Published at 18th of March 2026 6:29 am

Chapter 411

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

'A usable one, this kid.'

Their first meeting was when he was very young. So young, he don't even remember how old he was that day.

The weather was just as unremarkable as the day itself.

And it wasn't like he was a special person, either.

He was just ordinary.

No different from anyone else.

If there was anything unusual, it was that some Evil Faction bastards killed his parents, leaving me an orphan against his will.

Even then, he never considered himself particularly special.

In this damned world, such things weren't all that uncommon.

What was there to be surprised about? Still, luck was on his side. Even though he lost his parents, he had some talent, so he could enter the Blue Moon Sect.

'Not bad at wielding a sword. It's a worry that he shows little emotion, but even that won't be a problem, I suppose.'

Looking up at those blue eyes staring down at me, he thought: what a large human being.

'Aren't you afraid of me?'

The old man asked.

'What is fear, sir?'

The boythat was himasked back. It was a straightforward question. He really didn't know what fear felt like.

Nor did he really understand other emotions.

That was the kind of person he was. Even his own parents sometimes called him a monster.

But then

'Ha ha ha ha!'

It seemed the old man liked my answer, because he let out a hearty laugh.

'What is fear, eh...'

He said, pulling up the corners of his mouth in a wide grin.

'No need to be curious. That's an emotion you needn't bother knowing.'

His large hand gently patted the boy's shoulder.

'I like you.'

Those bright eyes took me in.

'When I return, I'll teach you the sword. Ah, and keep this a secret, hm? Who knows how those other brats might raise a ruckus.'

'...'

He didn't answer that. At the time, he had no idea what he meant by those words.

And besides

'In any case.'

It was never to be.

After saying that, the boythat is, himnever did get to meet the old man again.

If you count it as a meeting

It was much, much later.

All he ever encountered was a strange fellow said to be the Sword Saint's successor.

***

Kiiiiiing!! Kang!

Swords shook and clashed in every direction.

Blue trails filled every inch of space, combined with speed so great that the surroundings seemed to tremble.

Kang! Kwa-deuduk!!

The sound only grew louder. Far too loud for a mere clash of blades.

"... Hah... This is..."

"A-amazing..."

The gathered 3rd-generation disciples could only lose their words.

At their level, they could barely even track the swords of the two warriors.

Their speed outpaced sound.

The deafening explosions only came after the blades collided. It was a matter of a split second.

Fierce.

Uncannily fierce and startlingly precise. Their movements looked as if they'd been rehearsed to perfection.

Those of lesser cultivation couldn't even sense those movementsthey could only gasp in awe.

In the midst of all this

"... Young master Bang..."

Chun Uijin, watching below the martial stage, widened his eyes at the sight of Bang Sung-Yun.

"I never expected him to be that strong."

He was surprised. He'd always known Bang Sung-Yun was strong, but this was far beyond his expectations.

To think

'He's on par with...'

With Senior Brother.

He never thought Bang Sung-Yun would be on the same level as Silver Moon Sword Yu Yul.

'... Senior Brother.'

This time, Chun Uijin glanced at Yu Yul, his brow furrowing. It had been three years since he last saw him.

While the other disciples looked stunned at how strong Silver Moon Sword was, Chun Uijin was not.

Yu Yul had always been strongat least, ever since Chun Uijin got to know him.

'... If anything, it had always been odd.'

That Yu Yul, someone who never flaunted his strength.

Even during his time in the Small Moon Division, many had wondered how Yu Yul was able to join.

Back then, Yu Yul just laughed it off.

'That was how he always was.'

A man who smiled easily.

He brushed off most things with a laugh, unconcerned with others' words or stares.

Chun Uijin always felt there was something about Yu Yul that drew his attention.

Rightattention.

For Chun Uijin, it stopped at merely being mindful of him.

'My sister'

His older sister, Chun Hye-in, went as far as to dislike Yu Yul to an extreme degree. During better days between them, he'd even asked.

Why do you dislike Yu Yul so much? To that, Chun Hye-in clicked her tongue and answered,

'Call it self-loathing, maybe.'

She'd always said incomprehensible things like that.

Self-loathing, huh.

'... They're completely different.'

They felt nothing alike. Chun Uijin couldn't understand where she saw any kind of kinship.

They shared no similarities at all, at least in Chun Uijin's eyes.

But.

'Somehow'

The Yu Yul he was looking at now

'... Feels alien.'

There was something subtly off. What was it?

He couldn't say where that difference came from.

'This isn't the time to be thinking about such things.'

All those sensations faded into the background. Chun Uijin kept all his focus on the Martial Tournament, his Moon Eye fully fixed on the match.

Chaeeng! Chwarureuk!!

Sparks burst and vanished, over and over. All that was visible were the dazzling flashes where the swords collided.

He barely kept track of their speed, barely managing to focus his sight.

'I can't miss this.'

He understood, instinctively: this was a fight he could not afford to miss.

'Not for a moment.'

Not for even an instant. He focused only on that.

The outcome of the Blue Wolf Assembly, the fact that the title of acting Sect Leader of Blue Moon Sect was at stakeall that had left his mind.

All that remained in Chun Uijin's head was the fight between two powerful Small Moon Division members.

'... Someday.'

Probably not far from now, he himself would take the entrance test for the Small Moon Division.

'I'

Will I ever be able to become as strong as Senior Brother, or the Young master Bang?

He didn't let himself doubt.

'I will.'

He had to. That's what he'd learned by standing beside Bang Sung-Yun.

