Published at 26th of January 2026 9:25 am

Chapter 333

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The distinctive seal stamped on the letter.

There was no doubtit was from the Blue Moon Sect, and more specifically, it was the seal of the Sect Leader, the Virtuous Moon Sword.

It was a letter he'd left in the care of the Small Moon Division Leader before setting out. The fact that it was only handed over now, after everything had concluded, was strange.

'... What's this?'

But what was even more absurd was the actual content of the letter I received.

The handwriting in the letter was simple and to the point, reflecting the personality of the Virtuous Moon Sword.

If the leader of the Mount Hua Sect dies, or if an incident of equivalent significance occurs, retrieve the item left with him.

"......"

There was a bit more to it, but in summary, that was all it said.

And it was this instruction that left me frozen after reading it.

'What is this?'

How?

'How did he know?'

If the leader dies, or something equally serious occurs.

This phrase tickled at my insides. Which meant

'The Virtuous Moon Sword was aware that Sung Hun's condition wasn't good.'

Since the letter was left before departure, that had to mean he knew ahead of time.

'But how?'

The real question was how he knew. On top of that

'The fact that he showed me this like this'

This meant that he was sure I would figure out Sung Hun's situation.

'... Hah.'

It was chilling. Whatever else, I never dreamed he'd hand me something like this in advance.

'Seriously, what is with him?'

What is the Virtuous Moon Sword, exactly? Just what kind of person is that man that he knows this much?

He knew, and still sent me? Without even this information?

'... I completely forgot.'

A realization came to me that I had neglected. The members of the Blue Moon Sect implicated in Yu Chun-gil's death.

Among them, the Virtuous Moon Sword had figured among the likely suspects, but I had forgotten it for a while.

"Hoo."

I let out a sigh. At that moment

"What's the matter?"

The Small Moon Division Leader spoke to me, eyes full of curiosity.

"... You don't know what the letter says, do you?"

"Sir, pleaseno need for formalities."

"..."

Our positions seemed to have reversed.

"... You don't know what it says?"

"I haven't read it. It was an order from the Sect Leader."

So he actually didn't read it just because he was told not to.

Whether that was true or not was irrelevant. What mattered was that he knew about my situation.

'But the question is, does Heavenly Insight know this?'

He asked me to bring the sect leader to save the Divine Spear, yet in fact, the Virtuous Moon Sword already sensed the anomaly in Sung Hun's condition.

'... How ridiculous.'

It feels almost like a staged play, and my mood soured.

'It feels like I'm being toyed with.'

It feels like I've been dancing in the palm of the Virtuous Moon Sword. It wasn't easy to accept.

Grip.

I clenched the letter, taking care not to crush it. Then, I carefully folded it and tucked it into my robes.

"......"

I managed my expression as I thought.

'Something entrusted.'

The item left with Sung Hun. The instruction to retrieve it kept nagging at me.

It couldn't be the robe I was looking for.

"......"

I started walking. I couldn't just stand around in shock.

I had to keep moving.

***

Where I went was where Sung Hun was.

It seemed like there were twice as many guards posted compared to usual.

And that made sense. The most trusted second-in-command turned out to be the traitor.

The situation was still not settled, with many people still unconvinced.

Increasing the number of guards seemed like a way to protect Sung Hun in such circumstances, but

'Pointless.'

A meaningless gesture. Do they even know how many spies there are?

"May I go in?"

"Ah, Moon Hero. Welcome."

The disciple standing guard stepped aside at my appearance. The same thing happened when I headed for the inner quartersfortunately, they seemed to trust me.

Sensing that, I headed inward.

But I didn't go straight inside.

"There you are."

......

Because Sung Hun's spirit was outside.

"Do you know where Grandpa has gone?"

Beats me. He was always such a free soul, I can't really say.

"...'Free' seems generous. He just does as he pleases."

I first asked about Yu Chun-gil, but Sung Hun seemed not to know either. Where had he really gone?

Is your body all right?

"Yes, I feel fine."

In fact, I was brimming with energy. Even the wounds I'd received barely hurt anymore.

... Your have advanced.

Apparently sensing my condition immediately, Sung Hun looked somewhat surprised.

"You could call it a fortuitous encounter. Thanks to that, I'm all right."

Heh heh. Fortuitous encounter... Yes, I suppose that's what it is.

"Since we're on the subject, may I ask"

With that, I brought it up.

"Do you know anything about the Heavenly Demon?"

......

Sung Hun paused slightly at my question.

"They say I defeated the Great Demon. I figured you'd have seen it, Sect Leader. Was it really the Heavenly Demon who entered my body then?"

......

Sung Hun held his silence for a moment before replying.

Yes. At least, that's what it seemed to me.

As expected.

It was as I'd guessed.

'The Heavenly Demon used my body.'

Yu Chun-gil had done it before, but never did I expect the Heavenly Demon would as well.

'First the Sword Saint, now the Heavenly Demon.'

Former heroes and demon lords.

Beings that absolutely should not intermingle were all gathering within my body.

'Goddamn it.'

Nothing could be more absurd.

Child.

Sung Hun called for me.

"Yes?"

Is he inside you right now?

He must have meant the Heavenly Demon.

I shook my head at the question.

"I'm not sure. I can't really feel anything."

......

"So I was hoping to ask Grandpa, but as usual, when it matters most, he's nowhere to be found."

Never around when I need him. Sometimes I wonder if it's intentional.

Have you spoken with him?

A Sung Hun's follow-up, I shook my head again.

"No."

I had, technically. But it had mostly been one-sided on his part.

"I don't know much about him. That's why I wanted to ask."

