[{"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-963":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},1240389,1667,"Chapter 962","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-963",963,"\u003Cp>\"I wonder what you saw.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman stood on the tips of her pale feet and slowly walked toward Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she drew closer, the scent of flowers in the room grew ever thicker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang, her head bowed low, moved her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked as though she was about to write something on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay still.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the woman's words, Yarang's movements froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She remained still, obedient to the command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman reached out and gently stroked Yarang’s hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My daughter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think it’s better if I see for myself this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled as she spoke, and Yarang lowered her head even further—almost as if adjusting her posture to make it easier to be touched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her now properly positioned, the woman ceased stroking her and instead placed her palm firmly on the crown of Yarang’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssssss—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A current of energy rose from Yarang’s head, trailing up the woman’s arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beautiful violet-red aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aura slowly seeped into the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out a quiet hum, swallowing down the energy completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, after a brief silence—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How strange….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes, which had been closed, reopened and fixed upon Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Yarang did not lift her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her, the woman murmured softly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why can’t I see it…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slight furrow appeared between her brows, a rare look of discomfort settling on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had just absorbed Yarang’s memories, intending to directly witness what she had seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I see nothing.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To her surprise, the usual clarity of vision she had when reading memories was absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, not completely absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could still see Yarang moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could hear what Yarang had heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could perceive the scents, the sensations—everything that should have been ingrained in memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had absorbed most of Yarang’s recollections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'…Hmm.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But curiously, some pieces were missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most notably, the very end of the memory was almost completely empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw Yarang heading somewhere—saw the gaze she had directed at something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw the space that gaze had settled upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right at the moment where Yarang seemed to discover someone, a thick black mist descended, shrouding all of the remaining memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the mist dissipated, all she could see was Yarang walking alone in the rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman tilted her head in curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For memories to be obscured…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even within the sacred realm of the Divine Tree, such a thing had never happened before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What is this?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of situation was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could not understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, she lifted her hand and placed her fingers under Yarang’s chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tilted Yarang’s masked face upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with her other hand, she reached forward—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Srrk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mask slid away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath it, a stunning face was revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mask fell to the ground as the woman gently stroked Yarang’s cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My daughter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is happening here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as she asked, she received no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she was unfazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had expected as much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not lying to me, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The possibility that Yarang was deceiving her…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, the woman found it unlikely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that had been the case, she would have known immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly had happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Yarang really seen something?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doubt began to take root in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She withdrew her hand from Yarang and turned her back to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she moved, the tails surrounding her stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive tails filling the room began to shrink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bit by bit, their size diminished—until they were so small they could no longer be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Settling herself back down, she turned her gaze toward Yarang once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My daughter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems something has happened, doesn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, there was no response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, the woman sensed something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence was normal for Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But usually, even in silence, she would respond through actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang simply stared at her, unmoving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, the woman's eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should she force the answer out of her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was there a reason Yarang couldn’t speak?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, a servant who failed to answer should simply be discarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the natural order of things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn't do that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She might do so with anyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not with Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—No matter what happens, treasure her as you would a daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those words were engraved upon her very soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never questioned them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To her, it was natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never even considered doubting it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssskk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman rose from her seat and stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet instead of leaving, she moved to stand beside Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My daughter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice, now quieter than before, called to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang obeyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the moment she stood—something fell over her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A veil that covered her entire body, even her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same veil draped over the woman as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was happening?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang silently looked at her for an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It has been a long time since I last took a walk outside. We must prepare.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ruler of the heavens—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had just declared her intent to descend to the mortal world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the torrential rain had eased somewhat, I found myself heading back to Mount Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would have been fine to head straight to Yahwol, but given what had happened, I needed to report it—at least as a formality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even beyond that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have to tell someone what I saw.