[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith":3,"chapter-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-156":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Childhood Friend of the Zenith",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1240182,1667,"Chapter 155: What Is This Hobo-Like... (1)","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-156",156,"\u003Cp>༺ What Is This Hobo-Like… (1) ༻\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The medical room within the Murim Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was filled with many people due the injuries that occurred in the tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And among those wounded, Namgung Cheonjun gasped for breath as he opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… huff!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breathing was rough and Namgung Cheonjun’s body was drenched in sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he just experienced the most horrifying nightmare in his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun, who woke up while panting, immediately lifted up the blanket and checked his lower body area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…W-Was it a dream?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything he had experienced, it all felt like a dream to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially at the end; The chilling sensation he felt in his lower body right before he lost consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But thankfully, it seemed like it wasn’t real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you okay…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun’s head turned quickly after hearing a voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next to him was the Snow Phoenix, Moyong Hi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Lady Moyong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun fixed his mask which nearly cracked just now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then felt pain in all parts of his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ugh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body ached as though he had been beaten like a drum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun then realized the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That the duel wasn’t a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That he, the next Lord of the Namgung Clan…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Impossible…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately mustered his Qi along with his anger,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The searing pain in Namgung Cheonjun’s body forced him to flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ughh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master…!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result of the duel, his abdomen throbbed painfully, joining the chorus of aches that encompassed his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The counterattacks that landed on him after deflecting all his sword strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Qi, which he had condensed, ended up scattering away,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his abdomen, the center of his Qi flow, was left to bear the brunt of the pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to that, his body, which had writhed on the floor, was having a seizure and his abdomen was screaming in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…How humiliating…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His resentment for Gu Yangcheon only increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of trick did he use this time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it wasn’t a trick, it was already a kick in the balls for Namgung Cheonjun to lose to such a bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I see…You will only be satisfied after bothering me for all eternity.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He resented him, to the point that he wanted to kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What do I do… what do I need to do in order to- ‘\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted as his shoulders began to tremble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because of the two eyes that bore down on him at the last moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fiery red eyes that looked like they could set the world ablaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun curled up involuntarily, clutching his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Hoo…haa!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emotion that made him breathless was undoubtedly fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood relative of the almighty Namgung Clan, Namgung Cheonjun, was fearful of that young boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… this is…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside those eyes, that seemed to set the world ablaze…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun saw the darkness that seemed to have no end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, just like the ones Peng Woojin had-, no, perhaps, it was even deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Namgung…what is wrong- “\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right before Moyong Hi-ah’s hand touched him, Namgung Cheonjun fiercely slapped her hand away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…D-Do not touch me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun knew that Moyong Hi-ah wanted something from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t sure what that something was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was harder for him to guess since she wasn’t making an effort to conceal her intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Namgung Cheonjun remained guarded behind his mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he had a good chance of gaining many things if he had Moyong Hi-ah next to him, given her noble lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, it looked like she shared a similar interest, leading him to believe it wouldn’t harm either of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Namgung Cheonjun couldn’t keep up his fake persona in this current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because of the fact that he was humiliated and defeated in front of his beloved sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, his opponent was the very same person who took his sister away from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And lastly, the fact that he felt fear in the presence of such a bastard infuriated him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How… I was even… said to be the chosen one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yes, it must have been because I didn’t have the chance to use my new power fully.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That’s the only reason why I lost to him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun’s shoulders continued to tremble, but he managed to regain some of his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun believed that he was just a little shell-shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, they had told him to not use the new power until he had complete mastery over it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not that it was something I could command at will.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun tried to use it many times, sensing a different energy within him, but he couldn’t control it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun’s body, which had been shaking for what seemed like an eternity, finally stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because he felt something incredibly strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘W-Where did it go…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun couldn’t feel the energy that previously resided within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where… where the hell did it go…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah continued to watch Namgung Cheonjun but withdrew her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Sigh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She erased the concern from her face, returning to her usual cold and impassive demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He wasn’t always like this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had always been a bit arrogant, but he used to exude confidence and self-respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even last year, he looked fine when he came to the banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But why did he have to change so drastically this year…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can’t believe he changed this much, especially when I had decided to approach him this year.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Do I have to describe this as him being ruined? I can’t really describe it any other way.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– There is no way to cure it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– …Just pray for a miracle to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Or maybe you should burn away the cold Qi inside your body…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah pushed aside the memories she hated to be reminded of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she channeled Qi through her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did it feel like the cold went away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Burn it away? How.