Chapter 177
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: The Best Answer (2)
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“What… what did you say?!”
For a moment, Cheonho thought he had misheard.
Seo Ryang gestured toward the Tiger King with his chin.
“You’re keeping a cat, aren’t you? Then you must be Professor Meow. My, my, what did you feed that one to make it so big? I’m starting to feel sorry for Geumho.”
Cheonho was dumbfounded.
As the greatest master in Yunnan and a pillar of the Four Outer Palaces, his fame resounded even in the Central Plains.
Even the leaders of the great sects wouldn’t dare treat him so disrespectfully, yet this young whelp, who looked to be barely thirty, was spouting such nonsense at him?
Cheonho was about to erupt with a curse, but he suddenly remembered something and took a deep breath.
“I won’t waste words. Where is the child of the Northern King?”
He didn’t even bother asking for the man’s identity, immediately inquiring about Yeo Gang-hui.
Seo Ryang’s eyes gleamed.
*‘So he knows we’ve joined forces. The Lower Five Gates wouldn’t have told him, so did he figure it out on his own?’*
He might seem hot-tempered, but his mind worked surprisingly fast. It meant he had what it took to lead an organization.
“The Northern King’s child? Who’s the Northern King?”
“Do not play games with me. I will not listen to any of your clever tricks or silver-tongued lies.”
Seo Ryang scratched his head.
“You’re right. It wouldn’t be proper to waste time after summoning someone of Professor Meow’s stature.”
“…”
“But aren’t you mistaken about something? It would be normal to ask my identity before asking where that fellow is.”
“I have no desire to know who a whelp like you is.”
Seo Ryang’s eyes twinkled.
*‘Well, look at this.’*
This distance.
It wasn’t short, but it couldn’t be called very far either. Especially not for masters like them.
And yet, Cheonho seemed unable to sense his power, even though Seo Ryang could clearly see through his opponent’s profound energy.
*‘Is he pretending not to know? No, that’s not it. In that case…’*
A strange smile touched Seo Ryang’s lips.
*‘He truly doesn’t know. Even with such sharp senses.’*
In truth, terms like the State of Transformation or the Extreme Demon Realm were just the fuss of people who liked to name things.
Even terms like ‘Peak’ or ‘Transcendent’ were just labels established over thousands of years; naming the realms of martial arts was meaningless. The reason was that every person grew through their own unique enlightenment.
However, as all streams return to one source, even those who practiced different martial arts were bound to reach a similar point in terms of realm. This was because they had shed their human shell and transcended the limits of martial arts.
If he had reached the Extreme Demon or Transformation State, he shouldn’t be acting like this. He should have seen through Seo Ryang’s realm at a glance and been on high alert.
*‘The martial arts of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace… they certainly are unique.’*
A sect that gained power unattainable by humans through communion with beasts.
But the man said to be the greatest master of the Beast Palace couldn’t even discern his opponent’s skill, despite having broken through the limits of his martial arts.
Cheonho spoke again.
“Was it not that damn bastard who kidnapped the successors of my Palace?! Bring him here at once…!”
“I did it.”
“What?!”
Seo Ryang said languidly.
“The six little beasts you raised, Professor. I’m the one who kidnapped them.”
“You little brat, where did you hear such lies…”
He couldn’t finish his sentence.
*Ssk.*
In Seo Ryang’s left hand, three people, tightly bound by ropes, had appeared out of nowhere.
“It was hard to carry them, so I split them into two groups of three. These are your disciples, right?”
“!”
There was no way he wouldn’t recognize the disciples he had raised himself. Cheonho’s eyes turned bloodshot.
*‘Ungsan, Yeongpyo, Bigangsa.’*
They were his disciples, selected from the branches of the Ferocious Bear, the Silver Leopard, and the Blue Snake.
Before anger and astonishment, Cheonho felt a sense of bewilderment.
*‘Why couldn’t I feel them?’*
Anyone who practiced the Beast Arts could not escape his spiritual eye, which stood at the pinnacle of the Beast Palace. And yet, he hadn’t been able to sense his disciples’ presence at all.
