[{"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-814":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},1240614,1667,"Chapter 813","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-814",814,"\u003Cp>A small bead rolled and dropped with a soft thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if something had fallen into place inside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam Mi doesn’t hate us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That statement felt strangely out of place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could that really be true?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had lived my entire life certain that Madam Mi resented and despised me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, none of it made any sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If not, then how could she act that way?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were far more reasons to hate me than to like me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were far more reasons to push me away than to accept me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I couldn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She doesn’t hate me? How can you be so sure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked Gu Ryunghwa, unable to grasp how she could be so certain of Madam Mi’s feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ryunghwa tilted her head with a somewhat baffled expression and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother. Do you really not get it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can you not know...? Seriously, I feel bad for the girls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop messing around and explain properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Explain? It’s obvious you’re the only one who doesn’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ryunghwa frowned deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She opened her mouth as if she was going to elaborate, but then…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Never mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not telling you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s with starting a conversation and then just dropping it? That’s low.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like you have room to talk. You said you’d come, but you didn’t. I heard you even told Yung Pung you’d visit him. Said it yourself, didn’t you? Then you didn’t show up. And now you’re calling me low?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, I was at a loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d grown better at arguing as she got older. Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was left speechless, and Gu Ryunghwa let out a small sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway… What are you going to do now? Are you going back to Shanxi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re going somewhere else again, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her disappointed expression, I quickly tried to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just… I have some things to take care of. It’s not like I don’t want to go back. I swear, I really do have—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t need to make excuses. I know you’re busy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Gu Ryunghwa turned her head and stared straight ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re trying to catch that Cheonma guy, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unexpected word froze me in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t expected her to bring up that name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know, you know. That you’ve… become someone important to people now. And that you’re busy trying to fight the Demonic Cult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I held my breath, unable to find the right words to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re calling you a hero, right? Honestly, I can’t imagine you as a hero.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her sarcastic tone, the corners of her lips lifted ever so slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, I guess… I do feel a little proud.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t get the wrong idea, okay? It’s just a tiny bit. People keep saying how amazing you are, so… I guess that’s why it happened. Got it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing my expression shift, she hurried to deny any deeper meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of face was I making for her to react like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever it was, it must have looked wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t embarrassment or disbelief that I felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, it’s fine. Really.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This praise, born out of misunderstandings and appearances I had fabricated, wasn’t mine to claim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother? What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s nothing. My stomach just feels a little off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that I felt even the slightest bit happy hearing those words from Gu Ryunghwa—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made me sick to my stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dressed lightly and headed toward my destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing my conversation with Gu Ryunghwa and having a brief discussion with Elder Il, I made my way to Madam Mi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, I had intended to meet Moyong Hee-ah, but she still seemed upset and refused to see me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I left a message with Madam Mi instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she heard I was leaving for Sichuan, her reaction remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you planning to leave the child here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was likely referring to Dol-Dol, which left me momentarily uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this her way of saying she didn’t want to be burdened and I should take him with me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking along those lines, I replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I figured it’d be troublesome for you to keep watching over him, so I’ll just—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never said it was troublesome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone sharpened slightly—was it just my imagination?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Oh, I see. But I still think it would be better if I—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Murim Alliance is already keeping you busy. It’ll be too much to manage a child on top of that. Leave him here—I’ll take care of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she had already made up her mind, then why even bother asking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I held back the urge to voice my thoughts aloud. It wasn’t a bad outcome, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bringing Dol-Dol along might have been convenient, but it wasn’t really necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many people involved, he wouldn’t be of much use anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only real concern was what sort of trouble he might cause if left unsupervised...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He seems to be enjoying himself, so maybe it’ll be fine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dol-Dol had been doing surprisingly well, acting like an innocent child while being well-fed and taken care of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently, he went out with Madam Mi almost every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly is he up to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t seem like he was doing anything significant—just dressing nicely and being treated to snacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to tell, but as long as he seemed fine, there was no need to interfere for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nodding to myself, I shifted focus to more pressing matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The problem isn’t that—it’s….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stroked my chin, thinking about Madam Mi’s father—the former Baekhwa Clan Leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I should have tried to meet with him again.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former Baekhwa Clan Leader—a direct blood relative of the Gu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were things I needed to ask him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But he wasn’t there.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had hoped to speak with him last night while visiting Madam Mi, but he was nowhere to be found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where could he have gone? Had he disappeared for good?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps Madam Mi had hidden him away to prevent us from meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That seemed more likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why, though?