[{"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-739":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},1240789,1667,"Chapter 738","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-739",739,"\u003Cp>The day of the Round of Sixteen began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of people gathered in the waiting room was noticeably smaller compared to the first day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the final day of the preliminaries, even non-participants had been allowed to come and go briefly, but from the Round of Sixteen onward, that was no longer permitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to that, the waiting room felt much more spacious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The weather’s nice.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking up at the sky, today felt particularly clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single cloud marred the view, making it an especially sunny day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one were in the mood, it would’ve been the perfect weather for a picnic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While taking in the weather, I subtly shifted my gaze to observe my surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Contrary to the bright day, the atmosphere in the room was grim and oppressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all because of the overwhelming aura emitted by the martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ugh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a quiet sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the clear sky, this place alone felt dark and heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension and vigilance mixed into the air transformed the energy into something rough and stifling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason, as already mentioned, was the martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, calling it the martial artists as a group felt somewhat inaccurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That guy’s a mess.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oppressive energy was mostly emanating from one middle-aged man sitting apart from the others—the Blade King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure was so intense that it seemed to weigh down the entire room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King was radiating an immense killing intent in every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I thought he was just showing off like before, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This time, it’s real.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the last time, his energy felt entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was pure emotion—his fluctuating aura amplified by his feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King sat still with his eyes closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From him, I could sense a murderous rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered why he was so angry, though the reason was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Because the old man beat him up.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the match between me and Yu Yeon had somewhat overshadowed it, the fight between the Twin Dragon and the Blade King remained a hot topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The incident where one of the younger generation, the Twin Dragon, had thrashed the Blade King and forced him to forfeit still stirred discussions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, the Blade King became the subject of countless rumors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claims ranged from him being unworthy of his title to suggestions that he was an incompetent leader hiding behind the clan’s reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, the second one wasn’t exactly wrong, so I could let that one slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Thanks to that, their trade connections started fleeing one by one.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than half the support flowing into the Blade King’s faction had dried up, and those in Zhongyuan began pointing fingers at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the circumstances, it was understandable that he had fallen into such a miserable state, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s too old to be throwing tantrums.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he was that frustrated, he could’ve just stayed home instead of showing up and posturing like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk, tsk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clicked my tongue and lightly waved my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of Qi dispersed into the air, unraveling the tangled energy in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Blade King’s killing intent weakened slightly, sighs of relief echoed around the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought things might finally settle down, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do you think you’re doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy voice rang out from across the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Blade King, the source of the oppressive energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I replied, knowing he was addressing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King opened his eyes and stared at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze was sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His already menacing expression made him look even more terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How dare you tamper with my Qi….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he annoyed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King slowly rose from his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sharp exhale—whoosh!—the intensity of his aura increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he completely lost it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew he wasn’t in great shape, but the way he was approaching me made it seem like he was actually planning to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he caused a disturbance here, he’d be disqualified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he seriously insane?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I stared at him in disbelief, the other martial artists were also eyeing him warily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Srrrk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard a faint sound beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol was gripping something inside her sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dagger, perhaps?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Don’t.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I immediately grabbed her wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I understood her intentions, but acting now would only put her at a disadvantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what should I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I get up and block him somehow?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was debating, tilting my head in thought—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone placed a hand on the Blade King’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Peng Woojin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please calm down. There are too many eyes—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp sound froze the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King had slapped Peng Woojin across the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Woojin’s head snapped to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could see blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even you dare look down on me? Is that it? Have you grown so ambitious now that you’re set to inherit this position?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Woojin wiped the blood from his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by how red his cheek was getting, he must have been hit pretty hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t get cocky just because you have a bit of talent. I’m the Lord. Don’t forget your place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What an absolute disgrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shattered pride and overwhelming inferiority complex were practically radiating off him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was astonishing how someone could be so pathetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can sense demonic deviation.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traces of demonic deviation could be felt in the Blade King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was faint for now, but if left unchecked, it could devour his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Getting beaten by Paejon must’ve been hard on him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it had actually been Paejon, he probably wouldn’t have ended up like this. But thinking it was the Twin Dragon who beat him seemed to have pushed him over the edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pathetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stared at the Blade King with such thoughts—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Woojin, who had been slapped earlier, smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that made me frown instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll keep that in mind. However, I think it would be best if you held back for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the room was watching the Blade King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how unhinged he seemed, he wasn’t so far gone that he didn’t notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King glanced around after hearing Peng Woojin’s words, then fixed his eyes on me and muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were lucky, brat. Don’t expect a next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he turned around and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wow.