[{"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-586":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},1240536,1667,"Chapter 585","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-586",586,"\u003Cp>Finding the woman wasn’t particularly difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how vast Hanam might be, her striking appearance made her stand out far too much. Even spreading a little information was enough to track her down quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, she stood out—no, she stood outfar too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pale blue eyes.A subtle chill that seemed to linger in the air around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her captivating gaze and the aura exuded by her appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reminded me of someone—the aloof girl from the Moyong family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only noticeable difference was that this woman had white hair. Of course, if I scrutinized her, I’d surely find other differences, but they would require closer inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, she resembled Moyong Hee-ah quite a lot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to the extent of the uncanny resemblance between Cheonma and Wi Seol-ah, but still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, she’s the princess, then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess of the Northern Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically, the fourth daughter of the Northern Sea Palace Lord. A pureblood descendant of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, visiting Zhongyuan for the first time in decades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A runaway troublemaker.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who caused a stir as soon as she arrived in Hanam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That same woman was now wrinkling her nose, as though something had annoyed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at her, wondering what her issue might be, when she spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nice to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It began with a light greeting. Then she continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you’ve found me, huh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice carried a tone of regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought I wouldn’t be caught until evening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words made me tilt my head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you find me? I planned everything so meticulously... Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about her behavior... how should I put it...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Running away is harder than I thought. Don’t you agree?”“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to her, I couldn’t help but feel like there were countless things I wanted to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what could I call this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah,I realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disconnection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, it was a sense of disconnection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her playful tone and scatterbrained demeanor created a peculiar contrast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wouldn’t normally be an issue, but the dissonance came from her appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could easily be mistaken for Moyong Hee-ah’s twin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a face that seemed like it would deliver cold and sharp words of reprimand, she acted like a mischievous tomboy instead, creating an unsettling impression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned slightly as I looked at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess of the Northern Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A descendant of the Ice Palace Lord, who once fought the Sword Master to a draw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by her level, she seemed to be just barely first-rate. Her age? Likely past twenty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not bad for her age, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t outstanding enough to praise her abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I didn’t know much about the Northern Sea’s standards, by Zhongyuan’s, she would be considered an underachiever born into a prestigious family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That seemed like a fair assessment. As I evaluated her, she called out to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess addressed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know I’m pretty, but isn’t it a bit much to stare at me so intently?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did I just hear?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re going to bore a hole into my face at this rate. Really... Men...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sigh, she muttered something that caused the surroundings to fall silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her unexpected remarks made my frown deepen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol, who had been standing nearby, cautiously approached me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think this lady might be a bit strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I agreed wholeheartedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that she bore such a resemblance to Moyong Hee-ah only made her behavior more unnerving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This won’t be easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was beautiful, no doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was confident enough to carry herself with such assurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her level of beauty was rare even in Zhongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I have too many people like that around me already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d grown immune to it over time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were the me from my previous life—an idiot through and through—I might have stared at her because I found her genuinely stunning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that wasn’t the case now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did she even escape with her level of skill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had reportedly evaded not only the Baekhwa Trading Company’s escorts but also her own personal guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t understand how.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how I look at it, she shouldn’t be capable of that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had even observed the Trading Company’s martial artists; most were in the peak stage or even mature peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t the type of people a princess could simply run away from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So how had she done it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought maybe she had reached the Transformation Realm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, she was a descendant of the Ice Palace Lord, who had matched the Sword Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed plausible. But apparently, that wasn’t the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like she had used some other method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not that it matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delving deeper felt unnecessary, and wasting time on it didn’t appeal to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the princess, I said, “It’s time for you to return. There are quite a few people waiting for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t keep the irritation out of my voice. I tried to suppress it, but it wasn’t easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, the princess’s expression shifted, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you angry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze was one of genuine fascination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not angry, just a bit annoyed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I answered honestly. I wasn’t quite angry—yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess let out an exclamation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell? What’s with this girl?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I hit her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought crossed my mind before I could stop it. It didn’t seem like she was trying to mock me, but something about her felt distinctly off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one’s ever gotten angry at me before. Zhongyuan really is fascinating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell are you even saying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a first for me too. I’d never met someone so uniquely exasperating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never mind that… Let’s just go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved closer to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up close, she resembled Moyong Hee-ah even more. She even had a beauty mark under her eye. If I remembered correctly, Moyong Hee-ah had a similar mark too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it just be a coincidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Doesn’t matter. That’s not important right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I brushed aside the strange thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I reached to grab her, the princess smirked faintly and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You wouldn’t happen to let me go, would you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I answered firmly, and she wrinkled her nose as though disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just when I thought she was about to surrender—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that won’t do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to grab her and drag her along, her body began to emit a bright light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell was this now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp chill prickled at the tip of my nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It happened all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, her physical appearance started to change. Her body turned completely white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stood there, stunned, the princess looked at me and began to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, I didn’t want to do this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know what she was about to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I struck her on the back of the neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eek!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a short cry, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess dropped to the ground with a thud. Naturally, I didn’t bother catching her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stared at her awkwardly crumpled form on the ground, I muttered to myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s completely insane.