A day passed, and then another. After the Righteous Guidance Conference was mostly wrapped up, one more day flowed by.

By the time the air was getting colder and colder—when I could really feel the season snapping over in a hurry—

“Whewww—”

I let out a low sigh and watched the steam fog out with it, trying to shake off the fatigue.

“...I’m just gonna die.”

No, I said “shake it off,” but I hadn’t. I hadn’t slept well. I had too much to think about, so it wasn’t like I could actually sleep through the night.

‘How the hell am I supposed to sleep in the first place?’

With a ticking bomb strapped to my body, sleeping easy was practically impossible.

And on top of that—

‘...Sword Emperor said he’s going to teach me the sword.’

The Sword Emperor of Heaven-Beyond-Heaven had stepped forward and flat-out declared he’d teach me.

And then there was the whole “Moon Knight” epithet. Too much exploded at once, and I needed time to sort it all out.

So I spent the night like that.

I’d slept, what, maybe one shichen—if I was generous, one and a half...

‘But compared to that, the fatigue isn’t that bad.’

I called it exhaustion, but considering how little I slept, I felt oddly clear.

‘Is this because my realm went up?’

Maybe it was that buoyant feeling you got when your realm rose.

Fatigue and liveliness coexisting.

No—more accurately—

‘The liveliness is slowly pushing the fatigue out.’

Like my body, forcibly strengthened, wouldn’t even let me stay tired.

Like I couldn’t even be tired whenever I wanted anymore.

As I kept clenching and unclenching my fist at the alien sensation—

[You’d better get used to it.]

Yoo Cheongil spoke.

[As your realm rose, your meridians strengthened too. Separate from the danger of your inner power, it’s a drastic leap, so you should get as used to it as possible so you don’t feel unfamiliar in real combat later.]

“......”

So I wouldn’t feel unfamiliar in real combat later.

That stuck.

‘Which means...’

He was sure I’d be experiencing real combat in this state.

‘Every time, I feel it—what the hell is that old man’s goal?’

If I had to name the biggest question in my head, it was Yoo Cheongil himself.

‘I don’t know.’

He was a question embodied. He’d told me to uncover the reason for his death and who did it, but in truth, he didn’t even seem that interested.

The only things he showed interest in were my progress in martial study, brutal fights, or—

‘Talented people.’

He only paid attention to geniuses blessed too heavily, like Black-Grand Saber or Thunder Dragon.

At the point where it was obvious he cared more about that than his own death—

I couldn’t properly grasp his intent or purpose.

‘Is he scheming something?’

What was his purpose, that he was doing this to me?

I couldn’t understand it.

The DEMON CULT and HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE both gave me plenty to grind my teeth over, but Yoo Cheongil’s existence was on that list too.

‘Even if it’s a partnership I can’t avoid.’

If you asked whether Yoo Cheongil was someone I could trust completely, I’d say no.

So while I listened to him, I kept my guard up without stopping.

‘Hmph.’

With my thoughts sharpened, I started walking.

Because whether it was Yoo Cheongil or my body, there was someone I had to see.

*****

“You’re here.”

The old man facing me spoke. The moment I saw him, I straightened and gave proper respect.

“I greet the Strategist.”

The person I’d come to see was Thousand-Mile True Sight Jegal Jin. The man I had to see first thing in the morning.

At my greeting, he took a sip of tea, then glanced my way.

The conversation wasn’t long. I sat down without hesitation under his gaze.

“I heard you met the young clan head yesterday.”

Jegal Jin went straight into it the moment I sat. I let out a short laugh.

“Ah, yes. He came to see me.”

“What did you talk about?”

“Didn’t you hear?”

“I didn’t bother asking.”

He knew Jegal Hyeongyeon came to find me, but he didn’t ask why.

Hearing that, I tilted my head. I figured he should just say it.

“You didn’t ask because you already know the reason, didn’t you?”

“......”

At my words, Jegal Jin’s brow narrowed slightly.

He smoothed it out [N O V E L I G H T] almost immediately and spoke.

“In a short time, you seem to have gotten somewhat impudent.”

“If it felt that way, I apologize. It just came to me without thinking.”

“Tsk.”

As if my answer didn’t satisfy him, Jegal Jin clicked his tongue.

“You worry too much. Don’t mind it.”

Don’t mind what Jegal Hyeongyeon said. Which also meant he did know why Jegal Hyeongyeon came.

“I’m not really minding it. I answered him pretty much like that, too.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Honestly, whether it’s the Peng Clan or the Jegal Clan, it doesn’t really have much to do with me.”

“.......”

