[{"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-505":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},1240331,1667,"Chapter 504","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-505",505,"\u003Cp>Just after finishing my training, I looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun wasn’t yet close to setting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the best time to rest, but I had to get dressed in the combat uniform I had set aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although I didn't sweat at all, which was a little disappointing, I had no other choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This isn’t the time for training.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I felt like locking myself away in some cave to train in isolation, but the situation didn’t allow for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At least I used the time efficiently.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d moved intensely to make the most of the short period, yet barely a drop of sweat had escaped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I didn’t feel tired in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Tsk.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it due to my increased cultivation level, or maybe because of the changes in my body? Whatever it was, instead of satisfaction, I felt a strange sense of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was because I hadn’t fully examined the changes in my body yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s my own body, but it’s strange not fully knowing its limits.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rapid changes had left me unfamiliar with my own physical form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although over the past few days I have been constantly testing myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know just how tough my enhanced skin and muscles were, how much exertion it would take to tire me out, or how much energy my expanded vessel could contain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed more time to test compression and rotation limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put,—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My physical capabilities have expanded.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I've spent so much time torturing myself, I still don't fully understand what I'm capable of. At least I know for sure that I am capable of more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I compare this to my previous life, how far would I say I’ve come?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two-tenths? I’d assumed that was about right before, but now, I wondered if I’d reached closer to five-tenths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it wasn’t an exact estimate; I still didn’t have enough time to verify everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The durability is especially troublesome….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quickest way to determine muscle strength and skin resilience was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To cut and tear them directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That might sound insane, but in martial arts, it was known that the more you tore and healed, the tougher your skin would become.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, some practitioners would burn their skin as part of their external training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my previous life, I’d done such things in the name of training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Endure the pain, and you grow stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no quicker or simpler way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"[So, are you saying you’re going to tear yourself apart?]\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If it becomes necessary, yes.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To fight better, I needed to know my body’s limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much I could endure, how hard I had to be hit before getting injured, and just how close to death I could come. All of this had to be known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just as I was finally getting used to it. Tsk.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I reset my previous physical form, in which I supported myself and began to get used to the condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now she's changed beyond recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my fists and furrowed my brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I also knew that time was the one thing I had the least of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I considered pushing a little harder, but thinking of the tasks ahead, I focused my energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crrrack—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the energy permeated my body, I felt an immediate response. Muscles shifted, bones twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain was laughable compared to the agony of the Tua Pacheonmu technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At most, a bone might break here and there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the grinding, tearing pain of Tua Pacheonmu, it was child’s play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crrreak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some time, the sound of creaking bones stopped. The transformation was complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My vision lowered, and I felt my body shrink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After making sure that the transformation of the body with the help of the qi flow changing technique was successful, I cleaned myself up by putting on combat clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right afterward—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked over at the woman who had arrived behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Nahi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she saw me, she averted her gaze. Perhaps she’d seen me transform and felt uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I apologize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you late?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d called for her a while ago, but she arrived later than expected. Curious about the reason, I asked, but Nahi, seemingly misunderstanding my tone, knelt down, trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I… I’m sorry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her like that, I scratched my cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had I gone too hard on her during the last confrontation? She seemed quite intimidated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s not like I said I’d kill you or anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or, actually, maybe I had said something like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never mind, just tell me why you’re late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting aside the awkwardness, I pressed her for an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… Elder Il had a task for me….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il. That would be that old man, Tang Bwi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of task?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…He instructed me to prepare a paralysis poison.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Paralysis poison, huh. And who’s it for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Judging by your expression, it’s for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't say anything, but her eyes contained the obvious answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Foolish old man.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was curious to see if he’d attempt something clever, but paralysis poison?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not intending to kill, just paralyze?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wanted paralysis rather than a lethal poison, then he had some other plan in mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I debated how to handle this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I let him go through with it out of curiosity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe I should go confront him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head and looked at Nahi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting my gaze, she shivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason I’d been examining my body’s limits so thoroughly was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If it’s at this level.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could I handle a confrontation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what I needed to confirm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I don’t think it’ll be too difficult.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was confident that it was possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for the unique position of the Tang Clan, it might have been impossible to overthrow them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, because it was the Tang Clan, it was entirely feasible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I am immune to all poisons.