[{"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-700":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},1240450,1667,"Chapter 699","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-700",700,"\u003Cp>“You met Grandfather…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what Gu Heebi said to me in my quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He came to see me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I replied indifferently to her astonished question. My ribs still ached faintly—maybe I should’ve hit myself a little softer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, out of nowhere?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, out of nowhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She kept pestering me with questions, unable to believe it, but my answers didn’t change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sis, stop asking. I was just as shocked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I have known that that man—no, was he even human?—that person claiming to be my grandfather would show up?Thanks to him, my ribs got cracked, and my mood got ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn family ties.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gu family members were all insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every last one of them cared about nothing but themselves. How could someone like me, a normal person, live peacefully in a place like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I should just run away or something.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time I tried to get attached to this family, it became clear I couldn’t. Truly a goddamn messed-up household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to calm my irritation, I glanced at Gu Heebi and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly are you doing right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi tilted her head at my question and replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t it obvious? I’m cooking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does she think I asked because I couldn’t tell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m asking because I can’t believe what I’m seeing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi was cooking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casually dressed, she was making a few side dishes and placing them on the dining table like it was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How should I even describe this nightmarish scene?I honestly had no idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You know how to cook?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, a little bit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her nonchalant response left me stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amused by my dumbfounded expression, Gu Heebi let out a small chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Living with a child will do that to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What kind of mom-like statement is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, does it suit me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, not at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, it did suit her a little, but the thought annoyed me for some reason, so I answered bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was observing this bizarre side of Gu Heebi,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was placed on the plate in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was this?I couldn’t tell. It looked like food, but….\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Completely clueless, I turned to the person who had put it there.It was Cheonma, who had somehow ended up sitting next to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma was sitting there, casually placing more food in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop—no, wait. What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Food.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can see that. I mean, why are you giving it to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s good. You like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell was this situation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, I felt like it was too late to even try understanding it anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having no energy left to argue, I wordlessly picked up the food and put it in my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was surprised after taking a bite.It tasted better than I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I actually ate it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What shocked me even more was that I had just eaten food in front of Cheonma like it was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even if I am immune to all poisons, still….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was being way too careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe, it was because it was Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She wouldn’t resort to poison.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t the type to use cheap tricks like poisoning.If she didn’t like someone, she’d just strike or cut them down directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that why I hadn’t worried about something so trivial?Or was it because Gu Heebi was here?I didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not knowing, I took another bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it good?”Gu Heebi asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing my response, Gu Heebi grinned widely and glanced at Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeon-ah, he says it’s good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, Yeon-ah made this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her words, I widened my eyes and stared at Cheonma.What kind of bullshit was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She… made this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, didn’t she do well? She’s surprisingly good with her hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi patted Cheonma’s hair as if praising her.Cheonma, without much resistance, simply let it happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, I couldn’t escape the shock of what I had just heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Cheonma cooked?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Cheonma?This was one of the most shocking experiences of my life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to make it worse, it actually tasted pretty good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made it even more unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I don’t even know how to react anymore.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt exhausted, as if reacting to every surprise was draining me.Setting down my chopsticks, I decided to cut to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened with Grandfather?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going straight to the point made Gu Heebi pause for a moment.I stared at her, unyielding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did that old man leave her with you? What exactly happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hm….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked again, making it clear I wouldn’t let her dodge the question.Gu Heebi knew that too, judging by the awkward look on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, she spoke cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was around the time mySword Unitdisbanded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>TheSword Unitof the Gu family, which Gu Heebi once led, had temporarily disbanded amidst the chaos of recent events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exact cause was likely the infighting over the position of the next leader of Gu Seonmun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, Gu Heebi had taken a break and left to wander the martial world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I recalled correctly, that was about two years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It wasn’t a particularly unusual day. Just another day of traveling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was spring, just as the flowers were blooming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While walking along Cheonghae, she suddenly encountered Grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“You must take this. It’s for the sake of the family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma, who appeared unconscious, had been in Grandfather’s hands.He entrusted Cheonma to Gu Heebi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…And you just accepted her like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took her in without question? That sounded ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I looked at her with disbelief, Gu Heebi responded with a slightly defensive tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When Grandfather says it’s for the family, what choice do I have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she was known for being wild and reckless, Gu Heebi couldn’t refuse when the former head of the Gu family—long thought dead—spoke of family matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what if it wasn’t really him? What if Grandfather was an imposter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, it didn’t make sense. What made her trust him so easily?When I voiced my doubts,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And how did you confirm he was really Grandfather?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words left me speechless.It was the same method I had used to realize it myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The resonance ofNine Flames Firewheel.