A middle-aged man with an angular face and a neatly kept beard.

Within his serious-looking eyes, a faint blue light flowed.

Even at a glance, his balanced physique and intense presence made it obvious he was a strong martial artist.

And it wasn’t just presence. He was truly strong.

Comparable to the Nine Great Sects.

Or said to stand above them.

Blue Moon Sect.

And even within that—he was the leader of the Small Moon Unit, called the elite of the elite.

If something happened to Moon-Thread Sword Cheon Seonghwa—the current Sect Master of Blue Moon Sect—and he died...

This man was the most likely to succeed him as Sect Master.

And by Blue Moon Sect tradition, that meant—

‘Blue Moon Sect’s second-in-command is this guy.’

Blue Moon Sect was a savage sect where strength itself became rank, completely at odds with how refined the name sounded.

In a place like that, being the top candidate for next Sect Master was proof that he was the second-strongest in Blue Moon Sect.

‘And that guy...’

came as my escort?

I frowned at the middle-aged man who’d appeared out of nowhere.

‘Why him?’

Why did it have to be him?

And on top of that—

‘Did he expect I’d go to Mount Hua?’

Timing-wise, he seemed to have come together with Moon-Thread Sword, which meant he came here already certain I’d be heading to Mount Hua.

‘Ha.’

That old man Jegal Jin...

‘Did he already know I’d accept?’

I didn’t know. I didn’t know what he’d been thinking when he moved the pieces.

But looking at how things lined up, it felt like he’d been certain from the start that I’d go.

Still, the Small Moon Unit Leader’s expression was awful.

‘He really hates it.’

He looked like he violently didn’t want to escort me. I almost couldn’t believe a person could wear such a transparent expression.

Then—

“The term is until you bring the Medical Immortal from Mount Hua back to Henan. During that time, the leader will take full charge of your protection.”

“...No, Sect Master.”

“What.”

“...Is that really okay?”

It was the Small Moon Unit Leader. Not only a supreme master, but someone whose name carried weight across the Central Plains.

And—

‘He’s not exactly free.’

The things he had to do weren’t one or two. A round trip from Henan to Mount Hua would take time, no matter how you cut it.

With Divine Spear’s condition, we had to bring the Medical Immortal back as fast as possible, but even so—

‘Can he really leave his post that long?’

Was it okay for him to be gone? When I asked—

“It’s fine.”

Moon-Thread Sword answered flatly. He said it was fine.

Ah. Okay, then...

Fine. Sure...

‘If he came all the way here...’

Then whatever it was, he accepted the assignment.

‘Mm.’

I nodded.

“But then... Sect Master.”

“Speak.”

“...What about personnel?”

If we were going to Mount Hua, how many people were going?

At that question, Moon-Thread Sword spoke.

“Do you need changes?”

“...Pardon?”

“I asked if you need changes.”

“...Ah... uh.”

I hesitated. What did he mean? It took me a second to process.

So that meant—

“If I say I don’t need anyone, we go as-is?”

“If you want.”

“...Even though the purpose is what it is?”

We were going to fetch the Medical Immortal to treat Divine Spear. With that kind of purpose, was it really okay for me to decide the party however I wanted?

Questions kept popping up, but—

“If you judge it acceptable, then do so.”

“......”

Moon-Thread Sword acted like he didn’t care.

“However, traveling with the Small Moon Unit Leader is mandatory. And.”

Moon-Thread Sword’s eyes narrowed.

“You know about the other one too, don’t you?”

“......”

I pressed my lips shut. Anyone could tell he meant Sword Emperor.

“...I know.”

“Then that’s enough. Do you need changes?”

“...I think I need time to consider that part.”

“I’ll give you until midnight.”

“Thank you.”

That was enough time.

“...Then I’ll see you later.”

I gave proper respect and was about to leave when—

“Leader.”

Moon-Thread Sword called the Small Moon Unit Leader.

“Yes, Sect Master.”

“Your escort begins now. Follow him.”

“...I receive the order.”

The moment the words fell, the leader moved behind me.

‘...Oh, for fuck’s sake.’

From now.

I faced forward, hiding my discomfort.

And just like that, my awkward trip with the Small Moon Unit Leader began.

*****

The entire time I moved with the Small Moon Unit Leader, I didn’t say a single word to him.

Not one.

