Leaving the Nest (1)
We had been venturing outside the cave to hunt for food every day.
Even Jim-il, who had initially hesitated to step foot outside the nest, now easily brought back large field mice, small birds, or toads.
Then, one day.
Jim-sam brought back a jade-colored rabbit with a horn. Even at a glance, it was no ordinary creature; it was a beast harboring spiritual qi. An almost unbearably fragrant scent wafted through the cave.
Unable to resist, Jim-il and Jim-i tried to snatch a bite, but—
"Pyaaaaak!!!"
As expected, they were ruthlessly punished.
Jim-sam tore the rabbit's throat open with his beak and swallowed it whole, horn and all. Having finished his satisfying meal, he immediately fell fast asleep.
When night fell, a low groaning echoed through the cave. It was Jim-sam. He was burning with a high fever, his body writhing in agony.
Crack. Snap. The sound of bones twisting and reshaping rang out.
Eventually, Jim-sam's breathing grew faint, and his cries ceased entirely. Dang Sobaek assumed that Jim-sam, like their other deceased siblings, had succumbed to the strain and died.
However,
By the next morning, the fellow had changed beyond recognition.
His dark green feathers had lightened into a shimmering jade hue, and a single horn had sprouted from his forehead.
Dang Sobaek stared at him, letting out a quiet sigh of admiration.
'Now I understand why the ancient texts described the appearance of the Jimjo so differently.'
Setting aside the fact that each individual possessed different feather colors and slight variations in their poison's properties, it seemed the Jimjo possessed the ability to partially absorb the traits of the spiritual beasts they consumed.
The single horn that had sprouted on Jim-sam's forehead was undoubtedly the influence of the horned rabbit.
'This cannot be the only change.'
He wondered what other differences lay beyond the simple alteration of his physical appearance. Thus, Dang Sobaek spent the next few days lingering near Jim-sam, observing him with a watchful eye.
As a result, he discovered one major characteristic.
'He can disperse his poison like a mist through that horn.'
It was remarkably similar to the Tang Clan's martial art, the Sand-Harm Wind, which scattered sand mixed with lethal poison powder.
Any prey caught in Jim-sam's poison mist bled from their seven orifices, convulsed, and went limp in moments.
'Impressive...'
The fellow was brimming with talent, mastering the free use of his new ability the moment he acquired it. If Dang Sobaek were to fight him, he wouldn't lose, but he couldn't guarantee an easy victory either.
Then, another thought crossed his mind.
'If I were to hunt and consume that weasel I met before...'
He wondered if he could "absorb" an ability like its stealth technique.
Although the weasel had shown him a degree of goodwill, Dang Sobaek did not take it at face value.
Dang Sobaek was the former patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Clan, an old monster who had spent decades navigating the treacherous Murim. He possessed far too much experience to be swayed by such clumsy, sweet talk.
'But now is not the time.'
He needed to bide his time before meeting the weasel again. Asking questions from a position of weakness was never wise.
Possessing power increased the likelihood of obtaining what one desired, allowing one to lead a conversation from a position of absolute advantage. This was the fundamental rule of negotiation.
Dang Sobaek steadily built his strength through hunting, waiting for the day he would face the weasel once more.
A month passed as he gradually accumulated power.
Before he knew it, his poison sac was about thirty percent full. With this milestone, a change occurred.
Unlike his siblings, his outward appearance did not undergo a drastic transformation. However, he could now store far more poison within his feathers, and he had gained the ability to process and regurgitate his poison in the form of solid crystals rather than liquid venom.
The poison crystals he produced gleamed like brilliant green jade, emitting a sweet, fruit-like aroma. It was so fragrant that one could never imagine it was a lethal poison.
"Pyak?"
Jim-i, who had been watching quietly, waddled over and reached her wing toward the poison crystal. Dang Sobaek coldly slapped it away.
Though it seemed minor, this was a highly useful ability. If he scattered these crystals around, they could serve as excellent bait.