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alone was enough to confirm if someone was part of the same bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But even so, when dealing with something as dangerous as those flames, shouldn’t you at least be cautious…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What flames are you talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her response caught me off guard. She didn’t understand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is strange.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked her again with a sense of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sis, do you remember what Grandfather looked like?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His appearance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Wasn’t he surrounded by flames or something similar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you eat something bad? There’s no such thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression was utterly dismissive, like she thought I was being absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, seriously… Grandfather didn’t look like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not at all. He looked completely normal. White hair, a strong build… he resembled the current family head a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more she explained, the deeper I frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her unhesitating description confirmed that she had seen Grandfather in a human form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s going on?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made no sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I saw him, he had been entirely made of flames, yet Gu Heebi saw him as a human?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He said his form looked strange to me because I wasn’t ready yet.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet Gu Heebi saw him as human?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell is going on?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a strange, unsettling inconsistency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, more importantly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did he entrust Cheonma to Gu Heebi?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked this, Gu Heebi responded as if the answer was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How would I know? He just told me to look after her for a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re no help, Sis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She really was useless sometimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you want me to smack you after all this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I’m past the age where I let you hit me, so forget that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cutting her off, I brought up something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why are you staying in a dump like this? You could’ve just told Lady Mi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she staying in such a shabby place in Hanan instead of telling her mother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did tell her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told her, but do you think I’d be here if she agreed? She turned me down, so here I am.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was an impeccable response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course. If she didn’t get permission, she’d end up here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And besides,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi glanced at Cheonma and added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That kid wanted to stay here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma?Cheonma chose this place to stay? Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question lingered in my mind, though I asked something different aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then is Sis’s sudden breakthrough unrelated to Grandfather?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi hadn’t reachedIrip (Rising Stage) yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that she managed to ascend toHwagyeongwas significant, and if Grandfather hadn’t done something to help her, how had she achieved it?I asked because I was curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“While raising a child, I just… came to understand something. And when I realized it, it happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t it amazing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, it’s really amazing.That was the most absurd answer I’d heard all day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Gaining enlightenment while raising a child…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if enlightenment were just some pet dog’s name.If raising a child could grant enlightenment, wouldn’t every mother in the world be a superhuman?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Or… is it just because I don’t have a mother that I don’t understand?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Lady Mi, who didn’t practice martial arts, seemed to exude an extraordinary aura, so maybe there was some truth to it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I caught myself before spiraling further into nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, this meant Gu Heebi had no useful information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what about you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was the case, what about Cheonma?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you, and why were you captured?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had she ended up in Grandfather’s hands?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last I knew, she had disappeared along with the Black Night Palace Master.Cheonma seemed to seriously ponder my question before finally answering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I woke up, and it was like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her ridiculous answer irritated me.But at the same time, I had to consider if she was telling the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because, clearly, there were too many strange elements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why didn’t you escape?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d come to her senses, realized she’d been handed over to Gu Heebi, yet hadn’t run away.How? Why hadn’t she tried to escape?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the biggest question that came to mind after hearing her answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You could’ve escaped if you wanted to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma was strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether or not she was currently using her powers, I was certain after seeing her wield theCheonma Divine Swordagainst Grandfather earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s strong.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe even stronger than me right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if her temperament had changed, her inherent danger hadn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her history of unleashing a bloodbath in a past life, combined with the uncertainty surrounding her identity, made her a significant threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s connected to the Blood Demon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma’s ties to the Blood Demon were undeniable. That also meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wi Seol-ah….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought of her filled my mind.She might also be connected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mouth turned bitter at the thought, but I swallowed it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why hadn’t Cheonma tried to escape?As I mulled over the question,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It didn’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma quietly muttered, looking at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It didn’t matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. I actually liked it. Because I got to see it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a comment delivered with such a blank expression, her tone was oddly emotional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had she liked seeing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outside world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or something else entirely?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know, and I didn’t care to dwell on it.Cheonma’s feelings weren’t the issue here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, do you know where Hellsmith is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of Hellsmith, Cheonma’s eyes flickered subtly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hellsmith?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Hellsmith.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The master craftsman who designed the machinery of the Demonic Cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The artisan who created artificial demonic artifacts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed him for my plans and figured Cheonma might know his whereabouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Whether she’ll tell me or not is another matter.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my prediction was correct, even if she knew, she wouldn’t share it willingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she refused, it would only deepen my suspicions about her. In that case, I already had contingencies prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, naturally, I expected resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s in Shingang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Of course, you wouldn’t… wait, what did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma’s matter-of-fact statement left me frozen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Shingang?