[{"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-711":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},1240753,1667,"Chapter 710","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-711",711,"\u003Cp>The first day of the main tournament had come to an end, and night had fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the events wrapped up, we headed to an inn, which was unusually crowded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow… I’m not even sure we’ll find a seat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t usually this busy, but with the tournament, the number of patrons had multiplied significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t Lady Moyong reserve a table for us? I’m sure we’ll be fine,” Tang So-yeol said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Moyong Hee-ah was the one who invited us, she must have secured a spot. She disliked dealing with crowded spaces and would’ve ensured we had a place to sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I glanced at Tang So-yeol, who had spoken so casually, I found myself smiling as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You seem to be in a good mood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Hehe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was winning really that satisfying? Tang So-yeol’s smile was brighter than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her movements were light and carefree—it was clear she was in high spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…She was terrifying back on the stage, though.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The look in her eyes as she battered Oil Sword, carefully controlling her strength, was intimidating even to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It reminded me of how thePoison Empressin my past life used to slaughter enemies from the unorthodox sects and the demonic cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the era had changed, that expression of hers hadn’t.Moreover—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s gotten much stronger.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol was far more powerful than I had anticipated.I’d thought she might have touched thePeak Level, but it seemed she had fully crossed into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She didn’t even use her family’s martial arts.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No poison arts, no hidden weapon techniques.The martial arts passed down to the Tang Clan’s bloodline weren’t even part of her arsenal this time. What she used was…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The power of the Shadow King.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same power I’d witnessed from the Shadow King before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creating that black veil that altered the perception of the space within—just looking at it felt unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The issue was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s hard to even call it a martial art.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shadow King’s power came from his draconic lineage, granting him supernatural authority.If that’s the case, does it mean Tang So-yeol used the Shadow King’s authority?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol was human; she shouldn’t have been able to wield such power. How had she managed it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the Shadow King’s ability was far more refined, the important point was that she had used it at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what I observed, it didn’t feel like she was wielding authority directly. Nor was it martial arts.That left only one possibility—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Sorcery.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol must have used the Shadow King’s authority through sorcery. That seemed to be the most plausible explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it wasn’t pure authority, the effects weren’t as strong.And because it wasn’t martial arts, the technique and energy flow were fundamentally different. It was undoubtedly sorcery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Using sorcery to replicate authority…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If sorcery truly originated from draconic powers, then this theory aligns perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was lost in thought, Tang So-yeol called out to me, snapping me back to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, sorry. I got caught up thinking about something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you very tired?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, not at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would I have to be tired about? My duel ended in a single strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If anything, you should be the tired one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d spent the entire match pummeling Oil Sword, so her fatigue must’ve been much greater than mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not that tired either. If anything, I feel refreshed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Oh… um…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she worked out some pent-up frustration while beating Oil Sword?Her expression was as serene and content as she claimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her like that, I felt a smirk tug at my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A groan came from behind us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Bong Soon.Frowning, I turned to ask, “What’s your problem now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It wasn’t fun…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her answer, accompanied by a sigh, wasn’t surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘To be fair, her match was a bit dull.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Tang So-yeol and I faced opponents at thePeak Level, Bong Soon’s opponent had barely surpassed thePeak Boundary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She defeated them so easily that it could hardly be called a duel. Since then, she’d been sulking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you won, be happy about it. Anyone watching you would think you lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I want to fight someone strong…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll get your chance next time. Stop whining—it’s annoying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmph…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, Bong Soon’s spirits visibly sank.Clicking my tongue, I turned away, only to see someone shaking his head at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good grief, you’re completely crushing her spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the black-hairedDisowned Prince, Paejon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you show her a bit of kindness?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kindness? To her? Never happening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only was I naturally unsympathetic, but I also couldn’t afford to coddle Bong Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way… what’s the deal with you, Elder—uh, I mean, Gongja-nim?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I caught myself mid-sentence, mindful of the crowd around us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm? What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did you arrive? If you were here, you could’ve said something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon, like me, had participated in the first round of the main tournament. I hadn’t seen or heard from him, so I assumed he wasn’t competing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as we were about to leave, I overheard murmurs aboutTwo Dragonsmaking waves.It was then I saw Paejon descending from the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was there to say? Nothing worth mentioning happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a point. I sighed before asking, “Are you seriously aiming for the championship?