*‘Sealed?!’*
A violent energy erupted from Cheonho’s body, sending ripples through the area.
*Tzzzt.*
The faint aura of a beast spread out.
The formless energy instantly expanded to the area where Seo Ryang stood.
At that moment, Seo Ryang’s eyes flashed.
*Fwoosh!*
A crimson demonic energy, flaring like a flame, completely blocked Cheonho’s aura.
A look of shock spread across Cheonho’s face.
*‘Demonic energy? And of this magnitude?’*
Absolute demonic energy that peered into the realm of the Innate. There were not many in the world who could exude such an aura.
*‘The Demonic Cult!’*
*Grrrrr!*
The Tiger King growled upon sensing the demonic energy.
A destructive killing intent began to pour from Cheonho as well. It was no exaggeration to say that fiends, especially those from the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon, were his mortal enemies.
“You bastard…”
Cheonho’s red eyes turned yellow.
“Which of the Nine Great Demonic Lords are you?”
He was certain that his opponent was one of the Demonic Lords.
One’s appearance could be altered with rejuvenation techniques or other methods. Besides, it was said that the Demonic Arts contained many extraordinary techniques.
But that high-level demonic energy could not be faked by any Demonic Art. The energy had reached its peak, touching the very essence of martial arts.
His opponent was undoubtedly one of the Nine Great Demonic Lords, or a fiend from a previous generation.
Seo Ryang smirked.
“I’m not a Demonic Lord.”
“I believe I said I have no patience for games. Reveal your identity!”
“You should have asked sooner. I don’t feel like telling you now.”
“You bastard!”
*Grip!*
“!”
Cheonho, who was about to charge in a fit of rage, flinched. Seo Ryang had stepped on Bigangsa’s neck.
His neck didn’t break, but his face turned beet red. Even while unconscious, his body trembled as if in pain.
“Alright, just as Professor Meow said, let’s stop playing games. Let’s get to the point.”
Seo Ryang’s eyes flashed.
“Did you bring the daughter of the Ice Palace Lord?”
“…”
“If you didn’t, I’m going to snap all of your disciples’ necks.”
Cheonho’s fingers twitched.
After taking a deep breath, he spoke.
“In any case, you are clearly a member of the Demonic Cult.”
“An undeniable fact.”
“Before we get to the point, I want to ask. Why did you join forces with the Ice Palace?”
“A foolish question. Organizations form alliances for only one reason: mutual benefit.”
“What in the world could the Ice Palace bastards…”
“Just like you and the Tang Clan.”
“!”
Cheonho’s eyes widened.
Seo Ryang smiled.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know that you occupied this mountain to supply the herbs that grow here to the Tang Clan?”
“…”
“Your scheme was so obvious it made me laugh. If you’re going to plot something, try not to be so conspicuous, Professor Meow.”
*How did he know?!*
Cheonho was in turmoil.
Perhaps someone with a god-like intellect could have seen through such a possibility, investigated from various angles, and eventually reached a conclusion. But this was too sudden.
*‘Did the Tang Clan talk? Impossible.’*
Cheonho would never know what kind of information the Lower Five Gates had been feeding Seo Ryang.
Nor would he know that Seo Ryang had manipulated the timing and content of the information they had given to the Beast Palace.
“Have all your questions been answered?”
“…”
“Then bring me the daughter of the Ice Palace Lord.”
Chewing his lip, Cheonho raised his hand.
A moment later, three men appeared from afar, carrying a large coffin.
Seo Ryang frowned.
*‘A coffin?’*
Could she be dead?
*‘…That’s no ordinary coffin.’*
Whatever it was made of, the coffin was immaculately white, without a single blemish.
And it was cold. So cold that he could feel a faint chill even from this distance. White frost had formed on the shoulders of the men carrying it.
“Sorry, but if the hostage is dead, the deal is off.”
“She is not dead.”
“If she’s not dead, why did you bring her in a coffin? Is this some kind of symbolic warning that you’re about to kill her? Are you messing with me?”
Cheonho’s lip twitched.
“You can ask the girl in the coffin that yourself when she wakes up. It was she who requested that coffin in the first place.”
