[{"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-843":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},1240643,1667,"Chapter 842","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-843",843,"\u003Cp>“Ughhh…!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wretched scream echoed from the man collapsed on the ground.Clutching his shattered jaw, he crawled along the floor in a pitiful state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood and saliva poured down from his crushed jaw, and his bloodshot eyes showed the sheer agony he was enduring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell is this bastard even saying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guhh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I snarled as I stomped on the head of the crawling man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep your nonsense to yourself, seriously.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grrr…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re going to open your mouth, use it to talk, not spew nonsense. Don’t you agree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trembling was palpable.Was he trying to get up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t even remotely amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gaaaaahhhh---!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kicking his shin, I watched as his leg bent at an unnatural angle.He had tried to reinforce himself with Qi just before the impact, as expected of a deputy captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he hadn’t, I might have torn the leg clean off.At least he had some instincts left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What a shame.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t intended to stop at breaking it. Should I just rip it off entirely?The thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I held back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh… gurgle…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man groaned pitifully.I glanced down at him and then raised my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people who had been ready to rush at me froze mid-step.Before I realized it, the area was surrounded by members of the Star Dragon Division.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by their stances, they looked ready to charge at any moment…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t take a single step forward. Can’t you see I’m having a conversation right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grrr…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed the unknown man by his throat and lifted him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His bloodied appearance was beyond pitiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you move, I’ll kill him. And whoever moves, too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice carried a killing intent.Even I thought I might’ve overdone it a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it seemed to work; the men who had been hesitating froze completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of them exchanged glances as if looking for an opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead and test it, if you think I’m bluffing. See what happens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glared at them, and they flinched under my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The killing intent I emitted didn’t waver, and the pressure from my suppressed Qi steadily increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“D-Deputy Captain….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone addressed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Song Hojung, who was currently serving as a deputy under the Star Dragon Division alongside Tang So-yeol.He approached with a troubled expression, but I raised my hand to stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stay back. I’m having a conversation with this guy right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll listen to whatever you have to say later. For now, shut up and back off. Is that clear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Understood. I’ll wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Hojung retreated, though his subdued expression grated on my nerves.It made me unconsciously grip harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, you bastard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh… urgh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finish what you were saying earlier. What was it again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The body in my grip trembled violently at my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you say? Come on, tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked repeatedly, but no response came.Of course, the man’s jaw was shattered—how could he possibly speak?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew that too, but it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at this. You ignore someone long enough, and now you think it’s okay to disrespect me, huh? Hey, does my word mean nothing to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh… ahh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell are you mumbling? Speak clearly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slammed his head into the ground.The sound of his skull cracking echoed, and blood splattered slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hi… hiick!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“D-Deputy Captain…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horrified gasps of the onlookers didn’t faze me.Wiping the blood off my cheek, I spoke to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s not dead, so don’t overreact. What, do you think I’d kill someone on our side?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I said it with a smile, but for some reason, the mood only grew more oppressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, that’s a bit disappointing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just wanted to have a conversation, but you all look so uneasy. Not happy? Then do whatever you want.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I straightened up as I spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man in my grasp seemed to have passed out from the ordeal.Blood was flowing excessively, but he probably wouldn’t die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘For about half a quarter of an hour, anyway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long, but enough.Surely, he could hold on for that long. After all, he was skilled enough to be considered a top-tier martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That’s just enough time.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes would be perfect to deal with the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a step forward, and immediately, the Azure Dragon Division members braced themselves.Their stances were perfect for drawing their swords at a moment’s notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was, in essence, how one would treat an enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm. I thought we were on the same side. Shouldn’t you be treating me better than this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking forward, I flicked my hand, and droplets of blood splattered to the ground.Of course, it wasn’t my blood—it was from the man lying there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the men’s wariness only intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning someone into that mess and then claiming to be allies must have been absurd to them.I could understand. But I had my reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, he kept spewing nonsense, so I thought he wanted me to beat him. There’s an old saying: the only cure for a mad dog is a beating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had he said again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about being part of some useless offshoot, a worthless insect.Or was it that even among the deputies, the gap in skill was too vast?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I mean, he’s not entirely wrong.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wouldn’t deny it. There was indeed a difference in skill levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star Dragon Division was less than a year old, while the Azure Dragon Division had a long and storied history.Even among the deputies, Song Hojung and that idiot were on completely different levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Hojung was at the pinnacle of his craft, while that bastard had long surpassed mere mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you compared their skills, it was true that the gap was immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But saying it out loud was a completely different matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the kind of thing you don’t say aloud.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, it was either a declaration of war or a blatant sign of disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you agree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked, but silence was all I received. Such quiet individuals they were.Or perhaps, they were simply embodying the righteous sect tradition of clamming up when things didn’t go their way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just don’t get it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you keep making things difficult? I’m not even asking for much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I took a step closer, the sound of swords being drawn echoed.Amid the dark, their blades glimmered in the moonlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t need us to get along. Just keep your mouths shut and do your jobs. Is that so hard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the issue? I didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And honestly, I didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Captain of the Star Dragon Division, if you take another step—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever it was, I didn’t need to know.After all, hadn’t it always been this way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another step, and what? You’ll draw your blades? Sounds good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If something displeased me, I’d break it.I’d always wanted to cause a scene, but I hadn’t acted on it for one reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Because I’m weak.