Chapter 288

Chapter 288
### Chapter 288. Qualification to Hold the Opportunity (4)

—

“Hmm…”

Geum-san-Wang knit his brows together in a deep frown. He was well aware that clans dedicated to the way of the warrior (Mu) were perpetually driven to amass greater combative strength. To him, it seemed entirely parallel to the manner in which those who worship gold (Geum) become utterly consumed by wealth. Even so, he had never truly anticipated that their fixation would reach such an extreme degree.

“What exactly is this creature?”

“They refer to it as the Nine Spirit Snake (Gu-ryeong-sa).”

Hearing Tae-san-Jin’s reply, Geum-san-Wang shifted his attention back toward the entity known as the Nine Spirit Snake. True to its title, it bore the general silhouette of a serpent, yet it completely lacked the slick, smooth hide typical of such reptiles. Its entire outer skin appeared remarkably dense and rigid, mimicking heavy plate armor, while a pair of small horns protruded from the top of its head. By any metric of comparison, this was no ordinary beast.

“You genuinely intend to feed this monstrosity to the disciples?”

Regardless of the martial advancement it might offer, its physical form was hardly something a human being could willingly consume.

‘Is this not crossing a line?’

“…To be exact, they will not be swallowing the Nine Spirit Snake whole. We intend to extract the vital essence contained within…”

He was already well aware that the Tae-eul-mun was currently facing severe hurdles regarding their internal energy cultivation. He had been informed that because they lacked the specialized methods to craft elixir pills, they were desperately searching for any alternative to replenish their inner reserves.

“Deploy every resource and strategy available!”

He had given that exact command. He had even instructed the merchant guilds and subordinate enterprises operating under his authority to gather intelligence on any legendary spiritual herbs. The compilation of secure spiritual remedies acquired through those channels had been handed directly over to Tae-san-Jin, and his final recollection was assigning the duty of harvesting the necessary items to the plant collectors employed by the Wang Manor. What on earth had transpired in the interim?

“Good grief…”

This unsettling serpent was now sitting right inside their shared workspace.

“…We cannot simply have them ingest it as it is. Due to the extreme toxicity of the Nine Spirit Snake’s venom, I was informed that it requires a highly specialized refining process. If we possessed the means to manufacture elixir pills, we could maximize its innate properties, but…”

Ah, the man was speaking in such convoluted terms. To put it in plain language:

“So, you are saying it is currently inedible?”

He could grasp that much. Given that the formulation of elixir pills remains one of the most fiercely protected mysteries within any martial faction, it could neither be easily purchased nor created. It was an inescapable reality for the Tae-eul-mun to pursue raw spirit medicine acquisition rather than full pill fabrication. He could comprehend the logic behind it all, including the reality that a grotesque reptile was numbered among those remedies. Even so,

‘Why did you have to bring it into our office!’

In response to Geum-san-Wang’s silent exasperation, Tae-san-Jin offered a composed explanation.

“It remains… a rare spirit medicine. We cannot risk handling it without direct supervision.”

“No… I comprehend that point. Even so, could we not have simply stored it within the vault? Having it here… makes me rather uneasy.”

Tae-san-Jin, who had been reviewing ledgers without a hint of emotion, slowly turned his attention toward Geum-san-Wang.

“Are you feeling frightened?”

Faced with Tae-san-Jin’s direct challenge, Geum-san-Wang’s eyes went wide with indignation.

“…Ha! What utter nonsense! Is this Geum-san-Wang truly the sort of man to tremble before a mere hatchling of a reptile?”

If he truly wasn’t bothered, he could have just said so; there was no need to inflate his chest quite so dramatically.

“Did I not mention it before? I! Back in the day, during my years managing security transports, I crossed paths with a white tiger that rivaled the size of a mansion!”

A white tiger, indeed… Right at that moment.

“……!”

Tae-san-Jin adopted a startled expression, his eyes locking onto the Nine Spirit Snake.

“The—the beast, it just opened its eyelids!”

“What!”

Leaping in sheer panic, Geum-san-Wang bolted across the room and huddled into the far corner of the workspace.

The Lord of the Manor had always claimed he possessed zero knowledge of martial arts, but that was evidently a fabrication. For a man of his significant bulk to leap that high into the air required immense physical power.

“Y-you must escape immediately as well…!”

Despite his terror, he clearly possessed some loyalty, because the instant Geum-san-Wang turned his gaze, terrified that his close companion Tae-san-Jin might be placed in mortal peril,

“A white tiger, you say…?”

