[{"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-724":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},1240773,1667,"Chapter 723","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-724",724,"\u003Cp>Wooong—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I circulated my energy to assess my physical condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy flowed through my meridians, completing a couple of cycles before returning to my heart. That alone was enough to check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'A slight internal injury and a crack in the shoulder.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed I sustained internal injuries when sealing my martial energy, and my shoulder cracked when I attempted a feint. Thanks to defending with Qi, this was the extent of the damage—otherwise, my shoulder might have been shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Nothing else, it seems.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I barely used even a fraction of my strength, and the crack would heal by the end of the day. The internal injury would recover before long as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s all there was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pain and wounds at a level one could sustain even during training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Is this...?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were these the only marks left after trampling one of the Ten Great Masters of Zhongyuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched and unclenched my fist several times while gazing forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cough!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old woman—Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal—was slumped on the ground, coughing up blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was black blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not fatal, but a sign of minor internal healing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve stabilized it enough, so she won’t die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her internal state was a wreck from the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twisted Qi and significant external injuries—if left as they were, she would’ve died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I took some measures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huff... huff...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal kept trying to catch her breath. I nodded slightly as I looked at her and recalled the recent match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, there wasn’t much to recall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Disappointing.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was boring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the only thought I had about the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What the hell was that?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt nothing but disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because I compared it to my match with Paejon? There was no sense of desperation at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Was she careless?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal was caught off guard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I mulled it over and quickly rejected the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No way. I made sure that wouldn’t happen.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d prepared sufficiently to keep her on high alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had overwhelmed her Qi barrier and even demonstrated a certain level of my cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how senile the old woman might be, she couldn’t have overlooked what I’d shown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If she did, then she deserves to die.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone who had risen to the position of sect leader in the Emei Sect was careless despite what I displayed, she might as well relinquish her position and disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal wasn’t careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, perhaps she was a little, but not to the point of being defeated so helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what was it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Am I just that strong?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that I had grown this much stronger?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at my clenched fist and pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I expected to win.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I always tried to objectively evaluate the extent of my strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing my limits was crucial to making plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I never thought I’d lose against Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was confident I would win—but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I didn’t think it would be this easy.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ease of it was what felt strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'There’s no way she’s this weak.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m definitely not weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I might lose to someone near the level of the Three Saints, like the Plum Blossom Swordmaster or the Sword Emperor, but I wouldn’t lose to most of the Ten Great Masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, I shouldn’t have won this easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I was prepared to use Dragon Speech or demonic energy—or at least Sacred Spear.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it ended after releasing just a bit of flame and using Eternal Bind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was more than strange—it was downright bizarre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I approached Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal and knelt down on one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking into her eyes, I asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sect Leader, why are you so weak?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She flinched at the direct question, her expression contorting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you mocking me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. I knew I’d win anyway. I’m not mocking you—I’m genuinely curious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her bitter laugh followed my blunt words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I should be the one asking that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood trickled down as she wiped her mouth and questioned me instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How... how did you reach the realm of Imprint?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Realm of Imprint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A profound state all martial artists strive to reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a stage like First-Class, Peak, or Hwagyeong, but a realm where life’s accumulated insights materialize into form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at me with wide eyes, clearly seeing that I had reached it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Hmm.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense why she reacted this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial art Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal had tried to use earlier—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy contained within it wasn’t just Qi but included traces of Imprint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To counter it, I had to mix in my own Imprint, and she must have noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did I reach it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By surviving desperately. That’s all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clearly didn’t believe me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I expected her to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, she spoke with suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could it be... have you undergone Rejuvenation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not some idiot who’d do something so stupid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shut down her ridiculous suspicion immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sometimes, inexplicable things just happen in this world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no intention of explaining or making excuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she didn’t believe it, so be it. Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal wasn’t in a position to question it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now answer my question, Sect Leader.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I locked eyes with her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you so weak?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not mocking or insulting you. I’m genuinely curious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I said earlier, I had a clear grasp of my own abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could beat most of the Ten Great Masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'But I’d lose to those near the Three Saints.