[{"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-605":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},1240455,1667,"Chapter 604","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-605",605,"\u003Cp>Fwoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the remnants of the massive hole in the glacier, heat shimmered in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue flames swayed and flickered in the wind, their heat and smoke mingling with the swirling snowstorm, asserting their overwhelming presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene was breathtaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While it wasn’t a towering mountain, the sight of a glacier’s summit blown off with a single strike was indescribable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there I stood, staring at the glacier in sheer bewilderment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I muttered, looking at the aftermath of my actions with a dumbfounded expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whatisthat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just a casual swing of my fist, the glacier had ended up in that state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frantically, I examined my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing unusual about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the energy I’d unleashed, no signs remained on my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell is this…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was that strike just now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it really something I did?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t had the energy, nor the stance to launch a proper attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a desperate, flailing swing meant simply to survive—nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Yet it createdthat?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t impossible to achieve such destruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I pooled every bit of my inner energy into a single point and released it, I could produce similar results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But I didn’t even use my inner energy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That last attack was powered by nothing more than a sliver of energy—a pitiful remnant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could such devastation come from that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My legs gave out, and I stumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I barely managed to steady myself, avoiding a complete collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eeeeeee—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp ringing filled my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whummm—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, an indescribable vibration coursed through my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah… Hah… Ugh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My breathing turned erratic, and a wave of nausea surged up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I describe this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just the strength leaving my body; it felt as if the very vessel within me had been shaken to its core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was overcome with a dizzying disorientation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood trickled from my nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had already been bleeding from the earlier blows, but now it was flowing freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to hold myself upright, I planted one hand on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood dripped onto the snow beneath me, staining it red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body felt utterly broken, as though something vital had been irreparably damaged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I struggled to stabilize my breathing, when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard Paejon’s voice from nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a laugh—a faint, exasperated chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is ridiculous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t in a state to respond, but anxiety crept in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he going to beat me further in this condition?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That possibility deeply unsettled me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d taken that blast head-on, even someone like Paejon might not have come out unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the energy erupted, I had my heightened senses active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saw everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The threads of energy extending from Paejon had been consumed entirely by the force I unleashed, obliterated in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant that, aside from evasion, Paejon had no way to counter the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had narrowly escaped death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now I couldn’t help but worry—what if he retaliated out of anger?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s hard to decide whether to praise or scold you for this,” Paejon said, breaking the tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he intended to continue the beating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He approached me slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In all my years, I’ve never seen someone attempt to beat their master and accidentally gain enlightenment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enlightenment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was he talking about? I tried to lift my head to ask, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t move. If you make the wrong move, you’ll die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His warning froze me in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Focus on your breathing. Your soul has been shaken to its core. If you act recklessly, your vessel will shatter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he explained, Paejon placed a hand on my back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting from his palm, the chaotic energy inside me began to stabilize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I always thought you were remarkable, but this… I didn’t expect you to bethisexceptional.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he worked to correct my internal energy flow, Paejon kept talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, this kind of work demanded utmost focus—no talking, barely even breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any slip-up could result in both of us falling into internal deviation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Paejon didn’t seem to care about such risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he asked, “How does it feel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sounded amused, almost playful—despite having just pummeled me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How does it feel?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was he asking about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, how does it feel to step into the realm ofSimsaeng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The revelation made my energy waver, but Paejon immediately stabilized it without issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simsaeng?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d heard the term before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The realm of the heart and soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a level beyond physical martial arts—a domain where one’s spirit forged and expressed itself through their body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swordmasters referred to it as the state ofBody and Sword as One,where they could wield the power of theHeart Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was also the realm required to fully wield the power of theFire Wheel Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the incomplete version I’d been using, but the true, fully realized ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did that mean—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I’ve touched that realm?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I have reached it so suddenly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if sensing my thoughts, Paejon added, “As I said before, you’ve only touched it—you haven’t fully crossed into it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While his tone carried a hint of regret, he continued, “Even so, to graze it is an incredible achievement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone as stingy with praise as Paejon to call it remarkable—it had to be extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then… that power I used just now…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strike that obliterated the glacier’s peak—was that the power ofSimsaeng?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I hadn’t used a sword, it wasn’t theHeart Sword.Perhaps it could be called theHeart Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That makes sense…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking back, I understood why Paejon had asked how it felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an indescribable sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy didn’t flow from my dantian but from somewhere deeper—somewhere I couldn’t precisely pinpoint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I threw that punch, I felt something being drawn out from within me, as if my very essence was being extracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came an overwhelming emptiness, followed by my body collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a disorienting yet awe-inspiring experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Using your soul is exactly like that,” Paejon said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My shaky breathing finally steadied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the vessel of ‘self’ is perfected and your convictions are firmly established, only then can the soul take form and construct its domain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Difficult.