Published at 2nd of April 2026 5:13 pm

Chapter 421

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-... Did you say you got a message from the Demonic Cult?

When I asked with a slightly stiff expression, Ghost Demon's answer came right away.

Yes. A message arrived.

A message? What...

The message was that soon, the Young cult leader would head to Henan and the Eight Demonic Beings are to assemble.

-...

My brow furrowed even more.

Heading to Henan.

The Demonic Cult heading to Henan?

'Is it about that?'

I recalled what Divine Spear told me.

It had been some crazy talk about holding talks with the Demonic Cult.

If I remembered right, I was supposed to be the representative for that.

'Are they really going through with it?'

Would the orthodox factions really allow this?

Honestly, the mere fact the Demonic Cult was coming to Henan was a problem.

This is the group that once reduced Henan to ruins and left the Alliance Leader in such a stateletting them come again felt bizarre.

'Young cult leader.'

I thought of that cursed bastard.

The one who possessed that absurd Devil Energy and the Heaven-Slaying Star.

"Hm."

Muttering, I gazed at one side of the wall.

There lay the Divine Sword.

'Henan, huh.'

It was about time to return to Henan, to the Murim Alliance. The timing lined up.

'Will it be alright?'

Of course it won't.

Tsk.

As I forced down a sigh

O Young Heaven.

Ghost Demon addressed me.

Speak.

If I may dare offer advice, you should beware of the Young cult leader.

-...

He is unqualified, but has attained his fragile status through cunning and talent.

-... Unqualified, you say?

The Young cult leader is neither descended from the previous Heavenly Demon, nor has he cultivated the Demonic Cult's Divine Art.

What?

What do they mean, he hasn't cultivated the Divine Art of the Demonic Cult?

More precisely, he can't.

-... Why not?

Because he is not blood of the previous heaven.

So, he's not even a descendant of the Heavenly Demon.

What the hell is he then?

And besides

'Is there really a martial art that only bloodline can practice?'

Does such a thing exist? I halted at that thought.

You truly must beware the Young cult leader.

Ghost Demon only repeated the same words.

'Be cautious, huh.'

Like I wouldn't already be on my guard. It's just that now I was even more alert.

'Originally'

He was someone I didn't need to be involved with.

How did it come to this?

If I had to pinpoint it, the trouble probably started the moment I picked up that cursed Divine Sword.

'Tsk.'

I regretted yearning for a peaceful life.

Everything had been tangled up, and now I even had to worry about the Demonic Cult.

What a miserable life this is.

***

Another day passed.

About the time the sore muscles from the Blue Moon Festival had started to ease off.

I'd even finished morning training, something that had now become routine.

'Didn't have a Mind Realm dream today.'

Maybe because I mastered a new form.

Maybe Yu Chun-gil, that damned old man, pulled some trick; for the first time, I hadn't entered the Mind Realm I always went to in my sleep.

No, it wasn't that I 'didn't'it was that I 'couldn't'.

Normally, if I wanted, I could enter it at will.

But today, I couldn't, no matter how hard I tried.

It was clear.

'That old man. He did something.'

He must have done something. Otherwise, this didn't make sense.

'What is he thinking?'

He hasn't shown himself, and now he's blocking the Mind Realm too.

Who knows where he's run off to.

It's not like I can even have a conversation with the Heavenly Demon, so I could only grow more irritated.

"... Phew."

Well, that aside.

"Here."

I spoke as I handed something to someone.

It was Yu Yun standing before me.

"This is it, right?"

Yu Yun nodded in response.

What I handed over was Mount Hua's robe, which I'd found in Yu Chun-gil's notes.

The robe with black fur.

I'd been meaning to give it to her anyway.

Since there was some agreement at Mount Hua, I took it out from the notes.

And since the rightful owner acknowledged it, it wouldn't even become bad karma.

As I handed it over, Yu Yun put on the robe right away. She's putting it on now?

"... Is it really okay for you to wear that?"

