Beastly and Fearlessly - Chapter 46
Only Noblemtl
Episode 46
I went to Dongjujeon early in the morning.
“I have something to show you.”
And he carefully placed the red incense burner on the table.
“This is the item that Yonghomun Dongju was holding onto while running away before he died. I brought it with me.”
Father held the incense burner in his hand and examined it carefully.
“Hmm. The energy inside is unusual. And it’s a red dragon… … .”
At the bottom of this palm-sized incense burner was carved a red dragon.
Three legs with hook-like claws extending out support the ground, while the remaining leg supports the incense burner.
At the center of the incense burner was engraved an unreadable text.
My father’s gaze was directed towards the words.
“I couldn’t read it.”
His expression was hard.
He seemed to be lost in thought for a long time, as if trying to recall his memories, and then carefully placed the incense burner on the table as if it were some precious treasure in the world.
And then he took out a book covered in dust from the bookshelf in the corner of the Dongjujeon Hall.
The leather cover had the words “Namman Yarok” written on it.
Swish, swish.
After a while, there was a picture drawn on the page that my father opened.
An incense burner supported by a red dragon with one paw.
“This is it. I thought it had all disappeared for hundreds of years, but how could Yonghomun Dongju do this… … .”
Father’s gaze turned back to the red incense burner.
“What is this object?”
Instead of answering, he explained the inscription on the incense burner.
“The text written here is as follows. Sit on the throne! You will gain the power of the Red Dragon… … .”
throne.
The power of the red dragon.
This clearly refers to the Beast King.
“This is the sacred object of the Beast Palace. The first Beast King left his power inside this object. It is a sacred object that contains the wish to remain here forever and protect the Beast Palace and Nanman. I thought it was just an old story that was passed down, but I didn’t know this object actually existed… … .”
“Then the one who should be the owner of this incense burner is the Beast King.”
Jin Jung-ak, the ruler of Namman and the master of the Beast Palace.
Now he is old and sick and just sits there.
“No. That’s not him… … .”
Father shook his head.
There was a look of sadness on his face.
“It is written in this book.”
“He who makes the sleeping red light shine. He will become the sole owner of the red incense burner.”
Our two gazes turned towards the enemy’s path.
A faint red light was streaming out.
And where it flows like water is towards me.
It was hovering around me like fog.
“The incense burner has finally found its true owner. The true owner it has been waiting for for hundreds of years! It’s you!”
My father’s voice was trembling.
* * *
Suddenly it became noisy outside.
“Your Majesty, we have a guest.”
Early in the morning, a special guest visited Namcheon Damdong.
Dongju Bangmyeonghaeng of Gwisubangdong.
And a tiger walks in after him, prowling.
A gigantic body that is easily larger than an average ship.
A thin, long white beard beneath eyes that make it impossible to guess his age.
A leisurely gait is like that of a king.
Sangun (mountain lord).
The warriors of Namcheon Damdong rushed out and watched the appearance of this enormous tiger.
Of course, from a distance.
“Oh. Is that tiger as big as a house the San-gun I’ve heard of? The king of all beasts in the southern provinces.”
“They say he’s capable of dealing with even the most advanced masters. When I saw him in person, his might was truly amazing.”
“Then the one standing in front of Sangun is Gwisu Bangdongju.”
Something seems to be reversed.
It’s strange that a spirit gets attention first.
But Gwisoo Bangdongju has an expression on his face like it’s something that always happens.
That moment when no one can get close and watches from afar.
The dark incense stick that was in my arms escaped from my arms and jumped down.
Then he ran quickly and stopped in front of Sangun.
Kyarrrr… … .
A guy with just one claw of a mountain lion will never back down.
It was growling and blocking my way as if I had met an enemy.
With its claws raised as if it were going to rush in at any moment.
Of course, the mountain army had no interest whatsoever.
After glancing at me for a moment, he put his head down on his log-like feet and yawned loudly.
“Oh, I heard you were coming, but you arrived earlier than I expected.”
My father greeted me with a happy expression.
“Sangun, this guy is a bit fast. Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. It’s been three years since I last saw you at the palace.”
At that moment, Bang Yak-ran came running from afar and shouted.
“Ah… … . Ah, no, how did His Majesty Dongju end up here? We were just about to leave for Gwisubangdong anyway.”
Judging by the joy on their faces, it seems like they are a father and daughter who are usually on good terms.
If you wanted to see me that much, you should have gone home a long time ago.
“Instead of doing this here, let’s eat in the guest room first.”
I was also dragged into the guest house.
The two talked a lot as if they were old friends who had not seen each other for a long time.
The conversation became longer as the topic of the stamp moved to the Yeonghomun-dong incident.
“… … I also agree with Dong-ju’s words, Bio. Isn’t this all because of the Beast King’s absence? You should quickly show us your former self again.”
