Chapter 169: Centipede Poison Fang Claw (2)
Translator: bjgoofy
After several months away, there at last was the Tang Family's majestic Nine Progress Gate rising up ahead.
The nine gates of the Tang Family, stretching in a long line into the estate from the First Gate all the way to the Ninth Gate.
The moment I laid eyes on them, the thought struck me that I had finally come home.
'To think I've started thinking of this place as home now?'
And beside me, I heard the voices of Sword Dragon and Fist Dragon hyung-nim as they took in the Tang Family's Nine Progress Gate.
"It really has been ages since I've seen the Tang Family."
"You said it, Sword Dragon."
"Have you two been to the Tang Family before, Sword Dragon, Fist Dragon hyung-nim?"
"Of course, Mad Dragon. It was back when...."
Sword Dragon hyung-nim was just in the middle of explaining when he'd last visited the Tang Family.
Then a sharp voice cut in from the side, slicing clean through his words like a blade.
"Hmm? Mad Dragon? Did I mishear that? Hwa-eun, did I mishear?"
"No, noona, I think you heard it perfectly. Now why on earth would the alias 'Mad Dragon' come drifting our way again?"
"Ghhk! Y-Young Misses, i-it was a slip!
F-Flying Dragon. What was it, a few years back? Once or twice while you were away, on an errand......"
Sword Dragon hyung-nim had been chatting away while gazing out past the Tang Family's Nine Progress Gate, and by accident he'd let slip my forbidden alias.
With the startled look of a boy caught by his mother sneaking games late at night, hyung-nim hastily corrected himself.
Because Seol noona's pointed cough and mocking tone came trailing after, along with Hwa-eun's stinging glare.
There was a reason things had come to this.
Ever since the two of them had bestowed that alias on me, whether to tease me or because they genuinely wanted to saddle me with the name "Mad Dragon", no one could say.
Because after they'd occasionally called me "Mad Dragon" and been caught by Seol noona and Hwa-eun and scolded within an inch of their lives, "Mad Dragon" became a forbidden word.
Well, it hadn't exactly been strictly observed up to now.
"M-Mad Dragon!? My betrothed, called Mad Dragon? Are you serious?"
"Are you saying you intend to call my younger brother by such an alias? The Eldest Son of the Beast Palace, no less!?"
The instant the alias "Mad Dragon" had been uttered in the presence of those two, out had poured icy-blue glares and frigid voices.
"N-No, Young Misses, calm down, i-it's like this, that.... We felt a certain fondness for our little brother, and...."
"Feel fondness twice more and next you'll be calling him Demon Dragon or Lust Dragon?"
"If you keep insulting my betrothed with that alias, then through my father I'll formally, with the Tang Family......"
In the end, the newly minted alias, built around the image of me soaring through the sky astride Cho, was none other than Tang Family's Flying Dragon (飛龍).
Apparently the "Fei" (飛) character in aliases like "Flying Dragon" was normally reserved only for those with lightning-fast lightfoot skills, but well, since I actually flew through the sky, the reviewers argued it suited me all the better.
Of course, the reviewers were Seol noona and Hwa-eun.
For that reason, my alias had been changed to "Flying Dragon", dripping with Hwa-eun's and Seol noona's tastes, and "Mad Dragon" had become a forbidden word.
But now, out of nowhere, someone had accidentally uttered the alias "Mad Dragon", so Hwa-eun's and Seol noona's scolding followed, and that was why he'd made that horrified expression.
'Serves you right.'
Thinking to myself how satisfying it was to watch the mischievous hyung-nims get scolded, I glanced toward Seol noona and Hwa-eun, only to have a glare shot my way that asked exactly what I thought I'd done right.
Flinching at the sight, I too dodged their eyes, just like Sword Dragon hyung-nim.
Thanks to Hwa-eun and Seol noona I'd been able to wash away the stain of "Mad Dragon", but washing away the stain hadn't come with only good things.
Because whenever the hyung-nims got roasted, I got roasted right alongside them.
"This is all because you handled yourself so badly, Ryong!"
"Soryong, you have to promise me you'll never do anything so reckless again!"
'I'm the victim here, so how did the sparks land on me!'
My execution, briefly postponed thanks to Hwayang, had been carried out directly by the jury that had gathered in fury over the alias "Mad Dragon".
On the grounds that I, having made the emergence of the "Mad Dragon" alias inevitable, could not escape my share of the blame.
In the end, only after being surrounded by Hwa-eun and Seol noona and enduring a nagging fierce enough to make my ears bleed had peace finally returned to our journey, and even now it felt like one wrong move would set that nagging off again.
'I'd better stay as quiet as possible today.'
Resolving to keep as quiet as I could today, I glanced to the side, and Sword Dragon hyung-nim, who seemed to have had the same thought, met my eyes and nodded along.
Just then, the Tang Family's warriors, having confirmed our arrival, came running out through the Nine Progress Gate to welcome us.
"Young Miss! Welcome back!"
"Master Soryong, you've had a long journey!"
"It's been a while, everyone."
"It has been a while."