\"The words and their meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just hearing them made no sense to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simsaeng is like expressing the path you’ve walked so far, manifested through power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My breathing, along with the chaotic energy within me, began to stabilize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s impossible to reach or even glimpse it through shallow understanding or a half-hearted path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon’s hand left my back, and only then could I lift my head from where it had been lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve managed to touch it, though, so you’ve achieved half of it,” he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried speaking slowly, testing my voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, I didn’t seem to have any problems forming words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, are you saying what I just used is akin to theHeart Sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His unexpected response left me momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon chuckled before continuing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does it feel like to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not sure. That’s why I’m asking you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then keep seeking answers until you’re certain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple, do you know why it’s called theHeart Sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His question made me frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How would I know? I’d only just learned about Simsaeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Swordsmen live their lives with their swords. When they enter the realm of Simsaeng, the first shape their soul constructs is naturally a sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soul takes the form of a sword. Hence, theHeart Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The shape of their lives aligns with the form of a sword. They see their soul as a sword and manifest it accordingly. That’s why it’s theHeart Sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In that case…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The shape and meaning of the power you displayed must be discovered by you alone, not by asking others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The form of one’s soul.The shape of one’s life, forged and confirmed in Simsaeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly had emerged from my fist earlier?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t be sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing I could say with certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What form did my soul take?What was its true nature?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could I simply call what I unleashed theHeart Fistjust because it came from my punch?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought briefly crossed my mind before I decided—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…This is too complicated. I’ll just call it the Heart Fist for now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, that seemed like the easiest answer. As I reached this conclusion—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s one thing I find curious…” Paejon said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words caught my attention. Curious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That you’re still unprepared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Unprepared?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your vessel seems mostly complete, but I judged you weren’t yet ready to touch Simsaeng. Yet, here you are, having reached it on your own. It’s perplexing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physically, I was ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he seemed to believe my understanding and clarity of purpose were lacking to enter Simsaeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…He was planning to teach me this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t imagine how he intended to teach something so abstract, but knowing how monstrous Paejon was, I decided to let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless, from his perspective, I wasn’t ready to even approach Simsaeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, here I was, having brushed against it, even if incompletely. That seemed to puzzle him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m curious too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was glad to have grown stronger, but it was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my previous life, I hadn’t reached this realm, yet somehow, in my current, weaker state, I had touched it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simsaeng required a firmly established conviction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Conviction, huh…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was still wandering, uncertain of my direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t have a conviction strong enough to form the foundation for Simsaeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could it be…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recalled the conversation I’d had withBloodlustjust before this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thing that had appeared out of nowhere and spoken to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had said one thing very clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Help me, because I’d gotten entangled in an irritating situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that why I could suddenly use theHeart Fist?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If not for that…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t think of any other explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I vividly remembered the searing heat I’d felt and Bloodlust’s smirking face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything about it unnerved me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then there were its final words:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We aredragons.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those maddening words stuck in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea that I’d gained this power thanks to Bloodlust left me feeling uncomfortable and agitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I brooded over these thoughts, Paejon observed me silently before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems something is bothering you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by my sour expression, he’d guessed correctly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At times like this, I regretted not wearing a mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s nothing,” I said, trying to brush it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon chuckled, as if saying,“Sure, if you say so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I should just be thankful I’d touched Simsaeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not like I’m in a position to be picky.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had resolved to use whatever means necessary to grow stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the unease didn’t fully dissipate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Think of it positively.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d grown stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever the means, I’d broken through to another realm and gained a power comparable to my previous life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alone should be enough for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, I got to my feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘First, I need to figure out exactly what this is.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to use it, its limitations, and its true potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as I was standing, my knees gave out again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cough—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood gushed from my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t like the blood trickling from my nose earlier—it was far worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn’t Paejon stabilized my energy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried covering my mouth, but blood still poured through my fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh,” Paejon murmured, observing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like I couldn’t contain the recoil. Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… do you mean…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t finish my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom! Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waves of intense pain and vibration surged through my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clutching my chest, I trembled violently as agony consumed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though I stabilized your energy to keep your body from bursting, I couldn’t prevent the backlash from using power beyond your means,” Paejon said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words sounded grim, but I couldn’t focus on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain reached my head, overwhelming me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if an earthquake were tearing through my insides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Young Master—!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through my fading consciousness, I heard Tang So-yeol’s voice approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t want anyone to see me like this, but there was nothing I could do to stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I struggled, Paejon said, “Sleep for a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could comprehend his words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp impact to the back of my neck plunged me into unconsciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I finally regained my senses and opened my eyes, I was greeted by:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar woman’s voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ceiling I didn’t recognize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re awake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The face of theWhite Lotus Sword, pinching both my cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>",2120,"2026-06-05T15:10:11.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","c7af682502c00ecb32e983a6489eeee01241aa360a6993c5876003bfe5073966","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-606","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-604",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]