"One piece of good news and one piece of bad news. How typical."
As Tang Jincheon let out a deep sigh and said that, the Illusion Witch, still wearing that vacant expression, nodded her head.
"Hehe. It's good news that my connection with the Tang Clan has deepened, but it's bad news that Young Lady Tang's standing has shrunk by just a tiny ant's speck…?"
"…No. The good news is that the Spirit Beasts' final flailing was stopped before it even began, and the bad news is that the Heavenly Demon is a far more troublesome opponent than previously assumed."
Tang Jincheon answered with a stern face and a cold voice. When our eyes met, I gave him a nod.
"You're doing well, Father-in-law."
"You insane son-in-law. What in the world do you do to attract these old monsters like this!"
"Please, don't be so harsh. The old monster listening might get hurt. Besides, you should have guessed my tastes from the fact that Tang So-wol is five years older than me."
"Young hero of the White Moon Sword! So you truly do respect me…"
"See? Senior Seomun Hwa-rin has been quiet this whole time."
"…You there? This lady was merely pondering the Heavenly Demon's strength once more."
Seomun Hwa-rin, who had been tilting her head as if lost in thought, flinched and raised her head.
Unfortunately, the one who responded to her was the Illusion Witch.
"Hmhm. So the young hero of the White Moon Sword considers the Seomun Clan head an old monster, but not me…"
"…Die, you old hag!"
Seomun Hwa-rin sprang to her feet and threw a punch without a moment's hesitation. Since they were indoors, she didn't channel her internal energy, but she was clearly putting real force behind it.
"Kyaaah! Ow, that hurts! You're actually hitting me…!"
"You dare mock me and think you'd get away with it? Hah! Hah!"
"I'm getting bruises…! You know full well that even after Bone-Exchange Rebirth, someone our age has weaker regeneration…!"
"Hmph! I've undergone both Bone-Exchange Rebirth and Rejuvenation, so I'm as spry as ever!"
"What? You really did Rejuvenation? You're not just some madwoman who mistook it for Rejuvenation—kyaaah! Just kidding, just kidding! I was only envious that you got a longer lifespan…"
Completely subdued by Seomun Hwa-rin, the Illusion Witch's rear end was being thoroughly smacked by the former's small palm.
At the sight, which drew nothing but a sigh from him, he shut his eyes tightly and turned to ask Tang So-wol a question.
"Tang So-wol. You've been quiet for a while now. Are you alright?"
"Huh? Ah, of course. I was just thinking that if the Heavenly Demon is an infinite regressor, wouldn't he have seen through any sloppy plan long ago?"
"…That wasn't what I meant by the question, but it's a fair point. Still, don't worry. Didn't we decide on a head-on confrontation at the last Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance meeting?"
Of course, this was only possible because of a confluence of factors—the reassurance of full support from the Imperial Court, the righteous cause of protecting the common people, and the need to restore the Lord of the Black Alliance's standing, which had fallen after the previous battle with the Heavenly Demon.
Many circumstances had aligned to make it happen, but in any case, the result was what I wanted, so that was good enough.
"Now that I think about it, that's true. This must have been part of young hero Cheon's design as well."
"With you putting it that way, I feel like some kind of strategist who has the entire Central Plains in the palm of his hand."
"Hehe. Now that I look at it, that's not entirely wrong either. …I suppose I should share this story with the other members of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance as well?"
"Yeah. No matter how much our policy is already set on a head-on confrontation, and even if it wouldn't matter if I didn't say anything… these are people who are risking their lives alongside us, aren't they? If there's no reason to hide something, I shouldn't hide it."
Since this concerned the regression of the Heavenly Demon rather than myself, the seal was also looser, so there was no reason to speak in circles or deceive.
As I nodded, Tang So-wol giggled and nodded back at me.
"That's why I like young hero Cheon so much."
"…Why are you suddenly being so shy about this?"
"What do you mean, why? Isn't it common sense to share a slightly embarrassing story before something important?"
"I have a feeling that if we talk about this, it won't end well."
