Do You Know of the Witch?

Sukob and his witch spirit apprentices engaged in exchanges throughout Fort Pence. The divine technique scrolls they brought were highly sought after in the city. Various factions were eager to place large orders for these one-time supernatural items, which even ordinary people could use.

Sukob received invitations from all the major powers. Among them were the Dark Moon General, who had recently taken control of the Royal Court, and the blind prophetess of the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents.

Invitations also came from those who conspired against the Dark Moon General, ambitious individuals scheming in the shadows.

However, Sukob declined all these invitations.

Yet, on this particular day, Sukob found himself unable to decline a formal celebration.

In the palace of the Royal Court

Dignitaries dressed in fine attire began to arrive, each one adding to the palpable anticipation in the air.

The banquet was on the verge of commencing.

Everyone joined in lively discussions about poetry, the rich history of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents, and the remarkable accomplishments preserved within their family records.

The central figure, around whom everyone gathered, was the Dark Moon General.

The Dark Moon General was a charismatic man who appeared quite young.

He stood tall with a martial bearing, his piercing eyes commanding attention.

Standing among the crowd, he shared his vision, explaining his plan to lead them all in creating a new situation for the kingdom.

Even though ordinary people might see his actions as treasonous, he had still managed to gather many supporters.

"I plan to follow the example of the White Tower Alchemy Alliance by dividing the central territories of the Royal Court into several provinces. This country will need all of your help to govern these provinces on behalf of His Majesty, the King of Ten Thousand Serpents."

"The old bureaucratic system can no longer control such a large country. We need a new system."

"The Royal Court is in need of numerous officials, and some level of reform is necessary."

The Dark Moon General paused, then continued with seriousness and sincerity.

"This country needs people who can step forward and take responsibility."

Everyone looked at the Dark Moon General, thinking he meant himself.

He raised his hand and declared, "And those people are all of you present here."

"As long as all of you are willing to step forward, we can save this country and make it strong again. We will never again face the humiliation of being insulted by the barbarians from Thunder Marsh."

The crowd erupted into cheers, with many finding the Dark Moon General's words deeply inspiring.

Yet, scattered among the crowd, some faces showed clear disdain.

Breaking the old order to establish a new system would undoubtedly provoke strong resistance from the old powers. The nobles tied to the old system and those with vested interests would not easily allow the Dark Moon General to implement the provincial system of the White Tower Alchemy Alliance.

Currently, the plan was to divide the central control area of the Royal Court into provinces, but what about the future?

Would the entire Royal Court eventually be divided?

Many great nobles had territories that were states within the state. If the provincial system were implemented and these lands divided, would their territories still belong to them?

But a previous purge had already killed many in the city who dared to oppose the Dark Moon General.

Most of those who dared to resist had been eliminated. His remaining supporters were primarily individuals who had risen through the military ranks with him and who strongly supported his vision.

In the palace, Sukob watched the Dark Moon General.

"To change a country, especially one as vast as the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents."

"Is it truly possible?"

It was clear that the Dark Moon General had traveled to Suinhor and the Land of Sunrise, for he showed a deep understanding of the challenges and circumstances in those nations.

He had also recognized the internal issues of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents and was seeking ways to resolve them.

However, Sukob found little promise in him.

He doubted the general's ability to sustain this already fragmented kingdom.

Perhaps his words sounded beautiful and his assessment of the situation was accurate, but this was not something one person could accomplish alone.

Sukob believed the general's actions would only hasten the kingdom's downfall. This fragile kingdom now faced a man who had seized power, marginalized the king, and was pushing forward drastic reforms without the support of the divine.

What awaited would not be the rebirth experienced by the White Tower Alchemy Alliance, but the burning of the entire land to ashes.

Later in the banquet, the Dark Moon General cautiously proposed relocating the capital of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents to Mooneclipse City in the west. His suggestion immediately stirred an uproar among the attendees.

"What?"

"Move away?"

"I do not wish to leave this place or abandon Fort Pence."

"Mooneclipse City? The palaces there have been abandoned for years. Where would His Majesty the King of Ten Thousand Serpents reside?"

