It wasn’t long after we reached the county seat before we arrived at the Blue Moon Sect.

It had been a good few months since I’d come back.

We brought the carriage Murong Yeongsun had prepared and headed into the Blue Moon Sect, and of course the sentries at the gate tried to stop us.

But the moment Do Hyeong opened the carriage window and spoke to them, they let us pass like it was nothing.

As soon as we entered, familiar scenery spread out in front of me.

I hadn’t stayed here for long back then either, but somehow, in that short time, it had already gotten burned into my eyes.

HIIIIIIINNY—!!

With the horse’s cry, the carriage came to a stop, and then the door swung open.

“We’ve arrived.”

The Sword Emperor opened it for me with a kindly smile.

I was just about to step down—

“I told you last time too. Why the hell do you keep driving like this?”

Tang Cheonil frowned at the Sword Emperor as he spoke.

I flinched.

“This time too. Last time too. You’re just plain bad at handling a horse.”

“Ah, my... it seems I’ve caused you some discomfort...”

“That’s supposed to be an excuse...?”

SMACK—!

“GUHK!”

Before he could keep going, I hauled off and cracked the back of Tang Cheonil’s head.

“You insane bastard. Just sit there and ride—why do you have so much to say?!”

“Ghhh...!!”

He must’ve taken it clean, because he clutched his head and whined through his teeth.

“You get chewed out by me every day so you’re pissed? If you need somewhere to vent, go to the training ground—stop taking it out on the wrong person!”

The truth was, the Sword Emperor’s driving was skilled. Skilled to the point where I couldn’t understand how he did it one-handed.

Tang Cheonil knew that too.

He’d just wanted to lash out.

Maybe because I hit him hard, Tang Cheonil lifted his eyes, sharp and ugly.

SMACK—!

“KHUK!”

I nailed the back of his head again.

“Where the hell do you think you’re looking like that?”

I went out of my way to keep him alive and he’s stuffing a blade into his stare?

If you knew the truth, you’d be on your knees begging me.

Tang Cheonil had no idea who he’d just mouthed off to.

Which meant he had no idea I’d saved him, either.

I shoved the groaning Tang Cheonil aside like he was trash, then spoke to the Sword Emperor right away.

“Thank you for the trouble, Elder.”

“Oh, no... not at all... I’m sure my skills were lacking...”

“Come on. Not at all. It was really comfortable. Don’t mind that piece of garbage. Hahaha.”

As I spoke, I nudged Tang Cheonil with my foot—tap, tap—telling him to get lost already.

Do Hyeong climbed down after that, and Cheon Eujin got out with him.

Murong Yeongsun, as always, stepped down gracefully and immediately got busy scanning the surroundings.

That was when—

I saw people over by the entrance. Blue Moon Sect people.

Watching them, Do Hyeong said,

“First, we should report.”

“Yes.”

I answered with a noticeably tense face.

If you returned after completing a mission, the person you had to meet was decided.

Moon-Thread Sword.

Moon-Thread Sword, the Blue Moon Sect Master. The moment I got back, I had to meet the most irritating person first.

*****

“We greet the Sect Master.”

Without even unpacking, the three of us headed straight for the Blue Moon Sect Master’s residence.

Lucky or unlucky, Moon-Thread Sword wasn’t out, so we were able to meet him immediately.

He looked much the same as before we left.

Still sharp. No—if anything, he looked even sharper than he had back then.

With those distinctive blue eyes, he looked over the three of us and nodded.

“You’ve worked hard.”

That was it. A short line—and after it, no words came.

Moon-Thread Sword glanced through the report Do Hyeong handed over, and not long after, he added,

“You’ve finished a long journey, so rest first. I’ll hear the detailed report tomorrow.”

“We obey.”

“Leave.”

For a long-term mission, it was absurdly brief.

I figured I could just walk out and finally breathe—

“Bang Sungyeon stays.”

“......”

The instant I thought that, Moon-Thread Sword grabbed my ankle.

I tried to snatch Do Hyeong and Cheon Eujin back in a panic, but those bastards were already long gone.

Fast little shits...

Twice as fast as usual.

They definitely ran because they didn’t want to get caught.

“......Ahem.”

