A Dragon in the Pond! (1)
"What the hell kind of pond has a dragon living in it? What sort of place is this!"
The Beast Palace Lord shook his head at Chung Myung’s words.
"A dragon is a creature of imagination. That is an Ink-Scaled Blood Python."
"What’s the difference? That’s a creature of imagination too!"
"And yet it exists, doesn’t it?"
"Grrrrr."
Chung Myung scratched his head furiously.
"I’m the idiot for ever thinking well of this place, even for a moment."
He’d wondered why so many people crowded into that barren wasteland while leaving this lush land so empty—only to realize the answer now.
How the hell is anybody supposed to live somewhere like this?
There was a tiger the size of a house bounding around like a housecat, and a dragon living in the pond.
What a damn cursed place.
But the Beast Palace Lord only shrugged those broad shoulders of his, calm as could be.
"That thing is a divine beast called the Ink-Scaled Blood Python. Its scales don’t yield to swords or blades, nor even to the astral energy of experts, and its strength is so great it can alter the terrain with a single sweep of its tail. In plain terms, it’s a monster."
"E-even you can’t handle it, Palace Lord?"
"Hm. I’m not sure. I’d have to fight it to know, but as you know, I can’t go inside there. And the Ink-Scaled Blood Python doesn’t come out, so we’ve never had occasion to meet."
“...”
So that meant... even he wasn’t sure he could win.
It was strange to hear such a weak remark from a body like that, but if he thought about it, that Ink-Scaled Blood Python was basically the snake world’s Beast Palace Lord.
It was hard enough to even imagine putting a monster that huge into the category of snake, but still...
"Do you people in the Beast Palace worship that thing?"
"Worship?"
The Beast Palace Lord gave a snort of laughter.
"Worship a snake? Why would anyone worship an animal?"
...Huh?
Was it really okay for the man sitting on the throne of the Beast Palace to say that?
On the Beast Palace Lord’s shoulder, Baek Cheon gave a little wag of his tail, as if in agreement.
"The Beast Palace did not make Divine Pond a sacred place because the Ink-Scaled Blood Python was there. The Ink-Scaled Blood Python settled in the Beast Palace’s sacred grounds."
"Then... shouldn’t you, I don’t know, drive it out?"
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"Didn’t I tell you? A sacred place is just a sacred place. It’s only natural for a beast to make its home there. This beast is merely a little unusual."
Little, huh?
Just a little?
He really didn’t seem to understand what the word meant.
"The Beast Palace people don’t enter Divine Pond to begin with. And that thing doesn’t come out of Divine Pond. In other words, it’s a neighbor you’ll never actually meet. So why would we need to drive it off?"
"...Fair enough."
The Beast Palace Lord chuckled.
"At any rate, it attacks anything that enters Divine Pond. That’s the problem, you see..."
Baek Cheon picked up the explanation.
"If we want to get the Purple Wood Grass, we have to enter Divine Pond. And to do that, we’ll have to deal with that eel-dragon... no, Ink-Scaled Blood Python, or whatever it is."
"That’s right."
The Beast Palace Lord nodded, looking pleased that Baek Cheon had followed along so well.
"That’s the little issue we’re facing."
“...”
Chung Myung laughed with eerie satisfaction.
"Yeah. A very little issue. What’s so special about life and death, anyway? Life is just dust in the wind. Amitabha."
"You’re a Daoist, you idiot!"
"Then I’ll just say Wuliang Shoufu instead!"
Chung Myung yelled and jabbed a finger toward one side of Divine Pond.
"If we go in there, we’re all gonna get torn to pieces, so does it really matter whether it’s Amitabha or Wuliang Shoufu? Daoist, monk—if you go in there, it’s all one hit! One hit! At that thing’s mouth, everybody’s equal!"
Between the lush grasses, there was that black pit, and it kept catching his eye.
