[{"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-695":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},1240445,1667,"Chapter 694","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-695",695,"\u003Cp>I entered the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, a little over twenty people were already waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I moved further in, the air prickled against my skin.The sensation made me click my tongue inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘These guys and their ridiculous power games…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial artists always acted this way when gathered.They spread their Qi needlessly, pushing their auras against each other like invisible duels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bunch of fools, really.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why waste your energy? Do they think it’s endless?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, even if they all combined their strength, I’d still have more.But no, they just had to puff out their chests and flaunt their power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a surefire way to get themselves killed.In war, idiots like these burned themselves out early and crumbled when it actually mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You just can’t deal with people who’ve never tasted war.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cursing to myself, I waved my hand lazily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suffocating energy dissipated slightly. Finally, I could breathe properly again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“....”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed a few of them noticed what I’d done. Their gazes shot toward me, sharp and curious.I simply smiled awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry. It was a bit hard to breathe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I brushed it off casually and found a spot to sit.There were no assigned seats, so I perched on a shaded part of the wooden veranda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I ignored their continued stares, I could still feel them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How long is this going to take?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was all I cared about now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The preliminaries were still ongoing, and I had no idea how long it would take for the second round to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How are Wi Seol-ah and Seong Yul doing?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others who had entered the competition were on my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They should be fine… right?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If their tests were the same as mine, there was no way they’d fail.Still, I couldn’t help but worry—especially about Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Is she doing okay?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like watching a child play near deep water.I felt like running out right now to check on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She always used to giggle when things got tough. She wouldn’t pull that here, would she?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah had changed from my past life.The once-coldDivine Swordnow had an air of innocence that sometimes bordered on foolishness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her current self looked healthier, sure, but the lack of social awareness worried me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve probably coddled her too much.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted her to live differently this time—to avoid the path she’d taken before.But perhaps the actions I’d taken to protect her had turned into a problem of their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It gnawed at me, this balance between doing what’s right and what’s bestright now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s difficult.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was I supposed to know what the right way was?It was a question I had no answer for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought, I noticed a presence in front of me.Looking up, I saw a shadow blocking the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone was standing there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rough, deep voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up and saw a massive man in dark clothes—the Blade King, Peng Zhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, this is unexpected.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t expected him to approach me. I thought we’d ignore each other, pretending not to know one another.Clearly, I’d miscalculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared down at me with an unreadable gaze, and the others nearby turned to watch, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I couldn’t just ignore him now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while, Lord Peng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I greeted him politely, and his brow twitched slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it really is you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it’s me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rose to my feet as I spoke.As much as I wanted to keep sitting, I still had to showsomerespect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I greet you as a member of the Gu family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I offered a slight martial salute, bowing my head.It was a minimal show of courtesy, but it seemed to settle him somewhat—his oppressive presence eased slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is he actually pleased with that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like you’ve learned some manners.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Guess he is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or so I thought—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suppose you’ve matured. Back then, you weren’t worth anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did time finally knock some sense into you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I suppose so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed the irritation rising in my chest.I deserved this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is what I get for being an idiot when I was younger.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Zhou was my former fiancée’s father.I’d insulted her and broken the engagement—a mistake I couldn’t erase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, of course, he’d hold a grudge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard you’re engaged to the Namgung family now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course he’d bring that up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Sword King’s daughter, right? They call her theSword Dancer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The itch of provocation crawled across my skin.Peng Zhou’s words were polite on the surface, but every syllable had sharp edges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Gu family is impressive, I’ll give you that. Breaking off an engagement with the Peng family and still managing to snag the Namgung family… Truly remarkable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you. I was just lucky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lucky, huh? No, it’s your family’s power, not yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There it was—the sharpened jab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This old bastard.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words had gone beyond sarcasm. They were carefully honed barbs meant to sink into my pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I held my ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve grown up, haven’t I?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I hadn’t, I’d already have punched him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, I smiled calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your son, Peng U-jin, seems quite exceptional. When he takes over, the Peng family will soar even higher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“....”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Zhou’s face stiffened, the muscles in his jaw twitching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t needed to say much—just the truth, laced with implications.After all, wasn’t it his leadership that had brought instability to the Peng family?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… brat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched as his expression crumpled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Peng U-jin is a remarkable young man. Truly worthy of leading the Peng family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I’d just praised his son, the Blade King’s expression darkened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oppressive aura around him thickened, and I felt the weight of his anger pressing down on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really are your father’s son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension in the air was palpable. Nearby martial artists instinctively braced themselves as Peng Zhou’s killing intent surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everything about you—even the way you speak—is just like him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head, unfazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that supposed to be an insult?Because to me, it sounded like a compliment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared back at him, meeting his gaze directly.The hostility in his eyes had deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could have been the problem?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ihadprovoked him a little, sure, but this kind of intense reaction was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Was it his inadequacy as a leader? The comparison to his son? Or was it something else?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I pondered, a strange thought struck me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t those things—no, not exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wait… amIthe problem here?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, not me specifically...