Chapter 20: The Blood Hand Witch's Talent (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: The Blood Hand Witch's Talent (1)
When I arrived at the empty lot, the only sound to be heard was the chirping of insects in the surroundings.
The Blood Hand Witch had not yet appeared.
Judging by the lack of any presence suggesting someone else was coming out of the guest house, she might be a little late. Or perhaps she was staying in the main hall instead of the guest house.
-Why?
'Why do you think?'
It was likely because she had to protect the Blood Cult Leader’s blood descendant. Since Baek Ryeonha would be staying in the main hall, the Blood Hand Witch and her disciples would be there as well.
Or maybe they were still discussing that matter?
-Because of the information you leaked?
That was probably it. Since I had let the information slip under the name of the Beggar’s Sect, it would have been even more enticing.
To persuade the suspicious Hae Ak-cheon and the Escort Unit Leader Jang Mun-woong, who had been active externally until recently, I had released about three pieces of information I knew.
Two were decent enough, but the information that the alliance between the Martial Alliance and Peerless Fortress was shaking was, quite literally, top-tier intelligence.
Around sunset, I had seen Hae Ak-cheon and Jang Mun-woong entering the main hall. I surmised they went there for a discussion, as this wasn't just a card for Hae Ak-cheon to hold onto personally, but an issue that needed to be brought to the attention of the entire Blood Cult.
It was something that would happen about half a year from now, but I wondered what kind of impact the ripples I had cast would have.
They certainly wouldn't be gentle ripples.
Strangely, my heart was racing.
-What are you so excited about?
Before my regression, I was nothing more than a pawn. I was a mere third-rate spy, swept away here and there by the currents.
But now, I was different. Because I knew the flow, I was influencing the very waters of that raging torrent.
-That might be your true power.
'Exactly.'
It could be a power more fearsome than one's individual martial prowess.
While I was conversing with the sword, I sensed presences coming from the direction of the main hall. Judging by the fact that they weren't trying to hide themselves, it seemed to be the Blood Hand Witch and her disciples.
-There are three of them.
Just as the Lesser Conversation Sword said, three people entered the clearing. It was the Blood Hand Witch Han Baek-ha and two women wearing veils.
A veil that only reveals the eyes is effective for a first meeting, but if you're already acquainted, you can recognize someone with just a bit of observation.
'Dam Ye-hwa? Baek Ryeonha?'
The two following her were Dam Ye-hwa and Baek Ryeonha. Why had she brought those two along?
No. To be precise, it would be more accurate to say she only brought Dam Ye-hwa. Since Baek Ryeonha was the Blood Hand Witch's superior, she would move as she pleased.
-But why is that Dam Ye-hwa girl wearing a veil? Did she lose a bet and get slapped or something?
I clicked my tongue inwardly at the Lesser Conversation Sword's words. Did he think everyone was like that crazy old man?
-Chak!
I clasped my hands in a fist-and-palm salute and showed my respect quietly.
"I greet the Sixth Blood Star."
She nodded lightly and approached.
"I am a bit late."
"Not at all. I have only just arrived myself."
I had waited for about fifteen minutes, but it wasn't an amount of time worth making a fuss over. To my surprise, Han Baek-ha suddenly praised me.
"You seem to have many talents, Young Master. The Cult will surely hold you in high regard."
'Ah...'
-What's with her?
'I think the old man told her.'
It seemed Hae Ak-cheon had revealed that I was the source of the information. I wondered if he had spoken well of Jo Seong-won as well. It would be troublesome if others started coveting him. I needed to use that guy myself.
-The crazy old man will probably set up boundaries on his own. Isn't that why you told him?
'That's true.'
While talking with the Lesser Conversation Sword, I suddenly locked eyes with Baek Ryeonha. The look in her eyes as she watched me was peculiar. I couldn't tell exactly what she was thinking, but she seemed favorable.
'Hmm.'
As I was wondering about it, the Blood Hand Witch spoke to me.
"I must keep my promise regarding the bet."
I liked that she got straight to the point. As her subordinate, I couldn't exactly open my mouth and tell her to hurry up and teach me.
She continued.
"I've thought about what I should teach you. However, most of my talents are related to my sect, so it would be difficult to teach them without taking you as a disciple."
'......'
I had expected as much. I figured she would pass on the most useless of her skills. Still, wouldn't it be better to learn something, whatever it might be?
"But as the Sixth Blood Star, it would hurt my pride to teach you something useless."
'Huh?'
What was this? Was she saying she would teach me a useful talent?
-She's probably just dressing it up with words. Are you really falling for that?
The Lesser Conversation Sword scolded me. He was right, of course. No matter how useless something is, it can sound impressive if you wrap it in flowery language.
