"Ah… so that's how it was. Then you already know that the Potala Palace recently attacked the Kunlun Sect and wiped them out, taking all the survivors hostage and declaring that they'd kill every last one of them unless the White Moon Sword Lord, the Great Hero, was brought to them…"
"??? No. I had no idea. Tell me more."
What the hell was this about.
It felt like I'd been struck on the back of the head by something I'd never seen coming.
The Kunlun Sect's extermination itself had happened before my regression, too.
How could I forget? The Demonic Cult had wiped out the Kunlun Sect first when they invaded the Central Plains.
But unlike before my regression, this time the Demonic Cult hadn't acted directly—it was the Potala Palace, known to have joined hands with the Demonic Cult, that had launched the attack.
What bothers me is that instead of pushing deeper into the Central Plains, they've settled in the exterminated Kunlun Sect and are using the survivors as hostages to call me out.
"It's a trap."
"Yes. It's obviously a trap. But if you had stayed in Sichuan Province, it would have been a trap you couldn't pretend not to notice. …You knew all along and slipped away to Zhejiang Province beforehand, didn't you? Being far away gave you the excuse that you couldn't act immediately."
"I really didn't know. What exactly do you take me for?"
"Well…"
"No. Don't say it. I think I can guess."
I have a rough idea. As a martial artist of the Orthodox Sects, I couldn't just ignore a Blood Calamity at the Kunlun Sect.
All I need to do is watch from behind and let someone else walk into the trap for me.
This is a common occurrence in the Unorthodox Sects. After all, aren't they the ones who prioritize survival and profit above all else?
There's nothing to say to the Twin Ghost Sword. Unless it's one of those rare exceptions that truly matter to him, how could one blame him for seeking his own safety?
But.
"I had planned to stay a few more days since there was still work left to do… but it seems I should head out first."
"…You mean to go even knowing it's a trap?"
"Didn't they send me such a fervent love letter? At the very least, it carries a more earnest sincerity than these husks here, so it wouldn't hurt to meet them once."
I let out a snicker and swung my arm broadly toward the pile of letters that had nearly turned to ash.
My internal energy, wrapped around the wind, extinguished the few remaining embers and scattered the ashes far into the distance.
After watching that sight for a moment, I turned to Tang So-wol and spoke.
"Let me say this first…"
"You're going to tell me I can't come along this time, aren't you?"
"No. The opposite. I need your strength, Tang So-wol."
"…What?"
Perhaps because I had always left her behind first whenever danger arose, Tang So-wol tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that? The problem was that everyone I've fought lately was a Harmony Realm martial artist. Your martial level, Tang So-wol, is considerable."
"R-really?"
"That's right. I'm not sure about sparring with the Twin Ghost Sword here, but if it were a life-and-death duel, you'd defeat all of them even if there were three or four Twin Ghost Swords."
"With all due respect, I don't think the young lady of Flying Butterfly Poison Peak is quite that strong. Of course, it's true that she could easily defeat me, but facing three or four opponents is another matter entirely."
The Twin Ghost Sword, who had just heard that he would die even if there were three or four of him, quietly interjected.
"If I was speaking with the battle against the Golden Wolf King's subordinates in mind, I only used a suitable poison because I was worried you'd get caught up in it and die."
"Pardon? I was definitely holding the finest Blood Poison Wine in my mouth."
"You can't block a poison that kills Harmony Realm martial artists with something like Blood Poison Wine."
"Ah."
He had only seen Tang So-wol fight once, but he had seen her feed Extreme Poison to Harmony Realm martial artists on several occasions—poison that was practically a death sentence for them—so the Twin Ghost Sword was immediately convinced.
But then, as if something was bothering him, he cautiously asked again.
"I had heard the stories about your special constitution, of course—everyone knows about them. But I never imagined it was anything this remarkable. Still, if you can apply Extreme Poison that works on Harmony Realm martial artists, wouldn't that be dangerous even for the White Moon Sword Lord himself…"
"I'm Immune to All Poisons, so it doesn't matter to me. If anything… the Illusion Witch is the one who should be worried."
