Published at 26th of January 2026 9:31 am

Chapter 347

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When I touched the black thread, the Ghost Demon reacted.

And now, he's even looking at me with eyes filled with madness.

Everything about it made my skin crawl.

'What's going on?'

What is that thread, and why is the Ghost Demon reacting that way?

I was flustered. I wondered if I was seeing something I shouldn't and half-closed my eyes, but I could still see the thread all the same.

'What is this?'

What on earth is that? Just as my mind was full of questions...

"Ahh... Heavens... As I thought... You truly..."

The Ghost Demon began to tremble all over as he spoke. Trembling was one thing, but why was he looking at me and shaking like that?

That was even more unnerving.

"... What is it?"

"Yes...?"

"What was that just now."

What is this response I'm seeing after touching the black thread?

"And why are you here again?"

What is the Ghost Demon doing here anyway?

Does this crazy person treat enemy territory like his own bedroom? How can he come and go like it's nothing?

'Then what's the point of standing guard at all?'

Why bother with security if it's this easy to slip through?

'... No matter how much of a powerhouse the Ghost Demon is...'

That guy has always seemed strange. From the moment I first saw himand even more so now.

'Yu Chun-gil's spirit. Even if not just that, whenever this person appears, all the spirits and ghosts start to sway.'

It was a bit different from simply being powerful or having strong energy.

'What is it?'

There are people with keen senses and powerful energy.

Such people can usually sense the presence of ghosts completely.

'But...'

The Ghost Demon seems unable to see or fully perceive the ghosts.

But for him to affect their state in such an odd wayI just can't understand it.

'What is all this?'

And what's with that obsession?

To be able to enter and leave here, ignoring all the masters present, and to use some kind of stealth techniquethat, too, is strange.

Not only that...

'... That formation technique he's used before.'

That extraordinary technique, to the point that the space itself seemed distorted, was puzzling as well.

'They said he was the brain of the Demonic Cult.'

The strategist and a demonic being.

A loyal follower, called the 'brain of the Heavenly Demon'.

Looking at such a Ghost Demon, I asked,

"What was that just now?"

What exactly did I do? At my question, the Ghost Demon's eyes lit up.

"You are not aware of it...?"

"Aware of what?"

What did I even do?

"Ahh... I see. So the Heavens have yet to reveal to you what you possess."

"......"

"The fact that you don't realize it must mean that you've only recently awakened the power, correct?"

"... Would you please speak more clearly?"

I flicked at the thread in front of me. Then

"Grrrgh!"

The Ghost Demon contorted and groaned.

It was truly unbearably unpleasant to hear.

"Th-this is it...!"

"......"

Oh, please.

"Aaah..."

"Would you stop enjoying yourself and just explain?"

The Ghost Demon can't stay still when I touch this thread. So what is this thread, and what is going on?

"... This is only possible because you are a descendant of the former cult leader."

"... What...?"

You're saying this is possible because I'm a child of the Heavenly Demon? I narrowed my eyes.

That shouldn't be possible.

"Do you know the saying, 'demonic beings can never defy the cult leader?'"

"I do."

It's a famous phrase. It's well known that the demonic beings would gladly die or obey without question at the Heavenly Demon's words.

I'd always wondered what kind of brainwashing could make that possible.

"This is not simply the result of brainwashing."

"Then what is it...?"

"All demonic beings receive the cult leader's blessing and acquire demonic energy to become what they are."

As he spoke, the Ghost Demon slowly bowed down.

He laid flat, adopting a posture akin to prostration.

"And at the same time as they gain that blessing, they all become bound to the cult leader."

"... Bound?"

"A demonic being with demonic energy is utterly incapable of defying the cult leader's commands."

"...!"

Is such a thing possible? My eyes trembled. Which meant

'That thread I just touched on the Ghost Demon...'

It's something that lets me control them?

"How that's possible, I do not know. And that is what makes it all the more thrilling."

"... Thrilling? What's so thrilling?"

"Isn't it intense? To be crushed by an omnipotent power you cannot even imagine or comprehend. Ahhh... How exhilarating it is."

"......"

I took another step back from the Ghost Demon. This bastard really was insane.

Ugh....

Even Yu Chun-gil looked disgustedenough said.

"I thought I'd never experience such intensity again... and yet... you truly are my one true Heaven..."

"So what you're saying isbecause I'm the child of the Heavenly Demon, this is possible?"

"That's correct."

Being able to wield the Divine Sword

Being able to command demonic beings at will

From what he's saying, it's all because I'm the descendant of the Heavenly Demon.

'... That's impossible.'

Knowing the truth, I could only find it absurd.

'What did the Heavenly Demon do to me?'

Why could I use the Divine Sword?

Why is this situation happening?

It's all because the Heavenly Demon did something to me.

Which means this isn't possible just because of my bloodline.

'Just what is going on?'

My eyes narrowed. My head was tangled with complicated thoughts when

"You are truly the one Heaven."

The Ghost Demon, whether I ignored him or not, was simply confirming his own madness.

"Please, I hope you will revive the ruined Demonic Cult..."

"......"

Revive the Demonic Cult? Did he really just say that?

'Revival, what revival?'

I'm the former murim alliance leader's disciple, someone whom the Righteous Faction has high hopes for.

