[{"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-594":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},1240544,1667,"Chapter 593","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-594",594,"\u003Cp>The Crimson Feather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure who had become quite famous in the Northern Sea, particularly within the Ice Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There isn’t a soul in Zhongyuan who doesn’t know that guy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a relaxed demeanor, Yuri’s “companion” had spoken with evident amusement while explaining this person.It had been years since they’d last met, but he remained as bright and clear-headed as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, he’s an extraordinary guy, you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps time had mellowed him.The once self-absorbed man now seemed preoccupied with boasting about a new friend he’d made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That guy will definitely make it big. That’s why there isn’t anyone in Zhongyuan who doesn’t know him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Crimson Feather?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. The Crimson—”His words were interrupted by an odd breath, but Yuri chose not to pay it any mind.This man had always been a bit eccentric, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, if such an oddball could go on praising someone so highly, Yuri couldn’t help but grow curious herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“White Fox.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her call, her “escort” turned her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tall, slender figure with strikingly curvaceous lines.This person, commonly known as the White Fox, always wore a white fox mask, concealing their face from view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her companion had once mentioned that the White Fox had suffered severe burns as a child, leaving scars so disfiguring that she chose to hide them.Having heard that, Yuri had never thought to ask her to remove the mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know about the Crimson Feather as well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Fox nodded silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was a person of few words.Yuri herself didn’t speak much, but even she was outdone by the White Fox’s taciturn nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oddly enough, Yuri found that comforting.The White Fox didn’t engage in unnecessary chatter, nor did she betray any signs of strain or discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on top of that, she was an immensely powerful martial artist from Zhongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri liked the White Fox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She liked her enough that the thought of her eventually returning to her homeland annoyed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…If even you know him, he must truly be a famous figure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if the Crimson Feather wasn’t well-known, she’d know him well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri tilted her head at her companion’s cryptic remark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s because the two of them are—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as her companion began to speak, a sound came from the White Fox’s waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, she had gripped the hilt of her sword.Seeing this, her companion froze momentarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re… close.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri failed to pick up on the tension in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Close, you say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the White Fox also a famous figure in Zhongyuan?It seemed possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was certainly extraordinary enough to be well-known.Nodding in agreement, Yuri turned back to her companion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you famous too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… well…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her companion hesitated before replying, “…A little?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he said so, then it must be true.At the very least, Yuri believed this friend of hers wouldn’t lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why her curiosity only grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the Crimson Feather really as remarkable as they claimed?How extraordinary could he be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of person is he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri directed this question to the White Fox, reasoning that, if the two were close, she might know something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief silence, the White Fox answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A puppy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unexpected response threw Yuri off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A cute puppy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Fox’s tone was oddly firm.It was a far cry from the impression Yuri’s companion had given—a cheerful, commanding presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she mean he was someone who, despite his strength, was kind and innocent?As Yuri pondered this interpretation, she was interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft… Puhaha…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her companion turned away, shoulders trembling as he struggled to suppress laughter.It was clear he was on the verge of bursting out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri, long accustomed to his eccentricities, decided to ignore him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A puppy, huh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cute.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Fox’s words lingered in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man who could wield fire with supernatural skill.Someone who couldn’t pass by the weak or injured without helping.A hero who sought to save the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A historical genius, yet also a man with the endearing charm of a puppy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri smiled at the thought.Stories from Zhongyuan always fascinated her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she hadn’t anticipated what came next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a few days later, the winds of blood swept through the Northern Sea.And she found herself heading to Zhongyuan in search of the “cute puppy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting quietly at a table, Yuri muttered to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…They said he was a cute puppy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone was filled with injustice.How could she not feel wronged?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s no puppy—he’s more of a venomous snake, the likes of which I’ve never seen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What part of him could possibly resemble a puppy?At best, he was a ferocious beast; at worst, a malevolent spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri had never in her life met someone so violent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone, his gaze—everything about him radiated a sense of unyielding authority, as if he might overturn the world at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tyrant.Or perhaps a madman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in her life, Yuri thought of such words.Had she encountered him in the Northern Sea, she would have ensured he was dealt with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But of all people...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, as fate would have it, Yuri needed him now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her delicate hand struck the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Princess,” Ubeom, standing before her, spoke cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His first words were an apology.Yuri turned her gaze to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I failed to handle the situation properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the chaos he had caused earlier, Ubeom’s demeanor was now serious and composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Yuri replied, “Don’t apologize. It’s all my fault.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could it be—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I misjudged the situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything had gone wrong.The antics she had carefully orchestrated to appear foolish had all failed miserably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even the situations you worked so hard to create, I ruined them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their escape from the merchant convoy, the circumstances shaped by the artifact and Ubeom’s sacrifices, all of it had been for naught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubeom had deliberately acted arrogant and overconfident to draw attention away from their injured comrade, U-seok.All of it was to tip negotiations in their favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, Yuri had undone it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t expected that the Crimson Feather would not only be far more intelligent than she’d anticipated but also relentless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had noticed every single misstep she made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant only one thing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He may be arrogant, but he’s anything but incompetent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was fully aware of his own strength and talent, maintaining an air of arrogance, but he had the power to back it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Yuri, he was an entirely different kind of difficulty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Born to be a ruler.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People like that—they were always the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those destined to sit above others.Those meant to lead and command, to become the head of the dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such individuals were the ones Yuri feared most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The Palace Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man she had met, the Crimson Feather, was just like her father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way he looked down on her.The atmosphere he exuded.The confidence that nothing could stand in his way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri couldn’t forget the impression he left on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Princess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before her departure to Zhongyuan, her father’s words echoed in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Avoid any involvement with the Martial Alliance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then he had said something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you ever find yourself in Zhongyuan and meet someone who wields fire from the West…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter what, stay as far away as you can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri should have been alarmed by those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter what, fight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That had always been her father’s creed.Yet, here he was, telling her to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By now, he must be in his middle years. A man who wields fire. Remember that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone, even more somber than when speaking about the Martial Alliance, had left an impression on Yuri.She couldn’t help but ask:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is he, for you to say such things?