"And what would be the cost of moving there? Is this not a needless waste?"

The Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents once had two capitals: Fort Pence in the east, located at the foot of the Mountain of Life's Origin, and Mooneclipse City in the west, closer to the sea.

As the kingdom's strength increased and the Shepherd's River ensured a steady supply of resources, Mooneclipse City was eventually left behind.

The Dark Moon General's proposal to relocate the capital was not just about changing cities. It carried far deeper implications.

At this point, many people could no longer remain in their seats. Some rose abruptly, voicing their strong objections.

It was evident that the Dark Moon General was laying the groundwork for his national policies and the consolidation of his authority.

If the relocation succeeded, the old power structure would be entirely dismantled. Power would be redistributed, allowing the Dark Moon General to fully implement his national policies and gradually reshape the entire country.

More importantly, Mooneclipse City in the west was closer to the south, making it more convenient for the Royal Court to control its southern territories.

If the capital were in Mooneclipse City, the great nobles in the southern territories, which had slipped from the Royal Court's control, would not remain so comfortable.

The benefits appeared significant.

However, there was one critical issue.

This decision would mean leaving behind the Mountain of Life's Origin, a site considered sacred.

This was something many people absolutely could not tolerate.

The most difficult challenge for the Dark Moon General came from the prophetess of the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents.

The prophetess rose to her feet and asked, "The Mountain of Life's Origin. Are we simply going to abandon it?"

"Are the descendants of Pence truly going to abandon the sacred land our ancestors pioneered?"

"Are the descendants of the Ten Thousand Serpents to leave the very place where the divine beings created life?"

The Dark Moon General replied, "The divine beings are eternal, and so the sacred sites endure."

"Whether we stay or go, it remains sacred and eternal."

"It will always be here."

"But we are mortals. We must consider and prepare for the mortal realm, for this country."

The Dark Moon General hoped the prophetess would yield. This woman might not have immense power or an imposing presence, but her opinion and will carried a weight that surpassed authority and strength.

The blind prophetess refused to back down. She believed the Dark Moon General's actions not only strayed from faith but would lead to the complete disintegration of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents.

"Dark Moon," the prophetess asked, "have you considered this carefully?"

"If the Mountain of Life's Origin is no longer the capital, if this sacred site is lost, and if Fort Pence loses its prestige, will the King of Ten Thousand Serpents still hold the title of King of Ten Thousand Serpents?"

"Will you still be able to act so imperiously?"

The blind prophetess's voice grew louder. "Without this sacred mountain, the entire Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents will lose its central connection."

"No other place can unite the offspring of the Ten Thousand Serpents like this."

"No other power can intimidate everyone in the same way."

"If you leave this place, the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents will cease to be the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents."

The Dark Moon General paused, then spoke.

"I believe what sustains the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents is not just this mountain, but something else."

The blind prophetess raised her head, her eyes filled with darkness.

She could see the pulse of a life flame flickering in that darkness.

In her vision, the Dark Moon General's life flame burned bright and resplendent. It revealed not only his strong physique but also his unbending will and determination.

Surging within his body was an overwhelming desire to change the world and this country. At its core, it was ambition.

For some reason she could not explain, the prophetess felt a deep fear of this burning desire, of this ambition.

This blazing fire might illuminate the darkness, but it could also burn everything to ruins.

During the banquet

An attendant walked up to Sukob and politely requested his presence in a side room.

Sukob met the immensely powerful Dark Moon General, a man who held all the authority of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents without officially wearing the crown.

The Dark Moon General approached Sukob with a demeanor of deep respect.

"Divine Blessed One Sukob."

"I have traveled to many places," he began. "I once visited the City of Fire Protection in Suinhor, but to my regret, I did not meet the Scarlet Goddess's blessed king."

"I also visited the City of Lights in the Land of Sunrise. Sadly, the giant statue of God Iva had collapsed. Even more regrettably, I did not meet the Apostle Oran."

His mention of these regrets marked a significant turn in the conversation.

These regrets lent the seemingly ordinary meeting a unique weight.

