[{"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-602":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},1240452,1667,"Chapter 601","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-602",602,"\u003Cp>Crackle—! Crackle—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of flames roaring filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something that once was human was burning in those flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its form had long since vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashes. Nothing more than a pile of worthless remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at it as I slowly rose to my feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood dripped from my fingertips. Naturally, it wasn’t mine. It was merely the aftermath of the interrogation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two corpses, already lifeless, were engulfed in flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze upon them was chillingly calm, almost indifferent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I was surprised by how cold I felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was exactly the state of my emotions right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of my gaze stood Yuri.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at me with trembling eyes, unable to say a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were filled with deep fear and faint confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splat—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swung my hand, flinging the blood from my fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, I burned away the remnants scattered on the ground, leaving the space filled with the acrid scent of charred remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the silence that enveloped the room, I asked Yuri a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll ask again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there anyone you suspect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meaning behind my words was layered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you still think there’s no one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forced a smile. Fortunately, I managed to pull it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interrogation had yielded a decent amount of information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the man clung to his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such people always crumble in the face of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even their barely tethered loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or do you need more convincing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri bit her lip and shook her head at my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I still find it hard to believe completely… but I know there’s no denying it now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s all I needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded slightly at her response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a cue for her to continue speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The information I’d extracted was roughly this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rebellion stemmed from one of the four major tribes of the North Sea, known as the “Blue Wolf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s orders had been to wait here and, upon Yuri’s arrival, guide her to a specific destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I’d thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They intended to lure us in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once we were brought to the designated location, those lying in ambush would attack us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question was this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did they know when we would arrive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even calculating the distance between Zhongyuan and the North Sea, flying here on the dragon at top speed had taken this long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it been any other means, we would’ve arrived much later. They couldn’t possibly have anticipated we’d fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet their preparations suggested otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They had a way of knowing when we arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps they only began preparing once we reached the North Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They had contingencies for every possible route we could take.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had to simplify it, the latter seemed more plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was also the preferable explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if it were the former, the situation would become truly nightmarish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially given what the man said next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to him, the reason bloodshed was now sweeping through the Ice Palace was that someone within its upper ranks—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A member of the Ice Palace’s bloodline is involved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He claimed that a direct descendant of the Palace Lord was part of the rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This contradicted Yuri’s earlier claim that betrayal was impossible among those of the same bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could he be lying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the man’s words rang true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assuming Seong Yul’s ability to detect lies hadn’t failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then was Yuri lying?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s unlikely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Objectively speaking, the odds of Yuri being deceitful were exceedingly low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, “exceedingly low” didn’t mean zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It simply meant she was, for now, excluded from my list of suspects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at Yuri again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What should we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my question, Yuri swallowed dryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed unable to fully process the situation, her expression shadowed with doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she wanted to believe the claim about her bloodline’s involvement, she couldn’t bring herself to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What should we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question wasn’t directed at Yuri.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was more something I was asking myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The routes Yuri mentioned earlier are likely all compromised.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the first safehouse had ended up like this, every other route to the Ice Palace was likely blocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, what should we do now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I brushed my hand through my hair, slicking it back. My gaze, cold as ice, lingered in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer had already been decided the moment the interrogation ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the safe routes are gone…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then we’d take the dangerous ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The information extracted from the man included the location of their ambush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked Yuri directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The place he mentioned earlier. Do you know where it is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The place…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know, the one he called ‘Seorak Gorge.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri’s eyes widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s… the place he said their forces were lying in ambush.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri, unsure of my intentions, was visibly flustered as I calmly replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve gone through the trouble of waiting for us. We should pay them a visit, shouldn’t we? If you know the way, lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri’s voice rose involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re suggesting we walk right into enemy territory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the fastest way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wouldn’t it be better to head straight to the Ice Palace? If we ride the creature from earlier, we could reach it safely…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That thing is at its limit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious. Why hadn’t she considered it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the first thing I thought of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It can’t fly anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't send the dragon to rest for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The poor creature was too exhausted to keep going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s carried this weight and flown nonstop for days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just carrying the people I’d carefully selected. It had carried an extra passenger—Paejon—on top of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with periodic rests, it had flown at full speed to get us here on time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>““Thanks to that, we made it to the place, but the dragon lost a lot of strength.”