Published at 26th of January 2026 10:09 pm

Chapter 371

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Someone showed up at the secret store room?

At Yu Chun-gil's words, I widened my eyes. Who could possibly come here? I swallowed dryly. At the same time, I hurriedly hid my body.

I looked around, checking for escape routes. There was a way out nearby. Every secret store room had an exit, so I could leave any time I wanted.

But.

'Who could it be?'

For now, I chose to remain here.

Wooooong.

I gathered my energy and wrapped it around my body. It was to suppress my presence.

It was a method I had learned from Yu Chun-gil before.

With my energy covering my body, I pressed myself tightly against the wall.

'The door is closed.'

First, the secret store room I was in had a closed door. Same with the previous store room. As I confirmed that, I recalled what I'd seen before.

'They said there were signs of intrusion into the store room.'

Yu Chun-gil's snack stash. In contrast to its absurd name, it had things of immense value inside.

Just think of the divine elixir—Moon Eye awakened when I absorbed it.

At that time, Yu Chun-gil said,

'Someone entered through the first entrance.'

Someone who knew of the secret store room's existence had tried to sneak in and explore it.

'Perhaps...'

Was it that person?

I held my breath. I wanted to confirm it, but...

'I can't open the store room door from here.'

The store rooms I'd already passed were closed, so I couldn't access them again. All I could do was wait here, holding my breath.

'Who could it be?'

I was curious to know who was trying to explore this secret store room. Moreover...

'Whether...'

Whether that person was involved in Yu Chun-gil's death. That's what I was most curious about. One of the tasks I had was to identify everyone involved in his death.

'I hope it's someone from the list.'

I had compiled a list during a previous investigation. If the person was one of them, things would be easier.

Ssss—

I gradually slowed my breathing. With walls layered between us, I figured my breath wouldn't carry that far, but...

'Still.'

I had to be careful. This was the Blue Moon Sect, after all.

'A place swarming with monsters.'

Other sects might be similar, but the Blue Moon Sect felt especially so.

A place where only the strong were respected.

Since only the strongest martial artist could become sect leader here, it was obvious others were strong, too.

'So, for now, I have to hide.'

I needed to identify the intruder.

Slowly, I began moving. My destination was the first secret store room.

I focused on suppressing my energy as I made my way.

Clack.

Clack.

The sounds grew louder. Someone was definitely there... but the problem was—

'The second door is closed.'

The door leading from the first to the second store room was closed. To move further, I'd have to open it.

'But with someone over there, I can't open the door.'

If I opened the door carelessly, I'd be discovered.

'The good thing is...'

Because the door was closed, they might not know I was here. That was a relief.

'But how do I confirm who it is from here?'

How could I check the presence beyond this wall?

That was the main problem.

'Hmm.'

I pondered.

How could I see through it? As I considered this for a moment—

『If you can't see with your eyes, try checking with your energy.』

Yu Chun-gil gave me a piece of advice.

'... Energy...?'

What did he mean by that? I thought about it.

'Ah.'

I felt like I understood. Just in case, I focused my eyes.

The awakened Moon Eye shifted, and the Blue Moon Sword Path activated.

In that instant, I sensed something on the other side of the wall that was previously invisible.

'... This is...'

It was the energy in human form.

'What is that?'

Could this really be done? I'd never tried before, so I didn't know.

'I thought this technique only predicted enemy attack paths.'

But now it seemed to let me perceive energy itself in human shapes. I focused on that form.

'... That energy.'

It was familiar. Undoubtedly, it was Blue Moon Sect energy—the same energy all of its disciples possessed.

Meaning...

'That person is, naturally, from the Blue Moon Sect.'

As I expected. Anyone sneaking into Yu Chun-gil's secret store room had to be one of them.

'Now then.'

The question was, which one? I tried to figure it out, but—

'... I can see the energy but not the face.'

I couldn't tell who it was.

'Tsk.'

What should I do? While I hesitated, the energy suddenly started moving.

"...!"

They approached my side of the wall. Had they noticed something? My heart pounded.

Tak tak tak.

Whoever it was tapped on the wall. I heard faint sounds as they moved about, tapping at the walls here and there.

As if—

'They're looking for the next entrance.'

It seemed as though, knowing another space existed, they were searching for a way in. After a while—

Sss—

Unable to find a way, they turned away and exited through the entrance they came in.

When the energy had moved off far enough to be out of range—

"Hoo..."

I finally let out a breath I'd been holding.

"... That scared me."

When they got close, I thought they might really know something, and it startled me. But that didn't seem to be the case.

I narrowed my eyes as the figure faded into the distance.

'... Why did they come here?'

