Published at 7th of June 2026 8:23 pm

Chapter 442

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

After the duel with the Young cult leader, news of it spread in an instant.

It hadn't even been an unofficial spar—there had been more than enough witnesses.

It was now known that Moon Hero and the Demonic Cult's Young cult leader had clashed.

As a result, news that Moon Hero had won the duel was now echoing through Henan thanks to the Beggar's Union.

Because of this.

Even in Hyun County, where people had already been whispering and murmuring about the Demonic Cult's arrival, the uproar began to settle down a bit.

"As expected of the Sword Saint's successor. The Demonic Cult's Young cult leader isn't much, after all."

"Where would Henan's hero go? I was trembling in anxiety hearing about the Demonic Cult's coming... But with Moon Hero, things are different."

"All that hype about the reincarnation of the Heavenly Demon and whatnot is just empty talk..."

The endless chatter from the inn drifted toward me.

Listening to those words, I sat in a corner, slurping up a bite of wheat noodles.

It was something that marked me as a representative of Hyun's rising stars.

There was a bit of discomfort that came with the pressure and fame, but if I put things into perspective, maybe it wasn't all bad.

"So many people whispering. You've become a celebrity overnight. Or were you already popular before?"

I smacked my lips at the murmuring voice.

The person sitting across from me was Yu Yul, the Silver Moon Sword.

"... Why are you picking a fight?"

"A fight? Please—I'm complimenting my junior."

"If that's a compliment, you can stop now."

That big, bright smile really got on my nerves.

For the record, Yu Yul, seemingly fully recovered now, had taken off the bandages from his arm.

How did I end up out in the county with this guy?

I was filled with nothing but annoyance.

"Haaa."

"Why? Are the noodles not to your taste? If so, I could ea—"

"Hands off."

"Sure, fine!"

There was a reason for this companionship.

Originally, I should've come out with the leader of the Small Moon Division.

But he had some business to attend to.

'Then, you two go together.'

That was the errand Heavenly Insight had assigned me.

There must have been a reason for sending two members of the Blue Moon Sect together.

"We could just get this over with quickly. Why are we eating first?"

Yu Yul had stopped mid-walk, insisting on eating, and dragged me into the inn.

Thanks to him, I ended up eating noodles even though I wasn't hungry.

"Well, since it's come to this, why don't we have a cup of bamboo leaf wine?"

"... Are you insane?"

Drinking, too?

I stared at him with a look of utter disapproval.

"Why not? The weather's nice, company's good—perfect for a drink."

"What part of the weather is nice?"

I pointed out the window.

Rumble-rumble-rumble—!!! Whhooooshhhhh—!!!

Right now, a torrential downpour was hammering down outside.

It was my least favorite kind of day.

A day when yin energy exploded, and an ideal time for evil spirits and ghosts to run rampant.

Because of that, I never wanted to step outside on days like this.

"Ugh..."

In the end, I'd had no choice but to listen to Heavenly Insight, who had been furious yesterday.

'Didn't I tell you to behave? And you got into a duel in the meantime?'

He'd gotten mad when he found out late about my clash with the Young cult leader.

'What if you'd gotten injured... Worse, what if you'd lost? What were you thinking?'

He'd plainly listed the problems that would arise with a defeat.

He didn't say something as lame as, "It's fine since you won."

I myself had tried to avoid fighting out of fear of the consequences of losing.

Anyway, even though I ended up winning, his anger didn't cool.

'... Handle an errand for me tomorrow and come back.'

He entrusted me with an errand. I had no grounds to refuse.

"... If you're done eating, let's go— What the? When did you order that?"

A cup of bamboo leaf wine was in front of me.

When did he order that?

Dumbfounded, I looked at Yu Yul, who had already knocked one back.

"Ahh... How many years has it been since I had this?"

"... You've lost it, really. You're really drinking? Have you lost your mind, senior?"

"Cut me some slack. After years rolling around the mountains, I've barely touched a drop."

"..."

He brought up his long-term mission.

At hearing that, my eyes narrowed a bit.

Maybe the timing was right.

There was something I'd wanted to ask but hadn't brought up before.

"Senior."

"Yeah?"

"What did you do there?"

It wasn't like we were that close, nor did we have such a relationship.

Not that things were any different now, but the timing just felt right.

"Where?"

"Death King's mountain."

"Ahh."

Several years of a long-term mission.

Yu Yul, once known as the direct disciple of Virtuous Moon Sword, had gone there—doing who knows what.

I'd asked about it.

"You were curious?"

Yu Yul let out a small laugh at my question.

"A little, yes?"

"If I answer, what will you do for me?"

"..."

He smiled slyly.

I scratched my cheek and answered.

"I... won't listen to—"

"Seriously? That's your answer?! You're quick to say no..."

If I had to do something to hear it, then forget it.

Even before I finished speaking, Yu Yul hurriedly cut me off.

"I'm not asking for anything grand. Can't you even offer me a bet or something?"

"... No, I'm really not that curious."

"Then just do me one favor. I'll tell you if you agree."

"I said I won't!"

"Please."

"..."

Why's he so desperate?

I'd been the curious one, but now Yu Yul was practically begging—and if I didn't accept, he looked ready to try something else.

What's with him?

"... What is it?"

I decided to at least hear him out. Having said that—

"One more duel with me."

"No."

"Ah, come on!"

I refused as soon as I heard it.

Yu Yul protested about why I'd refuse, but I found that ridiculous. Was I supposed to accept this?

"What duel? Didn't we already have one?"

This is the same guy whose arm had been wrecked and wrapped in bandages last time.

Now, as soon as he heals, he wants another duel?

