298. Southern Barbarian Beast Palace (3)
“Why have you co? Slayer of the Divine Beast.”
“???”
What in the world was that supposed to an?
He had withdrawn his killing intent for now, but I only blinked dumbly at the incomprehensible title. The Beast Palace Lord noticed my bewildernt and let out a dry laugh.
“You seem not to understand. Well, a Central Plains man wouldn’t. Co along for now. Before I hear what business you have, I’ll explain a few things.”
Saying so, the Beast Palace Lord gently stroked the head of the black panther he rode.
The black panther—who, along with its master, had been the only one unshaken by my killing intent—glanced at briefly, then turned and began retracing its steps.
Its lightly swaying tail was clearly telling us to follow. I shrugged.
“Well, looks like things turned out well enough. Let’s go.”
“Tu-turned out well?! And what do you an you defeated a Divine Beast…?! Hyaa!”
ng Yubaek jumped up, but before she could continue, Chilgong grabbed her and plopped her onto his back, instantly silencing her.
Judging by her teary eyes and the hand clamped over her mouth, she must have bitten her tongue.
Feeling that he should apologize on behalf of his forcibly quiet master, Chilgong looked at earnestly, so I tapped his head-armor lightly.
“Don’t worry about it.”
—Tsrut.
Co to think of it, the only reason the Centipede Lord wasn’t especially afraid of —aside from our first eting—was likely because he had never directly experienced my killing intent.
But Chilgong had always been terrified and wary of … Perhaps it really was because of that “Slayer of Divine Beast” matter.
As his antennae twitched in sothing like gratitude, I chuckled and walked ahead.
The black panther waited leisurely as if expecting us, so catching up didn’t take long.
Contrary to my expectation that we were heading to a reception hall or office, the Beast Palace Lord brought us to his bedchamber.
“My apologies. My body is not in good shape, so if we are to talk at length, this is unavoidable.”
“That’s fine. I’m not so heartless as to demand decorum from the sick.”
The Beast Palace Lord smiled faintly at my words and slowly dismounted from the panther. When he staggered toward the bed and lay down, the panther supported his back and helped him sit upright in a leaning posture.
“Thank you, as always, Heukjo.”
—Grrng.
The black panther responded lightly as if it were nothing. Now that I looked closely, its claws were the sa black as its fur. So that was the origin of the na “Heukjo”—Black Claw.
anwhile, ng Yubaek, familiar with her father’s room, bustled about and brought chairs for us with Chilgong’s help.
Once we were all seated, the Beast Palace Lord finally spoke.
“Let begin by introducing myself. You likely know, but I am ng Oh, the Beast Palace Lord.”
“Cheon Hwi-da of the Sichuan Tang Clan. I’m known as the White Moon Sword Lord… though I imagine the title Blood Fla Sword Demon is more familiar to you.”
Everyone gave simple introductions in turn. But for so reason, ng Yubaek fidgeted before deciding to introduce herself as well.
“I—I am…”
“Yubaek. Strictly speaking, you can no longer be my daughter, but the mories remain. You don’t need to—”
“I am the Centipede Lord.”
“I’ve co to expose and warn you of the cris committed by my second brother… no, this Young Master who tried to kill through vile ans.”
“Good grief, Yubaek. What kind of warning do you think that tiny sect of yours can issue to the Beast Palace?”
“One day, the Beast Palace will face my challenge.”
ng Yubaek declared boldly, and the Beast Palace Lord’s expression twisted in complicated emotion.
“But I’ll spare Father and Eldest Brother. As for Second Brother and his followers—I will shatter their dantians and sever their ridians!”
“….”
She wrinkled her nose as if she were speaking of sothing terrifying, but the actual content was surprisingly gentle.
Seeing his daughter’s deanor, the Beast Palace Lord spoke with concern.
“Yubaek. I will punish that second brat myself. As for your kind heart, that’s well and good, but you must never show rcy to those who sought your life. Even if they are family.”
“Hmph! Isn’t the right to decide life and death reserved for the victor here in the Beast Palace? rcy or no rcy is up to ! …Well, once I win.”
ng Yubaek, who had scoffed boldly, quickly shrank down again.
Understandable. After all, she was the one who nearly died at her family’s hands. She must have thought long and hard about all this.
If soone tries to kill you, you have no choice but to kill them first.
And she rejected that logic—not because it was wrong, but because she wanted to act according to her own heart.
People who refuse to listen to reason and insist on following their own conviction… strangely enough, I find them endearing.
Perhaps that’s why the Black Lotus Sect Master took a liking to as well.
While I nodded inwardly, the Beast Palace Lord, who had been staring blankly at his daughter, suddenly burst into hearty laughter—so hearty that one would never suspect he was ill.
“Hahaha! Yes! You’re absolutely right. Rights belong to the strong. The defeated can only obey, flee, or challenge again! Whatever the outco!”
ng Yubaek, however, was terrified by her father laughing at what she considered a serious declaration. She imdiately hid behind Chilgong.
We watched the reunion of father and daughter for a while before the Beast Palace Lord’s laughter subsided, and I finally spoke.
“Well, now that that’s settled, let’s get to the main topic.”
“Yes, yes. I brought you here to talk, yet we’ve done nothing but digress. Let explain what I ntioned earlier.”
Looking pleased, the Beast Palace Lord stroked the black panther lightly as he continued.
“First—how much do you know about spirit beasts?”
