[{"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-583":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},1240533,1667,"Chapter 582","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-583",583,"\u003Cp>“Oh, Young Master. You’ve returned…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon returning to the dwelling, I was greeted by Tang So-yeol, who froze mid-sentence upon seeing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master…”“Hmm? What’s wrong?”“Did something happen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were filled with concern, and I couldn’t help but smile faintly at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What could possibly have happened? Nothing’s wrong.”“But…”“Have you eaten?”“…Yes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I deliberately changed the subject, and she reluctantly went along, understanding that I didn’t want to talk about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made me feel a little guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about you, Young Master? Have you eaten?”“Ah, yes. I ate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I replied with a smile, but of course, it was a lie. I hadn’t eaten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I?‘As if I could stomach anything.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Running a hand through my hair, I tried to calm my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I had spent some time cooling off on the way back, it wasn’t enough.Far from it—I still felt my emotions burning hotter than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it just a dream?The thought crossed my mind, though I knew better. It was more of a desperate wish than a genuine question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I was all too aware that it wasn’t a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jet-black hair.The violet eyes that stared directly at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suffocating aura that radiated from her—it was all real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I had made countless changes, large and small, to this world with my actions,this was, without a doubt, the greatest butterfly effect yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Where did it all go wrong?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma had appeared in Hanam, looking vastly different from what I remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was it supposed to be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Not like this. Not this soon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my memory was correct, it should have been at least another year or two before her appearance.She was meant to open theMagyeong Gateduring the grand festival hosted by the Martial Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That memory was still vivid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight of her tearing through the sky and stepping into the world.The way she looked down at the vast crowd of orthodox martial artists gathered below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"I am Cheonma.\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice had silenced them all, her overwhelming strength forcing even the great masters of the Alliance to kneel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That moment was seared into my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, many things had already changed.The premature appearance of the Crimson-Rank beasts, the change in the Martial Alliance leader to the Wudang Sword Saint…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could understand those deviations. They were the result of my own meddling.I had accepted responsibility for those.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this—‘This is too much.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a problem of a completely different scale, one that made my head throb painfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma’s demeanor was nothing like what I remembered.I hated to admit it, but her resemblance to Wi Seol-ah was undeniable—too similar in both appearance and aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[\"Why do you hate me?\"]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words lingered in my mind.Why do I hate her? That was putting it mildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I despise her.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hated Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept repeating it to myself, but her recent behavior refused to leave my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Don’t dwell on it. She’s Cheonma.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I struggled to push the memory out of my head. I had to remind myself of who she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What I had endured for this moment.Why I continued to live this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at the same time, I had to think about—‘What comes next?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what Cheonma had become or what my current circumstances were,I needed to figure out how to navigate this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol’s voice brought me back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you… truly okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had approached me and was now holding my hand firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cool touch of her hand felt oddly grounding, even though summer had already arrived. Why were her hands so cold?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were filled with worry, and I realized my expression must have been a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine.”“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t believe me. Her expression said as much.Not that I could blame her—I was doing a poor job of hiding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol called my name again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I turned to look at her, she spoke with a quiet but determined tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I can help you now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze was resolute, and I could tell exactly what she meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So please, won’t you let me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was careful, almost timid.I could sense the fear in her, afraid that I might refuse her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed inwardly at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This isn’t why I wanted her to grow stronger.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All I had wanted was for her to stand on her own.To be able to protect herself in dangerous situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And above all—‘To stop sacrificing herself.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t want her to burn herself out, trying to protect others like she had in my previous life.That was my only intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Tang So-yeol now offered to help me, it would defeat the purpose entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least—At the very least—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I don’t want these kids caught up in this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why I had started all this in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caught between her earnestness and my own thoughts, I reached out and gently patted her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair was slightly longer now, its texture softer than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine. For now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, Tang So-yeol’s expression grew sullen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after reachingHwagyeong, she still made faces like that. It was strangely endearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her growth and enlightenment, some things about a person never change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really, I’m fine for now.”“…Alright.”“If I need help, I’ll let you know, okay?”“No, you won’t.”“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her blunt response left me speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… uh. Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out an awkward laugh, knowing I couldn’t deny it.My past actions spoke for themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that was why Tang So-yeol seemed unusually resolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sniff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out a small huff, and somehow, my scrambled thoughts seemed to settle just a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘First… I need to focus on what I can do.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Complicated matters would stay complicated.But that only meant I had to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what should I do now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recovering my strength was important, but—‘Cheonma is somewhere in Hanam.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Cheonma was here, then my next step was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked Tang So-yeol,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is the Shadow King right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my question, her lips pouted slightly. It seemed she wasn’t pleased that this was the first thing I asked of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I do feel a bit bad.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this couldn’t be helped.The situation on my end was urgent, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Master is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master.Hearing the Shadow King referred to like that felt oddly strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you not been able to contact him either, Young Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words made me tilt my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about what she said caught my attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? Is something wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could track the Shadow King down if I really needed to, but her reaction piqued my curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master… I don’t know where he is right now.”“Hm?”“He left saying it was time for me to descend the mountain and hasn’t been seen since.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He disappeared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought over her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Tang So-yeol couldn’t contact the Shadow King, then what might be the reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One possibility came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could it be… Taeecheon?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>TheMagyeongof Taeecheon. Could he have business there?I vaguely remembered him mentioning he might visit the place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That would explain the lack of contact.