Along the River and Wind - 6: Setting the Trap for the Tang Clan Duo
Preparations for capturing the Tang Clan duo outlaws proceeded smoothly. The Prefectural Governor eagerly publicized that he had a three-headed snake in his possession, and the warriors from the Cheongseong Sect and Ami Sect, who had been scouring every corner of Sichuan, gradually halted their searches and began lingering in the cities. Of course, the cities where the warriors stayed were those near the prefectural seat where the Prefectural Governor resided. If the Tang duo showed up, they needed to rush straight to the capital and beat them to a pulp.
'Even if we stationed openly in the prefectural seat, they'd come.' These were the guys who had approached even me, a royal descendant, to secure poison. If they learned about the once-in-a-lifetime three-headed snake, they'd charge in without hesitation, even if the prefectural seat was packed with Cheongseong and Ami Sect members.
"So, have the Left Vice Inspector General hold onto the three-headed snake for a bit."
The Prefectural Governor seemed to share my thoughts, placing the jar containing the three-headed snake on the desk. The Tang duo had already breached the defenses of Cheongseong Sect and Ami Sect dozens of times to invade private lands, and now they were even shaking off pursuit from both sects. If they slipped through the government's and the two sects' guards again to reach the Prefectural Governor this time? If they actually stole the three-headed snake painstakingly sent by Nang-jung Wang? Just imagining it was horrifying.
Far better to relocate the three-headed snake than risk that catastrophe.
"They've approached the Left Vice Inspector General before and backed off. Since they confirmed there's no poison in spirit beasts, they won't come near twice."
This was true as well. One of the Tang duo, Munwon, had made contact with me before and verified that Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i had no poison. So they'd realize there was no gain in coming back to me. What was the point of messing with someone already on high alert and poison-free? They'd just get captured.
"I'll guard it without fail."
"Good. I leave it to you."
With those words, the Prefectural Governor opened the jar's lid and pulled out the three-headed snake.
- Shiiik...
- Shiiiik...
- Shiuuuk...
The three-headed snake was lifted limply in the Prefectural Governor's hand. It seemed he'd been taking it out frequently while I came and went from Cheongseong and Ami Sects. At first, it freaked out every time it was removed from the jar, but now it didn't even resist.
'Good thing it's a spirit beast.'
I gave a wry smile as I received the three-headed snake from the Prefectural Governor. If it were an ordinary animal, it would've died from excessive handling. Especially since it was still young—it could've keeled over from stress.
"Hang in there just until this is over."
Anyway, as I stroked the heads of the three-headed snake perched on my palm, it blinked its six eyes up at me.
- Shiiiik...!
Then it curled into a ball like a ball, avoiding my gaze. This was only the second time it'd seen me, so it was still shy.
I slipped the three-headed snake into my sleeve and returned to my lodgings. Until the capture operation ended, it was better to hole up in a safe spot rather than wander around unnecessarily. For the time being, I'd have to live like a shut-in ghost haunting the inn. Plus, the current lodgings were empty except for me and Jo Wi-cheo. No one to see or tell that the three-headed snake was in my possession—a pure safe zone.
That was why Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i were boldly roaming and playing in the inn's garden.
- Kki-ing?
- Kki-ong?
The moment I entered the inn, they sauntered over and sniffed my body.
- Kki-ing!
Then they butted my sleeve—where the three-headed snake was hiding—with their antlers.
- Shiiik!
It was a light touch, but Kki-ing-i's antlers were huge and magnificent. No way could a finger-sized baby three-headed snake withstand that force. Thanks to it, the three-headed snake, which had been hiding in my sleeve to avoid the light, fluttered loosely to the ground. Startled by the sudden ambush, it whipped its heads around frantically.
- Shiiik! Shiiiik! Sieeek!
Spotting Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i, which were hundreds of times larger than itself, it let out a fierce cry. Naturally, the two deer just blinked at the three-headed snake's pathetic threat. To a human, it'd be like a Chihuahua or Maltese barking fiercely.
- Kki-ing.
"Hey, stop that."
I stopped Kki-ing-i from licking the three-headed snake's body. A horn poke could pass as wariness toward a new spirit beast, but any more contact was trouble. Even without malice, with that size difference, their very existence was violence.
- Kki-ing...
At my command, Kki-ing-i regretfully pulled its head back. I inwardly sighed in relief at how obediently it retreated. These were the guys who'd sniffed out the spirit herbs hidden in Baek Gi's tomb like ghosts and gone berserk every time I pulled out public announcement oil. For a moment, I'd worried they might react to the three-headed snake's energy and try to eat it.
'They found it right away even when it was hidden.'
