Chapter 169

Chapter 169
# Chapter 169: The White Hawk Spirit Beast

To Baek Heon-so, Yang-hui seemed thoroughly, unmistakeably human—even if his gifts were so extraordinary they made you wonder if that could truly be so.

Before he had turned ten, he had already stepped into the role of a master of martial arts, guiding others to ascend to the Peak Realm. By fifteen, he had claimed that height himself: a genius standing head and shoulders above all other geniuses. Young as he was, his insight ran so deep that he lifted the Baek Clan Manor from its standing as a third-rate martial family and forged it into one of the most powerful sects across Gangseo Province.

Yet he had never shown anything that felt otherworldly or impossible. Beyond his exceptional talents, he remained a devoted son to his father and a caring brother to Baek Heon-so.

But…

*Brother… what on earth is going on…*

Yang-hui had simply been sitting in meditation, guiding his qi to flow through his channels. There were tales that something strange had happened the last time he cultivated—that he had lifted into the air and drifted upward. Well, masters of great skill could manage such a feat; that much was understandable. But now, dozens of hawks had swooped down from the open sky and hung fixed in place, all their gaze locked on the carriage where Yang-hui sat. Watching it sent a cold prickle down the spine.

It felt as though the very heavens were showing favour to his brother.

There were ancient stories just like this: a child born for greatness, cast aside by cruel fate, watched over and protected by flocks of birds and beasts. Baek Heon-so could almost believe he was living through one of those legends.

Meanwhile, Chui-dal stood staring, utterly stunned.

“Good heavens.”

What kind of person drew a gathering of hawks simply by sitting in quiet meditation? Did he carry a scent they found irresistible?

“Just as I thought—Brother is on an entirely different level from the very start,” Dang Gun said, stepping forward with arms folded to answer Chui-dal’s quiet amazement.

“They are drawn to the qi that flows out as he cultivates. This is without doubt an auspicious sign.”

Dang Gun’s face shone with wonder. The reason was plain to see.

“That white hawk leading the flock—it is nothing like an ordinary bird.”

“It just has white feathers, doesn’t it? How can you tell?”

Chui-dal gave him a questioning look, and Dang Gun went on.

“One of the disciplines my Tang Clan practices is the taming of the Poison Eagles from Sword Peak. I have learned to recognise the ways of hawks because of it.”

“A Poison Eagle is a hawk that carries venom, is that right?”

“Precisely. Have you heard of the Zhimiao spoken of in the Classic of Mountains and Seas?”

The Zhimiao was a fabled bird of such potent poison that toxin from its feathers could eat straight through the earth.

“Legends say the Poison Eagles sprang from that very creature,” Dang Gun explained.

“Set aside how strange it is to see them staring at someone deep in meditation—hawks do not gather in flocks of dozens like this. They are solitary by nature. Something is causing this anomaly, and I am certain it is that white one.”

In other words, the white hawk possessed a quality so remarkable it had drawn normally independent birds into a single group.

“At least they show no sign of hostility. Let us observe for a short while. Chasing a few hawks away would be easy enough whenever we choose.”

Auspicious omens were rare, and the uncommon sight stirred their curiosity, so they stayed to watch.

Then, at that moment—

*Kyaaaaa!*

The white hawk threw back its head and called out. As if its cry had been a signal, dozens of hawks joined in, their sharp voices rising as one.

*Kyaaaaa!*
*Kyaaaaa!*
*Kyaaaaa!*

“Ha! What an extraordinary spectacle.”

“I must say, it is truly fascinating.”

“My heart is racing.”

Amid the chorus of calls, Yang-hui pushed open the carriage door and stepped outside, his expression soft with confusion. Every eye turned toward him. In the old tales, this was the moment where human and bird recognised they shared a destiny, bound to walk the same path…

“Looks as though heaven has sent these to fill our bellies before we make the climb up that rugged mountain.”

*Eh?*
*Eat them?*
*But they look like spirit beasts!*
*Is he serious?*

It was not only the group that stood taken aback. The white hawk appeared bewildered as well.

*Kyaa?*

Its look was so clear you could almost read the thoughts behind it.

“A hawk that wears its feelings on its face, is it?”

Yang-hui leaped high, landing atop the crown of a tall tree. The white hawk beat its wings at once and rose into the sky.

“Oh? Quick on your feet—or wings—aren’t you?”

The trees grew sparser near their summits, but Yang-hui stepped onto a treetop no thicker than a whip, swaying like a willow in the breeze, and launched himself upward once more, calling as he went.

“What are you all standing there for? If you want a full meal, catch the others too!”

No one moved. The sense of wonder that had filled the air only moments before shattered like glass.

“Good grief—that is Brother for you.”

“Truly… at a moment like this, he is the most ordinary, most human person imaginable.”

“Ha ha ha… Little Brother Hui is not wrong, exactly, but still… ha ha ha…”

Yang-hui drew his sword mid-leap and swept it toward the white hawk. The bird swerved away in alarm, though the tip of the blade grazed its wing.

*Clang!*

“Hmm? Clang?”

He had not channeled qi into the strike, yet it should have cut clean through the wing.

*Kyaaaaa!*

What an unusual creature. How could a simple cry carry such distinct outrage? It sounded for all the world like: *You struck me? Actually struck me?!*

“Did I not? You look like a spirit beast—surely you are worth tasting!”

The hawk soared higher still, climbing toward the blue where humans without wings could never follow. But—

*Kyaaak!*

“You will not escape. You are destined to be my dinner!”

He fell back toward the earth as gravity took hold, but he hurled his sword as he went, and it flew like a streak of light. Infused with the arts of the thrown blade, the weapon sliced through the air and struck the hawk where its guard was down.