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d crossed over to the other realm, it would make sense that he was unreachable.But it didn’t matter much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can still reach him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just because Tang So-yeol couldn’t didn’t mean it was impossible.I’d send word to him before the day was over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, I wouldn’t go out of my way to contact him, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I need the Shadow King for this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it involved Cheonma, the situation demanded a different approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it. I’ll try to get in touch with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything you want me to pass along?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, no… that is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mention of the Shadow King darkened Tang So-yeol’s expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...If you can, just tell him to take his time. Or better yet, come as late as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words made me chuckle wryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed she’d had quite a rough time with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day arrived, and I found myself lying flat on the ground, staring up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, it was a scene I was all too familiar with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh, my back…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I groaned as I pushed myself upright. A sharp pain shot through my lower back as I sat up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed I had overdone it a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I clutched my aching back, someone plopped down lightly in front of me, meeting my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Paejon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk tsk… You look pathetic,” he said, shaking his head in mock disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t I ask you to take it easy? Why’d you go all out and toss me like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason I had been lying flat on the ground, staring at the sky, was none other than my training session with Paejon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, calling it a “training session” felt too generous. It was more like a one-sided beating, as always.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I thought I was starting to close the gap.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when Paejon was merely at the peak of perfection, I could somewhat hold my own.But now that he had reachedHwagyeong, it was utterly hopeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even activating my inner vision doesn’t help.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much I strained myself, I couldn’t keep up. It wasn’t just the speed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The paths of his strikes are endless.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trajectories of Paejon’s energy attacks were simply too many to count.There was no way to block or counter them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, the outcome was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I just get pummeled, that’s all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without any way to respond, I ended up rolling on the ground over and over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is no such thing as moderation in training. You must be serious at all times,” he said firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m still recovering, Elder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. And it was you who insisted on training despite Shin-ui telling you to rest, was it not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a point. I had been the one to ask him for help, thinking my body was mostly recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...I didn’t expect him to go all out and beat me to a pulp, though.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t deny the unfairness of it.I’d assumed he’d take it easy on me, considering my condition, but clearly, that assumption was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon, dissatisfied with my silence, gave me a piercing look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, with so many stray thoughts clouding your mind, what kind of training do you think you’re accomplishing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words struck a nerve, and I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he noticed. I figured he might, but of course, Paejon would pick up on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I apologized quickly, and his eyes narrowed slightly in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Judging by your expression, something is troubling you.”“...”“With your personality, I doubt you’ll tell me what it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was my chest an open book? How did he always know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At the very least, if you’re serious about training, rid yourself of those distractions. Otherwise, it’s no different from wasting your time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon rose to his feet after delivering his advice, leaving me to sit there and swallow my frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Rid myself of distractions, huh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Easier said than done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I possibly do that when my situation was such a mess?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had come to Paejon out of desperation, hoping to quell my anxiety and frustration, but even I knew that wasn’t the right solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that Cheonma was somewhere in Hanam loomed over me like a heavy shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it my troubled thoughts again? Paejon let out a heavy sigh, clearly dissatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple.”“Yes, Elder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As always, you think too much for someone of your level.”“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hwagyeong—a realm attainable only through great enlightenment.Yet here I was, still plagued by unnecessary thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can’t clear your mind, you’ll never reach the place you aspire to.”“...”“Whether it’s a higher realm or the power you seek, it will remain out of reach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, not only would I struggle to ascend further, but the power I was working to build would also remain incomplete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ll keep that in mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, all I could do was nod in acknowledgment.I understood it in my head, but putting it into practice was another matter entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon snorted softly, his disapproval evident, though he didn’t press the issue further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I got to my feet as well, brushing off the dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thank you for the morning session. I’ll head to Shin-ui now to check on my condition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having wrapped up the morning’s training, I intended to visit Shin-ui to assess my physical state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shin-ui isn’t here.”“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I widened my eyes at Paejon’s unexpected remark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not here? This early in the morning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun had only just begun to rise. Where could he have gone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard he was expecting a guest and stepped out to meet them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon’s explanation only deepened the mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A guest?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason Shin-ui had come to Hanam was clear—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He said he was here to meet someone.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this guest the person he’d been referring to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who could it be?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the leader of the Martial Alliance would have to make the effort to visit Shin-ui in person.Yet this was someone important enough for Shin-ui to go out of his way to meet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who on earth could that be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun had just begun to rise, painting the sky in soft hues of morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the streets started to fill with people, the bustle of the crowd was interrupted by the arrival of a single carriage, weaving its way through the busy thoroughfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage drew the attention of the passersby, their gazes fixed upon it. While the appearance of a carriage was nothing out of the ordinary, its design was what captivated them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a style rarely seen in Zhongyuan, unique enough to stand out amidst the common streets of Hanam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the carriage, a woman—Moyong Hee-ah—let out a quiet sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From here on, it looks like we’ll have to continue on foot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the growing crowd, the carriage would only become a hindrance.Moreover, drawing further attention would pose an issue, particularly because of the person seated before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman seated in front of Moyong Hee-ah nodded at her words, shifting her gaze momentarily toward the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, the streets were teeming with people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the woman, it was all rather fascinating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground, untouched by snow.The warmth of the season, so vivid and palpable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything about it was a new and curious experience for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So this is Hanam,” she murmured, her voice carrying a mix of wonder and excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah nodded in response, though her own feelings about the situation were far less positive. Still, she knew better than to let it show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person before her was not someone she could afford to treat with anything less than absolute respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lady.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carefully spoken title drew the woman’s attention back to Moyong Hee-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the faintly shifting breeze moved through the carriage, the woman’s eyes—briefly visible—reflected a strikingly familiar light blue hue, identical to Moyong Hee-ah’s own.\u003C\u002Fp>",2509,"2026-06-05T15:10:09.877Z",1,"novelbin.me","e68cea12f524d984d15c812a20c20af6cf4304634b99e85917c7cb97ae3da1c9","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-584","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-582",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]