Published at 2nd of April 2026 5:11 pm

Chapter 416

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Makes you see what was once invisible.

Makes you perceive what could not be seen.

Not only does it let you predict your opponent's Sword Path, but it also lets the blue moonlight illuminate your way.

A divine pill, said to be ingestible only by the Sect Leader of the Blue Moon Sect.

Back in the day, when I first entered Yu Chun-gil's secret chamber, the very first thing I took was precisely that.

Yu Chun-gil once told me,

"It's like tasting something in advance."

He'd said.

Since I was destined to become the Sect Leader someday, I should just consider it as sampling it ahead of time.

"... Originally"

He said that Virtuous Moon Sword should have taken that divine pill, but had not been able to.

Which was why...

'Did he intentionally send me, then?'

That thought crossed my mind.

The bookshelves in the archive. Only when I looked at them with Moon Eye activated did I finally realize it.

Thisthis was a place where only by using Moon Eye could one see what was truly there.

"... Ha."

A soft breath escaped me. A modest bookshelf. Books scattered with gaps between them.

Dozens of books collecting dust, looking unimpressive at first glance.

'It's hidden.'

But I could see that some of the books were soaking in a blue aura, emitting a faint light.

I reached out and, in order, took out only those books that glowed blue.

I placed them on the floor and opened them all. After perusing the books, it didn't take long for me to see it.

'There's a pattern.'

A commonality in the phrases describing the Sword Path. Even

'So this is why they glow blue.'

The characters themselves were blue. I could tell that it was not the book itself that had been infused with energy, but the letters directly.

'... The seemingly disconnected arrangements'

It must mean there's something to do with these blue script. So I laid them out in order and checked again. But they didn't connect.

Right, it wasn't that simple, apparently. In that case...

'There aren't even any titles to the books.'

Looking for titles was hopeless. So I tried something more complicated.

I attempted several different methods, but still, nothing stood out. I continued thinking for a while more.

'The last one.'

When I had almost exhausted every conceivable method, as I neared the end, something came to me.

'The density of ki.'

The blue-tinted phrases had varying concentration; I discerned them in order from the faintest to the deepest.

And when I linked the sentences according to the density

'Found it.'

It was the answer.

'Ha.'

Even this comes down to ki? It's almost laughable. I let out a brief chuckle.

There weren't that many words, and the number of books wasn't exactly small, either.

Without Moon Eye, this was truly something I never would have found.

What's more

'There's nothing to write down, anyway.'

You couldn't even write down the text inside. Unless you were the Sect Leader and could waltz right in. With my current status, that was impossible.

Of course

'I only need to memorize it.'

It didn't matter to me anyway.

I simply memorized the linked phrases, one after another. The forms of the techniques settled into my mind.

My fingers began to twitch on their own, as if to urge me to swing immediately.

This sensation was new to me.

'Even without having witnessed the Sword Path'

The forms automatically built themselves in my mind, and the urge to swing them right away was overwhelming.

A subtle heat crept through my body. My mind felt as if it was going numb.

Clack.

"...!"

I flinched. I heard the sound of a sword being drawn. Panicking, I checked my waistbut I had not brought the Divine Sword with me.

It was the illusion as if I had drawn my sword.

Only after I realized that, did the rising heat begin to subside.

"Phew"

I let out a breath to steady myself.

'Amazing',

I muttered.

After memorizing everything, I restored the books to their places. It was clear.

'Only with Moon Eye can you see their true essence.'

This Sword Path was granted solely to the Sect Leader. Which reminded me all the more of Virtuous Moon Sword.

'That man...'

Somehow

'Did he intend for me to be able to find it?'

Letting me see what I wished, telling me to do what I wanted

Maybe he had expected me, who had awakened Moon Eye, to be able to extract the Sword Path from this bookshelf all along.

'... If that's true, it's chilling.'

How much would he have to know to make such a choice? In the first place

'Did he expect I would win the Cheongnang Competition?'

Since this Sword Path is only given to the winner of that contest, Virtuous Moon Sword must have been sure I would defeat Silver Moon Sword from the very beginning.

"Ha..."

I laughed, but my eyes did not smile.

"What a difficult man."

I'd felt it since long ago: Virtuous Moon Sword, besides being inscrutable, was truly a difficult human being.

Yes, "difficult."

That word suited him perfectly.

A hard, stifling person.

"...."

After putting away all the books, I turned around. There was nothing more to gain here.

My fingers were still twitching.

Feeling that, I opened the archive door and stepped outside.

***

No one was outside the archive. Only the pitch-dark cave awaited me, and staring up at the sky, I had to widen my eyes.

"Is it already night?"

A day had completely passed. Huh. Just how long was I in the archive? I hadn't thought I'd been in there that long.

'This is crazy.'

Evidently, I'd been absorbed much longer than I realized.

That so much time had passed without me knowing.

Scratching the back of my head awkwardly, I headed toward the Sect Leader's office.

"You're here."

As soon as I arrived, Virtuous Moon Sword looked at me. He was, just like when I first arrived, staring at a mountain of letters.

"Yes. I've returned."

"I see."

"......"

The conversation went no further. What was this? Feeling an odd awkwardness, I asked Virtuous Moon Sword,

"Aren't you going to ask me anything...?"

He paused, hand holding a letter. Then he looked at me again.

"What should I ask?"

"What I saw in there. What I gained. Thingslike that."

