Chapter 50: Snow, Ice (1)
Translator: bjgoofy
The reason why Nunim and I had slightly bewildered expressions.
According to the words of Elder Zhuge Hu, the strategist of the Murim Alliance, the interior of the cave was supposed to be illuminated from above with light pouring down, and filled with strange plants blooming in abundance.
To borrow the strategist's expression, it was like a separate paradise.
He described it as an incredibly mysterious and peculiar place. However, the cave we entered felt quite different from his description.
‘Something is off.’
It was true that light was pouring down from above.
A considerable height above us, a small opening allowed the light to enter, illuminating the interior like a searchlight.
That part aligned with the strategist’s words, it certainly appeared peculiar.
However, the part about the cave being filled with strange plants did not match.
The circular beam of light streaming down from the opening shone directly onto the center of the cave, but outside that illuminated area, most of the plants were withered and dead.
Moreover, even the plants that survived in the center seemed somewhat lifeless.
“There are inconsistencies with the strategist’s words, but let’s check it out first.”
“Yes, Soryong."
"But well, I didn’t come here to inspect the environment. I just need to confirm the blue lizard’s presence.”
We cautiously advanced toward the center of the cave, where the lizard was supposedly sighted.
Leading the way was the Peng Family Head.
According to the strategist, the lizard had charged at him.
Though the strategist appeared to be an administrative officer, the family head had said that he was of a similar skill level, so we had to be particularly cautious.
Even a skilled expert like him had been caught off guard.
“He mentioned the rocks overlapping in the shape of the character '人' (person), right?”
“Yes, Peng Family Head.”
The Peng Family Head pointed to the human-shaped rock formation ahead.
As we slowly moved forward, following his lead, it happened.
-Kyahaah!
A threatening cry echoed throughout the cave, using the roof-like rock as a megaphone.
At the sound of the lizard’s warning, the Peng Family Head drew his great blade.
-Srrrng.
However, per my request, he turned the blade to use its flat side, ensuring the lizard wouldn’t be harmed.
“There’s definitely something there, just like you said. Even the strategist took a step back, he warned us to be careful, didn’t he?”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Understood. Stay right behind me, and everyone, remain vigilant.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“Yes, Peng Family Head.”
We realigned our formation and proceeded further towards the rocky area, moving in a long, snake-like formation.
-Kyaha!
-Kyaah!
More warning cries followed.
We still couldn’t see it, but its cry suggested it was far more aggressive than expected.
‘This one’s got some real spirit.’
But the fiercer it was, the more exciting it became.
My heart began to race.
Lizards generally fall into two categories.
There are the timid ones that instinctively flee from other creatures, and then there are the aggressive ones that issue warnings before attacking when they are disturbed.
Of course, when raising them, the timid types are easier to handle.
They are easier to manage and control.
However, from a breeder’s perspective, feisty creatures like this are much more desirable.
There’s an undeniable charm in these proud, aloof creatures that issue threats and pretend to be indifferent to humans when approached.
Why do cats that do nothing but eat and sleep still receive so much affection?
It’s all because of that aloof, indifferent charm.
Anticipating how magnificent it might look, I reached the point where the roof-shaped rock came into view.
And beneath the shade of the rock, two gleaming eyes.
-Kyaaah!
At last, sitting atop a smooth stone about three zhang (approx 10 meters) ahead, the creature revealed itself.
Its size was around one jang (approx 3 meters).
It had small, round, yellow eyes, a vivid blue body like the clear sky, and a white stripe running in a straight line from its head to its tail, resembling a highway.
And to top it all off, a plump tail swayed gently above its head.
‘This is insane! It’s totally a Fat-Tailed Gecko!’
(TL: Above but blue)
The creature was certainly larger than the average one, but it still had the typical appearance of a Fat-Tailed Gecko.
There had been some misunderstanding that the term gecko referred specifically to lizards that could climb walls, but in reality, it was a general term for the Gekkonidae family of lizards.
Because they resembled lizards, they were categorized as such.
At first glance, one might mistake them for something other than a lizard, but they were indeed lizards.
The name gecko in English actually came from the sound these creatures made, which resembled the word gecko.
As I marveled inwardly at its sleek form, I heard Nunim's voice, filled with admiration.
“It’s a truly beautiful blue wall tiger (壁虎), isn’t it?”
‘Wall tiger? So, they call geckos wall tigers here?’
I thought that name was unexpectedly fitting, as geckos were known for their ability to climb walls. Nodding in agreement, I responded.
“Yes, it looks quite similar to a Fat-Tailed Lizard, and it’s really beautiful.”
“Fat-Tailed Lizard? Ah, you mean its tail is plump?”
“Yes, Young Miss.”
Perhaps because we had already been raising centipedes together, Nunim’s interest in these creatures seemed to have grown as well.
-Kyaaa!
-Kyaa!
The lizard bared its teeth and hissed aggressively in response to our gaze.
Its plump tail wriggled above its head like a venomous snake.
Maintaining a suitable distance, we carefully observed the creature.
That was when the Peng Family Head, who had been keeping an eye on it, revealed an astonishing fact.
“Hm? There’s another one deeper inside.”
“Another one!?”
One plus one.
If there were two, that meant they might be a pair.
Shocked, I quickly recalled the eye-enhancing technique I had learned before our departure.
‘Send my qi to my eyes…’
By channeling my internal energy toward my eyes, my vision gradually sharpened.
Beyond the lively lizard in front of us, a faint, hazy shape began to emerge in my field of view.
And then, its figure became clearer.
“Hm? That is…”
Just as I was about to confirm what I saw, Nunim’s voice reached me first.
“Soryong, the one in the back is lying down motionless.”