"When the war is over… would you marry me?"
"It's giving me chills for no reason. Though I suppose I'll do it anyway."
I shrugged as I said that, but Tang So-wol merely looked at me with a strangely indifferent expression.
"But how many are you doing it with?"
"Hm?"
"Back when you first brought young hero Cheon to the Tang Clan, I believe it was just me… but now it's grown to two, or is it three?"
"…It's two, not three."
"Heh heh. It was a joke, so don't make such a face. Isn't it already a settled matter? You said it's fine as long as I permit it. In that sense, Hyang-i and Hwa-rin unni are fine, but…"
"The Illusion Witch really isn't one of them."
"Well, let's decide after seeing how things go in this war."
"It's true that she isn't one of them, but… are you sure? It feels like you're deciding too easily."
When I asked in surprise, Tang So-wol smiled with her eyes as if she had heard something amusing.
"Come on. All of this is a conclusion reached after much deliberation. The Illusion Witch, unlike Hwa-rin unni, has only undergone Bone-Exchange Rebirth, not Rejuvenation."
"Is that so?"
"In other words, despite appearances, her body can no longer bear children, so she isn't that much of a threat…"
"What?"
Tang So-wol spoke those terrifying words in a calm, measured tone.
Even Seomun Hwa-rin, who had been vigorously disciplining(?) the Illusion Witch just moments ago, was so startled that she stopped her hands.
But the Illusion Witch, as always, merely wore a smile that was half servile and half cunning.
"Hehe… I actually prefer it this way, you know? Instead of his attention being divided by the child, it's all focused on me."
"…?"
"Honestly, I think it's a blessing…"
"…"
A brief silence fell at the Illusion Witch's words, so different in their logic.
It was Seomun Hwa-rin who broke the suffocating atmosphere—she abruptly released the Illusion Witch she had been holding onto with a flick of her hand.
"Then let's get up and get moving. We've already delayed things waiting for Hyang-i's Bone-Exchange Rebirth, so if we prepare diligently and set out now, we won't be late for the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance's departure day."
With that, Seomun Hwa-rin vanished out the door with a swish.
The others each muttered excuses—they had to wake up early tomorrow, they still had things to do, they needed to train before sleeping.
One by one, they slipped out of the room with trivial pretexts.
Finally, I too rose from my seat, claiming exhaustion.
The door was closing. The Illusion Witch, left alone, scrambled to her feet with a bewildered voice.
"Euh?"
Her expression showed she had no idea why everyone was reacting this way.
Let's not forget.
Every Harmony Realm martial artist is out of their mind… but some Harmony Realm martial artists are a little more out of their mind than others.
"See, I'm about as normal as it gets."
I let out a sigh of relief as I headed toward my room.
***
What followed proceeded without any particular problems.
I gathered the selected martial artists and the generously prepared poisons and hidden weapons, then headed to the Kunlun Sect, which was currently being restored.
There, I was able to join up with the other Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance forces who had arrived earlier and were waiting.
With the Haomun Leader's arrival — the last to join, delayed by the long distance and the need to settle matters behind — the entire Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance gathered in Qinghai Province.
The young Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect bowed his head.
"I never thought I'd live to see the orthodox and unorthodox truly join forces. We would gladly throw ourselves into the fray as well, but…"
"That's enough. We're not unaware of Kunlun's situation. Simply providing lodging for this many people is more than enough."
The Murim Alliance Leader waved his hand toward the apologetic martial artists of Kunlun.
Indeed. Having been struck by the Potala Palace's attack some time ago, Kunlun had suffered damage tantamount to Clan Extermination.
In the process, many of its history-laden buildings had burned or collapsed… but ironically, that was precisely what made room for so many to stay.
As the Murim Alliance Leader said, Kunlun had done all it could with what it had.
Even the Unorthodox Sect martial artists, who were sensitive to gains and losses, remained silent.
With a few brief words of farewell, the Kunlun Sect Leader departed. All that remained in this place were the faces seen at the previous meeting.