As I exchanged greetings with the warriors and made my way into the estate, Captain Gu Pae appeared among the warriors who kept pouring out.
Gu Pae dashed out from among the warriors, bowed his head, and cupped his fist in salute.
"Welcome back, Master Soryong!"
"Captain Gu Pae, it's been a while. Nothing amiss at the Venomous Creatures Garden, I trust?"
"Of course not! Once you've finished greeting the Family Head, shall we go take a look right away?"
Confident that he'd kept the Venomous Creatures Garden well-managed, Gu Pae asked whether I'd like to inspect it at once.
But since I first had to greet the elders and then escort the Three Dragons Two Phoenixes (三龍二鳳), who had come as guests, to the guest quarters, I shook my head and answered.
After all, seeing to guests' lodgings and treating them to a meal or tea was the etiquette of this murim.
"No, we have guests with us. Let's rest a bit and take a look this evening."
"Understood, Master Soryong! Then I'll have everything prepared so you can make your rounds come evening."
And so, as I was heading toward the Family Head's Hall with Captain Gu Pae, a hesitant voice reached my ear.
"Master Soryong, but that thing on top of your head.... What is that dumb-looking toad-like creature?"
"On top of my head?"
At the words "on top of my head", I rolled my eyes upward, and I felt the soft belly-fat resting against my crown.
These past few days I'd grown so used to it that I'd forgotten for a moment I even had it up there, but apparently Gu Pae was curious about Hwayang's identity.
Turning my head at the gazes I felt, I found all the Tang Family warriors nodding along.
Arrogantly stiffening my neck, I spoke as if chiding Gu Pae.
"Heh heh.... Captain Gu Pae, you still have a long way to go."
"Sir?"
Gu Pae cocked his head at the remark that he still had a long way to go.
Honestly, at first I'd been much the same as Gu Pae, but with a smile on my face I waggled a finger and said,
"How can you judge a venomous creature by its appearance? Appearances, you must understand, are nothing more than a shell."
"?"
"Do not be alarmed. The name of the venomous creature atop my head is none other than the Blue Flame Magma Toad (淸火岩漿蟾蜍). One of the Ten Great Venomous Creatures, and the sovereign of all toads."
"Ghhk! The Blue Flame Magma Toad! One of the Ten Great Venomous Creatures!"
"""The Blue Flame Magma Toad!"""
When I informed them that the paltry-looking little thing on my head occupied one of the seats among the Ten Great Venomous Creatures, and that it bore the name Blue Flame Magma Toad, which just meant blue magma toad, the Tang Family warriors reeled in shock.
I reached a hand up over my head and gave slap after slap to the belly-fat bulging out at Hwayang's side as it slept.
-Slap. Slap.
'Ah, nice and springy.'
-Squeak? 『Food?』
At that a squirming sensation came from atop my head, and Hwayang, roused from sleep, asked whether it was mealtime.
Thinking I really ought to teach it some words other than "food", I made my request in my heart.
'No, Hwayang, not that. Send up a bit of fire so I can show off. I'll give you plenty of food in a little while.'
『Food!』
The sound I heard was "food", but the feeling I sensed was unmistakably that of receiving firm confirmation that I'd made a promise.
-Fwoosh.
Then, as blue flames rose from Hwayang's back atop my head, the sound of fire kindling accompanied it, and the startled warriors began to sing my praises.
"Ghhk! Fire, from the toad's back!"
"Q-Quick, run to the Grand Family Head and tell him! T-Tell him that Master Soryong has brought yet another of the Ten Great Venomous Creatures to the Tang Family!"
"""Whoaaa!"""
A place where even a mere hobby earns you the praise of the masses, this truly was paradise.
Tang Family's Flying Dragon, making a dazzling return amid cheers.
***
After showing the guests to their respective rooms, I arrived once more at the Family Head's Hall and announced my arrival to those within.
"Grandfather, it's me, Soryong."
"Yes, come in."
As I stepped inside, there was Grandfather, reading a book from the Family Head's seat.
The reason Grandfather sat in that seat was that my father-in-law had led some of the family's warriors out on campaign to aid the Murim Alliance, leaving Grandfather to serve as acting Family Head.
Well, he hadn't gone off to the battlefield himself; rather, he'd joined a combined civilian-and-official effort to root out the Blood Cult.
He'd gone, so the explanation went, to confirm whether or not there were bands of the Blood Cult lurking in Chengdu, Sichuan.
"So, have you seen all the guests settled in?"
"Yes, Grandfather. Mother-in-law and Hwa-eun said they'd take care of the rest, the washing water and tea and all that."
"Good, sit down. I knew you'd come to see me. From the way your bearing has changed, it seems you've taken in the poison of the Blue Flame Magma Toad and reached the Two Poisons Realm?"
Earlier I'd had to give my greetings and escort the guests, so I hadn't even mentioned reaching the Two Poisons Realm, yet Grandfather already knew I had.
With Hwayang perched on my head, I nodded and answered.
"Yes, Grandfather. This little one was originally a tadpole, and while I was raising it to adulthood I got poisoned, so I had no choice but to attempt it."
