Published at 26th of January 2026 10:06 pm

Chapter 367

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The Third Secret Store Room.

I peered into the place I had opened using Moon Heaven.

Activating Moon Eye, I pierced the darkness and scanned all around. When I finally saw the inside, I froze for a moment.

"What the..."

What is this?

Truly astonishing.

So much so, it was shocking.

"There's nothing here?"

There really was nothing. The thought that there might be something extraordinary inside had been laughable—within the secret archive, not even a speck of dust remained.

"... What is this?"

I immediately looked at Yu Chun-gil. Yu Chun-gil was staring into the space with an indifferent gaze.

Then—

『Can't you see it?』

He spoke to me as if there was something there.

What is it I'm not seeing...?

"... Grandpa, what do you see?"

What on earth was I supposed to find in a place like this?

No matter how much I looked, it was nothing but an empty space.

"What on earth am I supposed to—"

I trailed off. I thought I was starting to understand.

"..."

I channeled power into my dantian. As the energy slowly rose, light seeped into my eyes.

The Blue Moon Sword Path activated again, and I focused on surveying the room.

That's when I realized.

"Ah..."

I understood what Yu Chun-gil wanted me to see, what was actually in this room.

Only then did I finally get it.

"This is..."

Strange marks scratched all over the walls. Sharp, blue lines had been etched there.

It was—

'Sword traces.'

Traces made by a sword.

Every line in this room was such a trace.

'... Ha.'

Blue sword traces. What could they mean? At first glance, it looked like a wild, random mess, yet there was some strange aura to it.

Especially—

'The color is different.'

Even though they were all blue, some looked deeper, others lighter.

"... What is this?"

Inspecting the sword traces, I asked Yu Chun-gil.

Hearing my question, Yu Chun-gil let out a laugh.

『What do you see?』

"Just the marks left by wild sword swings."

『... Wild...?』

"That's the impression I get."

『You impudent brat. Only you would call this a mess.』

"So, what is it then?"

I reached out and touched the wall. I felt the rough texture beneath my palm.

Staring at the dense array of sword marks, I gripped my sword with one hand.

I drew my Divine Sword and stepped back a little.

Then—

Sssshh—!!

『Oh.』

I moved my body in harmony with the sword marks, starting from the deepest hues and following where the color lightened.

Creak.

As I kept moving, I was amazed to find that my internal energy seemed to move by itself.

'Is it the Blue Moon Mind Technique responding to my motions?'

Or, was my body moving along with the energy's flow?

I couldn't say what came first, but I could tell that both the sword marks and the Blue Moon Mind Technique resonated together as if in response.

Shaaah—!!

The fourth slash.

I had no idea what exact movement to make, so I simply followed my instincts.

I was about to draw the fifth slash—

Zzap—!

"...!!"

My movements broke, and a jolt of pain shot through me.

Creak—!

The slash I was forming never reached the end and stopped dead in its tracks.

"... Huh."

I stared at the wall in disbelief. The movements simply didn't connect at this point.

"What is this?"

I looked to Yu Chun-gil and asked.

"How am I supposed to link these?"

『That's for you to figure out now. It's yours to find.』

"... Ah."

I realized.

Those words meant—

"... Training, then?"

It had been a while since Yu Chun-gil had set me a training task.

『It's the fourth form. If you can grasp it—at that moment forward—』

Yu Chun-gil spoke with a sly grin.

『There'll be none who deny you if you claim the Sword Saint's name.』

His tone was full of conviction.

* * *

Before roughly fifteen minutes had passed, I exited the archive.

I wanted to stay longer and observe the sword traces, but I had no time to spare like that.

I sheathed my sword and moved out. While I was walking outside, avoiding people—

"Master."

"...!"

The Ghost Demon appeared from behind me.

"Whoa, you startled me."

I really wished he'd make his presence known. I flinched at the unexpected arrival.

"The Sect Leader requests your presence."

The Ghost Demon bowed his head as he spoke.

'He's back.'

It meant the Virtuous Moon Sword had returned.

"... Let's go."

Hearing those words, I immediately headed toward where the Virtuous Moon Sword would be. As I neared the Sect Leader's quarters—

"I will wait for you here, master."

"Here?"

It was still some distance from the entrance. I was puzzled that the Ghost Demon would stay behind here rather than see me to the door.

As if sensing my confusion, the Ghost Demon answered.

"If I get any closer, the Sect Leader may sense my presence."

"... Huh?"

I furrowed my brows at the Ghost Demon's words. If he got closer, could the Virtuous Moon Sword detect him?

The Ghost Demon had wandered freely, even in the main Alliance and Mount Hua, but now he was wary of the Virtuous Moon Sword. It was curious.

'... Does that mean Virtuous Moon Sword's senses are that sharp?'

Part of my focus lingered on that.

"All right then. I'll be back."

Since the Virtuous Moon Sword had summoned me, I headed to the Sect Leader's office.

* * *

When I arrived at the Sect Leader's office, Small Moon Division Leader was already inside.

"You're here."

"Greetings to the Sect Leader."

The Virtuous Moon Sword's blue eyes turned to me, and I bowed in greeting.

Then, shifting his gaze from me to the Small Moon Division Leader, the Virtuous Moon Sword spoke.

"You may go now."

"... Understood."

With the formal order to leave, the Small Moon Division Leader paid his respects and exited.

Our eyes met briefly, but only for a moment.

Soon after, it was just the Blue Moon Sect Leader and me.

