Published at 13th of February 2026 4:01 pm

Chapter 393

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

"Are you in there?"

A thin, delicate voice called out. It was Chun Hye-In.

"You're in there, right?"

She was looking for me. I wondered if she might be mistaken, but that didn't seem to be the case.

'Honestly, I'm the only one who would make Chun Hye-In use that kind of voice.'

Remembering how this person who acts so calm everywhere else always speaks so coldly to me only confirmed it.

She had come knowing it was me. That had to be why she spoke like that.

But.

'Why did she come looking for me?'

How did she know where to find me? That was the only thing that puzzled me.

"If you don't answer, I'm just going to open the door."

"...... What do you want?"

Her pushy attitude made me reply in haste.

"I just have something to say."

"... Then talk."

"I wanted to do it face to face. Can I come in?"

Why was she so intent on seeing me in person? As I looked at Chun Hye-In, who wanted to come in, I replied.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"I'm naked right now."

"... What?"

Chun Hye-In's voice trembled in confusion at my words. Was this a bit too much?

"I usually sleep naked. So I'm naked right now."

"...... But you didn't do that when we camped."

Ah. That's true.

'I have slept with Chun Hye-In before.'

There were plenty of times when we had no choice but to sleep together during night journeys. Thinking about that, I suppose it would sound odd.

"That was outdoors. This is inside, so I do what I want."

"That's honestly kind of a dirty habit."

"Dirty? If anything, it's cleaner."

"I don't want to even imagine it. Stop talking. And hurry up and get dressed."

"... Why? I want to sleep a little longer."

"I have something to say to your face, so hurry up and get dressed."

"No, seriously..."

I was stubbornly saying I didn't want to, but why was she so insistent on coming in?

And, even more,

"... How did you know I was here?"

That wasn't information I had shared. How did she know? My curiosity got the better of me.

"There are plenty of ways to find out."

A blatantly shameless reply came back.

'... How can she be so confident?'

"There are plenty of ways"—wasn't that just admitting she'd put someone to watch me?

'Could it be because Yu Chun-gil isn't here?'

I hadn't heard anyone mention someone keeping an eye on me lately.

As I was recalling that,

—Heaven. There's no one watching you.

The Ghost Demon sent me a transmission.

'... No one's watching me?'

I frowned at the Ghost Demon's words. Given his level, if he said no one was there, that was believable.

'But if he somehow failed to sense someone...'

That meant there could be an even greater martial artist attached at my side.

'But surely not.'

Someone on that level would have to be the Sword Emperor or the Tyrant King, and neither of those two would make a move just for Chun Hye-In.

"I doubt you've placed eyes around me. Where did you get your information?"

"...."

I asserted that there was definitely no one around. Chun Hye-In went silent for a moment.

"That sounds... very confident?"

"I have plenty of ways to find out things, too."

I threw her words back at her, and I heard a faint laugh from the other side of the door.

"... Enough already. Can I come in now?"

"I just told you—I'm naked."

"Put on some clothes. I'll count to five, and then I'm coming in."

"No—!"

Like counting to five would make a difference! How was I supposed to get dressed in five seconds?

"One... two."

Chun Hye-In really started counting slowly, as if she did not care at all whether I was naked or not.

"Three."

"... Didn't I ask you to wait?"

She continued counting, and as I hesitated, not knowing what to do—

—Heavens.

The Ghost Demon spoke to me again.

—Shall I take care of her?

He spoke in a tone full of irritation toward Chun Hye-In. He was dead serious. He was asking if he should just kill Chun Hye-In on the spot.

'... Would you really?'

I didn't exactly have a good relationship with Chun Hye-In, but I wasn't about to kill her or anything like that.

—Just stay put.

I told the Ghost Demon to back off for now.

—... As you wish.

Right as I got his answer—

"Five."

Chun Hye-In finished counting.

Slam.

She opened the door just like that.

