Published at 25th of February 2026 7:49 am

Chapter 401

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

If someone was to describe Do Hyung's life in words, they would call it 'colorless'.

A dull, gray hue devoid of any vibrancy.

That was Do Hyung's life.

'Grandson.'

He often recalled the words of his grandfather, who raised and nurtured him.

'Even if life is desolate, not everything in it bears guilt.'

Even within what seemed a brutal and sorrowful existence, his grandfather would always tell him this.

'Blame nothing.'

'For such things will eventually strangle you. Please, never do that.'

With a voice calm as a gentle ripple, his grandfather said these things to him.

He was always that sort of person. No matter what happened, unhurried—a man like a placid lake.

That was his grandfather. Someone who seemed like he would never change.

Even—

Even in the very moment of his death, he was like that.

'Grandson.'

Bleeding, he stroked his hair, speaking softly.

'Remember your grandfather's words.'

'Don't blame anyone.'

Why?

As a child, doubt flickered in his eyes.

Even after all this, he shouldn't blame anyone?

With his fists clenched, he finally asked his grandfather,

'Then who should I resent?'

Unable to protect anyone, everything slowly rotted away.

The tree shriveled from thirst—was it wrong to resent the heavens for not sending rain?

Raindrops mixed with tears and ran down his cheeks. The sky was so particularly dark and heavy that day.

His grandfather's old, weathered hand stroked his cheek.

'Pay it no mind.'

'This too shall pass.'

What was supposed to pass?

'Grandson.'

Do Hyung's grandfather, on the brink of death, smiled as he said,

'Pursue happiness over anger.'

When Do Hyung heard his final words, the only thought that came was:

I can accept the rest, but this—I can never accept.

'Ahh...'

He lost all sense of direction beneath the falling rain.

What was left in a life that had lost its compass?

He didn't know.

Do Hyung simply sat there. He stayed like that for a long time.

Pitter-patter.

The rain stopped.

It felt unreal. All the blood that had seeped into the surroundings was washed away.

Time became still.

Suddenly, he gazed up at the sky with vacant eyes.

As the clouds broke, night rose, and at its center, the moon hung.

'Ah.'

It was blue.

Looking up at the blue moon, his grandfather's words came to mind.

'The Blue Moon Sect.'

A place his grandfather mentioned every day.

It was what he said to him whenever he, jealous of his blue eyes, made mention of it.

He had left, feeling it did not suit him,

but when he spoke of his hometown, a smile always came to his lips.

Recalling that, Do Hyung stood up.

He set his destination.

Did Do Hyung want to follow his grandfather's words because he was thinking of his grandfather?

No.

'... I'm sorry.'

He never had such pure thoughts.

Do Hyung could not bring himself to pursue happiness as his grandfather wished.

'I will go.'

After Do Hyung buried his grandfather's resting body in the wet earth,

He took up the sword his grandfather had left behind and set out for the place with the blue moon.

With his grandfather's sword, Do Hyung would accomplish what he wished.

His purpose was revenge.

From then, until now, it has always been so.

* * *

Clang—! Screeeech--!!

The sword's edge danced. The unique blue arc continually gathered and scattered, over and over.

At times, it seemed as though stars exploded and scattered,

or the moon shone bright before fading.

It might sound strange to speak of stars and the moon by broad daylight, but seeing it with my own eyes—it was exactly so.

'Impressive.'

A thought I had as I watched the bout between Chun Hye-In and Do Hyung.

'He's strong.'

There was nothing much to add about Chun Hye-In, one of the Seven Geniuses.

At the Dragon-Phoenix Festival, the issue was that the Young cult leader had beaten her, so the spotlight was stolen a bit.

But in truth, she was a genius among geniuses. Even Yu Chun-gil had acknowledged it.

'... And that man over there.'

This person was effortlessly receiving Chun Hye-In's sword.

'When did he get so strong?'

I was surprised at Do Hyung's sudden rise.

Chun Hye-In's trademark was her delicate, beautifully precise swordsmanship.

It appeared gentle, but the weight and razor edge within couldn't be ignored.

Just looking at it, the cunning layers and intricate calculations would give you a headache.

'He blocks it with ease.'

Do Hyung deflected Chun Hye-In's strikes with apparent simplicity.

No, should I say "simplicity"? It looked that way on the surface.

'He's just as formidable.'

Do Hyung's sword was equally sharp.

The difference between them?

'He's like a wild stallion.'

If Chun Hye-In's sword was all about calculated finesse,

Do Hyung's was instinctual—reckless, like a beast.

Completely opposing styles of swordsmanship.

'How strange.'

They used the same sword technique, yet could be so different.

I'd seen martial arts from other sects and families, but never felt anything quite like this.

'Is this a hallmark of the Blue Moon Sect?'

To use the same sword path, the same energy, and still be so different—

that was a unique trait of the Blue Moon Sect, I thought.

Clang—!

A spark flew. The fierce duel continued.

"... Huh."

"This is unreal."

The other disciples from the Blue Moon Sect watching responded with astonishment.

"To be evenly matched with Moonlit Delight—"

"He was said to have acquired a new title, but I never expected him to become so strong."

"They call him the 'Moon Azure Sword' now. Compared to a few years ago, his growth is astronomical."

Moon Azure Sword. That was the title Do Hyung earned after standing out at the Dragon-Phoenix Festival.

Now that he was fighting evenly with one of the Seven Geniuses, Chun Hye-In, everyone looked amazed.

'... Hmm.'

