[{"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-732":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},1240782,1667,"Chapter 731","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-732",732,"\u003Cp>- \"I will not permit it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guardian of the Shaolin Abbot, Cheonbong, one of the Hundred Masters, spoke firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Yu Yeon, do you even understand what you’re saying right now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"I do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the stern tone, Yu Yeon did not waver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"I want to face him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"So you’re asking to change the match lineup? Do you think that makes any sense?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon had come to Cheonbong to request a change in the match schedule to face So Yeomra in the fourth round of the preliminaries. Hearing this, Cheonbong’s expression hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"This schedule was determined fairly by the alliance...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Everyone already knows it’s not fair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Yu Yeon’s words, Cheonbong scowled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"What did you just say? Are you—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Still, I believe it is also the Buddha’s will. After all, I belong to Shaolin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it was something he could not understand, if the Abbot Cheonan had agreed to it and made the decision, then it must be aligned with the Buddha’s will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon tried to accept it that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"...I beg you to grant me this one request.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Yu Yeon!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"I must meet him before it’s too late.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throb—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pain flared in his chest with every movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enduring the agony, Yu Yeon’s thoughts were firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before it was too late.Before the wounds deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he still had the strength to face him.He had to make it happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Yu Yeon, do you not understand what this match means for Shaolin?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"I do. That’s precisely why I stepped forward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"You know, yet...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"But this is something I must do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With measured breaths, Yu Yeon looked directly at Cheonbong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"I am someone who must become the roof of Shaolin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Someday, I must stand at the peak under Shaolin’s name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew well the expectations Shaolin placed upon him.How could he not know? It was a sorrowful burden precisely because he understood it so deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"That’s why I must face him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He steadied his trembling voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"If I don’t, the regret will haunt me like a wall until the day I die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"...Hah...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"I’ll keep reliving this moment and drowning in regret, blocking the path I need to take.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"You...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scowling, Cheonbong growled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Are you threatening me by staking yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Namu Amitabha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon did not deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his request was denied, he knew he would fall into despair and lose the ability to move forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if that happened, Shaolin’s aspirations would also crumble.That was the underlying meaning in Yu Yeon’s plea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"This brat... Truly...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Cheonbong was about to explode with anger—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice from behind froze him in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"That’s enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Cheonan, the Shaolin Abbot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"...But...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Grant the boy’s request. I’ll personally inform the Sword Saint.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Abbot...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonbong protested, but Cheonan merely gazed at the kneeling Yu Yeon with his characteristic calmness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Yu Yeon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"...Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Is this truly your will?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"...I apologize.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"No, don’t apologize. What you seek to do might also be the Buddha’s will. Even if it seems unreasonable, granting it isn’t difficult.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragging his aged body, Cheonan approached him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"After all, what we are doing is also unreasonable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his own words, Yu Yeon remained silent.Cheonan’s voice was laden with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"To you, our actions must seem so impure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"That’s not true...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"I know. We only follow what we believe we must do. But that doesn’t free us from guilt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonan gently stroked Yu Yeon’s hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Do as you wish. But...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand, which had been moving slowly, paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Do not forget where you must return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where he must return.The peak where he must stand under Shaolin’s name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Yes... I will remember.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon bit his lip as he answered with a heavy voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a concession he had fought for.An opportunity he had barely obtained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon’s eyes trembled as he saw the world collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was happening?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no time to think.His unsteady body was already moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shockwave hit him from the left.He twisted his body, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tsk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sharp click of the tongue, Yu Yeon’s body was thrown backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guh!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden fragments scattered in the air.They were traces of his energy—remnants of his shattered Yellow Radiant Armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken, crushed, and ground down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shaolin’s ultimate technique, believed to be indestructible,was being smashed apart by bare hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This can’t be…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grinding his teeth, Yu Yeon moved.He tried to create distance but failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he knew it, his collar had been grabbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yellow Radiant Armor wasn’t supposed to allow any approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, this opponent crushed through it as if it were nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wham—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The punch tore through the armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kuhak!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact struck Yu Yeon directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The armor that enveloped his body shattered.Pain surged through his core, forcing him to his knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huff... Huff...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gasping through the pain, he tried to make sense of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This couldn’t be real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was certain…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had charged in from the start, deploying the Yellow Radiant Armor to seize the advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s broken…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken.The Yellow Radiant Armor had been crushed, piece by piece, by his opponent’s bare hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the fragments of energy fell to the ground, Yu Yeon looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opponent was already standing before him, looking down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even thirty seconds into the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Yu Yeon was already on his knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Didn’t I warn you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flinch—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon’s body shuddered at the opponent’s voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"If you mess up, you’ll die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold blue eyes pierced him.Even though he wanted to look away, Yu Yeon couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- \"Tsk. What were you even thinking, fighting in this condition? Look at you—you can’t even hold yourself together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon couldn’t respond to the detached tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it was true.His chest injury prevented him from properly controlling his energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And because of that—he was far weaker than usual, unable to move the way he wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even so.