Through these simple words, he expressed a deep respect for the man before him and emphasized the importance he attached to this encounter.

"But this time, I have finally fulfilled my dream. A living divine blessed one stands right before me."

The Dark Moon General was charming, seeming less like a battle-hardened general at that moment.

Though his words were respectful, Sukob sensed that the respect was not for his status as a divine blessed one. Instead, it was for the power he wielded, or more precisely, the power of the divine being behind him.

After drawing closer with these flattering words, the general spoke directly.

"You must think I am an ambitious man. Someone who stops at nothing to seize power, who bullied a widow and an orphan to take this country."

"Do you not?"

The general looked at Sukob. Instead of defending himself as one might expect, he simply said,

"You would be right. I am such a person."

"I am an ambitious man. I stop at nothing to seize power. I took this country from the hands of a widow and an orphan."

"But what I want to say is this: this country does not need a good man or a moral saint."

"The Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents has reached a precarious moment. It needs someone, or a group of people, to support it with strength. The previous king proved he could not, and a child certainly cannot."

"So I stepped forward."

"To save this country, to benefit this nation, I will use any method and any means necessary."

Sukob reaffirmed his earlier judgment. This was indeed a charismatic leader, whose every word could move hearts.

Even when speaking of morally questionable actions, he made them sound justified.

Although his words carried an air of self-promotion, when someone genuinely lived by such convictions, it created an entirely different impression.

But Sukob had no interest in any of this.

"General," he said, "I am merely an outsider, a witch spirit detached from the mortal world. We do not involve ourselves in such matters."

"What I think and how I see things do not matter."

The Dark Moon General, realizing Sukob's reluctance to engage, understood that this old man would be difficult to persuade.

He had servants bring wine and desserts, then personally filled Sukob's cup.

After the atmosphere had eased considerably, he began speaking directly about the country.

"The Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents was established quite late, much later than Suinhor. Our era of tribal conflicts continued for hundreds of years, until the King of Ten Thousand Serpents unified the entire Herdsman's Plain and founded this great country."

"Think about it. More than five hundred years have passed."

"A few hundred years ago, the population was smaller, paper did not exist, there were fewer varieties of crops, and ability users were far less common."

"People from a few hundred years ago could never have envisioned the world as it is today."

"They could not imagine snake people craftsmen and workshops producing creations beyond their wildest dreams. They could not envision the successive generations of geniuses from Suinhor inventing tools, authoring masterpieces, and illuminating the world with the brilliance of their civilization."

"They could not imagine generations of alchemists making constant progress. They could not envision the looms and spinning machines of the White Tower Alchemy Alliance, working without end to produce cloth in abundance. They would never have witnessed the thousands of alchemy workshops creating goods that overflow the ports."

"But in the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents?"

"We still rely on systems from hundreds of years ago, remnants from the tribal period that persist to this day."

"The ancient kings would never have imagined how decadent their descendants would become."

At this point, the Dark Moon General seemed somewhat agitated.

"The Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents?"

"It is no longer a royal court. It is a decaying corpse."

"It's rotting, stinking, breeding worms."

"Ignorant, stupid, conservative."

"We do nothing. We change nothing. The entire world moves forward, while we remain stagnant."

"Countless commoners at the bottom wail in misery. They farm the land, they herd, they fish, yet they still cannot eat their fill. They cannot survive."

"Year after year, famines and rebellions erupt. They abandon their elderly in the wilderness to survive alone. They drown their newborns in rivers. They wage wars, over and over, not to achieve anything, but simply to send restless young men to die on the battlefield."

"What kind of world is this?"

The Dark Moon General stood before Sukob, looking at the old man.

"It's time for change."

"If we do not change, this country is finished."

"I have been fighting wars endlessly, sending young men to battle and quelling one rebellion after another."

"But the more I do this, the less hope I can see."

"A few years ago, I went to Suinhor, and then traveled by ship to the Land of Sunrise."

"Suinhor may be in decline, but it has foundations we cannot compare to. The transformations within the White Tower Alchemy Alliance, however, revealed an opportunity to me."