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but grimace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of third-rate villain line was that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I think this is the first time I’ve actually heard something like that.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I’d heard it before, but if I did, I probably killed the person before they could finish saying it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cringe made my skin crawl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rubbed my arms to shake off the feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How embarrassing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s wrong with him?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I barely managed to suppress my growing irritation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this what demonic deviation and a broken ego looked like?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I resolved then and there never to grow old like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Looks like their household’s a mess too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason I frowned when I looked at Peng Woojin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the Blade King slapped him, I saw killing intent in Peng Woojin’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not anger—killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know what was going on, but it seemed like things weren’t looking good in that household either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that it was my problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They can deal with it themselves.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had enough problems with my own family without worrying about someone else’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning away from the Blade King, I spoke to the others beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relax a little. Looks like nothing’s going to happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, Tang So-yeol finally released the tension in her shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Yung Pung, who had been sitting to my left, adjusted his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol’s reaction was understandable, but what was Yung Pung’s deal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Were you planning to fight him? Why are you holding your sword like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked in disbelief, and Yung Pung gave a sheepish smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha. It wasn’t intentional… I just tensed up a little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saw how ready he was to draw his sword if the Blade King had come even a step closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I appreciated the sentiment, but it felt like overkill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You’ve got a match coming up. Don’t waste your energy on something like this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially not on something so pointless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as I turned away, I cast one more glance at the Blade King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A king, huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Six Seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Titles passed down based on influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial artists ranked just below the Ten Masters but still considered at the upper levels of Hwagyeong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Influence, huh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight carried by such titles and the focus on status rather than martial ability felt strangely out of place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If handled correctly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This could be useful.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the Blade King himself. A useless guy like that wasn’t worth using.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the weight carried by titles like ‘King’ or ‘Queen’—those could be useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How do I make use of it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pondered the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to grab hold of thoughts like this when they came, as they often led to good outcomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before I could delve deeper—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Contestants, please prepare yourselves!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice called out from the entrance, forcing me to click my tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much for brainstorming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Contestants Gu Yangcheon and Yung Pung of Mount Hua, please come forward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was up first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s our turn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yung Pung stood up immediately upon hearing the announcement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s have a good match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flashed his usual smile as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at his face for a moment before nodding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Right.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, I needed to focus on the opponent in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just because of what Yung Pung said—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve got my own business with him too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I also had my own reason to face him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or more accurately—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That energy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar energy I could sense within Yung Pung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what I had business with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The biggest change leading into the Round of Sixteen was, without a doubt, the arena itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed preparations had been made in advance, as the stage was noticeably different from the preliminaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just sturdier—most of all—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s bigger.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arena had nearly doubled in size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was likely the reason why they gave us a few days off between matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, it had been much farther from the audience seating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, with the expanded arena, the boundaries had been pushed closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap, tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tapped the ground lightly with my toes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even that was enough to tell—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s solid.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The material was far tougher than what we used in the preliminaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed they mixed in even more The Everlasting Cold Iron this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At this level…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It won’t break easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was nodding to myself, roughly gauging the stage’s durability—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“It’s the So Yeomra!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Waaaah—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheers erupted from the audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up to see countless people waving at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Waaaaah—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“So Yeomra!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overwhelming noise and the still unfamiliar nickname made me uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was used to resentment and criticism, not reactions like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“You can do it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“You’re amazing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“So hand— I mean, cool!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was that? Why change mid-sentence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Good grief.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I wave back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, that’d be too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, I clenched my fist lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to know how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if this was a situation I had created out of necessity, it still felt strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of praise and attention—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It always felt like something I didn’t deserve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You seem embarrassed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice came from Yung Pung, standing across from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must’ve caught on to my reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, I scratched my neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Not really.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine. Actually… isn’t it about time you received this kind of attention?