[{"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-321":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},1240297,1667,"Chapter 321: Hands-on Training (1)","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-321",321,"\u003Cp>It happened just as midnight gave way to morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d been sleeping in more these mornings, neglecting my mind training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not wanting to deal with the hassle of waking up on my own, I had Pe Woocheol wake me every morning, and today, I expected it to be just like any other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother… Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked my eyes open at the sound of his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I figured it was time to get up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body felt unusually heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered if I was sick, but I couldn’t feel anything strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt more like mental exhaustion than physical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sigh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed deeply and slowly pushed myself up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no choice but to get up, even if I didn’t feel like it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barely managing to sit upright, a figure came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it Pe Woocheol?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe one of my other roommates?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to my surprise, it was neither.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pe Woocheol didn’t have such a feminine figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rubbed my eyes and tried to focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warm sunlight streamed through the windows, as if it existed solely to illuminate one person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was kneeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person kneeling before me was none other than Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her brown hair, touched with golden highlights, and her golden eyes came into focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, that’s not the important part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now wasn’t the time to be admiring Wi Seol-Ah’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is she here right now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought I might be dreaming, but that wasn’t it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reality of the situation confirmed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just Pe Woocheol; everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing to stare at Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes shifted nervously, unsure of what to make of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s happening right now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shot a look at Pe Woocheol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant appeared just as confused but began whispering in my ear once he noticed my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t able to talk telepathically yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…She suddenly said that she has a business with you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You let her in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told her you were asleep… but big sis said she’d wait inside…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you just let her in? Do you realize how many guys are in this room?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, did he just say big sis?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah was definitely younger than Pe Woocheol by a few years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was younger than him too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pe Woocheol was over twenty, wasn’t he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m sorry, it was sudden for me as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Pe Woocheol scratched the back of his head awkwardly, Wi Seol-Ah cut in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I forced myself in here. I told him I wanted to come inside. Master Pe has done nothing wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pe Woocheol’s face lit up when she called him ‘Master Pe’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have been over the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slapped Pe Woocheol’s leg, irritated by his reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately doubled over, clutching his leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What an overreaction, it was just a love tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop overreacting, Woocheol.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Brother, I think my bone cracked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored Woocheol’s dramatic whining and turned back to Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I have something I need to tell you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something to say, huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said that she needed some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time we spoke, Wi Seol-Ah had asked for time to think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s been a few days ever since that happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to respect Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After those few days, Wi Seol-Ah came to me directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up until this point, it was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But did she really have to come this early in the morning?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you want to say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I regretted the way I said it the moment the words left my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should’ve greeted her properly, complimented her, or at least asked if she’d had breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had plenty of better options, but what I said came off as rude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I doubt I’ll ever be able to fix this bad habit of mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After my question, Wi Seol-Ah lifted her head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her golden pupils locked onto mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bright, lively Wi Seol-Ah I had known as a servant was still there, but only faintly—most of that light had faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made me a bit disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head still wasn’t in the right place since I just woke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if I was spacing out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Peak Realm martial artist, I shouldn’t be this tired just from a lack of sleep, but today was… different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to use my Qi to shake off the fatigue, Wi Seol-Ah spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I like you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Eh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words made me blurt out a dumbfounded response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you just…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I like you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She repeated herself, confirming I hadn’t misheard her the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words hit me like a heavy weight, instantly clearing the fog from my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah still had a calm expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stood there, dumbfounded for a few moments, just staring at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What do I say to her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing came to mind; I was at a loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I struggled to break through the invisible wall keeping me silent and finally managed to ask her a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What…what are you saying all of a sudden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I finished thinking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thinking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, thinking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had asked for time to think, and this was the answer she’d come up with?