[{"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-337":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},1240313,1667,"Chapter 337: Confrontation (1)","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-337",337,"\u003Cp>The sky trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Craaack-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi surrounding the area began to shift in color, consumed by an unknown force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dense, ominous blackness devoured the Qi meant to protect the students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Aghhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-H-Help me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams could be heard from all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something wasn’t right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students had expected danger during their tests, but their screams weren’t from encountering demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi stormed everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t unusual for martial artists’ Qi to blend with the air, but this Qi carried a vile, unsettling aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the distinct, foul Qi of the Unorthodox Faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foul Qi mingled with the air, spreading slowly but steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scent of blood clung to the forest trees, making it difficult to see beneath the blackened sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of light cut through the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sword, charged with Unorthodox Qi, flew straight toward a trembling student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The student finally reacted by flinching, but they were too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi-infused sword aimed directly at the student’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood sprayed across the nearby trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, it wasn’t the student who perished, but the mysterious martial artist who had thrown the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the student was sitting in shock, staring at the martial artist who died right in front of them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood trickled from a nearby sword, wielded by a figure scanning the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She appeared to be searching for any remaining threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief scan, she glanced down at the student and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-Yes… I-I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The student’s gaze settled on the woman’s hair, brown with a subtle golden sheen, stained with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood trickled down her pale cheek, yet there was an inexplicable allure to her appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in fear, the student couldn’t look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There should be an instructor if you take left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring his gaze, she pointed with a steady hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was telling the student to run away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The student scrambled to his feet and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A-Are you not coming as well… Young Lady?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t saying this out of fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he was scared about the fact that he almost died just now, but that wasn’t why he was saying this now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, that’s what he told himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response to the student, the lady only looked around with an expressionless face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… is going on right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lady shook off the blood on her sword after giving a short response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The metallic scent of blood grew stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then checked the person she killed with her own hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There shouldn’t have been any pain since she struck his vital point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She also killed another person before this, but she didn’t really feel anything from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the first time she’d killed since learning to wield a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared at the lifeless body beneath her blade, yet she felt nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I don’t like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lady wasn’t fond of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew there was nothing ordinary about this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s nothing. Be cautious of your surroundings, if you don’t want to end up in the same situation as earlier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to leave. The student hastily reached out, trying to grab her shoulder,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hgh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could touch her, she turned slightly, fixing him with a piercing gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fierce eyes forced the student to step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“U…Um, I think you should come as well since it’s dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The student knew who the lady was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t a single student at the Academy who didn’t recognize her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was one of the Academy’s most famous figures; it was impossible not to know her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the descendant of one of the Heavenly Venerables, the Sword Venerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all but certain that she would demonstrate her exceptional talent and make a name for herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The student withdrew after hearing her cold tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Wi Seol-Ah spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have someone to look for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, Wi Seol-Ah leapt lightly into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t jump too high, but high enough for her to be able to see the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah frowned as she scanned the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon’s presence had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…What happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It happened in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She widened her senses, wary that Jang Seonyeon might attempt something harmful. She had detected Gu Yangcheon’s presence, but it vanished in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, something strange began to disturb the Qi around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just the sensation of it gave her chills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t the only problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ambush?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some mysterious group appeared and started to slaughter the students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s where the scent of blood came from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah scanned her surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was filled with the scent of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no idea why this ambush was occurring or what their goal might be,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Where did he go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t what was important for Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Wi Seol-Ah, nothing mattered more than Gu Yangcheon’s safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew it. I should’ve followed him from the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She regretted her decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had seen where he was headed, yet chose not to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grinding her teeth, Wi Seol-Ah directed her question at someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Did you know that this would happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked a question, but no response came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She called again, but silence was her only reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah had stayed away from Gu Yangcheon during this test because the voice had urged her to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She told her to stay still if she wanted to help him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had questioned the voice’s reasoning, but its only answer was that it was for his sake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Wi Seol-Ah held herself back, even as she sensed Jang Seonyeon closing in on Gu Yangcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, this was the result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was for him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could this possibly help him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If something happens to Gu Yangcheon,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah tightened her grip on her sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her once innocent gaze sharpened, turning fierce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without him, she would lose her very reason for learning the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I must find him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah leapt toward the spot where she had last sensed his presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t too far from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah quickened her pace, surging forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams still continued to echo around her, but Wi Seol-Ah didn’t turn away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where is it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She ran tirelessly, searching for the right path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His presence was especially noticeable, so Wi Seol-Ah was able to feel it even if he tried hiding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was likely near the mountain’s peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Wi Seol-Ah prepared to leap toward the mountain’s peak,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah staggered, catching herself against a nearby tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah winced from the pain coursing through her body and bit down on her lip as she reached into her pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pulled out a charm pouch, a gift from the Immortal Healer. With trembling hands, she opened it, took out one of the marbles, and popped it into her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now of all times…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clenched her teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt the medicine slide down her throat, but its effects were slow to take hold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tried desperately to channel her Qi, but her haste only brought more pain, making movement difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… Huff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wiped the sweat from her brow and forced herself to keep moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding him mattered more than the pain surging through her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard for Wi Seol-Ah to move for a few minutes, and she knew that her surroundings were extremely dangerous