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not like a disease or an object that can be merely burnt away.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was suddenly reminded of the boy who summoned engulfing flames, but quickly dismissed the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she knew fully well that Flame Arts couldn’t burn away her condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those words had likely been said out of frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite knowing that, Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t help but feel drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew that she didn’t have much time left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which was more of the reason why she needed help from the Namgung Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be more accurate, she needed assistance from the Lord of Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her father wanted to gain many things for the clan while risking much, but that wasn’t her desired path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To her, that seemed like a last resort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t want to see her clan falling into ruin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I still should be fine.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reassured herself, trying to banish any uncertainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah made another attempt in reaching out to Namgung Cheonjun, but stopped midway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because someone appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m glad that you are in a finer state than I expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, who appeared in a black uniform, was the young lord of the Peng Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Woojin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke to Namgung Cheonjun after suddenly appearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Namgung, if you are feeling fine, how about we have a conversation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked like a kind person with that smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t shake her unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors were akin to storms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They swept through anything and everything, without any intention of stopping,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So while it was unnerving not to know where they would end up, it was also marvelous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For those experiencing it for the first time, it could be quite unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But personally, I didn’t feel much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– I heard that the Lightning Dragon lost, yeah?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– I heard that he lost to a young boy much younger than him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Who? Perhaps, it’s the blood relative of the Taeryung Clan that beat the Poison Phoenix?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– You idiot, it’s been a while since the rumor spread, yet you are still saying something like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– I mean, you could just tell me if I don’t know. What’s with the insult?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– If you’re mad, maybe you should buy some info from the Beggar’s Sect too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The defeat of the Lightning Dragon, Namgung Cheonjun, had a far more significant impact than when the Poison Phoenix, Tang Soyeol, lost her first fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense, as this match was part of the quarterfinals and the arena was packed with even more spectators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant that there were naturally more eyes and mouths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes were on me as soon as I descended into the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Like, does it really make sense that he beat the Lightning Dragon? It’s the Lightning Dragon we are talking about! The one from the Namgung Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– So that doesn’t make sense for you, but the Poison Phoenix losing in the first round does?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– But that’s the Taeryung Clan. He’s the son of the Alliance Leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– …Do you know who the Lightning Dragon’s opponent was?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Hmm? Who was it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Gu Clan of Shanxi. The little brother of that famous Sword Phoenix.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Oh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, why did that convince you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did that crazy woman do, for them to be convinced like that…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I briefly heard that she burned not only the arena stage, but also half of the banquet hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were even stories about her burning off the hairs of people who bothered her, as well as other similar tales that were just as scary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unsettling part was that I had a gut feeling Gu Huibi had really done those things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…With her personality, it makes more than enough sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head ached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was beyond absurd that merely being ‘the younger brother of Gu Huibi’, could convince everyone of what I just did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were so cool, Young Master Gu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I returned to the barrack after the duel, Tang Soyeol welcomed me as if she had been waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You watched all of that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course! I watched every single bit without missing a moment!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked so bright while she waved her hands around, as if she was bragging about how hard she watched my fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her early loss in the first round, Tang Soyeol was in high spirits. However, her hands were red, a bit paradoxical considering her heated demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was most likely from watching the duel in this cold weather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I contemplated warming up the air with my Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I decided against it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was more concerned about the new energy twitching inside my abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This pig of a bastard…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy I absorbed from Namgung Cheonjun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be more precise, the energy that chose to be absorbed was the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least get permission from me if you’re going to take it… Why is it that devouring is the first thing you do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially because this wasn’t Demonic Qi this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…That’s the problem.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pissing Dragon… no, the Lightning Dragon containing such an energy was a problem as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the bigger issue was that I had been able to absorb such energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How? How was I able to absorb this energy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol kept speaking to me, but I only responded briefly as I was busy scrutinizing my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It is certainly similar.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy I absorbed from Namgung Cheonjun resembled the energy I felt from Wi Seol-Ah in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was more akin to Taoist Qi than ordinary Qi, but it wasn’t quite the same as Taoist Qi either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it was hard to say that they were the same…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thing I knew was that it was not Demonic Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, it felt like the opposite of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The problem is that my body is absorbing such energy while savoring it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like how Demonic Qi was purified in my body, my Flame Qi was devouring up the new energy that entered my abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It appeared to be receiving a similar treatment as Demonic Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was trapped in my thoughts, someone placed their hand on my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Namgung Bi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked her what was wrong, she slightly frowned her expression as if she was mad about something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was up with her\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did I ignore her by accident or something?