Chapter 425: It’s a Snake (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 425: It’s a Snake (2)
What the hell was I supposed to do with this?
I stared back at the snake staring at me. Its yellow eyes and crimson scales were unmistakable.
This little bastard…
It looks exactly like the snake I just killed.
No matter how long I looked, the conclusion was the same. Not that it was the strangest thing to happen tonight.
The red demon that appeared in the river was a Red Water Snake. They're a type of demon that inhabits any body of water, from rivers to oceans. While their size is immense, even for a Red Demon, they aren't particularly difficult to hunt; their bulk makes them slow. The real annoyance is that they live in the water.
And on top of that…
They use poison, as I recall.
Their fangs carry a lethal venom, and I remember them being capable of spewing poison from their mouths. Yet, the Red Demon I fought earlier did none of those things. I suppose some individuals might not use poison…
But it's still strange.
Not only did it call me 'great one,' but it also felt like it was deliberately holding back from attacking me. Why? Why me?
It was bizarre enough for a demon to speak, but for it to act like an ally? That was the greatest mystery.
And it's the same with this little bastard.
I shifted my gaze back to the small Red Water Snake, which was looking up at me with an almost innocent expression. This thing was my biggest headache right now. What even was it?
I frowned the moment I laid eyes on it.
I almost died because of this bastard.
After retrieving the Demonic Stone from the dead snake, I inspected it and felt a peculiar sensation from within. Just by touch, I knew. I felt a faint, strange fetal movement coming from the stone.
A fetal movement? From a Demonic Stone? What was that supposed to mean? I was so shocked I nearly inhaled a mouthful of river water.
The bigger surprise was that, the instant I felt it, I instinctively knew how to hatch the thing.
Crack-!
Yes, hatch a creature from the Demonic Stone. I had no idea what would emerge, but I was certain of the process. So, what was next?
I didn't have time to think. Before a coherent thought could form, I was already channeling my energy into the stone, as if bewitched.
This is…
The process was simple. Instead of absorbing energy from the stone using my Demonic Absorption Art, I had to inject my Demonic Qi into it. It was the same method I used to turn humans into Demonic Humans, just applied to a stone. It was a mystery how I knew to do it; it felt like a forgotten memory resurfacing.
But there was a problem…
Why are you eating so much…!
The Demonic Stone devoured my Qi at a ravenous, insane rate. I wondered how much it would take, but the sheer volume was staggering. I possessed a vast reservoir of Qi from absorbing everything in my path, yet even I felt drained.
It feels like it's already taken half of my Qi.
I hadn't used much during the fight, so I thought I had plenty to spare, but the amount this stone consumed was ludicrous. Worse, I couldn't stop the process.
You crazy bastard…?
At first, I was willingly feeding it energy, but at some point, it felt like the stone was actively sucking it out of me. Stopping should have been simple, but this time was different. I could feel it in the way my Qi was being pulled. I knew that forcing an interruption would rupture my blood vessels and cause Qi deviation.
Struggling underwater was bad enough, but with my Qi being siphoned away, I genuinely felt like I was going to die. I thought this stone would actually be the end of me.
That thought snapped me back to my senses. I couldn't afford to die in a place like this. I steeled my resolve, but all I could do was wait. My Qi was draining away, drop by drop.
Fuck.
At this rate, it felt like every last drop would be consumed. What could I do?
Just as desperation began to set in…
Snap-!
The process finally stopped.
…Sigh.
I checked my condition. Only a tiny sliver of Qi remained; nearly all of it was gone. If the stone had taken just a little more, I would have been a dead man.
As relief washed over me for having survived…
Crack-!
I felt a change in the hand holding the stone. A crack appeared on the Demonic Stone's surface. Then, a new sensation—something moving in my hand.
Frowning, I looked down to see a small red snake coiled around my wrist. My eyes widened in shock, but my first priority was getting to the surface. I was running out of breath, and with my Qi depleted, survival was paramount. I swam upwards swiftly, trying to ignore the snake clinging to me.
