Several days after leaving the Martial Alliance and heading for Blue Moon Sect.

Since Blue Moon Sect had been in Henan to begin with, it took less than a few days to arrive.

NEIGHHH—!!!

The carriage, which had been moving along to the horses’ cries, came to a stop.

“...We’ve arrived.”

Tang Cheonil spoke in a tired voice. Only after hearing that did I step down.

“...Ah, hell, I’m stiff.”

I always felt this, but no matter how many times I rode in a carriage, I never got used to it. My whole body was stiff too.

“Ugh...”

I forced my worn-out body to move and climbed down from the carriage, and a familiar sight came into view.

Blue Moon Sect.

The sect that represented Henan, and the place that was as good as home to Yoo Cheongil, the previous greatest martial artist in the Central Plains.

“We’re here.”

As I looked at it and rubbed at my stiff neck—

Flutter.

Small Moon Unit Leader, who had gotten down behind me, walked ahead toward the entrance.

“...Huh!”

The martial artist guarding the gate flinched when he saw Small Moon Unit Leader, then hurriedly showed respect.

“...Greetings to Small Moon Unit Leader...!”

“Right. You’ve worked hard. May we enter?”

“Yes...!”

SCREEEECH—!!

The massive gate opened. As Small Moon Unit Leader stepped inside, the rest of the group naturally followed him in.

“I’ll report to the sect master immediately.”

The one who looked to be a second-generation disciple moved at once and vanished from sight.

Not long after that, the same second-generation disciple who had gone to deliver the message appeared again.

“...The sect master is not currently within the sect. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for a short while...”

‘Moon Immortal Sword isn’t here?’

It was a little surprising to hear that Moon Immortal Sword had gone outside the sect. He had seemed like the type who almost never left.

“...Wait?”

At that, Small Moon Unit Leader looked taken aback.

“Yes. He had business and went out for a time. I was told he should return soon...”

“I understand.”

As he spoke, Small Moon Unit Leader shifted his gaze. Toward the direction where the Small Moon Unit was based.

“We’ll return to the Small Moon Unit first. We’ve left it unattended this whole time, so there’s work to deal with on that end too.”

“Yes, Unit Leader.”

Cheon Hyein and Do Hyeong answered. Those two were originally part of the Small Moon Unit, so they had to follow their leader’s word.

“However...”

This time Small Moon Unit Leader’s gaze turned to me.

“Teach— No, Unit Member Bang, I’ve heard the situation, so act on your own as an individual.”

“Yes.”

I almost frowned at the form of address. We had made a promise before coming here. Once we were back at the main sect, he wasn’t supposed to call me Teacher.

‘...If this keeps going, there’s no saving it.’

I’d only started that to mess with him and enjoy the sight, but he’d taken it too seriously, and now it was starting to affect me.

‘The rumors are already getting weird enough as it is.’

That Moon Hero ordered Small Moon Unit Leader around like a subordinate, or that Small Moon Unit Leader had already recognized Moon Hero as the next sect master of Blue Moon Sect.

Because he kept calling me Teacher, absurd nonsense like that had started spreading.

So this time, I told him that once we got back to the main sect, he had to stop calling me that.

Small Moon Unit Leader showed his dissatisfaction, but he agreed anyway.

‘No, why the hell are you dissatisfied?’

This was seriously driving me insane.

It was absurd, but I managed to make him accept it and move on.

After that, Small Moon Unit Leader took the Small Moon Unit personnel and headed toward the unit building.

That left Tang Cheonil and Yuyeon.

‘The Sword Emperor vanished ages ago, anyway.’

He’d already disappeared with the horses, saying he was going to see to them.

Well, that was normal for the Sword Emperor, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.

“You two go unpack for now. I’ve got something to take care of.”

Yuyeon had business with the sect master anyway, so it was awkward to bring her along, and I’d only brought Tang Cheonil because I couldn’t just leave him behind in Henan.

There should be guest quarters, so I decided to send the two of them there first.

The second-generation disciple was already approaching to guide them.

Then, after handing the two of them over to the guide and sending them off—

‘Now then.’

I looked around. It was time for me to get to work too.