I was still not fully accustomed to enhancing my eyesight, so I couldn’t see precisely, but as Nunim had said, the other lizard remained completely still with its eyes closed.
The area deeper inside the rock formation was shaded, making it difficult to see clearly. However, its color seemed fainter compared to the lively one in front, and it was lying there without the slightest movement.
I patted the Peng Family Head on the shoulder and spoke.
“Peng Family Head, let’s step back for now.”
“Step back? We’re not catching it right now?”
“We mustn’t capture them just yet.”
“Why not?”
The Peng Family Head looked at me with a puzzled expression, not understanding why we shouldn't catch them immediately.
However, capturing the creature the moment we spotted it would be the worst approach.
I wasn’t looking for a specimen, I wanted to raise it.
And right now, I knew nothing about what it ate or its basic habits.
If we caught it without this knowledge, the chances of it dying due to a failed attempt at care were high.
If I had prior information about its care, it would be a different story, but when dealing with an entirely unknown creature, the first step was always to observe and understand its habitat and behavior before attempting to capture it.
“I want to raise these creatures, but if we catch them now, we won’t know what they eat or what kind of environment they prefer.”
“Can’t you just try feeding them different things?”
“No. Creatures like these can die instantly if they eat the wrong food.”
“…Tch, what a high-maintenance task. Alright, we’ll step back for now.”
As we slowly retreated, the lizard cautiously watched us before lowering its previously upright body and beginning to lick the one behind it.
***
-Crackle. Crackle.
The savory aroma of jerky roasting over the small campfire below began to waft through the air, tickling my nose.
And then, Nunim’s voice called out.
“Soryong, come down and eat.”
“Yes, Young Miss.”
I quickly jumped down from the protruding rock on the cave wall where I had been observing Ice and Snow.
As I descended, Gu Pae, the division leader, climbed up the slanted wall in my place.
Passing by him mid-air, I entrusted him with the task.
“Gu Pae, I’ll leave it to you. Let me know immediately if anything happens.”
“Of course! Just leave it to me!”
The reason Gu Pae and I were switching shifts was because it was my mealtime, and I had been observing the habits of the two lizards, whom I had named Ice and Snow.
Sliding smoothly down the slanted wall, I landed in front of Nunim, who handed me roasted jerky and dried rice cakes boiled in water.
“Here you go, Soryong.”
On Nunim’s shoulder, three centipedes greeted me excitedly, waving their antennae.
‘Is this like a wife and three daughters welcoming their husband home from work?’
A sudden memory of the centipedes from my dream surfaced, and I briefly hesitated, imagining Nunim and the centipedes as a wife and daughters greeting their father. Quickly shaking off the thought, I took the food Nunim handed me.
“Thank you for the meal, Young Miss.”
This was our dinner.
Even though I wasn’t well-versed in murim culture, I had heard once that martial artists carried fasting pills when traveling. However, when I asked about it, they explained that those were only used by Taoists during cultivation.
Normally, people carried dried rice cakes and jerky like this.
The jerky was roasted over the fire, while the dried rice cakes were placed in a ceramic pot and boiled in water.
Sometimes, people ate them separately, and other times, they threw everything into the water and boiled it together.
“So, did you make any progress today?”
As I sat down beside the Peng Family Head, who was already settled and gnawing on jerky, I began eating the boiled rice cakes.
His voice reached me from the side.
Chewing noisily, he asked about the current situation.
“They haven’t moved at all.”
“When I stayed up two nights in a row because of your insistence, I also saw that they never budged from that spot.”
“If they’re alive, they must be eating something… but it’s strange.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
At night, the Peng Family Head, who could enhance his vision the most, observed the lizards. During the day, I took over.
Three days had already passed like this, yet the lizards remained motionless in the shade of the rock.
We still had no idea what they ate.
Ordinarily, Fat-Tailed Geckos and other lizards could go days without eating.
Moreover, the Fat-Tailed Gecko species stored energy in their plump tails.
Since they could go weeks or even up to a month without eating, it was becoming uncertain how long we would have to wait.
Normally, when they were healthy, they ate something every day. Even in captivity, they were usually fed daily or at least once every two days.
Moreover, while it was unclear how long they would continue to refuse food, I couldn’t shake my concern about the one in the back that hadn’t moved at all.
If it wasn’t eating and was also sick, there was a high chance it was surviving solely on the energy stored in its tail.
‘If it’s sick, that’s not good…’
“Soryong, what are you thinking about?”
As I was lost in thought about the condition of the last one I had seen, Nunim’s question pulled me back.
I tore off a piece of jerky and replied.
“I’m worried about the one that hasn’t been moving.”
“Ah…”
After answering Nunim, I hesitated for a moment.
Should I wait a bit longer, or should I take action?
But no matter how much I thought about it, simply waiting didn’t seem like the right choice.
Thinking back carefully, I suddenly realized something, perhaps the lizard in the front wasn’t attacking us outright because it was protecting the sick one behind it.
According to the strategist, the lizard had rushed at him just for approaching the rock, yet now, one was only issuing threats at the entrance while the other remained completely motionless.
If one of them was sick, that behavior made perfect sense.
It seemed like we needed to check on the unmoving lizard’s condition.
“I think we should check on the one that hasn’t been moving.”
“Check on it? Are you saying we should capture it?”
“Not capture it just yet. It’ll probably get more cautious, but I think we should at least see if it’s injured or sick. Also, if it exerts itself because of us, it might get hungry and finally eat something. Peng Family Head, could you help? It’d be great if you could lure one away for a moment.”
At my words, the Peng Family Head stretched and replied.
“Ah, well, I was getting restless just sitting around. Let’s see just how incredible this spiritual creature really is. Kehaha.”
*****
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