[{"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-587":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},1240537,1667,"Chapter 586","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-587",587,"\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"……!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An arm twisted unnaturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Gu Yangcheon snapped the masked man’s right arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man had screamed in shock when his molar was pulled, but this time, he held back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite trembling shoulders, he tried to move. Yet his body wouldn’t obey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I figured you favored your left hand, so I took care of the right one,\" Gu Yangcheon said nonchalantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man shuddered at his words. His opponent had realized he was left-handed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When?He hadn’t even drawn a weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain was unbearable, but he couldn’t even bite his lips to cope—Gu Yangcheon was still holding his jaw open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gggh… Gugh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have a few questions for you. Take your time answering.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon’s voice carried a hint of amusement, which only made it more terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the word, a touch landed on the index finger of the masked man’s remaining left hand. Gu Yangcheon had grabbed it firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure on the masked man’s jaw eased slightly, just enough to allow him to speak. He rasped out a reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As if… I’d tell you….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ghk!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The index finger snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Gu Yangcheon moved on to the middle finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why were you observing us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ggh… Ngh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arghhh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the bone wasn’t just snapped—it was crushed entirely, shattering under his grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man barely had time to process the pain before Gu Yangcheon grabbed the next finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same monotone voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ghh… Ha… Haha…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the masked man let out a weak chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon paused, intrigued by the sound. Silence settled over them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you laughing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was genuine curiosity in his tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man’s laugh grew, hoarse and shaky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha… How could I not… find this funny…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go on, then. What’s so funny?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A so-called righteous man… acting so ruthlessly… It’s laughable…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft sound of admiration escaped Gu Yangcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know who I am?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man raised his head, meeting Gu Yangcheon’s piercing blue eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sharp features, jet-black hair, and blazing irises were striking, yet devoid of any emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man understood instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This person didn’t see him as human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Gu Yangcheon, he was just prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he really from the righteous sects?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man doubted it, but there was no mistaking it—Gu Yangcheon belonged to one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Gu Yangcheon of the Shanxi Gu Clan…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years ago, his name had briefly set Zhongyuan ablaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His appearance had changed since then, but the information aligned perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon let out a short sound of acknowledgment. The fact that his identity had been recognized wasn’t surprising. What interested him was something else in the masked man’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, you’re saying you’re not part of the righteous sects?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh… Whether righteous or demonic… all those labels… are decided by the likes of you…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shink!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nail of his broken index finger was ripped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aaaarghhh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unbearable heat seared the exposed wound, burning flesh and filling the air with a nauseating stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only answer my questions. Don’t bother with unnecessary comments.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ghhh… Guhh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pain surged through the masked man, saliva dribbling uncontrollably from his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The agony pierced through his defensive qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite a life spent as an assassin, familiar with torture, this pain was beyond anything he’d endured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, he didn’t lose consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bastard…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as his body shook with agony, a creeping fear gripped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just the physical pain—it was the realization of how calculated it all was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon wasn’t letting him pass out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was keeping him awake deliberately, controlling the pain to ensure maximum torment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ruthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most martial artists were no strangers to killing, but inflicting pain through torture was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man could tell just by observing him—Gu Yangcheon wasn’t merely accustomed to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s mastered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no guilt or hesitation in his actions, nor any emotion. Every move was precise and efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this truly someone barely past twenty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more than that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this really someone from the righteous sects?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question gnawed at him as he writhed in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How annoying,\" Gu Yangcheon muttered, breaking the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you weren’t injured, I’d corrupt you and make you talk the easy way. Tch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corrupt?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The term was unfamiliar, its meaning unclear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s make this simple. Speak up, and who knows? I might let you live.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hhhh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn’t seem like you were after me or the princess. So, what were you doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon spoke with certainty, as though he already knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man’s breath caught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he be so sure? Most people would assume any observer was targeting someone in their group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So just talk. If you tell me—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah… You expect me to believe that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man’s derisive laughter interrupted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Righteous sects… They always spew empty words… Words they never intend to keep…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon couldn’t argue. He agreed wholeheartedly with those words. The righteous sects were masters of hollow promises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a statement that perfectly suited the current righteous sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And frankly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, not like I planned to let him live anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon had no intention of sparing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Righteous sects might not have been trustworthy, but the demonic sects received no mercy. That stubbornness had existed since ancient times—a pointless principle held onto for far too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you still believe in some fleeting sense of justice… lingering in this world?