[{"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-813":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},1240613,1667,"Chapter 812","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-813",813,"\u003Cp>After finishing my conversation with Muk Yeon and selecting the members for the mission, I headed straight to Elder Il.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to brief him about the situation and our plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, you’re saying you’re heading to Sichuan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. It seems that way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You sure keep yourself busy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It just turned out like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il let out a dry chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of returning to Shanxi, I now had to detour to Sichuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder he found it amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t stop you if that’s what you want, but… are you sure about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words carried weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The other elders might give you trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was supposed to be preparing to take my seat as the Young Lord soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet here I was, running around as a unit commander instead of focusing on family matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was natural for the elders to protest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll manage somehow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t take it too seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they raised objections, it wouldn’t cause a huge disturbance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only real concern—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think, Elder? Should I just head straight to Shanxi instead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I valued Elder Il’s opinion more than most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His insight often pointed out things I’d overlook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause, he replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve already decided, haven’t you? Asking now won’t change much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do as you wish. You’ll bear the consequences, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t sugarcoat it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I knew this wasn’t the ideal choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned slightly, and Elder Il caught it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that face for? Don’t tell me you expected me to clean up your mess?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not. Not that you’d do it even if I asked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Obviously not. Why would I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another sharp remark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a point, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I made the call, it was my responsibility to handle the fallout—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Be it the elders’ complaints or the chaos of my schedule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Which is why I can’t afford to waste time.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were too many loose ends, and I had no time to tie them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to keep moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Do what you want. Just don’t forget one thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pay attention to what actually matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il gestured toward something—or rather, someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following his finger, my eyes landed on…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ryunghwa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My younger cousin and the fourth child of the Gu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood there glaring at me with her arms crossed, clearly furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard you haven’t even bothered to see her since she arrived. Is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been busy…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew she had arrived with the Mount Hua Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I hadn’t gone to see her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept forgetting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was going to visit after Yung Pung mentioned her arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I… definitely didn’t go, did I?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That probably explained why her face looked like it was about to explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her glare was so intense that I couldn’t even look at her directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I settled for quick glances instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in those glances—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I noticed something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ryunghwa looked more mature than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t grown taller, but her demeanor had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she have a boyfriend?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who the hell is he?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, I wanted to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I was planning anything, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just curiosity.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was family business—and a cousin’s dating life was naturally concerning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m not going to meddle… probably.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accidents happen, don’t they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No big deal.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I’d just ask for his name later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yangcheon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s his martial title?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yangcheon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I snapped out of my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you look like you’re about to kill someone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? I’m not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your face says otherwise. Relax before you scare someone to death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I almost coughed blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was just zoning out for a second.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you zone out twice, someone’s going to die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I got up before Elder Il could make another snide comment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I stood, Gu Ryunghwa flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked startled—like she thought I was going to march straight over to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I was already planning to talk to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not doing so now would just be awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She flinched again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her glare didn’t waver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, she narrowed her eyes and finally answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least she responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone made it clear she wasn’t happy about it, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you mad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, right. Your cheeks are practically swollen with anger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately touched her cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes darted around as if she realized how puffy they actually were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-It’s just swollen! That’s all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Swollen? Why? Did someone hit you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who the hell did it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was already visualizing broken bones and severed limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No one hit me! It’s nothing like that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you say so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I casually sat down beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, she shifted away, increasing the distance between us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? I’m just sitting here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why here? Go somewhere else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s my ass, and I’ll sit wherever I want.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is my spot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would this be your spot? If anything, it belongs to Lady Mi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ryunghwa pressed her lips together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technically, the place where the Gu family was staying did belong to Lady Mi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you from Mount Hua Sect? If we’re being specific, this should actually be—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m joking. Relax.