[{"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-165":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},1240191,1667,"Chapter 164: The Thing I Wish To Show (4)","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-165",165,"\u003Cp>༺ The Thing I Wish To Show (4) ༻\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when I first met the bastard, it was around the time when I just became the Young Lord of the clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was the first time I made an appearance in the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though these events took place a few years after, unlike my current life after regression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, upon becoming the Young Lord of one’s clan, the treatment shifts from being viewed as a young prodigy to being seen as a prominent member of the world with considerable influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And because of this useless pride I had, I was stubborn and didn’t attend any young prodigy meetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But me becoming the Young Lord of the clan was unofficial to begin with,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since I was never one to leave the clan, I had to start making connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One might wonder how I could meet people and become friends with them with my shitty personality back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what else could I do? That was what the clan ordered me to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I may have had a better physique back then, but my mindset was far from ideal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stupid pride and the weight of the responsibilities that would eventually fall on my shoulders were enough to cause turmoil for a young man like me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around this point in time, I was only regarded as a troublemaker, but the rumors about me when I approached my twenties were quite different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shanxi’s Evil Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Clan’s Disgrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I became known by such names, so it was a completely different situation from now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why I couldn’t have a normal time at the banquet meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I have vague recollections of that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t even sure if Wi Seol-Ah, Tang Soyeol, or Moyong Hi-ah were even there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Yung Pung, the Water Dragon… What about the Lightning Dragon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I honestly couldn’t even remember if there were any familiar faces there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It really showed that my state of mind wasn’t quite right at the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there was one thing I clearly remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Nice to meet you, Young Master Gu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That bastard’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes that formed crescents, creasing into a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his voice that pretended to be kind and righteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I remembered all of those clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– My name is Jang Seonyeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t because I felt anything special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it definitely wasn’t because I was moved by a guy approaching me who was all alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way I’d be touched just because a guy came up to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one reason why that ordinary situation never left my memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Undeservingly, I am called the Rising Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what made me hate him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day of the tournament finals had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time was around sunset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One might wonder why the fight was scheduled for such a late hour, but the reason for it was because that was when the people of Hanam were most energized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And thanks to that, I was able to have a good meal and a nap before heading to the fight, which I welcomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give it your all, Young Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah shouted energetically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know if it was because she had a good lunch, but she seemed brighter than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at Wi Seol-Ah for a bit, then patted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oough…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know about giving it my all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t even sure if he was worth my full effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And why would you come to see me in such cold weather like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it was the middle of winter, the cold air was intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just leaving my hand out of my pocket sent a sharp sting through my fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean, but?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah looked at me with those eyes from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like I was staring into the eyes of a mother who just sent her child away to school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed younger and more carefree to anyone’s eyes, so why was she looking at me like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew that we didn’t have a conventional master-servant relationship, and she was merely maintaining formality with me, but it still felt strange to see her like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I almost thought you were my mom for a second.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Wha?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing her respond with confusion, I smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Oh wait, I talked about Mother.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I was surprised by what had just escaped my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because I spoke about my mother with my own mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, I forgot about it now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No, I will never forget it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it was something I couldn’t afford to forget.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As this was something I needed to ask Father about in the not-so-distant future and a story that I wanted to see the end of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite being windy out, I stared at Wi Seol-Ah’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I moved my hand from patting her head to her hair accessory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the cheap material of the item, the texture wasn’t the most pleasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I fidgeted with it, Wi Seol-Ah quickly stepped back, creating some distance between us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I looked at her, wondering why she was acting that way, Wi Seol-Ah hurriedly covered her head with her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the part where the hair accessory was located.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I’m not going to give it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s mine…! The thing Young Master gave me… it’s mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she think that I was going to take back the hair accessory I had gifted her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah glared at me fiercely, which seemed out of character for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I responded while looking at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not taking it. Where would I even use that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-You could give it to another person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Do you think I would give a used hair accessory to another person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of cheap action was that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s important to me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had nothing to say after watching her protect the hair accessory with everything she got so that it didn’t get taken away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was it to her anyway?