[{"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-747":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},1240797,1667,"Chapter 746","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-747",747,"\u003Cp>The Sixteen-to-Eight round had ended, and before the Eight-to-Four round began, I quietly examined the wooden board among the now-dwindled participants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only eight of us remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The results so far hadn’t deviated much from my expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King and Bi Seongdo advanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol and I also made it through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with the rest being martial artists who had hidden their true skills—practitioners at the Hwagyeong level—the only ones left were the true powerhouses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This also meant that the Martial Arts Tournament was nearing its end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At most, seven days and nights remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it dragged out, there wasn’t much time left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matchups had been reduced and reduced again until only four matchups were left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate, only two or three duels would remain after today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the time left, staring at the wooden board left me with many thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Peng Zhou of the Hebei Peng Clan versus Gu Yangcheon of the Shanxi Gu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scoffed when I saw the engraved words that plainly listed my opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, damn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to admit one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This tournament had deviated from my expectations far more than I’d anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘We’re already facing each other?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting the Blade King before the quarterfinals?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even I had seen that coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought I’d face him at the very end—the final showdown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the Blade King wasn’t in top condition right now, I never expected them to play that card so early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I thought we’d meet in the finals.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rubbed my smooth, beardless chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was going on here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My position had grown immensely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to brag, but it was the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd outside was even larger and louder than during the Divine Dragon Tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant expectations about me had skyrocketed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Thanks to Moyong Hee-ah’s quick maneuvering, my value went up even more.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Zhangyuan Trading Company’s head left, Madam Mi immediately took action upon hearing Moyong Hee-ah’s report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her method?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spreading rumors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The head of the Zhangyuan Trading Company personally met with So Yeomra to discuss sponsorship.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just that one piece of news caused the endless wave of trading guild representatives to halt their approaches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The richest merchant in Zhongyuan had entered the fray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, my value was now so high that I was out of reach for anyone below their level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smaller guilds stopped forcing meetings and instead focused on gossiping about the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approaching me had become too intimidating now that the Zhangyuan head was involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this also meant that I was acknowledged as a future powerhouse worthy of such attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Baekhwa Trading Company’s prior sponsorship was a smart move.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their early support became an advertisement in itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of swift action would bring enormous benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They’re so damn fast.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Moyong Hee-ah and Madam Mi moved too quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d also heard that they’d requested another meeting with the Zhangyuan head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I got the letter about it yesterday.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The offers presented back then had already been outrageous, and the Zhangyuan head claimed he’d bring even better ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pictured him in my mind and smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I turned him down today because of the tournament.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like the right decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No matter what offer he brings….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rejecting him now was the smart move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No doubt his offer was excellent, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘After today.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My value would double—or more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his offer would have to adapt to that shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the correct choice to refuse him for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I was curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Will he come back with a better offer or give up entirely?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I covered my mouth with my hand, unable to stop the corners of my lips from curling upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Whatever the Alliance Leader is thinking….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unexpected changes weren’t bad at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, they sped up my plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clap, clap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dusting off my hands, I loosened my shoulders and looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clear, sunny sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sparse, fluffy clouds made the scene strangely beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grinned widely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s perfect.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A day made for causing a commotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today just felt like one of those days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Waaaah—!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Myeongcheon of Guicheon Sect, victory!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quarterfinals had begun, and time flowed steadily as the atmosphere of the Martial Arts Tournament grew hotter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the mounting excitement, the cheers of the crowd roared louder than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year’s tournament had already far surpassed the level of previous competitions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Not bad.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I was a little impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latest victor was Myeongcheon of the Guicheon Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had never heard of the sect before, but his skills were extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’d easily rank among the top one hundred masters.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent was Geum Seonyeon of the Geumseon Clan, a renowned martial artist skilled in dual-sword techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Myeongcheon had managed to secure victory against her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an incredibly close match—one minor mistake would’ve cost either of them the fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been a while since I’d seen such an intense duel, and it left me in a decent mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The level of competition is definitely high at this stage.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opening bout had been clean and captivating, especially with Hwagyeong-level martial artists facing off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Gundangseok of the Yoryeong Army versus Muk Seoljin of the Cheonghae Sect! Begin!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second match began shortly after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaa—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another massive explosion of Qi swept through the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the surge graze my cheek, I thought to myself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This tournament had deviated from expectations in many ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the favorites to win had already been eliminated, leaving behind fighters who were completely unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the emergence of these new masters had Zhongyuan abuzz with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I found myself drawn to the spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s entertaining, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy voice interrupted my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned to see a man with a grim expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seems like you’re enjoying yourself quite a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t expected him to start a conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After staring at him briefly, I casually replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, it’s pretty fun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was my lack of formality that annoyed him, but his frown deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he quickly regained his composure and spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given your noble upbringing, it seems your education was lacking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blatant insult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled and added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It would’ve been nice if I’d received a better education, considering I come from a noble family… What a shame, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I wasn’t the only one from a noble lineage here, he immediately understood the jab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy was hilarious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I barely poked him, and he reacted like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This brat dares…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Peng, you’re an interesting man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cut him off before he could finish his outburst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know you’re not going to get a good reaction from me, yet you keep coming back to provoke me. Are you into that sort of thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had humored him before, but by this point, his repeated attempts to pick a fight had me genuinely curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, wait—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you like me or something? If that’s the case, like I told your son—I’m sorry, but I prefer women.