Published at 7th of June 2026 8:22 pm

Chapter 440

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Sssssss-!

A chill ran down my spine. It was the Sword Emperor's murderous intent flaring at the mention of the Shadow Sovereign.

'... Ugh.'

I flinched.

My muscles and bones seemed to freeze in an instant.

Was this the true force behind the Heaven Beyond Heaven's killing intent when unleashed for real?

'I can feel the pressure.'

It felt like my entire body was about to be crushed.

My energy started to pour out on its own, forced by my survival instincts.

Only by circulating my ki along my meridians was I barely able to push back the pressure.

"Why are you asking about that guy?"

Swallowing hard, I spoke to the Sword Emperor.

"... I just thought maybe you knew something, sir."

"Did you run into him?"

"... Ah... No."

I met the Shadow Sovereign at Mount Hua. But I could never dare say that.

The Sword Emperor's sharp eyes glared at me after my words.

He seemed to be scrutinizing whether I was telling the truth.

"Well, there's no way you would've seen him."

Before long, he decided on his own answer.

His murderous aura also gradually subsided.

Once the suffocating pressure finally disappeared and I was barely able to catch my breath—

"Why are you asking about the Shadow Sovereign?"

The Sword Emperor questioned me.

"I've been seeing members of Heaven Beyond Heaven quite often lately, so I got curious. Shadow Sovereign—he's one of them, right?"

The master of the night.

An old man called the god of the shadow warriors.

And—

'Someone related to my older brother.'

My older brother, the young family head of the Bang family, had said he was connected to the Shadow Sovereign.

I had no choice but to keep an eye on the Shadow Sovereign.

But the Sword Emperor's response was like this.

"Don't concern yourself."

He told me.

"It's needless curiosity. If you want to stay alive, don't try to find out anything about that man."

"..."

"That would be better for you. Especially if you ever get involved."

After hesitating a moment, he added,

"Virtuous Moon Sword. Tell him. That you got involved with the Shadow Sovereign."

"... You mean the Blue Moon Sect Leader?"

"Yes."

He wants me to ask the Blue Moon Sect Leader for help?

That's... unexpected.

I scratched my cheek.

It didn't seem like there was anything more to ask the Sword Emperor.

"I understand."

With a polite bow, I exited the stable.

I repeated to myself, inwardly.

'Do you have anything to say to that?'

『Are you asking this seat?』

'Kinda, yeah.'

『You weren't planning to ask this seat if you deliberately went to see the Sword Emperor, were you?』

'I wanted to ask someone who would know first.'

And that was a mistake.

'I nearly died.'

I'd almost been crushed by his killing intent.

'... Just when I thought I'd gotten a bit stronger.'

Even after reaching the transcendent realm, monsters like that are still everywhere.

'A little more.'

I needed to find a way to become stronger.

That thought flashed through my mind.

『Do you want to get stronger?』

Not missing the chance, a voice I had heard somewhere before chimed in, dripping with temptation.

It was so absurd it was almost funny.

'What now?'

『If you want it, say so. No, even if you don't, it will be done.』

'... You still haven't given up on that?'

Didn't you say you wanted to make me the Heavenly Demon?

『It's not about what I want. It's what must be.』

'I just don't get it. Why do you keep doing this to me?'

Of all things, the Heavenly Demon—especially in a place where bloodline succession is a strict principle.

With so many talented candidates, why keep pushing for me?

『That's not important. What's important is something else.』

'Like what? Spiritual Sight?'

What's so special about seeing ghosts?

『It's not just about seeing, is it?』

"..."

I had no answer for that. It was true. It wasn't just about seeing.

Then—

'So, what, you want me to go beat up spirits or something?'

『If you want it spelled out—』

The Heavenly Demon replied without hesitation.

『Whether you can kill a god or not.』

"..."

At those words, my body stiffened.

『That's what matters.』

'Kill a god?'

『Yes. This seat—no, the Heavenly Demon—do you know what the creed should be?』

'You even have a creed? That's a bit much.'

『Under heaven, only the Heavenly Demon is god.』

"..."

That had to be the most arrogant thing I'd ever heard.

The Heavenly Demon is human—talking about gods?

'Not that the gods are anything special to me.'

But it was clear they were existences beyond human.

To talk about killing gods in that context—

'I can't understand this.'

That felt more symbolic than an actual condition.

『No need to think deeply about it. Whether you contain or kill, the result is the same.』

'So, anything to do with gods, basically.'

『Yes, which is why—』

An unusual gravity filled the Heavenly Demon's voice.

『No one else can do it.』

"..."

He was adamant. If that's why he was obsessed with me—

'All the more reason for you to give up.'

I—

'I have no intention of getting involved with gods again.'

My previous life had been more than enough of that.

* * *

I returned to my quarters. I had no pressing schedule left.

I figured I'd just get on with my training, but things seemed busier than usual at the entrance to my quarters.

Members of the Alliance stood there, blocking someone from entering.

As I walked closer, about to ask what was going on—

"Oh, you're back?"

"..."

The one being blocked was, to my surprise, the Young cult leader.

"Moon Hero."

"... What's going on?"

I bypassed the Young cult leader and asked one of the Alliance members, who looked at me with a troubled expression.

"It's just..."

"He said he wanted to meet the great Moon Hero, but they wouldn't let me in."

"Good job, then."

It meant they were doing their job right.

