Chapter 36
**CHAPTER TITLE: The Bandit Checks You Out First**
Jin Chen spoke up. “Yo, who are you?”
“I’m the only mage of Jinryong Chae!”
“Oh yeah, you’re with Jinryong Chae too! So if a sprout shows up in the clan, we could take them in as a disciple. What are you brooding over that nonsense for.”
“Lord Chief.”
“Alright! Copy me. I’m the only mage of Jinryong Chae.”
Jeombaki puffed his shoulders and yelled back. “I’m the only mage of Jinryong Chae!”
“I’m in charge of Jinryong Chae’s magic!”
“In charge!”
“I’m the idiot!”
“I’m the idiot… wait?”
“Ah! Words came out wrong. Anyway, get serious and teach them with that spirit.”
“Yes, Lord Chief! Thank you!”
Jeombaki bowed deeply, then took off flying.
Watching him vanish, Jin Chen smirked. “Smart ones are honestly the easiest to handle.”
That was a perfect example right there with Jeombaki.
Just thinking that, a streak of pure white light dropped beside him.
Grrrrr.
The White Tiger was rubbing itself against Jin Chen’s leg like it was morning greetings.
“Why’d you come? You’ve been eating well lately.”
Grrrrr.
Even so, Baek-i kept rubbing harder, as if saying you’re the best.
“But I haven’t seen Samsaek-i lately. Do you know where that little brat wandered off to?”
Craaaang!
Baek-i shook his head.
“Tsk, that rascal’s too sneaky to get caught anywhere, but… this silence is weird. I’d better go look.”
Jin Chen furrowed his brows when he said that, and Samsaek-i’s cry rang out from the sky.
Kiiiiiiik!
Hearing it, Jin Chen let out a short laugh. “Hah, there he is right when I’m worrying. Truly more cunning than any person.”
As if answering, the Five-Colored Divine Bird plummeted in a blur.
It landed lightly on Jin Chen’s shoulder, rubbing its beak against the sleeve.
“You, you little shit. What the hell were you doing when you…”
Jin Chen stopped mid-sentence and stared at it seriously. “What’s this?”
Samsaek-i lifted its head proudly. At the same time it spread its tail feathers like a peacock showing off.
Black for water aura. Red for fire aura. White for metal aura.
Once those three had been all there was. Now…
Green for wood aura. Yellow for earth aura.
Two more had been added, making five.
Jin Chen eyed the still-tiny pair of feathers and asked, “Where’d you pick up all this from?”
Kiiik.
Instead of answering, it strutted like it was bragging.
Seeing that, Jin Chen’s face went blank.
*This is gonna be perfect soon, isn’t it?*
The Five-Colored Divine Bird was called the Spiritual Phoenix among spirits. It wandered the world forever seeking the five elements’ auras, so mysterious that even legends of the Phoenix fell short of its fame.
Yet here it was, suddenly matching the five elements and coming back.
Since it wasn’t something to ignore, Jin Chen asked seriously, “Don’t play dumb. Tell me what happened.”
Kiiik?
Samsaek-i glanced sideways.
“You didn’t just pick up anything and eat it, right?”
Kiiiiik!
Samsaek-i nodded hard as if to say don’t worry.
Jin Chen almost pressed further but stopped. *I guess it handled it on its own.*
As if reading his thoughts, Samsaek-i nodded vigorously. *Yes, yes.*
“Hey, kid.”
Jin Chen grinned and ruffled its head.
Eyes closed, Samsaek-i enjoyed the petting until something clicked. It shook its head wildly, stood tall, lifted its chin, and let out a low growl.
Kiiiiiiik!
Its cry shook the mountains and caused a massive chorus from beyond the cliffs.
Craaaaaaaaak!
At the same time, hundreds of shadowy creatures began diving toward the fortress.
Whoosh, whoooooosh!
Giant wings flapping, each beat sending fierce winds.
Kyaak! Kyaak!
Screams sharp enough to plug your ears.
Thud!
Four sturdy paws and a bushy tail on a beast’s body.
Exactly one of the upper-tier monsters—griffons.
Jin Chen stared at them in confusion and asked, “What are those?”
Kiiiiik!
Samsaek-i raised its chin and looked at Baek-i. *See? I brought them too.*
Jin Chen let out a short laugh and shook his head. “Hah, you’re messing with me right now?”
Kiiik?
“This is the fortress, not a monster nest! Why did you bring more of those things?!”
Kiiiiik!
“Baek-i brought them so they could ride! What else are you supposed to do with them?!”
Kiiik! Kiiik!
Samsaek-i flapped its wings. “What if they ride too?”
Kiiiiik!
Samsaek-i nodded hard and Jin Chen’s eyes lit up as he looked at the griffons.
Their bodies were big enough for humans to ride, and their sharp beaks, eagle-like front claws, bear-like rear legs, and tails…
They’d look pretty cool to ride.
Since he’d just seen Jeombaki fly, it appealed to him even more.
With a satisfied smile, Jin Chen walked toward the griffon group.
Craaaak! Craak!
