Chapter 95

The Moonsewing Guild.

For some reason, now I understand why I was summoned to a cave deep underground. The Moonsewing Guild is embedded at the base of stone pillars rising out from lakes located to the east and south.

After heading to the main hall with the Heavenly Horse, we took an elevator down, boarded a boat, and traveled further out toward another pillar. Only then did I finally arrive at their location.

Of course, this was all thanks to the memories of Gyeong-yong and the Heavenly Horse.

As soon as I stood at the entrance, a guide appeared.

Following him, I glanced around and noticed the atmosphere was different.

Unlike the members of the Heavenly Horse Sect who walk around revealing their faces in colorful, individualistic attire, most people here wore plain clothes that concealed their faces.

However, everyone’s outfits weren’t exactly identical. Some had differently colored knots or variations in the hats they wore on their heads.

This was likely done to easily indicate rank through their clothing.

And everyone had more than two lights embedded in their bodies.

What kind of life is it living like that?

While looking around, I entered a room. The interior was shrouded in smoke. Is this an opium den or something?

In the middle of the room sat a person whose face was hidden.

“Head of the Moonsewing Guild.”

“Ho ho! Isn’t this Lord Heavenly Horse? To bring such a thing here… What brings you to grace us with your presence?”

I wasn’t really welcomed.

Judging by the voice, it was a man. But there’s no guarantee this person is truly the guild leader. Still, I could extract information once I convert him into a harvester.

“Hello. I’ve come to offer myself to you.”

With the Heavenly Horse nearby, it’s best to cut straight to the point.

If this guy starts talking circles, I might not be able to win. He could even find my weaknesses from what I say.

So let’s just get it over with.

“Aha, so you wish to transform me into someone like Lord Heavenly Horse? Even though it’s not a blessing.”

Then the so-called head of the Moonsewing Guild pointed out the dangers of the harvester system. This move is clear—trying to sow doubt in the Heavenly Horse.

I have no intention of letting him keep talking.

Because even without speaking, once I turn him into a harvester, I can obtain his memories.

I stepped forward.

Click. Something mechanical moved.

Snick.

Heavenly Horse immediately extended his sword and severed the steel wires. He saw the mechanical device moving through his eyes.

Of course, given how much the world has recovered, having your head chopped off might regenerate after a couple tries—but areas damaged once tend to weaken, so caution is necessary.

I clearly indicated that I’m not interested in conversation.

“This is a notification.”

“Ho ho! Lord Heavenly Horse, will you just stand by and watch this? This is practically an act of aggression against our Moonsewing Guild. If you leave this monster unchecked, surely you’ve witnessed firsthand what might happen?”

Though the content was urgent, his tone wasn’t.

It was almost teasing.

Doing something forbidden means regretting it later, aimed at the Heavenly Horse.

“Heh. Head of the Moonsewing Guild.”

But the Heavenly Horse remained calm. The Moonsewing Guild Leader flinched slightly and lowered his voice.

“You’ll regret this.”

“When did the guild leader start questioning my orders?”

Indeed, it’s still the Heavenly Horse.

Are you really going to stick to those words back then? The Heavenly Horse stared directly at the Moonsewing Guild Leader.

“Thousand years, thousand years, ten thousand years.”

Then he walked towards me while sarcastically muttering those words. I recited the contract to him.

“I’ll give myself to you. In return, when you’ve completed everything, I’ll take everything you possess. How does that sound?”

The Moonsewing Guild Leader remained silent for a long time before answering heavily.

“You always say the same thing. Fine. Let’s do it that way.”

I grabbed the light inside him and tried to dye it my color. Or rather, attempted to dye it. But something strange was attached, preventing me from coloring more than half of it.

Ah.

This.

I get it. When I first entered this body, there was something similar attached to one of my eyeballs. Someone else had already made a contract with this guy.

That’s claiming ownership.

So I licked the light. The obtained memory was about half of what I should have gotten.

Just half, but still half.

Still a lot of memory gained. Most importantly, I learned that although this person holds the title of guild leader, he isn’t the highest authority in the Moonsewing Guild.

“Double contract.”

Faintly, I sensed a victorious smile forming on his face.

“Double contract?”

The Heavenly Horse asked curiously. So I replied:

“The person this guy serves isn’t you, Heavenly Horse.”

If it were only warmth, I could snatch it away anytime with this weak connection, but I decided not to.

Instead, I said:

“Call the one you follow. Insom.”

“Eh? How do you know my name!”

For the first time, he shouted in panic. From skimming through the half-memory, I learned that this world places great importance on names. They try to hide them as much as possible, so he was surprised that I knew.

I pointed at him with my finger.

“It’s called a double contract, but that doesn’t mean no contract was made, right?”

Gradually, over time, his light will completely turn dark violet. The boundaries of the light are slowly being peeled away by another entity’s touch.

Well.

Anyway, after gaining the memory and warmth, I could afford to give up the light.

But something remains unmoving. Perhaps it requires direct conversation with the person themselves, or maybe they’re refusing to let go.