“I don’t plan to throw my weight behind anyone. Taking care of my own body is already too much.”

That part was sincere. Even now, I was hearing I couldn’t protect my body and could burst at any time.

I didn’t have time to watch other clans and see what they were doing.

“I figure you’ll handle your dispute with the Peng Clan yourselves. You probably have a plan.”

“You speak like you’re certain.”

“Seventy percent?”

“Why?”

“Because you don’t look like the type to sit still like this if you didn’t already have something lined up.”

“Heh heh.”

Jegal Jin only laughed and didn’t deny it.

“...You’re a funny brat.”

“If I’m wrong, I’m wrong.”

This wasn’t the important talk, anyway.

I came to see Jegal Jin today for something else.

“Fine. So—will you accept it or not.”

The matter of the Physician’s request. Whether I’d take that commission or not. I’d come to answer that now.

“I will.”

I said it without a second of hesitation. My thoughts were already organized.

And even aside from that—

‘I have to go find him anyway.’

I could do the job while I was at it.

“...Is that so.”

“But you said persuasion, so I need a bit more information.”

Why he called it persuasion, what justification and reason I needed for that persuasion—

I had to get everything I could before taking the commission.

“To begin with—are you sure it’s something I can do?”

“Who knows.”

Unlike before, Jegal Jin gave me an ambiguous answer. Strangely enough.

“It may work, it may not. He’s a stubborn man. Once he’s said something, he’ll try to keep it even if it kills him.”

“...If he said something, then what did he say?”

“He said he’d never set foot on Henan again. That’s what he said.”

“......”

The Medical Immortal was Plum Blossom Single Sword, so that meant Plum Blossom Single Sword said it.

‘He said he’ll never step on Henan again?’

I frowned.

“...Why would he say that?”

Mount Hua was in Shaanxi, so he didn’t need to come to Henan, sure.

But I still couldn’t understand why he’d say something like that.

But then—

“Still, perhaps you can persuade him. No—only you can.”

“......”

Only I can. Before I could even grasp why—

“Since you’ve given permission either way, I’ll take it that you’re going. The rest, hear it from your Sect Master.”

“...My Sect Master?”

RRRRAK—!!

Right then, the door opened and Moon-Thread Sword walked in.

“Sect Master...?”

Seriously—him?

While I was still startled—

“Hm?”

Someone followed in behind Moon-Thread Sword. A man wearing a face full of dissatisfaction.

And he was someone I knew.

“...Leader?”

“......”

It was the Small Moon Unit Leader.

What? Why the hell is he suddenly here?

While I was staring, confused by the random appearance—

“He’s your escort for this assignment.”

“...Pardon?”

Moon-Thread Sword said something completely insane.

Escort...?

The Small Moon Unit Leader?

*****

A day passed, and then another. After the Righteous Guidance Conference was mostly wrapped up, one more day flowed by.

By the time the air was getting colder and colder—when I could really feel the season snapping over in a hurry—

“Whewww—”

I let out a low sigh and watched the steam fog out with it, trying to shake off the fatigue.

“...I’m just gonna die.”

No, I said “shake it off,” but I hadn’t. I hadn’t slept well. I had too much to think about, so it wasn’t like I could actually sleep through the night.

‘How the hell am I supposed to sleep in the first place?’

With a ticking bomb strapped to my body, sleeping easy was practically impossible.

And on top of that—

‘...Sword Emperor said he’s going to teach me the sword.’

The Sword Emperor of Heaven-Beyond-Heaven had stepped forward and flat-out declared he’d teach me.

And then there was the whole “Moon Knight” epithet. Too much exploded at once, and I needed time to sort it all out.

So I spent the night like that.

I’d slept, what, maybe one shichen—if I was generous, one and a half...

‘But compared to that, the fatigue isn’t that bad.’

I called it exhaustion, but considering how little I slept, I felt oddly clear.

‘Is this because my realm went up?’

Maybe it was that buoyant feeling you got when your realm rose.

Fatigue and liveliness coexisting.

No—more accurately—

‘The liveliness is slowly pushing the fatigue out.’

Like my body, forcibly strengthened, wouldn’t even let me stay tired.

Like I couldn’t even be tired whenever I wanted anymore.

As I kept clenching and unclenching my fist at the alien sensation—

[You’d better get used to it.]

Yoo Cheongil spoke.

[As your realm rose, your meridians strengthened too. Separate from the danger of your inner power, it’s a drastic leap, so you should get as used to it as possible so you don’t feel unfamiliar in real combat later.]

“......”

So I wouldn’t feel unfamiliar in real combat later.

