A new arrival…
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Ch. 10 | The White Hound Tribe
After drinking his morning tea, Song Lin seemed much recovered and asked Styx, ‘How is the assignment that we gave the beast trappers in the North going so far?’
‘Ah yes, I was just about to tell you, Second Master. Among the many spirit beasts they’ve caught, there’s one that’s quite promising.’
‘Oh? What is it?’
‘It’s a white dog.’
‘What’s so special about it?’
‘It was Ah Si who came specially to tell me about it. He asked me to take you to the storehouse to have a look personally.’
Song Lin put down his tea bowl and nodded.
Dandan had just wolfed down two roasted lamb legs in the kitchen when he saw Song Lin and Styx heading towards the storehouse. He scratched his head thoughtfully.
The storehouse is where they keep spirit beasts. Could they be going there now because the beast trappers have brought back some new spirit beasts?
Spurred on by curiosity, he followed them.
When Song Lin and Styx arrived at the storehouse, Ah Si was already waiting there. There was only one spirit beast in the storehouse. It was not bound by any of the beast trapper’s tools nor did it have any ‘Seal’ paper talismans on its body. It just stood there tamely¹, the picture of agreeable docility.
Ah Si saluted hastily when he saw Song Lin.
Song Lin glanced at the white dog and asked, ‘Where did you capture it?’
‘In the Fascinating Forest in the north.’
The White Hounds were unique among spirit beasts for being gregarious and they lived together, forming a tribe. The Fascinating Forest in the north was their territory.
Styx asked, ‘Why is this white hound here all by itself then?’
‘Your Excellency Styx, the White Hound Tribe was actually all but exterminated by the Gu Tribe several months ago. He was the sole survivor and was on the verge of death when the beast trappers found him. They brought him back here and fed him after which he recovered slightly.’
‘Why isn’t he being restrained by any Seal talismans?’
‘Your Excellency Styx, according to the beast trappers, he came willingly with them.’
‘Willingly?’ Styx walked over to the white hound, asking, ‘Can you transform?’
The white hound nodded, never taking its gaze off Song Lin the whole time.
‘Show us,’ Styx said.
A halo of light flared around the white hound’s body and after it faded, a dark-haired youth stood before them in the nude. The youth looked a little nervous but his gaze still remained locked on Song Lin.
Styx noticed it and questioned, ‘Out with it then, why were you willing to come to the Song Manor?’
The dark-haired youth raised his arm slowly and pointed at Song Lin. ‘Because I wanted to see him…’
Styx looked at Song Lin with an expression that clearly said: … Young Master, exactly how many wild oats have you been sowing outside?
Song Lin said, ‘… I don’t know who he is.’
This was true, at least on Song Lin’s part, after a mental review yielded no corresponding memories.
This statement was like a basin of icy-cold water thrown on the dark-haired youth. His eyelashes quivered and there was a look of deep disappointment on his face as he said, ‘Master Song has probably forgotten but you were the one who saved us when the Gu Tribe invaded the Fascinating Forest years ago.’
¹ 好端端 hǎoduānduān. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
At the mention of this matter, a vague impression resurfaced in Song Lin’s mind, a very long time ago…
Well, as in roughly about five to six years back when he had accompanied his older brother to the Fascinating Forest to obtain magic weapons but had found themselves lost for three days and nights. Instead, they had chanced upon a battle to exterminate a tribe as the Gu Tribe launched a surprise attack on the White Hound Tribe. They were initially disinclined to get involved in affairs that were none of their concern, but after thinking about how they wouldn’t be able to leave anytime soon, why not do something to kill time, hence they had helped to drive off the Gu Tribe. The Elders of the White Hound Tribe had treated them with reverence, offering treasures and beauties, but he and his brother had refused them all and only asked for a little white hound to guide them out of the Fascinating Forest.
So then it would seem…
He said to the dark-haired youth, ‘You were the little white dog who showed us the way out back then?’
The dark-haired youth looked dazed suddenly before excitement began to dawn in his eyes. His voice quivered as he said, ‘You… you still remember me…’
‘Just a little.’
The dark-haired youth looked ready to cry at this.
‘What’s your name?’ Styx asked.
‘Troy…’
‘Your entire tribe is dead?’
‘Yes, killed by the Gu Tribe.’
‘… They seem to be quite obsessed with your tribe. A sneak attack six years ago wasn’t enough to satisfy them, they had to try again six years later.’
Song Lin turned to ask Ah Si, ‘Can you tell what spiritual calibre he is?’
Ah Si replied, ‘Young Master, this spirit beast is a Silver.’
When they heard this, Song Lin and Styx both looked taken aback.
Styx circled round Troy, scrutinising him.
‘It’s been a long time since we saw a Silver, Young Master.’
Spirit beasts were classed according to five different spiritual calibres: those beasts who had not yet become aware of their own spiritual power were ranked as ‘Chrysalis’. After realisation of their powers, the lowest to highest calibres respectively were ‘Bronze’, ‘Silver’, ‘Supreme’, and ‘Godlike’. Beast trappers who were groomed by the Five Great Houses received special training so their skills and techniques were better than freelance beast trappers. Even so, it was very difficult for them to capture any beast above a Bronze. In general, any beasts ranked higher than Bronze were either subjugated by powerful Guardians or else they were in hiding deep in the mountains and all but impossible to find. This white hound was thus a most pleasant surprise.
Styx said to Song Lin, ‘Young Master, could I speak with you for a moment?’
Song Lin then walked with him to a corner.
