[{"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-743":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},1240793,1667,"Chapter 742","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-743",743,"\u003Cp>Countless flames began to shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clicking his tongue, he watched the scene unfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this too much to handle? He had hoped otherwise, but reality confirmed his doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s gaze turned toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes seemed to ask—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is that all you’ve got?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this the end?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even while moving with such deadly precision, the old man still had the composure to taunt him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a short laugh and focused his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t stop forming the flames. It had to be done simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then could he at least restrain the old man’s movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attempting to do both at once, his energy nearly tangled. It was dangerously unstable, but he managed to pull through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pouring out flames, he gripped the Flame Spear tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two martial techniques—used simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he made a mistake, the energy flow would twist, and he’d end up suffering from Qi deviation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But so what? If he feared such things, he had no business fighting this battle in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His foot stomped down, splashing ink across the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all his strength, he hurled the spear forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screeeech—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear tore through the air with a deafening noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the spear’s tip was about to reach the old man—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint sound emerged from somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scent of flowers brushed past his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plum blossoms bloomed from the old man’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petals scattered, floating gently in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thin and delicate plum blossoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seemed fragile, swaying powerlessly in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk—! Thunk-thunk-thunk—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened at the scene before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spreading petals blocked the raining flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could such fragile petals block that barrage of fire?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So that’s possible, too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the old man could do this, he had chosen to swing his sword instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he holding back on purpose?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was infuriating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the petals held back the flames—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man sliced the spear in half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The severed halves of the spear flew past him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cutting through the spear so effortlessly—it was absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But this is part of the plan.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already accounted for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Explode.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The split spear detonated immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a trap that triggered an explosion unless bound by mental force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man was engulfed in flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, his legs gave out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… Huff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gasped for breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his Qi was running out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much Qi one had, after releasing so much, depletion was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he stared straight ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene was a mess, but the ground, now covered in ink, looked undisturbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish… Swish…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petals drifted down from the site of the explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some petals had been scorched by the flames, slowly crumbling away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He frowned at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A barrier made of plum blossoms had spread out in a circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had that been enough to block the explosion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[How impressive.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s voice echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the barrier disappeared, the old man stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked no different than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If I’d been a little slower, that might have worked. I’ll admit it. You’re strong, boy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His surprised expression felt more irritating than satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hadn’t worked anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Using martial techniques like that… Who taught you?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Would it matter if I told you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ah, right. They’re probably long dead, so it’s pointless to ask.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That smirk—he hated it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d probably know if he were told.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You’re the one who taught me, so how could you not know?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Paejon had taught him hand-to-hand combat, everything else had come from this old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never called him master, but in his heart, he thought of him that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He brushed those thoughts aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What business did someone who wasn’t even part of Mount Hua have playing the role of a disciple?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That title belonged to Yung Pung—or rather, the disciples of Mount Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hoo…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He steadied his breath and lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So that’s it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with a clear mind, he finally realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was jealous.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been jealous of Yung Pung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since he heard that Yung Pung had become the successor of the Mount Hua Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since he learned that Yung Pung had inherited the old man’s legacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had bothered him more than he cared to admit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understanding this made him laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How pathetic.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s a non-Mount Hua disciple getting jealous for?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d never learned the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a martial artist, so Mount Hua’s sword techniques were meaningless to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t learned their internal arts either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he had benefited from some tools, Mount Hua’s techniques remained a mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, he had even erased Mount Hua from existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could someone like him inherit that old man’s legacy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite knowing all this, he clenched his fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Know your place.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, he reminded himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can’t win.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That old man was unbeatable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had known this from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had he thought he could win under these conditions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d known he couldn’t win the moment he saw the old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just been angry at how Yung Pung was treated as the true successor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he charged in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he thought it was fake, hearing it spoken aloud had enraged him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all the struggles he’d endured, how could this happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was sheer pettiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Honestly, I’ve been fighting desperately just to survive.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While his goals mattered, Shin Noya was also involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man had said it himself—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That he was entrusting what he couldn’t finish to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I deserve at least this much.