Chapter 250: The Signal Flare
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 250: The Signal Flare
I had thought Taotie was just a battle maniac.
Considering what Gongbok and Chodo had told me, I had no choice but to assume so.
But the truth was a little different from what I'd assumed.
Turns out, he had his own story.
I probably could have subdued him just by defeating him, but thanks to the Dragon Eye, I think I handled things more effectively. After all, I showed him that I could embrace the part of him he was so wary of—whether it was a scar or not.
I can't trust that he'll follow me wholeheartedly yet, but it's a pretty good start.
Taotie has acknowledged her defeat and is at least willing to listen to me for now.
As long as it's not an unreasonable request, he'll probably comply.
I'll have to gradually grow closer to her and, one day, make her follow me with true loyalty.
The fact that Taotie, one of the Nine Sons of the Dragon, had become an ally had huge implications.
And what were the Nine Sons of the Dragon?
They were none other than the children of the True Dragon himself.
As spirit beasts who have lived for ages, they possess vast knowledge and information. And since they inherited the True Dragon's blood, their combat prowess is also formidable.
Of course, I had met two of the Nine Sons before Taotie, but this case was different.
There was Chodo, who is friendly but seems content to stay cooped up in her own territory.
And Gongbok, who was strong but ended up being absorbed into a fox marble.
They're helpful, but I can't utilize their full martial power.
On the other hand, Taotie?
If a fight breaks out, she'll be the first to charge in, and unlike Chodo and Gongbok, I'll be able to utilize her full power.
Besides, his strength is such that it's hard to tell who is superior between us.
The result itself was my victory, but if the tide of the battle had shifted even slightly, the outcome could have easily been different.
If he hadn't been injured and had fought in that form from the start, I would have been the one on the defensive.
I only managed to defeat him by using up all of my resources.
To use a game analogy, I still had some HP left, but I'd used up all my MP.
So, if he had just a little more health, the result might have been different.
Now that someone who could be called my equal has joined the Gaegaek Cult, it's safe to say our power has far surpassed that of a single one of the Nine Factions or Five Families.
Red Dragon alone defeated a master of the Transformation Realm, and both Taotie and I should be at least at that level.
Of course, it would be tough to fight a group with a Profound Realm master, but I don't think we'd be guaranteed to lose.
No matter how strong a Profound Realm master is, wouldn't they get fried if hit by a lightning bolt?
If Baek Rang freezes them, Red Dragon burns them, and Taotie finishes them off, I think we could take down at least one.
As long as it's not a master on my Master's level, I believe we can win without much trouble.
"Hmph, a rather fine nest. A male ought to possess a territory like this."
Baek Rang stared at Taotie with a weary expression.
I thought they would bicker a lot, but she seemed to have realized Taotie was stranger than she'd imagined and decided not to provoke her.
Truly befitting the one I call the second sage of the Gaegaek Cult.
Of course, the first is Nephila.
Taotie's personality is strange, but she has a simple side to her. If I use that well, I should be able to handle her as I please.
Thinking that, just having him by my side was reassuring.
It's better that he shows his true colors like this than to be two-faced.
"Kkyong!"
Tus and Pus waved their hands, greeting me.
Then they tilted their heads and stared intently at Baek Rang's and Taotie's faces.
"Kkyaeng?"
They must be confused because they could smell me but couldn't see me.
"Gekgek."
I peeked my head out.
From the front of Baek Rang's robes.
"Kkyooong!"
"Keck!"
It's not like I wanted to do this, but Baek Rang kept telling me to get in, so I had no choice.
"Gerorong."
"Hoh, are these spiders? And they hold the power of cold... I can even feel the master's power from them. These are no ordinary spiders."
It seemed Taotie thought highly of Tus and Pus.
I may have raised them myself, but they've truly grown up well.
It's just that my growth is so fast; Tus and Pus have also grown at an unprecedented rate.
It feels like just yesterday they were kkyong-ing because they couldn't handle a single diving beetle they'd caught, but they've grown up so splendidly.
Chwaaak!
To think they even know how to stick a web to my body.
Huh?
A web?
Just as I thought something had stuck to me, I was pulled out of Baek Rang's comfortable embrace.
They'd caught me with a web, just like how I used to hunt piranhas with them.
"Kkyooong!"
My god, I've raised tiger cubs.
Tus and Pus's eyes sparkled as they rushed toward my shrunken form.
"Geeeck."
Let go, you rascals.
Tus and Pus licked me all over with their tongues like puppies.
I wondered if spiders had such pink tongues, but since they're special spiders who have already entered the ranks of spirit beasts, I guess it's not that strange.
As the spiders welcomed me, the others began to appear one by one.
"Jjaeaek!"
Chirpy rushed toward me, extremely excited.
"Jjaek-rorororong."
...Who did you learn that weird cry from?
Is this the first time I've shown them my smaller form?
Seeing it stare at me and slightly open its beak, I think it's having strange thoughts.
This one, when we first met, it popped right into my mouth.
Now that it's bigger, is it planning to put me in its beak?
I don't think it's going to eat me, but it's a little scary.
For some reason, Nephila didn't rush toward me.
As my very first companion, she must understand me the most.