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed someone to talk to about what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in this world, there was only one person who could fill that role for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…Why the hell are you back? Weren’t you supposed to be gone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya shot me a glare as he sipped his tea inside his quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him sat Gubong, whom I hadn’t seen in a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“It was raining outside, wasn’t it? But you—why the hell do you look completely fine? …What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya had begun speaking casually, but the moment he saw my face, his tone shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His change in demeanor made me subconsciously touch my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do I look that bad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forcing my expression to calm, I replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…It’s nothing serious. Something happened, so I came to speak with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Something happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“I’ll step outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I confirmed it, Gubong rose to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed he had learned from past experience that this was not a conversation he should be present for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded toward me before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about his attitude felt different from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s with him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered for a moment, but Gubong wasn’t the issue right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just the two of us left in the room, I turned to Shin Noya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, I began explaining everything that had just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After my brief explanation, Shin Noya frowned deeply and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…You’re saying Yarang was that child?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang—one of the Generals of Mangye, was the Divine Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I explained it that way, his reaction was immediate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I nodded, Noya let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…Brat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“You always say it’s nothing, yet you keep bringing me the most insane things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, I gave an awkward chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he said it, it was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Ever since you arrived, there hasn’t been a single peaceful day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I apologize for that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated, unsure of what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…Are you absolutely certain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya’s voice grew heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Yes. I’m sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just a matter of resemblance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others might not have noticed, but I knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feeling I got when I looked at her, the aura she exuded—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the way she fought against Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything pointed to Yarang being the Divine Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I explained this to Noya, I saw his expression grow even more serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“How could this be possible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“You mean you didn’t know either?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“How the hell would I know? If I did, don’t you think I would’ve told you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a fair point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Then… do you know how long Yarang has been active?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Not too long, from what I understand. But she’s been around longer than me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Mangye existed before Noya arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant it had to be at least a hundred years old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell is going on?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could she exist here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, the simplest explanation was that it was just someone who looked like her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I refused to believe that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those eyes. That aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the feeling I had when I saw her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything told me that Yarang was the Divine Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“That child… hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya stroked his chin, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers traced over his jaw, his brows furrowed in deep contemplation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…Alright, but let’s set that aside for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his gaze toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Regardless of all that, what do you intend to do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…Excuse me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“If you’re certain she’s here, what’s your next move?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed Noya was less interested in whether Yarang was really the Divine Sword and more focused on what I planned to do about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But my answer had been decided long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“I have to meet her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to meet her. No matter what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I was convinced, I needed to confirm it with my own eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more than that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to know why she was here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why she looked like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To find out, I had to meet the Divine Sword once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I gave my answer, Noya immediately asked another question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“So? Are you planning to wait? Until she shows up again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed a moment to think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…I’ll go find her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever she is, I’ll track her down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been lurking nearby before, so waiting might bring her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I’m not patient enough for that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“If I want to understand what’s going on, I need to find everyone involved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I caught Yarang and questioned her,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I already knew—there was someone else behind this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time I had faced the Divine Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she had tried to disappear—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had told me to hold her in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mother—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the highest being in Mangye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone knew what was happening, it had to be her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In the end…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason I had come to Mangye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The connection between Mangye and the Blood Demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth about myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, the mystery of the Divine Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To uncover all of it, I needed to meet my mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have to move faster.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To see my mother, to handle Noya’s requests—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to pick up the pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate, I wouldn’t get anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since I had seen the Divine Sword again,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had felt it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creeping urgency. The fire rising inside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…Anyway, that’s the situation. If even you don’t know anything, Noya, I’ll just have to factor that in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said all I needed to say, I stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was nothing more to learn from Noya, I had no reason to waste time here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Where are you going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Yahwol.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something I had intended to do there before all of this happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to go back and take care of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I stated my destination—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya suddenly stood up as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…Noya?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Alright, let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked in confusion, and Noya, with his usual impassive expression, elaborated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“I said, let’s go. To Yahwol.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…You’re coming too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat. Pat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dusting off his martial robe, he spoke in a casual tone—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Seems like I need to go this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The look on his face said it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…He definitely looks like he’s going to beat the shit out of someone.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thing was clear—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t going with good intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>",2023,"2026-06-05T15:10:22.035Z",1,"novelbin.me","f5bc92469c82e12da44950198cdfa2d2666ef41859d3a9f9b0791e929801a3a0","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-964","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-962",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]