Chapter 194
Chapter 194
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: The Palace Lord's Resolve
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Suri Tae and Suri Arang.
Both of them focused intently on Hyeok Mulin's lips.
Because a single word from him would determine the future of the Southern Wild Beast Palace.
Hyeok Mulin spoke slowly but clearly, as if aware of their desperate anticipation.
"The Palace Lord..."
Gulp.
In the utter silence, even the sound of swallowing was starkly audible.
There was no need to distinguish whether it came from the Palace Lord or the Eldest Princess.
They were both equally on edge.
In that tense atmosphere, Hyeok Mulin finished his sentence.
"...will not change."
"......Hm."
"Phew...."
At Hyeok Mulin's declaration, the two showed different reactions.
Suri Tae let out a somewhat disappointed murmur, while Suri Arang breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing this, Hyeok Mulin turned to her.
"It seems you're relieved, even though the chance to ascend to the Palace Lord's seat has slipped away."
"If I were ready, I would have accepted it without hesitation, but I still have many shortcomings."
She was right.
How could a woman who had spent her life one step removed from power suddenly claim the throne?
Hyeok Mulin had chosen her as the successor to the Southern Wild Beast Palace not for the present, but for the future.
There was no need to worry about the Eldest Princess.
She already recognized her own deficiencies, so she wouldn't grow arrogant and would strive diligently.
Then the issue was...
Smoothly, Hyeok Mulin's gaze shifted to Suri Tae.
Suri Tae wore an expression full of mixed thoughts about being kept in the Palace Lord's position.
Hyeok Mulin addressed him directly.
"No need to overthink it. It means you're the only one who can lead the Southern Wild Beast Palace as it stands now."
A period of chaos would soon descend upon the Southern Wild Beast Palace, which had just weathered one crisis.
To rebuild and reorganize a ruined organization required the dignity and leadership of a strong sovereign.
No matter how he looked at it, no one else in the current Southern Wild Beast Palace could fill that role.
Yet Suri Tae still seemed uncertain about himself.
"I'm not sure if I can overcome this hardship. Most of my trusted subordinates have left—will the people's hearts still remain with me?"
"Then change your approach."
"Pardon?"
To Suri Tae's puzzled question, Hyeok Mulin replied indifferently.
"Stand not above the palace members, but before them. Then they will naturally follow, seeing your back."
From what Hyeok Mulin had observed so far, Suri Tae possessed ample ability and leadership.
It was merely his method that had gone astray.
He had chosen to reign alone rather than lead everyone.
There was no right or wrong in that.
Every situation had its pros and cons.
But one thing was certain.
If he clung to that method, he wouldn't overcome the current crisis.
Humans were animals that banded together to overcome problems.
"...I will keep that in mind."
Suri Tae engraved Hyeok Mulin's advice deep in his heart.
He was not just the lord to whom Suri Tae had pledged loyalty—he was the leader of the vast Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Thus, every word from Hyeok Mulin pierced straight to his core.
"However."
Then Hyeok Mulin added firmly.
"From now on, follow the Eldest Princess's way when it comes to the Southern Wild Beast Palace's ideology."
"By ideology, do you mean our approach to handling fierce beasts?"
"You understand well."
At those words, Suri Tae scratched his head.
The position was the same, so why change the ideology?
Did the Cult Leader truly not trust him after all?
Hyeok Mulin saw Suri Tae's troubled yet unconvinced expression and spoke to him.
"It seems you don't understand."
"Yes. Honestly, I don't."
"Then let me explain why."
Hyeok Mulin instructed Suri Tae directly.
"Stand and demonstrate the Myriad Beasts Convergence Art."
Suri Tae's curiosity surged at the command.
It was odd to suddenly ask him to perform a martial art, but how did Hyeok Mulin even know its name?
Even so, Suri Tae did his best to demonstrate it as instructed.
Once finished...
"That's it."
He relaxed his stance and wiped away his sweat.
Hyeok Mulin nodded and then turned to Suri Arang.
"Next, you demonstrate the Myriad Beasts Convergence Art."
Hyeok Mulin had both perform the same martial art.
'What is he doing right now?'
Suri Tae watched Hyeok Mulin with uncomprehending eyes before turning to Suri Arang's movements.
Seeing her inferior strength and internal energy compared to his own, he observed indifferently.
But moments later...
"This is..."
Suri Tae's eyes changed as realization dawned.
There was a clear difference in their movements.
His version had greater power, but hers was more fluid. And that gap pointed to a more fundamental divide.
Suri Tae had merely executed the art as he had learned it.
But Suri Arang understood and emulated the movements of the animals at the art's core.
It was a simple yet profound difference.
'Understanding the origin of the martial art.'
It was the fork in the road between having a growth ceiling or not.
