Published at 26th of January 2026 9:35 am

Chapter 351

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Shadow Sovereign.

At Yu Chun-gil's words, my eyes widened. It was a name I had heard before. Noin fact, it was a name no one in the Central Plains could ever be ignorant of.

'The Sovereign of the Underworld, who never discusses right or wrong.'

Even in the era when the righteous and the demonic were divided, the Underworld existed as its own separate group.

They specialized in killing people for money.

They were called the Evil Faction, but, strictly speaking, even that was incorrect. Even Evil Faction members feared or abhorred them.

As long as the price was right, whether the client was from the Evil Faction, the Righteous Faction, or even the Demonic Cult, they would take any job.

There were more assassin organizations known as the Underworld than one might think, and though they were not easy to approach, their existence was widely acknowledged.

And among such assassins...

The most outstanding figure.

The lord of the night, the god among assassins.

'Shadow Sovereign...'

That was the Shadow Sovereign. Word had it that he would silently and without a trace, take on any commission and absolutely never fail.

It was said that he had never once failed a job after accepting it.

There were many powerful assassins, but if one had to name the strongest, everyone would point to the Shadow Sovereign.

Jokingly, people would say

'If he had been on the side of the Righteous in the Great Demon War, the war would have been far easier.'

Some even said that if he wanted to kill the Heavenly Demon, he might actually be able to.

It sounded absurd, but that was the general perception.

Of course,

'Not only the Shadow Sovereign but the entire Underworld sat out the war.'

Whether it was the Demonic Cult, the Righteous Faction, or the Evil Faction.

They never aligned themselves strictly with any one sideunwavering neutrality.

It was even said they refused all commissions during the war.

Considering that

'They really do seem like a mercenary group just out to make money.'

So what did Yu Chun-gil mean just now? The Shadow Sovereign killed the Plum Blossom Division Leader?

Having heard that, I narrowed my previously widened eyes again.

'... Certainly.'

There was something odd about calling it suicide. There was more than one strange part.

Especially...

'The glabella.'

What's with that spot? Why does the Soul Remnant's sensation seem so vivid there? Visibly, there was nothing unusual.

Yet the Soul Remnant appeared to be focused right at the center of the forehead. What could that mean?

Judging by cause of death, the excessive bleeding from the wrist wound indicated death.

'I don't know.'

I had no idea how it was done. This was the first time I had seen a case like this.

'Should I mention that it was the Shadow Sovereign's work?'

It wasn't suicide. Should I say so?

Do not.

Yu Chun-gil spoke firmly.

The Shadow Sovereign is obsessed with never having his methods discovered. However, if he realizes you have figured it out and are digging deeperhe may act. And if that happens...

'I'll be killed, is that it?'

If the Shadow Sovereign targeted me, I'd be dead without question. That's what Yu Chun-gil was saying.

'... So I have to act like I don't know, even though I do?'

Honestly, whether the Plum Blossom Division Leader lived or died didn't matter to me. The only issue was the Shadow Sovereign.

'It's safer to play ignorant than be targeted by him.'

But why on earth did the Shadow Sovereign kill the Plum Blossom Division Leader?

I looked at Yu Chun-gil, asking with my eyes.

'Do you know the Shadow Sovereign?'

The Shadow Sovereign was said to be someone who hid his identity completely. I wondered if Yu Chun-gil could know even him.

I do not. At least as far as the Shadow Sovereign's true identity goes, I have no clue.

"......"

How strange. For Yu Chun-gil not to know something.

Did you think I knew everything?

He usually did, so I assumed this time as well.

Yu Chun-gil gave me a look of disbelief.

That only goes to show how dangerous the Shadow Sovereign is. It was the same when we met face-to-face.

'So, you've seen him?'

Once. He came to kill me.

'Huh?'

He'd come to kill Yu Chun-gil? But then...

'How are you alive?'

... Should I not be alive, then?

No, that's not what I meant.

'It doesn't make sense.'

The Shadow Sovereign had never once failed a commission.

Yet, he tried to kill Yu Chun-gil and Yu Chun-gil lived.

So was that not a failure?

It wasn't a commission, so that's why.

"Hm?"

Not a commission? Then what?

I stole something from him.

"...."

So he tried to kill me to get it back. Truly a relentless bastard.

He shook his head as if remembering something revolting.

So he nearly died because of himself? Why would this crazy old man try to steal from the Shadow Sovereign?

Ah, of course, in the end, he didn't get it back. Hahahaha.

And he didn't even return it. This old man, seriously...

'Sounds like you deserve to die.'

The more I hear about his mischief, the more he sounds like someone who deserved to die. Stealing from the Shadow Sovereign, how did that make sense?

'No... This isn't the important part right now.'

The person who killed the Plum Blossom Division Leader. If Yu Chun-gil was right, it was the Shadow Sovereign. And

'And I can't let it show that I know.'

If I show any hint, I could become the Shadow Sovereign's next target.

I reminded myself of that.

"Moon Hero."

Yeo Hyuk called out to me.

"Did you see anything, by chance?"

Had I gleaned some clue from the Plum Blossom Division Leader's corpse? I shook my head in response.

"No. I believe it was indeed a suicide."

"... Ah, I see."

Yeo Hyuk looked oddly disappointed. Seeing that, I asked,

"Do you think it wasn't suicide, taoist?"

"Ah, that's not it..."

