[{"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-449":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},1239925,1667,"Chapter 448","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-449",449,"\u003Cp>As the flames shifted into a menacing shape—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know that you called for us. How could I not know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh… heh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice, laced with laughter, was unsettlingly frightening. The deadly intent dripping from his words was so thick that it was impossible not to feel fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watching your pathetic struggle can be amusing... but unfortunately, it's starting to become tiresome. It’s too much to watch for long.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mageomhu placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. She seemed to understand his intent without the need for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That bastard is pissed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was clearly in a rage. The way he laughed while speaking showed it all too well. His inability to control his anger was legendary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bi Yeon-seom already seemed at his limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huff... huff...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breathing was rough, and the energy within him was visibly unsteady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bi Yeon-seom could not endure the pressure radiating from Dokgo Jun much longer. As Dokgo Jun's demonic energy permeated the area, Mugwon arrived, bringing a group of demons with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have hurried to keep up when Mageomhu and I charged ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mugwon, quick-witted as he was, assessed the situation, furrowed his brows slightly, and gestured to those behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, the demons activated their auras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension was palpable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the perfect setup for an imminent battle. Even amid this, I was busy observing my surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to understand why this wretched situation had come about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the situation was important, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where is she?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something else was even more crucial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Mugwon's information, she should be here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little Sword Star...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wi Seol-ah of this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'd heard she was here, but I hadn’t seen her yet. Was she still in the village further away?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was scanning the area—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bi Yeon-seom, who had been facing Dokgo Jun, staggered and lost his balance. Though he didn't collapse, he looked on the verge of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strangely enough—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Dokgo Jun and Mageomhu, as well as Mugwon, seemed to have lost interest in Bi Yeon-seom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Were they never watching him at all?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I followed their gazes to a point in the air. It seemed empty, but I focused my energy on that spot, assuming they were looking at something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sensed something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was faint, but something was definitely there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An inexplicable chill ran through me, like the feeling of a blade aimed at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, I heightened my physical senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I understood why they were all looking in that direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d been focusing on Little Sword Star alone and had missed the truly important detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t the only one here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, lightning flickered in the empty air. Mageomhu reacted slightly—it resembled her own lightning aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart pounded as I stared at the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You haven’t changed.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The growing lightning was accompanied by a voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle—! The lightning grew larger and quickly formed an outline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure, initially composed of pure energy, gradually took on a human shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the figure touched down on the ground—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oppressive atmosphere in the area rapidly dissipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure that had suddenly appeared was an elderly man with white hair. With his hands clasped behind his back, he approached us with light steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, I swallowed dryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white hair, bearing the weight of history, and blue eyes reminiscent of someone else. It had been a long time since I’d seen this man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely, I hadn’t encountered him since my return to this life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah… huff…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Freed from the pressure, Bi Yeon-seom gasped for breath. The elderly man touched Bi Yeon-seom’s back with his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bi Yeon-seom coughed up blackened blood, his twisted insides forcibly realigned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest for a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response to Bi Yeon-seom's apology, the elderly man patted his shoulder as an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokgo Jun, who had been watching with an indifferent expression, spoke to the elderly man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, you were hiding here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh... hiding? I’ve never hidden.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You kept poking around like a rat, so I thought it was a frightened squeal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a dangerously provocative line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to shut that damned bastard’s mouth on the spot. He must have been soaked in demonic energy to be acting like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Was I like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t want to believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just anyone—he was one of the Three Masters, the absolute force of the Namgung family, and yet I had the audacity to taunt him like this…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I really lived with my neck on the line.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man before us was none other than the Heavenly Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this ancient legend of Zhongyuan right in front of him, Dokgo Jun was spewing insults without a second thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d heard there was an ancient monster nearby, and I came to kill it off. How convenient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at Dokgo Jun's words, the Heavenly Lord merely laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ancient monster... yes, you’re right. I live on, unable to die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Lord looked over to where Mageomhu stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s been a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mageomhu didn’t respond, simply staring back at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Namgung clan had been annihilated by Mageomhu's hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Lord had been unable to stop it, leaving these two as the last remnants of the Namgung bloodline in all of Zhongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an exceedingly uncomfortable relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are things I’d like to discuss and settle with you, but unfortunately, I have something to attend to first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something to attend to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sharpened my focus at the Heavenly Lord’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed he had a purpose here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Something to attend to...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other \"me\" also caught on to the Heavenly Lord's words, frowning as he asked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you saying you have something to do here that requires ignoring the Sect Leader’s warnings?