[{"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-968":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},1240394,1667,"Chapter 967","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-968",968,"\u003Cp>“Mmph…! Mmmph!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man with pale green hair struggled wildly against the ropes binding him.One of Mangye’s Four Great Generals—Yusa.I couldn’t say a word as I looked at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What the hell?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did things end up like this?What was I even supposed to say here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why is he in that state?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was one of Mangye’s only four generals.When I saw him last night, he carried an almost Three Lords-level presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmph!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, look at him now.Not only was he tied up—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wait, what’s in his mouth? Is that… a gag?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was an unknown stone lodged in his mouth.Even as he struggled, it wouldn’t budge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmph! Mmmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes bulged with veins as he let out muffled screams,desperate to say something,yet the ropes restraining him didn’t loosen in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh, so noisy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya swung his arm and smacked Yusa right on the head.His forehead slammed into the ground with a heavy thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact fractured the floor, a long crack splitting across it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmmnnnghh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa groaned in pain.Though it didn’t seem like his forehead was hurting—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The back of his head must be killing him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the side that got hit by Noya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What the hell is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was this bastard tied up?What was even happening here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially considering Gubong’s expression—he looked utterly dumbfounded.It was clear that seeing a general in this state was beyond shocking for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I mean—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even I’m shocked, so imagine how he must feel.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, the standing of a general was beyond imagination.This land—it was practically the size of an entire province.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And generals ruled over it.In terms of strength, they held a status comparable to the Three Lords in Zhongyuan’s prime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…He’s writhing in ropes like a trussed-up pig.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I was struggling to process this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly happened here…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked, hoping for an explanation.Noya, looking completely uninterested, replied flatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean what happened? He kept whining, so I tied him up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A general?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And? That a problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it’s a problem, you old bastard!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a lot to say,but I carefully chose my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The biggest issue with dealing with Noya was this—before, I could say whatever I wanted.Now, one wrong word, and I’d get smacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, after some deliberation,I tried to phrase it as nicely as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Noya… have you gone sen—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I collapsed, clutching the top of my head.What the hell, man?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s what you came up with after all that thinking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was me wording it as nicely as possible…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch. What am I supposed to do with that mouth of yours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do what, exactly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my age, if I haven’t changed by now, I’m not changing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I groaned in pain, slowly getting up.Even at his age, his hands were still ridiculously heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just how strong is he?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the situation,Yusa must have been overpowered by Noya.And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no signs of a struggle nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He was subdued effortlessly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was that even possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even compared to the Three Lords, this makes no sense.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just how powerful was Shin Noya?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at my peak,if I went all out against Yusa, my chances of winning would be uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, Noya had completely restrained him.It was a stark reminder of just how monstrous the old man was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment of awe passed through me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it even possible for a human to be this strong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So what now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed my reaction and asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just told you. He kept whining, so I tied him up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, but why? I went through all this effort to sneak in here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words,Noya tilted his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sneak? Who?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I was confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean ‘who’? Noya, weren’t you sneaking in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t done anything wrong. Why would I need to sneak in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, I had no words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had done nothing wrong, sure, that made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then why…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on what I knew about Mount Hua’s stance on him,it didn’t feel like that was the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I’ll put that aside for now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a deep breath and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Then what about the crime you just committed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crime?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pointed at Yusa, still bound in ropes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Turning a general into this—that’s gotta count as a crime, no?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, this guy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya chuckled,casually moving his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air wavered slightly,and the stone gagging Yusa slipped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment it did—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You son of a—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa roared—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could finish,Noya’s fist slammed into the back of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer impact sent a shockwave through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooosh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind pressure blasted in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fearing it might reach outside,I hastily set up a barrier to contain it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How hard did he hit him?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh…!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yusa’s head could even snap back up,Noya stomped down on it, pinning him in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Khh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never gave you permission to bark. Why is it so hard for you to understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya smirked as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that expression sent chills down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…This old bastard.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could exude this kind of aura, too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just overwhelming bloodlust.It was compressed bloodlust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though it felt as thin as a thread,there was something unbreakable within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was casual,but the air around him was anything but.