[{"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-669":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},1240419,1667,"Chapter 668","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-669",669,"\u003Cp>After quieting the crowd, the selection process resumed. With the initial intimidation done, the remaining task didn’t take long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, calling it a \"selection process\" was a stretch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t I say to pick only seven?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, the remaining candidates stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gone were their earlier expressions of discontent and anger, replaced with palpable tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How amusing. A small demonstration of power was enough to change their attitude so drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is exactly why I can’t stand Zhongyuan.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything starts and ends with power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s efficient, but it’s also unbearably primitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I’m in any position to complain, considering how well I exploit it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The group is still too large. But wasting time here feels unnecessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I waved my hand dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Figure it out amongst yourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confusion spread through the crowd at my statement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meaning should’ve been obvious, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vote, talk it out, or…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze flicked toward Cheonma, who was watching from afar with her vacant expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fight each other. I don’t care. Just decide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the most straightforward solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simple, efficient, and easy for everyone to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got about half an hour. Make your decision by then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With another casual wave, I turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as I moved, my senses remained trained on Cheonma, keeping an eye out for any change in her demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I glanced at Moyong Hee-ah, I found her staring at me with an incredulous expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is this really okay?” she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You told me to handle it however I wanted. If you don’t like the results, you can change them later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wasn’t talking about the selection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh. Not about that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to glance behind us, toward where I had tossed the unconscious man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s from the Martial Alliance, isn’t he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah’s tone carried a mix of curiosity and disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did I know? It wasn’t anything extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most people who come here to apply as escorts aren’t affiliated with any organization.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know what kind of offer the Baekhwa Trading Company had made to attract such high-level martial artists, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how good the offer was, anyone already affiliated with a sect or clan wouldn’t bother coming here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially someone at the peak stage. They’d be better off serving as guards or enforcers for a prestigious family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s impressive that they managed to gather people of this caliber at all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First-rate martial artists, even those at the peak stage—it was almost unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For such individuals to show up for escort work, the conditions must’ve been exceptional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There was something off about his breathing,” I said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Breathing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know what sets apart martial artists from great clans or sects? Precision. Everything about them is polished, from their breathing to their movements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their actions carry a distinctive refinement, a disciplined elegance that’s impossible to fully conceal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He tried to pass himself off as a vagabond, but it didn’t quite work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…And you could tell just by looking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah seemed amazed, but it wasn’t really that impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply lacked the level of skill needed to notice such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A martial artist from a great clan at that level wouldn’t come here to work as an escort unless they had a reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His demeanor was too polished for a vagabond, and his skill too high for someone seeking simple work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he was here, it meant there was a purpose behind his presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t hard to deduce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He had to be here for something. It’s obvious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps he was a fugitive, someone who’d caused trouble and had nowhere else to go. But I doubted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It didn’t feel that way.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That left only one explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He was sent here to gather information,” I said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Martial Alliance had few reasons to send someone to infiltrate the Baekhwa Trading Company, but given its lack of alignment with the Alliance and its location in Henan…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take much to piece together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah tilted her head, still unconvinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But that’s not enough to be sure, is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded. “You’re right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t definitive. My reasoning was mostly circumstantial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, does that mean you had something concrete to go on?” she asked, frowning slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her question made me chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nope. Just a gut feeling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grinned at her startled reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He just seemed suspicious, so I beat him up to find out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah looked absolutely horrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her methodical personality clearly couldn’t handle the idea of acting on impulse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But beating him up confirmed my suspicion.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reaction had told me everything I needed to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was definitely with the Martial Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only question was why he was here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s their target?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Baekhwa Trading Company itself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Moyong Hee-ah?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were three likely possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, I couldn’t interrogate him yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to focus on observing Cheonma for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I made sure he wouldn’t wake up anytime soon or be able to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that settled, I turned toward the dense thicket nearby and whispered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take him and tie him up. I’ll deal with him later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sensed a small movement in the bushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the Baekhwa Trading Company had stationed guards nearby, and my sudden order had startled them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d known they were there from the start, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way Moyong Hee-ah would venture out here with just me for protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that taken care of—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Time to watch.