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon flashed a sly grin, his smile as unnerving as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll think about it, depending on the situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he had no intention of backing down.Suppressing a sigh, I mulled over my options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is going to be a headache.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If fate had it that I’d face Paejon in the arena, there’d be no holding back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had only one question to solve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How do I beat him?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defeating Paejon wasn’t optional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I racked my brain for strategies—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hey, isn’t that So Yeomra and the Poison Phoenix?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It really is So Yeomra.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murmurs of onlookers reached my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In person, he looks even younger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that young man trulyPeak Level?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say he’s close with the Poison Phoenix, and seeing them together confirms it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the other two with them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tone of their voices was noticeably different from just days ago. Their words were laced with curiosity and intrigue, especially about Tang So-yeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s stunning in person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To think such a delicate-looking woman could do that to Oil Sword…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regardless of the Tang Clan’s sins, she’s a remarkable individual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although there was plenty of chatter about me defeating Pung-something, Tang So-yeol was clearly the center of attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her debut had left a strong impression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A young woman under twenty atPeak Level… and she’s already among the Hundred Masters?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since theNew Dragon, she’s the greatest rising star.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…If only she weren’t a member of the Tang Clan. Still, I must admit…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though there are rumors she used some kind of sorcery…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I withdrew my senses. I’d heard enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’ll likely earn a new title soon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defeating aPeak Levelmartial artist like Oil Sword in front of so many people meant Tang So-yeol couldn’t be dismissed as just another rising talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the end of the tournament, she’d undoubtedly have a new nickname.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we climbed the stairs under countless watchful gazes, I couldn’t help but feel that things had deviated from our original plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Tang So-yeol’s growth felt far more rewarding than any strategic success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For reasons I couldn’t quite explain, it just felt… right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Climbing up to the fourth floor of the inn, the atmosphere shifted. Unlike the bustling first and second floors, this level was noticeably quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only those meeting specific conditions were allowed access to the third and fourth floors, which explained the reduced number of patrons. As soon as we reached the fourth floor, a staff member guided us to our destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, over here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah waved her delicate hand to signal us. Sitting beside her was Wi Seol-ah, who greeted me with a warm smile the moment we arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You could’ve started eating without us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We just got here,” Moyong Hee-ah replied smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t lie. There’s no way you’d arrive exactly on time. You’ve definitely been here for a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with the truth, Moyong Hee-ah momentarily closed her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah wasn’t present. Though she was well enough to move, she had mentioned needing more rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Woo Hyuk and the young lady aren’t here either.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t give it much thought. Whatever they were up to, it wasn’t my concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shortly after sitting down, dishes began arriving at the table. It was clear that Moyong Hee-ah had pre-ordered everything, as none of us had placed any orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You seemed quite busy today. Are you okay?” Moyong Hee-ah asked with a subtle smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a short laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like you’ve already heard everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it was a noisy day. Congratulations to you as well, Miss Tang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh… Thank you,” Tang So-yeol replied with a hint of embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the sheer number of spectators today, especially compared to the preliminaries, it wasn’t surprising that Moyong Hee-ah was already up to date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you think you went a bit overboard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, you don’t seem like the type who wants to stand out too much,” she said, referring to my duel with Forest Tempest Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subtle show of strength I displayed during that fight had already caused enough buzz for the day. Though Tang So-yeol’s match had drawn some of the attention away, Moyong Hee-ah seemed a little concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine. It’s not like I was trying to avoid standing out entirely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had simply been waiting for the right time to show myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was going to have to reveal myself eventually.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the timing hadn’t been perfect, concealing my abilities indefinitely would have become increasingly difficult. Today’s circumstances had aligned conveniently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing my response, Moyong Hee-ah nodded thoughtfully, though her expression suggested she was lost in deeper contemplation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would likely arrive at her own conclusions, so I left her to it. While she mulled over things, I reached for a dumpling on my plate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I chewed, a faint gurgle signaled my empty cup being filled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah, sitting nearby, was carefully pouring water into my glass. Interestingly, Tang So-yeol appeared to have intended to do the same but hesitated just a moment too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After filling my glass, Wi Seol-ah went on to fill Tang So-yeol’s and then her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notably, she skipped Moyong Hee-ah, Pejon, and Bong Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Pejon and Bong Soon seemed indifferent, I caught Moyong Hee-ah’s eyebrow twitch subtly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was there some kind of tension between them? A subtle undercurrent of rivalry seemed to linger in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So, your match is tomorrow, right?” I asked, shifting the focus to Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! That’s right. I’ll be fighting tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah would be competing in the second round of the main matches, alongside Seong Yul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second day was likely to be the most critical of the tournament. Most of the higher-profile fighters were scheduled for that round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a coincidence. The tournament organizers had surely planned this arrangement in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, do your best.