[{"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-322":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},1240298,1667,"Chapter 322: Hands-on Training (2)","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-322",322,"\u003Cp>I wondered if it all started after that awkward lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe it began when Wi Seol-Ah made her unexpected confession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, Wi Seol-Ah had started acting a little different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After my afternoon training and lecture, as I rested, I could feel someone watching me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked around, trying to figure out what it was, when I noticed a head poking out from the crack in the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I squinted, focusing on the door. The initial shock faded as I recognized a familiar face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course I did, it was Wi Seol-Ah after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I thought I was seeing things, but it was really her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was she doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t the only one who noticed her—my roommates were staring in the same direction, equally puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah was already attracting attention from others as she was the descendant of one of the Heavenly Venerables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that, her growing beauty had made her a target for some unsavory characters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was understandable, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could she not, looking like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though personally, I missed the days when she still had some baby fat in her cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Pe Woocheol noticed, he called out my name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stood up as soon as our eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was obviously here for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would be hurt if that wasn’t the case… but surely, I was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah flinched when I approached, but thankfully, she didn’t run this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She always used to bolt, but at least now she was staying put.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is she some kind of a wild animal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was that difficult to approach her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smirking to myself, I stepped closer to Wi Seol-Ah and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean ‘Ah’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she acting all surprised when we’d just made eye contact?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her reaction showed that her eyes were still as big as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they had a sharpness now, gradually resembling the ones I remembered from my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, her behavior showed me she was still different from the Celestial Sword I once knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have anything you want to say to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s not like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair swayed with every shake of her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few years, her once-short hair had grown long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now reaching all the way to her waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I gazed at the strands of brown hair streaked with gold, Wi Seol-Ah spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just wanted to see you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words pierced right through my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never expected to hear that from Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words left me speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could recover, Wi Seol-Ah took advantage of my shock and ran off, disappearing right after she finished speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why does she run away every time I try to say something back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe she really is a wild animal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t the only time Wi Seol-Ah ran away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’d meet occasionally during training, but she always bolted after just a few words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at least now, it felt like she was trying to make an effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was better than before, since she wasn’t running away immediately like before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, her constant peeking at me was getting a little unnerving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she acting that way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head was already filled with conflicted thoughts thanks to what happened in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the culprit herself was acting that way…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she trying to make me even more flustered?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was the case, she was successful in doing so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to her, I was more conflicted than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With group training done for the day, it was time for my individual session.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, I’d eat with the others around this time, but tonight I decided to skip dinner since everyone seemed busy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I figured my recent bouts of spacing out were due to a lack of training, so in a way, this was for the best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rarely missed a chance to catch up with the others during mealtime, so it had been a while since we hadn’t met due to conflicting schedules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hi-ah had been busy lately, saying she had some business to take care of, while Tang Soyeol mentioned she had plans to meet up with Peng Ah-hee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah casually mentioned she was having dinner with Gu Yeonseo, which came out of nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, since when were they close to each other?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could I even say that they got closer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d heard they were grouped together, and it seemed they spent a lot of time together because of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d been a little worried about Gu Yeonseo, so I was relieved Namgung Bi-ah was with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard from the rumors that Namgung Bi-ah had a high position in her group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though that was predictable, considering how the biggest talent of the group was bound to become the most famous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same for others too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heat from my body dispersed into the cool wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, I was in the field behind the Heavenly Dragon Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The training grounds were obviously packed, and if I went there, I’d probably just end up watching Pe Woocheol train or making Gu Jeolyub roll around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I decided to find a quiet spot to train on my own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I circulated my Qi through my Dantian, checking its condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The amount of Qi I possessed remained the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with my recent focus on Mind Arts, my Qi hadn’t progressed much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was understandable—my Qi level was comparable to a Fusion Realm martial artist, and given how much I’d consumed, it was difficult to push it further in my current state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about my body though?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s hollow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d torn through and regenerated my body countless times, aiming to strengthen my foundation. It was stronger than others my age, but only just.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still lacked compared to other Peak Realm martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d only reached this stage thanks to my past life’s experience and the sheer volume of Qi I possessed. It allowed me to build a tall, though unstable, tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a tower that would fall easily, but that didn’t necessarily mean that it was built well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant that if I ran out of Qi—the foundation of this tower—it could still collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could fix that by training my body and strengthening it, but that would take too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A full-body transformation was the only real solution, but even that wasn’t a perfect option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, I wasn’t in a position to even consider that right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heat of my Qi still coursed through my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept channeling it through my middle Dantian, then up to my top Dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It at least feels like the path became smoother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The process was far smoother than when I’d first tried channeling Qi to my top Dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even now, I could barely reach it, let alone break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why though?