[{"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-651":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},1240401,1667,"Chapter 650","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-651",651,"\u003Cp>It had been three days since the battle with Mang and the white-ranked beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although a short time had passed, the Northern Sea was already undergoing changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Advance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waaaaaah—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The war wasn’t over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Yuseon had sparked the flames of rebellion under Mang’s orchestration, the fact that they participated in the uprising remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining warriors continued their struggle to seize the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, reclaiming the palace didn’t take long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The palace never held the full force of their strength to begin with.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The generals who had joined the rebellion had their bases positioned far from the palace, beneath the command of the Blue Wolf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was curious that the palace, which held symbolic significance, had been left so vulnerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as though—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They were prepared to lose from the start.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps they never intended to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were the case, what was the purpose of starting the war?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it had been me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would have executed the captured bloodline members in front of the troops to bolster morale.I would have eliminated the enemy leaders without hesitation, knowing their hideouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yuseon did none of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite having the power and resources, she achieved nothing remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, she’s dead now. I’ll never get an answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace was reclaimed with only a small number of forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I followed out of boredom after sending the Black Lion ahead, only to find it surprisingly easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there I saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuseon’s lifeless body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I saw it, I burned it.The Black Lion questioned why I would do such a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I couldn’t stand to look at it,” I said dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her withered corpse bore an oddly peaceful expression.For someone once hailed for her beauty, it was a pitiful end. For someone who had once stood as my adversary, it was even more unimpressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I burned her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than drag that sight back to show her father, it felt better to claim I had burned it out of spite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I walked down a cracked and weathered corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no one to guide me, except Seong Yul, walking ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey,” I called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the rest of the bloodline?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the palace, in the prison where criminals were kept—separate from where the Ice Essence had been—other members of the Palace of Ice Clan’s bloodline were imprisoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We found the First and Second Young Masters there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Young Master, aside from being dehydrated, was unharmed.The Second Young Master, however, had lost his right leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seong Yul responded without turning his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The First Young Master is resting, but the Second has yet to regain consciousness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, they’re alive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had they been spared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the biggest mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were bloodline members, and men at that.Keeping them alive was asking for trouble when the time came to establish a new Palace Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was it sentiment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t seem likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t make sense of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Letting the First live in peace while taking the Second’s leg…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt deliberate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There must be a specific reason why only the Second was treated this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what Yuri had told me, the Second Young Master was more talented and had never accepted the First becoming the heir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it really be because of that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps his leg was severed to ensure he could no longer compete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought crossed my mind, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why go that far?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to Yuseon’s intentions, I still couldn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked another question to Seong Yul, walking ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think there’s such a thing as a villain with a reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seong Yul paused momentarily at my words before turning to look at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe so. Everyone has their story.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People have their circumstances and narratives.While some are inherently wicked, others are shaped by their situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does having a story justify forgiveness?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seong Yul maintained his calm expression as he replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think, Young Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feigning indifference, I replied, but I knew the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no interest in their stories or circumstances.I didn’t care if they were virtuous or wicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All that mattered was whether they stood in my way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they’re decent enough, maybe I’ll let them live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It depended on the situation. Selfish and capricious, perhaps, but that’s how I would act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing my response, Seong Yul stared at me for a moment before nodding slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I think the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re just parroting me because you don’t know what else to say, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirked at Seong Yul’s reserved attitude and resumed walking down the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This idle conversation wasn’t just about Yuseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my previous life, the Black Flame Demon Emperor and the Sword Demon had been the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A villain is a villain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter their story, the dead need not accept their excuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same applied to Yuseon.No matter her thoughts or choices, they had nothing to do with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creeeak—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we approached the large doors, Seong Yul led me forward, and the doors opened naturally.A chill different from the air outside brushed past my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the chill in the air, I raised my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought I consumed all the energy, but it seems some remains.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the throne where Yuseon once sat, another figure was now seated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apologies for calling you here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your body hasn’t fully healed yet. Are you sure you should already be sitting there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker was the Palace Lord of Ice, a half-dragon and the master of the Northern Sea Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a faint smile as he replied, “This is not a seat that can be left empty for long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord hadn’t fully recovered yet.The internal and external injuries I had inflicted on him were severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a miracle he wasn’t dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He looks fine on the surface, though.