.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And besides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no guarantee the Ice Palace is safe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given the mess we’ve encountered so far, do you really think your home would be any different?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rebellion was already underway. A safehouse intended as a sanctuary had been infiltrated by enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the Ice Palace really be secure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if the Palace Lord had already fallen and the Ice Palace was under enemy control?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every option came with problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is no best option.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t a “better” option right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the “least bad” one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri, clearly doubtful of my judgment, tried to argue further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed and interrupted her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t I already tell you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was still misunderstanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does this sound like a request?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chilling tone in my voice carried a hint of suppressed killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri trembled slightly at my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was already at my limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d been holding back, but my patience was wearing thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to burn everything down right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was barely holding myself together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fire burned so hot that it felt cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was exactly where I stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lead the way. Now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I burned everything to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I found something—anything—to cool me down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The falling snow made it nearly impossible to see ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A relentless blizzard was raging, its force battering against everything in its path.The path toward the gorge wasn’t steep, but it was still a grueling climb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they ascended, Yuri remained tense, her body radiating vigilance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The biting cold wasn’t the issue.For Yuri, the cold was something she had grown accustomed to more than anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, what troubled Yuri now was something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her heart pounded, and an unshakable anxiety consumed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they climbed, Yuri kept biting her trembling lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What…is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t keep her head straight, overwhelmed by the situation unfolding around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that the safe house they had planned to use was compromised by enemies.And that her own bloodline was implicated in the bloodshed at the Ice Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just these two revelations were enough to shatter Yuri’s composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How could this…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unthinkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those burdened with the curse of the Ice Crystal couldn’t betray each other.That was the unyielding bond placed upon the Ice Palace’s bloodline for countless generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the information extracted during the interrogation was devastating for Yuri.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interrogation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the memory resurfaced, nausea churned within her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri barely managed to suppress the urge to vomit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene had been that horrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bones twisted and snapped as flesh was pierced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gaaaahhhhhh!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squelch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams echoed, mingling with the splatter of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in her life, Yuri smelled the scent of burning flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stench of human flesh searing was unbearably acrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The desperate pleas for mercy quickly morphed into desperate cries to end it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had only taken a few minutes for that man’s pleas to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m terrified.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even recalling it now sent chills through her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the moment Yuri became certain something was deeply wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the face of such agonizing screams, the one conducting the torture remained indifferent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cries didn’t faze him.The blood flowing from the man’s wounds, the scorched flesh—none of it mattered.His sole focus was on the words that might spill from the man’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri couldn’t even breathe as she watched the gruesome sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had she brought along?Was it truly right to have brought him to the North Sea?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought crept into her mind too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear and dread constricted her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with those emotions swirling within her, Yuri kept moving forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, one question lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her overwhelming negativity, Yuri continued to follow his lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it fear of his threats and the terror he inspired?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t entirely sure.The only certainty was that she was following his orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, she was leading the group through a path where enemies might be lying in wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with the uncertainty of the Ice Palace’s fate, she had chosen this route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had offered logical and rational suggestions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, the decision to proceed had ultimately been hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The responsibility for her choice was hers alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew… Phew…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing that, Yuri didn’t stop moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolak Gorge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though its incline wasn’t steep, the path was slick and flanked by treacherous cliffs, making it a dangerous terrain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was one of the routes leading to the Ice Palace, but its peril meant it was rarely used.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The path to the Ice Palace.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone had suggested taking Seolak Gorge for safety reasons, Yuri would have agreed without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This area was so desolate it was practically untouched by human presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Could he be right?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much she resisted, she had to admit it.Her assumptions had been wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind continued to howl.The blizzard rendered the path ahead invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should they keep going like this?Even though they had been warned of an ambush?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri glanced behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group was quietly following her.They didn’t seem bothered by the cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could they remain unaffected when it was this bitterly cold?Watching them, Yuri thought back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve heard about this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They say that the truly exceptional warriors are impervious to the cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that the case with them?It wasn’t the time to dwell on such thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri shook her head slightly and turned to the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The situation doesn’t look good,” she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night had already fallen.The raging blizzard made things worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the elite warriors of the Ice Palace, accustomed to such harsh conditions, would usually stop at this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how formidable the warriors of Zhongyuan were, continuing in this situation seemed impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that judgment, Yuri spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon, who was walking ahead, scanned their surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it her imagination?For a moment, his eyes seemed to glimmer with a blue light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right. We don’t need to go any further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, it’s true…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oddly enough, a wave of relief washed over Yuri, realizing she was right this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since there’s the risk of an ambush, should we stop and—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, that’s not what I meant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t he suggesting they wait until daylight to avoid running into an ambush?