I cleared the porridge away. I thought about checking whether there really was poison in it, but I didn’t want to do something that risky in the first place.

‘And I did consider grabbing that Taemyeong bastard, too.’

I weighed two moves. Whether I should expose him on the spot and seize him, or—

‘Pretend I don’t know and let it slide.’

After a short pause, the answer came.

‘For now, I let it slide.’

Right now, I couldn’t act like I knew. I hadn’t even properly confirmed whether there was poison.

How to confirm it?

Simple.

CREEEEAK—

First, I opened the door and stepped out. And the moment I did—

“......Huh?”

Taemyeong’s eyes widened when he saw me. I smiled at him.

“Ah. You’re still here.”

“......Ah, yes... I was... just about to leave.”

His eyes trembled. Seeing that, I was certain again.

‘He was waiting.’

He’d been waiting for me to eat the poison. And he’d planned to confirm I’d collapsed.

‘So me coming out like this caught him off guard.’

A guy who should’ve been dead or unconscious walked out perfectly fine. Of course he’d panic.

“Th-...”

Taemyeong tried hard to hide it. He seemed fairly good at it. If I couldn’t read energy, I probably wouldn’t have noticed anything off.

“......Did you finish your meal? It feels like I brought it just a moment ago.”

“Ah... the food.”

I gave an awkward smile.

“I was going to eat, but maybe because I’m still hurting, I just couldn’t work up an appetite. Sorry—I wasn’t able to.”

“Ahh... I see. Still, if you can, eating a bit will help your recovery.”

“Thank you, but... I’ll eat next time.”

“......Understood.”

“Should I just leave it in there?”

“Ah, yes. I’ll clean it up right away.”

Taemyeong went straight into my room. Then he came back out holding the porridge bowl. His gaze locked onto it—checking that I hadn’t eaten a single bite.

“Sorry. You went to the trouble of preparing it.”

“......Not at all. That can happen.”

Taemyeong stepped out with a slightly stiff face. Watching him, my own expression hardened.

‘What the hell is that energy, anyway.’

Being able to identify HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE through energy was good, but I still didn’t know what that energy actually was.

A malevolent aura steeped in unpleasantness. But comparing it to the malicious-ghost energy I knew, it felt artificial—wrong.

That kind of energy.

‘If even a third-generation disciple has that energy...’

That meant the influence had spread across a pretty wide range.

‘How did they even do it.’

What did they do to shake a sect’s bonds—bonds that were supposed to be tighter than any clan’s?

That was the question.

And on top of that—

‘What are they plotting?’

What were they doing inside Mount Hua?

I had to find out.

‘To do that...’

The simplest method.

‘I have to step into enemy territory.’

Plant my feet directly in their camp.

That was the move I chose.

*****

My abdomen still throbbed, but I dragged it along anyway, heading somewhere else entirely.

“Welcome.”

An old man with a benevolent expression greeted me. The one facing me was none other than the Plum Blossom Commander.

A figure ranked as Mount Hua Sect’s second-in-command, and the leader of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

“Greetings. I apologize for coming so suddenly.”

“What for? If I’d known a patient would come all this way, I would’ve gone myself. I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“How could I ever ask that of a great senior? Of course I should come.”

“Ahaha. I thought it last time too—you really are very polite.”

Hahaha.

We both laughed to loosen the air, then sat.

Since I’d sent word in advance that I was coming, tea was already laid out on the desk.

“It’s plum tea we grow and brew here at Mount Hua. It’s quite good.”

“Such a precious thing... I’ll drink it gratefully.”

Slurp.

I didn’t hesitate.

After having poison slipped into my porridge, it would be normal to worry, but—

‘There won’t be any here.’

I was sure the tea wasn’t poisoned.

‘Because.’

The Small Moon Unit Leader was with me, standing behind. With him present, they wouldn’t try to harm me outright.

“It really is delicious... You can tell it was made with care.”

“Ahaha. So not only your martial prowess, but your palate is sharp as well. To think you can feel that.”

“I like tea.”

“Is that so? Then, on the day I return to Henan, I’ll pack some for you.”

“Ahaha. I’d be deeply grateful.”

The atmosphere was fresh, soft.

Because both of us were working to make it that way.

Of course—

‘Our real intentions are different.’

Blades were swirling. Beneath the gentle, cotton-wrapped words, swords were hidden.

“Is your body all right? I heard you were badly injured....”

“I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine. Thanks to Mount Hua’s care.”

I tossed the words out, leaving the door open.

I’d made an opening. Would the Plum Blossom Commander take it?

“Calling it ‘care’ is a bit painful. If we’re being precise, wasn’t the Moon Knight working for our sake?”

He lunged right into the gap.

“I heard it was HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE. That you were investigating those wicked ones who slipped into Mount Hua?”

He wet his lips with plum tea as he pressed.

“......Oh. Sounds like you’ve heard.”

I knew Yeo Hyeok had told him, but I played dumb.

“I’m ashamed. If I’d known even a little, I would have offered my help.”

“No. We were handling it as a strict secret, so it’s not strange you didn’t know.”

“Meaning it was an order from the Blue Moon Sect Master?”

“More accurately, it was something Thousand-Mile True Sight spoke of... but you could say it’s similar.”

