[{"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-37":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},1239963,1667,"Chapter 36: Looking for the Hint (4)","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-37",37,"\u003Cp>༺ Looking for the hint (4) ༻\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive snake that was releasing a bright white light was looking down at us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It-It’s a huge snake…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my teeth upon hearing Wi Seol-Ah’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were in averybad situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…A demon?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way that a snake so large in size wasn’t a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And considering how it had spoken to us… is it a demon with some sort of intellect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had never heard of or seen such a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let alone a demon so massive in size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What do I do?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I probably wouldn’t be able to even scratch it with my current capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I had to at least make sure that Wi Seol-Ah safely got out of this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How can I distract it…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that point, the snake spoke, as if it had just read my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Calm down, child. I am not very hungry right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…It isn’t hostile?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing its words, I wiped my sweat and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you understand me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– We are talking to each other after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can a demon speak the language of humans?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– A demon… How amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake moved its tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even its tongue looked much bigger than me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– We are at a time where entities such as myself are called demons, hm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a bitter voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t seem hostile, but I couldn’t trust a demon, so I still covered myself with Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake opened its eyes to reveal a golden gaze and asked me a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– …I’m curious, child. How did a child like you, who isn’t from the Nature, manage to come all the way here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nature…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it referring to the Golden Nature?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The Golden Nature disappeared centuries ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following my words, the snake’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it slowly closed its eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Shhhh\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant snake curled up its body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had only moved slightly, but the entire room immediately started shaking—the snake was that large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– …I see. It seems it was inevitable after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The huge head of the snake slowly came down to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– But still, I am curious. Even if my power has been degrading, how did you manage to come all the way here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…When it said power, does that mean the spatial magic was set up by this demon?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A demon that possessed such inconceivable power…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How scary is that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How should I answer the demon’s question?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth is, I only ended up here because Wi Seol-Ah led me all the way, so I didn’t have much to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I happened to coincidentally find it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– …What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake that had been about to respond to my absurd answer suddenly stopped itself and moved its gaze to a different place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake was now looking at Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its golden eyes shined slightly as it looked at Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of its size, I couldn’t help but feel fear at the massive head staring so intently at us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah seemed to share my fears as she hurriedly moved behind my back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake, after observing her for a few seconds, backed off a bit to give us some space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– I see… So that’s what happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh? What did he understand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Child, what was your goal for coming here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was stunned for a bit by the snake’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this snake had some sort of relationship with the Golden Nature, would it just let us steal the secret vault and let us get away?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I ended up here by coincidence, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I unconsciously spoke in a formal tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake swirled its tongue at my answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know if I was hallucinating from fear, but it looked to me like the snake was smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake then spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Unfortunately, the thing you are looking for no longer belongs here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Fuck, he noticed that I came here for the secret vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following that realization, sweat instantly soaked my back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake continued its words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Since my days are about to come to an end, this place will also disappear with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…About to end?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I felt like I knew how the Tang Clan was able to find this place in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the snake was being truthful, then the Tang clan had probably found this place after the spatial magic had faded away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now it makes sense why no one was able to find a unique tree such as this one for so long.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But is it saying the truth about nothing being here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was, then what did the lord of the Gaecheon Clan gain from this place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes, sir?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I answered nervously to the snake’s call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My pride was hurt because I was speaking to a snake in such a formal tone, but now was not the time to bother about such trivialities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– What do you think fate is?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of shitty question is that… Sir?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To such an absurd question, I subconsciously responded with my normal way of talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You idiot, why would you do that in a situation like this!?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Hahahaha!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake laughed at my response, the entirety of the room shaking as it laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– You are correct… That was indeed an absurd question from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, the snake didn’t seem angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to complain about the fact that the snake was the only one asking the questions, but I held myself back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t afford to do so in my current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake loosened its curled-up body slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– …Why stall it for this long when it is destined to disappear one day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t seem to be talking to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was it talking to? Then, the snake suddenly started shining brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t emanating the white light it had before, but a golden light just like its eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I thought about taking this chance to run away with Wi Seol-Ah, something shot out from the snake’s opened mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a golden marble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I picked up the marble that had come to a stop at my feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the snake spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Take it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– It’s your reward for dealing with a monster such as me. As it was bound to end up in someone’s hands sooner or later, it is probably better for you to have it. Such is fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the marble had come out of the snake’s body, it wasn’t covered in any sort of mucus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had to make a comparison, it looked sort of like a demonic stone, but it didn’t have any ominous feeling around it, much unlike demonic stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, it felt luxurious and bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed… holy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Considering you have that inside your body, you will be able to absorb it easier than others would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘”That”? What does it mean by that…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could process any other thoughts, hot qi suddenly and furiously surged into my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the sudden influx of pain, I dropped to my knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, just like last time, my demonic absorption ability activated without my will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had let my guard down, it seemed that it was actually a demonic stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But, weirdly enough, I couldn’t feel any demonic qi seeping into my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem instead seemed to be the fact that the Qi that was streaming into my body was too much for me to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I struggled with the pain, I felt the hands of Wi Seol-Ah rub against my back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the furious Qi that had been streaming into my body calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, just as I sought to heave a sigh of relief, the injected Qi met my own fire Qi, then began to combine with it, and went on a rampage throughout my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ughhh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain instantly resurfaced, worse than it had earlier been; I felt like I was going to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the snake actually trying to kill me? If so, why go through such a roundabout method? Surely gulping me down in one bite would’ve been much more efficient…!