That's Nephila for you.
"Slurp..."
The way she was pinching her own forearm and gulping was pretty scary, but I'm sure she wasn't thinking anything dangerous.
Just the fact that she's restraining herself like that makes her a top 1% spider.
"Egg pouch..."
She is restraining herself, right?
The next to greet me was Soyeong.
Well, rather than greeting me, seeing her come out with a drowsy face, it seemed more like the noise had woken her up.
Soyeong wasn't sleeping because she was lazy.
It was late, but while Tang Muyeong stayed a little longer, he had been teaching Soyeong various things.
He'd said that to assist Gomodo, she needed to learn more of the Tang Clan's techniques and reach at least the Peak Realm.
Honestly, being a Second-Rate martial artist suits Soyeong, but there's no harm in her getting stronger.
She has her poison, but it's better to have more ways to protect herself.
The Tang Clan's training methods seemed quite harsh, but Soyeong trained without a single complaint.
Usually, Soyeong is endlessly light, small, flat, and frail, but seeing her like this, I was honestly proud.
The prodigy of the Tang Clan, who should now be called Daeyeong instead of Soyeong, rubbed her eyes.
"...Hero Go, you got small again?"
Soyeong mimicked licking with her tongue.
You're human, aren't you?
"C-come... here..."
She waved her hands strangely, then hesitated when she saw my tail twitching.
That's right, think carefully. My tail doesn't hold back.
"Aish, I don't care anymore. Come here!"
She approached with her eyes squeezed shut, knowing she was going to get hit.
Alright, you've worked hard too.
"...Huh? Why aren't you hitting me?"
Good grief, anyone hearing that would think I go around hitting you all day.
"Hehe... Well, now that you've experienced my touch, even Hero Go can't resist. Ooh-hoot, huhuhu..."
Her 'hehe' turned into a 'huhuhu'.
"As a special treat, I'll allow you to sleep with me today. By the way, can I touch your tail too? No, wait, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission... your other tail..."
Look at this one.
Clang!
"Ouch!"
Soyeong whimpered, clutching the bump on her forehead.
I try to be nice, but she just asks for a beating.
Her expression looked strangely satisfied. Don't tell me she wanted to be hit by my tail?
Is it because I've hit her too much?
Thinking that, I felt a little bad.
"Ahem... Did you all see that? This is a special act he only does for me."
I take back my apology.
"Indeed... to punish a female without hesitation, a true model for all males. And to use the same technique he used to finish me... without a shred of mercy in his strike..."
It's a similar technique, but putting them on the same level is a bit much.
With Soyeong, I use my skill to hit her with minimal force, just enough to make it hurt for a brief moment.
The technique I used against Taotie was a full-power strike with no control.
I wonder if Soyeong knows how much care I put into hitting her.
"Owowow... Huk, but who is this person next to you...?"
Soyeong, who had been rubbing her forehead, said as if she's just now noticed Taotie.
"You're a man, aren't you?"
At those words, Taotie's face brightened.
"Mm, a female with a discerning eye."
Behind me, Baek Rang shook her head.
Taotie was not in her old-man form right now.
However, those overwhelming internal energy pouches weren't visible.
Because she'd put back on the most hideous clothes in the world that she'd thrown off earlier.
If it can so exquisitely hide what compression bandages couldn't, could that also be a divine object?
...Come to think of it, this 'divine object' thing is a bit strange.
The Plumpness Pill, and now this Flat-Chested Garment (tentative name)...
Still, she seemed to have some sense, as she appeared to realize from Baek Rang's gesture that Taotie was a woman pretending to be a man.
Based on her face, she looked like a very handsome young man, but her voice was high-pitched.
"Ahem, looks like things were resolved well? Anyway, this is your first time here, right? Since I'm your senior, I'll show you the ropes."
For some reason, Soyeong was being proactive.
Was she excited because a new believer had joined?
Seeing her acting a little smug, something felt off.
...Looking closely, I could see that Soyeong's gaze was fixed on Taotie's chest.
Could it be that she was excited to meet someone smaller than her for the first time in a long while, no... for the very first time?
But Taotie is the owner of internal energy pouches so immense you couldn't even dare to compare.
Whether she knew that or not, Soyeong explained about the Gaegaek Cult in a cheerful voice.
Sometimes she seems clueless, but in situations like this, her head works pretty well.
Of course, she distorted things to make herself sound like an indispensable talent of the Gaegaek Cult who receives the most of my affection, but she was explaining it well enough.
Taotie also seemed to have developed an interest in the Gaegaek Cult and was listening quite intently.
She would have followed me even without an explanation, but starting like this was better in many ways.
First, I'll have Taotie join the Gaegaek Cult, then I'll slowly extract information about the True Dragon.
Taotie was staying in Kunlun until recently.
Naturally, she must know a lot about the True Dragon.
What the True Dragon thinks about the 100,000 Great Mountains.
Furthermore, from her perspective, what she thinks of me, the troublemaker.
What actions she can currently take.
And what actions we should take.
Recruiting Taotie isn't just about increasing our combat power.
Her joining us will be the cornerstone for taking down the True Dragon, and a signal flare heralding a new beginning for the Gaegaek Cult.