The Language of Beasts
Mother Jimjo no longer brought them food, nor did she train them to hunt. She simply left her chicks to their own devices.
Perhaps the only saving grace was that she had not driven them out of the cave entirely.
The chicks huddled quietly in the nest, starving for several days.
Dang Sobaek understood their mother's intention. It was a silent command to stand on their own two feet—or rather, their own two talons.
Jim-sam was the first to act. He returned from outside the cave carrying a massive rat in his beak.
The rodent possessed neither poison nor any trace of demon qi, but it was large enough to satisfy a single chick's hunger.
Jim-il hovered around Jim-sam, looking for an opportunity to steal the prey, but—
"Pyaaaak!"
He was ruthlessly pecked and driven away by Jim-sam's sharp beak.
In truth, Jim-sam simply lacked interest in the sibling hierarchy. He was the largest of the brood and possessed outstanding hunting skills. He would likely be the first to achieve true independence.
In contrast, Jim-i scurried around the cave, bringing back nothing but insects. It was far too little to fill her belly, barely enough to stave off starvation. Had they been demon insects imbued with demon qi like before, it might have been different, but these were entirely ordinary bugs.
This will not do.
To truly sate his hunger, he had to venture outside. The problem was that this was the wild. Had he not already witnessed how easily a chick could perish from a mere scratch?
Though he hesitated, Dang Sobaek ultimately willed himself toward the cave entrance.
It is best to move before my strength drains any further.
Seeing this, Jim-i approached Dang Sobaek with hesitant steps. Too frightened to venture out alone, she clearly wished to accompany him.
Dang Sobaek stared at her for a moment. Flustered, Jim-i took a few steps back, wearing an embarrassed expression.
"Let us go together," Dang Sobaek said. Of course, the only sound that escaped his beak was a soft chirp, but she seemed to grasp his meaning perfectly.
With the cave situated on a sheer cliff at the mountain's peak, taking the first step required a leap of faith.
It is quite high.
After silently noting the height, Dang Sobaek took a deep breath. Then, spreading his wings, he plunged downward.
The wind rushed past him. Dang Sobaek did not fight it; instead, he surrendered his body to the current, adjusting the angle of his wings to glide forward.
Soaring through the vast blue sky offered an incredible sense of liberation. A few passing birds shrieked in surprise and hastily veered away to keep their distance.
Jim-i caught up, flying alongside him. Careful not to stray beyond the boundaries of the Jimjo territory, they flew toward the area where they had hunted the demon spider.
This island was rich in spiritual qi.
This meant that hunting living prey was not the only way to sustain themselves.
They could satisfy their basic survival needs with ordinary beasts, and supplement any deficiencies by consuming poison herbs or spiritual herbs.
While ordinary birds swallowed small pebbles to aid digestion in the absence of teeth, a Jimjo had no need for such measures. They could simply use the potent poison within their bodies to dissolve whatever they consumed.
After flying for a while, a crimson pine tree stretching straight toward the heavens came into view.
Hmm.
He sensed the presence of beasts nearby. As he and Jim-i circled in the air to inspect the ground below, the creatures scurried deeper into the underbrush. He did not bother to pursue them.
"Chirp?" Jim-i tilted her head in confusion. However, Dang Sobaek's gaze was fixed entirely on something else.
Nestled among the fallen pine needles was a spiritual herb bearing bright red berries: Red Pine Ginseng (赤松蔘).
Its medicinal properties not only increased internal energy but also expanded the meridians, making it easier to guide true qi.
The fact that it had already borne fruit meant it was at least fifty years old.
While older herbs naturally possessed superior efficacy, they also carried risks. Consuming a spiritual herb beyond one's capacity could disrupt the body's delicate balance.
Therefore, rather than consuming it all himself, it would be wiser to share a suitable portion with Jim-i.
Dang Sobaek descended slowly toward the Red Pine Ginseng. The cicadas clinging to the tree bark and the insects hiding in the grass scattered in a panic. He began to carefully dig up the soil with his beak.
It was no easy task.
Grains of dirt seeped past his tightly shut beak. Watching him with curiosity, Jim-i hopped closer and began to mimic his actions. Though she likely had no idea why they were doing this, she at least understood what he was trying to accomplish.
They dug for over half an hour. His neck grew stiff and sore. After a fierce struggle using not just their beaks but their talons as well, the shape of the Red Pine Ginseng was finally revealed.
It was far from pristine.
Many of its fine rootlets had been severed by their beaks, and the main body was covered in scratches.
It was a pity, but he had to be satisfied with this.