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had to be a dream—somehow, that seemed more believable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I studied Wi Seol-Ah more closely, and then I saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her calm demeanor, her ears had turned red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked into her eyes again after noticing her flushed ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scrambled for an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thousand responses raced through my mind, but just as I was about to pick one,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It turned out this way… so I just wanted to let you know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could say anything, Wi Seol-Ah spoke again, then stood up, her head still bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh… Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her ears flushed an even deeper shade of red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to call out to Wi Seol-Ah, but she darted out of the room before I could stop her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She moved so fast I couldn’t even call out her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only after her footsteps faded that I finally began to process what had just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did she just say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she… say she liked me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind was still in chaos, as if my brain had short-circuited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pe Woocheol’s voice cut through my daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Uh…H-Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only was my brain malfunctioning, but I couldn’t seem to speak properly either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pe Woocheol looked unusually serious as he lowered his head and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This might be a bit rude… but- “\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Could I please hit you once?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahe— …What did you just say you bastard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pe Woocheol took a quick step back as I frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I think this was about when Wi Seol-Ah started acting strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sitting through the lecture—having, of course, skipped my morning training—it was finally lunchtime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard we had additional afternoon training, which was why lunch was earlier than usual today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t really bother me, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s for lunch today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not su- “\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mhm, I’m used to it by now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had become a daily habit of mine to ask Pe Woocheol what we were eating, even though I knew he never remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He definitely didn’t remember, considering he devoured everything without issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard that we were having meat today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So then you can’t have it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was taught not to be picky with food.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Water Dragon slipped into my and Pe Woocheol’s conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the past few days, he’d been eating with us like it was the most natural thing, and I hadn’t bothered to stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was just one problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Could you please care about what others think of you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t expect to hear that fromyouof all people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed at the Water Dragon’s deadpan response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one reason why I said such a thing to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Academy had Taoists, they served meals for those who didn’t eat meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this bastard is putting meat on his plate like nothing is wrong…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hey, your brothers are giving you a death gaze you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers you say? I don’t know who they are, so don’t worry about it. I’m an only child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, they were definitely martial artists from the Wudang Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments like this always made me wonder if the Water Dragon was actually insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why hasn’t the Wudang Sect kicked him out yet for behavior like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Is it because of his talent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seriously?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, it was impossible to find a talent like the Water Dragon’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kicking him out over a little trouble would be a waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Chicken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just look at him, he’s thrilled because there’s meat on the menu today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It makes me wonder if he’s really a Taoist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Though, according to Elder Shin, the Light of Might from Shaolin also had grilled meat along with a drink when he was young.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe people like the Water Dragon, who simply followed their instincts, were better than those who pretended to be virtuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you take too much? I don’t think you will finish all that.”“You’ll eat the rest if I don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a fantastic idea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pe Woocheol beamed after hearing my response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of our group, I often overheard whispers here and there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Did the Water Dragon really enter his group…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-The Cheolcheol Yang clique? They managed to win over even the Water Dragon of Wudang Sect. How could that be…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Wait, Cheolcheol Yang? Wasn’t it Cheolyang Cheol?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-That’s not what’s important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-How is the name not important?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-I heard that the Dragon Warrior has also been spending time with the True Dragon lately… so perhaps?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Cheol Jiseon, with three of the Six Dragons under his wing… what is he up to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very absurd rumors had been spreading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tales of the “Mad Dog” Cheol Jiseon still hadn’t died down either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Cheol Jiseon had developed an anger disorder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like I wasn’t the only one who was able to hear their chatter, because the Water Dragon smirked as he put food on his plate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, is it Cheolyang Cheolhyuk now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you just add your name to it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who cares? You barely spent time coming up with the name, so I might as well add mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his response, it was clear he knew I was joking when I came up with the name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharp as ever, huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But is it really okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Water Dragon tilted his head, hearing my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like he didn’t know what I was talking about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you hang around me like this, then it might not be good for you in the future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew just how much the Leader of Wudang Sect cared about fame, honor, and reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Water Dragon was his golden child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he really be fond of the Water Dragon hanging around with a troublemaker like me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It doesn’t matter. It’s fun, you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Water Dragon shrugged it off, as easygoing as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a great blessing for me to be able to eat quietly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at everyone in the cafeteria. Do you think you’ll be able to eat quietly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cafeteria was packed since we arrived late—quiet wasn’t even close to happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Water Dragon smirked after hearing my response, then he went back to putting food on his plate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He got even more meat on it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just shook my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t always hard to find seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because Moyong Hi-ah was always quick to save a seat for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three of the Four Noble Clans always sat together at one table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the ladies from the Namgung, Moyong, and Tang Clans all sitting together, it was rare for anyone else to join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they tried, they always ran away after hearing a sharp criticism from Moyong Hi-ah or Tang Soyeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ah-hee sometimes came to eat with Tang Soyeol, but that was rare too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, those empty seats were pretty much reserved for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think you are doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to sit down, Moyong Hi-ah’s icy voice cut through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you sitting down without permission?