Beware Of Chicken v7c60: An Uninvited Guest

Bi De raised an eyebrow at the prostrating creature as the Spirit Beast pleaded for his life, repeatedly smacking its forehead against the ground. It was a truly pitiful spectacle.

“Please, refrain. I have no intention of ending your life,” Bi De stated, drawing in his Qi.

Paobu paused, his tear-filled eyes lifting to meet Bi De’s gaze. ‘

“...not unless you dare to attack my home, no,” Bi De responded. They had given him a moniker? “But… why are you present? What compels you to such haste?”

Paobu swallowed. ‘

Bi De took the Spirit Beast in. The Blaze Bear bore large, unsightly lumps beneath its fur—welts the size of handballs oozing poison. Its ribs were starkly visible, indicating prolonged starvation. The fur on its back, where flames normally erupted, was sparse and brittle like dried straw, so thin that the skin showed through. It exuded an overpowering stench of ash and burnt flesh.

Not long prior, Bi De had stood upon these very pillars and observed a community of Spirit Beast rats. They, too, had begged for sanctuary, much like this Spirit Beast now. They had been famished and many bore injuries.

Yet, they had plotted to seize Fa Ram. They had exploited his benevolence and sought to enslave him. It was only thanks to Ri Zu that he was delivered, and at a tremendous cost.

Now, another stood before him, imploring the same. Another Spirit Beast, spinning a narrative of hardship and requesting entry.

Past events dictated he should reject this supplicant. He had been deceived under these precise circumstances once before; and now, he was once again entrusted with his Master’s abode, tasked with its defense against any adversaries.

And yet… he found himself incapable of turning Paobu away, back into the wilderness. As his Master often said, and Bi De knew to be unequivocally true:

It is better to be kind and suffer hurt, than to exist without kindness at all.

“Please approach the gate. Sustenance awaits, and one who can tend to your injuries,” he said, gesturing with his wing and indicating the path along the Great Pillars.

The injured, weakened, and fatigued Spirit Beast looked up at Bi De, his eyes brimming with disbelief. He clearly suspected a ruse for a moment, but Bi De’s Qi was an open book. He conveyed his sincerity to Paobu by turning his back and leading the way. After a brief hesitation, the Blaze Bear slowly followed. Bi De doubted the Blaze Bear possessed the strength to scale the fence in his condition, nor would he likely welcome being hoisted over it.

“Vajra, please apprise everyone of the situation,” he instructed the swarm of bees surrounding them. Vajra’s soldiers were on high alert, their antennae quivering, their gaze fixed on the toxic discharge from Paobu’s wounds.

They flew in formation, spelling out a single word.

Bi De inferred as much, considering the severity of the injuries Paobu had sustained.

These past couple of months had yielded little news from the south. The ‘demons’ had not reappeared, nor had Vajra’s scouts detected their presence on the wind.

But now, their handiwork was evident. Furthermore, the ‘flying demons’ had escalated to a point where they could apparently vanquish Spirit Beasts possessing the power of fire. That was a significant development.

Blaze Bears were indeed formidable bears, but their prowess extended beyond mere size. Their hides resembled armor more than flesh—and their forearms grew so thick and gnarled that the flesh formed natural “bracers” which even cultivators a stage or two superior could scarcely penetrate. Their skin ignited, along with their dorsal fur, earning them the name “Blaze Bears”.

And those forearms, like the rest of his body, were marred with welts. The fiery hairs on its back, besides appearing thin and brittle, seemed to be shorn in patches, as if a legion of tiny blades had ravaged the fur.

They soon reached the gate. Bi De turned to the bear and offered a bow.

“You are welcome in Fa Ram, esteemed guest. No harm shall befall you here while you remain our guest. I, Fa Bi De, pledge it,” Bi De intoned, his Qi once again palpable for the Spirit Beast to perceive.

The Blaze Bear paused at the threshold. It swallowed.

‘

It replied, its voice heavy with exhaustion.

Then, it crossed the threshold. The Blaze Bear had to focus intently on every motion, rendering its reaction to its surroundings subdued. It did not perceive the land of abundance before it; it did not notice the plump, ripe heads of grain; it paid no mind to the fortress now adorned with verdant foliage and blossoms.

Its attention was instead captured by the reception party.

As Paobu passed through the gate, the majority of those remaining at Fa Ram were awaiting their arrival. Yun Ren exhibited concern, his hand resting lightly on his sword. Brother Chun Ke remained in his natural form, while Pi Pa leaned her arm against his side, the pink-haired woman's eyes scanning their surroundings with caution. Spooks stood with an imposing posture, his gaze fixed upon the Spirit Beast. Biyu, Bowu, and Miantiao were still inside the dwelling.

Ri Zu, in her human guise, approached without inquiry, medicine in hand. It was the initial offering from the fresh herbs they had cultivated. Their efforts had been focused on replenishing Fa Ram's depleted medicinal supplies, and Bi De was particularly satisfied with the caliber of their harvest. He had dedicated considerable time to meditating on the Spiritual Herbs, his diligence and commitment finally yielding impressive results.

Paobu flinched as she drew near, recoiling momentarily. For a fleeting instant, he appeared poised to flee.

Ri Zu moderated her pace upon sensing his reaction, exhaling softly. She then extended her arms. "Ri Zu means you no harm," she murmured to him. The Blaze Bear observed her, Ri Zu's Qi emanating an aura solely of benevolence. The Blaze Bear relented, presenting his more grievously wounded flank to her.