It was astonishing enough that something could swallow such a wide stretch in one bite, but what was even more shocking was the power that had torn straight through the earth like tofu.
Even Clan Head Dang probably couldn’t do that.
The astral energy unleashed by the Wudang elder didn’t have that kind of force either.
Maybe it couldn’t be compared to a true expert’s strike, but that sort of power had been produced by a casual snap of its jaw.
Baek Cheon, who had been staring at the now-quiet lake, spoke with a rare seriousness.
"Isn’t that practically a serpent on the verge of becoming a dragon? In that case, shouldn’t it be refraining from slaughter and cultivating the Dao?"
"What dragon? What the hell are you talking about?"
"If a snake like that exists, why couldn’t dragons exist?"
"...Huh?"
Now that he thought about it...
Chung Myung was speechless for a moment before letting out a long, suffering sigh.
Just a moment ago, the scenery had seemed a little frightening but beautiful. Now it looked like the entrance to the underworld.
"...I knew it was going too well. There’s no way something like that would happen to me! Grrr."
He scratched his head so hard it looked like he might peel the scalp right off.
He’d thought everything was going smoothly in the Beast Palace, that he’d be treated well in Yunnan and could go home comfortably after grazing on grass to his heart’s content. Instead, he’d run into an obstacle nobody had expected.
"How the hell do we catch that thing?"
"How else?"
Chung Myung whirled around to stare at Yoon Jong, his eyes wild.
"It’s still just an animal, isn’t it? Beat the hell out of it hard enough and eventually it dies!"
"Chung Myung."
Baek Cheon smiled gently.
"I’ve always respected your opinions, but I think this is one time you should reconsider."
Because you’ll really die if you do that, junior brother.
"It’ll be fine! It’s not like that thing’s stupid. Most things in the world can be solved if you crack the head open."
"...Sometimes I’m amazed that you really are a Daoist."
Ignoring Baek Cheon’s opinion entirely, Chung Myung fixed the lake with a grim stare.
He looked ready to charge straight in at any second.
Then the Beast Palace Lord looked at him with concern.
"It’s not my place to say this, since I brought you here myself... but are you sure you’ll be all right?"
"Of course. I’m stronger than I look."
"I see. That’s reassuring. I’ll make sure your funeral rites are done properly."
"...No, seriously, how do you people even see me?"
I’m the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, damn it! The Plum Blossom Sword Saint!
Chung Myung ground his teeth.
"If a mere beast doesn’t know its place and comes charging at me, it’ll end up as snake soup! It already looks like food supplies in Kunming are bad, so if we haul that thing back, it’ll feed us for at least three or four days."
"...That’s an amazing solution. Even Zhuge Liang wouldn’t have thought of that."
"Great! Then le—"
"Ah, wait!"
At Baek Cheon’s shout, Chung Myung, who was about to spring forward, wobbled and paused.
"What now?!"
"Palace Lord. Could you tell us where exactly the Purple Wood Grass is?"
"Mm. That isn’t difficult. The grass with white flowers over there is the Divine Spirit Grass."
When the Beast Palace Lord pointed it out, Baek Cheon nodded.
"Listen carefully, Chung Myung. What matters isn’t catching the dragon... no, the snake. If that grass gets damaged in the middle of the fight, everything will be ruined."
"Got it!"
As if he considered the advice valuable, Chung Myung nodded.
Swish.
The treasured sword they had received from the Dang Family slid free with a clear ring. After swinging it through the air a few times to gauge the weight, Chung Myung’s eyes sharpened.
"It’s still just a beast! I’m going!"
And without another moment’s delay, he hurled himself toward Divine Pond.
"Wow..."
"Will he be all right?"
The Mount Hua disciples watched the scene with worried eyes.
Putting everything else aside, that one streak of lunacy—charging at a dragon-like snake—was enough to qualify as the most insane thing in the world.
But this time, that lunacy was honestly a little worrying.
Swish.
