Published at 26th of January 2026 10:07 pm

Chapter 368

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Immediately after finishing my conversation with the Virtuous Moon Sword, I headed to the training grounds.

For some reason, it was a conversation that left me feeling uneasy and uncomfortable.

'He's certain that I won't be able to persuade the Tyrant King.'

Whatever the reason, the Virtuous Moon Sword had such conviction.

And also—

'The Virtuous Moon Sword hopes that I will one day become the alliance leader.'

I could tell he had some other goal in mind.

'But why?'

Why is that? Why does he want me to become the alliance leader?

'He could do it himself, so why is he pushing it onto me?'

I wanted to guess the Virtuous Moon Sword's intentions, but it was too difficult.

'What is it?'

What exactly is his intention? What does he want to do, looking at me like that?

"Tsk."

As I was racking my brains like that—

『Why are you thinking so hard about it?』

Yu Chun-gil spoke up, picking his nose.

『It's not like you'll become the alliance leader immediately, and even just getting nominated brings a lot of benefits. Wouldn't it be better to enjoy it while you can?』

"There's nothing to enjoy, so why would I enjoy something like this?"

『Seems better than most things to me.』

"...... People misusing authority are the scariest in the world."

It's not like I planned on wearing some armband of power. Even if I did, being the alliance leader of the Righteous Faction—not even just the neighborhood boss? No chance.

'Damn it. Because of that conversation, I didn't ask the most important thing.'

The Shadow Sovereign I had encountered.

That's what I should have asked about. But I didn't bring up that topic.

'Though, honestly, I doubt I would've gotten a useful answer even if I'd asked.'

If I wanted to investigate, I would need to find out about my brother, not the Shadow Sovereign.

'What kind of thing did that scoundrel do—?'

What did he do to be able to even hire the Shadow Sovereign?

'... Should I stop by home once?'

It's been years since I visited my family home. Although I'd half-run away, at this point, it felt like I needed to visit at least once.

"Tch..."

So busy. I just wanted to live a lazy life, but things keep piling up.

Srrng.

As if to organize my thoughts, I drew my sword. The Divine Sword once more emerged into the outside world.

In the empty training hall, I gripped my sword calmly.

『What are you trying to do?』

"Can't you tell by looking?"

I grasped the sword and assumed a stance.

"I'm trying to finish what I started earlier."

『... What you were doing earlier?』

"Yes."

『Then why aren't you going down to the basement to practice? There are no marks to follow here.』

He said I should be practicing while looking at the sword marks filling the basement walls.

"... Is that really necessary?"

『What?』

"If I have to follow the sword marks anyway—"

Sssss—!!

『Heh!』

As I spoke and moved my sword, Yu Chun-gil's eyes gleamed.

"I can just remember and follow them."

The countless sword marks on the wall—

Those were already embedded in my mind.

Like I always said—

'I'm confident in my memory.'

I was better at observing and memorizing than anyone else.

Swoosh—!!!

I moved to mimic the sword marks. I kept swinging my sword, following the same sword path as before.

Ah, well, saying "the same" is a bit off—since I'd been changing the movements here and there.

"This isn't it."

I failed again at the fifth movement. Sighing in disappointment, I re-assumed my stance.

『Hehe.』

Seeing that, Yu Chun-gil burst out laughing and spoke.

『I always feel this way—but you look laziest of anyone, and yet, in things like this, you're so ridiculously stubborn. What a strange fellow you are.』

Ignoring Yu Chun-gil's comments about how weird I was, I continued moving my sword.

Thinking of the sword marks, I kept swinging.

And so, a whole day passed like that.

* * *

It was nearly dawn.

"Hoo..."

Feeling the subtly changed air, it was only then that I finally set down my sword.

"Ugh, I'm dying..."

My entire body ached, already drenched in sweat.

My hands were trembling so badly, I couldn't have gripped the sword any longer if I tried.

Clack. I barely managed to shove my sword into the scabbard and slumped down.

"Huff... ha..."

My breath came out ragged, turning to mist.

"Huuaaah..."

It was hard to even move my arms. I truly felt like I was dying.

How long had it been since I trained this hard?

It must have been a long time.

My body was burning. Despite the cold weather, my body was so hot I didn't feel the chill at all.

While I really felt I'd given it my all—

"In the end, I couldn't do it..."

A gloomy sigh escaped at my failure to succeed.

"... It felt doable, though."

The last, fifth sword path.

I ultimately couldn't manage it.

No matter how I tried, the next position was too hard to connect.

"What's the answer...?"

It doesn't feel possible for a human. How in the world am I supposed to connect the path?

Frustrated, I asked Yu Chun-gil.

『Shouldn't you figure it out on your own?』

Yu Chun-gil apparently still had no intention of telling me the answer.

Could it be—

"Is there maybe no answer...?"

『What did you say?』

"No, but really. Anyone can see it's an impossible angle..."

『Ha.』

Yu Chun-gil snorted.

He was looking at me with full-on disapproval.

『Hey now, not everyone can't do something just because you can't. Not knowing your own limits...』

Clicking his tongue, I spoke half out of my mind.

"Has your conscience short-circuited...?"

It might just be that I can't do it, but assuming others can just because he can—that seems like a problem.