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did Madam Mi hate her father so much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And why was this man, despised by his own daughter, connected to the Gu family bloodline?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The questions lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il had assured me it wasn’t anything to worry about, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m curious.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I pretended otherwise, I couldn’t ignore it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to find out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I need to finish this trip quickly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d wrap things up as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ideally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Before the season ends.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Autumn had only just begun, and I wanted to settle everything before it ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resolving to act quickly, I turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind me stood fewer than twenty people, their faces tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is everyone ready?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…All members are prepared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol immediately responded to my short question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her answer came so quickly that it seemed she had been prepared for it in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made me want to pat her head out of amusement, but I resisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were too many eyes watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Then let’s—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to report to Muk Yeon and set out when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sensed movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to look, I saw a group approaching from the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a small group, either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their attire looked familiar, not just to me but to everyone else as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-Isn’t that Ilcheong Sword…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Azure Dragon Commander?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leading the group was a sharp-looking middle-aged man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ilcheong Sword, the Azure Dragon Commander—known as the strongest among the commanders, second only to the current Sword Emperor—was walking toward us with his subordinates in tow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others reacted quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t surprising to see members of the Azure Dragon Unit here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had already been informed that this operation would involve cooperation with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did Ilcheong Sword come personally?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was an entirely different matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe he came to see us off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would the Azure Dragon Commander bother? Are the two of them even close?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard they weren’t. In fact, didn’t they have some friction before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As murmurs spread, growing louder with each passing moment, Ilcheong Sword appeared, and I stepped forward to meet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Ilcheong Sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good to see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ilcheong Sword extended his hand, and without hesitation, I took it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the firm grip, I smiled and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I had heard you were willing to assist us, but I didn’t expect you to come in person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha. I couldn’t just sit back after hearing that the Star Dragon Unit was heading out on its first mission. I’m glad I can offer my help in this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a slight increase in pressure—enough to notice but not excessive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only worried that my presence might be burdensome for the Star Dragon Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not at all. Your recent reputation precedes you, Senior. Having your support is reassuring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m relieved to hear that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exchange of words was warm—almost too warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much so that the onlookers couldn’t help but whisper among themselves in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like they’re closer than we thought.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Why would someone like Ilcheong Sword ever cause friction?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They began forming their own narratives, clearly misinterpreting the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their assumptions made my ears itch, but I ignored them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reality wasn’t nearly as friendly as it seemed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This bastard’s digging at me the moment he shows up.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I analyzed Ilcheong Sword’s words carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— ‘I couldn’t just sit back after hearing that the Star Dragon Unit was heading out on its first mission.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interpretation: I was so worried you’d screw up the moment you left that I couldn’t sleep and had to come supervise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— ‘I only worried that my presence might be burdensome.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interpretation: You’re a rookie, so having me around might save you from embarrassing yourself. Even if you’re uncomfortable, just deal with it if you want to succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I softened the interpretation, the meaning wasn’t much different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His seemingly kind words hid sharp barbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t about to let it slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard much about your recent reputation, Senior. I’m sure your support will be invaluable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had just brought up his reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth was, Ilcheong Sword’s recent success rate wasn’t particularly high, and his failures were no secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bringing that up couldn’t possibly be taken as a compliment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension between us rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our handshake, initially firm, began to escalate into a contest of strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossing the line between polite pressure and outright competition, we both tightened our grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I adjusted my posture slightly, controlling my energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssss…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right on cue, he let a sliver of energy slip, as if by accident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing the urge to smirk, I feigned surprise and released his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As our hands separated, a faint breeze stirred the air, ruffling strands of hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Star Dragon Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ilcheong Sword spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you have any concerns, let them go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Azure Dragon Unit will fully support the Star Dragon Unit. I assure you, this mission will be a success.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath his confident words, I detected something faintly sinister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, it might have grated on me—but this time, I managed to keep my smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Concerns? Not at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need for concerns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I trusted Ilcheong Sword completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We shared the same goal, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe in you, Senior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what situation arose—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, let’s give it our best together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I knew he would act exactly as I wanted him to.\u003C\u002Fp>",1944,"2026-06-05T15:10:19.687Z",1,"novelbin.me","fe7dff33c45b5c5e447f461a4303a4f44b98e3655eb3e115fa0aa181e7ac1cf2","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-815","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-813",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]