right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her Qi didn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike before, when she could fully conceal her presence, she found herself exposed now that her vessel was sealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Hghh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She started to get hotter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The medicine’s effect was slowly spreading, but her feet were still ensnared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A noise came from the tall grass behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>WI Seol-Ah gripped her sword tightly, focusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it an enemy like before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t know their identities and ended up killing them through an ambush, but they weren’t weak by any means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were around First-rate martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pointed her sword toward the source of the sound, struggling to stay conscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just needed to endure for a few more minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll endure it somehow, and…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I had no intention of revealing myself, but I was curious about where you were headed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah’s tense expression softened as she recognized the voice from beyond the tall grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a familiar voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Considering your current state, I think it’s best I assist you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure emerged from the tall grass, dressed in black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression was blank, his loosely tied hair distinctly recognizable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was one of the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dragon Warrior, Bi Eejin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************As the disaster unfolded,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aghhhh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon’s screams echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grown man was being tossed around by his collar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that man was none other than Cheol Jiseon himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leaped as if she was carrying a light baggage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was that even possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a gap in their skills, yes, but this seemed beyond reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person who was leaping across places while carrying Cheol Jiseon around by his collar, was none other than the Sword Dancer, Namgung Bi-ah who he ran into earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outwardly, she appeared delicate, yet she handled Cheol Jiseon as if he were a mere toy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>H…Help me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this absurd situation, all Cheol Jiseon could do was scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-Young Lady…! Please slow dooownnn…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon desperately asked, but Namgung Bi-ah didn’t even pretend to hear him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had known it would come to this, he would have preferred she left him behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Where did he go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah had appeared out of nowhere, demanded to know Gu Yangcheon’s whereabouts, and, without waiting for a reply, darted off in a specific direction, dragging him along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to be in a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aghh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, despite carrying another person, her speed was astounding, almost unreal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon hadn’t noticed it before, overshadowed by monsters like Gu Yangcheon and the Sleeping Dragon, but the Sword Dancer was just as formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…I-I didn’t get to tell her about the True Dragon yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t exactly say who she was looking for, but Cheol Jiseon knew that the Sword Dancer was looking for none other than the True Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had noticed that her gaze towards the True Dragon was different compared to others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, everyone at the Academy knew the two were engaged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone wondered how a scary figure like the True Dragon could be engaged with the beautiful Sword Dancer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It got to the point that people started thinking that it was a forced engagement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those doubts vanished when they saw how the Sword Dancer treated the True Dragon differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truthfully, the True Dragon was hated largely because of the Sword Dancer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t just called the greatest beauty of Anhui anymore, but the Zenith of beauty now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what one of the people watching her said, as she herself was busy training her sword without caring about others’ gazes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon agreed as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the women surrounding the True Dragon, the Sword Dancer and the Sword Venerable were especially captivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this wasn’t the time for such thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-Young Ladyyy…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cheol Jiseon began worrying about his skin being ripped off to the rough wind he faced, the Sword Dancer suddenly let go of his collar for some reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being freed was a relief, but the sudden release sent Cheol Jiseon tumbling across the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aghhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rolled several times before finally coming to a stop against a nearby tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huff… Huff… I’m saved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon barely managed to hold his dizzy consciousness and got up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wondered if the Sword Dancer accidentally let him go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it wasn’t, it meant she’d discarded him like a piece of baggage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…I guess I am a baggage though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cheol Jiseon felt fear from the fact that he almost died earlier, he looked around looking for the Sword Dancer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of how she treated him, she was still his savior, and he had information about the True Dragon’s whereabouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would I die if I tell her though?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon wondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Dancer’s face he saw from earlier was beautiful and all, but it was way too horrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite that though, Cheol Jiseon decided that he will tell her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might have opened the gate under Jang Seonyeon’s influence, and even though the True Dragon had reassured him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…No matter how much I think about it, this isn’t right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, it was Cheol Jiseon’s actions that led to this chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he looked around to search for Namgung Bi-ah,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zaaap-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a sharp Lightning Qi from somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon recognized it immediately as the Sword Dancer’s Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He learned from his background research that she used Lightning Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, doesn’t this mean that she is in a dangerous situation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But didn’t that mean she was in danger?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his fear, he forced himself toward the source of the Lightning Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though it hasn’t been that long ever since he was separated from her, she was further than he expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had moved so far in that short amount of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon gathered his Qi, gripping his sword tightly in his trembling hand as he made his way toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he approached where the Lightning Qi came from,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He struggled to contain his shock at the sight before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh no.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Cheol Jiseon heard a heavy voice,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another disrupter, I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon’s entire body began to tremble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi in their voice was too much for Cheol Jiseon to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance, he spotted a girl leaning against a rock, the Poison Phoenix of the Tang Clan. Beside her stood the Young Lady of the Peng Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there, facing off against an unknown figure, was the Sword Dancer, her Lightning Qi crackling in the air around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man with neatly tied hair, dressed in dark robes, stood with pale skin and eyes that glowed with a violet hue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon knew immediately after seeing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t someone he could even dare to go against.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man cast a brief, dismissive glance at Cheol Jiseon before turning his attention back to the Sword Dancer, a hint of boredom in his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while. I believe we’ve met before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Dancer’s face was filled with tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant that she knew this person as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s brow furrowed slightly, his dissatisfaction evident as he asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Dancer nodded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet you still pull your sword out against me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if he was talking down on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do I look like a joke to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or maybe… you see me as a joke because of my defeat at the hands of the Flaming Demon that day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dark, ominous aura began to seep from the man’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Even though I am the Lord of the Black Palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the man’s words, Cheol Jiseon’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees.\u003C\u002Fp>",2527,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","ea59cd9c7c9cfe4c314d531570a42b1c5e6a9e5a67997475e61b4f64fe6dcb76","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-338","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-336",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]