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was this all I could manage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My Qi alone wasn’t enough to break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just trying to reach my top Dantian nearly drained my Qi completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It only confused me more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not like I lack Qi though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I definitely had more than enough Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that I felt like I was running out when trying to reach my top Dantian meant the problem lay elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I believed that it was a problem with my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something in my mind was stopping the Qi from reaching my top Dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the problem?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind was a mess of conflicting thoughts, making it impossible to pinpoint the issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, it was my lack of Qi after regressing. Now, it was a mental block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know why I ran into problems every time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a heavy sigh, I pulled my Qi back into my Dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold winter breeze hit me once my body cooled down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As steam puffed from my mouth in the cold air, I turned and called out,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s cold, so come here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I noticed a figure flinch behind the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop peeking and get over here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gestured with my hand, and the figure slowly revealed themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost endearing, watching her approach slowly but surely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I channeled my Qi to warm the air around us as she got closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it a hobby?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m asking if peeking became your hobby.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why have you been acting like this all day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you keep peeking at me like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed Wi Seol-Ah’s cheeks with both hands and gave them a playful tug as I finished speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ouigh…!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah eyes widened in shock, clearly not expecting me to actually pull her cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t have as much baby fat on her cheeks as before, but I could still pinch them easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost fascinating how much I could stretch them, given how slender her face was now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The thing you said to me in the morning too. Are you trying to harass me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes widened at my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I then released her cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t pinched too hard, but Wi Seol-Ah still rubbed her cheeks, wincing from the slight sting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why have you been acting this way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered what she was up to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no clue what was going through Wi Seol-Ah’s mind, but there had to be a reason for her strange behavior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to know what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hesitating for a moment, Wi Seol-Ah finally answered, her eyes trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…T-They told me that this would work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This would work? Who told you that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…They said that I would successfully charm you if I keep staring at you like this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she just say the word charm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word charm came out from Wi Seol-Ah’s mouth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Charm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I repeated the word in my head three times, still not understanding, so I said it aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a word I ever expected to hear from Wi Seol-Ah, no matter how I looked at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe she realized that too, or maybe she was just embarrassed, because she quickly turned her head away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, so you kept peeking at me the whole day trying to charm me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Just how is that charming?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only “charm” I’d ever experienced was during battle in my past life, but even then, I knew it took a lot more than just staring to charm someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, maybe someone like Moyong Hi-ah, with her seductive eyes, could pull that off, but Wi Seol-Ah didn’t have that kind of expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just where did she learn such a thing from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It all sounded ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah was beautiful enough to charm a man just with a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to think Wi Seol-Ah would actually try to do something like that…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Nah, there is no way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, that certainly wasn’t the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, charm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever she learned it from, if Wi Seol-Ah was really trying to charm me,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My brain stalled for a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t think anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had things ended up like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I fumbled for a response when she suddenly said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It seemed like this didn’t work, so I’ll try something else next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words snapped me back to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something else next time…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you going to do? Wait, what are you even doing now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no idea what Wi Seol-Ah was up to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She confessed she liked me in the morning, and now she was trying to charm me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked, genuinely confused by what she was after. Wi Seol-Ah’s expression hardened, the shakiness in her eyes gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Trying hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Trying hard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’m trying hard. I couldn’t afford to do nothing, so I’m doing this at the very least. So please… don’t hate me for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words, along with that soft smile, pierced straight into my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t bring myself to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t tell her there was no way I could hate her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would’ve been better if I did manage to tell her that though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, my mind was filled with fog which led to a headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not unbearable, but uncomfortable enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I felt that sensation, Wi Seol-Ah spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Gu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah spoke to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Can I try hugging you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words caught me off guard, spoken in a careful, hesitant tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t expected it, though it was something I’d heard from her before—long ago, in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-In times like this… just please hug me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She probably didn’t remember this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was pretty sure that only I remembered this happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could respond, Wi Seol-Ah moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rushed into my arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had grown a bit, but she was still much smaller than me, completely enveloped by my frame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated, unsure if I should wrap my arms around her, but then I felt her body trembling slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t able to win against her, so I tapped her back lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all I could do for her at the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How ironic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew that I had so many things to say to her, but I chose to keep my mouth shut in the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t do or say anything until I took care of at least one of the burdens weighing on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a choice I had to make—not just for myself, but for everyone around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, I finally spoke, my voice strained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Could you please loosen up a bit? I might die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, Wi Seol-Ah’s grip was tight and unrelenting, making it hard to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she strictly denied my request, so I decided to endure it as I didn’t want to ask twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few minutes, Wi Seol-Ah finally loosened her grip, darting off and vanishing before I could figure out how to handle the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the soft light of the moon filtering through the windows, Peng Ah-hee, a blood relative of the Peng Clan—one of the Four Noble Clans—made her way forward, carrying a warm teacup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was heading to see her friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she reached her destination, she found Tang Soyeol gazing out the window, a cool breeze blowing in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you came?