[{"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-716":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},1240760,1667,"Chapter 715","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-716",716,"\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon fell silent for a moment after hearing my response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I expected some kind of reaction after my confirmation. Judging by his character, I thought he'd ask either why I had done it or if there was a plan to get him out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tapped the table lightly with my fingertips, waiting for him to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he ask why I did it?Or would he ask if there was a plan to rescue him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I waited patiently, Cheol Ji-seon finally opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Did you have a reason for doing it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first option. He was more curious about the reasoning than the plan itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a response that reflected Cheol Ji-seon’s personality—thoughtful and considerate, even in such a direct question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this kind of approach didn’t suit me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A reason, huh… I did it because it was necessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Necessary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it was necessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Deok had to be caught by the Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the name of the Demonic Cult (Magyo).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The timing was right. And since someone as impatient as Ilryong Leader had been sent, it made the situation even better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why did you specifically send Lady Nahi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon’s question made me tilt my head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Didn’t you already figure that out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I sent Nahi to Hubei the other day, Cheol Ji-seon had reacted as if I was being cruel.I assumed he had some idea of what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was just speculation. I didn’t think it would actually turn out like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone suggested he was concerned, so I listened more closely, waiting for him to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter what, to use an ally like that—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, I let out an involuntary laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to be misunderstanding something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ji-seon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who said they were an ally?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon’s eyes widened at my cold response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yangcheon…? What are you saying…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t get it twisted. They’re not allies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, stop getting attached. Look at you—your emotions are clouding your judgment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more I spoke, the more Cheol Ji-seon’s eyes trembled.I took a sip of tea, watching his reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your goal and my goal. That’s why we’re together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were very few people I would truly call allies.Cheol Ji-seon might barely make the cut, but that’s it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ji-seon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t respond to my call, but it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you have an issue with it, then either change the plan completely or go save him yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can’t, then keep your useless righteousness buried inside. It’s not going to help us right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The path forward was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Cheol Ji-seon’s goals differed from mine, our paths aligned for now.That’s why he was with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Focus on what’s necessary. Tang Deok was used because he was needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed a handful of dried snacks from the table and chewed on them.Even without wine, they went down surprisingly well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon didn’t say anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether he had nothing left to say or didn’t know what to say, I wasn’t sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, I didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m following my own path.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what Cheol Ji-seon thought, no matter how others viewed me, I had to stick to my path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That way—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can take full responsibility.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finished the last of my tea and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d heard all I needed to and gathered enough information about the rumors. It was time to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The bait has been taken.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, I just had to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m heading off first. Didn’t you say you had to meet with Lord Hwangbo?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, uh… yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. See you later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat, pat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I passed him, I gave Cheol Ji-seon a light pat on the shoulder before heading out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I descended the stairs without once glancing back to see the expression on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first round of the main tournament had taken place two days ago, followed by a three-day break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: a rest period to check everyone’s condition and reduce fatigue after the main round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stretching slightly, I moved forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My internal injuries have healed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though some of the deeper ones lingered, the more recent wounds had fully recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was enough for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind brushed against me, prompting me to turn my head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The end of summer was here.Autumn’s scent was already starting to seep into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, the leaves would begin to fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was passing.It wasn’t something I welcomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Am I feeling impatient?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I placed a hand over my chest, pondering.Yes, I was impatient.How could I not be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every day was a battle against sweat and exhaustion, a constant grind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not easy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I had chosen this path myself, the suffocating weight of it all hadn’t lessened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled dryly. Laughing was the only way to cope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look over there….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing whispers, I turned my gaze to the street ahead.The streets of Hanam were still crowded with people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after the tournament had begun, so much had changed in just a few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the most notable changes was:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Crescent Moon Sword. She really is as stunning as the rumors say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can someone be so breathtakingly beautiful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recognition of Wi Seol-ah, walking beside me, had grown significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard her duel was incredible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She looks younger than my daughter... and yet, they say she's a Hwagyeong-level martial artist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her swordsmanship was like watching the Sword Sovereign in his youth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact of her duel with the Divine Dragon still lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her beauty had already attracted attention, but now admiration and awe were mixed into the gazes directed her way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a shame… I wish we could see more of her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were those who lamented her elimination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What can you do? Her opponent was none other than the Divine Dragon of Shaolin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Dragon’s status had also been firmly cemented in the minds of the spectators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Tsk….