There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 540 - 533. Unknown Memory Lane

Chapter 540: Chapter 533. Unknown Memory Lane

The Iron Mountain, Tian Yu, was everything Zein thought the old man would be.

He was as old as the Horin Patriarch, but looked way younger. Rather than through pills and medication while dabbing on miasma, it was gained by living quietly on a mountain with fresh air and no commlink. The kind of life Zein would be onboard too.

He wasn’t as bulky as the other defenders Zein knew, but the firm muscle was palpable behind the loose shirt. Even after being inactive for almost four decades, the old man still kept his physique. Although, different from active espers, he was not as tense. There was this tranquility around him that Zein could see coming from living peacefully here, away from any drama.

The old man did need to cater to his needs himself, including hunting for meat and tending to his vegetable and herb garden. He also had to take care of the cabin himself, which was quite wide. However, those seemed to be the activity that maintained his fresh look and firm muscle.

Still, the eyes couldn’t lie.

The black eyes that were scrutinizing Zein seemed so deep and complex; carved with experience that brought both joy and sorrow. Things the old man saw and wished to forget, as well as things that he just found out a few days ago.

Right after Han Joon proposed the plan to ask the Iron Mountain for help, they sent him a small package; a commlink filled only with the information about House Althrea, as well as the Fallen Star. Both Han Joon and Radia weren’t really sure the old man would open it, but from the way he looked at Zein, it seemed that he actually did.

"Hmm," he sat crosslegged on the open pavilion, propping his chin against his knee, and tapped his fingers on the other one.

"..."

It had been a few minutes since he had done nothing but stare at Zein and Han Joon, who were standing quietly in wait, unmoving. For the former soldier and someone who worked under one for around three years, it wasn’t hard.

"You look just like your father, but also not," the old man spoke after around fifteen minutes.

Zein didn’t say anything; he was wondering if the old man did it as a test, or merely going down memory lane.

"How should I say this?" the old man stroked his chin. "Alteroan is firmer, almost like this one," he pointed at Han Joon with his thumb, making the ex-soldier press his lips to muffle a laugh. "But unlike this one, he was very prim and proper, with the poise of a nobleman, and didn’t like to hide anything."

"He was groomed as such," Zein replied casually.

The old man’s brow twitched, but he just continued his ’assessment’. "You are...more delicate," he said, prompting Zein to arch his brow. "But also sharper--or should I say harsher?"

Again, Zein replied nonchalantly. "I grew up as such."

The courtyard was wrapped in silence again. The old man looked at the guide with sharp, keen eyes, but Zein met the gaze with the firmness he was known for. Han Joon, meanwhile, merely watched the staring contest in amusement.

Well, nothing they could do as the guests anyway.

In the end, the old man scoffed and stood up. "Come in," he said, before turning to walk toward the cabin.

Han Joon patted the guide’s back and smirked. "Hey, we pass."

Zein couldn’t help but chuckle. It seemed like the whole staring down and commentary was indeed a test. It would be disappointing if they were rejected before even stepping inside the inner courtyard.

Still, being allowed to enter and actually gaining his favor were two different things. Han Joon, however, had told Zein to never mention it unless the old man asked about it himself.

Oh, well...he was going to treat it like searching for a fragment of his father’s past anyway.

They followed the old man through another gate, into an inner courtyard. There were several small buildings there, connected to each other with a corridor. Everything was made of wood; slotted together like a puzzle instead of using nails or glue. There was a table in front of a building with a chimney, which seemed to be a kitchen--and the old man led them there.

"Scatach’s boy, I’d like to eat your congee again," the old man said while climbing the elevated platform where the table was.

"Oh, how do you know I bring you fresh ingredients?" Han Joon chuckled and glanced at the guide. "Zein, you’re fine with abalone?"

"I can eat anything."

"Good, good," the old man nodded in satisfaction while patting the table in front of him.

Han Joon casually went into the kitchen as if it was his own house, while Zein took a seat across from the old man. A tray with teacups and a kettle on top of a mana-heating stone was there, and as the old man was busy making tea, they were engulfed in a silent, but not awkward moment.

