[{"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-692":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},1240442,1667,"Chapter 691","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-692",692,"\u003Cp>Morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dawn had passed, and the sun was just beginning to rise into the sky.A cool breeze blew, signaling the end of summer's heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind brushed past the heavens and beneath it was a crowd of countless people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those with wooden plaques, please line up over here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud voice rang out, infused with Qi, making it resonate sharply in my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those with green gemstones, please come this way!”“Blue gemstones, over here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the announcements, countless individuals moved toward their designated areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a glance, the crowd numbered in the hundreds, if not thousands, but the air around them felt particularly heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The amount of Qi in the air is no joke.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The concentration of Qi mixed in the atmosphere was almost overwhelming.When was the last time I felt something like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Was it during the war?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of density could only be compared to the Great War between the Righteous and Demonic factions.But to encounter this level of Qi within the Murim Alliance's grounds?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It just means that so many strong individuals have gathered here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, the weakest participants were at the end of the second-rate tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial artists gathered here were intense, to say the least.From young warriors around my age to elderly ones with graying hair,every single person here was a martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t a single ordinary person among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Quite the turnout.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer number of people.Even for a Bi-mu-je hosted by the Alliance, I hadn’t expected this scale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I glanced around, a thought struck me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Shaolin's active involvement must’ve helped boost attendance.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that was true.I sighed lightly, running a hand through my hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So, it’s finally here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day of the Bi-mu-je had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically, it was the day of the preliminaries,and I stood at the entrance constructed by the Murim Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I was here to participate in the Bi-mu-je.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Tch.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clicked my tongue in annoyance.The preliminaries were set to take place over three days, and I had been assigned to the first day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entrance wasn’t directly into the main venue;it seemed like the preliminaries would take place somewhere deep within the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, it makes sense.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many participants, hosting the preliminaries inside the Alliance’s grounds would’ve been impossible.They had likely divided participants by day and arranged for different terrain to accommodate the matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I took a moment to calmly observe my surroundings,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gongja-nim.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice called out from behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned to see Wi Seol-ah standing there, wearing a veil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She, like me, had been assigned to the first day of the preliminaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she wore a veil to conceal her face,her strikingly curved figure and unique aura still managed to draw attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…That’s the best we could manage?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with Qi and the veil reinforcing her disguise, she still stood out.Maybe I should’ve given her one of Namgung Bi-ah’s old artifacts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white fox mask, for instance.I had heard it was a cursed artifact from the North Sea,capable of lowering one’s presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It had an effect similar to the one Tang Deok used back then.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I briefly wondered if I should’ve lent it to her,but it was a cursed item, so she wouldn’t have been able to wear it for long anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I pondered this, I looked at Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What color are you?” she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at the wooden plaque in my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was likely referring to the gemstone embedded in the plaque.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“White.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gemstone in my plaque was white.I looked toward the far end of the line, where a man held a white sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was probably where I needed to line up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m blue,” she said, showing me her plaque.The blue gemstone embedded in it glimmered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were four colors in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Green, blue, red, and white.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By coincidence—or perhaps not—they matched the ranks of the Magyeong Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If it’s not a coincidence, maybe the colors represent some sort of ranking system.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I considered the possibility but shook my head to dismiss the thought.No matter how foolish the Alliance might be, they wouldn’t have kept it that simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They wouldn’t, right?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hoped not. Surely they weren’t that idiotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least Wi Seol-ah and I weren’t in the same group.Should I consider that a small blessing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably. At least for now, that’s how I saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my gaze toward the four lines of people,each one stretching far into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The participants weren’t divided by gender, age, or even skill level.Some wore determined expressions, while others carried visible tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was different.And yet, they all seemed to be heading toward the same goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure what that goal was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No… perhaps,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Everyone here, except for me, might be looking at the same thing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought made me feel out of place, an unwelcome outsider.I frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head, brushing off the unnecessary thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Where’s Seong Yul?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my head, looking for him.Seong Yul was also participating on the first day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had given him his plaque and told him to figure it out on his own. Hopefully, he was managing fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’ll handle it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he seemed a bit clumsy at times, he wasn’t someone I couldn’t trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real issue was,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Bong Soon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was that Bong Soon was scheduled for the second day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d have to send her alone without me.Just thinking about it was already exhausting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve set restrictions on her, but…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To prevent any incidents, I had placed three restrictions on Bong Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First.She must keep her mouth shut at all times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second.Even if provoked, she must endure at least twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And third.She must not kill anyone unless they actively attempt to kill her first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were the rules I’d imposed on her.They should be enough to prevent most problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, if things still blow up, I’ll have to accept it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it got to that point, there wasn’t much I could do.She’d have to manage on her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I came to terms with this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Look over there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A commotion arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Blade King!”“Is that really the Blade King?