Chapter 297: Southern Barbarian Beast Palace (2) |
When counting both my previous life and this one, I could proudly say I had lived as a martial artist for quite a long time.
I had immersed myself deeply in both the Orthodox and Unorthodox worlds; exaggerated as it might sound, there weren’t many in the Central Plains as familiar with its martial society as I.
Thus, if I were to sum up the Central Plains in one phrase based on everything I had seen and experienced...
People who think too highly of themselves, living in their own greatness.
The Orthodox looked down on the Unorthodox, the Unorthodox looked down on the Orthodox, and everyone regarded the Outsider Martial World as intriguing yet inferior, as though that were only natural.
The problem was that their arrogance had some basis.
The Orthodox had reasons to despise the Unorthodox; the Unorthodox enjoyed wealth and luxury surpassing the Orthodox; and while the Outsider Martial World was impressive, it still could not compare to the entirety of the Central Plains.
And that was just within the martial world. If one included the Imperial Court, always hands clasped behind its back in the shadows, the gap between the Central Plains and the outside grew even larger.
Not only in martial prowess, but in craft, art, commerce—nearly all fields.
Well... that was only until they got beaten bloody.
The Heavenly Demon was nothing short of a calamity.
Half of the prestigious Five Supreme Clans and Nine Great Sects were wiped out, the Imperial Court—supposed bulwark against invasion—rushed its armies only for them to be massacred, and even when all surviving forces united, all they accomplished was defeat after defeat.
Their pride and arrogance melted away like snow under the sun.
Only after losing everything did the people of the Central Plains finally look at each other—and those outside the Central Plains—properly.
The Orthodox realized the Unorthodox simply knew no other way to live.
The Unorthodox realized the Orthodox’s grand ideals were not empty talk.
And they learned that the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace was not merely a nest of savages.
They had stormed in, seized Guizhou City, and enforced rule through sheer strength while forcing humans and beasts to live together. At first, resentment had been enormous.
People feared they would be treated as beasts and become livestock barely surviving under their rule.
But after living there for a few years, it turned out life was far more tolerable than expected.
Whatever agreement they had with the Demonic Cult, aside from a few initial clashes, they no longer fought, making the Beast Palace one of the safer places in the Central Plains.
They learned that the strong ruled over the weak but carried equal responsibility for them.
And that the weak could challenge the strong whenever they gained enough strength.
Days neither chaotic nor humiliating.
Only then did people realize the Outsider Martial World was still a place where humans lived—its governance was simply something they had never bothered to understand.
I myself had fled north and avoided entanglement with the Beast Palace, but given their location, I heard plenty indirectly.
I could confidently say I was among the people of this era who understood the Beast Palace best.
“So everything I’m about to do respects the customs of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace. Don’t misunderstand.”
“Yes?”
Meng Yubaek, half dazed from my long explanation, tilted her head.
Meanwhile, Seol Lihyang and Seo Mun-Hwarin, sensing something instinctively, patted Meng Yubaek’s shoulders from both sides.
“Well, that’s how it is.”
“Mm. Do not fret too much. No one will die. No one will........”
“W-why are both of you saying such scary things?!”
Meng Yubaek finally recognized the ominous mood and panicked, but it was far too late. Preparations were already complete.
In the distance, the strange palace-like structure of the Beast Palace came into view. As I stared ahead, Tang Sowol approached me.
“Hehe, you’re using that method again, aren’t you.”
“It’s simply the most convenient. Are you tired of seeing me do this?”
If she said yes, I would have been willing to use a slower, gentler method.
That was why I asked, but Tang Sowol merely shook her head with a soft smile.
“Of course not. I know well that you always use your strength appropriately to the situation, Young Master Cheon. How could I complain?”
“Hm???”
“Am I wrong? If this weren’t the Beast Palace but an Orthodox clan or sect, you would begin with polite greetings, relying on name and reputation.”
Probably.
“You chose this method because it’s the most effective with the Beast Palace. In the future, when persuading the Demonic Cult, you will show them things that are even more shocking. If I’m startled already, how could I stay at your side?”
“Also true.”
The Beast Palace moved by pure strength.
The Demonic Cult by strength and interests.
Naturally the approach differed—slightly harsher for the Cult.
“Of course, whether you use reputation or raw strength is the same to me.......”
“But what can I do? This is the kind of person you are, Young Master Cheon. Since you keep your own lines well, all I have to do is follow.”
“Thanks for believing in me. Then let’s do this properly so I don’t disappoint.”
I straightened my back and expanded my chest. Then I circulated my inner energy—same speed as usual, but with a slightly looser flow.
This created a body that appeared larger and sturdier, and pressure naturally diffused into the surroundings from my internal energy.
Perhaps sensing my aura even from afar, the two gatekeepers at the entrance raised their weapons.
By their sides, a wolf and a fox—pressing close and growling. Their bodies radiated strong qi—not quite spiritual beasts, but close.
Certainly not ordinary animals. Likely companions trained through the Beast Palace’s secret arts.
As we drew closer, and even Meng Yubaek trailing behind became visible, the gatekeepers shouted:
“Halt, Central Plains warrior! Do you know where you are?!”