"Eep?! I—I'm going along too…?"
"Did you think you'd just be watching from the sidelines?"
"I don't want to go…"
"What was that? You don't want to live?"
"I said I'd prove myself useful! B—but you do have some kind of protection against poison, right?"
"Of course. Even if you're poisoned, I'll detoxify you before you die."
"…Is there no other way?"
"The point is to make sure there's never a need to bring out poison of that caliber in the first place."
"No matter what happens! I will definitely protect Young Lady Tang!"
"That's the right mindset. Still, don't feel too burdened. You won't be alone."
With that said, he turned his gaze toward Tang So-wol. She hadn't said a word yet, but the moment their eyes met, she nodded.
"You want me to send letters ahead of time, right? To Father and Unni Hwa-rin."
"On top of that, summon Seol Ri-hyang as well."
"What?"
"I'll have the Sword King, Great Master Jeonghyeon, and, if possible, even the Murim Alliance Leader summoned."
"…What?"
I smirked at Tang So-wol, who was blinking in confusion.
"If they're calling for me, of course I should go. But there's no reason to meet them alone, is there?"
"I… suppose not?"
Tang So-wol nodded with a look that said she wasn't quite sure about this.
Well, the Potala Palace side probably didn't expect me to visit the Kunlun Sect alone anyway.
But while I'd expected Harmony Realm martial artists, I hadn't anticipated that other experts would come swarming in as well.
I had prepared a few things just in case, but unless the Heavenly Demon himself came looking for me, I could crush whatever they threw at me with sheer force.
"Good. Then it's settled. We'll send the letter and head straight for the Kunlun Sect. Given the distance from Zhejiang Province, we should arrive around the same time."
Perhaps it was because of the heavyweight names I'd rattled off one after another. Seeing Twin Ghost Sword frozen in a daze, I added a little more explanation to make it clearer.
"Do you know what I mean?"
"What do you mean…?"
"If you walk into a trap knowing full well it's a trap, then it's no different from an ordinary life-and-death duel."
"Ah."
The Twin Ghost Sword stared at me for a moment, then nodded.
"As expected of the number one of the Unorthodox Sects."
"…"
This time, it was my turn to keep my mouth shut.
***
I explained to the Lord of the Black Alliance what I had just heard. And then.
"You do realize how dangerous this is, right?"
"As long as the Heavenly Demon isn't involved, there's no problem."
"And what if the Heavenly Demon is waiting for us on the other side?"
"Then it simply means my time has come. I'll have to content myself with a modest mutual destruction."
"…Do you even know what 'modest' means?"
The Lord of the Black Alliance, who had been looking at me in disbelief, spoke after a moment of thought.
"I'll send the Pavilion Lord of the Heavens-Splitting Pavilion. And take One-Blade Asura along with you on the way."
"Pardon?"
"This Alliance Lord cannot possibly leave his post—I have to handle the aftermath of this affair and persuade the others to form the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance. But when the pride of the Black Alliance, the number one martial artist of the Unorthodox Sects, insists on throwing himself into a den of death, I can hardly just stand by and watch. I'll lend you my sharpest blade."
"Every word you use to describe me is filled with fabrication, and One-Blade Asura is, strictly speaking, my subordinate—but since you're offering support, I'll gratefully accept."
"Shameless brat."
The Lord of the Black Alliance clicked his tongue and shook his head, but the important thing was that the Black Alliance was lending a hand in this matter.
"You seem to think this is the perfect opportunity for the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance?"
"It is, in fact. Though it's a pity for the Kunlun Sect. …Are you planning to leave right away?"
"Yes. If you're thinking of providing travel expenses, now would be the time to hand them over."
"I heard you robbed the Golden Wolf King's warehouse last time."
"Still, how could I refuse the kindness of an elder?"
"I never said a single word about giving you anything…"
The Lord of the Black Alliance let out a hollow laugh and pulled a small piece of metal from his robes, tossing it over.
I caught it and examined it—the shape was quite familiar.