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my attention back to Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the candidates had begun fighting among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, the chaos began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a shichen had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stood on the field, observing the seven remaining individuals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven. Exactly as I had instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While half a shichen wasn’t a particularly short time for a contest, it hadn’t devolved into a drawn-out bloodbath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was, after all, just a test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The differences in skill among the participants were clear, and only those who seemed naturally fit for the task remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the group were martial artists ranging from peak-stage fighters to first-rate warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What caught my attention, however, was something unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So they failed, huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of the peak-stage martial artists I’d expected to succeed had been eliminated, while a few first-rate fighters I assumed wouldn’t make it had managed to hold their ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those first-rate warriors hadn’t won through superior skill. They had scraped by through sheer persistence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze landed on one particular individual—the strongest of the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had systematically taken down other martial artists, leaving the first-rate ones to fend for themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those weaker fighters had endured just long enough to be among the last standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a clever, albeit opportunistic, strategy. The frustration on the faces of the eliminated participants was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t stand the fact that such underhanded tactics had succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not bad, though.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From my perspective, it was a satisfactory outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Being an escort isn’t just about strength.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp mind and political acumen were equally important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This strongest candidate hadn’t indiscriminately attacked the weaker participants. Instead, he had subtly manipulated the situation to his advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He must have realized who the strongest was and acted accordingly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even earlier, when I was making my initial selections and the Martial Alliance man had lashed out, those who eventually succeeded had refrained from involving themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had aligned themselves with the wrong factions, while the successful ones had played their cards right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t about raw power but about knowing where to stand and when.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If Moyong Hee-ah isn’t happy with this, she can fix it later.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That part wasn’t my concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real issue was something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why did she fail?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My frown deepened as I looked past the remaining participants, toward the lone figure standing at the edge of the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was there, just as before, her expression calm and detached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t participated in the fights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the others had begun their brawl, she had simply declared,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not interested,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been watching ever since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she too afraid to join? Unlikely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then what’s her game?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t understand her motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had deliberately ensured her inclusion, yet she had opted out entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What is she trying to do?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that Gu Heebi, my sister, had brought her here was baffling enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Cheonma’s behavior added another layer of mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stared at her, my brows furrowed, she seemed to sense my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, I didn’t look away. I kept my focus on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment stretched on, and then she acted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a faint smile, she waved lightly, just as she had before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leapt, vanishing in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It all happened so quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… Young Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah cautiously approached me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The selection process seems to be over…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I barely heard her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me for a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shall we head to a guesthouse? I’ve picked out a nice one—wait, what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Later. I’ll be back soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for her response, I kicked off the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’ve got to be kidding me—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah’s indignant shout faded behind me. I didn’t have time to care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t let her get away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the only thought in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I soared into the air, I noticed the sun dipping lower in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Where did she go?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From my vantage point above the forest, I scanned the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no sign of Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she already fled too far?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expanding my senses, I let my qi spread outward, searching for her presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My qi swept through the forest, spilling over into the nearby city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I searched relentlessly, determined to locate her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thrum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar energy struck me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demonic energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no mistaking it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Northwest.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the outskirts of Henan, closer to the forest than the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt her moving swiftly, and I pushed myself to match her speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames engulfed my body as I propelled myself forward, following her trail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I descended into the forest, moving through the trees without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tension mounted as I gave chase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fleeting thought crossed my mind, absurd as it was:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I turn back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was I planning to do once I caught her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t even know if I could win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I couldn’t stop now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something told me I had to keep going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind shifted as I moved through the forest, and I halted abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve lost her.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her presence, so distinct just moments ago, had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence around me was unsettling, amplifying the tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Where did she go?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made no sense for her trail to disappear so suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s hiding her presence.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she noticed my pursuit and concealed herself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No way.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma wasn’t the type to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She never backed down, no matter the circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frowning, I scanned my surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had I truly lost her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to expand my senses again when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint sound caught my attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reacted instinctively, summoning flames to my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fire condensed rapidly, forming into a spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, I prepared to hurl it toward the source of the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice wasn’t hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning, I saw someone else standing behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman with sharp features and jet-black hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression mirrored my own surprise as she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sister?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman was none other than my sister, Gu Heebi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And behind her, peeking out cautiously, was Cheonma, hiding like a child behind an elder.\u003C\u002Fp>",1964,"2026-06-05T15:10:12.585Z",1,"novelbin.me","5f018c68c33130264ea089701bb5d68d69a82b12f9a5c036133f2a31f71913fb","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-670","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-668",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]