"P-please, just spare my life!"
"What is this…"
I let out a hollow laugh as I studied the woman prostrate at my feet.
Her brown hair, long and unkempt, spilled down to cover her back and waist. It looked as if she hadn't bothered to care for it at all.
The one saving grace was that, perhaps thanks to her Bone-Exchange Rebirth, her hair was clean and free of any oil or grease.
And her clothes? They appeared to be made of quality fabric, but whether from neglect or age, they looked shabby and worn.
It was hard to believe she was a Harmony Realm martial artist who, if she so wished, could afford a wardrobe as costly as an entire house.
Naturally, I couldn't help but be suspicious. This woman, prostrating herself with such abject servility—was she really the Illusion Witch herself?
"Raise your head first."
"Y-yes…"
The woman slowly lifted her head. She seemed so frightened that she couldn't even meet my eyes properly, but her face was quite familiar.
The Illusion Witch. She was someone I had only occasionally seen from a distance before my regression, but it was definitely her.
Just in case, I checked once more with my Heavenly Eye and gauged the Aura flowing from her, but nothing had changed.
"Hic! Your eyes…"
No. The Illusion Witch, having met my Heavenly Eye's gaze, did shrink back even further. Could she sense that something was different about me?
No matter how I looked at her, from this angle or that, she was unmistakably the Illusion Witch, and I let out a long sigh.
"This is absurd. I haven't even drawn my sword yet."
"P-people can talk with words, not swords…"
"That's for me to decide, not you."
"…!"
"I'm joking. There's plenty I want to ask you, but first things first."
"What is it?"
"Is this how you receive a guest — without even offering a cup of tea?"
"Ah! Right now! I'll prepare it right away!"
The Illusion Witch sprang to her feet and gestured to a seat behind me as if telling me to sit. She then began clattering about in a slightly distant corner, preparing something.
Meanwhile, I quietly surveyed the interior of the hut.
The building was cramped to begin with, but it was now so cluttered with all sorts of odds and ends that there was barely any room to set foot.
It seemed the last time it had been cleaned was quite a while ago, as dust had piled up and there was a faint, musty smell in the air.
However, there was one peculiar thing—despite how shabby the interior was, the desk tucked away in a far corner and the books stacked upon it were neatly organized.
It felt as though someone had spent the entire day poring over those books and done nothing else.
It was a sight that made me want to say a great deal, but for now, I decided to hold my tongue.
That was only natural—if the Illusion Witch was going to come out like this, I had no choice but to conduct myself as a guest.
As I shook my head, Tang So-wol, seated beside me, asked in a small voice.
"You look a bit off, young hero Cheon. Could it be you're disappointed that there's no fight to be had?"
"What exactly do you take me for? It's nothing like that."
"Then what is it that has you so deep in thought?"
"It's nothing much. I was just wondering what purpose could be grand enough to make someone like the Illusion Witch hole up in a place like this."
The Illusion Witch is the person most skilled in sorcery and formations throughout the Central Plains' martial world.
No matter how much the current martial world shuns sorcery, the value of the foremost master in the field would hardly dim.
The Illusion Witch might not be the strongest absolute master, but she more than earns the title of the one with the most distinct specialty.
There must be more than a handful of people who need her.
"It doesn't seem like she's simply holed up here because she dislikes crowded places."
"Is that so? Given that she surrendered to you, young hero Cheon… hmm. Maybe she's just someone with a gentle disposition."
"I can't deny that, but she's definitely not the way you imagine her to be, Tang So-wol."
Even a Harmony Realm martial artist cannot overcome their innate nature. It's just that their self-control improves, allowing them to hide it better on the surface.
In that sense, the Illusion Witch is certainly a timid person… but not to the point of being called cowardly.
"Well, we can just ask her directly for the details."
Why bother guessing among ourselves when the person in question is right here.
***
"Here, I brought tea."
"Thanks."
