Spirit Hunt (3)
Fire Monkey. It literally meant a burning monkey, but in practice, it referred to a monkey brimming with yang energy from the spirit veins. The Fire Monkey's inner core was counted among the ultimate spirit medicines, especially prized by martial artists—and particularly male ones overflowing with yang qi—for granting them boundless power.
Considering how the Moyong family's young master, Moyong Sangwon, had guarded it to his dying breath even in the face of death... 'You can see just how precious it is in the jianghu.'
Moreover, the Fire Monkey's inner core fetched sky-high prices not just for its effects, but because it was so damn hard to obtain. Who could catch a nimble monkey wreathed in endless flames? A martial artist? A hunter? Anyway, because of that, even though it was listed in the Jianghu Spirit Medicine Compendium, I'd never paid it any mind.
Taking a stationary spirit medicine was tough enough on its own, but chasing down a Fire Monkey's ass solo? I'd thought it impossible from the start.
Rooaaar!
I'd definitely thought that... but here was this massive brute, thumb-sized fangs bared in a savage roar, its hulking frame dwarfing any normal person. Hell, could you even call this a monkey? It was bigger than most men.
Whoosh! And the scorching heat pouring from its fur. It stood out clearly from all the demonic beasts I'd faced in Mukrim so far.
"...So you're the Taeyanghu that Yang Daehyeop mentioned?"
Rooaaar!
The Taeyanghu bellowed as if answering, radiating killing intent.
"...No wonder they said hunting it was impossible."
Hunt this? Were they insane? The killing intent it exuded could rival any demonic cultivator's. The spirit vein energy pulsing inside it felt at least ten times stronger than any beast I'd encountered. Thud, thud, thud. Around its chest, where the fur parted to reveal black skin, each pounding fist made the air ring like struck metal.
My mind reeled at how anyone could possibly hunt this thing.
"...Fuck, this is nuts."
As I edged back, it bared even more fangs and lunged forward, cutting off my retreat. In that instant, my paths closed. True origin energy manipulation—the kind only peak masters could pull off.
'Is this really just an animal?' Even as a spirit beast, it started as some animal. Yet here it was, sealing off space like a seasoned martial artist. As if it wouldn't miss a single opening.
Hah, but this was bullshit.
"Fuck... can't you just let me go? I'm not with those guys."
Grrr.
"Fucking knew it."
As expected from that burly mug—talking was pointless. No options left. Praying its feet weren't faster than Heavenly Lone Walker God Step, I twisted my body.
"Fine... next time... Huh?"
Something felt off. I'd meant to bolt, but its behavior nagged at me. Other beasts attacked on sight. This one seemed to want to, yet it hesitated. Almost like it was bluffing, hoping I'd back off.
Rooaaar!Whoosh!
A massive roar unleashed blistering heat that scorched the skin, flames spreading everywhere. And through the blaze, something caught my eye.
'Wounds...'
A long gash from calf to thigh crusted with dried blood. Its pounding fists revealed a missing finger. Fresh wounds, starting to fester—not old scars. The clean edges meant no beast bite. No Mukrim monster could have done this anyway.
Pieces of intel from my time in Mukrim snapped together.
'This is what the instructors and students were chasing?'
The spirit that had clashed with academy students day and night—it was the Taeyanghu. It had escaped them and run into me by chance.
"Hmmm, I see."
Grraaah!
I halted the internal energy gathered in my legs.
"Dunno where you learned it, but that killing intent..."
To be precise, I shifted to circulating Tae-eul Heart Technique differently—from feet to whole body. The bulk concentrated in...
Shing.
My right hand gripping the Cheokgwanggeom.
"I don't exactly fold easily either."
Kraaaah!
Horrific killing intent surged from the crimson blade. The Taeyanghu, mid-chest pound, staggered back, growling fangs bared. No matter how tough, it couldn't ignore a finisher.
#
The moment I took an attack stance, the Taeyanghu charged first. As if it knew the advantage of striking first.
Kroong!
Flames from its mane flowed to its arms, then into a punch. Boom! I blocked with Cheokgwanggeom, but the shock rippled through. My body flew, slamming into a tree. Crash! What the hell was this power? One hit and my internals churned.
"Urk."
The sturdy Mukrim tree nearly shattered. I scrambled up and dodged as the trunk toppled, kicking up dust. Thud. The impact wasn't as bad as expected. Or rather, the pain felt muted. Even with internal energy, I couldn't disperse it all... Was it the Geumgangcheong?
Spotting the Taeyanghu as I thought that—but it had already moved.
"Damn, it ran—huh?"
Crash! A searing red fist pierced the dust. Thwack! Thud! Bouncing off rock into a tree, ribs nearly cracking, I gritted teeth and twisted to recover. Skreee. Scraping the ground, I stood and looked up—its foot was already there.
Fuck, where'd it learn this?! I grabbed its ankle, unleashed Yuyun Divine Art Lotus Bloom, and slammed it down. Rooaar! Barely fazed, it propped with its tail and sprang up.
