[{"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-538":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},1240364,1667,"Chapter 537","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-538",538,"\u003Cp>The rare shared mealtime didn’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the situation with the Tang Clan, it wasn’t a time for a festive or cheerful atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the meal, Tang So-yeol’s face remained particularly somber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Her expression was downright grim.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Poison King likely tried to shield her from the details of the situation, he couldn’t have hidden everything. Tang So-yeol must have learned enough to grasp what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had expected she would find out eventually, but I couldn’t just leave her alone, so I forced her to join us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah stuck close to her, doing their best to console her, but it wasn’t enough to make everything better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the meal was little more than a chance to see familiar faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what’s the plan?”“For what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked Moyong Hee-ah as we walked along a quiet path after the meal. Our quarters were in the same direction, and I had a question for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You knew Poison King would make that decision, didn’t you?”“I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her response was calm, almost indifferent. That only made me more curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you know?”“Hmm? Didn’t Young Master Gu realize it?”“I didn’t. That’s why I’m asking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could anyone have predicted such a thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patriarch tearing down his own family—who could have foreseen that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah brushed her hair aside with her delicate fingers and replied,“I wasn’t entirely sure. It was just a possibility.”“But you acted like you were certain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her swift and decisive response made it seem like she’d known for sure. Yet now, she admitted she wasn’t entirely confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blushed slightly, perhaps embarrassed by her earlier actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...It wasn’t certain, but there was a high chance.”“What chance?”“That Poison King would chooserighteousness.”“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words made me pause internally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I considered various possibilities. There were better options given the situation, but in the end, I couldn’t see Poison King doing anything else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Moyong Hee-ah’s perspective, that meant managing the Tang Clan’s secrets to minimize leaks, absorbing the elders’ factions, and consolidating power before eliminating them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would have been the most effective course of action from both her perspective and mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Poison King didn’t take that route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And why not?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because he said he was ashamed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashamed as a martial artist, as a patriarch, and as someone who claimed to represent righteousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t stand to take any other course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s complicated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some would call it an incompetent choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others might deem it foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I couldn’t bring myself to say either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Conviction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recognized it as Poison King’s conviction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something I could never do—no, something I wouldn’t even consider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he declared his path with such certainty, I couldn’t refute it because I lacked a conviction of my own to match his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need to find one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to find something I could believe in, something I could follow without wavering, something that would keep me steady in times of turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah’s voice broke my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, I was thinking about something. So what did you do?”“What else? I cleaned up everything related to the Tang Clan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed as she spoke, her exhaustion evident in her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she’d cleaned up the mess with the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does that mean you ended your dealings with them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was asking if she had severed the Moyong family’s agreements and partnerships with the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, such contracts couldn’t be terminated so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But given the circumstances…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With everything that had happened, even if the Moyong family broke ties unilaterally, the Tang Clan wouldn’t be in a position to complain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I didn’t cut ties completely. If I had, I’d be less busy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just renegotiated the terms and adjusted all the ratios.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that’s why she’d been so busy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had restructured the agreements and rebalanced the trade ratios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Impressive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that made me see Moyong Hee-ah in a new light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d always known she was capable, but this was beyond my expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Her standing in the Moyong family must be higher than I thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just her ability to assess the situation and act swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What impressed me was her authority to make such changes without prior approval from the family head, the Baekcheon Sword Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he would eventually review and stamp his seal of approval on her decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the fact that she acted without hesitation suggests she had that authority.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Moyong Hee-ah, to act first and think later meant she was confident her actions would be endorsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps sensing my gaze, she tilted her head and asked,“Why are you looking at me like that?”“I just realized you’re more impressive than I thought.”“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes showed she thought I was speaking nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was genuinely impressed, but she didn’t seem to believe me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I had a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t you cut ties completely?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Clan’s collapse would undoubtedly bring trouble to its partners, including the Moyong family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surely she understood this better than anyone. Yet she had only renegotiated rather than severing ties entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her answer came as she averted her gaze slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I wanted to.”“Understandable.”“When the ship you’re on catches fire, you don’t stay aboard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”“But?”“You can’t live your life purely by calculations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words surprised me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming from someone I’d always seen as calculating and pragmatic, it was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s with that face?”“You just said the most surprising thing I’ve heard all year.”“What?”