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a situation where he should have collapsed so miserably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why had it turned out this way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon already knew the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...He’s strong.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because his opponent was strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man standing before him—Gu Yangcheon—was far too strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the very embodiment of the ideals and goals Yu Yeon had dreamed of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was all there was to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon clenched his fist tightly.Then, he forced his body to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp pain surged through his chest.Was it the aftershock?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon briefly considered that as he prepared to resume the fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kuhak!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden kick struck him, sending Yu Yeon’s body soaring into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hit the ground, rolling several times before he barely managed to regain his stance and prepare for the next attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Huff... Huff....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon was just standing there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was he planning to do next?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon gritted his teeth and endured the pain as he tried to observe his opponent’s intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Gu Yangcheon slowly raised his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buzz—.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp and distinct Qi Blade formed at his fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he going to attack with that?Why would someone who specialized in fist techniques create such a Qi Blade?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was he supposed to counter it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon’s eyes widened as he witnessed the scene unfold before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted loudly without meaning to.It was impossible not to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon had suddenly slashed his own chest with the Qi Blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep stream of blood began to flow from the wound, soaking his clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His robes were black, so it didn’t stand out, but the depth of the wound was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t shout so loudly. Am I the one bleeding, or are you? At this rate, people might think you’re the one who’s hurt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though it was clearly a severe injury, Gu Yangcheon didn’t flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn’t you tell me to do this properly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then isn’t this fair?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon smiled through the blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now you won’t have any excuses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Excuses?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon’s expression twisted as if he didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You won’t be able to say you lost because you were injured or because your body didn’t listen to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon swallowed hard as the explanation sank in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this man insane?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he really inflicted such a deep wound on himself just to level the playing field?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was absurd—utterly absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even without that...! No matter what happened, I would’ve accepted the result of this match!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re fascinating. Why do you keep acting this way around me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon raised his hand again as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At first, I thought you hated me... but now I’m not so sure. Well, whatever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m just doing this because I feel like it. So shut up and deal with it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive burst of blue flames erupted from his hand, roaring toward the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames climbed endlessly, filling the air with heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon’s body began to tremble as he watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even releasing it for just a few seconds could drain one’s entire Qi reserve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gu Yangcheon had maintained it for ten seconds... twenty seconds... even longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This should be enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon stopped the flow of flames and turned to Yu Yeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve drained half my energy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only then that Yu Yeon realized—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had Gu Yangcheon injured himself, but he had also deliberately drained his Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All to match Yu Yeon’s weakened state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now we’re about even.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had done all this—injured himself and depleted his energy—just to level the playing field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you think? Feel like you can fight properly now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Sir....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was going to do this before we started, but...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon wiped his chest lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood coated his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t expect you to charge in like an idiot the moment it started. What kind of fool uses up their energy when they’re already injured? Are you insane?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That’s...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You said you were going to beat me, didn’t you? Then don’t act like you were prepared to lose. Or were you expecting to lose?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surroundings had fallen completely silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cheers that had been directed at him earlier were long gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had been overwhelmed by what just happened—by the flames Gu Yangcheon had released.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every gaze was fixed on Gu Yangcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon felt like something had been stolen from him in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe... maybe this was what he had wanted all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the pain, his mind felt clearer than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will... defeat you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re refreshing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one’s ever said that to me before. Most people just underestimated me until I beat them down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood flowing from his wound thickened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon didn’t even bother to stop the bleeding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you’re different. Why is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon didn’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t define this feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it admiration?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Respect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed closer to competitiveness, yet perhaps it was both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what Yu Yeon believed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did I do something to you? No... I haven’t done anything yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t matter if Gu Yangcheon didn’t remember.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was enough that Yu Yeon did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon clenched his fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for your consideration, sir. I’ve come to my senses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed deeply and took his stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll face you with everything I have.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Hah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon scratched his neck awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re seriously growing on me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon frowned slightly but didn’t ask what he meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon took a single step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An overwhelming force erupted from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon’s entire body trembled uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His muscles locked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this... killing intent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon remembered a deadly aura he had once seen in another match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This... this is...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t even compare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just killing intent—it was something far more terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yeon felt like his mind might shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn’t you say you wanted this done properly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon repeated Yu Yeon’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine. I’ll respect that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grin on his face deepened as the deadly aura intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try to endure it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he silently hoped—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Yu Yeon wouldn’t break before the end.\u003C\u002Fp>",2116,"2026-06-05T15:10:16.200Z",1,"novelbin.me","32302b1cc2c33de1c7ca1eb68ea93479e67319b5c2e6942c966b087ab5590d65","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-733","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-731",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]