[{"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-224":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},1240250,1667,"Chapter 224: Omen (11)","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-224",224,"\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah barged into my room uninvited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't know whether it was because of her presence, but my small room felt a bit colder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I'll be excusing myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, you are very much excusing yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn't she practically begging me to curse at her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew Moyong Hi-ah was a cold and annoying person, but she didn't seem this shameless in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did she become like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was certainly possible, but whatever the case, this was a very uncomfortable situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard the news that the Moyong Clan made a deal with our clan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that's right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During our conversation, I observed Moyong Hi-ah's appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't see any of the usual things I associated with her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scent, the dense makeup, the accessories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked different from her usual decorated self. I was looking at Moyong Hi-ah's natural face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looks similar to when she was in the Abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn't in a situation where she could adorn herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she was in a situation where she had to survive today for tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Personally, I preferred her current look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You say you don't like her, yet you observed her face.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked because it was right in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…To be fair, how could you not look when she is that beautiful.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Shin mumbled in a very low voice, but it echoed in my mind, so I couldn't miss it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Shin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What is it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did you perhaps not forget?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…Hmm?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You know, the really pretty girl from the Moyong Clan…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ha.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Shin reacted condescendingly to my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[So much time has passed, yet you still think I didn't forget such a trivial thing? Brat, you are quite obsessed with romance.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…I see. If that's the case, it's fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Elder Shin's response, I nodded to his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I also decided to pretend that I didn't hear his voice shaking crazily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I pressed him further, I knew he would sulk and not talk to me for days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could a Taoist be so narrow-minded?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm? Did you say something?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Is that so? That's weird… I could have sworn you talked shit about me.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had quite the sharp ears…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to ask you a question first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may ask. I am listening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why are you doing this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a question I had to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understood that the Moyong Clan was building their business in Shanxi and helping them financially.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But to me, it seems like an absurd deal…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Our clan offered quite a bit. Perhaps this is not enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way it wasn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Clan never cared much for money, nor did they have the greed to earn more, but that didn't mean they rejected it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's not a clan that did things for rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other clans received donations in exchange for protecting citizens from demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Moyong Clan and the Tang Clan used their businesses to build more finance, but the Gu Clan didn't do that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They took responsibility for Shanxi's safety, but they didn't receive any major donations for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, they received some because they had relationships with the upper class…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I guess not enough for the clan to have a luxurious status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be more precise, it would be more accurate to say that we didn't get much despite being called a noble clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That's not it, but I wanted to hear why your clan is going through all that loss just to buy some heat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked as if she forgot to explain it to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Moyong Hi-ah's usual cold and alluring expression, she tried to make a cute face because she made a mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell is she doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I knew that even that was an act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah was a girl who knew her strength too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew that changing her look just a little could be extremely helpful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because I still looked at her the same way despite seeing her like that,Moyong Hi-ah returned to her usual expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected, it doesn't work on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt more relieved after seeing her click her tongue in disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That personality of hers doesn't change as I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only difference was that her gaze seemed a little different from the one she gave me in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are quite fascinating the more I look at you. Do you perhaps have a problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Problem…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You know, like… maybe you have a problem with your masculinity…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you saying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But judging by the way you treat the Poison Phoenix and the Sword Dancer, that doesn't seem to be it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's not it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's not it, you bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After staring at Moyong Hi-ah, I asked with a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let's end the jokes there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I'm not joking, though…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How about you explain to me why you are buying my heat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to stop this pointless conversation and get to the main topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I would only get angrier as the conversation with Moyong Hi-ah continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I brought up the main topic, Moyong Hi-ah put on a serious expression for a moment, and fixed her posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knelt on the floor and politely clasped her hands to show respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing that, I also fixed my posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I said earlier, I need Young Master Gu's heat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, but why.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you must hear the reason, you have to accept a Shackle for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shackle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered what kind of a reason it was that required me to have a Shackle put on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if it was what I thought it was, then it would likely be related to the condition that Moyong Hi-ah had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For reference, the Lord of Gu Clan didn't hear the reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So, he sold out his son without even hearing the reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by her silence, it seemed like that really happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My father, maybe he was more of a materialistic person than I thought?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a bit, I spoke to Moyong Hi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I won't hear the rea-“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I actually have a condition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, why do you keep interrupting me if you aren't going to listen to the end?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It's a condition where Ice Qi builds up if I don't manage it with my Qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no intention of hearing it from her since I already knew, but she said it all with her own mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she crazy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned because I was forced to hear something that I didn't want to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of it, Moyong Hi-ah's eyes slightly widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… aren't very surprised by this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said it all without my consent, so why should I be surprised by it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not necessarily… but that's not the usual reaction I get.