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s my father, isn’t it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hehadmentioned how similar I was to my father right before his aura flared.The root of his anger was probably buried there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were the case, then whatexactlywas the problem?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief moment of thought, I decided to ask him directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Peng, I’m curious about something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense are you going to—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you ever been beaten by my father?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“....”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oppressive aura around him vanished so quickly that it was almost comical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked, widening my eyes in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh. So it’s true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reaction said it all—he reallyhadbeen beaten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wow.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I understood why he was so worked up. I’d wondered why he seemed to have a vendetta against me.So it turns out my father had knocked him around at some point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Father… just what were you up to in your younger days?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How exactly did you end up beating thehead of one of the Four Great Clans?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of curiosity about my father’s past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grrr…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low, rumbling growl escaped Peng Zhou’s lips.His clenched fists trembled, and the killing intent swirling around him thickened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, as though forcing himself to calm down, he released a shaky breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Gu family brat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should be grateful this is within the Murim Alliance grounds, where the rules are enforced. Were it not for those rules, you would already be groveling on the floor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rules were clear: any unauthorized fights during the preliminaries would result in immediate disqualification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was something we’d all been informed of before the competition began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was essentially reminding me to be grateful for those rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right about that,” I replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rules… are truly a wonderful thing, aren’t they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, wild dogs needed to be beaten into submission.But here, the rules held us back, protectinghimfrom me. What a shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Zhou glared at me for a long moment before turning on his heel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he walked away, I could feel his barely restrained fury.I suppose he knew that if he stayed any longer, he might lose control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What a pity.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only he were a little more stubborn, things might’ve gotten interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Was that really all he came here for, though?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he seriously sought me out just to pick a fight?What a pointless way for a clan leader to spend his time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after such a brief exchange, I already understood why my father had hit him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing a sigh, I sat back down on the wooden veranda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing my eyes, I let myself rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All I wanted was for time to pass quickly.I sat there, ignoring the prying gazes, and let myself relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half ashichenlater, the second test began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky had turned crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun was setting, its golden light bleeding across the horizon.Considering the first test had started at noon, a fair bit of time had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing among the gathered participants, I waited once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first round was over.All the successful candidates had been gathered here to begin the second test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The number of participants who passed the first round is fifty-eight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A martial artist from the Murim Alliance sorted through a list and handed it to someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recipient was an elderly woman with stark white hair and sharp, hawk-like eyes that seemed to pierce through everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at the list briefly before straightening her hunched back and sweeping her gaze across us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cluck cluck… Greetings. I am Yeoseon, the leader of theWind Dragon Division.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murmurs in the crowd were audible, and I could feel a shift in the atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeoseon, the leader of the Wind Dragon Division.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better known asBima-pa Yeoseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only female among the Eight Division Leaders of the Murim Alliance.She was said to be the second longest-serving martial artist in the Alliance, right after the Sword Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her strength in direct combat wasn’t particularly impressive.The Wind Dragon Division specialized in formations and magic techniques, and Yeoseon was an expert in that field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her martial skills might have been the lowest among the Division Leaders…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…but that didn’t mean she was weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This old bat caused me no end of trouble.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my past life, Yeoseon had been the one assisting Jegal Jihui, the Murim Alliance’s strategist.Her formations and magic were a nightmare to deal with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Illusions, traps, and battlefield-wide formations.Yeoseon was a specialist in large-scale warfare rather than one-on-one combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her value was so high that even the Sword Demon and the Green King had teamed up to deal with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will oversee this second preliminary round, so I hope you’ll cooperate….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no murmurs of protest this time.Unlike the first round, no one dared to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the weaklings had been eliminated already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those of us who remained weren’t here to gawk at high-level martial artists.All we cared about now was surviving whatever test lay ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like the first round, this test will be quite simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeoseon spoke, drawing a line in the dirt with her cane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All you need to do… is cross this line.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cross the line?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, voices of disbelief broke the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words were so unexpected that everyone looked dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossing a line? That’s it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It soundedfartoo easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have already set up a formation around this area….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeoseon continued, and everyone’s expressions darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are already inside the formation. Escaping it won’t be easy….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill swept through the group as her words sank in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one had noticed when we’d entered the formation.That alone spoke volumes about Yeoseon’s abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With fifty-eight of you here, I only need half to pass. First come, first served: twenty-nine participants.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, the tension in the crowd skyrocketed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had to break through Yeoseon’s formation.It sounded simple, but we all knew better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The first twenty-nine to cross this line and tap my shoulder will pass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeoseon’s wrinkled eyes gleamed as she scanned the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, let’s begin—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, so we just have to tap your shoulder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice cut her off mid-sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeoseon frowned, clearly displeased that someone had interrupted her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, you simply have to cross the line and tap my shoulder. However—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something felt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice had come fromright next to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap. Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeoseon stiffened as she felt someone tap her shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning her head, she found me standing there, grinning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… can I go home now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, she was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like in the first test, I didn’t wait for an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>",2194,"2026-06-05T15:10:12.585Z",1,"novelbin.me","2de7285094aac48f4128bb9c360661f75fca6f0099dd320ec5b8cf95f2c3c7ac","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-696","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-694",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]