Yu Cheongrim’s eyes widened. “What does that mean?”
“She…”
Whoosh!
At that moment, the Black-and-White Witch’s hair spread into hundreds of strands, surging toward Bu Eunseol.
Swish!
Bu Eunseol’s black sword spun like a windmill, shredding the oncoming hair into pieces.
Thud, thud, thud!
The Black-and-White Witch extended her long fingers, moving them as if playing an instrument in the air. Powerful forces poured from above and both sides, wrapping around Bu Eunseol as if to tear him apart.
“Hmph.” With a scoff, Bu Eunseol lightly swung his black sword, and with a whooshing sound, the forces vanished. This was a technique of righteous swordsmanship, dispersing her sharp energy like vapor into the air.
It was the ultimate of the Heavenly Sword’s Myriad Phenomena Sword Style, Shifting Heaven’s force.
Thud, thud, thud!
As her forces were instantly nullified, the Black-and-White Witch moved her fingers rapidly in the air. With each graceful, butterfly-like motion, the number of forces multiplied into dozens, then hundreds, raining down.
“Not a chance.” Bu Eunseol, mimicking Myriad Phenomena Sword Style repeatedly, dispersed the forces like mist.
Flash!
Closing the distance in an instant, he swung to decapitate her, but—
Swish!
The Black-and-White Witch’s body turned into an afterimage and vanished, reappearing behind Yu Cheongrim.
Was she planning to take him hostage to escape?
“Move!” A sharp cry came from above, and a mountain-like fist force descended on the Black-and-White Witch behind Yu Cheongrim.
Boom!
The force was so immense that the ground shook, and dust billowed everywhere.
“She’s not here!” Yu Cheongrim shouted as the dust cleared.
Looking around, the Black-and-White Witch had vanished without a trace.
“She escaped my eyes? No way,” So Okrim, landing beside Yu Cheongrim, closed her eyes and perked her ears.
She was using a listening technique to track the Black-and-White Witch’s movements.
“Damn it, she’s already gone,” So Okrim said, opening her eyes and shaking her head. “Unbelievable. Was her prowess this great?”
Her heightened senses, like Bu Eunseol’s, extended nearly a hundred yards. Could the Black-and-White Witch’s martial arts have reached the Supreme Realm, allowing her to move hundreds of yards in an instant?
“It’s not her martial arts,” Bu Eunseol said calmly. “The witch is using a technique that confuses the senses.”
“Confuses the senses? How do you know?”
“My sect’s martial arts include a secret technique called Mind’s Eye, which detects the flow of air.”
“Detects the flow of air?”
“Yes. Even if she transformed into an insect to escape, she couldn’t fool my senses,” Bu Eunseol said confidently. “But she vanished without a trace, so she must be using a technique to confuse the senses.”
“Hmm.” Realizing the truth in his words, So Okrim’s expression darkened. “Is she really a descendant of the Blood Emperor?”
She touched her forehead, muttering, “Come to think of it, when we first chased her, it was one person, but later it split into two paths. It seems…”
“Why did you both disappear?” Yu Cheongrim shouted, aggrieved. “You promised to protect me, but you both vanished! I almost died!”
“Hey, you think I’d break a promise?” So Okrim sighed. “While we were secretly watching you, the Black-and-White Witch suddenly appeared behind us.”
“What? No way!”
“It’s true,” she said with utmost seriousness. “We immediately chased her, but her body suddenly split into two paths. So we each followed one.”
Yu Cheongrim recalled Bu Eunseol’s words: The Black-and-White Witch isn’t just one person.
That strange statement was true.
“So there are three Black-and-White Witches?” Yu Cheongrim asked.
“I don’t know,” So Okrim replied. “But the one I chased vanished like she evaporated. I thought it was a trap, so I came back to you.”
Looking at Bu Eunseol, she saw him nod. “Same here.”
“No way,” Yu Cheongrim clutched his hair. “Three witches with such terrifying power? This is an unwinnable fight!”
As he trembled in despair, Bu Eunseol crouched down, closely examining where the Black-and-White Witch had stood. Raising his Mind's Eye, a faint white light began to emanate from his eyes.
