[{"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-72":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},1240048,1667,"Chapter 71: The Walking Dead (3)","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-72",72,"\u003Cp>༺ The Walking Dead (3) ༻\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the time when Gu Yangcheon and Namgung Bi-ah were asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sect leader’s residence, located at the summit of the Mount Hua Sect, was still illuminated with lights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the building, a single candle was lit to provide light to the residence, and green plum tea was being brewed by the owner of the residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was for a guest that would soon arrive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After filling up the cup with freshly brewed tea, the Celestial Plum Blossom spoke up with his eyes still closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following his remark, the residence’s door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Creak\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, the man who entered the residence was none other than the Sword Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He appeared to be already familiar with Celestial Plum Blossom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calmly, the Sword Emperor entered the residence and sat straight across the already-seated Celestial Plum Blossom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having settled down, the Sword Emperor spoke while gazing at Celestial Plum Blossom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry to have visited you this late…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s alright. I was feeling a bit lonely as of late, anyways.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling his throat dry up, the Sword Emperor took a sip of the tea to quench his thirst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom patiently waited for him to speak up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some time had passed with the Sword Emperor organizing his thoughts, he started speaking to the Celestial Plum Blossom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came here because I wanted to ask you something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom knew… he was aware of the question that he so desperately sought answers to even at this late hour of the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may ask, I’m all ears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing those words, the Sword Emperor inquired without any hesitation in his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, do know where the Immortal Healer is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the Sword Emperor’s question, the Celestial Plum Blossom opened his closed eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a question that he expected to come out of the Sword Emperor’s mouth, but he never expected him to be so blunt with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was enough to show the desperation the Sword Emperor was feeling right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His prompt reply made the Sword Emperor’s eyes widen instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, were you already aware that I was looking for the Immortal Healer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I was actually. Moreover, I am also aware that Wudang and Shaolin are searching for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he had no idea if they were explicitly seeking the Sword Emperor or were after something else connected to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you telling me this so readily, then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I knew that you came here after knowing everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that the Sword Emperor visited the Celestial Plum Blossom so late at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was easily able to understand that it wasn’t due to the Mount Hua Sect having a stellar reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that right, Sword Emperor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaanxi was a vast land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he was aware that the Immortal Healer was present in these lands, the Sword Emperor believed that it would be difficult for him to find him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, using his Qi to search for the Immortal Healer would only draw unwelcome attention his way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hence, he had believed that it would take him days of searching at the minimum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what he had believed thus far, but contrary to his expectations, it had been rather easy to find the whereabouts of the Immortal Healer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting from Huayin had been the right course of action, indeed, as he felt a dense Qi from the vicinity of the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal Healer wasn’t a martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did have a small amount of Qi unlike other average doctors of the world,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no way that he would have such a dense and heavy Qi in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Qi felt similar to a taoist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with the scent of the plum flowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wouldn’t be accurate to say that this was some sort of locational magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As locational magic wouldn’t have as blatant of a presence as the one he felt from this location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be more appropriate to say that it was a type of barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was almost no difference between a barrier and locational magic, but they had one particular distinction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That being… one of them was primarily used for concealment while the other was used for defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there was only one martial artist in the entirety of Shaanxi that the Sword Emperor knew of who was capable of constructing a Qi barrier of such immense size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wasn’t entirely certain, which is why I came here to ask you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how thick and sturdy a barrier was, it wasn’t a difficult task for the Sword Emperor to just slash through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his desperation, the Sword Emperor opted to first meet with the Celestial Plum Blossom and talk with him about this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems like you didn’t just barge through.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought that it’d be more respectful for me to ask first before doing something like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This late at night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m just joking with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Emperor was searching for the Immortal Healer in these lands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what he was pursuing for the past few days which resulted in his absence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom knew about that as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, he was unaware of the exact reasons behind his search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the important thing here was… that the sect leaders of Shaolin and Wudang were looking for Sword Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘To move around while avoiding those two forces… is this the capability and prowess of the Sword Emperor?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While thinking so, the Celestial Plum Blossom suddenly asked him a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I ask why you are looking for the Immortal Healer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Emperor immediately looked down after hearing the Celestial Plum Blossom’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The reason I am looking for him… is similar to why anyone else would.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom nodded after hearing the Sword Emperor’s reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had their own reasons to look for the world’s greatest doctor, but, at the end of the day, they all had one similarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was to live or save others’ lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the Immortal Healer seemed unwilling to help, the Celestial Plum Blossom was aware that he was always disclosing his whereabouts no matter where he went.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also knew that… even though the Immortal Healer always went on a tangent on how he wanted to quit being a doctor, he still wanted to help others from the bottom of his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom stared keenly at the Sword Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how he looked at this situation, it didn’t seem like the Sword Emperor was looking for the Immortal Healer for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom was already aware of the fact that he was a high-level martial artist, but he was not able to figure out just where the Sword Emperor stood among the people of that level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that martial artists throughout the world would always place himself and the Sword Emperor at a similar rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only the Celestial Plum Blossom… and he alone knew…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That the Sword Emperor stood in an entirely different realm compared to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…How fearsome that title is!