[{"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-425":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},1239901,1667,"Chapter 425","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-425",425,"\u003Cp>How should I handle this situation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the thought that came to mind as I stared at the snake that was quietly watching me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even setting aside its yellow eyes, the red scales alone told me what I needed to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thing…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It seems like the same one I killed earlier.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how I looked at it, that was the conclusion I reached. Of course, this wasn’t particularly strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red monster that appeared in the river was called Jeoksusa —a Red Water Snake monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jeoksusa is a monster that appears in any body of water, be it a river or the sea. While it’s quite large compared to other red-class monsters, it isn’t particularly difficult to deal with due to its sluggish movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only real issue is that it lives in the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And also...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I remember correctly, it was supposed to use poison.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its fangs were supposed to be filled with potent venom, and I recall it being a monster that exhaled poisonous miasma as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, I didn’t sense that when I fought this one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There might be some that don’t use poison, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is strange.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even calling me something like \"the great one\" was odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if it was intentionally avoiding attacking me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is that? Why me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was strange enough that a monster spoke to me, but the fact that it showed me some sort of kindness was even more puzzling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And this one too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shifted my gaze to the smaller Jeoksusa, which was staring blankly at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, this little one was my biggest dilemma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s its deal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I locked eyes with the Jeoksusa, I scowled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I almost died because of this thing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right after extracting the monster core, I sensed something unusual and inspected the core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, I instinctively knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could feel something stirring within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stir... from a core? It’s not like it’s an egg, so what kind of nonsense is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was so shocked I almost inhaled a mouthful of river water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what surprised me even more...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...was that as soon as I noticed it, I instinctively knew how to hatch it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hatching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, I could hatch this monster core. I wasn’t sure what would come out of it, but one thing was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, what should I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time to think. Before I knew it, I was already “feeding” it my energy as if under a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The method to hatch it was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of absorbing the dark energy from the core with my Mado Cheonheup Gong, I had to inject my own energy into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like corrupting someone into a demon by infusing them with dark energy. The same principle applied to the core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did I know this? It felt as if someone had told me how to do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was one problem...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why is it consuming so much energy…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The core was greedily devouring my energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I expected it to take some, but this was too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I possessed a vast amount of internal energy from devouring various martial arts and opportunities, it was consuming an absurd amount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s already taken about half.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t used much energy in the battle, so I thought I had plenty left, but this rate of consumption was alarming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, I couldn’t stop feeding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You crazy bastard…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I was willingly infusing it with my energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at some point, the core began absorbing my energy on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, I could cut off the flow of energy whenever I wanted, but this time was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could feel it in the way it was absorbing my energy. If I forcibly cut it off, my energy channels would twist, and I’d end up in a state of Qi Deviation (Juhoimmal).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being underwater, unable to struggle properly, while having my energy drained... It was unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I let it take everything, I might really die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I desperately fought to maintain my composure, one thought was clear: I couldn’t die here in such a pathetic place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though my resolve was firm, I couldn’t think of any way to stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My energy was running out fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate, it felt like it would suck every last drop of energy from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I felt like I had reached a critical moment where I needed to take drastic action—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy drain finally stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Hah.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I immediately checked my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of my energy had been drained, with only a small amount left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it continued any longer, I would have been done for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the relief of not dying washed over me—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt something shift in my hand. The core had cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, suddenly, something touched my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frowning, I looked down to see a small red snake coiled around my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should have been shocked at the sight, but at that moment, getting out of the water was my priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With my energy depleted, my breathing was becoming labored. I had to get out first, snake or no snake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some time passed, I found myself facing off with the snake that had emerged from the core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did a monster really hatch from a core?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That didn’t seem right. I had never heard of such a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d never researched or cared much about monsters’ reproduction, but I knew enough to say that monsters don’t hatch from cores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then what is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what made it so strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had a monster emerged from the core after draining my energy, but its behavior was odd as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jeoksusa flicked its tongue and licked my fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least it wasn’t showing any hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monsters are supposed to be creatures that don’t show affection to humans, so why was this one acting like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no small matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Murim Alliance had spent hundreds of years trying to tame monsters, only to conclude that it was impossible and gave up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monsters, by nature, are savage beasts, driven by greed and hunger. They can never be tamed and must be hunted for peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the conclusion the Murim Alliance had reached through years of experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What a ridiculous creature.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jeoksusa kept licking my arm, as if showing affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at it, dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak up. What are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept asking the creature, but the Jeoksusa remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was foolish to expect a monster to talk, but considering what had happened earlier, it wasn’t entirely out of the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the other one had spoken to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you a different one from the Jeoksusa I killed earlier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked, wondering if it was the same one, but the snake only looked back at me, flicking its tongue as if it didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, you were talking just fine earlier. Why are you quiet now? Speak up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaah?