Published at 26th of January 2026 9:32 am

Chapter 350

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After checking the letter, I moved without delay. It felt like something that needed to be finished before nightfall.

Honestly, I didn't really want to do this either.

If I could follow my heart, I'd ignore it all.

"Tsk."

Something was bothering me, so I couldn't avoid it. Perhaps this, too, was Sung Hun's intention.

"... There you are."

I found her. The usual training spot. There, I saw Yu Yun sitting.

"Why are you sitting on the ground?"

"......"

At my words, Yu Yun turned her head. Her face was dazed, an expression I couldn't read to guess what she was thinking.

"What are you doing like that?"

"......"

Hearing me, Yu Yun turned her head again. She glanced back to where she had been before, blinking her eyes.

What was she thinking? Was she in shock over Sung Hun's death? But if that were the case, she looked far too composed.

"......"

Staring at her, I let out a sigh.

"You alright?"

I asked with a sigh. Still, there was no response.

I recalled earlier in the day. Yu Yun's vacuous face during Sung Hun's funeral flashed in my mind. She'd looked like that even then. That exact expression.

"......"

She was holding something in her hands. It was the Plum Blossom True Sword. She was gripping the old, battered sword tightly.

Was she really alright? Judging by her condition, she seemed fine, but I doubted that was true.

I quietly sat next to her.

I don't particularly enjoy sitting on dirt, but for now, I had to.

Awkwardly, I lifted my hand and patted her on the shoulder.

"... You're not alright. I'm sure of it."

I was truly awkward at this. I'd rarely ever tried comforting someone in my life.

'Why do I have to do things like this?'

In the letter Sung Hun left behind, he wrote that he hoped I would comfort Yu Yun.

Knowing full well that she would get angry if I even got close, suddenly being told to comfort her? I never thought I'd be asked to do such a thing.

And yet, even thinking, 'Why give this kind of thing to me,' I had to do it anyway.

After all, it wasn't as if I was doing it for free.

With thoughts like that, I continued patting Yu Yun's shoulder.

"......"

Yu Yun quietly stared at me. Was she telling me not to do this? Wondering if that was it, I paused briefly.

At that moment, Yu Yun looked down at my hand. Since she continued staring, I resumed the patting. She silently watched the hand I was using to comfort her.

Was it working? Was this even comforting her? I couldn't tell. I hoped it was, at least.

Thud.

Yu Yun moved close, burying her face into my shoulder as if seeking comfort.

"... Mm..."

This wasn't in the plan. What do I do now? I glanced at Sung Hun, half-nervous for his reaction. He was glaring at me with a frown.

What does he want me to do?

You're the one who asked me, so why make that face?

Emotions, by their nature, exist separatelyso they're called emotions.

Sheesh, you say the most ridiculous things. Don't go too far with this pathetic stuff.

Ugh...

If not for Yu Chun-gil's words, I'd have felt unjust to the point of dying.

In any case.

"... Mm..."

I patted Yu Yun's back as she nestled in. Patting seemed the only thing I knew how to do, and I didn't have time to think about anything else.

Pat, pat.

In my awkward, clumsy way, I continued this for a while.

'Hmm?'

I felt something against my chest. Something damp.

No way.

"Are you crying?"

"......"

Was Yu Yun crying? Is this girl really crying? I looked at her with wide, startled eyes. Yu Yun pushed herself against me with tightly clenched fists, adamant not to show her face.

"... Uu..."

I heard a sound.

"Uuuh... hng..."

...

Sung Hun looked on with mournful eyes.

"Kk... u..."

Unable to hold the sound in any longer, Yu Yun began to sob.

"Ah..."

I'm sorry.

Sung Hun muttered words that wouldn't reach her.

I wanted to give you something better. But I couldn't.

"Uu..."

Still. I am glad I could leave you with spring.

"Hng..."

"......"

I didn't know what to do, or what method to use. So, all I could do was keep patting her.

I was happy. Odd as it seems, I was happystrangely enough.

Sung Hun kept speaking, regardless of whether Yu Yun could hear.

I hope the same for your future.

He smiled. At that bitter smile, I looked at him.

Sssssss.

Was this really enough? Sung Hun's body slowly began to shine.

'... Is that light?'

It was the light of ascension. Was it that he hadn't held any deep regrets from the start? If he could let go of his lingering attachment over just this, it meant his regret hadn't been that deep.

Child.

Sung Hun looked at me.

Naturally, I couldn't answer.

Thank you.

"......"

I nodded. To be honest, I hadn't done much at all.

All I had done was sit next to her and pat her back.

Are you going?

Yu Chun-gil asked Sung Hun.

Of course. There's nothing good left for me here, after all.

Sung Hun spoke with a smile.

I trust you know that too.

Hmph...

Chun-gil.

What?

They say nothing is as pointless as regret... But I disagree.

Fwoosh.

Sung Hun's body scattered in the air, resembling fluttering flower petals.

All humans are bound to have regrets; but it is because of these regrets that we can choose the path we wish to take.

Ha.

At those words, Yu Chun-gil gave a sarcastic laugh.

