[{"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-646":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},1240496,1667,"Chapter 645","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-646",646,"\u003Cp>TL Notes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this translation, all references to Huashan have been rendered as Mount Hua for clarity and to maintain consistency with traditional English translations of wuxia and xianxia literature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mount Hua is one of the Five Great Mountains and a significant cultural and martial arts symbol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>__________________________________________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like my mind had completely frozen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t even know where to start thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What is this man even saying?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to make sense of it, but it was no use. It was just too absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re saying I’m the reincarnation of the Mount Hua Divine Sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I, the reincarnation of Shin Noya? Or rather, the body meant to house his remnant will?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, I thought to myself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What kind of utter nonsense is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an outrageous claim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could events possibly unfold in a way to lead to that conclusion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thoroughly bewildered expression, I spoke to Namgung Myung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s impossible.”“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why? His question made me scoff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am not a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could list dozens of reasons why it couldn’t be true, but this was the simplest one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From my attire to my mastery of martial arts techniques like fist fighting, there was nothing to suggest I was a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘All I have is the energy I absorbed from Noya and the honorary disciple plaque they gave me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy from the artifact and the plaque they handed me while calling me an honorary disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, they were saying I was Shin Noya’s reincarnation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It would make more sense if they said Yeongpoong was Noya’s reincarnation.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made much more sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Yeongpoong were declared Noya’s reincarnation, it would’ve been far easier to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There are too many things that align.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongpoong was also a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His martial arts and internal energy techniques were the same, and he was hailed as Mount Hua’s greatest prodigy, brimming with talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Shin Noya’s body had been reincarnated, it made much more sense for it to be Yeongpoong rather than me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even if not Yeongpoong, there would be plenty of others more fitting than me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That had to be the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, why does that matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Myung’s response made it clear that my words meant nothing to him. His indifference furrowed my brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I could tell the moment I saw you that you weren’t a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect. I’m not blind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why are you so certain that it’s me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because that doesn’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It doesn’t matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me ask you instead. Why would his reincarnation need to be a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that obvious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya spent his entire life as a member of the Mount Hua Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were to reincarnate, it would make sense for him to be reborn within the sect. If he were reborn into a family or sect that practiced martial arts techniques he’d never used—like fist arts or spearmanship—it would only be inconvenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Noya wielded a sword.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t saying it had to be that way, but wasn’t it far more fitting?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Myung nodded slightly at my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That makes sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His quick acknowledgment caught me off guard. I had expected a lengthy debate, but his easy agreement felt anticlimactic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But even that doesn’t serve as a reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Myung’s gaze swept over me as though scanning me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Martial arts and origins don’t define whether someone is his reincarnation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I focused on his words. His characteristic decisiveness demanded my attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The reason he came to be known as the Mount Hua Divine Sword was simply that he was born and raised in Mount Hua and happened to wield a sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his expression revealed some dissatisfaction, his words carried undeniable truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a subtle difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that subtle difference made it even more compelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shin Cheol, do you know what else he was called aside from the Mount Hua Divine Sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another title?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I truly didn’t know. Historically, I had never heard of anything else associated with him. Could there have been another name?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was, it might have been something like “Mount Hua’s Mad Dog” or “Mount Hua’s Lunatic.” Something along those lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering that the Thunder Blade of Zhongyuan was once known as the Thunder God, it seemed plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Supreme Sword of Zhongyuan.”“…!”“That was another of his titles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that name from Namgung Myung felt like a heavy weight pressing down on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word “supreme” carried weight on its own, but hearing Namgung Myung, of all people, say it made it even more significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among those of his era, Namgung Myung would undoubtedly have been a top contender for the title of Supreme Sword of Zhongyuan—perhaps even the closest to achieving it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, without hesitation, Namgung Myung referred to Shin Noya as the Supreme Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That stark acknowledgment sent an unsettling shiver through my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stood there, speechless, Namgung Myung continued as if this wasn’t the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he had picked up a spear in an unknown martial clan, he would’ve been called the Supreme Spear of Zhongyuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each word, my eyes widened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he spoke, the clearer it became what Namgung Myung was trying to convey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he had wielded a bow, he would’ve been praised as a divine archer. If he had walked the path of an assassin, no one would’ve known his face or name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what he learned or wielded, he would have reached the pinnacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was near reverential praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps fist techniques would’ve been too much, given Yeon Ilcheon’s existence. But regardless, that’s the kind of person he was.