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his tongue was sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should I just kill him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whole situation was starting to annoy him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear the masked man—or whoever was behind him—was up to something, but judging by his attitude, he wouldn’t talk easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments like these made Gu Yangcheon resent his previous life—though, in some ways, he missed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Back then, things would’ve been different.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had killed so many like this before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making someone like this talk used to be child’s play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps trying to live as more of a human since his regression had dulled him a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can tell he’s plotting something, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly it was remained unclear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the martial arts competition approaching, all sorts of strange characters were starting to crawl out of the woodwork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, if he wasn’t targeting our group, it doesn’t really matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were targeting the Martial Alliance instead, that would actually be convenient—it would make his plans smoother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Foolish child of the righteous sects… You cannot see what lies ahead. Wait quietly for your end…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, let’s kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to get back to the trading company anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it his sour mood? For some reason, he started craving dumplings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the point of torture?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was done with getting involved in tiresome business. The situation was already irritating enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once time passes, the righteous sects, you, and…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon’s thoughts drifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe he should gather everyone, including Moyong Hee-ah, and grab a meal together. It had been a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Even those worthless women by your side will meet their end—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man froze mid-sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite having spoken with the resolve to face death, the man’s words came to an abrupt halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gghk…! Guhghk…!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A murderous aura crashed down on him, emanating from Gu Yangcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just feeling it made it seem as though his skin was being ripped apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breathing stopped, and even the pain in his arms seemed to vanish momentarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man turned his gaze toward the source of the murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Gu Yangcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very air around him had shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer weight of the aura seemed to warp the space itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who did you say was worthless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh… guhgh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man’s body trembled uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The killing intent radiating from Gu Yangcheon froze all his senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This… this… what is this…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could such killing intent emanate from a human?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Great Lord didn’t feel like this…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh-ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon’s fist smashed into the masked man’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood and teeth scattered as the blow landed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon had destroyed all the man’s teeth, preventing him from biting his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scream tried to escape, but Gu Yangcheon had already blocked his throat with qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood dripped down as the man trembled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon spoke as he stared down at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was going to make this easy for you, but you just had to run your mouth and piss me off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone had shifted entirely, now laced with cold fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon moved again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It happened in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint sound echoed from the masked man’s abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, he didn’t realize what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then it hit him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His dantian had shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pain followed shortly after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unimaginable, excruciating pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he couldn’t scream—Gu Yangcheon’s grip on his throat ensured that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmph…! Nghhh…!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t make a sound. You’re irritating enough as it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy gathered in the man’s dantian dissipated in an instant, leaving only emptiness behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years of cultivation and qi vanished in mere seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man’s body went limp, reduced from that of a martial artist to something less than ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils trembled wildly as Gu Yangcheon finally loosened his grip on his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… you monster…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s shout was filled with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his words were slurred due to his missing teeth, his anger was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon, however, remained expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply stared, indifferent to the man’s outburst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, the masked man screamed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill me…! Just kill me already! No matter what you do, I won’t—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t bother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t say another word. I’m not curious anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man froze, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whatever you say now, I won’t listen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-what are you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So don’t speak. Not a single word. Got it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ghk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon’s hand tightened around his neck again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, no matter what happens, don’t say a thing. I’m not interested. Remember that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ghh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fear was overwhelming, threatening to shatter the man’s sanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue flames ignited across Gu Yangcheon’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the flames were breathtakingly beautiful, the killing intent within them was suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had the atmosphere shifted so drastically?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trembling masked man finally pieced it together, his thoughts flashing back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Those worthless women by your side…][Who did you say was worthless?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That moment—that was the turning point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant Gu Yangcheon’s previously indifferent eyes had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it really be that his rage stemmed from an insult to those women?