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was weak, and recklessly stirring up trouble would only lead to consequences I couldn’t handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, what about now?Regrettably, that hadn’t changed. That thought remained the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was still weak in the heart of Zhongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if there were fewer stronger than me now, countless variables remained.And in the face of those uncertainties, I was weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It couldn’t be helped.I had too much to protect and too many responsibilities to shoulder. So I had to hold myself back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No matter what, this…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I endured and endured, this was not something I couldn’t handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I released my pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hiiiik-!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grrrkk!!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force emanating from my body surged outward, and a gust of wind swept through the area.The wind swirled around, enclosing the space as if forming a barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This can’t be….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could such a thing be done with mere energy…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all martial artists, and they must have realized how absurd and irrational what I had just done was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As with anyone who witnesses something terrifying, fear crept into their eyes as they looked at the barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even those who had been brimming with hostility moments ago.Watching them, I didn’t erase my grin as I asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? Go ahead, do what you were about to do. You were ready to charge at me, weren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack. I loosened my neck.As I continued approaching, they began backing away instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them retreat hesitantly, I let out a sigh and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where do you think you’re going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My low voice made one of the men at the front hurriedly speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Captain of the Star Dragon Division, please, calm yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What an unamusing statement. Calm down?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I were going to calm down, I wouldn’t have done this in the first place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand your anger, but I believe there’s been some sort of misunderstanding… Perhaps we could start with a conversation—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Conversation, my ass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stomped the ground and shot forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scenery shifted rapidly, and my hand was already moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed the neck of the man who had been speaking and lifted him into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grrkk…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He struggled and flailed desperately, but he was lifted powerlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you were going to talk, you should’ve done so earlier. You’re way too late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“P-Please… listen to… us….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure, I’m sure you all have your reasons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There must have been some kind of issue that led to this situation.It was only natural. They were probably frustrated and full of grievances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’ll listen to those later from my subordinates. Right now, this is more important.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I couldn’t care less.What mattered now was venting my emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clench. I tightened my fist. Power coursed through it.It was a simple application of Qi reinforcement. There were no flames, but this much was more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I twisted my waist, channeling strength into my shoulder.I intended to strike with my fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I did… this man in my grasp would—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Die.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His organs would rupture, and he would meet his end.And I planned to do the same to the rest of them standing nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was going to kill every single one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single person would leave here alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the thought driving me as I swung my fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before my fist struck his abdomen, I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom---!! The Qi gathered in my fist dissipated, creating a shockwave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, I released my grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man I had been holding collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.I looked at him and then at my own hand, lowering my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What was that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was I about to do just now?I widened my eyes, trying to make sense of the strange feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Was I going to kill them all?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been planning to kill the man in my grasp and everyone else around me.If I hadn’t pulled back my punch at the last moment, he would already be dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after that, I would have killed everyone else here as well.It was an overwhelming urge—an irresistible need to kill them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought sent a chill down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, this is a mess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ran a hand down my face, struggling to regain my composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that I had nearly killed them all wasn’t the issue.It wasn’t an impossible thing to do, and I was genuinely angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real problem was that the thought and emotions driving me to kill them weren’t mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, venting my anger by beating them made sense, but if it were truly me, I wouldn’t have gone so far as to kill them.Killing allies will only get me in trouble..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew that clearly, so I had only intended to create trouble within manageable limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So why did I try to kill them…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had I done that?I furrowed my brows, still feeling the lingering traces of the emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The killing intent I felt was real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a rational decision but an instinctual desire to crush something disgusting in front of me, like stepping on a bug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t my emotion.This wasn’t my killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something had surfaced from within and momentarily taken over my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What on earth?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could this be?As the question sprouted in my mind, a scene I had seen before surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Why are you still alive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That moment when I had faced my past self.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if I were beginning to understand something, I took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiiing---!!Booom---!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure encasing the area trembled violently as it was struck.It didn’t just tremble—it tore slightly, creating a fissure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiiing---!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From that fissure, a pale green flash accompanied by a sword tip lunged at me.I twisted my body immediately, creating distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flash struck the spot where I had been, unleashing a loud explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dust obscured my vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What the hell are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice, trembling with barely suppressed fury, came from within the dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a short, cutting sound, the dust was blown away by a sword’s wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the view cleared, the one who had broken the barrier and spoken revealed themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unsurprisingly, it was none other than Ilcheon Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He surveyed the surroundings, then, with a deeply furrowed brow, addressed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you gone mad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expression on his face clearly asked why I had caused such chaos in his territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, I ran a hand over my face once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was bad.Realizing the state I was in made it all the more evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t fight Ilcheon Sword right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I might really kill him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we fought now, I felt I wouldn’t hold back and would truly kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>",2302,"2026-06-05T15:10:19.687Z",1,"novelbin.me","63d239f99dcdf809915e7afa1719374a20a1401d0fc7c9d8870df5741619033e","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-901","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-842",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]