Side Story 59. Crimson Fighting Fiends, Fire And Rain (4)

Dam Hyun.
An Honor Flower Disciple of Azure Forest.
And a great sorcerer and magus.
Among the Honor Flower Disciples and Taoist Flower Disciples of Azure Forest, where all the geniuses of sorcery were gathered, there was no one whose knowledge was as vast as Dam Hyun’s.

Dam Hyun had originally been a miraculous sorcerer who could call forth wind and make rain fall, but after the world changed, he became even more powerful.
He could create rain clouds even in bright, clear weather without a single cloud in the sky.

Simply, merely by offering a simplified rite to the heavens.

Tududuk, tuk.

Raindrops began to wet the ground.
If it were a light fire, this much rain would have been enough to extinguish it.
But the Flame Jade Bomb was different.
The powder scattered when the Flame Jade Bomb exploded was a white, soft material like beeswax.
When exposed to air, it burned with a pure white light, and it was not easily extinguished even when water was poured on it.

“Aaaak, aaak!”
“Save me!”

Those whose bodies had caught fire screamed in agony.
A vein bulged on Dam Hyun’s forehead.

“So you want to try me.”

He formed a hand seal with one hand, then drew a circle in the air.
At that, the cloud in the sky began to rotate.
Its size gradually swelled, and a pitch-black rain cloud formed.

“By the Heavenly Decree, obey!”

Then a downpour poured down.

Swaaaaaaaa!

It was rainfall created by gathering all the Water Qi nearby.
For the time being, Hangzhou would have no rain and suffer drought, but it could not be helped.
Fierce raindrops poured down on Seok Family Manor.
No matter how vicious the Flame Jade Bomb was, there was nothing it could do against a deluge powerful enough to cause a flood.

The flames that had been greedily burning everything died down.
Those who had burned to death gave off black steam, but far more people than that survived.
Even the soldiers, whose military discipline had been strict, sank to the ground.

“We’re alive… We survived.”
“Euheuheuheuk!”

They cried in gratitude over the fact that their lives had been spared.
The Crimson Fighting Fiends who had caused this chaos had vanished without a trace.
But instead of searching for the culprits, the people were busy rejoicing that they had survived.

Of course, there were also those who were not like that.
Some instead burned with fighting spirit.
The people of Murim were like that.
Cheongho clenched his fist so tightly that it turned white.

“Keuk…”

He had been utterly powerless.
After transforming into a human, he had lost most of the strength he originally possessed.
Even so, he had heard praise such as ‘strong’ and ‘talented,’ but Cheongho himself knew very well.
If he had returned to his original form.
If he had possessed the body of the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox and scattered lightning, could he not have stopped Ahim?
Though if he returned to the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox even once, he would never be able to become human again…

“Euheuk…”

Seeing Baek Sang-ye sitting before Namgung Shin and shedding tears made him think that.
Fortunately, Namgung Shin’s life had been saved.

“Senior Brother.”

Baek Sang-ye looked up at Cheongho.
Baek Sang-ye, Cheongho’s Junior Sister.
Although his generational standing was higher, Cheongho inwardly thought Baek Sang-ye was far more mature than him.
Unlike the childlike Tsering, Baek Sang-ye had always been dignified and clear-headed.
But now, the composure she had always maintained had completely collapsed.

“I’m sorry I lied.”
“……”

She had said she was an imperial princess who had hidden her identity.
He wanted to tell her, ‘I don’t care,’ but for some reason, Cheongho couldn’t say anything.

“I have to chase them. I will chase them and save Sis.”

The Crimson Fighting Fiends had kidnapped So-ryu.
They had mistaken her for the imperial princess.
For Baek Sang-ye’s safety, So-ryu had been dragged away without being able to properly resist.
Because of that, Baek Sang-ye felt tremendous guilt.

“Will you… help me?”

