Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: The White Hawk Spirit Beast
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To Baek Heon-so, Yang-hui was a remarkably human person.
Even if he possessed talents that made you question if he was really human.
Before even turning ten, he'd played the role of a martial arts master, elevating others to the Peak Realm, and by fifteen, he'd reached Peak Realm himself—a genius beyond geniuses.
Despite his age, he'd shown such profound insight that he'd turned the Baek Clan Manor from a third-rate martial family into one of the strongest sects in Gangseo Province.
But he'd never displayed anything superhuman or otherworldly.
Separate from his talents, he'd always been a good son to his father and a good brother to him.
But...
'Brother... what in the world...'
He was just meditating, circulating his qi.
Rumor had it that last time, something bizarre happened while he was cultivating—he floated up into the sky.
Well, high-level experts could manage that much, so fine.
But dozens of hawks suddenly swooping in from the sky to stare fixedly at the carriage Yang-hui was riding in?
It sent chills down your spine just watching.
'It feels like proof that heaven itself is with my brother.'
There were old legends like that. A baby with the makings of a hero, abandoned due to a cruel fate, protected by flocks of birds and beasts.
Baek Heon-so felt like he was witnessing one such scene from those ancient tales.
Meanwhile, Chui-dal was...
"Holy hell."
He was just dumbfounded.
What kind of person attracts a bunch of hawks just by meditating?
Does he smell like food or something?
"As expected, Brother's on another level from the start."
Dang Gun, standing nearby with arms crossed, responded to Chui-dal's mutter.
"They must be drawn to the qi emanating during his meditation. Definitely auspicious."
Dang Gun's face was filled with fascination.
The reason was simple.
"That white hawk leading them. Not your average bird."
"Isn't it just white feathers? How can you tell?"
As Chui-dal shot him a questioning look, Dang Gun continued.
"One of our Tang Clan's homework is taming the Poison Eagles of Sword Peak. Thanks to that, I'm well-versed in hawk ecology."
"Poison Eagle means a hawk that carries poison, right?"
"Exactly. Ever heard of the Zhimiao from the Classic of Mountains and Seas?"
The Zhimiao was a legendary venomous bird whose feather toxin could melt the ground.
"It's said to be the origin of that myth."
Dang Gun went on.
"Forget the odd behavior of staring at someone meditating. Hawks don't flock like this in dozens. There's a cause for the anomaly. Probably that white one."
In other words, the white hawk had something special enough to make solitary hawks form a flock.
"Anyway, they're not showing hostility, so let's watch for a bit. Chasing off a few hawks is easy anytime."
Auspicious phenomena were rare, after all.
And rare sights sparked curiosity, so they decided to observe.
At that moment.
-Kyaaaaa!
The white hawk threw its head back and let out a cry.
As if contagious, dozens of hawks unleashed sharp screeches in unison.
-Kyaaaaa!
-Kyaaaaa!
-Kyaaaaa!
"Haha, what a spectacle."
"Gotta say, it's fascinating."
"My heart's pounding."
Amid the chorus of cries, Yang-hui opened the carriage door and stepped out.
A puzzled expression on his face.
All eyes turned to him.
In old tales, this was when human and hawk realized their shared fate and journeyed together...
"Looks like heaven sent these to fill our bellies before climbing that rough mountain."
'Huh?'
'Eat them?'
'They look like spirit beasts!'
'Seriously?'
The group wasn't the only one flustered.
The white hawk looked bewildered too.
-Kyaa?
Its expression was so clear you could read the emotions on a hawk's face.
"A hawk with expressions, huh."
Yang-hui leaped high, reaching the top of a tall tree.
The white hawk immediately flapped its wings and took to the sky.
"Oh? Pretty fast."
Trees naturally thinned toward the top.
But Yang-hui stepped on the whip-thin treetop swaying like a willow branch and leaped again.
Shouting as he did.
"What are you waiting for? If we wanna eat our fill, grab the other hawks too!"
No one moved.
The mystical thrill from moments ago shattered like glass.
"Aigoo, that's Brother for you."
"Seriously... times like this, he's the most human human there is."
"Hahaha... Little Bro Hui's not wrong, but... hahaha..."
Yang-hui drew his sword midair and swung at the white hawk.
The hawk dodged in panic, but the blade tip grazed its wing.
Klang!
"Hm? Klang?"
He hadn't infused qi, but it should've sliced a bird wing clean off.
-Kyaaaaa!
What a curious hawk. How could a mere screech convey such distinct emotion?
It sounded just like, "You hit me!? For real!?"
"Real hit or fake? You look like a spirit beast—let's taste you!"
The hawk soared high into the unreachable sky for wingless humans.
But.
-Kyaaak!
"Can't escape. You're destined to be my meal!"
Falling under gravity unlike the hawk, he hurled his sword like a streak of light.
The blade, infused with throwing sword arts, sliced the air and struck the hawk's unguarded head.
'Feathers tough as iron, but still just a bird.'
The light faded from the white hawk's eyes.