When I explained the whole story of how I'd come to reach the Two Poisons Realm, Grandfather nodded along.
Grandfather first praised me for having adopted Hwayang.
"Is that so? Then you truly had no choice. It must have been hard, being poisoned, but you did well. Above all, capturing the Blue Flame Magma Toad, that was truly well done. I praise you once again. That's my Soryong, as I'd expect."
"You flatter me, Grandfather."
Following the praise, Grandfather asked the reason I'd come.
"If you've come to see me, might it be because your internal strength hasn't yet stabilized?"
Grandfather was asking whether, having raised my realm so abruptly, I'd come to him because perhaps my internal strength hadn't settled.
I shook my head and answered.
Because the reason I'd sought out Grandfather today was purely on account of my fingernails.
Upon reaching the Two Poisons Realm my fingernails had suddenly fallen out, and I'd wondered what on earth had caused it.
"No. As for my internal strength, the two poisons revolve within my dantian as though they've formed a perfect taegeuk." [TL Note: taegeuk, the great absolute; the interlocking dual swirl also seen on the Korean flag.]
"If that's the case, then it means your realm has already stabilized. Then what is it?"
At Grandfather's question, I held out to him my nearly regrown fingernails and said,
"It's that upon reaching the Two Poisons Realm, all my fingernails fell out like this."
"Hm!? Your fingernails fell out?"
"Yes, like so."
When I held out my hand, Grandfather rose from his seat and came over to me, examined my fingernails for a good while, then said he'd try channeling some internal strength into them.
"How curious. I've never heard of such a thing. It's not even a Complete Rebirth.... I'll flow some of my own internal strength in through your fingertips, so calm your mind."
"Yes, understood."
At Grandfather's words, I closed my eyes and focused internal strength into my fingertips.
Grandfather's energy came flowing in from my fingertips.
Something warm and tingling traveled up my fingertips, passing through my palm, my wrist, my arm, then coursing down the center of my chest all the way to my dantian.
"What, this is...!?"
Grandfather's startled voice as he traced the flow of the energy.
Grandfather took hold of my hand and asked,
"Soryong, since reaching the Two Poisons Realm, have you by any chance tried performing the Centipede Poison Fang Claw (蜈蚣毒牙爪)?"
I'd promised Grandfather I'd practice my martial arts every day even while traveling, but honestly, not once had I.... no, I hadn't done it at all.
As I went to scratch my head, I scratched Hwayang's rump instead, and Hwayang's leg, moving reflexively, drummed against the back of my skull.
-Tap tap tap.
"S-Sorry. On the journey I never got around to...."
Bracing myself for a scolding, I apologized, but Grandfather, still gripping my hand, said,
"No, it's fine, so would you try performing the Centipede Poison Fang Claw?"
"Here, you mean?"
"Yes. Go on, perform it."
At the sight of Grandfather looking somehow hurried, I moved the internal strength I'd raised with the Five Poisons Returning to Origin Divine Technique (五毒歸元神功) into my fingertips, following the Oral Formula of the Centipede Poison Fang Claw.
At that, the internal strength moved far more smoothly than when I'd first learned it.
Since strengthening the fingertips and nails with internal strength was the preparatory stage for performing the Centipede Poison Fang Claw, it was the very moment the moving internal strength had just reached my fingertips.
My fingertips tingled, different from anything before.
When I let out a bewildered sound at the strange sensation, Grandfather's words followed.
"Uh, uh...."
"Don't worry, just do it."
At his words, spoken as if with some certainty, I continued moving the internal strength, and the instant my fingertips and nails were strengthened by it, it happened.
My fingertips tingled, and my not-yet-fully-grown nails slid slightly forward, and my fingertips took on an emerald hue, just like the color of Cho's body.
"Th-This is...!?"
When I withdrew the internal strength in surprise, my nails receded again.
Grandfather, who had been watching my nails, said,
"It seems your fingertips have changed so that you can now release Cho's poison through them...."
'Ghhk!'
What Grandfather was saying was that from now on, when I performed the Centipede Poison Fang Claw, I could strike as though my nails were coated with Cho's poison.
Which was to say, I could deliver poison-attribute attacks.
'Insane!'
When I stood there blank-faced at the unbelievable reality, Grandfather said,
"It seems the change to your body has startled you. Well, if your nails turned into a centipede's fangs, it's no wonder you'd be startled."
Grandfather seemed to think I was startled because my nails had transformed into something like a centipede's mandibles, but he was wrong.
Because right now I was feeling boundless joy.
To love a thing and to wish to resemble it, is that not the ultimate aspiration of every enthusiast?
One who loves elves wants to become a beautiful elf maiden, and one who loves venomous creatures naturally wants to become a spider-man.
In my heart, I hurriedly called Cho to the Family Head's Hall.
'Cho! Daddy's a couple with you, no, husband and wife (夫妻), not that either, a matched pair (一雙), ah, I don't know. What in the world is "couple" in the Central Plains tongue!? Anyway, I've got the nails now!'
*****
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