Didn't you always say they were all pointless? Did your mind change after death?

That's right. Only after dying did my heart finally change.

Ssssss.

The petals drifting past brushed against Yu Yun.

"......"

Yu Yun, who had been crying, suddenly lifted her head from my arms. She gazed around as if chasing something unseen.

It's your choice if you wish to stay longerI won't say anything about it.

A petal drifted down, landing gently on Yu Yun's crown, as if caressing her hair.

I hope you choose what you truly believe is right. For I could not.

"......"

Yu Yun stared into empty space.

Where Sung Hun stood.

'... She shouldn't be able to see him, rght?'

How could Yu Yun, who can't see ghosts, be looking right at Sung Hun's exact spot? Was it a coincidence? Just as I was wondering

It's spring.

Sung Hun smiled, looking at Yu Yun.

My...

Spring.

And with that, Sung Hun scattered completely as petals and vanished.

'Spring?'

Why mention spring out of nowhere, in this season? I couldn't understand.

Just then.

Sssss

The petals surrounding Yu Yun suddenly drifted toward me.

'Huh?'

Why are they coming to me all of a sudden? Before I could even react, the petals bore into my body.

... Into me? Wait.

Whoosh!

"Urk!?"

The petals, like mist, seeped all through my body. It didn't feel like gaining energy or anything like that.

This is the only thing I have left to give.

I heard Sung Hun's voice in my ear.

I hope you put it to good use.

"What the..."

The petals were all absorbed. Judging by Sung Hun's words, it seemed intentional, but I had no idea what had been left behind.

Dazed, I just stood there.

"......"

Yu Yun finally reacted.

Looking at her face, I couldn't help but smile.

"Ha. Your eyeslook how puffy they are."

"......"

Her eyes were several times puffier than usual.

Seeing that, I couldn't suppress my laughter.

Springing upYu Yun stood and dashed off somewhere.

"Huh? Hey!"

Where was she running off to all of a sudden? I couldn't even stop her, she was too fast.

"... What the heck?"

And she took the sword with her, too.

Ha.

I scratched my cheek.

"... She'll figure it out, right?"

If she's gone, there's really no need to chase after her. Thinking that, I nodded to myself.

...

At that moment, Yu Chun-gil was watching Yu Yun run off.

"Let's be on our way too."

My task was finished. I moved to leave, but Yu Chun-gil did not follow.

"Grandpa?"

He said to do what you believe is right?

Yu Chun-gil suddenly muttered to himself and let out a little chuckle.

None of us ever managed to do that. Right to the end, such a sly fellow.

"What was that?"

Nothing at all.

Yu Chun-gil said, staring into the empty air.

... Damn bastard.

Who was he talking to? I didn't bother to ask.

Because I already knew the answer.

***

Shortly after a day had passed.

It was exactly one day after Sung Hun's funeral when trouble arose at Mount Hua Sect.

"... The Plum Blossom Division Leader is dead?"

News came that the Plum Blossom Division Leader had died in the prison. Upon hearing this, I hurried to the cell.

It was true. The Plum Blossom Division Leader was already dead.

But

"Suicide?"

"Yes... That's correct."

"... The Division Leader committed suicide?"

At the word 'suicide', I frowned.

'Suicide?'

He took his own life?

I checked the Division Leader's body carefully. Apparently, there were no signs of resistance.

There was no sign of intrusion, nor any other oddities.

The more the investigation went on, the more the conclusion pointed to suicide.

But

'... Could it really be suicide?'

It was puzzling. There were no bite marks on the tongue, no bruises. But from the blood on the wrist, it appeared that was the method.

'Those are teeth marks.'

Meaning he bit into his own wrist and killed himself.

'Ha.'

Is that really possible? No matter how deranged he was, could he die in such a manner?

Could Sung Hun's death have shocked him that much? No, I was skeptical of the whole thing.

"So you're saying the conclusion is suicide, then."

"... Yes."

With Yeo Hyuk's answer, I nodded and glanced at the wall.

Uuuuuung.

Energy was stirring. Seeing that, I narrowed my eyes. I found it.

'Soul remnant...'

As I thought. Traces were scattered about.

There were no visible marks on the Division Leader's body. But what I was seeing were traces left on the floor.

'... Footprints.'

I saw footprints. Not marks that others could see, but the traces of a soul. Which meant only one thing.

'Murder.'

The Plum Blossom Division Leader hadn't taken his own life.

Someone had come and killed him.

In other words

'... A master capable of moving in and out of Mount Hua Sect undetected.'

Could it be the Ghost Demon?

If it was the Ghost Demon, it might be possible.

'But how did he make it look like suicide?'

The stage had been set.

As I was questioning this

It's that guy.

Yu Chun-gil's face hardened as he spoke.

'That guy?'

Who?

Yu Chun-gil looked at the Division Leader, as if he had caught on to something.

There aren't many who could do this, even in the Central Plains, but of those, only one could make it look this natural.

Only one.

Shadow Sovereign.

"...!"

It looks like this is his doing.

At the name that came from Yu Chun-gil's mouth, my eyes grew as wide as lanterns.

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

Shadow Sovereign huh.

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