[{"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-969":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},1240395,1667,"Chapter 968","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-969",969,"\u003Cp>For a moment, Yusa’s words left me speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A general?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya—once a general?And not just that, but a traitor who had betrayed my mother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it true?If it was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How the hell had Noya become a general in the first place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I furrowed my brows, trying to make sense of it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya grabbed Yusa’s face and slammed it into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve always been like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three more times, shaking the entire area despite the barrier I had set up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your mouth is always your biggest problem. That wretched tongue of yours never learns.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One last time, then he grabbed Yusa by the hair and lifted him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ghh… haah….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa’s face twisted in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him struggle,Noya smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about that smile sent a chill down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I instinctively checked—was he emitting killing intent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was none.And yet, just from the sheer presence he exuded, the pressure was suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hah…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I exhaled silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had long known he was strong.He had beaten me to a pulp countless times,and now he was toying with Yusa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course he was strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this old man really a Daoist?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a man supposedly revered in the Daoist world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the great sages who lived in harmony with the flow of nature,who were praised for their broad-mindedness and noble character—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya stood as one of the most respected, second only to the Plum Blossom Immortal of Mount Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, right now,he looked nothing more than a thug from the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… damn…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa groaned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood dripped from the corner of his lips.He was clearly in immense pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just from getting slammed into the ground.That alone wouldn’t have hurt him this much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not the impact. It’s the qi infused into the strikes.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had seen it.Noya had embedded qi into the ground with each blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just brute force.It was controlled—precisely controlled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Crazy old bastard.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in that brief sequence,there was an overwhelming level of mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compression. Application. Control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he was using it for violence,his technique was flawless, refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I never realized it before.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now I could see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had always wondered why his qi felt so rough for a Daoist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s the opposite.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all the Daoists,Noya’s qi was the cleanest, the most precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simply a matter of how he wielded it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he chose,it could become a deadly blade.Or it could be as harmless as drifting petals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Hah…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suddenly found myself laughing internally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why the hell am I admiring this in the middle of all this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ridiculous—analyzing technique while watching someone get pummeled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yusa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Khh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya spoke, watching Yusa struggle to stand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only one thing matters, as always.Will you do it, or won’t you?That’s all you ever need to decide.So stop wasting time and let’s talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Talk?What is there to talk about with a traitor…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long do you think your master will keep you by her side?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time,Yusa—who had been unwavering—froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, after a pause,he finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if Noya had struck a nerve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Noya knew it.He didn’t stop smiling as he continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You already know, don’t you?With your instincts, there’s no way you don’t sense it.You’re just pretending you don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up! You left long ago! What the hell do you know?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s the case,then why did you return to Yahwol Palace instead of staying in the Chaos Region?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How do you…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya chuckled at Yusa’s shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I may be an old man now,but I still have my eyes and ears, you know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya let go of Yusa’s hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I expected Yusa to explode the moment he was free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just stood there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With the Abyss gone and the other generals scrambling to restore order,you, of all people, should be the busiest.So why are you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Think about it.You already know the answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Shut up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your master is preparing for change.And—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut. Up…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ropes started unraveling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This isn’t good.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed dryly, watching the tension rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If things do change,you might be the first one to be discarded.And you know it—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut your damn mouth!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa roared—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the ropes snapped apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gubong immediately reached for his sword.I tensed as well, preparing to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yusa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation didn’t escalate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he was free,Yusa didn’t attack Noya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were once meant to be the brightest ruler of Moonlit Night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes burned with hostility and killing intent—but he only glared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as if he had expected this,Noya continued speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you become so pathetic?Did you forget what you once sought?Even your fur has lost its—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cut the crap and speak clearly,Hwayeon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa cut him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that name—I perked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hwayeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way Yusa addressed Noya was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You could’ve just hidden away like a rat.So why come back and pull this nonsense?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa’s anger flared.His tail thickened.His pale green hair grew longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this transformation,Noya calmly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yusa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes showed no fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have a proposal for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You? Propose something to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll give you what you’ve always wanted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa’s expression shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had realized what Noya was suggesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yusa.Wouldn’t you like to become the master of this land?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with those words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll make it happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—everything seemed to grow eerily still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**********************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed, I found myself back in the same place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As dusk began to settle,I sat on the edge of a building, gazing at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quick glance behind me revealed the aftermath of earlier—the shattered ground, debris scattered all around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a quiet sigh in the midst of the mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the sound,someone sat down beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Noya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why the long face?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And, for some reason,he was holding something in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked closer—it was a skewer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was he holding a skewer now, of all times?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding it strange,I glanced to the side—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gubong was also holding one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by his expression,he hadn't gotten it willingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious that Noya had shoved it into his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat. It’s good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re really eating right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everything we do is for the sake of staying alive.So of course, we eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unbelievable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way he said it so matter-of-factly left me speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was even more ridiculous—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that I actually took the skewer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And naturally, I took a bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annoyingly enough—It tasted good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I chewed,I looked over at Noya and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Noya.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The setting sun painted the sky in warm hues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept my eyes on it,but my words were directed at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yusa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was referring to his words about Yusa's master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya let out a short “Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He acted like it was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his next words carried a weight that was anything but light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s simple.The one who was supposed to be the master of this land—was Yusa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was casual,but the meaning behind it was staggering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like I said,Yusa was supposed to be the greatest among the Moonlit Night Tribe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke indifferently, picking at his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about his carefree attitudepissed me off a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So naturally,he expected to become the master.But… some things happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Things?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know the details,but it was enough to make him resent it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yusa was meant to be the master—but he wasn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as a result,my mother took the position instead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wait… then what exactly is a master?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what I had heard from Mua,the master of this world was tied to its very existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Didn’t she say that whenever the master changes,all life is erased and reborn?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Yusa had been denied that role,that would contradict everything I had been told.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly,something else was at play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on top of that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Then…what about you being a general?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya—once a general,but a traitor who had betrayed the current master?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That, more than anything,was what I found hardest to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time,Noya’s gaze turned a bit more serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was a request from your mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was calm, but heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not the master of Mangye.Your mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words,he uttered something utterly bizarre.\u003C\u002Fp>",1416,"2026-06-05T15:10:22.035Z",1,"novelbin.me","392da048e92143c18ca6ae023cbf5100ca57bdea128642b2ea2787c51268de2d","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-970","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-968",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]