[{"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-612":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},1240462,1667,"Chapter 611","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-612",612,"\u003Cp>Shortly after thinking of a way to find Namgung Bi-ah, I had the urge to drop everything and rush out immediately. But with so little information to go on, I had to hold myself back—for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, I wouldn’t be able to hold back for long. I was already at my limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I left the Palace Lord’s quarters, I found the White Lotus Sword waiting for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The look I gave her wasn’t a pleasant one.How could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the one who told me to meet the Palace Lord as soon as I woke up, and yet all I got was a heap of trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing my expression, the White Lotus Sword gave an awkward smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems something happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, something happened, all right. Something absolutelyawful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only was I interrogated in the guise of a meeting, but I also endured a series of miserable events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my body had been in better condition, I would’ve thrown everything aside and stormed the Palace Lord’s chamber.The fact that I couldn’t do so was what frustrated me the most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, my feelings toward the White Lotus Sword, who guided me into this mess, weren’t particularly warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that it mattered that we hadn’t seen each other in a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without wasting any time, I asked her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A question loaded with many meanings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she know that my meeting with the Palace Lord was just a pretext for an interrogation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you know he was from the North Sea?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she know that Woo Hyuk was from the North Sea, specifically from the so-called Blue Wolf family?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked with that implication, and the White Lotus Sword gave me a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t know what the Palace Lord intended with your meeting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you explain it, I’ll listen carefully…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to know that something serious had happened. Her expression wasn’t good.Seeing this, I clicked my tongue inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never mind…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point pressing someone who didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could press her, sure, but at this point, doing so would just be taking out my anger on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s move on to the next question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked about Woo Hyuk, the White Lotus Sword hesitated, her lips slightly parting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re asking about that boy… I haven’t known for very long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, you’re saying it’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woo Hyuk was from the North Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He really did instigate a rebellion, didn’t he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her confirmation, I clenched my teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell is that bastard up to?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Namgung Bi-ah said she was heading to the North Sea, I hadn’t wanted to let her go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since she was going with Geoseon, the White Lotus Sword, and Woo Hyuk, I’d felt reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woo Hyuk was a strange guy, sure, but he wasn’t the type to cause trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if something went wrong, I thought he’d handle it somehow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And yet, that bastard caused the biggest mess of all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head throbbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A rebellion? Seriously?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What rebellion could there possibly be in a stable land like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A guy who seemed to have no ambition at all was leading a rebellion—it made no sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the reason for it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Woo Hyuk really instigated a rebellion, not just as a participant but as the one who set it off—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s the reason?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could have driven him to do it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first thought that came to mind was that he must have had a reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d gone so far as to create this chaos, there had to be a significant cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the kind of person he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironically, I still believed in him, at least to that extent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Go ahead.][Thanks for being my friend all this time.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words and face just before he almost died came back to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn bastard.If he didn’t want me to forget, he could’ve at least avoided smiling while dying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forcing the aggravating memory aside, I asked the White Lotus Sword another question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, what about her… No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused for a moment before frowning and continuing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Namgung Bi-ah? What happened to her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt strange to say her name out loud. But now wasn’t the time to hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bi-ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing my question, the White Lotus Sword hesitated momentarily but seemed to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she didn’t give me a proper answer here, I wouldn’t hold back anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loaded with that emotion, my gaze bore into her until she finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Bi-ah was guarding the Palace Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guarding?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was caught off guard by the answer.Guarding him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you saying she was the Palace Lord’s bodyguard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At first, she was assigned to guard the princess or other blood relatives, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hold on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I interrupted the White Lotus Sword before she could continue.There was something more urgent to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why was she acting as a guard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was Namgung Bi-ah suddenly playing the role of a bodyguard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She left to train—why was she doing this instead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d heard bits about it before, but it still didn’t make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Lotus Sword answered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From what I heard, Geoseon made a direct contract with the Palace Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Geoseon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have meant Wudang’s Geoseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That old man made a deal with the Palace Lord and put Namgung Bi-ah in a guard role?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Has that old man lost his mind?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d gotten my permission to send her off for training, and this is what he did? Putting her to work instead of letting her train?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could feel my anger rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I suppressed it and pressed on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So she was acting as the princess’s guard for a time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what I’d heard before, about her continuing to operate as some kind of \"White Fox.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, she was.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why has this turned into such a disaster?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she was guarding someone, she should’ve been by their side.Why was she the only one missing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Lotus Sword’s expression became complicated.That look made me all the more uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“During the chaos caused by the rebellion, while they were rushing to a safe haven…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she explained, I couldn’t help but grimace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To escape, the Palace Lord had to leave the palace and move.Even then, enemy forces were relentlessly pursuing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation had become so dire that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She volunteered to act as a decoy, didn’t she?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To ensure the Palace Lord’s safety, Namgung Bi-ah had thrown herself into the fray to divert the enemy’s attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in doing so, she was now missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the story, wasn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And no other traces were found at the site of the battle…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muttering to myself, I felt anger rising again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this unfamiliar and inhospitable land, she’d thrown herself into danger for the sake of a man who was no help at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But contrary to my anger, my mind was growing cold and calculating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This didn’t sit right with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It bothered me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why would she do that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had Namgung Bi-ah chosen to act as a decoy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it really for the peace of the Palace and the Ice Palace?No, that couldn’t have been it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I believed there had to be another reason behind her actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As my chilled thoughts tried to piece together the puzzle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Lotus Sword’s apology broke through my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I’d been there, I should have taken her place…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was laden with guilt.She truly regretted not being able to go instead of Namgung Bi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at her, I asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where were you at the time, Senior?