Published at 26th of January 2026 9:28 am

Chapter 340

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

What exactly is the "Heaven-Slaying Star"?

It all began with pondering that question.

The burden assigned by the world. Those who are born with the karma that they must kill someone, existing as blemishes upon this world.

A blemish.

Grandmother used to describe such people that way.

She said that the world must not be perfect, and so, from time to time, it creates a blemish of its own accord.

In the distant past, during times of unbroken peace, beasts born with karma were called 'spiritual creatures'.

She said they could either become a calamity or a guardian to humanity.

Moreover, it was no different for those born as humans with such karma.

Some were born with unbelievable blessings and became lights unto the world

While others, burdened with flaws that prevented their light from shining, also carried that karma.

It was like a binding etched onto the soul; nothing ordinary could undo it.

'To say it can be undone is nonsense,' I thought.

To unravel karma imprinted onto the soulsuch a thing is absurd.

A blemish imposed by the world inevitably affects not just the soul, but the body as well.

To untangle or remove something so vast is simply unthinkable.

Even Grandmother, in the end, only managed to veil or conceal it.

The notion of erasing or overcoming it never even occurred to her.

That is karma.

That's the reason I have avoided entanglements with ghosts. Even if I became involved, I always tried to run away if possible.

'... This time, there was no choice, though.'

The fight with Yu Yun was about passing on the Plum Blossom True Sword.

It was a battle to bury the narrative contained within it under something else.

'Yu Yun is one with the Heaven-Slaying Star.'

The sole descendant of the Heavenly Demon, and one whose fate is to carry the Heaven-Slaying Star.

One whose karma set by the world is vast and palpablethat is who Yu Yun is.

'I should use that.'

I intended to mask the narrative of the Plum Blossom True Sword with that very karma.

The method was simple.

'Agitate Yu Yun's karma to override the Plum Blossom True Sword.'

I deliberately tried to awaken her Heaven-Slaying Star. Malice erupted, and her karma was unleashed.

The problem was

'Just provoking with words wasn't enough.'

Maybe Sung Hun really had done something, because the flow of the Heaven-Slaying Star's karma was sluggish.

So, I needled it a bit further during the match.

I subtly pried at what was bound within her soul.

Only then did her karma fully blossom.

'... It was a gamble.'

Even so, the malice was thicker than expected. There was a moment I thought I wouldn't be able to control it, and I trembled.

'But it worked.'

In the end, I succeeded.

I veiled the narrative of the Plum Blossom True Sword in Yu Yun's malice.

I only covered part of it, but thanks to that, the karma destined to fall onto me would be reduced.

'I also confirmed what I wanted to know.'

I had wanted to see just how closely the Heaven-Slaying Star was tied to the soul.

Now, it's certain.

'The Heaven-Slaying Star is not so much fate as it is a type of soul.'

It's more accurate to call the Heaven-Slaying Star a type of soul than simply fate.

If that's what it is

'Then I'm an expert.'

When it comes to confirming and handling such things, I am a specialist.

'I've lived my whole life like that.'

You could call it the concept of evil spirit possession.

Or that of spiritual possession.

It's not crystal clear, but either way, as long as it's the soul, it's in my realm.

'All I need to do is suppress it.'

Even if I can't untangle or erase it.

Suppression will suffice.

Rrrr.

I looked at my hand.

"Tsk."

Was it because I meddled with the soul? Chills ran across my entire body.

'Even this much is exhausting.'

It's different from the old days. Because I've tried hard to keep distance from souls in this body, my condition now is far from good.

'... I probably shouldn't mess with it again for a while.'

Tsk.

I felt a sensation like a shackle locking onto my heart. I forced the unleashed karma back in.

'... Just like the Heaven-Slaying Star.'

A blemish is not the only thing that exists.

When it comes to my own blemish, I do not fall behind.

Yes, I will never fall behind. At least, not when it comes to battles of soul against soul.

'Grandmother would be furious.'

If she saw this state, she'd curse me out thoroughly, saying what I was doing was foolish.

"Haa..."

I let out a sigh and soothed my body.

What on earth did you do?

The lingering spirit of Sung Hun, who had followed behind, asked me.

How in the world did you?

Was the Heaven-Slaying Star subdued? In response to his questioning, I clicked my tongue and said,

"There's nothing much to it. I just put it to sleep."

Put it to sleep?

"Yes. If it stays quiet and sleeps, that's good enough. But it kept sticking its head up, so I just told it to sleep."

What is that supposed to mean!

"It's not completely sealed. It'll stir its head out again soon enough. This is just a temporary measure."

Because this isn't some superficial karma, I could only block it for a short timetrue suppression is impossible.

... How is such a thing possible?

Sung Hun still looked incredulous.

I shrugged in response.

"It's hard to explain. It's just something I can do."

What are you...?

Don't interrogate him so much.

Yu Chun-gil, frowning, cut in while looking at Sung Hun.

Can't you see by just looking? This guy is hiding a mountain of secrets. The fact he could see you and I is strange enough.

Chun-gil

Both sides tacitly agreed not to ask each other's business. Who are you to try to butt in?

...

At that, Sung Hun finally fell silent. What Yu Chun-gil said was true.

