CDF Chapter 14

Crash!

The shattered window frame pathetically rolled on the ground.

Swish swish swish!

As Seo Ryang instinctively rolled under the bed, he saw feathers of a strange color, reddish yet bluish.

‘Feathers?!’

Screech!!

It felt like his eardrums would burst.

At the bizarre sound of a blade scratching against a metal plate, Seo Ryang turned his head towards the source.

His eyes widened when he spotted ‘something’ there.

‘Ack!’

Flap flap flap!

The violent flapping of wings disoriented his vision.

The outstretched legs and the talons at their ends looked extremely sturdy. The fluttering wings were also enormously large, each one as big as a child’s torso.

Seo Ryang’s mouth fell open.

‘What kind of bird…’

…No, it’s not!

“That?!”

Seo Ryang’s eyes bulged out like a cow’s.

That’s right. The being that suddenly smashed the window frame and made his gall bladder tremble was not a bird.

“…A chicken?”

And an incredibly large one at that. It was no ordinary chicken.

An ordinary chicken, even if it were resurrected, could never exude such forcefulness.

Shhaaaa.

The gaze that stared at him while waddling around a short distance.

It was a gaze intense enough to instill a phobia of birds in a child seeing one for the first time. The fiercely flickering blue eyes were comparable to those of a predator.

Seo Ryang was dumbfounded.

“Am I being attacked by a chicken…”

At that moment, he was at a loss for words.

Tap tap tap.

When it takes a step to the side, the sound of its feet hitting the ground is heard multiple times.

Flap flap flap!

The sound of its wings flapping threateningly is also abundant. It was a sound and wind pressure that could never be produced by a single pair of wings.

And crucially…

Thud thud.

The chicken head standing upright and glaring at him.

To the left and right of that head were two other drooping heads.

Those heads had their eyes peacefully closed, exuding such a serene atmosphere that the word ‘deep sleep’ spontaneously came to mind when looking at them.

Seo Ryang blankly stared at that absurd creature and gaped.

‘Six legs, three wings and heads…’

What is this mutant giant chicken that looks like it could be the Yama King’s minion?

Its rich feathers glistened with an oily sheen, and the talons that scratched the floor looked as hard as if they could tear through a metal plate. Looking at the eyes that never stopped observing him even while tilting its head, it was hard to tell if they were human eyes or beast eyes.

Seo Ryang felt dizzy facing this utterly bizarre and gigantic mutant chicken that was far from holy.

‘What the hell… Is this a dream?’

It can’t be. I’m the one known as the world’s best assassin, with a legendary reputation. I’m not at the level to confuse reality with dreams.

Tap tap.

Seo Ryang’s eyes wavered.

The chicken lowered its head while lightly scratching the floor. Its ferocious gaze contained such a frank intention to attack.

‘Damn it!’

Seo Ryang hurriedly reached out his hand above the bed and grasped a piece of the broken window frame.

Kkaaaaak!

At the same time, the chicken let out a chilling cry and charged.

Its speed was truly tremendous. It looked like watching not a chicken, but a leopard rushing towards its prey.

This was no time to nitpick.

Seo Ryang’s eyes blazed.

‘Thousand Rakshasa Passing Through!’

Zzzzing!!

The world around him slowed down.

***

Clank!

Ma Dong-pil glanced over his shoulder.

A dozen weapons contained in a large bag. Although they weren’t brand new, they were items crafted by skilled artisans.

‘This should be enough.’

He was inwardly puzzled.

‘But why does he need so many weapons?’

He had already grasped the personal details of the Third Young Master.

Originally, the Third Young Master mainly used swords. His forte was a tyrannical strong sword, and he was already a skilled practitioner who had established his own style as a swordsman, without losing refinement and swiftness in the process.

‘Maybe wielding a weapon will trigger his past memories.’

So he specially included four swords of different lengths. Thinking of his brutal past, I’m not sure if it’s right for the Young Master to regain his memories, but…

‘No. Let’s not think like that. I’m just the Third Young Master’s bodyguard. I shouldn’t let personal feelings get involved.’

He took out a small piece of paper from his bosom.

“Drinking water is sufficient, and there’s a month’s worth of food supplies like dried provisions. Clothing is also plentiful.”