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body had developed a resistance to poison—an incredibly strong one at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This alone made it easier to cause an uproar within the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I never expected to reach this point in my life.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An immunity to all poisons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know if my body had truly reached this legendary state, but I did know I had a powerful resistance to poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s more than enough to take down that rotten old man.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only question left was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Can I manage the aftermath of this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that, I’d set things up to appeal to the Poison King, using his own authority to my advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since I didn’t know the Poison King well enough, I couldn’t fully rely on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have to be prepared for every outcome.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I trusted no one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the lesson I’d learned in my past life and one I valued even more in this one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"[So, what’s your plan?]\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya’s question brought me back to my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’d initially planned to end this within a few days.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ideally, today or tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d conclude it after observing the Poison King’s actions and waiting for the right moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this reason, I’d enlisted Nahi’s help, making it obvious I’d ingested the poison to get their attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as I carefully assembled each piece of the situation, one issue remained—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Father.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that he was here in Sichuan was a problem. I didn’t know if he’d actually come because of the message, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered if I could pull this off without him noticing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a hassle. In more ways than one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-yes…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I called for Nahi, and she flinched in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you spoken to your brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I mentioned Tang Deok, Nahi’s face darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have realized that Tang Deok had fallen under my influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Come to think of it, this was their original goal anyway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Nahi inside and Tang Deok outside, they’d clearly intended to pull something off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But they both failed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking back to my past life, Tang Deok had been consumed by power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a demonic entity driven by a strange grudge against the Tang Clan, which he’d sought to destroy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been furious when he’d heard that the Demon Sect had conquered Sichuan and that I’d killed Dok Bi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Whatever they’d planned, they failed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could be that Tang Deok’s schemes on the outside hadn’t succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Or—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze shifted to Nahi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They might have failed from within.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That seemed likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking back on my past life, it was clear that their plans hadn’t gone well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is an order.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I imbued my voice with authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nahi froze in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All you need to do is answer honestly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I approached her and met her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m planning to kill Elder Il.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, I saw a spark in Nahi’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all I needed to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, Nahi had felt a twinge of excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled and asked her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, just how far are you willing to go for that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How far would you go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I could force her to obey and even give her life if I commanded, I decided to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to gain her loyalty or to motivate her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need for such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was simply a test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want this too, don’t you? Or am I wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I… I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nahi’s eyes quivered as if caught in an earthquake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her closely, I saw her trembling lips finally form words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I will do anything. Anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her response, I nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Then I have a favor to ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, there was no rejection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t even a particularly difficult request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simply a chance to answer the questions that had come to mind as I’d thought about the Tang Clan in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One specific thing I’d considered earlier—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my previous life, Tang Deok had become a demonic entity, yet had still survived. It made me wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If both Nahi and the others involved had failed, it meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They might’ve been aware of attempts to uproot their organization from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were the case, then it was possible the rotten core had known all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe even now, they had some idea of what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Paralysis poison, was it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d prepared a paralysis poison. Nahi claimed she’d been ordered to use it on me, and under the geas (Spiritual Commitment) placed on her, she couldn’t lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What if she only knew a part of the truth?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If her understanding was limited or distorted, that would be a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she believed one thing, but reality was another, it would lead to failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were the case…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who else might they intend to use it on?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought about it, eyes gleaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a likely answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my guess was correct, that would be an annoying issue, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It should be fine.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the discomfort, I felt relatively calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For one reason—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m prepared.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what happens, I’d taken steps to resolve it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All that remained was to confirm my suspicions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Clan’s outer residence, located near the mountains—a large compound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place was designated for the Tang Clan’s bloodline members, and more specifically, where the Poison King’s cherished daughter resided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One might wonder why someone whom the head of the clan cherishes so much decided to stay in such a remote place, not far from the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this arrangement was one she herself had requested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grrrrr.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large wolf growled contentedly in the yard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a huge mountain wolf with dark fur—a species native to Sichuan and now scarce due to the prevalence of demonic creatures. This particular wolf was a treasured companion of Tang So-yeol, the Poison Queen of the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feeling good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol smiled as she listened to the wolf’s growl. It seemed to be enjoying the long-overdue grooming session.