Chapter v12c6 – The Ordeal of the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes

**The Ordeal of the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes**

“Hmm, these are some peculiar-looking creatures, aren’t they? Snakes with the audacity to have horns.”

Bi Ryu-yeon held the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes by their necks, examining them as if appraising their worth, flipping them over and over. It was a rather rough handling.

Hiss!

As befitting intelligent mythical creatures, the two snakes attempted to resist.

“Oh? Trying to fight back? One more time and…”

Hiss!

As if ignoring Bi Ryu-yeon’s words, the male, Cheong-rin, hissed fiercely again, asserting his masculinity.

Squeak!

Cheong-rin’s hissing abruptly stopped. Not only that, but his mouth remained wide open, as if he had forgotten how to close it. His eyes were filled with bewilderment. From the side, it looked as if he was sweating profusely and at a loss for what to do.

“I told you! One more act of defiance and I wouldn’t let you off easy. I warned you.”

Cheong-rin wanted to protest to the heavens, ‘What kind of brute is this!’ He had lived for two hundred years, crawling on the earth and devouring beasts dozens of times larger than himself, but this was the first time he had encountered such an absurd human.

But Cheong-rin couldn’t close his mouth. Even though he was known for being a fierce, violent, and picky eater (?), and even though Mo Sa-ryeong had starved him for several days to increase his venom potency, he couldn’t just swallow his wife, Hong-rin, whole.

That’s right! Bi Ryu-yeon’s punishment for Cheong-rin was to shove Hong-rin’s head into his gaping maw, fangs bared. It was an absurdly crude and violent method, but its effectiveness was undeniable. Cheong-rin fell completely silent.

“Should I just shove her all the way in?”

Bi Ryu-yeon muttered in a low, quiet voice.

The blue and red tails, which had been thrashing wildly like a trapped duck, went limp. As mythical creatures, they instinctively sensed that he was serious and might actually do it if they didn’t behave. Fortunately, perhaps out of a sliver of mercy, or perhaps because he didn’t like the idea of their value being halved, Bi Ryu-yeon didn’t carry out his threat.

He held the two snakes up to his face with a menacing expression, as if to say, “Try anything funny and you’re dead.” Suddenly, a crimson, demonic light flashed in the eyes of the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes. It was their hidden, ultimate ability, capable of instantly paralyzing a person like stone. And it was their last resort.

However…

Screech!

To their surprise, it was the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes who felt as if they had been struck by lightning. Their secret weapon, their special skill, was rendered useless before Bi Ryu-yeon. They exerted their powers to the fullest to survive, but it had no effect on this human. Instead, the wave of killing intent, rebounding with tremendous force, dealt a powerful blow to their minds.

“Hmm, interesting. Your last stand? You dare defy me after my final warning! Do you think you’re special just because you’re horned snakes? Should I turn you into snake wine? Or snake skewers? Or maybe a fatigue-relieving, stamina-boosting, muscle-strengthening, invigorating, all-natural tonic? You insignificant creatures, how dare you glare at me?”

Bi Ryu-yeon seemed enraged by the two snakes’ defiant resistance.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

The long bodies of the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes were slammed against the ground repeatedly. Bi Ryu-yeon was flinging them down with a flick of his wrist.

“One more act of defiance and you’re done for, got it?”

Bi Ryu-yeon threatened, glaring at them (though it’s doubtful they could see it).

Squeak, squeak!

Even insignificant creatures could sense the threat to their lives. Their survival instincts seemed to be intact. The sharp, blade-like aura they had displayed earlier vanished like snow melting under the spring sun, leaving only docile pets in his grasp. Of course, Bi Ryu-yeon found it amusing that these creatures, which had been baring their fangs just moments ago, were now acting as tame as house pets, rubbing against his hand affectionately.

Normally, he would have snapped their necks and skinned them without hesitation…

“They look strange, so they must be worth a lot. I think Tang Sam’s family has a thing for rare poisonous creatures…”

The law of the world dictated that anything old or rare naturally gained value. It was a universal truth.

“What do you think, Jang Hong? Do you think these will fetch a good price?”

Bi Ryu-yeon asked Jang Hong, who had somehow appeared beside them, braving the bad weather.

“Of course. They’ll be worth a fortune if you sell them. And not just a small fortune, but a huge one. After all, they’re rare creatures that you might only find once in a hundred years.”