“I’m kidding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not really, but I quickly backtracked when her eyes narrowed at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Moyong Hee-ah, of all people…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the same woman who had ruthlessly discarded anyone she deemed unnecessary during the Magyeong Gate incident, prioritizing survival above all else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For her to handle matters out of sentiment or obligation was… unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but mutter,“Who is it? You must really care about them.”“What was that?”“Nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She snorted, wrinkling her brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, given the circumstances, you should prepare yourself too, Young Master.”“Prepare for what?”“The Gu family will have to respond to this. Surely you have a role to play?”“…I suppose they will, but I won’t be involved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the family took action, it would fall to Father, the elders, or even Gu Heebi—not me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What could I do, anyway?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I could, I had no intention of getting involved. Not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t seem very interested in family matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Embarrassingly, she was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My focus was solely on matters related to the Blood Demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing my lack of interest, Moyong Hee-ah’s expression shifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I guess I’ll have to prepare for more responsibilities when we’re married. Should I start studying early?”“What?”“Nothing. If you don’t have any plans, why not look after Tang So-yeol? She seems to be struggling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She ignored my question and left after throwing out her suggestion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left alone, I absently touched my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her parting words lingered in my mind, along with the image of Tang So-yeol’s dark expression during the meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recalled the day I visited her about the gemstone. She had refused it, saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can overcome this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been aware of her inferiority complex and believed she could conquer it on her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that determination, I had decided not to use the gemstone on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still, I can’t just leave her alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, she hadn’t known what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, everything was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using the gemstone on her at this point was out of the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her determination had been inspiring, and I had no intention of undermining it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, should I comfort her instead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, that’s not it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comfort wasn’t what Tang So-yeol needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What she needed was a path forward—a way to move on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without Moyong Hee-ah’s suggestion, I’d already been considering how to help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was the right approach or not would be up to Tang So-yeol to decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All I could do was present her with what seemed like the best path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few deep breaths, I looked into the empty space ahead and called out softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior.”“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reply came immediately, from behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning, I saw Amwang kneeling there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t even sense him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I had summoned him, I hadn’t detected his presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he had been nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at him, I spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mentioned something last time, didn’t you?”“Yes.”“I’ll grant your request.”“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amwang’s eyes glimmered at my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know how to break your curse, but the second part of your request—I can handle that easily. I’ll grant it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His request to be killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That much, I could do. Even now, if he wished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not right now. I still need you, Senior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It won’t take long, but once I’ve accomplished what I need, I’ll fulfill your request.”“...”“Is that acceptable? If not, there’s nothing I can do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he refused, I wouldn’t honor the request. My words carried a veiled threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amwang showed no reaction, likely because he already understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He knows I intend to use him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amwang was fully aware of his own worth and had still pleaded with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you require of me, Great One?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, he calmly accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That title again…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed inwardly but pushed the thought aside and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How far are you willing to go for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much was he willing to do for me and for his own goals?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amwang replied,“If it’s within my power, I will do anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His unwavering declaration caught me off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything…?”“If you wish someone dead, I will bring you their head, no matter who it is.”“Oh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but admire his resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhongyuan’s foremost assassin, his words carried undeniable credibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is assassination the only thing I can ask of him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, I hadn’t planned to make such a request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Targets like Cheonma or the Blood Demon weren’t suitable for an assassin’s blade, and I had other plans for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. That’s not what I need from him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Amwang offered his loyalty, that meant access to the Cheolyeosal Assassins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With them at my disposal, one of my long-term plans could be completed far sooner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This will work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cheolyeosal Assassins weren’t just useful for killing—they were invaluable for gathering intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having them on my side was a massive gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there was something more urgent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I appreciate your offer, but there’s something else I need you to do first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t about killing anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although I had many enemies to eliminate, I preferred to deal with them myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the ones I wanted dead…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I plan to turn them into demonic beasts instead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I intended to corrupt them, I wouldn’t waste Amwang’s skills on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What I needed from him now was something entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I envisioned a woman with bright green hair and looked at Amwang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amwang lifted his gaze to meet mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need you to take on a disciple.”“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confusion flashed in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>",1841,"2026-06-05T15:10:08.481Z",1,"novelbin.me","44f4a62457644361becaf73c2dd08a10314e4ad7313f53e060c917b271b60e89","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-539","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-537",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]