[{"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-705":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},1240745,1667,"Chapter 704","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-705",705,"\u003Cp>Evening had fallen after the conclusion of the preliminaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I finished my meal, I turned my gaze to Bong Soon and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing happened, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bong Soon tilted her head in confusion at my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned, realizing she hadn’t understood, and asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m asking if you caused any trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally catching on, Bong Soon nodded emphatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t! The Sect Leader told me not to do anything!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yep! I really didn’t do anything! I didn’t do anything at all! So let’s ma—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had started spouting nonsense again, so I cut her off preemptively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she really not do anything?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given her track record, it was hard not to be suspicious. Unfortunately, I had no way to confirm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, I’d have followed her in secret to check for myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But infiltrating their formation would be too risky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Martial Alliance had set up a defensive formation around the area for the tournament, and while I could likely break through it, the risk of being discovered wasn’t worth the attempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was my suspicion unfair?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m telling you, I didn’t do anything!” Bong Soon protested, sounding genuinely offended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t kill anyone! Not yet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not yet...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That last bit was unsettling, but I decided to let it slide for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Fine. Good job.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See? I did well! So, about ma—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly obedient, Bong Soon sprang to her feet and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed as I watched her hurry out. Though she’d become somewhat more civilized, she still had a long way to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, maybe she’s more like a beast imitating a human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the impression Bong Soon gave me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been two years since I brought her from the wilds of Gwangju, where she had lived among feral dogs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d found her gnawing on members of the local bandits and decided to take her in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, Bong Soon was less of a person and more of a talking monster. She could speak, but her actions were purely instinctual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, somehow, she had reached a level of cultivation that rivaled the peak martial artists of Murim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s strange, really.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cultivation clearly exceeded the pinnacle stage, yet her mental state was akin to that of a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could have trained her to achieve such heights?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was certain that she was a descendant of the Sword Queen, but it had been over a decade since the Queen’s death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The likelihood of the Sword Queen having taught her personally was slim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even she doesn’t remember, so there’s nothing more to uncover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d questioned Bong Soon about it, but she claimed to have no memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given her inability to lie to me due to the effects of demonic energy, I had no reason to doubt her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to put the matter aside for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It doesn’t matter if she remembers or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What mattered was that I could use Bong Soon’s abilities as a powerful asset to advance my plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her past was irrelevant to her value in the present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The problem is the Emei Sect,” I muttered, recalling the events of the morning as I took a sip of tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tea tingled on my tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d mixed a small amount of poison into the tea, both to build resistance and to enhance the flavor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emei Sect. Female monastics of Sichuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What connection could they have to Bong Soon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed less about Bong Soon herself and more about the artifact she carried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that’s the case… then they’re not looking for the Sword Queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation was ambiguous, making it difficult to draw any definitive conclusions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The trap is set, and the reaction should come soon enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had already laid the groundwork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpse of the Emei Sect disciple had been returned to their residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using Mang’s authority, I had imprinted the Martial Alliance’s emblem on a letter, paired with vague warnings. The timing had been calculated so that the message would disappear at the appropriate moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How will they respond?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The purpose of this was to gauge their reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were acting independently of the Martial Alliance, their response would differ from what it would be if they were in collaboration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If their leader isn’t a fool, they might take this as a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sect Leader of the Emei Sect was known as the Pulverizing Moon Fist Immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the Seven Masters of Martial Arts, her title came from her ferocious fists, despite her delicate appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t believe someone of her stature and intellect would act rashly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blatant use of the Martial Alliance’s emblem should make her consider the possibility of third-party involvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I were her, I’d tread carefully, suspecting that someone was monitoring their movements through the Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on top of that,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she learns that I have this…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at the letter in my hand and smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The letter had been taken from the belongings of the Emei Sect martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It listed several names, including mine and other participants in the tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Likely the names of those they attempted to poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cross-referencing the names with my intelligence network confirmed as much, though a few additional names suggested incomplete information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would a supposedly orthodox sect like the Emei Sect engage in such behavior?