Chapter 231: Precious Child
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 231: Precious Child
The Tang Clan, despite being considered an Orthodox Faction, had the distinct feel of an Unorthodox one.
From their use of deadly poisons and surprise attacks with hidden weapons to, most notably, their practice of planting spies everywhere without distinguishing between friend or foe, who would ever think they were an Orthodox Faction?
Of course, planting spies was a common practice for any sect, but the Orthodox Factions, who considered each other family, usually exercised restraint among themselves.
But the Tang Clan had no such reservations.
Just as bigger breasts were better and more poison was better, more information was always better.
Nevertheless, the Tang Clan was recognized as an Orthodox Faction for two main reasons.
First was their mastery of the medical arts.
Poison, when the dosage was properly controlled, could just as easily be used as medicine. The martial artists of the Tang Clan learned medicine before they ever handled poison. Thus, the members of the Tang Clan, with their expertise in poisons, were valuable assets who could serve as both warriors and physicians.
The other reason was that it was painfully obvious what would happen if they weren't recognized as an Orthodox Faction.
As long as they were praised as an Orthodox Faction, they remained relatively quiet within Sichuan. But if they were branded as Unorthodox, the delightful rampage of uncontrollable, mad poisoners would surely begin.
Of course, it would only be delightful from their perspective; their victims would certainly not agree.
So, while the Tang Clan was an Orthodox Faction, their actions were much closer to those of an Unorthodox one.
That was why they could respond with some flexibility even when the Demonic Cult Leader appeared before them.
One might not think him so flexible, seeing him tremble, but who wouldn't tremble in this situation? If it had been any other sect or clan, they would have been shedding tears or shouting, "How dare you!" before bidding farewell to the world.
For someone like Tang Muyeong, this was a rather flexible response.
He thought this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
There was nothing to lose by forming a connection with the Demonic Cult Leader. Of course, if he were caught, he would become a public enemy of Murim, but as long as he wasn't, it was fine. Besides, even if suspicions arose, as long as the Tang Clan didn't speak up first, it would remain just that—suspicion.
In fact, unless they openly declared, "We have betrayed you," no one would want to make an enemy of the Tang Clan, which was full of physicians who could handle internal energy. And it wasn't as if this was the first or second time the Tang Clan had done something suspicious.
And so, he agreed to all of Baek Yeon-yeong's demands.
In truth, her demands weren't that excessive. He just had to deal with the elders and provide some information.
She was quite different from the Demonic Cult Leader he had only heard about in rumors. Of course, her cold voice still made him flinch.
In the end, Tang Muyeong even started to wonder, Is the Demonic Cult Leader a kinder person than I thought?
That was the thought that had crossed his mind. She had killed the elders, but they were the ones who had used the forbidden sorcery of Gu-poison.
Tang Muyeong mustered a bit of courage.
It could be called recklessness, but he felt it was something he had to do.
“…Distinguished Guest, may I risk being rude and ask you one thing?”
Although he had acted in his own self-interest, the person before him was the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It wouldn't be strange if she suddenly changed her mind and took his head. Knowing this, he still had something he had to ask, which meant Tang Muyeong had made a truly great resolve.
Baek Yeon-yeong nodded with an expressionless face.
Tang Muyeong considered even a sigh of relief a luxury and immediately continued.
“You mentioned that you have a connection with a child of the Tang Clan. Could it be that Ayeong… no, that Tang Soyeong of the Tang Clan is indebted to you?”
Calling her cult the Demonic Cult would get his head chopped off, but praising it as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would be awkward. No matter how he looked at it, she was the Demonic Cult Leader, but Tang Muyeong was supposed to have never seen Baek Yeon-yeong today. That was why the ambiguous title of "Distinguished Guest" came out, but when he thought about it, it wasn't wrong.
“We were together for a short while. She has left my side and gone elsewhere now, but if she wishes it, I will bring her back anytime. Of course, I doubt she would want that.”
Tang Muyeong's heart sank at Baek Yeon-yeong's words.
Did this not mean that a daughter of the Tang Clan, which belonged to the Orthodox Factions, had taken refuge in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
He could understand that much. If rumors spread, the Tang Clan could be falsely accused of colluding with the Demonic Cult and face the destruction of their clan, but wasn't feigning ignorance the Tang Clan's specialty?
