[{"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-796":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},1240596,1667,"Chapter 795","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-796",796,"\u003Cp>Another day had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saw the morning sun rise after staying up all night, but I hadn’t slept at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I particularly needed to sleep in my current condition. I also had training to do during the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it to relive the realization I’d experienced during sparring?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was part of it, but the real reason was that I needed to grow accustomed to my heightened Qi sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I repeatedly clenched and unclenched my hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had gone through countless processes until dawn, but the conclusion was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not something I can fix in just a day or two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While my Qi sense and firepower had improved, the issue was adaptation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was trying to get used to it as much as possible, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This will be a problem in actual combat.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was too much I could feel, too much firing off inside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to keep checking how to control it in real battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Facing someone weaker won’t be an issue.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if I came across someone on my level or stronger, the problem would be clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, reaching this point, I doubted there were many stronger than me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The likelihood of that happening doesn’t matter.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The probability wasn’t the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What matters is that the possibility exists.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the possibility wasn’t zero, I had to account for it—over and over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, they might not be my enemies, but one day, they could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I don’t prepare properly, this will turn into a dagger aimed at me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a dagger to stab my enemies—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one that would stab me instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every second, I had to think about that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whooosh—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I retracted my Qi and furrowed my brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seven days until Jegal Eui-cheon arrives in Hanam.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He should’ve been here in four days, but Cheol Ji-seon mentioned something came up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I wouldn’t have called him if I didn’t have to, but there were too many matters requiring his brain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention the favor the Divine Doctor had asked of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And I need to call in the others too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I also needed the help of the people Jegal Eui-cheon had stationed here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all the trouble I’d caused, I wondered what Jegal Eui-cheon would say when he arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He probably wouldn’t say much, but he’d definitely give me a look full of resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe he’d even refuse outright?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t entirely impossible either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it came to that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I’ll have to use Moyong Hee-ah.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had plenty of excuses to use, so I’d make it work somehow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seven days.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The timeline had extended from four days to seven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was I frustrated that the delay disrupted my plans?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I bought myself time.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, it gave me more time to stir up trouble before he arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jegal Eui-cheon and Cheol Ji-seon would probably be ready to explode when they found out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved, imagining their reactions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuing training felt pointless at this stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morning was already approaching, so it was time to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tossed aside my sweat-soaked training robes and turned my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I called out, someone flinched and trembled near the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh…. Is it over…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. We need to go now, so get up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wiping away the drool she’d spilled in her sleep was Bong Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at her with a slightly exasperated expression and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go. If we wait any longer, we’ll be late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Mmh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether she was wiping away drool or washing her face with it, I wasn’t sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my head to avoid looking at her any longer, as I could already feel my eyes filling with contempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, she wasn’t exactly someone I wanted to be seen with, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t have a choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Starting today.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting today, Bong Soon had a role to play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something I had been preparing for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dagger aimed at the Martial Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with changes in timing and circumstances, her role wouldn’t change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, Bong Soon had to follow me into the Martial Alliance starting today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a quick wash, I arrived at the Martial Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We greet the Star King.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. It’s a pleasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering was no more difficult than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was immediately guided to my destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time, I had to go deep inside for the main conference room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the location was closer to the entrance—a space even ordinary people could access if necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I arrived and took in the scene, I had to suppress my laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘These people, really?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The space looked familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long to realize it was the very same arena where the martial tournament had been held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So they’re recycling it like this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed they hadn’t shut it down but were simply maintaining it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the chaos that erupted last time, I’d assumed they’d have dismantled it completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Guess it’s too much of a waste, so they’re planning to reuse it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial tournament had been a disaster, and even though they tried to cover it up by using me and the Divine Dragon Unit to secure the situation, some sponsors had undoubtedly withdrawn support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With funds running tight, they probably wanted to make use of whatever they could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Unbelievable.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was somewhat irritating, but I didn’t care enough to make an issue out of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, I simply followed the guide and took my seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The location was right in front of the dueling platform used in the martial tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tables and chairs had been arranged, and a canopy was set up to block the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sat in the central seat, which was clearly meant for someone of high rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking around, I greeted those beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good morning. How have you been?