Why is everyone so eager to fight with me?

"This time's different."

"How?"

"It'll be much more fun."

"You're crazy."

That's one hell of a reason.

It's at times like this I realize, he really is from the Blue Moon Sect.

That competitive gleam in his eyes was downright honest.

"... A duel, huh."

What was funny about that situation was—

'Am I really any different?'

It was a thought that had been crossing my mind lately.

Was I really any different from them?

Lately, I'd been more competitive than anyone, constantly occupied with fighting others.

'... Grandpa.'

What exactly did Yu Chun-gil do to me?

Or is that old man, who's vanished as if dead, doing something inside me right now?

I've been having all sorts of thoughts.

But a duel with Yu Yul here?

"... Maybe I'll think about it."

Surprisingly, I didn't find myself entirely against the idea.

"Oh!"

Yu Yul's eyes gleamed with approval at my answer.

"Great answer."

"So, what about my question?"

"Oh, right."

Yu Yul poured himself another cup and replied.

"The reason I went to Death King's mountain wasn't much. The Death King, while called part of the orthodox faction, had always been a controversial figure—and through that, I learned something."

"... Something?"

Wuuuuung—!

As he spoke, a ki barrier formed. Yu Yul had cast it.

"What I learned was this: above the Death King, there's shockingly someone known as the Bow Ghost."

"...!"

My eyes went wide at his words.

Of course, it wasn't new to me—I'd known it already.

What surprised me here was that Yu Yul had just revealed it so casually.

"... Is it alright for you to say that?"

"What's the problem? My junior is a young leader of the Blue Moon Sect, right? The Sect Leader wouldn't care."

"... Right."

That's right, I am a young leader. I'd briefly forgotten.

"The Bow Ghost is someone who considers the Blue Moon Sect an enemy. But when word came that the Bow Ghost is above the Death King, I headed to his mountain to confirm it."

"... Why you, senior?"

He's also in the Small Moon Division, but for a job like that, it didn't have to be Yu Yul.

So why select him specifically?

"Well... I just followed orders, but the Sect Leader said I was the most suitable fit."

"Suitable?"

"Yeah. He said I was in the perfect condition to slip past the Death King's eyes."

"..."

At hearing that, I found myself agreeing.

'Indeed.'

Yu Yul had strong ki.

There was something deep inside him, unshakable, invulnerable.

If I judged it as a shaman, he was a person whose depths couldn't be seen into—a man of great and inscrutable depth.

Whether or not he had ki, people like that were avoided by both ghosts and shamans.

'How did Virtuous Moon Sword know that?'

A person able to avoid the Death King's eyes.

If my assessment was right, it was strange that Virtuous Moon Sword would have known.

"Thanks to that, I rolled around for three years, found out the Bow Ghost really is deeply connected to the Death King, and then came back."

"It took you three years for that?"

"I had other things to do, too, but... well..."

Yu Yul grinned brightly.

"That's a secret."

"...."

It was clear he wouldn't say more. That was fine. I'd gotten nearly all I wanted.

'Virtuous Moon Sword is watching the Bow Ghost, and it seems they know about handling spiritual ki.'

The problem was—

'Yu Yul returned, but he also returned carrying the gaze of either the Bow Ghost or the Death King—something unnecessary.'

That gaze.

Most likely a power of the Bow Ghost, the fact he came back with it meant that the Blue Moon Sect's actions hadn't gone unnoticed by her.

Tap, tap.

I drummed on the table.

I didn't have time to sort out my deepening thoughts and draw further conclusions.

"Understood. Let's get up now."

First things first: I needed to finish the task at hand.

The rest I could untangle later.

"Huh? Already? I've barely started drinking—"

"I'm busy. Stop drinking so shamelessly. Let's go."

"Urk!"

I all but dragged Yu Yul out with me.

Whooooshhh—!!!

Rain poured relentlessly. With visibility poor, Yu Yul and I pressed forward.

The meeting spot was in a somewhat deeper part of Hyun County.

'So, there's a place like this here.'

A well-constructed place in Henan's Hyun County.

Though it was a little wrecked from an attack, it had been quickly rebuilt to its former beauty.

But as always, darkness lingered in the corners.

Even here, alleys like this existed.

"Spare... some coin..."

Beggars begged in the rain.

"Great hero... please, just a coin..."

Ignoring their pleas, I kept walking.

The muddy ground under my feet was more irritating than anything.

After walking for a while, a shantytown came into view.

Maybe, here, we could escape the downpour.

'Is this the place?'

Was this really it? This was the location Heavenly Insight had given me.

"Oh, what's this?"

Yu Yul spoke, chak—the sound of his hand resting on the sword at his side.

"The mood is off."

Agreed.

I felt it, too.

The moment I was about to draw closer—

Clamp!

Someone grabbed my ankle.

"Great hero...! Please... I beg of you, just a coin... Just a coin...!"

A withered, rain-soaked figure whose face couldn't be seen.

The starved body looked like only bones remained, and the stench was bad enough to cut through the rain.

A beggar.

That's the only word that came to mind at the sight of them.

But—

"...."

I stared intently at the old man.

Though only a moment passed, I realized something as I looked at him.

Slowly, I lowered my head.

The beggar, thinking he'd succeeded, let out a delighted voice.

"Ahh... thank yo—"

"I greet the master of the Beggar's Union."

"..."

At my words, Yu Yul flinched, and the old man's body stiffened.

"Hah."

The voice that came from the old man changed.

"How did you know?"

Ta Bong Woo Ah-seok, leader of the Beggar's Union.

He was exactly the one we'd been sent to find.

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