[{"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-961":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},1240387,1667,"Chapter 960","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-961",961,"\u003Cp>Time stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The falling leaves halted mid-air, the drifting dust stilled, and even the chirping insects fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air felt stifling, as if nothing flowed through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the heavy and stagnant atmosphere, it was I who broke the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What are you…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glared at Yarang as I spoke.There was no way I couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked sharply, my voice rough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang said nothing. She simply stood there, staring at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those clear, golden eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I bit my lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was that face staring back at me from behind the mask?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long brown hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pale white skin with slightly drooping eyelids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A captivating yet serene beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And those brilliant golden eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A face I had longed to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both in my past life.And even now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This energy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faint energy emanating from her kept scratching at my insides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was just her appearance mimicking that face, it wouldn’t have rattled me this much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This isn’t just imitation.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That presence within her.Those eyes looking at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just what the hell was she?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was she, to bear that face and that presence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to grab her and demand answers—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshhh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang lowered her head and picked up her fallen mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, she covered her face once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whooong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy I had felt disappeared entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All she did was put on a mask, and yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Is this the same power as the mask Shadow King gave me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mask I used for my performances…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its power felt eerily similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That won’t work on me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she really think hiding behind a mask would make me forget what I saw?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Answer me. Why are you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why are you here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why the hell are you in Mangye, looking like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why do you keep hovering around me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to voice my questions—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssssshhhhhh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOM—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something crashed down from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact sent a massive shockwave through the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kicking up dust and dirt, Cheonma landed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark energy swirled around her as she stood before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you last time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice carried an unmistakable killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The next time, I will truly kill you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, black energy coiled in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That’s…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing it, my eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the Cheonma Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very same energy blade she had wielded in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold and relentless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword that had slaughtered the Three Elders and wiped out several sects of the Nine Great Clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power that had left devastation in its wake—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was now forming in Cheonma’s grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssssssssshhhh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It trembled violently, as if devouring all the surrounding energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fierce and overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even just looking at it made my brows furrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping that power in her hands, Cheonma moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lunged toward Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, I immediately shouted—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“STOP—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cheonma didn’t stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my teeth, my mind racing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whooong—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, something shifted around Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang blocked Cheonma’s sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, a blade had appeared in her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It bore the same shape as Cheonma’s sword—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But its color and aura were the complete opposite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That sword….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew that sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Anti-Demon Sword (Pama Geom \u002F 破魔劍).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brilliant white blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same sword that Wi Seol-ah had once infused with her energy in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword that existed to punish demons and slaughter demonic beings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sword that, upon contact, would unravel and extinguish all demonic energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Cheonma’s sword met Yarang’s, it began to break apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, Cheonma scowled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her sword was already half-destroyed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she didn’t retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Retracting her weapon, she moved her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shadows spread across the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Shit….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was activating her domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A field of pure demonic energy engulfed the forest, swallowing everything like a flood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the demonic energy brushed against my feet, my own demonic aura stirred wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It reacted instinctively, resisting the pull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames erupted at my fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t my black flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was white flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What the hell is this now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why the hell was this showing up now, of all times?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at the fire in disbelief, but I had no time to dwell on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma stomped lightly on the demonic-infused ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>WHOOOOM—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earth convulsed violently, waves of force surging outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vortex formed, churning like a massive tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy was moving to swallow everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Cheonma’s command, the shadows surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expanding darkness, consuming the surrounding energy, lunged toward Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as massive as the wave I had once created with my black flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That kind of force—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was enough to engulf Yarang in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I let it happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could decide—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang raised her sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssshhhhhhh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White energy gathered around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, my mouth fell open slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Moonlit Sword Dance (Wolseon Muggeom)…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was revealing her true power, as if telling me not to be confused anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white energy condensed into solid blades—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blades similar in shape to the one she was holding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew this power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Wi Seol-ah’s signature technique, both in my past life and this one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this life, she could barely manifest ten swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the number I was seeing now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was several times greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang unleashed the swords toward the incoming wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOOM—!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blades pierced through the dark tide relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive surge of demonic energy began losing form, its shape collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the towering wave shrank, nearing its end—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma rushed forward, cutting through the remnants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the wave been a mere distraction?