Fortunately, even the Third Young Master receives considerable care from the House of Bliss. Because the Bamboo Forest of Solitude is too brutal a place to live barehanded.

‘At least we don’t have to worry about daily necessities.’

Ma Dong-pil inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘As expected, it’s not a simple bodyguard role.’

He couldn’t bring a maid with weak martial arts either. They might die by accident. Putting other things aside, they wouldn’t even be qualified to enter the Bamboo Forest of Solitude.

In the end, attending to the Third Young Master fell entirely on his shoulders.

‘It might be better with just me. Rather than entrusting it to someone else, doing it myself would be less worrisome…’

Halt.

Ma Dong-pil’s steps suddenly stopped.

“…”

The wind blew.

Carrying a thick scent of blood, from within the Bamboo Forest of Solitude.

His complexion instantly turned pale.

Whoosh!

With an extremely urgent movement, he passed through the surrounding bamboo.

Ma Dong-pil shouted.

“Young Master!”

His voice resounded loudly.

Considering the danger level of the Bamboo Forest of Solitude, he shouldn’t be shouting like this. A simple vocal call might be fine, but a sound infused with internal energy spreads in all directions.

However, Ma Dong-pil forgot even that. That wasn’t what mattered right now.

“Young Master! Young Master!!”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

How long did he run like that?

Before he knew it, the Bamboo Fortress, used as a residence in the Bamboo Forest of Solitude, came into his view.

The shattered stone walls of the Bamboo Fortress, and the equally shattered window frame of the Young Master’s room.

‘This!’

Whoosh!

Ma Dong-pil’s eyes, which leaped over the stone wall in an instant, were filled with bloodshot veins.

“Young Master! Where are you…”

“I told you to call me Sir Seo.”

Thud!

At the leisurely voice, Ma Dong-pil briefly stepped on the air to decelerate.

“Oh? Your skills are good.”

Swish!

Quickly throwing down the weapons, he looked at the courtyard.

There, Seo Ryang, covered in blood, was sitting on a bench, waving his hand.

“You’re here.”

“Y-Young Master?! Are you alright?”

“It’s Sir Seo.”

Seo Ryang’s face looked extremely fatigued.

Ma Dong-pil, who was about to hurry to him, hesitated.

Next to the bench lay a huge bird, also covered in blood. Pieces of the broken window frame, teacup fragments, and pickaxes were stuck all over the bird’s body.

“…Changbu.”

“I guess that’s this chicken head’s name?”

“Ah, yes. Anyway, your wounds first…”

“It’s not my blood.”

“Pardon?”

The startled Ma Dong-pil focused his inner vision.

‘…’

It’s true. Although Seo Ryang’s body was stained with blood, aside from a few scratches, he was incredibly unharmed.

He looked pale, probably from severe exhaustion, but to that extent against that monstrous bird, he was more than capable.

Ma Dong-pil couldn’t help but be inwardly astonished.

‘How?’

He knew that Seo Ryang was in very good health.

However, that was only to the extent of an ordinary commoner. Although he had a bit of internal energy, it was a quantity that was worse than not having any, right?

“…Don’t tell me you caught it alone?”

“Then who else is here besides me?”

That makes sense. But it was still unbelievable.

The danger level of the Changbu is comparable to a leopard. To think that a mere healthy person could kill such a raptor.

Judging from the traces, it seems the Changbu even ambushed him, but that makes it even more nonsensical.

“Mr. Ma.”

Ma Dong-pil looked at Seo Ryang.

Shiver!

For a moment, his back turned cold and his knees trembled.

It was similar to the gaze he had when they spoke two days ago. No, Seo Ryang’s eyes, which had become even more sinister after smelling the scent of blood, were more vicious than before.

The faint killing intent veiled within the clear gaze.

Ma Dong-pil swallowed.

‘Those eyes…’

This feeling of being overwhelmed by a mere gaze was similar to when he met the Lord of the Protector Court, the Grand Guardian.

No, in some ways, it was more intense. While the Lord of the Protector Court exuded dignity, the Third Young Master exuded a more primitive ferocity.

A dreadfulness as if he would drive a knife into his neck at any moment.

As if this was his true self, he was emitting a terrifying presence.

