-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Treasures Have Their Own Masters
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yo Pung was foaming at the mouth and sinking.
"What's wrong?"
He jumped into the water.
The moment he pulled the sinking Yo Pung out, a pure white glow flew toward them.
Whoosh!
Black Wind's hand moved at a terrifying speed. His hand technique was Death Bind from the Life-Death Bind.
Clack!
He immediately snatched the transparent object.
"A snake?"
What he caught in his hand was a snake so transparent you could see right through it. It was only about a foot long.
With Death Bind, he had snapped its neck bone, so the snake was already dead.
"T-Transparent Red Snake."
Yo Pung, regaining her senses, said with difficulty.
"Yeah. What do I do?"
"First, suck out the poison."
"Where did it bite you?"
"My chest."
"Hey! It had to bite you there, huh?"
"You're happy about it deep down..."
"Not really."
"Where?"
"Left side."
Black Wind searched for the bite mark from the snake. But he couldn't see it.
"Left side where?"
"Not below, above."
"You should've said so earlier."
Black Wind focused his gaze above her left breast. Right above the nipple was the snake's fang mark.
He pressed his mouth directly to the bite and sucked.
Soon, black dead blood flowed out. Black Wind kept sucking until red blood came.
"I have one favor to ask."
"A favor?"
"If I die, bury me at the top of Black Wind Mountain."
"I've sucked out all the poison, it seems."
"Transparent Red Snake poison can only be neutralized with an antidote. Sucking it out won't work."
"Then why'd you tell me to suck it?"
"You're such a virgin, aren't you? Have you ever even seen a naked woman with a body like mine? So you got a good look."
"You're ridiculous."
"You'll grant my last wish, right?"
"If you die, I'll bury you there."
"Did you see everything?"
"What?"
"My mature, voluptuous naked body."
"If you're gonna die, just die already, you brat."
Black Wind pulled something from his bosom. It was a porcelain vial the size of his thumb.
"What... is..."
"No chit-chat. Say 'ahh.'"
But Yo Pung didn't respond.
"Dying after coming this far would be such a waste."
Black Wind grabbed Yo Pung's chin and pressed inward. Her mouth gaped open. He tilted the vial into her open mouth, and liquid poured out.
"Now it's up to luck. If you're lucky, you'll live. If not, it's off to Black Wind Mountain."
Black Wind fetched Yo Pung's clothes and dressed her.
It wasn't exaggeration—her figure was incredible.
Explosive was surely a word coined for Yo Pung's body.
"What's that medicine?"
Meanwhile, So Pung's group approached from where they'd been watching.
"Some old man called it a composite antidote... Not sure how reliable that is."
"What's a composite antidote?"
"It works on all poisons, apparently. He said it's especially effective against scorpion venom and snake poison."
"Then she'll live?"
Dae Pung said.
"Anyone know about that snake?"
Black Wind pointed to the Transparent Red Snake he'd tossed aside.
"Transparent Red Snake..."
So So murmured like a groan.
"Looks like a scary one?"
Black Wind asked.
"It's called Instant Death Snake because if it bites you, you die without fail. But this one..."
"It doesn't live in water?"
"It's a creature that lives in sand. Only in the White Sand region, too..."
So So trailed off.
"That's the guy."
Black Wind looked across the lake.
Over there sat four men about the same age as Ya Hul Ma Ha, the one who'd clashed with Black Wind earlier.
"What did you feed me?"
Just then, Yo Pung opened her eyes.
"Feeling better?"
Black Wind asked.
"Better? I feel overflowing with energy. What was that?"
"No idea."
"No idea?"
"The guy who gave it said it was especially good for scorpion venom and snake poison."
"I'm gonna circulate my qi."
"To drive out the poison?"
"Yeah."
Yo Pung headed into the dense woods. Black Wind picked up the Transparent Red Snake and went to the water.
"Don't throw that in the water."
So So said.
"Why throw it away?"
"Then?"
"Eat it."
Black Wind grabbed the snake by the neck and pulled downward. The skin peeled off in one go.
"Light a fire."
"You're gonna eat it?"
So So asked.
"Snake's good for the body."
"Aphrodisiac?"
"Yeah."
"What good's an aphrodisiac for a virgin like you?"
Dae Pung asked.
"Ever heard of 'prepare for the worst'?"
"Isn't that Iron Blood General's nickname?"
"Love a woman well when you have her, and guard your vigor well when you have it. Now light the fire, man."
"Anyway, these days you guys stock up on everything."
So Pung shook his head but lit the fire. As the flames rose, Black Wind tossed in the snake skin. It curled and cooked.
When the skin shrank, he fashioned a twig like chopsticks and picked it up.
He chewed and ate the snake meat first.
"You gross bastard..."
Dae Pung shook his head.
"Man, the juices are unreal."
Black Wind devoured the snake down to the bones.
"Eating so mouthwateringly even the watcher gets hungry—that's a talent. Tasty?"
Jang Pung asked.
He spoke the truth. No matter how bad the food, Black Wind made it look delicious. They'd tried imitating him and spat it out more than once.
"Compared to scorpions, it's a hundred times better."
"You eat scorpions too?"
Jang Pung asked, shocked.
"You know there are over fifty kinds of scorpions in the desert?"
"You've eaten them all?"
"Yeah."
"Whole scorpions too...?"
"If there's fire, grill 'em. Otherwise..."
"So you chew the shells too?"
"Chew long enough, and the shells are tasty in their own way."
"You're disgusting."
Jang Pung shuddered and scooted away from Black Wind. In the meantime, Black Wind finished even the bones and skin of the Transparent Red Snake.
