Chapter 244: Taotie
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 244: Taotie
I spoke a little more with Tang Muyeong.
I got some necessary information, as well as some completely unnecessary information, like Soyeong's preferences.
“I came here to bring Soyeong back to the main family, but if she is serving the Grandmaster, that changes things.”
How admirable of her.
She was making such a fuss about wanting to go home, but now she says she wants to stay. And this was even after most of the radical faction members had been dealt with.
“…What’s with that suspicious look?”
“Gek.”
“D-Don’t look at me like that!”
What’s wrong with my eyes?
Tang Muyeong stared intently at the flustered Tang Soyeong.
“Ahem, we may be hearing some good news soon.”
“Brother?”
“If her partner is a descendant of Gomodo… hmm, Soyeong may be lacking in many ways, but I leave her in your care.”
“Stop talking nonsense!”
Clang!
Tang Soyeong’s hand chop struck.
Of course, there was no way a measly Second-Rate martial artist could harm a supreme master.
“She is still young and has much to learn. If I could, I too would wish to remain here and serve Hero Gomodo, but…”
“Ilbuuuu…”
The Bicorns growled, clearly displeased.
“I have urgent matters to attend to back at the Tang Clan, so I cannot. Besides, it seems the Bicorns’ faces have gotten a bit sharp.”
What the.
“Ilbuuuuuuu.”
“Geumnaaaaam…”
Why are you guys glaring at him?
“Though I cannot serve you by your side, I will return to the Tang Clan and work for your cause, Hero. Even if Jin-ryong descends again and gathers the martial artists of Murim, I will ensure they do not follow him blindly. I will see to it that their forces are split in half, at the very least.”
He has the same surname, Tang, but unlike someone else, he's so reliable!
Look at that determination. Isn't he saying he'll use any poison necessary to get people on my side?
…It's a little unsettling, but for now, he's on my side.
Tang Muyeong, holding a cupped-fist salute, turned his gaze to the wild boar I had caught.
Right, I just caught some meat. I should at least feed him before he leaves. It would be cold to send him off right away.
“Hero, may I ask a favor of you?”
You must be hungry too. I was being dense.
“Would you grant me the opportunity to present you with a dish from the Tang Clan?”
It was an unexpected answer.
So, he's going to cook for us?
Food made by humans is always the right choice. Skill is secondary; the very act of cooking is a passing grade. Besides, I'd eaten nothing but grass since being captured by Chodo, so I was desperately craving a human-cooked meal.
And most importantly, drool was dripping from Soyeong's mouth.
Sensing my gaze, she wiped her mouth and added sheepishly, “It's a bit much for me to say it myself, but Sichuan is the land of gourmet food, you know? And who are the masters of Sichuan? The Tang Clan!”
Sichuan cuisine!
If there's one thing I know, it's that food from the Sichuan region is delicious.
“Just as I have a high affinity for spirit beasts, my brother has a talent for cooking. Of course, he hasn't done it often since becoming the young clan leader…”
“Gek!”
Do it now!
“I will stake the honor of the Tang Clan and present a dish that will not bring shame to Gomodo…!”
You don't have to go that far.
Tang Muyeong took out various cooking utensils from his robes.
…How was he carrying a wok in there?
Is this the Tang Clan for you? Even for the Tang Clan, why would he carry cooking utensils in his robes…?
Ah, whatever. I'm sure he knows what he's doing.
*
“Wild boar usually has a strong, gamey smell that needs to be masked by marinating it in spices or seasonings. However, I cannot waste time in the presence of the Hero.”
I flicked my tongue out, tasting the air.
Didn't he say it was a wild boar dish? Why does it smell like fish?
“I've added a special seasoning to mask the boar's smell. The dish created from this is…”
Tang Muyeong lifted the lid with a confident expression.
“Sichuan-style Yuxiang Shredded Pork.”
Yuxiang Shredded Pork! So 'yuxiang' means 'fish fragrance'.
The crimson-colored pork, mixed with dried bamboo shoots and other vegetables, seemed to showcase the very essence of Sichuan cuisine.
