[{"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-737":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},1240787,1667,"Chapter 736","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-737",737,"\u003Cp>“So…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah, who had been lying quietly, looked at me and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Did you get hit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I instinctively rubbed my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t a lump, but the lingering soreness was undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exact spot where Moyong Hee-ah had smacked me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…She’s definitely hiding her level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It still hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have hit me with far more force than her supposed rank suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah was definitely concealing her true strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Either that, or her hands are just unnaturally heavy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was meant to be a half-joking comment, but she swung at me without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to that, my head still throbbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I mean, how was I supposed to stay calm after reading those conditions?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From my perspective, I had every right to feel wronged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those insane terms practically begged to be accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jang Yoo-myung’s proposal was so outrageous that it only made sense if he’d completely lost his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, naturally, I blurted out something inappropriate without thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I was trying to figure out what Jang Yoo-myung was really after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What exactly does he want from me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was worth offering such terms?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…But honestly, even if there’s a hidden motive, wouldn’t it be worth considering?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it came with strings attached, it was tempting enough to accept with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…But, you know…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing my story, Namgung Bi-ah looked at me and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think you deserved to get hit…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had hoped at least Namgung Bi-ah would take my side, but even she said that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it really that bad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scratched my head awkwardly and changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway… how’s your body?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m… fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to understand my intent and went along with the shift in topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you eat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I ate….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Don’t skip meals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded as she sat up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah’s condition had improved significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There might be a few scars left, but her internal injuries were mostly healed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The tainted energy has almost completely cleared.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had stopped by regularly to purge any residual energy in her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her recovery at this level, it seemed there was no longer any need to worry about the taint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d probably be able to move freely within a few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll drop by again tomorrow if I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I handed Namgung Bi-ah a set of clothes I had brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She accepted them eagerly, as if she’d been waiting for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was one of my outfits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah had asked me to bring one of my clothes every time I visited, and I obliged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What does she even need these for?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no idea, but she said she needed them, so I brought them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t expensive or flashy—just plain black clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no clue what she planned to do with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Namgung Bi-ah carefully folded the clothes, I shifted my gaze to the other bed in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There lay Seong Yul, looking half-dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You alive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Barely….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A groan escaped his bandaged body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was in rough shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ugh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even talking seemed painful for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pressed down on his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gahhh! Young Master, wait—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop whining.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew full well that his injuries weren’t as bad as mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no right to complain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This wouldn’t have happened if you’d done your job properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ugh….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pushing yourself just to prove something? Look at you now, idiot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pressed down a few more times, and Seong Yul writhed in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just for fun—I was also checking his condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘His reaction is odd.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like he was experiencing more pain than his wounds warranted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this the aftermath of activating the Heavenly Killing Star?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pushed harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait…! I-I’m seriously dying…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll be fine. Trust me. People don’t die this easily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Arghhhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I continued my examination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll need to check again later.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were still too many uncertainties about Seong Yul’s condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could he control the Heavenly Killing Star at will?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew it boosted his combat strength, but could he sustain it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And most importantly, could I control him while he was using it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a lot I needed to test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They said it’d take one or two months for him to fully recover.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he was healed, I’d make sure to push him hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ugh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seong Yul suddenly shivered, as if sensing my intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His instincts were sharp, at least.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But this has to be done.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I wanted to use Seong Yul properly, this was a necessary step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll have to turn him into a demon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I might need to push him to the brink and fully corrupt him if it came to that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was for his own good, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that his opinion mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just focus on recovering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With my checks complete, I was about to leave when I suddenly remembered something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you’re healed, I’ll tell you what I promised.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seong Yul’s eyes widened in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had promised to tell him about the Azure Sword if he won his match against Peng Woojin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll… really tell me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You lost pathetically, but I’ll be generous this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never expected him to win anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he’d need to know eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… can’t you tell me now—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I said I’d tell you when you’re healed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shut him down immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I told him now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He might try something reckless in this state.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d wait until he was fully healed and controllable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seong Yul pouted but didn’t press further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have realized I wouldn’t budge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just rest. Don’t do anything stupid, or you’ll end up even more useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes, sir….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seong Yul grumbled in reluctant acceptance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left the room, mentally preparing for the tasks ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How many Dokcheon Pills do I have left?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d need to give Seong Yul one or two soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Poison King already sent word.