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After absorbing the cold energy and receiving treatment, the Palace Lord had managed to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More notably—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His dragonification has reversed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the cold energy was drained, his scaly skin returned to normal, and his frozen body was restored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Northern Sea is beginning to warm up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the energy of the Ice Essence gone, the sky had cleared, revealing a bright blue.While it was still cold, everyone could tell the weather had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the curse of the Ice Essence had finally lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whatever it was, it’s clearly different from the Shadow King’s curse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slowly stepped toward the Palace Lord.I could feel the gazes of several men stationed around the hall, including the Black Lion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All of them are Hwagyeong-level warriors.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two more besides the Black Lion—likely high-ranking generals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So these are the loyal ones who didn’t betray him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded to myself. These were probably the last remnants of the Palace Lord's direct forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Originally, I should have come to you myself,” the Palace Lord said. “But my condition makes it difficult, so I had to summon you instead. My apologies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s no issue. My legs aren’t exactly heavy, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for understanding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord smiled faintly. I took the opportunity to ask my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I know why you called for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For three days, I hadn’t seen him.His treatment had taken priority, and I had my own matters to attend to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The reason I summoned you is simple: to express my gratitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshhh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord rose from the throne, then suddenly knelt on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Palace Lord—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards and generals rushed forward, alarmed, but the Palace Lord raised a hand to stop them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could I not kneel before my savior? I would do far more than this, so do not stop me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he knelt completely. I stared at him silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I only helped because I had some spare time. There’s no need for gratitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You saved the Northern Sea. That is no small thing. Truly, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I remained silent, though inwardly I clicked my tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t just thanking me for helping retake the palace. He knew I had consumed the energy of the Ice Essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought I hid it well, but he figured it out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been pretending not to know, but the Palace Lord clearly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re not going to hold me accountable, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean for consuming all that energy. It would be troublesome if you decided to take issue with it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had absorbed all the Ice Essence’s energy. If the Palace of Ice claimed ownership, it could complicate things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I had a plan to return it if I were caught, so it wasn’t too concerning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord looked at me as though I were saying something absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could I possibly hold my savior accountable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? You’re not? Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An awkward silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it were me, I’d definitely complain,\" I thought.I might have even grabbed someone by the hair and caused a scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if he’s not going to make a fuss, that’s fine by me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relieved, I let out a quiet sigh. The Palace Lord, having finished his thanks, carefully stood up and returned to his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he sat, I noticed his hands trembling slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Along with my gratitude, there is something I’d like to ask you, Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard from the Black Lion that your father was here. Is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He came, torched the Palace Lord, beat him senseless, and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. He stopped by briefly before leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see. So it was him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Palace Lord let out a bitter laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t want our reunion to happen like that. It’s a shame. Did he leave any message for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I doubt he even realized you were the Palace Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He probably just saw a monster and attacked. I was certain he hadn’t known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not sure whether to call that fortunate or not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say it’s better to let things be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression didn’t look comforted at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered what kind of history my father had with the Palace Lord to make him react this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Considering he calls him a friend, I doubt he beat him up completely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You don’t call someone you’ve thoroughly thrashed a friend.Or do you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about my own relationships, I wasn’t so sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gu Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you wish, I can host a banquet in your honor or offer the treasures of this palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you plan to host a banquet or give away treasures while still at war?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you desire it, I’ll make it happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t need anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I waved my hand dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no interest in banquets, nor did I need treasures.Maybe in the past, but now I had more money than I could use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With the fortune I made selling Night Pearls and perennial herbs, I don’t lack for funds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I needed more, I had plenty of ways to earn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then may I ask about your plans?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have none. I’ll be leaving soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically, I would return to Zhongyuan once Namgung Bi-ah’s treatment was complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the Black Lion spoke up in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Already?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s about the war, I have no intention of getting involved further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew their reasoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wanted me to stay. With the Northern Sea still at war, someone of my strength was invaluable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I trust you won’t ask me to stay,” I said firmly, looking at the Palace Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. It would be unreasonable to demand anything more from you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining mess was theirs to clean up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied with his answer, I softened my expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One more thing, Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how much you refuse, I cannot let you leave empty-handed. Is there truly nothing you desire?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t really suffer any losses, though.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, I had gained a lot. I had advanced years ahead in cultivation and acquired valuable information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thought came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is something I need.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord’s face brightened, but only briefly, as I continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need information on any sorcery that might exist in the Northern Sea, and I’d like you to release the prisoner rotting in your dungeon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, the Palace Lord’s expression stiffened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>",2122,"2026-06-05T15:10:12.585Z",1,"novelbin.me","0efeca725c4d41e59fc5af7b89f27d9dee349fc83dcf9444808ea9df434ab803","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-652","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-974",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]