No short greetings. No unnecessary chatter. Just walking for a long time.

Even when we finally reached the destination, we didn’t exchange any words.

‘I’m gonna die of discomfort.’

It had been a while since I’d been in a silence this suffocating.

And—

‘At this rate, he’s gonna drill a hole in the back of my head.’

The way he looked at me was uncomfortable too.

I could feel him staring at the back of my head like he was going to punch through it.

‘At least say something.’

If you’re going to stare without a word, what do you want me to do?

‘Ask about Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn or something...’

Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn. The thing I’d spoken about with him when I left Blue Moon Sect.

The day I realized he’d been suppressing rumors about me while pulling strings behind the scenes.

It was also the conversation we’d had then.

I’ll teach you Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn.

So stand on my side.

Something like that.

‘This is the first time we’ve met since then.’

After that, I left for Henan immediately for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. And this was my first time seeing the Small Moon Unit Leader since.

So what he’d ask wasn’t exactly hard to guess.

‘Why did you vanish without teaching me Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn?’

And this time, I had an excuse—Moon-Thread Sword’s order.

Then next—

‘Teach me.’

If he said that, it would get a little complicated.

‘Is it even possible?’

I glanced at Yoo Cheongil. The old man read my eyes and smirked.

[How could it be possible. Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn can’t be done unless you learn the modified internal art.]

Of course. Then what if the leader modified his internal art now?

[And how do you plan to attempt that? If you’re careless, you’ll reach qi distortion—or lose all your inner power altogether.]

Right. That too.

Tearing apart someone’s internal art was insane.

Not only was it near impossible, but if you tried to do it at all—

‘You empty your inner power and refill it from scratch.’

That was the method.

There was no way to graft that onto the Small Moon Unit Leader.

So if I said it plainly—

‘Doesn’t that mean I can’t teach him Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn...?’

We were drifting toward the worst case.

‘Mm.’

If he asked, what should I do?

I tried to come up with a way.

No—I’d started thinking the moment he appeared, and—

I’d come up with three or four plays.

The ones that might actually work were—

‘Two.’

Half. Only two.

And the problem was—

‘Both of them only work if the Small Moon Unit Leader speaks to me first.’

If he never opened his mouth, I couldn’t use them.

So I ignored him and just kept walking.

‘...When’s he going to ask?’

If it were up to my expectations, he should’ve asked ages ago.

But the Small Moon Unit Leader really did nothing but stare at the back of my head without any reaction.

And that’s how we finally reached the destination.

‘He’ll ask eventually.’

I ignored him for now and opened the door to the place I’d come to.

RRRRAK—!

The moment I stepped inside, the people in the room widened their eyes at me.

“What is it...?”

“...Uh.”

Inside were none other than Moon Dancer Cheon Hyein and Thunder Dragon.

“...Huh.”

I frowned at the two of them—no, specifically at Cheon Hyein.

“Why is Miss Cheon here?”

“...Is it weird for a martial artist to be in a training room?”

“No, it’s not that.”

This was the training room set up in the lodging we were staying in.

I’d heard Thunder Dragon was here, so I came over—

‘Why are they together?’

It was a strange pairing.

“I just had time, so we were sparring.”

Cheon Hyein said it as she recovered her sword. Her attitude made it look like even explaining was annoying.

“By the way, I heard the Sect Master showed up, so... hm?”

Mid-sentence, Cheon Hyein narrowed her eyes. She’d spotted the Small Moon Unit Leader behind me.

“...Leader?”

“......”

At her words, the leader quietly turned his head.

“...Why?”

“If I explain, it’ll take forever. Ask the Sect Master later when you see him.”

“......”

Cheon Hyein looked like she couldn’t understand at all, but she didn’t press him further after what I said.

“Come to think of it, you’re not going to see the Sect Master?”

With his daughter and son having been attacked, and Moon-Thread Sword still staying at the Martial Alliance—

It felt odd that she wasn’t going to see them, so she asked.

“I was about to go now.”

Cheon Hyein wiped sweat as she spoke.

“...Tsk.”

She had to go, but she looked unhappy about it.

“Thunder Dragon.”

“...Yes?”

Cheon Hyein called him, and Thunder Dragon flinched.

Cheon Hyein looked like she was about to say something, but—

“...No. Forget it. Anyway, I’m going.”