Ri Zu's hands moved with practiced speed, and he emitted a low sound of relief as the first application of the medicine began to take effect. He swayed, nearly collapsing.

"You permitted him entry?" Pi Pa inquired, her attention fixed on the Blaze Bear. Her voice was utterly devoid of emotion. She turned to face him, the depth of her blue eyes radiating a chilling coldness.

"I did," Bi De affirmed. "I will remain vigilant against any treachery, but I will not deny aid to one who so clearly requires it until I understand their plight."

She scrutinized his countenance for a moment, perceiving his unwavering determination. The icy resolve in her gaze softened, transforming into an expression that suggested approval.

"A commendable response. I shall commence preparations for a meal for our guest, Master," she announced, executing a bow. She then turned and proceeded toward the house.

Chun Ke paused briefly. "Okay," he stated, in his straightforward and candid manner.

He then followed Pi Pa, assisting her with the meal preparations.

Both Chun Ke and Pi Pa had endured similar hardships in the past, yet neither exhibited any hesitation in attending to their new visitor.

The sole sentiment they conveyed was approval, coupled with an implicit trust. They both believed he would ensure a recurrence of the unfortunate events involving Chow Ji would not happen under his watch.

He resolved to exert his utmost to honor that confidence.

Bi De turned back towards Ri Zu, who was being assisted by Yun Ren. They were guiding the Blaze Bear back to the house to allow Ri Zu to administer further treatment.

"How is he?" Bi De inquired softly in Ri Zu's ear.

"Not optimal," came the direct reply. "He harbors enough venom to fill a drinking vessel; his meridians are severely strained, his Qi is depleted, and his inner flame is faltering… however, Ri Zu anticipates his near-complete recovery within the hour."

The Blaze Bear proceeded with heavy, unsteady steps, appearing disoriented.

"Thank you..." the bear whispered, still astonished that his wounds were being treated, and undoubtedly impressed by the potency of their cultivation.

"We would be grateful if you could recount your experience, once you are capable," Bi De responded. "In the interim, are there any particular foods you favor?"

The bear blinked, again displaying surprise at his question.

"Yes... Meat." he stated after a brief pause.

"I shall endeavor to accommodate your preference," Bi De replied, glancing sideways. Vajra's soldiers stiffened, and he sensed a general feeling of indignation that the Blaze Bear would even voice such a request.

...He would frame it as an enticement, ensuring the Blaze Bear would divulge information. This would likely assuage some of the palpable anger.

They escorted him into the house and settled him onto one of Chun Ke's beanbags, the Blaze Bear sinking into it with a sigh of relief. Ri Zu's hands emanated a medicinal Qi, and poultices were applied to Paobu's injuries. Bi De conveyed the guest's culinary preferences to Pi Pa, who adeptly adjusted her approach. She ignited a robust fire, heavily charring the meat before basting it with a honey glaze.

Bi De recalled from the bestiary scrolls that Blaze Bears typically cooked their food using intense fire. Pi Pa, remembering this detail, replicated the cooking method. To the meat, she added berries and selected vegetables. The rice was cooked in a clay pot until it reached a dark, crispy consistency.

Paobu's eyes widened anew as the meal was presented. Tears welled in the corners of his eyes. He tentatively took a bite of the charred meat and began to weep.

"Delicious..." the Blaze Bear murmured.

"You are alive, and Ri Zu intends for it to remain that way," Ri Zu stated to him, her tone gentle yet resolute.

Paobu gulped, his confusion evident, yet a sense of gratitude touched him. He ate ravenously, exclaiming with delight. The weariness seemed to vanish, transforming him from someone on the verge of collapse to a picture of vitality. Ri Zu had indeed prepared a full jug of poison—its stench, now freed from the masking aroma of ash and fire, caused a tremor of barely suppressed unease among all of Vajra’s bees. Bi De eventually reverted to his human form and gently caressed the Queen until her trembling ceased, at which point another bee took her place after regaining her composure.

Biyu, Bowu, and Miantiao also arrived to observe the Blaze Bear, and Miantiao tilted his head inquisitively.

“Is this… is that the same bear?” the snake inquired, his bewilderment palpable.

“The world can be quite small sometimes,” Bi De offered, while Miantiao simply shook his head in sheer amazement.

Indeed, it seemed destined. They encountered each other with remarkable frequency.

Having eaten his fill, Paobu’s eyes began to grow heavy, succumbing to the effects of the medicinal food. Despite this, the Blaze Bear fought against the encroaching sleepiness.

“Don’t… don’t let me sleep…” he started, his speech slurred.

Bi De raised a calming hand. “Rest now. You can tell us later,” he advised, his tone remarkably gentle.

Paobu complied with Bi De’s counsel. The bear’s eyelids fluttered shut, and he finally succumbed to a well-deserved rest.

Meanwhile, a somber atmosphere permeated the rest of the household.

“Vajra, initiate a large-scale patrol. Extend your reach as far south as possible. I want your scouts operating in groups of no less than ten,” he commanded firmly.

The bee buzzed in acknowledgment, her soldiers echoing with a unified sound of indignation.

“And what about the rest of us?” Yun Ren inquired.

“The rest of us will stand by, for the moment. We must wait until Paobu awakens, and only then will we understand the full scope of our enemy’s power.”