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, that didn’t make sense either. Namgung Bi-ah was usually the one who spaced out and it took multiple calls to get her attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was standing in confusion, Tang Soyeol approached me and whispered in my ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Gu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Um, in a little bit, Sis’s duel is about to… Ubff”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol, who was delivering this information, was pushed away. Namgung Bi-ah was the one who shoved Tang Soyeol aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol, who was pushed away suddenly, spoke to Namgung Bi-ah while frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sis! Do you know how unfair you’re being!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m trying to help you! You should let this pass…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even so… no.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh…!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What were these two doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I watched the current situation with confusion, Tang Soyeol let out a fake cough and started to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Since you are done, it’s Sis’s turn for her fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe she wants you to cheer for her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at Namgung Bi-ah after hearing Tang Soyeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah wasn’t looking my way though. More accurately, it looked like she was intentionally avoiding eye contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I noticed her slightly reddened ears and couldn’t suppress a smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s what you wanted?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought she didn’t really care about such things, but I guess she did a bit on the inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even though I literally just beat her little brother up.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I began to wonder if all older sisters were like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun’s complex feelings for his sister made him the real weird one, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite my short response, Namgung Bi-ah nodded her head, seemingly satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was covered by her hair, but her reddened ears gave away her true feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t tell her to go win her fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, she would win even if I didn’t tell her to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…I felt bad for Gu Jeolyub, who was her opponent, but there was little that could be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were in different leagues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was reminded of Gu Jeolyub’s sobbing face after seeing the bracket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I did see them duel each other a few times during our trip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Jeolyub couldn’t even touch Namgung Bi-ah’s clothes back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Gu Jeolyub probably fell in despair after seeing the bracket because he already knew that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Though he would also gain some things from this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like this trip wouldn’t only benefit me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah might gain some things as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether in name or fame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did appear indifferent to such matters, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my past life, some time after she earned the title of Demonic Sword…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked me what that was when I addressed her by that title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah was someone who cared even less about the world than I did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in this life, with many things already changed, it seemed that Namgung Bi-ah’s name would spread sooner rather than later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I did happen to hear that there were people who served as her followers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…But that’s just a false rumor, right?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sounded a little scary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What even was a follower, for fuck’s sake!… if they did truly exist, I had to wonder what they even did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just the thought of it gave me goosebumps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Masterrrr!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone rushed inside, through the barrack entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Wi Seol-Ah, who I barely got to see today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongwa entered after her and bowed her head to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We are back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry… it’s my fault.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongwa didn’t even give an explanation for their tardiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In essence, it meant that she was willing to accept any punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not that I intended to punish her anyway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They must have had good reasons for being late. I heard that Muyeon went along with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As such, if someone caused trouble, it would have to have been Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-Sis did nothing wrong. Young Master… I got lost… and- “\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, I gave Wi Seol-Ah a bonk on her head as she confessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ough…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were sent for errands, but you got lost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m sorryyyy…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by her expression, it seemed like she was genuinely remorseful that she had messed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe she wore such an expression because she felt guilty that Hongwa was getting in trouble because of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed and withdrew the hand that had been poised for a second bonk, before starting to pat Wi Seol-Ah’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But that means nothing happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered if I could really let this incident slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when I looked at Wi Seol-Ah’s face, I couldn’t bring myself to scold her any further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt this with even greater intensity when I considered the fact that I didn’t know if I could even dare to lay my hands on this child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sisss!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I let her go, Wi Seol-Ah ran into Namgung Bi-ah’s arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah who seemed to be used to such a reaction, hugged Wi Seol-Ah and brushed Wi Seol-Ah’s hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked like sisters in a good relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah, who was rubbing her face in Namgung Bi-ah’s arms, suddenly turned her head toward me as if she just remembered something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…! Young Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone was waiting for you outside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone was waiting for me? Who could it be? Was it Gu Jeolyub? Or Peng Ah-hee?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t anyone who would visit me at such a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could dwell on it further, Wi Seol-Ah told me the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, her response wasn’t something I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A hobo man!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned after hearing Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded way too absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scolded her, telling her not to joke around,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Hello! I am Chuwong from the Beggar’s Sect! Woah woah… I can’t believe I get to meet a famous noble clan’s blood relative…! What an honor this is for a poor man like me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just like Wi Seol-Ah said, a hobo really was waiting for me outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This really was an unsatisfactory situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can rate\u002Freview this series here.\u003C\u002Fp>",3078,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","276c35beeb22f2a056aa25b65f50a7d526c31d6bf1bac7bf40cd356bb9529144","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-157","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-155",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]