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry. I should’ve done this more often.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grrr...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You forgive me? Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her words, the wolf shifted its body, playfully showing affection. Watching the large creature acting endearingly like this was both amusing and endearing—at least to Tang So-yeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she stroked the wolf’s exposed belly, Tang So-yeol found herself lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It would be nice if he’d approach me like this too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of a certain young man who resembled a fierce wolf, Tang So-yeol let out a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a sigh laced with frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the reason wasn’t the young man—it was herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…No, even if he approached, I wouldn’t be able to do anything.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a kind of complaint. Tang So-yeol had realized her predicament ever since she was held in Gu Yangcheon’s arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she had heard the powerful beat of his heart within his chest, when she noticed that his build, though seemingly small, was much broader than she had anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since that moment, she hadn’t been herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could no longer look Gu Yangcheon in the eye, let alone hold a proper conversation with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What’s happening to me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she only now realizing her feelings? No, that wasn’t it. She had understood her affections long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So then, what was the issue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…This isn’t the time for this…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no time to be flustered and distant. Tang So-yeol felt her own sense of helplessness intensify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fiancée, Namgung Bi-ah, held a calm yet firm place by his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah, though seemingly idle, had also secured a place beside him, subtly asserting her presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even Moyong Hee-ah, who had arrived last, effortlessly carved out her own position through her outstanding abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…And what about me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol had to admit to herself that, in this scenario, she was the one left on the sidelines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What should I do…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Namgung Bi-ah or Wi Seol-ah, she wasn’t exceptionally talented. She knew she was beautiful, but not extraordinarily so compared to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, she didn’t possess Moyong Hee-ah’s people skills or brilliant intellect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, she had come to the painful realization that she was lacking in many aspects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing she had to rely on was her clan name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah was a descendant of the Namgung family, and Moyong Hee-ah was from the Moyong family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even Wi Seol-ah—wasn’t she the granddaughter of the Sword Master?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in terms of family background, Tang So-yeol felt herself subtly falling behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There seemed to be no answer. Truly, no answer at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate, staying by Gu Yangcheon’s side would only become more burdensome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What should I do? Truly, what should I do?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could she really remain by his side without any abilities to offer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Gu Yangcheon might tolerate it, that wasn’t what Tang So-yeol wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t afford to be incompetent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon was exceptional—too exceptional. It was a problem if someone as lacking as her stayed by his side. If she were to remain close to him, she needed to accomplish something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol recalled Moyong Hee-ah’s frequent words to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You need to be someone worthy of standing by his side.”Whenever Gu Yangcheon was absent, Moyong Hee-ah would diligently read an obscure manual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah would practice their swordsmanship daily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, what was Tang So-yeol doing in those moments?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brush she was using to groom the wolf halted. Tang So-yeol looked at her palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her skin was rough and calloused—marks of her efforts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were proof that she was constantly working hard, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There are no results.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her efforts, the results were lacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her martial arts hadn’t improved, and only her hair seemed to keep growing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She touched her carefully groomed hair, which she had been growing out with great effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women beside Gu Yangcheon all had long hair, so Tang So-yeol, who used to have short hair, had been trying to grow hers out too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the strange sense of self-doubt that came with it tormented her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At this rate… I’m just a copycat.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She always strove to improve, but catching up to those ahead seemed impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sigh escaped her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she had come all the way to Sichuan with Gu Yangcheon, Tang So-yeol felt frustrated at her lack of progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was she supposed to do? As she was mulling over this question,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ho-ho, are you in?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice called out from outside her quarters. When Tang So-yeol looked up, she saw an elderly face. She quickly rose to her feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh… Elder!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry for dropping by unexpectedly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, not at all….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was an elder of the Tang Clan, someone who had cherished her as if she were his own granddaughter since she was young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol forced a smile as she looked at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s nothing serious…. I just wanted to see your face, so I thought I’d stop by.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, then I’ll have a servant bring us some tea….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder’s face lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he pulled something from his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought it might be awkward to come empty-handed, so I brought some good tea as a gift. Perfect timing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my…. You didn’t have to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, I couldn’t possibly come empty-handed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a warm smile, the elder extended the tea to Tang So-yeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Tang So-yeol was about to receive the gift,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grip—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder’s hand was abruptly seized, and the item he held fell to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had gripped his wrist firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a large hand, with a strong grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What in the…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder looked toward the person who stopped him, shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man blocking him merely glared coldly at the elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You brat…! What do you think you’re doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder’s voice trembled with anger, but the man remained unfazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unauthorized approaches are prohibited.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Deok fixed the elder with a sharp, piercing gaze as he spoke, causing the elder’s brow to furrow deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>",3035,"2026-06-05T15:10:08.481Z",1,"novelbin.me","fe98c6c0b32290a56e54cc55fc3316ac17e8ca74984ef8c1e937ce0bdbde335c","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-506","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-504",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]