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the ruler of the Northern Sea to speak so gravely—Yuri’s curiosity was piqued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He is,” the Ice Palace Lord said with finality, “the Supreme Being of Zhongyuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were resolute, brooking no dissent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that was why she couldn’t shake the memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crimson Feather was said to wield fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The West.Where did he come from, exactly?For a brief moment, such thoughts crossed her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he’s in his middle years, then it can’t be him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The timeline didn’t add up.Her father had traveled to Zhongyuan with her grandfather long before this supposed “Crimson Feather” could have been born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man her father warned about couldn’t possibly be that young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t the time to be worrying about such things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri rubbed her face, exhaustion evident in her every motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was right; now wasn’t the time for idle speculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all her plans upended, Yuri felt trapped in a web of missteps.Just then, the Crimson Feather broke the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seems like things have shifted a bit. Should we continue this conversation tomorrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice carried a hint of amusement, but Yuri could tell—it wasn’t mere amusement. It was derision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He already knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re looking to ‘negotiate,’ it seems you’ll need to prepare a lot more to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation had completely changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had begun as a straightforward request had now turned into a desperate plea.The dynamics had shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From client and contractor, they had become master and supplicant.And there was no doubt about who was in the superior position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crimson Feather now held all the cards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This turn of events made everything infinitely harder.And worse, he already seemed aware of the state of the Northern Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...How did he figure that out in such a short meeting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was clear—there was no hiding it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Northern Sea was in chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Treason and rebellion had thrown it into disarray.Its cold winds now carried the stench of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And all because of...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her father, the Ice Palace Lord, once resolute and unyielding, now faced an unpredictable affliction of the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they had tried to conceal it and maintain their position, time was running out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To restore the balance, Yuri needed the Crimson Feather’s supposed ability to break the curse.If it were a lie, all hope would be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, precisely because it couldn’t be a lie, it was a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As her thoughts spiraled into further complexity, Yuri felt a creeping sense of exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I’ll have to think this through.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their brief exchange, one thing had become abundantly clear to Yuri.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crimson Feather was not a man driven by honor or cooperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her companion’s claim that he was a hero?Far from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was cold, calculating, and logical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man who wouldn’t act unless there was a clear benefit for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And conversely...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If crossed, he’d be crueler than anyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words and actions aside, it was evident just from his gaze.He was no benevolent soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s not someone who’ll move out of sympathy or circumstance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she was to persuade him, it would require reason and conditions that appealed to his logic.Without those, there would be no point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri turned her gaze to the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The daylight had long since faded, the sun replaced by the deepening night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had suggested they continue their discussion tomorrow at noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That left her with precious little time to come up with a plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, she decided to accept her position.To clearly understand her place and adapt her approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then could she make a proper decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The night is short.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before noon arrived, she had to figure it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, within this brief night, she needed to devise a way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A way to secure the cooperation of the Crimson Feather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>********************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yuri wracked her brain in her quarters, Gu Yangcheon had just returned to his lodging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, he had plans to dine with Madam Mi, take a stroll with Tang So-yeol and Moyong Hee-ah, and explore the area leisurely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those plans were now abandoned. Instead, Gu Yangcheon found himself back in his room, deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rare, serious expression crossed his face, his sharp eyes narrowing further, giving him an even more fearsome appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his hand was a peculiar piece of paper, the very reason his plans had shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he finished his conversation with the Northern Princess and prepared to leave, something unexpected had occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri had stopped him in his tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprised, Gu Yangcheon turned to face her. She reached into her robe and produced the letter, holding it out to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression twisted in confusion as he looked at the item in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A message from your friend,” Yuri said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened at her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A friend?Who in the Northern Sea would send him a letter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few familiar faces flashed through his mind, and a bad feeling began to take root.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Northern Princess possessing such a letter, especially amid the recent turmoil in the Northern Sea, only heightened his unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had taken the letter from her and opened it on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his eyes scanned the words, his brows furrowed tightly.It was that kind of message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One that made him cancel everything and retreat to his room immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dimly lit room, Gu Yangcheon sat in silence, the only light coming from his piercing blue eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The letter in his hand seemed almost invisible in the darkness, but that didn’t matter to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in complete blackness, he could read it with perfect clarity.And so he did—over and over again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I’m sorry. I’m late.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single, short line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[But don’t worry.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And one more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just two lines on a simple piece of paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, it seemed like nothing of consequence, just an innocuous message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The icy grip tightening around Gu Yangcheon’s heart told a different story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one person could have sent such a message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone who had become more precious to him than his own life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stubborn woman who had ignored his pleas to stay and had left on her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was her letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For most, this brief note would seem harmless.But to Gu Yangcheon, there was one glaring issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Don’t worry.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That phrase was the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why? Because it wasn’t something she would ever say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words felt completely out of character for her, as untrustworthy as if he had uttered them himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier this year—In spring, or perhaps summer at the latest—she had promised to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, suddenly, she was late?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts turned to the turmoil in the Northern Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could she be caught up in that mess?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of his knuckles tightening into a fist echoed in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a deeply unsettling suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>",2451,"2026-06-05T15:10:09.877Z",1,"novelbin.me","e011c022dbbec2448349f2a7e30a62c2ad70b9bebcdd8b43f6c82be6bcc84822","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-595","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-593",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]