Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 167: True Dragon (1)
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â True Dragon (1) â
She closed the windows so that a cold breeze wouldnât enter and drank some spicy hot tea made with dried round herbs of spice to warm herself.
This spicy tea would make an ordinary person feel extreme heat, but for Moyong Hi-ah, it only had a minor effect.
It would only make her feel slightly warmer.
Yet one small leaf of this herb sold for an amount that could feed a farmer for a whole month.
There was no extravagance more extreme than this.
The clan gave it to her, but it was still way too expensive for it to be used for a mere tea and not even medicine.
ââŠFunny, isnât it?â
Moyong Hi-ah spoke in a bitter tone, as she sipped her tea little by little.
âI donât even know why I even get to drink this, even though I was defeated without being able to do anything.â
ââŠYoung Lady.â
âThere is no need for you to look at me that way.â
When Moyong Hi-ah saw that her guestâs teacup was empty, she filled it back up.
âWhat made you visit me?â
ââŠâ
âI expected you to be very busy around this time. Are you sure you donât need to go?â
The final match of the tournament was probably starting about now.
The fight had garnered so much attention that it even reached the ears of Moyong Hi-ah, who was enduring the cold while sitting in the corner of the room.
âAnd itâs probably especially important to this guest of mine, Tang Soyeol.â
Because it was that boyâs fight.
âYoung Lady Tang.â
âYesâŠâ
Moyong Hi-ah stared at Tang Soyeolâs face.
She had a cute face that complemented her green hair nicely.
It was the face of a small cute animal unlike her own face, one that exuded coldness.
Moyong Hi-ah read Tang Soyeolâs emotions seemingly written inside her big eyes, then spoke.
âI know that Young Lady Tang feels guilt towards me.â
ââŠâ
âAnd because Iâm a shrewd person, I know how to take advantage of that.â
âAnd I believe that Young Lady Tang knows this as well because you are no fool either.â
Tang Soyeol didnât say anything to Moyong Hi-ahâs words, but her silence was an acknowledgment of what Moyong Hi-ah had said.
The guilt that Tang Soyeol felt towards Moyong Hi-ah.
It was something she honestly couldnât understand.
Because, to be more accurate, the only sin Tang Soyeol posessed was that she shared the surname of the Tang Clan; that was all she did to her.
âIs what happened that day still serving as a burden to you?â
âIt is a burden Iâll have to carry even until the end of time.â
âWhy is that?â
âBecause I am a person of the Tang Clan in the end, and the suffering Young Lady Moyong has to go through will last forever.â
Suffering, huh?
âA mere scar on my back?â
âThe scar thatâs left on my back is easily hidden as long as I wear clothes.â
âFurthermore, besides my servant, no one else has seen the scar on my back for close to 10 years.â
âI donât just think itâs just a mere scar.â
âThatâs what Tang Soyeol is saying, but the Tang Clan has already given me enough compensation.â
âEven the tea I am drinking right now,â
âAnd the fact that Iâm able to research and do experiments to find a cure for my disease is all thanks to the compensation that Tang Clan gave me.â
âWell, the outcome of the experiment was the scar on my back and the worsening of my coldness.â
âBut even if I didnât go through with that experiment, I wouldnât feel that much different.â
It was fine for Moyong Hi-ah since her clan was compensated for the outcome.
Though, it seemed that only Moyong Hi-ah was fine with it, as no one else seemed to feel that way.
Especially the Lord of the clan, her father.
âSo what brings you here on a day as important as this?â
ââŠâ
âEspecially when you donât even know what this would mean to me.You only came here for the sake of it and not to apologize.â
âWould my apology even mean anything to youâŠ?â
âTo be honest, it wonât be very effective.â
It actually could be seen as a negative thing, as it could seem like a cheap apology to Moyong Hi-ah.
Which was why even though Tang Soyeol came here every time, she didnât apologize.
âStill, itâs uncomfortable.â
Moyong Hi-ah simply felt uncomfortable.