Yang-hui landed and caught the falling hawk moments later.
"Fly all you want—you're still in Buddha's palm, punk."
The feather texture through his hands.
Soft like feathers, but as tough and resilient as steel, as expected.
"Whoa, you actually caught it. A flying spirit beast, no less... Little Bro Hui's got skills."
"Thanks for the praise, Sis Dang. I'll yield you one leg specially."
Legs were the best part of any bird, chicken or otherwise!
"Odd, though."
"What's up... Oh? The other hawks..."
They should've fled after watching their comrade hunted.
Yet the hawks, seeing the white one in Yang-hui's grasp, perched on branches again, crying softly.
"Incredible loyalty for mere beasts."
"Yeah. Catch a few more and it'd be perfect... Whoa, it's awake already. Quit struggling, punk."
-Kya! Kyaaaa!
A desperate wail like, "How could you do this to me! How!"
Betrayed by a human—a stranger, no less. What a laughable bird.
Fed up with its cries, Yang-hui flicked its head.
-Kyek!
"Brother, you really gonna eat it? Feels fishy."
"Chui-dal's right. It screams spirit beast—not ordinary. Why not tame it instead?"
The Baek Clan Manor's symbol was a white hawk, after all.
Baek Heon-so's eyes sparkled, already imagining taming and parading with it.
"Heon-so, spirit beasts look cool, but they're more hassle than they're worth."
'In my past life, I wasted time trying to tame one for show... Better to nourish my body.'
"Doubt it has an inner core, but if it does? Jackpot."
-Kya aaa!
Somehow, Yang-hui understood the hawk's screech again.
"Wanna check? Slice it open."
-Kya aaa!
Seeing Baek Heon-so's crestfallen face amid the pitiful cries, Yang-hui smacked his lips.
"Heon-so, you really wanna raise it that bad?"
"Yes. It's cool, right?"
"No guarantee it'll tame."
"If it runs, lesson learned."
"Hm... Fine then. Doesn't seem to have special abilities, but worst case, use it as a messenger hawk."
No, wait—this thing commands other hawks?
Could establish the main house's own messenger network instantly?
Yeah, taming it might prove useful.
"First off, you. Won't eat you, so fetch a wild boar."
-Kya!
"No? Your pals are hostages. Run, and you know."
-Kya aa...
Soon after, the white hawk returned clutching a boar.
Flying fine despite its weight dozens of times its own—truly a spirit beast.
"Hahaha, impressive."
"We can all eat hearty before Sword Peak."
"Let's prep the meal first. Everyone, move!"
"Yes, sir!"
Subordinates bustled, boiling rations and dried veggies in pots; others butchered and grilled the boar.
Yang-hui sliced a bit of boar liver and offered it to the white hawk.
-Kya!
"Oh? Kicking with your talons? Sulking?"
-Kya aa!
"Then why show up in front of me and ask for trouble."
-Kya aa...
"Didn't expect this? Birds trusting humans. No hunters in Sword Peak?"
-Kya aaa!
"Trusted me, not humans? First time seeing me?"
The white hawk flapped wildly, venting injustice.
Desperately explaining something.
He got the gist, but hawks being hawks, the details didn't come through clearly.
'Definitely smarter than the one I failed to tame in my past life.'
Even so, taming spirit beasts was never easy.
'To do it right, it'd take time and effort.'
And even then, spirit beasts often bolted once affection waned.
This one seemed ready to flee the moment released.
Still, decided to tame it, so best find more uses.
"Oh yeah, Brother Dang. Your Tang Clan was keen on Sword Peak's Poison Eagles, right?"
"Yes. We've invested ages to tame them as one of our weapons."
Perfect timing.
"Hey. You know Poison Eagles?"
-Kya.
"Wanna catch one. Help out."
-Kya!
"Sounds like it'd rather die itself than lead us to one?"
Its fierce reaction—friends with a Sword Peak Poison Eagle?
Not many spirit beast hawk kin, so plausible.
"Little Bro Hui. Were you just talking to the hawk?"
"Kinda-sorta understanding it."
"Amazing. Even if we catch a Poison Eagle, no killing. Treat it well, breed it."
"That's the pitch?"
-Kya aaaaa!
"No killing. Better life pampered than rough mountains. Your friend's happy life or your miserable death. Pick one."
After desperate deliberation, the white hawk drooped its head.
-Kya...
Heading to Tang Clan anyway—nice gift would be good.
Sword Peak Poison Eagle hunt begins!
"Alright, go sweet-talk it over."
Tossed skyward, the hawk streaked away, shrinking to a dot with a whoosh.
"Spirit beast flight speed is like lightning..."
That instant.
A connection snapped into place. Yang-hui's vision flipped.
Like Zhuangzi's butterfly dream. The hawk's senses and sight unfolded before him.
"This is..."
High skies, Sword Peak's jagged summits below.
A breathtaking view.
Yang-hui shivered.
A bird with this ability?
'This guy...'
The ultimate scout of the world?