“Isn't this spicy?”
Just as Baek Rang, who had naturally joined us, said, it looked spicy at a glance.
This guy, Tang Muyeong, how did he know I was craving something spicy?
“I'm not a fan of spicy food.”
Come to think of it, aren't dogs not supposed to eat spicy food?
“Whine…”
Chillang-i whimpered mournfully.
Sorry, but I can't give this to the doggies.
“Chirp!”
Chirpy flapped her wings, singing as if to say she loved spicy food.
“Of course, I have also prepared non-spicy dishes. The amount of meat the Hero hunted was so plentiful that I was able to prepare a variety.”
Tang Muyeong presented another plate.
Just as he said, a variety of dishes were prepared, each with different seasonings and ingredients to create distinct flavors.
“Pant, pant, pant…”
But aren't dogs not supposed to eat salty food either?
Wag, wag, wag.
Seeing their tails wagging like that, I couldn't bring myself to tell them no. Even Baek Rang gave a slight nod, so it seemed that amount was acceptable for them to eat.
“It is a humble meal, but I would be grateful if you enjoy it.”
He calls this a humble meal? Then what does that make everything I've eaten until now?
Still, I was ready to eat gratefully. My expectations for this food were high. This wasn't just about having a meal; it was a chance to teach my other followers the importance of cooking.
“Gek!”
With that word as the signal, everyone began to devour the food on their plates.
Chomp, chomp, chomp.
…This flavor!
How can this be?
A spiciness that felt like it would numb my entire mouth. But it was a delicious kind of spicy. To think I could experience a flavor so perfectly described as 'stimulating' in this era. On top of that, since I'd eaten nothing but grass for so long, the impact this food had on me was extraordinary.
“Gegegek!”
“Kioong?”
Seeing me eat with such relish, Tus and Pus crept over and took a small bite of the spicy Yuxiang Shredded Pork.
“Keeeek!”
“Kiiook!”
The spicy flavor is still a bit much for you two.
“Kieeeeng…!”
Even though it was spicy, they took another bite.
“Kioongong…”
It seems you two have also awakened to the taste of spice.
“Indeed…”
Tang Muyeong watched us with a pleased expression.
Is he happy because we're enjoying it so much?
“Actually, this was a favorite dish of the previous Grandmaster.”
A favorite of the previous Gomodo? Our tastes are similar.
It made sense. The young leader of the Tang Clan wouldn't have learned to cook for no reason.
“There were records stating that Gomodo enjoyed spicy food.”
I paused at his words.
Even for a spirit beast, is it possible to like spicy food? Spiciness isn't a taste; it's pain. Unless you can't feel the heat, like a bird, or you're a masochist, like a human, there's no way you'd like spicy things.
“Kieeeng.”
“Kioooong.”
…Or maybe not? Looking at Tus and Pus, it seems that's not always the case.
“It's spicy…”
Nephila was also eating it quite well in her own way.
Well, she lived closely with humans, so it's possible she'd like spicy food.
I thought nothing of it and was about to continue eating when it happened.
Kuuung!
A dull thud echoed.
“Ilbuuuu?”
The Bicorns dragged in a dust-covered Iron Head Dragon.
“Keuk… Hero, no. My Lord… I have failed you…”
My Lord? When did I get promoted to 'Lord'? Not that I care what he calls me. But why is he here?
“Gegegek?”
It's not a fatal wound, but his body looks pretty banged up.
“Kaaah… These wounds… these Bicorns…”
“Ilbuuu?”
“A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding.”
Seriously, how hard did they have to hit him to mess up an Adamantine Body like that?
Iron Head Dragon explained what had happened on the Snow Mountain.
“Taotie, one of the Nine Sons of the Dragon and one of the Four Fiends, has attacked!”
Taotie! Wasn't he the one Chodo warned me about? She said he was a dangerous being that not even Jin-ryong could control.
“I tried to defeat him, but he was a powerful foe who easily blocked my strike with a single hand.”