“This is my luggage.”

“Ah, yes!”

I handed my things to Strange Demon, who was standing beside me.

“Could you take it to my quarters and unpack °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° it for me?”

“...Aaah... Of course...!”

For some reason, Strange Demon put on a deeply moved expression. Was asking someone to unpack luggage really that moving?

Anyway, after sending Strange Demon away too and putting some distance between us—

BZZZT.

I checked Yoo Cheongil’s condition.

[...Tsk.]

Once Strange Demon had moved farther away, Yoo Cheongil’s figure returned as well.

[Now it’s finally a bit bearable.]

I nodded as I listened to him.

‘Let’s go.’

[Right.]

This return to Blue Moon Sect wasn’t simply because I wanted to see Moon Immortal Sword.

Nor was it just about the Tyrant King either.

It was true those were the official reasons for coming.

But the thing I considered important was—

‘...I’m going to the secret vault.’

The third secret vault.

Yoo Cheongil’s storehouse that existed within Blue Moon Sect.

I had come back here to find that place again.

*****

After checking my surroundings, I arrived at the quarters where I had stayed before.

These days I’d been staying at the Small Moon Unit quarters, so the place I originally used was empty.

I slipped inside through the back.

The moment I entered the room, I went straight for the drawer.

I poured energy into it and activated it just like I had the first time.

RUMBLE—!!!

Just like before, the mechanism moved, and a passage opened in the floor.

The instant I saw the opening, I grabbed the ladder and climbed down.

“Hoo.”

It was exactly the same as back then. Of course it was. There were almost no people who could find this place.

“...Let’s see.”

I moved quickly. I had already broken through the first entrance and the second one before.

Since I knew how to deal with them, I got past them easily.

That brought me to the passage I had reached before.

“...”

The moment I arrived, I looked at Yoo Cheongil. I stared at him like, so what now?

[Heh heh.]

The old man just sat there laughing. Looking at his face told me everything.

‘...So you’re telling me to figure it out myself again?’

It was obvious without him needing to say it.

‘Of course. I thought maybe for once you’d make this easy.’

The reason I had come here went back to just before leaving Henan for Blue Moon Sect.

When I was naturally packing my things—

[Now that I think about it, the time should be about right.]

Yoo Cheongil had said that to me.

‘The time for what?’

[The third vault. I think it’s about time you opened it.]

‘...!’

Yoo Cheongil had said it before. That I still hadn’t reached the level needed to open the spaces inside.

That was why he had told me not to go any farther.

But—

‘So now he means the time has come.’

If Yoo Cheongil was saying that, it meant I could go as far as the third one now.

But.

‘He’s not going to tell me how.’

I met the conditions, but he wouldn’t tell me the method.

Find it yourself. That obvious intention made me click my tongue over and over.

‘You cranky old bastard.’

Would it kill him to just tell me?

Anyway, he was the kind of person who couldn’t stand letting me have an easy time.

“Let’s see...”

First, I tightened focus in my eyes.

WOOOOONG—!!

Moon Eyes activated. Light seeped into the dark space, but that was all.

I couldn’t see anything. Last time, I’d at least been able to make out traces of something.

Now not even that showed up.

‘...Then.’

Should I push it further?

I strengthened Moon Eyes. I transformed it into Moon Immortal Sword’s Path and examined my surroundings again.

SHHHHHH—!!!

I thought maybe I’d feel something whenever my sight swept across the area, but—

‘...Huh.’

Even with Moon Immortal Sword’s Path, I couldn’t see anything.

What the hell?

‘At this level, I thought I’d be able to see it.’

Nothing at all? Was that even possible?

Was my guess wrong? I’d thought Moon Immortal Sword’s Path would let me see the mechanism and the way to break through it.

‘If even this can’t see it...’

Then it meant I needed to find another method.

‘...Hm.’

I didn’t think long.

If even Moon Immortal Sword’s Path didn’t work, then there was only one method left right now.

SHRING—!!

I drew the Divine Sword from my waist. Gripping it, I poured strength into it.

SIZZLE—!!!

Third Form: Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn wrapped around the blade. With Moon Immortal Sword’s Path and Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn both active—

“...Hoo...”