Invisible faint footprints became visible to him.
‘Could it be?’ Footprints were traces of continuous human movement—head, shoulders, hips, calves, knees. By analyzing them closely, one could deduce stride length, movement patterns, and even height.
‘I see.’
Bu Eunseol recalled the finger movements of the Black-and-White Witch as she unleashed her forces.
A lightning-like realization flashed through his mind.
“We might be able to find her easily,” he said.
“How?” So Okrim brightened.
Bu Eunseol said calmly, “There’s a high chance the Black-and-White Witch is a courtesan.”
“A courtesan?”
“Given her age, she likely isn’t serving clients directly but probably runs a pleasure house.”
So Okrim shook her head, incredulous. “Someone with supreme martial arts capable of evading our pursuit is running a pleasure house?”
“It’s just a hypothesis, but I’m certain she’s from a courtesan background,” Bu Eunseol said with confident eyes. “When she unleashed her forces and moved, I saw habits ingrained from years in a pleasure house.”
“Habits of a courtesan? What’s that?”
“Cortesans, no matter their posture, habitually try to enhance their appearance and charm,” Bu Eunseol said, looking at where the Black-and-White Witch had vanished. “They’re aware of their body’s lines, mastering angles and movements that highlight their beauty, and habitually adopt those postures.”
He explained in detail the movements and gait the Black-and-White Witch had displayed.
“In other words, she’s been living with the habits of her courtesan days ingrained in her, without realizing it.”
“A courtesan,” So Okrim mused, smacking her lips. “Well, the Blood Emperor was a gambler, so it’s not entirely impossible.”
Among the dark pool and unorthodox masters, some came from gambling dens, pleasure houses, or the underworld.
Since the Blood Emperor’s martial arts were of the unorthodox path, his successors might have chosen people from similar backgrounds.
“But she doesn’t seem like a descendant of the Blood Emperor,” So Okrim said.
“I agree,” Bu Eunseol said, looking faintly at the distant sky. “Her techniques don’t match the Blood Emperor’s martial arts.”
If the Black-and-White Witch wasn’t a descendant of the Blood Emperor, was there a need to waste precious time chasing her?
The martial world was full of villains.
Beyond the Black-and-White Witch, countless demonic practitioners committed evil deeds, and capturing them would only boost one’s fame.
In truth, Bu Eunseol had no interest in the martial world’s politics or gaining fame.
Shouldn’t an elder who’s lived even a year longer take responsibility?
In his mind, he saw Bukgung Ryeong, ready to venture into the island to protect righteous heroes. Without expecting reward, he safeguarded the martial world, even now hiding under false accusations to prevent the Ten Calamities Incident.
If you have more than others, you should give back.
Bukgung Ryeong’s voice morphed into the warm tone of Bu Zhanyang.
Despite barely affording a bowl of noodles, Bu Zhanyang respectfully prepared the dead for burial, clothing them in shrouds out of compassion.
‘Does it matter if it’s righteous or unorthodox?’ Obsessed with revenge, Bu Eunseol had ignored everything else.
But having inherited Bu Zhanyang’s teachings, the spirit of a righteous hero now stood tall in his heart.
“Still, we should catch her, right?” So Okrim said, as if reading his thoughts.
Snapping out of his reverie, Bu Eunseol said calmly, “Of course.”
“The Blood Emperor?” Yu Cheongrim’s face paled, as if he’d seen a cursed doll. “What’s that now?”
So Okrim waved her hand dismissively. “You don’t need to know.”
“No, I’m risking my life here. Shouldn’t I know?” Yu Cheongrim protested.
Reluctantly, So Okrim roughly explained why they were chasing the Black-and-White Witch.
“I see,” Yu Cheongrim said, inwardly relieved.
He had thought So Okrim was just a bounty hunter after the Black-and-White Witch’s reward. But now, it seemed she was doing something rather noble.
“Alright, assuming she’s a courtesan. What else?” So Okrim asked.
