[{"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-831":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},1240631,1667,"Chapter 830","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-831",831,"\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clattering of iron rods echoed as they hit the ground, and a man drenched in sweat exhaled heavily before turning around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man with sharp, piercing eyes—Ilcheon Sword—looked at another man and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Ilcheon Sword’s question, Mun Do-hyuk, still kneeling on the floor, responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The Poison King and the Star King have made contact.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Poison King?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ilcheon Sword furrowed his brow at Mun Do-hyuk’s words. The Poison King? Out of nowhere?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too sudden—too unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Clan had sealed itself away after admitting to illegal human experiments several years ago. And yet, the Poison King had shown up at the branch?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Sure, his daughter is still active. That much is understandable.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tang Clan’s daughter, serving as vice-captain of the Azure Dragon Division, could have been a plausible reason for his visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s going on?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What business could the Poison King have had with the Star King? And why now, of all times?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could he have figured something out?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint unease began to creep up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a delicate moment, with preparations underway—and now, of all people, the Poison King had appeared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the Star King have sensed something?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If he did, who tipped him off?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ilcheon Sword’s mind raced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this orchestrated by the Celestial Stream Sect’s leader from the start? Or was it yet another move by the Star King?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the Poison King’s involvement, could this be linked to Sichuan? If not—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could there be a traitor?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ilcheon Sword shot a menacing glare at Mun Do-hyuk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was a traitor, this man would be the prime suspect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he deal with him now, before the situation spiraled further? As Ilcheon Sword’s hand tensed with internal energy and he began to move—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“B-But, fortunately, it seems they haven’t uncovered the plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ilcheon Sword stopped in his tracks at the added remark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you think so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The teacups were different.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacups?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. The Poison King didn’t drink a single sip, while the Star King emptied his cup completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star King had finished his tea, while the Poison King hadn’t touched his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might have seemed like a trivial detail, but in this situation, it carried significant implications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The issue was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s hardly enough to be certain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t definitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the Poison King appeared not to have drunk the tea, he might have tasted it without leaving evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And besides—this was the Poison King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even if he didn’t drink it, there’s a good chance he noticed something.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he ranked lower in raw strength compared to other martial masters, no one surpassed the Poison King on the battlefield when it came to the use of toxins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skill with poisons was unrivaled, and he stood at the pinnacle of that deadly art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could such a man really have failed to detect the poison—even if it was diluted and hidden within the tea?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ilcheon Sword couldn’t be certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And uncertainty meant trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“B-But, Deputy Leader—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mun Do-hyuk quickly added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Poison King had noticed, wouldn’t the Star King have refused to drink it as well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Poison King had detected the poison, it was unthinkable that the Star King would have consumed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Mun Do-hyuk’s point, and even Ilcheon Sword found it odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s also strange that the Star King remained calm….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the Poison King had sensed something, he wouldn’t have let the Star King drink the tea without warning him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if the Star King had realized he’d consumed poison, he wouldn’t have remained idle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would’ve turned the branch upside down by now. But even after all this time, everything remained quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had they really not noticed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be good news if true, but the nagging sense of unease wouldn’t go away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Something doesn’t feel right.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shiver crept down Ilcheon Sword’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this a variable? If so, he needed to create distance—time to reevaluate the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To confirm whether the poison had been detected or not—and—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why did the Poison King come here in the first place?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to find out what had brought him to the branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, pulling back now wasn’t an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…It’s too late to retreat.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already crossed the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d severed ties, allied with the unorthodox Celestial Stream Sect’s leader, and even resorted to poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no turning back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sharp flick, Ilcheon Sword donned the robe lying at his feet and glanced at Mun Do-hyuk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No one can be trusted.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the Celestial Stream Sect’s leader—and certainly not this man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But was this suffocating? No, it wasn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is how Zhongyuan works.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen it time and time again. The only thing that mattered was who survived and rose to the top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that in mind—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This man will do.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mun—what was his name again? Mun something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man desperate to return to the Azure Dragon Division and willing to give his all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the others, whose motives were more obscure, this one was easier to use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’ll be the easiest to deal with later.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone disposable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, he would put this pawn to use. Smiling faintly, Ilcheon Sword spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Officer Mun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Deputy Leader!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand the situation. I’ll handle the rest from here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“B-But—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mun Do-hyuk hesitated, but Ilcheon Sword approached and interrupted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember what I asked you last time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-Yes! Of course!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mun Do-hyuk responded eagerly, as though he’d been waiting for this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You asked me to report on the Azure Dragon Division’s activities to the Star King.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. You have a sharp memory… dependable as always.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-No, not at all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mun Do-hyuk beamed at the praise, and Ilcheon Sword gave a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, he could still make use of this man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Officer Mun, can I ask you for another favor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course! A-Anything you need!