Published at 2nd of April 2026 5:14 pm

Chapter 424

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

A few days had passed since I arrived at the Alliance.

In that time, nothing significant really happened.

It wasn't the sort of period where something big would erupt anyway.

During those days, I spent my time training under the Sword Emperor, and as usual, I was doing my best to teach the rascal from the Tang family how to perform Sky-Filling Flower Rain.

Whirrrrrrr-!!!

"Oh."

Secret weapons shot out brilliantly.

Watching all those projectiles pour down, I let out a small exclamation.

"You finally seem to have gotten it, huh?"

An unprecedented growth. What stubbornly wouldn't work finally did in the end.

Of course, it wasn't a perfect success.

But he had gotten the feel for it.

"Huff... Huff..."

Poison Dragon was catching his breath, exhausted.

It was only natural since he had thrown nothing but hidden weapons for almost an hour.

"You couldn't even get a feel for it last time, but now you finally got the hang of it."

Back when fighting that guy from the Peng Clan, he could just barely manifest Sky-Filling Flower Rain.

He lost his grip on it soon after, and it took several months to grasp it again.

'Is this why they say not to interrupt someone during their moment of enlightenment?'

If you lose that feeling even once, you can end up like this, so it makes sense that people say not to disturb someone at such a time.

"You can't go on anymore, right?"

"... Huff... No, I really can't..."

Poison Dragon wiped the sweat dripping from his chin and replied.

Yeah, even from my perspective, it would have been too much to continue.

"Let's call it a day, then."

"... Thank you..."

With a thud, Poison Dragon collapsed onto the floor.

The sight of him sprawled in sweat was a little funny.

Still, he put in the effort, so maybe I should view it positively?

I smiled and walked away.

I wasn't mocking him.

Whenever I finished training under the Sword Emperor, I ended up looking just like that.

'I'm not in any position to mock anyone.'

That's what I thought as I moved away.

"Go get washed up. I'll head out first."

"Yes..."

Poison Dragon barely managed to reply before lying flat on the training ground floor, and seeing that, I moved on.

I couldn't stay long since Heavenly Insight had called for me.

***

I arrived at Heavenly Insight's office.

I made a slight noise to announce myself and entered.

As expected, I could already see the letters stacked to the ceiling.

"I heard you called for me."

At my words, a thin old man with sharp eyes appeared from behind the letters.

"You're late."

"... I came as quickly as I could, you know?"

What do you mean, late?

I got here way earlier than you called me.

I spoke out of disbelief, and Heavenly Insight replied,

"I know. I just wanted to pick a fight."

"..."

Too shameless for words.

Why does that old man only act this way towards me?

He doesn't seem to treat others like thisjust me.

"Sit down."

"Where?"

There was still nowhere to sit. Was I supposed to plop down on the floor?

"It's right in front of you."

"... You mean this?"

Heavenly Insight pointed somewhere.

Between all those letters covering the floor, I spotted a desk and a teacup.

Unbelievable.

"Can't you tidy up a bit? I can't even see anything in here."

His appearance was tidy as could be, but the room was a mess.

Truly baffling.

As I spoke, he replied,

"I simply don't have the time to clean up."

"... You could at least order someone to do it for you."

Heavenly Insight let out a short laugh.

"Do you even know what these documents are, for you to suggest letting someone else handle them?"

"... Hmm."

That's a fair point. But then,

"Is it really okay to just toss such important documents all over the floor?"

I spoke from common sense, but Heavenly Insight just stared at me.

"Sit."

"... Ah, yes."

His tone made it clear he wouldn't accept any more debate.

There was nothing to say.

I almost retorted again, but shut my mouth.

I pushed away some papers and sat.

Seeing the tea in front of me, I said,

"You must really like this tea, huh?"

I always saw him drinking it when I came. As I mentioned the tea, Heavenly Insight came closer and said,

"I don't."

"... Then why always...?"

"The reason I called you here today isn't about that."

"..."

I stopped talking.

Whatever I said, he always cut me off, so there was no point in saying anything.

I just looked at the old man, feeling indifferent.

"You know that today is the day the Demonic Cult is coming, right?"

"... Yes, I know."

The topic shifted to something I couldn't ignore.

I scratched my cheek and sat up straighter.

Five days.

It had been exactly five days since I arrived at the Alliance, and Divine Spear had told me that the Demonic Cult's people would come to Henan five days later.

So that meant today.

"The delegation has been confirmed, but we don't know exactly how many will show up."

Heavenly Insight's expression was sharp as he spoke.

Sharper than usual, in fact. His discomfort was written all over his face.

"We've assigned people to greet them, but it's not something we can afford to be careless about."

"I agree."

"We don't know how they'll act. Frankly, I don't like having such dangerous elements enter Henan, but we can't go against the Alliance leader's will."

He kept talking at length, but in the end, it was clear that he personally would never have allowed this, and that he didn't like how Divine Spear insisted on it.

"I've already organized a team."

"..."

At those words, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

It felt like he had called me here to say this for a reason.

"Do I need to go too?"

"..."

This time, Heavenly Insight fell silent.

That reaction was all I needed.

"Looks like I do."

"That's right."

I had to go greet the Demonic Cult's delegation.

I was included among the personel he had organized.