Bu Eunseol spoke, “Her height is about five feet eight inches. She has a slender build with developed shoulders. Also…”
From her stride alone, Bu Eunseol was estimating her height, build, knee thickness, chest, waist, thighs, and hip width.
In short, he knew almost everything about her except her face.
“Impressive,” So Okrim said, mouth agape, pointing at the Black-and-White Witch’s footprints. “You can deduce so much from just footprints?”
“Brother Seol must be a former constable,” Yu Cheongrim said, smiling as if recalling something. “Constables at the government office deduce all sorts of things from stride, shoes, and wear patterns.”
He smiled faintly, lost in memory. “When I was a kid, I didn’t know that and left footprints everywhere. Got caught by constables and beaten half to death. Haha.”
“Hey, is that something to brag about? Stealing since you were a kid?” So Okrim scolded.
“Of course,” Yu Cheongrim said, puffing out his chest. “Think the title of Divine Thief came for free? It’s from bone-grinding effort and trial and error since childhood.”
So Okrim looked at him with disdain as he boasted, then recalled something. “But finding her by build alone seems tough.” She stroked her chin. “If there are a hundred courtesans, seventy or eighty would have that build.”
Most courtesans were around five feet four to five inches tall with slender figures.
“Even your estimated build could have errors. And with clothes on, how do you distinguish her build?”
Bu Eunseol answered firmly, “I can distinguish it.”
“Master Seol, even if that’s true, there’s a problem,” Yu Cheongrim said seriously. “The Black-and-White Witch has evaded countless pursuits. She might realize you’ve figured out she’s a courtesan.”
As a Divine Thief, he considered various scenarios.
Especially since the Black-and-White Witch now knew masters like Bu Eunseol and So Okrim were after her, she’d likely be even more cautious.
“That’s actually a good thing. It means we can find her faster,” Bu Eunseol said.
So Okrim’s eyes widened. “How?”
“Disguise yourself with her build, cover your face, and wander the red-light district. It’s simple,” Bu Eunseol explained slowly. “If you match her build and move around with your face covered, someone who knows her will surely recognize her.”
“I see,” So Okrim exclaimed in admiration.
People may seem to recognize others by appearance alone, but they unconsciously store information about body lines, gait, and movements.
Bu Eunseol planned to use this to find someone who knew the hidden Black-and-White Witch.
“But who’s going to disguise as her?” So Okrim asked.
Bu Eunseol looked at Yu Cheongrim.
Aside from lacking a large chest and hips, his height was about five feet five inches with a slender build. With his face covered, he could pass for a thin woman.
“I know her measurements and gait precisely, so I can perfectly disguise…” Bu Eunseol began.
Before he could finish, Yu Cheongrim grabbed his right arm and dropped to his knees. “Great Hero Seol, please spare me.”
“We’re almost there. Just hold on a bit longer.”
“I can’t do this anymore. Just kill me,” Yu Cheongrim said, tears streaming down his face as he clasped his hands.
His pitiful crying might have evoked sympathy, but So Okrim coaxed him in an even softer voice. “You’ve already seen the Black-and-White Witch’s face twice. Once things calm down, she’ll definitely come for you.”
“Heroine So.”
“If you don’t handle this properly now, you’ll be her number-one target.”
“I’d rather die being chased. I can’t do this anymore; it’s too terrifying,” Yu Cheongrim said, his eyes brimming with tears but his expression resolute.
Seeing that persuasion wasn’t working, So Okrim sighed and grabbed his shoulder. “Dying while being chased sounds like your wishful thinking.”
“What does that—” His words were cut off as she pressed his shoulder’s pressure point with immense strength.
“Urgh!”
“Die now, or die being chased?” So Okrim asked.
Crack.
His shoulder hurt so much it felt like his arm would fall off.
Yu Cheongrim wanted to cry.
But the unbearable pain made his tears dry up.
“Ugh…” Why did he have to steal Ouyang Chun’s sword when this monstrous So Okrim was around, leading to this catastrophe?
‘After this, I’ll never steal again!’
“Please… let go and talk,” he said.
