Even the Sea is Made of Water - 6: The Millennium Turtle
The Millennium Turtle. A golden turtle that's lived for ten thousand years. Who knows if it's truly that ancient, but it's certainly outlived any ordinary turtle by a vast margin, and its entire body gleams with unmistakable gold. A rare spirit beast that dwells in the ocean depths, rarely seen by human eyes unless some injured, dying, or enfeebled specimen gets swept ashore by the waves.
Such a creature had climbed onto land of its own accord. Not wounded or feeble, but hale and hearty.
Ppiae!
My head spun at the sight of the Millennium Turtle looking up at me and squeaking. Do turtles normally make sounds like that? Cute little ppiaes, no less? Sure, it's a spirit beast, so it wouldn't act like a regular animal... but a golden turtle squeaking? Still a bit much.
Should I send it back to the sea? I pondered seriously for a moment. It seemed to have come ashore on purpose, but it would surely be more comfortable in the ocean than on land. Wandering around here might draw unwanted eyes and trouble. Luckily, with the founding merit sect Botamun and the fleets of two kings in the Jusan Islands, it wouldn't end up as some exploited "spirit beast." Still, it could get fawned over as an auspicious omen and handled too roughly.
"Go home."
Ppiae?
After some deliberation, I reached down to scoop up the Millennium Turtle. I already had four spirit beasts trailing me around these islands. One more wouldn't─
Ppiae-eek!
The turtle spat acid right by my foot, and the ground there melted away at a frightening speed. Ah, so that's it. The Millennium Turtle's spit is insanely acidic.
"......"
Ppiae.
"...Want to come with me?"
Ppiae!
The turtle bobbed its head eagerly, as if it'd been waiting for me to ask. Threatening me with acid one second, then playing nice the next. What a bizarre spirit beast. Where'd this guy even come from...?
I picked it up with both hands, chuckling wryly. It spat acid the instant I tried sending it back to sea, but now it's all docile when I offer to take it along. Spirit beasts are too smart and perceptive for their own good─it's exhausting.
Returning alone was one thing, but showing up with a random turtle in tow left Ak I-yeon and Jo Wi-cheo blinking in confusion.
"Gaga. What's that...?"
"Found it wandering the beach and picked it up."
Ppiae!
Telling the truth, the Millennium Turtle waved its right front flipper─not arm, flipper─in greeting to Ak I-yeon. Her expression went even blanker at the sight. No one could stay composed with a golden turtle popping up right in front of them.
"Is it okay to bring it along? What if it came ashore to lay eggs?"
Ak I-yeon quickly pulled herself together and gently stroked the turtle's head. Valid concern. Sea turtles come to land to lay eggs, usually. Getting caught by humans before that? A turtle's worst nightmare.
But it was a misunderstanding. The turtle hadn't been caught by a human─it had caught a passing human. No signs of eggs anywhere.
"Tried sending it back to sea, but it spat acid and fought back. Couldn't risk some civilian getting hurt, so I brought it."
"Acid..."
Ak I-yeon's eyes took on a strange glint at my explanation. I get it─hard to believe this golden cutie threw a tantrum with spit. It looks like it'd just flop helplessly if grabbed.
"Maybe─"
As Ak I-yeon and I shared an awkward silence, Jo Wi-cheo spoke up cautiously.
"Perhaps it's drawn to Your Excellency, since you already keep several spirit beasts? Your Excellency carries their aura and scent strongly, so it might be showing interest."
"You think?"
A plausible theory. Spirit beasts are sensitive to the energies from elixirs or fellow spirit beasts. If one person reeks of four of them, a Millennium Turtle couldn't help but take notice.
It's a pyramid scheme. I couldn't help but chuckle. The more spirit beasts you have, the more likely others join─a straight-up multi-level marketing setup.
Buooo?
Right on cue, Buong woke from its nap, sensing the turtle's energy, and tilted its head.
Ppiae!
The Millennium Turtle waved its flipper at Buong in turn. At this rate, heading to Guangdong or Guangxi might net me even more. Worrying already.
"...Oh, Gaga. When are we heading to Zhejiang?"
