Chapter 14
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: An Inhuman Demonic Realm, The Solitary Bamboo Forest (4)
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Crack!
The broken window frame tumbled pitifully to the ground.
Fwoosh!
Seo Ryang, who had instinctively rolled under the bed, caught sight of feathers of a peculiar color, somewhere between red and blue.
‘Feathers?!’
Screeeech!!
It felt like his eardrums would burst.
At the bizarre sound, like the tip of a sword scraping against an iron plate, Seo Ryang turned his head toward the source.
His eyes widened when he saw the ‘something’ that was there.
‘Gah!’
Flap! Flap! Flap!
The violent flapping of wings blurred his vision.
Its outstretched legs and the talons at their ends were incredibly sturdy. Its flapping wings were so large that each one was the size of a child's torso.
Seo Ryang's jaw dropped.
‘What kind of bird…’
…it wasn’t a bird!
“That thing?!”
Seo Ryang’s eyes bulged.
That's right. The creature that had suddenly burst through the window frame, making his heart leap into his throat, was not a bird.
“…A chicken?”
And a massive one at that. But it was no ordinary chicken.
Because no ordinary chicken, not even in its wildest dreams, could exude such a powerful presence.
Ssssssk.
It waddled a short distance, its gaze piercing in his direction.
The gleam in its eyes was enough to give a child seeing a bird for the first time a severe case of ornithophobia. Its ferociously shimmering blue eyes could be compared to those of a wild beast.
Seo Ryang was dumbfounded.
“Am I being attacked by a chicken…”
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Tatatatak.
As it took a single step to the side, the sound of multiple feet hitting the floor could be heard.
Fwoooosh!
The sound of its threateningly flapping wings was also rich and complex. It was a sound and a gust of wind that could never be produced by a single pair of wings.
And most decisively…
Dangle, dangle.
The chicken head, neck held stiffly, glared at him.
To the left and right of that head, two other heads drooped limply.
Their eyes were peacefully closed, exuding an atmosphere so serene that the word ‘deep sleep’ came to mind just looking at them.
Staring blankly at the absurd creature, Seo Ryang's mouth hung open.
‘Six legs, three wings, and three heads…’
What is this mutant giant chicken, something that looks like it'd be a henchman for the King of Hell?
Its abundant feathers flowed with a glossy sheen, and its talons, which dug into the floor, looked hard enough to tear through steel plates. Watching its eyes, which never left him even as it tilted its head, he couldn't tell if they were the eyes of a human or a beast.
Faced with this utterly bizarre and massive mutant chicken, which could hardly be described as divine, Seo Ryang felt his mind go dizzy.
‘What is all this… Is this a dream?’
Impossible. He was the man known as the world's greatest assassin, a living legend. He was not one to confuse reality with dreams.
Tatat.
Seo Ryang's eyes wavered.
The chicken lowered its head, gently scratching the floor. Its ferocious eyes held an all-too-honest intent to attack.
‘Damn it!’
Seo Ryang hurriedly reached onto the bed and grabbed a piece of the broken window frame.
Screeeeeech!
At the same time, the chicken let out a horrifying cry and charged.
Its speed was truly incredible. It was like watching not a chicken, but a leopard pouncing on its prey.
This was no time to question things.
A fire blazed in Seo Ryang's eyes.
‘Heavenly Net Six神通 Arts!’
Zzzzzzzing!!
The world around him slowed down.
* * *
Clank!
Ma Dongpil glanced back over his shoulder.
A dozen or so weapons were packed in a large sack. While not legendary divine arms, they were items crafted by a considerably skilled artisan.
‘This should be enough.’
He was inwardly puzzled.
‘But why does he need so many weapons?’
He had already familiarized himself with the Third Young Master's personal details.
The Third Young Master was said to have primarily used a sword. His specialty was a powerful, domineering sword style, yet one that never lost its delicacy and speed, making him a master who had already established his own school of swordsmanship.
‘Who knows. Perhaps holding a weapon will help him recall his past memories.’
That's why he had specifically included four swords of different lengths. Considering his ferocious past, he wasn't sure if it was right for the Young Master to regain his memories, but…
‘No. I shouldn't think like that. I am simply the Third Young Master's bodyguard. I mustn't let personal feelings interfere.’
He took a small piece of paper from his robes.