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such a majestic title, Wi Hyogun gave off the impression that he was never influenced by anything in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for such a man to act like this and look so weak and pathetic made it impossible for the Celestial Plum Blossom to understand what was going on with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Is the reason the Shaolin and the Wudang are looking for the Sword Emperor also related to that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom always had a different ideal compared to them, so he didn’t exactly know about the undercurrents that were surrounding the Sword Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that those two sect, who always preached to ‘care’ about the future of the world felt a bit ominous to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of them, he actually preferred people that only cared about their own benefits such as Gu Ryoon or the Immortal Healer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was also the reason why the Celestial Plum Blossom was friends with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Emperor suddenly spoke to the Celestial Plum Blossom as he was lost in such thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I kindly request that you tell me where the Immortal Healer is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think it’s more important to consider the Immortal Healer’s opinion on this matter rather than mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, how about I open the door myself and go ‘there’ to talk to him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he meant by ‘there’ was probably the small hut where the Immortal Healer was currently residing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This could be seen as a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it basically implied that he would just break through the barrier to get to the Immortal Healer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom could only respond with a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What would you do if I tell you that you are not allowed to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Emperor didn’t respond to the Celestial Plum Blossom’s question, but the Celestial Plum Blossom already knew…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That he was willing to pay any cost to reach the Immortal Healer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if that meant creating a conflict between him and the Mount Hua Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What in the world could make him so desperate?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when he led the Murim Alliance, he wasn’t necessarily an easygoing person, but he was never this kind of desperate man either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom heaved a deep and heavy sigh before speaking to the Sword Emperor again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now is not the time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal Healer was taking care of the Plum Blossom Sword at this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon was an exception since the Celestial Plum Blossom personally led him to the hut and it was a quick checkup that was over in an instant. But this… this was a whole different matter altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Immortal Healer is currently looking after someone else. So even if you go to him right now, you won’t be able to get what you want from him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Emperor looked up after hearing the Celestial Plum Blossom’s word who was just staring at his teacup in silence till now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not entirely impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Plum Blossom asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you do me a favor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Emperor didn’t respond, but he fixed his posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant that he was going to accept the request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this an emergency?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Am I going to face an emergency just as I woke up in the morning…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were my thoughts after seeing Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That this was indeed an emergency like no other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t seem like anything big was going on at first glance, but an alarm was going off in my head that was signaling to me that I was about to face a crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes also seemed different from usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of her typically kind smile and puppy eyes, she now donned an expressionless visage on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wi Seol-Ah that always had a smile on her face was no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the prolonged silence that could only be described as being uncomfortable of the highest order only made everything worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dripping with cold sweat for a while, I finally asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…D-Did you have a good sleep?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an utterly cold response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt like I was about to break out into cold sweat once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Wait why am I being conscious of this anyway?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not like I did anything, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah was the stubborn fellow who insisted on sleeping with me, so I was just an innocent victim here…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, why am I the one feeling conscious about all of this toward Wi Seol-Ah?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt that… as her master, I needed to say something to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like she was starting to forget about her status due to the lenience I had been giving her all the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was absolutely absurd for me to feel this way toward Wi Seol-Ah as her master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glared at Wi Seol-Ah after organizing my thoughts till there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saw my reflection in Wi Seol-Ah’s pure and clear eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I then spoke out, thinking of scolding her for acting like that in front of her master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You want a yakgwa?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Okay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…You still don’t refuse food even at times like these huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When my head was starting to hurt like hell as I was not able to think up of what to do in this situation, Namgung Bi-ah got up from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes looked droopy as she hadn’t fully woken up yet, but for some reason, she looked rather happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah waved her hands toward Wi Seol-Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah frowned after seeing Namgung Bi-ah’s hand gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even started to tear up a little soon after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sis… you’re so mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah became confused after hearing Wi Seol-Ah’s sudden and random words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah continued to speak with tears brimming in her eyes, threatening to fall at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I also want to sleep with the young master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah was on the verge of crying after uttering that line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah quickly went up to her and wiped her eyes with her clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…What is going on here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I also want to sleep with him…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah continued to grumble but didn’t push back Namgung Bi-ah and let her do as she wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just continued to grumble with tears in her eyes while being embraced by Namgung Bi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the middle of all that, I just blankly stood there like an idiot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>｢Then why are you just blankly standing there—｣\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s sleep together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>｢Huh?｣\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-Ah glanced at Namgung Bi-ah after hearing her words, while my body froze in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you just say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah then responded to my question in a light tone…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can sleep… together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head started to ache at the sheer nonchalance with which she spoke those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did I have to think about Wi Seol-Ah, but I also had no intention of sleeping with Namgung Bi-ah again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus, Wi Seol-Ah probably didn’t want to do that either—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sis, can I really do that…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps not…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah just nodded her head in response to the Wi Seol-Ah who had asked that question with shiny eyes; filled with anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, let’s sleep together from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Things were getting weirder and weirder by the second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I immediately decided to interrupt them as I felt like things were going in a direction that they should not go…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you guys sayin—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master! Good mor—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person who came in with a loud voice, interrupting my words, was none other than Yung Pung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He who had entered the room with a bright smile on his face immediately chanced upon the scene of Wi Seol-Ah who was sobbing, Namgung Bi-ah who was hugging her, and me who was watching them with a blank expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… I, I came here to tell you something…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yung Pung’s eyes started trembling because of the awkward situation he had chanced upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems like I came at the wrong time, I-I’ll come back later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, no, you came at the right ti— Where are you going, Master Yung Pung!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether he heard me or not, Yung Pung just quickly chose to disappear from the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Slam\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Yung Pung closed the door and left hurriedly, the sound of the door closing echoed throughout the silent room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only returned to my room around half an hour later that day…\u003C\u002Fp>",2609,"2026-06-05T15:09:38.751Z",1,"novelbin.me","f0eaeaa86897817d7181b00a8307f60db7ecb8aa08eece2fc501217eb470531c","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-73","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-71",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]