Baek Sang-ye’s eyes trembled as she asked that.
His Junior Sister, who had been so full of confidence, was that anxious.
This time, Cheongho could open his mouth clearly.

“Of course.”
“……”
“I will definitely go and save her.”

Cheongho said that as if making a vow.
Baek Sang-ye’s mouth opened slightly, and Tsering beside her smiled brightly.

“Me too!”

Fortunately, there were others besides them who wanted to pursue Ahim.
Jin Li-yeon came over with Noh Shik and the Twin Tigers of the Peng Family.

“We have to chase them. If that much Guihon Jade gathers together, we don’t know what will happen.”

Perhaps because she had suffered internal injuries, Jin Li-yeon’s complexion was deathly pale.
The Twin Tigers of the Peng Family were in even worse condition.
Perhaps because they had punched each other, their entire faces were swollen blue.
It had been a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck that, while fighting according to Ahim’s command, they had both dropped their sabers at the same time.
As expected of twins, their skills were evenly matched. Thanks to that, neither of them died or suffered serious injury.
Only after thoroughly beating each other up did they come to their senses.

“I will definitely catch and kill that bastard.”
“…Though I am worried we might lose our minds again because of him.”

They too had resolved to chase Ahim.
However, there was a problem.

“But those bastards turned transparent and disappeared. How are we supposed to chase them…”

Jin Li-yeon answered Peng Gu-hwi’s concern.

“Don’t worry too much about that. Someone who can chase them has arrived.”

And from the direction she turned toward, Dam Hyun was walking over.
Dam Hyun, who had extinguished the flames of the Flame Jade Bomb.
Instead of greeting the others or acknowledging them, he stared only at Cheongho.
Cheongho also looked at Dam Hyun while fidgeting.

“You were that small, cute fox…”

Dam Hyun was fundamentally someone with a hatred of humans.
And he had loved Cheongho, the young fox yokai he had raised in his arms, more than anyone.
What emotion would someone like him feel upon seeing Cheongho return in human form, determined to become human for real?

A slight tension lingered.
Dam Hyun completely shattered that tension through a certain action.

He suddenly hugged Cheongho.

“You have grown so much, Cheongho.”

The sight was like a father embracing his child.

“What in the world are you thinking!”

Dam Hyun looked about to cry.
The mature appearance from a moment ago was nowhere to be found.
He lamented without caring about the eyes of the others.
He even clenched his fists, shook them, and jumped up and down in place.
It was after Cheongho said, “I am going to become human,” that he completely lost his composure.

“Why in the world are you trying to become human!”
“Because I want to.”

Dam Hyun dropped to his knees.
Everyone came to know that Cheongho’s true identity was actually the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox, and that he was the small fox that had traveled with Yi-gang.
But his Junior Sisters were not even given time to feel awkward.
Because Dam Hyun had nearly lost his mind after hearing Cheongho say that he had begun training to become human.

“You are a great yokai. A great yokai! And one with the noble name Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox. Your blue fur flashing with sparks of lightning, and your white, beautiful tail…!”

Cheongho made a disgusted expression at Dam Hyun, who was praising the beauty of the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox.
At that, Dam Hyun cleared his throat and lowered his voice.

“In any case, even while remaining a yokai, it is entirely possible to transform into a human! Of course, it only changes your appearance, but there is such a thing as sorcery, is there not?”

Cheongho shook his head firmly.
He had already thought about that long ago.
Cheongho’s resolve to become human was sincere.
At Cheongho’s stubborn attitude, Dam Hyun gave a strange bitter smile.

“Yes, you were especially stubborn even when you were a baby.”

He didn’t seem to like that Cheongho was trying to become human, but he seemed to be trying to accept it.
Jin Li-yeon looked at that side of Dam Hyun as if she found it unexpected.

“Anyway, what did you say you were doing?”

Only after finishing his conversation with Cheongho did Dam Hyun look back at the others.
Dozens of people were standing in a circle around him, waiting only for the conversation to end.
Jin Li-yeon sighed and spoke.