“Sufficient drinking water, a month's worth of dry rations and other foodstuffs. Plenty of clothes, too.”
It was a relief that the Garden of Joy had taken such good care of the Third Young Master. The Solitary Bamboo Forest was too harsh a place to live with nothing.
‘At least I don't have to worry about daily necessities.’
Ma Dongpil inwardly grimaced.
‘So I'm not just a simple bodyguard after all.’
They couldn't bring a maidservant with weak martial arts. She'd likely end up dead. Putting that aside, she wouldn't even be qualified to enter the Solitary Bamboo Forest.
In the end, attending to the Third Young Master was entirely his responsibility.
‘It might be better that I'm alone. It's less stressful to handle everything myself than to entrust it to someone else…’
He stopped dead in his tracks.
Ma Dongpil's steps came to a sudden halt.
“…”
The wind blew.
Carrying the thick scent of blood, it came from deep within the Solitary Bamboo Forest.
His face instantly turned pale.
Whooosh!
With movements of utmost urgency, the surrounding bamboo trees flew past him in a blur.
Ma Dongpil shouted.
“Young Master!”
His voice rang out, loud and clear.
Considering the dangers of the Solitary Bamboo Forest, he shouldn't be shouting like this. A simple yell might be one thing, but a voice laced with internal energy would spread far and wide.
But Ma Dongpil had forgotten even that. That wasn't what was important right now.
“Young Master! Young Master!!”
Whoosh! Whoooosh!
How long had he run like that?
Before he knew it, the Castle Bamboo Garden, the residence within the Solitary Bamboo Forest, came into view.
The shattered stone wall of the Castle Bamboo Garden, and likewise, the splintered window frame of the Young Master's room.
‘Damn it!’
Fwoooosh!
In an instant, Ma Dongpil vaulted over the stone wall, his eyes bloodshot.
“Young Master! Where are…”
“I told you to call me Young Master Seo.”
Fwump!
At the leisurely voice, Ma Dongpil tapped his feet lightly in mid-air to slow his descent.
“Oh? Not bad.”
Clatter!
Quickly tossing aside the weapons, he looked toward the courtyard.
There, covered in blood, sat Seo Ryang on a wooden bench, waving a hand.
“You're back.”
“Y-Young Master?! Are you alright?”
“It's Young Master Seo.”
Seo Ryang's face looked extremely fatigued.
Ma Dongpil, who was rushing toward him, flinched to a stop.
Beside the bench, a massive, blood-soaked bird lay sprawled out. Embedded in its body were not only pieces of the broken window frame but also shards of a teacup, a pickaxe, and other objects.
“…Changbu.”
“So that's this chicken-head's name, I take it?”
“Ah, yes. In any case, your wounds…”
“It's not my blood.”
“Pardon?”
A bewildered Ma Dongpil enhanced his sight.
‘…’
It was true. Although Seo Ryang's body was stained with blood, aside from a few scratches, he was perfectly fine.
His face was pale, likely from severe stamina depletion, but to come out like that against that monstrous bird was more than just a good outcome; it was an incredible bargain.
Ma Dongpil couldn't hide his inner shock.
‘How?’
He knew that Seo Ryang was in excellent physical condition.
But that was only to the extent of an ordinary person, a mere mortal. He had a bit of internal energy, but it was such a paltry amount it was worse than having none.
“…Don't tell me you caught it by yourself?”
“Well, who else is here besides me?”
He had a point. Which made it even harder to believe.
The danger level of a Changbu was comparable to a leopard. And a man who was merely in good shape had supposedly beaten such a fierce bird of prey to death.
Judging by the signs, the Changbu had even launched a surprise attack, which made the story even more unbelievable.
“Mr. Ma.”
Ma Dongpil looked at Seo Ryang.
Flinch!
In that moment, his back grew damp with sweat and his knees felt weak.
It was similar to the gleam in his eyes from two days ago when he'd first spoken. No, stained by the scent of blood, the look in Seo Ryang's eyes was even more sinister than before.
A faint killing intent veiled within his clear gaze.
Ma Dongpil swallowed hard.
‘Those eyes…’
This feeling of being overwhelmed by his gaze alone was similar to when he met the Lord of the Hall of Protectors and the Great Protector.
No, in some ways, it was even more intense. From the Lord of the Hall of Protectors, he felt dignity, but from the Third Young Master, he felt a more primal viciousness.
