Published at 26th of January 2026 10:10 pm

Chapter 372

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

An old man slowly walked forward, hands clasped behind his back.

I frowned as I gazed at the Tyrant King, Muk Yeok-sung.

'...... What's this?'

Why was that man suddenly watching me? Tension surged through me. It felt even more so because of how abrupt his appearance was.

Of all times.

'Right after I came out of the secret store room.'

I thought I'd made it out of the secret store room safely, but the moment I stepped out, I ran right into the Tyrant King—how could I not be startled?

"...... Do you need something?"

I asked cautiously.

At my words, the Tyrant King smiled faintly and strode toward me.

"I never imagined I'd be discovered. I should be the one asking you—how did you know?"

"......."

I hesitated for a moment, wondering how to answer. I couldn't take too long.

"I could sense it."

It was a somewhat vague answer, but I couldn't switch to anything clearer either.

"You could sense me?"

"Yes."

"You could sense me?"

At my response, the Tyrant King looked genuinely surprised.

"That's not easy to do, you know."

"Yes, it wasn't easy, but somehow, I managed."

There was no need for further explanation. Anything more would only breed suspicion.

So I kept my answer as brief as possible.

"Ha."

The Tyrant King finally let out a laugh.

"...... Strange one, aren't you. The more I look at you, the more you remind me of the Sword Saint."

"Excuse me?"

『What did he just say?』

Both Yu Chun-gil and I frowned at those words.

"What do you mean? I'm far better-looking."

『You brat! You little...』

I couldn't hold back.

But it's true! I can't speak to anything else, but I am confident about my face.

After all, genetics do play a large part.

What else could you expect, being born the son of a man who made his living with his face? I was utterly confident in this area.

I vehemently refused to be compared to that rugged, fearsome-looking old man.

As I spoke in utter disgust, this time it was the Tyrant King who looked flustered.

"...... Is it really so bad?"

"I'd say so."

"...... You're quite adamant."

I had to be. And I would continue to be.

"Anyway... Did you need to see me for something?"

Putting aside my irritation, I wanted to know why the Tyrant King was looking for me.

At my question, the smile faded from the Tyrant King's face as he spoke.

"It wasn't anything in particular. I just happened to see you passing by, so I decided to follow you."

"...... That doesn't sound quite right, does it?"

Passing by is one thing, but stealthily trailing someone is quite another. His words made no sense.

"...... So, you just followed me?"

"That's right."

He was shamelessly brazen. No matter how I looked at it, he seemed truly odd.

As I thought this, my gaze drifted down to his arm.

It was the same arm he had twisted while apologizing to me the other day.

'He's got it wrapped up in bandages.'

Whether he'd gotten it treated or not, it was bandaged.

As I stared fixedly at his arm, the Tyrant King spoke to me.

"But here's what I find fascinating. I couldn't sense any trace of you at all, and yet you suddenly appeared."

"......."

Hearing that, I flinched. He must have been talking about when I came out of the secret store room.

'Was it a problem that I concealed my presence when I came out?'

Right after I exited, I collected my energy. That must have been when he noticed.

"Was there a reason to conceal your presence like that?"

He sounded puzzled as he asked, so I replied awkwardly.

"Oh, I've been training a little."

"Training?"

"Yes. I was practicing suppressing my presence..."

"For what reason?"

"I just wanted to."

"Hmm."

The Tyrant King nodded.

"Well, I suppose that makes sense. I almost thought you were sneaking out of some secret place."

"Hahahaha. Of course not."

Hearing that, I inwardly became certain.

'He's suspicious.'

He seemed to be suspicious of me. In addition—

'Does he know about the secret store room?'

Just in case, I glanced at Yu Chun-gil.

『I never told him about it.』

Yu Chun-gil confirmed he had never mentioned the store room to the Tyrant King.

"Anyway. Sorry to take up your time. Still, as the disciple of an old friend, I can't help but be interested."

"...... Not at all. In that case, I'll get going. I have things to do. I'll see you again later."

"All right."

I gave a polite bow and turned around to leave.

'This isn't good.'

I couldn't say why, but I had a bad feeling. Enough to really bother me.

* * *

After Bang Sung-Yun left, the Tyrant King stood there alone, staring at the spot where the youth had gone.

"Hm."

He tilted his head, hands clasped behind his back. He replayed their conversation in his mind.

'A strange kid.'

Even while obviously wary of him, he wasn't particularly afraid. There was something about him that set him apart from any other brat.

Was it just the blue eyes? That wasn't it either.

'He's got quite a capacity.'

A boy who would become great, no doubt—that's why the Sword Saint had chosen him.

'Or maybe...'

Maybe he'd already become something great. Judging by his level, it was oddly high for someone considered a rising star.

'Putting that aside...'

Sword Saint's disciple, whatever.

He could admit that the boy interested him, but the Tyrant King didn't concern himself too much with such things.

His expression changed. His face grew cold and emotionless.

'What matters is whether that kid has what I'm looking for.'

The object the Tyrant King sought—he had to determine whether that boy possessed it.

'It should definitely be somewhere around here.'

The thing the Sword Saint had taken. The item he needed more than anything existed somewhere within the Blue Moon Sect. He had to find it.

'Does he know?'

The Tyrant King believed this young man—the Sword Saint's successor—would have information.

"Hm."

The Tyrant King stirred the ground with his toe.

He could've just grabbed and checked him just now.

'But for now...'

There was a high possibility that the Virtuous Moon Sword would get involved.

If that man was keeping an eye on the boy, the Tyrant King couldn't risk making any careless moves.

'The Blue Moon Sect itself isn't that frightening...'