She swallowed it and walked out. On the way, she showed proper respect to the leader.

Once she disappeared, I looked at Thunder Dragon and asked right away.

“Hey.”

“...Yes? Yes.”

“You got stamina left?”

“...Stamina?”

“Yeah. And how’s your body.”

“My body is fine.”

Thunder Dragon had been injured sparring Black-Grand Saber, but he looked like he could move now.

Martial artists healed fast, apparently.

“Good. Then...”

Glad to hear it, I told him—

“Let’s do a lesson.”

“......”

The lesson on the thing we hadn’t finished.

I wanted to try it today.

*****

A middle-aged man with an angular face and a neatly kept beard.

Within his serious-looking eyes, a faint blue light flowed.

Even at a glance, his balanced physique and intense presence made it obvious he was a strong martial artist.

And it wasn’t just presence. He was truly strong.

Comparable to the Nine Great Sects.

Or said to stand above them.

Blue Moon Sect.

And even within that—he was the leader of the Small Moon Unit, called the elite of the elite.

If something happened to Moon-Thread Sword Cheon Seonghwa—the current Sect Master of Blue Moon Sect—and he died...

This man was the most likely to succeed him as Sect Master.

And by Blue Moon Sect tradition, that meant—

‘Blue Moon Sect’s second-in-command is this guy.’

Blue Moon Sect was a savage sect where strength itself became rank, completely at odds with how refined the name sounded.

In a place like that, being the top candidate for next Sect Master was proof that he was the second-strongest in Blue Moon Sect.

‘And that guy...’

came as my escort?

I frowned at the middle-aged man who’d appeared out of nowhere.

‘Why him?’

Why did it have to be him?

And on top of that—

‘Did he expect I’d go to Mount Hua?’

Timing-wise, he seemed to have come together with Moon-Thread Sword, which meant he came here already certain I’d be heading to Mount Hua.

‘Ha.’

That old man Jegal Jin...

‘Did he already know I’d accept?’

I didn’t know. I didn’t know what he’d # Nоvеlight # been thinking when he moved the pieces.

But looking at how things lined up, it felt like he’d been certain from the start that I’d go.

Still, the Small Moon Unit Leader’s expression was awful.

‘He really hates it.’

He looked like he violently didn’t want to escort me. I almost couldn’t believe a person could wear such a transparent expression.

Then—

“The term is until you bring the Medical Immortal from Mount Hua back to Henan. During that time, the leader will take full charge of your protection.”

“...No, Sect Master.”

“What.”

“...Is that really okay?”

It was the Small Moon Unit Leader. Not only a supreme master, but someone whose name carried weight across the Central Plains.

And—

‘He’s not exactly free.’

The things he had to do weren’t one or two. A round trip from Henan to Mount Hua would take time, no matter how you cut it.

With Divine Spear’s condition, we had to bring the Medical Immortal back as fast as possible, but even so—

‘Can he really leave his post that long?’

Was it okay for him to be gone? When I asked—

“It’s fine.”

Moon-Thread Sword answered flatly. He said it was fine.

Ah. Okay, then...

Fine. Sure...

‘If he came all the way here...’

Then whatever it was, he accepted the assignment.

‘Mm.’

I nodded.

“But then... Sect Master.”

“Speak.”

“...What about personnel?”

If we were going to Mount Hua, how many people were going?

At that question, Moon-Thread Sword spoke.

“Do you need changes?”

“...Pardon?”

“I asked if you need changes.”

“...Ah... uh.”

I hesitated. What did he mean? It took me a second to process.

So that meant—

“If I say I don’t need anyone, we go as-is?”

“If you want.”

“...Even though the purpose is what it is?”

We were going to fetch the Medical Immortal to treat Divine Spear. With that kind of purpose, was it really okay for me to decide the party however I wanted?

Questions kept popping up, but—

“If you judge it acceptable, then do so.”

“......”

Moon-Thread Sword acted like he didn’t care.

“However, traveling with the Small Moon Unit Leader is mandatory. And.”

Moon-Thread Sword’s eyes narrowed.

“You know about the other one too, don’t you?”

“......”

I pressed my lips shut. Anyone could tell he meant Sword Emperor.

“...I know.”

“Then that’s enough. Do you need changes?”

“...I think I need time to consider that part.”

“I’ll give you until midnight.”

“Thank you.”