Chung Myung landed at the water’s edge.
Unlike the savage momentum he’d shown when leaping, the movement with which he stepped onto Divine Pond was feather-light. So light, in fact, that he looked like a thief slipping over a wall in the dead of night.
Whoosh!
Chung Myung whipped his head around to scan the surface.
Good. It’s not coming, right?
His feet began moving cautiously.
All right, think. My mission isn’t to beat the snake to death. It’s to get the Purple Wood Grass and take it back.
Once he’d secured the Purple Wood Grass, he could beat the snake up or make snake soup out of it for all he cared.
Chung Myung carefully started moving toward the spot where the Purple Wood Grass grew.
First, just pull this out and—
Then it happened.
Ssssssssssss.
A strange sound began reaching his ears.
A low, chilling noise that made his heart pound just from hearing it.
“...”
Chung Myung slowly turned his head.
What entered his sight was something huge and elongated, rising up over the lake.
The transparent black scales glimmered in the light, casting prismatic flashes every time they caught the sun, and the tongue flickering between its tightly closed jaws was so black it made anyone looking at it shudder.
What was even more striking were its eyes.
Small eyes like red beads embedded in that pitch-black body were staring directly at Chung Myung.
"Uh..."
Wow, you’re sensitive.
You must have a hard time living with other people.
Chung Myung scratched the back of his head, looking awkward, like someone caught stealing.
This was bad... wasn’t it?
He gave a light smile. They said you couldn’t spit on a smiling face, so he might as well start with a pleasant expression and talk things out...
"Can’t I just take the flower first and then we talk?"
Paaaaat!
"Hiiiiiiiiiik!"
Kwaaaaang!
The Ink-Scaled Blood Python lunged with violent force and bit into the exact spot where Chung Myung had been standing.
"I must be crazy, trying to talk to a snake!"
Chung Myung barely avoided the attack by throwing himself aside, then clenched his teeth and charged at the black body.
Full of openings!
No matter how divine a beast it was, it was still an animal in the end. The Ink-Scaled Blood Python’s greatest weakness was that enormous body of its.
There were so many places to cut that he could swing blindfolded and still hit them all.
"Raaaahhhh!"
Pushing his inner force into the sword like a madman and drawing out astral energy, Chung Myung brought the blade crashing down near the python’s nape with savage force.
Clang!
"Huh?"
Clang?
Not a crack. Not a boom. Just a bright, clean clang?
What kind of crisp, clear sound was that...?
Chung Myung lifted his sword slightly.
“...”
The blade had broken in two. Cleanly. Right down the middle.
Despite carrying astral energy, it had struck the python’s scales and snapped cleanly apart.
The upper half of the broken sword spun like a top before flying into the air, then dropping beside Chung Myung and stabbing into the ground.
Thunk.
Well, damn. That went in deep.
Earth cuts nicely, at least.
"Well, well."
Chung Myung smiled with eerie satisfaction as he looked at the broken sword.
That’s a treasured sword from the Dang Family. I’m giving it to you as a token of friendship, so use it well.
"Treasured sword my ass!"
You’re trying to pass off defective goods on me! And you don’t even have a face to make that expression with! A sword that can’t even cut a snake!
Chung Myung slowly raised his head, his expression tense.
Sssssssssssss.
“...”
The Ink-Scaled Blood Python looked down at him and slowly tilted its head left and right. It was just like someone angrily rolling their neck from side to side.
Hey, that’s something I do a lot.
So your temper’s no good either, huh?
Chung Myung looked back and forth between the broken sword and the python’s threateningly flickering tongue, then forced out an awkward smile.
"Hmm... I don’t suppose you can understand human speech, but... can we maybe swap swords and fight fair and square?"
Or maybe we don’t have to fight at all...
Kwaaaaaaaang!
"Damn it all!"
