Published at 26th of January 2026 10:04 pm

Chapter 362

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

In the rising sunlight, the Divine Spear was smiling.

The expressionless man was lifting the corners of his mouth. It was an unfamiliar look for him.

Just the fact that he was smiling made it so.

As I was quietly, almost unintentionally, watching his face—

Creak.

The door to the room opened. Without making a sound, Heavenly Insight entered.

"...... Huh."

He let out a dry breath the moment he stepped in. He had a dazed expression as he looked at me and Divine Spear.

Divine Spear spoke, seeing him.

"You're here."

"...... Leader."

"Good morning."

"What?"

At Divine Spear's words, Heavenly Insight's brow furrowed. He looked as if he couldn't quite process what he'd just heard.

It was such an awkward phrase for Divine Spear to utter.

"...... How is your body?"

"I'm fine."

"You can't be fine, right?"

The wounds still remained. It seemed the evil ki had disappeared, but the injuries caused by it lingered.

However—

'He should be fine now.'

All the negative influences had been cleared away, and, judging by his body—

'Medicine will be enough.'

Even with Sung Hun's knowledge, there didn't seem to be any major problem left. All he needed was a substantial period of rest.

"You say your body's fine—that's a relief... What are you doing?"

Before he even finished his sentence, Divine Spear got up.

He began nonchalantly unwrapping his bandages. Wounds that hadn't completely healed were laid bare.

"Leader. What do you think you're doing right now?"

"I got up, so I should work. Surely there's accumulated business to handle."

"Are you insane?"

He planned to work in that condition? Heavenly Insight's face twisted noticeably.

"What business? I've already handled most of it myself."

"You had a hard time with that."

"And you say that now...!"

"You've gone through a lot."

"Ha."

At Divine Spear's words, Heavenly Insight let out a helpless sigh. It was clear from his face what he was thinking: This man won't listen no matter what I say.

"...... So as soon as you regain your senses, you're going right back to work?"

"I've rested for too long."

"That isn't what you'd call resting. Passed out would be more accurate."

"Bring me a summary of what's happened in the meantime."

Divine Spear started walking. He had the attitude of 'I won't take no for an answer.'

"This madman."

Before Heavenly Insight could finish cursing, Divine Spear turned his back. Then he locked eyes with me.

"Thank you."

"......."

Lightly spoken, but the words carried weight.

I scratched the back of my head at those words.

'He shouldn't remember this.'

The Divine Spear right now couldn't remember anything. I had taken care of everything, so that should be the case.

'Is he thanking me for healing him?'

But he shouldn't even know that I was the one who healed him.

"...... What do you mean?"

I cautiously asked. Divine Spear looked at me quietly.

"Yeah. What could it be? I don't know."

He spat out the words briefly, then turned away again. He started walking off.

"......."

I just stood there and watched his retreating back.

Did he thank me without knowing the reason?

Perhaps there was a fragment of memory left inside him.

'How mysterious.'

Normally, he wouldn't be able to recall anything, but he did.

Was it because Divine Spear was an exceptional martial artist? Or—

'Perhaps it was because she was such a significant presence to him.'

I wasn't sure.

But either way, it was mysterious.

As I stared blankly after Divine Spear as he left—

"Has the treatment truly ended?"

Heavenly Insight asked me.

"...... Ah, yes. There are still some physical wounds, but the important things have all been healed."

"...... If the physical wounds remain, then what exactly did you heal?"

Heavenly Insight seemed baffled.

"Um... lingering regrets?"

"What?"

"I healed what was keeping him from waking up. There was a huge knot inside him."

"What are you talking about?"

"It means the treatment went well, more or less."

"......"

Heavenly Insight made a strange face. He clearly didn't like my answer. But what could I do? This was the best explanation I could give.

'...... What do I do about this?'

My gaze drifted toward the box beside me.

I had prepared the divine pill but didn't get to use it. What should I do with that?

It was stuck in my mind, but.

'Anyway......'

Divine Spear's treatment was over.

His back, seeming lighter than before—

Proved it.

* * *

A few days passed after we returned to the Alliance.

As soon as the Divine Spear regained his faculties, he went right back to his leader duties.

The cracks that had formed in the Alliance due to the leader's absence were mostly resolved with Divine Spear's return.

Simply proving the core was still intact was enough.

Yet—

'I plan to step down from the Alliance leader position starting next year.'

The Divine Spear made a shocking statement. He said that next year would be his last as Alliance leader.

Because of this, the Murim Alliance was in an uproar.

Who wouldn't be? The Heaven Beyond Heaven, who had supported the Murim Alliance after the Sword Saint, said he would step down from the leader position.

On top of that—

'The greatest plum blossom of Mount Hua has fallen.'

With the death of Plum Blossom First Sword Sung Hun, it felt as if a huge storm was sweeping through the Murim Alliance.

If the Divine Spear stepped down as leader, who would be the next Alliance leader?

With the next candidate, Plum Blossom First Sword, who was also Heaven Beyond Heaven, having died—

There was no one else who could immediately take the position.

There was some talk about the Sword Emperor—

But he was currently missing.

With next year's storm expected to be fierce—

"...... I heard you're retiring?"