Zein looked around the place while waiting, savoring the tranquility that was different from the tree fortress or the goddess’ sanctuary. A serenity that felt more humble, because it was made of nature’s resilience rather than enveloped in a deity’s blessing.

"It’s a nice place," he said, closing his eyes slightly to absorb the last sound of birds and bugs. It’d be winter soon, and he wondered how this place would be with snow and everything.

"It’s nice that you’re not just saying it," the old man said as he poured the tea.

"I like quiet places."

"You can live here if you want," the old man places the cup in front of Zein, and added after a few seconds. "Your father almost did."

Staring at the clear but fragrance tea, Zein curled his lips. "I doubt it," he said, and continued as the old man raised his brow. "If he was as you said, then he would never abandon the clan’s duty."

The old man stared at the guide who nonchalantly sipped on his tea. After a few seconds, he suddenly started laughing with a twinkle in his eyes. "Are you still bound by that duty?"

"I have a new one."

"In that dreary place?"

Zein cracked a smile. They were getting there, but he held back from going headlong into their objective. No, it wasn’t the time yet. "My House duty came from the Deathzone in the first place," he said. "My duty is to put an end to it."

Well, Zein was sure the old man already knew why they were here with the package that Radia sent before. Rather than asking the old man if he could help them, Zein’s visit today was more to hear his answer to the unasked question.

So, all he could do was just show himself; his sincerity.

"The mountain is nice, but my quiet place has to be near the water," he said, turning the conversation back to where it started.

"I see," the old man nodded, turning his head slightly toward the East. "So you’d like to build one by the sea."

Zein smiled and sipped the fragrant tea again. It had been a while since he tasted this kind of luxury; the tranquility and delicate flavors that the people around him had taught him. He had changed so much, he realized, and without this change, he would never dream of even having a dream. He would never think about the future, or having his own ’sea’, the place the twins wanted to bring him to. He would never think of liberating the Deathzone, even when he spent four years living on its border.

His appreciation of this tea, and his yearning for the blue sea, were the changes he was striving to maintain; to protect.

It would be nice to stay in this kind of self-sufficient place, away from the others, but...

Just like how Alteroan became himself by upholding House Ishteta’s oath, Zein too became himself by staying true to his wish of liberation and survival.

"I’m sorry," the old man’s voice broke Zein’s tranquil moment within the soothing fragrance of the tea. He raised his gaze to meet the old man’s frowning one. "If I did not lock myself here, perhaps your family..."

"You didn’t have any obligation to..." Zein put his cup down and pondered. "Unless you promised my father something. But then, if you did, he would have used it back then."

It was a dire situation and the hunt had been happening for months, so Roan would have sent Lucia there for protection if the old man had promised something. No matter what, protecting Lucia was both in Roan self-interest and the House’s interest.

That being said, begging on others’ doors wasn’t in Roan’s character, so he wouldn’t go out of his way to ’ask’. Although...Zein doubted they could reach this mountain at that point, with Lucia being pregnant and the traitors on their tails.

"A part of me wanted the possibility of you finding out about the attack and helping them on your own accord," Zein continued, smiling rather bitterly. "But another part of me also thinks you won’t know about it unless my father told you himself."

The old man closed his eyes and shook his head. "But he’d never do that."

"No, because it’s an internal conflict in our House."

"And he’s a stubborn mule," the old man added.

"I guess," Zein chuckled. Finally, he heard something that the Iron Shield never dared to tell him. "Not that I ever know him personally."

The old man crossed his arms. Again, he observed the young man who was older than Alteroan when the man met him back in the day. They looked very similar at first glance, but the more the old man talked to Zein, the more he saw how different the two were. This one was rough and didn’t mince words, but also tactful. He wasn’t the honest and straightforward paladin, whose objective in life had been decided since birth, and knew no compromise.

And yet, the conviction in their eyes was the same, even if it was the only place that was glaringly different.

Tian Yu drank his tea and smiled behind the cup. "Did you say you want me to tell you about him?"

The blue eyes gleamed. "Yes."

"Very well," he nodded, glancing at the smoke coming out of the kitchen. "It’s still a while until lunch, so let’s exchange some stories."