The Yuanrang Monster Hunter
16. Qiong Qi (1)
“Before, there is something I want to talk about,” said Yudhistira, “We do not think that the strigoi in the cave turned out to be neutral and good. To be sure, do not let the villagers and all know the details. Only we and the ruler can know.”
“Includes Xing Lian?” Said Mengde.
“Includes Xing Lian,” firmly Yudhistira.
“Then, we just tell Xing Lian and the soldiers escorting her that we haven't finished those two freaks,” Yuanrang said, “My sentence is indeed honest right? We haven't finished them. If Xing Lian asks more specifically, we'll just answer the situation inside is very dark. Even the light of Mengde's fire was hard to reach. Let's just report that we killed the centipede.”
“The problem is, has Xing Lian already told the villagers that there is something there besides centipedes?” ask Miaocai.
“Xing Lian told me that she hasn't told me. After your letter reached me, I warned Xing Lian not to tell the villagers to panic. At maximum, only Xing Lian's bodyguards know,” Yudhistira said.
“Good, then,” said Yuanrang, “But today is not exciting, huh?”
“Why not exciting?” ask Mengde.
“No fight. We only act like insect baby exterminators,” said Yuanrang.
Miaocai hits Yuanrang's back, “Stupid. You'd rather have something hard, huh? Got an easy situation even ungrateful!”
“You were the same as lukanthropos last night, Yuanrang!” said Mengde, “If there is a difficult road, why should you choose an easy path?”
“If we fight, we can get more lessons right?” Yuanrang.
“Hey, hey, hey, stop the silly debate, you guys. If the subject is a lesson, did you also learn how to dig information, ensure, equalize interests and negotiate?” the words of Yudhishthira had just silenced three of his disciples.
Four warriors continued on their way home. Yudhishthira told his disciples to think about strategy and devise a trap to deal with the giant serpent. While Yudhistira thought to devise some persuasive sentences. In order for the ruler to agree cooperation with the strigoi of the Roman Empire. Including supporting and keeping their secrets. In Yudhishthira's heart, there was a bit of regret as well. The Indian man rarely gives material on political lobbies, interrogations, negotiations and such. During this time, it was mostly just a way of fighting, types of monsters and fighting strategies.
Before long there was the sound of horse racing coming from the north of the forest. At first the warriors did not care much. Probably just someone looking for a shortcut through the forest. They also do not warn. After all, giant centipedes and baby centipedes have become all carcasses. But as the horseman approached, a voice called for help was heard. In addition, it is also more clearly visible appearance. Horsemen covered in blood. His skin and body suffered injuries. He stopped the horse in front of the warriors. His mentality looks chaotic. His right hand was still grasping the handle of the spear which had already lost its tip.
“Please! Please help us!” said the man covered in blood.
“Down and sit down!” Yudhistira.
The blood-soaked man sat down and was calmed down by the warriors. Yuanrang looked at the back of this person. There were scratches that formed like claws. Although curious, Yuanrang gave a drink before he spoke. All the warriors swarmed the bloodied people. He still did not speak due to gasping. His eyes were filled with terror and fear.
“Hey, hey, set your breath,” says Mengde, “Why did you get a blood bath like this?”
“All ... Se-se-all my friends ... Dead,” said the man.
“Hey, hey, slow down? Explain what kind of animal hurt your back!” Yuanrang.
“Don't be too fast, Yuanrang,” said Miaocak, “At the very least, we know who he is.”
“I ... I live in p-p-per-hill. Lang Xue Hill. My name ... My name ... Jintao,” says this guy named Jintao.
“Miaocai, take care of all the wounds!” yudhistira's orders.
Yuanrang tried to analyze him. As far as Yuanrang was concerned, there were no settlements on the Lang Xue hill. It was named Lang Xue because it linguistically means wolf nest. Where there are humans living on a hill full of such beasts. If there is, at most only a herd of bandits. And indeed if you look from the face and fashion, this man is clearly a bandit.
Since Jintao still looked panicked, Yuanrang asked, “What is chasing you now is quite close?”
