Chapter 204: A Touch-and-Go Situation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 204: A Touch-and-Go Situation
“Geeeeh… Geeeeeeh….”
So much for the dignity of a Divine Beast.
I squatted in a corner, wiping away my tears.
“…Don’t take it so hard. I was just checking to see if that old hag played any tricks on you.”
“Gek?”
Baek Rang approached me, a look of pity on her face.
Hey, you were the one who seemed to be enjoying it the most.
Still, I might as well hear her out.
“Even a fox that’s trained for a hundred years can use all sorts of spells. What do you think an old hag who’s lived ten times that long can’t do? She could have enchanted you without you even realizing it.”
I’d thought she was just messing with me, but it seemed that wasn't the case. She must have been checking my condition just in case, since I told her I’d met the Heavenly Fox.
She had a point. If the Heavenly Fox had cast an enchantment on me, there was no way I could have figured it out on my own.
“Gekgek.”
Fine.
Just this once, I, in my magnanimity, will let it slide.
I started gathering the Dragon Scales that had fallen on the ground.
“…And it’s your fault, too. How could you be gone for so long without a word? Do you have any idea how worried I was? If the Priestess hadn’t told me, I would have charged straight into the Snow Mountain.”
Baek Rang’s tail swayed slowly.
When I stared at her, she finally seemed to realize something was off and quickly corrected herself.
“I-I mean… Chillang-i! Chillang-i was about to charge into the Snow Mountain! I-It’s not like I care whether you come or go….”
Baek Rang whipped her head away.
“Awoong?”
Chillang-i just tilted her head, as if to ask what nonsense she was spouting.
“…The Priestess knew what you were up to. I guess she’s not called a priestess for nothing.”
Baek Rang was trying to change the subject with impressive speed.
I could have seized on her slip-up and used it to my advantage, but I’m not the lizard I used to be.
“A-Ahem! Anyway, what I wanted to say was… I also saw the fox marble hidden behind your fur.”
Woooong.
The fox marble vibrated gently.
Right.
There was a high chance Baek Rang knew something about the fox marble. The fact that she called the Heavenly Fox an "old hag" was proof enough that they had met before. And since they were both canines, she would likely have some related knowledge.
“…You know, your expression is making some very rude assumptions.”
“Gek!”
“I do know a little. A fox marble is a type of artifact created when a fox trains for a long time.”
I knew that much.
“But it’s no ordinary artifact. In a way, you could say it’s the fox itself. After all, it’s the one thing that has grown alongside the fox most closely since it became a spirit beast.”
The fox itself?
“There’s a story that even if the fox dies… its soul comes to reside in the fox marble. It’s just something I heard, but that’s why the old hag is trying to take away fox marbles that have lost their owners.”
Woong.
If that’s true… does it mean this bead isn’t an artifact, but an actual fox?
“So, don’t treat it roughly just because it’s an artifact. Treat it well. Who knows? Maybe it’ll return to being a nine-tailed fox someday?”
“Gekgegek!”
It’s not like I was hoping for that, but there was no harm in treating it well. Not that I would have been mean to it just because it was an artifact, anyway.
“If a spirit beast of that level joins us, our fighting strength will…. Hey, why are you grinning like that?”
Since when was I grinning?
Thwack!
Baek Rang lightly smacked me with her front paw.
“Geez, you haven’t changed a bit, even after all this time. Still, it won’t be a major asset right away. Its power itself is worthy of being called an artifact, but it feels exhausted. Even if it musters its strength, it’ll only be for a very short time.”
So, it’s high-performance but has a low battery?
I understood perfectly.
“…You do understand, right?”
“Gekgek.”
Of course, I do.
“Hmm… Fine. I’m a little doubtful, but let’s move on. Now, I’ll tell you what happened while you were gone.”
Crack-crack.
The ground where Baek Rang’s paws touched instantly froze over.
“My cold energy has been enhanced. It must be thanks to you conquering the Snow Mountain. Thank you.”
I could definitely feel that Baek Rang’s power had grown. At this level, she could probably land a solid blow on the Red Dragon. It might not be as good as directly consuming the Ice Bird’s inner core, but the increase in her power was by no means small.
“Besides, the other children are also attuning to the cold energy.”
Religion?
Wasn’t that just an experience point bank?
That thought lasted only for a moment.