"I saw situations in Suinhor that gave me insights, but it was in the White Tower Alchemy Alliance that I saw something truly different."

"So I returned with a clear understanding of what needed to be done."

The Dark Moon General looked at Sukob with anticipation. "Divine Blessed Sukob, surely you must feel the same way?"

"This country has problems and needs to change."

"I heard you came from a small village in the wastelands. Surely no one understands these issues, these pains, better than you."

It was clear that the Dark Moon General had spoken at length in an effort to win Sukob over to his side.

Sukob regarded the Dark Moon General with a calm expression and replied in a measured tone.

"You speak well, Dark Moon General. Yet, I am of Avel, a small village in the wastelands."

The Dark Moon General paused for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "Avel... that name sounds somewhat familiar."

Sukob made no attempt to conceal it. "A country destroyed by the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents hundreds of years ago. The Avel people were slaughtered, enslaved, and exiled until we could barely be seen again."

The Dark Moon General finally remembered that the Avel people were a group that had disappeared several hundred years ago.

A group long forgotten by most.

The Dark Moon General suddenly felt somewhat awkward, realizing all he had said was like batting eyelashes at a blind person.

Or rather, he had not anticipated that his counterpart would belong to a group that had harbored centuries of resentment toward the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents. After all, there were very few Avel people remaining on Ruhe Beast Island, and most had blended into other groups, leaving their past behind.

The Dark Moon General proposed a new perspective. "That was all from centuries ago. While we cannot change or undo the past, we can at least focus on shaping the future."

"You are blessed by a divine being. Do you not wish to spread faith in that divine being throughout this country?"

"This country is vast. Why can't it accommodate a few more temples?"

Sukob did not agree as readily as the Dark Moon General had imagined. Shaking his head, he replied, "Truly blasphemous words."

"Are you not afraid of angering the divine beings of the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents?"

"The gods do not care about such things," the Dark Moon General said, spreading his hands.

"If the gods do not care, then why should we?"

"If the gods do not mind, why should we worry about their anger? Why can a country not worship multiple divine beings? Is that truly blasphemy?"

"This so-called blasphemy is merely mortal imagination."

Sukob replied, "The arrogance and foolishness of mortals."

"The gods do not care because they have no need to. They transcend the mortal realm. Everything mortals do might have meaning to them, or it might not. Regardless, it cannot affect their greatness."

"But in this world, this mortal realm born from the grace of the divine beings..."

"Do mortals have the right not to care?"

"Do mortals have the ability to bear the possible wrath of the divine beings?"

The Dark Moon General fell into deep thought.

He had encountered many devout believers and many contemptible individuals who committed dirty deeds in the name of the divine beings, but he had never heard anyone analyze the relationship between gods and mortals from this perspective.

Sukob said nothing more and turned to leave.

The Dark Moon General came to his senses and said to Sukob, "You are not just a divine blessed one, but also a wise man."

Sukob opened the door and said only one sentence. "My God is the God of Knowledge and Truth."

Sukob sold all the divine technique scrolls he had brought and purchased a large quantity of needed supplies.

Among the items were rare books, experimental tools, and alchemical artifacts. He also acquired many supernatural materials specifically for witch spirit research.

The most valuable of these were the supernatural materials Sukob required to advance to the apostle level, which were essential for performing the necessary rituals.

This was the reason Sukob had traveled to Fort Pence. These supernatural materials were likely only obtainable in Fort Pence within the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents.

Although Fort Pence remained stable on the surface, Sukob could feel the growing turbulence beneath. It seemed as though an eruption was imminent.

Sukob made preparations to leave.

Two days before his departure, Sukob paid a visit to the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents.

The temple building was immense, resembling an entire city nestled within the larger city.

Looking up, one could see the flames burning brightly on the sacred fire platform.

It was said that the fire was a demon that had existed for hundreds of years.

The guards at the temple stopped him.

"I wish to visit the temple's book collection room. I have received permission."

As a witch spirit and a devout believer in the God of Knowledge and Truth, Sukob could not come to Fort Pence and overlook its legendary library, the temple's book collection room.

Under the guidance of a temple servant, Sukob entered the temple.