"Ah."
Ak I-yeon's words snapped me out of listening to the beasts' buoos and ppiaes.
Right. Got sidetracked and forgot to mention it first.
"Once the soldiers recover. They rushed straight from Hangzhou without rest─can't just turn them around right away."
"True enough."
She nodded in agreement. Ak I-yeon's got a generous heart. Anyone twisted by privilege would've said, "Soldiers are meant to suffer."
"Won't rest too long, though. A bit of sea cruising and climbing Botasan, and it'll be time to go."
"Don't tell me another one will come to you out there?"
"That'd be a problem."
I snorted at her joke. Two at once is my limit, even for me. Kki-ing and Kki-ong were zero to two─manageable. Four to six? No way. If another shows, I'll pawn it off on someone. With two kings here, one might take it off my hands─
"Han Un. You in there?"
Hm? I turned at Gi Gangwang's voice from outside.
What's up? He should be interrogating pirates with Dong-gu Wang.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Then I'll come in."
Without waiting, Gi Gangwang slid the door open, smirking in disbelief.
"The pirates were spouting nonsense, so I figured they were mad. Thought I'd come laugh with you... Huh...?"
His words cut off at the sight of the Millennium Turtle in my arms.
"...So it wasn't ravings after all."
Short sentence, but loaded with emotion.
While I'd found the turtle on the beach and walked back, the interrogation had proceeded at lightspeed. Not satisfying for the two kings, though. They'd dangled survival prospects to coax cooperation, but got baffling repeats.
"They said they fled southwest Goryeo, miraculously reaching near the great island. Then a dragon rose, whipping up a storm."
Gi Gangwang stroked his beard, eyeing the turtle again.
"Then the dragon's golden subordinate sank their ship. Seems they meant this one."
Ppiae!
The turtle nodded emphatically, drawing another chuckle from Gi Gangwang. I was stunned too. Thought it'd just wandered ashore randomly, not that it'd been the one pounding the pirates.
The "dragon rising" was probably unlucky pirates caught in a storm; the "subordinate" likely just bad luck catching the turtle's eye and getting acid-bathed. But this world has martial arts and spirit beasts─dragons wouldn't be weird.
"Figures. Thought they were nuts."
Ptoo.
Gi Gangwang reached to pet it, and the turtle spat acid again, just like on the beach. A choking silence fell.
Spirit beasts dodging hands is common, and it missed his foot harmlessly─but spitting for self-defense? First I'd seen.
"...Han Un."
"Yes, Your Highness..."
"Spirit beast stew good for the body?"
"Your Highness, this spirit beast contributed to repelling the pirates. It's rarely seen humans, so it's scared of you. Please show mercy."
Gi Gangwang clicked his tongue softly.
"If that's your take, can't argue. It did contribute, after all."
Whew. Dodged golden dragon phoenix soup by a hair.
Confirming the Millennium Turtle's existence, we headed straight back to the interrogation site. We'd paused assuming the pirates were insane, but if dragons and golden minions were real, time to resume.
Meaning they'd told the truth─so we'd get their scale and base info too.
Millennium Turtle, huh.
More headache-inducing than that. Spirit beasts are hard to encounter generally, but sky ones rarer than land, sea rarer still. Obvious, really.
Yet this deep-sea dweller─named for being found once every ten thousand years, not living that long─approached silently. Driving pirates Dasong needed to crush right to Jusan, then taking interest in Han Un.
No thought of returning to its dragon?
An inescapable question arose. If it's the dragon's subordinate, shouldn't it be in the dragon's arms, not Han Un's? Assuming dragons exist, they'd be immortal. The turtle's lifespan immense too. Sticking by Han Un till he dies would be a casual stroll for them.
...Leave it to the expert.
I shelved thoughts of the turtle. Han Un tends to four already─my worrying changes nothing.
"Dong-gu Wang!"
"Hm? Back already?"
"Resume interrogation! They're sane!"
What's key now: Press on with pirate questioning and extermination under the Millennium Turtle's blessing. An auspicious beast appeared─we'll spare them especially painful deaths.