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure what she’d been planning, but my irritation was at its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I glared down at the unconscious princess, someone called out urgently from behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Princess…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned to see Moyong Hee-ah, leaning against a wall, panting heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I found… huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened as she took in the scene: the unconscious princess on the ground and me standing over her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah furrowed her brows, clearly unable to make sense of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I waved casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Been a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It really had been a while since I’d seen Moyong Hee-ah. Unlike the others, she’d been too busy to make time for a visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to greet her further, she cut me off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That… wouldn’t happen to be the princess, would it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No “how have you been” or polite pleasantries—straight to the point. Typical Moyong Hee-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nudged the princess’s body with my foot. Moyong Hee-ah nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t entirely sure since I hadn’t asked her directly, but judging by the circumstances, it seemed likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As realization set in, Moyong Hee-ah’s eyes began to waver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… why is the princess in that state?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She tried to run, so I knocked her out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You hit her? Knowing who she is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘Hit’ is a strong word. I just gave her a light tap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d made sure to hold back enough that there wouldn’t be any lasting harm. If I hadn’t, her skull might’ve cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I spoke matter-of-factly, Moyong Hee-ah massaged her temples, as though nursing a headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like the idea of me laying a hand on a member of the Northern Sea’s bloodline was a significant problem for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, she didn’t scold me outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they didn’t want this to happen, they shouldn’t have let her escape in the first place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that the princess had managed to run away was the real issue here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the situation, Moyong Hee-ah must’ve been part of the group escorting her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t heard the full story yet, but I could guess as much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this was what Lady Mi Horan had sent Moyong Hee-ah to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense now why she’d gone so far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understanding that didn’t improve my mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was Mi Horan trying to exploit Moyong Hee-ah’s Northern Sea bloodline?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like that was the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the princess was part of the Northern Sea’s royal lineage, Mi Horan must’ve figured that sending Moyong Hee-ah would be more effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A reasonable decision on her part, but it didn’t change the fact that she’d used Moyong Hee-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t like it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I wasn’t about to bring it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah likely knew all of this already. The fact that she went along with it meant she’d accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t my place to interfere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stretched out a hand and activated my qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooom!The princess’s body floated up into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick, I tossed her toward Moyong Hee-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, Moyong Hee-ah hurriedly caught the princess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master! You can’t just throw her like that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t like touching other people’s bodies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that I found handling a woman’s body awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just found the idea of touching her specifically distasteful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Moyong Hee-ah gave me a look of utter disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you insane? Using air manipulation for something like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The application of qi techniques that could only be used by those who had reached theHwagyeongstage. And here I was, using it just because I didn’t want to touch someone else’s body. Moyong Hee-ah seemed completely dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How I use it is my business.It didn’t matter what others thought. As long as it made things easier for me, that was all that mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough with the nagging. Just take her and go. We’ll talk later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I waved her off dismissively, but Moyong Hee-ah gave me a puzzled look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talk later? Aren’t you coming with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her question made it clear—she knew I was somehow involved in this mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was curious about what exactly had dragged me into this situation, but now wasn’t the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I still have something to do here. I’ll join you soon; go on ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had unfinished business to attend to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A telepathic message from Tang So-yeol. She seemed to have figured out why I wasn’t leaving yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I bring them down?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my gaze toward the ceiling of a nearby building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I’ll handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps my glance at the ceiling gave me away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a faint presence from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, it began to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are they trying to run?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, I pushed off the ground and leapt into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked figure moved swiftly, darting between buildings with incredible speed. The rapidly changing scenery was a testament to their agility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, they swallowed nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did they notice me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their stealth techniques were supposed to be flawless. Up until that moment, they hadn’t sensed even a hint of suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, in that instant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without any warning, the young man had turned his head and locked eyes with the masked figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was those piercing eyes that forced the masked figure to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew I was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought sent chills down their spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No time to dwell on it now. They had to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I need to get back to the headquarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reporting what had happened was their only priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had been so confident earlier, merely observing when the woman had approached the formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when she glanced directly at the formation’s location, it hadn’t seemed like a serious issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their orders were clear: observe and ensure the formation remained intact until tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, here they were—on the run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least the formation is still secure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that the others hadn’t figured out its purpose was a relief. If they could just return and report, things might not escalate further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are you going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice rang out right next to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked figure tried to turn, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hand grabbed their neck and slammed them into the ground with overwhelming force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Crackle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their face smashed into the dirt, momentum dragging them forward and leaving a long scar on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden impact left them disoriented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they could process what had happened—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That same hand grabbed the back of their head and yanked them up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guhk…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad. You even managed to coat your face with defensive qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who had caught them seemed mildly impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked figure had instinctively activated defensive qi around their face at the moment of impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grahk!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hand tightened around their jaw, prying it open and preventing them from biting down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ugh!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fingers forced their way into the masked figure’s mouth, gripping and yanking out a molar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the one containing the poison pill meant for suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire ordeal took only a few seconds, leaving the masked figure utterly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All they could see—no, all they could focus on—was one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even through their blurred vision, the assailant’s eyes were vivid and piercing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brilliantly blue, yet burning with an inexplicable intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just looking at them filled the masked figure with a suffocating sense of dread, as though their entire body were on fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah… hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fear left them gasping for air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their captor examined the extracted molar briefly before—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crush!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—crushing it effortlessly between their fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, those terrifying eyes turned back toward the masked figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man’s lips curled into an unsettling grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And who the hell are you supposed to be?”\u003C\u002Fp>",2521,"2026-06-05T15:10:09.877Z",1,"novelbin.me","25ca47c9ea96193ce40ca445e5ee08d4613cd99e5fa91b7007057cab12a451df","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-587","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-585",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]