[{"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-38":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},1239964,1667,"Chapter 37: Looking for the Hint (5)","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-38",38,"\u003Cp>༺ Looking for the Hint (5) ༻\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Before Macheol followed Gu Yangcheon to the secret vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck… Fuuuuck!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun, the Lightning Dragon, was currently screaming in rage, his hair disheveled, and one of his arms wrapped up in a bandage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time Namgung Cheonjun screamed, items close to him would break, and his servants would subsequently flinch in fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been raging ever since the moment he woke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That piece of shit… He definitely used some sort of magic!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Gu Cheonyub or Gu Jeolyub motherfucker—whatever his name was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no other way to explain his current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the main family members had been invited to the Tang’s Military Exhibition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If main family members weren’t available, then they didn’t need to come at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way proxies could be sent in place of direct descendants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were the rules set by the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gu clan was the clan of the Tiger Warrior and the Sword Phoenix.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun had heard that the Gu Clan had a son, so the Gu fucker had to be him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun gritted his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of magic did he use?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I just didn’t like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t like how he’d traveled alongside my sister, and I didn’t like how he got attention from her either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I hated how that kid had dared to look down at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A kid that came from the same bloodline as the Tiger Warrior and the Sword Phoenix had nothing to show for it aside from a pathetic amount of Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why he’d just wanted to play with him a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make him realize where he stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did I let my guard down? I’d thought that I wouldn’t have to be serious against a kid like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why I let my guard down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that still didn’t mean that I could lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t believe he ended up like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t hold in my anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun assured himself;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s definitely some sort of magic…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of magic? And how did he use it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of that mattered to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it wasn’t magic, I will make it look like it was magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His crotch, which was still in pain, only worsened Namgung Cheonjun’s anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Macheol.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol knew what he had to do the instant Namgung Cheonjun called him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the way he’d been called, he already knew what he would task him with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an order that he had gotten hundreds of times already, so it wouldn’t be any different now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is your plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short but meaningful question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And one Macheol couldn’t easily answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t in a good situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The escorts from the Gu Clan were quite skillful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And one of them looked especially skilled; Macheol assumed that he was the direct escort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed like someone who wouldn’t fall short even when compared to Namgung Cheonjun, the Lightning Dragon himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol wondered how a martial artist of his caliber hadn’t spread his name to the world yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, the Gu Clan had always been a secretive one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had to compare him to someone like me who has already reached the peak level, I would probably lose 20 times out of 100 if we fought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to get rid of Gu Yangcheon after going through all those guards? It was pretty much an impossible mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Macheol.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun didn’t know or care about any of that, however, and was pressuring\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol knew his master well; he was one who would usually keep his mature facade outside, but if things didn’t go his way, he would reveal his spoilt, childish appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol felt a strange feeling of suffocation as his master’s mood worsened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because of the brace around his chest, one that every martial artist got once they signed up to work for the Namgung Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the price they had to pay in order to obtain martial skills under the name of Namgung. It was how they showed their loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was one of the reasons why Macheol was working as the direct escort of Namgung Cheonjun even though he was at the level of a peak martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the feeling of tightening and the pain it brought gradually worsened, Macheol was forced to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I will look for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tightening stopped instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Cheonjun smiled ominously at Macheol’s response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he tapped Macheol’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve always believed in you, and I believe that you will once again bring me good news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes My Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn’t good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol thought to himself as he set out to accomplish his master’s goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had answered that he would do it, but was it even possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Macheol nervously wondered, he was given a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The target he had been secretly inspecting suddenly left the Tang Clan by himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Macheol became an escort, he had been a martial artist experienced in the ways of the assassin, so he was quite confident in his abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he had to do was get rid of one young kid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why is he traveling all by himself at this time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Macheol’s biggest question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this is a trap?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then who or what was this trap for?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only presence Macheol felt was that of the son of the Gu Clan—Gu Yangcheon himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was the kid running even when he was so out of breath during such a late hour at night?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was he headed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol decided to watch for a little longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an easy assassination that he could achieve at any time he wanted, so he decided to watch for a little longer and sate his curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the place he’d arrived at after two hours of walking and running was a cliff that was some distance from the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing here, even though he had made so much effort to come all the way here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A place like this…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a good place for kidnapping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol knew his master well, and knew that he would prefer that to straight up illing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he is all alone, I guess I will-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you hereeee!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Macheol prepared to make his move, he stopped at the boy’s yelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of the boy stood some girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Since when…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been on guard throughout the journey here and had never felt a presence asides that of the boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another pursuer? But I still should have noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when it was such a seemingly average girl\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of her presence, however, there was still a chance to easily get rid of him. After all,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he had the skills to beat my master, the son of Gu is at most a first-rate martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And adding that servant-looking girl wouldn’t have meant anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even then, for some reason, Macheol found that he couldn’t initiate his plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His instincts were preventing him from doing anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two eventually made their way down to a restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol overheard their conversation while they were enjoying their meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like the Gu boy was looking for a white maple tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A white maple tree in the middle of summer… What could that possibly mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly, the girl looked behind her while she was eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol flinched because of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it just my imagination?