"The Alliance Leader's Token? I doubt I'll have much use for it at this point."
"It's a little different. This is the Vice-Alliance Leader's Token."
"Pardon?"
"The material is different, that's what."
He was right about that. If the Alliance Leader's Token was ivory plated with gold, the Vice-Alliance Leader's Token was forged from a single piece of solid iron.
Holding it, I could feel a faint coolness rising from it even in the middle of summer.
It looked more modest, but in terms of price alone, it was probably several times more expensive.
The Lord of the Black Alliance, seeing me fiddling with the token, continued in a languid tone.
"If you show that, you'll be treated the same as this Alliance Lord even where I'm not present."
"Is it really alright to just hand something like this over?"
"If you turned down the seat of the Black Alliance Lord, the least you can do is accept this much."
With that, the Lord of the Black Alliance waved his hand dismissively, as if telling me to hurry along.
"Now off you go. Because of someone who starts trouble but never cleans up after himself, this Alliance Lord is going to be quite busy from now on."
"Ah, how pitiful… Well then, do try not to work too hard."
With that, I tucked the token into my robe and turned around. I grabbed the door handle to leave, but paused for a moment.
I stopped in my tracks and, still without looking back, spoke.
"Once this matter is concluded, I will send you the Tang Clan's research results. I will also make inquiries about the Demonic Cult and send word as soon as I make contact."
"I'll wait without expecting anything."
"Yes. Then I shall see you at the founding ceremony of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance."
"Very well."
It was, in a way, a rather half-hearted farewell. But between me and the Lord of the Black Alliance, this was only fitting.
As I stepped out of the Alliance Lord's office and was simply gathering my belongings, I sensed an unfamiliar presence outside the door.
When I opened the door and stepped outside, there stood a familiar face—familiar, if anything.
The Paecheon Hall Master. The strongest martial artist in Paecheon Hall, the Black Alliance's direct martial force unit.
And before the regression, he was one of the few who would pick a fight with me no matter what I did.
Now I understand. The Paecheon Hall Master had secretly been eyeing the position of successor to the Lord of the Black Alliance. My sudden appearance, monopolizing all the attention and fame, had been a thorn in his side.
But now, the look in his eyes as he regarded me was nothing short of gentle. As if he were meeting a future superior, not a rival.
…Before the regression, he was quite a nuisance. Now he's so docile it's almost surprising.
Is this because I'm now the greatest of the Unorthodox Sects, unlike before the regression?
Either way, with this, everyone has gathered. All that's left is to set out immediately.
Before leaving completely, I quietly bowed toward the room where the Lord of the Black Alliance was staying, then turned and walked away.
***
Not long after, I arrived at the village at the foot of Mount Kunlun.
This was the place we had agreed to gather before heading to the exterminated Kunlun Sect.
Perhaps they had been preparing since before I sent the letters. Even though I hadn't arrived late, most of the people I had requested help from were already there.
Namgung Dowi was absent for some reason, but in his place, Namgung Jong had brought several martial artists from the Namgung Clan.
Great Master Jeonghyeon had come with only four monks, but all of them were Vajra Guardians.
As for the Murim Alliance Leader, he had brought the entire Cheongpung Unit, one of the Murim Alliance's main martial forces.
Finally, from the Tang Clan, along with Seomun Hwa-rin and Seol Ri-hyang, was Tang Jincheon—someone I never thought would come.
All of them were welcome faces. My heart grew steady, my steps grew light. Before I knew it, I was smiling and quickening my pace. And then.
"An attack from the Black Alliance!"
"What?"
I stopped mid-stride and turned around.
At a glance, the Illusion Witch exuded a sinister aura, the One-Blade Asura simply looked menacing, and Tang So-wol, her poison art having reached new heights, gave off a strangely dangerous air.
And with them, the Lord of the Defeated Heaven Sect, who had the look of a model Unorthodox martial artist, along with his subordinates.
"Indeed. I suppose that's a reasonable misunderstanding."
It probably wasn't because they were startled by me.
…Right?