Even if we had things we wanted to ask each other, we didn't ask.

And

'How sly of you to shut him up.'

What Yu Chun-gil said to Sung Hun was the same as saying it to me.

'Don't ask, is that it?'

Basically, he's telling me, don't ask about the Heavenly Demon. It's as good as pointing it out directly.

'Does he mean for me to figure it out myself, or what?'

He really is a sly old man.

That's an importantmatter.

What of ours isn't important?

...

If you say only your disciple is important, then you're hopeless even in death. Just go reach nirvana, then.

At that cold retort, Sung Hun's face twisted.

... I just...

Whatever else is the case

Yu Chun-gil stared intently at Sung Hun as he spoke.

I can tell your regret isn't really about feeling apologetic to or worried for Mount Hua.

...

He sinks. At Yu Chun-gil's words, Sung Hun just faded away.

Tsk.

Watching him, Yu Chun-gil turned his head.

Time really has its way. Even an old tree that once stood so proud is now this withered.

He was referring to how weak Sung Hun looked.

I'll take a short break.

Without another word, Sung Hun vanished. Seeing that, Yu Chun-gil furrowed his brow.

What a fool.

His disapproval was obvious.

Old men always argued like that.

To be precise, it was always a one-sided verbal beating from Yu Chun-gil.

... So.

Once Sung Hun was gone, Yu Chun-gil looked at me.

What are you doing?

"Isn't it obvious?"

Bubble bubble.

Looking at the water boiling quickly in front of me, I answered.

"I'm cooking noodles."

... Why are you doing that yourself, though?

"I was hungry."

I took advantage of the empty kitchen. When I asked for permission, they let me use it easily.

Since it was just somyeon (thin noodles) I was boiling, no elaborate ingredients were needed.

Honestly, it was more trouble to stop otherspeople who wanted to cook for methan to do it myself.

So you can cook, too?

"It's not really cooking. They're just noodles."

With simple broth ready, I poured it over the cooked noodles. That was it.

Under normal circumstances, maybe I'd do something extra.

'But, really,'

Maybe from being used to living without extravagance, I don't bother with expensive ingredients anymore.

Broth and noodles are enough. All I need is to fill my stomach, right?

Thinking so, I busied myself with the noodles

Th... Thos...e... noodles...

"..."

Yu Chun-gil's words trailed off.

Sensing that, I looked up.

'Every time I resolve one thing, something new pops up.'

I sighed as I thought that.

Yu Chun-gil appeared to have sensed something and stared off somewhere.

It... Appears.

At his call, I gave a small nod.

Even without him saying it aloud, I understood.

Bubble bubble.

As I was just about done straining out the noodles from the boiling water

"This is a nuisance."

As if speaking for someone else to hear, I muttered.

"I only prepared enough food for these servings. Looks like I'll need to make more."

I looked in the same direction Yu Chun-gil was gazing.

And spoke.

"Are you going to eat?"

Only then did I get a reaction. From the seemingly empty kitchen doorway, someone appeared and knelt down.

"I greet the Young Heaven..."

It was Ghost Demon. I flinched a little at the sight.

'It's really him.'

He's truly the Ghost Demon. I wondered if he would turn up just based on Yu Chun-gil's reactionyet he truly appeared.

'Does he not value his life?'

No matter how bad the situation, this is the Mount Hua Sect. For a Demonic Cult member to stroll in so nonchalantly, it's absurd.

It seemed he had not the slightest regard for his own life.

Otherwise

'Or he's confident he can escape.'

Someone might only come here if they were certain they could escape any situation.

There's no other explanation.

"As expected... My Heaven recognizes me no matter where I am."

"..."

No, it's just that Yu Chun-gil's soul presence was acting abnormally, so I checked.

"Ah... Yes... As expected..."

He gazed at me, sinking into profound admiration. I barely suppressed a sigh.

"I was just preparing food. Your sudden appearance is a bit startling."

"My apologies. I did not wish to disturb this precious time, but I failed to recognize that someone like me can hardly discern His limit. Please, punish your worthless servant"

"Don't bow your head. I don't want to see that."

"..."

He was about to smash his forehead onto the floor again like last time, so I stopped him.

Then I asked,

"... Why did you come here?"

"My apologies. I came in haste because there's something I must tell you. I am truly sorry for not waiting"

"Enough."

He tries to bash his head for everything. It's a headache just watching. As I looked at him, I glanced at Yu Chun-gil for a sign.

Snap.

Yu Chun-gil's form was hazy, flickering as if static ran through it.

'As expected.'

I've felt it since last timesomething happens when Ghost Demon appears.

'Hmm.'

Is it that, with him around, possession isn't possible?

It's extremely inconvenient, to say the least.

"... So, why did you come?"

I thought I said I'd go look for him. Why did he come here instead? That's what I was asking.

In response, Ghost Demon said,

"Ah... It's nothing major."

Swish.

Ghost Demon pulled something from his robe and showed it to me.

'That's'

I frowned as I saw it. At first, I wasn't sure what it was.

'A stake.'

It was a stake.

The very ones driven into the ground around Shaanxi to form hexagrams.

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

Share