I was now having a conversation with the main culprit behind this storm.

"Yes."

Divine Spear nodded. There were two teacups and a few refreshments on the table.

As I looked at the calm tea, I spoke.

"What led you to that choice?"

"It was necessary."

"Under the current circumstances?"

"All the more so because of the current circumstances."

"I don't understand...."

The revival of the Demonic Cult and the appearance of the Broken Heaven Palace.

Even those alone made these times chaotic, so the Divine Spear stepping down as Alliance leader would seem to only add more confusion to the chaos.

'But perhaps it has to be now.'

The fact that the Divine Spear was alive and fine was now clear.

This moment might be the safest to change the leader position.

Who it would be—I didn't know.

"...... Then, why was I called here?"

I asked the question that had bugged me since arriving—why am I here?

Divine Spear answered, looking at me.

"There are things I want to ask and propose to you."

"There are things you want to ask and propose?"

"That's right."

"What kind?"

I was already anxious. If Divine Spear was calling to ask something, it was bound to be something far from normal.

"What I want to ask is about your master."

"......."

He meant Yu Chun-gil. I swallowed dryly, ready to evade.

"What do you mean...?"

"I'll ask directly."

"Yes."

Divine Spear asked me with a serious look.

"Are you truly Sword Saint's only successor?"

"...... Excuse me?"

What did he mean by that? My brow furrowed. Only successor? Then does he think there are other successors?

Could that be...? I immediately looked up at the old man floating above.

Yu Chun-gil, mirroring my confusion, shook his head.

『I have no idea what he's talking about.』

"...... Yes. At least, as far as I know."

I answered with the help of the man himself. Hearing that, Divine Spear nodded, his eyes narrowing.

"I see."

"...... Why do you ask?"

"I've heard rumors."

"Rumors?"

"Yes."

Divine Spear took a sip of tea and spoke to me.

"It's said that in the Guangdong region, a martial artist claiming to be the true successor of Sword Saint has appeared."

『That's nonsense.』

"...... Is that so?"

Yu Chun-gil let out a snort. I didn't believe it either. Baseless rumors always went around.

However—

"They say he uses the same martial arts."

『Huh?』

"Pardon?"

The words from Divine Spear's mouth caught me completely off guard.

"If you mean martial arts... are you talking about the Blue Moon Sword Dance?"

Yu Chun-gil's martial art. Specifically, the Blue Moon Mind Technique's technique, the Blue Moon Sword Dance.

At this, Divine Spear replied,

"No, they said it was a different sword technique. His hair is completely white, and he emits a blue flash. Just like..."

Divine Spear's gaze landed on me.

"Just like you."

"......."

White hair.

Blue radiance.

That—

'Moon Heaven...?'

Those traits were strikingly similar—no, exactly the same as Yu Chun-gil's signature technique, Moon Heaven. But is there actually someone else using Moon Heaven?

『What in the world is this nonsense?』

"Is this information credible?"

"It came from the Beggar Sect. We're still verifying the details... but I wanted to check with you first."

"......."

Another Sword Saint's successor besides me?

No—

'It could happen.'

Sure, it could. But—

'It doesn't make sense for the creator to not know.'

The man who invented that art was unaware.

"As you said, I think you'll need to verify it. As far as I know, there's no one else."

"Understood."

At my answer, Divine Spear nodded as if satisfied.

So—

"Is that the only question?"

"For now."

So that was all.

It was a question about whether there was another Sword Saint's successor.

Then...

"What is it you wanted to propose?"

When I asked about the proposal—

Swish.

As if waiting for this, Divine Spear pulled something from his robe. A letter.

He handed it to me.

"This is...?"

What is it? I asked, not opening the letter.

Divine Spear answered.

"It's from the Demonic Cult."

"Excuse me?"

『What?』

A letter from the Demonic Cult? My hands trembled in shock. Those bastards sent a letter?

"What the...."

"The one calling himself the Young cult leader of the Demonic Cult has sent a letter. He says he wants to have a meeting with the Righteous Faction."

"Is he insane?"

I covered my mouth, realizing I'd just said my thoughts out loud.

I mean, really. They were the ones who attacked and threw everything into chaos, and now they want to meet? What nonsense.

"...... Sorry."

"It's fine,"

Divine Spear waved off, as if it was understandable.

"...... So the Demonic Cult wants a meeting, you say?"

"That's what they're saying."

Why this happened remained a mystery, but the important thing now was—

"Then... how is this letter connected to your proposal for me?"

He said he had a proposal, but the Demonic Cult's letter came first. That was nerve-wracking enough.

As I voiced that anxiety—

"I have a proposal for you,"

Divine Spear said.

"As a current candidate for Alliance Leader, and as the representative of the Righteous Faction, would you attend the conference?"

"Attend the conference? You really plan to go through with that... Wait a minute."

... What did he just say? My eyes widened.

What candidate...?

"...... Alliance leader candidate?"

He'd slipped in something utterly absurd.

Words that absolutely shouldn't exist.

TL's Corner:

Casually slipping in that Bang Sung-Yun is one of the prospective alliance leader.

Sneaky, I like.

362 is officially the end of part 1.

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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