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head slightly at Yung Pung’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response to my question, Yung Pung glanced at the audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The excitement from the stands still hadn’t died down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s something I’ve thought about before. With your skills, Young Master Gu, you should have received this kind of attention long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re exaggerating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not at all. If anything, I find it more surprising. Even after rising so high, you’ve remained humble. It’s something many people admire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I feel sick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How far was he planning to polish my image?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he kept going, I might not be able to hold my expression together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I thought I’d have to plug my ears, thankfully, Yung Pung changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I also wanted to take this moment to thank you again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was sudden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For back then. If I hadn’t met you, I’d probably still be looking at the sky from inside my well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he meant when we met at Mount Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The world outside the well is vast. I’ve encountered countless people—many of whom I couldn’t even imagine before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prodigy of Mount Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A talent with the sword, hailed as the most gifted among the younger generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yung Pung had been praised that way his entire life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the previous timeline, though, that talent had withered inside the well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But he’s not wrong.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to swordsmanship alone, Yung Pung’s talent was undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were those like Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah who were equal to or perhaps even better than him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whenever I faced such people, I always thought back to the moment I met you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thinking about me like that is kind of creepy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha… My apologies. But I truly mean it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt even creepier because he was being sincere, but I chose not to say it out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In those moments, I would remind myself—I’m lucky I met you first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whenever I felt even the slightest arrogance creeping in, thinking of you crushed it instantly. It reminded me to know my place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing those words, I swallowed dryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t that more of a bad thing than a good one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did I hit him too hard back then? No, that couldn’t be. I wasn’t even at my peak at the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How badly could I have beaten him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you again. I was able to make it this far thanks to you, Young Master Gu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Uh… yeah… sure….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanking me for beating him up—it was hard to know how to respond to that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scratching my cheek awkwardly, I looked at Yung Pung and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, Sword Dragon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was simply curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think you can win this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, I’d stood as an unshakable wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I asked, Yung Pung fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The referee seemed nervous, but I ignored him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause, Yung Pung finally answered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reply was ambiguous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he drew his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve always been thinking about reclaiming my Hero Sword from you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirked at the sharp blade reflecting in the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when I first visited Mount Hua, Yung Pung had entrusted me with something before we parted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d said I should return it when we met again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But we both knew what he really meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just meeting again,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A satisfying match.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or giving it back only if he could defeat me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both of us had understood that from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And my answer, both then and now, hadn’t changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yung Pung, that’s not going to happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loosening my grip, I added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll never get that Hero Sword back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would always remain his wall—let’s see if he could climb over it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was my answer then, and it was my answer now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we got into position, the referee raised his hand, ready to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshhk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Sixteen Rounds of the Divine Dragon Martial Tournament….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd fell silent as the referee’s voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes focused entirely on the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gu Yangcheon of Shanxi versus Yung Pung of Mount Hua… Begin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the referee’s declaration—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blossoms burst into bloom around Yung Pung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The petals spread out, thicker and more vibrant than before, filling the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was incomparable to what I had seen back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d definitely grown stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stared at the petals, caught up in a strange feeling—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the swirling petals, I focused on Yung Pung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the ever-blooming and falling blossoms, I glimpsed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What is that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s going on?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time the petals brushed past, Yung Pung’s appearance seemed to shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked taller at one moment, then his clothes appeared to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is it an illusion formation or some kind of illusion art?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t seem like he was actually changing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt more like it was just my eyes playing tricks on me…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I narrowed my eyes and tried to analyze the situation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened my eyes wide in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was changing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yung Pung’s face was literally transforming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wrinkles appeared, and his facial structure began to shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a second, I thought he had aged into an old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked fierce—completely different from the gentle Yung Pung I knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharp, vicious eyes and hardened features.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just one look, and I could tell he was a harsh, foul-mouthed man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, the face was familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t seen it many times, but I’d crossed paths with him once before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind of man who would click his tongue and call me a bastard without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I recognized that face—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kuhk!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I knew it, my fist shot out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yung Pung took the hit square in the face and rolled across the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tumbled and skidded along the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I must’ve hit him pretty hard—there was blood left behind in his wake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that’s when it hit me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Oops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I made a mistake in controlling my strength.\u003C\u002Fp>",3027,"2026-06-05T15:10:16.200Z",1,"novelbin.me","b51488e50c67abd7fa47dfc8222eeaf000e8d2b875960ab037988bd682fd2cf7","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-740","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-738",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]