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clicking my tongue inwardly, I reflected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was exactly what Shaolin had hoped for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did she overdo it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Sovereign’s heir was undoubtedly strong—remarkably so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Divine Dragon was stronger.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, the picture Shaolin had been painting became even more vivid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Dragon’s reputation now soared to unparalleled heights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course it would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even I thought he was insane.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally, when looking at Wi Seol-ah or Namgung Bi-ah, I’d think:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re like the embodiment of human beauty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Divine Dragon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He was the embodiment of raw talent.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was Yeong Pung or Woo Hyuk…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even they didn’t evoke this kind of feeling.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just about reaching the Hwagyeong—it was the realm of mental imagery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His technique, Yellow Radiant Armor, said it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s similar to my Sacred Spear.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Controlling energy so precisely that it didn’t waver, reinforced by sheer willpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer difficulty of the technique was laughable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No wonder only a select few can use it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many people in Shaolin could wield it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even among Hwagyeong practitioners, the number likely didn’t exceed five.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And yet, someone in their early twenties wielded it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no wonder the buzz hadn’t died down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I didn’t bother acting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s justified.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current self was different from his past incarnation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know what had changed, but the Divine Dragon of this era had far surpassed any wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I thought he’d be like Yeong Pung, stuck in a small pond.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he wasn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What changed?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he have someone to keep his arrogance in check?Could such a person exist within Shaolin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t be sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I walked, the whispers grew louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Crescent Moon Sword… isn’t that the lady from the Tang Clan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah was accompanied by Tang So-yeol, whose own reputation had shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Wi Seol-ah, she too had gained a new moniker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, come on. Tang Clan’s ‘Venomous Bee’? That’s old news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. Now she’s known as….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Venomous Fist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somewhere nearby, I heard the sound of teeth grinding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Tang So-yeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Venomous Fist? How… how does that make any sense?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was scrunched up in discontent, though her gentle features made her attempt at anger look anything but intimidating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seol-ah gets a beautiful title like Crescent Moon Sword… but me?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, poison rarely sounds elegant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She practically screeched, her frustration palpable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I didn’t even use poison during my duel. Why does my title still include poison?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blame your clan for that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Clan, despite its decline, remained synonymous with poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a reputation Tang So-yeol couldn’t escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I went out of my way not to use poison, and yet….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Could she have anticipated this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlikely. If she had, she wouldn’t have smashed her opponent with her fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you pummel someone like that with your fists, what do you expect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…But I didn’t know he was that weak!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her serene expression made her remark even more terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grandmaster had been reduced to “weak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Venomous Fist….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her petite stature and soft appearance, the title didn’t suit her at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was nothing to be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once a moniker stuck, it was nearly impossible to change it—unless one caused a major incident or proved themselves in another way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Like Wi Seol-ah or Tang So-yeol just did.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Tang So-yeol grumbled endlessly about her new title, Wi Seol-ah…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, would you like a snack? It’s delicious!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…seemed unbothered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was her defeat in the duel or her new moniker, nothing seemed to faze her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even looked a bit brighter than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It reminded me of Namgung Bi-ah. Wi Seol-ah’s attitude felt similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, she was the same in her past life.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, after a major campaign against the unorthodox sects, her identity as the Sword Sovereign’s granddaughter had been revealed, and she was given the title “Little Sword Saint.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wi Seol-ah had frowned at the time, clearly unhappy with the title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She said it felt too heavy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what she had said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So now it feels lighter?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to “Little Sword Saint,” “Crescent Moon Sword” did feel less burdensome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was why she was at ease, then it was a relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘As long as that expression is gone.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The discontent she’d shown in her past life wasn’t there anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alone was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached out and ruffled Wi Seol-ah’s hair without saying a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Young Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked up, puzzled, but I ignored her and kept running my hand through her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I was rough, her hair was so soft it barely tangled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low, disgruntled voice came from below.It was Tang So-yeol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why are you only touching Seol-ah’s hair?