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mention of fist techniques being an exception was likely due to Yeon Ilcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even setting that aside, the weight of his words made me think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man who could have reached the peak no matter what he pursued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I thought of the Shin Noya I knew, it didn’t align perfectly. But putting that aside—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That has nothing to do with me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to me, such descriptions felt utterly alien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pinnacle. Supreme in Zhongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were terms I had never associated with myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that Shin Noya lived for the world and wielded his sword for that purpose only made my thoughts clearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I could never do that.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea of living for the world…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not for myself, not for someone I cared about, but for the world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What kind of madness is that? Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t, and I didn’t want to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the kind of person I was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I desperately hoped it wasn’t true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I could accept continuing Noya’s work and living as his successor, I couldn’t share his mindset or follow his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew that about myself all too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In some ways, Noya and I were similar. In others, we were entirely different and incompatible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which is why—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can’t be Noya’s reincarnation.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Myung must have been mistaken. He had to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you so certain it’s me? From what you’ve said, he was an incredible person. I’m nothing like him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Successor, how old are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I included my previous life, the number would be much higher, but there was no need to delve into that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see. At your age, neither Shin Cheol nor I had reached this level. Judging by your current accomplishments, you don’t seem lacking at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words made me frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for my regression and the countless opportunities I had seized, I never would have reached this level. My talent was far below theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t explain that to him, which only made the situation more frustrating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To him, reaching this level of cultivation at my age might make me seem like an unprecedented prodigy. But this wasn’t something I achieved through talent alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why his words didn’t resonate with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing my discomfort, Namgung Myung spoke with a curious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Successor, it seems like you’re not trying to uncover the truth but rather hoping it’s not you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do I need to explain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, my composure faltered, and my tone grew sharper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It doesn’t matter. Whatever reaction you have, it won’t change the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Myung’s calm response left me unsure whether to feel relieved or annoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Successor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he called for me, I looked at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You asked why I’m so certain it’s you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea that I was Shin Noya’s reincarnation was something none of the remnants I had encountered ever claimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he be so sure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, Namgung Myung pointed at a part of my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I followed his gaze. It was my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That artifact bound to your left arm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasGuijeong,Shin Noya’s cherished sword, now devoid of its original color and glowing faintly blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is the proof.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his words, my eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was proof?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How could that possibly be proof?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guijeongwas something I had acquired from the storerooms of the Divine Dragon Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an item that Noya had found for me, one that had clung to my arm and refused to come off. For a long time, I didn’t even know what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, I learned it was Noya’s cherished sword,Guijeong, and figured out how to use it. It proved useful, but how could it possibly be evidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How isGuijeongproof of anything?”“Guijeongfollows you. What further proof do you need?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, was it because I had been usingGuijeong? If so, there was room for an explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the past, I also used your cherished sword.”“My cherished sword?”“Yes,Noe-a.”“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had once usedNoe-a, the sword wielded by Namgung Myung, the Thunder Blade of Zhongyuan, during my time in Sichuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noe-awas said to be a sword that only accepted someone of Namgung family blood, yet for some reason, I had been able to wield it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the remnant of Namgung Myung withinNoe-ahad shouted in confusion, wondering how this could be. It was likely due to some peculiarity in my constitution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So perhapsGuijeongwas simply another artifact I could use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s different.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Myung once again firmly denied my assumption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Different?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forcing something to obey and having it follow you willingly are two entirely different matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you truly believeNoe-afollowed you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused to think about the situation. DidNoe-areally follow me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had usedNoe-a, but the backlash I experienced afterward had been intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had forced it into submission, so calling it “following” was questionable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not sure if it followed me, but it’s true that I usedNoe-a.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. All artifacts would bow their heads before you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are a dragon, are you not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The calmness with which he said it hit me like a dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I heard it, I failed to keep my expression neutral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He knew?