But the Virtuous Moon Sword at its pinnacle was another matter.

The Blue Moon Sect's leader was always a monster, and the Sword Saint was no exception. Neither was his successor.

'No need to provoke such a monster.'

The Tyrant King suppressed the twitch forming at the corner of his lips.

Truthfully, he wanted nothing more than to test himself against such a monster—even if it meant a fight.

'But I'll hold back for now.'

He came here for a purpose, so there was no reason for unnecessary actions.

'I have plenty of time.'

Slowly.

He would check—slowly but surely.

—I have things to do. I'll see you again later.

Recalling the boy's parting words, the Tyrant King murmured,

"All right, we'll see each other again."

He had a feeling they would meet again before long.

* * *

"Ugh."

A sudden shiver ran up my shoulders.

"What was that? Someone talking about me?"

My shock at running into the Tyrant King hadn't quite worn off, and now an uneasy feeling brushed past. As if someone were still staring at me.

As I rubbed my arms and muttered, the old man trailing me chimed in.

『Think you've been found out? I was trying to keep quiet, though.』

Even now, he couldn't resist joking, snickering in my ear in a way that irritated me.

I ignored Yu Chun-gil and arrived at my destination.

It was the chamber the Blue Moon Sect used for meetings.

As soon as I arrived, a disciple in front of the door looked at me. I addressed him.

"I was summoned by the Sect Leader. May I enter?"

"...... Sung-Yun from the Small Moon Division. Cleared to enter."

He looked to be from the Small Moon Division too. I never bothered to remember his name.

Creeeaak—

The door swung open and I entered. There were already people inside.

"You're here."

Virtuous Moon Sword. He greeted me.

"Have I kept you waiting?"

"No, take your seat."

"Yes, sir."

I found a vacant seat and sat down, at the far end of the room. Once settled, I looked over the rest of those present.

'...... Heavyweight figures.'

Starting with Virtuous Moon Sword, the Small Moon Division Leader was there, as well as some elders with a distinctly intimidating air.

'The elders.'

They were the elders of the Blue Moon Sect, all of whom had awakened the Moon Eye.

"Now that everyone's arrived, let's begin."

Once Virtuous Moon Sword had confirmed that everyone was present, he continued speaking.

"The reason for this meeting concerns the existence of Broken Heaven Palace, which surfaced at Mount Hua, and the incident in Henan."

Mount Hua. At the mention, I narrowed my eyes. The sudden reason I'd been summoned here—

It was to discuss the matters of Mount Hua and Broken Heaven Palace.

'Because I experienced it myself.'

That was why my presence was required.

"Broken Heaven Palace, is it?"

"The sect said to be connected with the Demonic Cult."

"That's right."

"I also heard... at Mount Hua, the Plum Blossom Division Leader was identified as a spy."

At this, everyone's gaze fell on me. Their looks seemed to demand a response.

"That's correct. The Plum Blossom Division Leader was a spy... and after being apprehended, he took his own life."

"...... Good grief."

I said nothing about the Shadow Sovereign killing the Plum Blossom Division Leader.

"Not only that, but all the elders identified as spies died as well. Each from what appears to be suicide."

"A spy within the Nine Great Sects? And someone at the level of a Plum Blossom Division Leader would betray us, for what reason?"

They all looked on, clearly unable to comprehend it. Why would the Plum Blossom Division Leader take such a risk?

"That's not what's important now."

Virtuous Moon Sword cut through their doubts.

"What matters is, even Mount Hua fell victim to spies—and the Blue Moon Sect may be no exception."

"...... Sect Leader...!"

The elders bristled at Virtuous Moon Sword's words.

"What are you saying?"

"Are you suggesting that we, too, might be spies?"

"Are you certain it isn't so?"

Virtuous Moon Sword looked over the elders with a chilling gaze. The old men flinched beneath his stare.

"The Nine Great Sects—especially Mount Hua, said to be the most righteous—were infiltrated. How can we be so sure the Blue Moon Sect is safe?"

"...... Still..."

"I'm not certain. That's why we need to verify it."

"How do you intend to verify it?"

One of the elders asked. At this, Virtuous Moon Sword looked at me.

"Who knows. We'll have to take our time to find out."

Why was he looking at me while saying this? Just as I wondered—

—I heard from the Strategist.

Virtuous Moon Sword sent me a secret sound transmission.

—I heard you can identify spies. Is that true?

"......"

My eyes widened. The idea that I could distinguish members of Broken Heaven Palace—I realized he must have heard this from Jaegal Jin.

'Ah, so that's why?'

Only now did I really understand why I'd been called here.

'...... So he wants me to verify?'

I'd thought I was simply here to recount what happened as a witness and involved party.

'...... That guy.'

Virtuous Moon Sword. He wanted to use me to check for spies here.

'Ha.'

He had spread out the board so I could check all of them at once.

While I was impressed by the careful handling, I thought,

'Well, then... let's see...'

I immediately used the Moon Eye to search for any Broken Heaven Palace presence.

'Nothing?'

At least, in this place, I couldn't sense it. Unlike at Mount Hua, the Blue Moon Sect didn't reveal any trace of spies.

'...... Is there really nothing?'

Just as I considered withdrawing my senses—

'Huh?'

Looking at one of the elders, I suddenly froze.

Something's odd. As that sensation struck me, I cast the Blue Moon Sword Path.

Wooooong—!!

My eyes blazed as I gazed straight through at a certain individual.

'...... Found you.'

Finally, I was sure.

Not a spy from Broken Heaven Palace. He was just—

'That man from earlier.'

The energy I saw in the secret store room.

I had just found someone here carrying that exact same energy.

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