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ilcheon Sword smirked and patted Mun Do-hyuk’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time, add one more detail to your report.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Add…what exactly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say that the Azure Dragon Division uncovered some unusual information and will prepare to act in a few days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mun Do-hyuk immediately grasped the intent behind Ilcheon Sword’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information? The Azure Dragon Division, as one of the main alliance’s elite units, was bound to have gathered substantial intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this—this was deliberate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A planted piece of misinformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They’re probably making their move by now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stroked my chin as I walked. It was about time for something to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What will they try?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, news would have spread about the Poison King’s visit to the branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but wonder how Ilcheon Sword would respond to that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he try to create distance and play it safe? Or would he press forward?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s more likely to push forward.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already done too much to back down now. Retreat would mean falling off a cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From my perspective, the latter seemed obvious—but still—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can’t be too sure.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one could predict his actions with absolute certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This complicates things a little.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t expected the Poison King to show up that day. That had thrown a wrench in my plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But dealing with the unexpected was part of the job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I wasn’t too worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d already made preparations the moment the situation started to shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real question was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How suspicious is Ilcheon Sword right now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His doubts could range anywhere—from the Poison King and me to the Celestial Stream Sect’s leader and even the branch master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were a few others he might suspect as well, but I wasn’t too concerned about them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as his suspicions stayed within those limits, it wouldn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Honestly, it’d be nice if things went smoothly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… wouldn’t that be a bit boring?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ridiculous thought crossed my mind before I immediately shook it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What nonsense.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a game. That creeping sense of excitement felt almost repulsive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I focused my thoughts and glanced to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Humming~ hmm~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside me, Tang So-yeol was happily humming a tune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her carefree demeanor eased some of my tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the day after the Poison King’s visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had ordered my subordinates to focus on gathering information rather than training, and as soon as I woke up, I headed straight for the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol was walking beside me, her cheerful humming filling the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned to her and asked casually,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long has it been since you last went home?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what I knew, Tang So-yeol had been away from home for quite some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her training with the Shadow King and her visit to Henan had kept her busy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm… A year? Maybe two?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled at her uncertain answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So she’s been training nonstop.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant she’d barely visited home during her intense training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense, though. Reaching her current level of skill would have required sheer determination and effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her quick, light steps, I thought to myself—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s almost surpassed the Poison Queen.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol in my past life—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had reached the pinnacle of poison techniques, earning her the name Poison Queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She hasn’t mastered Invulnerability to All Poisons.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Poison Queen’s true strength came from her ability to reach the limits of poison arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could still recall the suffocating aura she had released.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just touching it would rot flesh, and inhaling it would kill anyone without resistance or high cultivation instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was this overwhelming lethality and endless energy that allowed her to stand against the Demonic Cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Poison Queen’s ability to survive was rooted in her unmatched destructive power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Tang So-yeol in this life—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I wonder how strong she is now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked cheerful and carefree as she walked, almost like she was skipping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when I focused on her feet, I narrowed my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There’s no sound.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her light, skipping steps, there wasn’t a single noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this wasn’t smooth ground—we were walking on a dirt road scattered with rocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For her footsteps to be completely silent—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s definitely improved.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was proof that she had nearly mastered stealth techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While she might not have reached the level of the Shadow King, she was still exceptional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had even managed to fool my senses for a brief moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her growth had leaned more toward stealth than poison, but I actually thought that suited her better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She won’t die the same way she did before.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her past life, she had sacrificed herself to protect Sichuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wouldn’t happen again—not this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you staring at me like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t realized I’d been watching her so intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang So-yeol’s cheeks were faintly flushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew what that reaction meant now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I could do anything about it—not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked away and replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s nothing. Just remembering the past.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The past? When?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A long, long time ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A long time ago? Oh! You mean when we first met?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not exactly… but something like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I killed you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a truth I could never bring myself to tell her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something like that? What does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pulled Tang So-yeol along before she could press me any further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were already approaching our destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking up, I saw the large plaque hanging above the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sichuan Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been a long time since I last set foot in this house of legends.\u003C\u002Fp>",1946,"2026-06-05T15:10:19.687Z",1,"novelbin.me","a037d9efc6a6826d9c451585c78e21a69812e4f039d3efc68d1fbd217d41d268","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-832","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-830",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]