He observed Tae-san-Jin’s eyebrows drawing together as he suppressed a chuckle, his nostrils twitching. Looking back down toward the floor… the Nine Spirit Snake remained locked in a profound slumber.

“…Pfft, ahem. It appears my vision deceived me momentarily.”

As an intense wave of embarrassment washed over him, Geum-san-Wang’s complexion flushed a deep crimson. Regardless of his companion’s humiliation, Tae-san-Jin fought down his laughter.

“There is no cause for alarm. I was assured that the winter months are when the Nine Spirit Snake undergoes its hibernation cycle, meaning it will not stir until the arrival of spring.”

Geum-san-Wang glared at Tae-san-Jin with a furious, menacing expression, yet Tae-san-Jin maintained an entirely unbothered demeanor.

“If you are indeed Manor Lord Wang, a man who claims no fear toward a white tiger the size of a mansion, then surely a minor serpent poses no threat to you whatsoever?”

“…….”

He was being completely ridiculed! However, if he lost his temper now, he would be admitting defeat. Geum-san-Wang deliberately assumed an air of grand authority.

“Ahem, cough! What sort of coward do you take me for!”

Huffing loudly, he marched right back up to the container holding the Nine Spirit Snake.

“Do you truly believe a simple beast like this could intimidate me!”

*Tap! Tap!*

His posture was imposing, but the actual force he applied to the iron cage was incredibly light. Tae-san-Jin bit his lip to conceal his mocking smile as he observed the display. How could a gentleman who never flinched even when confronting the highest dignitaries of the Imperial Court be genuinely terrified of a reptile no longer than a man’s forearm? Nevertheless, he figured he should cease the mockery before his friend grew entirely resentful. He was just reflecting on how their shared office was far less tedious because they occupied it together.

“H-hey.”

“Yes.”

Geum-san-Wang’s complexion had turned utterly pasty.

“L-look at this. The creature, it… it actually opened its eyes.”

The Lord of the Manor was truly terrible at deception. Did he not realize that executing the exact same trick so rapidly would be detected instantly? Fully expected of an individual who hated being the butt of a joke, he was merely trying to extract swift retribution, but Tae-san-Jin swallowed his amusement. For the Nine Spirit Snake, an animal reputed to sleep through even its cage being set ablaze during the winter, to suddenly awaken made absolutely no logical sense. Still, since he had poked fun at him moments ago, he decided to play along with the ruse. If he failed to humiliate himself a little here, he would be forced to endure a sullen, silent partner for the upcoming week.

Tae-san-Jin set his paperwork down upon the desk and raised both of his palms in a theatrical gesture of alarm.

“Ah! Is that the case? Then we are truly facing an immense crisis.”

“N-no! I am telling you the absolute truth, it really opened its eyes!”

“Of course, of course. We must immediately secure a master of medicine to process it into elixir pills and resolve this matter. I am deeply anxious over whether the medical practitioner that young So-un-Jin is sending will possess the requisite expertise.”

Having offered a half-hearted response, he prepared to submerge himself back into his duties.

*Rattle!*

“Hieee!”

The iron cage shuddered violently, provoking a sharp cry of terror from Geum-san-Wang. Truly, was it that entertaining to perpetrate such antics at their age? He needed to put a stop to this nonsense. Even if the Nine Spirit Snake held immense worth as a medicinal ingredient, had it not been described as a spiritual beast so profoundly venomous that even professional serpent catchers refused to touch it carelessly…

*Rattle!*

Once more, the sound of the metallic enclosure vibrating aggressively filled the room. Tsk—this was escalating far too much.

“Manor Lord… cease this foolishness at once.”

Just as he raised his voice to deliver a stern reprimand, Tae-san-Jin froze. He witnessed it directly. The piercing glare of the Nine Spirit Snake staring right back at him and Geum-san-Wang, its bright, amber eyes wide with malice.

‘Why on earth did that thing… awaken?’

Before Tae-san-Jin could even begin to process the absurdity of the situation,

*Whoosh—*

The Nine Spirit Snake coiled its muscular form and launched itself forward like a released projectile, crashing heavily against the iron bars.

*Thud!*

From the sheer momentum of the strike, the heavy metal enclosure slid a full foot across the floor. The Nine Spirit Snake, fully cognizant that the metallic structure was confining its movements, began to thrash and twist frantically to force an opening.

“H-hey… do something, anything!”

Living up to its reputation as a spiritual beast, the Nine Spirit Snake appeared to grasp its predicament instantly. Recognizing that the barriers would not yield to simple force, it retreated to the far edge of the cage and compressed its body tightly. Then, mimicking the principles of the “Bowstring Bullet Shadow” martial technique, it snapped its body forward to strike the iron cage repeatedly. Tae-san-Jin, a trained martial artist, could only gape in awe at such a flawless manifestation of natural combat instinct.

