[{"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-971":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},1240397,1667,"Chapter 970","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-971",971,"\u003Cp>The look in his eyes made it clear that he knew I had figured it out.And I hated it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That smirking mouth, that gaze fixed on me—it was all unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to punch that damn smug face so badly,but right now, I couldn't afford to waste my energy picking a fight with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even the Abyssal Pit… was part of my mother's plan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sacred tree beneath Mount Hua.And the Abyssal Pit—no, Kurung—that had been there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya had called it a being of master-class significance.But why had such a thing settled under the Mount Hua sacred tree in the first place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And now you're telling me even that was at my mother’s request?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Shin Noya, all of this was orchestrated by my mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya becoming a general.Noya betraying them and disappearing with the sacred tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The resulting instability in Mangye.And now, even the calamity caused by the disappearance of the Abyssal Pit—All of it had been set in motion by my mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…For what purpose?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was so important that it had to be done this way?What was my mother's goal?And why had Noya gone along with it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't understand it, so I had to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just about acknowledging that my mother had created this situation.I needed to understand why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya, upon hearing my question, looked at me with a somewhat indifferent gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who knows? I don’t fully understand your mother’s intentions either…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He trailed off for a moment, pausing in thought before he continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I had to guess, the first reason would be to prepare something for you.And the second—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya lifted a finger and pointed to the sky once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"—Would be because she seeks the end of Mangye.\"\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words made my face harden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…The end of Mangye?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where the hell had that come from?Why was he suddenly talking about the end of Mangye?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She has spoken of it often.And everything happening now—this crisis—It’s simply the result of your mother’s wish finally taking shape.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t understand what you mean. Explain in more detail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I already told you—the moment one sacred tree was disturbed, an anomaly spread across all of Mangye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That anomaly had caused the sudden increase in energy density in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the loss of one sacred tree caused this much disruption,then what do you think would happen if more sacred trees were removed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It would be a catastrophe.And more importantly—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya lifted his head toward the sky.To the place he had pointed at before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If something were to happen to the master’s sacred tree up there…I can’t say for certain,but it would likely bring about something truly devastating.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, I immediately responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…So that’s what you mean by ‘the end of Mangye.’And you’re saying my mother wanted that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya and the Abyssal Pit had moved to carry out that plan.But the current master was unaware of it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would my mother have wanted something like that?No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And another thing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You also said this was all for me.I can’t accept that explanation either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something that had been prepared for me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I haven’t received anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing I had gained here.Not even the one thing I had wanted most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mother I longed to see didn’t even remember me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could any of this be connected to me?How did any of this matter to me at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya remained silent.He simply looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the expression in his eyes—That heavy, complicated gaze—It pissed me off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Why are you looking at me like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Originally,\" Noya began.\"I would have liked to explain everything to you, as if I knew all the answers.But I can’t do that anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean by that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know everything your mother is thinking.And besides—Something has happened that even I wasn’t aware of.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Something you didn’t know about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That so-called Divine Sword.I mean Yarang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya had mentioned the Divine Sword.Hearing that, I fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I never heard anything about that child.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice, though calm, carried a faint trace of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, I wouldn’t have thought much of it.But this was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew that my mother and Shin Noya had some level of history between them.And it didn’t seem like just any connection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the fact that Yarang’s existence was something unknown to him—It clearly meant something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As things stand, I truly don’t know what your mother is trying to accomplish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even he wasn’t sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I bit my lip slightly at those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But there’s one thing you should remember.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya fixed me with a serious gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter what—Your mother has been doing all of this for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…How can you be so sure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of parent would do something harmful to their own child?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t agree with that at all.I had seen plenty of cases where that wasn’t true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hell, my own family was a perfect example.We weren’t exactly a harmonious household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe my face showed my displeasure,because Noya gave a wry smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, I wouldn’t know—I’m an orphan, after all. Hah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in a moment like this, he cracked a joke.What the hell was I supposed to say to that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a deep sigh, turning to face the setting sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…So then, for now, is there no way for me to see my mother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I met her, she wouldn’t be the same as before.But Noya had met her.So surely, there had to be a way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hell if I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the bastard gave the worst possible answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As I said before, I can’t be sure.But…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He trailed off for a moment before adding—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you do what she was trying to do,then maybe you’ll find your answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What my mother was trying to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Destroying the sacred trees?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted every single one of Mangye’s sacred trees destroyed.And doing that might lead me to her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of ridiculous logic was that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Well, I guess it works out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rose to my feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I already had business in Mount Hua.I already had plans to act for the sake of my sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if my mother’s goal just so happened to align with that…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then maybe—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who knows.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Noya wasn’t certain.So how the hell could I be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…It’s not like I have any other options.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing else I could do.And this was the only lead I had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pulled something from my sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Noya.\"\"…Yeah?\"\"Just to be sure, let me ask you something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, I placed a mask over my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Did you follow me here just to tell me all this today?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice changed.Noya watched with faint amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he come all the way to Yahwol simply to explain these things to me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. Like I said, I had my own reasons.\"[Meeting Yusa?]\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That guy…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, whatever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could worry about that later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The night is coming.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fading sunlight signaled that it was time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I’ll hear the rest when I get back.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had work to do in Yahwol’s night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I turned fully toward the dying sun—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Want some help?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya’s voice called after me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scoffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[No need.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hooom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark energy surged within me as I lifted into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Just sit back and watch. I won’t take long.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, I vanished into the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>****************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Gu Yangcheon disappeared—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya silently stared in the direction where the black flames had faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…That brat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ability to manipulate energy had improved considerably.Far beyond what he had displayed during their last spar, when Shin Noya had used him to vent his frustrations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did he realize something in that time?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there hadn’t been any major opportunities for such an epiphany.If he had gained insight into something, what could it have been?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shin Noya never even considered that Gu Yangcheon might have learned something from watching him beat Yusa to a pulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply thought—If the kid had found enlightenment in something, then that was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as he was about to smile slightly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cough…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Shin Noya shut his mouth and dropped to one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sect Leader…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gubong, who had been keeping his distance, rushed over in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you all right…?!\"\"I’m fine. It’s nothing.\"\"No, you’re not! Please, we need to return to Mount Hua immediately…!\"\"Return? It’s already night— where would we go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the state he was in, he would have to wait until morning at the very least.Besides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I pretend nothing’s wrong and leave now, what will we do if that brat causes a mess? Heh…\"\"Sect Leader…\"\"It’s fine. I’m just… a little tired.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if to prove his point, Shin Noya pushed Gubong’s hand away and straightened his posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He acted as though he were fine.But in truth—his body was in terrible shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the faint tremor in his fingertips—he tried to hide it.And as he let out a dry laugh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t good.No, it was far worse than that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It seems… I don’t have much time left.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The miracle that had been granted to him—It was reaching its end.\u003C\u002Fp>",1538,"2026-06-05T15:10:22.035Z",1,"novelbin.me","774b042f0998e6aa5ef8557b321ab9ec6344e8a1d3e7883549b01130adbc4304","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-972","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-970",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]