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just some random gift I got her back in the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure if it was Wi Seol-Ah’s reaction that made me feel this way, but it was hard for me to meet her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was going to let out a fake cough, but a voice interfered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Me too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah said with tired eyes, looking as if she had been lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing her, I spoke after letting out a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you to go sit down and rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I am resting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who would think you’re resting right now, idiot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did she come all the way here when she had a perfectly fine spectator seat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when she was a patient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, then is there something that isn’t fine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing my question, Namgung Bi-ah started to think hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she even thinking about that…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah, who remained silent for a moment, spoke after she was done thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m hurt…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t so much that she was done thinking, but more like she gave up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she was using her patient status as a shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile involuntarily escaped me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a smile that formed due to how absurd this was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And where did Tang Soyeol go in the midst of all this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she leave to visit the Snow Phoenix again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like Tang Soyeol had been paying frequent visits to Moyong Hi-ah in recent days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Do you want me to do something about it? Do you want me to blow on it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Will you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you insane…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was taking it seriously when I said it as a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to go up to the fight stage soon, but now I felt like I would lose due to the headache that had crept in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t as if I could give a patient a bonking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stared at her, Namgung Bi-ah wiped away her disappointed expression and leaned her head toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Pat me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you seem to get younger as time passes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her child-like acts had increased recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comparing her to my past life, it felt like she had undergone a complete transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a few months ago, she would only shyly lean her head forward when embarrassed, let alone ask me directly to pat her. However, now, she was just bluntly asking for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was partly my fault for indulging her without much protest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I would’ve passed out in shock if it was me in my past life.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would have probably said something along the lines of‘What the hell is this crazy bitch saying,’while frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, subtle changes like these can accumulate and reshape one’s mindset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said you were going to show me something last time, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked while gently brushing her white hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah flinched after hearing my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, I noticed a slight reddening of her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No response came from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing I got back was her reddening ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved my hand, which had been brushing her hair, to lightly grasp her ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially, considering the chilly weather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah then suddenly apologized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was she apologizing for?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at her with slightly shocked eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t get to show you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because of that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah seemed to be thinking that she wasn’t able to show me anything because she was defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She really didn’t know herself at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She showed me many things, so how could she say that she didn’t?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah showed me that her potential was limitless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She showed me how much she could improve all by herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that Namgung Bi-ah was someone who needed protection in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never once considered her to be incapable of standing on her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, she was referred to as the Sword Dancer, or the Young Sword Queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her most popular title right now was the Zenith of Beauty or whatever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her defeat, Namgung Bi-ah gained a ton of things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Possibly even more than me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I saw a lot, so don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never really consoled anyone, so this was the best I could come up with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I watched everything without missing a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched so closely that I learned something new about her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As such, I really hoped that she would stop making that expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So stop making that teary face and go rest. It’s cold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her injury might have been minor, but that didn’t mean she should be moving around like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could just tell that she was using her Qi to protect her body right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was quite stupid of her to do that as she didn’t have an overflowing amount of Qi,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought about scolding her for a moment, but it seemed like I didn’t have time for that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to go up soon after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take her with you to sit down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, I grabbed Wi Seol-Ah and instructed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if I didn’t do that, she probably wouldn’t have left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hngh… I want to watch here too…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was that Wi Seol-Ah never really listened to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But thankfully, I had a solution for situations like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should I call Hongwa?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll leave… Sis, let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah always listened to Hongwa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching them leave with disappointed expressions, I started to make my way up to the arena stage as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no end to one’s thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might be slow, but it would still crawl endlessly to reach the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Namgung Bi-ah tried to show me something…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant that it was my turn to answer back to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I climbed up the arena, I saw Jang Seonyeon, who had arrived before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could’ve sworn he got a good number of injuries during his fight against Namgung Bi-ah, but he seemed to be in better shape than I had expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, our eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bastard smiled slightly while looking at me before addressing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nice to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Nice to meet you, Young Master Gu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a casual greeting, but why was it that I was hearing it alongside the voice I heard in my past life?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation was different; I was younger compared to back then, and even his voice was more high-pitched now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why did it sound just like back then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So we meet. I didn’t expect this when we first crossed paths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jang Seonyeon tilted his head after hearing my response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re saying you knew we’d meet in the finals?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I already knew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should probably show respect right now, but it was hard for me to do so as I had no respect for him to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But more than that…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I simply loathed the idea of showing any formality to this bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The situation was set up this way, you know? This was all planned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a little harsh there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jang Seonyeon would’ve made it up to the finals no matter what the bracket was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Unless he met me in the first fight.