[{"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-746":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},1240796,1667,"Chapter 745","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-746",746,"\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden burst of light stung, blinding me for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was because I’d been trapped in that dark, suffocating mental space for so long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Gu…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body reacted immediately, assessing the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yung Pung—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was gripping his wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His trembling eyes were staring directly at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was happening just before this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I searched my memories, piecing things together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze dropped to my other hand—still clutching the Spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was using it to threaten Yung Pung—or rather, the old man inside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head throbbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was good to be back in reality, but my body felt stiff, likely due to the backlash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I withdrew the Spear and quickly circulated my energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to check my condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A couple of cycles later, my energy pooled in my heart, giving me a clear picture of my body’s state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘As expected.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I thought—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body was exactly the same as it had been before I entered that mental space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of the injuries I’d sustained there carried over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a relief, but also something I’d anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hoo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a steady breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t have the strength to check my surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind was still too chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What are you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yung Pung started speaking, confused by my sudden withdrawal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, I struck his jaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His head snapped to the side, and he collapsed onto the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plum blossoms lingering in the air exploded all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must have been because Yung Pung had lost consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshhh—.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy dissipated, fading into nothingness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I crouched down and propped him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I feel kind of bad about this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at his limp body, I let out a bitter laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d intended to go along with his fight a little longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could’ve ended it with a single strike, but I’d chosen not to—for Yung Pung’s sake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew his goal was to surpass me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sympathizing with his ambitions—far from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I did feel a certain responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to give him something to strive for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Things got too complicated.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t the time for that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at Yung Pung’s unconscious body just as—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Winner—Gu Yangcheon of Shanxi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The judge’s voice echoed, announcing the end of the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waaaaaaaah—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd erupted into cheers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their voices reverberated through the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I couldn’t enjoy it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The applause I’d always wanted—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, my circumstances wouldn’t let me relish it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not this time, either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**********\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the short yet lengthy conversation with the old man ended, I was left with a choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That choice was to absorb him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he was a spirit, the old man was a part of Yeongpung's Dao energy, so I expected that he could be absorbed using the Demonic Heavenly Absorption Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It probably wouldn’t be any different from when I absorbed the Divine Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I did, my Dao energy would increase, which would obviously be advantageous for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, since his presence was strong, if he remained as a spirit, he might prove as helpful as Shin Noya had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, I didn’t go through with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just because I didn’t particularly need more Dao energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Part of it was also guilt toward Shin Noya, who had originally been with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But most of all, it was because I had doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If this old man really existed before Yeon Ilcheon regressed...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that he was here in this world didn’t make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had to be someone’s intention or necessity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would explain why there were two Eternal Binds and two Shin Noyas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap. Tap. Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tapping of my fingers against my knee grew faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who could it be?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would create this situation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A being capable of interfering in a world that might have already disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It probably wasn’t human….\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought of countless possibilities, but none of them seemed to fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more puzzling was the intention behind it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s too much to dismiss as mere coincidence.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were simply a miracle or an accident, it would’ve been easier to accept. But I couldn’t take that for granted—I had to plan for the possibility that it wasn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squeeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped tapping my fingers and examined my left arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arm bound to Eternal Bind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what about this Eternal Bind?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question suddenly popped into my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having two Eternal Binds was already strange enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Is this one really Noya’s Eternal Bind?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Eternal Bind was an object that had crossed over from another world, then… was this the real one, and the other a fake?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, shit….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cursed out loud, unable to suppress my frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The questions would just keep piling up endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I hadn’t absorbed the old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cause and reason were uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And considering that the Blood Demon might have been involved, bringing the old man along could pose too many problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I should probably talk this over with Noya.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something I’d have to discuss with Shin Noya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, I would’ve ignored the old man’s opinions and done whatever I wanted, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, I didn’t think that would work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The problem is figuring out how to go see that old man….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head throbbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had already been a year or two since Shin Noya vanished along with Kkeureung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d said he’d be back soon, but he still hadn’t returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it. If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have let him leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haa….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it really been the right decision to let him go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem like it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What’s the point of regretting it now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was useless to dwell on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s done is done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that things were this tangled, the only option was to start unraveling them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I need to deal with what’s in front of me first.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A parallel world, Noya, the Blood Demon….\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To tackle those issues, I first needed to handle what was right in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I came to that conclusion—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Are you done thinking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tired voice called out from across the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up to see Cheol Ji-seon glaring at me with a frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s with the look? You’re looking pretty fierce, Ji-seon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the last person who should be saying that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What’s that supposed to mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my fist slightly, and Cheol Ji-seon pretended not to notice as he took another sip of his drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon had grown quite a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even dared to talk back now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I considered smacking him once but held back, worried I might accidentally kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing me restrain myself, Cheol Ji-seon finally started speaking again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What’s with that expression? You’ve been like that since earlier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s something. Just pondering parallel worlds and my screwed-up life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then maybe you should’ve studied more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How does this have anything to do with studying? And I did study, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled at Cheol Ji-seon’s outburst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even back at the Divine Dragon Hall, Cheol Ji-seon had decent grades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was the top student. You weren’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I simply did better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bringing up past achievements, I left Cheol Ji-seon speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by his expression, he couldn’t argue back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I waved my hand dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry about it. It’s just something that’s been bothering me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…When you say something’s bothering you, it’s usually a big deal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…When did I ever….