So when Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i noticed the three-headed snake, I'd been a bit scared. I'd snuck it in precisely because different spirit beasts meeting could lead to who-knows-what, but they'd sensed and approached it first. Talk about overly sensitive to energy.
"You startled? Come here."
- Shiiik...
As I extended my hand to the still-trembling, hissing three-headed snake, it glanced warily at the two deer and cautiously climbed onto my palm. Was it my imagination? It seemed even more docile than when the Prefectural Governor handed it over.
'This one's smart too.'
As if it had realized I was the only one who could protect it from those two spirit beasts.
- Shiiik!
- Sieek, Shieeeek!
- Shiuuuuk!
I chuckled at the three-headed snake fleeing not just into my sleeve but up to my neck. This time, its determination not to get knocked off by an antler felt intense.
"If you stay there, you might get spotted. Come down."
- Shii, Shiiik...
"The chest area should be fine."
I gently stroked the hesitating three-headed snake's head and patted my chest. It was already stuffed with various items, but there was plenty of space for a finger-thin snake. Plus, with layers of clothing, it wouldn't accidentally bite me.
Slowly settling into my chest, the three-headed snake poked only its heads out, glaring warily at Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i. That horn attack must've been quite the shock.
As we drew closer to the prefectural seat where the Prefectural Governor resided, rumors about the three-headed snake grew even fiercer. Stories that the Inspector and Regional Commander had seen the Prefectural Governor feeding it, that when entering to report, the three-headed snake was curled on his hand, that in his office, it had threatened an official who dropped a scroll. The tales grew ever more detailed and plausible.
'There must be something to it.'
My heart pounded. Rumors might exaggerate the truth, but they rarely sprang from nothing. If word of the three-headed snake had spread, at least a two-headed snake was in the Prefectural Governor's hands. Moreover, high-ranking Sichuan officials were the sources. Ordinary bureaucrats or commoners wouldn't casually name-drop regional rulers. The odds of a real three-headed snake existing were very high.
'Three-headed snake.'
My lips curled up involuntarily. The mere word "three-headed snake" brought a smile. The quintessential venomous creature: the venomous snake. Among them, the spirit beast known as the two-headed snake. And beyond that, a legendary existence with three heads—an spirit beast among spirit beasts that ordinary folk had never even heard of.
'How cute must it be?'
My breathing grew ragged. Sleek scales, bright sparkling eyes, slender tongue, nimble movements. Snakes were alluring in themselves, but how breathtakingly beautiful and adorable would a three-headed one be—
"Hyungnim. Your expression is weird."
Munwon's voice snapped me out of it.
"You're no better, you punk."
"Heh, is that so?"
Munwon sheepishly touched his mouth at my jab, but I didn't scold him further. Anyone obsessed with poison would be enchanted by the name "three-headed snake." Since I was, it was natural for my little brother to lose his mind too. To us, it was more precious and urgent than any supreme martial art or spirit herb.
"Munwon-ah."
"Yes, hyungnim."
"Once we enter the prefectural seat, you draw their attention."
"Of course. I'll run them ragged all night."
"Good. Then I'll search for the three-headed snake in the meantime."
Munwon, who had been chuckling, stopped laughing.
"...Search?"
"Yeah."
"Isn't the three-headed snake with the Prefectural Governor? His location should be easy to find."
"No. Absolutely not."
I firmly shook my head, denying Munwon's words. If our goal was just reaching the Prefectural Governor, it'd be simple as he said. His office and mansion couldn't be hidden. Infiltrating them wasn't much of a challenge. But we needed to find the three-headed snake reputed to be in his possession—not him.
"He knows we stirred up Cheongseong Mountain and Ami Mountain. Would he flaunt such a priceless three-headed snake out in the open? What if we stole it?"
Not the sort of thing to say when we were the thieves, but Munwon nodded at my explanation. Unless the Prefectural Governor was arrogant and careless, he'd be wary of our infiltration skills and theft prowess. If he truly had the three-headed snake, he'd hidden it somewhere other than the obvious spots. My role was to find it.
While Munwon lured the pursuers with flashy lightness skills, I'd somehow locate the three-headed snake.
"This got complicated. Searching for it in the vast prefectural seat."
"Don't worry. No need to comb from the ground up."
The prefectural seat was large, but we didn't need to check every area. Since the Prefectural Governor hid it, it'd be in a government-related place. Since the three-headed snake was sleeping there, a spot with decent security. Not in our line of sight, so no excessive guards, etc. Applying conditions would quickly narrow the search areas.
"That's why your role is crucial. If you lure them alone, won't others spot me? The operation's success hinges on how much attention you draw and how you rile up the pursuers."
"I'll keep it in mind."
I patted Munwon's shoulder at his confident reply. For Munwon's sake too, let's find the three-headed snake quickly and withdraw.