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake tilted its head as if confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustration started to build, and I felt heat rising in my head. I couldn’t believe I was having this kind of conversation with a snake in the middle of the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if I wasn’t already overwhelmed… This was really irritating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to hold back my anger, I grabbed the snake by its neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I gave you so much of my energy, and this is how you repay me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaaaak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jeoksusa squirmed in my grip, struggling as if it couldn’t breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’d better answer me, or I’ll kill you right now. So, make it clear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was at a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had I wasted a valuable red-class monster core on this thing, but I had poured so much precious energy into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in my current state, where I desperately needed every bit of strength, this was infuriating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaaa... Shaaaak...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got a core, right? Since you’re red-class, you should have one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it didn’t look like it had much power or size, it still had to have something inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to devour it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, I’d feel too cheated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking that, I glared at the snake, tightening my grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaak...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It still didn’t respond, just squirmed around, licking my hand as if showing affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was this monster acting like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that a red-class monster had suddenly appeared, and now this newly hatched snake, was all too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting out a deep sigh, I released my grip, and the Jeoksusa fell to the floor with a thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaaa...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as it hit the ground, the snake quickly crawled back up my arm and coiled around my hand again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is it so persistent? Does it think I’m its parent or something?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A monster’s parent? What kind of nonsense is that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea that a creature imprints on the first thing it sees as its parent is common in stories, but it doesn’t apply to monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which means…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either this Jeoksusa is different from other monsters, or...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Something has changed within me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During our journey, we’d been attacked by monsters several times, and I’d hunted them without issue. But this has never happened before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What could it be?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The appearance of the red-class monster, the newly hatched Jeoksusa…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all too much to handle at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sigh escaped me once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaah?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jeoksusa, hearing my sigh, poked its head out as if wondering what was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frowning slightly, I said, “I’m going outside. Go back in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if understanding my words, the snake slid back into my sleeve and disappeared from view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This snake… It seems to understand what I’m saying, doesn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is it really different from the others?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, I couldn’t be sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether this was the offspring of the monster I killed or the same one, I had no way of knowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, killing it would be the easiest solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for some reason, I felt uneasy about doing that, so I held off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll keep an eye on it for now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed to understand me, and it didn’t appear to be a threat at the moment. So, for now, I would observe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After opening the door and stepping outside, I climbed the stairs and arrived on the deck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nighttime, and the air was filled with the distinct smell of river water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stepped onto the deck, I noticed several people were already there, most of them on night watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps due to the events of the day, the security seemed to have been tightened considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced around and walked forward, looking for someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very front of the ship, I spotted a figure sitting at the edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, I approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing my presence, the person turned their head toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was the night, but his green eyes seemed to shine brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After greeting him, I spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you out here, Tang Patriarch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gu Gongja.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Tang Patriarch, Dokwang, the Poison King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s late. You must be tired, yet you’re out here. What’s the reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s just one of those nights when sleep won’t come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by his expression, it seemed like he had a lot on his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, the appearance of a red-class monster wasn’t just a trivial matter for a clan patriarch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, these individuals, who held massive sponsorship and prestige under the pretense of ensuring regional peace and safety, would be most sensitive to unexpected events like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the patriarchs of prestigious families like the Four Great Families, who sat at the top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But that’s not the only problem.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There seemed to be another issue, but it wasn’t something I was in a position to ask about. Even if I did, it wasn’t likely he would answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging brief pleasantries, Dokwang and I stood in silence, simply watching each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few seconds of silence, it was surprisingly Dokwang who spoke first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a subtle tension in his voice. Why was he suddenly being so cautious with me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t seemed particularly wary before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not like I came here with any particular agenda. I was just taking a walk, and I happened to see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know you approached me with intent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did he know? We hadn’t even exchanged much conversation, yet he had already noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This guy’s sharp.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no wonder he was the most formidable of the Four Great Family patriarchs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I thought that to myself, outwardly, I feigned ignorance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Intent? I’m not sure what you mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know you’re not someone who approaches others without a purpose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a short laugh at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, I dropped the polite pretense and restored my usual expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he had already figured me out, there was no point in keeping up the charade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing the change in my expression, Dokwang narrowed his eyes and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it that you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need for further explanation. Dokwang clearly already understood what I had come for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assistance I had provided in slaying the red-class monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, I hadn’t expected to ask for anything in return for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red-class monster would have been defeated even if I hadn’t stepped in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But had I not intervened, there would have likely been more casualties due to the Jeoksusa’s rampage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could have easily been brushed off with a simple “thank you for saving us,” but as the person responsible for the current transport, and as the patriarch of the Tang Clan, Dokwang couldn’t just let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s just how relationships work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as a patriarch, there were responsibilities he had to bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s wary of me, but he doesn’t seem to want to ruin our relationship.