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had paid them little attention until now, but this development piqued my curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I look into this further?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was connected to Bong Soon, it seemed necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, I had no intention of handling it myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I set down my tea and turned to my side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh? Leave what to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon, who had been eating absentmindedly, tilted his head in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soft rustle of footsteps echoed as I walked along the path, reviewing the letter in my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The document contained dense text across several pages, all meticulously compiled by Jegal Hyuk and Cheol Ji-seon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The situation in Hubei is mostly under control. As for the Shandong region, it should suffice to leave it in Huangbo Gaju’s hands.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the large amount of information, Jegal Hyuk’s precise organization made it easy to comprehend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll need to keep an eye on Illyong Daeju’s movements… and also check on Tang Deok’s situation.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Nahi already dispatched to Tang Deok, that matter should soon be resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If, in the process, she managed to bind or kill Illyong Daeju, all the better. However, that might be asking too much at this stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s troublesome to make big moves while I’m stuck here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given my current entanglement in this place, taking unnecessary risks had to be avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘To address everything properly, it’ll have to wait until after this tournament ends.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the martial arts tournament concluded, I’d need to reassess the situation.Even if everything went as predicted, my life had never been one to enjoy good fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Always prepare for the worst.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That way, handling unexpected disasters would be easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The real issue here is Tang So-yeol and Wi Seol-ah.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those two were weighing on my mind, especially since they were also participating in the tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah had already passed the preliminaries on the first day, and I’d heard that Tang So-yeol had naturally passed today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure why they had entered the tournament, but on its own, it wasn’t a significant issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem lay in what would happen when the preliminaries ended and the tournament transitioned into the real competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they ended up on the same stage, that could cause complications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It would’ve been easier if it were Woo Hyuk.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Woo Hyuk had been participating, I could’ve knocked him out without a second thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Woo Hyuk hadn’t entered the tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What was the reason again?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently, it was because the Martial Alliance’s leader, a figure from the Wudang Sect, wanted to maintain a semblance of fairness by excluding Wudang participants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Fairness, huh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea of fairness felt laughable now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inviting only the elites to participate in the tournament was already far from fair, yet now they were pretending to care?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If they cared about fairness, they should’ve upheld it long ago.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous Alliance Leader, Nakgeom, had shattered any pretense of fairness when he allowed Jang Gaeseok to represent them at the Yongbongjihoe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe they just want to project a clean image now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interestingly, the public seemed to react positively to the current leader’s claim of fairness.Perhaps they thought this leader was different from the past ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Tsk.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had plenty to say about it, but I held my tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, Woo Hyuk didn’t seem particularly eager to join the tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…He’d be in danger if he participated.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I occasionally used sparring as an excuse to beat some sense into him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woo Hyuk was now more dragon than human. His newfound abilities, coupled with his changed physique, left him unable to control his strength properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was, Woo Hyuk didn’t seem to realize just how strong he had become. Until he figured that out, I’d have to keep him in check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And maybe push myself harder in the process.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t much time left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I had surpassed the level of my previous life, complacency was not an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Nine Flames Firewheel Technique… I can’t even use it in some situations.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memory of my grandfather was a lingering threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For reasons I couldn’t fully understand, he had the ability to reclaim the cultivation technique I possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he ever stripped me of the flames, my entire plan would fall apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To lose everything over a single martial art…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m truly incompetent.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be rendered helpless by the loss of one technique—it was a frustrating realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That fear alone was enough to push me to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed contingencies, ways to proceed even if I lost one of my core abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stopping in my tracks, I looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had reached my destination. A door stood before me, and I naturally reached out to knock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock, knock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No response. I knocked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock, knock, knock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock-knock-knock…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, after a relentless series of knocks, the door swung open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You wretched brat! Do you have any idea what time it is?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An elderly man with white hair and a beard stood before me, glaring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Doctor greeted me with a scowl that could curdle milk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the middle of the night! Everyone’s sleeping, and you dare disturb me?