"What on earth are you doing that you can't even—"

Chun Hye-In, who was starting to say something in an annoyed voice, stopped when she saw my face.

"... Huh?"

"..."

I hadn't planned on showing anyone my transformed appearance, but it ended up that way.

Anyway, the Virtuous Moon Sword had said she would see it in a few days, but here we were.

"Wait... um..."

Chun Hye-In stared at me, frozen stiff.

She seemed truly stunned. I gave her an awkward smile at her reaction.

"There's a reason f—"

"Why did you get so handsome...?"

"Excuse me?"

"Ah."

Chun Hye-In covered her mouth with her hand the moment the words left her lips.

And then,

"... No, that's not..."

Her face turned scarlet, like a ruby.

* * *

The effects of the transformation were not limited to just my body growing larger.

My skin became remarkably clearer, my face now free of blemishes, and my features had subtly changed.

But the "subtlety" had a bigger impact than expected.

'... I did get better-looking, didn't I?'

I might even be able to rival my father at this rate.

My face, which had previously seemed somewhat youthful and feminine, now held a certain masculinity.

Personally, I liked my new face more.

Objectively speaking, anyone would agree, and Chun Hye-In clearly thought so as well.

"I guess I did get good-looking."

I shrugged as I spoke, and the bundle of embarrassment before me bit her lip.

"Could you kindly just shut up?"

"That's a really polite way of being rude."

Maybe she realized she'd said something she shouldn't, because she kept fanning herself with her hand.

I'd never seen her that blushing before.

"Why are you so embarrassed? It's the truth."

"... You. I've thought this before, but no matter what else, you're unbelievably shameless in that regard."

Chun Hye-In spoke as if dumbfounded. But what could I do? It was true.

'I may not know much about martial arts or that sort of thing...'

But when it came to looks, I was confident.

Just look—

'If necessary, I'd planned to woo some successful merchant's daughter and live a classy life.'

I'd even come up with a few strategies that involved making use of my looks.

Although, I'd once blown a chance with a Murong family daughter over this.

"Shameless? I call it excellent self-awareness."

"..."

Chun Hye-In said nothing more. The flush in her face faded, returning to normal.

"... Forget my slip of the tongue. I shouldn't have said that."

"Forget it? Is that how you ask for a favor...? Fine, never mind."

I decided it was best not to tease her further. Her eyes were more dangerous than I'd ever seen.

"... So, what exactly happened to you?"

Chun Hye-In looked me over and asked. She seemed prepared to bring up not just my face, but my changed physique as well.

"Hmm. I had a bit of a fortuitous encounter."

"... A fortuitous encounter?"

Her expression turned into a frown as she repeated my words.

"Don't tell me—you underwent a transformation?"

She grasped the situation at once just from my words.

"... Yeah. Well..."

There was no real way to hide it, so I answered honestly.

"No way... How...?"

Transformation wasn't something that happened every day, and to hear I'd done it so lightly left Chun Hye-In flustered.

She started scratching her head as she looked at me.

"It just sort of happened?"

"... Aren't you taking this a little too lightly?"

"You're not wrong. But..."

What can I say?

"It just happened."

I turned into a new person. Did Chun Hye-In really have anything more to say to that?

"Haaa..."

My nonchalant attitude left her at a loss for words again.

"... You really are... impossible to understand."

"I hear that a lot. I'll take it as a compliment."

"That's about a tenth true."

"And the other nine-tenths are insults, I suppose...?"

How ridiculous.

"... Whatever. So why did you come looking for me?"

"...."

Chun Hye-In stared at me. Maybe she was dissatisfied that I glossed over the transformation? There was a hint of frustration in her eyes.

'Even if you did hear more, what would change?'

Whatever she heard wouldn't change anything. I was much more curious why Chun Hye-In had come looking for me today.

"... I see."

Chun Hye-In nodded, instead of saying more.

"I was wondering why you'd changed residences. Looks like the Sect Leader is aware of this, isn't that right?"

