Published at 26th of January 2026 9:31 am

Chapter 346

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Their stares were awfully burdensome.

I let out a cough at the gazes pouring down on me as soon as I woke up.

"Krehm..."

At that sound, the elders finally reacted.

"So, you've awoken."

"The Moon Hero has awakened."

Right. I woke up. I rather wished they'd leave now.

The elders subtly stepped back to give me some space. Watching that, I sat up.

"... Where is this...?"

"We found you collapsed and brought you here."

"How long have I been unconscious?"

"About half a day, I believe. Are you alright?"

"Ah, yes. I'm fine."

I was probably fine. Not that I'd checked.

"What happened?"

"... Elders, why are you here?"

"We came because we were worried when we heard that the Moon Hero had collapsed."

"Me?"

They came out of concern because I had fallen? That was a puzzling statement.

"How could we just stand by when the benefactor of our sect has collapsed?"

I narrowed my eyes at that. No wonder they were waiting...

'So it's because of that.'

There were still undetected spies from Broken Heaven Palace. And I was the only one who could properly identify them.

They might say all this stuff about being grateful, but that alone couldn't be the real reason.

'Besides, it's something that has already come up among the elders.'

When I set out to apprehend the Plum Blossom Division Leader, I already mentioned the spies from Broken Heaven Palace among the elders.

Whether or not they believed it was another matter.

'Now that it's been revealed that the Plum Blossom Division Leader was a spy...'

With the credibility of my words now established, it seemed they wanted me to resolve their anxieties.

"I'm alright. There was really no need for such esteemed gentlemen to come."

"Are you truly alright?"

"Yes. I think I need to see a physician first, though... would you mind giving me a bit of time and space?"

"Ah."

When I subtly asked them to leave, the elders startled slightly. But they had no grounds to refuse.

After sending away the obviously disappointed old men

Only then did the physician, who had been waiting, step forward.

"Your body seems fine. Do you happen to know why you lost consciousness...?"

"Ah, I think I got a little dizzy."

I made up an excuse.

The physician looked at me as if he didn't quite believe it.

Well, of course. If a martial artist suddenly claims they fainted from dizziness, who would believe that? Still

"I actually fainted once before. I really need to take better care of myself."

"Ah, I see."

Since I had passed out previously, the physician's attitude softened a little.

"Certainly. You did a great deal this time, so perhaps you pushed yourself too hard."

"No, it was something I had to do."

"Heh... I suppose the chivalrous spirit already shines in one so young. Perhaps it's not so strange that so many praise you."

"Ahaha..."

He was really laying it on thick. I laughed sheepishly, though my conscience wasn't prickling. What does it matter now? Time to just enjoy it.

After conducting a few more examinations, the physician left, reaffirming that there was no problem with my body.

Anyway, you're really good at lying, you know that? Every time I see it, it's amazing.

As soon as I was alone, Yu Chun-gil, who had been quiet all this time, spoke to me.

At that, I let out a wry smile.

It was a skill I'd picked up out of sheer will to survive.

'... That's enough of that.'

I quietly tensed my body. The physician said my body was fine, but something else was more important.

'My internal energy...'

Just like last time, I had swallowed a great deal of evil spirits. Noprobably much more than even back in Henan.

Would that mean my energy had changed? I tensed up, trying to check.

Hooooooosh!

"...!"

Oh.

I widened my eyes at the sensation from within.

"Huh."

I was surprised. My internal energy had increased to an absurd degree. This was...

'... It could be the Pacific Ocean and it would make sense.'

Compared to the paltry amount I'd had when I was just a third-rate, this was unbelievable.

It's like I'd endlessly consumed an elixir deserving of the name 'miraculous medicine.'

... Your internal energy alone has changed ridiculously. You'll never have to hear you're lacking in power ever again.

Yu Chun-gil nodded in satisfaction as he looked at me.

If he evaluated this as 'just about sufficient', did that mean he used to have even more than this?

'He had more than this?'

I couldn't help but wonder just how vast Yu Chun-gil's reserves had been in life.

'... Anyway.'

With this much energy, I felt as if I could do anything.

'... So swallowing evil spirits could really make this happen.'

By forcefully gathering those evil spirits inside me, I had gained all this power.

No matter how much the Heavenly Demon helped, this made no sense.

'Perhaps...'

The evil spirits I absorbed weren't ordinary. Given the region, there must have been many martial artists among them.

Martial spirits with their own storiestheir energy, perhaps, became mine.

By absorbing such spirits and refining their power

'... It might be only natural to have gained this much.'

But even so, it seemed excessive. If that's the case

'The Heavenly Demon must have done something.'

If he performed something special to me.

His last words still lingered.

'What did he do?'

The Heavenly Demon said he did something to me.

'... Did he say he wanted me to become the Heavenly Demon?'

My face twisted at the absurd thought. Heavenly Demon, really?

That's just laughable.

'The problem is, he sounded sincere.'

I recalled his crimson gazeeyes so chilling I still felt a tingle down my spine just thinking about them. The face that said those words.