I steadied my breathing and wound energy around myself.

The sword force of Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn wrapped not just around the blade, but around my entire body.

And then—

WHOOOOOOSH—!!!

A tremendous light burst out, and an intense wave of energy began pouring forth.

Moon Heaven.

I had unleashed Yoo Cheongil’s secret art.

The instant I used Moon Heaven, my mind turned hazy.

‘...This is cutting it close.’

One wrong step, and it felt like I’d lose consciousness.

It was the sensation of being forced into a trance.

If I let go of the line here even a little, it felt like I’d collapse on the spot.

It was unstable, as if I were standing with my feet on empty air, but mixed into that was the exhilarating feeling that I could fly anywhere.

Inside that impossible sensation, I barely maintained my center.

“Hoooo...”

I exhaled. Even though I had reached Transcendent Peak, Moon Heaven was still a technique that was hard as hell to use.

I forced myself to endure it and looked around again.

I was trying to find what Moon Immortal Sword’s Path alone hadn’t shown me, and then—

‘Ah.’

I found something on the wall.

‘So it really was this.’

The reason Yoo Cheongil had said it might work now—

Apparently it was because of Moon Heaven.

On the wall. There, I could see the pattern of a crescent moon.

“...”

It didn’t feel like something I was supposed to cut with the sword. I carefully stretched out my hand and placed it against the wall.

The moment I did—

WHOOOOOOM—!!!

The crescent pattern began to shine.

SCREEEEEECH—!!!

And then the sound of an enormous mechanism filled the space.

[Heh heh heh.]

Before Yoo Cheongil had even finished laughing, the wall slowly began to open.

THUD.

Once the door had fully opened, the Moon Heaven wrapped around my body was released.

“Hahk...!”

Breathing roughly, I bent over and grabbed my knees.

“...Haaah...”

I’d only wrapped it around my body, but the fatigue was still intense.

Just like I thought. It really wasn’t an easy kind of energy to handle.

“...This is killing me.”

The amount of energy it drained was no joke, and in every possible way it was not an efficient martial art.

“Ugh.”

I let out a low groan. Then I looked toward the opening.

“...I just go in?”

At my exhausted question, Yoo Cheongil nodded.

[Yes.]

Hearing that, I stepped straight into the space.

It was pitch-black, but darkness wasn’t a problem for me anyway.

Hum.

I activated Moon Eyes and looked through the vault, and then—

“...Huh?”

The instant I saw it, my body froze.

Because I saw something I hadn’t expected at all.

*****

SHAAAAAA...

A waterfall poured madly down beneath the cliff. The massive torrent crashed ceaselessly into the pool below.

By the time the violent roar had buried the cries of every living thing around it—

Tap.

Someone landed lightly on top of a huge rock.

A handsome middle-aged man with a large frame and a sharp impression.

The one with blue eyes and an overwhelming presence.

It was Moon Immortal Sword, the current master of Blue Moon Sect.

“...”

He stood atop the rock with an expressionless face and looked at the waterfall.

Within the thick torrent crashing down, someone sat cross-legged, taking the full force of it head-on.

Seeing him, Moon Immortal Sword slowly made his way toward the pool.

Splash.

Moon Immortal Sword kept advancing, not caring whether his trousers got soaked or not.

And when the figure inside the waterfall came clearly into view, Moon Immortal Sword called out to him.

“So this is where you were.”

At those short words—

Tap.

The one inside the waterfall lightly swung a fist.

In that instant—

KRAAAAAAAAAASH—!!!

The shock shot upward, cutting straight through the falling waterfall.

For a brief instant, the waterfall seemed to stop. Nothing flowed.

“Hoooo.”

The figure inside the waterfall. He lifted dark eyes and looked at Moon Immortal Sword.

“I will ask you, master of Blue Moon Sect.”

Black hair. And yet the face of an old man, one that still showed the years.

The identity of the figure with the massive body and rough, hard lines was—

“Is the thing the Sword Saint stole from me truly here?”

Muk Yeokseong, the Tyrant King.

He looked at Moon Immortal Sword as he asked.