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon had delivered a report from the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had finally succeeded in reproducing the legendary Dokcheon Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Looks like I’ll have to visit Sichuan soon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a complete success, but they’d made significant progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was one issue preventing completion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d figure out what it was once I got there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it could be resolved, the advantages would be overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokcheon Pills (Venom Heaven Pills) were spiritual elixirs rivaling the Great Rebirth Pill pills that the Shaolin produced only once or twice a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they no longer offered me much benefit—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s different for the others.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were plenty of people I needed to strengthen for the future, so this development was highly promising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about it, I stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I did, a single leaf drifted down in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was half-colored, its edges tinged with autumn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once-green leaves were gradually shifting colors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summer had ended, and autumn had begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I caught the falling leaf, and suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Come back in autumn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I remembered what the Heavenly Demon had said once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked why, he had replied—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the autumn leaves were beautiful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the scenery was breathtaking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t remember exactly, but it was something along those lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was I recalling that now, out of nowhere?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t bother to ponder the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I burned the leaf in my hand, reducing it to ashes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need to dwell on meaningless memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>********************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left the residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd was still thick—traders and curious onlookers alike—but moving through them was no trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I greet the Cult Leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man, looking to be over seventy, knelt before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Pillduma, heir of the Jegal Clan and leader of the Cheonra Division.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the residence, I had come straight to see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wearing the mask after so long felt strange, but I addressed him regardless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[How are the preparations?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice was altered, and my body modified using Qi Transformation Techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was excruciating due to my injuries, but for now, it was necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All preparations are complete. We can act the moment you give the order.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Not bad.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I may ask…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Go ahead.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When should we begin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plan involved summoning a disaster-level beast—a dragon—sealed beneath Hanam, using six stone monuments scattered across the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I heard a dragon was sealed underground.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what Pillduma had claimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had I heard that in the past, I would have dismissed it as nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can sense it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt faint vibrations coming from beneath the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something down there—a dragon, most likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the signals were subtle, I was sure of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could this also be related to the Blood Demon?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the circumstances, it seemed plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, whether the plan succeeded remained uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Failure doesn’t matter.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Success was never the goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it worked, great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it didn’t, it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What truly mattered was this—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s a descendant of the Jegal Clan. And he’s making moves in Hanam.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the only point I cared about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Cult Leader of Cheonra, you seem anxious.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a faint laugh as I spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asking about the timing was a sign of impatience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pillduma didn’t deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Don’t worry. It won’t take more than a few days.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…If I may be honest, I’m still concerned about trusting you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t sure if he could rely on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That much was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Haha.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I laughed louder this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Believe what you will. But as I said before, we share the same goals. And besides—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I retracted my Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oppressive force weighing on the area dissipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people around me gasped for breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Isn’t the fact that your lives are in my hands proof enough?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had suppressed them with my presence and then released it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any hesitation would breed doubt, so I made sure to display my dominance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Be patient. The time is near.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his reluctance, Pillduma nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a tough old man—his willpower wasn’t easy to break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that only made him more useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could use him until he was no longer needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few more exchanges, I left the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time I emerged, the sun was already setting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had spent the entire day on this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Time flies.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What I needed most was time, yet it seemed to slip through my fingers the fastest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I just told Pillduma not to be impatient, and here I am, the most impatient of all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At least this part is ready.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was my turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind me, a figure appeared and knelt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had sensed her long before she arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a woman with green hair, looking exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nahi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had sent her to Hubei some time ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I greeted her with a smile, and she bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I greet my master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was dry, as if she would crumble any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t appear injured, but her fatigue was evident—likely from overusing her Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than expressing concern, I went straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any further delays would be problematic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nahi’s arrival meant everything was in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, her report confirmed my expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The leader of the First Blade Division has just delivered the target to the Martial Alliance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news I’d been waiting for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, there was something simmering beneath her voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exhaustion and resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure if it was directed at me or the First Blade Division leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frankly, it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one thing that mattered to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Everything is ready.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trap was set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was time to lay out the bait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bait so tempting, the starving beasts would have no choice but to pounce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Hwangbo needs to know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to unleash chaos in Hanam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At long last.\u003C\u002Fp>",2006,"2026-06-05T15:10:16.200Z",1,"novelbin.me","a098bb16bd8345d4ecee0bfe61ab5f64d1a3065755b458e96dad0e4b0f598d55","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-738","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-736",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]