Chapter 5

Pavre in Sachundanga-6 (5/187)

Reverse Interview 1

After nursing an old man named Dang Chulsan for about two days, the martial artists of the Sachundanga clan found their way here as he had said they would. I thought it would take a few weeks to treat the injuries from catching a centipede, but the martial artists appeared after just two days.

The martial artists were startled, thinking the body covered with a mat at the entrance of the Taoist temple might be Chulsan. Guided by me, they found Chulsan lying inside the hall.

"Clan Head! What happened!?"

"Such a severe internal injury!"

The martial artists were shocked by Chulsan's pale face and the dark circles under his eyes. When I helped him sit up, he began to explain what had happened a few days ago to his martial artists.

"The Blood-Handed Demon, Zhuo Yunyang, appeared."

"Really!? The Blood-Handed Demon Zhuo Yunyang... the great demon who fell off the coastal cliff after being struck by the Wannu Shenjun in Qinzhou over ten years ago!?"

"That's right."

"Wow! Then, is the body at the entrance...?"

"It was almost a disaster. He had been in seclusion, practicing martial arts, and reached a level close to my father's."

"Such... such..."

The three martial artists looked at Chulsan in disbelief, then suddenly congratulated him with bright faces.

"If that's the case! Clan Head! If you made that demon a guest who never returns, it means you have reached the realm of Wannu. Congratulations."

"Congratulations!"

Perhaps if he had captured such a formidable opponent, his skills must be higher than the demon's. It felt like they were congratulating him on that.

'But it was just one punch from the old man...'

Chulsan shook his head and pointed at me with a smile.

"No. The one who killed that demon was not me, but this young swordsman... I owe him a debt of gratitude for saving my life."

"Really!?"

"Is it this young swordsman?"

"Did this young swordsman kill the Blood-Handed Demon Zhuo Yunyang!?"

Technically, it wasn't me but the monkeys who killed him, but since they are my pets, it wasn't a lie. After all, the owner is responsible for the actions of their pets.

However, the martial artists seemed to misunderstand something and bowed deeply, making a traditional Central Plains greeting with their fists.

"Thank you for saving the Clan Head of the Sachundanga clan."

"Thank you!"

"Or, did you perform a youth-restoring technique?"

Then they asked if I had performed a youth-restoring technique.

'What are they talking about? I should have watched more martial arts novels or movies in my past life to understand what they're saying...'

Chulsan, finding the martial artists' actions amusing, couldn't hold back his laughter. As he raised his eyebrows, a chill ran down my spine, and a sound came from my chest.

'No, don't do it suddenly...'

-Tsurrur!

That sound was a warning from the monkeys, indicating they were angry. Immediately, the monkeys sprang out from my chest, shaking their heads like snakes and glaring at Chulsan.

"Wow! What is this!?"

"Oh, the monkeys!?"

The martial artists were shocked by the sight of the three yellow centipedes. After a moment, the chill disappeared, and the monkeys slowly returned to my chest.

"What is this!?"

The martial artists, who had stepped back from me, were surprised by the appearance of the monkeys. Chulsan answered for me.

"They are the offspring of the Green Centipedes. We found eggs in the hole where we caught the Green Centipedes. The young swordsman hatched them, and these little ones killed Zhuo Yunyang."

"Really!? Is he safe from the poison?"

"Raising Green Centipedes!"

Chulsan revealed the monkeys to demonstrate the information we had discovered over the past few days, which was the mechanism by which the monkeys attack humans.

'They react to something called 'killing intent.' Isn't that interesting and commendable?'

The day after killing Zhuo Yunyang, the monkeys didn't move from my chest. It was natural, as baby centipedes don't move much until their second molt, but Chulsan seemed curious about why they weren't moving after killing a human.

"Since they are so quiet and well-behaved, do you know how they attacked Zhuo Yunyang?"

"I'm not sure... I don't know."

"Is there anything that comes to mind?"

Indeed, I knew they were poisonous and that they might bite, so I recalled the incident.

'I remember washing my body... and being grabbed by the neck... They didn't react then... So...'

"Hmm... I washed my body to separate them, but that doesn't seem to be it... Ah! Thinking about it, when Zhuo Yunyang tightened his grip on my neck, I felt a chill down my spine and started sweating... Could it be because of the sweat?"

It's common for insects or animals to react to human sweat. I wondered if they reacted to the smell of sweat, but Chulsan seemed to have a different thought.

"Hmm? A chill down your spine? Could it be...?"

Chulsan's face showed that he had an idea. He then felt a chill down his spine, similar to when Zhuo Yunyang had grabbed his neck.

-Tsurrur!

Surprisingly, the monkeys started making warning sounds and sprang out from my chest, glaring at Chulsan.

"Reacting to killing intent!"

"Killing intent?"

Chulsan was excited, as if he had discovered something significant from the monkeys' behavior.

After he explained, it turned out that killing intent is a kind of aura that people emit, which can be felt by martial artists. It can make people feel threatened or even die. The monkeys seemed to react to this killing intent.

The chill I felt earlier was killing intent?

'No, isn't that dangerous? It feels like being hit by a bullet...'

Even if he was curious, Chulsan emitted a very weak killing intent towards me, which I found a bit disappointing.

