Chapter 68
“Are we going to Hainan Island now?”
“For now, yes.”
“We’re really lucky for our first trip! We’ve easily gathered most of the minor medicinal herbs, got information on the next elixir, and even gained a very important ally!”
Dang Jin-ak showed his excitement, making Lee Jae-ha and his son smile.
“It’s an honor for us to have met our saviors.”
“You’ll really protect us from the Sichuan Tang Family, right?”
“Of course! I have to go on the elixir journey with my brother, so I can’t accompany you, but if you send a message, someone will come for you right away. If it’s urgent, I’ll even get a skilled escort agency to guide you safely to the Tang Family’s main house. Don’t worry.”
Hearing that Dok Go-ryong and Dang Jin-ak would be leaving for the next location, the two were worried but now their faces brightened.
If they could just safely leave the Black Death Valley, no one would bother them anymore…
“Huh? Uncle, there’s a huge crowd over there.”
…or so they thought.
The entrance to Black Death Valley was swarming with people.
There were shouts, and it seemed people were arguing with someone.
“Everyone line up for inspection! No nonsense, follow orders!”
“If you resist, you’ll be detained! Don’t do anything stupid!”
A huge man dressed in a Mukhyangbang uniform shouted with a thunderous voice.
“Inspection? This never happened before.”
“Surely… they’re not after us, right?”
Lee Jae-ha and Lee Mu-geol began trembling with fear.
They already felt like villains just for bringing Pungnyang home and causing a scene…
Could it really be that these two people caused such a mess that led to a checkpoint?
Could they even get out of Black Death Valley safely?
“But… it doesn’t look like they’re after you two.”
Dok Go-ryong narrowed his eyes.
“What do you mean, Uncle?”
“They’re not looking for specific people. Let’s just quietly get in line at the back.”
Feeling uneasy, they followed Dok Go-ryong and lined up at the very back.
About a quarter of an hour later…
The Mukhyangbang guards approached Eun So-wol’s group.
“Next… wait, why are you guys here?”
The Mukhyangbang guard, who was about to call for Eun So-wol’s group, scowled upon seeing Lee Jae-ha and Lee Mu-geol mixed in.
“You’re not trying to leave the Black Death Valley, are you?”
The guard let out an incredulous laugh. The two lowered their heads, saying nothing.
“Without the Lord’s permission, where do you think you’re going…!”
Just as the largest Mukhyangbang guard reached out to grab them—
Crack!
Dok Go-ryong swiftly caught the thick wrist and twisted it behind the guard’s back in an instant.
“Argh!”
“They’re not even Mukhyangbang members. What permission? Weren’t you the ones yelling at them yesterday to leave the valley?”
“Who… who the hell are you?! How dare you treat me like this…!”
“Vice-captain! Please calm down! Don’t touch them!”
Right before a direct clash between the vice-captain and Dok Go-ryong could happen, a terrified Mukhyangbang member quickly stopped him.
‘Huh? That guy… I saw him yesterday.’
It was one of the guards who had appeared with Pungnyang the day before.
After listening to the guard’s urgent whispers for a while, the vice-captain’s face twisted with frustration.
“A friend of Lord Pungnyang?”
“Yes, sir! He strongly emphasized that we must absolutely not touch them! Also… that man’s martial prowess is something even Lord Pungnyang couldn’t gauge…”
‘It’s not that unimaginable though.’
Dok Go-ryong figured they were just overreacting because of yesterday’s events.
Hearing that even Pungnyang couldn’t gauge this man’s strength, the vice-captain seemed to soften.
“Ahem… Are you traveling with these two?”
“Yes. They’re exceptionally capable, so I suggested they come to the Tang Family.”
Dang Jin-ak subtly lifted his sleeve, revealing his identity as a member of the Sichuan Tang Family.
The surprised vice-captain and Mukhyangbang guards whispered among themselves, clearly shaken.
“So you’re from the Sichuan Tang Family. My apologies for not recognizing you.”
Perhaps because Sichuan was close to Yunnan, even though Mukhyangbang was a sect of the demonic path, they treated Dang Jin-ak with respect. Dang Jin-ak waved it off casually.
“Enough of that. We have a long journey today, so we’d like to get going.”
