The Boiling River
Jekyeong passed the fruit he had been holding in his mouth to Cheongo. "Sagaewan might come. So you should hide for a few days—no, at least ten days."
"Sagaewan? That guy is coming? Why?"
"I don't know either. But... he will probably come. So stay out of sight."
"Just me? What about you?"
Jekyeong recalled Sagaewan's glistening eyes. If it had been a mere glance, he could have dismissed him as a deeply unpleasant bastard and moved on. However, Sagaewan had left a fresh mark upon his spiritual nature. Without a doubt, it was a clear declaration of intent.
"I cannot run."
Thus, he could not avoid it. But Cheongo was different. Sagaewan's target was him, so as long as he remained here, Cheongo would likely be safe even if the bird fled. Cheongo was not foolish; the bird would surely be able to surmise this much.
"No! I won't leave! Jekyeong! Jekyeong! Besides, that guy left a mark on me too! Running away won't do any good! No good at all!"
It was a foolishly stubborn stance, and even Cheongo seemed to realize it. Looking at the bird, whose eyes were filled with fierce determination, Jekyeong swallowed the words he was about to say.
"Do as you wish. Just make sure to keep a close eye on Muk-su."
"Muk-su? That right! This is Muk-su, isn't it? It is! I knew it! I knew it!" Cheongo carefully grasped the fruit with both feet. The stubborn tension in the bird's eyes melted away into softness.
"Whether you hide or not, do as you please."
"And you?"
"I have work to do," Jekyeong replied curtly before slipping back into the water.
When the Sangyo Forest gathered all kinds of Beast Races, the Water Beasts were the only ones left unmobilized. Since most Water Beasts could not survive outside of water, there had been no intention of gathering them in the first place. Thanks to this, the number of Water Beasts in the Spiritual Spring had not decreased at all. In fact, perhaps because Jekyeong had been away for a few days, their numbers seemed to have slightly increased.
Crunch.
Jekyeong chewed and swallowed the Water Beast he had just hunted, scanning the area for his next target. Perhaps because this was already his third—no, fourth—kill, the surrounding Water Beasts had all fled far away. However, to Jekyeong, who had mastered the Presence-Concealing Technique, this was merely a minor inconvenience, not a major problem. The simple-minded Water Beasts could not detect his approach until he revealed himself right before their eyes, and by then, it was already too late.
Good. But it's still far from enough.
Every bite he took was digested instantly, expanding his vital energy. Rapid digestion was one thing, but the increase in vital energy carried a different significance. Until just a few days ago, no matter how much he ate, he barely felt any increase in his vital energy. Now, however, the growth was so palpable that it rivaled the periods of his most rapid development. Was it because he had just survived a brush with death? Or was it due to his expanded spiritual nature? Jekyeong suspected the latter.
If the Spirit Seed plays a role similar to a bloodline, then the expansion of my spiritual nature can be seen as an increase in the scale of my innate talent.
Talent. At any other time, he would have danced a joyful serpent dance, but now he was in no mood for such things, nor did he have the luxury of time.
Crunch!
Jekyeong swallowed the remaining Water Beast meat in one gulp and set off to find his next prey. Despite having just devoured a fairly large Water Beast whole, his body did not feel heavy at all. This monstrous digestive power was certainly abnormal, but he did not find it strange in the slightest.
My body is burning.
It felt as though a massive furnace had taken up residence inside his body. His spirit and flesh commanded him to continuously throw meat into that furnace. The command felt as natural as a growling stomach crying out for food.
"Screeech!"
How many Water Beasts had he hunted by now? Once the count surpassed ten, he stopped keeping track. No matter how much he ate, it felt insufficient, and the heat in his body refused to cool down.
Thump!
At some point, his heart pounded violently. His body grew scorching hot, and the surrounding water began to boil under its influence. It was not like before, when the Spirit Seed had slipped out of his control. The Spirit Seed was quietly integrated, as if it had become one with his spiritual nature. Jekyeong did not panic. There was no reason to. This was the very moment he had intended and waited for.
I'm counting on you.
Dragging his steaming body, Jekyeong coiled himself in a suitable spot. He did not worry about anyone approaching. In this vicinity, let alone Water Beasts, even ordinary fish were hard to find.
Crack!
A sound like bones shifting echoed. There was no pain at all; instead, it felt like receiving a refreshing massage. It was starkly different from his previous sheddings, which had been accompanied by searing agony.
Cra-crack!
With another sound of twisting bones acting as the signal, his true shedding began.
Cheongo buried Muk-su's fruit in the ground and scattered beast carcasses around it. Although the tree had become a fruit, its habits remained unchanged; the carcasses left near the fruit were quickly drained of their nutrients and shriveled up. Just as Cheongo had done for Jekyeong in the past, the bird steadily brought food to the new Muk-su. In truth, there was nothing else to do.
Several days had passed since Jekyeong entered the water. Cheongo's daily routine consisted entirely of filling its own belly, bringing food to Muk-su, and blankly waiting for Jekyeong to emerge.
Will he come out today?
Cheongo stared blankly at the river, where ripples occasionally formed. When staying still became too boring, the bird would lift its wings to preen its feathers or sharpen its talons on trees and rocks. After doing this for a long while, Cheongo suddenly startled, snapped its head up, and took flight high into the air.