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yusa. Do you want me to put your leash back on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ghh….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then behave. I can’t just shatter your skull with kids watching.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya lifted his foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa’s head, which had been driven into the ground, finally rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice, which had been full of rage,now sounded noticeably subdued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His glossy eyes were still filled with hostility,but he was forcing himself to hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My master has already shown you great mercy.So why are you here, causing trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Trouble? I told you—I’m on a trip.You’re the one who picked a fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A trip? Don’t be ridiculous. Release me now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grrk—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa tensed, trying to break free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the ropes didn’t even budge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that,I couldn’t help but widen my eyes slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had felt Yusa’s strength before.This was someone who could snap ordinary ropes like twigs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, he was struggling to break free?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…No way.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I focused my gaze on the ropes.Then I realized—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He infused them with internal energy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya’s qi was embedded in the ropes.No wonder they wouldn’t break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even so… should this really be enough to hold him?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much energy was infused,there were limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, even with Yusa thrashing like that,the ropes held firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How did he even do this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched with curiosity.It was fascinating—how did it work?Was this another form of compression?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to reach out and touch them when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what the hell do you want?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa growled in frustration upon seeing me approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oops. I got too carried away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly stepped back with an awkward smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa looked at me,then at Shin Noya,his expression darkening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see. So this bastard is one of yours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke as if he had figured something out,glaring at Noya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suspected something was off. Even among the Mount Hua bastards, there was an odd one mixed in…! What are you planning this time?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Tch. And here we go again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how much mercy my master has shown you…! I’ve held back my urge to tear you apart and even allowed your entry, but how dare you—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa gritted his teeth furiously.His rage made the ropes tremble slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How dare you cross the line?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cross what line? You’ve always had a habit of making up nonsense. I told you to fix that, but you never listen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more they talked, the more something felt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded like they knew each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had assumed they were at least acquainted,but their history seemed deeper than I had thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha…! So, am I supposed to believe that you showing up on the same day as my master arriving at Yahwol Palace is just a coincidence? Don’t make me laugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If anyone’s laughing, it’s me. I was more surprised than anyone, dumbass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it was you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The veins in Yusa’s eyes bulged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That night… the one who called themselves Cheonma… that was you, wasn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words,Noya froze for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned—and looked straight at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His narrowed gaze felt piercing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling his stare, I quickly looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Cheonma? Cheonma?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t play dumb. Who else in Mangye would do something like this besides you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really think I’m some troublemaker, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, are you saying it wasn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya stopped mid-sentence.His lips shut as if deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about his hesitation made me uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya finally denied it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I felt relieved—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cheonma is someone far beyond comparison to the likes of me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hell was he saying now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Noya…? What are you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To think he’s called Cheonma… The Heavenly Demon?  Wow. Just hearing the name is enough to make me tremble in fear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya chuckled, looking way too amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no idea what the old man was trying to pull,so I just stood there, dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile,Yusa smirked like he had just confirmed his suspicions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you really are connected to him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips curled into a wicked grin,eyes glinting with killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think you can walk away from this alive? Now that this has reached my ears, you’re finished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft. Finished, my ass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya burst out laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, it seemed like he was just brushing off Yusa’s words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I kill you here, there won’t be any problems, will there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice turned chillingly cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that,Noya smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just kidding. Can’t go around killing an important general, now can I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But since I came all this way to see you,shouldn’t we at least talk before you start throwing a tantrum?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa, who had been about to erupt,paused at Noya’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Talk? You want to talk with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. Consider it a stroll and a conversation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I was surprised at Noya’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this was why he had come to Yahwol Palace?To see Yusa?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘His goal was Yusa…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was still trying to process that revelation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh… Hehehe…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa suddenly let out a low chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talk, huh…? What a joke. Since when were we ever in a position to talk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought we were on good enough terms to have a chat. Am I wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course you are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then,Yusa’s eyes gleamed,sharper than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That ended the moment you betrayed our master and abandoned your position as a general.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>",1829,"2026-06-05T15:10:22.035Z",1,"novelbin.me","e6af6f6f9283cb7fef280023f4c2fb83f6ea5f16722166e7000aadfd5d61dc92","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-969","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-967",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]