The Heavenly Demon.

The root of all evil that sparked the Orthodox-Demonic War—and a thorough, absolute evil so forbidden that people in this era didn’t even dare speak the name out loud.

Just the will to rule the Central Plain would’ve been enough to call someone the master of sin.

But he was a being who possessed the power to make it real.

Under the sky and under the earth.

As if announcing he’d been born to reign, in a DEMON CULT where power was the world, he was the one they called a god.

Put everything beneath himself.

He had that arrogant, lawless purpose—and he had the strength to accomplish it.

A blood catastrophe swept in.

The Eight Demonic Ones who existed under the Heavenly Demon.

With them as the spearpoint, countless demonic warriors invaded the Central Plain.

Those who remembered that day called the war of that era the Age of Blood.

The demonic warriors were strong, and the Heavenly Demon was fear itself.

They said he split mountains with a flick of his hand, shattered the sky—something you couldn’t dare call human.

A being who created hell and dyed an era in blood.

People who lived through those days said just remembering it felt like their minds would come apart.

That was why—

You couldn’t go around casually talking about the DEMON CULT and the Heavenly Demon.

Why the Central Plain was shaking from the fact that the DEMON CULT had revived.

It was all because of the Heavenly # Nоvеlight # Demon.

Beyond the revival of the DEMON CULT, everyone feared he might revive too.

Beyond the appearance of the Sword Demon and the Strange Demon—supposedly dead.

The fear that the Heavenly Demon might have revived as well.

This was an era where Yoo Cheongil was gone.

An era where the symbol that had led peace was gone. So everyone judged that if the Heavenly Demon appeared, there would be no hope—and that judgment made everyone anxious.

That was what the Heavenly Demon meant to people.

Knowing that, the Martial Alliance had tried a hundred different ways to erase the DEMON CULT’s traces—and the result was the era we lived in now.

And yet—

‘The seed of the Heavenly Demon...?’

Yuyeon was the Heavenly Demon’s daughter—the living child of the evil people had called a living malicious ghost?

‘What kind of insane bullshit is this?’

I didn’t even know what expression I was supposed to make.

“...The Heavenly Demon’s bloodline was alive?”

[Who knows.]

Seongheon gave me an ambiguous answer.

“...What kind of answer is that? You were just talking about it.”

You drop a clue, then answer like that? It was absurd.

I couldn’t take it, and I was about to push harder—

[Can you handle hearing it?]

Seongheon asked.

[This answer might become a curse on you.]

“.......”

That made me pause.

[Don’t take it on, needlessly.]

What a joke. After everything he’d just said, now he was acting like he was saying it for my sake.

“After hearing all that, you can’t expect me not to care.”

My voice didn’t bother hiding the stiffness in my face.

Because I knew exactly what Seongheon was doing.

“You’re more petty than I expected.”

[.......]

The words I didn’t filter out shot straight at Seongheon.

Rude. Disrespectful.

Seongheon didn’t react.

Not because Seongheon couldn’t.

[I’m sorry.]

That was his answer.

Because even he was ashamed.

“I’d rather you asked me to bear it. Asked me to help. At least then it would’ve been easy to refuse.”

Don’t bear it.

Forget it, it’ll become a curse.

That bullshit was so pathetic it made my skin crawl. He said it precisely because he wanted me to obsess over it more than anyone.

“If you’re that worried about your disciple, then fight to live. Don’t dump it on someone you barely even know. Did you forget?”

I stared straight at Seongheon.

“The request you made of me.”

The day I first met Seongheon as a living spirit—

He asked me.

“To kill you.”

To let him die.

Not just physical death.

‘Cleaning up the situation.’

Not simply dying in the current mess—dying with no lingering ugliness left behind.

As a living spirit, he knew everything.

‘Even that the Plum Blossom Commander had become a spy.’

That there were spies in Mount Hua Sect.

He knew.

That was why he asked.

‘Clean up the shaken Mount Hua Sect.’

Help him leave without regret. And if I did—

“You said you’d tell me how to get into the vault inside Mount Hua Sect, and a way to save the Divine Spear.”

That was why I accepted. I wanted to set things right.

Not just for the Divine Spear.

‘I need to live too.’

The collision of energies—my body had become something that could drop dead at any moment.

Seongheon examined me himself and said this wasn’t something medicine could solve.