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere among the martial artists wavered for a moment.Turning my head, I saw two figures entering through the main gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s attention was fixed on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s footsteps reverberated through the ground, sending vibrations with each step.The eyes of the martial artists widened in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To think his mere footsteps exude such presence!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected of a patriarch from one of the Four… no, now the Three Great Families.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mix of admiration, awe, and a faint sense of respect filled their gazes,all directed at the towering figure of the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was none other than The Blade King, Peng Zhou (도왕 팽저우).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Blade King, huh….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but smirk as I observed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zhongyuan, there are only a handful of people who bear the title of “King” (王).It’s not just a matter of being one of the Hundred Grandmasters or the even higher-ranked Ten Grandmasters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A King is someone with absolute influence in their domain.It isn’t just about their martial prowess—it’s about their reputation, authority, and unparalleled position in that field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all those who wield blades,the one who holds the most influence is the patriarch of the Peng family, the Blade King, Peng Zhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he appeared, the tension among the martial artists rose sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it true? The Blade King is actually participating?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So those rumors were real!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What could possibly bring the Blade King here…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half the reactions were of pure astonishment,the other half were questioning why someone like him would even bother showing up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And honestly, they weren’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What could a patriarch of a renowned family possibly gain from this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Winning wouldn’t benefit him, and losing would tarnish his reputation.Actually, even winning might result in more harm than good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no logical reason for the Blade King to participate in this tournament,yet here he was, stepping into the arena of the Bi-mu-je.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly walking, surrounded by countless eyes, Peng Zhou carried himself with an air of supreme authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What a spectacle.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I found it absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each step he took spread vibrations across the ground.People were calling it a display of Qi mastery and overwhelming presence, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That old man doesn’t even realize he’s wasting his Qi.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was purely for show.He was deliberately releasing his Qi to grab attention, as if to say, Look at me, admire me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, it was working, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How embarrassing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi flow was so exaggerated and unnatural that it was impossible not to notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How does no one else see this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was I the only one who could recognize this absurdity?It was baffling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Am I the only Hwagyeong-level martial artist here?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ability to discern the Blade King’s antics would require one to be at least Hwagyeong.I scanned the crowd, wondering if there were other Hwagyeong martial artists around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There are.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spotted a few familiar faces.Some were prominent martial artists, and others weren’t as well-known, but still capable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you see what he’s doing?” I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the person next to me, Wi Seol-ah, looked confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She doesn’t see it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite how abnormal the Qi flow was, she didn’t seem to notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why can’t she see it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t understand.For a moment, I wondered if there was something wrong with my eyes,but I dismissed the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commotion continued as Peng Zhou walked by, and I noticed a familiar face beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Peng Zhou’s son, the Peng family’s heir, Peng Woojin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked, Peng Woojin glanced in my direction, our eyes meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Woojin grinned broadly and waved at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t wave back, only nodding in acknowledgment.That was the most polite response I could muster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course, those two are here on the first day.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that the Peng father and son were also scheduled for the first day meant…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It has nothing to do with the registration order.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Woojin had registered on the same day as me,but the Blade King must’ve registered on the last day. There was no correlation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, it seemed like the order was randomized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Or maybe not.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suspicion crept in.I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Murim Alliance might’ve tampered with the arrangements in some way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They said the Bi-mu-je lasts nearly fifteen days.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of schemes were they planning for such a long event?The thought alone made my stomach churn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As my overactive thoughts began to grate on me, a voice interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll begin the preliminaries in one sijin! Please line up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The announcement signaled that it was time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, I glanced at Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to me, responding with her usual attentiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated, contemplating what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I tell her to take it seriously?Should I tell her to hold back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking into her eyes through the veil, I scratched the back of my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just… do your best. Within reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the best I could offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah responded with a bright smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! I’ll do my best!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, she hadn’t understood my point at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said, within reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’ll try very hard—within reason!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, she was burning with determination.First Tang So-yeol, and now her—why were they all like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Let’s hope nothing happens.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I really hoped so. Truly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. I’ll see you later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying goodbye, I started walking toward my designated line when,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, Gongja-nim.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah called out to me again, stopping me in my tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I turned to look,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah suddenly spread her arms and hugged me tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rested her forehead against my chest for a moment, standing there silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flustered, I subtly spread a thin barrier of Qi to minimize attention.It was to reduce our presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Giving you encouragement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah raised her head slightly, her eyes meeting mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll do my best. And you too… stay strong. You must.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Oh… uh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to respond when,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be going now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let go, turned around, and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched her retreating figure, her golden hair shining in the sunlight, and let out an awkward laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t bring myself to say “I will.”Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure.It was just… one of those moments.\u003C\u002Fp>",2076,"2026-06-05T15:10:12.585Z",1,"novelbin.me","b6ea585d1767d2e4193bae9c2ced58426af99501e4b5bff8b96f4f27faba1c90","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-693","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-691",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]