"... Oh."

She'd put the pieces together even before I could answer.

She's sharp as ever.

"You pick up on things fast."

"Weren't you half-expecting me to figure it out?"

"Half, sure."

After all, Chun Hye-In would easily figure things out if she saw me change rooms and saw that I'd gone through a transformation.

"What did the Sect Leader say?"

"He didn't say much. Just told me to hide out for a few days."

"A few days...?"

At the mention of days, Chun Hye-In narrowed her eyes.

"Is he planning to unveil you at the Blue Moon Festival?"

"Blue Moon Festival?"

It was the first I'd heard of it.

"... Unbelievable. It's almost as if she's already decided the answer."

Chun Hye-In's frown deepened as she kept talking.

"What's the Blue Moon Festival?"

I asked and she looked at me with a slightly hostile gaze.

"It's the Blue Moon Sect's festival that's held regularly. You've never heard of it?"

"... No."

Who would have explained that sort of thing to me?

'After I entered, I was assigned straight to the Small Moon Division, so I never had a chance to hear about it.'

Maybe if I'd lived with my fellow disciples, but...

Right from the start, I'd come in through the Small Moon Division, and it was a place known for its individualism.

Aside from Do Hyung or Chun Hye-In, I hadn't really socialized with anyone.

So it made sense I didn't know.

"I'm asking because I don't know. So what is it?"

"...."

Chun Hye-In was silent for a moment, then let out a sigh before answering.

"... The Blue Moon Festival is a festival the Blue Moon Sect holds every three years."

"Oh...."

That sort of thing happened here? This place never seemed interested in such things.

"What kind of festival?"

"It's a Martial Tournament among the Moon Eye holders within the sect."

"... Hm?"

A competition among Moon Eye holders? I frowned a little at that.

"... All of them?"

"Not every one. The Sect Leader and elders are excluded."

So, everyone who possesses the Moon Eye except for the Virtuous Moon Sword.

They fight among themselves?

"The problem is... this time, there's a big addition."

"What big thing?"

"I'm sure you've heard this—do you know that a contest for the Young sect leader is about to begin?"

"Yes."

That, at least, I had heard about. It had already been weighing on my mind.

"That contest for the Young sect leader will take place during the Blue Moon Festival this time."

"... Together with the Blue Moon Festival?"

"Yes. And... it's happening in just a few days. I think the Sect Leader plans to introduce you to everyone then."

"Ah."

Now I understood why Chun Hye-In seemed so displeased.

Introducing me at just that time...

'It's to make sure I stand out.'

She wanted to draw everyone's attention to me.

I didn't know the exact reason.

"I think the Sect Leader probably wants to make you the Young sect leader."

"... Come on."

The Virtuous Moon Sword? I didn't think she'd deliberately make that choice.

But Chun Hye-In's eyes were full of conviction.

"... Ha."

She let out a deep sigh, full of mixed emotions.

Seeing her like that, I decided to change the subject.

"Enough about that... So, why did you come looking for me?"

"... Ah."

As I reminded her of her original reason, Chun Hye-In finally snapped out of it and responded.

"I'd originally just wanted to ask... but now I'm not sure if it's appropriate to ask you in your current state."

"Just say it anyway."

I'd at least listen. I perked up my ears and focused.

"... You know the Silver Moon Sword has returned, right? I heard you had a run-in with him."

"Yes, sort of..."

Eun Wolgeum—Yu Yul.

The Virtuous Moon Sword's disciple's title spilled from her lips.

I was about to wonder why she was bringing up Yu Yul now, when—

"What do you think of him?"

"Excuse me?"

What did I think? About what?

I couldn't figure out what she meant, so I asked her again.

"... I find him suspicious."

"Suspicious? What do you mean?"

At my question, Chun Hye-In replied with a grave look in her eyes.

"The Silver Moon Sword... I think he's the Bow Ghost spy."

Huh?

Out of nowhere, a peculiar title appeared.

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