And now, here we are.
“What are you?” I asked, staring at the snake that had emerged from the stone.
A demon born from a Demonic Stone?
…Has it always been this way?
Probably not. I'd never heard of a demon hatching from a stone. I'd certainly never seen it in my entire life. Not that I ever paid much attention to demon procreation, but I knew for a fact that demons didn't just pop out of Demonic Stones.
So who is this guy?
That was the question. It was strange enough that the stone suddenly absorbed my energy and birthed this demon, but its behavior was even stranger.
Shaaa…
Blep.
The Red Water Snake flicked its tongue out and licked my finger. At the very least, it didn't seem hostile. I was speechless.
Demons aren't creatures known for their kindness to humans, so why was this one acting like this? To put it in perspective, hundreds of years ago, the Murim Alliance's goal was to tame and raise demons. They gave up because it was deemed impossible. Demons are monstrous beasts, driven solely by ferocity, greed, and appetite. They can't be tamed; they can only be hunted for the sake of peace. At least, that was the conclusion the Murim Alliance reached after extensive experimentation.
What a funny guy this is.
The snake kept licking my arm, a gesture of apparent goodwill. I could only stare at the little bastard, utterly dumbfounded.
“Speak. What are you?” I demanded an answer, but the snake remained silent. It was absurd to expect a demon to answer, but given what happened earlier, it didn't seem entirely impossible. The bastard had spoken to me before.
“Are you different from the one I killed earlier?” I asked. Was this Red Water Snake a different entity? The little thing just stared at me innocently, its tongue flicking in and out.
“You spoke to me just fine earlier. Why are you quiet now? Answer me.”
Shaaa?
The snake tilted its head as if it didn't understand.
“Sigh…”
Annoyance made my head throb. My life had truly sunk to new lows—here I was, having a one-sided conversation with a snake in the middle of the night. I already had enough on my plate… how irritating.
Kwak-!
Shaaaa-!
Unable to contain my frustration, I grabbed the snake by the neck. “I fed you so much of my Qi. You can't just be useless.”
Shaaa…! Shaaak!
The Red Water Snake writhed, struggling to breathe.
“What are you? Answer me, or I'll kill you right here.” It was a massive loss. Not only had I sacrificed a valuable Red Demonic Stone for this thing, but I'd also wasted a huge amount of Qi. I was desperate for strength, so this little nuisance was incredibly frustrating.
Shaaak… Shaaaa…
“Since you're red, you should have a Red Demonic Stone too, right?” It seemed unlikely, given its size, but I had to at least check. Maybe then I'd feel slightly less cheated.
With that thought, I tightened my grip on its neck and stared it down.
Shaaak…
But the bastard just squirmed, showing no special reaction. In fact, it even licked my hand in a friendly manner, despite the situation.
Why was a demon behaving like this toward me? The world seemed determined to throw curveballs my way, from the White Demonic Stone to this red demon appearing out of nowhere. It would have been more understandable if this snake had bitten me with its venomous fangs. Instead, it was licking my hand—a shocking sight that soured my mood, reminding me uncomfortably of my past life.
“…So annoying.” I frowned and loosened my grip.
The Red Water Snake dropped to the floor.
Tap-
Shaaa…
The moment it hit the deck, it swiftly slithered back up my leg and onto my hand. Seriously, what was its deal?
Did it think I was its parent?
Me, a demon's parent? What nonsense is that.
For some creatures, imprinting on the first thing they see after birth makes sense. But for demons? Never. This meant that either this Red Water Snake was fundamentally different from ordinary demons…
Or that I've undergone some kind of change.
Many demons had ambushed us during our journey. I'd hunted them all down, but nothing like this had ever happened before.
I wonder what it is.
First, the appearance of a Red Demon. Now, a baby demon emerging from its stone. The first event was confusing enough; of course a second, even more baffling one had to be piled on top.
“Sigh…” I couldn't help but sigh in exasperation.
Shaa?
The Red Water Snake poked its head out, as if concerned by my sigh.
