The stares were extremely burdensome.

The moment I woke up, a flood of gazes poured down on me. I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“Ahem...”

At the sound, the elders finally reacted.

“You’ve awakened.”

“The Moon Hero has awakened.”

Yes. I had awakened. Which meant I really wished they would leave.

The elders stepped back slightly, giving me some space. Watching that, I pushed myself upright.

“...Where... am I?”

“We found you collapsed and brought you here.”

“How long was I unconscious?”

“About half a day. Is your body all right?”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

I was probably fine. I hadn’t actually checked, though.

“What happened?”

“...Elders, why are you all here?”

“We heard the Moon Hero had collapsed. Naturally, we were concerned.”

“Me?”

They came because they were worried that I had collapsed? That was odd.

“When the sect’s benefactor collapses, how could we simply sit still?”

I narrowed my eyes at that.

So that’s it.

The spies of HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE who still hadn’t been exposed. I was the only person who could identify them.

They were talking about benefactors and such, but that wasn’t the only reason.

Besides, some of the elders already know.

Back when I went to capture the Plum Blossom Commander, I had already mentioned the HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE spies hidden among the elders.

Whether they believed me or not was a separate matter.

But now that the Plum Blossom Commander has been revealed as a spy...

My words had gained credibility. They were probably hoping I would relieve their anxiety.

“I’m fine. There was no need for such esteemed people to come all the way here.”

“Are you truly all right?”

“Yes. But I think I should see a physician first... Could you give me some space and time?”

“Ah.”

I had essentially told them to leave, just phrased politely. The elders flinched, but they had no reason to refuse.

After sending away the old men who looked visibly reluctant...

The physician who had been waiting finally approached.

“Your physical condition appears fine. Do you know why you lost consciousness...?”

“Ah, I must’ve gotten dizzy.”

I made up an excuse.

The physician looked unconvinced.

Naturally. If a martial artist suddenly said he fainted from dizziness, no one would believe it. Still—

“I collapsed once before too. I guess I’ve been neglecting my health.”

“Ah, I see.”

Since there was precedent, the physician seemed a bit more willing to believe it.

“...Indeed. You accomplished something tremendous this time. It seems you pushed yourself too hard.”

“No. It was something that needed to be done.”

“...Heh heh. At such a young age, you already show the spirit of a true chivalrous hero. It’s no wonder so many people praise you.”

“...Haha...”

They were practically gilding my face with praise.

I laughed awkwardly.

It didn’t prick my conscience at all.

What am I supposed to do? Might as well enjoy it now.

After examining me several more times, the physician repeated that there were no problems with my body and left the room.

[You really are astonishing. Every time I see it, I’m amazed at how easily you lie.]

The moment I was alone, Yoo Cheongil, who had been silent, spoke.

I snorted.

Survival had forced me to pick up that skill.

...More importantly.

I quietly tensed my body.

The physician said my body was fine, but that wasn’t what mattered.

Energy...

Just like before, I had swallowed a massive number of evil spirits.

No—maybe far more than back in Henan.

Had that changed my energy?

As I gathered strength to check—

WHOOOOOSH—!!!

“...!”

[Oh.]

My eyes widened at the sensation flooding my body.

“...Hah.”

I was shocked.

My energy had increased to an absurd degree.

This was—

...You could call it the Pacific Ocean and it wouldn’t be wrong.

When I first started, I had barely any energy at all. Third-rate at best.

Compared to that tiny scrap...

Now the amount inside me was ridiculous.

It felt like I had endlessly consumed divine medicines.

[...Your energy alone has become extraordinary. At this level, you’ll never have to worry about running out of energy anywhere.]

Yoo Cheongil nodded with satisfaction as he looked at me.

At this level, he said.

Did that mean he had even more in the past?

More than this?

I wondered just how vast Yoo Cheongil’s internal energy had been when he was alive.

...That aside.

Even while I felt an exhilarating sense that I could do anything with this much energy—

...Can swallowing evil spirits really produce this result?

I forced those evil ghosts into my body and refined them into energy.

Even if the Heavenly Demon helped, the result was still absurd.

Probably...

Those evil spirits weren’t ordinary.

Considering the location, there must have been martial artists among them.

Souls with the narrative of martial artists might produce more energy.

I captured those souls, stuffed them into my body, and refined them into power.

...Maybe this amount is natural.

Still, it was too much to explain that way.

Which meant—

The Heavenly Demon might have done something.

If he had done something to me.

The last thing he said lingered in my mind.

What did he do?

He clearly said he had done something to me.

...Didn’t he say I should become the Heavenly Demon?

My face twisted at the ridiculous thought.

Become the Heavenly Demon?

What nonsense.

The problem is... it sounded sincere.

I remembered those crimson eyes.