Whew, feels good to loosen up after so long.
"My turn now?"
Shhhwick.Great Heaven Sword Method illusions blocked its front, then flanked left and right. Tap-tap. It dodged nimbly with blade work, but realized the encirclement, baring teeth in fury. I pressed without mercy, shifting to Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion. Slash, slash, slash.
No matter how quick, overwhelming volume had limits. Scratches began appearing on its body.
'Tough hide.'
I was slicing flesh, but it felt like hacking paulownia wood—the blade barely bit. Discarding any complacency, I drew sword energy. Moments ago, its mane was the only light; now, blue sword auras flickered, targeting vitals mercilessly.
As I went to sever its encircled neck and arms...
Its entire mane glowed red-hot, surging forward. Schwick, schwick. I'd expected blood spray and collapse. Instead, it ignored minor cuts, barely dodging majors, closing in steadily. Like a martial artist who knew how to handle illusions and feints.
"...Fuck, it's smart!"
Even as I marveled, heat gathered in its arm, snapping me alert.
"Don't telegraph it like that, you bastard!"
I reached to slam it with Lotus Bloom—Thud! A gut punch surged bile up my throat.
'It feinted?'
Airborne, no time to ponder how a monkey mimicked human tactics. Then its power punch flew. Boom! Massive shock hurled me back like an arrow.
"Kuhk!"
Spitting blood cleared my chest a bit. Before hitting the tree, I whipped out Flying Dragon Claw to brake.
"Right... that's why they call you a spirit, spirit."
It glared, arms dangling beast-like. I spat bloody phlegm back at it.
"But... I've come this far. No turning back."
Powering my legs. Boom! Ground erupted as I shot forward. If it trusted brute force, I'd win with speed. Schwick. As expected, first real damage. Kraaah! It screamed, staring at its severed finger. I shook blood from Cheokgwanggeom and charged.
Peak Socheon Sword Technique with sword aura pierced its vitals.
"Block this too!"
Flames rose from its mane, dulling my aura again.
'What kinda bullshit synergy?'
Sword aura should slice steel like tofu. Yet its flaming skin was diamond-tough.
"Think that stops me from carving you?!"
Schwick, schwick. Its mane offered some protection. But not against full aura; it had to gather fire like for punches. Each time it focused on my probing vitals, I relentlessly sliced flesh. Finally, blood poured from wounds large and small. Unable to endure, it fled.
"Where?!"
Tree-leaping was incredibly agile, but not beyond Heavenly Lone Walker God Step.
'No need to worry.'
Chasing its fiery tail, suddenly its body boiled over. Fwoosh! Blinding light erupted, stealing my vision. When it cleared, it was gone.
"What the...?"
Made no sense. It didn't burrow or fly off. I scanned spirit veins immediately. No hiding that energy.
"Huh... even uses natural formations?"
Not far off, it crouched, concealed in a natural array. I pretended to search.
"Man, where'd it go? Can't find it. Guess I'll head back..."
Sword qi blast! Boom boom boom!
Ukkiiik! Proper monkey screech as it burst from bushes. Chasing again, its antics floored me. Tossing twigs made it vanish or veer paths. Like Sun Wukong. Next it'd clone itself?
'Knows Mukrim paths inside out, uses natural arrays to evade predators?'
If I couldn't read spirit veins, it'd be long gone. Numbers usually crush anything, but no other way came to mind without vein sense. And even then, tanking this power...
"You're just unlucky."
Boom boom! Sword qi tore its mane, searing it. Ukkiiiik!
"'Cause I can read veins too."
Leg slashed, it tumbled. To finish, I slammed sword aura down. Boom! First time it flew—less than mine, but it crashed into a tree, then flattened, glaring.
Grrr.
Ridiculous. It had blocked me; now I blocked it. Primed to behead any twitch. But the monkey didn't budge. As if it knew every angle I covered.
"Haha..."
Animal or human? No clue.
"Doesn't change shit, though."
I stepped Tae-eul's Eight Myriad Divine Steps, spawning three illusions to distract. Ukk! Its fiery fist whiffed an illusion; I smashed its head. Its raised arm's mane glowed, but...
"Hah!"
Too late. BOOM! Explosion tumbled it. Grrr. Broken arm, wounded leg—it struggled up but collapsed. Tenacity till the end: true spirit beast. Still, regret lingered.
"If you could talk, I might've spared the core."
Gazing at it, I mused this could be a business goldmine. Patrol one castle thoroughly, and it'd match a year of Daecheon Merchant Group revenue. But did it understand?
Its mouth worked like it might speak. Creepy—I gripped my sword tighter.
"I'll savor the core."
Reverse grip on Cheokgwanggeom, heart-stab. Squelch. Stone-cracking sound; eyes bulged. Shink. Pulled free—blood fountained from the wound. And then...
From its gaping mouth...
"Cheon... ma..."
Human words. I froze.
"......"
H-how?!