Chapter 293: The Secret of Ryuchi Cave (Part 2)
Dana naturally wouldn't let an entity of unknown depth touch him. He sidestepped slightly, dodging the girl. His "Pulse" Vision had detected her early on, and he had been speculating about her intentions, but he didn't expect she wanted to hug him.
Does she have some kind of mental illness?
Missing the hug, the girl didn't get angry. Instead, she floated around Dana, allowing him to examine her closely.
Appearance-wise, she looked about fifteen—if she were human.
Her small face was rosy, and her eyes were clear and innocent. Also, her method of flight was very similar to his, relying on no external objects.
"Who are you?"
The girl said excitedly, "Nice to meet you! I am Ichikishimahime. Please take care of me!"
She's not lying...
"You're not human, right? I received a message saying I was invited to Ryuchi Cave."
Ichikishimahime flew up to eye level with Dana. "That's right! The White Snake Sage invited you. I've been waiting for you."
Saying this, she wrapped herself around Dana's thick arm again.
Then she took a deep sniff, her two small canine teeth glinting coldly. "So fragrant! The same scent as the Sage! I love it!"
Dana shook his arm to push her away. This girl felt a bit strange, not playing by the rules at all. Or maybe snake habits were completely different from humans?
Was mutual entanglement a basic greeting for Ryuchi Cave snakes?
Dana said awkwardly, "You're not thinking of biting me, are you?"
"How could I bear to do that? Come with me!"
Ichikishimahime floated ahead to lead the way, and Dana followed, looking around.
Looking at the surrounding architectural style, then at the girl's attire...
Why does this feel like Chinese style...?
And if the girl in front of him was a snake, it seemed that among the Three Great Sage Regions, only Ryuchi Cave possessed the ability to transform into human form...
Sure enough, when Dana saw the White Snake Sage, this thought was confirmed.
An obese old woman (or old man? hard to tell) lay on a giant recliner, smoking a pipe. Behind her stood two beautiful women who appeared older than Ichikishimahime—likely not human either.
Scanning with Pulse Vision, Dana pondered. Just like Ichikishimahime, it wasn't a Genjutsu but a physical human form. The Katsuyu Sage didn't have this ability, and in his memory, the Great Toad Sage who could prophesy the future didn't either...
Ryuchi Cave had some tricks up its sleeve.
"Using your sensory ability right off the bat... how rude..." The White Snake Sage puffed on the pipe, looking at Dana.
Dana replied calmly, "Please forgive me, White Snake Sage. I wonder what matter requires my presence here?"
" Although you rarely use the Ryuchi Cave contract lately, you don't need to be so guarded. You are, after all, a contractor of Ryuchi Cave. We won't intentionally harm our own contractors."
Dana just listened. The phrase "won't intentionally harm" itself left loopholes.
Everyone claimed that, but Ryuchi Cave might not take the contractor status seriously.
"When I first signed the contract, I wanted to visit Ryuchi Cave several times, but it seems the White Snake Sage rejected me."
The White Snake Sage nodded. "Indeed. The time was not yet right."
"Then why now?"
The White Snake Sage tapped the pipe, knocking out some ash, and exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Naturally, because the time has come... Yotsuki Dana, you should have met that old slug already. Presumably, you know that you and us are 'of the same kind'."
"Of the same kind" naturally didn't mean Dana was a snake, but that Dana, like the White Snake Sage, Great Toad Sage, and Katsuyu Sage, was one of the rare life forms on this planet born with the ability to cultivate natural energy.
Every such life form, if they grew up smoothly, could possess various magical abilities, long lifespans, and even create special clans.
The bizarre toads of Mount Myoboku and the Three Snake Princesses of Ryuchi Cave who could transform into humans were examples.
The White Snake Sage continued, "Although not as good as the old toad of Mount Myoboku, I also have some ability to foresee the future. The reason I didn't let you come to Ryuchi Cave before was to avoid disrupting that future. As for the Shikkotsu Forest matter, it surprised me. That variable advanced the future I foresaw significantly. Originally, I should have been the one to guide you on the path of natural energy cultivation."
Not lying... but Dana rolled his eyes internally. Played mysterious and played yourself, huh?
However, for Dana now, the Shikkotsu Forest contract was far more important than Ryuchi Cave. He wouldn't trade it for ten Ryuchi Caves.
Shikkotsu Forest and the Katsuyu Sage were completely embedded in the Cloud's system, all developed by Dana personally.
As for Ryuchi Cave, there was no emotional bond or cooperation. In the past, he even paid eggs for message delivery—a fair trade, owing no favors.
But he decided to listen to what the White Snake Sage had to say.
Perhaps this was the change in mentality brought by strength. If it were him a few years ago or just after transmigrating, he might have been trepidatious upon first visiting Ryuchi Cave. But now, he was much calmer.
The White Snake Sage said, "Yotsuki Dana, I want to make a deal with you. actually, compared to us 'same kind,' the Katsuyu Sage can hardly offer you any reference. Its abilities and existence are too unique. We are closer to each other—for example, we both leave offspring."
Dana was confused.
"Whether it's me or the old toad, we have left many bloodlines. Our descendants also inherited some abilities from us. But our descendants were not born from a union with 'same kind,' but with 'ordinary kind.' Individuals capable of cultivating natural energy are extremely rare, let alone two appearing in the same species, one male and one female. It's almost impossible."
"So I am very curious. If two 'same kind' capable of cultivating natural energy produce offspring, what will the result be? Especially if the two 'same kind' come from different species—can the offspring inherit the miracles of both sides? Can they break through higher shackles?"
After speaking, the White Snake Sage looked at Dana with a smile, eyes full of meaning, seeming to imply something...
Dana looked at the White Snake Sage's bloated body resembling a fat old woman (or man?), coupled with the landslide-like eye bags and flab.
Then, expressionless, he ran a hand through his hair and entered Sage Mode.
"If you want to fight, then let's fight! I, Yotsuki Dana, will not suffer this humiliation!"
White Snake Sage: "..."
"Such an extreme Sage Mode... But did you misunderstand something? Although I am interested, unfortunately, I am male. We cannot produce offspring."
Dana: "........Please finish your sentence next time. I can't handle shocks like that."
The White Snake Sage continued, "It is naturally difficult to have offspring between different species. But Ryuchi Cave has secret techniques to transform into human flesh. As early as when I first foresaw your existence, I began conditioning Ichikishimahime's body with natural energy. Her constitution is now very close to our 'same kind.' This is why the time has come. I hope you can leave offspring with that child. If your child inherits the miracles of both sides, in the future, I will let them inherit the entire Ryuchi Cave."
While Dana was dumbfounded, Ichikishimahime flew up and hugged his arm again.
"I've waited for you for so many years! Since you were born, I knew you would be my husband! I can finally meet you! The White Snake Sage wouldn't let me go find you!"
The White Snake Sage added:
"Of course, if you wish, Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime can also be used by you to breed offspring."
Saying this, the two women behind the White Snake Sage also stepped forward with blushing faces, while Ichikishimahime bared her small canine teeth fiercely at her two sisters.
Um... small snake fangs?
Yotsuki Dana: "..."