Dang Sobaek placed a poison crystal in front of a mole he had captured. Without a shred of suspicion, the creature scurried over and swallowed it.
Moments later, the mole showed symptoms of poisoning before collapsing, completely limp.
'Hmm.'
Furthermore, if he could carve and refine these poison crystals, they could easily be utilized as throwing weapons.
While he was pondering various ways to utilize them—
"Pyaaaaak!!"
Mother Jimjo made her presence known for the first time in a while. Having grown accustomed to the behavioral patterns of the Jimjo, Dang Sobaek understood her meaning instantly.
'She wants us to leave the nest right now?'
It was somewhat sudden, but understandable. They had grown into proper sub-adults and could hunt skillfully on their own, so it was only natural.
Even so, a bitter feeling welled up inside him. It was the result of the time they had spent huddled together.
Dang Sobaek quietly gazed at Mother Jimjo and his siblings.
He wondered how old Mother Jimjo was. Since the lifespan of a Jimjo was said to approach three hundred years, it was difficult to guess.
Her wings and massive frame, far larger than any ordinary bird of prey, and the wrinkled skin visible only beneath her feathers—noticing these subtle details, he realized that Mother Jimjo might very well be older than his own past-life age.
Perhaps they were not even her first clutch of offspring.
'I suppose I really have grown old.'
Dang Sobaek let out a dry chuckle, amused that he was capable of feeling such sentimentality toward mere beasts.
Even the mother seemed reluctant to drive them away. Deep within her unfathomable red eyes, a profound lingering regret hung like a stalactite.
Yet, it was unavoidable. If a mother sheltered her young forever, they would never achieve independence. When the time came, one had to know how to let go.
Dang Sobaek smiled as he recalled his daughter, Dang Seoah, who had succeeded him as the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Right then—
Mother Jimjo's voice echoed in his mind for the very first time. Dang Sobaek recoiled in sheer shock.
Dang Sobaek was the only one who understood Mother Jimjo's words. The others were merely preparing to step out of the cave. It felt as if time had ground to a halt.
He wanted to ask her questions, but it was impossible since he did not know how to speak the Yo-language.
Why had she only now let him hear her voice? If she knew the Yo-language, why hadn't she taught it to her chicks? A myriad of questions swirled in his mind, but—
"..."
Mother Jimjo fell silent after those final words. It felt as though he had just experienced a dream.
Jim-i, the most perceptive of his siblings, seemed to sense something unusual and waddled closer to him.
"Pyak?"
Dang Sobaek gently nudged Jim-i aside with his wing and bowed his head slightly toward Mother Jimjo.
Though she seemed slightly surprised, she returned the nod with a subtle dip of her head. Just like a human. This meant she was aware of human customs as well.
Dang Sobaek took flight alongside Jim-i, searching for a suitable place to establish their new nest.
He avoided the northern deserts and the western highlands. He completely ruled out the south and the center.
The south exuded a thick, palpable hostility, while his very instincts rejected the center. He would have to venture there eventually, but not now.
His plan was to find a nest within Mother Jimjo's territory if possible.
First, they visited the lakeside in the heart of the forest. If they settled near the lake, they could easily satisfy their hunger just by hunting fish.
However—
Shhhhhhh—!!!
An owner already claimed that territory.
It was a massive serpent with two horns, blood-red eyes, and dark, ink-colored scales wrapped around its body like iron armor.
'An Ink-Scale Blood Python.'
It was a spiritual beast Dang Sobaek recognized. Though extinct in the Central Plains, its remnants survived in the form of various precious treasures.
One did not have to look far; the primary material for the Ink-Scale Dagger, one of the sacred relics of the Sichuan Tang Clan, was made from the scales of this very serpent.
'Mmm.' He coveted it, but chose to give up.
Even if Dang Sobaek and Jim-i joined forces, they were no match for such a beast. Furthermore, 'This place is too exposed.' Remembering his mother's warning, he cast aside his lingering attachment.
His criteria for choosing a nest were threefold:
First, it had to be rich in natural energy.