Seeing this, I spoke with a slight frown. “I'm going outside. Go back in.”
It seemed to understand. The snake slithered back into my sleeve and hid itself. This bastard… I swear it understands me.
Is it really a different entity, though?
I still didn't have an answer. I wanted to know if it was the same demon I killed or a completely new one, but there was no way to tell. The easiest solution would be to kill it and be done with it, but for some reason, I hesitated.
You get a pass for now.
Since it seemed to understand me and showed no signs of causing trouble, I decided to let it live. For now.
Creak.
I opened the door and left my room. Climbing the stairs, I emerged onto the deck.
It was nighttime. The cool night air carried the distinct scent of river water. A few people were on patrol, their vigilance clearly heightened after the earlier incident.
I glanced around and walked forward, looking for someone specific.
At the very bow of the ship, I saw a figure sitting on the edge. I approached slowly. They noticed my presence and turned their head.
His green eyes seemed to shine more brightly than usual in the darkness.
I bowed respectfully. “How come you are outside, my Lord?”
“Expert Gu.”
It was the Lord of the Tang Clan, the Poison King.
“It's late. You must be tired. Why are you out here?”
“…I'm having trouble sleeping tonight.”
“I see.” Judging by his expression, he was deeply worried. That was understandable. The appearance of a Red Demon was major news for someone in his position. The lords of the great clans, bearing the responsibility of keeping the world safe, would be the most concerned by such an event. The lords of the Four Noble Clans, especially, must feel the weight.
Though I don't think that's the only reason for that look on his face.
It seemed like he had a different, more personal problem, but I didn't press. I doubted he would answer even if I asked.
After our brief exchange, a silence fell between us, lasting several seconds. Surprisingly, the Poison King was the one to break it.
“…What brings you here?” His voice held a note of wariness. Why was he suddenly cautious of me? He hadn't been particularly welcoming before, but he wasn't wary either.
“I didn't come with any specific intent. I just came out for a walk and found you here.”
“I know you were looking for me.”
“…!” I masked my surprise. How did he know? We'd barely spoken, yet he'd already figured me out.
This man is sharp.
He truly was worthy of being a lord of a Noble Clan, just as I'd thought. I decided to play dumb.
“Really? I'm not sure what you mean.”
“I know you wouldn't approach me without a purpose.”
“…”
Haha.
I let out a short, dry laugh, dropped my forced expression, and returned to my usual demeanor. There was no point in pretending anymore.
Seeing the change in my demeanor, the Poison King narrowed his eyes slightly. “What do you want?”
It was a direct, pointed question. He already knew why I was here. It was because of my significant contribution to hunting the Red Demon.
To be honest, I had no inherent right to a reward. The Red Demon would have been killed eventually, even without my help. The difference was that many more lives would have been lost if I hadn't intervened.
The Poison King could have simply thanked me, but as the Lord of the Tang Clan and the leader of this expedition, he couldn't just leave it at that. Such is the burden of leadership.
Moreover,
He seems wary of me, but it doesn't feel like he wants to make an enemy.
The Poison King recognized my value and potential. That's why he asked first.
Knowing this, I allowed a small smile to form. “I don't want anything too significant.”
The Poison King frowned at my response. The fact that I wanted anything at all was enough to elicit that reaction. But he didn't refuse, which meant he was prepared to grant my request.
“It's really nothing special. I just…”
“Before that,” the Poison King interrupted me mid-sentence.
What now?
“I have a question for you, Expert Gu.”
“What is it?”
A question for me? I looked at him curiously.
“The Red Demon's weakness. How did you know what it was?”
“Hm.”
Ah. So that was it. Now I understood his wariness.
The sudden appearance of a Red Demon for the first time in centuries was shocking enough. But for me to hunt it down so effortlessly… that was suspicious. He probably didn't think I'd done anything underhanded to the snake, but he definitely found my actions peculiar.
Sigh.
How absurd.
I save everyone, and this is the thanks I get? This damned guy. I could understand his perspective, but I still felt a little insulted.
