Crash! The shattered window frame pitifully tumbled to the ground. Thud! Seo Ryang instinctively rolled under the bed, his eyes catching a glimpse of a feather that seemed to shimmer between red and blue.
"A feather?!" Screech! A sound so piercing it felt like his eardrums would burst. Seo Ryang turned his head toward the source of the noise, only to widen his eyes in shock at the sight of "something" there.
Flap! The violent flapping of wings blurred his vision. The creature's legs were sturdy, ending in sharp claws, and its wings were enormous—each one as large as a child's torso. Seo Ryang's mouth hung open.
"What kind of bird...?" No, it wasn't a bird! "What the hell is that?!" His eyes bulged like a bull's.
Yes, the creature that had suddenly smashed through the window and made his heart race wasn't a bird. "...A chicken?" And not just any chicken—a massive one. But this was no ordinary chicken. No ordinary chicken could exude such an overwhelming presence.
Whoosh! The creature waddled awkwardly, its gaze fixed on him. Its eyes, a mix of blue and ferocity, were enough to give anyone a phobia of birds. The intensity in its gaze rivaled that of a wild beast.
Seo Ryang was dumbfounded. "Am I really being attacked by a chicken...?" He was at a loss for words.
Tap tap tap! The sound of its claws scraping the floor echoed multiple times as it took a step to the side. Flap flap flap! The threatening sound of its wings flapping was overwhelming, far beyond what a single pair of wings could produce. The wind pressure alone was intense.
And then... Dangle dangle. Its head, held high, stared directly at him. On either side of its main head hung two other heads, their eyes peacefully closed, exuding an aura of tranquility.
Seo Ryang stared at the bizarre creature, his mouth agape. "Six legs, three wings, and three heads... What the hell is this? Some kind of mutant chicken from the underworld?"
Its feathers glistened with a glossy sheen, and its claws looked strong enough to tear through iron. Its eyes, fixed on him, were so intense that it was hard to tell if they belonged to a human or a beast.
This grotesque, oversized mutant chicken was so bizarre that Seo Ryang felt his mind spinning. "What the hell is going on...? Am I dreaming?" No, that couldn't be. He was the legendary assassin known as the "Number One Killer Under Heaven." He wouldn't confuse reality with a dream.
Tap tap tap! Seo Ryang's eyes flickered. The chicken lowered its head, scraping the floor with its claws. Its ferocious gaze made its intent to attack crystal clear.
"Damn it!" Seo Ryang urgently reached for a piece of the shattered window frame on the bed.
Screech! At the same time, the chicken let out a chilling cry and charged at him. Its speed was incredible—like a leopard pouncing on its prey.
This was no time to hesitate. Seo Ryang's eyes blazed with determination. "Heavenly Net Six Paths Technique!" Zing! The world around him seemed to slow down.
Clang! Ma Dongpil glanced over his shoulder. The large sack he carried contained over a dozen weapons. Though not masterpieces, they were crafted by skilled artisans.
"This should be enough," he thought to himself, though he couldn't help but wonder, "But why does he need so many weapons?"
He had already gathered information about the Third Prince. It was said that the prince primarily wielded a sword, excelling in both strength and speed, and had already established himself as a master swordsman.
"Perhaps holding a weapon might help him regain his memories," Ma Dongpil mused. That's why he had included four swords of varying lengths. Though, considering the prince's violent past, he wasn't sure if regaining those memories was a good thing.
"No, I shouldn't think like that. I'm just his bodyguard. I can't let personal feelings interfere," he reminded himself.
He pulled out a small piece of paper from his pocket. "We have enough water, food supplies for a month, and plenty of clothing." It was fortunate that the Joyful Court had provided so much. The Solitary Bamboo Forest was too dangerous to survive in without proper supplies.
"At least we don't have to worry about daily necessities," Ma Dongpil thought, feeling somewhat relieved. "But being a mere bodyguard isn't enough."
He couldn't bring along a weak maid. She wouldn't survive, and she wouldn't even qualify to enter the Solitary Bamboo Forest. In the end, taking care of the Third Prince fell entirely on his shoulders.
"Maybe it's better this way. It's less troublesome if I handle everything myself," he thought.
Thud! Ma Dongpil's steps suddenly halted. "..." A breeze blew, carrying with it a thick scent of blood from deep within the forest.
His face instantly turned pale. Whoosh! With urgent movements, he dashed through the bamboo forest, the trees whizzing past him.
"Your Highness!" he shouted, his voice echoing loudly. In a place as dangerous as the Solitary Bamboo Forest, shouting like this was unwise. Even a simple voice could carry far, let alone one infused with internal energy.
But Ma Dongpil had forgotten all that. Right now, nothing else mattered. "Your Highness! Your Highness!!" Whoosh! Whoosh! He ran as fast as he could.
Before long, the City Bamboo Courtyard, the residence within the Solitary Bamboo Forest, came into view. The stone walls were shattered, and the window frame of the prince's room was in pieces.
Whoosh! In an instant, Ma Dongpil leaped over the broken wall, his eyes bloodshot. "Your Highness! Where are you...?"
"Call me Seo Gongja," a calm voice replied. Thud! Ma Dongpil quickly slowed his momentum mid-air.
"Oh? Not bad," the voice remarked. Clatter! Ma Dongpil hastily dropped the weapons and looked toward the courtyard.
There, Seo Ryang sat on a bench, covered in blood, waving his hand. "You're here."
"Y-Your Highness! Are you alright?" "Call me Seo Gongja." Seo Ryang's face looked extremely fatigued.