"I heard you accomplished a great feat at Mount Hua. You worked hard."

"... It was nothing."

"I also heard you treated the Alliance Leader. I never suspected you had talent in medicine as well."

"..."

His gaze almost made my body freeze on its own. In any case, this man had to be acknowledged for his overwhelming presence.

"I won't ask who taught you medicine."

Should I be grateful? He said he wouldn't ask, but somehow—

'Feels like he already knows.'

I had the distinct impression he had already figured things out.

"To save the Alliance Leader and resolve Mount Hua's crisis... That is truly impressive."

Though it sounded like praise, it didn't sit entirely well with me.

"... It was just what needed to be done."

"What needed to be done? Do you truly think so?"

"..."

Truthfully, no. No one knew better than I did that this shouldn't have been my responsibility.

"Honest eyes."

'Damn.'

I'd forgotten to keep up the act, without realizing it.

I felt uneasy, as though my inner thoughts had been exposed.

"Your level has risen."

The Virtuous Moon Sword had also noticed my change, detecting that my body had reached the Transcendent realm.

"Did you have a fortuitous encounter?"

"... I gained a small insight."

"It may be small to you, but what you gained was as vast as the heavens. That isn't accurate."

"... Ahaha."

I laughed awkwardly, but then wiped my smile away.

"Sect Leader."

"Speak."

"May I ask you something?"

The Virtuous Moon Sword simply stared at me without answering, as if saying: speak if you have something to say.

"It's about the letter you sent me. Sect Leader, did you already know the condition of Mount Hua's leader wasn't good?"

The letter from the Virtuous Moon Sword that led me to bring the divine pill.

As I brought it up, the Virtuous Moon Sword's eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.

"I didn't know."

"Then, how—"

"It was just a presumption based on my suspicions."

"... A presumption?"

"It had been years since the leader secluded himself at Mount Hua. Based on the information and circumstances I'd seen, I made a deduction."

Shff.

He turned a page of the letter he was holding.

"Sending it was only based on a presumption, but I figured someone from the Bang family would know how to use it."

"You pushed your suspicion as if it were a certainty, relying only on that?"

"In the end, you managed it, didn't you?"

"..."

Should I trust this or not? In truth, the answer was already decided.

"I see."

To trust. Or at least, to pretend to trust.

Right now, that's all I could do.

This was the trap that the Virtuous Moon Sword had laid out first.

When he said he wouldn't ask how I learned medicine.

That shut my mouth tight.

Had I not "trusted" him and pressed the issue further, I would've only handed the Virtuous Moon Sword a pretext.

'... What a sly old fox.'

Not only was he strong, but he was also an expert in words.

Truly, a difficult opponent in every way.

"Understood. Let's set that aside... Sect Leader, do you really wish for me to act as the Alliance Leader candidate?"

I brought up the directive I'd read with Heavenly Insight.

He really was set on making me an Alliance Leader candidate, one way or another.

"You know I won't be able to become Alliance Leader anyway."

I didn't think such a shrewd man actually believed I could win.

I wanted to know his true intent.

"Alliance Leader. Right. Honestly, I doubt a Bang family member will ever become Alliance Leader."

"Then why—"

"Not this time."

"...!"

My eyes widened at the Virtuous Moon Sword's words. From his tone, I picked up on something.

"... Don't tell me. Sect Leader..."

This man.

"Do you really want to put me in the Alliance Leader's seat?"

Maybe not this time, but someday—perhaps not now, but possibly next time.

"So you want me to act as a candidate for now?"

Just having that mark as a former candidate would help. So, in effect, he wanted me to stay in the running for Alliance Leader, at least as a record.

"They say a meeting with the Demonic Cult is being prepared."

Something only Heavenly Insight and Divine Spear knew slipped out from the Virtuous Moon Sword as well.

"It's a good pretext. Go out there and steadily build up your reputation."

"And then?"

"Keep going, until you reach the apex of the Righteous Faction."

The apex—was he referring to becoming Alliance Leader?

"Me? Why? Wouldn't it be faster if you did it, Sect Leader?"

If it was the current Virtuous Moon Sword, he could become Alliance Leader at any time, so I didn't see why he insisted on me doing it.

"It means nothing to me."

"... Means nothing?"

"..."

The Virtuous Moon Sword purposely didn't elaborate.

"Now, let me ask you a question."

He obviously intended not to answer my previous question.

"What alternative did the Strategist offer you?"

I flinched. The Virtuous Moon Sword seemed to know. He knew that Heavenly Insight had made a certain condition in exchange for my withdrawal as a candidate.

'Chilling.'

It gave me goosebumps. Just how far did this man see? What was the Virtuous Moon Sword thinking?

'At first, I just thought he was an impressive man.'

But the more I saw him, the more I felt an unsettling, chilling aura about him.

It seemed pointless to try to dodge the question.

"He said to bring a substitute."

So I simply answered honestly.

"A substitute?"

"Yes. He's supposed to be arriving at the Blue Moon Sect soon, and I was told to persuade and bring him."

"... I see."

He didn't even ask who it was.

The Virtuous Moon Sword just nodded.

"Do as you wish."

"Huh?"

"If you can convincingly get him to take your place as candidate, I won't force you further. Additionally—"

Tap.

Virtuous Moon Sword drummed his fingers on the table.

"No matter what favor you ask of me going forward, I'll grant you one thing without question."

"...!"

Hearing that, I was sure.

The Virtuous Moon Sword was certain that I could never accomplish this task.

That was the conviction I saw in him.

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