Tang Soyeol wrote her a letter every year from Tang Clan,
And the fact that Tang Soyeol always seemed to be cautious around her, made Moyong Hi-ah feel uncomfortable.
It would be beneficial if she chose to take advantage of Tang Soyeol feeling this wayâŠ
ââŠSigh.â
But because Moyong Hi-ah knew that Tang Soyeol wasnât lying about her feelings towards herâŠ
She found it hard to do that.
Even though she wasnât really in a position to be picky about things.
ââŠI understand your feelings, but you need not be bothered to do this.â
The Poison Phoenix was famous for being ferocious to others, which didnât seem to complement her cute appearance.
Moyong Hi-ah thought that Tang Soyeol had a personality that would drive others away if came to know her true nature.
After all, her own self was like that as well.
However, the Tang Soyeol she was seeing right now seemed like a very gentle person.
âHer appearance that Iâve seen recentlyâŠseemed rather different from the appearance she showed back then.â
Back then, Tang Soyeol used to look like a wolf in sheepâs clothing, yet now she seemed as gentle as a lamb.
âThough it seemed like she still had the same personality as before, judging by how she handled Hwangbo Cheolwi back at the guesthouse.â
âBut the personality she showed whenever she was around them, is probably closer to her true self.â
âTo be more accurate, maybe she started to show her true self around them.â
She opened the window and looked outside.
It was still winter.
There was still a long while left before the end of winter.
It seemed like winter had ended for Tang SoyeolâŠ
Yet it was still winter for Moyong Hi-ah, the same as ever.
âEven if the seasons and temperature change, I will still be alone in the cold.â
âBecause that is what had been planned for my life.â
âWill it be different if I try to struggle?â
Thatâs what came to Moyong Hi-ahâs mind.
âOr maybe struggling is pointless.â
âIt may be that I was only born so that I could disappear along with the cold wind.â
âYoung Lady Moyong?â
Moyong Hi-ah wondered if her expression seemed strange because Tang Soyeol had called Moyong Hi-ah in a worrying tone.
Tang Soyeol also probably had such a reaction because she was one of the few people that knew about Moyong Hi-ahâs condition.
âIs it perhapsâŠthat you were injured from your fight?â
Moyong Hi-ah smiled slightly after hearing Tang Soyeolâs question.
âNo, I was not hurt anywhere.â
She wasnât lying.
She really hadnât been injured anywhere.
Despite having been swept away by that giant flame, there were no injuries anywhere on her.
âThis means that he had full control of that attack.â
âHah. Could I even call that an attack?â
âI was completely powerless against that boy.â
âI knew that I wouldnât be able to win against him, but I at least expected to exchange a few attacks.â
âHe was way out of my league.â
Last year, the person that shocked Moyong Hi-ah the most, was the Sword Dragon.
The young man, who made plum flowers blossom, showed the overpowering sword art that truly proved Mount Huaâs legacy.
Thus, Moyong Hi-ah thought that no more young prodigies would appear with talent greater than his.
The Sword Phoenix, the Sword Dragon, and the Water Dragon.
And if one were to go even further, Peng Woojin who used to be the Heavenly Dragon.
Even just one of them had enough genius in them to give a new name to the current generation of the world, so Moyong Hi-ah naturally didnât expect that someone greater than even them could appear.
Yet there was a person that had completely broken her expectation.
Gu Yangcheon from the Gu Clan of Shanxi.
Moyong Hi-ah thought about the boy that had come from Shanxi, but she did not have much to say about him.
Because even the grand title of âGeniusâ wasnât enough to describe his existence.
âI just thought that he was a unique person.â
When she first saw him, the girls around him had such radiant presences that his own presence was obscured.
All that Moyong Hi-ah had thought was that he was a guy who had luck with women, despite his looks. free novelkiss.com
He was a person with a talent for charming people,and that was about it.
