[{"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-383":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},1239859,1667,"Chapter 383","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-383",383,"\u003Cp>What is this hand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this really my father’s hand? If so, why is it on top of my head?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind isn’t working right, almost as if it’s broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not just the unexpected situation; it’s also that I knew exactly what I did with my hands just now. The more I thought about it, the more my breathing grew irregular, and my head began to feel dizzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I began to grasp reality, a cold weight settled in my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, an answer came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My father spoke to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve thought long and hard, but no words feel right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What... What is this all of a sudden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are my son.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes widened at my father’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are something to me, but that is the only answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re telling me now what I am to you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay still. First, I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I forgive you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words made me flinch. Forgive? Forgive what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I forgive you for intending to harm your own child with a father’s hand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I bit my lip at his words. When did he figure it out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When did he start noticing? I couldn't steady my shaking gaze, and he continued speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I forgive you, but you must not forgive me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now... Is that really something you should say now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rough hand stroked my hair. It was clumsy and awkward, almost enough to make me swat it away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But strangely, I didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well done. Not bad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roughness of his voice rang in my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The third one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Pardon...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I ask you this. Did the first one leave with a smile?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His question about Unni, Gu Hee-bi, left me speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I don’t... I don’t remember.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t avoiding the question; I genuinely didn’t remember. Her last expression—what was Gu Hee-bi’s expression at the end?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My father nodded quietly at my response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case, remember these words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My father’s red eyes slowly began to darken. His hair, which had been red, wasn’t turning black but rather white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a sign that life was draining away from him. Seeing that, I wanted to do something, but I knew it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Live.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words struck me like a hammer to the chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I called out to him desperately, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already gone. He died standing, without bending a knee, just as he had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was I who fell to my knees before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Ah...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was wrong. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to burst my own heart open and die right there, but I couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Live.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words had become shackles that bound me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did he say that? Was it to tell me to live and atone? If not... then why else would he have said such a thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I curled up, covering my face with both hands. I neither screamed nor cried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I simply breathed quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long did I stay like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sensed someone approaching from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...This...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person, startled by the scene, spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Demon Sword Empress. She must have run here, as she approached me, breathing heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are... are you okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, I wasn’t okay. Not at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But why... The Lord told you not to come...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma had told me not to go to the Gu family. Yet I had come alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, things had come to this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that I didn’t say anything, she looked around and spoke urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need... to leave... People will come soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She grabbed my shoulder, trying to pull me away. I wanted to stay put, just lie there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But my qi was completely depleted, and my body, exhausted from battle, wouldn’t obey my will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let go... Just leave me...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have sensed my exhaustion, as she pressed my acupoints, immobilizing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry... but I can’t let this slide.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With my weakened body unable to undo her hold, I had no choice but to let her carry me away from the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as we moved quickly, I kept my gaze on my father. Until he faded from sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I killed my father. The memory still burned brightly in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Damn it.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why I couldn’t easily resent him in this life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time I looked into his eyes, I felt fear and guilt at the same time. How could I ever forget?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sensation in my hands back then was still vivid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was recalling that memory now, but my breathing became ragged. I tried circulating my qi to calm myself, but it was no use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My father watched me with a curious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memories overlapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white hair he had as he aged. And his eyes back then, which had turned black, not red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No... It’s nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because of the memory that had just surfaced, it was difficult to look him in the eyes. I tried to shake the image from my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand what you said, but... I still need to know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the confusion, his sudden apology and the secrets behind it were unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t the main issue right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please... Can’t you just tell me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My father paused as if contemplating how to respond in this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, after a moment, he finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright. I will tell you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile touched my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But on one condition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A condition?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words made me pause, but I felt a glimmer of hope. If he was going to tell me, that was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll do whatever it takes...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fight me and win.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excuse me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I must have heard wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scrutinized his face, hoping it was a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his gaze was as serious as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mean... you want me to fight you, the clan leader, and win?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked again, and his expression remained unchanged. I felt a hollow laugh escape me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you just don’t want to tell me, do you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s what I said from the start.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, I almost fell for his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But shouldn’t the condition be something feasible? What kind of...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you admitting defeat already? That’s rather disappointing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re saying that knowing I don’t stand a chance, aren’t you? Really low.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without realizing it, I spoke to him with the casual tone I’d usually reserve for others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had never spoken to him like this before. One of his eyebrows lifted slightly in displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear he didn’t like it. I feared he’d retract the whole thing right then and there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t seem to like it. I’ll adjust the condition a little.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to apologize when, surprisingly, he offered to change the terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why...? I was relieved he wasn’t angry, but still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just one time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you manage to strike me even once, I’ll tell you what you want to know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just one... strike?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, a single blow. If you can’t manage even that, I won’t tell you where your mother is, and even if you find out on your own, I’ll do whatever it takes to stop you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not telling me is one thing, but stopping me from finding out myself? Isn’t that going too far?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned at his response, and he cut me off firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you can’t do even this, you’ll die there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No more compromises. If you don’t want this, go back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no idea what made that place so dangerous that he would try to prevent me from going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his words were laced with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was because of the previous conversation we’d had, but I felt a strange sense of warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost... sentimental, but not in a way I hated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I composed myself and asked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you’re saying... we’ll have a duel here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded, and I added, somewhat surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just fought the White Sky Sword Lord. I don’t have much strength left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know, yet you still want to do this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you not want to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, of course...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to say I didn’t, but then I remembered his earlier words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No more compromises. If you don’t want this, go back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So basically, if I didn’t like it, I could just not do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My father... turns out he’s pettier than I thought?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of the conditions felt fair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if he had deliberately set conditions knowing I wouldn’t accept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even the conditions were almost impossible to meet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no way of gauging his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that I couldn’t see any openings meant he was incredibly powerful, beyond anything I could sense. Even at my current level, having reached the Hwahyeong state, I couldn’t read his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What level was he on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hit him once? Against someone like him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an outrageous demand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I looked at him with a stunned expression, he spoke to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Won’t you do it? Then go back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was even provoking me. I began to think that maybe, just maybe, he wanted this sparring match with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing I had no chance of winning, even so...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he went this far...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t want to run away, either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll do it. Right here, right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1584,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","2332f720c33c4974b1b90d242f361541274e60d0db0b143f3f33e15aa05fe73f","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-384","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-382",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]