“I need an explanation. How do you know about this chicken head, and what kind of place is this Bamboo Forest of Solitude? Everything.”

Ma Dong-pil tightly closed his eyes.

He couldn’t bear to face the Young Master.

“This place is…”

Ma Dong-pil, who opened his mouth with difficulty, began his brief explanation.

The Bamboo Forest of Solitude.

A natural demonic forest that existed before the Heavenly Demon Cult established its base.

It is a place where bamboos with unparalleled wood energy grow, and the air is also excellent. Because the spiritual energy concentrated here is denser than any famous mountain in the world.

What’s amazing is that the spiritual energy doesn’t spread to the surroundings, but circulates only within the area formed by this bamboo forest.

The spiritual energy circulating inside the bamboo forest becomes more concentrated over time, and the concentrated spiritual energy abundantly creates a pure natural energy.

And that spiritual energy, which has gained strength while swirling inside the bamboo forest for countless years, did not remain simply as energy.

“Thanks to the concentrated spiritual energy, not only the wood energy but also the earth energy has been amplified. That’s why the bamboos here are particularly thick and sturdy.”

“They seem to have a very short lifespan.”

“You observed correctly. Compared to ordinary bamboos, the growth rate of the bamboo shoots is also several times faster. That’s how the forest is maintained. And…”

“And?”

“Among those bamboos, some possess a power beyond simply growing thick and sturdy.”

Seo Ryang’s eyes sparkled.

“Are you saying they become rare medicinal herbs?”

“To be precise, they are both poison and spiritual medicine. Because the spiritual energy is too dense, the human body can’t endure it without going through dozens of refinement processes.”

Ma Dong-pil lowered his head.

“More than half of the demonic pills produced by our cult are made using the bamboo harvested from here, the Bamboo Forest of Solitude.”

Seo Ryang’s mouth gaped like a carp.

“What? Then you can mass-produce spiritual medicine?”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

Ma Dong-pil looked down at the bloody Changbu.

Seo Ryang’s gaze also followed him.

“Most of the bamboos suitable for medicine are concentrated in the inner area. The problem is the existence of the spirit beasts and demon beasts guarding that place.”

“…Are these guys those?”

“That’s right. Although it’s the weakest individual.”

“The weakest individual? Are there even stronger ones?”

“The Changbu is the lowest-ranking individual. Also, among the confirmed individuals, even the mid-tier demon beasts are strong enough to easily face a peak expert.”

“…!”

Ma Dong-pil sighed.

“So, twice a year, the top figures of our cult, including the Grand Guardian, come to harvest the spiritual bamboo. The deepest part of the Bamboo Forest of Solitude is dangerous enough that even they have to be on guard.”

“I see.”

“Of course, even this place isn’t completely safe now. But it’s the safest place in the Bamboo Forest of Solitude. It’s not the time for the Changbu to rampage, but due to my arrogance, I failed to protect the Young Master.”

Ma Dong-pil, who solemnly concluded his words, knelt down.

“Please kill me.”

“It’s fine, so get up. You can just do well from now on, man.”

“…Thank you.”

“No need for thanks. By the way, this place is that dangerous?”

Seo Ryang, who was tilting his head, suddenly realized something and blinked his eyes.

Wait a minute.

“Then why did the Cult Leader… put me in a place like this?”

“…”

“…Fuck?”

Ma Dong-pil’s face turned awkward.

Being disrespectful to the Cult Leader is…”

“Shut up!”

“Yes.”

Seo Ryang’s face turned red with anger.

That son of a bitch who deserves to be torn limb from limb! Not only did he lock me up, but he even drove me to my death!

Who the hell committed treason?! What the hell did I do so wrong, you crazy demon bastard!!

Grrrrrrr.

“…”

Suddenly, a strange silence fell.

Seo Ryang and Ma Dong-pil’s gazes collided in midair.

“Mr. Ma.”

“Yes, Sir Seo.”

“Do you have a pot?”

“Of course. But why a pot all of a sudden…?”

Seo Ryang looked down at the dead Changbu.

Ma Dong-pil, who was tilting his head, froze as if realizing something.

“Boil some water and pull out a few bamboo shoots. I’ll handle the preparation.”

Seo Ryang licked his lips.

“Let’s talk about the rest while eating.”