A menace that felt like a knife could be plunged into his neck at any moment.
It was as if he were radiating a terrifying presence, declaring, ‘This is my true self.’
“I'm going to need an explanation. How you know this chicken-head, what kind of place this Solitary Bamboo Forest is, everything.”
Ma Dongpil squeezed his eyes shut.
He couldn't bear to face the Young Master.
“This place is…”
Ma Dongpil began his brief explanation, forcing the words out.
The Solitary Bamboo Forest.
A natural demonic forest that has existed since before the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon established its base.
It is a place where bamboos with unparalleled wood energy grow, and the air is just as good. This is because the spiritual energy concentrated here is denser than that of any famous mountain in the world.
The strange thing is that this spiritual energy doesn't disperse outward but circulates precisely within the confines of this bamboo forest.
The spiritual energy circulating within the forest becomes more concentrated over time, and this concentrated energy enriches the pure, natural energy.
And over countless eons, the spiritual energy that swirled and grew within the forest did not remain as mere energy.
“Thanks to the concentrated spiritual energy, not only the wood energy but also the earth energy has been amplified. That's why the bamboos here are exceptionally thick and sturdy.”
“Their lifespan seems very short, though?”
“You've observed correctly. Correspondingly, the growth rate of their bamboo shoots is several times faster than ordinary bamboos. That is how the forest is maintained. And…”
“And?”
“Some of those bamboos harbor a power that goes beyond simply growing thick and strong.”
Seo Ryang's eyes lit up.
“You mean they become rare medicinal herbs or something?”
“To be precise, they are both poison and elixir. The spiritual energy is so dense that a human body cannot withstand it without undergoing dozens of processing steps.”
Ma Dongpil bowed his head.
“More than half of the demonic pills made by our Cult are created based on the bamboo harvested here, in the Solitary Bamboo Forest.”
Seo Ryang gaped like a goldfish.
“What? So you can mass-produce elixirs?”
“That is impossible.”
“Why?”
Ma Dongpil glanced down at the blood-soaked Changbu.
Seo Ryang's gaze followed his.
“Most of the bamboos suitable for medicine are concentrated in the inner regions. The problem is the existence of the spiritual and demonic beasts that guard that place.”
“…And these things are them?”
“That's right. Although this is one of the weakest.”
“The weakest? You mean there are stronger ones?”
“The Changbu is the lowest-tier creature. Moreover, even a mid-tier demonic beast among the identified species is strong enough to face a peak master.”
“…!”
Ma Dongpil sighed.
“Therefore, twice a year, the highest-ranking officials of our Cult, including the Great Protector, visit to harvest the spiritual bamboo. The deepest part of the Solitary Bamboo Forest is so dangerous that even they must be on guard.”
“I see.”
“Of course, this area isn't completely safe either. But it is the safest place in the Solitary Bamboo Forest. It's not the season for the Changbu to be running wild, but due to my arrogance, I failed to protect you, Young Master.”
Concluding his words with a heavy heart, Ma Dongpil knelt.
“Please kill me.”
“It's fine, get up. Just do better from now on, man.”
“…Thank you.”
“Nothing to thank me for. Anyway, so this place is that dangerous, huh?”
Seo Ryang, who had been nodding, suddenly blinked as if he realized something.
Wait a minute.
“Then why did the Cult Leader… put me in a place like this?”
“…”
“…Fuck?”
Ma Dongpil's expression became awkward.
“Such disrespect toward the Cult Leader…”
“Shut up!”
“Yessir.”
Seo Ryang's face turned crimson with rage.
That damn bear-like bastard who deserves to be drawn and quartered! He didn't just lock me away, he threw me into a death trap?!
Did I commit treason or something?! What the hell did I do so wrong, you crazy demon bastard!!
Groooowl.
“…”
For a moment, a strange silence fell.
Seo Ryang's and Ma Dongpil's gazes met in mid-air.
“Mr. Ma.”
“Yes, Young Master Seo.”
“Got a pot?”
“Of course. But why a pot all of a sudden…?”
Seo Ryang looked down at the dead Changbu.
Ma Dongpil, who had been tilting his head in confusion, froze as he realized something.
“Put some water on to boil and pull up a few bamboo shoots. I'll handle the prep.”
Seo Ryang licked his lips.
“Let's talk about the rest while we eat.”