"You understand this is a symbolic gesture, and someone significant from our side should step forward."

"Unluckily, that someone happens to be me."

"Heh heh."

Maybe my words amused him, because Heavenly Insight chuckled.

"Indeed, right now you're our most significant symbol."

"..."

I didn't deny it. I knew it myself.

Hero of Sichuan, savior of Henan.

Not only did I defeat the Sword Demon, but I also stopped the Demonic Cult's people and saved Divine Spear.

Now people didn't even call me one of the rising stars anymore.

In the current orthodox world, my status was purely symbolic.

A symbol of the younger generation.

That's how they called me now, even though it felt oddly stifling.

So I didn't deny it, and just decided to accept it. Denying it wouldn't change anything.

"I received the letter."

Heavenly Insight handed me a letter.

"In one hour, the Demonic Cult people will arrive at the entrance."

"... One hour, huh."

Not much time left.

I scratched the back of my head.

"Is there anything I need to prepare?"

"No."

"All right, I'll just get ready mentally then."

"..."

Heavenly Insight stared at me at those words.

What kind of look is that?

As I wondered, making eye contact,

"If you want, you don't actually have to go."

"... Excuse me?"

He said something unexpected.

"I don't have to go?"

"That's right."

"... Oh."

For a brief moment, I thought it over.

I had to interpret those words and calculate whether it'd be all right if I declined.

When I finished calculating,

"I get the feeling that I really should go."

If I didn't, honestly, it would make things complicated.

"... Wouldn't it?"

"I suppose it could complicate things. But it's not like we couldn't handle it. There are others at the Alliance who could take your place."

"Hmm."

That's true. The others he referred to could more than fill in.

'Just within the Heaven Beyond Heaven group alone...'

Including Divine Spear, there were three.

Of course, the Sword Emperor and Sword Empress couldn't step in right now, but it wasn't like we were completely lacking alternatives.

'Tyrant King is here, too.'

One of the Five Kings Under Heaven was present.

Even if I didn't go, there were people whose reputation alone was overwhelming.

"I'll just go myself."

I declined Heavenly Insight's offer.

"I think that's for the best."

Right now, it made sense for me to go.

It was dangerous and uncomfortable, but under the circumstances, it was the right choice.

'Anyhow.'

These are people I'll have to face anyway.

Even two days from now, it would be the same.

If anything, that's even more important.

'The meeting.'

A summit between the orthodox sects and the Demonic Culta shocking event in name alone.

"... Anyway, I'll get going. I need to prepare."

"Yes."

I got up. As I went to open the door

"Be careful."

"..."

At the sound of Heavenly Insight's words, I turned my head.

He was already grabbing a document off the floor and not looking at me.

For a moment, I wondered if I'd misheard, but seeing the letter in his hand, I realized I heard correctly.

"Grandfather, you're holding the letter upside down."

"..."

Heavenly Insight silently turned the letter right-side up.

I barely stifled a laugh.

"Thank you for your concern. I'll be off."

Creak. Slam.

I closed the door and headed out.

"Ugh. The weather's disgustingly fine."

Not a single cloud in the sky. It seemed like a good day.

'Something about this...'

still felt strangely ominous. Almost foreboding.

***

An hour later, just as Heavenly Insight had said, the time was near.

I changed my clothes and straightened up my attire.

"... Wow..."

The attendant who helped adjust my clothes let out an exclamation.

"Youyou look amazing!"

"... Thank you."

I chuckled awkwardly. Compliments felt good, but I never knew quite how to react.

Even to my own eyes, I looked all right.

The transformation after I cleaned up this well was likely to blame.

"... Well, then."

With my clothes on, time to head out.

With that in mind, I walked outside.

After a short walk inside, I arrived at the destination. The personnel were already waiting.

"Moon Hero."

"Greetings."

The division leaders of the Alliance were there.

They seemed to be the team Heavenly Insight had assembled. Also

"You've arrived, junior."

"..."

Silver Moon Sword and the leader of the Small Moon Division were there, too.

They must also have been included.

"All present and accounted for. You may lead us out."

With the division leader's report, I moved out. I was to take the lead, after all.

'Man, what a burden.'

Couldn't be helped, but all those eyes were heavy.

I led the group outside. We had to head to the entrance.

"The Alliance members are here."

"So it's true after all...?"

"That's Moon Hero, isn't it...?"

Everyone in Henan County gazed at us.

Those with curious looks were the working people; those with anxious looks were the older folks.

I could feel their emotions in their eyes.

'They know.'

They knew the Demonic Cult was coming today.

That's why anxiety filled their eyes.

"But as long as Moon Hero's here..."

"With the leader of the Small Moon Division and the division leaders as well..."

"Why would the Alliance leader do this...?"

Pushing me forward for symbolic reasonsthis must have been why.

'Can I really...'

bear the weight of all that anxiety? It felt crushing.

I deliberately ignored the emotions and stares and kept walking when

Oh ho! Who do we have here?

"..."

I froze.

A chilling voice resounded in my head, making me stop in my tracks.

"Moon Hero?"

I thougt it might be youand it really is.

'What the hell.'

That nasty voice. Overflowing with ki, the voice was enough to make my insides twist.

Why on earth...

'... Why is that ominous old man here?'

Could Death King really be here, now?

My brow furrowed tightly.

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