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that the bracket was designed to attract the most attention to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it was bound to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I ask for a reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jang Seonyeon asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What reason? About how I’m so certain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why does Young Master Gu harbor such hostility toward me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an extremely chilly question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even during this, he didn’t erase the smile off of his face, which was really annoying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t do anything for Young Master Gu to have any hostility toward me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right. You didn’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, I can’t help but wonder why Young Master Gu despises me. I really don’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bastard didn’t do anything to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suppressed the killing intent that kept trying to escape my body and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Am I not allowed to hate you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t really do much about someone else’s feelings, but it’s just a little sad for m- “\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You hate me too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jang Seonyeon shut his mouth when I cut him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He probably fell silent not because I cut him off, but because of what I said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Am I wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How come you think that way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I noticed a crack in Jang Seonyeon’s smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did I think that way, you asked?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much I looked at it, it was obvious that I was the one he despised the most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could discern his thoughts and actions by recollecting my memories of my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Abyss Transportation Incident that occurred in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the young prodigies who had come to participate in the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament were taken away into the Abyss, this was widely acknowledged to be a natural disaster…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t really the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one responsible for this occurrence was Jang Seonyeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His goal was likely the Water Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bastard hated the Water Dragon with a burning passion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His intense hatred had driven him to cause such a massive catastrophe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, by the time I had pieced together the truth about what had transpired in the future…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop trying to be nice, it makes me sick. Let’s just stop talking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I tried my best to accept you, but it really wasn’t easy. So you should stop as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I did try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to hold back and even tried to ignore him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when I thought about it, I really didn’t have to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It simply wasn’t in my nature to do so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt like I could only endure if I talked shit to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Gu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like maintaining his composed facade was becoming increasingly challenging, as his smile gradually disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed fine at first, but it seemed like he had reached his limit now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nice expression. Live with that expression. It’s more comfortable for me too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How could a bloodline member of a noble clan make such a mistake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m actually gonna make an even bigger mistake right now. Hey, I came here with approval; the approval that I can cause as much trouble as I want.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, of course, Father didn’t give me the approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it should be fine. The Second Elder would take responsibility for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to my persistent arguments, Jang Seonyeon let out a sigh in the end and adjusted his posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I admit it, Young Master Gu. You have great talent as a martial artist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many do say that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a little embarrassed saying it with my own mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it seemed like he didn’t care about what I just said, because that bastard didn’t stop talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In proof of the current cold weather, steam billowed from his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may have outstanding talent, but your humbleness seems to be quite lacking in comparison.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he was saying was true, but was it because those words came out of that bastard’s mouth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile involuntarily formed on my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It almost felt like I was watching someone’s embarrassing past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The humbleness you lack, I pray that you find it in this fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he meant just now was that he would teach me it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had many things to say in response, but I chose not to bother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just by looking at the blatant, sickening mindset that was infused in his eyes, it was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I actually preferred it this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m glad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jang Seonyeon became confused by my sudden remark, but he didn’t flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like he had learned something from his fight against Namgung Bi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was a little worried, you see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was speaking, I heard the voice of the judge announcing that it was time for the fight to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Finals, Gu Clan’s Gu Yangcheon versus…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was worried about what I would do if you were a nice guy at this point in time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you suddenly… “\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s nothing, I just had something on my mind. But I met you and it all cleared up nicely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Taeryung Clan’s Jang Seonyeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I’m going to say this now, just in case, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no intention of holding back, so you should use everything you can from the start. Don’t try to do something pointless like feeling me out first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you trying to say…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ughh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jang Seonyeon was in the middle of speaking, he let out a groan due to the sudden impact he felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Jang Seonyeon’s vision started to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with the sensation of his body being lifted into the air, he felt intense heat surrounding him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t even have the time to register the pain in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it wasn’t just a single impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slam-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second impact followed and Jang Seonyeon’s face planted into the arena stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could gauge the magnitude of the impact from the rocks flying through the air and the cracks forming on the arena stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the midst of all this, Jang Seonyeon was utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend what kind of movement I made for him to end up this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it all happened in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He put aside the pain and tried to force his shaky body to get up…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he heard a voice right in front of his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice echoed as if it was inside a cavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the rough and brutal emotions it carried left Jang Seonyeon utterly perplexed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should I start with the arm first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I calmly uttered these words…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jang Seonyeon was confused as to why he suddenly felt a chill running down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can rate\u002Freview this series here.\u003C\u002Fp>",3348,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","c6b8b6a96da625e08e3a69605296123791018e999fc359253345b49931c3f0f0","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-166","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-164",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]