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will! I’ll win for sure!” Wi Seol-ah declared with a radiant smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amused by her determination, I picked up a piece of food from my plate and handed it to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…But why is she so eager to win?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure what was driving her motivation, but her cheerful demeanor made it easy to let the matter slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been a while since we all shared a meal together. Between training and dealing with various matters, finding the time hadn’t been easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It would’ve been nice if Namgung Bi-ah were here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her absence was a slight disappointment. Perhaps I’d bring some food back for her later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, I enjoyed the rest of the peaceful meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A day had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing my morning training, I was walking toward the arena. Today marked the second round of the martial arts tournament, and I had a reason to be outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking amidst the bustling crowd, I glanced behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trailing behind me was Namgung Bi-ah, her face covered with a veil. It had been a long time since we walked together like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s uncomfortable, let me know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…If I do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll carry you—piggyback or bridal style, your choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Uncomfortable….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m joking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah’s lips twitched into a rare frown at my teasing. Finding it amusing, I gently tugged her wrist forward. She hadn’t been able to come out yesterday, but since she said she could move today, I decided to bring her along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Initially, I had hoped to bring Moyong Hee-ah and Tang So-yeol as well, but both had prior commitments. That left just the two of us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our destination was none other than the tournament arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heading straight to the spectator seats, I noticed the crowd was far denser than yesterday. The first round was already packed, but today’s second round had left not a single gap in the audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So many people….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah muttered, drawing closer to me as the crowd pressed around us. Guiding her carefully, I made my way through the throng to our designated seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had managed to secure reserved seats in advance. When I asked Moyong Hee-ah about it yesterday, she had effortlessly obtained them for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I questioned how she managed to get reservations a month after they had already sold out, she simply replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do youreallyneed to know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her ominous tone made it clear I didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, we had the seats, and that was all that mattered. After navigating through the masses, we finally found our spot and sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seats weren’t the best, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front rows were occupied by high-ranking officials from sects and prominent merchants. Moyong Hee-ah had offered to secure those for me, but I turned her down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’d be too much attention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A modest spot suited me just fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seated now, I stared silently at the empty stage. The murmurs of the crowd filled the air around me, but I paid no attention. My eyes were fixed solely on the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps noticing my focus, Namgung Bi-ah softly asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Are you worried about Seol-ah?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked and turned to meet her calm gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would you say that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Because that’s why you came today… isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, what other reason could I have had? With a sheepish grin, I admitted,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not wrong, but it’s not because I’m worried.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Then why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not worry—anticipation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, there was some concern about Wi Seol-ah stepping onto the arena alone. But at its core, it wasn’t about fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the excitement of seeing how she—and Tang So-yeol, too—had changed from their past lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To witness them spread their wings and soar independently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what I wanted to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah watched me for a moment before gently placing her hand on my head, stroking my hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt odd, but I didn’t bother stopping her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We waited a little longer until an attendant approached and handed us several documents. They were small sheets—condensed versions of today’s match lineup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfolding one, I scanned the names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seong Yul… looks like he’s matched well. Yeong Pung’s here too?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeong Pung, the most promising talent of Mount Hua and its Sword Dragon, was listed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several other Mount Hua disciples were included as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spotted Peng Woo-jin and the Poison King among the names. Then, finally…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze at a particular name on the list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaolin’s Yu Yeon versus Shanxi’s Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The laugh escaped me before I knew it. Staring at the name, I frowned sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These bastards….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could already feel the handiwork of the Martial Alliance’s scheming.\u003C\u002Fp>",2656,"2026-06-05T15:10:16.200Z",1,"novelbin.me","8a9c3b17e3c512e8645a5fee1890c97e0830f42170f0ba443051de9ebd4f674e","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-712","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-710",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]