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King finally lost his temper and began releasing his Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or at least, he tried to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his aura could even fully manifest, my energy surged out and crushed his presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened in disbelief as his Qi was instantly suppressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could see the shock all over his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I patted his shoulder lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Calm down. It’s not a good look for someone your age. It’s nice to see you’re still full of energy, but this is a bit much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I even tried to be polite about it, but the Blade King’s expression didn’t ease up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate, I might end up beating him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘For Peng Ahui’s sake, I’m holding back as much as I can. Why does he keep pushing it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, under normal circumstances, I would’ve already knocked him out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I felt a little guilty toward his daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Beating up her father in front of her would be awkward.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since Peng Woojin was silently observing from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still, what’s his problem?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made no sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King acted like he had a personal vendetta against me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Paejon was the one who hit him, so why is he taking it out on me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, getting beaten by someone pretending to be one of the Twin Dragon must’ve been humiliating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was no surprise that he was furious after being ridiculed by all of Zhongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why target me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He barked at me like a rabid dog every time we crossed paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking back, he’d been like this from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I thought it was because of the broken engagement, but now it felt like there was more to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did he seem so obsessed with me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I mulled over the question—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Those eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grinding his teeth, the Blade King muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The way you look at me—damn it, it’s just like your father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden mention of my father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his reaction, I steadied my breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I almost killed him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d nearly gouged out the Blade King’s eyes just now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whew. Barely held myself back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why the hell did he suddenly bring up my father? I really almost snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My anger had nearly ruined all my plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I tried to calm my racing heart—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t ignore the subtle undertone in the Blade King’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was heavy with emotion when he mentioned my father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Peng, may I ask something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no malice behind my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did my father beat you up before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a genuine question born out of curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But maybe that’s what set him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A murderous aura exploded from the Blade King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… did you just say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait… hold on…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say that again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, he’s really mad now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer intensity of his bloodlust surprised even me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wow… This felt serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did I just step on a landmine?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I might’ve messed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forced an awkward smile and quickly tried to smooth things over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My apologies. I didn’t think it was actually true. Haha. Friends fight when they’re young, right? Or… were you not friends? Then I’m even more sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I offered a sincere apology for bringing up a painful memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I mean, it deserved an apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But despite my efforts—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really are your father’s son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blade King’s rage didn’t subside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, I might’ve taken that as a compliment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, it was clearly an insult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those eyes that act like they know everything. The way you look at me like I’m pitiful. It’s disgusting how much you resemble him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice grated as if he were chewing every word, and the sheer hatred in his tone sent chills down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You people… You’ll never stop looking down on me, not even after generations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breaths were heavy and hot, barely restrained fury leaking out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just wait and see, Gu Cheolwoon’s son. Let’s see if you can still make those eyes at me when we face off in the ring. Just wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the Blade King turned and stormed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept fixating on my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he have some kind of issue with them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his retreating back, I suddenly wanted to ask my father—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell did you do to him?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of beating turned a man into that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing my father, he wouldn’t have done it without reason, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the Blade King’s state, it might’ve been a bit much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I guess I need to be more careful when I hit people.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this unfold made me realize something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I was going to use my fists, I needed to be cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either strike with restraint—or make sure they don’t survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded to myself, committing to that mindset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, my eyes shifted past the Blade King to the person standing behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Woojin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I noticed his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for a moment, I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sent chills down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way Peng Woojin looked at his father…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those hollow, vacant eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes devoid of emotion—nothing but an endless void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t believe someone could look at their own parent like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I watched, our eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Woojin smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheerfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even waved at me like we were old friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he already forget his father just tried to kill me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That overly cheerful demeanor irritated me to no end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, I was sure of one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Peng Clan is doomed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both the father and son were completely unhinged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Good grief.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their family was an absolute mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of kinship as I shook my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, I turned my gaze elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somewhere beyond sight and beyond my Qi’s perception—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I knew someone was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throb—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demonic energy bound to my heart stirred, signaling their presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was planning to wait a little longer…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after everything that had happened, there was no need to delay any further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sent a pulse of energy laced with my will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the message wasn’t perfectly clear, those who served me would understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The preparations were complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, all I had to do was wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might take some time, but not too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the meantime—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I won’t be bored.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirked as I watched the Blade King’s retreating back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, I had a toy to keep me entertained until then.\u003C\u002Fp>",2291,"2026-06-05T15:10:16.200Z",1,"novelbin.me","e20f073de5b25348038af7141d83ac46402ba7831310d0d2dc5015494794b77b","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-748","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-746",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]