Published at 26th of January 2026 10:07 pm

Chapter 370

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The Tyrant King's bracers. It was something I'd seen in the storage before.

When I asked Yu Chun-gil what that armband was, he simply said he'd brought it for the Tyrant King.

'... I really was an idiot for just letting that go.'

I thought of the Mount Hua's black robe. It was said to be a symbol of Mount Hua, yet he'd chucked it away in his own storage, while his own sacred item had once been left at Mount Hua.

'I should have thought then that the armband was something special, too.'

Who would have thought, after all that, that the armband was the sacred treasure of the Tyrant King's family.

'... What the heck is it, anyway?'

Did it have some kind of amazing effect? I was baffled. From what I remembered, there didn't seem to be anything particularly special about it.

And here's the problem.

'If the Tyrant King came here looking for that...'

I wondered if I would become his objective. No, not that I cared about handing it over.

'It wasn't mine in the first place.'

If the original owner came to retrieve it, I'd just give it back.

'... The only question is, whether it would cause any trouble to hand it over.'

Weighing it out, it didn't seem like a particular problem. At least, not so far.

'Hmm.'

I organized my thoughts. I still didn't know what the Tyrant King's real intentions were, so I wasn't about to act rashly.

'If he asks, I'll give it.'

If all he wanted was that armband, I'd just hand it over. Deciding that, I asked Yu Chun-gil,

"I'd like to ask, just in case."

『What?』

"... You didn't give something to the Tyrant King, did you?"

『What do you mean?』

"I mean, there wasn't a trade of goods or anything, like back at Mount Hua?"

『Ahh.』

Finally understanding, Yu Chun-gil nodded.

『No trading or anything like that. I just stole it.』

"..."

That was a reply that made me want to flip out.

"Why'd you steal it? You're not some thief, grandpa...!"

『Well, I needed it and they wouldn't give it to me, so what else was I supposed to do?』

"Still, you could just not take it. Where does the logic for stealing something come from...?"

『That's just life.』

Isn't that exactly what shouldn't count as 'life'? I was left speechless by that nonsensical answer.

God, my head.

'... It's getting more likely.'

Thinking this way, the odds that the Tyrant King was looking for the armband skyrocketed.

'Of course.'

He was the Overlord of Xian—a peerless master who hadn't stepped out from there in years.

Yet, such a person had come all the way to Henan. Not only that, he'd gone so far as to show up in person at the Blue Moon Sect.

'He's showing interest in me.'

It only made sense if the armband was at the root of all this activity.

'I'd rather not get dragged into a mess.'

But that wasn't going to be easy. It'd be one thing if only the Tyrant King was interested in me.

'But I'm interested in him, too.'

After all, I was interested in him as well.

'I'd better come up with a plan.'

I'd better think a few moves ahead, just in case.

I turned around. First, I needed a destination. Yu Chun-gil's storage—it was time to go there and find that armband.

* * *

Blue Moon Sect Leader's Office.

Virtuous Moon Sword entered the room and took a seat.

Once he did, the Tyrant King sat down as well.

"What is it you're doing?"

As if he'd been waiting to ask, Virtuous Moon Sword turned to him.

"What?"

The Tyrant King replied with an expressionless face. His one hand still sat twisted and mangled. It had to be killing him, but the Tyrant King just gazed unflinchingly at Virtuous Moon Sword.

"I know you have some business with the main sect. Still, how do you justify such rudeness to a disciple of the sect?"

Virtuous Moon Sword's voice was thick with a rare discomfort.

He was a man who never showed his emotions, and yet, his irritation was plain for all to see.

"Rudeness. Sure, it was rude. But there was something I had to confirm."

"Confirm?"

At those words, Virtuous Moon Sword's expression soured ever so slightly. At the same time, a forceful aura rippled from his body.

"Isn't that a little excessive for the sake of some confirmation?"

"Hm."

The Tyrant King looked at Virtuous Moon Sword and shook his ruined arm.

"Still, doesn't this much suffice as an apology? No?"

"I'd say that's a different matter."

"It's no different. You people handle apologies just like this, same way your former sect leader did."

"..."

Former sect leader.

With mention of Sword Saint Yu Chun-gil, Virtuous Moon Sword fell briefly silent.

"It's odd, though. Judging by your reaction, you seem pretty fond of that brat."

"All disciples of the main sect are equal."

"Ha."

At that, the Tyrant King let out a chuckle.

"What a pitiful excuse. Even with your own blood, if they're not worthy, you don't look at them the same. Equal? What nonsense."

"..."

"I'm not criticizing you. For what it's worth, that brat's caught my eye, too. The Sword Saint really found an extraordinary one this time."

The Tyrant King narrowed his eyes, recalling Bang Sung-Yun. Of course, it had been a much lighter blow done as a test, but he hadn't just absorbed it—he had parried it as if it were nothing.

'Those eyes.'

The Tyrant King remembered the way Bang Sung-Yun had looked at him.

There was nothing there. No regard for who he was. No thought for why he attacked, for any of it.

'Only: what will I do next?'

He was running through his next moves. Discomfort and surprise lingered, but were of no hindrance.

'Not bad.'

His core was tranquil. The Tyrant King always took note of those with a calm core, rather than the fiercely strong.

Just like...

'Like Yu Chun-gil.'

Appearances were hot and passionate, yet inside, he contained darkness and cold like the deep sea.

Thinking of Sword Saint Yu Chun-gil, the Tyrant King lifted the corners of his mouth.

'He's already surpassed the wall...'

Transcendent realm.

A mere "rising star" was already in the ranks of masters. The Sword Saint had truly handed his strength to someone incredible.