No—one more had been added. Since Seol Ri-hyang had risen to the Harmony Realm and become a core asset, she had to show her face at gatherings like this.
"The Lord of the Black Alliance looked at Seol Ri-hyang with apparent interest and spoke."
"Well, well. The White Moon Sword Lord was so impressive that it got overshadowed, but reaching the Harmony Realm at that age is also an absurdly remarkable feat. …How about taking on a position as an Alliance Lord of the Black Alliance? I happen to be planning to create something called the Iron Blood Faction. It's meant to be an organization that operates independently, in exchange for handling a few obligatory tasks for the Black Alliance…"
"Absolutely not! I will never go! I appreciate the sentiment, but I truly have no interest!"
The moment the name Iron Blood Faction came up, Seol Ri-hyang recoiled and refused.
From her perspective, she had seen through my memories that despite the pretty talk of independent operation, they were in reality starving—which was why she reacted so violently.
From the Lord of the Black Alliance's perspective, it must have seemed like an unexpected wall had been thrown up, and he could only retreat awkwardly.
"Well, I won't force you, so don't worry."
"Phew."
And so there was a brief commotion, but it was literally just that—brief. Before long, serious discussions began one by one.
"White Moon Sword Lord. I've heard your story. It's still hard to believe, but at this point there's no point in doubting it. Is there anything more you wish to discuss?"
"Nothing in particular. If it's about the Heavenly Demon's past, I only learned of it this time myself, and knowing it changes nothing. …Still, there is one request I'd like to make."
"And what might that be?"
"Even if the Demonic Cult has grown much stronger, it won't be enough to match the full might of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance. In the end, the final battle will come down to a life-and-death duel with the Heavenly Demon… Would you entrust that to me?"
"That won't do. I can't afford to lose someone of your caliber for nothing."
"Ah, I didn't mean I'd face the Heavenly Demon alone. I misspoke."
"Hm?"
"If I could join forces with the other Harmony Realm masters, and only at the very last moment be allowed to cut down the Heavenly Demon with my own hands—would you permit it?"
"Oh?"
"If what I heard this time is fact and not the Heavenly Demon's delusion, then it seems only by striking the blow myself can I sever the Heavenly Demon's hold over me."
Just as the Heavenly Demon himself had called me his nemesis.
And just as the divine beasts he had felled long ago no longer showed themselves, leaving only the Azure-White Flood Dragon, who kept his distance and dwelled alone.
If I died at the hands of others, the regression that had repeated itself more times than I could count would only repeat once more. But if I killed him, the Heavenly Demon's regression would come to an end.
The abbot of Shaolin, who had been listening to my story, let out a long sigh.
"Amitabha… If one has cycled through reincarnation that many times, one should have become a Buddha. Yet the Heavenly Demon has chosen to become the very embodiment of evil. In that case, severing the chains that bind him would be the greater mercy. Do as you see fit, young hero Cheon."
In contrast, the Lord of the Black Alliance wore his usual confident smile.
"Ha! I don't know anything about Buddhas or demons. Just promise me one thing, and I'll gladly yield the Heavenly Demon's head to you."
"And what would that be?"
"The one who fells the Heavenly Demon will be the greatest of the Unorthodox Sects, not the White Moon Sword Lord. Got it?"
"…You still haven't given up, have you? I heard the medicine I sent you had some effect."
"Oh? Anyone listening would think you've cut ties with the Black Alliance."
"It never really was a deep bond to begin with… but yes, fine. I understand. So be it."
The conversation went on in roughly that vein… and this was probably the last time.
After this, it wouldn't be a meeting — we'd actually have to march into the Demonic Cult.
And so, after spending one final peaceful day,
we crossed Cheongseong Fortress with the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance and headed for Xinjiang Province, where the Demonic Cult was based.
***
Not long after crossing into Xinjiang Province, we found a Demonic Cultist — a monster with three heads and six arms.
It wasn't a metaphor—he had genuinely bound three people into one, making them move as a single body.
"What in the world is this…?"
No matter how insane the Demonic Cultists were, this was the first time I'd seen anything like this.