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sounded colder than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An already cold girl had become even colder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by how she turned her head away, it seemed like I did somethi- …Oh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I realized what had caused Moyong Hi-ah’s sudden attitude shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, I had something come up that day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah had asked to meet with me privately last time, but it seemed she was upset because I’d canceled on her for Cheol Jiseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, I forgot to visit her after that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…It was understandable for her to be angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After my second apology, Moyong Hi-ah finally looked at me again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m seriously going to be mad next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She softened after that apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, she forgave me easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the complete opposite in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After I sat in the empty seat, the Water Dragon and Pe Woocheol, sensing the change in mood, sat down as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took my usual seat next to the drowsy Namgung Bi-ah, and just as the Water Dragon tried to sit beside me, she woke up and motioned with her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was pointing directly at the Water Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That seat… reserved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The seat is reserved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, it’s reserved. I apologize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Water Dragon shifted over, taking the seat next to the reserved one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reserved? Is someone else coming?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone is coming?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Mhm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah mumbled, then leaned her head against my shoulder, her sleepy expression returning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her long hair got in the way of me trying to eat, but I got used to it by this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we were enjoying our food, Moyong Hi-ah in front of me suddenly spoke to the Water Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It has been a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke with a smile, but her words sounded sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Water Dragon paused mid-bite, coughing as he sensed the shift in her tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ahem, isn’t your voice a bit too sharp?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s obvious since I’m talking to another person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ah, I see. Well… it has indeed been a while, Young Lady Moyong. I apologize for the late greetings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah calmly sipped her tea in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the? Had the two met before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last time I visited you, you said that you had no intention to go or even be associated in any way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Uh, well, life doesn’t always go the way you think, you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this because Moyong Hi-ah was trying to recruit him for her clique?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah was at the center of most conversations when it came to forming cliques in the Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sects with Sects, merchants with merchants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People with similar backgrounds formed into groups, and I heard that Moyong Hi-ah was also trying to gather people only after a few days of the Academy opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like she also visited the Water Dragon, and he denied her offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder she wasn’t pleased to see him here after saying he wouldn’t join any group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing a rare apology from the Water Dragon, Moyong Hi-ah folded her fan and lightly smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem. I’m actually glad you joined Master Gu’s side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Haha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I would’ve buried you if you joined a different group…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? What did you just say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just kidding. Hoho.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That definitely wasn’t a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was probably the most honest thing Moyong Hi-ah had said in days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold sweat broke out on the Water Dragon’s face—he clearly sensed the threat in her tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like even this crazy bastard was scared of Moyong Hi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, he did run away from her every time in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He always put the blame on me whenever we were caught causing trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Just thinking about it makes me angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to take a sip of the water Namgung Bi-ah had poured for me to cool down,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone sat beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah had said the seat was reserved for someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it that person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced over to see who it was, and immediately recognized the familiar presence and flowery scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Wi Seol-Ah, the same one who had come to me earlier that morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She always avoided me whenever I tried to eat with her, so what was up with her today?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puzzled, I glanced at her plate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She brought a mountain of food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her plate piled high with all kinds of food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah must’ve noticed me staring, as her face reddened slightly before she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I heard that it’s good to eat a lot…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She brought a lot of food because I always told her to eat a lot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-Should I take some off if you don’t like it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean take some off. Eat it all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relieved by my response, Wi Seol-Ah began eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She ate quietly, without mentioning what had happened earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered if she’d already forgotten about it, but her flushed ears told me otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Did Namgung Bi-ah call her here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the one who mentioned someone coming, so maybe she knew all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Namgung Bi-ah only continued to sleep with her head leaning against my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I was happy because I thought that one of the competitions left. Tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah whispered under her breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a rather uncomfortable meal time.\u003C\u002Fp>",2943,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","eeb7c1b7ca8cfe2722c3b0da7dc7546c74dc9a15520b0a632b3865b3648663be","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-322","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-320",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]