Second, food had to be easily obtainable.
And finally, was it secure enough to truly be called a "hidden sanctuary"?
'My mother's words were undoubtedly sincere.' It felt too unsettling to simply ignore them.
Thus, Dang Sobaek and Jim-i spent a long time searching for a nest that met all these conditions.
Passing through dense forests and navigating steep mountain ridges, they discovered a decent-looking cave about halfway up a mountain.
Rumble—
However, the mountain shook from time to time. It was an active volcano. While the spiritual energy was abundant, food seemed scarce.
Moreover, he could sense that the cave already had an owner. He did not bother to verify.
'Every decent spot already has an owner.' To make matters worse, every single presence he sensed was incredibly powerful.
Dang Sobaek and Jim-i traveled tirelessly day after day, but they could not find a single place suitable for a nest.
They lived a nomadic existence, hunting only to fill their empty stomachs and dozing off on tree branches to pass the nights.
Jim-i looked exhausted, but she did not rebel or complain. She was likely more terrified of being left behind.
They wandered for over a month. Along the way, they happened to cross paths with Jim-sam.
He had settled in a burrow on a low hill, having apparently driven out the previous owner to claim it for himself.
"Pyak?"
Upon seeing them, Jim-sam wore a welcoming expression and shared a portion of his hunted prey.
He even offered them a place to rest. However, the burrow was far too cramped for the three of them.
They spent about two days in Jim-sam's burrow, recovering their strength. Their fatigue washed away, likely because they finally felt safe from the dangers of the wild.
But they could not impose on him forever. In the end, they decided to move on.
"Pyaaaa—"
Jim-sam watched them leave with a look of regret, his cry lacking its usual vigor. Even so, he did not try to hold them back.
Yet, even after leaving the burrow, they failed to find a suitable home.
As they followed a stream flowing down the mountain—
Whoosh—!
Jim-i suddenly accelerated, flying forward at high speed.
She seemed to be chasing prey. Looking closely, Dang Sobaek saw a golden butterfly fluttering its wings as it squeezed into a narrow crevice in the cliffside.
'Intriguing.' It was a place he had never noticed before. Dang Sobaek picked up speed to catch up with Jim-i. Though tight, the gap was wide enough to enter.
Jim-i landed on a protruding rock along the cliff. She held the large golden butterfly in her beak, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. She then split the butterfly cleanly in half and offered a piece to Dang Sobaek.
Though his appetite was whetted, he ignored it. His attention was entirely captured by their surroundings. Water flowed beneath the crevice, and he could sense signs of life scattered throughout.
While the entrance was incredibly narrow, a massive cavern opened up as they ventured deeper.
'Not bad.' The issue was whether there was a proper space to rest. Since the cavern was somewhat exposed, it was unsuitable for relaxing without letting their guard down.
Just then, the sound of fluttering bat wings echoed from one side of the cliff. A swarm of them poured out in a massive cloud.
Flying toward the source with Jim-i, they discovered a small cave. They cautiously made their way inside.
Drip. Drop. Water droplets fell from the ceiling at regular intervals. Perhaps because it was dark and unfamiliar, Jim-i pressed herself close to Dang Sobaek in fear.
'This place is close to a naturally formed Qimen Array.'
It wasn't difficult to find simply because it was hidden; rather, a natural array was at play, obscuring the entrance from outside eyes.
Dang Sobaek circulated his spiritual energy throughout his body and focused his vision. The surroundings came into clearer focus.
The ground was riddled with holes. Below them, sharp, jagged rocks lined a rushing stream.
Since Dang Sobaek and Jim-i were winged beasts, it mattered little to them, but any land-dwelling creature would meet instant death the moment they fell.
The cave was neither deep nor spacious, but it seemed perfect for the two of them. At long last, they had found a nest that met every single condition.
However—
Shhhhhhh—!
As expected, an owner already claimed this place.
A creature identical to the Ink-Scale Blood Python they had seen at the lake uncoiled its body, flicking its tongue threateningly.