He blocked that headbutt with one hand? Even I couldn't take Iron Head Dragon's headbutt and come out unscathed. So he's no pushover.
“Sensing my defeat, I tried to retreat at all costs to deliver the news to you, Hero, but he simply let me go.”
He didn't escape, Taotie just let him go? That's a bit different from what Chodo said.
“I was prepared to lose a limb… I suppose I was lucky.”
Still, it was a relief that Iron Head Dragon was okay.
“He told me to relay a message: he will be waiting at the Snow Mountain, and he challenges you to a battle to determine who is superior.”
I see his objective. He must have sensed my existence to some degree and invaded the Snow Mountain, one of the Dragon Gates. His target was me, so Iron Head Dragon wouldn't have been enough to satisfy him. This was no different from a declaration of war, telling me to come to him if I want the Snow Mountain back.
“I am sorry. If only I were a little stronger…”
I patted the shoulder of the self-reproaching Iron Head Dragon.
His opponent was Taotie. What could Iron Head Dragon possibly do? Especially without his fox marble. He is an opponent I must face.
“Sob… My Lord…!”
Iron Head Dragon was overcome with emotion. As a sign of encouragement, I offered him the plate of Yuxiang Shredded Pork.
“…My Lord?”
It's a shame to let such a well-prepared meal go to waste. We should eat first.
“Is it okay not to move out now?” Baek Rang posed the question.
Well, he told me to come to the Snow Mountain, but he didn't set a deadline, did he? There's no reason for me to go to the Snow Mountain right now. If Iron Head Dragon had been taken hostage, it'd be a different story, but the Dragon Gate has already been returned to the Gaegaek Cult. Why should I go there?
If I have to fight him, it's far more advantageous to do it here. Here, I can coordinate an attack with my followers, and it's the place where I can most actively use the Power of Wood. There's no need to go to a disadvantageous location. Technically, it's not a disadvantageous place, just a relatively less advantageous one.
So, the thing to do now is…
“Gekek.”
Let's empty our plates first and think later.
*
On the Snow Mountain, where a cold wind blew, an old man stood with his eyes closed.
“You are not the first spirit beast to come to kill me.”
But then—Flash! Fwoosh!
He threw a broken twig and slowly opened his eyes. He had the face of an old man, but his red eyes had not aged.
“And you will not be the last.”
But there was no reply.
“Hmm… no.”
Of course there wasn't; the old man was talking to himself.
“Again!”
The old man shouted and returned to his original pose.
“Show me the power that killed Gongbok.”
He tried saying that.
“I believe I told you that you must defeat me if you wish to reclaim your territory.”
He struck a different pose, then shook his head again.
“That's not it either!”
That's right. He was agonizing over which pose and which line would make him look the coolest.
“Huhuhu…”
A satisfied expression appeared on his face, as if he had finally come up with a brilliant idea.
“Yes… with this…”
The fifth of the Nine Sons of the Dragon. The youngest of the Four Fiends. Taotie, known as a Ferocious Beast, was endlessly practicing his self-introduction while waiting for Gomodo to arrive.
“Hehehe… you're late.”
A cold wind blew, but it didn't matter. If anything, it just meant he had more time to practice.
Whoooosh.
The cold wind blew and the wait grew longer, but Taotie merely chuckled. "Huhuhu."
WHOOOOOSH!
“……Why aren't you coming?”
He finally uttered the words, but there was no one to answer.
“Oho. Are you steeling your resolve to face me with all your might? Keuk, good. That's not bad at all! In that case, I too shall… yes, I'll set this off here… and the atmosphere…”
The ever-positive Taotie decided to use this seemingly eternal wait. He would prepare thoroughly, so that he could properly reveal the kind of being he was.
He would prepare just as much as his opponent was preparing. That was proper etiquette, after all.
“Huhuhu…. I'm looking forward to this!”
Of course, the lizard he was waiting for was currently consoling Iron Head Dragon by breaking out alcohol and starting a drinking party, but there was no way for Taotie to know that.