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately tried to stand, but I stopped her and sat her back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was just trying to lighten the mood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this how you lighten the mood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? It works, doesn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I feel bad for the women around you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell was that supposed to mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like claws had raked across my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, at least I managed to get her to sit back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a while, we sat there quietly without saying anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sorry about that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I broke the silence, apologizing awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ryunghwa glanced at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you sorry about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For saying I’d visit and then not showing up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmph. I didn’t really care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, like hell she didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face practically screamed that she was already over it because I apologized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no idea who she took after to be so terrible at lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was just busy. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to smooth things over, I quickly added an explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her response caught me off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know you were busy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How do you know that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there anyone in Hanam who doesn’t know? All I ever hear is people saying they saw you here and there. Just how much do you run around?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had I really been moving around that much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t feel like it, but apparently, I’d been noticed more than I realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll have to be more careful.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of eyes on me was higher than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… are you okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ryunghwa suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I heard you were hurt. Are you fine now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have meant the incident with the Crimson-Rank beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you can see, I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite my answer, Gu Ryunghwa kept scanning me suspiciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you really fine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said I’m fine. Do I look like someone who’s still injured? I wouldn’t be walking around if—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why didn’t you come see me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Maybe I’m still a little hurt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I averted my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d walked straight into that trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d gotten smarter since the last time I saw her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I fumbled for a response, Gu Ryunghwa sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it… It’s not like I wanted to see you that badly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We weren’t particularly close, so her words were believable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded, convinced—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s funny coming from someone who ran straight here when she heard Yangcheon was hurt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“E-Elder! What are you talking about?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il’s laughter echoed behind us, and Gu Ryunghwa’s face turned scarlet as she yelled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did I do that? That never happened!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Then I guess the servants must have been mistaken…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. Perhaps this old man misheard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite Elder Il’s retreat, the damage was already done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wait. When did that happen?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t heard about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned to Gu Ryunghwa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cheeks were bright red, and she avoided my gaze entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that realization, I felt a small pang of guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she had come to see me, I could guess why we didn’t meet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was probably unconscious back then. Or maybe she didn’t step inside.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been under Moyong Hee-ah’s care during my recovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She might have noticed Gu Ryunghwa’s visit—but hadn’t mentioned it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did Ryunghwa choose not to let me know?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You could've just come to see me if you were here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I told you, I didn't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing how Gu Ryunghwa kept denying it, it seemed like she planned to stick to her story no matter what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t press further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t made the effort to visit her either, so it wasn’t like I had any right to pry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure, you didn’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t sound like you believe me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believe you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, silence fell again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a familiar quietness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were used to sitting silently rather than talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our relationship had become one where the absence of harsh words was already a big improvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I gathered my thoughts, Gu Ryunghwa suddenly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone was oddly hesitant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think I’ll be going back to Shanxi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was going back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not completely. I’ll just spend the rest of the year there. Lady Mi wanted me to, and the Sect Leader gave permission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it wasn’t a permanent return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a short break—or at least, that’s how she made it sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what caught me off guard the most was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Mi wanted that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah? Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—you actually talk to Lady Mi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Uh, sometimes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d thought Gu Ryunghwa didn’t speak to Lady Mi at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I must’ve looked visibly shocked, because Ryunghwa gave me a strange look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you look so surprised?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just… unexpected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left the rest unsaid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had assumed she resented Lady Mi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought she hated everything about this place—enough to leave and find freedom elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That had been my understanding of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t hate her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I hadn’t voiced it, Gu Ryunghwa somehow understood what I was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s not like she ever did anything wrong. It’s just a little awkward and distant. Isn’t it the same for you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t answer right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…And honestly, if anyone had the right to hate, it’d be her, not us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice wavered slightly as she continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But she doesn’t hate us. So… why should we hate her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words lingered in the air, leaving me swallowing hard without realizing it.\u003C\u002Fp>",1844,"2026-06-05T15:10:19.687Z",1,"novelbin.me","a46a1d64cfdb9a18203cd2e7a3f1462053975caffe9b68eeca2f8753f8166080","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-814","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-812",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]