These folks sure had it tough.

Thinking that, I turned to the Young cult leader.

"Why did you come looking for me?"

"Does one need a reason to visit a friend?"

"Calling us friends, are you? We're not that close, you know?"

Since when were we ever friends?

I laughed dryly, and the Young cult leader joined in.

"Wow. That's a bit harsh, isn't it? After I came all this way."

"There's nothing more annoying than an uninvited guest, you know. Look—because of you, several people are having a hard time."

Their faces were noticeably tense.

You could feel their emotions were running high just from the fact that a member of the Demonic Cult had come here.

"What's your business?"

I asked.

The Young cult leader wiped away his smile, taking on a more serious look.

"Are you really not going to let me in? It's cold out here."

"..."

I scratched my cheek at that.

"It's alright. You can let him through."

"But—"

"I'll explain everything to the Strategist myself. No need to worry."

"... Understood."

At my words, the Alliance member made way.

"Come with me."

"With pleasure."

Once inside, the Young cult leader followed after me.

"Just me. The rest stay out."

"..."

He addressed the demonic beings who'd tried to follow.

They halted their steps at his command.

"Don't follow me."

"... Understood."

I entered my quarters with only the Young cult leader.

"I don't have any tea. Not like I'd pour you a cup anyway."

"Pretty cold for a host, aren't you?"

"I don't see you as a guest."

"Haha, so much for being popular. Go easy on me, will you? Last time, I let you hit me."

He touched his nose, referring to the time I'd kneed him.

Looks like it wasn't still swollen—thank goodness.

One thing bugged me, though.

"Let me hit you?"

That wording bothered me.

"You didn't 'let' me do anything. You just stood there like an idiot and got hit."

"Hm."

Why phrase it as if he let me?

I smirked.

The Young cult leader tilted his head.

"I know our relationship isn't great, but—"

His eyes gradually changed.

"If you keep scratching at me like that, you won't die of old age, Moon Hero."

Even his tone shifted.

The offhand sorrow vanished from his voice, leaving it ice cold.

The atmosphere soured instantly, a wave of discomfort rising in the room.

But—

"Sorry, I got called 'backscratcher' a lot as a kid. Can't help but scratch at people. Especially—"

No reason to shrink away now.

"Especially fools like you who don't know their place."

Kkggg—

The table rattled.

He exuded pressure, so I released my ki as well.

A subtle blue energy mixed with his, clashing between us.

Sssssss...

Before long, however, he suddenly drew back his ki.

"Hmm... I guess not, after all?"

"What?"

"I just had to confirm something."

He put on a smile again, and I frowned. What was this guy on about?

"Just get to the point. What do you want?"

"Oh, it's nothing much. I just wondered—"

"Not interested."

"... Haha?"

He looked startled by my flat refusal before he'd even finished his sentence.

"How do you know what I was going to say?"

"Doesn't matter. If it's you talking, I'm not interested."

"Aww, come on. At least hear me out."

"Say it."

"How about a little spar with me?"

"Screw off."

It didn't matter what he said—my answer wouldn't change.

"Hurtful. That took a bit of courage to say, you know?"

"Oh, give me a break. First you show up out of nowhere, now you want to fight?"

What a load of crap.

"Why? Still sore about getting hit that time?"

"Well, yeah. Plus, I thought it might be fun."

"Fun, my ass. You really think it's possible to have a fight in this situation?"

Just the fact that we, the Young cult leader and the Moon Hero, were even having a conversation here was politically insane.

Now he wanted a spar on top of that?

"What's your real motive?"

I didn't see any reason to humor this nonsense.

I wasn't interested in going along with it. I was just curious as to why he was acting like this.

"What do you want?"

"It was honestly just for camaraderie, but you sound pretty upset. What, lacking in confidence?"

"Oh boy."

I couldn't help but laugh at that one.

"You, you're really not cut out for provoking people, are you?"

"..."

Lacking confidence?

"Sure. That's why I'm not interested."

"... Unbelievable."

"That's what I should be saying. Now stop being so damn annoying. Don't you feel it? Everything started going sideways after you showed up, you know?"

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gung.

A tremendous pressure filled the air.

Thud—!!!

The moment I felt it, someone landed right outside my quarters.

"... You fool..."

The owner of that pressure was the leader of the Small Moon Division, glaring at the Young cult leader with a chilling expression.

Where did this guy come flying in from? Judging by the cold sweat, he must have rushed over in a hurry.

And that wasn't all.

"..."

Behind the division leader appeared Yu Yun and Yu Yul.

"What—having fun without me?"

Silver Moon Sword fixed us with a curious gaze, while Yu Yun stared at the Young cult leader with an uncharacteristically cold look.

"Pretty popular today. Guess you're pretty loved, huh?"

"Right? I had no idea—thanks for showing me."

The division leader showing up made sense, but why were those two here?

"So. Not going to do it, really?"

The Young cult leader pressed on, as if none of this mattered. My answer didn't change.

"I told you, I definitely—"

― If you accept the spar, I'll spare Heavenly Insight.

"... What'd you... huh?"

I paused at the sudden telepathic transmission. What did you say?

― If you don't, Heavenly Insight might die.

"..."

Just as before, the Young cult leader spoke, as if to confirm I hadn't misheard.

'Hoh.'

At that, inwardly I smirked.

'This bastard, really?'

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