Strictly speaking, it was Jegal Jin’s side. He hadn’t issued a clean command, but still.

“To think the faction that shook Henan had already stretched its hand into Shaanxi, where Mount Hua stands....”

“You truly didn’t know?”

“I did not. If I had, I would not have let those bastards off.”

KUU-GUUNG.

Battle aura shook the room. If someone saw it, they’d think he was genuinely enraged.

KUU-GU-GU-GUK. As the churning energy eased, the Plum Blossom Commander steadied his breathing and spoke.

“My apologies. My emotions flared, and I forgot I had a patient before me.”

“It’s fine. Your feelings were completely understandable.” 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

“......Thank you for seeing it kindly. Then....”

The Plum Blossom Commander leaned closer, subtly.

“There is one thing I find odd.”

“What would that be?”

“I understand you began a secret investigation. But how was Yeo Hyeok there....”

“Ah.”

Why Yeo Hyeok, of all people. I smiled as I answered.

“Because he seemed like the most trustworthy one.”

At my answer, the Plum Blossom Commander’s brow stiffened for a moment.

It was only an instant, but I didn’t miss it.

He understood what I meant.

Saying Yeo Hyeok was the most trustworthy meant—

In other words—

‘I don’t trust the others.’

I didn’t trust Mount Hua’s other people.

Which meant—

‘I’m sure there’s a spy in Mount Hua.’

That was what I was saying.

“That sounds like a rather dangerous thought.”

The Plum Blossom Commander showed discomfort.

“I’m sorry. But I believed I had to consider every possibility in the course of an investigation. Ah, of course....”

One possibility I hadn’t expected.

“I didn’t expect the Strange Demon.”

“......The Strange Demon.... Really the Strange Demon? That demon head?”

“I’ve never seen him, so I can’t say for sure, but the Small Moon Unit Leader said it was him.”

“......I see.... So the Strange Demon was alive.”

Did he not know?

Judging from his reaction, maybe.

But—

‘No.’

Considering that old monster could act, the odds were he was pretending.

“Then, Moon Knight.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Now that it’s come to this, why have you come to me?”

You don’t trust anyone except Yeo Hyeok. So why come to me now?

I lowered my breathing.

‘Now.’

This was the moment. From here on out was the center of everything—my whole plan.

All the small talk up to now had been for this.

I hardened my faintly smiling face into a serious expression.

“As you’ve heard, the Strange Demon appeared.”

“I know.”

“Because of that... it seems our own strength alone won’t be enough to continue the investigation.”

“So?”

“So. From this point forward, I want the help of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen. That’s why I came.”

“Hm....”

“I know it’s late to say it, but... would you be able to help us?”

“.......”

The Plum Blossom Commander began to ‘act’ like he was thinking.

In the quiet air, I waited for his answer. After a brief pause—

“......What kind of help are you asking for?”

He asked, as if he couldn’t refuse.

I put on a relieved expression and answered.

“Whew. It’s not much... but the biggest issue is the spy.”

“......A spy?”

At my words, the Plum Blossom Commander’s eyes wavered.

“A spy? Are you saying you believe someone inside Mount Hua Sect is doing something foolish?”

His tone turned offended. Not just his voice—there was a flash of fierce momentum from his body.

“How can you say something so outrageous.”

“Calm yourself, Commander.”

I soothed him and continued quickly.

“The circumstances point that way. You know it too. If HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE is operating in Shaanxi, it’s impossible without someone inside Mount Hua feeding ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) information.”

“Even so—!”

“Henan—of all places—even the Martial Alliance in Henan got hit. Hoping Mount Hua is different is far too naïve.”

I spoke firmly.

“As one of the absolute masters of this era, you couldn’t possibly not know that. Are you simply turning away because you think of them as Mount Hua’s children?”

“......Kgh.”

The Plum Blossom Commander hesitated.

‘Damn.’

Inside, I admired it.

‘This old bastard is good.’

If I couldn’t read energy, I might’ve been fooled for real.

That was how convincing his acting was.

“To protect Mount Hua, you must take a wider view.”

“......If there truly is a spy in Mount Hua, then how can I trust you, an outsider from another sect?”

A good point. If there’s a spy, why trust us.

I answered without hesitation.

“Don’t.”

“......What?”

“You don’t need to trust me, either.”

No need to trust me.

“I’m no different.”

I don’t trust you either. So of course you shouldn’t trust me.

“The choice is always yours, Commander.”

Belief was always the chooser’s responsibility.

The only issue was—

‘You don’t trust me anyway.’

Because he was the spy.

Who was going to trust who.

Swoosh.

“However.”

I handed him a letter I’d prepared in advance.

“I only hope this will help you make your choice.”

“.......”

The Plum Blossom Commander took it with a doubtful look and unfolded it.

And then—

“......Huh!?”

His eyes bulged like lanterns.

“......This is?”

The contents of the letter were simple.

“The names of those I’ve confirmed, and those I suspect, from my investigation so far.”

A list of names—those who looked like spies.

Several third-generation disciples. Several second disciples. Several first disciples.

I’d filled it with people I’d truly confirmed—

And Taemyeong was on it, too. A real letter.

But—

‘You’re not on it.’

The Commander’s name was the one I’d deliberately left out.

‘Now.’

This was—

‘How are you going to react?’

A trap I’d prepared for that old monster.