curious. There were so many things she wanted to see—Shaolin, the legendary temple; the Martial Alliance itself.
Her father had warned her before she left her homeland:
[Do not go to the Martial Alliance.]
She’d heard the warning loud and clear but promptly ignored it.
If she were the obedient type, she wouldn’t have run away in the first place.
Her feet moved almost instinctively, carrying her into the alley.
As she ventured deeper, the lively sounds of the main street faded rapidly.
The narrow, poorly maintained alley felt worlds apart from bustling Hanam.
Cracked pavement and layers of dust lined her path.
‘Even this is fascinating.’
Everything about it was new.
The faint smell of smoke.
The gritty feel of the air.
The sights of this unkempt alley.
She imprinted it all into her memory.
As she walked, she suddenly stopped, her gaze fixed on a seemingly empty spot.
“Hmm?”
To anyone else, it would’ve appeared to be nothing but cracked pavement and dust.
And yet, she found herself drawn to it, unable to shake the feeling that something was there.
‘What is this?’
Her curiosity piqued, she stepped closer, reaching out with her hand as if to grasp something unseen.
But there was nothing—her fingers brushed only empty air.
“Was I imagining things?”
She chuckled at herself.
What could she have possibly expected to find?
Still, it was clear she was in high spirits, enjoying the moment.
Of course, there was nothing there.
She dismissed her thoughts and prepared to move on.
But then—
Stop.
She froze in place.
Standing before her now was a young man, gazing at her with an enigmatic expression.
His pale skin contrasted sharply with his golden eyes, and his unkempt black hair hung loosely around his shoulders.
There was something cold, almost suffocating, about his presence.
When did he get there?
Just as she began to form her question, the young man spoke:
“I’ve found her.”
“...!”
He continued, his voice calm yet certain.
“She matches the description perfectly.”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, she turned abruptly.
This is bad.
It was clear she’d been discovered.
The young woman attempted to dash away, ready to push off the ground—
“Ah!”
—but someone was already standing behind her.
It was a petite figure, wearing a face-covering veil. Though their face was obscured, the striking green hair flowing past their shoulders left a strong impression.
She was trapped, front and back.
What now?
It didn’t seem like she could easily break through.
Swallowing hard, the young woman hesitated, wracking her mind for a way out.
And then—
“Good grief.”
A sigh echoed from behind the veiled woman.
“Damn it, running around playing tag at my age... what a ridiculous situation.”
The voice carried pure exasperation, dripping with disbelief.
The young woman tilted her head slightly to get a better look.
She saw him then.
A young man was approaching from behind the veiled woman.
His dark hair was untamed, and his black eyes were sharp.
Dressed in plain black martial attire, there was nothing particularly distinctive about his appearance.
Yet, for some reason, he drew her attention.
Was it the fierce sharpness in his eyes?
Or perhaps the sheer irritation radiating from his expression?
Whatever the reason, the young woman felt a peculiar pull toward him.
The young man, Gu Yangcheon, didn’t bother to hide his frustration.
Scowling, he addressed the young woman with an edge in his tone.
“Looking at you, you don’t seem that young. So why are you running around like a mischievous kid and making everyone’s lives difficult?”
“...”
It was a manner of speaking she’d never encountered before in her life.
“I swear, Lady Mi needs to start hitting people. Of all the things to let slip through...”
Though his voice trailed off, his meaning was clear enough.
The young woman quietly observed him.
Then, she raised her hand and adjusted the fur hood that had been obscuring her view.
The thick garment had made it difficult for her to see properly.
“Anyway, let’s just wrap this up—”
Gu Yangcheon started to speak again, but abruptly stopped mid-sentence.
As the woman shifted her hood, her face was partially revealed.
What struck him first were her bright, pale blue eyes—so vivid they seemed almost crystalline.
They were eyes that bore an uncanny resemblance to someone else’s.
He knew of these eyes. They were said to be a symbol of the Northern Sea bloodline.
Unlike that person, however, this woman was pure-blooded. So, it wasn’t entirely surprising.
But her eyes weren’t the real issue.
“...What a shame. I wanted to enjoy myself a bit longer.”
The woman’s voice pulled Gu Yangcheon back, his eyes widening at her words.
Her tone was playful, brimming with mischief.
As she shifted, white hair peeked out from under the hood.
It was stark and pristine, perfectly matching the description he’d been given.
But—
‘What the hell?’
Why...?
Why does she look so familiar?
“Looks like I’ve already been caught.”
The woman smiled as she spoke, her demeanor light and teasing.
She looked so much like Moyong Hee-ah.
So much so that for a moment, he wondered—
Are they the same person?