“Not ... No ... It doesn't seem .. The creature massacred my friends and me ... I ... Escape ...,” says Jintao, “I ... Tak ... No ... Not to be torn to shreds. S-se-it looks like .. the monster is still in .. d-d-in ... Lang Xue.”
“Then don't panic too much, right? You can explain to us,” said Yuanrang, “Nih drink first to calm your mind.”
After drinking and the panic was slightly reduced, Jintao continued, “We were attacked by strange creatures. It is tiger-like, horned and has one large wing on its back like a bird on its right side. The tail is hard as wood. Surprisingly, he could talk like a human.
“Oh, the creature,” says Yudhistira, “How much is it?”
“Only one. Although only one, its destructive ability is not main,” said Jintao.
“Teacher know?” ask Mengde.
“I have twice killed such monsters,” said Yudhistira who then turned back to Jintao, “Name tiger must be skinned, right? Explain to me, orange or red motive?”
“No! This is not a tiger!” Jintao shook his head, “Where is the horned tiger, winged and able to talk?? Very different!”
“Iya, yes. Just explain it to me! Orange or red?”
“Orange and there is black. Like tigers in general.”
“Easy you said? You ... how ...,” said Jintao, “We who tens of people just killed without mercy. How could you ..”
Yudhistira just smiled and cut off the confusion of Jintao, “I told you earlier. I have experience with this creature and have killed two tails.”
“You bandit, yes?” yuanrang said suddenly. Just give the analysis results earlier.
“Ti ... No ... No ... I just ...,” says Jintao, “Only ordinary residents.”
“First, It is clear from your appearance that you wear all yellow clothes. Secondly, there were many wolves in the Lang Xue Hills. There is no way that people and humans can survive in a wolf-filled environment. Unless there are 'dozens' of people who are trained to fight and ready to face a pack of wolves. Third, you adorn every leg of your horse with a yellow cloth. I know very well which bandit group you are from. I only just found out that your group has been hiding there,” said Yuanrang who made Jintao's eyes widen, “Now tell me, Jintao. How many innocent people died in your hands??”
“I ... I-i-i ... Never kill innocent citizens!!!”
“Perhaps, your friends did not escape the horned tiger's karma. But you got away. The problem, good or bad karma, will always follow,” Yuanrang also unsheathed the sword, “I am the one who became your karma.”
“Please! Please! I'm just a cook and an arrow maker!” jintao's word is restless, “Please! I've never been to my friends' operations.”
Yudhistira snorted, “Stop scaring him and enter your sword again, Yuanrang!!”
Yuanrang laughed and obeyed the orders of his teacher, “Good, Master.”
“What happened to your group leader, Jintao?” Yudhistira.
“The tiger's pointed horn ripped the stomach and its contents came out all,” Jintao said.
“When the attack occurred and where did the tiger come from?” ask Miaocai.
“When the new sun rises. Three hours ago,” said Jintao, “He came from north.”
The atmosphere is now quite quiet. The warriors seemed to be immersed in his own thoughts. Jintao repeatedly looked to the north. The fear of being able to be the horned tiger attacked by tracking the smell of blood. His name is animal, Jintao thinks that all dogs and cats must have a strong sense of smell. Miaocai's question broke the silence.
“Hey, hey, I asked you. Can you turn into a werewolf?” Miaocai.
“Haaaaaahhh?” jintao.
Yuarang's laughter exploded upon hearing Miaocai's question and Jintao's confused expression. Miaocai asked like that because last night there was a bandit-like human capable of turning into a wolf. Maybe Miaocai is still traumatized by last night. Whereas Jintao, who probably never faced such an oddity, was of course confused. Even Miaocai's questions seem far beyond ordinary human logic. How can a human be turned into a wolf?
“I don't know what you're talking about,” said Jintao, “But, one of my colleagues saw a wolf that stood like a human one month ago. I think, he's either looking wrong or sleepy or somehow.”
“Hmmm, there's been movement since a month ago, huh? But that's what we'll talk about later. Our priority is to kill this monster,” said Yudhistira, “Low, Miaocai listen to all my orders. First, please take Jintao to Xing Lian. Second, do not forget to take off all the yellow cloths on the legs of the horse. Do not let the soldiers kill him. Talk to the soldiers if he's under my protection. I need him to make arrows. Our stock of arrows has been greatly reduced. Third, bring five horses at once here. Fourth, get Xing Lian on our mission and bring all the remaining stock of arrows. Four horses for us and one for Xing Lian. We will wait here.”