He had been drawn by the strange “boom” sound and the swirling dust that had erupted from Na Yerin’s side. Even in the midst of this fierce battle, he was completely unharmed. Although his clothes were stained with red blood, it all belonged to the creatures crawling on the ground; not a single drop came from beneath his skin.

“So, would they be more valuable alive or dead? Or would it be about the same?”

Perhaps it was just Jang Hong and Na Yerin’s imagination, but for a moment, it seemed like cold sweat was dripping from the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes. However, their fear-filled trembling was definitely transmitted to the two humans.

‘Curse your fate for falling into the hands of that evil man!’

A fleeting moment of pity flickered in Jang Hong’s eyes before disappearing.

“Of course, they’re more valuable alive and kicking. And these two are a male and female pair! That blue one, Cheong-rin, is the male, and this red one, Hong-rin, is the female!”

Bi Ryu-yeon interpreted his words as meaning he could demand five times the market price (assuming there was such a thing). The ecosystem of the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes was about ten thousand years away from his area of interest.

“Consider yourselves lucky. They say dead ones aren’t worth much, so I’m sparing your lives. Normally, I would have snapped your necks… Tsk, tsk, I’m just too soft-hearted.”

(TLN: id love to see him snap a snakes neck)

His words didn’t quite match up. Bi Ryu-yeon continued,

“You must be the leader, right? I believe even insignificant creatures like you have a strong desire to live, just like anyone else.”

Was it just Jang Hong’s imagination that the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes vigorously nodded at that moment?

‘Hahaha! No way! I must have seen wrong!’

He immediately denied what he had witnessed. Perhaps his energy was depleted; he had been seeing strange things lately. Bi Ryu-yeon continued,

“You should repay the kindness of the one who spared your lives, right? Even insignificant creatures have to follow the rules of this world! So… if you want to live, tell your minions to retreat immediately. Right now!”

It was an authoritative voice, filled with an irresistible force of will, as if speaking directly to their souls. Bi Ryu-yeon’s gaze, flashing with a golden light like a blazing sun, pierced through the snake-like eyes of the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes. It was a gaze of immense power, incomparable to the crude power displayed by these two creatures.

“Goodness! Threatening snakes that can’t even talk… This is a first for me. Look here, Ryu-yeon! I won’t say anything bad, but wouldn’t it be better to use that time to get rid of these snakes? We’re not completely safe yet. Don’t waste your time on such futile efforts. It’s truly a foolish waste…”

Just as Jang Hong, who had approached them, was about to launch into a lengthy lecture,

Screech!

A sharp whistle, emanating from Cheong-rin’s mouth as Bi Ryu-yeon held him by the neck, echoed through the gorge. It was a loud, high-pitched sound, unimaginable coming from such a small creature.

Screech!

Hong-rin followed with her own cry. As if by magic, the snakes that had been attacking them began to retreat one by one. The Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes, legendary creatures that could even understand human speech! Their loyalty was so flimsy that it crumbled under such a minor threat to their lives.

Mo Sa-ryeong had been betrayed by the creatures he had cherished and raised for the past hundred years, treating them like his own children. It was a betrayal that made the past hundred years feel utterly meaningless.

“Huh! I can’t believe my eyes. To think that you made the snake army retreat with threats… Your eccentricity and strangeness never cease to amaze me. I’m truly speechless.”

He was always surprised by Bi Ryu-yeon, for one reason or another, whether it was his absurdity or his extraordinariness.

‘Where on earth did they find this monster?’

It was an unsolved mystery, a wonder that remained unanswered.

“H-How can this be…?”

The Flying Snake Demon Lord (currently also known as the Flying Snake Demon Soldier, thanks to Yeomdo) Mo Sa-ryeong couldn’t believe what he was seeing. How could his own limbs, his trusted companions, betray him? Could limbs disobey their master? Those two snakes were his sword and shield, his very hands and feet.

They had lived together for the past one hundred and twenty years, believing they were one in mind and body. He stood there for a moment, lost in a sense of emptiness and helplessness, letting out a hollow laugh. Then he took out a green flute from his bosom. It was the Snake and Insect Flute, one of the treasures of his sect, passed down from his master. It was a flute that could control snakes and insects at will when played by someone who had mastered the Snake Commanding Technique. However, as his mastery of the technique had deepened, he hadn’t taken it out in the past fifty years.

“To think I would need this flute again in my lifetime…”

Life was truly a series of incomprehensible events.

“Peeeee! Peeeee! Piririri…”

As the Snake and Insect Flute emitted its unpleasant sound, the retreating snakes stopped and turned their heads back towards the Cheonmu Academy group.

