Published at 18th of March 2026 6:28 am

Chapter 407

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Second day of the Blue Moon Festival.

There were still plenty of people.

It was supposed to be a gathering for only the disciples, but with the 3rd-generation, 2nd-generation, and even the 1st-generation disciples all attending in great numbers, the turnout was substantial.

After all, the Blue Moon Sect wasn't a place that fell behind even when compared to the Nine Great Sects, so they didn't lack for disciples.

These people had gathered, even canceling their own training.

It was because everyone knew how rare and exciting a Martial Tournament between the Small Moon Division members was.

"Senior brother, who do you think will win?"

A disciple asked, curiosity in his voice. At that, the young man called senior brother blew his nose lightly.

"Sniff. Ugh, my nose is stuffed. Who knows...?"

He sounded uninterested.

"Just yesterday, I thought Senior Uncle Seo Seon would win... But now that everything's been flipped upside down, I can't say who'll come out on top."

"True enough..."

Seo Seon, the leading figure of Blue Moon Sect and its most senior member, was expected to someday inherit the Small Moon Division Leader position.

He lost to Moon Hero.

That fact had made a commotion in the Blue Moon Sect for quite a while.

The same was true for the Martial Tournament between Do Hyung and Chun Hye-in. No one expected Do Hyung to push Chun Hye-in that far.

Nor did anyone expect Silver Moon Sword Yu Yun to be so formidable.

Since so many unexpected events had unfolded, nobody dared predict the results of this Martial Tournament either.

"... Then, doesn't that mean Moon Hero could actually win?"

Moon Hero Bang Sung-Yun. The hero of Henan, called the Sword Saint's successor.

Since he defeated Seo Seon, there was every chance he might continue and win the Blue Moon Festival altogether.

"That could be. But Senior Uncle Yu Yun is no pushover either."

Silver Moon Sword, disciple of Virtuous Moon Sword.

No one knew what he'd experienced during his lengthy mission, but he'd become frighteningly strong.

Everyone had been quietly curious about it.

Who was strongerSword Saint's successor or Virtuous Moon Sword's disciple?

With the current Sect Leader's and previous Sect Leader's successors about to compete, naturally, even those who pretended not to care were watching closely.

"Besides... Moon Hero seems to have changed quite a lot as well."

The junior couldn't help but express admiration as he looked at Moon Hero Bang Sung-Yun, who stood atop the stage.

What on earth happened? Moon Hero was so different from before.

"How can a person look like that?"

He'd always been considered good-looking, but now he'd completely surpassed all previous levels.

Even the female disciples, who rarely showed themselves, had come out just to see Moon Hero.

He, for his part, didn't seem the least interested, his sleepy eyes unfocused despite all the attention.

'Seriously...'

Could those rumors be true?

'That rumor about him being reborn, 'Muscle-Tendon Transformation'.'

The legendary transformation called Muscle-Tendon Transformation, said to be a miracle for martial artists. The bones grow, the vessel broadens.

Moon Hero looked exactly like that.

Could he really have experienced such a transformation?

'At that age?'

It was said to come only after reaching true enlightenment as a martial artist. Like a miracle after great attainment.

'Is that really possible at his age?'

He was barely in his twenties, so young. Could this truly happen to someone that young?

No matter how much of a genius Moon Hero was, it seemed impossible.

'... It's almost like the Sword Saint himself has been reborn.'

That felt more likely.

Strangely, it made more sense to believe that the Sword Saint, who had already died, had reincarnated.

That's why everyone's interest in Moon Hero was only growing.

On top of all that

'What a pain.'

Knowing all this, I too found the whole thing a nuisance.

'Getting attention really isn't always a good thing.'

Was it ever? Even in my previous life, I realized that didn't suit me at all.

I shifted my gaze. I looked over to Virtuous Moon Sword seated far away at the head table.

"......"

He watched the stage with an expressionless face. No telling what he was thinking.

His gaze was utterly lacking in interest.

Suddenly, I remembered when Chun Hye-in confidently said she'd kill her father.

'Indeed.'

Just how strong was that man? Well, at the very least, I knew I couldn't beat him as I was now.

The real issue was

'What if he's compared to the Five Kings or Heaven Beyond Heaven?'

Virtuous Moon Sword's exact level was ambiguous. I'd never seen him fight.

According to Yu Chun-gil, he used to be a crybaby back in the day.

'... In what world?'

He looked like someone who wouldn't even bleed if stabbed with a sword. Definitely not the crying type.

At this point, I was just genuinely curious.

'Indeed.'

How strong could he be? Just how formidable were those beings whom I couldn't even gauge?

'... Tsk.'

I clicked my tongue. I knew the source of my curiosity.

'Getting a bit better makes you feel like you're someone now.'

Longing and competitive spirit.

Now that I've started to get stronger, I was hungering to climb even higher.

I tried to quash those desires. Didn't I already learn this lesson in my past life?

'This is the most dangerous time.'

It's when one feels cocky and thinks they've become something. That's when things tend to go wrong.

'Know your place.'

The more rice ripens, the more it bows its head.

'I, too, should bow down the more I ripen.'

Walking around with my head held high was just asking to be decapitated.

So I kept my head down

That's how I survived.

Clack.

I grabbed my sword hilt and redirected my gaze. My opponent for this round of the Blue Moon Festival was standing over there.

Again, it was the opening duel, and my opponent was

'Oh.'

A familiar face. Seeing me, his brow furrowed deeply.

"Long time no see, senior."

"... Tch."

At my greeting, the man bit his lip. My opponent was

'Seom Sung-Gyeong.'

He was the one I fought in order to join the Small Moon Division before.