‘Young Master, however you look at it, this white hound looks a lot more reliable than that rabbit. To begin with, his identity is clear-cut: the sole descendant of the White Hound Tribe of the Fascinating Forest, whereas that rabbit is of dubious background, not to mention he was found on that dangerous deserted Dragon Ridge so he can’t really be trusted. Secondly, this white hound’s spiritual calibre is Silver, a rarity even among the Five Great Houses, thus taking him along to the Guardians’ Tournament will be a major advantage. That rabbit’s spiritual calibre is still a mystery even until now and not even Ah Si can place him. We can’t rule out his being a snake in the grass. The Guardians’ Tournament is taking place very soon but your spirit beast and rare weapon have yet to be finalised². I’m afraid that it’ll be hard to account for it to Eldest Master…’
Song Lin was silent for a while before saying, ‘Have the eastern side rooms tidied so that this white hound can stay there for the time being.’
‘Understood.’
He walked over to Troy. ‘There’ll be some clothes made for you later so you can go back to your original state first.’
Troy nodded happily upon hearing this before transforming back into his animal self and creeping over to Song Lin’s feet.
Seeing this, Ah Si said, ‘Second Master, Your Excellency Styx, if there’s nothing else, I’ll just leave first.’
‘Yes, you may go.’
² 塵埃落定 chén’āiluòdìng. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Ah Si walked out of the storehouse and bumped right into the eavesdropping Dandan.
‘Hey, it’s been a while,’ Dandan greeted him directly.
‘You are…?’ Ah Si had never seen his human form before and looked at him for a while. At last, he recognised him from the soft, long ears that were twitching slightly. ‘Dandan?’
‘Yup, it’s me.’
Ah Si was pleasantly surprised. ‘You’re the talk of the town lately. You actually killed the tiger-crocodile which the Song clan was using as a trial by fire for their spirit beasts.’
‘… Eh?’ Dandan rubbed his nose. ‘That was an accident…’
‘On Dragon Ridge, I sensed that you had the spiritual power of a Supreme calibre beast but my uncle said that you were only a very weak rabbit. I thought I had sensed wrongly, but you were actually able to kill the tiger-crocodile. Could it be that you’re really a Supreme?’
‘No, no, no… I was able to kill the tiger-crocodile mainly because of Second Master’s Blood Weapon. It had nothing to do with my own spiritual power.’
Ah Si looked at him, half-believing, half-doubting³. ‘Really?’
Feeling a little bit of a fraud under that gaze, Dandan asked, ‘Um, what’s that in the storehouse?’
‘Oh, that’s a new spirit beast brought back by the Northerners. Second Master seems to like it very much and is planning to make a pact with it.’
‘… What?’ Dandan was stunned. Song Lin… is going to make a pact with someone else?
He stuck his head into the warehouse and saw a small white dog at Song Lin’s heels, which kept running round his feet and occasionally rubbed its head against Song Lin’s ankle, whining happily. Looking at this docile animal which had the same coat of soft white fur like he did caused Dandan to feel threatened for the first time ever in his life…
Don’t tell me this is Song Lin’s new pet? Goddammit, he has a new favourite already? Utterly shameless.
³ 將信將疑 jiāngxìn-jiāngyí. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
Feeling a scorching hot gaze directed at him, Song Lin looked over at the door only to see Dandan leaning against it, glaring at him resentfully.
He quirked an eyebrow in silent question: something the matter?
Dandan puffed out his cheeks and pointed at him: You! Then he crooked a finger: C’mere.
Song Lin hesitated for a while but then really did go over obediently. The little white dog wanted to follow him but was stopped by Styx.
‘What the heck is that in there?’
Song Lin and Dandan faced each other directly at the door. Despite being shorter by a full head, the latter still held his head high and was no less imposing in manner.
Although he was the one being grilled, Song Lin did not appear offended and even answered obligingly, ‘A new spirit beast brought back by the trappers.’
‘You like that fellow?’
Struck by how Dandan’s attitude resembled that of a first wife demanding answers, Song Lin couldn’t help feeling amused. He covered his hand with his mouth, hiding the smile playing there and coughed lightly. ‘I just met him so it’s too early to talk about liking him.’
‘… Meaning that given time, you’ll come to like him, is that it?’
Song Lin stroked his chin thoughtfully. ‘He is my cup of tea looks-wise.’
Dandan paused and then was about to say something but Song Lin immediately followed that up with a pat to Dandan’s head and added, ‘So are you, of course.’
Eh? So am I…? For some reason, his heart skipped a beat when he heard that.
‘Is there anything else?’ Song Lin asked.
‘N-nothing else.’
‘Then you can go back.’
‘Right.’ Dandan had just taken two steps when he turned back to ask, ‘Can I eat the roasted lamb legs that are in the kitchen?’
‘Help yourself.’
Dandan immediately hurried off to the kitchen.
At this point, Styx came up and stood behind Song Lin. ‘Second Master, you seem to have your heart set on this rabbit.’
‘Do I?’
‘Second Master, I have to remind you that this rabbit’s identity is dubious. You mustn’t trust him too easily.’
‘I know.’
(Approx. 1972 words)
12’s notes:
24/9/2019: Substituted the word ‘magic’ for ‘rare’.
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Translated and edited by 12
hiding in plain sight 
‘Godlike’ must be where the title comes from, I see. I wasn’t suspicious of Troy at first, but since Styx compared Dandan being more shady than him I am now. ‘So are you, of course.’ O.K., my heart skipped a beat too for some reason. I think it was the head pat. Thanks for the translation!
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