Incredible! To think a spiritual beast truly possesses such mystical attributes!

“Hey! This is hardly the moment to be marveling at the creature!”

Brought back to reality by Geum-san-Wang’s frantic shouting, Tae-san-Jin cleared his throat with a dry cough and began shuffling backward toward the exit.

“Do not panic. Regardless of how remarkable a Nine Spirit Snake might be, it lacks the power to shatter a reinforced iron cage and break free…”

“Dammit! Then why does it persist in trying to smash its way out!”

“My word! Manor Lord! You are resorting to vulgar language now?”

“Never mind that, just handle this situation!”

While Geum-san-Wang clutched onto Tae-san-Jin’s robes with a grip so tight the fabric threatened to tear away, the Nine Spirit Snake coiled itself once more, flinging its body against the metal with increasingly frantic motions.

*Clatter!*

The reinforced cage slid another foot forward. The Nine Spirit Snake appeared to grow exponentially more enraged by the unyielding iron bars.

*Ssssss—*

Parting its jaws wide, the Nine Spirit Snake allowed dark venom to seep from its four sharp, prominent fangs. Hearing its hiss, both Tae-san-Jin and Geum-san-Wang shivered with dread.

“L-look. That beast is completely incapable of escaping from its containment.”

“The metal bars are looking incredibly warped for you to make such a claim!”

“Even if it deforms slightly, it will hold. How could a mere animal overcome the forge-work of man…”

*Clatter!*

“Ugh!”

Geum-san-Wang, who was desperately gripping Tae-san-Jin, nearly fell over from the shock and instinctively began shoving Tae-san-Jin forward to act as a shield against the Nine Spirit Snake. It was an impulsive action that instantly made their previous boasts of legendary brotherhood—claiming that even the historic bond of Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya paled in comparison to theirs—appear completely hollow.

“Q-quickly neutralize it. Render it unconscious or terminate its life.”

“We absolutely cannot slay it! If we do, its efficacy as a spirit medicine will be ruined…”

“L-look at that monster! Look at what it is doing!”

The Nine Spirit Snake, seemingly concluding that blunt force was ineffective, began utilizing its razor-sharp fangs to gnaw and tear at the metallic structure.

*Crunch!*

The sight of those fangs snapping outside the parameters of the cage sent an even colder chill down their spines.

“D-do not lose your composure. No matter the crushing power of its jaws, against a cage forged from refined steel…”

“Why on earth did you settle for basic steel! You acknowledged it was a spiritual entity! You should have commissioned a cage constructed from cold iron at the very least!”

“Manor Lord! Do you honestly believe specialized iron cages are as common as standard farm tools? A mere beast like this…”

*Crunch!*

*Grind!*

The Nine Spirit Snake, having tested the bars with its teeth multiple times, began prying the gaps wider, having successfully identified the structural weak points. And then,

“Aaaaagh! The bars! The cage is giving way!”

“Aaaaagh!”

High-pitched shrieks that seemed entirely unbefitting of mature men whose hair was already turning silver echoed through the room.

*Crunch! Clatter! Crunch! Clatter!*

Driven into a state of absolute fury, the Nine Spirit Snake began violently thrashing like a rabid beast. Every single time the small, box-like enclosure rolled and clattered across the floor under its own momentum, the hearts of Tae-san-Jin and Geum-san-Wang leapt into their throats.

*Grind, grind!*

Finally, the metallic gaps were forced apart to their absolute limit, creating a sufficient opening for escape. The Nine Spirit Snake compacted its form into a tight coil and propelled itself forward like a spear, widening the exit even further. Immediately following that,

*Clatter!*

*Thud!*

The sleek body of the Nine Spirit Snake slipped completely free from the iron cage, tumbling across the wooden floor before slumping against the far wall.

“……!”

“……!!!”

The complexions of both Tae-san-Jin and Geum-san-Wang drained of all color.

“H-help!”

Geum-san-Wang was the first to react. Moving with the speed of a lightning bolt, he lunged for the office door handle, attempting to throw it open and flee into the corridor.

*Rattle!*

“……Eh?”

*Rattle, rattle!*

…The exit refused to budge.

*Rattle, rattle, rattle!*

“Aaaaaaaaah!”

While Geum-san-Wang frantically wrenched at the handle like a madman, Tae-san-Jin hurried to his side, adding his own strength to the effort, but the door remained completely immovable.