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not night, Elder. We haven’t even passed dawn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone else is sleeping, aren’t they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you weren’t, were you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You insolent…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I retorted without missing a beat, his face flushed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, dangerous. That was his truly angry face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly, I pulled a letter from my sleeve and held it out to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I brought this for you from Jegal Hyuk, Elder. Please take it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight of the letter silenced his rising anger almost instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, bringing it was a wise decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I delivered it as soon as I received it. Please forgive my intrusion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…For Hyuk’s sake, I’ll let it slide this time, but there won’t be a next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then may I come in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re already inside, you damned brat…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for his reply, I stepped into his dwelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the adjacent medical quarters, his private residence was much smaller and more modest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d heard he had specifically requested a smaller space, claiming that larger ones felt overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, the old man had simple tastes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I removed my shoes and entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, there was a small desk and a single lantern. The desk was piled high with papers, all related to medicinal treatments and herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a sigh of disbelief as I took in the massive stack of documents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you really look through all of that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look through it? Hell no. How could this old man possibly read all of that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what’s the point of keeping it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I memorized it all back when I was younger. It’s there so I can reference it if I forget something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With it stacked like that, how do you even find what you need?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you remember roughly where something is and how many pages it spans, it’s easy to find.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How does someone even manage to memorize all that…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed the question and kept it to myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So,” he said, glancing at the letter in his hand, “you plan to go through with it again today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His question was met with an immediate, confident response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Doctor frowned at my answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s a group brawl in a few days. Wouldn’t it be better to take it easy for now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A group brawl, you say? Elder, there’s a much more elegant term for it—it’s called the Martial Arts Tournament.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A brawl is a brawl, no matter what fancy name you slap on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t argue with that, so I laughed awkwardly. Group brawl—he wasn’t wrong. The term seemed fitting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll rest when I’m dead. Besides, there’s someone right here who can treat me if I get injured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You brat… Not only do you talk about dying so casually, but you expect to use this old man at your whim?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’re already helping me, you might as well do it thoroughly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah, your shamelessness is on par with a demon’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he sounded annoyed, I knew better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This old man might act gruff, but he was a deeply caring person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, I was certain he’d help me this time as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sit down. Let’s get this over with quickly so I can get some sleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smiling at his words, I took my seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason I’d sought out the Divine Doctor was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prepare yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shortly after meeting my grandfather, I had come to him to learn a new discipline—sorcery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I first mentioned sorcery, the Divine Doctor seemed genuinely surprised. But after I explained that I had picked it up in the North Sea, he appeared to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he had encountered sorcery before, such as when he treated Jegal Hyuk’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given his familiarity with it, I figured he’d be the best person to help me train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I thought sorcery wouldn’t be of much immediate use. It was an intriguing power, so I figured I’d learn it out of curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after using it a few times, I started to realize its potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The loop of sorcery that now flowed within my heart…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my hunch is correct, sorcery might allow me to develop a countermeasure against my grandfather, even if he stripped me of my flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could let me wield an even greater flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could see ways to enhance not only the Nine Flames Firewheel Technique but also other martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Alright, then. Try expanding the loop,” the Divine Doctor instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I focused my energy on my heart and began to exert control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I trained under his watchful eye, time passed steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I found myself once again at the Martial Alliance’s grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The preliminaries, which had been conducted over three days in two rounds, were finally over. Today marked the beginning of the main tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will the main rounds be organized by groups as well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since the preliminaries grouped us that way, they’ll probably do the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd wasn’t much different from the first day—hundreds of martial artists gathered as far as the eye could see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key difference?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These individuals had all surpassed the level of Jeoljeong with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the true elites, those who shattered Mannyeon Hancheol and broke through the arrays to qualify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The genuine masters, refined through two rounds of rigorous elimination, now gathered in one place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The atmosphere feels entirely different from the first day.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The density of the air was heavier, and the intensity radiating from these individuals was palpable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was suffocatingly fierce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of them seemed to bother concealing their energy, and the resulting battle of auras in the air was almost awe-inspiring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching them, I grimaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What a bunch of show-offs.