Just then, Yo Pung emerged from the woods.
"What'd you do in there?"
Black Wind stared at Yo Pung's face. It glowed, her cheeks flushed rosy.
"That obvious?"
"You look like a bride after her wedding night."
"Something like that happened. But what did you give me?"
"I told you, no idea."
"You gave it without knowing?"
"If it was something you needed, I wouldn't have given it even if you died. The thing is, I've eaten so many scorpions, venomous desert snakes, and poison snakes that I'm immune to most poisons. Means antidotes are useless to me."
"Anyway, thanks to it, I got some kind of fateful encounter."
At first, she'd thought it was just an elixir. But as she started circulating her qi, an immense sensation hit her. She suddenly thought if she dressed and circulated, she might have to go naked. She quickly stripped and circulated bare.
Sure enough, she underwent bone transformation.
Multiple times, even.
"Fateful encounter?"
"I'll explain later. But you saw it, right?"
"Saw what?"
"My naked body."
"Of course. And my lip marks should still be there."
Black Wind pointed to Yo Pung's left breast.
"Take responsibility."
"Responsibility?"
"You saw me naked, so take responsibility."
"What kinda ghost fart is that?"
"Don't wanna take responsibility?"
"With ten grooms already, can you handle that?"
"Why ten..."
Yo Pung's gaze turned to So Pung's group.
Then Han Pa, stroking his bald head, spoke up. Han Pa got his name because his face was icy cold—or so it seemed. But unlike his expression, he was full of mischief.
"I'm happy right now. Wanna know why?"
"Don't wanna know."
Yo Pung said, looking uneasy.
"But I really wanna say it. Brag about it. 'Cause I still have eighteen hairs left."
"Ugh!"
Yo Pung's face flushed sunset red.
"You bastard... die once, why don't you."
Whoosh!
Yo Pung lunged at Han Pa.
"Huh?"
The moment Han Pa's eyes widened, Yo Pung's hand swept over his head.
"Oh my god."
Han Pa stroked his own head. The few sparse hairs he could feel before were gone.
"You just...?"
"Want me to pluck the ones below too?"
Yo Pung's gaze went to Han Pa's crotch.
"No matter how old a spinster you are, don't vent frustration like that."
Han Pa quickly hid behind Black Wind.
"Grown stronger?"
Black Wind asked Yo Pung.
"Yeah."
"Then our survival odds just went up?"
"Not by much. Maybe from one-tenth to three-tenths."
"Better than nothing. Let's go."
The group returned to their spot. Tal Ri was gone; in his place sat a ragged old man.
"Huh?"
Black Wind's eyes widened.
"What's up?"
Yo Pung asked.
"The one who saved your life is over there."
Black Wind approached the old man.
"Long time no see, old timer."
"Hm?"
The old man's eyes widened as he looked at Black Wind.
"Big guy, it's you."
A broad smile bloomed on the old man's face.
"Still kicking, huh?"
"That's what I wanna say, kid. You're still alive."
"My specialty's surviving."
"Ha ha ha! True enough. So what brings you here?"
"The war's over."
"Really? Glad to hear it. But if the war's done, shouldn't you head back to the Central Plains?"
"I wanna, but... well, whether I do or not, I can't right now anyway."
"...I see. Sit."
"Yes. Jerky?"
Black Wind sat beside the old man and asked.
"What kind this time?"
"Blood Wolf meat jerky."
"Sounds tasty."
"Eat up. They say elders gotta eat meat."
Black Wind offered jerky to the old man.
"No salt?"
The old man bit a piece and asked.
"Where would I get salt?"
"I've got some."
The old man reached into his bosom.
"Um... thank you."
Yo Pung came before the old man and bowed.
"What for...?"
The old man looked at Yo Pung puzzled.
"Thanks to your medicine, I saved a life."
"My medicine?"
"The antidote you gave me last time. Used it to save this one."
Black Wind said.
"Oh, that! Gave it for you to use."
"This girl got bit by a Transparent Red Snake, no choice."
"Transparent Red Snake bite?"
"Yeah."
"Those are spirit creatures raised only in White Camel Kingdom. How'd you get bit?"
"So it was a spirit creature?"
"Grows an inch every fifty years. Gotta be."
"Then the one-foot one I ate was five hundred years old?"
"...You ate it?"
"The juices were so refreshing."
"Raw?"
"Grilled and it shrinks."
"Whoa!"
The old man gawked at Black Wind.
"Refreshing and nutty—best snake I've had."
"Huh? Ha ha ha ha!"
The old man burst into hearty laughter.
"You're in big trouble now."
"Why?"
"That's for old folks like me when they need heirs."
"Some tonic for health?"
"Right. Especially down there. But it's so fast—how'd you catch it?"
"No matter the spirit, if it hits this hand, it's caught."
Black Wind grinned.
"That's why they say treasures have their own masters."
The old man gazed quietly at Black Wind.
Just then, those who'd gone to the shelter emerged.
They walked toward Tal Ri's group.
"What do you mean by that?"
An enraged shout came from across the way.
Black Wind's group turned.
Slap!
A sharp sound rang out.
"Argh!"
With a scream, one man collapsed. It was the one who'd sent the Transparent Red Snake at Black Wind.
"You really had no idea what that thing was?"
An angry shout followed.
"I-I didn't know that bastard could catch the Transparent Red Snake, Father."
"You've forged another bad karma."
Yo Pung said.
"No wonder it was the tastiest snake I'd ever eaten."
Black Wind scratched his head.