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seated beside me were the Gold Dragon Captain, Twin Crescent Swords, and the Iron Dragon Captain, Silver Wolf Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of the other captains seemed to be present, leaving only these two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of them even glanced at me in response to my greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clicking my tongue lightly, I spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch. A newcomer is being polite, and you’re this cold? What kind of workplace is this? No wonder no one wants to stay here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a ridiculous display of hazing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was someone as delicate as me supposed to feel welcome?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I propped my legs up on the table and leaned back in my chair, making myself as comfortable as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expressions of the two captains immediately soured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you looking at?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I met their stares and asked bluntly, Twin Crescent Swords finally spoke with a deeply uncomfortable expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Star King. What do you think you’re doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does it look like I’m doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are many eyes watching. Acting like this—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My brazen attitude left him speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, there were a lot of eyes on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only two captains had shown up, but other Martial Alliance members were present too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spotted vice-captain-level figures and group leaders among them—likely acting as proxies for absent captains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, some of them seemed to be from Muk Yeon’s command team, meaning this gathering included high-ranking officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And so what?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t care in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did it matter how these people viewed me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what? What do you expect me to do about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twin Crescent Swords’s brow furrowed deeply, clearly agitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Star King, do you even understand the significance of this place? As a member of the Martial Alliance—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s so special about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re really…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s so grand about this place that I need to be worried about appearances? Besides—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirked and added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Being a member of the Martial Alliance? Wow, what an honor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if there was nothing else worth being proud of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And to be clear, isn’t this a space where I can do whatever I want? That’s what I heard from the strategist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head slightly and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Gold Dragon Captain and the others here are just observers, aren’t they? So let’s not waste energy on pointless arguments. I skipped breakfast and I’m tired.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Observers?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twin Crescent Swords’s eyes flared with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked like he was ready to strike at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? You gonna hit me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think just because you’ve got talent, you can act so arrogantly? Do you really believe you deserve the position of captain in the Alliance?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The way you keep talking, it’s starting to sound like you’re the one who begged me to take this position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I barely held back a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain? Who said I wanted this? I only agreed because you begged so desperately. Anyone listening might think I got down on my knees and pleaded for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh, shut up….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shouting was giving me a headache, so I waved my hand to cut him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t like it, leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you hear me? If you don’t like it, walk out that door.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pointed at the entrance I had used earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I redirected my finger to the dueling platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop whining and fight me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Are you scared?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twin Crescent Swords shot up from his seat, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gold Dragon Captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Calm yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Silver Wolf Sword, the Iron Dragon Captain, who stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Iron Dragon Captain, he—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you said, there are many eyes watching. And besides—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silver Wolf Sword gave him a sharp look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We didn’t come here to fight today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His calm but firm words forced Twin Crescent Swords to suppress his anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I narrowed my eyes slightly as I watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘These bastards.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something off about his tone, despite how it seemed like he was diffusing the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t his words—it was the flow of Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they were talking, I could feel their Qi exchanging through soundless transmission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They’re using sound transmission.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As martial artists of the Hwagyeong level, they could converse in secret while speaking aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting between them, I could sense it clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So they’ve got something planned.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d thought it was odd that two captains showed up in person for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looks like they came prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sank deeper into my chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Alright, let’s see what they’ve got.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they’d gone to all this trouble, I might as well enjoy the show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was organizing my thoughts—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Star King is seated. May we allow the applicants to enter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Proceed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enter!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive set of doors, different from the one I’d entered through, swung open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless figures began pouring in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whooosh—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strong gust of wind accompanied their entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy atmosphere and mingled Qi in the air hinted at the presence of many skilled martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the ones entering were all warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About a hundred in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A considerable number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the guide’s instructions, they slowly gathered around the dueling platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I observed them—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guide began explaining why they had assembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Starting now—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gathering of this many warriors could only mean one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We will begin the entrance trials for the Star Dragon Unit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was here to recruit members for the unit I would lead.\u003C\u002Fp>",1903,"2026-06-05T15:10:17.629Z",1,"novelbin.me","c4acd025195acd05195498de423b15c3157f91a7f0c60a0bdc98513fb07f3b32","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-797","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-795",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]