[{"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-618":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},1240468,1667,"Chapter 617","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-618",618,"\u003Cp>A sound reached my ears.It was right beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time I registered that thought—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My arm was already moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a vibration in my soul.I was preparing to use the Heart Fist (Sim-gwon, 心拳).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had used the Heart Fist earlier as well.I would have to deal with the recoil that would come later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for now, that didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had approached me so closely without me noticing.Whether they bore hostility or not wasn’t the issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, just as I was about to unleash the Heart Fist—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange sound came from my arm.When I turned my gaze toward it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splurt—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arm I had extended was torn off, leaving only the shoulder.Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arm fell to the ground.Fwoosh—!Blood gushed from my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yangcheon!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woo Hyuk widened his eyes and shouted as he saw this.He bit down hard on his lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he quickly used his footwork to retreat, increasing the distance between us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood flowed from the shoulder I was clutching.Pain surged immediately after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… huff….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet instead of groaning, all that escaped me was heavy breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell just happened?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had just taken place?Ignoring the pain, I looked straight ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing beside where Woo Hyuk and I had been facing each other was someone new.A young man with white hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man looked at me, a smile on his face.The moment I saw that smile, I felt chills all over my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a rough greeting. I’m not a fan of that sort of thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disgusting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just looking at him made me feel disgusted, nauseated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a deep-seated urge to rip his throat out.A primal hostility that surged from deep within my core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Kill him immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That voice, born of instinct, urged me to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to suppress it with all my might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t win.That much was clear from just a single exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stared at the young man, my tension skyrocketed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was just planning to observe, you know. But watching you got a little boring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man continued speaking.Meanwhile, I frowned as I noticed something in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why the hell is she there?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Yuri.She was unconscious, held in his grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this is no fun, right? Wouldn’t you agree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man shifted his gaze.It landed on Woo Hyuk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vioe-gun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the young man’s call, Woo Hyuk bit his trembling lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We had an agreement, didn’t we? So why are you acting like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does this mean you don’t care about the collateral anymore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No… that’s not it. It’s just…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s not, then is it regret? You still have lingering attachments?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I listened to their conversation, my frown deepened.From their words, I was starting to piece together who this young man was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So… it’s him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blood relative of the Ice Palace involved in the rebellion.That had to be him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by his age, he was likely one of the Ice Palace's First or Second Sons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But something feels… off.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something strange about him.It wasn’t the awe that came from facing a strong opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It feels like the Palace Lord.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sensation I had felt when I encountered the Palace Lord at the previous hideout.It was similar to that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t simply the resemblance in their bloodlines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an overwhelming unpleasantness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The discomfort that came from his very existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had felt it with the Palace Lord too, but this was on another level entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This… could it be?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I sensed his energy, I recalled something.When I first arrived in the North Sea, I had felt an eerie coldness and an inexplicable unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This energy—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s the same as his.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had felt something similar from the Palace Lord,Then this energy was exactly what I had sensed before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man was the source of the discomfort that permeated the North Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly was he?What could he possibly be that my entire being rejected him so vehemently?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And also—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What do I do now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I escape this situation?As my mind raced for answers—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Vioe-gun still has lingering attachments, then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man’s gaze turned to me as he spoke.At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would it be toward him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man’s figure vanished.I lost sight of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t follow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grab—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Urgh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My neck was seized.I was lifted into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t the kind of greeting I had in mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forced to meet his gaze, I stared into his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nice to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words, paired with a wicked grin, made my heart skip a beat.His light blue eyes, with slit pupils, and the faint scales on his cheek…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recognized him immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t expect to meet another of my kind here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words made me scowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A dragon…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the Palace Lord, who suffered from his curse,This man’s form appeared complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is he like me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he also shed his skin and fully become a dragon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I grappled with this unexpected situation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept over my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re much more disappointing than I expected. To think you’re one of my kind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice dripped with contempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether it’s from an internal injury or something else, I don’t know, but… I must’ve gotten my hopes up for nothing. When you first arrived in the North Sea, you didn’t seem this pathetic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, my eyes widened.He had known I was here from the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hand gripping my neck tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure was immense. I could barely breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being lifted by the neck was far more infuriating than I had expected.If I survived this, I’d definitely use this move more often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That stray thought crossed my mind before—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What could it be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man began observing me more closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you so unimpressive? You’re definitely one of us, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like he was analyzing every flaw in me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this guy insane?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had insulted me like this.Except for my appearance, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long examination, the man finally let out a faint chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His smile widened as if he’d figured something out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re still undecided, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether you’re human or a great dragon. Don’t tell me you’re struggling with that choice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words made me swallow hard.I felt as if he’d hit a nerve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was my hesitation really such a critical flaw?I didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s why. That’s why.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I remained confused, he seemed to grow more certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Urgh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure on my neck intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To think you’re this pathetic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light in his slit pupils grew fiercer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even after evolving, you wish to remain human?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed his wrist with my remaining hand, trying to pry it off.But it wouldn’t budge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was due to a difference in strength or my own weakened state, I couldn’t muster any force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could you? Wanting to stand on the same level as those insignificant creatures? We shouldn’t lower ourselves like that. We are great beings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it… what are you… talking about…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t understand it. To fail to make such an obvious choice and remain a halfwit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze shifted.The smile faded from his face, replaced by something cold and sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This was a meeting I’d long anticipated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed shallow, but it was unmistakably killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m going to die.