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paehjon was a special case, so I excluded him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavenly Lord would probably defeat me within twenty exchanges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Emperor? It had been too long since I saw him, but he’d probably beat me even faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was my approximate level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what about Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'She felt comparable to the Sword Emperor earlier.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her presence and aura seemed that strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d prepared to face her accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'But this...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, she felt weaker than the Divine Dragon, who fought Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much so that it seemed like Tang So-yeol might win in a nighttime assassination if the situation was set up right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal’s strength felt too pitiful for one of the Ten Great Masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I questioned it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not the internal injury. Physical decline due to age is understandable—but your Qi? What’s wrong with it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her skills didn’t match the power she displayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had simply overwhelmed her with sheer strength, that’d be one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Qi didn’t flow properly. Is there something else wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal frowned deeply at my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she really not understand what was wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'She doesn’t know?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in this state?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tapped my arm, sensing that something about this situation didn’t add up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a breath and smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What…? Why are you laughing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing. It’s just… a little pitiful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal looked at me with confusion, but I had no intention of explaining further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'So that’s what it is.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I more or less figured it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t something worth digging too deeply into.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I just need to figure out later whether it’s connected to the Alliance.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, I organized my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway, since I’ve won, let’s stick to our bet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal glared at me as if she wanted to kill me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored her hostility and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s your objective?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you looking for Pi Yeon-yeon? Is it the artifact itself, or something related to it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my casual question, her glare faded into a hollow laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really don’t care at all about having defeated me, do you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not something worth caring about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What, was I supposed to feel excited or proud?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what if I defeated someone important?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I feel nothing about it, so just answer the question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood trickled from her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her pristine white martial robes were already soaked in red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a miserable sight, but my expression didn’t waver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And if I refuse to answer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The restrictions I placed weren’t weak. You can refuse if you’re ready to face the backlash. And even if you aren’t…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze turned cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are plenty of ways to make you talk—not many of them peaceful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My words carried a clear implication: If I wanted answers, I would get them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal’s eyes wavered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re serious… You’d really torture me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If necessary.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you really a member of the righteous sects…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hear that often. Isn’t it funny?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s funny about it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The days when righteousness meant anything are long gone. The roots have rotted, but you still cling to that miserable pride?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Righteous sect or not—what did it matter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To me, the so-called righteous and unorthodox sects weren’t all that different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was one distinction:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I kill unorthodox sect members outright, while I at least try talking to those from the righteous sects.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, most of those talks still ended in death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we’re defining affiliations, then yes, I’m part of the righteous sects. My father is, after all. But—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted her chin up with a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That doesn’t mean much to me. It’s just a tag I wear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something I could throw away anytime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all the so-called righteousness meant to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So drop the righteous sect nonsense and just answer the question. We had an agreement, didn’t we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shifted my finger slightly toward her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a reminder that I could end this at any time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pi Yeon-yeon. What’s the connection to the Emei Sect?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I waited, silently counting to five.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right before I reached the fifth count—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pi Yeon-yeon. It’s related to her mother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Her mother? Who are you talking about? Are you referring to Madam Mok?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I feigned ignorance, steering the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madam Mok was the matriarch of the Seoanpi family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal looked at me with a strange expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she caught on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled faintly at her suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing my smile, she flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"N-no. The child’s mother isn’t who you’re referring to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then who?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That child is…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated but then continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…the descendant of the previous Sword Queen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? No way! That’s… shocking!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You already knew, didn’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just acted surprised! Why are you so sure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought my acting was flawless. Why was she convinced otherwise?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How annoying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Not that I planned to hide it anyway.