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hellsmith is in Shingang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again?What was Shingang, some kind of den of evil? Everyone seemed to be congregating there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she lying?Even putting that aside—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shingang… Shingang… why would you tell me that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked why she so readily shared that information, Cheonma’s face showed emotion for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at me with clear disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You asked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, I asked.But why answer so easily?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah… ha….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dragged a hand down my face, feeling drained.Nothing made sense anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is so tiresome. Should I just destroy everything?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, I felt my old self bubbling up.Sensing this, I stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m leaving….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi and Cheonma widened their eyes as I spoke.Ignoring them, I walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks for the meal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just empty words—the food was surprisingly good. It had been unexpectedly satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re leaving already?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi sounded disappointed, but I was already walking away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I stayed longer, I might actually lose my mind.I’d asked all the questions I needed for now, so I planned to head back to my quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stepped out and closed the door behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stars shone brightly in the night sky, but they didn’t feel beautiful.My mind was too cluttered to appreciate them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s in Shingang, anyway?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Myung, Grandfather—why did they all keep telling me to go there?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Honestly, I wasn’t planning to go at all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t care about their demands. If they wanted something, they could handle it themselves.Shingang wasn’t part of my plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If Cheonma’s telling the truth, I’ll have to go, whether I want to or not.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Hellsmith really was in Shingang, things changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To confirm her words, I’d need to verify if she was lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Not now, though.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, I didn’t want to do anything. I was utterly exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, for now, I decided to return to my quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I prepared to leap into the night—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice stopped me mid-motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma had come out and was waving at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at her silently.I didn’t respond or say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just stood there, watching her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person I had once wanted so desperately to kill. Now, she was waving at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bitter taste it left in my mouth was still unpleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma, unaware or unconcerned, continued speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her violet eyes were fixed entirely on me.Was this really Cheonma?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ridiculous doubt crossed my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If possible, come when the leaves are red.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words finally made me speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why the hell red leaves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why autumn leaves?The question somehow annoyed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re pretty. I like them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You like autumn leaves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not me. You.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned at her response.What was she talking about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I like autumn leaves?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t hate them, but did I like them that much?And how the hell would Cheonma know that when even I wasn’t sure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So come then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring my reaction, Cheonma finished speaking and went back inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, I stared at the spot where she’d been as if under a spell. My gaze lingered longer than I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clicking my tongue in frustration, I leapt into the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind brushed against me as I soared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night sky above was bright, but my thoughts felt too cramped to take in the stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was that kind of night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A day had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dawn, as the sun rose, I too got up from my bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place I woke up in was, of course, the bedding in my quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sigh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a deeply furrowed brow, I sat up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple. I hadn’t slept well after returning to my quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t even slept for an hour, and even that short amount of sleep was restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another stupid dream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because of the recurring nightmares I’d been having recently.They left me irritated upon waking, yet I couldn’t even remember what I had dreamed about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made it all the more infuriating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t as though missing some sleep made my body tired, but the lingering discomfort was unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Running Qi through my body for a moment, I felt a sharp twinge.The pain radiated from my ribs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it was better than yesterday.After some rest, my body had started to heal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I should focus on lower-body training today.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed best to leave my upper body alone for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I clicked my tongue in mild frustration,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock, knock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a sound outside my quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, are you awake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice wasn’t familiar. Who could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Baek Yeon, one of the attendants.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the introduction, I remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone I’d heard about recently.She was one of the newly recruited attendants for the Gu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stretching my neck carelessly, I asked. The attendant responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Baekhwa instructed me to prepare tea for you if you woke up. Do you require any?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Mi preparing tea in the morning? At this hour, no less?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring it in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt something odd about the situation, but I decided to have it brought in for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving my permission, the door opened, and the attendant stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment her feet touched the floor of my quarters—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something caught my attention as I observed the attendant closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a sweet fragrance wafted to my nose.It was a scent I had smelled before, sparking my curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing my reaction, the attendant immediately explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is plum tea sent by Madam Plum Blossom to Lady Baekhwa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fragrance was identical to the tea I’d had during a visit to the Mount Hua Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant carefully placed the tea before me, and without hesitation, I reached for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! Be careful; the tea is hot—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant tried to warn me, but I had already grabbed the teacup and, of course, felt no discomfort.I lifted it and took a sip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I drank, I nodded.Just as I’d expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Poison.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plum tea was laced with poison.\u003C\u002Fp>",3090,"2026-06-05T15:10:12.585Z",1,"novelbin.me","832ed09e862451520f9d09e684fc53744803ad139157e47d1c6b82347dc65c3a","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-601","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-699",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]