Published at 29th of April 2026 8:52 am

Chapter 432

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Bow Ghost (弓鬼).

One of the legendary figures of the Heaven Beyond Heaven, a woman who, from an outsider's perspective, saved the Central Plains countless times.

They said the arrows she loosed would pierce the horizon and unerringly strike their target, no matter the distance, as if guided by some ghostly hand.

Even the Heavenly Demon had several brushes with death at the hands of her archery.

She was rightly called Bow Ghost—having reached a realm akin to that of a ghost.

'... Besides.'

Was it because she had the traits of a hetero-chromatic person? Or perhaps she was simply so beautiful by nature.

Regardless, Bow Ghost's most famous title was Heaven's Greatest Beauty.

Just how beautiful was she? As a man, I'd always been curious about that in an instinctive way, and today, I finally had my answer.

'She's outrageously beautiful.'

That was the only thought in my head the moment I saw the woman sitting before me in a semi-transparent form.

I suppose it sounds strange to say, but I had pretty high standards.

The women around me were all quite beautiful.

My own older sister, Bang Sujin, was that way, as were Murong Yungsun and Yu Yun.

Wherever I went, there always seemed to be beautiful women around, so of course my standards had grown higher over time.

'What is this?'

But this was on a whole different level.

'... How can something be that beautiful?'

Could a person really look like that?

The only time I'd ever felt something similar was when I looked at my father. That's how sculpted she appeared.

'Or maybe not.'

Given the current circumstances, it was hard to say if I should even call her human.

I gazed at her with a complicated feeling.

—Remarkable, isn't it.

The woman, Bow Ghost, shook her white hair and spoke to me.

—You're not giving me the reaction I was hoping for.

"... What kind of reaction were you hoping for?"

—Most people would be shocked by this situation.

She gestured with her semi-transparent hand.

—But you're not surprised by my appearance.

"..."

She must've noticed that my shock came from seeing her face. But even after hearing that, I felt oddly conflicted.

"I doubt it. Most people would be shocked just seeing your face."

Frankly, her face would shock anyone more than her current semi-transparent state. She was just made that way.

No doubt about it.

—Hahaha. I appreciate the compliment, even if it's something I hear all the time.

She definitely knew she was beautiful.

I did too.

When you've got something going for you, you can't help but know it after a while.

"... First, may I ask something?"

Sure, Bow Ghost being ridiculously beautiful was one thing, but—

"Why did you seek me out?"

How had she found me?

That was what I needed to ask.

—You're not going to ask about my current state?

"I don't really have to. It's easy to figure out."

What was there to ask? It's not like I hadn't seen something like this before.

I shrugged as I spoke.

"It's not that remarkable, really."

—Oh?

At my words, Bow Ghost smiled.

I nearly became smitten by her face.

They said she was old—a grandmother, apparently.

How on earth did she maintain such youth?

'Even martial artists age slower, but still...'

Her state was past strange, even considering that.

She looked about my own age, or at most, in her early thirties.

—Not that remarkable... That's an interesting way to put it.

Ignoring her reaction, I stepped forward.

"Do you have business with me? Or—"

I narrowed my eyes.

"Do you have business with the Sword Saint—my master?"

—Hmm.

When I mentioned Yu Chun-gil, Bow Ghost's expression turned inscrutable.

—That's not the question most would ask. Usually, they'd demand how I ended up here.

"Oh, I was going to ask that too... but if I ask, will you tell me?"

—Haha.

Bow Ghost coldly smiled and said,

—Well, maybe... after this conversation?

'That's a no.'

I was sure of it. Or at least, it was safer to assume so.

—Will you sit by my side?

"I'll just stand. There's no side to speak of."

After all, she showed up here using astral projection and her spirit self—what side?

Astral projection.

That was a technique you could use if you trained your ki to the extremes.

Send out your mental spirit while your body sleeps.

'It's a risky technique.'

It meant sending your spirit out of your body for a while, leaving the body unattended.

An empty shell left behind.

And in the case of a body used to handling ki—

'It becomes a choice piece of prey for other roaming spirits.'

Such bodies become prime vessels for those spirits lurking about, watching for a chance.

'Which means she left someone to guard her body.'

That means someone is protecting her physical form.

'That someone is most likely the Death King.'

That clarifies the situation.

'And from how clear this projection is, the real body shouldn't be that far away.'

The clarity of astral projection depends on the caster's ki and the distance from the body.

Judging by this, Bow Ghost's real location could not be far from here.

—Hmm.

As I pieced all this together, Bow Ghost suddenly surged forward.

Instinctively, I pulled away as she came close.

"What are you doing...?"

—Your eyes are quite beautiful.

Is she... flirting?

The thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I knew better.

Especially under these circumstances.

—They're fundamentally different from those of the Blue Moon Sect—you know that, don't you?

"... Well?"

I narrowed my eyes.

Even as I played it coy, I knew.

My Moon Eye was unlike anyone else's.

'Well, obviously.'

I had consumed a divine elixir, and my ki cultivation method was different.

That had to be why.

—Yes, you really do resemble Yu Chun-gil's. Or maybe... they're exactly the same.

"...."

Her voice, sounding as though she recognized my secret, sent a cold feeling through me.

Murderous intent—I couldn't miss it.

Her eyes, staring at me up close, and her hand reached out simultaneously.

Just before her semi-transparent hand could touch my cheek—

"I don't really enjoy being compared, you know."

I widened the distance between us again.