Ma Dongpil hesitated as he approached. Beside the bench lay a massive bird, also covered in blood. Its body was pierced with shards of the window frame, teacup fragments, and even a pickaxe.
"...Cang Fu." "Is that the name of this chicken-headed thing?" "Ah, yes. But first, let's tend to your wounds..." "It's not my blood." "Huh?" Ma Dongpil was stunned.
It was true. Though Seo Ryang's body was stained with blood, aside from a few scratches, he was completely unharmed. His pale complexion was likely due to exhaustion, but considering he had faced such a monstrous bird, it was nothing short of miraculous.
Ma Dongpil was inwardly shocked. "How...?" He knew Seo Ryang was in good health, but that was only by the standards of an ordinary person. His internal energy was minimal, practically negligible.
"...Did you really take it down alone?" "Who else is here?" It was a valid point, but that made it even harder to believe.
Cang Fu was as dangerous as a leopard. And yet, a man with only slightly above-average health had taken it down. Judging by the traces, Cang Fu had even ambushed him, making it all the more unbelievable.
"Mr. Ma." Ma Dongpil looked at Seo Ryang. Shiver! His back instantly broke out in a cold sweat, and his legs felt weak.
The look in Seo Ryang's eyes was similar to when he had spoken to him two days ago—no, even more sinister now, having smelled the blood. The faint killing intent within those transparent eyes was overwhelming.
Ma Dongpil swallowed hard. "Those eyes..." The oppressive feeling he got from just a glance was similar to when he had met the Sect Leader or the Grand Protector. No, in some ways, it was even more intense. While the Sect Leader exuded authority, the Third Prince radiated a primal ferocity.
It felt as if he might plunge a knife into his own throat at any moment. It was as if this was his true nature—a terrifying presence.
"I need an explanation. How do you know about this chicken-headed thing? What kind of place is this Solitary Bamboo Forest? Tell me everything." Ma Dongpil closed his eyes tightly. He couldn't bear to face the prince.
"This place..." Ma Dongpil began his explanation with great difficulty.
The Solitary Bamboo Forest. A natural demonic forest that had existed long before the Heavenly Demon Sect established its base here. The bamboo here possessed unparalleled wood energy, and the air was pure due to the dense spiritual energy concentrated within. The spiritual energy here was thicker than that of any famous mountain in the world.
The strange thing was that this spiritual energy didn't spread outward. It circulated only within the boundaries of this bamboo forest. Over time, the spiritual energy within the forest became more concentrated, enriching the natural energy.
And over the countless years, the spiritual energy that had been circulating within the forest didn't remain just as energy. "Thanks to the concentrated spiritual energy, not only the wood energy but also the earth energy has been amplified. That's why the bamboo here is exceptionally thick and sturdy."
"But their lifespan seems very short." "You're exactly right. The growth rate of bamboo shoots here is several times faster than ordinary bamboo. That's how the forest sustains itself. And..." "And?" "Some of the bamboo here possesses power beyond just growing thick and sturdy."
Seo Ryang's eyes lit up. "Do they become rare medicinal herbs?" "More precisely, they are both poison and elixirs. The spiritual energy is so dense that without undergoing dozens of refining processes, the human body can't withstand it."
Ma Dongpil bowed his head. "Over half of the demonic pills our sect produces are made from bamboo harvested here in the Solitary Bamboo Forest." Seo Ryang's mouth hung open like a fish. "What? So you can mass-produce elixirs?" "That's impossible." "Why?"
Ma Dongpil glanced at the bloodied Cang Fu. Seo Ryang's gaze followed. "Most of the bamboo suitable for medicine is concentrated deep within the forest. The problem is the existence of spirit beasts and demonic creatures that guard it."
"...You mean these things?" "Yes. This is the weakest of them." "The weakest? There are stronger ones?" "Cang Fu is the lowest-tier creature. Even mid-tier demonic creatures are strong enough to rival peak martial artists."
"..." Ma Dongpil sighed. "That's why, twice a year, the Grand Protector and other high-ranking members of our sect come here to harvest spiritual bamboo. The deepest parts of the Solitary Bamboo Forest are so dangerous that even they must be cautious."
"I see." "Of course, even this area isn't completely safe. But it's the safest place within the Solitary Bamboo Forest. It's not the season for Cang Fu to be active, so my negligence has put you in danger."
Ma Dongpil knelt down solemnly. "Please kill me." "It's fine. Just do better next time, man." "...Thank you." "No need for thanks. So this place is that dangerous, huh?"
Seo Ryang tilted his head, then suddenly realized something and blinked. Wait a minute. "Then why did the Sect Leader send me to such a place...?" "..." "What the hell?"
Ma Dongpil's face turned awkward. "That's disrespectful to the Sect Leader..." "Shut up!" "Yes, sir."
Seo Ryang's face turned red with anger. This bastard! He didn't just lock me up—he threw me into a death trap! Did I commit treason or something? What the hell did I do wrong, you crazy devil?!
Growl. "..." An awkward silence fell. Seo Ryang and Ma Dongpil's eyes met in mid-air.
"Mr. Ma." "Yes, Seo Gongja." "Do you have a pot?" "Of course. But why do you need a pot all of a sudden...?" Seo Ryang looked down at the dead Cang Fu.
Ma Dongpil, who had been tilting his head in confusion, froze as he realized what Seo Ryang meant. "Boil some water and pick a few bamboo shoots. I'll handle the preparation." Seo Ryang licked his lips. "We'll talk more while we eat."