As his eyes rolled back from the pain, So Okrim quickly released him. “Oh, and there’s a perk.”
With a kind expression, she said, “You’ll gain a favor from someone like me. Do you know how big that is?” She pointed at Bu Eunseol. “And you’ve probably noticed, but he’s someone with serious influence. This won’t be a loss for you.”
Yu Cheongrim shook his head.
Even if So Okrim and Bu Eunseol were imperial descendants, he didn’t want this job.
But as she reached for his shoulder again, he flinched and hurriedly said, “Alright.”
He wanted to slap his own mouth, but So Okrim beamed and wrapped her arm around him warmly. “Good, good. Smart thinking.”
Yu Cheongrim suddenly wondered.
Who said you can’t spit in the face of a smiling person?
If he could, he’d spit at So Okrim’s beaming face until his throat ran dry.
“This time, I’ll make sure to catch her. Don’t worry,” she said.
Yu Cheongrim wanted to punch her smiling face but forced a smile and nodded. “Then, I’m counting on you.”
***
Yu Cheongrim ventured into the night streets again, this time disguised not as the Black-and-White Witch but as a middle-aged woman in luxurious clothes, her face veiled.
Bu Eunseol, knowing the Black-and-White Witch’s build well, used cotton and rubber to completely alter Yu Cheongrim’s figure.
Dressed in lavish clothing, with a hat and a veil covering his face, he looked every bit like the madam of a pleasure house.
Wander around the drinking houses in the area like this. Someone who knows her might recognize you.
If the Black-and-White Witch ran a pleasure house, she’d likely be in a bustling metropolis, not a small village. Bu Eunseol had disguised Yu Cheongrim and instructed him to roam the red-light district in Pyeongdo’s most vibrant area.
Swish.
Suddenly, armed martial artists poured out from an alley, surrounding Yu Cheongrim.
‘What now?’ As Yu Cheongrim, startled, tilted his veiled head, a dignified middle-aged man stepped forward from the group.
His appearance was refined, but his eyes were sharp, filled with authority.
His sleeve bore the emblem of the Martial Alliance: two phoenixes in flight.
It was Baek Unsaeng, the leader of the Martial Alliance’s Shandong branch.
‘Why’s this guy here?’ Yu Cheongrim thought, clutching his chest.
“I am Baek Unsaeng, head of the Martial Alliance’s Shandong branch,” he declared loudly. “Kneel at once.”
Yu Cheongrim frowned.
‘Did they catch me for stealing from the Shandong branch?’
Three months ago, he had stolen a Jade Joyful Buddha statue from the Shandong branch. Seeing Baek Unsaeng himself leading the group, it seemed they had relentlessly investigated that incident.
“Finally caught you,” Baek Unsaeng said with a proud expression. “We’ve been secretly investigating your appearances in this area.”
As Yu Cheongrim stepped back in panic, Baek Unsaeng, thinking he had the upper hand, smiled. “Trying to escape, Black-and-White Witch?”
‘What?’ Realizing the situation, Yu Cheongrim’s eyes widened.
Due to So Okrim’s coercion, he had been impersonating the Black-and-White Witch in Pyeongdo. But Baek Unsaeng had mistakenly tracked Yu Cheongrim’s movements and assumed he was the Black-and-White Witch.
“Kneel!” Baek Unsaeng said solemnly, holding out the Martial Alliance’s phoenix badge. “Or you’ll be executed on the spot per the Alliance’s laws!”
Flap, flap!
Yu Cheongrim, lips sealed, waved his hands side to side. If he spoke and revealed his male voice, all his efforts would be for naught.
‘You idiots! It’s not me!’
“Resisting, are you?” Baek Unsaeng laughed scornfully.
Convinced he had found the Black-and-White Witch, he had brought over a hundred elite martial artists from the Shandong branch. No matter how skilled she was, she couldn’t defeat a hundred top-tier warriors.
‘You stupid Martial Alliance fools!’ Yu Cheongrim thought, fuming.
Unaware of his frustration, Baek Unsaeng pointed with a triumphant expression. “Arrest that witch immediately!”
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