[{"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-509":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},1240335,1667,"Chapter 508","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-509",509,"\u003Cp>\"Show me the process and outcome of using the White Demon Stone on Je Gal-hyuk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was my demand to the Divine Doctor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I was curious. The White Demon Stone was a miraculous elixir to me, yet that was only because I possessed the power of the Demonic Absorption Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To others, it was merely a white stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Using that for something?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The notion of alternative uses for the stone intrigued me. Although, to be clear...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I didn’t intend to find out like this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t planned to learn about it in such a forced way. As I mentioned earlier, this was more about Shin Noya’s wishes than my own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What did he say again?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I sought out the Divine Doctor, Noya had directly instructed me to make this demand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unusual. Noya often found my actions absurd, but he had never given me direct orders like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d always insisted that it felt wrong for the dead to meddle with the living.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This must mean it’s important.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was enough for Noya to act this way, it had to be significant. So, without much argument, I decided to go through with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I were to summarize the outcome…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Half a success.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a partial success. That’s how I would describe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason I call it a partial success is that the Divine Doctor initially refused my request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed out that even with the White Demon Stone, it would be challenging to act immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath his words, I sensed an unwillingness to trust me fully and discomfort in showing me his actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I considered letting it go, but then, remembering that Noya had stepped in, I decided to press further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wagered the White Demon Stone, and after a slight falter, the Divine Doctor sighed deeply and fell into contemplation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the time it took me to sip my tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that brief moment, the Divine Doctor presented his conditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first condition was that it must be done in a safe location; the second was that gathering the remaining materials after using the White Demon Stone would take time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the third...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A binding oath.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silence-binding oath. He said he would place it directly on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A restriction imposed by a healer. I felt a twinge of curiosity about how it might differ.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The issue was that, at that point, even Shin Noya tried to stop me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[No further steps are necessary. There’s no need to go as far as placing a restriction.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya told me to stop, but by that point, I had no intention of backing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring Shin Noya’s words, I responded to the Divine Doctor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the Divine Doctor, seeming resigned, give me a tired nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the end of the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a safe location, I could use the family estate. While it didn’t seem especially secure, it was better than anywhere else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right after we finished talking, I handed the White Demon Stone over to the Divine Doctor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might have been risky to give him the stone before the conditions were fulfilled, but I trusted he wouldn’t take it and run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the White Demon Stone, perhaps because it was hard to come by, the Divine Doctor looked at it with a relieved gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it have been that important? Important enough to endure this just to get it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Will that really allow Je Gal-hyuk to speak?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it truly works, what then? The thought brought back bitter memories of my previous life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Really...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could I have avoided killing him?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Je Gal-hyuk was like a crossroads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He marked the point where I began to recognize that this was a different time and that I was living a different life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not killing him held that kind of significance for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is it really okay?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it really all right, or could Je Gal-hyuk still be a threat in the future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was even a small chance, wouldn’t it be better to kill him now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more I thought about it, the colder my insides grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Doctor’s voice quietly called to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have an unusually wicked nature, and a filthy temperament.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why are you insulting me all of a sudden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words, piercing like a dagger, made me frown. Was he mocking me for using the White Demon Stone as leverage? As I started to wrinkle my nose in response, he continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I don’t see you as a bad person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His calm yet firm statement made me pause, as it was entirely unlike the insults he’d just hurled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can’t even keep your own body steady, yet you cling to those around you with an almost desperate care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s not true. I’ve pushed and driven others hard. That’s how they’ll survive later on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You behave horribly toward others, yet you harbor foolish guilt and hesitation within you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve never done that. I hit those who needed to be hit and left those who needed to be left alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve never held back, and I was about to argue, but the words wouldn’t come out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s because I see all that, I think there must be a reason behind why you acted this way with the White Demon Stone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Doctor believed there was a reason for my actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, the thorns in my heart seemed to prick sharper than ever. I swallowed the pain and replied to the Divine Doctor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re overthinking it. I’m just a wicked person. You’re adding unnecessary reasons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever my motivations, they didn’t matter. Responsibility for my actions lay solely with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t acting to gain his understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything was for me to bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the proper way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Doctor’s gaze held a strange sympathy as he looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thorn lodged in my heart grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored it, swallowing hard. Just a few seconds we met eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment passed, and the Divine Doctor turned away, speaking to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s how you feel, then so be it. If our conversation is over, you may go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I carefully rose to my feet. Our talk was done, and whether or not I would take him to the family estate was a matter for later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun was setting, and night was falling. It was time to head back to my room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Father must be waiting.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, I don’t want to go. The thought flickered through my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I walked out of the Divine Doctor’s quarters with a grim expression, he spoke one last thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a warning to you, you miserable soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Excuse me? A warning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Celestial Master. That old man is here. Be cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Master is here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I showed a slight hint of surprise at the unexpected revelation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing him, I barely managed to stifle a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Divine Doctor, isn’t that more concern than a warning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out of here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a bitter smile, I opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, I gave a slight bow of respect to the Divine Doctor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak. Slam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the door closed, I made my way back to my quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun had set, and lamps were lit along the path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was our last conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as though a stone was lodged in my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Tsk.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if the Divine Doctor had forcibly dredged up my buried emotions. The feeling of whether to kill Je Gal-hyuk lingered, leaving a murky taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smack-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slapped my cheek hard. It stung so much I tasted blood, so I wiped it off with my sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get a grip, you idiot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since my body changed, I felt something was mentally off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the more reason to keep my focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t let myself fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Remember who you are.