I had to ask, since it's a rare item from Mount Hua, but Yu Yun nodded, then wrote something with her hand.

Though she drew it in the air, it wasn't hard to interpret what she meant.

"You've already gotten permission? From whom? From your master?"

Yu Yun nodded again.

'... When did that happen?'

No need to probe further.

If she had the previous head of Mount Hua's permission, who was I to argue.

"Well, alright, anyway."

I'd handed it over. That was enough.

Yu Yun gently stroked the robe draped over her shoulders.

Or not.

'She's not stroking the robe, huh.'

It was more the opposite.

She looked as if she was channeling emotion into the robe, hoping to be stroked herself.

I didn't bother to think about whom she might be remembering.

I could tell even without thinking.

***

Right after finishing my talk with Yu Yun, I went to see Virtuous Moon Sword.

"Excuse me."

"Come in."

The Sect Leader's chamber, which I seemed to visit quite often these days.

When I stepped inside, Virtuous Moon Sword, as always, was reviewing documents.

Look at that towering pile...

'When does this guy ever find time to train?'

Seeing him working day in and day out, I wondered if he had any time to cultivate.

"I heard you wanted to see me."

Ignoring the documents, I spoke up.

Virtuous Moon Sword turned his gaze to me. I paused at his look.

'Damn.'

Maybe it was because of the way he looked at me that's stuck in my memory.

Virtuous Moon Sword's eyes somehow felt different.

Or maybe not?

'He doesn't seem to be in a great mood at the moment, does he?'

He seemed a little gloomier than usual. Something was clearly bothering him.

"Bang Sung-Yun."

&uot;... Yes, Sect Leader."

I answered, tense.

"Are you all prepared?"

"For what...?"

"To return to the Alliance."

"..."

I swallowed hard again.

"... Yes."

At my answer, Virtuous Moon Sword nodded slightly.

"In that case, assemble your group and set out for the main Alliance. The Strategist has sent a letter."

He handed me the document he'd been reading. The Murim Alliance's main branch, stamped with the main seal.

The contents were brief too, but to summarize

You're staying too long. It's time to come back.

That's what it said. Seriously?

'This is where I'm supposed to be,'

So why do I need to go back?

Since when was I part of the Murim Alliance?

It was absurd. But I had no retort.

"... But, when you say assemble a group"

"That's already taken care of. Report to the leader of the Small Moon Division and get ready."

"Oh, yes, sir."

I couldn't ask any more. Why did he seem so scary today? He was downright chilling.

'... The Murim Alliance, huh.'

The time had finally come to return.

'Ah, hell.'

I even caught myself thinking I'd be going back. Habit is a scary thing.

***

So I headed straight from the Sect Leader's chamber to find the leader of the Small Moon Division.

"Sir."

"... Ah, that's right."

That man always called me that. It felt awkward, since it'd been a while.

'Spent too long in the Mind Realm.'

The time spent painstakingly there had muddled my memory a bit here.

"Uh, the Sect Leader said we need to report in as we're returning to the main Alliance..."

"Oh, already, it's that time?"

As he said that, he began packing his things.

"What are you doing...?"

"Preparing to go back."

"Preparing? Why?"

"Sorry?"

"Huh?"

Neither of us seemed to understand.

I asked, just in case

"Wait, you're coming too?"

"Yes. Of course."

"What's so obvious about that...?"

Is he crazy? In what way is that obvious?

If he's the leader of the Small Moon Division, shouldn't he be staying to oversee it? What's he talking about?

I asked, exasperated.

"The Sect Leader has entrusted me as your escort once again."

"What do you mean..."

"I heard you'd be going as a representative for the talks. So, the Strategist requested it personally..."

"Ah, for crying out loud."

So that's why.

It was the request of none other than Heavenly Insight, so even the leader of the Small Moon Division would join.

'... Is it really okay for someone in his position to be away this often?'

He keeps moving around, even though he's the leader of the Small Moon Division. Is this really alright?