He was also the one who was brutally defeated by Yu Chun-gil, who had borrowed my body at the time.

"Here wemeet again. I hardly saw you aroundI was starting to think you'd quit."

I hadn't been very active in the Small Moon Division, but I used to see some of the members in passing. Seom Sung-Gyeong, though, I hadn't seen.

"I was starting to think you were deliberately avoiding me."

"..."

"Am I right?"

Bit awkward. I scratched the back of my head at Seom Sung-Gyeong's silence.

There was a trace of resentment in his eyes, whether he realized it or not.

"... Damn it."

He cursed under his breath and drew his sword.

"Hm."

I watched and drew my own sword in response. Sunlight gleamed on the blade.

'This guy.'

He was pretty strong, as I recalled. At least among the Small Moon Division, he was considered upper-middle-tier.

Back then, I didn't truly know because Yu Chun-gil had fought in my stead.

'Undoubtedly.'

He was strong. I could see it now. Both his value and skill were visible to me.

Also

'... Hm.'

I had an inkling whether I could beat him, too.

"Duel"

As soon as we both unsheathed our swords, the referee announced, as if waiting for it.

"Begin!"

Shhhk!!!

Seom Sung-Gyeong lunged at me the instant the match started. Steely determination and a faint trace of resentment colored his gaze with a blue tint.

Chwarururuk!!!

I dodged, stepping back from his swift, flying attack.

Sharp.

And fast. Only then did I activate Moon Eye. Lines appeared before my eyes.

Nodding my head, I avoided his second strike.

'... Oh.'

Impressive. He wasn't just quickthere was a certain flashiness to his blade.

'Did he always use such a sword style?'

Things I hadn't noticed back then were now coming into view.

His swordplay was supple and free. I could see what he was striving for. However

'Something's...'

There were parts that felt heavy and unnecessary.

Maybe my awakened Moon Eye could pick up on this. I saw ways it might have been improved.

'... Strictly speaking.'

If I did this...

Swish! Clang!

"...!!"

Seom Sung-Gyeong's sword was deflected. I angled my own sword and deflected along the same line.

His eyes went wide.

"You... How could you"

He'd realized I'd just copied his sword move.

"... Ha..."

Blood vessels stood out in his reddening eyes. Oops, I only meant to try it out, but I must have made him angry.

"I didn't mean to mock you. Just"

"How much are you planning to take from me?!"

"Excuse me?"

His words made me react oddly.

Srrrung!!

Sword aura gathered with murderous intent.

That was...

'Killing intent?'

Indeed. His sword was suffused with intense animosity.

I narrowed my eyes, stepped back, and created some distance, pushing his blade aside with the back of my sword.

His misguided sword line sliced into an unintended spot.

Was it because of his emotions?

His technique looked shoddy. He left an opening. Seeing it, I pressed forward.

Tuk!

With a light nudge, my foot slipped right into Seom Sung-Gyeong's guard.

Too late for him to reset his stance.

I brought my sword down powerfully.

Night Moon.

Like a vast night covering the moon, my blade poured down toward his forehead.

Stopped!

The sword halted just before grazing his skin.

"......"

"......"

Seom Sung-Gyeong and I both froze, silent.

'It worked.'

Didn't even need to use something like Great Moon or Moon Heaven.

Seom Sung-Gyeong, who once seemed so formidable, now looked insignificant.

After a few seconds, Seom Sung-Gyeong was the first to react.

"... You... you bastard...!!"

His bloodshot eyes raged with emotion.

"It's you again...! Again...! You again...!"

"Huh... What did I even do?"

All I did was win a duel, so why was he losing it?

Baffled, I stared at him, but Seom Sung-Gyeong couldn't hold back. He gripped his sword again.

Wait.

'This isn't good.'

Was he coming at me even after the match ended? The distance was too closehard to evade.

What should I do? As I hurried to activate Moon Heaven

"That's enough."

Someone appeared between us. A large hand separated us.

Hwoook!!!

The pressure on my chest was undeniable, forcing me back.

The newcomer was none other than the Small Moon Division Leader.

"Seom Sung-Gyeong."

He spoke coldly, fixing Seom Sung-Gyeong with a leveled gaze.

"The duel is over. What are you doing?"

"... Kugh..."

Seom Sung-Gyeong flinched at his words, but still stared daggers at me. The Small Moon Division Leader, seeing this, exuded fierce pressure as he spoke.

"You've lost your mind. I order you to remain in seclusion until you come back to your senses."

"Division leader...!"

Seom Sung-Gyeong tried to protest, but

Thwack!

"Ugh!"

The division leader's massive fist struck Seom Sung-Gyeong in the gut. His waist bent and he vomited, then promptly lost consciousness.

Thud!

The division leader picked him up and tossed him off the stage.

"The duel is over. Referee."

"Ah... Ah, yes...!"

The referee hurriedly turned to me.

"Duel... Victory goes to Bang Sung-Yun."

As the results were announced, applause from the other disciples echoed. Hearing that, I glanced at Seom Sung-Gyeong with slightly chilled eyes.

'Because of you...!'

His resentment lingered in my ears.

'... Because of you...!'

A phrase from my previous life suddenly came to mind, and I clicked my tongue inwardly.

An annoying memory flashed by.

'Ruined my mood.'

Turning my back, I stepped down from the stage. Down below, Yu Yun was waiting as if she'd been there for a while. I approached her.

"What are you watching for now?"

I asked with an awkward smile, but Yu Yun just shook her head. I didn't know why. Then, she pointed behind me.

"Hm?"

I looked back. Someone was stepping onto the stage. It was the next bout. Those two were

"Ah, right. It's their match now."

Chun Hye-in and Yu Yul.

It was their turn.

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