"This talent is something I obtained twenty years ago by chance at the shrine of a nameless immortal. It will likely be more useful to someone clever like you than it was to me."
What was she trying to teach me that required such a buildup? But if she obtained it twenty years ago, just how old was she? Looking at her appearance, she didn't seem a day over her mid-thirties.
"Because of this talent, the title 'Witch' was added to my moniker."
She suddenly pointed a finger at her own face.
'?'
"Young Master. Look me straight in the eyes."
"Pardon?"
What did she mean, look her in the eyes? Though I was doubtful, I instinctively looked where she pointed.
The black pupils within her eyes. Those pupils seemed to be swirling like a whirlpool.
In an instant, my mind grew hazy, and it felt as if my consciousness was being sucked in.
It was right then.
-Thump!
A hot energy surged from my Middle Dantian, and my mind snapped back to clarity. My Innate True Qi had moved on its own.
'What just happened?'
-You stumbled for a second.
'I stumbled?'
-Just for a brief moment.
It was a bizarre phenomenon. The moment I looked into her eyes, I felt like I was being pulled in. But I had experienced this before. When I first met the Blood Hand Witch, my mind had gone hazy the moment I looked at her.
Her reaction then was the same as it was now. A look of surprise flickered in Han Baek-ha's eyes.
"It wasn't a coincidence."
"...What do you mean?"
"To withstand the Illusion Eye twice... you have quite a strong will, Young Master."
Illusion Eye? Was she referring to what just happened? She said I withstood it with willpower, but that wasn't it. For some reason, my Innate True Qi had surged and protected me.
"Pfft."
It was a very small sound, but there was no way we, as martial artists, could miss it. Dam Ye-hwa, standing behind Han Baek-ha, was covering her mouth with her hand. She must have found my stumbling amusing.
"I-I'm sorry, Master."
When everyone looked at her, she was startled and didn't know what to do. To her, Han Baek-ha spoke as if this were a good opportunity.
"Step forward."
"Pardon?"
"Hurry."
Without knowing why, she hesitantly stepped in front of the Blood Hand Witch. Han Baek-ha locked eyes with her. In that moment, Dam Ye-hwa flinched and then looked as if she were about to collapse.
-Tak!
Standing right behind her, I quickly grabbed her by both shoulders. As I held her, strength returned to her legs, and she jerked away from my hands in surprise.
"W-what just happened to me?" Dam Ye-hwa asked, looking bewildered.
"You almost fell over."
"I almost fell over?"
She blinked repeatedly, seemingly unable to believe my words.
-......That's incredible.
I was amazed as well. She was completely unaware of what she had just experienced. Although she snapped out of it with just a light touch, the talent the Blood Hand Witch displayed was truly mysterious.
Seeing my surprise, the Blood Hand Witch spoke.
"It's a type of suggestion."
Suggestion? What did that mean? Han Baek-ha kindly explained.
"When a human falls into a state of confusion or oblivion, they are bound to react subconsciously if given a specific stimulus."
Did that mean she could force someone into a state of oblivion to strike them down? In a way, it was a truly terrifying technique. The martial world is a place where life and death are decided in a mere instant. If one were to fall under this, they would be completely defenseless.
"Hohoho. I can tell what you're thinking."
"Pardon?"
"It's not as easy as you think, Young Master."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The Illusion Eye generally doesn't work well on people with strong willpower or vitality. Even if it does, it's only for a fleeting moment. Just like with you, Young Master. And to perform this, the caster also needs considerable concentration."
It seemed the conditions were more demanding than I thought. Han Baek-ha continued.
"And with a light touch, or..."
-Clap!
She clapped her hands together.
"...even an external shock like this sound, they wake up immediately. In the end, it's difficult to use in a confusing situation or in actual combat where life and death are on the line."
"Ah..."
If a light stimulus was enough to break it, the weakness was indeed glaring. However, it was certainly a useful talent if used to induce a moment of carelessness. Though, if used recklessly, others would certainly become wary.
-So that's why that old geezer blocked your path.
When I first saw her, Hae Ak-cheon had tried to protect me. That meant he was aware of the Illusion Eye. It was a bit disappointing that it was a well-known technique, but it seemed like it would be useful to learn.
She asked me, "Well? Would you like to learn it?"
-Chak!
"I would be honored."
I clasped my hands and bowed in gratitude. Once I accepted, she taught me the essentials and the method of the Illusion Eye via Sound Transmission.
Unlike martial arts, the essentials were more like a type of sorcery, and as she said, they required significant concentration. It was certainly a difficult technique to use haphazardly.