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I felt that I messed up a little as I responded to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should have pretended to be at least a little surprised, but despite hearing that she had a condition directly from her, I failed to react properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was carried away by the flow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't know if it was because I was talking to a completely incompatible person or the memory of my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to use my Qi to calm down my stomach that felt a bit sick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So, you're telling me that's the reason why you need my heat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why me when I'm not the only one who can provide heat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I learned that Moyong Hi-ah's condition didn't improve just by putting heat next to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was possible, then she wouldn't have suffered all her life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it's not like I'm the only one in the world who can use Fire Arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was Gu Huibi, not to mention Father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ryunghwa belonged to Mount Hua, and Gu Yeonseo was an exception since she still couldn't summon heat yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, if it came to Fire Arts, the Gu Clan was the representative place for it, but the Gu Clan wasn't the only one that used the art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering that some of the Hundred Masters of the World used Fire Arts,I wondered why Moyong Hi-ah chose me out of all the options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, it's because I look easy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn't a person who chose her partner for such a reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what is it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought that maybe only my heat affected Moyong Hi-ah's condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that's unlikely…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew that wasn't the case just by thinking of what happened on 'that day' in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our bodies were hugging each other tightly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike my hot body, Moyong Hi-ah's body was ice cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept wondering with such thoughts, yet Moyong Hi-ah's response was firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It has to be your heat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I felt last time that it would work if it's Young Master Gu's heat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saw a white finger that cautiously reached out towards me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hand that slowly approached me, touched my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it felt like she was careful, as if she couldn't hold my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was sudden, but I felt like I knew what she was saying please for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't say much, but using our contact, I sent a little bit of heat to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt Moyong Hi-ah's body slightly shaking when she received my heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought to myself after seeing her reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Really?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is there really an effect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't understand no matter how much I thought about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's different from Moyong Hi-ah back then and Moyong Hi-ah now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it because she's a bit younger?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was possible that it was a condition that worsened as time passed, but that probably wasn't the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe… it's because of the change in the Destructive Flame Arts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I thought about the thing I had now that I didn't in my past life, that was the only thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Heavenly Demon's power was an ability to absorb another being's energy, then it might be possible that I could absorb Ice Qi as well, but judging by how it reacted to my heat, it was more likely that it was due to my Destructive Flame Arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar to how it cleanses Demonic Qi, maybe it pushes away Ice Qi?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I thought about the changes in my Destructive Flame Arts in this life, I remembered that I could burn Demonic Qi to cleanse it, and turn it into normal Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since that didn't happen in my past life, this was the only thing I could think of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hngh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I withdrew my hand after hearing a groaning sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was forgetting what was happening now because of all the thoughts in my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly raised my head to observe Moyong Hi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you ok-“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But judging by her lowering her head and curling her body, it seemed like she wasn't okay at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“L… Look… at it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah, who was struggling for a while, spoke with a very faint voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I couldn't hear it because of how quiet it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like she was trying to hide her shaky voice, but it didn't seem like she could do it easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It's… It's you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying some words that I couldn't understand, Moyong Hi-ah suddenly stood up and fixed her uniform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I'll be leaving for today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This suddenly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes… I think it would be too hard for me if we continued.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's hard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah walking in a slightly unsteady way bothered me a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I stopped her since there was one thing I had to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the Shackle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You told me that I needed to receive a Shackle if I heard about your condition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was rather annoying, but at this point, I had to get one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Shackle from a noble clan was possible to break away from, so it didn't matter much anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would just get it and break away from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing my question, Moyong Hi-ah showed an expression that made her look like she was saying 'Oh, I did say that', and slightly smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That's a lie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Normally a Shackle is necessary… but I had no intention of doing that to Young Master Gu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What's the reason for that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked her why she made that decision, Moyong Hi-ah responded after thinking for a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I felt that I could do that for a very trustworthy person like you… is a response that you wouldn't believe, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When our eyes met, Moyong Hi-ah suddenly turned her head and covered her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious that she was about to burst out laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sorry. Your face looked quite shocking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quite shocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded like an insult for some reason, which made me rather annoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the midst of all this, I couldn't help but wonder if this heat really helped Moyong Hi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I could still feel Ice Qi from Moyong Hi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would this really be effe-“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you. I'll be taking my leave for today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was definitely a good sign, but our conversation was in a state where it hadn't really ended properly yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I too would like to continue our friendly conversation,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It wasn't really friendly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I don't know what would happen to me if I stayed longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did she mean by what would happen to her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah's gaze pointed in a certain direction after she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I looked in the same direction as her…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saw three pairs of eyes peeking this way with their heads poking from the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed weirder since all of their eyes had different colors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you guys doing over there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked with an incredulous tone, but the eyes still continued to stare at me, and no response came back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did they find out about this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt chills on my back because of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I'll be leaving first. Young Master Gu, thank you very much for today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like I wasn't the only one who felt the chills, seeing as how Moyong Hi-ah escaped my room with faster steps than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah, who was leaving the room, glanced at the three girls and spoke in my direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was a good time. I'll be asking again the next night we meet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving me with very misleading words, she disappeared with light steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait… At least explain properly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I immediately tried to stop Moyong Hi-ah after instinctively realizing that I was in trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a hand stopped me first. Then the voice came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Explain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gulped nervously after hearing Namgung Bi-ah's serious voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did Namgung Bi-ah's expression seem more emotionless than it already was, but there were also two squirrels hiding behind Namgung Bi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't think I will be sleeping comfortably \u002Fgenesisforsaken\u003C\u002Fp>",2501,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","a8bb1f7ffd2b54e7a001f14e7d84d72a02ff5fd841a009b96cfcbc1a89a6bf06","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-225","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-223",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]