"Just tell me the method, would you?"

『To whine after just one day of practice...』

Even I had to admit it was a little pitiful, but what could I do? This was how I lived.

"Would it hurt to just give me a hint? I'm not asking you to tell me everything. Just a bit to point me in the right direction."

『You get more shameless by the day.』

"We both benefit, so please just help me."

If I was going to be brazen, I figured I might as well go all the way.

Hearing that, Yu Chun-gil furrowed his brow.

『Impatience is what holds you back.』

He finally offered the smallest bit of help.

"Impatience?"

『You have to go at it more slowly than you think.』

How much more slowly was I supposed to go? I couldn't understand.

"... If you're really going to help, can't you be a bit clearer? You're unbelievable."

『I've already helped more than enough.』

"Yeah, sure..."

I got to my feet. I took off my upper garment and wiped away the sweat from my body.

"... Fine. I get that you're not going to teach me."

I realized this conversation with Yu Chun-gil wouldn't be much help, so I just went to wash up.

"... I'll get going."

I considered training more, but I had things to do starting in the morning.

* * *

After washing up and changing my clothes, I started walking.

My whole body was tired, but since my cultivation level had risen, I recovered quickly.

Just the fact that I could move after swinging a sword all night was proof my physical strength had really improved.

'... Still tired, though.'

But it was bearable. Compared to before, I'd improved a lot.

'Back then, I would've collapsed just after a few laps around the training grounds, out of breath.'

Now, I knew that wouldn't even faze me.

Once I'd gotten ready and reached my destination, I saw a group of people gathered in the distance.

They were all wearing the same uniform, which signified one thing—they were members of the Small Moon Division.

"You're here."

As soon as I arrived, Do Hyung greeted me.

Naturally, I took my place next to him.

"Am I late?"

"No, the other seniors just came out early."

"Right?"

I knew training was supposed to start later than this, but for some reason, everyone was already here.

On top of that—

'Why is everyone staring at me?'

The other seniors' gazes were uncomfortable. I could feel them all sneaking glances at me.

'Ah.'

The reason dawned on me, belatedly.

'... That's right.'

I'd forgotten, but now I remembered—I had a pretty high standing in the Central Plains right now.

I was being called the Moon Hero, and had even become a candidate for alliance leader.

Perhaps for that reason, even the Small Moon Division members were looking at me with amazement.

The fact that I hadn't originally belonged to their sect probably played a role too.

As I tried to ignore those interested, curious, and somehow jealous gazes—

—Is he really that strong?

—He may be the Sword Saint's successor, but... for an alliance leader candidate, that's a bit much...

—He's barely over twenty, if he even is. The rumors must be exaggerated.

I could hear them. They were speaking loud enough for me to hear. Considering everyone here had awakened their Moon Eyes, there was no way they couldn't use sound transmission.

'So what do they expect me to do?'

Should I get angry? Frankly, I was too tired to feel bothered. Let them talk if they wanted. That was about how I felt.

While I ignored their words with a bored expression—

"Everyone's gathered."

From afar, the Small Moon Division leader approached, speaking.

With his arrival, everyone shouted—

"Greetings, Division Leader!"

Hearing the others' greetings, the Small Moon Division leader nodded.

"I have been away due to missions. I apologize for my absence."

He had spent time in Mount Hua with me, and in Henan as well.

In other words, he'd been away for months.

"I send my thanks to the vice division leader for standing in for me during that time. You worked hard."

"... Not at all."

The Small Moon Division's vice division leader.

If I remembered correctly...

'Was it Do Kyung?'

That seemed right, if my memory served.

"Training from now on will not be much different. As it is dawn, we will begin with physical training."

Normally, the Small Moon Division members trained individually. Since each had already reached a high level, group training didn't have much meaning.

Because the Small Moon Division often took on outside assignments for the Blue Moon Sect, they rarely did organized group training.

'But sometimes...'

On rare occasions, I'd heard they did these group trainings to foster camaraderie.

"Physical training, huh..."

As soon as I heard that, I regretted swinging my sword all night. My body was already so tired, the thought of more training made me feel sick.

"Ugh."

I made a face. Everyone else was already preparing for training; seeing that, I forced myself to move, hiding my dislike.

Training just involved strapping those big iron balls to our ankles and running.

After that, it was probably swordsmanship practice with things like sandbags strapped on.

'... Same thing every day.'

It was like homework—I was always doing it. Yu Chun-gil had told me not to skip, so I kept being forced to do it.

'Well, this works out.'

I'd been skipping physical training in favor of just swinging my sword.

Might as well do it now.

As I thought that and went to pick an iron ball—

Whooom.

"...?"

A presence.

A cold killing intent ran up my spine. Even before I could fully register it—

"Which one of you is it?"

A strange voice rang out.

Clang—!!!

By instinct, I reached for my sword.

Or rather, tried to. But—

Thud.

"...!"

It was blocked.

My sword wouldn't budge. A hand was calmly pressing the very end of my sword hilt.

"Found you."

The voice came closer.

"So it's you."

An old man I'd never seen before was standing before me, smiling.

TL's Corner:

The Tyrant King came to cause some trouble...

A new teacher perhaps?

Share