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol smiled when she saw Peng Ah-hee with the tea in her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is something outside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? No, I just heard that the night sky is pretty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ah-hee glanced out the window, expecting a beautiful night sky, but only saw a few faint stars—nothing remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gave Tang Soyeol a curious look, then set the teacup down on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve also been eating less recently. Are you feeling okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t had much of an appetite lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol replied, taking a sip of her tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ah-hee’s expression shifted as she asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did Master Gu do something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol choked on her tea, coughing it out after hearing Peng Ah-hee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ah-hee calmly wiped the table, clearly used to this reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wh…What are you talking about, Ah-hee?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Judging by that face of yours drunk in emotion, I concluded that that was the case. Am I wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol hesitated for a moment after hearing Peng Ah-hee’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You are half correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew it. Should I go beat him up for you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-No…! My Master Gu doesn’t go easy just because his opponent is a girl…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You speak as if you are certain that I’ll lose… That hurts me a lot you know…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her words, Peng Ah-hee knew the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon, now known as the True Dragon, was the top of his generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way she could take him on, especially without a title of her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I just, feel kind of pathetic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of a sudden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ah-hee opened her eyes widely upon hearing Tang Soyeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Poison Phoenix, the first masterpiece of the Tang Clan, feeling pathetic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you feel that way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Tang Soyeol smiled as she spoke, her eyes betrayed a sense of emptiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Gu is quite popular, you know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Uh, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t something Peng Ah-hee could understand, but she had to admit that Gu Yangcheon was incredibly popular with girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each and every girl around him all came from incredible backgrounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bi-ah sis too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Dancer, a future candidate for the Sword Queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Lady Moyong as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She might not be much of a martial artist, but the Snow Phoenix excelled in other areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Seol-Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then there was Wi Seol-Ah, descendant of the Sword Venerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…It really is strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ah-hee felt a shock each time she thought about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just couldn’t understand why such incredible girls were always around Gu Yangcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I feel like I’m starting to understand recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gu Yangcheon of the past was a reckless troublemaker, and she would’ve tried to steer Tang Soyeol away from him. But now… Gu Yangcheon seemed different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still had a rough personality, but he wasn’t acting that way towards the girls that liked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his martial prowess was a point of pride for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Becoming the youngest to reach Peak Realm in history was an accomplishment any clan would covet—it hinted at the potential to become the future Zenith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Poison King who loved Tang Soyeol, would shed tears of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Though his reaction would be a bit different if he learned that Gu Yangcheon had other girls around him besides Soyeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would try to poison Gu Yangcheon to death as soon as he see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ah-hee was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting that aside, Tang Soyeol was feeling inadequate compared to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you think that way? You also- “\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know that there isn’t a need for me to feel that way, but I can’t help but feel that way you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol kept the smile on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know I shouldn’t compare myself to them, but I do anyway. I have nothing besides the Poison Phoenix title.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite saying pitiful words, Tang Soyeol sipped her tea with a calm expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ah-hee often found it impressive how Soyeol could speak so gently while belittling herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt that she would be very hurt if she was in Tang Soyeol’s shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S…o? Are you going to give up on Master Gu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol tilted her head at the question..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ah-hee now was confused seeing her reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t that what she was trying to hint?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I give up on Master Gu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was that not what you were trying to say? I thought… you were saying that you lacked compared to others, so that you are giving up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol chuckled at Peng Ah-hee’s assumption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I guess that’s not it then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nope, it is not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long, soft laugh, Tang Soyeol turned her gaze to the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give up? If I was going to give up, I would’ve done it long ago. I’ve always known I’m not on Seol-Ah’s level or the others’.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I lacked, I found myself looking for a different path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Different path?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I can fulfill it my own way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ah-hee couldn’t quite grasp what Tang Soyeol meant by “fulfilling it her own way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something different about the way she smiled as she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn’t she come here to complain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah-hee.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol turned to look directly at Peng Ah-hee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could you help me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Soyeol had very calm eyes as she said those words.\u003C\u002Fp>",3281,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","7effb7067f6fff0a806d26d3c2a5f29f9a3a121bfce130c85eec58caa7b07548","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-323","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-321",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]