Chapter 299: Southern Barbarian Beast Palace (4) |
299. Southern Barbarian Beast Palace (4)
For some reason, Tang Sowol froze stiff, but at least the misunderstanding was resolved.
The Beast Palace Lord nodded with a complicated expression.
“Very well. At least I understand now that you have no intention of seizing the Beast Palace.”
“I truly don’t know why you assumed that. Others seemed to think the same as well.”
“Well, you are the Tang Clan’s son-in-law, are you not?”
“That’s true, but how does that lead to such a conclusion?”
“Your martial strength is exceptional, but you will never stand at the center of the Tang Clan. And since the current Clan Head firmly intends for your fiancée not to take the position of Young Clan Head, it is certain that she—and thus you—will be relegated to a branch line.”
“…Yes, that is correct.”
“Huh…”
“Oh, and one more thing—your having a woman other than your fiancée at your side also played a part. Since your fiancée is a daughter who will not inherit the clan, I assumed such arrangements were possible. And if two were possible, so would three.”
It was such a plausible line of reasoning that it startled me.
For someone who didn’t know our circumstances, it was an entirely reasonable misunderstanding.
So this is how it appeared from the outside…
I let out a faint laugh—then Seorin suddenly spoke with a serious face.
“There is also the Seo Mun Clan.”
“…Hm??”
“My Seo Mun Clan shall stand as Hwi’s backing. What is this talk of the Beast Palace?”
“The Seo Mun Clan? I’ve never heard of such a clan…”
“Ghhk!”
Seorin collapsed inside at the Beast Palace Lord’s words.
Well, this was Yunnan Province—an even more remote region at that, called the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, outside the mainstream of the martial world.
Unless it was one of the Five Supreme Clans or Nine Great Sects, a provincial prestigious family would never be known here.
And after declaring she would rebuild the Seo Mun Clan, Seorin hadn’t done much about it.
She had made promises during the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, then spent most of her time afterward earning money. Though she made achievements here and there, most were alongside me, so the attention naturally drifted away.
As her small shoulders hunched further, I gently patted her back. Then Seol Lihyang spoke up with equal seriousness.
“Hwi. Should I accept the position of Ice Palace Lord even now?”
“No need. I have no interest in backers. And besides, if you become Palace Lord, you would have to live in the North Sea.”
“Hmph! If Hwi wants me by his side so badly, I suppose I must relent!”
Unlike Seorin, Seol Lihyang brightened and hummed happily.
I watched them for a moment, then leaned back in my chair and shook my head.
“Sigh… If I truly wanted wealth and power, there are far more efficient ways. Why would I bother with marriage alliances?”
“Eh? I’m curious—Young Hero Cheon. You’ve focused solely on martial arts and fighting the Demonic Cult until now. If you did pursue riches and influence, what would you do?”
“That’s simple. I would go to the Black Lotus Sect.”
“Ah… Even if Lady Sama refuses, the Black Lotus Sect Master would gladly accept you as an adopted son…”
“What nonsense. I’d simply take the Deputy Sect Master’s position.”
“???”
Seeing Tang Sowol tilt her head, I elaborated.
“The Sect Master would welcome me at first, but his mind might change once he bears his own child. And becoming his adopted son means spending my entire life under his authority.”
“W-wait. Don’t tell me—”
“Yes. I would begin as Deputy Sect Master, then slowly gather power from the bottom up. Of course, the Sect Master wouldn’t tolerate that. Eventually, he’d discover my movements and try to suppress me. At that moment, I defeat him, and the entire Black Lotus Sect falls into my hands.”
“…Is that actually possible…?”
“I don’t know yet. But if I can’t surpass even the Black Lotus Sect Master, how could I ever face the Heavenly Demon? And just to be clear—I don’t mean I’ll kill him. He’s given me a lot, and regardless of everything, he is the one who built the Black Lotus. I only intend to… beat him up a little.”
“…Wouldn’t there be backlash?”
“It’s treacherous for a son to beat his father, but for a subordinate to beat their superior—well, that’s everyday life in the unorthodox world.”
Tang Sowol was speechless.
And now I realized—everyone else, even the Beast Palace Lord and Meng Yubaek, were staring at me with the same look.
Why? Why were they looking at me like that?
Before I could think further, the Beast Palace Lord spoke in the quiet room.
“I see. You are someone who could seize things purely through strength, without needing anyone to stand in front of you. Then there is no reason to doubt you.”
“That is a misunderstanding.”
Anyone overhearing would think I was the head of some notorious unorthodox faction.
“A misunderstanding, yes. Let us call it that. Then, can you now explain? If you do not covet the Beast Palace, why have you come?”
“Hm? Ah. First, it concerns what the Centipede Lord said.”
“We intend for the Centipede Sect and its Sect Master to remain under the Tang Clan’s care for the time being. Eventually she will, as she said, challenge the Beast Palace—but until then, she will be under our protection.”
“I see. You won’t allow the Beast Palace to strike first until she is grown… yet when she comes to challenge you, that will be her business. Truly shameless.”
“I won’t deny that. However, once you hear the second reason, your thoughts may change.”
“Do not worry. I will be long dead by then. My useless children must handle what follows—whether they defend or lose what they inherited depends on their own ability.”
“Well… perhaps not. Because the second matter is that we intend to cure the poison afflicting you.”
The Beast Palace Lord froze, then quietly looked at me, as if trying to determine whether I truly meant what I had said.