After all, completely absorbing the spiritual energy within a raw herb was impossible anyway.
Dang Sobaek pinned the Red Pine Ginseng down with his talons and sliced it precisely in half with his beak.
He then pushed the half with the leaves toward Jim-i. She stared at it, her expression blank with confusion.
"Chirp?"
She seemed to be asking if she was allowed to eat it.
Since being born as a Jimjo, they had never consumed anything but meat. Jim-i was no exception. It was only natural that she would be bewildered when suddenly handed a piece of vegetation. After a brief moment of consideration, Dang Sobaek nodded.
It should be fine. Birds consumed grains and fruits, after all.
"Eat," Dang Sobaek conveyed with a gesture. But just as he was about to swallow his half of the Red Pine Ginseng—
"Kieeeeeek!"
A light brown weasel suddenly lunged out of the brush, screeching loudly.
Cold sweat trickled down Dang Sobaek's forehead.
Had it been an ordinary beast, he wouldn't have spared it a second thought.
A Jimjo was a predator, not prey.
The problem, however, was that the weasel's words were transmitted clearly to Dang Sobaek's mind.
It was not the language of the Central Plains, nor was it Sanskrit, nor was it a mere animal cry. Yet, he had absolutely no trouble understanding it.
It was a method of communication he had never experienced before. If he had to compare it to something, it was similar to sound transmission. The only difference was that it resonated directly inside his head rather than through his ears.
Dang Sobaek fell into deep thought. Mother Jimjo could manipulate qi and had awakened her spirituality. The other chicks could also communicate to some extent.
Why, then, was this weasel's language transmitted as clearly as human speech?
Dang Sobaek quickly calculated his chances of victory.
Can I defeat it?
The pressure radiating from the creature was far below that of Mother Jimjo.
However, it was undoubtedly stronger than the demon spider they had hunted before.
Every fiber of his being screamed in warning.
It was the instinct of a martial artist.
This was a dangerous foe.
Furthermore, the weasel was not fully revealing its strength; it was thoroughly controlling and concealing its aura.
Was this not Jimjo territory?
Fighting it with just the two of them would be difficult.
When he did not respond, the weasel's voice echoed in his mind once more.
Though he did not know what exactly the "Yo-language" was, Dang Sobaek remained silent, focusing his efforts on deciphering the underlying principle of this communication.
Dang Sobaek was capable of observing the essence of things even without direct physical contact. Because of this, he could read the flow of qi. He calmly observed the flow of the inner core residing in the weasel's lower dantian.
Its Baihui acupoint is open.
Furthermore, a portion of its upper dantian was active as well.
He began to understand.
The key was to open the Baihui acupoint and partially activate the functions of the upper dantian, thereby gaining spirituality and awakening heart-speak.
If it were a human, this would be impossible.
Humans possessed a far more complex upper dantian structure compared to beasts, and their spirituality was already active from birth.
Dang Sobaek carefully separated the energy stored in his poison core, extracting only pure true qi, and tapped lightly at his Baihui acupoint.
Ugh!
An excruciating pain flared through him. His feathers trembled violently. Immediately after, he coughed up a mouthful of black blood.
The weasel stared at Dang Sobaek with wide, surprised eyes.
Dang Sobaek steadied his trembling body and gathered his energy. It seemed the time was not yet ripe.
Jim-i hurried over, brushing her wing against his back in deep concern. She then glared fiercely at the weasel.
She seemed to believe the weasel was responsible for Dang Sobaek's sudden distress.
The weasel glanced at Jim-i and burst into a silent, mocking laughter that vibrated painfully in their heads.
"Chirp?" Jim-i tilted her head.
"..."
Right then—
"Ppiiiiiiiik!"
A sharp cry echoed from the heavens. It was Mother Jimjo.
Though it lasted only a fraction of a second, panic flashed across the weasel's face. It quickly looked at Dang Sobaek and spoke.
Dang Sobaek merely gave a slight nod instead of an answer. Of course, he had absolutely no intention of seeking it out.
With those final words, the weasel spun in midair and vanished without a trace, leaving behind an eerie sensation as if they had just witnessed an illusion.
Upon returning to the cave, Dang Sobaek consumed the Red Pine Ginseng.
It tasted sweet with a sharp, pungent aroma. The spiritual energy contained within the herb spread rapidly throughout his body.
Dang Sobaek did not try to suppress the surging tide of energy. Instead, he guided the true qi according to the mnemonic of the Mandok-gwigong, allowing it to naturally seep into his poison sac.
Despite having starved for days, a deep sense of satiety washed over him, even though he had consumed only half of the root.