"What did you see? What did you gain?"

"......"

This feels like bowing and prompting someone for a favor.

"... I saw the books and looked over the sword techniques, then left."

"Did you gain something worthwhile?"

"Yes. I gained something good."

"I see."

When I answered honestly, Virtuous Moon Sword gave a small nod.

"Could you see it?"

"......"

A chilling question that pierced me. Of course I knew what he truly meant.

"Yes. I saw it."

I replied with no lies.

"......"

"......"

Virtuous Moon Sword's eyes widened ever so slightly, apparently not expecting a sincere answer.

Noticing his reaction, I glanced around.

"Sect Leader."

"... What is it?"

"I'll be borrowing that."

"...?"

I picked up a blank book. Was ink nearby? Conveniently, it was right there.

Opening the blank book, I began to write with ink.

It didn't take long. Soon, without hesitation, the ink filled about half the book.

"I'll leave this behind."

"What have you done?"

"These are the sword techniques I obtained in there."

"... Hmm?"

"I felt it would be cheap to just take without giving anything back."

I handed it to Virtuous Moon Sword.

"It's not something I'm qualified to claim as mine yet, as you know, master."

"......"

"And though I'm curious as to why you let me in there even knowing that, I won't asksince you aren't asking anything of me."

"Ha."

Virtuous Moon Sword laughed at my words. Oh. He's been laughing a lot lately. Awkward, but it was unmistakably a smile.

"... Is that so."

Virtuous Moon Sword accepted the book.

"It's late. Go and rest now."

"Yes. Understood."

Bowing once, I left the Sect Leader's office.

***

"...."

Chun Seonghwa, left alone, checked the book he had received. The writing, though the ink was still drying, was neat and refined.

The first page. He quietly examined it.

'Is this a Sword Path?'

The Sword Path that Bang Sung-Yun had obtained there. A sword technique now lost.

Perhaps the Sword Saint once used it, but it was unknown to himself.

It was also the sword that the elders of Blue Moon Sect had so desperately hoped to rediscover.

"...."

The true sword of the Blue Moon Sword Sect, passed down only to the Sect Leader.

Watching this, Virtuous Moon Sword recalled Bang Sung-Yun's words:

"Since I am not yet qualified, I can't claim it as mine."

Remembering those words, Virtuous Moon Sword leaned back in his chair.

He wondered if Bang Sung-Yun understood the value of what he'd obtained.

He didn't think those words were spoken in ignorance.

'No.'

Perhaps

'Even if he did know,'

His answer might not have changed. There was not a hint of desire in his gaze, only detached, emotionless calm.

Expecting nothing.

'Just like'

Those eyes, resembling the Sword Saint's, still lingered in Virtuous Moon Sword's mind.

'They're alike.'

He'd noticed it from their first meeting; despite their completely different appearances and temperaments, the gaze was the same.

'Not his own?'

Virtuous Moon Sword recalled those words and gripped the book tighter.

Whoosh!!!

Ki friction sparked as the book was set alight.

Thus, the Sword Path techniques Bang Sung-Yun left behind burned away in the air.

"Absurd words."

His eyes began to shine in the darkness.

"The same as what I've said to myself."

Unworthy, not my own.

Those were words that Bang Sung-Yun should not have said, but that he himself ought to.

"He got me."

It wasn't something he would have said knowingly, but those detached words struck Virtuous Moon Sword's mind sharply.

Creeeak.

He stood up.

Even after burning the hard-won techniques, Virtuous Moon Sword's feelings were calm.

He picked up his sword. Under the rising moonlit night. For the first time in ages, he wanted to swing his sword.

"Interesting."

What an interesting boy.

Virtuous Moon Sword thought of Bang Sung-Yun. And hoped

"Hurry and come."

That the sword that boy would one day wield would reach him quickly.

With tranquil eyes tinged with madness,

Virtuous Moon Sword so resolved.

***

I lay on the bed, staring up at the faint ceiling.

Though my hands still trembled, I didn't bother going to the training hall.

In contrast to my urge to go right away

'... I'm insanely tired.'

Perhaps it was the long use of Moon Eye; my eyes hurt terribly.

It felt like they might fall out any moment. The fatigue was so severe that I really couldn't make my way to the training hall in this state.

It was a bit disappointing, but unavoidable.

'Still, it's okay.'

Even so, it was fine. The training hall wasn't the only place to swing a sword.

"... Phew."

I sighed. My eyes and body still ached with lingering aftereffects.

If I swung my sword in this state, it wouldn't end well.

'... I'll just use a different method.'

I had one method to use at times like these.

I closed my eyes.

Strength drained from my body. My consciousness slowly faded.

"...."

When I opened my eyes again

"Damn it."

I was inside the Mind Realm. The sensation now came with curses. Clicking my tongue repeatedly, I looked ahead.

A space I had come to know too well.

Lined corpses, the floating moon, the rocks, and Yu Chun-gil seated above it all.

The young Yu Chun-gil nodded at me.

Seeing that, I drew my sword.

'... Yeah.'

If I wanted to swing my sword, where else could I do it to my heart's content?

'Today, let's see who dies first.'

Hundred battles, hundred losses.

Thousand battles, thousand defeats.

Such miserable odds didn't matter. Right now

'I will master the technique.'

During this endless night, I would master the technique I retrieved from the archive.

That was the only purpose of this battle.

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