Alone with him in the room, I forced out a useless cough, then used it as my starting point.

“Have you been w—”

“You reached the pinnacle.”

“......”

He cut me off before I could even finish.

His eyes were too certain for me to deny anything.

“Or were you like that from the beginning?”

“......Well—”

“You don’t have to answer. I’m not that curious.”

“Ah, yes...”

Maybe me reaching the pinnacle wasn’t important to him at all—Moon-Thread Sword just nodded once and moved on.

“I read the report you sent. Is it true?”

“If nothing went wrong on the road, then yes.”

“Hm......”

Moon-Thread Sword’s gaze landed on me.

God. Every time I saw him, it felt like he could cut a person in half with just his eyes.

“You formed an agreement with the Tang Clan, and they even made an official declaration that they’ll support you. You’re saying all of that is true.”

“Yes.”

“And the reason is that you saved the Tang Clan by killing Pal Duyeok.”

“According to the Tang Clan Head, that’s what it was.”

“And Iron River intends to establish trade with the Blue Moon Sect as well?”

“Yes. Well... that’s your choice, Sect Master.”

Even if I said it like that, Moon-Thread Sword wasn’t going to refuse.

It wasn’t just anything—it was priority trading rights with Iron River. Who the hell would refuse that?

Especially not a martial sect.

“......”

After listening, Moon-Thread Sword stared at me in silence.

I couldn’t read his eyes.

Time passed without a word, and then his gaze shifted slightly.

To my waist.

“Your sword changed.”

“......”

He really was disgustingly sharp.

It was in a scabbard—how the hell did he catch that?

“......Yes. It was a gift.”

“I see.”

“Full Moon’s repairs also finished well. Have you checked its condition?”

I deliberately changed the subject.

“Not yet. I’ll confirm it later.”

“Understood.”

“......”

“......”

The conversation broke off again.

Was there really nothing left to say?

Then... could I ask now?

There was something I wanted to ask Moon-Thread Sword.

Honestly, I just wanted to get out and rest, but since it was already like this—

I should ask about the Heaven-Breaking Palace.

Based on what I went through with the Tang Clan, I should ask what I could while I had him—

But before I could get the words out—

“Soon, the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering will be held.”

“Huh?”

Moon-Thread Sword spoke first.

“Ah, right... the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. Yeah.”

I’d already heard the news.

For people in the Central Plains, it was probably some festival they’d been waiting on.

So what.

To me, it didn’t feel like a big deal.

Blue Moon Sect’s excluded anyway, so what’s there to think about.

Since it was a festival hosted by the Martial Alliance, the rule was that the Blue Moon Sect—being a sect directly under the Martial Alliance—couldn’t attend.

So even if the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering opened, nothing would change.

Or so I thought.

“Go.”

“Yes. Understood. I’ll go th—wait. Go where?”

My face hardened mid-answer.

Did ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) I mishear?

Yeah. I had to have misheard.

So I asked again, trying to hear it properly.

“As the Blue Moon Sect’s representative, attend the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”

“......What kind of insane bullshit is that?”

“What?”

“Ah, shit.”

The moment it left my mouth, I clapped a hand over it.

That was a mistake.

[Heh heh heh. You insane bastard.]

Moon-Thread Sword’s eyes changed viciously.

At the same time, the air in the room sank.

A chill crawled up my spine, and every hair on my body stood on end.

“Say that again.”

I crossed the line without meaning to.

Sure, that was on me, but—

...This is crazy.

My body started shaking under the pressure pouring out of him.

It felt like countless sword tips were aimed at me from every direction.

It wasn’t the same as killing intent.

“Apologies.”

I apologized immediately.

Crossing the line was my fault.

But—

“......There’s one thing I don’t understand. As far as I know, the Blue Moon Sect has never been allowed to attend the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. So why are you suddenly telling me to go?”

“......”

At my words, I could feel his pressure steadily easing off.

“And even more than that, I don’t understand the ‘representative’ part. I haven’t even been a disciple for a full year.”

Sure, the label was ‘Sword Saint’s successor,’ but time-wise, it was short. Short as hell.

There were younger-generation prodigies who’d been disciples for ten years and still might not get chosen as representatives.