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I trailed off mid-sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it, he had a point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the time I’d said something felt off about the Sichuan branch leader, only to discover he was secretly dealing with the unorthodox sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or when I got a bad feeling about Guangju and found out they’d been mass-producing Thunder Cannons for slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed I’d had more than my share of incidents over the past few years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ahem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Awkwardly clearing my throat, I clinked my cup against his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pushing the topic further wouldn’t do me any favors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a sip of barley tea, while Cheol Ji-seon downed his drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d learned recently that Cheol Ji-seon enjoyed drinking more than I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few more drinks, Cheol Ji-seon’s face had turned slightly red as he spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s your plan now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the reason I’d decided to meet Cheol Ji-seon today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quiet guesthouse room—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surroundings, which should’ve been bustling, were eerily silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was no surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d rented out the entire room through Moyong Hee-ah and even set up soundproof barriers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After drawing so much attention over the past few days, I had to prepare for situations like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Tang Clan’s young master has been captured and is probably being tortured by now. You heard about that, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know. Nahi already told me everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell are you thinking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon, slightly drunk, spoke bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d probably chosen to drink to make it easier to confront me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yangcheon, why are you going this far?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You knew he’d be tortured and still let it happen. Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Deok was currently being tortured in the underground chambers of the Martial Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that such a problem for Cheol Ji-seon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I burst into laughter at his reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re really pissed off, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Do you think this is funny?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, should I stop laughing and get angry instead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing my irritation, Cheol Ji-seon’s eyebrow twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I already told you—it’s all part of the plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just can’t understand this plan of yours. Why go this far….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You already know the answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon’s face twisted the moment I cut him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t just because I interrupted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew—it was my words that bothered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You already know everything, so why keep asking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then tell me—can you think of a better situation than this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pouring another round of tea into the empty cup, I continued speaking without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Hwangbo will make his move soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment we learned that Tang Deok had been captured—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then he’ll report it to the Alliance Leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had already informed Nahi about this in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“I heard something from the intelligence unit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“There’s news that the Demonic Cult plans to attack the Alliance to rescue a captured criminal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it happened tonight or by tomorrow, that news would undoubtedly reach the Martial Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Lord Hwangbo’s role was just for that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not. Do you think I’d waste such a valuable card on something like that? It’s just an added bonus.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Referring to people as tools or objects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by Cheol Ji-seon’s darkening expression, my tone had struck a nerve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t matter—I’d chosen my words deliberately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This prediction is more than enough for now. But who knows? Lord Hwangbo might just raise the alarm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would the Demonic Cult really be crazy enough to attack?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just any place—it was Hanam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A space filled with the full force of the orthodox faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that, the Martial Arts Tournament had drawn in some of the greatest masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would the Demonic Cult dare to launch an assault knowing all that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I knew the odds were slim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lord Hwangbo spond exactly as I expected, yet…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could never be too certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I had one more card to play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After Lord Hwangbo delivers the news, there’ll be a slight delay—and then another figure will act.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head of the Mount Hua Sect would step in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hadn’t been part of the original plan, but since the opportunity had presented itself, I intended to use it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what do you think the Alliance Leader will do then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two influential leaders raising the same alarm—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if their intelligence units hadn’t picked up on it, the evidence and justification had already been prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Alliance Leader will definitely tighten security.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extreme vigilance toward the mysterious Demonic Cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their supposed intention to attack the Alliance would spark two key fears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the Demonic Cult might possess enough power to assault Hanam directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, Tang Deok might be an essential figure to the Demonic Cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Cheol Ji-seon raised another question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…But if you say they might launch an attack, won’t the Martial Arts Tournament be at risk of cancellation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fair argument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was asking whether I’d considered the consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No chance. Why would they cancel it? Do you have any idea how much money went into this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tournament wasn’t just a competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a festival designed to mask the dangers of the current era—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A carefully constructed spectacle to maintain the Martial Alliance’s image as a symbol of peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cancel it because of a threat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not a chance. That sword saint bastard would never let that happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it wasn’t the sword saint, anyone in the orthodox faction would rather cut off their own arm than lose face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They lived and died by their honor and reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no safer time than during the tournament. They won’t stop it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With elite masters gathered from across Zhongyuan,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hanam might as well have been a fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even among the Ten Great Masters, several had already assembled here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wouldn’t be a safer moment for Hanam than this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Alliance Leader knew it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’ll do whatever it takes to keep this going.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the sake of reputation, security, and even to appease the trading guilds—the tournament had to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what could the Alliance Leader do under these circumstances?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew about the possible attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hanam appeared secure, and he understood why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That left him with only two options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Either reinforce security around the prisoner…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or move the prisoner to the safest location available.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One way or another, he’d take action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And it doesn’t matter which one.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever he decided, it worked in my favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon finally responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So you deliberately had Tang Deok captured and tortured for this plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. He was the perfect candidate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A body close to being indestructible and high pain tolerance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lack of resistance to poison was a downside, but his resilience made up for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since he’d already been corrupted by demonic energy, he’d keep his mouth shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could there have been a better tool?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I exposed Tang Deok to the public during the Wudang incident just for this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d deliberately let him be seen while raiding Wudang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything had been set up for this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trap and bait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Deok was the bait, and the planted rumors served as the lure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orthodox masters would begin gathering one by one within days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the timeline was almost up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon’s expression remained uneasy despite my explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was just grappling with his moral compass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made no difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘His silence means he understands.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it wasn’t the most righteous approach—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the fastest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And ultimately, the outcome aligned with his goals as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How contradictory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps just human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Ji-seon pitied Tang Deok’s suffering but still accepted the necessity of the plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was fear of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was his own ambition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, it was hypocrisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That doesn’t make me hate him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What mattered was how far we’d come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And whether, by the end of this, I would stand where I wanted to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the only thing that mattered to me.\u003C\u002Fp>",2637,"2026-06-05T15:10:16.200Z",1,"novelbin.me","e6540aa6db05a6d54a0f456e853a182caf28f926fc3624614c9bd1c3249b8d08","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-747","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-745",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]