[{"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-956":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},1240382,1667,"Chapter 955","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-956",956,"\u003Cp>After finishing my conversation with Noya, I descended back to the town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still not past noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The streets remained crowded, and the liveliness persisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had felt the same at Yahwol Palace—this place had an oddly bright atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhongyuan was also full of energy, but there, it felt rushed and heated. In contrast, this place carried a certain sense of ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was different?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly set it apart from Zhongyuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like there was more to it than simply being a different world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curious, I looked around as I walked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, simply observing wouldn’t reveal an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, to be honest, I wasn’t looking for an answer in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was just watching because it felt peaceful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That gentle tranquility was pleasant to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They really put a lot of effort into this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had Noya said? That this place had been built over a hundred years ago?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For something created in just a century, it was astonishingly well-made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I quietly observed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a gaze from somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being watched was nothing unusual, but this time, something was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Narrowing my eyes, I followed the direction of the gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, I wouldn't have paid it much attention since it was just someone staring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, there was emotion behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t a pleasant one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I traced the gaze to its source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those people…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I found the cause in the direction I was looking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the unique-looking people of Mount Hua, there was a particularly small group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf folk I had encountered at the forge before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked at me with unease and fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With wariness. With resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did I realize why they were looking at me that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s because of that incident.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The event that happened at the forge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation that unfolded when I met the person in charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I touched the glove he was wearing, my palm melted away. And when I revealed myself as a dragon, I felt the way their gazes changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That must have spread and spread until it reached them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So the rumors reached them too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children seemed indifferent, but the elders surrounding them were the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their determination not to let me get close was crystal clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had they said before? That they had been persecuted and enslaved by dragons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling that, I made a slight motion as if to step toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heeek—!\"\"Kh…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, they pushed the children behind them and displayed hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that level of reaction, there was no point in trying anything now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not the right time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of my plans, I did need their help—specifically, the strength of the blacksmiths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the moment, there was no good way to approach the situation. And I had other things to do, so I turned away for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a little disappointing to be looked at like that when I hadn’t done anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m used to it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being despised was nothing new to me, so it didn’t really bother me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the end…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether they liked it or not,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was going to use them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it didn’t matter if they saw me in a bad light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if I had to put it bluntly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can just act the same way toward them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, I headed toward the teahouse where the turtle should be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>********************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wandering around the town for a bit, I finally arrived at the turtle’s teahouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What the hell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight in front of me left me dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was no wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teahouse that was supposed to be here had completely vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even a trace remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if it had never existed in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of nonsense was this? My face twisted in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could something just disappear like that? And why were there no traces?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was utterly baffling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Am I losing my mind?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That seemed like the only explanation. Because this was something that shouldn’t be possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Doesn’t seem like it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, I wasn’t crazy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still had too much to do to be losing my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I silently stared at the empty space where the teahouse had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone’s playing tricks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had to be the turtle’s doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that certainty in mind, I focused my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wooong—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of power welled up in my heart, and heat rose to my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I activated my Heart Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My vision trembled slightly as a reaction occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more I used Heart Eye, and the more familiar I became with them, the more I realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every object contains energy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what it was, every single thing had energy imbued within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heart Eye weren’t just about predicting movements and finding openings in an opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They allowed me to observe the energy itself and perceive it faster than others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was probably the fundamental principle behind Paejon’s creation of Heart Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Seriously, he was insane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How the hell did he come up with something like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Tua Pacheonmu and Heart Eye—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more I learned about Paejon, the more of an enigma he became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every single person who had ever taught me was a monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was Shin Noya or Paejon, they were all the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to that, no matter how strong I became, arrogance wouldn’t be an issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that supposed to be a good thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not sure if I should be grateful for that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was secondary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Heart Eye still active, I silently observed my surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just the trees, but the rocks, the pebbles—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the plum blossoms fluttering in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each tiny object was imbued with energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the amount varied depending on its size, the faint shimmering along the edges was undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I observed quietly before turning my gaze forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seemingly empty air shimmered with energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by its form, it was definitely a house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing my eyes, I let out a breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wooong—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flow of energy dissipated as I deactivated Heart Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooosh!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of channeling the energy into my vision, I redirected it into my fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzzt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp pain surged through my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rings of Nine Flames Firewheel rapidly expanded and spun wildly, their force intertwining with the violent nature of Tua Pacheonmu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I enveloped them in my will, preventing the energy from detonating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, threads of spellcraft wove around it, reinforcing the containment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The compressed explosive force generated by friction—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gathered it into my fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intense vibration shook my bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My veins bulged, but I forcibly controlled my body, steadying my stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, my posture was a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, just as I hunched my shoulders to unleash a strike—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something burst out of the empty air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the turtle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You insane bastard! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was so shocked that even his usually hidden eyes were visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pupils, usually concealed by his thick brows, were as round as Go stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I released the energy I had been holding back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuaaaaaah—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive gust of wind exploded from my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the energy I had been suppressing dissipated instead of being discharged as an attack, the resulting wind pressure tore through the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle staggered against the blast, barely managing to steady himself with his staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the wind finally settled, his voice boomed in fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bastard, what were you trying to do just now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tilting my head, I answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You weren’t coming out, so I figured I’d make some noise to draw you out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Noise? Noise?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face scrunched up in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of lunatic makes noise like that?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well… you came out, didn’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seriously, who told him to hide?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what I could tell, he was deliberately concealing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I wasn’t in the mood to bother finding a way to unravel it properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I figured I’d just blow it away entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had even planned to use this as an opportunity to practice Cheonma Divine Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before I could fire, the turtle had burst out in a panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Judging by his reaction… would things have gone terribly wrong if I had actually fired?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he rushed out before I even launched the attack, it meant he hadn’t prepared any defenses strong enough to withstand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re completely out of your mind. What the hell were you about to use?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve been practicing something recently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Practicing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. It feels pretty useful, but I can’t use it often, so I’m getting used to it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re getting used to something like that? Do you even understand what you were trying to do just now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh… something pretty great?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I’m going to lose my mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle shook his head, exasperation dripping from his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was his problem now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there some kind of issue?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Issue? Of course, there’s an issue. What you were trying to do just now defies natural law.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It defies natural law?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it really that abnormal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One of those things alone is already absurd, and you tried to combine four? Have you completely lost it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well… I need to do it this way, or I won’t get the effect I want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to create friction to amplify the power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to endure until the moment of release, which meant reinforcing my mind with willpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to prevent it from shattering, I had to bind it with spellcraft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle opened his mouth as if to argue, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you keep doing this, not just your body, but even your soul—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly clamped his mouth shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear he wanted to say more but was holding himself back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Forget it. Just come inside for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now I can go in?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…If I say no, you’ll just blow everything away. What choice do I have?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, excuse me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With confidence, I stepped toward where the turtle stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still looked displeased, but I ignored it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I passed him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle’s teahouse suddenly appeared before my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, it was all part of a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the familiar sight, I nodded and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t have to serve me tea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wasn’t planning to, you brat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk. Tsk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clicking his tongue, the turtle walked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled a chair over and sat down, so I took a seat across from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…So what do you want this time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You remember what you told me last time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Last time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. You said that when I truly needed you, I should come find you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thick eyebrows twitched, as if recalling his own words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It shouldn’t be time for that yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know when that time is supposed to be. But I need you now, Elder. I need to get myself in order.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In order?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle gave me a puzzled look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting his gaze, I calmly replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. I need to prepare myself. I have to go see my mother, and I can’t go like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your mother? You’re going to see your mother here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where exactly is your mother? And what’s with this sudden preparation…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They say my mother is the ruler of this world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle’s eyes widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, well, widened was relative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were just a little bigger than Go stones now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No way…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stammered briefly, then fell into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts seemed to race, his mind processing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally nodded, as if understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression, however, looked strangely worn and desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that’s why… That’s why it all makes sense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elder?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re the child of a Yohou (Demonic Fox).\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very space around us trembled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>",2031,"2026-06-05T15:10:22.035Z",1,"novelbin.me","d38af0d909fd4b558aa54ba07f256a520a0fb760698facb090901e8ee3772d1f","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-957","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-955",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]