During their travels they once again sit by the campfire, only this time they can feel the presence of someone or something roaming around them. At least they think they do, prompting Qiong to tell a story of sightings of the so called Bi-Ba-Butzemann. Qiong is now telling Hyang, Perlmut and Rex Unustuse rumours. Also, Qiong isn't aware of Rex Unustuse, and Rex Unustuse not really of him.
Qiong: "Could it be? It dances a Bi-Ba-Butzemann around our campfire circle?"
Hyang: "What is that?"
Qiong: "Hmm, well, many commoners have told stories as of recently. Tails of a creature, unsure if it's just a really hairy human or indeed some kind of creature, saying that it dances or just walks around campfire circles of people. Sometimes it kills. Sometimes it brings gifts in the form of apples. Some even say the gifts reveal one's future death, allowing only the chosen one to avoid their death."
Hyang: "So you're saying a Bi-Ba-Butzemann is going around our circle."
Qiong: "Yes, I think the Butzemann is on the prowl."
Perlmut: "He didders himself, he judders himself. He throws his sackel behind his backel." Perlmut observes it with her very eyes, directing the two's attention towards where she is looking through gesturing solely with an unusual look into the distance and odd words.
"Dideldumm🎵" comes from the direction of where the Butzemann is at. They can only make out something with hairs of needles? Leaves? A lawn of grass? His presence, however, is as elusive as before.
Hyang: "Should we take him out?"
Qiong: "Considering he is that good at hiding himself and that he might just give us an apple as a present, we should wait and anticipate his next move and act accordingly."
But unexpectedly the Bi-Ba-Butzemann just leaves, and it starts raining.
Qiong: "He acted different from the mortals' stories. Maybe the rain plays part in it?"
With that said, Perlmut opens her mouth to drink some of the rain.
Perlmmut: "It's- salty, and bitter?"
Hyang: "Spit it out! What if it's a poisonous attack?"
Perlmut: "I already swallowed it."
Qiong: "Let's swiftly take cover! Any second below this unnatural rain could bring us closer to death! If we aren't already doomed!"
Hyang starts blocking the rain while Qiong and Perlmut swiftly build a makeshift rain safe "hut" with bystanding trees.
Qiong: "You're quite skilled at this, Perlmut. Long life truly comes with wisdom in unexpected ways."
Perlmut: "This old lady is grateful for your compliments."
Hyang: "Wisdom of swallowing poisonous rain as well?"
Perlmut: "This old lady will have you know she lived a long life, mayhaps not the best, but I think it's better to take a risk if it helps the next generation survive."
Hyang: ".." *Not this again... And I'm still far older than her.*
After having finished the makeshift hut, Hyang starts interrogating Perlmut's state of health again.
Hyang: "Are you alright?"
Perlmut: "Hmm, my stomach is rumbling a little, but I'm fine."
Hyang: "Doesn't sound that way."
Hyangs starts checking her again, investigating her health partly out of old habit.
5 minutes later the rain stops.
10 minutes later.
Hyang: "I can't find anything."
Another 10 minutes later, the rain has assimilated into nature.
Perlmut: "I've got a stomach ache."
Hyang: "I couldn't find anything. I'm sorry."
Perlmut: "Don't worry. I'm sure it'll go away."
Further minutes pass.
Hyang: "I can feel changes, but-" - 'few', easing breath - "it's your cultivation slightly increasing. Seems like it wasn't anything bad."
Qiong: "What a missed opportunity if only we would have gathered this fluid before it got contaminated with, by natural processes."
And so their camping day passes by.
As they arrive at the next town, intrigued by the Bi-Ba-Butzemann event, Hyang listens around for some more rumours while Perlmut looks around for cooking ingredients and Qiong talks to farmers. Some people outside talking like everyday people end up being his first target.
Woman2: "You know the bread recipe that I told you recently."
Woman3: "What about that?"
Woman2: "Instead of using finely chopped fruit pieces to make the bread sweet, I tried to make it with onion for a change and to pull my husband's legs a little, as he wasn't really all too impressed by the fruit bread. I even think he dislikes it and just doesn't tell me."