"I'll be serving you again this time, sir."

"... Ah, yes."

To think I'd be using the renowned leader of the Small Moon Division as my escort twice.

The sparkle in his eyes, perhaps hoping to learn something more, felt intensely burdensome.

'... Is this really okay?'

I wasn't sure at all.

***

A day passed, and by the time we were preparing for the wagons

Everyone gathered, preparing a small carriage.

The distance to the main Alliance wasn't far, so we didn't need much preparation.

"Do we need this too?"

"It'd be good to load it, I think."

"I mean, as long as there's somewhere to lie down, I'm good."

Two large men busied themselves, murmuring over the carriage.

Watching them inspect the wagon, I had to awkwardly look on.

"... What is this?"

What the hell is this sight?

The leader of the Small Moon Division, known as an absolute master, and the Tyrant King, said to be the strongest among the Five Kings Under Heaven, were huddled over food supplies for the cart.

"Hmmm... Maybe I should've fed him more."

An old man with one armthese days working as our coachman, but in truth one of the Heaven Beyond Heaven, Sword Emperorlooked at the horse, lamenting.

"Young master. How's your body feeling?"

Ghost Demon, once under the Heavenly Demon and now the Demonic Cult's Strategist, dressed in women's clothes, asked after my health.

"..."

Is this really right?

I had fundamental doubts.

Was this crew really okay?

Suppressing a sigh, I asked Ghost Demon.

-... But, is it really alright for you to just be here like this?

What do you mean?

Ghost Demon looked at me as if he didn't understand.

You know, you usually avoid showing up in case the other masters catch on.

Ah... that part.

Ghost Demon smiled as he spoke.

I've taken care of that.

How...?

You've taken care of it?

What does that mean?

As I wondered

"We're done preparing..."

Someone addressed me in a barely-living voice.

It was Poison Dragon.

I looked at him and asked,

"But... why are you even doing this?"

"Pardon?"

Poison Dragon asked back, eyes wide with surprise.

"I mean, you're not even one of our group, so why are you naturally helping out?"

"Oh."

Maybe my comment finally made him realize, because his eyes widened.

He really hadn't noticed until now, had he?

No wonder he'd been hauling things alongside the disciples.

The disciples themselves were giving him strange looks, but he didn't care at all.

"... Damn it...! I'm just so used to it now...!"

Poison Dragon responded like he was genuinely frustrated.

What a funny guy.

"I mean, are you an idiot or something?"

"And whose fault is that...!"

"What did you say?"

I glared at him, and Poison Dragon flinched, looking away.

What should I do with this guy?

'I should send him back soon.'

I didn't really want to keep dragging him along.

But he wasn't done learning, so there was nothing I could do.

'Honestly, he's actually pretty convenient.'

He might be rude, but when ordered, he does everything, and he's good at work.

The only thing he hasn't learned is Sky Filling Flower Rain.

As I shook my head at Poison Dragon, Yu Yun appeared next.

She was wearing the black robe from yesterday.

"... Are you really coming?"

At my words, Yu Yun nodded.

She was included in the group. Surprisingly, she'd even gotten Virtuous Moon Sword's direct permission.

I'd thought she'd go straight back to Mount Hua.

'Does Mount Hua not care?'

I was curious as to how Mount Hua felt about it, but looking at Yu Yun, it seemed like it didn't matter.

'She doesn't seem like the type to just do as she's told, anyway.'

Yu Yun was more stubborn than I thought. Incredibly so.

'Next...'

I'd thought Chun Uijin or Do Hyung, who'd come along last time, might join too.

'But they didn't make it.'

This time, Virtuous Moon Sword put together the group himself, so I had no say.

That's why

"Oh my. Good morning."

It explained why this guy was here.

"Heh, did you sleep well? Hahaha!"

Still wrapped in bandages, with a bright smile, he approached me.

The Silver Moon Sword, Yu Yul.

Seeing him, I couldn't help but grimace.

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