“Hmm?”
He hadn’t heard anything about that.
The men set the coffin down beside Cheonho.
*Thud.*
A cloud of white dust rose, but strangely, none of it settled on the coffin.
Seo Ryang gestured with his chin.
“Open it and put it in front of me.”
“Before that.”
“…”
“I want to confirm that the other children are safe…”
*Crack!*
Cheonho’s face froze. Seo Ryang had broken one of Bigangsa’s arms.
Seo Ryang said coldly.
“Enough with the bullshit, Professor Meow.”
“…”
“Open it.”
Cheonho’s fists trembled.
He had never imagined a day would come when he would suffer such humiliation. When he had kidnapped the Ice Palace Lord’s daughter, he thought everything would go smoothly.
“Then grant me one request.”
Seo Ryang’s eyes flashed. He never thought he’d hear the word ‘request’ from that man’s mouth.
“Among my disciples, there is a child named Gwi-eung. Just let me confirm that he is safe.”
“…”
“I’m asking you.”
The mighty Lord of the Beast Palace was lowering himself to speak.
Not only was Seo Ryang surprised, but the Beast Warriors who had followed him were also utterly shocked. The leader they served was not a man who would ever bow his head to another.
*‘Hmm.’*
Seo Ryang looked into Cheonho’s eyes, which were filled with genuine worry.
He didn’t know what scheme he was plotting, but at least it didn’t seem to be a lie.
Seo Ryang reached behind his back.
*Woooong.*
His demonic energy pulsed, and three figures, a man and two women, floated up and appeared beside him.
Everyone who saw it was struck with awe.
*‘Is it sorcery?!’*
Within the Beast Palace, only the current Palace Lord could perform such a divine feat.
It wasn't because they were weak, but because the Beast Arts they practiced were far removed from the delicate control of energy. It was a characteristic of the Southern Barbarian martial arts, which followed a different path from those of the Central Plains.
“Have you confirmed it?”
Seeing the limp form of Gwi-eung, Cheonho nodded.
“Good. I will hand over the girl.”
*Rumble!*
The heavy coffin floated into the air, then slowly flew and settled on the ground in front of the cliff.
Cheonho flipped his hand in the air.
*Creeak! Thud!*
With a heavy sound, the coffin lid opened, and a white mist rose from within.
Simultaneously, the surrounding ground began to freeze.
*Crack-crack-crack!*
It was an astonishing chill. Merely touching the mist was enough to freeze everything within a three-zhang radius.
Inside the coffin, from which the mist still billowed, a woman lay as if dead.
“She is in a state of suspended animation. It was her own wish.”
“…”
“See for yourself.”
A faint killing intent appeared in Cheonho’s eyes, which had been full of worry. The mere thought of his opponent coming down was enough to make his anger boil.
Seo Ryang grinned.
“Alright.”
He stepped into the air.
*Woooooosh.*
Seo Ryang descended.
The beasts watching him were once again astonished.
As if there were invisible stairs, Seo Ryang slowly descended with his hands clasped behind his back, looking like an immortal. The crimson demonic energy flaring around him evoked a sense of mystery rather than fear.
*Thud.*
Seo Ryang landed softly on the ground and looked down at the woman.
She bore a striking resemblance to Yeo Gang-hui, but her features were much more delicate. Seeing her made him think that Yeo Gang-hui actually looked quite manly.
Gazing at the woman for a moment, Seo Ryang reached out to her. Since she was in a state of suspended animation, he intended to check her pulse directly.
Sparks flew in Cheonho’s eyes, and the Tiger King growled.
The very moment Seo Ryang’s hand was about to touch the woman’s wrist.
“This is strange.”
“…What?”
“Telling me to confirm her life or death myself? That’s certainly thorough, but there’s no need to be this deferential.”
The corners of Seo Ryang’s mouth lifted.
“Are you that confident in your martial arts, or… do you have a trick up your sleeve?”
*Flash!*
Before he could finish his words, the woman’s eyes snapped open.
*Paaak!*
A slender, jade-like hand shot toward Seo Ryang’s throat.