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to walk away with something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let Yung Pung inherit Mount Hua’s legacy and continue its traditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's not mine anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll take just one thing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t care about the Mount Hua Sect’s Sword Saint or its so-called hero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The successor of that foul-tempered old man — will be me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That much, I had to make certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Boy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The tenth exchange is over.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? What a shame. How about giving me ten more rounds?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Do you think it would change anything?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I had a hundred more attempts, I wouldn’t win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same kind of laugh the old man had worn earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What will you do now?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised my clenched fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll keep going.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ho…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshhk—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, the old man’s weapon moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chilling aura brushed against my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I don’t know who you are. But I apologize for calling you a spy for the Blood Demon.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Don’t let your eyes get caught on the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Sword masters thrive on deception. It’s not the sword you need to watch, but the master behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I remembered the words Shin Noya had once told me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You can tell from exchanging blows.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You’re a warrior.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words struck my chest like a hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming from that grating voice made it hit even harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What a pity. If only someone like you had been born in Mount Hua.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was quite the compliment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But someone like me doesn’t belong in the Dao.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone like me had been raised in Mount Hua, it would have been complete chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing my emotions, I replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really do have a sharp tongue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[True. But didn’t I also give you time to recover?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even that short pause had let me catch my breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[So don’t forget our promise.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I couldn’t see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I squinted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a problem with my eyes—his form was genuinely blurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the haze, what appeared wasn’t human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A tree?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive, radiant tree stood before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most likely an ancient plum tree from Mount Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps even the largest one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooosh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the wind was still, the tree swayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaves scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Branches danced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze was stolen by the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was so overwhelming I forgot to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[This is your reward.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[A gift, because I enjoyed this fight—if only a little.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his voice faded—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The movements ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Plum Blossom Annihilation.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flowers bloomed on the branches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could even hear the sound of the petals blossoming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhiiing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of blooming flowers was heavier than I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…Huh?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surprised exclamation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened my eyes at the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s fierce face filled my vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sword was aimed straight at my neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked ready to cut me down in a single stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his sword didn’t reach my throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Boy… you—?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His blade had been blocked by something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was my weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very artifact he wielded—Eternal Bind—now wrapped protectively around my neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An indestructible treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had used its nature for defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s eyes wavered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed his wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could feel his strength immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already struggling to free himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssshhhk—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What?!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gui-jeong (Eternal Bind) around my neck unraveled and bound our hands together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssshhhkk—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eternal Bind wielded by the old man slipped out of his grip and wrapped itself around my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It solidified into the form of gauntlets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fabric shifted colors, turning from crimson to deep blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What the…!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s eyes widened in shock at the betrayal of his own artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His precious weapon had switched allegiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A living master is better than a dead one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial exchange had ended after those ten clashes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s time to fight my way.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never intended to win by being lenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment I set the conditions, this was calculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you can’t beat someone in a fair fight, you have to abandon fairness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man tried to break free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His strength was monstrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eternal Bind wrapped around his arm felt like it might tear apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t I say it earlier?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once someone grows accustomed to patterns, they adapt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant this was the perfect moment to throw a curveball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s body stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only for an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Dragon Speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against someone stronger than me, it wouldn’t last long, and it came with a heavy recoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pain surged through me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cough—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood welled up in my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gulp—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it only stopped him for a moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tua Pacheonmu surged through my body, sending energy rippling outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I concentrated it into my fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You—!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s voice broke out as he struggled to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragon Speech alone wasn’t enough to keep him restrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had another way to hold him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you know? The Tang Clan’s leader is actually a woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What? What does that—?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man hesitated for just a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that brief opening—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tua Pacheonmu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth Form—Azure Sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I drove my fist straight into his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>",1870,"2026-06-05T15:10:16.200Z",1,"novelbin.me","297db9c92bb1d814bcaf224c590f6c47bc0b35b28009076e99aed49295ad874e","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-744","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-742",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]