The Illusion Witch hands out teacups one by one, prepared for the number of people present, while cautiously watching our reactions.
The Twin Ghost Sword, who had been trying to stay as quiet as possible, seemingly not expecting to receive one herself, takes the cup with both hands, looking at a loss.
Well, of course. The Illusion Witch's submissive attitude is only because of me.
Tang So-wol is my betrothed, so that's one thing, but for the Twin Ghost Sword, this must be quite an awkward sight.
If she had been an average Unorthodox Sect martial artist, the Illusion Witch would have sought out the Twin Ghost Sword later and silenced her for having witnessed her shameful state.
Well. That's only if she were an average Unorthodox Sect martial artist, of course.
The reason the Illusion Witch, who was more than half in seclusion rather than feuding with the Black Alliance, had been included on the roster for this sparring trip was simple.
Because once her name was on the list, she did absolutely nothing.
Unless the Twin Ghost Sword made a serious blunder, she probably wouldn't go out of her way to cause trouble.
Of course, that didn't mean the Illusion Witch could be taken lightly.
After all, she was still a martial artist classified under the Unorthodox Sects. She rarely stepped forward, but once she did, her methods were quite brutal.
To get the Illusion Witch to move actively, I thought the surest way was to hold her survival as collateral.
While waiting, I noticed traces of something left in the abandoned house, and my thoughts changed.
Perhaps there was another reason he had holed himself up here.
I took a sip of tea, organized my thoughts, and spoke.
"Let me ask you something first. We haven't done anything yet, so why are you already prostrating yourself in Oche Tuji?"
"That's because… if the White Moon Sword Lord makes a move, my life and death hang in the balance."
"I don't kill people that easily."
"What? But the Golden Wolf King reportedly dealt with all his subordinate ronin, burned down his house, and even erased every trace of his existence…"
"The One-Blade Asura and the Lust Demon survived, though."
"Isn't that because you volunteered to be the White Moon Sword Lord's subordinate?"
"Hmph. That's about right. Still, you're the Illusion Witch—you have not just martial arts but sorcery as well. You could have tested him first and surrendered afterward."
"It's not sorcery…"
"Oh?"
"A-ah, it's nothing! As you said, if I used sorcery, I could certainly escape easily enough, but…"
"But?"
"Weell. I've been making a living here in Hwajeon Village, puffing up my shoulders with some pride. Running away at the first sign of trouble would be a bit unbecoming."
"…"
"And if I can't even run away properly and get caught, I'd have to kneel in front of the villagers, and that's a bit… I do have some social pride, you know."
Fair point.
If defeat is inevitable anyway, surrender before getting hit. And if possible, call them to my own home so my pride doesn't get damaged.
"Good, this makes talking easier. So, do you know what purpose I have for going on this sparring tour?"
"It's not a conquest tour, is— Ah, nothing. Yes. A sparring tour. It's a sparring tour."
The Illusion Witch tilts her head, then hurriedly nods. After a moment of thought, she speaks.
"First of all, I doubt you're planning to defect to the Unorthodox Sects and swallow up the Black Alliance, as the rumors say. There's no need for that, and even if your real goal were the next Lord of the Black Alliance, there are far more efficient ways to go about it."
"You saw right. I have no interest in the Black Alliance."
"But that doesn't mean you have no interest in power, does it? Given everything you've done so far, and the close ties you've maintained with the Murim Alliance…"
The Illusion Witch, who had seemed so cowed just moments ago, now looks at me with a serious gaze.
"You intend to make yourself the bridge, joining the Murim Alliance and the Black Alliance into one."
"Oh."
I'm a little surprised—no one has ever noticed the existence of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance unless I brought it up myself.
"After unifying the martial world that way, you'd claim to be the only talent capable of commanding both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Sects at once, and become the next Alliance Chief and Alliance Lord…"
"…?"
This is an unexpected turn.
