[{"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-937":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},1240687,1667,"Chapter 936","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-937",937,"\u003Cp>Crack-!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a forest painted with vibrant colors, birds suddenly took flight, their cries echoing through the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still too early for the sun to set.The crimson-stained sky was pierced by the rising silhouettes of the birds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were countless, filling the heavens,and the one who ruled the sky from the ground quietly observed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman’s massive tail shifted.At the same time, she raised her arm, brushing it lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of unease filled the woman’s beautiful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shuddered.It was a sensation she had never felt in her long life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could this be?The woman did not know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something poked at her arm, persistently.It wasn’t merely a tactile sensation, nor was it exactly her arm—it felt as if it touched her very soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a feeling entirely new to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman gazed at the sky with an unreadable expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was it?Where was this feeling coming from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman wondered. Was it connected to the strange sensations she had been experiencing recently?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her thoughts floated like mist, as if her mind were shrouded in fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How strange…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She closed her eyes briefly, her vision filling with silence.In the stillness, something began to bubble to the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the image of a face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whose face was it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman pondered, but nothing clear came to mind.She saw black hair—it was someone’s hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a pair of eyes.Slightly slanted eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed to be a man.He was dressed in dark crimson clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a form she had never seen before, yet it felt strangely familiar.Where had she seen this before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could make her feel such longing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the woman could not tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the man’s gaze turned to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fiery red of his eyes made her freeze.His expressionless stare appeared devoid of any emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he looked at the woman, something began to fill his eyes.Emotion seeped in where there was none, and a smile softened his stoic face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman, almost unconsciously, placed a hand on her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It trembled. A throbbing vibration resonated within her.What was this? Why was this happening so suddenly?As she questioned herself,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man said something to her.His lips moved, but no sound reached her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did he say?The woman squinted, trying to focus on his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ah…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside the man, several small children appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two girls, full of mischief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A boy, who resembled the man but looked somewhat downcast.And a little girl cradled in the boy’s arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them made the woman’s heart surge even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unknowingly, her feet began to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to approach, but no matter how much her feet moved, the distance remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Desperately, she reached out her hand.But she couldn’t touch them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, noticing her struggle, murmured something again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is he saying? What is he trying to say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman tried to decipher his words, but they remained elusive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the man, but the boy below also moved his lips as he looked at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His small mouth formed words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the man’s, the boy’s words could be understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Mom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman froze at the sound.What did he just say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he addressing her?If so, why would he say such a thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confused, the woman stared at the boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene before her shifted abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything scattered like mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crimson-stained sky returned, and the woman opened the eyes she had closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gently ran her hand across her forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had she just experienced?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had she seen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strangely, she couldn’t remember.She had seen something, but why couldn’t she recall it?She had just seen it, hadn’t she?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman felt unsettled by this alien sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something that had been happening often lately.Fleeting glimpses, like whispers carried off by the wind, leaving her memory blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was becoming a frequent occurrence for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could see, yet could not remember, and the woman grew increasingly frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was this happening?The woman wanted to resolve this discomfort.Where had this problem begun?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could have caused this sudden issue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she quietly pondered, something came to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It started then.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day she found the vanished abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was from that moment.From that day, the woman had felt something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling something crumble within her, the woman slowly steadied her breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With every breath she took, the air quivered around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a phenomenon caused by her very existence, which was as vast as the heavens themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long moment of breathing with the atmosphere, the woman’s eyes lowered, calm now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I thought. I must find it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was the beginning, then that must be the cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The encounter with the abyss.And the sight of the dragonlings.If those were truly the root of the problem,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I must capture them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Capture them.And remove them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were a poison to the heavens, it was only right to remove them, and for the woman, such a task was not particularly difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman’s gaze turned toward the forest beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, a woman with brown hair and a black mask sat, looking exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the woman’s approach, she raised her head.Golden eyes within the mask rolled upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at her, the woman spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My daughter.”“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her call, Yarang met her gaze.She appeared weary, drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My poor child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman approached her gently.With every barefoot step she took, flowers bloomed on the dry ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems something murky has appeared in the heavens.”