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Lord smiled as he looked at Dokgo Jun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We wish to make a deal with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deal? I tried to decipher the unexpected words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Dokgo Jun let out a mocking laugh, making me roll my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's a bad sign.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A deal? Earlier, this wretch asked me for a conversation, and now the ancient monster is asking for a deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It would not be unfavorable for you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Silence. Your words are making my ears rot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suppressed pressure flared up again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the faint trace of amusement vanished from Dokgo Jun’s face, leaving only pure hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Sect Leader granted mercy to you lot… but as always, fools who don’t know their place tend to forget gratitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames began to wrap around Dokgo Jun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So if you can’t grasp your place, I’ll personally make it clear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Must you always resort to bloodshed to feel right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Lord asked, and Dokgo Jun waved his hand dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t burden me with your laughable ideals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ROAR!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his gesture, the massive flame in the sky began to roar and plunge towards the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not qualified to speak such words to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flame orb began its descent, rapidly approaching the ground. Despite its speed, the Heavenly Lord merely frowned, showing no intention of countering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed, watching the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is he really going to drop it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As insane as I was in that time, even I wouldn’t recklessly unleash such an attack with the Heavenly Lord in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was he thinking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t grasp his intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That lunatic was doing something insane, and even I couldn’t understand why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the \"me\" of that time possibly defeat this elder?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s impossible…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how I looked at it, it was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just about energy; they had ascended to a level distinctly above mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with Mageomhu’s support, victory would be uncertain at best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the power held by the Three Masters, yet he was recklessly pushing things forward without a hint of hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flame drew closer to the ground, casting even deeper despair across the faces of the warriors nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, no!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Save us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They began to panic, their ranks falling apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, even then, the Heavenly Lord didn’t move an inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t draw his sword or even summon his energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the flame beyond the Heavenly Lord’s power to stop? That couldn’t be it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how laced with demonic energy it was, the elder’s strength would be more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flame continued its descent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a matter of moments, it would touch the ground and cause a massive explosion, likely burning everyone to ashes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as that thought crossed my mind—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something flew in from beyond the heavens toward the flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It moved at an incredible speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could fully register what it was, dozens more objects followed, shooting toward the flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, something unexpected happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssssss—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive flame that had been exuding such an overwhelming presence began to dwindle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if being drawn in, the black flame hovering in the air quickly vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took only a few seconds for all that fire to disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this change, I turned to Dokgo Jun and realized his intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason he’d used so much energy to put on this display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was to draw her out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though part of it was intimidation, the true purpose was to show off and summon a particular person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the space where the flames had vanished, something was rotating slowly. It was a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few strange swords glinting with golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were gracefully swimming through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the flames disappear, the warriors who had been mired in despair began to cheer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed they recognized whose swords these were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s here…! The Lord has arrived!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing their cries, the demons furrowed their brows and looked toward the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the golden swords in the air shot toward a specific point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The position was directly above where the Heavenly Lord stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment ago, that spot had been empty, but now someone was floating there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her, I bit my lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As someone from my past life, I’d wondered if I might meet her again someday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether to call it expectation, worry, or anxiety, I wasn’t sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had always anticipated the possibility of encountering her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…This is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her in person stirred far more emotions than I had expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several swords moved around her as if to protect her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman was standing calmly atop one of the floating swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair, now completely golden rather than brown, and her radiant eyes were tinged with an air of fatigue, creating an ethereal aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was nothing like the woman who once sat by my side, smiling and chattering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Little Sword Star.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokgo Jun muttered as he gazed at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she hear his quiet words?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Sword Star turned her gaze in our direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like she was looking at Dokgo Jun…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Or so I thought…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something felt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Sword Star wasn’t looking at Dokgo Jun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I might be mistaken, but it didn’t feel that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Sword Star wasn’t looking at Dokgo Jun. Rather…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s looking at me…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, it seemed she was staring right at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I couldn’t understand why, she was definitely watching me, her eyes wide with surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>",1899,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.032Z",1,"novelbin.me","35dbcdad690726be23c03dfedf9858d441994c2579b07f8349d80c81584b7c2f","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-450","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-448",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]