Chapter 86: Twenty-Four Poison Branches (1)
Translator: bjgoofy
'Isn’t the Five Poisons Sect the one that the Sichuan’s Tang Family and the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace joined forces to annihilate a hundred years ago?'
The Five Poisons Sect was the source of the Five Poisons Returning to Origin Technique that I had learned, and it’s a name I had heard once before through Grandfather.
That’s why I looked at Grandfather with a surprised expression at the mention that they were still alive, when suddenly, a killing intent exploded beside me.
“Th-those heinous bastards!”
Startled by the dense killing intent, I hurriedly turned my head to see the Palace Head of the Beast Palace radiating killing intent with an enraged expression.
“Father, pl-please calm down. Our benefactor and guests are here."
It was Seolpyo who stepped up and barely managed to calm down the Palace Head of the Beast Palace, as my hair stood on end from the thick killing intent.
Then the Palace Head approached the queen ant again, checked the ant’s head, and spoke while grinding his teeth.
-Crunch.
“If the Five Poisons Sect is involved, then this must be a use of the palace’s Beasts Explosive Potential Technique....”
“Beasts Explosive Potential Technique?”
At the name of the curious technique, all the Tang Family members looked toward the Beast Palace Head, and Seolpyo stepped forward to explain.
“It explosively awakens the dormant potential of beasts, sending them into a frenzy for a while. After using it, they have to lie down sick for some time, and if used improperly, the beasts might die. That’s why we prohibit its use unless it’s a life-threatening situation,”
“Then by combining it with the Tang Family’s refined golden needles and poisons, did they manage to extract some kind of potential from the queen ant?”
While stroking his chin in thought, Grandfather and the enraged Palace Head listened as I cautiously offered my opinion.
“Perhaps they kept feeding it and forced it to keep laying eggs. Normally, ants don’t eat their own kind, but when we found the queen ant, it was devouring its own kind, its own offspring.”
Originally, army ant queen ants wouldn’t be that large.
Since they are migratory ants, they usually appear a bit leaner compared to other queen ants.
But this one had an abnormally bloated body, insatiable appetite, and an excessive number of eggs.
Moreover, if such a large ant had swept through the Central Plains, nothing would have survived, and it should have been discovered many times already. Yet everyone was saying it was their first time seeing one. That made me think that the standard population of these creatures was probably only several dozen to a few hundred at most.
Then, the Beast Palace members looked at me with disbelief on their faces.
However, the point they were shocked about seemed a bit odd.
“The queen ant was eating its own offspring?”
“It was its own children!?”
“To make it devour its own children!”
The Beast Palace Head, Seolpyo, and the elders who had followed along widened their eyes in shock at the statement that the queen ant had been eating its own offspring.
Perhaps because they didn’t know much about ants, they hadn’t realized that what the queen ant was eating was her own children.
In puzzlement, I nodded cautiously and answered.
“Yes, all the ants that a queen ant travels with are her own offspring.”
At that, even Seolpyo, who had been restraining the Palace Head, shouted out in anger.
“Such a wicked act!”
“Just as our ancestors recorded, they truly are cruel monsters!”
“They are truly vile people? How could they do something so cruel as making a parent eat their own child....”
I was wondering why they were so enraged, but after moving to the Palace Head’s quarters and hearing the explanation, I learned there was a truth about the Five Poisons Sect’s extermination that was unknown to the Tang Family.
“The Tang Family may not know, but the reason our Beast Palace decided to wipe out the Five Poisons Sect wasn’t solely because of martial arts. We live in the jungles, so we sometimes take in sons- and daughters-in-law from Yunnan’s ethnic minorities, or send our own daughters to marry them. As long as they uphold their oaths, we’re relatively lenient.”
“Oath?”
“That they will not pass the martial arts down to the next generation. As long as they keep it to themselves, we don’t interfere. Moreover, if they greatly develop our martial arts, we even acknowledge it as their own. That’s how the Five Poisons Sect was originally able to establish itself in Yunnan.”
Indeed, as the Beast Palace Head said, they were more lenient about martial arts than the Tang Family.
‘If a creator allows others to modify their own work, that’s definitely lenient.’
“Then why?”
“Because they violated the Beast Palace’s taboo.”
“Taboo? What kind of taboo?”
“We do not treat the beasts we raise cruelly. We cherish them as if they were family, as if they were our own flesh and blood.”
People who truly care for animals, it made sense they would have such a taboo.
After all, weren't they the same ones who praised me when I showed them the venomous creatures and called them companion creatures?
‘But to destroy an entire household for that reason?’
Still, it did seem a bit excessive.
No matter how much you love animals, was this really right? But upon hearing the explanation, even as an enthusiast, I had to admit it didn’t make sense.
“They would melt the beasts and venomous creatures they raised to make elixirs, or strip them of their consciousness so they would obey orders like zombies, or even feed the offspring to the mother to make her stronger, they regularly committed such atrocities. That’s why we helped the Tang Family to exterminate the Five Poisons Sect.”