…To be fair, being an experience point bank was great in itself, but it seemed the power of my religion was finally being drawn out properly. The fact that my followers were attuning to cold energy was a tremendous effect.
Of course, it didn't mean Tus and Pus could suddenly shoot ice beams, but a possibility had opened up. The possibility of them evolving into high-tier spirit beasts that could wield ice.
I looked over at Tus and Pus. They were playing with Tang Soyeong near my tail.
“You can even wrap yourselves in ice? What does that mean?”
Tang Soyeong was communicating with the spiders so naturally.
Honestly, if I had to pick the most peculiar of my followers, it would probably be her. Despite being human, she had no aversion to spirit beasts and could communicate with them quite well.
At first, I thought she was just an enthusiast in the field, unlike ordinary me, but that didn't seem to be the whole story. Even though she grew up in the Tang Clan, her abilities deviated slightly from common sense.
What other human could get a glimpse of my mental image just by touching my body?
“Kirorororo!”
“Kishishishishi!”
Wait, what are you two doing?
I lifted my tail to check on Tus and Pus.
Tang Soyeong was frozen solid.
Why are you an ice block?
“…Kioong?”
Tus and Pus also seemed to realize something was wrong. As they moved their short arms, frost formed.
“Kioooong!”
“Gekgek!”
Baek Rang, do you see that? My followers just used cold energy!
“…No, she’s frozen solid right now.”
“Gek.”
It’s fine. The Red Dragon can thaw her out…
…Oh, right. She’s not back yet, is she?
What is she doing that’s taking so long? Did she find a lava hot spring on her way here?
I wasn’t thrilled about it, but I guess I had no choice but to warm up this Tang-whatshername myself.
*
“My, my… What do you think you’re doing?”
An unusual aura hung over Mount Hua.
The Dragon Person, Lizamone, whose power was said to rival that of Mount Hua’s Sect Leader, was surrounded by swordsmen.
They hadn’t drawn their blades, but they were ready to respond to her at any moment.
“I believe I asked what you are doing.”
Gulp.
At her words, everyone swallowed hard. The Dragon Person before them was a being whose skills were said to be on par with the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect. If she unleashed her true power, the entire area would undoubtedly be reduced to ashes, regardless of who won.
“Red Dragon. You may be a free-spirited beast, but surely you haven’t forgotten your duty.”
The Red Dragon’s eyebrow twitched.
A man was walking toward them from the other side. Just his gait alone exuded an overwhelming internal energy. There wasn’t a single gray strand in his long, black hair. Though some middle-aged wrinkles were visible, that was all. His eyes were no different from a young man’s in his prime, but their depth was anything but shallow.
It was the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, Ak Bulhwi.
“…Explain the situation. Now.”
“Do you not realize that it is my consideration that allows you to roam freely, unbound by rules?”
“Consideration? Ha, I know it all too well.”
The Red Dragon laughed as if in disbelief.
“It’s the bare minimum you offered because you wanted to use my power, isn’t it?”
The Red Dragon was strong. Moreover, she possessed the power of a middle-rank dragonkin.
“How arrogant. Using your power, you say. Yes, it is an undeniable fact that your mere existence has served as a deterrent.”
A Dragon Person who could freely wield flames had joined Mount Hua. Her power rivaled that of the Sect Leader.
Regardless of the truth, the ripple effect of such a story was immense.
“I tolerated you using Mount Hua’s treasures as you pleased, and I tolerated you ignoring my orders and acting as you saw fit. I tolerated it all.”
It couldn’t be said that the Red Dragon caused no harm, but it was nothing compared to the benefits she brought.
“I intended to embrace you until the end, but for such a being to betray Mount Hua and side with the Demonic Cult…”
Ak Bulhwi said in a calm voice.
“What?”
“Red Dragon, Lizamone. I have received intelligence that you are colluding with the Demonic Cult.”
Colluding with the Demonic Cult.
The moment she heard those words, the Red Dragon understood how this situation had been orchestrated.
It was Ak Bulhwi’s trap.
It was true that she had unofficially gone to the 100,000 Great Mountains, and it was also true that she had met Baek Yeon-yeong. The circumstances lent weight to her betrayal, but the Sect Leader knew the truth. For him to say such things despite that pointed to only one thing.
Discarding the hound after the hunt.
“…So that’s how you want to play it?”
Fwoosh.
Shing!