“Did I not insist that we should have repaired this mechanism days ago! Manor Lord!”

“Are you genuinely attempting to shift the blame to me now! You were the one who brought this wretched abomination into our workspace!”

“What is our course of action now!”

“Why are you demanding answers from me! You are the trained martial artist here! Subdue that creature utilizing the legendary sword arts of the renowned master, the Tae-eul Sword Emperor!”

“…Step aside. I shall breach the barrier using the Great Solar Palm.”

“No! I explicitly demanded you employ the techniques of the Tae-eul Sword Emperor, not the outdated foundational arts of the Tae-eul-mun!”

“I never had the opportunity to master those forms because I was entirely occupied with securing our finances!”

“Confound it! I am utterly appalled by your incompetence! Appalled!”

“Great Solar Palm!”

*Thud!*

The Great Solar Palm, reinforced by what little internal energy the Tae-eul-mun practitioner could muster, struck the surface, but there was no way a technique of such mediocre destructive capability could splinter a heavy wooden door constructed by the premier master carpenter of the Wang Manor.

—*Manor Lord! Given that this is your private office door, I shall craft it with such resilience that it will stand firm even if an explosive cannon detonates right against it.*

In that terrifying moment, the memory of that premier carpenter offering a confident thumbs-up and a wide grin flashed vividly through their minds. While Geum-san-Wang was momentarily cursing the memory of that craftsman’s smile,

*Ssssss—*

The Nine Spirit Snake, liberated from its prison and oozing lethal venom, slithered closer to the cornered men. It appeared to recognize precisely which individuals were responsible for its captivity.

“Aaaaaah! Is anyone outside! Someone come to our aid! We are in here!!”

“Great Solar Palm!”

As the Nine Spirit Snake began coiling its form to prepare for a lethal spring from a short distance away, absolute hopelessness gripped the two men. At that precise juncture,

*Click.*

The latch uncoupled from the hallway side, and the sudden loss of resistance caused both men to lose their footing, tumbling backward out into the corridor.

“M-Manor Lord? Outer Hall Master?”

The two prominent figures lay sprawled in a highly undignified heap. While the attending servant expressed immense confusion at a scene he could fathom no reason for,

“R-run! A demon! A monstrous beast is hunting us!”

“A monster?”

“Yes! A demonic serpent that shattered an iron cage through sheer physical might to escape…”

While Tae-san-Jin and Geum-san-Wang scramblingly scrambled backward away from the threshold, an unfamiliar individual who had accompanied the servant peered directly into the office.

“Would you mind if I inspect the interior for a brief moment?”

“Hmm?”

However, before Geum-san-Wang could offer any coherent response, the Nine Spirit Snake compressed its body fully and launched itself forward like a flying arrow, targeting the group of four.

“Aaaaaah!”

The servant shrieked in absolute terror, but the newcomer composedly advanced a single pace into the room and extended his arm, effortlessly clamping his fingers around the Nine Spirit Snake’s throat.

“My word. This particular specimen possesses quite an impressive amount of vigor. Is this not indeed a Nine Spirit Snake?”

“Hmm?”

“A Nine Spirit Snake will prematurely awaken from its winter slumber if the ambient temperature is permitted to rise too gradually.”

The ferocious Nine Spirit Snake, which had successfully chewed through reinforced steel bars, found itself completely incapable of shifting a fraction of an inch against the newcomer’s grip.

“Conversely, freezing conditions act as an immediate sedative to its system.”

The man carried the restrained reptile out into the open courtyard and plunged it directly into a bank of fresh snow. The thrashing form of the Nine Spirit Snake, which had been vibrating with lethal intent, steadily began to go rigid. Following that, after a brief period had elapsed, the serpent went entirely limp in his grasp, appearing completely inanimate.

“When maintaining its captivity within a residence, it is highly recommended to secure it within an unheated environment.”

“…….”

The stranger’s expression remained entirely serene. Tae-san-Jin and Geum-san-Wang stared at him with wide, unblinking eyes.

“Excuse me, but by what name should we address you?”

Beholding a countenance that seemed no different from a divine savior, complete with an imaginary celestial light radiating behind him, Geum-san-Wang inquired after his identity in an exceptionally deferential manner. The individual permitted his lips to curve into a modest smile, as though receiving such profound reverence was merely a matter of course.

“I am known as Jeong-Sama. I have journeyed here via the recommendation of the young disciple, So-un-Jin.”

He offered a gentle smile, his refined facial features making it nearly impossible to believe he had just neutralized a lethal spiritual beast in a single, effortless motion.