“…What?”
“Why?”
“...”
“White Moon Sword Lord. Whatever your ultimate goal, things would be far easier for you if I were gone. Why go out of your way to save me?”
“You don’t doubt that I can cure you?”
“The Thousand Poison Gate’s poisons have never surpassed the Tang Clan’s. And here is the Poison King’s daughter herself. Naturally, you came because you are confident. What matters is what you want in return.”
“It’s nothing complicated. We simply want to become… friendly.”
“…”
“Shall I explain?”
“Please do.”
“Exactly as I said. Let us open official trade, lend each other help when needed… and if we share a common enemy, let us stand back-to-back.”
“A common enemy, hm.”
Realizing the key point, the Beast Palace Lord stroked Heukjo’s fur, thinking deeply before speaking.
“Not bad. Our only enemy has been the Thousand Poison Gate—and since you’ve already exterminated it, I suppose I owe you this time. Very well. Who is this enemy?”
“The Demonic Cult.”
“I vaguely heard something earlier. So you are not on good terms with them.”
“More precisely, the problem is the current Cult Leader—the Heavenly Demon.”
I briefly explained: the emergence of the Heavenly Demon, his intent to invade the Central Plains, and his inexplicable interest in me.
The Beast Palace Lord nodded after listening.
“Then I understand. But even with the Beast Palace’s strength, if what you say is true, we cannot hope to stop the Heavenly Demon.”
“I do not expect that. I only ask that you do not ally with the Demonic Cult, and even if you do, that you not become hostile toward the Tang Clan.”
The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace was outside the Central Plains—but still close to Sichuan. Yunnan bordered Sichuan, after all.
Now understanding my intention, the Beast Palace Lord nodded slowly.
“Very well. If you cure the poison eating at my body, then for as long as I live, the Beast Palace shall remain a steadfast friend to the Tang Clan.”
“For as long as you live?”
“How can I speak for after my death? When that time comes, speak to the Beast Palace Lord of that era—whether son or daughter.”
He looked toward Meng Yubaek as he said this.
It wasn’t the gaze of a man who cast his daughter out for bonding with an insect, but something far gentler.
As I suspected, the competition for succession had grown fierce, and Meng Yubaek—who seemed uninterested in the position—was sent away.
He could not have foreseen that his penniless daughter would nearly be killed by her own sibling.
I patted Tang Sowol’s shoulder, as she had been oddly quiet for a while.
“Then I leave it to you.”
“Y-yes. Please rely on me. Since I snatched Young Hero Cheon away when he was five years younger, doing at least this much is only proper.”
“Why are you sulking?”
“Me? Sulking? Why? There is absolutely no reason for that?”
…She was definitely sulking.
Muttering under her breath, Tang Sowol began examining the Beast Palace Lord’s pulse. As she worked, I whispered softly to her.
“In truth, it was only natural you would become my fiancée.”
“…What are you suddenly—”
“Even if I had not been fifteen… even if our first meeting had been ordinary… even if my abilities were a bit lacking… I still would have stayed near you, helping you, trying to win your attention.”
“That is—”
“Understand? You did not snatch me—I courted you.”
Tang Sowol’s face flushed bright red. She opened and closed her mouth with no sound coming out.
I grinned.
“Then I leave it to you. Will it take long?”
“N-no. I just need to identify the poison first, so half a shichen will be enough.”
“Good. Then we’ll wait. Beast Palace Lord, we may need to stay for a while. Could you prepare a room?”
“Of course. How many rooms do you need?”
“Four would be fine… but if there is one large enough for four people, one is enough.”
“Heeeek!”
What on earth did she imagine? Meng Yubaek covered her eyes with both hands and let out a strange sound.
***
After Tang Sowol finished examining him, we followed a servant to a vacant room.
As mentioned earlier, it was spacious enough for four people to stay comfortably. Later, I learned that the Beast Palace’s rooms were all large, since everyone kept at least one sizeable beast companion.
After roughly unpacking and changing into comfortable clothes, Tang Sowol sidled up to me with an expectant gaze.
“Brother Cheon, Brother Cheon. What do you plan to do now? It will take some time before I begin formulating the antidote…”
“Good. Then get some sleep. You must be exhausted from walking nonstop all the way here.”
“…Haa. As if I’m living some luxurious life.”
Tang Sowol sighed deeply, muttered something, then smiled sweetly.
“Then… how about a nap together? You must be tired too.”
“I’m sorry, but I need to spend some time cultivating.”
Still smiling, Tang Sowol froze solid.
Ignoring her, I sat cross-legged in a quiet corner.
As I sank into meditation, I faintly heard Tang Sowol’s voice beyond the darkening consciousness:
‘He said he was courting me! He said he was courting me!’
But that faded quickly.
It was drowned out by the visions of Beast Palace warriors and beasts collapsing under killing intent, and the strange flow of inner energy between the Beast Palace Lord and Heukjo.
He said my killing intent carried the Azure Cold Serpent Dragon’s smell of blood and resentment, heightening the beasts’ fear.
Something about my energy had changed without my notice.
Now that I knew, I couldn’t ignore it.
How long did I gaze into the killing intent itself—not its origin, but the killing intent as a force?
Somewhere within the dark-red currents, a shape seemed to flicker.
A long, scaled body. A gigantic form that required looking up for ages. And vertically slit, razor-sharp pupils…