That stuck.

‘Which means...’

He was sure I’d be experiencing real combat in this state.

‘Every time, I feel it—what the hell is that old man’s goal?’

If I had to name the biggest question in my head, it was Yoo Cheongil himself.

‘I don’t know.’

He was a question embodied. He’d told me to uncover the reason for his death and who did it, but in truth, he didn’t even seem that interested.

The only things he showed interest in were my progress in martial study, brutal fights, or—

‘Talented people.’

He only paid attention to geniuses blessed too heavily, like Black-Grand Saber or Thunder Dragon.

At the point where it was obvious he cared more about that than his own death—

I couldn’t properly grasp his intent or purpose.

‘Is he scheming something?’

What was his purpose, that he was doing this to me?

I couldn’t understand it.

The DEMON CULT and HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE both gave me plenty to grind my teeth over, but Yoo Cheongil’s existence was on that list too.

‘Even if it’s a partnership I can’t avoid.’

If you asked whether Yoo Cheongil was someone I could trust completely, I’d say no.

So while I listened to him, I kept my guard up without stopping.

‘Hmph.’

With my thoughts sharpened, I started walking.

Because whether it was Yoo Cheongil or my body, there was someone I had to see.

“You’re here.”

The old man facing me spoke. The moment I saw him, I straightened and gave proper respect.

“I greet the Strategist.”

The person I’d come to see was Thousand-Mile True Sight Jegal Jin. The man I had to see first thing in the morning.

At my greeting, he took a sip of tea, then glanced my way.

The conversation wasn’t long. I sat down without hesitation under his gaze.

“I heard you met the young clan head yesterday.”

Jegal Jin went straight into it the moment I sat. I let out a short laugh.

“Ah, yes. He came to see me.”

“What did you talk about?”

“Didn’t you hear?”

“I didn’t bother asking.”

He knew Jegal Hyeongyeon came to find me, but he didn’t ask why.

Hearing that, I tilted my head. I figured he should just say it.

“You didn’t ask because you already know the reason, didn’t you?”

“......”

At my words, Jegal Jin’s brow narrowed slightly.

He smoothed it out almost immediately and spoke.

“In a short time, you seem to have gotten somewhat impudent.”

“If it felt that way, I apologize. It just came to me without thinking.”

“Tsk.”

As if my answer didn’t satisfy him, Jegal Jin clicked his tongue.

“You worry too much. Don’t mind it.”

Don’t mind what Jegal Hyeongyeon said. Which also meant he did know why Jegal Hyeongyeon came.

“I’m not really minding it. I answered him pretty much like that, too.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Honestly, whether it’s the Peng Clan or the Jegal Clan, it doesn’t really have much to do with me.”

“.......”

“I don’t plan to throw my weight behind anyone. Taking care of my own body is already too much.”

That part was sincere. Even now, I was hearing I couldn’t protect my body and could burst at any time.

I didn’t have time to watch other clans and see what they were doing.

“I figure you’ll handle your dispute with the Peng Clan yourselves. You probably have a plan.”

“You speak like you’re certain.”

“Seventy percent?”

“Why?”

“Because you don’t look like the type to sit still like this if you didn’t already have something lined up.”

“Heh heh.”

Jegal Jin only laughed and didn’t deny it.

“...You’re a funny brat.”

“If I’m wrong, I’m wrong.”

This wasn’t the important talk, anyway.

I came to see Jegal Jin today for something else.

“Fine. So—will you accept it or not.”

The matter of the Physician’s request. Whether I’d take that commission or not. I’d come to answer that now.

“I will.”

I said it without a second of hesitation. My thoughts were already organized.

And even aside from that—

‘I have to go find him anyway.’

I could do the job while I was at it.

“...Is that so.”

“But you said persuasion, so I need a bit more information.”

Why he called it persuasion, what justification and reason I needed for that persuasion—

I had to get everything I could before taking the commission.

“To begin with—are you sure it’s something I can do?”

“Who knows.”

Unlike before, Jegal Jin gave me an ambiguous answer. Strangely enough.

“It may work, it may not. He’s a stubborn man. Once he’s said something, he’ll try to keep it even if it kills him.”

“...If he said something, then what did he say?”

“He said he’d never set foot on Henan again. That’s what he said.”

“......”

The Medical Immortal was Plum Blossom Single Sword, so that meant Plum Blossom Single Sword said it.

‘He said he’ll never step on Henan again?’

I frowned.

“...Why would he say that?”

Mount Hua was in Shaanxi, so he didn’t need to come to Henan, sure.

But I still couldn’t understand why he’d say something like that.