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it left a sour taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you knew and supported her despite that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry, but I’m the only one asking questions here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shut down her attempt to turn the conversation around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whether Pi Yeon-yeon is the Sword Queen’s descendant or not, that’s not what I care about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What I wanted to know was why the Emei Sect was after her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Growing impatient, I pressed again, letting a hint of irritation slip into my tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is the Emei Sect looking for Pi Yeon-yeon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal hesitated before finally speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because the previous Sword Queen originally belonged to the Emei Sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now this was interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The Sword Queen was from the Emei Sect?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was new information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I thought she was unaffiliated.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous Sword Queen was known as a lone martial artist—not tied to any clan or sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal claimed otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How did no one know this?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the Emei Sect’s techniques were subtle, traces should have remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it wasn’t impossible to erase all signs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my past life, the Sword Demon had completely erased Kunlun’s style from his techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That was because his killing aura consumed everything else.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Demon’s murderous aura devoured even the soft essence of Kunlun’s techniques, making it untraceable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, this didn’t sit right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, I pushed that thought aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that’s why the Emei Sect is after her, it’s still odd.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s say the Sword Queen was from the Emei Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you trying to find her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s the point?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what if she was from the Emei Sect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given that she lived as an unaffiliated martial artist, it meant she either hid her background or left the sect long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn’t it strange for the Emei Sect to be so desperate to find the daughter of someone like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had to be another reason. They couldn’t be searching without cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my question, Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you… know what happened to the Sword Queen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Roughly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not roughly—I knew very well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d collected every bit of information I could to use it. Of course I knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal was referring to the end of the Sword Queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous Sword Queen—once praised as a heroine by female martial artists and admired by the righteous sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her end, expected to be as radiant as her prime, was instead more miserable than anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The Sword Queen was accused of plotting a conspiracy and executed as a heretic.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Queen, hailed as a heroine and a dream for female martial artists, was accused of scheming to dominate Zhongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said that she secretly gathered heretics, forming an army in the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This led to the outbreak of the Great Conflict between the righteous and unorthodox sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During that conflict, both the current Plum Blossom Swordmaster, Soi, and the White Lotus Sword, Moyong Biyeon, famously opposed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conflict was long yet short—lasting less than two months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By its end, the righteous sects emerged victorious, and the Sword Queen, accused of inciting war, was captured and executed by the Martial Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman who had once been a hero of the righteous sects—reduced to a heretic at the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the history remembered about the Sword Queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That’s not the full story.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth behind that tale was darker and murkier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was all there was, I wouldn’t have bothered using Bong Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And clearly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not the truth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal knew as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Sword Queen never intended to start a war. She was never a heretic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…There’s something hidden behind it all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she pretending not to know the full truth, or was her understanding only vague?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, she clearly knew something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re saying the Sword Queen was framed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My response seemed to startle her. Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal’s expression shifted oddly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You knew this too…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re showing your age, Sect Leader. I already told you—you don’t get to ask questions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned in closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation wasn’t over yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But then what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is the Emei Sect looking for Pi Yeon-yeon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d heard enough of her story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was time to get an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal widened her eyes for a moment, then replied in a slightly hurried voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s only natural. Even if it’s too late, the Sword Queen was one of our own. We need to clear her name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And for that, you need Pi Yeon-yeon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why? What difference would she make?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we can prove that child is the Sword Queen’s descendant, there’s a way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah. I see…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So if Bong Soon could be proven to be the Sword Queen’s daughter, there was a way to clear her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded slightly at Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made some sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening, I tilted my head and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you think I’d let that slide just because I listened patiently?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal’s mouth, cutting off her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened in shock, and she struggled, but I held her firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you’re going to plot something, at least do it without being so obvious. Listening to you is pissing me off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmph…! Ngh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her wrinkled eyes grew even wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tightened my grip, making it hard for her to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her already pale complexion darkened rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason I was doing this was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While listening to her, one thought kept nagging at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at the panicked Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think I’m an idiot?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmph…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was your people who framed the Sword Queen, wasn’t it? Why leave that part out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon-Splitting Fist Immortal froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her trembling body went completely still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the faint whimper she’d been making stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, I was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha. I knew it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was right.\u003C\u002Fp>",2752,"2026-06-05T15:10:16.200Z",1,"novelbin.me","e22d508368d95bcde5849020e9f8919df07558ade6aa41d63fb3f9b5146fa41e","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-900","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-899",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]