“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was something that blurred her existence, it was only right to remove it without hesitation.She wondered why she had hesitated at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me what you have seen and heard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman said, stroking Yarang’s mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>****************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fragments scattered in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick dust filled the air, obscuring vision, while flames flickered atop the concave ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unusual thing was that these flames weren’t the usual crimson or azure. Instead, they were murky and dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, they seemed blue, but perhaps black, or even closer to ashen gray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The colors bore no resemblance to one another, yet depending on how one looked, they gave off entirely different impressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harsh and rough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And filled with an inexplicable sense of discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stared silently at this strange energy—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Grrgh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp pain surged through me, and I clutched my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was my left arm, the one I had just thrown a punch with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grrk…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The agony made my knees buckle involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My hand trembled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the kind of trembling that came from enduring intense pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as though my muscles had been torn apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every joint in my arm felt powerless, while waves of unbearable pain washed over me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t just my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon inspection, my entire body was in disarray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood vessels, swollen and engorged, bore evidence of the immense strain I had endured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aftermath of the blast had ravaged my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain was so intense, it elicited a groan of disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about my qi? I checked my core and let out a dry laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Insane.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly seventy percent of my qi was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was far more than I had ever used in my past life. To think that one single strike could deplete seventy percent of my energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, more than half of it had likely been wasted because I couldn’t control or maintain it properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even accounting for that, the sheer consumption was absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My arm refused to lift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a problem of the joints—it felt more like total exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A laugh escaped me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does it always have to be like this, every time I try something new?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was worse than the first time I used the Flame Prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even worse than when I trained with the Flame Prison Star Spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is it that every time I attempt something, my body gets wrecked?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought was both amusing and—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirked as I looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not so bad.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though my body was shattered, the results made it worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more importantly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was right.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combining two martial arts and binding them with sorcery to create something new—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a hunch something would come of it, and I was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I created something unbelievable.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before me, it was as if hell itself had unfolded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I couldn’t believe what I had done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the volcanic wave created by Shin Noya was not as vast as Mount Hua itself, it wouldn’t crumble from just one punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the power I unleashed was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Shin Noya not stood to block it, who knows how far it might have spread?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no wonder Shin Noya was staring at me with such disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Kid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His martial robe was torn and tattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hair was slightly disheveled, and his eyes were wide with shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What in the world have you created?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the sword clutched in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I liked every bit of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirked and addressed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For a dragon, it’s not so—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could finish, my legs gave way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I collapsed as strength drained from my body, falling to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone caught me and held me in their arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft scent and the gentle swish of hair brushed against my nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As my vision blurred, I caught a glimpse of a familiar face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t say a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because at that moment, I lost consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yangcheon lost consciousness without uttering a word. His limp, sprawled body looked completely drained of energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman, who had been quietly observing him, carefully supported him, ensuring he wouldn’t collapse further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was none other than the one Gu Yangcheon referred to as Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma continued to stare at the unconscious Gu Yangcheon. Her gaze seemed to search him over, as if checking for any injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied that there were no significant issues, she gave a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she was about to move with him in her arms—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should be resting, yet here you are stirring up trouble,” Shin Noya remarked, brushing the dust off his clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma turned to look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’ve injured yourself, you should take a break. What’s the point of rushing here to take care of that brat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma didn’t reply. She simply stared at him silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya tilted his head under her unwavering gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you planning to yell at me for leaving him in that state?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t bother. I got hit too, you know. Tsk, tsk. No respect for elders these days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t as if he had hit him that hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, he’d even gone out of his way to set the stage for Gu Yangcheon to let loose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the fool had gone and overexerted himself, ending up in this mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling a bit wronged, Shin Noya added, “I had my reasons for doing what I did. If there’s anyone to blame—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya squinted at her unexpected question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alright?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My body?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she worried about him? Shin Noya let out a dry laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s worrying about who here? Kid, you’d be better off worrying about the one slung over your shoulder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re in worse shape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your eyesight must be worse than I thought.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was she even getting that from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he shrugged and dismissed her concern—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re in pain, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma’s words, spoken with certainty, made Shin Noya momentarily fall silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression turned slightly serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized she must have noticed something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell the kid,” he said after a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma tilted her head slightly, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It won’t do him any good to know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s more sensitive than he looks. Pretend you don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, Cheonma nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was enough for Shin Noya. Just as he thought the matter settled—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you the same?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma’s question was pointed: wasn’t he just as vulnerable?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, Shin Noya chuckled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps he had been, once upon a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if I am, I can’t afford to be anymore. So let it be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma regarded him for a long moment before replying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Acknowledging his words, she carried Gu Yangcheon away, vanishing into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left alone, Shin Noya stood still, gazing at his empty hand—the one not holding his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thin, weathered tips of his fingers blurred faintly for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clenched his hand into a fist, then opened it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hand returned to its original state, as though nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As though everything was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>",2161,"2026-06-05T15:10:21.117Z",1,"novelbin.me","ddc4f2565c6ffa9b9e1f34794a01e2067eb30e32b9b9d449005533cf3425acec","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-938","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-936",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]