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expending their energy like this before the real fights even began—what were they trying to prove?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, look at all these people! Over there, big sis, look! Another bald—mph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bong Soon, who had been gawking at the crowd, was abruptly silenced as Tang So-yeol clamped her hand over her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please… please, just be quiet…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmff! Mmmph… slurp?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eek!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol yelped in shock and snatched her hand away, clearly startled by Bong Soon licking her palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this unfold, I shook my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, Bong Soon seemed particularly fond of Tang So-yeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, Tang So-yeol bore the brunt of Bong Soon’s antics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While it was fortunate for me to have someone capable of keeping Bong Soon in check,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Three days for the preliminaries, two for the main rounds.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was set to compete today, and so were Tang So-yeol and Bong Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hey, you didn’t forget what I told you yesterday, did you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Nope, I didn’t forget!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m reminding you—just win. No rampages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course! No breaking, no killing! I’ll just win!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bong Soon puffed out her chest as if brimming with confidence, though her words did little to reassure me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Tch.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how hard I tried not to worry, I couldn’t help it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting today, as the name Shinryong Martial Arts Tournament implied, it would be a battle of martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had been explicitly announced by the Martial Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Today marks the real beginning of the tournament.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of us stood a massive wooden board.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the sea of people, members of the Martial Alliance were hanging something onto the board.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matchups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The board would display the matchups for today’s main rounds, and the crowd was gathered to see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial artists’ eyes shone with various emotions as they stared at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were filled with desperation.Others radiated exhilaration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each of them harbored their own feelings and aspirations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t quite understand why this tournament meant so much to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I mulled over my thoughts and cooled my head,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gongja-nim, it’s up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol spoke, drawing my attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned back toward the board. As she said, the Martial Alliance had posted the list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scanning the names quickly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I furrowed my brow slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So, they’re not matching fighters from the same group.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matchups were divided as follows:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed they had paired the fighters from different groups for this round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aww, no….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Against the Nengcheong Sword? How am I supposed to win…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Groans of despair erupted from martial artists as they read the board.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the weaker participants, lamenting their bad luck at being paired with renowned opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conversely, the opposite sentiment rang out elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. This first fight should be over quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll wrap it up fast and grab a drink afterward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughter and excitement filled the air as those confident in their victory expressed their glee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the rising emotions, I found my name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White Group. Shanxi’s Gu Yangcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There it is.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My name was listed around the middle of the board. After locating it, I checked my opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue Group. Guangdong’s Myung Cheong-seong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Myung Cheong-seong?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name was vaguely familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ah.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I remembered now. He was the one who had been loudly boasting about Fungnim Witan Fist and other nonsense on the first day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently, he was a somewhat well-known martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frankly, I didn’t know much about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brushing up on my opponent, I checked on the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Bong Soon’s opponent is another stranger.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then there was Tang So-yeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I saw Tang So-yeol’s matchup, my eyes widened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now this is interesting.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had just gotten a lot more entertaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Green Group. Sichuan’s Tang So-yeol.Red Group. Liaoning’s Baek Cheong-jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baek Cheong-jin of the Liaoning Baek Clan—also known as the Yutan Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of game was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this a deliberate move by the Martial Alliance? Or pure coincidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt too deliberate to be mere chance, though I couldn’t be certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shifting my gaze, I looked at Tang So-yeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She, too, had noticed her opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her expression, I was reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No need to worry about her….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her calm eyes and composed demeanor were like a still, tranquil pond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…She’s a little scary right now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol exuded a subtle sense of intimidation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze seemed to say,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How shall I toy with my opponent?’\u003C\u002Fp>",3442,"2026-06-05T15:10:16.200Z",1,"novelbin.me","ac02d7c474626f7f710d2306e22ac9931aefa4cd35973b48eeb7d10ef9bb40b0","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-706","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-890",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]