But both of them look unexpecting.
“By the way, my reckless daughter has been living in Namcheon Damdong for a long time.”
Bang Yak-ran’s lips are pouty.
“Haha. What are you talking about? She’s such a pretty and bright kid. It’s been a while since she’s brought so much energy to this place.”
“Anyway, I appreciate your help, don’t I? That’s why I brought you a small gift.”
Bang Myeong-haeng took a bottle of alcohol out of his bosom and placed it on the table.
When I opened the lid, a fragrant scent filled the room.
What about this drink?
Ah. Why this kind of alcohol all of a sudden… … .
“Yeoahhong. I dug up the liquor that I brewed the year that child was born and buried it under the cinnamon tree and brought it to you as a gift. It is a very precious liquor to me. Haha.”
So why did you bring that precious liquor as a gift?
You should drink this when you send your daughter off to get married.
Yeoahhong (女兒紅) is a liquor made when a daughter is born in the family.
It is brewed with the wish to grow up healthy and pretty, and is taken out and drunk when leaving home.
With the hope that you will live happily.
“Ah, ah. This precious drink… … . Of course, I am very grateful, but what, what should I say?”
The father’s expression when he received the girl’s red was strange.
Why doesn’t he know the meaning of this gift?
Bang Yak-ran, sitting on the other side, had her head bowed and said nothing.
This situation is getting weird, the atmosphere is getting strange.
“Don’t feel too pressured. It’s not our business, right? You two will figure it out. Haha.”
Do whatever you want.
And what on earth does it mean to say not to feel burdened while giving this burdensome drink?
As if trying to change the awkward atmosphere, Bang Myeong-haeng asked me.
“The Dark Fragrance Cloud chose you, huh? You may not know it now, but you have truly acquired a great spirit. Even though you are still a young child who has not yet awakened.”
Awakening? Was there something like that?
If I do this awakening thing, will this cute guy change?
Surely it won’t grow as big as a mountain range?
“So, did you give him a name? He’s going to be with you for the rest of his life, so he should have a name.”
The name is… … .
I have never given a name to anything that is alive while I am alive.
Of course, I’ve never raised one before.
As I hesitated, Bang Yak-ran finally opened her mouth.
With two large, cat-like eyes that sparkle.
“I already have a few names for that child.”
“Tell me.”
“He’s a secretive guy like the night fog, so how about Red Blood Fragrance? You can also call him Blood Fragrance for short.”
Red blood has no fragrance.
Bangyakran, were you planning to turn this cute guy into an assassin?
She must have seen my displeased expression as she quickly threw out the next name.
“Or Bokmasinsoo (伏魔神獸)! How about it? Bokma for short! It goes well with the majesty that this guy displays… … .”
Where is the dignity in this guy?
Bang Yak-ran, did you plan to rule the world with this guy in the lead?
I was going to tell her to shut up, but I held back because her father was there.
For the first time, I felt fortunate that the Dark Cloud Symbol had chosen me.
This cute little guy almost got a bloody name that would make his blood drip.
I thought as I slowly stroked the guy who was hugging me and rubbing his whole body against me.
It’s too gentle to be a beast that bites and kills.
The flesh beneath the white fur is also soft.
hmm…….
As white as the first snow that falls at dawn without anyone noticing, and as soft as silk… … .
I decided.
A truly fitting name.
What other name would suit you better?
He opened his mouth with a proud voice.
“Tofu! I’ll make some tofu.”
Everyone looked surprised.
It looks like everyone has something to say, but they are holding back.
It’s like, “Why did you name it like that?”
But I can do whatever I want.
Meow. Meow.
hey.
He said he liked it too.
A spirit that rules over Manrimsan, the sacred mountain of the Southern Kingdom.
A ferocious beast called the Dark Cloud Bird because it moves secretly in the darkness.
This guy’s name is so… … .
It became ‘tofu’.
* * *
Bang Yak-ran couldn’t take a step forward until the very last moment before she left the front door.
I kept looking back.
I don’t know if he’s looking at me or at the tofu in my arms.
“Tofu! Say hello. He is the benefactor who has taken care of you all this time.”
Kyaaaah. Kyaaaak.
It basically means thank you.
Anyway, the woman from Gwisubangdong left for Gwisubangdong, leaving behind one spirit and a bottle of Yeoahong.
From then on, days passed just like any other.
Every moment you open your eyes is just practice!
Luckily, this guy doesn’t bother me.
I sleep most of the day.
Sometimes I would go out somewhere quietly and come back.
At times like that, a wild boar as big as a house would be lying in front of the gate, bleeding.
“Come on! Come on!”
Now, finally, in Namcheon Damdong, only the sounds of warriors training can be heard.