But—

“Your real intention was different.”

Seongheon, as a living spirit, had said something else.

Even if medicine couldn’t do it—

‘You said there was a way.’

And that I had to get into the vault for it.

He was offering the chance, asking me to solve it.

With just that, it was impossible not to understand Seongheon’s intent.

‘He’s preparing for death.’

He wanted Mount Hua Sect to be clean when he reached the end.

But—

“And even then, you had something you were hiding.”

I could see what his biggest regret was inside that death.

“You’re that worried?”

It was worry for Yuyeon.

He said I shouldn’t care, but the trick of handing responsibility to me was obvious.

“I’m sorry, but that’s too much.”

I waved it away.

“I’m busy just keeping myself alive. Mount Hua can hold Mount Hua’s child.”

Yuyeon wasn’t some little kid anymore. A grown woman—how was I supposed to carry that?

And on top of that—

‘...A Heavenly Killing Star and the Heavenly Demon’s bloodline?’

The list of reasons not to get close was endless.

They were words that made your blood run cold.

Conditions you should never, ever get tangled up with.

“I’m only doing what I agreed to do. Don’t get greedy beyond that.”

[.......]

I said it flatly.

“If you don’t like it, I won’t even do that.”

When I pressed again after his silence, Seongheon finally smiled and spoke.

[All right. I understand. I’m sorry for making you worry.]

“......”

I swallowed a sigh.

I was exhausted.

‘Goddamn it.’

I had a lot to do starting tomorrow, and now my head was a mess.

I forced my mood down and told Seongheon—

“...Enough. I have things to do tomorrow, so I’m going to sleep first.”

Seongheon looked like he might say something, but I ignored it and lay down.

I didn’t want to care about anything.

There was too much to care about, so it made me want to care about nothing at all.

Still, I’d always slept well.

And I fell asleep like that.

And for the first time in a while—

I dreamed.

An old dream.

*****

If I had to pin down the time, it was probably a day not quite ten years ago.

Not long after I’d recovered my past-life memories.

Back when Yeongsun was coming in and out of our house like it was her own.

‘You’re here again?’

I greeted the little girl who’d shown up with a bored face. She was still young, but her features already carried a refined kind of beauty.

At my words, the pretty little girl—Murong Yeongsun—snorted.

‘I can come. What’s with that reaction?’

‘What do you mean you can come. Do you think this is your house?’

‘Half of it is.’

‘What are you even saying?’

‘The Murong Clan paid the rent here. I heard the Bang Clan Head asked for it.’

‘.......’

I pressed my brow at Yeongsun’s words.

That damned bastard did it again.

Seriously—a man who was useless in every possible way.

‘...God, I’m pissed.’

‘So I can go in, right?’

‘No—why do you keep coming here when you’ve got a huge house. Go back to your own house.’

Rent or not, why did she keep coming to this cramped dump?

I really couldn’t understand it.

At my words, Yeongsun answered bluntly.

‘The food here is good.’

‘.......’

It was the most absurd thing I’d ever heard.

Yeongsun walked in, and I followed.

A worn-out table sat inside the small building.

Yeongsun frowned at the sight.

‘...Where’s the table I bought you last time?’

‘What? You bought a table?’

‘I definitely sent it through the Murong Clan Head—’

‘Looks like he sold it.’

‘.......’

What an idiot. You trusted my father with a table? Of course it would end like this.

I clicked my tongue.

So he sold the gift.

I was already annoyed over the table, but then Murong Yeongsun’s face crumpled even worse when she saw something else.

‘That kid is still here?’

She pointed at someone. A boy flinched at the dining table where he’d been sitting.

‘Why is he still here.’

‘Why wouldn’t he be. He’s our house guest. What’s your problem?’

‘No! He’s a guest and I’m not? What the hell is that!’

‘You have a house. He doesn’t.’

‘.......’

Hearing something she couldn’t argue with, Yeongsun shut her mouth.

Because even Yeongsun knew there was nothing to say back.

Then a laugh came from somewhere.

‘Hey. You laughed?’

Murong Yeongsun spoke with fire in her eyes.

Hong Daecheon flinched.

‘Ah... no... that’s—’

He stammered, and I stepped in.

‘Hey. Why are you messing with Daecheon.’

‘Who’s messing with him. He laughed at me first.’