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not in some philosophical sense of finding meaning in existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scoundrel of the Gu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That simple, clear nickname is all I needed to remember.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Young one.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Don’t call me that. I’m fine.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya’s voice was laced with worry, but I asked him not to fuss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I won’t fall to this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because I’m strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I can’t allow myself to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I walked on, I maintained my composure, focusing on staying calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time I reached my quarters, I was stable enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I entered my quarters, I stopped in my tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s warm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room felt noticeably warmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I sensed the heat, I stepped forward cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendants outside greeted me, but their faces were tense with anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Clan’s guards who were supposed to be watching over the place… were nowhere to be seen. But this wasn’t the time to worry about that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ascending the creaky stairs, I grasped the door handle and opened it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was dark, yet it felt oddly bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saw two teacups on the table, and someone sitting calmly in a dignified posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the dim shadow, I recognized him from his red eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that realization, I took a step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room brightened instantly, as small flames ignited in the air. They were small, yet remarkably bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bright enough that I squinted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bearing the brightness, I looked toward my father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without glancing at me, he suddenly took something out from his robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight of it made me catch my breath. What he pulled out was none other than a Night Pearl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why does he have that…? Shocked by its unexpected appearance, my eyes trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, my father turned and looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing his crimson gaze, I felt my body stiffen involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swallowing dryly, I watched as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sit down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That command compelled my stiffened body to slide into the seat in front of the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I knew it, I had knelt, hands folded demurely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, my father took a sip from his teacup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Night Pearl sat ominously between us, setting a tense atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sipping his tea, my father set the cup down and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Explain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, I realized…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should have run away ages ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Explain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t have much to say in response to Father’s command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spoke as slowly as possible, taking my time with each word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as I spoke, I had to mix various thoughts internally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although I’d prepared excuses beforehand, I had to be careful not to make mistakes as I delivered them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But still, they’re just excuses.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of all things, I didn’t expect him to bring the Night Pearl that I had handed over to the Baekhwa Trading Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When did he even go there?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, I had to quickly adjust my story as I explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the explanation (excuse) I gave Father was this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, I accidentally fell into a lake and discovered a secret vault of the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, I managed to obtain a stock of Night Pearls and Dokcheon Pills. After consuming the Dokcheon Pills, I went through a rebirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took the Night Pearls with me and sold them through the Baekhwa Trading Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, an issue arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the vault, I discovered information suggesting that the Tang Clan was up to something unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it seemed like my comrades might be in danger, I tried to inform the Poison King to stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I narrated, I realized I’d made a mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The story was full of contradictions and gaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For one, consuming the Dokcheon Pills wouldn’t easily lead to a full rebirth. And why did I go all the way to Dokcheon Lake just to fall in?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, how did I manage to find a hidden vault after falling into a lake?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And how did I uncover evidence of the Tang Clan’s secret activities in a vault of unknown origin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more I spoke, the more I felt the weight of my blunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Father’s perspective, he must have thought, “What kind of nonsense is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that, admitting that I sold the Night Pearls I found in the Tang Clan’s vault was essentially confessing to stealing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had never expected Father to come here, and if I had known it would turn out like this, I would’ve taken more time to come up with a different approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finishing my story, I carefully observed Father’s reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He listened to me in silence, not interrupting once throughout the explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when I finished did he take a sip of his tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wetting his lips, he narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at me, ready to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, I felt every muscle in my body tense up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was probably about to be scolded. I hadn’t been hit by Father since our last sparring session, but it looked like I might be due for another round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shifted my gaze, hoping that if I was hit, it wouldn’t hurt too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How’s your body?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words from Father’s mouth were unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was asking about my body?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard you underwent a rebirth. How is your condition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unexpected question caught me off guard, and I stumbled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The Divine Doctor… performed a diagnosis and said I’m in good health.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a lie. The Divine Doctor had, indeed, examined me just before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father seemed satisfied with my answer, nodding as he relaxed his previously narrowed eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was, this was only momentary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a pressure on my heart, as if it was being squeezed. The air around me shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I widened my eyes, trying to make sense of the strange sensation, he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, it’s true that someone poisoned you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father stated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was good judgment to inform the Poison King to handle things with justification, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My shoulders felt heavy, as if something were pressing down on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intense pressure from Father bore down on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought I had grown stronger, yet here I was, biting my lip, unable to withstand a single wave of pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll have to reprimand you for trying to ingest poison yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I apologize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, so I’m going to get scolded anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought crossed my mind, and just as I swallowed down the nervous lump in my throat—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father suddenly stood up. I looked up, thinking he was about to strike me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father’s gaze wasn’t on me but on something beyond the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems there’s someone who needs to be punished first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Patriarch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing something unusual, I called out to him, but he didn’t respond and silently stepped toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh-! Without anyone touching it, the door swung open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father took a step outside, and—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light flooded in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could clearly see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dark, moonlit sky, it had momentarily turned into a bright, blue sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this hour, it should have been resting, yet it had suddenly appeared in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight was so nonsensical that I couldn’t find the words to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father looked back at me with his familiar expressionless face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father’s black hair slowly turned the same red as his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a battle stance I had never seen him take, not even in my previous life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll return before the tea gets cold.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2605,"2026-06-05T15:10:08.481Z",1,"novelbin.me","62dc5513225d6b622e3c7a22f78960f1436c7ec46d94b9a13b8091569121e8cb","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-510","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-508",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]