Through several experiments, we discovered the exact mechanism by which the monkeys attack. According to Chulsan, killing intent can be spread around or directed at a specific target. The monkeys only reacted to the killing intent directed at me, not the one spread around, like an automatic turret.

They retreat when they might bite but also protect me at the same time.

For now, this mechanism is a secret between Chulsan and me. It feels a bit strange, like having a secret friend with an uncle.

While thinking about the monkeys' attack mechanism, I overheard a conversation.

"...So, I plan to take him in as one of us."

"Wow! As a family member? Then, our little girl, called Yujie...?"

"Yes. The young swordsman hasn't decided yet."

"Ooh!"

The conversation between the martial artists and Chulsan was about him scouting me. I asked for a few days to think about his proposal, as I needed to tidy up and consider the long-term commitment.

However, I couldn't help but ask about Yujie, a term I had never heard before, as it seemed related to becoming a member of the Sachundanga clan.

"What is Yujie?"

Everyone looked at me. Chulsan and the martial artists stared at me with surprised faces, and the oldest-looking martial artist smiled mischievously and answered.

"Have you never heard of Yujie, young swordsman?"

"Yes? Yes. Is it one of the Ten Great Poisons?"

Everyone from the Sachundanga clan smiled at my question. The martial artist continued.

"No. Yujie is a flower. It has thorns but is a beautiful red flower. Have you never seen it?"

"Oh! I know what it is."

Yujie probably means rose in Central Plains language. If it has thorns and is red, it must be a rose.

"Yes, I know. People call peonies the 'King of Flowers' and 'National Beauty,' but that's just nonsense. The best flower is Yujie, no matter what anyone says. Peonies wither quickly, but Yujie blooms all year round, making people happy. Of course, it's the best flower. How red it is!"

The martial artist, who seemed to be a rose enthusiast, gave a long speech. I was a bit taken aback but couldn't criticize someone obsessed with poisons. I decided to respect his taste and smiled.

"I also like Yujie the most."

Suddenly, the Sachundanga clan people became noisy.

"Ooh! Really!?"

"You like Yujie the most!?"

"Yes? Yes... I learned that the thorns on Yujie are there to make it difficult for anyone to pick it carelessly."

"Ooh! You know something!"

The martial artist, clearly a rose enthusiast, tried to grab my hand but hesitated, thinking of the monkeys. He then looked at Chulsan and said,

"That's great. I heard you haven't decided yet, but if you do, the Clan Head will surely give you the most beautiful Yujie from our clan."

"Really? To me?"

'Ah, it's probably a welcome gesture...'

I knew that Central Plains people like the color red and consider it auspicious. They seemed to use red flowers as a welcome.

However, even if I became a member of the Sachundanga clan, I didn't need to pick a flower unnecessarily.

"Sir, even if I decide to join the clan, you don't have to pick a Yujie for me. Flowers are living things... It wouldn't be right to pick them carelessly."

But something strange happened.

The Sachundanga clan members were smiling. Chulsan, wiping the smile from his face, said seriously,

"No, young swordsman. That's a big misunderstanding. I'm only giving you the Yujie, but you have to pick it yourself. And even if it seems fine now, once you go to Sichuan, you'll want to pick it right away. Don't worry. Just be careful of the thorns."

"Really?"

They were saying something I couldn't understand.

'Does the rose have a meaning I don't know?'

***

The conversation with the Sachundanga clan members ended with an unexpected story.

"Are you saying you will search Hainan Island?"

"Yes. I need to move as soon as I recover. It can't wait."

"Why? Is there something left to find?"

I thought Chulsan would leave for Sichuan as soon as he recovered, but he said he would search Hainan Island as soon as he recovered. When I asked why, he explained with a serious face.

"It's about the Blood-Handed Demon Zhuo Yunyang. He was in seclusion here, practicing martial arts. I need to find his hiding place."

"His hiding place?"

I made a face, wondering why we needed to find the house of a dead man. Chulsan explained,

"The martial art he practiced is called the Blood-Water Poison Claw, a terrifying evil technique. To advance in it, he needs human blood and bone marrow."

"Human blood and bone marrow?"

"Yes. He has to dip his hands in blood and bone marrow and absorb it... It's an evil technique..."

'What kind of crazy martial art is this?'

"If that's the case..."

If the man who practiced this technique had advanced in it, it meant he had committed mass murder. I looked at Chulsan in disbelief, and he nodded.

"Yes. If he left a manual or had disciples, we need to eliminate them to prevent future problems. We need to stop this cruel technique from reappearing in the martial arts world. And if there are any captives, we need to save them."

Indeed, if a technique could turn someone into a serial killer, it should be eliminated, as Chulsan suggested. I nodded, thinking he was more righteous than I had imagined. Chulsan then asked for my help.

"Can you help us? You know the geography of this area."

Indeed, I knew the Hainan jungle well. I nodded at his proposal.

"Sure. I'll help as soon as you recover."

I agreed immediately because this was a decision for a lifetime job. I decided to follow him as if I were an intern, to evaluate the company and the boss, as is the norm.

Moreover, people's true nature often shows when they are in difficult situations. I planned to thoroughly evaluate the Sachundanga clan during this journey.

'Just wait. I'll thoroughly evaluate you.'

After all, competent people conduct reverse interviews.