Published at 5th of February 2026 2:37 pm

Chapter 388

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The moon was hanging in the sky.

A whitish-blue moon floated in the air, with heavy storm clouds all around, but such things could hardly block its light.

The patches of moonlight illuminating the ground were clear and vivid.

Looking at it, my blank mind snapped back to reality.

'This is...'

It's a dream. I realized instantly. That unique sensation tingled at my soul. I looked around. Somewhere unfamiliar.

It looked like an ordinary plain, perhaps bordering a forest, but it was a place unknown to me.

Which meant—

'This is someone else's dream.'

To have recreated a space I didn't know this thoroughly—it meant it was the illusion of another.

Who could it be? Whose dream am I in?

As I pondered in confusion, constantly scanning my surroundings—

"Do you know what it means to become the moon?"

A familiar voice sounded from below. My gaze was drawn down. There was a rock untouched by moonlight. Two people were perched atop a large boulder.

One of them—

'It's Grandpa.'

It was unmistakably Yu Chun-gil. The only difference was that he seemed to be in his early thirties. I realized this was Yu Chun-gil in his younger days.

And the other person—

'... Who is that?'

I couldn't see well. Their figure was shadowy, like shrouded in fog, their form unreal.

'Did the memory become distorted?'

Was it a problem with Yu Chun-gil's memory? I knew this was his dream. That would explain why only Yu Chun-gil appeared so clear.

"The moon is ascent. It rises each night, never setting, always shining, and even by day it hangs elsewhere."

"So that's what the moon is?"

The shadow's voice was warped and difficult to understand.

"So, is that why you wish to become the moon?"

Yu Chun-gil shook his head at the question—wanting to become the moon simply because it always rises.

"It's half right, half wrong."

"What, then, is wrong? The rising?"

"What could be more bothersome than always having to rise? People should rest when it's time to rest."

"I do not understand your words."

Two cups at the center of the rock. He filled them with wine.

"Then, why is it you wish to become the moon?"

"Isn't it beautiful?"

"Hm?"

Yu Chun-gil looked up at the sky and smiled. That made me flinch. For a moment, it felt like he was looking at me.

But no, Yu Chun-gil was gazing at the crescent moon behind me.

"That thing rising, simply because it's beautiful. If I could capture that light with my sword, wouldn't that be enough? Or..."

He fell silent briefly before continuing,

"If I could embody that moon within my flesh, how beautiful would that be? Doesn't it make you curious?"

"Who knows..."

To embody the moon in your very form.

Hearing those words, what came to my mind was Moon Heaven.

'... The release of ki.'

The ki of Moon Heaven truly felt as if the light of the moon was contained within his body.

Even the sword techniques Yu Chun-gil created or influenced at the Blue Moon Sect seemed somehow emblematic of the moon.

I could vaguely understand his desire to become the moon, as he described.

"It's fine if you don't understand. How could an ordinary man comprehend?"

Yu Chun-gil let out a chuckle. His tone was mocking, as though making a joke.

Even so, the shadowy figure showed no reaction.

"Well, that's me. Then, what about you?"

"Hm."

At that, the figure turned to gaze into space. Was this being also longing for the moon? At that thought—

"...!!"

My body froze. It was not the moon. Yu Chun-gil was looking at the moon, but this was something different.

This was—

'It's looking at me.'

It was staring directly at me. The red eye within that form was fixed right on me.

'... Red pupils?'

Seeing those eyes, I realized what this figure was.

"I am—"

The familiar tone. As I heard it, the shadowy form slowly grew clearer.

"The sky."

Heavenly Demon.

That being was the Heavenly Demon in his youth. As I recognized that, I realized belatedly that I had been mistaken.

'This is—'

This wasn't Yu Chun-gil's dream.

This was—

'... Heavenly Demon's dream.'

Amazingly, this was Heavenly Demon's dream.

A dream Heavenly Demon was showing me.

Only now realizing it, I saw Heavenly Demon smile as if he finally understood, and say,

"I will become the sky."

The conviction and faith in that voice made my heart tremble. How could one be filled with such certainty?

His voice carried his very soul; it meant he was utterly sincere.

Yu Chun-gil's voice had presence too, but Heavenly Demon contained something even greater.

Moreover,

'Those words.'

I knew he spoke as if for me to hear.

My brow furrowed. The sky, huh.

As I mulled that over—

Heavenly Demon raised his hand. He pointed his index finger at me.

"Now, it's time to wake up."

With a simple flick of his finger—

Swick—!

"...!"

My neck was severed.

* * *

"Gasp..."

I jolted awake. My body staggered as I pushed myself up.

"Ugh..."

My whole body ached. My head throbbed fiercely. I had to clutch my forehead and struggle to recover.

'What a goddamn dream.'

A dream shown by Heavenly Demon. That nasty, unpleasant thing lingered in my body even after I woke.

"... What is he playing at?"

I looked at the Divine Sword. Heavenly Demon gave no response. I stifled a sigh.

After shaking my head several times, I called out to the empty air,

"Grandpa... How much time has...?"

Expecting Yu Chun-gil to be there, I asked—but

"Huh?"

I looked around and realized. Yu Chun-gil was gone, too. Where did the old man go now?