I'd already known someone had broken into this secret store room. But—

'I don't think they found anything the last time either.'

I wanted to know what reason made them come back.

'Is it because of the Tyrant King?'

If there was an anomaly, it was the appearance of the Tyrant King... If not—

'Me.'

My own return—it could be used as a reason. If it wasn't even that, there were too many possibilities to consider, so for now these two seemed the most likely.

'Why would anyone look for the secret store room now?'

I had to find the connection.

'... Tsk.'

Nothing came to mind immediately. For now, I had to be content with knowing someone had come, and that the person was from the Blue Moon Sect.

'... If only I could see their face, it'd be perfect.'

Feeling a bit regretful for not being able to, just then—

"Oh."

『Why is it?』

An idea dawned on me. Come to think of it, there was a simple way.

"... Couldn't Grandpa just have gone and checked for me?"

If Yu Chun-gil just passed through the wall to check the person's face, wouldn't that have worked?

『Ah, you're right.』

"..."

『Hahaha.』

He responded as if he just realized it, too. Damn it.

'... There was such an easy way.'

It was the simplest and only I could do it, but I didn't think of it. Because of that, I'd missed my chance.

'If I try now...'

Maybe I could still do it...

'No, they're already too far away.'

I'd hesitated too long and time had passed. At this point, it was a moot point.

"Tsk..."

A pity. But I couldn't stay here sulking forever, so I got up.

"... Let's get out of here, for now."

I had to leave the secret store room. If I left through the immediate area, there could be problems, so I aimed for a more distant passage.

* * *

Creak.

I climbed up the ladder. Even as I climbed, I kept pestering Yu Chun-gil with questions.

"Why do you think they came? With what intention?"

『Who knows. Maybe they were hoping there was more to steal.』

"... But there's barely anything left for them to take."

There might be things deeper inside, but only those who knew the secrets could access those. Besides, the intruder didn't seem to know how to open the other rooms.

Just—

'They at least know there might be something more.'

They suspected or were certain there were other spaces.

That means this was a person with that kind of knowledge. That was big.

And—

'When did they get that information?'

If they'd known since long ago, it would be fine. But if they learned about it recently—

'... That means they have another helper.'

A helper who even knows about the store room's secrets.

"Tsk."

The complicated situation made my head spin. At last, after climbing the ladder, I emerged outside.

Light leaked in, making me shield my eyes. I was in an empty place. No sign of anyone. I'd checked beforehand.

Creak.

I gently closed the store room door and left the place.

"Whew."

A sigh of relief.

'I'd better stay away from the secret store room for a while.'

Knowing someone was coming and going, I might get into trouble if I returned, so I decided to avoid it for now.

'I already got what I needed anyway.'

The Sword Path stored in the store room was the most valuable fortuitous encounter for now, so I didn't need to return.

'I memorized it all, anyway.'

The angles, colors, and shapes of the Sword Path. All of it was in my head. There was no need for me to wander the store room.

'Today, I only meant to go back and check the bracers anyway.'

Since there was no need to risk my neck anymore, visiting the store room was unnecessary.

That seemed best.

'What I need to focus on now is solving the Sword Path, right?'

I thought about priorities.

'Sword Path? Or... searching for the person?'

My hesitation didn't last long.

'Search first.'

If there's an anomaly, that's the top priority.

'Then, for now...'

There was something I could conveniently check in the afternoon, so I'd handle that first.

With that decision, I started walking and spoke to Yu Chun-gil.

"First—"

『Quiet.』

"...?"

I stopped in my tracks at Yu Chun-gil's words.

『There are eyes watching.』

He meant someone was observing me. It was a warning. I opened my eyes wide and scanned my surroundings, but felt nothing.

'Who is it?'

Could it be the intruder from earlier? I intensified my focus.

I activated the Blue Moon Sword Path once more and examined the area.

I was trying to pick up on any energy.

"...!"

Found it.

On my left, something flickered. It was an unusual energy form. Not Blue Moon Sect energy.

As I stared at that spot—

'Ah.'

I thought I figured out who it was. There were only a few people in the Blue Moon Sect who didn't have its energy.

And among those who might secretly watch me, there was only one.

"... Do you need something?"

I asked toward the undulating presence. I felt as if I would swallow again from nerves, but I managed to hold down the urge.

At my words, the energy wavered slightly, but didn't fully reveal itself.

I called again.

"Do you have business with me?"

This time, I more clearly addressed the person.

The energy spying on me—its identity was—

"... Great Hero Tyrant King."

When I called, the energy undulated in the bushes, and a person in dark clothes stepped forth.

"My, my."

Tyrant King Muk Yeok-Sung.

"Looks like I've been caught."

It was him.

Share