With a somewhat saddened look, Yeo Hyuk stared at the corpse of the Plum Blossom Division Leader.

"Still... I had just hoped that the end of someone who once tried to bring great plum blossoms to Mount Hua... would not be this meaningless."

"......"

Even if he was a traitor, he had once been their Division Leader.

Was he saying he didn't want his end to be concluded as suicide?

'Hm.'

p>At that, I looked at the Plum Blossom Division Leader.

Either way

'There's nothing left to do for him.'

I don't put weight behind the deaths of the wicked.

Nor do the deaths of the righteous make any difference. He hadn't even left behind a proper spirit.

The Shadow Sovereign's intervention was unexpected, but

'There was no honor in your last moments.'

Whatever the end was, the Plum Blossom Division Leader's finish was far from glorious.

If anything

'Should I say that dying on the same day as the Plum Blossom First Sword gave his death some meaning?'

If that's meaning, then so be it.

With that, I turned my back.

Someone who had already crossed the linethere was no sympathy left for him.

"Oh, that reminds me."

Just as I was about to walk away, my footsteps halted.

"Why is it?"

Yeo Hyuk tilted his head, looking at me. I opened my mouth to answer, then stopped.

"No, it's nothing."

The Plum Blossom Division Leader's name.

Or his dharma name.

I thought about asking, since I hadn't heard it

'But it's unnecessary.'

A name I had no need to remember.

Now or in the future.

***

The Plum Blossom First Sword and even the Plum Blossom Division Leader were dead.

That news spread through the whole Mount Hua Sect.

It wasn't something that could be hidden in the first place, and the atmosphere was very different from the time of Sung Hun's death.

A traitor's death.

No matter how great he had once been, his death meant nothing but the loss of a traitor to Mount Hua.

"Suicide, huh..."

"... Senior brother, so that's how he left in the end..."

The elders who had spent time as brothers-in-arms with him showed mixed reactions, perhaps out of a complicated love and hate beyond mere resentment for the traitor.

"What should we do now?"

The one who looked highest among the elders spoke.

"For now, we can't leave the position of Sect Leader vacant."

Who should become the new Sect Leader? Opinions started to line up.

"It's too soon for that."

"But..."

"Brother, it hasn't even been long since the Sect Leader passed."

"......"

"I understand your concern for Mount Hua... but now is too early."

"... Understood."

"What I mean is, that's how we feel. Now then, Moon Herowhat do you think?"

Now the question was directed at me.

Perhaps because things were wrapping up, I had been included in the elders' meeting.

... Meaning things weren't completely finished yet.

"I also think it's premature. More importantly..."

I glanced around at the elders.

"There may be more spies among the elders."

"......"

Their faces darkened.

The Plum Blossom Division Leader had been a spy, and several of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen under him were, too.

There was no guarantee there weren't others among the elders.

'And I'm watching, too.'

Two of the elders, I knew, were spies. The ones who were pushing for a new Sect Leader.

'What to do...'

I thought. They needed to be dealt with, too. How should I proceed?

I could create a pretext.

And I could engineer the process. The problem was

'What would I actually gain if I dig deeper?'

Would there be anything to gain by going further into this? Any further involvement could get risky.

Having considered that, I spoke to the elders.

"I'll first investigate if more spies remain. We already have a lead, so... it shouldn't take long."

First, a warning shot.

On my words, the spies among the elders' auras wavered.

***

I left the conference room.

There was nothing more to do at the meeting.

Having already agitated them, I just had to watch how the elders moved. This was something to ask of Yu Chun-gil.

And also

'I should use Ghost Demon.'

If I used him, things would go smoothly. Or so I hoped.

'If he actually acts as I direct.'

I wasn't sure I could completely trust the Ghost Demon.

'... But at least...'

At least I could exploit the demonic energy I had over the Ghost Demon.

'This is supposed to be a gift from the Heavenly Demon...?'

Something the Heavenly Demon had done for me.

It left an uncomfortable, indefinable feeling, extremely unpleasant. But if I was to use the Ghost Demon, it was going to be necessary.

'... Hmph.'

Using the demonic energy to control the Ghost Demon. Remembering the Heavenly Demon's words, my head spun.

'He told me to become the new Heavenly Demon.'

He said I should become the new Heavenly Demon.

Did he really mean that? I'd already become the Sword Saint's successor, so what's this about the Heavenly Demon?

'It's already overwhelming as it is.'

At this point, I was far removed from anything normal. I wanted nothing more to do with any more bizarre affairs.

Creak

"Hoo..."

I opened the door to my quarters and let out a sigh.

"... For now, I'll head back to Henan"

Just as I began to speak to Yu Chun-gil, who was waiting,

Young one.

Yu Chun-gil spoke.

Sensing the change in his tone, I instantly tensed.

My eyes turned cold.

At midnight, Moon Eye opened.

Fwoosh.

Suddenly, the lamps in my room lit up.

I hadn't done it.

Nor had the wind.

Clack.

My hand moved to the sword hanging at my hip. Keeping my tension high, when

Tap.

Something touched the tip of my chin.

"...!"

Sharp.

A sword tip. When did it get there? I hadn't even sensed it.

At that moment

"You."

A voice came from right in front of my face. In a space that had been empty a second ago, something was slowly taking form.

"You sensed me."

It was a person entirely wrapped in black cloth.

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

Damn. BSY too exceptional.

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