That was enough time.

“...Then I’ll see you later.”

I gave proper respect and was about to leave when—

“Leader.”

Moon-Thread Sword called the Small Moon Unit Leader.

“Yes, Sect Master.”

“Your escort begins now. Follow him.”

“...I receive the order.”

The moment the words fell, the leader moved behind me.

‘...Oh, for fuck’s sake.’

From now.

I faced forward, hiding my discomfort.

And just like that, my awkward trip with the Small Moon Unit Leader began.

The entire time I moved with the Small Moon Unit Leader, I didn’t say a single word to him.

Not one.

No short greetings. No unnecessary chatter. Just walking for a long time.

Even when we finally reached the destination, we didn’t exchange any words.

‘I’m gonna die of discomfort.’

It had been a while since I’d been in a silence this suffocating.

And—

‘At this rate, he’s gonna drill a hole in the back of my head.’

The way he looked at me was uncomfortable too.

I could feel him staring at the back of my head like he was going to punch through it.

‘At least say something.’

If you’re going to stare without a word, what do you want me to do?

‘Ask about Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn or something...’

Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn. The thing I’d spoken about with him when I left Blue Moon Sect.

The day I realized he’d been suppressing rumors about me while pulling strings behind the scenes.

It was also the conversation we’d had then.

I’ll teach you Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn.

So stand on my side.

Something like that.

‘This is the first time we’ve met since then.’

After that, I left for Henan immediately for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. And this was my first time seeing the Small Moon Unit Leader since.

So what he’d ask wasn’t exactly hard to guess.

‘Why did you vanish without teaching me Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn?’

And this time, I had an excuse—Moon-Thread Sword’s order.

Then next—

‘Teach me.’

If he said that, it would get a little complicated.

‘Is it even possible?’

I glanced at Yoo Cheongil. The old man read my eyes and smirked.

[How could it be possible. Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn can’t be done unless you learn the modified internal art.]

Of course. Then what if the leader modified his internal art now?

[And how do you plan to attempt that? If you’re careless, you’ll reach qi distortion—or lose all your inner power altogether.]

Right. That too.

Tearing apart someone’s internal art was insane.

Not only was it near impossible, but if you tried to do it at all—

‘You empty your inner power and refill it from scratch.’

That was the method.

There was no way to graft that onto the Small Moon Unit Leader.

So if I said it plainly—

‘Doesn’t that mean I can’t teach him Radiant Moon Annihilation-Overturn...?’

We were drifting toward the worst case.

‘Mm.’

If he asked, what should I do?

I tried to come up with a way. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

No—I’d started thinking the moment he appeared, and—

I’d come up with three or four plays.

The ones that might actually work were—

‘Two.’

Half. Only two.

And the problem was—

‘Both of them only work if the Small Moon Unit Leader speaks to me first.’

If he never opened his mouth, I couldn’t use them.

So I ignored him and just kept walking.

‘...When’s he going to ask?’

If it were up to my expectations, he should’ve asked ages ago.

But the Small Moon Unit Leader really did nothing but stare at the back of my head without any reaction.

And that’s how we finally reached the destination.

‘He’ll ask eventually.’

I ignored him for now and opened the door to the place I’d come to.

RRRRAK—!

The moment I stepped inside, the people in the room widened their eyes at me.

“What is it...?”

“...Uh.”

Inside were none other than Moon Dancer Cheon Hyein and Thunder Dragon.

“...Huh.”

I frowned at the two of them—no, specifically at Cheon Hyein.

“Why is Miss Cheon here?”

“...Is it weird for a martial artist to be in a training room?”

“No, it’s not that.”

This was the training room set up in the lodging we were staying in.

I’d heard Thunder Dragon was here, so I came over—

‘Why are they together?’

It was a strange pairing.

“I just had time, so we were sparring.”

Cheon Hyein said it as she recovered her sword. Her attitude made it look like even explaining was annoying.

“By the way, I heard the Sect Master showed up, so... hm?”

Mid-sentence, Cheon Hyein narrowed her eyes. She’d spotted the Small Moon Unit Leader behind me.

“...Leader?”

“......”

At her words, the leader quietly turned his head.

“...Why?”

“If I explain, it’ll take forever. Ask the Sect Master later when you see him.”

“......”

Cheon Hyein looked like she couldn’t understand at all, but she didn’t press him further after what I said.

