[{"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-959":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},1240385,1667,"Chapter 958","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-959",959,"\u003Cp>I was kicked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, I found myself barefoot, staring blankly at the teahouse I had just been thrown out of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What the hell…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he really kick me out? It was absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder? Elder! Open the door! You said you’d teach me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pounded on the door with all my strength, but there was no response from inside. A clear rejection.And to top it off—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bzzzz—! BOOM—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vibration surged through the air, followed by a direct impact to my body.I was lifted off the ground and sent flying a considerable distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barely managing to land on my feet, I rolled my eyes in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Son of a bitch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of heat flared in my chest.They said they’d teach me, and now this? What kind of nonsense was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not opening? Then I’ll just break my way in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my fists, pouring my emotions into them.I tightened the force in my heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to use Cheonma Divine Art once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As power coursed through me, a scoff escaped my lips.The force of friction, the sensation of wrapping my will around it—everything felt the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, would you look at that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quality of the spell’s threads had changed. It was more refined. More intricate.The force that wove my martial arts together had become significantly stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because the spell’s loops had increased?Or was it something I had learned from that damn turtle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘With a stronger binding force…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The amount of energy slipping away had been reduced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can grasp an even stronger friction.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The better I held onto friction, the greater my power became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crrrrk—! Veins bulged across my arms.The force pressing against me was far greater than anything I had previously felt.If I released it carelessly, I might even suffer internal injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not bad.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was satisfied.Because I could still grow stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body breaking down?That was something I could endure a hundred times over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing I couldn’t endure—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is being stuck in place.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was a path forward, I wouldn’t stop.If there was a way to advance, I would use any means necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vrrrrrrrrrrrrr—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The violently spinning loops finally completed their preparation.Just as I was about to unleash the power—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If you fire that in this direction, I will never teach you anything again.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the turtle’s words, my body stiffened instinctively.The voice came directly from inside the teahouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, I let out an exasperated sigh and replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Are you seriously threatening me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes. It’s a threat.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was so damn shameless about it that I was left speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I’m not joking, so choose wisely.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Tch…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing that, I really only had one choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hwaaaaaah—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I released the power surging through my body.Like before, the energy spread through me, but this time, the intensity was even greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burst of wind swept through the area, so powerful that it startled even me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Damn.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the backlash was this strong, what would’ve happened if I had actually fired it?It would have definitely been much more destructive than when I had aimed at Shin Noya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haaaaah…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heated breath slipped through my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more I pushed myself, the more I achieved,the more anticipation I felt for this power I was trying to master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was I so fixated on this technique and not any other martial art?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Because I created it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though it was just a combination of my existing powers,the fact that I had built it myself gave it a different meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was strangely obsessed with this power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Just like back then, with the Holy Spear.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when I first transformed Flame Jade into Flame Jade Spear, it had been the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not something inherited from the Gu family,but a power I had forged entirely on my own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I seemed to have a peculiar attachment to such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which is probably why I was feeling this way now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brushing off my hands, I suppressed the energy I had just ignited.Then, turning my back on the teahouse—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ll leave for now. But you better keep your promise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spoke directly to the turtle, knowing he was listening.If he said he’d teach me, then he better follow through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no reply.But I didn’t bother waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had already gained enough for today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One extra ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still didn’t know what exactly that meant.But for now, I decided that it was more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*****************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the teahouse, I didn’t head to my next destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—! Clang, clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, I arrived at a place filled with intense heat and rough noises.The blacksmith’s forge I had visited before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even from the entrance, the heat was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was so intense that Nine Flames Firewheel Technique instinctively started circulating to block it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring the ear-splitting hammering sounds, I walked forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshhhhhhhhh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of emotions surged from all around me.The heat remained the same, but the noise abruptly vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the uncomfortable atmosphere, I smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not a bad welcome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I spoke with a grin—Thunk! Something came flying at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catching the object midair, I realized it was a hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You bastard—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rough voice roared. Tilting my head, I looked toward its source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the blacksmith I had met last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was his name again? I couldn’t remember…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what I did know was that this guy absolutely hated me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not just in a petty way—he looked like he wanted to kill me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You dare set foot here again?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screech—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed a sword hanging on the wall and charged straight at me.The other dwarves in the forge widened their eyes in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the scene unfold, I moved my foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A simple trip sent him sprawling onto the ground.The sword in his hand clattered away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grrrr…!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, he immediately tried to get up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pressed my foot onto his back, pinning him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You… you bastard…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice seethed with rage, and at that moment, the other dwarves also drew their weapons, their emotions laid bare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's a dragon.\"\"It's him. They called him a dragon.\"\"A real… dragon…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear, mixed with anger, seeped into their voices and gazes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing their whispers, I let out a quiet sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I was planning to be nice about this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after what had just happened at the teahouse, I wasn’t really in the mood for kindness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I exhaled, my voice followed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Do not move.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, their bodies froze on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the fear in their eyes deepened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…D-Dragon Speech…!?”\"He really is a dragon…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They trembled violently, clearly familiar with the Dragon Speech ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it…!\"\"Even here…! We can't let ourselves be caught…!\"\"What was the Grandmaster thinking…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could hear their voices filled with resentment.Their hatred for dragons was even stronger than I had anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So it’s worse than I thought.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had expected some hostility, but not to this degree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was processing their emotions—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hm?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt movement beneath me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grrr…!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the blacksmith I had pinned down earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I widened my eyes in interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by his movements and energy, he didn’t seem trained in martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he was resisting Dragon Speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kuh… Hrrrrgh…!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His veins bulged as if his body was on the verge of breaking.If I left him like this, he might actually shatter himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I eased the pressure I was exerting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"UAAAAAHHH—!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all his strength, he shot up from the ground.Of course, that was only possible because I had removed my foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’LL KILL YOU…!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, he grabbed his fallen sword and lunged at me again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scratching my cheek, I watched his reckless charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword flew toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I simply extended my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I caught the blade midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blacksmith grinned viciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You fool—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, I heard a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshhhhhh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with the noise, a searing pain spread through my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A distinct burning scent filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the same cursed metal as last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You idiot. Did you forget what happened before—?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blacksmith started speaking smugly, but then his face twisted in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssssshhh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as my flesh melted away, exposing bone, I was staring at him with an expressionless face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain was intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The metal was dissolving my flesh rapidly, and the bone beneath was already visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, I remained unfazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H-How…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should calm down. A person with such a short temper won’t live long.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as the blade continued to eat away at my hand, I didn't let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have something to ask.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked straight into his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know about the Dragon Emperor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His entire body flinched violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That reaction told me everything I needed to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And judging by his reaction, it wasn’t anything good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You…! You're one of his…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, don’t misunderstand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could assume the worst, I cut him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not on his side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be precise…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I loosened my grip on the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip, drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I let go, blood and bits of flesh fell from my palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm trying to kill him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened as if he had heard something incomprehensible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his reaction, I smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, how about we have a little chat?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His small body continued trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at least…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No more swords came flying at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had attacked me one more time, I would’ve ripped off his arm before continuing our conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>",1636,"2026-06-05T15:10:22.035Z",1,"novelbin.me","86225377388895bf7fd5527696508ef76e212f2c7d5d860b5bc85dc059974116","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-960","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-958",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]