While watching, my eyes fixed on Do Hyung. The sword dance between the two was impressive and all, but—

'... What's this?'

There was something odd.

'Why is that thing reacting?'

Do Hyung's body.

Specifically, the light swirling around him.

I could see his Guardian Spirit reacting—and with an intensity I've never seen.

Had it ever vibrated this fiercely? In my memory, not even during the crisis in Sichuan had I seen it like that.

'What's different?'

It had started at the beginning of the match.

From the moment the duel with Chun Hye-In began, Do Hyung's Guardian Spirit had been reacting, stealing my attention.

At that moment—

Screeech—!!!

Do Hyung cut into Chun Hye-In's sword, almost grinding it away. His eyes flashed amid the flying sparks.

Crunch.

His grounded foot twisted slightly. His waist followed the force of rotation.

Was that Moon Wave?

No. The stance resembled Moon Wave, but it was a little different.

'What is it?'

A thin crescent moon glimmered, erupting with light.

Boom—!

"...!!"

Having sensed the impending strike, Chun Hye-In blocked with her sword face.

BOOOOM—!!!

The shockwave exploded, sending her flying across the dueling arena.

Chun Hye-In briefly lost her center, surprised for a moment.

"Tch."

Yet, dragging her blade tip along the floor, she slowed herself down.

Even so, Do Hyung had already reached her by the time she stopped.

"Huuh."

With a forceful shout, he launched a series of rapid strikes.

Bang—! Bang-Bang—!!

Heavy sounds exploded everywhere. The heat of the contest piled up to a boiling point.

"... He's grown so powerful."

Watching the duel, Chun Uijin spoke quietly.

"Indeed he has."

I agreed—Do Hyung had become much stronger than I remembered.

How could that be?

'... Actually, I shouldn't be surprised.'

I changed my mind. Why be surprised?

'I saw what the senior was doing.'

That man was always supposed to become stronger.

I watched his efforts from up close.

'He never woke up later than I did.'

Lately, maybe I've been slightly faster, but he always rose before dawn.

Up before sunrise, sleeping late into the night.

It was a routine that made you wonder when he ever had time to sleep.

Most of that time was spent in training.

Eating, training, sleeping.

Those three things were the sum of Do Hyung's days.

'And it's not as if he's lacking in talent.'

The fact that he had awakened the Moon Eye and entered the Small Moon Division at his age—the talent was outstanding.

'Even Yu Chun-gil acknowledged it.'

Skill fitting for the Seven Geniuses, if not their equal. His potential was remarkable.

So—

'It's not strange for him to be this strong.'

Bam—!!!

With a ringing clash, Chun Hye-In's sword flew upward once more.

Her torso was exposed.

Do Hyung swiftly swung his sword down.

Slaaash—!!

"Whoa!"

"Ah!"

Blood spattered. Everyone gasped at the sight.

A fatal blow? No. That wasn't it.

Spinning her torso in time, Chun Hye-In evaded the blade.

Swish.

Pluck—!

In that spinning motion, she slashed Do Hyung in return, leaving a similar wound.

They both drew back.

Drip. Drip.

Blood seeped from both of their martial uniforms.

In a brief respite, Chun Hye-In, sweat-soaked hair falling loose, asked,

"You're strong."

"..."

"Really strong."

Her tone recognized his strength.

"I didn't realize you'd changed this much. It's amazing."

"Thank you."

Do Hyung gave a silent nod at the compliment.

Flick.

He lightly flicked his sword. No blood remained on it.

"But tell me."

Clench.

Chun Hye-In gripped her sword tight as she asked,

"What is that sword?"

"..."

"It looks like a sword of the Blue Moon Sect, but something's different about it."

It seemed she, too, sensed the same unease I felt.

"It doesn't look like a modification you made yourself. Perhaps... did that person—no, like Bang Sung-Yun, was it bestowed by the Sword Saint's successor?"

'That person?'

The title grated slightly, but I let it pass for now.

"No."

It meant it wasn't the Sword Saint's sword. That made sense.

'It feels different from that old man's sword.'

Though a crude way to put it, it was true.

"... Then, that sword—"

Chun Hye-In was about to ask more, looking confused, when—

『Continue.』

"...!"

"..."

A heavy voice pressed down across the dueling ground.

It was the Virtuous Moon Sword. He cut in, warning them.

『This is not the place for conversation, is it?』

With his chin rested in hand, he spoke calmly, making everyone freeze.

'... Ugh.'

Just hearing that voice gave me goosebumps.

"..."

It was clear he had intentionally interrupted.

'What's this about?'

Did Do Hyung's sword hold some secret? I briefly wondered.

Clack.

Do Hyung, seemingly following the Virtuous Moon Sword's order, gripped his sword again.

Seeing that, Chun Hye-In also raised her blade.

Just as the duel was about to resume—

Wooooong---!!!

'Hm?'

Do Hyung's Guardian Spirit trembled even more violently than before.

What was that?

Why was it reacting like that?

Something felt off as it suddenly vibrated like mad.

At that moment.

"..."

"... Hm?"

Chun Hye-In frowned at Do Hyung's behavior.

Because he suddenly lowered his sword.

"What are you...?"

"I yield."

"What?"

At Do Hyung's words, Chun Hye-In's eyes widened.

"What did you just say?"

She asked, as if certain she'd misheard.

"This duel. I concede."

Do Hyung's response was the same, causing the whole room to instantly freeze.

Then—

"What kind of crazy nonsense is this?"

Chun Hye-In blurted out harshly.

Her mask had shattered in that moment.

Share