“Young Lady?! Why have you returned?! Surely you didn’t......?”
Perhaps imagining something grim, both straightened as though ready to die at their posts.
I didn’t dislike people who took their roles seriously.
So I decided to subdue them quickly.
Not only did I release my inner energy more openly, I enveloped the surroundings entirely. Killing intent followed naturally.
The beasts reacted first—their senses were sharper.
“Kyain!”
“Kyaeng!”
With pitiful cries, the two beasts collapsed. Before the gatekeepers could even register the shock, they were struck by my killing intent.
“Guehk!”
Their faces drained of color as they staggered and fell to their knees. I had only meant to frighten them, but the effect was stronger than expected.
Passing by as they struggled desperately to stand, I smiled lightly.
“Well done. This won’t take long, so rest.”
Evading their trembling hands, I kicked the gate.
KWAANG!
With a thunderous crash, the door swung open. The broken bar clattered onto the ground.
“Come forth!”
My voice, imbued with inner energy, rang through the Beast Palace.
Instantly, the entire space responded like a living organism.
Scattered patches of powerful qi began pairing off and drawing near. The scent of beasts, clear to a Flowering Stage martial artist’s nose, grew thicker.
Before long, after stepping past the gate, a long line of Beast Palace warriors and beasts gathered before me.
Each bore an aura similar to Meng Yubaek’s. Strangely, this applied not only to the people but to the beasts as well.
It was as if the beasts themselves had trained in martial arts.
So that’s why they felt almost like spiritual beasts.
Seeing it in person for the first time was fascinating. And it was clearly different from how Meng Yubaek controlled the Seven-Flame Five Poisons.
As I observed with interest, a middle-aged man with the strongest aura among them stepped forward as a representative.
“The green attire... and that dreadful killing intent. Might you be the Blood Flame Sword Demon?”
“No. Call me the White Moon Sword Lord now.”
“Understood.”
He nodded reluctantly, pushing aside a bull-sized beast that kept trying to step forward.
“However, I do not understand why you have behaved so rudely upon entering our Beast Palace. Is this related to the Young Lady behind you?”
“Hm. It could be said so. Seeing a young girl trying to live independently so earnestly, I wanted to help her... but your second young master sent assassins.”
“...Eh???”
The middle-aged man snapped his gaze toward Meng Yubaek in alarm. She looked utterly lost, like someone accused of betraying her country, but nodded slowly.
“Th-that’s right, Great Elder. They used the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild to keep me from leaving home or earning money, starving me for a long time—and once I somehow survived, they tried to kill me with those wanderers!”
Remembering everything, Meng Yubaek lifted her sleeve, showing her frail, thin arm.
The Great Elder stared at her arm with shaken eyes.
Since they valued honesty before strength, hunting down someone who had curled their tail and withdrawn was disgraceful.
And instead of challenging her openly, they had starved her and tried to kill her using others.
It was a shameful stain on the Beast Palace.
Sensing this would not end easily, the Great Elder spoke solemnly.
“I understand. However, since the Young Lady left the Beast Palace, she no longer has authority to pressure us. I will report this to the Palace Lord and have the Second Young Master disciplined. There will be no such incident again, so please withdraw for today.”
“What......!”
Hearing that because she had left the Beast Palace she had no right to demand anything, Meng Yubaek widened her eyes in outrage.
She had nearly died, yet they expected her to go home quietly because they would “handle it.”
But from their perspective, this was natural.
Once she left, she was no longer the Palace Lord’s child—just another martial artist.
Trying to kill someone who left was wrong, and doing it in such a cowardly way was shameful, but the mighty Beast Palace could not bow its head to a lone wanderer.
As a Central Plains native, I found it difficult to understand their stubborn insistence on principle over benefit, but the reverse was surely true as well.
Thus, it was right to follow their way of doing things here.
I spread even denser killing intent over the surroundings and spoke.
“The Beast Palace may ignore the Centipede Lord’s words, but I wonder if it can ignore mine.”
“What is the meaning of this?!”
The weak fainted instantly, and even the competent staggered with choking groans.
The beasts suffered more—most foamed at the mouth, and the ones nearing the level of spiritual beasts barely held onto consciousness.
Completely broken in spirit, they either bowed their heads to me or stuck their heads between their tails while trembling violently.
Tang Sowol, startled, rose on her toes to whisper.
“Young Master Cheon! Isn’t this too much? You’re not showing a difference in strength—you’re trying to crush them!”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
I had meant only to frighten them—not unleash enough killing intent to knock people unconscious.
Even the gatekeepers earlier had reacted strangely strongly. For some reason, Beast Palace warriors seemed overly sensitive to killing intent...
Whether they were cowardly or simply had acute senses, I didn’t know.
Maintaining a cold expression while inwardly perplexed, I saw an old man approaching—riding a massive black panther.
His complexion was pale with obvious signs of illness, his body gaunt, but his presence unmistakable.
I knew at once—this was the Beast Palace Lord.
“Would you withdraw your killing intent? Yours is unusually harsh for us.”
“Beast Palace Lord?”
“Indeed.”
Despite his ailing body, he looked straight at me with dignity.
“For what purpose have you come? Slayer of the Divine Beast.”
What in the world was this now—