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it because she’s the Crescent Moon Sword? And compared to her, I’m just… clumsy, dark, and heavy like some old man’s Poison Fist, so you don’t want to touch mine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of delusional nonsense was this?I felt a headache creeping in already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean… I’m Poison Fist…! Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before her whining could escalate, I reached over and ruffled Tang So-yeol’s hair too.Only then did she quiet down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking while patting both their heads—what kind of ridiculous scene was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Look, it’s So Yeomra…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, I caught whispers directed at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Yeomra with the Poison Fist and Crescent Moon Sword…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought it was just a rumor, but it’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say he’s a womanizer… He’s not even that handsome. Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard he’s engaged to Namgung Bi-ah aka Sword Dancer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? The most beautiful woman in Anhui?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And yet, he’s still playing around with other women like that…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What trash.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Garbage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Trash for sure. Probably not even recyclable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…What the fuck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I already felt a migraine coming on just from hearing them.Why were these kinds of rumors always about me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I thought I’d done pretty well.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a decent fight against a dude from the Wind Forest Sect, and the hype that spread about me was quite positive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why was this the only gossip about me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why the hell am I the womanizer?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would’ve been less frustrating if I’d actuallydonesomething to deserve it. Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait… do you think he heard us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh, look at that vicious face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the So Yeomra who burned down the Evil Sect alive…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I really hoped they’d understand someday.I didn’tonlyburn Evil Sect members alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You okay, Young Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I almost committed murder just now, but luckily, I held myself back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I could kill someone in the middle of the street anyway.Not in broad daylight, at least.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing my irritation, I continued walking.Our destination was, of course, the Murim Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All three of you have been verified. You may enter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming our identities at the entrance, we stepped inside.The hall was noticeably less crowded than the first day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘About half left.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe a little less than half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had probably withdrawn due to severe injuries.Others might’ve forfeited because their stamina couldn’t keep up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That means there might be some byes.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t impossible.If the numbers didn’t match up, some would advance automatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone waved at us from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Paejon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him stood Seong Yul, looking completely exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seeing you two together is an… interesting sight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the third round of the main tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first and second rounds had already filtered out a good number of fighters.Today and tomorrow would thin the crowd even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few more rounds, the semifinals would finally begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So much fighting. I’m already tired just thinking about it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt drained just imagining it.I was already tempted to take it easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The others are probably fired up about this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And here I was, a martial artist who didn’t even like dueling that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I idly observed the area—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you here when you’re not even fighting today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon, who had been stretching his shoulders, directed the question at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t scheduled to fight today.According to the matchups, I was set for tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, I’d come here anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it’s notjustbecause of Bi-ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah and Tang So-yeol wanted to come out, and Seong Yul had a match today.I figured I might as well tag along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced over at Seong Yul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked like a nervous puppy that desperately needed to pee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, why are you acting like—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped mid-sentence when I saw where Seong Yul was looking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of martial artists—or rather, scholars—stood nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze focused on their uniforms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White robes embroidered with wind-like patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same robes that Cheong Hae-il, now deceased, had once worn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were members of the Kunlun Sect.Seong Yul’s former sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I studied them briefly before turning to the notice board displaying today’s matchups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quietly scanning through the names, a few entries caught my attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwangju Jin Clan’s Jin Im-seok vs. Kunlun Sect’s Jo Cheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So that’s why he’s acting like this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Im-seok was the fake identity I had crafted for Seong Yul.And his opponent? A member of the Kunlun Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this fate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He said nothing happened before… Bullshit.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked him earlier, Seong Yul insisted there were no problems.But judging by his expression now, something definitely happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Tsk, tsk.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only he’d told me earlier, I could’ve helped somehow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t happy about this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And it’s not just his problem.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seong Yul’s duel with the Kunlun Sect could be dealt with later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What bothered me more was a different matchup listed further down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon’s opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hebei Peng Clan’s Peng Zhou vs. Xi’an Bi Clan’s Bi Eejin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon’s opponent was none other than the Blade King.\u003C\u002Fp>",2644,"2026-06-05T15:10:16.200Z",1,"novelbin.me","4a7f5f11a4475b90e4b2da9dfcdf82359856d8beb905f28ccab9d15de80f0b2e","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-895","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-715",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]