In that case, there’s only one option.

That person is also a target for conversion into a harvester.

Anyway, right now, the people present likely think I can only know names. There’s no need to hesitate using already leaked information.

Given this world’s culture values names highly, I can make them misinterpret it as if I’ve already taken everything important.

“Surely you didn’t think you could get away with just verbal contracts, did you? Bring them here quickly.”

Even though I couldn’t pinpoint their exact location, I could verify if the person is correct or not.

“Heavenly Horse! Kill this person immediately! This is an unprecedented evil spirit from beyond the bounds of Heaven! Its contract alone can strip a person of all existence, leaving behind an empty shell! We have ways to escape its grasp. If we don’t drive it out of this world immediately, the Heavenly Horse Sect will face great calamity!”

Insom screamed wildly, trying to negotiate with the Heavenly Horse.

I looked at the Heavenly Horse and pointed at this guy.

“He’s saying there’s someone more important than the Heavenly Horse.”

“That’s how it sounds to me too.”

After saying that, the Heavenly Horse extended his hand, covering the surroundings with a dark violet energy.

Hmm.

This feels familiar, but something’s different?

Maybe it’s the difference between raw meat and amino acids. I’m the amino acids, and what’s surrounding me now is the meat. It’s not just protein—it’s mixed with other things.

Then the Heavenly Horse uses that energy to lift the person up and strangle their neck.

What’s this called again?

Force Grip?

Right after, faded memories flood in, showing the word “suction from the air.”

Isn’t that pretty much the same thing?

Aaaah.

Faded memories rush in like a storm. Simultaneously, it feels like I’ve been scratched. These memories.

While I was reminiscing about old memories, the Heavenly Horse interrogated Insom.

“I didn’t know there was someone above me in the Heavenly Horse Sect.”

Coughing and scratching his own throat, it seems he can’t grab onto the energy with just his hands.

At that moment, one of the lights on his head moved quickly. Then it pierced through where his eyes were and came out.

The cloth covering his face tore open, and an eel-like fish shot out.

Insom groaned painfully while writhing in agony. Well, obviously, since that thing is messing with his brain.

I see signs of movements intended to kill.

So I approached and grabbed the head of the fish.

“I found you.”

Then I shoved my fingers into its gills.

Since I interrupted him mid-sentence, he couldn’t finish properly. These kinds of things happen often—speaking through subordinates’ voices.

Thought it was just something from fiction, but apparently, it happens in reality too.

These are just annoying elements.

“Come talk to me directly. Rude thing.”

The substance of the fish stabs at me? That’s an attack, huh?

While stealing its warmth, I ripped off its neck. Need to collect warmth, hehe.

Immediately, a strong fishy smell filled the air as the fish died.

Then the man collapsed, spitting out blood foam.

The man lying there, coughing and in pain, I sense his hand reaching out to grab the light. Taking the light would be fine, but it’s irritating here.

“Insom. Poor human. If you want to live, renounce the one you serve and pledge allegiance to me.”

I’ve discovered something while handling several contracts.

Words hold more power than expected. Like how the contract connects to me simply by reciting it while thinking of me.

“Say it’s good. Say you’ll betray the other for me.”

I encourage betrayal.

“Then I’ll save you.”

Actually, it’s closer to him surviving on his own after I say that.

I gently held his hand and spoke kindly.

“Just one word. Yes. Just one word.”

I whispered softly.

People will do anything to avoid the greatest pain. Whether belief or faith, it doesn’t matter. In unbearable situations, the body instinctively struggles for survival.

Like how I struggle to gain warmth.

You need to do the same.

If his mind were clearer, he might choose death, but how about now with his brain damaged?

I kept persuading him repeatedly…

“Yes.”

Finally, he accepted while spitting out blood foam.

Hehe.

The hand holding his light was repelled, and I infused myself into the light. Making sure no white spots remained. I packed it tightly.

I filled all the incomplete memories.

Simultaneously, his body cracked like pottery, tearing his clothes. Blue skin was revealed beneath. And amidst the shattered fragments of his head and torn fabric, purple hair became visible.

“Eh, eh, eeh?”

He dumbly stares at his fingertips. His blue skin is exposed.

“Congratulations on your betrayal. Or should I put it this way?”

I stood before him and said:

“You’ve committed apostasy.”

Bloodletting Mystic Art. This guy believed in a different religion, not the Heavenly Horse Sect.

The man in faded memories ponders.

Even though having a Blood Cult within a Demon Sect is traditional, is it really traditional?

If it’s a religion believing in immortals instead of gods, shouldn’t it be Taoism?

Terms like Qi Accumulation Stage or Decision Stage—are they just distorted Taoist terms rather than Immortal Hero terms?

Is this world even Martial Arts Fiction to begin with?

Although I already knew it wasn’t, I wonder why he keeps pondering.

While fragmented memories splintered, I removed the shredded cloth covering the man’s head.

The man who abandoned his faith and chose reality looked up at me and the Heavenly Horse with a terrified expression.

I smiled back at his gaze.

“Congratulations.”

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