“We have to chase those Crimson Fighting Fiends led by Ahim.”
“Right, well, it seems they used a Hidden Concealment Art that turns them transparent, but that level of sorcery is nothing special.”
“Can you chase them?”
“You could probably do it too if you thought about it carefully enough. For me, it is as easy as eating cold porridge.”

Dam Hyun said something boastful in a tone that seemed completely unboastful.
In any case, at the statement that it was possible, people’s faces brightened.
Not only Dam Hyun, but Moyong Jin and Baek Ha-jun had also joined them here.
Baek Ha-jun was looking toward the realm of an Absolute master, so he would be a tremendous force. Also, the two of them had not eaten Guihon Jade.

However, Dam Hyun asked again as if confirming.

“You said that fellow ate an enormous amount of Guihon Jade, and that Seok Sung has another pound of Guihon Jade. Does Seok Sung perhaps have it on his person?”
“We don’t know.”

The one who answered that question was the steward of Seok Family Manor.

“Is there a possibility?”
“Yes, we cannot say there isn’t, but…”
“Well, it seems that Ahim fellow may have eaten even more than one pound… Though perhaps it doesn’t matter anyway.”

Dam Hyun muttered something while gesturing in the air as if flicking an abacus.
Then he said lightly.

“Let us not bother chasing them.”
“What?”

At those words, which were like a bolt from the blue, people looked dumbfounded.

“Why chase them when we won’t be able to win even if we follow? Besides, who knows what traps there are in their base?”
“Why would we not be able to win? The Iron-Blooded Sword Dragon is here, and Taoist Dam Hyun is here as well.”

Noh Shik cut in and asked.
He spoke humbly, but in truth, Noh Shik himself and several other Transcendent masters were also there.
With the elite among the elite of Murim gathered in one place, was that not far too dispiriting a thing to say?
But Dam Hyun spoke firmly.

“We cannot win. If he ate more than a certain amount of Guihon Jade, there is no one here who can handle him. He will probably repel most sorcery too, just like Guihon did.”
“Then…”
“Bring about three Absolute masters, or else we would need that Yi-gang bastard to take him down easily.”

Where were they supposed to suddenly find three Absolute masters?
And on top of that, Yi-gang was currently in the distant land of Egypt.

“Calling that Yi-gang bastard here has at least some possibility… Anyway, wake up from your dream. We can catch that bastard later when he crawls out of his base.”

Dam Hyun said it far too easily.
The Twin Tigers of the Peng Family flew into a rage and threw a fit.
Noh Shik and the others also tried to persuade Dam Hyun, but Dam Hyun kept wearing a sullen expression.

Among them, there was one person with sharp instincts, and that was Jin Li-yeon.
She poked the side of Cheongho, who was standing there blankly.

Cheongho let out an ‘Ah.’
Then he made a request of Dam Hyun.

“Please. I absolutely have to catch them.”
“Huh?”
“That bastard took my Junior Sister’s sister.”
“Ah…”

Jin Li-yeon quickly cut in and added an explanation.

“And he beat Cheongho up with those large hands.”
“He didn’t exactly beat me up…”

Before Cheongho could even make an excuse, Dam Hyun sprang to his feet.

“What! That son of a bitch!”

Dam Hyun was enraged as if he would breathe fire from his mouth.

“Fine! If it is your request, Cheongho, then of course I have to go with you!”

He changed his attitude in an instant, as if everything he had said until now had been a lie.
Dam Hyun jumped up and pulled a bundle of talismans from his robes.
Then, when he flung the bundle of talismans into the sky.

Tadadadadak!

The talismans burned while giving off pure white light.
The ash left from the burned talismans moved as if alive.

Tak, tak, tak.

And astonishingly, it drew footprints on the ground.
It seemed they could tell who the owner of those footprints was.

“Good, then shall we go chase them?”

With an attitude full of enthusiasm, Dam Hyun called for departure.