"Especially not with that man."

—He is your master, is he not?

"Sometimes masters and disciples have bad relations."

—Hahaha....

Bow Ghost smiled chillingly.

—You talk almost as if you've stood beside him.

"..."

Was that a test? As I narrowed my eyes at the ambiguous words—

—I sense the aura of that wretched man on you.

So it wasn't a test. I finally understood why.

A chilling energy brushed over me.

That's right—it only brushed past.

It didn't dig in, thankfully.

—That's why I came looking for you.

"..."

It was the reason I was dreading most.

Ah, this could be a real headache.

"I'm not sure what you mean."

—Really? I suppose you wouldn't... I wish I didn't know, either.

I couldn't make sense of her words.

While I focused more on her meaning—

—No matter how fiery that fool of a man was, I never thought he was the type to leave any lingering regret on this earth. Moreover—

Bow Ghost's gaze turned cold and sharp.

—He had best not have. If he has, I'll seek him out myself and tear his spirit to shreds.

"...."

A truly chilling threat.

Not just his limbs—his spirit.

Frankly, as far as I was concerned, that was even more terrifying.

—If you're not Yu Chun-gil, then who was it who played those tricks?

"..."

—I don't think it was you who messed with me and my disciple. While you've been blessed with rare eyes, I doubt you're powerful enough to do something like that.

Oh-ho.

I marveled inwardly at her words.

It was half and half.

She realized it was the Heavenly Demon and not me, and—

'She thinks I couldn't pull that off myself?'

That she didn't see me as someone capable of doing that.

I was only half surprised.

I suppressed my laughter, though a hint must've shown.

—Why are you smiling?

"Oh, I apologize. I just didn't expect you to catch on."

—Is that so? Which must mean... something is clinging to you right now.

Bow Ghost scanned the space around me with sharp eyes.

—But I don't see anything.

"There's nothing by my side, really."

—Is that so?

She didn't look convinced. Still—

'So she can't see the Heavenly Demon.'

Bow Ghost couldn't see the Heavenly Demon.

That was a relief.

Was it, though?

I suppose so.

"So. Why did you join hands with that Young cult leader?"

—Ahaha...

At my words, Bow Ghost's expression subtly changed.

—I thought you'd take a bit longer, but you're going straight to the heart of it.

"That's what I came here to ask. Did you really side with him, perhaps?"

—... Side with him?

At my question, the air instantly grew heavy.

I swallowed out of instinct.

Bow Ghost's discomfort radiated out.

—I, with the Demonic Cult? I'd sooner forgive Yu Chun-gil than join forces with those filthy creatures.

Was it even a comparison?

What on earth did Yu Chun-gil even do for her to say that?

I was curious, but—

"... Then why?"

What mattered now was listening to Bow Ghost.

—We simply needed things from each other. Ah... yes, join forces? You could put it that way, I suppose.

"You needed something from the Demonic Cult."

Only moments ago, she'd been full of hostility toward them.

Now, seconds later, she admitted they'd joined hands.

There was a jarring contradiction in that.

—The look in your eyes is full of questions.

"Yes. Given how you phrased it, I can't help it."

—I don't trust the Demonic Cult, nor do I trust anyone else from the Central Plains. Believing in humans is something only a fool would do. You're well aware of that, aren't you?

"Me?"

—Yes. Someone like you, who sees what others cannot. The Heavenly Demon, me, we all think the same.

"Hm."

Distrust in humanity.

An inherent animosity, perhaps arising from being able to see spirits.

I got what she meant.

Most of those who see ghosts tend to hate people more than the cleaner, instinct-driven spirits—

'Because people lie to themselves, betray each other, and birth evil spirits...'

That was true of most people I'd known.

But—

"Sorry, but please don't lump me in with them."

—What?

"I don't particularly dislike humans."

Though there were a few I detested, I didn't hate humanity itself.

'My child...'

My grandmother always said—

'Do not hate people. If you must, hate the circumstances that made them wicked.'

Don't hate people.

'What a funny thing to say...'

After all, even the situations that make people bad are made by other people.

How could I not hate people?

That used to bewilder me as a child, but now...

If not understanding, I'd at least—

'I suppose I've accepted it.'

Just living on, day by day...

It just happened that way.

—... So you've not been fully tainted by the world?

"No. If anything, I've been charred black, but maybe I've been toasted a bit differently than most."

This time, I smiled. It felt like we didn't need to talk much more.

"Oh, and—about what you said earlier."

—Earlier?

"When you said I didn't seem like I had that kind of power."

The claim that I couldn't do what the Heavenly Demon did. I recalled it.

—And why bring that up?

"I thought I'd correct your misunderstanding."

There was a reason why I could stand before Bow Ghost, unashamed.

I reached out to her and, at the same time, slightly loosened the Band fastened to my heart.

Tap.

—... What?

My hand touched Bow Ghost's body—her spirit self.

Her eyes widened in shock.

"Forgive me."

Uuuuuuuuuuung--!!!!

The murderous intent manifested from my spirit pierced right through Bow Ghost.

"If it had been me, such a minor thing would never have ended so simply."

Kuuuuuung-!!!

—...!!!!

Bow Ghost's body shuddered violently.

She had revealed herself to me in her spirit form.

That was her mistake.

For me—

'When it wasn't a human, but a ghost—'

—I could play with even a god.

TL's corner:

Moments like this, I can see BSY aura farming... It's fucking amazing...

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