Her current inferiority to Suri Tae stemmed only from lesser internal energy and realm, producing weaker power.
"Do you understand now?"
Suri Tae nodded at Hyeok Mulin's question.
"Yes."
"The Eldest Princess's ideology is the path to advancing your martial arts."
Not dominating fierce beasts, but communing with them as comrades.
Hyeok Mulin wasn't pushing this ideology just to bolster Suri Arang.
It was the way to elevate the martial prowess of the Southern Wild Beast Palace warriors.
Those who mimicked beasts' forms would gain fundamental understanding through communion.
This was possible only in the Southern Wild Beast Palace, where they practiced beast-emulating arts.
'They have high growth potential.'
The current Southern Wild Beast Palace didn't live up to its name in strength.
Yet Hyeok Mulin focused on their tremendous potential for growth.
Adopting the Eldest Princess's way over the Palace Lord's would vastly increase their forces.
He was certain their power would multiply several times over.
'This will surely become a great trump card.'
And it wasn't just their boosted forces that helped. The most fearsome cards were hidden ones, after all.
No one in the outside world would know that a pillar of the southern wilderness martial world had pledged loyalty to Hyeok Mulin.
The quietly strengthening Southern Wild Beast Palace would become a massive force for him in the future.
"You've improved far more than before."
As Suri Arang finished her demonstration, Suri Tae spoke to her.
She replied with an embarrassed smile.
"Lord Man the Protector helped with my martial arts, and I gained insight from it."
"Lord Man?"
Suri Tae's gaze turned to Man Ho.
He was tearing into meat as if it were nothing.
'She learned a martial art from a demon, and it helped?'
A brief doubt arose, but recalling Man Ho's art from the arena that day, Suri Tae had no choice but to accept it.
His movements bore a striking resemblance to Southern arts.
Moreover, as a Heavenly Demon's Protector, he must know all sorts of world-dominating techniques.
He could broaden her perspective.
"Thank you for your help."
"It was nothing."
After thanking him, Suri Tae felt his head spinning.
How should he lead the Southern Wild Beast Palace from now on?
Hyeok Mulin had given him too much information in such a short time.
"No need to overthink it."
Seeing his distraught face, Hyeok Mulin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Follow your own methods, but adhere to the Eldest Princess's ideology. Do that, and the South will walk a path not of decline, but of prosperity."
"I see."
With that clear answer pushing aside other worries, Suri Tae's mind cleared.
As he smiled, Hyeok Mulin spoke firmly.
"If you understand, then move. This isn't where you should be right now."
"......!"
Suri Tae's pupils dilated.
Soon after, he shot to his feet.
"I'll be right back."
Leaving Hyeok Mulin's nod behind, Suri Tae strode away.
He retraced his steps with large, purposeful strides.
'What a fool I've been.'
I'm the only one who can take responsibility for these people, yet I lost myself in despair.
That wouldn't do.
At the very least, the me they look to must always show a steadfast, towering back.
Whoosh.
Heading to the arena, Suri Tae grabbed a torch illuminating one corner.
Then he climbed to the top of the arena wall, visible to every palace member in the Southern Wild Beast Palace.
Looking down, he saw the banquet's glowing lights illuminating the throng of palace members.
Hoo.
Suri Tae, torch in hand, drew a deep breath.
And bellowed to those below with a mighty voice.
"Behold!"
At his cry, the raucous banquet fell silent in an instant.
People spotted the Palace Lord and pointed one by one, until silence reigned.
In that atmosphere of undivided attention, Suri Tae spoke again.
"This palace has become ruins. Crumbled, trampled, and much turned to ashes."
The listeners showed puzzled expressions.
Why mention such grim tales at a banquet?
Amid those questions, Suri Tae continued.
"But since when was this palace the entirety of the Southern Wild Beast Palace?"
No.
The foundation of the South was not such a mere palace.
"As long as our homeland—the jungle—remains!"
No internal energy infused Suri Tae's words.
Yet his voice, brimming with conviction, rang clearly in every ear.
"The Southern Wild Beast Palace will rise again!"
His voice blanketed the sky, followed by a moment of hush.
And after that brief stillness...
"Waaaaaaaah—!"
Vast cheers engulfed the entire South.
It was the first time the lifelong solitary ruler had shown such fervor to them.
The people responded to his changed will and actions with tremendous roars of approval.
This moment would become the power supporting him.
Hyeok Mulin's group watched the scene with warm satisfaction.
As Suri Tae's speech ignited the South in fervor, Man Ho, who had paused eating, looked to Hyeok Mulin.
And slowly opened his mouth.
"Cult Leader. The promised time approaches."
Hyeok Mulin filled his cup with wine, reflecting the moon.
He downed it cleanly, then slowly licked his lips.
"Nights in the South pass swiftly."