As expected, filling the stomach with physical food is not what truly matters.
Just as he had theorized, what he needed for growth was qi and poison.
Feeling a sense of satisfaction, Dang Sobaek turned his thoughts to the weasel.
That creature was by no means ordinary.
It spoke a coherent language just like a human and employed stealth techniques. And the moment Mother Jimjo appeared, it fled instantly.
The only reason it had not killed Dang Sobaek and Jim-i to steal the Red Pine Ginseng was likely out of fear of retribution from Mother Jimjo. It was a cunning, black-hearted beast.
Seek it out? What a joke.
Dang Sobaek was not so naive as to take its words at face value.
He had encountered countless individuals of that sort during his time in the Jianghu—those who offered plausible temptations while plotting treachery behind one's back. The moment he sought out the weasel alone, there was no guarantee he wouldn't simply become its next meal. If the creature chose to hide with intent, even Mother Jimjo might not be able to find it.
As Dang Sobaek felt the spiritual energy gradually blending with his poison, he looked toward Mother Jimjo.
In terms of raw power, Mother Jimjo is superior. However, that creature possesses various mystical arts.
Therefore—
First, I must build my strength.
Only then would it be safe to seek the creature out and demand the answers he required.
It was clear that the weasel and the Jimjo were not the only demon beasts inhabiting this island.
He had been too hasty this time. Blinded by the prospect of the Red Pine Ginseng, he had remained grounded on the forest floor.
A Jimjo was, ultimately, a bird.
While they ruled the skies, they were vulnerable to being hunted on the ground.
Remembering the two chicks who had already perished, Dang Sobaek steeled his resolve once more.
This is the wild.
With his thoughts organized, he checked his internal state. In the meantime, the energy of the Red Pine Ginseng had been completely absorbed.
The energy gathered in his poison sac had now surpassed twenty percent. He wondered what changes would occur once it was fully filled.
As he was savoring this newfound power, Jim-i waddled over to him with quick, light steps.
My word...
Her physical form had undergone a noticeable transformation. Her legs had grown slightly shorter, and her wings had taken on a much sleeker, more aerodynamic shape.
While she had previously resembled a crane, she now looked more like a peregrine falcon.
"Chirp! Chirp-chirp!"
Jim-i rubbed her cheek against Dang Sobaek's, showering him with affection. It was her way of expressing gratitude for sharing the Red Pine Ginseng with her.
"Get off me," Dang Sobaek said, nudging her away with his wing. He despised being pestered. Yet, she refused to budge.
Dammit...
The moment she backed away slightly, she would immediately cling to him again.
But what could he do?
Since it would be beneficial to keep her by his side in the future...
He would have to tolerate this much.
Dang Sobaek let out a soft sigh, deciding that he would begin exploring the island in greater detail starting tomorrow.
The weasel Dang Sobaek had encountered was currently hiding in a crevice between the rocks, hunting a passing field mouse.
"Squeak! Squeeeeak!"
The field mouse thrashed in agony, trying desperately to escape, but—
Crunch!
As the weasel clamped down with its teeth, the rodent instantly went limp.
Tearing into the field mouse and swallowing it down, the weasel licked its chops with a look of dissatisfaction.
With things like this, I can no longer satisfy my hunger.
To grow any further than its current state, it needed to consume proper nourishment.
Come to think of it.
The Jimjo chicks it had encountered yesterday came to mind. They were peculiar creatures. It had never seen a Jimjo harvest ginseng before.
In truth, the weasel had been eyeing that ginseng for quite some time. It had only been unable to approach because the demon spider had been guarding the area.
Had it encountered the demon spider out in the open forest, it was confident it could have ended its life in a single breath.
But when it is defending its own territory, that is a different story.
Stepping into an area covered in spiderwebs was practically suicide. It was a matter of a poor matchup between species.
However, because the territorial overlord, Mother Jimjo, had hunted the demon spider, the opportunity to claim the long-coveted Red Pine Ginseng had finally presented itself.
Yet, to think it would be snatched away by the Jimjo's chicks.
Killing them was too risky due to the fear of retribution, so it had originally planned to merely threaten them and take the Red Pine Ginseng.
But this is not a bad outcome either.
It had changed its mind halfway through, aiming for a much grander scheme.
Especially that chick with the deep indigo feathers. That one seemed to have already awakened its spirituality, and it appeared interested in the Yo-language as well.
Seek me out.
The weasel was more than willing to bestow its teachings upon the chick.
Since the chick seemed highly inquisitive, it would undoubtedly seek it out one day.
Probably.