“Ready, Master Yudhistira,” said Miaocai who immediately did all the orders of her teacher. Then hurry up and leave everything behind.
“What do teachers know about Qiong Qi?” ask Yuanrang.
Yudhistira also explained Qiong Qi. Qiong Qi is one of the mythological creatures of Chinese mythology that is tiger-headed, horned and winged. Troublesome meat-eating animals. The population of Qiong Qi was extremely rare and not completely of this world. I can think and talk like a human. This was what made Qiong Qi dangerous. Often symbolized by defenders of crime. Even Qiong Qi provoked criminals and sinners to commit crimes more and more. Qiong Qi hated honest people and often ate the noses of honest and fair people. There were many types of Qiong Qi. The one attacking the bandit headquarters in the Lang Xue Hills was the weakest type. Usually the skin color is orange. If the red one is able to spout fire and more troublesome.
“That I was confused, Qiong Qi whom Jintao met only had one wing on his right back. Unlike the description of the teacher who should have a pair of wings,” said Mengde.
“Possibly someone cut it,” said Yudhistira, “If it is only one person, it means that the person who managed to cut it is very great. If a group of people, in a certain number, somehow the number of people killed Qiong Qi.”
“At least, if Qiong Qi had already lost one of its wings, it would not be able to fly well,” Yuanrang said.
“Qiong Qi is coming from the north. Centipede comes from the north. The giant snake we are about to hit seems to be coming from the north as well. The river flow from the north,” said Yudhistira, “I'm getting curious what's going on in the north?”
“Say Jintao and his own teacher, Qiong Qi can speak like a human,” Yuanrang said, “Later can we interrogate him to find out what is going on in the north and the motive of the creature attacking the Lang Xue Hills?”
“Iya. There are two reasons why we should do this Qiong Qi. First, to find information in accordance with Yuanrang's idea earlier. Although I doubt this beast can be cooperated with,” laughs Yudhistira, “Second, we seize the hideout of the bandits from Qiong Qi. We can use it to hide the new Livilla. Jintao said, dozens of those bandits had already been slaughtered. Maybe there are only a few left. But it was already being driven away by Qiong Qi. Now, the hiding status of the bandits belonged to Qiong Qi.”
“Sure Qiong Qi is partying with dozens of bandit corpses,” Mengde said.
“Situation is still very early in the morning,” says Yudhistira, “Enough optimal for hunting!”
As soon as Miaocai and Xing Lian appeared with the four horses, the warriors immediately set off. They're moving north. Through a very shady and cool forest. Although the centipedes were dead, the strigoi turned out well and the lukanthropos had disappeared, the warriors remained vigilant. Because who knows this forest still holds a mystery that lurks from behind bushes, bamboo, pine trees, rocks and tall grass. This thought is not without reason. Whoever they are dealing with now, the influence has reached this forest.
The vigilance of the warriors loosened a little when coming out of the forest. The gently moving clump was blown away by the wind. As if creating the impression of a peaceful and serene atmosphere. They saw a vast grassland. The expanse of grassland in the north of the forest was vast. As far as the eye could see, a sea of green grass stretched out. Almost all grass is short. So that they could see the Lang Xue hill that was far to the north. The sky on the north side of the Lang Xue hills was deep blue. Some parts are covered by white clouds that clump. The clouds moved slowly across the sky. Creating a shadow of the cloud on the ground. Unfortunately, there are no land animals here. It may have been eaten by giant centipedes and lukanthropos. There are only flying animals. Yuanrang looked at the sky. He saw an eagle flying so beautifully. The sound of birds chirping adds to the calmness of the heart. Yuanrang felt like sleeping here until afternoon. Unfortunately, now is not the time for sightseeing.
“Teacher, approximately how long will we reach Lang Xue Hill?” yuanrang said, “I can't wait to see Qiong Qi.”
“Say Jintao, twenty-five minutes left,” replied Yudhistra.