The temple was filled with buildings and winding corridors.

Sukob arrived at a secluded place deep within the temple and entered the book collection room, which was renowned throughout the land.

There were indeed many books here, though not as many as legend claimed.

Nevertheless, Sukob was still excited. A witch spirit's craving for books and knowledge was inscribed deep in their soul.

"Text!"

"History!"

"Heritage!"

"Everything about the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents is recorded here."

Sukob believed that text was among the most important things in the world, as it was through text that civilization emerged.

It was because of written language that people could be called people, setting them apart from animals.

Even after thousands or tens of thousands of years, when many things had disappeared, text would continue to preserve what once existed.

The old man, Sukob, immersed himself in the sea of books, a smile spreading across his face. He read through many volumes, losing himself in their contents, not even leaving as night fell.

His plan was to continue reading until the day of his departure.

Besides the books, he also found some broken clay tablets with inscribed text in a corner.

"Ancient clay tablets? Could these be things from hundreds or thousands of years ago?"

Sukob carefully picked up a piece of the clay tablet, fearing he might break it, though it was already shattered beyond recognition.

After examining it for a long time, Sukob sighed.

"A pity. The words are no longer legible."

A voice came from behind. "The passage of time is long enough to wear away most things in this world."

"These books, these clay tablets, and many things here, including the people, will not endure for thousands of years."

Sukob turned and saw the speaker was the prophetess of the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents.

Her voice had a pessimistic, even desolate quality.

"I apologize for disturbing you," the young prophetess said, bowing respectfully to Sukob.

"Not at all," Sukob replied, returning the bow. "Meeting the temple's prophetess is an honor."

"And I must thank you for allowing me to view the temple's collection."

Though her power was not strong, her significance was different.

In a sense, she too was a blessed one, with a divine being behind her.

The prophetess likely did not realize which divine being was guiding her or whose power allowed her to see those visions.

Sukob paused for a moment, considering the prophetess's words carefully before responding.

"While these books, clay tablets, objects, and even you and I may fade away with time, text will endure."

"It will preserve everything about us, sharing our stories with those who come after."

The blind prophetess wore a blindfold, and in the firelight, one could see her delicate face.

Though she had lost her eyes, one still felt that she could somehow see into the depths of a person's heart.

"I have come to you because I have a doubt, and also an invitation."

Sukob had a sense of what the invitation might be about. He decided to ask directly.

"What is it that troubles you?"

The blind prophetess replied, "How can we save this country?"

"How can we delay the coming disaster?"

Sukob did not want to get involved in such trouble and could only pretend not to understand.

"How can it be saved?"

"Is everything not fine now?"

The blind prophetess said, "On the night the king died, while praying to the divine beings, I saw the gods cast their gaze upon the mortal world."

"I saw apostles walking the earth, and disaster falling upon this country."

At that time, the prophetess had also seen Sukob being summoned by the God of Knowledge and Truth.

The blind prophetess looked at Sukob. "Something big is about to happen, is it not?"

"Apostles are coming to the mortal world, one after another. This must be a secret concerning the gods."

Sukob remained silent. This question was even more difficult to answer than the previous one.

The blind prophetess stood in the faint firelight. Its weak glow shone on her fair, smooth skin, giving it a luminous, ceramic-like quality.

If a young man faced such a request and inquiry from a blind woman, he might not be able to resist.

However, Sukob was an old man who had endured countless storms in his life.

He preferred silent observation and waiting to see what would unfold.

Not getting the answer she wanted, the blind prophetess continued with her request.

"Dark Moon believes his actions can make a difference," she said softly. "He believes he can save everything through his own strength."

"But his actions will only push this country into the abyss."

"I want to ask for your help. Help us save this country."

"He knows nothing, and I cannot see the future clearly."

"We see the storm approaching from afar. We see the great ship about to capsize. Yet we do not know why the storm comes."

Sukob had not expected this blind woman to make such a blunt request.

"How can we stop him?"

"Would stopping him save everything? Without him, would this country not still fall into the abyss?"