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, then rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only sound in my ears should’ve been my groaning, but for some reason, I heard an explosion in my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was I hallucinating because of the pain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, the two Qis that had been rampaging like crazy formed into one line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this merged line of Qi reached the center of my body, it suddenly spread throughout my whole body—disregarding any semblance of control I tried to establish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if it had suddenly exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the pain got to a point where I could no longer handle it;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blacked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Gu Yangcheon had fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was left with only two conscious individuals—the snake, and Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake laughed after seeing what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– I guess it was too much for him to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of a snake that was about to become a dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having absorbed such power, Gu Yangcheon now possessed a Qi that was stronger than most others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah put Gu Yangcheon’s head on her knees and slowly rubbed his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake then asked her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Are you satisfied with this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah lifted her head upon hearing the snake’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the usual black eyes that Wi Seol-Ah usually had, her eyes were now golden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah then opened her mouth and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not up to me to be satisfied.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone was vastly different from how she usually sounded, the naiveté usually present nowhere to be found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake responded, sadness evident in its tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– You came all the way here after changing so many things. Is this what you wanted?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? Can you not comprehend it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– It is not that. I comprehend it so much that I feel sorry for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake slowly lowered its body to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its scales were slowly losing their light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah, still rubbing Gu Yangcheon’s back, asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you hand over the jewel you’d been protecting for so long to a person you’d only met for the first time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– I felt whimsical. There is nothing worse than waiting for someone who will never come, so I decided to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake was reminded of a golden-haired man with a bright smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone it would never see again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– …Fate is such a cruel mistress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scales were now falling to the ground. As soon as the scales touched the ground, they crumbled and disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like the leaves of the white maple tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, the massive snake disappeared… without leaving a single trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were the last moments of the snake who had provided the jewel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah carefully patted Gu Yangcheon’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even in that situation, you were thinking of protecting me… What kind of person are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–drip-drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears were slowly falling onto Gu Yangcheon’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You could’ve just run away.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon, even while shaking, had continued to stand in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can’t understand. Why do all that for me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘For a person like me who only holds grudges and contempt and doesn’t know anything else…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was reminded of the person who never once opened her mouth for anyone else but herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had despised her. I hated her and wanted nothing more than to kill her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That person was none other than me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– …Give it back now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard a voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah wiped the flowing tears with her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, but I’ll be borrowing it for a bit longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now was not the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a little more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah carefully placed Gu Yangcheon’s head on the ground and slowly got up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to pat his head a bit more, but she knew her place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she felt that it was a selfish act since she was ignoring her guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah slowly stretched her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still the body of a young, fragile girl, but the vessel that was holding her was so big that she had no problem controlling the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After she was done stretching, Wi Seol-Ah spoke while looking at the door they had come from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come out now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice of the little girl was now sharp and cold akin to an awl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, shocked at her words, revealed himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How? Since when did you notice that I was here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You thought you’d be able to hide yourself when you lack so much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was none other than Macheol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun’s escort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since the beginning,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since Gu Yangcheon left the Tang clan, Wi Seol-Ah had known that she and Gu Yangcheon were being followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Gu Yangcheon had some experience from his past, there was no way that he would have been able to notice a martial artist that reached the peak realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I was going to finish it quietly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol let out a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He already had his sword drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are a child with good senses. I didn’t want to deal with you, so I was only going to get rid of Gu Yangcheon, but now everything is messed up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this an order from Namgung?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol’s eyes frowned at Wi Seol-Ah’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How dare you!? You have no right to utter such a name through your mouth!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah remained expressionless in the face of Macheol’s rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then quietly pulled out a dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol scoffed at her upon seeing the dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you going to do with that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol then thought to himself as he gazed at Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Beautiful.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was fascinatingly beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still seemed a bit young, so it would be better to bring her back to the clan and only get rid of the Gu Clan’s son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with the secret vault, and Gu Yangcheon’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had been a successful trip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Macheol finished his thoughts, he asked Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t resist, I won’t lay a finger on you. How about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She will most likely get hurt if she tries to fight me while also trying to protect her master.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And that definitely won’t make my master happy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah, once again, didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply looked down at the dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol let out a disappointed sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, if you so insist, then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol let out a dumb sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something had fallen near him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he felt something strange, an unnatural lack of balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol, with a shaky hand, tried to touch his left shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold sweat flowed down his cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entirety of the left arm that should have been there, wasn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he looked down at the ground, he saw that the thing that fell was none other than his own arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did you…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol hadn’t even seen Wi Seol-Ah swing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah’s voice dug into his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Macheol finally realized that something was wrong—horribly wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah took her first step forward, and Macheol’s breathing instantly roughened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the distance between them shrank, Macheol found that it was getting increasingly harder to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An overwhelming pressure was pressing down on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Don’t open your mouth any more; I don’t want him to wake up when he is sleeping so soundly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she took a step forward, Wi Seol-Ah’s hair slowly turned golden.\u003C\u002Fp>",2591,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","082d17d0c900fed1a76ec7e8e997d47763a5c1b125f9b30ccd0549b5894fe640","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-38","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-36",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]