But she left her side and went elsewhere?
And she still hadn't returned to Sichuan?
Didn't that mean she had left even the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and was now living somewhere in the 100,000 Great Mountains?
How long could a Second-Rate martial artist survive in a place teeming with spirit beasts and animals?
He had intended to use the connection with Tang Soyeong as a pretext to build a better relationship, but if this was the case, the story changed.
He had to somehow rescue his youngest sister from the 100,000 Great Mountains.
…Of course, only after Baek Yeon-yeong had left.
And he would have to ask if he could search for the Tang Clan's precious child in the 100,000 Great Mountains.
“Chirp…”
Cloud Flower White Wind Heavenly Cry let out a tired sound.
Isn't there a saying that leaving home is a world of pain?
She flew with all her might in search of her husband's traces, but she just couldn't find that lizard. Being a bird, she instinctively knew where to go, but getting there was not smooth sailing.
Crossing over trees and treading through mud, her fine white feathers turned brown.
It wasn't that her life was threatened by predators. Who would dare touch the precious child of the King of Birds? With Gaechalgoatal gone, it was safe to say there were no beasts that would mess with Chirpy. In the first place, she had undergone a metamorphosis, so she wouldn't be easily defeated, and she could also fly freely in the sky.
Still, that was that, and being tired was being tired.
But who was Cloud Flower White Wind Heavenly Cry? Wasn't she a romantic who would abandon her own father to fly to her husband? From a human perspective, there was no greater unfilial child, but unfortunately, Chirpy was not a human but a bird.
Chirpy eventually succeeded in finding a place similar to a nest where her husband had stayed.
Of course, it was too vast, enormous, and beautiful to be called a nest.
Having a building made of wood was one thing, but shouldn't there at least not be any statues?
“Chirp…?”
She couldn't wipe the bewildered expression off her face. Her husband's scent was strong, yet the place was filled with all sorts of strange things.
As Chirpy moved with quick, short steps, her wings folded, a black beast came into view.
“Hehehe…”
It was making a somehow sinister sound while creating a large statue. It was a massive pillar that seemed to have no end. She wondered why on earth it was making such a thing, but with her limited knowledge, Chirpy couldn't understand.
It also looked a bit obscene.
“Chirp!”
Chirpy shook her head vigorously. She had to find her husband, so why was her gaze drawn to such a pillar?
Just then, her eyes met with the black beast's.
Chirpy tensed up. It probably wouldn't touch the daughter of the King of Birds, but the beast was one she had never seen before. There was no telling what it might do.
“Hehehe… Feathers-thers-thers…”
She didn't know what it meant, but she thought it wasn't said with malicious intent.
“Hehehe… One-husband-many-wives…”
It wagged its tail gently and seemed to gesture for her to come inside.
Chirpy worked her little head hard.
What color was that lizard?
Black.
The color of these beasts?
Black.
Amazingly, she realized that these Bicorns were the lizard's subordinates!
Of course, Gomodo didn't think of the Bicorns as subordinates but as somewhat suspicious yet reliable allies, but what did that matter?
Feeling a sudden surge of confidence, Chirpy walked forward with quick, short steps.
“Hehehe… Feathers-thers-thers… Eggs-eggs-eggs…”
She couldn't understand the sound no matter how many times she heard it, but she could tell it held goodwill toward her.
It must have recognized me as the main wife and is already trying to score points.
With that thought, she entered the nest.
“Chirp!”
The moment she entered the nest to find her husband, Chirpy's body froze.
“Kioong?”
“Kieeeng?”
Spiders with the status of spirit beasts were staring blankly at her.
Normally, birds are creatures that eat spiders. But for some reason, those spiders didn't look like easy prey.
“Hmph.”
In particular, the red-eyed spider in human form was fear incarnate. After all, among spiders, there was a species called the bird-eater, and Nephila was an ancient species recorded to have hunted dinosaurs, going even beyond that.
“Ch-ch-chirp!”
She flapped her short wings and tried to escape, but she couldn't. A spiderweb had been tied to her leg at some point.
“Chiiirrrp!”