Melting something you raised to make a elixir.
Aren’t they truly awful bastards?
That would be like melting Cho, Hyang, Bin, or Snow, Ice, even Yohwa to make medicine, just thinking about it made me feel sick.
Once the Beast Palace Head finished his explanation, I understood why they had been so enraged about making a mother eat her own child.
It was a violation of ethics.
Even in Islamic cultures, there are religious laws that forbid things like boiling a baby in its mother’s milk.
“Do we have to repeat the events of a hundred years ago...?”
In the end, the Beast Palace Head muttered gravely, and at his words, even Grandfather, the Man of Ten Thousand Poisons, wore a serious expression.
After all, they were enemies of both households.
***
The conclusion reached regarding the army ant incident was that the culprit was the Five Poisons Sect, and that everything had likely been planned in advance.
They caught the creatures in Venomous Creatures Valley and made them breed like crazy, and since the terrain above was blocked and they had no choice but to come down along the river, the conclusion was that they came down the river expanding their forces to attack the Beast Palace.
Even as an expert, it was a theory I could nod along with.
And since the menace had reached the Beast Palace, something major could soon happen to the Tang Family as well. Grandfather and the Beast Palace Head once again pledged close cooperation.
As they were mutual enemies of both the Beast Palace and the Tang Family from a hundred years ago, they reformed their alliance.
Since it was because of me that relations between the two forces improved, a speedy decision was made.
“Here and now, on behalf of the Family Head, our Tang Family swears to aid the Beast Palace.”
“As the pledge from a hundred years ago is not yet fulfilled, our Beast Palace will surely assist the Tang Family as well.”
As soon as the political talk concluded, the topic shifted to rewards for me.
“This time, we have received a great favor. Of course, we must express our gratitude to the Tang Family, and we would like to grant you anything you desire. Is there something in particular you need?”
In this culture, making such grand offers seemed to be the norm when someone has been helpful.
As I pondered what I should ask for, hearing that I could request anything, Grandfather’s sound transmission came through.
[Soryong, ask about the Five Poisons Returning to Origin Technique. Ask something related to your Five Poisons. No matter how important it is, the Palace Head won’t be able to refuse.]
‘Five Poisons Returning to Origin Technique? Ah! That’s right! Cho!’
Grandfather’s words reminded me of something from before.
Back then, when I confirmed that Cho could understand me, I had asked Grandfather if we could get some information from the Beast Palace.
He had scoffed and said that unless I saved the Beast Palace from destruction, they wouldn’t entertain such a request, but now that I had saved them, it seemed I could ask.
‘Heh, he didn’t expect it to turn out like this, did he?’
After giving a slight nod in response to Grandfather’s sound transmission, I cautiously spoke to the Palace Head of the Beast Palace.
“There is one difficult request I’d like to make, though I’m not sure if it’s possible.”
“You’re the man who saved this palace from annihilation! There’s nothing I wouldn’t grant. Speak freely!”
At his hearty response, I called Cho up onto the table.
‘Cho, come on out.’
In response to my command, Cho, who had been wrapped around my torso, poked her head out from my chest and crawled forward.
-Tsuru?
Perched on the table, Cho looked at me and made a noise as if asking why I had called her out. I then instructed her to demonstrate a few basic movements.
On top of the table, Cho began circling, then crawled up one of my arms and moved to the other, climbed up to my head, those kinds of things.
I call this Cho’s “Three Basic Performances”, and in response to my internal command, Cho performed those basic tricks in front of everyone.
She waved her antennae, circled rapidly on the table, climbed up one arm, crossed to the other, then finally perched on top of my head, poking her head out as if to ask if that was good enough.
-Tsuru?
At that, the Beast Palace Head and Seolpyo exclaimed in shocked voices.
“You, don’t tell me-!?”
“Young Hero, is that-!?”
They seemed to recognize the source of it, so I nodded and answered.
“Yes, unlike the other members of the Tang Family, I’ve learned a martial art that was left behind by the Five Poisons Sect a hundred years ago. It’s a technique called Five Poisons Returning to Origin Technique. Through the great method, I accepted the poison of Cho into my body, and ever since, I’ve been able to command this child like so.”
“Hoho, could it be that the Beast Heart Technique was embedded within it? I was told that when the martial arts of the Tang Family and Five Poisons Sect were divided a hundred years ago, such things were thoroughly checked….”
The Beast Palace Head stroked his chin with a serious expression.
I made my request to him.
“That’s why I’d like to ask, how this came to be, and whether it’s possible for others. I’m hoping to learn more about this.”
The Palace Head and Seolpyo looked at each other upon hearing my question.
Soon, the Palace Head spoke with a very solemn and weighty expression.
“Do you recall how I said our palace isn’t particularly stingy when it comes to martial arts?”
“Yes, of course, Palace Head.”