"Prophetess of the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents, what capsizes this great ship is not the approaching storm, nor is it related to the gods."

"It is that this ship," Sukob said, "is already full of holes."

The blind prophetess fell silent. After a long while, she continued.

"I do not know."

"I truly do not know what to do."

"But I have already sensed it. I have sensed the coming disaster."

"I am powerless. I have no strength."

"So I hope you will help us."

The blind snake woman said, "I do not want to kill anyone. I do not know if Dark Moon is right or wrong."

"But I know that when disaster comes, we are powerless to resist."

"Neither Dark Moon, nor I."

"I just do not want to stand by and watch helplessly," she said, her voice trembling, "as the visions I have foreseen come to pass."

Sukob understood what the snake woman was trying to say.

The Land of Sunrise was under the protection of the God of Alchemy. This ensured that everything remained within a manageable scope, allowing the most crucial transition to be completed.

Suinhor also had the Scarlet Goddess. Though it was an old and broken ship, no one knew what plans the Scarlet Goddess might have next. However, when it was about to capsize, there would still be a divine being to catch it.

Only the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents remained, standing precariously without divine intervention or apostle-level power to stabilize it.

This fragile state created a single, glaring vulnerability. Should cracks appear, countless evil spirits could exploit the chaos, spiraling the disaster beyond anyone's control.

It was a perilous moment, a turning point in history.

Here, in the ungoverned Herdsman's Plain, the heart of Ruhe Beast Island, the tension was palpable.

To most, it was imperceptible, like an invisible storm brewing in the distance. Yet, this blind woman before him, with her unique sight, seemed to have glimpsed its shadow or sensed its tremors.

The blind prophetess did not express herself very clearly. She was a woman who had lived deep within the temple all her life, a believer who had sacrificed her eyes since childhood to live in darkness as a prophetess.

She was not as eloquent as the Dark Moon General, not as skilled at stirring hearts.

Sukob could feel that she was not using any schemes or strategies against him.

At the same time, he sensed the prophetess's helplessness and confusion in her words.

Sukob felt sympathy for the prophetess. Perhaps it was because she was a young girl who had lost her sight in childhood and been confined to these depths, or perhaps it was because of her words.

But he still did not intend to intervene in this matter. "I have been a believer in God my entire life."

"I do not think too much. I simply follow God's will."

Sukob used very tactful words but firmly rejected the prophetess.

"What God tells me to do, I do."

"If God does not speak, I will not act."

The blind prophetess raised her head. "What if the lofty gods never send down a divine oracle?"

Sukob fell silent. He recalled the legends and stories of the Avel people from long, long ago.

He recalled the hero Xiuborn, who saved the Avel people. He was a steadfast believer in the Life Sovereign, yet was ultimately blessed by the God of Knowledge and Truth. The Life Sovereign, however, never once turned their gaze toward him.

The blind prophetess lowered her head, looking somewhat dejected.

"We have no divine protection."

"When the storm arrives, we find ourselves uncertain and unsure."

"Once the storm has passed, what will be left of us?"

Sukob hesitated. Then, out of gratitude for her allowing him into the ancient library, he decided to reveal some information.

Though he did not plan to intervene, as a prospective apostle of the God of Knowledge and Truth, the information and knowledge he possessed exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.

And sometimes, this knowledge and information could change a country or even a race.

"The Life Sovereign is among the most powerful of the divine beings," Sukob said.

"They are the creator of life itself."

"But the divine being does not protect us," the prophetess said, looking at Sukob with confusion.

"I seek guidance from the divine beings, yet do not know where to find it."

Sukob replied, "Perhaps you have not yet discovered your true protector."

"The sovereign divine being has already granted you protection, but you do not yet know how to wield this power, so you continue to plead without purpose."

"Or perhaps the protector has been with you all along, yet you fail to recognize them."

Sukob continued, "This land where we stand, the entire Ruhe Beast Island, is the domain of the Life Sovereign. It is the backyard of this great deity."

The prophetess was stunned, still not understanding Sukob's meaning.

Sukob opened his mouth and said in a somewhat hoarse voice,

"Do you know..."

"Of the witch?"