“Kioong!”
“Kieeeng!”
And so, the merciless attack of Tus and Pus began!
“Kiengyaing.”
“Ing-ing-kiong.”
…In truth, the thought that it was an attack was just Chirpy's misunderstanding.
Tus and Pus were just waving their hands nearby, welcoming Chirpy. The fact that the Bicorns acting as gatekeepers had let her in meant she had a connection with their Divine Beast. The fact that she was female was a bit bothersome, but it was right to let her stay here until the Divine Beast returned. She might get scared and run away otherwise.
“Chirp…?”
Chirpy, perhaps realizing they weren't attacking her, cautiously raised one wing. Then she worked her little head hard again.
Seeing that they were inside the nest, they must be of a higher rank than the black beasts that guided her. And for some reason, they were all female.
Chirpy realized.
This was the behavior of concubines trying to get on the good side of the main wife!
Of course, this was her own delusion.
“Chirp-chirp… Ch-ch-chirp.”
Quickly becoming arrogant, Chirpy pecked hard at the spiderweb.
“Hm? I was wondering why it was so noisy. Did you catch a bird?”
“Chiiirrrp!”
Chirpy screamed again.
A formidable creature had appeared. Chirpy was already trembling just from seeing the spiders; seeing a white wolf much larger than them, she couldn't help but be scared. Besides, it was bigger than most bears.
“…You smell somewhat familiar.”
“Kioong.”
“Huh? Not food, but a guest?”
The white wolf stared blankly at the white bird with its golden eyes. It wasn't the first or second time that lizard had brought back more females.
“…No, why does a feathered creature like a scaled one?”
Chirpy wanted to ask Baek Rang back, "You don't have scales either, do you?" but she focused all her attention on calming her pounding heart.
“Hmm… Anyway, what do you like? Do you eat meat? Or do you peck at grains?”
Chirpy's expression changed subtly.
Look at this praiseworthy spirit beast trying to offer me tribute. This, too, must be the lizard's grace.
“Chirp-chirp-chirp…”
Chirpy, thinking of herself as the main wife, let out such a laugh.
“Hm? I was wondering why it was so noisy. You caught a bird?”
“Chiiirrr… Chirp?”
Chirpy stopped mid-scream. She thought another large spirit beast would appear, but instead, an easy-looking human came out.
“Kioooong…”
“Ah, not food, but a guest?”
She couldn't understand why the human could communicate with the spiders, but Chirpy had no time to think deeply about it. She had figured out what all the individuals who had appeared so far had in common.
They were all female!
There's the saying that heroes love beautiful women, but this was just too many. Three spiders and eight wolves. And there was even a human. Chirpy even knew that the mother-daughter snakes were also in line.
“Chirp!”
Too many!
But at the same time, she was the only main wife. Thinking that brought her some comfort and made her arrogant again. Didn't it mean that the more concubines there were, the higher her own authority would rise?
“Ppyak-ppyak-ppyak…”
“What a cute-looking bird. Hmm, well, welcome! Though I think our roles might overlap!”
Baek Rang questioned Tang Soyeong's words.
“Our roles overlap? Does that bird use poison by any chance?”
“No. A Jinjo might, but a white bird like that can't use poison.”
“Then is it a species that knows medical arts well?”
“Well? I don't know about that.”
Baek Rang's tail formed a question mark. Then what was the common point between that bird and Tang Soyeong?
“Ahem, well, the fact that we're cute overlaps.”
“Huh?”
“Kieng?”
Even Tus and Pus, who were playing and waving their hands, seemed to say, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
“Hero Go finds me the cutest, doesn't he?”
It was a statement that would have dumbfounded not only Tus, Pus, and Chillang-i who were listening, but even Swish-Swish, who wasn't there.
The spirit beasts didn't answer. They just looked at Tang Soyeong with pitiful eyes.
But sometimes, just staring without a word could inflict great damage, and now was such a time.
Feeling somehow wronged, Tang Soyeong unknowingly shouted loudly.
“…But I am cute!”
Tang Soyeong puffed out her small chest proudly while making such a reckless statement.
If Gomodo had been here, the sound of a clang would have been heard about five times, so it was fortunate that he was away.