'Ridiculous.'

Become the Heavenly Demon? As if.

Like I had any time for that. I didn't even want to, nor could I afford it.

"... Hoo..."

I let out a long sigh and stood up.

The only one visible was Yu Chun-gil. Sung Hun wasn't around. Which meant...

'Chun Uijin?'

What happened to Chun Uijin and Ghost Demon? As I wondered about their condition

Knockknock.

There was movement beyond the door.

Teacher.

It was the Small Moon Division Leader's voice.

"Ah. Come in... come in."

At my permission, the Small Moon Division Leader opened the door.

"I heard you had awakened"

He stopped mid-sentence. I could see his pupils trembling as he looked at me.

"... Did you obtain a fortuitous encounter?"

Sharp-eyed, this one. He must have realized my energy had increased.

"A little."

"...'A little' seems an understatement..."

Yeah, it was a bit much. I knew it myself.

I should probably learn how to conceal or control my internal energy.

"My body's fine. Nothing else has changed, right?"

"If anything has changed..."

"I mean, the situation and all that."

I was asking if anything had changed since I lost consciousness. The Small Moon Division Leader hesitated briefly, then answered.

"There haven't been any major changes, but..."

"But...?"

"Due to the aftermath of the Plum Blossom Division Leader incident, the atmosphere at Mount Hua is tense. We also failed to capture the Broken Heaven Palace agents..."

That, I already knew.

"In addition, your presence continues to draw the attention of the Mount Hua Sect. That could become a problem in itself."

"A problem?"

"Now that they're looking to you, it gives you the opportunity to make use of their expectations."

"... Oh?"

I was impressed. This guy was smarter than I thought.

"Did you intend this outcome, teacher?"

"About half?"

"..."

There was a glint in the Small Moon Division Leader's eyes. A bit of admiration, maybe.

The guy who used to look down on me now had that lookoddly, it felt different.

All I did was teach him a martial art, really.

Just 'all I did,' huh? You brat. Do you know how amazing that is?

I chuckled at Yu Chun-gil's reaction. It probably was a big dealif it was a supreme art created by the Sword Saint.

That must be why the Small Moon Division Leader reacted that way.

Of course, it just didn't feel like such a big deal to me.

"Half of it was intentional. Let's see where things go."

"... Then, do you already have plans for what's next?"

"I do."

I definitely did.

Whether things would go as planned was another matter though.

"Anyway..."

Now that my internal energy was settled and I was up, it felt like time to tie up some loose ends.

Zzzt!

"...!"

A sensation made my eyes open wide. I turned my eyes.

I saw something.

'What's that?'

What is that?

A thin string was floating in the air. At a glance it looked like black hair, but hanging so long, it was clearly not anything ordinary.

'What the...?'

What on earth...?

I glanced at the Small Moon Division Leader, but he seemed only puzzled by my gaze, clearly not seeing what I did.

"For now, could you leave?"

"Pardon?"

"I think I need to rest a bit more. I'll call you later."

"Ah, understood."

Seeming a bit disappointed not to be able to talk more, the Small Moon Division Leader obediently went out at my words.

"Teacher."

"Mm?"

"Please, be more careful next time. I won't let my guard down, either."

"... Ah."

It sounded like he was telling me to stop sneaking out. Did my constant forays without guards lead to one-too-many incidents? His warning stung a bit.

"... Alright."

With a nod, I replied, and the Small Moon Division Leader turned his back and left.

Once alone, I looked at the line again.

'This is...'

What on earth? I tapped it gently. There was no physical sensation, even as I touched it.

But

Whooooom!

As soon as I touched it, the line writhed. At the same time

Sssrrrr!!

I felt something in my heart area.

It was a sensation I'd never felt before.

'... What is this feeling?'

What kind of feeling was this? As I wondered, puzzled

... This... ah...

"...!"

Yu Chun-gil's voice came sluggishly. That could only mean...

'No way.'

Knock knock

"...."

I sensed another presence. A moment later

May I come in?

A calm, familiar voice came through.

"... Yes."

As soon as I replied, the door opened and someone entered. He looked like a Mount Hua sect disciple

Srrrrk!

As he entered, his clothes and face changed.

It was Ghost Demon. He walked in and immediately dropped to his knees before me.

Thud!

"I greet the True Heaven...!"

"...."

His attitude was more extreme than usual. And then

'The thread is attached.'

I saw the black string connecting the two of us.

I instinctively reached out and touched the thread.

"Gggh...!!"

Ghost Demon gritted his teeth and trembled, raising his head to look at me.

"Haa... hah..."

He drooled in a state of frenzied excitement.

"...."

I grew uneasy and grossed out by his bizarre demeanor, and stopped my hand.

'... Crazy.'

'I will grant you a gift.'

The Heavenly Demon's words echoed in my mind.

At the thought, cold sweat trickled down my back.

Without a doubt

'Something's gone wrong.'

Something had gone very, very wrong.

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

Haha, Bang Sung-Yun is now connected to Ghost Demon. And it seems it's an expert-servant connection.

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