Whether he could do it or not,

If it was somethin that had to be done, he would do it.

Watching those two clash, Chun Uijin dreamed of such a future.

***

Kwaang!!!

Aura exploded out. A tingling sensation ran over me. I almost let go of my grip for a moment.

But Kwaak.

I clenched down again, tightening my grip and tensing my shoulders.

Kang! Chaeng!

I parried, immediately looking for an opening to press the attack.

'Left side.'

I moved along the sword path identified by my Moon Eye. Radiant Moon Annihilation blossomed into light.

It was enough to obscure vision, but my opponentYu Yuldidn't seem to care at all.

A few more exchanges passed. I furrowed my brow.

Moon Wave

I targeted a gap and went for my technique. A crescent moon shot forthonly for Yu Yul to perform the exact same Moon Wave at the same time.

Moon clashed with moon.

Koom!!!

Just before the martial arts techniques struck, our auras collided, sparking a shockwave.

Kwaaa!!!

The force whipped up wind. My body was pushed back, and I used it to gain some distance. I glanced at the widened gap.

Yu Yul stood there, spinning his sword.

"Good."

He said, tone calm.

"Is that that one's technique? It's definitely different."

Sword Saint's Moon Wave. Not a standard Blue Moon Sect form, but a martial technique he had personally adapted.

"And that sword auramust be his too? Beautiful."

He fixed his eyes on Radiant Moon Annihilation, speaking with a smile.

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Not at all."

I adjusted my stance and replied. Yu Yul just gestured as if it was nothing.

Seriously, what an asshole.

"It's only been a few days and you've become a different person. Reforged yourself, have you?"

"... I wonder."

"It's fine. Even if you denied it, I wouldn't have believed you."

"..."

Then why ask, you lunatic.

I was dumbfounded.

"So it's all the better."

Uuuuuung

Yu Yul's sword vibrated. His aura surged once again.

"If you'd been as useless as when I first saw you, I'd have been a bit disappointed... but now, you're different, right?"

"..."

Useless, huh.

I wasn't that weak back then, either.

It's just that I'm stronger now.

Huuu

I gathered power into Radiant Moon Annihilation, reinforcing the sword aura and resetting my form.

Yu Yul nodded when he saw it.

"Aren't you going to use it? Isn't it about time?"

It.

He probably meant Moon Heaven.

"Or, should I enjoy myself a bit more to make you feel like bringing it out?"

Yu Yul seemed eager for me to use Moon Heaven. No, he already knew.

'That's why he's holding back, too.'

The reason neither of us was going all out. I wanted to use it even less precisely because I understood what Yu Yul wanted.

"Rather than trying to enjoy it more..."

I looked at him and chuckled.

"I'm not using it because it's not worth using yet."

"Aha?"

That meant, I didn't need it at this level. It was a cocky thing to say, but I said it anyway. To my surprise, Yu Yul accepted it without a fuss.

"Fair enough. Makes sense."

He took it calmly, which was unexpected. Why? I looked at him, puzzled, and

"I should have shown my courtesy first. I didn't. That's something to apologize for."

"... What do you mean"

"I need to show my sincerity, too."

Yu Yul smiled and looked off somewhere. His gaze landed

'Virtuous Moon Sword?'

On Virtuous Moon Sword, the Sect Leader. Without thinking, my eyes followed his.

Virtuous Moon Sword gave a subtle nod, as though granting permission.

"It's done."

Yu Yul said after that nod.

"I'm allowed to, see?"

"What the..."

It really was permission? What could he possibly want approval for?

Swoosh.

Yu Yul lowered his sword ever so slightly. At that moment

A chill ran down my spine.

"...!"

Goosebumps shot over my whole body. What was this sensation?

Eyes wide, cold sweat ran down my face. I looked at Yu Yul, unable to understand.

"The Sword Saint was a great man."

Yu Yul suddenly started praising Yu Chun-gil.

"He took the sword Blue Moon Sect is famous foralready called a brilliant artand evolved it further in the name of change. Your sword is proof of that. The regrettable part is..."

Sseuuuuu!!! Yu Yul's energy flared. The aura was still blue

'But something's'

I could feel ithis entire ki had shifted.

"That only you possess such a sword."

"..."

It couldn't be helped. The very internal art was different.

Yu Chun-gil had dismantled and rebuilt Blue Moon Mind Technique, implanting the new art within me.

However,

'I'm not the only one who has it.'

There was the Small Moon Division leader too, who'd copied Radiant Moon Annihilation about halfway.

The different internal arts meant he could only get half, but still.

"But I don't regret that part. Junior, did you know?"

A jolt.

Chills shot through my skull.

"The Sword Saint was indeed a mighty man, but"

Whoooosh!!!

Blue energy erupted, engulfing Yu Yul's entire body.

So dense, I could barely see his actual form.

"Our master wasn't exactly mediocre, either. Ahput simply, what I mean is:"

The energy faded and Yu Yul's form became visible again.

"Change isn't something only the Sword Saint can achieve."

Yu Yul stood there, his hair now glowing blue.

'What the'

I froze at his transformation.

Woong!

"...!"

Something moved. Not in front, but behind.

Yu Yul, who was before me, had vanished.

Immediately

Pazzzzzzt!!!!

I drew my sword with Moon Heaven, swinging hard.

Kwaaaang!!!

A roar like thunder split the air.

Twitch.

Suddenly, something stirred deep in my heart.

Ha ha.

A faint laugh.

It wasn't Yu Chun-gil.

It was the Heavenly Demon.

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