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate, I was going to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without my instincts screaming at me, it was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve lost interest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this continued, my neck would snap, and I’d die here.I gripped his wrist desperately, trying to free myself, but it was no use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do? What could I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A creature that can’t even grasp its position. You’re hardly worth calling kin. Just die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to snap my neck,While still gripping his wrist,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spoke to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Let go…!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a vibration emanated from my chest, and a burst of wind erupted from my body.It was an unintentional Dragon Speech (Yong-eon, 龍言).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I doubted such a command would be of any use.But surprisingly, the moment he heard my Dragon Speech,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He actually released his grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body, now freed, fell limply to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… cough….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without one of my arms, I lost my balance.As the blocked airways opened, I barely managed to catch my breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who had just been holding me spoke in a disbelieving tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you… pureblood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was filled with astonishment and shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s impossible, though. There shouldn’t be any purebloods left in this land….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What… nonsense are you talking about…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pureblood? I couldn’t understand a word of what he was saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was anyone in this world more of a mutt than me, I’d like to meet them.My body was a chaotic mixture of various things—how could there be anything pure in me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Contrary to my thoughts, his eyes lit up again as though he had realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, of course. I didn’t think everything would come so easily just because you’ve shed your inferior form.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with an expression I couldn’t decipher, he continued speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In fact, it’s fortunate. I was able to meet you here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he rambled on, I didn’t respond, instead glancing around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woo Hyuk was about ten paces behind me,And the location where I suspected Namgung Bi-ah to be was even farther.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I don’t know what this guy senses in me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, I needed to think about how to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could I save everyone? Objectively, it was impossible.Even defeating him in my current state was out of the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve always wondered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do, then?Should I try to tap into my Innate Energy (Seoncheonjigi, 先天之氣)?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I used it recklessly, I’d die for sure—but it was worth trying, even if it killed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resolving myself, I began drawing energy into my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could three fragments of the Dragon Emperor gather on this land? It’s because of you, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words stopped me in my tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What did you just say? What was that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragon Emperor (Yongje, 龍帝).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just uttered that term aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing my reaction, the man tilted his head briefly, then smiled deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our pureblood is ignorant, it seems. Such precious blood, yet so clueless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you talking about? If you’re going to say something, make it clear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t do that. A foolish competitor is the most delightful thing, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Competitor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And especially if that competitor is someone with the most precious bloodline of all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You bastard… keep talking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to force myself to stand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d love to devour you right here and now, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was no longer in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I realized it, he had moved, standing before Woo Hyuk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For now, I’ll hold back. There’s something I want to confirm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed Woo Hyuk by the collar and lifted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woo Hyuk didn’t say a word or even resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To crush you, to tear you apart, and prove that I’m truly the chosen one. For that—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woom—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt something and looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was distorting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The space above was twisting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You, in your current weak state, won’t do. We’ll need to meet again when you’re at your best. Only then will it be meaningful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky fractured, slowly breaking apart.Space itself was collapsing in real-time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of situation was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And so, I’ll leave for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this bizarre moment, he spoke to me with his characteristic grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leave?He was just going to leave like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like a relief, but I couldn’t help glaring at him as I responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Are you planning to take him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was referring to Woo Hyuk, whom he was holding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know how we are, don’t you? We never let go of what’s ours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he was taking Woo Hyuk, there was nothing I could do to stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no choice but to let him go.Knowing that made it all the more excruciating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As a sort of compensation, if you will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t kill your adorable little sibling who brought you here, nor did I touch the other fragments. I’ll leave for today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Other fragments…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to ask, but I couldn’t finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shattered fragments of the collapsing space began swirling around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a whirlwind, the debris spun faster and faster, creating the illusion of a raging storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within that storm—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Ah, by the way, my name is Yuseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice reached me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Next time we meet, I hope you’ve made up your mind. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be any fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The storm expanded rapidly, consuming everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way to escape.The debris-filled winds reached me before I could react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—This is a little gift to help with that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice echoed once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I hope you’ll like it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then the storm engulfed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some time later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened my eyes.The first thing I saw was the now-familiar snow-filled sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing it, I immediately jolted upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was I alive?I could have sworn the world was collapsing around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What about Woo Hyuk? What about that guy?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly had happened?As I tried to grasp the situation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suddenly felt something strange and looked to my side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…My left hand?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The left hand that had been torn off was back, along with the Binding Seal (Gui-jeong).It was as if it had never been severed, perfectly intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I circulated my energy through my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I assessed my condition, I swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I began circulating my energy, I realized—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the internal injuries I had sustained were completely healed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What on earth was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had my arm returned, but the injuries I expected would take ages to heal were already mended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made no sense.Still reeling from this mystery, I lowered my gaze to examine my left arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze at the sound of a voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It came from behind me, from the spot where I had been lying just moments ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was weak and drained of strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course it was—it was a voice I knew all too well, one I had been searching for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head turned.There—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hello…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman with shackles around her wrists was looking at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White hair and distinctive blue eyes.She appeared exhausted, yet her face still radiated beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had my head been resting on her lap this whole time?She was partially buried in the surrounding snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve… woken up…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been… a long…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t let her finish.My body moved on its own, pulling her into an embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I held her tightly, as if refusing to ever let go, and stayed still like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ah… yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah whispered softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I missed you, too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her response was to the words I hadn’t spoken aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>",2576,"2026-06-05T15:10:11.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","2b76a4a0fcfa8367353c8fa10150f3b9518903b0addbf1890816e6ed4338679c","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-619","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-617",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]