"After unifying the martial world that way, you'd wage war against the Imperial Court and seize the next generation's throne for yourself…!"
"What a lunatic."
Smack!
"Gah!"
A single light slap silenced the Illusion Witch.
"Don't say things that could get you killed—talk of treason, no less."
"I thought there was a chance…"
"Just because there's a chance doesn't mean you should do it. Besides, I have a different purpose."
"With the Tang Clan becoming the greatest family in the world, manipulating them from behind to take control of the Orthodox Sects, and ruling the Unorthodox Sects through force—what other intention could there be besides treason to unify the martial world?"
"…When you put it that way, it sounds quite plausible, but it's really not. It's all because of the Demonic Cult."
When I briefly explained the current situation of the Demonic Cult, the Illusion Witch shook her head as if she found it absurd.
"That's impossible."
"Impossible or not, I saw it all with my own eyes."
"But…"
"Here. This is the ear of the Slaughter King—the only one who escaped the purge despite having a clearly different form."
I took out the ear, thinking that with her deep knowledge of Sorcery, she might be able to detect some trace of something.
The Illusion Witch's reaction was more intense than I expected.
"Eek! Get that ugly thing away from me!"
"…My apologies. Pulling out an ear without warning is indeed rather disgusting."
"N-no, that's not it…"
The Illusion Witch wiggled her hips and shuffled back a step, glaring at the ear in my hand as she spoke.
"What I meant was that you shouldn't be exposed to dangerous Sorcery like the Soul-Severing Grand Ritual."
"What?"
The Soul-Severing Grand Ritual. The contents written in the letter found in the second Slaughter King's possession. It was a Grand Ritual presumed to be the method used to resurrect the Slaughter King.
I never expected to recognize it at a single glance, no matter how you looked at it.
"Do you know something about it?"
"Of course. I've researched it myself in the past… but it's better if you don't take an interest."
"Why?"
"Because it's a Grand Ritual that can never be completed."
"Is that a lack of research? Or did you hit a wall somewhere?"
"No. I mean it literally."
The Illusion Witch swallowed hard and continued in a low voice.
"The Divorce Grand Ritual is a grand ritual that goes beyond the realm of sorcery and touches the realm of divine arts. And the world of today does not permit divine arts."
"Explain in a little more detail."
"By any chance, do you know that in the past, far more Spirit Beasts could be seen in the Central Plains?"
"I know it well. Back then, even Spirit Beasts reaching the Harmony Realm would appear from time to time, and among the deeds of Martial Artists were those of bringing down rampaging Spirit Beasts."
"That's a story from truly ancient times, yet you know it well…"
That was only natural, since he had heard it from Seomun Hwa-rin, a person of truly ancient times.
"Then, do you also know where all those Spirit Beasts disappeared to?"
"I don't know where they disappeared to, but I do know why they became hard to see. Isn't it because Natural Qi gradually grew thinner?"
That was also the reason the North Sea Ice Palace had desperately set out to find a successor.
The immense energy absorbed by the Azure-White Flood Dragon and its offspring was one reason… but fundamentally, it was because the Natural Qi of the North Sea—its cold energy—had diminished at a rapid pace.
The conflict between the North Sea Ice Palace and the Azure-White Flood Dragon had begun as a struggle for survival, a fight over the dwindling energy and their homeland.
Upon hearing my answer, the Illusion Witch blinked as if surprised.
"Ah… you know more than I expected. But there are a few things I'd like to add."
"What is it?"
"The reason Natural Qi is decreasing isn't because there are more Martial Artists, or because people are reclaiming nature-filled lands for more territory. Well, those are reasons too, but there's a bigger one."
Having said that much, the Illusion Witch opened her mouth in a small voice, as if whispering a secret.
"Because the heavens no longer look down upon us."
"Ah."
So the heavens no longer watch over us, yet their gifts and their shackles remain.
Suddenly, the words the Heavenly Demon had left me came to mind.