He's coming! He's really coming!
With eyes that rivaled a hawk's, Cheongo instantly recognized the dark shape approaching from afar. Sagaewan! It was Sagaewan. Just as Jekyeong had said, that two-headed monster had actually tracked them down!
What do I do? What do I do?
Though Cheongo had stubbornly refused to leave because of not wanting to part with Jekyeong, now that the bird was actually faced with Sagaewan, anxiety gripped its heart.
"Ugh!"
Should it run away now? But that lion didn't even have wings, yet he could fly faster than Cheongo. Even if the bird fled, it would be caught in no time. While Cheongo hesitated, unable to decide what to do, Sagaewan arrived.
Thud!
As Sagaewan landed, the heavy impact cracked the ground and made the trees sway. Only then could Cheongo fully take in Sagaewan's appearance. He looked vastly different from Cheongo's memory. Only one of his heads had both eyes fully open, and his entire body was covered in wounds. Turbid blood seeped from several gashes, while a thin, dark, smoke-like vapor drifted from others. He looked completely abnormal by any standard, which only made him appear far more ominous.
"You. The crow that was with the serpent."
"A crow? Yes, a crow. I smell it." The head with the scarred eye sniffed and moved, drool mixed with blood dripping from its mouth.
"Where is the serpent? I smell him. He is close."
"Is he in the water?"
Terrified, Cheongo could not utter a single word and simply trembled. At this, the head with the scarred eye frowned and spoke.
"Forget it. We know he's nearby anyway. I'm hungry, so let's just eat this one."
Hearing those words, Cheongo shrieked immediately.
"H-he went hunting! Over there... over by that rocky mountain!"
A trembling voice and a trembling body. Yet, this was the moment of greatest courage in Cheongo's entire life. To be able to utter even a single sentence in front of such an ominous Great Demon was a miracle in itself.
"The rocky mountain?"
The head with the intact eyes glanced in the direction Cheongo pointed and let out a low chuckle.
"Liar."
"I thought you were smart, but you're just a stupid crow."
Sagaewan took a step forward. Completely paralyzed by fear, Cheongo couldn't even think of fleeing, its beak clattering uncontrollably.
"Why did you lie? Did you think you could send me over there and run away?"
"Why bother asking? I'm hungry. Let's eat quickly."
Sagaewan growled and lunged forward.
"Aaaah!"
Anticipating a painful end, Cheongo squeezed its eyes shut. Yet, even after the shriek died down, the expected pain did not come. Had death claimed the bird so swiftly that there was no time to feel pain? After a moment, the shivering Cheongo sensed something strange and cautiously opened one eye. What met its gaze was not Sagaewan's hideous face, but a thick, white fog—no, steam.
Huh?
Even when opening both eyes wide, nothing but steam filled Cheongo's vision. Sagaewan's oppressive aura could still be felt, but his physical form was nowhere to be seen. Was he hidden behind this dense steam?
"What kind of trick is this?"
"Come out! You snake!"
Sagaewan's shout, dripping with murderous intent, rang out. And a moment later—
"ROOOAAAR!"
As if responding to the summons, a wild, ferocious roar reverberated from deep within the river.
Incinerate
Sagaewan bared his teeth irritably amidst the hot steam. Having viewed the world with four eyes for so long, it was incredibly inconvenient to now rely on only two—and a single pair on just one head at that. To be unable to look forward and watch his back at the same time! He had never experienced such discomfort since becoming a Great Demon.
"Come out! I have something to say to you!"
"Grrr! Come out!"
This was no lie. He truly had something to say. Though, once the conversation was over, a very different turn of events would unfold.
The serpent showed no reaction. It was disappointing, but in a way, a relief. If the fellow had been foolish enough to bite such a flimsy bait, Sagaewan would have had to reconsider making him his third head.
Something is strange.
Yes. It is strange. Starting with this steam.
The sudden onset of steam was bizarre enough in itself, but why did it feel so scalding hot?
We felt the energy of the fire element in that serpent's bloodline.
Indeed we did. Is this its influence? Has his bloodline matured? Surely he hasn't become a Great Demon in just a few days?
Nonsense! How could that be?
Did I go too far? Yes. There is no way.
Was the realm of a Great Yao something that could be reached so easily? Even if one inherited a Great Demon-grade bloodline, reaching the Great Yao realm required vast spans of time and immense luck. A creature that was a mere Demon Beast just a few days ago becoming a Great Yao in a matter of days? For such a thing to be possible, his bloodline would have to be of the Demon King grade...
And that was truly absurd. While the serpent undoubtedly possessed something extraordinary, there was no way his bloodline was of the Demon King grade.
Then what is this?
I don't know. But be careful.
Though his mind knew he had to be cautious, his heart pounded not with anxiety, but with excitement. This bizarre phenomenon was undoubtedly related to that serpent. The creature was clever, special, and mysterious. If so, how magnificent would the head be if he fashioned it from him?
I will become even more special, even more outstanding.
We will become special and outstanding. Do not leave me out.
Ah, of course. We will be able to heal your eye in no time.