The moment she conjured flames, the swordsmen drew their blades. Even with the Sect Leader beside them, the anxiety in their eyes did not fade.
“So… what are you going to do to me now?”
With the Sect Leader joining the fray, their victory was almost certain. But they couldn’t even begin to guess how many would be sacrificed. Her power was a flame that could incinerate everything.
“Ak Bulhwi. Is this your choice? Did you really think you could capture me with just these things?”
“H-How dare you address the Sect Leader so!” one of the swordsmen shouted, his voice trembling.
The Red Dragon didn’t even spare him a glance.
“I don’t get it. What do you people gain from doing this?”
It didn’t make any sense. To say they were after her inner core felt too unnatural. There had to be other ways, so for them to resort to this felt like some kind of demonstration. Or perhaps a warning.
“Hand over the information on the 100,000 Great Mountains. And the location of the Tailed Death.”
“What?”
“There’s no need to kill you. You still have your uses. If you want to live, cooperate in striking down Gomodo.”
The Red Dragon’s mind raced.
Why was Gomodo’s name being brought up here?
“We will kill Gomodo and annihilate the Demonic Cult.”
“Shut your mouth before I rip it apart.”
The Red Dragon’s flames surged.
Ak Bulhwi silently placed his hand on his sword.
It was a touch-and-go situation.
And then, a voice, somewhat slick and unfitting for the current situation, rang out.
“My, my, isn’t the atmosphere already getting heated?”
Ak Bulhwi sighed, and the Red Dragon stared at the person entering the area.
“…Namgung Yeon.”
A mysterious human whose identity was unknown.
The Red Dragon would have tried to sweep away anyone else who joined in, but this man was an exception. He was not the type to come here without a purpose, nor was he a man who would risk his life on this thin ice. He had to have some trick up his sleeve.
“Sir Red Dragon. How long has it been? Did you receive the letter I sent?”
Namgung Yeon smiled faintly.
The Red Dragon realized who had orchestrated this. The one who sent her a letter, luring her to the 100,000 Great Mountains. And at the same time, someone who had ties with Ak Bulhwi.
“You…”
“Oh dear, that expression is truly frightening.”
Contrary to his words, Namgung Yeon chuckled.
“He was your target from the beginning. You sent me to the 100,000 Great Mountains to provoke a conflict.”
“Think whatever you like.”
The Red Dragon let out a long sigh.
“…So, is this all you’ve got?”
The Red Dragon’s eyes blazed.
“To dare, with just these things…!”
It was the moment her fire energy was condensed to its absolute limit.
“Irihwa.”
The moment she heard that name, the Red Dragon had no choice but to let the power she had painstakingly gathered dissipate.
“The Tang Clan gave me something very precious when they asked for a favor. What was its name again? Ah, yes. They called it Gu, was it?”
She had no way of knowing if he was telling the truth.
“I don’t understand why those folks make you do the same job twice, but well, I received a fair payment, so I shouldn’t complain. After all, our dear Sir Red Dragon is rendered speechless.”
But she could clearly tell that Irihwa’s life was now in their hands.
Before meeting Gomodo, Irihwa had been her only family and friend. She was the only one who truly understood the Red Dragon.
She had been careless.
No, her judgment had been perfectly natural. She had no intention of betraying the Mount Hua Sect, and she never imagined they would stoop to this. If the Red Dragon had made one mistake, it was not foreseeing Namgung Yeon’s involvement.
“Are you familiar with the Tang Clan? The Gu they make doesn’t let you control someone like a puppet as the legends say, but it’s more than capable of creating a poison that I can detonate whenever I wish.”
Namgung Yeon smiled sinisterly.
“The pain of her intestines being torn apart and her skin burning will torment her for a time that feels like an eternity. She will beg, please, please just let me die.”
He listed the torments Irihwa would suffer with exaggerated gestures.
“Can you believe I received this precious poison in exchange for killing a mere Second-Rate martial artist? Well, they said she was a talent who could reach a divine realm if she matured… I don’t quite understand why they’d want to kill such a precious talent, though.”
He chuckled, muttering incomprehensible things.
“I’ve talked for too long. Now, make your choice.”
She wanted to burn Namgung Yeon to death right this instant.
Grind.
She bit her lip so hard that red blood trickled out.
But there was nothing she could do right now.
“Will you betray him, or will you let your little sister die?”
Nothing, except engage in this cruelly cowardly balancing act.