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t an accusation.I wasn’t blaming her for not going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t doubt the White Lotus Sword.Even though I didn’t know her well, I believed she wasn’t the type to take the coward’s way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…At the time, I was already on my way to the safe haven, carrying someone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been escorting someone other than the Palace Lord, so she wasn’t part of the main group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was the case—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Geoseon? What was he doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had Wudang’s Geoseon been doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Woo Hyuk had started a rebellion, where was Geoseon now?As his teacher, he wouldn’t be in a good position either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing my question, the White Lotus Sword said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Will you follow me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without giving a direct answer, she led me somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We arrived at a quiet space on an upper floor of the cave, devoid of guards or much activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, I saw a single bed.And on it lay someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one lying down was, surprisingly, Wudang’s Geoseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His condition was far from normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His left arm was nowhere to be seen.The rest of his body didn’t look any better. He was barely clinging to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was he in such a state?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geoseon was a martial artist of Hwagyeong rank and one of the top hundred masters of Zhongyuan.How could someone of his caliber end up like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the question crossed my mind, the White Lotus Sword began to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It happened on the day the rebellion began.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She continued, \"Woo Hyuk appeared, carrying Geoseon, covered in blood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That bastard?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, my eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woo Hyuk brought Geoseon here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He suddenly showed up, left Geoseon in our care, apologized, and disappeared. That was the last we saw of him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He left his dying master behind and vanished?And on the very day the rebellion began?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The rebellion was his doing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made no sense that he would leave his master in such a state after instigating such chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As my thoughts raced, trying to piece things together, an idea struck me, and I turned to the White Lotus Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mentioned earlier that you carried someone to safety. Was it Geoseon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her silence confirmed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took that as an answer and began to connect the dots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Lotus Sword had carried Geoseon to a safe haven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah, in the meantime, had acted as a decoy while escorting the Palace Lord, disappearing in the process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was all of this just a coincidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I thought the timing of the rebellion had been planned perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It wasn’t timing. It was orchestrated.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation was created intentionally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head throbbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Moyong Hee-ah or Jegal Hyuk had been here, it would’ve been much easier to make sense of this mess.But with my limited mental capacity, it was hard to put everything together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I couldn’t blame everything on Woo Hyuk, one thing was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s involved.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no doubt he was entangled in this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on top of that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Something about the end bothers me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The circumstances surrounding the White Lotus Sword, Geoseon, and Namgung Bi-ah taking on the decoy role all felt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap-tap-tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a desk to drum my fingers on, I ended up tapping my waist instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was I missing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something there, but I couldn’t reach a conclusion.What was slipping through my grasp?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was lost in thought—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My tapping stopped abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re continuing to scout the area, so you should…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m going out for a bit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? Wait—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t wait for the White Lotus Sword to finish and stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, I’d planned to check on the others first.But even that was pushed to the back of my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wandered through this unfamiliar place without much direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can’t think of anything.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t reach any clear conclusions.The lack of information and the suddenness of it all made it impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was one thing I could say for certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Woo Hyuk had a hand in Namgung Bi-ah’s disappearance.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that conclusion based on tracing their movements?Not exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While my reasoning pointed in that direction, this was mostly my gut talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had always been this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d think things over endlessly, only to end up following where my instincts led.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was purely instinct and speculation, yet I was somehow confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confident that my thoughts were correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what should I do about it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What do you think? I told the Palace Lord already.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d go find him myself and ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the conclusion I’d come to from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Find Woo Hyuk and demand answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why he did it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d ask and get my answer. And if he refused to answer—I’d beat it out of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘To do that, I need to find Woo Hyuk first.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my instincts were right and he was connected to Namgung Bi-ah’s disappearance—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then there was a way to track him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vrrr—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A presence, distant but clear, resonated like a pulse in my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost as if it was calling out to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know exactly where it was, but the presence was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t be certain that Namgung Bi-ah or Woo Hyuk would be there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the very least—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Thunder Fang is there.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Thunder Fang, which Namgung Bi-ah would’ve had, was definitely there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given that the Thunder Fang was an object that only a few could handle, there was bound to be a trace of Namgung Bi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, I’d head there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought in mind, I began to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I did—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…Please—! Please open it—!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard a voice shouting from somewhere.A voice I recognized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t far. Was it on an upper floor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, I moved toward the sound.I suppressed my presence as I walked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the path wasn’t too difficult to navigate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking for a bit, I reached the direction of the sound and saw what appeared to be an entrance, guarded by several individuals armed with weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I almost smashed my way through without knowing where to go, but this seemed to be the right place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the entrance, I saw her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Princess… You mustn’t do this—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s nonsense! There’s no way… I have to see for myself!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver-haired woman, her pale beauty unmistakable, was pleading desperately with the guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Yury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…There’s no way Vioe-gun did that…! There must be some explanation!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Princess! That man is a criminal who committed treason. How can you say such things?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He couldn’t have started a rebellion…! He promised me…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice cracked as she shouted, tears welling in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the guards responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems the princess is not in her right mind. Escort her to her room immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the order, one of the guards reached out toward Yury, likely to restrain her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand never touched her. It passed her by as he crumpled to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard collapsed to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another guard reacted but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guh—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second guard was struck in the jaw and knocked unconscious in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yury looked startled, as though unable to process what had just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t seem to understand what was going on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spoke to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That thing you were just saying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned quickly, startled by the voice from behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There I was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Say it again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stood there, looking at her.\u003C\u002Fp>",2566,"2026-06-05T15:10:11.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","104fb307a7ec1301a564915937d52b92bad27be8a63446e42f368171d934dcc4","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-613","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-611",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]