298. Southern Barbarian Beast Palace (3)

“Why have you come? Slayer of the Divine Beast.”

“???”

What in the world was that supposed to mean?

He had withdrawn his killing intent for now, but I only blinked dumbly at the incomprehensible title. The Beast Palace Lord noticed my bewilderment and let out a dry laugh.

“You seem not to understand. Well, a Central Plains man wouldn’t. Come 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 me 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 mean you defeated a Divine Beast…?! Hyaa!”

Meng 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 me earnestly, so I tapped his head-armor lightly.

“Don’t worry about it.”

—Tsrut.

Come to think of it, the only reason the Centipede Lord wasn’t especially afraid of me—aside from our first meeting—was likely because he had never directly experienced my killing intent.

But Chilgong had always been terrified and wary of me… Perhaps it really was because of that “Slayer of Divine Beast” matter.

As his antennae twitched in something 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 same black as its fur. So that was the origin of the name “Heukjo”—Black Claw.

Meanwhile, Meng 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 me begin by introducing myself. You likely know, but I am Meng 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 Flame Sword Demon is more familiar to you.”

Everyone gave simple introductions in turn. But for some reason, Meng Yubaek fidgeted before deciding to introduce herself as well.

“I—I am…”

“Yubaek. Strictly speaking, you can no longer be my daughter, but the memories remain. You don’t need to—”

“I am the Centipede Lord.”

“I’ve come to expose and warn you of the crimes committed by my second brother… no, this Young Master who tried to kill me through vile means.”

“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.”

Meng 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 meridians!”

“….”

She wrinkled her nose as if she were speaking of something terrifying, but the actual content was surprisingly gentle.

Seeing his daughter’s demeanor, 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 mercy 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? Mercy or no mercy is up to me! …Well, once I win.”

Meng 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 someone 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 me 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 outcome!”

Meng Yubaek, however, was terrified by her father laughing at what she considered a serious declaration. She immediately 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 me explain what I mentioned 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, some 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 mean to blame 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” emerged.

Hearing this, something clicked.

The Azure Cold Serpent Dragon.

It controlled blizzards infused with internal energy, and its massive body could alter terrain with a single movement.

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 moment.

We seized that fleeting moment 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 something 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 me, so I’d rather not recall it.”

It had devoured its own young—killed by Frost Serpent Poison—and gone berserk. The shock came 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 moment, the Beast Palace Lord began coughing again—one of countless times 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 resentment and a lingering presence.”

“Resentment? 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 mean one is stronger or weaker—it’s simply something soaked into their being.

Spirit beasts are the same. I haven’t slaughtered many beasts, but the Azure Cold Serpent Dragon was overwhelmingly powerful and died with immense resentment—thus, beasts instinctively perceive me 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 came.”

“I understand. If it concerns a marriage arrangement 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 come for that reason, what are you even talking about.”

The rebuttal burst out of me 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 me this whole time…??”

Meng Yubaek stared at him with wide, shocked eyes.

But what concerned me was only one thing:

Tang Sowol, smiling silently since earlier.

After glimpsing my memories, Tang Sowol had become 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 engagement ceremony with, I have no interest whatsoever in children.”

“Huh.”

For some reason, Tang Sowol froze this time.

It seemed my sincerity had finally gotten through.

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