Just thinking about them made my spine chill.

I remembered the way he spoke while wearing that expression.

Ridiculous.

Become the Heavenly Demon?

Not a chance.

Who had time for something like that?

I had no intention of becoming that, and no room in my life for it.

“Haah...”

I let out a deep sigh and stood up.

Only Yoo Cheongil was visible.

Seongheon was nowhere to be seen.

Which meant—

What about Cheon Eujin?

What happened to Cheon Eujin and Strange Demon?

Just as that thought crossed my mind—

Knock knock.

Someone was outside the door.

—Teacher.

It was the voice of the Small Moon Unit Leader.

“Ah. I heard you’d awakened—”

He stopped mid-sentence.

His pupils trembled as he stared at me.

“...Did you obtain a fortuitous encounter?”

Sharp eyes.

He had already realized my energy had changed.

“A little.”

“...Calling it a little seems excessive...”

Yeah. It probably was.

I needed to learn how to hide or regulate this energy.

“My body aside. Nothing else changed, right?”

“If you mean changes...”

“The situation and things like that.”

Had anything changed while I was unconscious?

The Small Moon Unit Leader hesitated before answering.

“Nothing major... however...”

“However?”

“The atmosphere in Mount Hua Sect has grown uneasy due to the Plum Blossom Commander incident. We ultimately failed to capture the HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE members...”

I already knew that.

“Additionally, Mount Hua’s attention toward you continues to grow. That may also become a problem.”

“A problem?”

“Since their expectations now have direction, there are situations where you could make use of that.”

“...Oh.”

I let out an impressed sound.

This man was smarter than I expected.

“Did you perhaps intend this outcome, Teacher?”

“Half of it.”

“....”

A strange light filled his eyes.

There was admiration there.

A little.

It felt odd.

This man who used to look down on me was looking at me like that now.

All I had done was teach him a martial art.

[All you did? Are you serious? Do you have any idea how extraordinary that is?]

I smirked at Yoo Cheongil’s reaction.

Yes, it was extraordinary.

It was a divine art created by the Sword Saint of the world, after all.

Of course the Small Moon Unit Leader reacted like that.

It just didn’t matter much to me.

“Half of it was intentional. So we’ll have to watch a little longer.”

“...Then you have plans going forward?”

“I do.”

Whether they would work out was another matter.

“Anyway...”

My energy was one thing.

But now that I was awake, it felt like it was time to wrap things up here.

ZZZT—!!!

“...!”

My eyes widened at the sudden sensation.

I turned my head.

Something was there.

What is that?

A thin line floated in the air.

If I looked closely, it was black—almost like a strand of hair—but far longer than anything ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) normal.

What the hell.

What was that strange thing?

I glanced at the Small Moon Unit Leader.

He only looked confused by my gaze. Apparently he couldn’t see it.

“Leave for now.”

“Pardon?”

“I need to rest a bit. I’ll call you later.”

“...Understood.”

He seemed reluctant to leave the conversation unfinished, but he obediently turned to go.

“Teacher.”

“Yeah?”

“Next time, please be careful. I won’t let my guard down either.”

“...Ah.”

So he meant I should stop sneaking out.

I had kept slipping away from my guards and causing trouble.

His warning stung.

“...Got it.”

I nodded.

The Small Moon Unit Leader left the room.

Only after I was alone did I look back at the line.

This...

What exactly was it?

I carefully tapped it.

There was no sensation when my hand touched it.

But—

WHIRRRR—!

The line trembled.

At the same time—

SLIDE—!!

Something stirred near my heart.

A sensation I had never felt before.

...What is this feeling?

Just as confusion filled my mind—

[...This... is... ah...]

“!”

Yoo Cheongil’s voice came slowly.

Which meant—

Don’t tell me.

Knock knock.

“....”

Another presence at the door.

Then—

“May I come in?”

A calm, familiar voice.

“...Yes.”

The door opened immediately.

Someone entered, appearing to be a disciple of Mount Hua.

But—

SLIDE!

The moment the figure stepped inside, the clothes and face changed.

Strange Demon.

He dropped to his knees before me.

THUMP—!

“I greet the true Heaven...!”

“....”

More excessive than usual.

And—

The thread is connected.

The black thread I could see was linked to him.

Instinctively, I touched the line.

“Ghk...!!”

Strange Demon trembled and groaned.

He lifted his head and looked at me.

“Haah... haaah...”

He was drooling, breathing heavily, eyes blazing with excitement.

“....”

It was an extremely unpleasant and disgusting sight.

I stopped moving my hand.

...Damn it.

I will give you a gift.

The Heavenly Demon’s words surfaced in my mind.

Cold sweat ran down my back.

Clearly—

Something went wrong.

And not just a little wrong.

Something had gone very, very wrong.