*Feathers hard as iron, but still only a bird.*

The light faded from the white hawk’s eyes. An instant later, Yang-hui landed and caught the creature as it fell.

“Fly as far as you like—you are still in the palm of my hand, little one.”

He ran his hand over its plumage: soft to the touch, yet tough and resilient as steel, just as he had expected.

“Remarkable—you truly caught it. And a flying spirit beast at that… Little Brother Hui has extraordinary skill.”

“Thank you, Sister Dang. I shall save you a leg especially—they are the finest part of any bird, are they not?”

“Still… something feels strange about all this.”

“What is it? Ah—where have the rest gone?”

They should have scattered the moment they saw their leader brought down. Instead, the remaining hawks settled back onto branches, watching Yang-hui hold their companion, and called out softly in distress.

“Remarkable loyalty for wild creatures.”

“It is. If only we could catch a few more… ah—you are awake already? Stop your struggling now.”

*Kya! Kyaaaa!*

The cry was desperate, as if it were shouting: *How could you do this? How could you?!*

Betrayed by a stranger, of all people. What a foolish bird. Yang-hui grew tired of its lament and tapped it lightly on the head.

*Kyek!*

“Brother—are you truly planning to eat it? Something about this feels wrong.”

“Chui-dal speaks the truth. It bears all the marks of a spirit beast—it is no common creature. Why not tame it instead?”

After all, the symbol of the Baek Clan Manor was a white hawk. Baek Heon-so’s eyes lit up as he pictured the bird by his side, a living emblem for all to see.

“Heon-so, spirit beasts are an impressive sight, yet they bring more trouble than they are worth.”

*In my past life, I wasted time and effort trying to keep one simply for show… Better to build up my strength properly.*

“It may not have an inner core, but if it does? We will have struck gold.”

*Kyaaaa!*

Once again, Yang-hui understood exactly what the hawk’s cry meant.

“You disagree? Shall I cut it open and find out?”

*Kyaaaa!*

He saw Baek Heon-so’s face fall at the pitiful sound, and sighed.

“Heon-so—do you want to keep it that badly?”

“I do! Is it not magnificent?”

“There is no promise it will ever be truly tamed.”

“If it runs away, I will have learned my lesson.”

“Very well… it does not seem to hold any great power, but if nothing else, it could serve as a messenger.”

Then again—this bird commanded whole flocks? It could form the foundation of a communications network for the main house overnight. Taming it might well prove worthwhile.

“Very well. I will not eat you. Go and bring me a wild boar instead.”

*Kya!*

“Refuse? Your friends remain here as hostages. If you flee, you know what will happen.”

*Kyaaa…*

Before long, the white hawk returned clutching a full-grown boar in its talons. It flew easily despite a burden many times its own weight—proof it was no ordinary beast.

“Ha ha ha—extraordinary.”

“We shall all eat well before we reach Sword Peak.”

“Let us prepare the meal, everyone—to work!”

“At once!”

Servants hurried to set pots to boil rations and dried vegetables; others dressed the boar and laid it over the fire to roast. Yang-hui cut a piece of liver and held it out to the white hawk.

*Kya!*

“Oh? You strike at me with your talons now? Are you sulking?”

*Kyaaa!*

“Then why did you appear before me and make yourself a target?”

*Kyaaa…*

“You did not expect this? Do birds not trust humans? Are there no hunters near Sword Peak?”

*Kyaaaa!*

“You trusted *me* specifically? Yet you have never seen me before?”

The hawk fluttered wildly, wings beating the air as if trying to explain some great injustice. Yang-hui grasped the gist of what it struggled to say, but the finer details were lost in its cries.

*Far more intelligent than the beast I failed to tame in my last life*, he thought. Even so, training a spirit beast was never simple. It demanded time, patience, and consistent care—and even then, they often slipped away once their bond weakened. This one would likely vanish the moment it was set free. Still, he had decided to keep it; he would find ways to make it useful.

“Dang Gun—your Tang Clan has long sought the Poison Eagles of Sword Peak, is that not so?”

“It is. We have spent generations working to tame them and turn them to our purpose.”

Perfect.

“You—you know the Poison Eagles, do you not?”

*Kya.*

“I intend to capture one. You will guide us.”

*Kya!*

“It would sooner die itself than lead us to them?”

Its reaction was fierce and immediate. Perhaps it counted one of the eagles as a friend? There were not many spirit birds of that kind; it was certainly possible.

“Little Brother Hui… were you just speaking with it?”

“In a manner of speaking—I understand what it conveys.”

“That is incredible! And if we do catch one, we will not harm it. We will treat it well and raise it alongside others.”

“That is your proposal?”

*Kyaaaaa!*

“No harm will come to it. A life of care is better than the hardships of the mountains. Which do you choose: see your friend live well, or die here today?”

The hawk hesitated, head drooping in defeat.

*Kya…*

They were heading toward Tang lands anyway; a gift like this would be well received. The hunt for the Poison Eagles of Sword Peak was underway.

“Very well. Go and persuade it to meet us.”

He tossed the hawk skyward, and it shot away like an arrow, shrinking to a speck against the clouds.

*Spirit beasts truly do fly as fast as lightning…*

At that instant, something shifted deep within Yang-hui. His perspective tilted and shifted, as though he had stepped into another’s dream. He was seeing through the hawk’s eyes—feeling what it felt.

“What is this…?”

He soared high above jagged peaks and sheer cliffs, the whole world spread out below in breathtaking clarity. Yang-hui shivered. A creature with an ability like this…

*This bird… it could be the greatest scout under heaven.*