But then—

“Still, perhaps you can persuade him. No—only you can.”

“......”

Only I can. Before I could even grasp why—

“Since you’ve given permission either way, I’ll take it that you’re going. The rest, hear it from your Sect Master.”

“...My Sect Master?”

RRRRAK—!!

Right then, the door opened and Moon-Thread Sword walked in.

“Sect Master...?”

Seriously—him?

While I was still startled—

“Hm?”

Someone followed in behind Moon-Thread Sword. A man wearing a face full of dissatisfaction.

And he was someone I knew.

“...Leader?”

“......”

It was the Small Moon Unit Leader.

What? Why the hell is he suddenly here?

While I was staring, confused by the random appearance—

“He’s your escort for this assignment.”

“...Pardon?”

Moon-Thread Sword said something completely insane.

Escort...?

The Small Moon Unit Leader?

When the day was clearing beautifully—just past noon, when the sky looked its prettiest.

Not a single cloud. A sky so lovely it didn’t feel fair.

It was the kind of bright weather that would make anyone sigh in admiration, but—

“Kuhuk—!!”

What happened beneath that sky was anything but beautiful.

Someone let out a strangled groan and collapsed. Blood spraying like a fountain was a bonus.

One figure staggered, lost consciousness, and fell.

And that was the end of his life.

There were bodies like that all over the ground—corpses drained of life force scattered in every direction.

And when even the last standing presence finally reached death—

TAP—!

He lowered a sword and swept his eyes around.

His gaze caught on a young man.

Baek Cheonin, wearing a thoroughly displeased expression.

No—DEMON CULT’s Deputy Leader.

With an unsettled stare, he asked the old man—Heaven-Breaking Palace Lord.

“Was there really a need to go this far?”

As he looked over the mangled bodies, the Palace Lord looked back at him.

“I only removed what was useless.”

The Palace Lord answered with a calm voice. The reason the Deputy Leader had voiced doubt wasn’t because they’d killed people.

But—

“They were your subordinates.”

The dead were, unbelievably, HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE’s underlings.

Which meant the Palace Lord had disposed of his own men.

Why? The Deputy Leader couldn’t understand it.

“I told you.”

“What—”

“That I’d cut away useless pieces.”

Snap.

With his words, the Palace Lord flicked a finger. Flames spread out and wrapped around the dead.

WHOOOOSH—!!

The fire surged and burned through countless bodies, leaving not even ash behind.

“And there were many eyes watching. It’s cleaner for my peace of mind to erase them.”

“So you erased the witnesses.”

The Palace Lord didn’t deny it.

“I removed useless things.”

He was only repeating himself. The Deputy Leader didn’t press it further.

They were his underlings, not the Deputy Leader’s.

So the HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE warriors who assaulted Henan all perished.

And on the blood-soaked ground, the Palace Lord retrieved his sword.

CLANG—!!

As the blade slid into its sheath, the Deputy Leader asked—

“So? Did you get what you wanted?”

The Palace Lord looked at him.

He was smiling.

“I got it.”

There had only been one purpose. It was unfortunate he hadn’t been able to clean up a few additional pieces he wanted gone, but in the end, the Palace Lord succeeded in what mattered most.

“By now, Jegal Jin will have sensed something is wrong.”

Right about now, or even earlier.

Given Jegal Jin’s ability, he’d notice soon.

But—

“Even if he does, it’s too late.”

With the object already in his hands, it was the same as being late.

Certain of it, the Palace Lord smiled in a way that made your skin crawl.

“.......”

At that grotesque mood, the Deputy Leader narrowed his eyes.

“Even if you got it, it’s meaningless if you can’t decipher it.”

The thing he’d taken was filled with ciphers. What meaning did letters no one could interpret even have?

When he asked with that doubt—

“It doesn’t matter. It’s only that I can’t read it. I only need to find someone who will read it for me.”

“Someone to read it...?”

“Palace Ghost Eye.”

“......!”

At the Palace Lord’s bland words, the Deputy Leader’s eyes widened.

“He has eyes that see what others cannot. With that, he’ll be able to see this as well.”

“Palace Ghost Eye...”

He was a vanished Heaven-Beyond-Heaven.

And—

“She isn’t from the Central Plains.”

Palace Ghost Eye was from the Northern Sea. So how was he supposed to find her?

When the Deputy Leader questioned it, unable to understand—

“Don’t worry.”

The Palace Lord spoke to him without wiping the smile away.

“She will return to the Central Plains again before long.”

And in his eyes—

“I will make sure she does.”

There was a certainty you couldn’t name.