âAnd the strange manner in which he treated me and the way he looked at me reluctantly.â
âI thought he was only doing that to attract me.â
âYet, I still noticed myself looking at him more than I would want to admit.â
âHowever, it wasnât long until I realized that my thoughts about him were a mistake.â
âHwangbo Cheolwi and the Gu ClanâsâŠâ
âWhat was his name again?â
âHe was from the same clan as Gu Yangcheon, so it was Gu something.â
âWell if I canât really remember his name, then heâs not that important after all.â
âAnyway, when the conflict popped up for a short moment back in the guesthouseâŠâ
âI was able to see.â
âEveryone in Gu Yangcheonâs party was eyeing him.â
âThe one that was going against Hwangbo Cheolwi was a different person, but everyone had become wary of Gu Yangcheon instead.â
âIt really showed me who the center of the group was.â
And as more time passedâŠ
âI was able to know the truth.â
âIt wasnât that Gu Yangcheonâs presence was being covered by the others around him.â
âIt was that he was hiding his presence voluntarily.â
âHe shone so brightly, that he had to conceal it to the extent that he wasnât visible.â
Moyong Hi-ah rubbed her chest while reminiscing about the flame she had seen yesterday.
It was because she was reminded of the sensation she had felt at that moment.
Back when she was facing Gu Yangcheonâs flames in the arena, the warmth she had felt.
ââŠWas itâŠa mistake?â
The moment when heat filled up her whole chest, as the Ice Qi that seemingly froze her body, disappeared.
When she had regained consciousness, she concluded that she was simply mistaken.
âDoes that even make any sense?â
âIf my Ice Qi could be dispersed by simply standing in front of hot flames, then my life wouldnât be this cold and lonely.â
âI was just mistaking it because of how giant that flame was.â
âThatâs what I thought.â
âYetâŠâ
ââŠPerhaps.â
A personâs hope is bound to sprout even for the smallest of things.
It was a desolate land, so even a tiny stream of water could easily permeate through the soil.
But Moyong Hi-ahâs emotions were already frozen for her to have any faith in her hopes.
âYoung Lady Moyong, are you really okay? Should I call someone?â
Tang Soyeol continued to ask Moyong Hi-ah about her well-being due to her strange reaction.
Moyong Hi-ah remained silent for a bit as if pondering about something, then she looked at Tang Soyeol and spoke.
âYoung Lady Tang.â
âYesâŠ?â
âMay IâŠmake a reque-â
Knock knock.
Right as Moyong Hi-ah was about to say something, she felt a presence outside.
-My Lady.
The owner of the voice was Tang Soyeolâs servant.
âWhat is it? Iâm still talking with Young Lady Moyong.â
Tang Soyeol frowned, seemingly bothered by her servantâs interference.
The servantâs tone also changed into a more careful one as she noticed Tang Soyeolâs annoyance.
However, it seemed like she had come for an important business.
-Itâs not a pressing matterâŠbut Lady had ordered us to notify you when the battle concluded.
As soon as her servant finished talking, Tang Soyeol promptly rose and opened the door.
Moyong Hi-ahâs eyes widened seeing Tang Soyeolâs sudden movement.
âW-Whatâs the result?â
She seemed rather curious judging by how she asked her servant.
It looked like she was lying when she had said that she was fine even if she wasnât able to see the battle.
âOhâŠuh, I heard that Young Master Gu had wonâŠâ
ââŠ!â
Hearing her servant, Tang Soyeol reached her arms out to the sky and screamed.
âHow happy was she to scream like that?â
âOhâŠUmâŠSorry.â
It seemed like Tang Soyeol had also realized that reaction was overly loud, as soon after she shrunk back while covering her mouth with her hand.
After seeing that appearance of hers, Moyong Hi-ah laughed out loud, which was a rare sight.
Tang Soyeol then blushed slightly, thinking that was being laughed at mockingly.
âHow can she change that much.â
âAnd was it really something that made her that happy?â
Moyong Hi-ah couldnât understand.
âOhâŠYoung Lady Moyong, you said you wanted to make a request to me earlier?â
âNo, itâs fine.â
Moyong Hi-ah swallowed her words.