"Where did he disappear off to again?"

He always vanished in a flash like this, so there wasn't much I could say.

Groaning, I got up first. But—

Stagger!

"Urk!?"

As soon as I started to stand, I lost my balance. Something was wrong.

'What is this?'

Slowly, I carefully got to my feet. Only after standing fully did I realize what was off.

'My height is different.'

Everything appeared higher than usual.

Feeling that, I looked down at myself.

"Oh."

The length of my clothes was different. My pants were short. The moment I saw that, I immediately patted all over my body.

By feeling my muscles and the shape of my bones, I quickly pieced things together.

"... This is—"

I was sure.

I'd gotten bigger than before. At the same time, I opened my eyes wide and circulated ki through my body.

Woooosh—!!!

"...!!"

As soon as I circulated it, I knew.

"... My ki has changed."

The ki flowing through my meridians was much weightier.

It wasn't just about being heavier.

There was a faint mix of yin energy. The sensation running through my middle dantian was completely different than before.

'It's stable.'

Unlike before, when the speed of drawing out ki and its circulation in my body were somewhat unstable—

Now, it was flowing with incredible stability. Did my ki increase? It seemed so, but that wasn't the most striking thing.

Still, it didn't matter.

'No... It's not a matter of increase or not.'

It wasn't about quantity. What mattered now was—

'Quality.'

The level of ki I possessed was drastically different.

Could ki's quality change so much?

My heart pounded. Could it be...

'A complete transformation.'

My larger body, and the flow of more abundant ki—was this the result of truly achieving a complete transformation?

I hurriedly glanced around. There was a lake. I strode over to check my reflection.

"... Oh."

I exclaimed in admiration.

"I'm good-looking."

It had been a while since I was impressed by my own face. I'd always had confidence in my looks, but—

"My skin's so smooth."

My skin had become even paler, and my hair was glossy.

The previously effeminate face now had more definition.

At this point—

'Maybe I can even rival Father.'

Maybe my looks were on par with that man who was once called the best in the world for appearance.

Nodding at my drastically changed appearance, I felt satisfied.

It was a good change. That's when—

"Hm?"

I frowned. A foul smell wafted in from somewhere. No way...

Sniff, sniff.

Lifting my sleeve, I smelled it.

"Ugh!"

The stench was coming from me.

"What is this smell?!"

I'd never smelled anything like it. Sung Hun's knowledge surfaced in my mind.

'It's because of the transformation.'

When one undergoes a complete transformation, wastes and bad energy are expelled—it seemed all that filth had stained my body and clothes.

This wasn't easy. I wasn't particularly obsessed with cleanliness, but this was extreme.

I washed off in the water right away. It was freezing but the smell was too much to bear.

Drenched all over. My ruined uniform was tossed aside, at least the top half.

"I guess... I've grown half a hand taller."

I wasn't at the level of those called giants, but I had definitely gotten bigger.

It looked like I'd truly succeeded in a complete transformation. My muscles stood out much more clearly.

Just as I was admiring my sharper, stronger physique—

'But where did Grandpa go?'

After doing all this for me, where did he run off to? Did he go off to investigate something again?

I scratched my cheek.

'... He'll show up when he feels like it.'

When had that old man ever not acted as he pleased?

So, I figured, he probably just helped me along and went off wherever.

That's what I thought.

"... Well, for now."

I couldn't just stay here, so I decided to head back.

With that resolve, I started down the mountain.

But...

"... Can I go like this?"

Was it okay to just head down with this new body?

Suddenly, that worry flashed through my mind.

* * *

Woooosh—!!!

The wind swept by. I came lightly down the mountain. I was worried, but I couldn't not go.

So I started down the mountain—

'It's so easy?'

The mountain that had been so tough to climb yesterday was incredibly easy to descend.

Sure, going down is always easier, but—

'It feels different.'

My body was much lighter. What was only possible with Moon Heaven before, now I could move this way with my body alone.

Thunk.

I arrived in an instant. It was the spot where I'd arrived upon leaving Blue Moon Sect.

I looked around discreetly. Just in case someone noticed me.

'Yu Chun-gil covered for me last time, but...'

Now, I had no idea where that old man went. If I moved carelessly and got caught sneaking back, there'd be trouble.

With that in mind, I heightened my senses as far as possible. To check for anyone around.

I sensed nothing obvious. Relieved, I stepped forward.

That's when—

Buzz.

"...!"

Instinctively, I drew my sword.

As the Divine Sword emerged, sword aura surged out. Cloaked in Radiant Moon Annihilation, my sword blocked the empty air to my left.

Bang—!!!

A fierce shock hit. My feet left the ground. My vision twisted. My body, lifted into the air, shot backward at incredible speed.

I didn't collapse. I used every ounce of control to land my feet on the ground again.

Craaaaack—!!!

Friction slowed me down as I skidded across the ground.

"... Ugh..."

Seriously, what is this mess right after I arrive? What was with that? With my body tensed and ready, I tried to steady myself.

"I was mistaken."

The voice came from directly behind me.

Startled, I turned around—and saw behind me,

"I thought you were an intruder."

There stood the Virtuous Moon Sword.

"It was you."

"... Sect Leader."

He showed, for once, a rare look of genuine surprise.

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