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a very slight instance, but Macheol felt like the girl had glanced at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It has to be my imagination…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like he’d done with Gu Yangcheon, Macheol observed the girl’s body; she was an average girl with no qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a coincidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what Macheol had thought, so he ignored the strange feeling that had given him goosebumps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl told the Gu boy that she had seen the tree he was looking for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember where?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like they had found what it was that they were looking for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, Macheol couldn’t believe his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tree they discovered after climbing the mountain at night, the staircase that led down, and the moonlight marbles installed on the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And, of course, the mysterious secret vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol couldn’t understand what exactly was going on. It had all happened too suddenly for him to process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know why the Gu boy knew all about this, but in the end,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I must thank him for delivering all of this to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything would go into his master’s hands, but at least Macheol would get a good pay thanks to this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing that happened after that made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… huff…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol used his Qi to stop the blood from escaping him after his shoulder was cleanly cut off. Well, he attempted to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bleeding isn’t stopping…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t control his blood even with his peak level qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood continued to escape his body as if there was a hole that he couldn’t block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When? And how?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol couldn’t understand how she had been able to strike such a blow with such a small dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t even gotten a glimpse of how the girl had swung her dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is dangerous; I need to run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re going somewhere?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice that stabbed into Macheol’s heart made his eyes shake in fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he slowly lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow that was visible in front of him made it hard for Macheol to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I gave you many chances.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Said the girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Macheol’s shoulder was heavily pressed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black hair was all but gone, replaced by resplendent golden hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What… in the world…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t get the message the first time, so I even helped your instincts become more sensitive so that you would realize that you should back out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is she?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overpowering presence that was easily pressuring down a martial artist at the peak level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How do I even describe this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol didn’t understand. Hecouldn’tunderstand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing that he could understand and be sure of, was that the aura the girl was releasing was not Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, what is it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should’ve just run away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol struggled to breathe but managed to gasp out a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A person you don’t need to know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you knew the whole time that I was following you, why did you leave me alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never left you alone. I was just being kind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that point, it all clicked. The strange feeling he had been getting throughout the time he had spent following them… It was all a result of this girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How come a person like you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol bit down on his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ultimate enlightenment of a martial artist: eternal youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the one standing in front of him had already reached that status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then how come she was just acting as the direct servant of that boy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t be answering any more questions… I don’t really have that much time, you see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would still like to pat him a bit more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl responded with a small voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was being generous with you because this is the first time that this body will kill someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What are you talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol had been certain after her first strike—deadly and without hesitation—that she had killed many people. But she was saying that she’d never killed anyone? That was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl continued to speak, ignoring Macheol’s thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I at least wanted to let you decide, but it had to be this way. Sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden apology, but Macheol felt like the apology wasn’t directed at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How can I get out of here alive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He racked his brains, but the girl’s steps were faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already erased the thought of fighting back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to run away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the girl was speaking to herself, he collected all of the Qi he had left in his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden usage of Qi would ruin his body, but now was not the time to worry about that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just have to run away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then explain everything that had just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Macheol turned around and explosively sprinted away, planning to burn all of his Qi to ensure that he made it to the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But something was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His line of sight, which should have been focused on the exit, was now facing the floor, and no amount of effort allowed his gaze to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, the view of the ground seemed to get bigger and bigger…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were Macheol’s last thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head of a peak martial artist from the Namgung Clan rolled across the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single strike from Wi Seol-Ah had killed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Macheol’s death, Wi Seol-Ah—expressionless—sheathed her dagger and waved her hand, Macheol’s body catching on fire the instant the wave was completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some time later, nothing remained of Macheol; not a single trace of him was left—it was as if he’d never existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– …Please… Please give it back now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice reached Wi Seol-Ah’s ears, and a small smile appeared on her face after it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, can you watch for a little longer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– But it’s my body…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it is yours… and it will be for the rest of your time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah then walked over to the still-asleep Gu Yangcheon—it seemed like nothing that had transpired had managed to pierce the veil of his deep slumber—and started to pat his head once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ll give it back for real now. I think I’m satisfied with this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bitterness oozed from her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what Wi Seol-Ah felt every time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They say that nothing hurts more than regretting something that has happened after it’s too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah poked Gu Yangcheon’s cheek and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– …Hey…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And retracted her hand immediately after the unhappy voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– You’re leaving now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though no visible trace of the snake remained, it seemed its spirit still hadn’t completely dissipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I need some sleep. I went a bit too far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long would it be until she could resurface? It would take a very long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– You… Do you know what you are?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah smiled upon hearing the snake’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, a little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah knew a bit about herself, but she’d found out that little, too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– It’ll be quite the arduous task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– I see… I wish you good luck in your future endeavors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thanks; you should also sleep now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Wi Seol-Ah’s words, a small wind blew about the large hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah then slowly laid down next to Gu Yangcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After poking Gu Yangcheon’s frowning face,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She closed her eyes as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, Gu Yangcheon finally opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Where am I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an unfamiliar ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>",2520,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","c3b557f49f4dddfcac30e7c77dfbd85d36a9a722f328c6b1d83c9db19d0ef189","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-39","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-37",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]