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t particularly tried to hide it, but I also hadn’t revealed it openly. Since Namgung Myung hadn’t mentioned it until now, I thought he might not know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it seemed he had known all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you saying my being a dragon is connected to my ability to useNoe-a?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t bother denying that I was a dragon. It felt like a waste of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. After all, artifacts come from dragons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze at Namgung Myung’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had heard before that artifacts were items created from high-ranked beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And those beasts had come to be called dragons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to think this was connected to my situation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dragons are the masters of artifacts. Even if an artifact accepts a human as its master, it will inevitably be drawn to a dragon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In other words…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I was a dragon, I had been able to useNoe-a.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, it meant I could wield any artifact if I wished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, could my ability to useGuijeongbe the same?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I had usedNoe-a, wasn’t it possible that I could useGuijeongunder similar circumstances?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I said, there is a difference between being followed and being forced.Guijeongfollows you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t entirely sure what the difference was, but I thought I had a vague understanding of the latter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guijeongfollows me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the intense backlash I experienced after usingNoe-a, there was nothing like that withGuijeong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could use it whenever I wanted.Even after using it, there were no repercussions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had thought this was simply because I carried a small fragment of Noya’s energy and his will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But was that not the case…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I reflected on this, memories from the past surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day in Wudang when I first sawGuijeong, and it flew directly toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was too much evidence to deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the reality of the situation was closing in on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to ask more questions, but Namgung Myung raised his hand, stopping me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only came to confirm the situation and ask a favor. I didn’t intend to have a long conversation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, there is no time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Namgung Myung spoke, a sound echoed through the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cracks appeared in the air around us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a familiar sight. It was the sign of a conversation coming to a forced end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, I gritted my teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it, I still have so many questions.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I had learned a lot, my curiosity had only grown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Noya’s reincarnation had been successful, and I had inherited his body, where had his will gone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what had Namgung Myung intended to accomplish here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t even gotten an explanation for why he had gone to the North Sea. Was this really how it was going to end?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling desperate, my gaze darted around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will arrange for another conversation soon. But next time, I hope Shin Cheol will be with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you say next time… does that mean you’re not disappearing for good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a small relief to hear that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t promise much time, but this too is part of my role.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Myung reached out and tapped my forehead with his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t avoid it. No, I couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The motion was so natural that I didn’t even think to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzzt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint current coursed through my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as though lightning energy was seeping into me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The order has been corrected. Now, find Shinkang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if it wasn’t part of our plan, if Shin Cheol chose you, then that too is fate. It doesn’t matter what you are. So, head there next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His abrupt words carried a lot of weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Namgung Myung gestured toward a specific direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was where the Black Lion and the palace lord stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If possible, save the Ice Palace heir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The palace lord…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an unexpected request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To suddenly ask me to save the palace lord in this situation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at Namgung Myung with confusion, and he added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I owe them a personal favor. They’ve given me much, so I hope you’ll do this much in return.”“Heh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a dry laugh at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that was what this whole conversation had been leading to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did Namgung Myung care about saving the palace lord?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was curious, but I couldn’t ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want to move forward, I trust you’ll handle this. Think of it as a stepping stone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I wanted more answers, I had to comply. His words were framed as a request, but they felt closer to a demand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stared at him in disbelief—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack! Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cracked background began to collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the signal that the end had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the fragments fell and the vibrations in the air grew louder, Namgung Myung looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, and successor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t have time to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beware of Yeon Ilcheon.”“What…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to urgently ask about his cryptic warning—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the surging vibrations silenced me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turbulence forced my eyes shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when I opened them again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vioe-gun—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything had already returned to its original state.\u003C\u002Fp>",2727,"2026-06-05T15:10:11.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","9ef8f31496bb3968d73433340c22390c40b43711b0d564b7d35b4cce57e2fc65","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-647","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-645",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]