“Animals that contain an inner core. Their power is on a different level from ordinary beasts, so gain special abilities, and once captured, every part of them can be put to use. That much, at least.”
“Mm. Central Plains folk truly think first of killing and harvesting. Ah, I do not an to bla you—just surprised at how different our customs are.”
He coughed, looking paler as he leaned more heavily against Heukjo.
“When we say Divine Beast, we refer to beasts so powerful that they approach the realm of gods.”
“Gods? As in the Primal Heavenly Immortals or Buddha?”
“Not quite. They inspire awe beyond fear, and their power rivals natural disasters—that is why they are called such. To put it in terms a Central Plains warrior would understand: a spirit beast that has reached the Flowering Stage.”
“Oh.”
Yunnan Province, with its ancient vast jungles, often nurtured spirit beasts born from strong natural energies. Naturally, beasts reaching the Flowering Stage appeared more frequently than in the Central Plains—thus, the term “Divine Beast” erged.
Hearing this, sothing clicked.
The Azure Cold Serpent Dragon.
It controlled blizzards infused with internal energy, and its massive body could alter terrain with a single movent.
To ordinary people, it would indeed seem no different from a godlike monster.
The only reason we defeated it was due to favorable circumstances and luck.
The blizzard filled with powerful internal energy made even my Sword Qi unable to properly cut through its body. Even when Seorin and I attacked together, we couldn’t land a decisive blow and were slowly pushed back.
Only when Seol Lihyang combined the Ice Essence’s power with the strength of the North Sea Ice Palace warriors and threw it forward did the blizzard weaken for a mont.
We seized that fleeting mont and struck with full force. Had Seol Lihyang failed to create that opening, we could never have brought the Azure Cold Serpent Dragon down.
At best, we would have gathered the people and fled as far as possible.
“You seem to have sothing in mind.”
“Yes. I once defeated a spirit beast called the Azure Cold Serpent Dragon in the North Sea.”
“The Azure… Cold Serpent Dragon?”
“It was originally a serpent called the Azure Cold Serpent, infused with frigid qi. After accumulating energy over many years, it grew strong enough to manipulate the surrounding climate like a Dragon.”
“That must have been a sight to behold. I wished to witness a Divine Beast once before death, but the number of spirit beasts dwindles as years pass… and so does my remaining lifespan.”
“Well, sight or not, it was a near-death nightmare for , so I’d rather not recall it.”
It had devoured its own young—killed by Frost Serpent Poison—and gone berserk. The shock ca from realizing that even two Flowering Stage warriors could not subdue it.
“Heh. One can always resolve things through conversation instead of fighting.”
—Kreung.
The Beast Palace Lord stroked his spirit beast’s fur with his thin arm, and Heukjo accepted it contentedly.
After a mont, the Beast Palace Lord began coughing again—one of countless tis already.
“Kuh! I digress. In any case, since you faced one yourself, you know well: a Divine Beast differs greatly from ordinary spirit beasts. Their strength is overwhelming, their abilities extraordinary… and even in death, they do not die easily. They leave behind resentnt and a lingering presence.”
“Resentnt? Presence? I haven’t sensed anything.”
“Ordinary people would not. But spirit beasts with sharp senses, and warriors of the Beast Palace who share those senses, feel it clearly. The blood you are drenched in… tells them how strong the Azure Cold Serpent Dragon was. And how bitterly it died.”
“Hmm.”
“You still don’t quite understand. Then think of people. A demon who has killed all his life gives off a different aura than a righteous hero who has saved lives. Judging from that killing intent you displayed earlier, you should understand well.”
“Oh.”
He was right.
Those who kill too many people unconsciously leak killing intent, and without control, they fall into qi deviation. Conversely, Daoists who cultivate virtue exude a clear, refreshing aura just by being present.
It doesn’t an one is stronger or weaker—it’s simply sothing soaked into their being.
Spirit beasts are the sa. I haven’t slaughtered many beasts, but the Azure Cold Serpent Dragon was overwhelmingly powerful and died with imnse resentnt—thus, beasts instinctively perceive as dangerous.
“To explain more simply—it’s like how village dogs tuck their tails and flee when a dog butcher visits.”
“I understand. No need for further explanation. I’ll study the rest myself.”
If things went well, I could refine my aura further and make more efficient use of my killing intent. Even if I no longer relied on it exclusively, it was still one of my sharpest weapons. If there was a chance to hone it, I would seize it.
“Very well.”
“Then now, I shall explain the reason we ca.”
“I understand. If it concerns a marriage arrangent with the Centipede Lord, that is no longer my place to—she has already left the household, so if the parties agree—”
“I have absolutely not co for that reason, what are you even talking about.”
The rebuttal burst out of without a breath of pause. Embarrassed, the Beast Palace Lord hesitated, then asked carefully:
“Was your intention not to use my bloodline as leverage to swallow the entire Beast Palace?”
“F-Father… is that what you’ve thought of this whole ti…??”
ng Yubaek stared at him with wide, shocked eyes.
But what concerned was only one thing:
Tang Sowol, smiling silently since earlier.
After glimpsing my mories, Tang Sowol had beco strangely possessive in matters like this. To reassure her, I spoke firmly:
“I have no interest in children.”
Her expression eased slightly, but she still looked unsatisfied.
So I made it even clearer:
“Unlike my fiancée, whom I fell in love with at fifteen and held an engagent ceremony with, I have no interest whatsoever in children.”
“Huh.”
For so reason, Tang Sowol froze this ti.
It seed my sincerity had finally gotten through.
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