And I'd even planned to save them from the ambush.
If things had gone according to my original plan—saving everyone from Tang Duk's minions—everything would have been much smoother. The Red Demon's appearance ruined everything.
Where did those bandits go, anyway?
They probably got eaten.
If they were in the area, they either fled at the sight of the Red Demon or were devoured by it.
“Are you doubting me?” I asked. “Do you think I staged this to make myself look like a hero?”
“I don't believe you possess such intentions.”
“Then what's the problem?”
“What confuses me is your behavior at the time.”
The Poison King couldn't comprehend how I, without hesitation, knew how to attack a Red Demon despite its Qi-absorbing barrier. “…I simply cannot understand how you did it.”
“There's no need for you to understand.”
“Huh?” The Poison King's expression darkened. Did he think I was mocking him?
“If you can't understand it, then nothing can be done.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I saw its weakness the moment I laid eyes on it. How could I possibly explain that to you?”
I'd prepared this excuse ever since I jumped off the ship. It wasn't complicated.
“I could see where to strike just by looking. That's why I gave the orders I did.”
“…!”
The Poison King's expression shifted again, this time to one of greater shock.
My answer was simple. I saw it with my own eyes. That's why I acted. Is it my fault you couldn't do the same? That was the gist of it.
If anyone else had said such a thing, they would have been severely reprimanded. But what was I known as in the world today? Not only the youngest Peak Realm master in history, but soon, rumors would spread that I'd reached the Fusion Realm. The Poison King was already aware of this.
Reaching the Fusion Realm before the age of twenty…
Means I'm an unbelievable genius.
The Central Plains already viewed me as a heaven-sent prodigy. I cringed at the rumor and hated hearing it, but I'd given up fighting it. Now, I had to use it to my advantage.
The Poison King's dumbfounded expression was rather refreshing.
“So… you mean…”
“That's all there is to it. It's not like you believe I've fought Red Demons before, right?” Well, I'd fought plenty in my past life. “I acted to help everyone. I didn't expect to be met with suspicion… I'm a little hurt.” I wasn't hurt at all. In fact, I was enjoying his reaction.
The Poison King's face continued to shift as I spoke. The excuse of 'I'm just that great' worked every time. The rumors about me, backed by my actual strength, made it a viable defense. Just look—the Poison King was hesitating, unable to form a response.
“…I apologize. It was a mistake on my part.” Doubt still lingered in his eyes, but he seemed to conclude there was nothing more he could say or do. He apologized.
Seeing this, I pretended to be appeased. “It's fine… Thank you for your apology.” Conversations like this were tedious, but necessary to avoid future complications. Plus, having the Poison King apologize made my next move easier.
“My Lord. May I make my request now?”
“…Speak.”
“There's no need to worry. I'm not asking for much.” Did he think I'd demand some grand reward? It wasn't like that.
Well, it's a big deal for me, but it shouldn't be for the Poison King.
I wasn't asking for a physical object. The Poison King seemed tense, bracing for my request, but it was simple.
I could have asked for an extremely rare herb or one of the Tang Clan's famed premium swords—they are, after all, the Clan of Steel. But I only wanted one thing.
“I've heard there is a lake within the Tang Clan estate.”
“Hmm?” The Poison King looked at me curiously at the sudden mention of a lake.
“I believe it's called the Lake of Poison…”
It was a legacy left by the Tang Clan's ancestor, the hero who ended the Blood Demon War—the Heavenly Poison Lord. They are deep lakes comprised of such potent toxins that mere proximity could kill an ordinary person. These poisons are also key ingredients in the Tang Clan's poisonous medicines. Their origin is a mystery, making the lakes a treasured secret.
“I've been curious about it since I was young. Would it be possible for me to see it?”
I asked with a smile, but the Poison King's expression remained unreadable. He seemed puzzled as to why I would want to see such a place.
It's not like I want to go for fun. Why would anyone willingly visit such a dangerous location?
I had only one reason.
The White Demonic Stone.
The damned thing was hidden at the bottom of that very lake.