The Ink-Scaled Blood Python overturned the water of the lake and charged at Chung Myung. Like a coiled viper driving its fangs into prey, it came at him with a speed that seemed impossible for a body that huge.
The black maw stretched wide, and inside it was nothing but darkness, as if it were the tunnel to hell.
"Aaaahhhhhh!"
Chung Myung leaped swiftly over the python’s head.
Then he poured astral energy into the broken sword and began hacking at its head like his life depended on it.
"Die! Die! Die! Break already! No, damn it, just break!"
Clang. Clang. Clang. Claaang. Clang!
Even as he struck with a sword filled with astral energy, all he heard were dull, useless sounds. The scales were so hard that even an astral strike left no mark at all.
"...No, seriously, does that even make sense?"
Even Chung Myung’s face had turned deathly pale.
At least the sword had to work for swordsmanship or the Plum Blossom Sword techniques to mean anything! This was basically like swinging a willow branch at someone wearing armor.
"How the hell am I supposed to..."
Tap!
Huh?
At that moment, the Ink-Scaled Blood Python gave its body a slight jerk. At the same time, Chung Myung’s body, which had been on top of its head, was tossed slightly into the air.
Chomp.
"Huh?"
For a brief instant, Chung Myung saw the python clamp its jaws around his ankle.
...Wait.
Is that thing smiling with its eyes?
"No way, right?"
In the next instant, the python began violently shaking its body from side to side.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
It smashed him to the left, then slammed him to the right!
Left, right, left, right, right!
"Aaaaahhhhhhh!"
Crashing into the ground again and again, Chung Myung let out a scream of agony.
"Hey, you damn snak—"
Tap!
Then, opening its mouth, the Ink-Scaled Blood Python tossed Chung Myung back into the air.
"...Huh?"
Swiiiiiish!
In that moment, Chung Myung saw it.
The tail submerged in the water—flying at him through the air at a literally monstrous speed, cutting through the atmosphere itself.
"...That’s a bit much."
Paaaak!
Chung Myung’s body, struck by the python’s tail, flew straight like a fired cannonball.
Paft! Paft! Paft!
He hit the water, bouncing like a skipping stone until he reached the far edge of the lake. Even then, he bounced a couple more times before finally smashing into the ground.
Kuuuuuuuuuuung!
The Mount Hua disciples couldn’t bear to watch and shut their eyes tight.
"...Is he dead?"
"Come on, surely not. He’s dead, right?"
"Please don’t say that. He’s dead."
"L-let’s at least check."
The Mount Hua disciples and the Beast Palace Lord rushed toward the place where Chung Myung had landed.
When they saw his condition, they all closed their eyes and recited a prayer.
"He’s dead."
"I don’t think we even need a grave."
"Wuliang Shoufu. Be good in death."
The only thing visible, if you could even call it visible, was a pair of pitifully twitching legs.
The rest of his body had gone in headfirst, stuck upside down in the ground.
Yeah, right. If he looked like that, then he ought to be dead. That would at least be decent.
"Puaaahh!"
But just then, Chung Myung burst out of the dirt and sprang upright.
"...He’s alive without a shred of decency."
"The underworld wouldn’t even take him. I understand."
Covered in dirt, Chung Myung wiped blood streaming from his nose and glared with his eyes rolled back.
"That damn snake really wants to die, huh!"
To be beaten so one-sidedly by a mere beast—this was unacceptable.
With the last threads of reason snapped, Chung Myung roared,
"That snake bastard! I don’t care what it takes, I’m boiling him into snake soup today!"
"And how exactly do you plan to do that? Your sword doesn’t seem to work."
"And the astral energy didn’t even leave a scratch. How are you supposed to catch that thing?"
"It didn’t leave a scratch on the astral energy?"
Chung Myung’s eyes flashed as he shouted,
"If it won’t work, then I’ll just make it work! What in the world can’t be done if you force it hard enough?"
Yes, yes.
At least wipe the blood from your nose first, Chung Myung.