I took a seat in a corner of the large military barracks.
At first, they were awkward about practicing with Sodongju, but now they don’t even care.
Sling.
I pulled out the rock salt.
Left foot slightly forward.
The tip of the sword is pointed at the ground.
The posture of the Gyeongcheon Sword.
As the air current changes, two sets of eyes turn to me.
A cloud of smoke and clouds under the shade of a tree.
Both of them were dozing off and just woke up thanks to the momentum I created.
He moved the tip of the sword slowly.
As if it were standing still.
The movement of the sword overlaps with my breathing.
It has to become as familiar as breathing.
To do that, you need to perfectly understand every single movement.
After unfolding the eight techniques of the Gyeongcheon Sword, an hour had passed.
His whole body was drenched in sweat, as if he had been struck by a suffocating clot.
“Phew… … .”
I took a deep breath and looked around. Everyone in the training ground was looking at me.
A consistently admiring expression.
The warriors of the Daeyeonmujang have already experienced numerous training sessions and actual battles.
So I know the meaning of my current movement.
A stage of acquisition beyond understanding.
And then a person who wasn’t visible before appeared.
Dongju of Namcheon Damdong standing next to Nosa.
My father.
He came to me with his eyes narrowed.
“… … It’s pretty usable.”
Of course, his surprised expression isn’t saying ‘so-so’.
“I’m trying to get closer one inch a day.”
The road I am on has no end in sight.
If you rush, you’ll never get there.
The goal should be to advance, not to arrive.
“That power… … What happened to that power?”
The red energy, or rather the bead, contained in the incense burner.
My father clearly said that the power was mine.
I think so too.
Because I was resonating with an unknown force located within my heart.
“I haven’t figured out how to pull it out yet.”
But one thing is certain.
The power of the incense burner and the power obtained through the dragon’s seal are not different in nature.
Right now, my realm is too shallow to draw out that power, but if the power I possess becomes stronger, it will be absorbed as if it were mine originally.
“Don’t doubt it, it will soon become your strength. I too have high expectations of what kind of strength he has left behind. Ah! I wonder if the priestess knows about the incense burner.”
Should I go to the Beast Palace one more time?
“By the way, I think it’s about time now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Doesn’t it make sense that Sodongju of Namcheon Damdong, who even received the Dragon’s Seal, hasn’t yet received the title of warrior?”
Oh, that’s what I’m talking about.
It doesn’t matter when or how old you are when you start practicing.
By proving your skills through martial arts, you can receive the title of warrior.
A fight that was already planned.
“Originally, I was planning to send it out against Nam Woong-dae’s Gam Dae-ju. But no matter how much I thought about it, it didn’t seem right.”
In fact, he was an absurd opponent.
It’s just a martial art to earn the title of warrior.
Why would the great warrior Nam Woong-dae-ju step forward in such a battle?
Of course, regardless of whether I could beat him or not, I was confident that I could prove my skills.
“You’ve thought it through. It was neither fair nor equitable. So who is my new opponent?”
It was a ritual and homework that had to be done anyway.
It would be a relief to receive the title of warrior before leaving for the Central Plains.
“Changed opponent? Isn’t he in front of you now?”
The opponent in front of me.
Behind my father, I noticed many warriors looking at me.
Warriors of great skill, all of them
I don’t think that’s the case… that there’s an opponent among them…
I met my father’s eyes, who was still staring at me.
no way?
Father nodded.
And he looked around and shouted.
“One month later! Here, Sodongju will receive the title of warrior. Of course, he will have to prove himself worthy. The opponent is me, Dammuheun, the Dongju of Namcheondamdong.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the warriors in full armor burst into cheers.
Raise both arms to the sky.
“Wow!”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Dongju-nim’s secret weapon. No, now I should call him Pacheon Gwangung (破天狂熊), not Dongju-nim. I’m already getting goosebumps on my arms.”
“Huh. I still can’t forget the image of the mad bear that swept through like an avalanche during the battle at Blood Thunder Valley a few years ago. Those great masters of Blood Thunder Valley were knocked out in one blow. Oh my. Why else would we have put down our swords and watched?”
“That’s right. He’s the kind of person who never hesitates once he draws his sword. Didn’t Namungdaeju bravely challenge him once and end up lying in bed for a month, hovering between life and death? They’re like brothers.”
“But why is Dongju himself going to fight in the rain? Could it be that he is planning to kill his own son?”
“Hey, how could that be? But in the military, unexpected accidents always happen.”
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a bloody battle at Daeyeonmujang. I’m looking forward to it. Haha.”
People cheering as if a festival was about to begin.
It was already filled with hot heat.
I was standing in the middle of that heat.
A duel with the best warrior in Namcheon Damdong.
Should I laugh at this or cry?