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She closed the distance at frightening speed, swinging her sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang countered with her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! Clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fierce collisions rang through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two clashed at an incredible pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just fast—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with every clash, the force between them sent out massive ripples of energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time Cheonma’s sword met the Anti-Demon Sword, it crumbled—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cheonma didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply created another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their battle intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a glance, it seemed like Yarang was being pushed back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma’s upward strike sent Yarang’s sword flying into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just like that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thrust her sword toward Yarang’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clench—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the blade never pierced her neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I stepped in and grabbed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Enough already.”“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma glared at me, her gaze sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, pain shot through my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I had grabbed it with my already injured hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the only hand Eternal Bind was wrapped around, making it the least damaged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white flames surrounding my hand blocked Cheonma’s sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched them burn before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Calm the hell down.”“…Why are you stopping me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma looked at me as if she truly didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t understand either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean, ‘why’?” I snapped. “Then what about you? Why are you fighting in the first place?”“She was following you.”“So what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did that matter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was following me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why the hell was Cheonma interfering?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my jaw and turned to Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…And you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I met her golden eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you planning to keep going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply stared at me for a moment before loosening her grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword in her hand dissipated into energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssssshhhh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swords floating behind Cheonma also vanished into light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, Cheonma hadn’t won outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before her sword could land, Yarang’s Anti-Demon Sword could have struck her first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…That confirms it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching their fight, I was sure of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s inexperienced.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her combat style had no refinement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t like the Cheonma from my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing it up close made it clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Cheonma didn’t know how to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just brute-forced her way through battles using overwhelming strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since her power was far beyond others, it worked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s a novice with absurd strength.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no calculated precision or strategic finesse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was nothing like the Cheonma I had known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, she had been untouchable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No attack, no force could reach her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Wi Seol-ah’s Anti-Demon Sword had ever wounded her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt too close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like I could reach out and land a hit on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this really Cheonma?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What is she…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—right now, my mind wasn’t on Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was completely fixated on Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This couldn’t be happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every instinct in my body screamed that Yarang was Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah, the Divine Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To my eyes, Yarang was her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what the world told me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how absurd the situation was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why are you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I repeated the same question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over and over again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Answer me… Why—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached out to grab her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could touch her, she pulled away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She conjured a sword again and moved to strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma immediately intercepted, deflecting the Anti-Demon Sword with her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fragments of energy scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the white aura flicker in the air, I frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma growled and moved to attack again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I grabbed her shoulder and stopped her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, she didn’t charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply glared at Yarang with a twisted expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two identical faces stared at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang’s expression was hidden behind her mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cheonma…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was filled with raw emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the complete opposite of what I had seen in my past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contrast was unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I bit my lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t get used to this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang erased her sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to look at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even through the mask, I felt her golden gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was she thinking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was worse than unreadable—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was completely empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a mountain of questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none of them came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We simply stared at each other in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang suddenly leaped into the air and disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t move to stop her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I simply watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she vanished into the distance, leaving no trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when she was finally out of sight—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Let go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma spoke softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only then that I realized I was still holding her shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind was a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt like I had been punched in the skull several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I struggled to regain my senses and looked at Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at her back and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where the hell did you come from all of a sudden—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fist slammed into my gut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A direct hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had spun around and landed a punch before I could react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been too close to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact dropped me to my knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t even summon my energy to resist it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My bones felt like they were shaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… crazy… What the hell… was that for?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to snap at her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when I looked up,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mouth snapped shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma was staring at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for the first time ever—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression was filled with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had never seen that face before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips trembled as if holding back words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I don’t know… You… idiot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barely forcing out the words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned and flew off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the opposite direction Yarang had gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I remained kneeling on the ground, unable to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could only sit there and replay her words in my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Idiot?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded like she had spent a long time thinking of what to say,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only to blurt out the simplest insult she could manage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And honestly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing more fitting.\u003C\u002Fp>",2027,"2026-06-05T15:10:22.035Z",1,"novelbin.me","9708db07b1ccea239301b08d46d1026bfff50073b486c427480496914eda0f7b","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-962","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-960",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]