The leader screeched sharply and spread its wings. Like it was saying “come any closer and I won’t forgive you.”
“They’ve got some bite. I like it.”
Jin Chen nodded and stepped closer.
The leader flapped its wings and raised a front leg. Those claws sharper than any beast’s were aimed at Jin Chen.
In an instant Jin Chen leapt lightly and crashed down, smashing the leader’s skull with a fist.
Kwaaaang!
Kuueeeek!
The leader crashed straight to the ground.
Kyaak! Kyaak!
With bonding that strong, the rest spread their wings and threatened Jin Chen.
Seeing that, Jin Chen smirked at Samsaek-i. “Make them gentle by tomorrow. If they glare at me again, I’ll strip their hides and toss them to the Sabel Tigers.”
Kiiiiiiik!
Samsaek-i shook its head roughly as if to say that would never happen.
Then it suddenly trotted toward the griffons.
Huaaaaaak.
A massive aura burst from Samsaek-i and crushed the griffons.
Kiiiiiiiiik!
Combined with the ear-splitting cries, the griffons folded their wings and bowed their heads.
Grrrrrr.
Even the leader dropped to the ground and let out a low growl.
In the blink of an eye Samsaek-i had them all subdued.
Jin Chen turned and said, “Keep the noise down and teach them somewhere else.”
Kiiiiik!
Samsaek-i nodded lightly and took off again. The griffons quickly chased after it.
Craaaaaak!
Watching them vanish in seconds, Jin Chen smiled happily. “Speed looks pretty good. I like it a lot.”
Grrrrr.
What? Ours are faster.
Baek-i’s low growl made Jin Chen laugh. “Still, how do you beat the flying ones?”
Jin Chen ruffled Baek-i’s head roughly. “You better get serious. Hahaha.”
Grrrrr.
Annoyed, it turned and started lumbering off somewhere. Probably to the Sabel Tigers.
To train them.
“Hey kids, your antics are adorable.”
Thinking of Baek-i and Samsaek-i, Jin Chen was about to move when…
[Guest detected. Passing the second rest stop and heading toward the first.]
A voice came from the bracelet. Jin Chen’s eyes sparkled. “Wow? More idiots trying to copy last time?”
Another temple? Or something else?
“Well, I’ll find out when I see them. Everyone! Grab your weapons. Guests are coming!”
Jin Chen raised his voice and started walking toward the main gate.
***
Three magnificent carriages rolled forward, guarded by soldiers and paladins in fine armor.
The procession moved at a relaxed pace that made you question if they were even crossing the Dragon Mountain Range.
The soldiers and paladins were just as laid-back.
“How come we didn’t run into a single monster?”
“It’s so quiet it’s boring.”
“It’s all because the God of Light is protecting us.”
“The monsters know that too. Mess with our Light Temple and you’re in big trouble.”
Conversations like that went around with no real tension at all.
Not a single paladin scolded them.
They were just like the soldiers.
“I don’t get why we’re dealing with the Dawn Temple brats like this.”
“Yeah. We should just scout around and take the enemy ships, but when the plague hits we keep crawling out? Ridiculous.”
“That’s just them trying to fill their temple by any means.”
“They’re actually pitiful. Who else would labor this hard to worship a forgotten god?”
The paladins trampled the Dawn Goddess without a hint of fear.
“Speaking of which, it’ll be interesting to see how the nobles who brought those Dawn Temple people react to us.”
“It’ll be pathetic. They’ll panic and chase the Dawn Temple out.”
“And treat us with the utmost respect. Hahaha.”
“Nobles can do whatever they want. I just hope we arrive soon. Food, beds, the discomforts aren’t few.”
The gathered paladins nodded in agreement when someone shouted, “Stop moving!”
A voice suddenly burst out from behind the thick trees beside the road.
The soldiers and paladins stopped in confusion and yelled, “Who’s there?! Show yourselves!”
“How dare someone interrupt the Light Temple procession!”
The paladins’ threats were barely over when Sabel Tigers began to emerge from the dense trees.
This time they were carrying bandits on their backs as usual.
“Whoa! Sabel Tigers carrying humans?!”
“Monsters riding?! These guys are suspicious!”
“Reveal your identities or we’ll treat you as enemies!”
“You’re all insane!”
Thud!
A White Tiger carrying Jin Chen jumped down in front of the paladins.
“Treat me as an enemy? I made sure you knew I was coming and you still passed by.”
“How dare you ignore us!”
“Ignoring us is the same as ignoring the Light Temple!”
“We are proud paladins of the Light Temple! Reveal yourselves at once!”
The paladins drew their swords and shouted.
Jin Chen curled one corner of his mouth. “Me? As you can see, I’m a bandit.”
“What?!”
“How can a mere bandit block our path?!”
“You’ve got some balls popping out of your ass!”
The knights were just rambling on.
“Isn’t that right? There was a similar situation recently.”
“What nonsense is this?!”
“Kneel and apologize at once.”
Jin Chen jumped lightly off Baek-i’s back and said, “But listen. I just sent them away… but why do you all want to pull my hair?”