I nodded, remembering that he had described it as more like limited permission than full copyright freedom. The Beast Palace Head also nodded.
“But there is an exception. That is the Beast Heart Technique. It is the palace’s ultimate secret art that allows one to share hearts with beasts. It is a secret passed down only to direct descendants of the Beast Palace, and its transmission outside is forbidden.”
If its transmission is forbidden, I might be forced to give up what I’ve learned, just for mentioning it.
I suddenly felt resentful toward Grandfather.
‘Seriously, couldn’t he have looked into this before telling me to ask…?’
Just as I was internally panicking, wondering if I’d now be forced to spit out the very technique I learned, a cautious question came my way.
“You said you’re a son-in-law of the Tang Family then, if I may ask, what about your original family?”
At the unexpected question about my birth family, I tilted my head and answered.
That I, Wei Soryong, was an orphan.
“I stand alone in this world, with no one to rely on.”
-Clap!
Then came the sound of applause.
When I turned my head, I saw Seolpyo clapping her hands together with an expression that said everything had worked out perfectly.
‘What? Why are you happy that I’m an orphan?’
When I turned to the side, even the Beast Palace Head had a brightened expression and nodded.
“Really? Then this is perfect! You said your name is Soryong, yes? Even the name suits you perfectly! No need to change it at all. The heart you have for the venomous creatures you raise is more genuine than anyone in the Beast Palace.”
“He’s right, Father. It fits exactly.”
As the two of them nodded in perfect sync, the Beast Palace Head suddenly made a completely unexpected proposal.
“Would you consider becoming my son? If you became my adopted son, you could learn not only the martial art you’ve already acquired, but all of our Beast Palace’s martial arts as well. Moreover, since an enemy from a hundred years ago has reappeared, we need to build even stronger ties with the Tang Family. Would you serve as the bridge between us?”
"A-adopted son!?"
“I think it’s a wonderful idea, Father. I also really like Soryong.
A kind little brother who loves the creatures he raises, there are so many things I’ve wanted to do if I ever had a younger sibling! Soryong, please, won’t you be my younger brother?”
Faced with the sudden, out-of-the-blue proposal to be adopted, I looked at Grandfather and Noona with a bewildered expression. As expected, they too seemed a bit taken aback.
“Man of Ten Thousand Poisons Elder, what do you think? We may have failed two hundred years ago, but if it’s a child like Soryong who is sincere toward what he raises, couldn’t he mend the failed relationship between our Southern Barbarian Beast Palace and the Sichuan Tang Family, and build a good bond between the two?”
But perhaps the Beast Palace Head’s suggestion didn’t seem bad, as Grandfather thought for a moment before saying it wasn’t a big issue.
“As long as he remains our son-in-law, it’s not a bad offer…”
“Then the tang family has no objection, and it’s up to you to decide. What do you think?”
“Soryong, what do you think?”
Now that even Grandfather said it wasn’t bad, the two of them eagerly urged me to answer.
The Beast Palace Head and Seolpyo began explaining the various benefits I’d gain if I became his son.
"You're only sharing hearts with one of your little ones now, right? If you become my adopted son, I’ll make it so you can bond with all three. No, not just that. I’ll make it so you can do the same with other spiders and lizards too. How about it?”
"Soryong, don't you want to stay up all night with this Noona talking about the children we raise? And share them when they have babies?"
But since this suddenly meant gaining a father and a Noona out of nowhere, I hesitated and couldn’t give an answer right away. Seeing this, Seolpyo and the Palace Head began discussing something between themselves.
“Looks like that wasn’t quite enough to win him over. Isn’t there something that could really move Soryong’s heart?”
“Ah! Father, the Bisha! Since Soryong loves venomous creatures, what if it’s the Bisha!”
“Oh! That’s right, the Bisha!”
‘Bisha? Means a snake that flies?'
Tilting my head at the sudden mention of a flying snake, Seolpyo began explaining.
“In the jungles of the Southern Barbarians, there’s a flying snake called Bisha. It’s truly an amazing creature. Since you said you love venomous beasts, how about it? If you agree to be this Noona’s younger brother, I’ll help you catch that Bisha.”
That was when it happened.
Grandfather, who had been listening, widened his eyes and asked sharply.
“By Bisha, do you mean the sky-flying serpent with two horns on its forehead and a color like grass!?”
“That’s right, Elder! So you know what it is!?”
It seemed Grandfather recognized what it was.
He immediately turned to me and said.
“Soryong, below the Ten Great Venomous Creatures, there’s a classification called the Twenty-Four Poison Branches, made up of twenty-four carefully selected high-grade venomous creatures. If it’s a flying snake, then it’s surely the top among them, the Flying Celestial Serpent!”
“Flying Celestial Serpent!”
‘That name is insane.’
Not only does it fly through the sky, but the name sounds amazing too.
I immediately bowed my head to Father and Noona.
“Wei Soryong greets Father and Noona!”
‘I mean, how could I pass this up?’
*****
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