It wasnât something she could say right now.
âIâll come visit later myself.â
âHuh? Young Lady Moyong will?â
âI think I found something for me to visit.â
Instead of making a request to Tang Soyeol, Moyong Hi-ah believed that itâd be better for her to go herself.
Taking advantage of Tang Soyeolâs guilt made Moyong Hi-ah uneasy, especially considering how genuinely happy Tang Soyeolâs smile appeared.
âYou should leave now, or you might be late.â
Tang Soyeol hesitated for a bit after hearing Moyong Hi-ah.
But eventually, she lowered her head and hurriedly went outside the door.
Moyong Hi-ah, who watched her leave, closed her eyes and lied down once again.
For some reason, she wanted to sleep for now.
******************
After leaving Moyong Hi-ahâs room, Tang Soyeol quickly hastened her steps.
If she didnât, she would feel frustrated.
âShe said that Young Master Gu had won.â
Tang Soyeol had believed that Gu Yangcheon would win.
She was captivated not only by his sharp, fierce gaze, but also his outstanding martial prowess that matched his striking appearance.
While she thought that it was obvious that he won since he seemed stronger than any young prodigies of the world even in the eyes of the Poison Phoenix herself.
Yet for some reason, she felt extremely excited.
One may ask what made her so happy when it was someone elseâs victory, but Tang Soyeol couldnât hold back her excitement.
âI need to quickly go and congratulate him.â
âWait can I only congratulate him?â
âShouldnât I prepare a gift?â
âIf I remember correctly, he said this is his first Dragons and Phoenixes tournament.â
âHmm⊠Do I have any poisonous herbs left?â
Tang Soyeol had plenty of herbs that helped the flow of Qi and cured exhaustion.
She had saved them so that she could have them later, but she was very much willing to give it up for Gu Yangcheon.
Though it was a little problematic that the poison within the herb is a bit strong.
âWell since Iâm here, I should be able to detoxify him.â
As she was about to reach Gu Yangcheonâs barrack with excited stepsâŠ
-Oh, so youâre saying that he isnât here right now?
She heard voices from around Gu Yangcheonâs barrack.
âHmm?â
When Tang Soyeol followed the voice to see what was happening, she saw two familiar faces.
One of them was the precious servant of Gu Yangcheon, Wi Seol-Ah, who Tang Soyeol found difficult to get close to for some reason.
And the other one wasâŠ
âA hoboâŠ?â
It was Chuwong of the Beggarâs Sect who always appeared in every yearâs tournament.
Chuwong was an individual that Tang Soyeol had met many times as well.
He didnât really leave the best impression on Tang Soyeol as he appeared way too many times while concealing himself, but she regarded him as someone who had good talent in gathering information.
âBut why is such a person talking to Wi Seol-Ah?â
As Tang Soyeol was wondering, Wi Seol-Ah responded to Chuwong.
âYoung Master isnât here right now!â
ââŠDamn, around now would have been a good time. Then, you donât even know when heâs coming back?â
âYeah!â
ââŠHnnngh.â
Just by hearing the conversation, it seemed evident that he came here after hearing about Gu Yangcheonâs victory.
Tang Soyeol couldnât help but admit that the Beggarâs Sect was fast when it came to things like this.
After watching that, Tang Soyeol walked towards that direction with calm steps.
She wanted to speak in place of Wi Seol-Ah, thinking that she might handle things related to this better, considering Wi Seol-Ah was only a servant.
âHngh, was I too impatient? I couldâve sworn he promised to have a conversation after the tournament endsâŠâ
It seemed like he had already spoken to Gu Yangcheon before.
Tang Soyeol fixed her throat as she was approached Chuwong.
âThen could you please deliver these words to the True Dragon? That Chuwong from Beggarâs Sect had visited.â
Tang Soyeol halted her steps upon hearing Chuwongâs words.
She rolled her eyes in confusion, questioning if she had misheard him.
âWhat did he just say?â
True Dragon�
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