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokwang hadn’t yet given up on the value or potential he saw in me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he was asking what I wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing that, I slightly curled the corners of my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not asking for anything major.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokwang’s brow furrowed at my words. Even though I said it wasn’t a big deal, the fact that I was asking for something clearly bothered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the fact that he didn’t outright refuse meant he was at least willing to listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s really not anything major. Just…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to make my request, Dokwang interrupted me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something he wanted to ask me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curious, I looked at him as he met my gaze and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The weakness of the red-class monster. How did you know about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that question, I realized why he had been so wary of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden appearance of the red-class monster, a classification that hadn’t been seen in hundreds of years, was already shocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the fact that I had casually hunted it down only made me seem more suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he likely didn’t think I had orchestrated the monster’s appearance, he certainly found my actions strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Unbelievable.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I went through the trouble of saving them, and now I’m the one being suspected?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I understood his reasoning, but it didn’t change the fact that it left a bad taste in my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was even planning to help with the ambush.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had things gone according to plan and I saved them from Tang Deok’s ambush, this conversation wouldn’t be happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the appearance of the red-class monster had thrown things off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And where were Tang Deok’s bandits, you ask?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They were all eaten.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they had been waiting nearby, they would have either fled at the sight of the monster or been devoured by it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you accusing me of intentionally trying to interfere with the transport?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t believe you had that intent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m curious about your actions during the incident.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My actions during the fight with the red-class monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way I absorbed its energy in a seemingly impossible manner and methodically exploited its weaknesses—Dokwang couldn’t understand how I had done it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How was it possible? I can’t wrap my head around it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no need for you to understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokwang’s face twisted at my response. Did he think I was mocking him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can’t understand it, then that’s just how it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you saying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re asking how I did something that was obvious to me. How am I supposed to explain that to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had already prepared a response for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t something that required much thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just know when you see it. I saw it, so I took care of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokwang’s expression changed at my blunt answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a scowl to a look of disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meaning behind my words was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You see it, you do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not my fault you couldn’t figure it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had anyone else said it, he would have been furious, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What am I known as?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only the youngest peak-level martial artist but soon to be recognized as a Hwagyeong-level warrior once the rumors spread further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokwang was already aware of that fact. Reaching Hwagyeong at such a young age meant one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m an extraordinary genius.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People in the Central Plains were already treating me as someone blessed by the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, it felt uncomfortable, like something that made me cringe, but I had since come to terms with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, I could use that reputation to my advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokwang’s astonished expression was oddly satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean to say…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If not, do you think I’ve fought red-class monsters before and figured out their weaknesses that way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, yes, in a past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only wanted to help. I didn’t expect to be suspected for it… It’s a bit disheartening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t disheartening at all. In fact, I was pleased to have found an opportunity to turn this to my advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I continued speaking, Dokwang’s expression wavered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claiming that I simply did it because I’m that good was always a winning argument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as you have the reputation and strength to back it up, you can make it work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look at him now, left speechless, his lips moving without sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I apologize. That was my mistake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the suspicion in his eyes hadn’t completely disappeared, Dokwang apologized, realizing there wasn’t much else he could say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, I pretended to soften my expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine… Thank you for the apology.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, this whole conversation was a nuisance, but not smoothing things over could cause bigger problems later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, with Dokwang apologizing first, it made it easier for me to ask my favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tang Patriarch, if it’s alright, I’d like to make a small request.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no need to be so apprehensive. It’s not a big deal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he think I was going to ask for something outrageous?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t planning on anything like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s a big deal for me, but not so much for Dokwang.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t after material wealth or anything of that sort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokwang seemed a bit nervous about what I would ask for, but what I wanted wasn’t anything grand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could have asked for a rare elixir or a legendary sword befitting the Tang Clan’s reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what I wanted was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard there’s a lake in the Tang Clan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokwang’s face showed confusion at my unexpected mention of a lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They call it the Poison Lake (독리호수)…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the legacy left behind by Dokjeolcheon, the ancestor of the Tang Clan and a hero who once stopped the Blood Demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deep waters of the lake were entirely composed of lethal poison. Just getting close to it could kill an ordinary person through sheer toxicity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Clan used the water from this lake as the base for many of their poisons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew where this poisonous water came from, so people considered it another one of the Tang Clan’s treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been curious about it since I was young. Would it be possible to see it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smiling as I spoke, Dokwang’s expression remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clearly didn’t understand why I wanted to see the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Do you think I want to see it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could possibly make me want to look at something so dangerous?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baekmaseok (백마석).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white demon stone I was after happened to be hidden at the bottom of that very lake.\u003C\u002Fp>",3461,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.032Z",1,"novelbin.me","4e78c5d8fde7e542719514339ff37c8d14bd8dbc574408990981e5f7d2130d04","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-426","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-424",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]