And he’s telling me to do it?

If this isn’t insane, what is?

As I kept letting questions spill out of me—

“Did you ask for a reason?”

“Yes.”

Moon-Thread Sword answered.

“This is an order from the Martial Alliance.”

“......What?”

An order from the Martial Alliance...?

“And it came directly from the Alliance Leader.”

“What the hell—?”

“For this year only, they’re permitting the Blue Moon Sect to attend the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, and they’ve ordered that Little Sword Saint Bang Sungyeon be sent as the representative.”

“.......”

[Oh? Hahahahaha! Well now—this just got interesting—!]

I was making a face like I’d bitten into shit, and Yoo Cheongil started clapping and cheering the moment he heard it.

“......The Alliance Leader... personally.”

“That’s right.”

“......No...”

How the hell did it come to this...?

The Alliance Leader...?

My eyes rolled on their own at the idea that the Martial Alliance’s Alliance Leader had pointed at me and given a direct order.

The Alliance Leader is...

If we’re talking about the current Martial Alliance’s Alliance Leader—

That’s the Divine Spear.

Divine Spear Jeok Homyeong.

The man who became Alliance Leader after Yoo Cheongil’s death, and one of the heroes who’d distinguished himself during the Orthodox-Demonic War.

I’d heard he was an absolute master who used a spear, born from the Shanxi Jeok Clan, but—

Why the hell would he pick me...?

An unconnected man singled me out and issued an order.

It was absurdly baffling.

He’s even changing the rules for this?

Blue Moon Sect entering the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

I couldn’t even imagine what kind of fallout that would cause.

And he’s telling me to go as the representative...?

He’s telling me to go as the Blue Moon Sect’s younger-generation representative.

What kind of nonsensical insanity is this?

“Um, Sect Mas—”

“The Martial Alliance’s command is absolute.”

Moon-Thread Sword cut me off like a blade before I could even start.

“I’ve delivered the message. And as for you, Bang Sungyeon—your detailed report will be heard tomorrow, after you’ve rested.”

“......”

Like he was making sure I couldn’t say anything else, Moon-Thread Sword took his blue eyes off me and moved them to the letters on the desk.

That was his way of telling me to get out.

Goddamn it...

I turned my back on him.

I grabbed the door handle, swallowing down the sigh trying to come out—

“And.”

Moon-Thread Sword’s voice made me pause.

What now?

What kind of disaster was I about to hear next—

“You handled the mission very well.”

“......Ah. Thank you.”

He praised me.

I gave a rough nod at that.

Then I went outside.

*****

Do Hyeong and Cheon Eujin were waiting for me outside Moon-Thread Sword’s residence, not moving.

“Are you alright?”

Do Hyeong asked like he was worried.

I forced a smile.

“Yes. Well. I’m fine... He just said good work. That kind of thing.”

I wasn’t going to mention the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

Cheon Eujin was the one who reacted to my answer.

“......Young Master, what did the Sect Master say?”

“I just told you. He just praised me a little and said the mission went well.”

I tossed it out casually, trying to steer the conversation away.

“Huh?”

“...What?”

Both of their eyes got huge like lanterns.

What? Why are they like that?

“Why?”

“Young Master.”

“Yes.”

“Father... no, the Sect Master praised you?”

“......Yes.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. He did. He said I did well.”

“......”

“Why?”

Cheon Eujin’s expression twisted into something complicated.

Why the hell is he suddenly acting like that?

I furrowed my brow, not understanding—

“Bang Sungyeon.”

“Yes, Senior.”

Do Hyeong answered instead of Cheon Eujin.

“The Sect Master does not praise people.”

“......What?”

What kind of nonsense is that?

“He doesn’t praise people?”

“Yes.”

“Why...?”

Why wouldn’t he?

It’s not like it costs him anything.

“I don’t know. But among all previous unit members, not a single one ever received the Sect Master’s praise.”

“......So today, the first one was born.”

Cheon Eujin muttered with a strangely tangled look.

...Huh.

So that praise—

It was apparently worth way more than I thought.

...So what. I don’t need it.

Moon-Thread Sword could pour praise on me until it piled up like a house and I still wouldn’t give a single damn.