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked man desperately wanted to deny it, but no other explanation fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, it didn’t matter anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames surrounding them formed a wall, cutting off the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, the sky disappeared in a swirl of fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the flames finally died down, all that remained was a charred, unrecognizable husk—and Gu Yangcheon, calmly wiping his hands on his clothes, his expression one of cold disgust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**********\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cleaning up the traces wasn’t particularly difficult. After all, there wasn’t much to leave behind in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing the unpleasant feeling lingering inside me, I returned to the alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, Tang So-yeol was still waiting for me there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, Young Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cautious voice greeted me as I entered the alley. I glanced around and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is she?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was referring to Moyong Hee-ah, who was nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, she thought it was best to prioritize escorting the young lady to the trading company, so she went on ahead,” Tang So-yeol replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was good. I had told her to go on ahead, and it seemed she’d listened without any trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what about you? How did it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol’s question was directed at me. She wanted to know how things had ended after I gave chase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I avoided her gaze slightly and replied, “He didn’t talk, so I took care of him appropriately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a half-truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had burned him to nothing, leaving no trace behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed excessive to explain the gruesome details, but claiming I hadn’t killed him would’ve been an unnecessary lie. So I decided to be honest—at least about the result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol seemed surprisingly unfazed by my response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. It would’ve been nice to get some information, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, she looked disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next time, let me handle it, Young Master. I’m pretty good at that sort of thing now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Uh, sure. Right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does she even mean bythat sort of thing…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cheerful tone made me curious, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shadow King… Just what had he taught her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of training had turned her intothis?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While it was true that she’d grown stronger, I couldn’t help but question if this was really a positive development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fleeting doubt crossed my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shifted my gaze back to the alley, looking in the direction where Seong Yul stood with his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alley, which had been entirely ordinary just moments ago, now held a collapsed body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Already dead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was clearly dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I thought Seong Yul had killed him, but upon closer inspection, the state of the body suggested it had been some time since he died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on top of that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His face looks familiar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpse belonged to a middle-aged man, someone whose face seemed oddly recognizable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But from where?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t quite place it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the body, I turned to Seong Yul and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There was a formation,” Seong Yul replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A formation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange feeling crept over me at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There was a formation in this alley?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that masked man observing the formation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was what he’d been focusing on, then everything started to make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it wasn’t me or the princess he was after… It had to be this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I hadn’t detected the formation—it must’ve been incredibly intricate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The level of precision required to set up something like that would justify the masked man’s actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, it still begged the question:Why use such an elaborate formation just to hide a corpse?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’d you even notice it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked Seong Yul, curious about how he had detected and dismantled such a refined formation when I couldn’t even sense it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He responded with his usual calm demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I felt something strange, so I cut it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it unraveled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His matter-of-fact tone made it clear he didn’t see the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to him, I couldn’t help but think…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sounds oddly familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I returned to the trading company immediately after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the corpse, I left it behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reporting it would only result in the Martial Alliance intervening and dragging me in for questioning—it was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I could easily slip away from such a situation, I had no intention of getting involved in unnecessary complications. So, I simply erased most of the evidence and left it at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I had left instructions for someone to monitor the scene. If anything arose, they’d contact me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s just hope today doesn’t lead to more pointless trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it was clear something was brewing in Hanam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Incidents here weren’t exactly rare, so it wasn’t surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What mattered was:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How will this affect me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of what was unfolding, the key was how the situation would shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it seemed likely to cause harm, I’d crush it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it turned out to be beneficial, I’d leave it be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To do that, though—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll need to figure out what’s going on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly understanding the situation was crucial for responding effectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant I had more to investigate than I’d originally thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flood of bothersome, irritating tasks seemed to have come crashing down all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The issues involving Shin Noya, Cheonma, and even the Martial Alliance were piling up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was because I was trying to take on larger responsibilities than I should.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My life, already frustrating enough, was layered with more and more chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, at a time when I was already overwhelmed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess of the Northern Sea, sitting across from me, suddenly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would it be alright if I married you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a second thought, I blurted out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of crazy bitch are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t hold it in.\u003C\u002Fp>",2756,"2026-06-05T15:10:09.877Z",1,"novelbin.me","7976579f2cea9620e1db79bbf0b301a16c387d53bd82ea698874ef8ff3c17523","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-588","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-586",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]