After teaching me the essentials and the method, she also told me a secret story regarding the Illusion Eye.
[The secret manual I found said the Illusion Eye is divided into four stages. The first stage is the method of suggesting to the mind that I just taught you.]
If one falls for this, they enter a state of confusion or, in severe cases, lose consciousness.
[Then, if one masters the Illusion Eye and reaches a higher stage, are there other effects?]
[That's right. But that's impossible.]
[Pardon?]
[Unfortunately, the manual didn't contain the method to strengthen the suggestion of the Illusion Eye further. Half of it was torn away.]
Ah... That was a great shame. But then again, if she had known the subsequent stages, she never would have taught me this talent. She was teaching it to me precisely because it was a technique that could only be used occasionally when eye contact was made or several conditions were met. Moreover, she already knew the countermeasure.
Still, I was curious about the later stages, so I asked.
[Then what are the effects of the other three stages?]
[It was written that the second stage allows you to make the opponent act as you intend. Of course, like the previous stage, the effect doesn't last very long.]
It was fascinating. If the suggestion was strong enough, such a thing was possible.
[Can you make them harm themselves?]
[That probably wouldn't work.]
[Why is that?]
[As I said in the essentials, it's a technique that puts the opponent in a subconscious state and makes them react. Humans protect themselves, whether subconsciously or instinctively.]
In other words, they wouldn't perform an act that harmed themselves. Well, if that were possible, the Blood Hand Witch might have gained an even more fearsome reputation.
[It said that upon reaching the third stage, you can show them hallucinations.]
[Hallucinations?]
[There are some poisons that cause hallucinations. Similarly, it said that upon reaching the third stage of the Illusion Eye, you can cause the opponent to hallucinate and see things that aren't there.]
The more I learned, the more terrifying the Illusion Eye seemed. Whether the effect was short or long, if this were possible, one could strike terror into their opponent. If the first three stages were like this, just how powerful was the final stage?
[What is the final stage?]
[Unfortunately, the explanation for the final stage was where the manual was cut off. The opening phrase said it allows the hallucinations to be perceived by the five senses, but I don't understand what that means either.]
Perceived by the five senses? It sounded like an abstract expression, so like Han Baek-ha said, I couldn't tell what it meant. Regardless, a fully completed Illusion Eye was a truly terrifying technique. Because of that, there were many things to be desired.
-Still, isn't it better than nothing? It'll be useful for something.
I agreed with the Lesser Conversation Sword. Even the first stage alone was definitely useful.
"Now then. I've passed on everything I know. Would you like to try it yourself?"
I nodded at Han Baek-ha's suggestion. I wanted to check immediately if the Illusion Eye would work.
"Yehwa."
"Ye-yes?"
She was startled when her name was called. The Lesser Conversation Sword chuckled at the sight.
-I was wondering why she brought her along, and it turns out it was for this purpose.
I agreed with him. Since Han Baek-ha's other disciples had high martial prowess, it seemed she had brought Dam Ye-hwa along to be used in this way. I felt sorry for her. She was suffering all sorts of strange hardships just because she lost a bet.
Dam Ye-hwa looked at me with a near-tearful expression.
"Give it a try."
Han Baek-ha pointed at her. I felt bad that she had become a test subject, but what could I do?
I locked eyes with Dam Ye-hwa. Then, I focused on my eye power while reciting the essentials Han Baek-ha had taught me. Since I wasn't accustomed to it, it took a bit of time.
"Whew."
It was much harder than I thought. Seeing me struggle with my eyes wide open, Dam Ye-hwa let out a smirk of ridicule.
Seeing that, a thought suddenly occurred to me. If the Illusion Eye were capable of even this stage, maybe I could try it like this...
It was right then.
-Ssh!
Suddenly, Dam Ye-hwa's eyes went blank, and she took off her veil.
"!?"
Not only the Blood Hand Witch Han Baek-ha but also Baek Ryeonha were bewildered by her sudden action. But that wasn't the end of it.
-Sli-ide!
She untied the ribbon of her upper garment and began to take it off.
Panicked, I hurriedly slapped her on the forehead.
"Ouch!"
Dam Ye-hwa's blank eyes returned to normal. Blinking her eyes, she realized the situation when she saw her untied ribbon. Her face turned bright red, and she was about to scream.
"Kyaaa—mph!"
Baek Ryeonha quickly covered her mouth and glared at me as if she were about to kill me.
-What the hell did you do?
The Lesser Conversation Sword asked me. How was I supposed to know? I had just let a stray thought slip in while I was performing the Illusion Eye.
I looked at the Blood Hand Witch in bewilderment, and she was also staring at me with wide eyes, looking as if she couldn't believe what she had just seen.