Hiss!

Once again, their red tongues and fangs flashed menacingly. A foul, venomous aura rose.

“Huh? Why are they doing that?”

Bi Ryu-yeon asked, surprised by their sudden change of heart.

“It’s the Flying Snake Demon Lord’s Snake and Insect Flute. He used to control snakes freely with the sound of this flute. I was wondering how he was controlling them so easily without any sound, but it seems his Snake Commanding Technique has advanced to the point where he doesn’t need the flute anymore. But now it seems he has no choice but to use his dusty, long-forgotten flute.”

‘… Because of you!’

Jang Hong’s gaze, as he kindly provided further explanation, was fixed on Bi Ryu-yeon. However, Bi Ryu-yeon didn’t seem to care.

“So it’s the snake charmer’s snake flute, huh?”

It was a simple observation. The Flying Snake Demon Lord was losing face in many ways. His notoriety from a hundred years ago felt embarrassing.

“You’re really making things difficult. You’re a nuisance. Now, listen carefully. If you want to live, you’ll have to work harder. You know what will happen if you don’t, right?”

That was enough.

Screech!

Screech!

Desperate cries erupted from the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes. A full-fledged battle had begun between the cries of the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes and the Snake and Insect Flute played by the Flying Snake Demon Lord. The two snakes were incredibly desperate, as if they had forgotten the past hundred years of camaraderie.

Conflicting orders from two different chains of command always caused confusion in the army, regardless of the era.

Chaos!

The snakes caught between the two commanders were in complete disarray.

As the saying goes, “When whales fight, the shrimp get crushed.” The underlings always suffered the most.

“As expected, the chain of command should be unified!”

That was Jang Hong’s observation as he watched the confused snakes.

“You think like an old man, even when it comes to the movements of snakes.”

“Who are you calling old? Nature is not something separate from us. It’s like a teacher who always holds the truth. We can learn a lot from observing nature.”

“Yes, yes, I’ve heard your wise words.”

Bi Ryu-yeon’s reply was perfunctory.

“But I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t you think these snakes are too noisy?”

“Do you want me to cut off their heads?”

The Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes’ cries stopped abruptly, as if startled. Then the snakes surged forward.

“Oh, keep going if you don’t want to die!”

Before Bi Ryu-yeon’s glare could even finish, the cries of the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes resumed, and the snakes stopped approaching, falling into confusion once more.

“No, not them. I’m talking about those black things swarming around us. I would be grateful if you could make this noise stop!”

“It is a bit noisy. What should I do?”

“What do you mean what should you do? You have to stop that even more unpleasant flute sound over there.”

“Should I?”

Bi Ryu-yeon finally nodded in understanding and looked towards the source of the flute sound. Their gazes met across a distance of dozens of zhang.

Bi Ryu-yeon’s eyes widened.

‘Wait a minute!’

When Bi Ryu-yeon met Mo Sa-ryeong’s gaze, he realized that he had forgotten something important in the heat of the moment. His instincts were screaming that this man was a debtor who owed him a huge, unpayable debt. He definitely had a score to settle with this man.

‘Huh? I’ve seen that face somewhere before. Where have I seen it…?’

Bi Ryu-yeon fell silent for a moment, carefully retracing his memories. The moment he saw that face, a fire ignited in his chest, suggesting that this was no ordinary connection.

‘Let’s see… I’m sure…’

An image slowly emerged in his mind. He had definitely seen that face before, from atop the gorge, across the chasm. Yes, it was the face of that inconsiderate old man who had aimed his deadly bow at Na Yerin.

‘That’s it! I remember now! How could I have forgotten about that until now… Why did I forget?’

At that time, his mind had been so focused on reaching Na Yerin and saving her that nothing else had registered. And the questions about the new realm he had experienced, coupled with the issue of dealing with the Blue-Red Twin Horned Snakes, had caused him to forget momentarily. But it was something he shouldn’t have forgotten.

‘Why is that bastard still alive and kicking? Why?’

That man had pointed the Grim Reaper’s scythe at her. He couldn’t understand it himself.

‘I must have lost my mind for a moment. To think I haven’t settled accounts with a debtor right in front of me.’

He had felt something was amiss, and now he understood why he had felt that nagging feeling. There was still a debt to be paid. The anger that had been suppressed in the heat of the moment flared up again like a volcano, erupting with fierce flames.

“You bastard!”

A thunderous roar, like the bellow of a dragon, echoed through the gorge.