"Hmm?"
At Snow Kui's frantic accusation, Morax only paused for a moment before understanding what the little yaksha was referring to.
"That fledgling crane with newly awakened intelligence."
"You better not have stewed it!"
Snow Kui was anxious. People always say newborn creatures attach to whomever they see first—but when the newborn reaches toward you with its first glimmer of awareness, that feeling is no less than witnessing a flower bloom or a sprout break through winter snow.
His bond with the crane wasn't one-sided—it was mutual.
The crane had followed him down the mountain. Even if Snow Kui didn't fully grasp what "responsibility" meant, instinctively he wanted to protect it.
If Morax had harmed the crane… Snow Kui would probably throw himself into a real death match right here and now.
Morax, however, sounded utterly helpless.
"What part of me looks like someone who eats everything he sees?"
He sighed.
"It's fine. I've taken it as my student."
Snow Kui relaxed—only to immediately scowl again.
"Hey! I was the one who found it first. It's my junior! I should be the one teaching it!"
"You?"
Morax scanned him from head to toe. He didn't say a word, but Snow Kui felt as though he'd been insulted in every possible language.
"Humph! And what exactly would you teach it? What can you teach?"
Snow Kui froze.
He did know a lot of things… but none of them were suitable.
Medicine—cranes don't need human treatments.
Life-force manipulation—Snow Kui himself learned through instinctual trial and error.
Tracing one's origin to the true form—the crane already was its true form.
Elemental manipulation—what element did the crane even use?
Understanding the power of "Principles"—he himself had just barely grasped its edge. How could he teach it to a creature whose awareness had only just awakened?
Morax delivered the final blow with leisurely cruelty.
"That crane needs to learn to transform, to understand mortal knowledge, to master basic immortal techniques. Do you know any of that?"
"Uh…"
"Do you understand how to teach? Or would you rather ruin its future?"
"…guh…"
A small, wounded-beast whine escaped Snow Kui's throat.
He collapsed to his knees, all color draining from his soul. In this vibrant world, he turned into a little pale, wilted lump.
Morax had never felt so refreshed.
Ah… bliss.
Defeating him by words feels better than hitting him.
He could not stop the satisfied smile forming on his face—until he noticed the four yaksha staring at him with strange, judgmental expressions.
Morax abruptly coughed.
Right. He was the dignified Geo Archon. Bickering with a child was… undignified.
He collected himself.
"When the crane completes its transformation and gains proper understanding, I will allow it to leave and meet you again."
Color slowly returned to Snow Kui—joy for a heartbeat, then immediate despair.
He slumped forward, hugging a random one-person-tall rock as if it were a gravestone of his dignity.
"At that time… I still won't be able to teach anything. My image as a great senior… ruined… gone forever…"
Morax and the four yaksha stared at him wordlessly.
This child… is exhausting.
Morax genuinely began wondering if maybe—just maybe—it was better to keep the crane on his side forever.
But then he remembered Guizhong. If Guizhong interfered, there would be no problem.
…Probably.
Snow Kui suddenly jerked upright, a thought flashing across his face. He rose into the air—easily, naturally. No wings, just effortless levitation.
He jabbed his elbow into Morax's humanoid form.
The yaksha all froze.
The Geo Archon didn't react.
Their eyes widened.
—He touched the Archon. And lived.
Was the rumor true?
Is this child… something Morax created?
Snow Kui wore a sly grin.
"You've always said you need more manpower, right? I found something outside—seems like it's almost as strong as you. Want to check it out?"
Morax raised a brow.
"Oh?"
Snow Kui's face was practically screaming heh heh heh, but for Morax—someone claiming to be on his level?
Impossible to ignore.
"Lead the way."
"Yes, Your Excellency the Great Archon."
Snow Kui cheerfully took the lead, face twisting into pure malicious glee once his back was turned.
Let the cave monster and the old dragon beat each other to death!
Whoever loses—I win. If both lose… even better!
They arrived at the medical herb cave Snow Kui once explored. Morax didn't need Snow Kui's reminder—he sensed something unusual the moment they reached the entrance.
However, the size was… inconvenient.
Morax's dragon form was not exactly cave-friendly.
"How will you enter?"
Snow Kui looked smug.
"With shapeshifting. Watch closely—and learn."
With a passing glance at the yaksha boy, golden light wrapped the Geo Archon's entire body. His massive dragon form shrank, reshaped, compressed into a humanoid silhouette.
The light faded.
Standing there was a tall figure—stern, composed, dark brown hair falling to his waist, golden eyes carrying the weight of the earth. He wore only a white cloth draped into the shape of clothing, his presence overwhelming even without armor.
Snow Kui stared at his height. Then at the cave entrance.
If you were any taller, you wouldn't fit, old man.
Before Snow Kui could warn him properly, Morax had already stepped into the cave.
"Wait—inside there's—"
The cave trembled.
A tidal wave of shattered rock exploded toward them.
Snow Kui immediately formed an ice spear. Morax didn't even bother—he flicked one finger, and two shields blossomed from golden light, one around himself and one around Snow Kui.
The incoming stones slammed against the shield without leaving so much as a ripple.
Snow Kui scratched his head.
"…so you can be reliable when you're on my side."
Morax walked deeper into the cave without looking back.
The real monster awaited them further inside.
And Snow Kui could barely contain his excitement.
This was going to be fun.
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