BMN Chapter 167

Chapter 167: The Source of All Evil: Is It Always Humanity?

Back in the inner room, Kaede sat down again. "I've made a fool of myself," she said, her face flushed with embarrassment. 

"Ever since giving birth to Momiji, my body has grown weaker, and my control over the clan has lessened considerably."

"However, I truly never expected there to be so many traitors who bite the hand that feeds them."

The Divine Mountain Tengu clan has a population of approximately 30,000.

In Kaede and Momiji's hands, there is an armed force of nearly 6,000, known as the Crow Tengu Legion.

This is the true elite of the entire Tengu clan, and they are absolutely loyal to the mother and daughter.

Of the remaining Tengu, 20,000 are ordinary clansfolk who know nothing of these matters.

They do not participate in the power struggles of the upper echelons; they are the families of the Crow Tengu Legion's members.

In other words, the Warhawk faction Tengu numbers 4,000 at most.

And among them, half are Dove faction Tengu who stand with Kaede and Momiji.

Their way of thinking is somewhat conservative. While they also value bloodlines and freedom, they are not as radical as the Warhawks.

At the very least, they would not commit an act of betrayal against the Tengu.

"Two thousand people..."

Bai Luo asked, "I've heard it said that their bloodlines are noble, that they are 'pure' Tengu. Is there such a saying?"

"Heh." Kaede scoffed, dismissing it with contempt. "What 'pure' Tengu? Where did that come from?"

"For us Monsters, bloodlines are indeed crucial, but whether one can develop that bloodline is what's most important."

Bloodlines are certainly important. Without one, all talk of evolution is empty.

But for Monsters capable of evolution, does it really matter what kind of bloodline they have to start with?

It's like Goblins. They possess the bloodline of Fire Spirits within them.

Even if that bloodline is incredibly thin, a Goblin can still evolve all the way up, eventually reaching the level of a Fire Spirit King (True Demon Lord).

Of course, that's only in theory. In reality? Having a Goblin evolve into a Spirit King is practically a fairy tale.

Even if Bai Luo specifically tried to cultivate Goblins, he couldn't achieve something so absurd.

From a few hundred Magicules to a million Magicules.

A Goblin like that... it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it one in a hundred million.

If a Goblin really did evolve into a Spirit King, would that have anything to do with its bloodline?

The one who's exceptional is that Goblin, alright!

With such terrifying talent and fortune, they would have reached the pinnacle regardless of their bloodline.

At that level, it's no longer about them being proud of their bloodline. The bloodline is proud of them!

It's because of an example like that that everyone learns, "Wow, so Goblins can be this powerful too!"

In summary, as long as you have a bloodline, that's enough.

And the Warhawk faction Tengu, who don't understand this point, are destined never to produce a truly strong individual.

"They always seem to think that the Power of the Mountain God was obtained from nothing."

"They have no idea that my mother exhausted all her life force for my sake."

"And I, in turn, spent 300 years nurturing this child, Momiji, just to refine her soul to its current level."

The naming that followed completely burned away all of Kaede's remaining energy.

Generations of people, generations of Elders (Tengu clan leaders), paid with their lives just to cultivate a single Special A-Rank existence like Momiji for the Tengu clan.

This is the hardship Monsters face to achieve a class leap on their own.

Momiji indeed didn't have to work very hard. But Kaede... she spent her entire life on her.

In comparison, what are those Warhawk faction Tengu thinking? They actually believe that the lifeblood of countless generations from Kaede's lineage belongs to them.

There has to be a limit to reaping where you haven't sown!

"Sigh~" Kaede sighed. "In the end, it's still my fault for being too lax in governing them."

"As the ones responsible for the Divine Mountain's external affairs, they dealt with the outside Long-Eared Tribe and Western humans all year round."

"Over time, they eventually picked up some bad habits."

"So that's how it is." Bai Luo finally understood.

He had been wondering how a group of Tengu secluded deep in the mountains could produce such a batch of politicians.

Turns out they got too close to the nobles of the Western nations and were assimilated by their way of thinking.

"That damned brat!"

"Just like her mother, she doesn't respect us at all!"

Elsewhere, the Warhawk faction Tengu who had been forcibly sent home had now gathered secretly.

Of course, the main reason they could assemble so smoothly was that Kaede was letting them.

Otherwise, with what little skill they possessed, how could they possibly hide themselves after already being exposed?

"They won't be arrogant for much longer."

At the head of the group was the Warhawk leader. The old man took a magic tool from his robes and retrieved a secret letter from the Harpy Queendom.

"Is that...?!"

"That's right."

The old man revealed a savage grin. "Just moments ago, the Sky Queen sent word. She wants us to open the Hidden Village's barrier tomorrow night."

"The Harpy Queendom's 200,000-strong army will seize control of the Tengu clan in the shortest possible time."

"Lord Veteran Elder!" The Warhawk faction Tengu below revealed joyous expressions upon hearing the news.

They had used trade opportunities to contact the Harpy Queendom multiple times. Both sides had already reached an agreement.

As long as the Warhawk faction Tengu could open the barrier from the inside, the Harpy Queendom would reward them heavily once it successfully controlled the Divine Mountain.

At that time, control of the Divine Mountain would be placed in their hands. They could even use this opportunity to latch onto Frey's coattails and become part of the Harpy Queendom.

To have the protection of a Demon Lord and become citizens of a great nation... isn't that far better than being stuck in this backwater mountain acting like big shots?

As for whether Frey would deceive them... these Tengu had never even considered it.

Just as Momiji believed, everyone thought Frey had no interest in the Kusha Mountains.

What she truly wanted was the great Divine Tree of the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion, not the Tengu's tiny plot of land...

"That bitch Kaede and her damned brat are no match for the Sky Queen!"

"When the time comes, I will become the new Divine Mountain Elder and inherit the Power of the Mountain God!"

"And you all will become the new nobility of the Tengu clan."

The Veteran Elder had long been envious of the noble systems in the Western nations.

Unlike here in the Tengu clan, titles like 'Veteran Elder' or 'Captain' were mostly empty, figurehead positions with no real power.

"We will follow the Veteran Elder..."

"No, we will follow in the steps of the Divine Mountain Elder!"

The upper echelons of the Warhawk faction Tengu all swore an oath of fealty to the Veteran Elder, declaring their stance.

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