......

"The Heavenly Demon was sealed in the Divine Sword. I was wondering if you knew anything about that."

... Sealed, you say.

Sung Hun's gaze dropped to my waisttoward the Divine Sword I carried.

Then, it must have been our mistake.

"A mistake?"

'Our.'

'Mistake.'

Those were the words I focused on. In this case, 'our' must mean

'Heaven Beyond Heaven, perhaps?'

The absolute masters who took the lead against the Demonic Cult. In modern times, those the Righteous Faction called Heaven Beyond Heaven.

And then

'So what mistake was that?'

I waited quietly for Sung Hun's explanation.

There are things we should not have done. If the spirit of the Heavenly Demon was in the Divine Sword... then it must stem from that.

"What was that mistake?"

I cannot say.

"... Seriously?"

He can't talk, even after all this? I could only click my tongue repeatedly.

"Because of that, I got caught up and suffered. Don't I at least deserve to know?"

I could understand hiding secrets among comrades and such, but when it affects me, shouldn't I be told?

That was what I meant as I spoke, but

This is not for our sake.

Sung Hun said, his tone bitter.

It is because of our promise with him.

"... With him?"

The Heavenly Demon?

He claims he can't tell me because of a promise made with the Heavenly Demon?

Hearing that, I furrowed my brow.

'This isn't good.'

Something smells fishy.

'It reeks of trouble.'

The more I dig, the stranger it seemsa stench somewhere between rotten and bloody.

In any case, it was exactly the kind of mess I least wanted to get involved with.

'Damn it.'

It all started when I got entangled with Yu Chun-gil. I figured nothing about this would be easy.

'If there are secrets like this, it's a different story altogether.'

Were there circumstances behind that huge war after all?

If we're talking about the kind of circumstances you'd find in such a great war, they wouldn't be trivial.

'Ha.'

At this point, it wasn't just annoyingit was becoming overwhelming.

'Even the fanatics are mixed in, and now the Heavenly Demon too?'

I suddenly felt a wave of nausea.

"... So you really won't tell me?"

I cannot. At least, not me. As for Chun-gil, or the Heavenly Demon himself, they might.

"....."

So if I want to know, I should ask Yu Chun-gil or the Heavenly Demon.

That only made my mind more tangled.

'Do not trust Yu Chun-gil.'

Because the Heavenly Demon's words flashed through my mind.

Suppressing a sigh, I spoke to Sung Hun.

"All right, let's leave that for now..."

I moved on. If I kept pursuing this, I might miss what was right in front of me.

"It seems there's something I'm supposed to receive. May I ask about that?"

Something to receive? If it's Chun-gil's keepsake

"No, it's not that."

I was almost certain it wasn't.

"Our Sect Leader said there was something for me to claim."

Sect Leader?

Sung Hun tilted his head.

"Yes. He instructed that if you died or fell into grave danger, I was to come and get it."

......!

His eyes widened at my words.

Ha.

And then he let out a sigh, as if exasperated.

Truly a man sharp as a blade.

"... Do you know what it is?"

Of course I do.

With that, Sung Hun turned his back to me.

Follow me.

Sung Hun started forward at a relaxed pace, and I quietly followed him.

***

The place we came to was just outside Mount Hua. Not far, a forest.

It was a cliff-filled area, so the climb required some effort, but if you focused, it wasn't too hard.

"... Here...?"

The problem was, there really was nothing but cliffs.

What could possibly be here?

I was puzzling when

I thought Chun-gil was as steadfast as Mount Tai, but the current Sect Leader is different.

Sung Hun spoke of the Virtuous Moon Sword.

In a way, he's even scarier than Yu Chun-gil.

His assessment was firm and cutting.

Just what kind of man was he to warrant such appraisal?

"So, just what are you trying to hand over that we need to come all the way out here? Are we going further?"

We're here.

At my question, Sung Hun stopped somewhere. A rather large boulder stood before us.

'What's this about?'

I stared quietly at the boulder.

Then suddenly

Now, from here

"There's something here, isn't there?"

... Huh?

I sensed something strange about the boulder.

On the surface, it seemed natural, but not quite right.

... What do you mean.

"It's too clean. Even for a boulder, there's no dust. The whole area is strangely tidy."

Weeds and such existed, but even they seemed suspiciously arranged.

When I saw this, I thought

'It's probably a mechanism.'

I was sure it wasn't just a regular boulder. So, I focused my gaze.

Sssss

The Moon Eye opened.

With a strong blue hue shining in my eyes.

'What?'

In that instant, my eyes widened like lanterns.

'What is this?'

The Moon Eye had changed.

Instead of just a faint blue tint as usual, what appeared

'It's shining.'

The boulder. And inside it, a strange light was pouring out.

It wasn't just a random glowit was forming into a long line.

'It's not like the Blue Moon Sword Path, either.'

It was a different light than the Blue Moon Sword Path that revealed a sword's trajectory.

Clack.

Acting on instinct, I reached for my sword.

Shrring.

With the sound of the blade being drawn, I traced along the shining line.

Swish!! Sweek!

Two light strokes.

And then

Kkkkkkkkkrrrr-----!!!

An all-too-familiar sound rang from the boulder.

Rumble!!

With a tremor, the boulder split open, revealing an entrance.

"Oh."

Uh...?

"I can go in now, rigt?"

Looking at the exposed mechanism, I turned to Sung Hun and asked.

... What is this...

He looked at me with a face frozen in utter disbelief.

... Does the Blue Moon Sect only produce monsters?

He sounded genuinely unable to comprehend what he was seeing.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

The Moon Eye is such a cheat code.

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