“We’ll just conduct a quick inspection. Our Lord’s treasured item has been stolen, so we ask for your cooperation.”
‘Treasure stolen?’
Fidget, fidget.
While watching the guards search through the group’s belongings, Eun So-wol suddenly felt a strange tickle on her back.
‘Huh… That tickles.’
Just as she reached back to scratch—
A large shadow loomed over her head.
The vice-captain was reaching out with his large hand.
Startled, Eun So-wol instinctively shrank her shoulders.
“Best not to touch the kid, huh?”
Dok Go-ryong once again sharply caught the man’s wrist, making the vice-captain hesitate and pull back.
“Go ahead.”
With that, they were allowed to pass.
Thankfully, it seemed they weren’t being targeted for Lee Jae-ha’s case or anything like that.
“Whatever their lost treasure is… let’s get out of here before Mukhyangbang starts acting weird.”
Everyone nodded at Dang Jin-ak’s words, and Dok Go-ryong picked Eun So-wol up.
In Dok Go-ryong’s arms, Eun So-wol wrapped her arms around his neck and looked back as they walked away.
“What the hell… How did they manage their beast pens?”
“If we don’t find the Thunder Rat, we’re all dead men.”
“If you see a small, white mouse-looking thing, catch it immediately! Understand?!”
Remembering what Pungnyang said yesterday, Eun So-wol tilted her head.
“Thunder Rat?”
It seemed Mukhyangbang’s lost treasure… was indeed the Thunder Rat.
Meanwhile…
That day had been like any other.
Waking up lazily, eating the food mom brought, playing hunting games, then napping nestled with mom and siblings… just ordinary and happy days.
But one day, humans began hunting them, and happiness shattered into pieces.
As always, mom flew around the sky, delivering divine punishment to the evil humans.
Most large beasts would tuck their tails and flee at mom’s thunderous strikes, but humans… became even more crazed and aggressive.
In the end… two of its siblings died because of human greed.
Mom, trying to protect her children, became covered in blood, and it was captured together with mom.
Kyuung… Kyuung…
‘Brother… Mom…’
The smallest of the siblings could do nothing but cry.
Every time humans looked at them, their eyes gleamed with greed, licking their lips hungrily.
“Oooh! Is this really a Thunder Rat?!”
“Without a doubt. Four people were burned to death by lightning just trying to catch them.”
“Is this the only baby left?”
“There were two more, but… couldn’t control the power…”
“Tsk. You should’ve been more careful. At least we saved one baby. The mother doesn’t look like she’ll survive much longer. Treat her before she dies.”
“Yes, sir!”
But… even after time passed, mom showed no signs of recovering.
By the fifth day of captivity, when she could barely breathe, mom finally spoke.
‘I’ll create an opening. Run away, baby.’
‘What about you, Mom? Let’s go together.’
‘I’ll follow right after. Once you’re out, head straight for the forest. Stay hidden from humans.’
The baby didn’t want to leave the sick mother behind but couldn’t go against her firm tone.
Mom played dead, going limp. The humans took her away.
Just before their cage door closed, mom’s whole body burst out in a flash of lightning.
That was the signal.
“Argh! Damn rat!”
Several humans collapsed, charred black. Others screamed, clutching their eyes.
Seizing the chance, the little one bolted out of the cage.
Darting through shadows, slipping past dusty corners, trying to get as far away as possible.
But even outside, there were humans everywhere.
On top of that… it was starving after days without food.
Too weak to move, hiding in the shadows, when suddenly… a delicious smell filled the air.
Looking around, there were two big humans and one small human eating meat.
From the skewer the small human held… the meat looked like it might fall any moment.
Salivating uncontrollably, the little one hovered under their table, eyeing the food.
And just as hoped, the small human clumsily dropped a piece of meat!
Fearing the human would pick it back up, the little one rushed in and snatched it.
“…A weasel?”
The small human bent down, trying to take the meat back.
Grrr…
‘This is mine! You’re not taking it back!’
If that small human dared touch it… it would teach them a lesson.
Even though it hadn’t awakened yet, it still had power like its mom! A small human like that was no threat.
“I won’t steal it. You eat it all.”
But unexpectedly… the small human did nothing.