“Come to think of it, you’re not going to see the Sect Master?”

With his daughter and son having been attacked, and Moon-Thread Sword still staying at the Martial Alliance—

It felt odd that she wasn’t going to see them, so she asked.

“I was about to go now.”

Cheon Hyein wiped sweat as she spoke.

“...Tsk.”

She had to go, but she looked unhappy about it.

“Thunder Dragon.”

“...Yes?”

Cheon Hyein called him, and Thunder Dragon flinched.

Cheon Hyein looked like she was about to say something, but—

“...No. Forget it. Anyway, I’m going.”

She swallowed it and walked out. On the way, she showed proper respect to the leader.

Once she disappeared, I looked at Thunder Dragon and asked right away.

“Hey.”

“...Yes? Yes.”

“You got stamina left?”

“...Stamina?”

“Yeah. And how’s your body.”

“My body is fine.”

Thunder Dragon had been injured sparring Black-Grand Saber, but he looked like he could move now.

Martial artists healed fast, apparently.

“Good. Then...”

Glad to hear it, I told him—

“Let’s do a lesson.”

“......”

The lesson on the thing we hadn’t finished.

I wanted to try it today.

CRACK. CRACK—!!

Daggers poured out and slammed into the wall. A huge number of daggers bit in hard.

In the faint dust that rose, Thunder Dragon stared at his own hand like he couldn’t believe it.

“...This.”

Did he really do that with his own hand?

Thunder Dragon muttered like he couldn’t accept it, but—

“What are you so happy about, you little shit.”

Just watching him made me want to sigh.

The technique succeeded.

But only halfway.

“...You did fine on the tournament stage—why can’t you do it again?”

“......”

He wasn’t totally lost like before. He’d improved, sure.

But—

“You were perfect then.”

This was on a completely different level from what he’d used on Black-Grand Saber.

Right now it just felt sloppy.

“What is this.”

What’s wrong with him?

When I asked, baffled—

“...I don’t know either?”

Thunder Dragon could only give me a stupid answer.

“You don’t know?”

What the hell are you saying.

“If you don’t know, who does? Do it like you did then.”

“...That’s...”

Thunder Dragon answered awkwardly.

“I don’t remember...”

“...What?”

“I lost all of my memories of that moment...”

“...No... What?”

I had to go blank.

No way.

‘Was he in a trance, so he doesn’t remember?’

Thunder Dragon had entered that trance state and fought Black-Grand Saber.

Because of that, his memory of the time was completely gone?

So now he was doing a half-assed version?

“I’m going to lose my mind.”

He succeeded, then forgot it.

Then—

“...I can’t finish the lesson.”

I was going to wrap it up and send him back, but now I couldn’t.

If possible, I hadn’t wanted to bring Thunder Dragon with me when I went to Mount Hua, but—

‘Now I have to bring him.’

Because of the contract with the Tang Clan, I couldn’t just abandon Thunder Dragon and leave.

“SSSS—.”

Was there really no way? I narrowed my eyes.

“Alright. Watch....”

Maybe it’d be different if I demonstrated again, so I performed the technique.

I grabbed a handful of daggers in my hand.

WHIIK!!!

With one hand, I threw them lightly.

A bit of inner power slipped out, and the daggers swept across the floor and the wall.

And then—

WHOOOOSH—!

‘Huh?’

The Blue Moon Heart Art activated on its own.

WOOOONG. WHOOOOSH—!!

Light wrapped around my body.

I frowned at the state.

Light coiling around me, the sensation of my body lifting.

‘...Why is this suddenly—’

Moon Heaven activated on its own.

I hadn’t even triggered it, but it wrapped me anyway. As I stood there, thrown off—

BOOM—!!

I heard a loud impact, followed by someone letting out a shocked breath.

What?

I turned my gaze.

“...Leader?”

The Small Moon Unit Leader.

He was on one knee, staring at me.

Both hands clamped over his mouth.

“Haah... haaaah...”

“...What is wrong with you?”

“It really... really was true... really...”

“...Pardon?”

What the hell is wrong with this guy all of a sudden?

I stepped toward him, confused—

“It’s so beautiful...”

The Small Moon Unit Leader said, staring at me.

“...What did you say?”

My body locked, and I stared at him.

It was a deeply disgusting tone and way of speaking.