'm being called the Sword Saint's successor these days.

'And now you want me to become the Heavenly Demon of the Demonic Cult?'

Unbelievable.

"But isn't the current Young cult leader someone else? Couldn't he do this as well?"

I thought back to the guy who called himself the Young cult leader.

The one who even infiltrated the Righteous Faction.

"No. He is unable to bestow the blessing."

"... Really?"

"Yes. If he had that capability, the Demonic Cult wouldn't be in this state. He's nothing but an empty shella half-wit. The one true Heaven stands only before me."

"......"

So that Baek-something guy can't use this blessing.

"If he truly had the power, there'd be no need to cooperate with Broken Heaven Palace..."

Halfway through that, the Ghost Demon clamped his mouth shut.

"It's taboo."

At my words, he nodded.

It seemed like he'd come close to something he wasn't allowed to say.

'... Tsk.'

Am I really about to control demonic beings now?

'Heavenly Demon, huh.'

It seemed the Ghost Demon already viewed me as the next Heavenly Demon.

Even aside from that

'The Heavenly Demon himself said as much.'

Heavenly Demon.

Even the Heavenly Demon, now dead and just a soul, wanted me to become the Heavenly Demon.

It was beyond ridiculous.

'What does a Sword Saint's successor have to do with being a Heavenly Demon?'

What an utter load of nonsense.

Yu Chun-gil would probably agree with me, so I glanced at him.

'... Huh?'

I paused as I looked at Yu Chun-gil.

'What's with old man Yu Chun-gil?'

Yu Chun-gil was smiling.

With a curious gleam in his eyes, as if he found all this amusing.

"......"

What the heck?

This is ominous. That old man only ever smiles like that when he's plotting something nasty.

"Forget the Heavenly Demon talk for now"

...enough.

"......"

I shut my mouth at Yu Chun-gil's words. I couldn't quite hear him clearly, but I could tell what he was about to say.

Even the Ghost Demon was staring at me in silence, waiting for me to speak.

Please leave for now. I think we'll need to discuss this later.

As you wish. I look forward, truly await your returnmy beautiful, intense, and great

Just go already.

Yes.

As soon as I frowned, worried he'd run his mouth forever, the Ghost Demon vanished before my eyes.

'... Fast.'

I still couldn't see how he moved.

He really did disappear like mist.

How does he do that? The question rose in my mind when

*knock knock*

Excuse me...! Moon Hero!

A voice came from outside. Their tone was urgent.

"Yes, please come in."

As soon as I gave permission, the door burst open and someone hurried in.

It was Yeo Hyuk.

"Haah... Hah..."

His breathing was rough. Why on earth did he run here like that? I looked at him curiously.

"Moon Hero...!"

"Yes?"

"Th-the Sect Leader has awoken."

"...!"

At those words, my eyes widened.

***

The Sect Leader of Mount Hua, Plum Blossom First Sword Sung Hun, had awoken.

The old man who had been on the verge of death from poisonnow awake.

This sent the entire Mount Hua Sect into a frenzy.

The physician had said there was no telling if he would ever wake, and most were pessimistic.

But Sung Hun had awakened, against all such worries.

"Sect Leader...!"

"Are you really all right, Sect Leader?"

"... This can't be...!"

Everyone was gathered there, eyes wide in shock.

I'd arrived here with Yeo Hyuk as well, pushing my way through the crowd to the front.

"Excuse me."

"Hey! The 3rd-generation disciples were told not toguh!"

As I tried to squeeze through, someone was about to protest when I pushed past him.

"Moon Hero...!"

He recognized me and froze. The others quickly made way as they saw me approaching.

This is why having a name is nice. Being famous really is the best, huh?

I slipped through the crowd.

Pushing forward and forward, I finally saw Sung Hun beyond the mass of people.

The physician was beside himself. He needed to check the patient but couldn't.

The reason was simple.

"... Heh heh."

Sung Hun was being tightly hugged by someone.

Thanks to that, Sung Hun laughed heartily, and the one embracing him was

'Yu Yun.'

It was Yu Yun, her.

I couldn't see her face, but she was holding Sung Hun tightly, her body trembling ever so slightly.

"......"

I scratched my cheek as I watched the scene.

Should I come back later?

That thought crossed my mind when

"You're here."

Sung Hun called out to me.

"... Ah, yes. I heard you'd woken up."

"Heh heh heh, this old man just had a bit of luck."

"......"

"They said much happened while I was unconscious, and that you were a great help."

"No... well..."

I really did do a lot. It was no joke.

But I couldn't bring myself to say that, so I just stood quietly.

"Are you feeling all right?"

"Never felt better."

Heh heh heh.

He laughed, full of confidence, and those around let out sighs of relief.

"......"

At that, I narrowed my eyes.

'Never felt better?'

'What nonsense.'

Even if no one else could tell, there was no fooling me.

I focused on the energy radiating from Sung Hun's shoulders.

That was

'Vital energy .'

It was the energy of the living.

And for that energy to be circulating so visibly meant

'... Not much time left.'

Sung Hun didn't have long to live at all.

A few days at most; that's how much life he had left.

The reason he could get up like this was ultimately

'The final flare before the end.'

He was burning the last embers.

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

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