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri was puzzled when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon suddenly conjured flames in his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warmth reached Yuri immediately, even in this freezing cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this biting chill, it was unmistakably warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huff—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gathered heat formed into a compact sphere.It resembled a small sun, radiating an almost mystical light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri, momentarily entranced, watched as Yangcheon tossed a glowing jade orb into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orb floated, emitting a brilliant light that pierced through the blizzard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Centered around the orb, the storm calmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The darkness receded as the light revealed the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking in the now-illuminated landscape, Yuri gasped in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What… What is this…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something appeared on the snow-covered ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was almost completely buried by the snow, Yuri had an inkling of what it might be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon walked forward and grabbed something from beneath the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The object, now uncovered, revealed itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Yuri’s shock, it was a human corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon held the body up without a hint of hesitation, examining it closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hasn’t been dead long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The condition of the body wasn’t good, making it hard to tell for sure.But based on appearance, it hadn’t been long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At most, it had been since yesterday.At the earliest, it was today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The state of the corpse confirmed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t the only one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There are more around here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corpses buried under the snow could be seen scattered about.Even with a quick count, there were easily over twenty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were these the ones lying in ambush here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, why were they all dead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could they have been members of the Ice Palace?It didn’t make sense for ambushers to die here like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri, spotting the corpse Gu Yangcheon was holding, hurried over in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…General…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her reaction prompted Gu Yangcheon to ask,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuri grimaced and answered his question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He was a great general of the Blue Wolf Clan…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Blue Wolf Clan, huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name of one of the rebel clans or tribes that the man they had interrogated earlier had mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They were indeed part of the ambush.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as a great general, his position indicated he was a formidable figure even within the North Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They had intended to set a trap here, that much is clear.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The troubling part was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why are they all dead?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had such capable warriors ended up like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation was puzzling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t a single trace of movement or life nearby, making it all the stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could they have clashed with members of the Ice Palace who had detected the ambush?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something that needed to be investigated further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon suddenly turned his head to the west.Everyone, except Yuri, followed suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Paejon replied, and Gu Yangcheon nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the west, faint signs of movement could be sensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roughly thirty individuals.They would arrive in less than half an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So, this is why.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon raised his gaze.The sight of the compactFire Wheel Starfloating above likely caught their attention, drawing them here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Gu, what should we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For now, we hide. We need to see what they’re up to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Determining whether they were enemies or allies was the priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that decision, Gu Yangcheon extinguished theFire Wheel Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light quickly faded, and darkness reclaimed the surroundings.The blizzard resumed its relentless assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Conceal your presence, and let’s assess the situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that plan in mind, they began to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something caught Gu Yangcheon’s eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the snowy field, something glimmered faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, he would have dismissed it as a discarded weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Gu? Where are you going—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, Gu Yangcheon felt compelled to approach it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if he had to see what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His usually silent footsteps left deep impressions in the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disappearance of the aura shrouding his feet indicated that he had let it dissipate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked. No, he ran. Why was he in such a hurry? Even as he ran, he couldn’t understand the urgency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finally arrived, the light was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it had shimmered from a distance, there was nothing visible now that he was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he saw was pure white snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that snow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon thrust his hand into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The icy coldness brushed against the back of his hand.Ignoring it, he pushed deeper until his fingers felt something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the texture of the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping it firmly, he pulled it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he saw what he had retrieved—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon’s entire body stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something he recognized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trinket a certain woman had carried with her everywhere.Something he had bought for her himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was cheap, something he had picked up in a hurry.He had bought it because it caught his eye as they passed by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered how she had refused to replace it, even when he offered to buy her a new one after noticing the rust beginning to show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crescent moon-shaped ornament, chosen because it reminded him of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, it was here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A place it should never be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Gu Yangcheon confirmed what it was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something inside him broke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heat erupted from beneath his feet, spreading in every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>",2939,"2026-06-05T15:10:11.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","ce5457794fbbc9ef3a0bac62435babfb3ce7f9e71ff2bf8d40dc7632c2089720","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-603","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-601",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]