Women: "So cute."
Woman2: "And you know, he loved it❕"
Women: "Whaaat?"
Woman2: "Yes, that's what I thought too. I was so baffled as well❕ I so thought he wouldn't like it and the bread would turn out bad. I told him jokingly, "You know how you used to always think that I am making a great meal when I fried onions, hubby?" and he said (female man voice:) "yes, that's how you tricked me into marrying you❕" and I was like "Hehe, I made bread this time with the onions you love so much. Instead of using the famous, everywhere beloved recipe, I just put onions in. Have a taste." and he was like (female man voice): "And here I thought you were making an epic meal this time. Tricked again." And after he tried it, he told me how good it actually was, so I tasted it too, and it really was good."
Woman3: "No❕?"
Back to Hyang *I was listening to that gossip for way too long. Common folk will only ever cook as good as common folk, unless their name is Perlmut anyway.*
He listens in on a conversation of people walking by this time instead.
Commoner2: "... was where my Pet Rock the turtle was hiding that time."
Commoner1: "Ha, you never know what turtles are capable of unless you see it. Pushing rocks like that, maybe it will step into the footsteps of the ruler of the North. And about that one, apparently people have sometimes seen the Black tortoise in the north since summer."
Commoner2: "They said the ruler of the north was a Black Tortoise? What tortoise could ever survive such colds??"
Commoner1: "I'm telling you, you never know with turtles. You don't know nothing unless you see it. The Mythical ruler not only is a turtle and not a man. It even has a snake tail. Or was it that the snake was wrapped around it? don't know."
Commoner2: "*ust *e a tr*ly b** *****"
Hyang: "..." *An odd but unuseful rumor. The information isn't connected to the Bi-Ba-Butzemann.*
A small amount of time later *It's after noon already. I think a tavern's drunkards tell the best and most honest stories. It's the best place to look for rumours for a reason.*
Drunkard1: "Have you heard of the incident 'hiccup' in which a whole villa burnt to the ground?"
Drunkard2: "Na, but it happen to the right one. Only a rich bastard would have a villa! 'hiccup'"
Drunkard1: "Na Uh, he might have been rich, but from what I know, he wasn't a bastard. 'hiccup' the orphanage we grew up in has to close down because of that. 'hiccup' not only that. I asked our care granny mother 'hiccup' and she sa, that dozens of orphanage- all around the country… have started closing down because that merchant apparently was their backbone."
Drunkard2: "Told you, rich bastard, 'hiccup' all closing down because that merchant."
Drunkard1: "No! 'hiccup' I said their closing down 'hiccup' because that- that merchant was their backer acker backbone."
Drunkard2: "FUCK! What? Now I understand why you invited me to drink." 'hiccup'
He exses the drink and asks for another sake.
Drunkard1: "The only hope we have is that ur king takes mercy apron them an does something."
'tear'
'hiccup'
'sniff'x2
Drunkard2: "Fortunately our king Sejong is capable, 'hiccup' so there is hope. Sad that he is once again the only good rich guy 'hiccup'."
Drunkard1: "I'm sure there is another 'hiccup'. I've also heard of a rumour, 'hiccup' that sayethed that the stuff were a bunch of, fe, fe, bug monsters and that the fire 'hiccup' was there to cleanse te evil from the world."
Drunkard2: "Which bastard would dare 'burb' to accuse him of secretly raising monsters like that as personal? 'hiccup' I bet it was one of those rich assholes who burnt his villa 'hiccup' in a struggle for even more power 'hiccup' and now tries to ruin his reputation with such rumours! 'hiccup''hiccup''hiccup'"
Hyang's thoughts *Interesting, I'll take note of this one. It could be a big one. If I remember, there was a stronger than average spirit bear with insect features at Ping Pong Mountain. I suppose I should revisit them again sometime to investigate. Also, this should be faar more dangerous than the spirit bear, so I should cultivate with Perlmut and Rex beforehand. You can never know what could happen if their sect master ends up being the one or together with the one pulling the strings.*