‘If you’re going to be loud, get out. If you’re going to eat, sit still.’

‘......Tch.’

Murong Yeongsun huffed and sat down.

And she glared at Hong Daecheon.

“EEK!”

Maybe the stare scared him—Hong Daecheon looked around anxiously.

I patted his hair.

‘Don’t worry. She looks all prim and sharp, but she’s softer than she seems. She won’t be able to say anything to you.’

‘What!?’

‘Just wait. She’s going to come at me instead.’

Before Murong Yeongsun could explode, I went into the kitchen.

There was no cook today, so I had to make something.

I couldn’t really make much, so there was only one thing to serve.

‘...Noodles again?’

Yeongsun spoke like she couldn’t care less.

I clicked my tongue at her.

‘I cook for you and that’s your reaction?’

‘...The meat I sent last time—’

‘...You sent meat?’

‘Ah.’

‘That goddamn—’

I didn’t even have the energy to swear anymore. Whatever. What was the point of saying more.

I hadn’t even eaten yet, and my appetite dropped straight off.

Meanwhile, next to me, the slurping didn’t stop.

Hong Daecheon had his face practically buried in the bowl, eating the noodles like he’d lost his mind.

‘...Daecheon.’

‘Mm...?’

He lifted his head at my voice.

His bangs were so long I thought they’d end up soaked in broth.

‘Is it good?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Yeah.... Eat a lot. Want mine too?’

‘Is that okay?’

‘......Yeah. Eat it all.’

‘Thanks.’

He grabbed the bowl as he spoke and ate it all.

I let out a small laugh.

‘Yeah. You’re the only one who says my noodles taste good.’

That prickly girl over there ate while making it obvious she hated it.

But this kid liked it every time I made it.

Hearing me, Hong Daecheon said like he didn’t understand.

‘It’s really good.’

‘Thanks, even if you’re just saying it.’

‘No.’

The voice made me tilt my head. It was rare—almost the first time I’d seen that kind of firmness from him.

‘It’s the best in the world.’

‘Uh... yeah. Okay.’

I answered awkwardly.

‘Thanks.’

*****

“......”

I opened my eyes.

I sat up, swaying, staring at the familiar ceiling.

“......Mmm.”

What was that weird, unpleasant dream.

An old dream, for once—and of all things.

‘Daecheon. No... a dream about Yuyeon.’

A memory from back then, something I’d completely forgotten.

“Fuck.”

I let out a deep sigh and got up.

It was a pointless dream.

‘Seongheon’s words are the problem.’

He poked at my emotions for no reason, and now I was dreaming about this.

Without realizing it, I’d started caring.

So that was probably why.

“Annoying.”

I walked out without lingering on it.

Yoo Cheongil wasn’t there. After storming out alone last night, he still hadn’t returned.

After washing up, I headed somewhere.

There was a place I needed to go.

“I’m Bang Sungyeon of the Blue Moon Sect.”

The moment I announced myself at my destination, the door opened immediately.

—Come in.

The familiar voice—

Inside was the Plum Blossom Commander.

He greeted me with a somewhat grave expression.

“We see each other often, Commander.”

“.......”

“Are you done agonizing over it?”

At my question, the commander stared straight at me and spoke.

“I heard from the Sect Master... that you wanted to run a joint operation with me.”

“Ah, yes. That’s correct.”

I kept my smile.

“At Mount Hua... I thought you were the one I could trust the most.”

“.......”

“So, in case you refused... I asked the Sect Master first, but... if that offended you, I apologize.”

“No. I’m not offended.”

As we spoke, I scanned the surroundings.

I had to stay tense. Without Yoo Cheongil at my side, there was less I could see.

While I was assessing the situation—

“...My decision is made.”

A welcome sound.

“Ah, yes. Then...?”

“I heard your proposal, Moon Knight. And after listening to the Sect Master, I made my judgment.”

As if he’d made a heavy decision, the commander spoke with weight.

“...I will accept. I will find every last HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE bastard in Mount Hua Sect and across Shaanxi, and I will clear them out.”

At that, I nodded like he’d made the right call.

“...You made the right choice.”

Yeah.

It had to be the right choice.

Because just like he said—

‘We do have to clear out all the HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE bastards.’

The ones in Shaanxi. The ones in Mount Hua.

Including the Plum Blossom Commander himself.