'How curious.'

How would we fight, if it came to that?

How far would he go, if he kept growing like this?

He was looking forward to it. The Tyrant King could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand slightly.

"So, I understand why you have expectations of him."

"I never asked for your understanding."

Virtuous Moon Sword's expression hardened as he faced the Tyrant King.

"State your purpose. Depending on what it is, I, too, may have to change my stance."

"... Oh ho. Your stance?"

Interesting words.

Crack.

A sound came from the Tyrant King's arm. He was forcibly setting his broken limb back in place with a twist.

"How, exactly, would your stance change?"

"Since the Tyrant King saw fit to visit the main sect, we intended to treat you as a guest."

Rrrrmmble—

All the equipment in the room began trembling at once, reacting to power in the air.

"But if your business has anything to do with the disciples of the main sect, we can no longer treat you as a guest."

"That's odd phrasing."

Tap.

The Tyrant King pressed a finger lightly to the desk. The trembling desk immediately stilled.

"You mean, not if I mess with the main sect's disciples, but if I mess with Sword Saint's brat, you'll get angry."

"All disciples of the main sect are the same."

"Ha! Entertaining."

The Tyrant King stood up. Rising, a tremendous presence gathered around him.

"So, he's the one you're watching so eagerly... I really am curious."

"..."

Grrrrk.

Their auras collided. The building no longer merely trembled—it felt as though the whole structure shook.

But—

"Unfortunately, my objective is not the Sword Saint's brat."

Tsk.

With those words, the Tyrant King suppressed his looming presence.

"I'll stay as a guest, then."

"..."

Virtuous Moon Sword, too, withdrew his energy.

"In that case, I expect you to observe proper etiquette."

"I will."

"... I'll summon a physician, so please receive some treatment."

Virtuous Moon Sword stood up. As he moved to escort the Tyrant King to the physician—

"But."

Suddenly, Virtuous Moon Sword turned to look at the Tyrant King.

"Then what is your purpose?"

The Tyrant King still hadn't answered. As he stared at Virtuous Moon Sword, he finally replied,

"Ah, nothing much..."

He said,

"There's just something I need to take with me."

He had come here to retrieve something.

* * *

Creeeak—!!

The mechanism opened, and I entered the inner area. I'd come here so many times that it all felt familiar now.

"Hm."

I moved on, glancing at my surroundings. I stopped at the spot where I'd first found the Tyrant King's bracers.

"So it really is this."

I stared at the armband. It didn't look like much—no obvious characteristics or signs of importance. I couldn't understand what meaning it might have for the Tyrant King's family.

"Hmmm."

Judging by his actions, though, this armband definitely held some importance.

『Are you planning to take it out with you?』

Yu Chun-gil asked. I shook my head.

"No. I don't think I will."

『Why not?』

Though the Tyrant King came here for this very item, I said I wouldn't take it. Yu Chun-gil appeared perplexed.

"Because I haven't figured out his intent yet."

No matter what, it was the Tyrant King's property, but Yu Chun-gil was the one who'd brought it here.

So it had belonged to the Tyrant King's family. Until I knew his intentions, I shouldn't touch it.

'... And besides.'

Even if the Tyrant King's purpose truly was this armband, I couldn't just recklessly take it out.

If that time came, I'd have to figure out some way to handle it.

'For now—'

I checked over all the items and moved on. The final destination was the room where the sword technique was kept.

"Hmmm..."

Nothing had changed. Even after arriving, using the Blue Moon Sword Path and staring at it, the fifth sword form remained a mystery.

'How am I supposed to figure out that fifth sword?'

All the other forms strung together smoothly, but I just couldn't understand that form in the middle.

'What should I do?'

I stared blankly at it.

'There has to be a way.'

Judging by Yu Chun-gil's reactions, there must indeed be a method. But since he wouldn't tell me, it was frustrating.

'Hmm...'

I stared and stared at it, until laughter broke out of me.

'What am I doing?'

What was I even doing right now?

'... Right now, I should be focusing on the Tyrant King.'

But I'd already forgotten all about the Tyrant King's aim and appearance, too busy standing in front of the sword technique.

The old me would never have behaved like this.

"... Hmm."

I scratched my cheek. Baffled by my own actions.

Slish.

Paradoxically, I found myself reaching for the sword again.

'Just a little longer.'

Maybe I'll try just a bit more?

Clack.

I adjusted my stance, then moved slowly through the sword path.

『Heh, heh, heh.』

Yu Chun-gil let out a low laugh at the sight. That weird chuckle annoyed me, but I ignored it for now.

But, as it turned out, "just a little" became quite some time.

I practiced the sword for quite a while.

* * *

Who knows how long passed? About 2 hours or so—I'd struggled for nearly two hours.

"Haa..."

Only after being drenched in sweat did I finally withdraw my sword.

"... Damn it."

First thing that came out was a curse.

"How the hell is this done?"

I tried every method I could think of, but it was no different this time. In the end, I still couldn't grasp the fifth sword form.

"Haaa."

Frustration rose within me.

"What am I supposed to do?"

I glared at Yu Chun-gil as if blaming him, but the old man just kept smiling.

"This is just impossible."

Whether I learned it or not, he didn't care. Driven by exasperation, I spoke out.

『I told you, take it slow—』

Yu Chun-gil begun to offer advice—

Clunk.

"Huh?"

『... Hm?』

Suddenly, a strange sound came from over yonder.

"What the...?"

『Shhh.』

Yu Chun-gil quickly brought a finger to his lips.

『Someone has entered the storage.』

"...!"

At those words, my eyes widened.

... What?

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