Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Secrets of the Southern Wild Beast Palace
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After entering the Heavenly Demon Palace, Sima Jin had gained a reputation as a man of calm and steely composure.
The biggest reason for that temperament was none other than Hyeok Mulin.
Sima Jin believed he had experienced enough heart-stopping shocks alongside the Cult Leader to last a lifetime.
As a result, he thought he had reached a realm where he could accept whatever the Cult Leader said without batting an eye and simply carry out his duties.
But.
"That is... truly the case...?"
Even so, at this moment, his voice couldn't help but trail off.
And in response, Hyeok Mulin gave the same unwavering answer.
It was an indisputable fact.
In truth, he already knew as much.
What would the Cult Leader gain by speaking falsehoods?
The Cult Leader had always conveyed only the truth.
But still...
'It's only natural not to believe it!'
The Southern Wild Beast Palace.
A place so representative of the outer wilds that it wouldn't be strange to call it their pinnacle.
Yet after visiting as an envoy and staying for quite some time, he had returned claiming to have subjugated it?
Those reclusive warriors of the wilds, who never stepped foot outside the South?
"What in the world happened there?"
Unable to shake his doubts, Sima Jin naturally posed the question.
"The story is rather long."
Even as he said this, Hyeok Mulin slowly began recounting the events at the palace.
The structure and layout of the Southern Wild Beast Palace, the conflict between the Palace Lord and the Young Palace Lord, the seed they found in the form of the Eldest Princess amid it all, the rebellion that unfolded at the Fierce Beast Arena, and how it was quelled.
Having listened quietly to Hyeok Mulin's account, Sima Jin nodded in full understanding.
The Cult Leader had simply done as he always did.
No matter how wary and distrustful the Southern Wild Beast Palace was of outsiders, it all faded before Hyeok Mulin.
He was the hero who had saved them from destruction and even promised to rebuild their palace—how could they not be captivated?
Understanding their sentiments, Sima Jin nodded vigorously.
Then he turned to Hyeok Mulin with a question.
"How many people know of this fact?"
Hyeok Mulin calmly informed him: only those present in the arena when he slew the traitorous Young Palace Lord.
The Palace Lord, the Eldest Princess, Hyeok Mulin himself, Ji Wolhon, Man Ho, and now Sima Jin.
Just six people in the entire world knew.
Grasping the true value of this, Sima Jin spoke up.
"As Your Excellency says, if they show remarkable growth, they could become our cult's hidden blade."
"Indeed. No one in the world would ever suspect the Southern Wild Beast Palace has allied with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
They were people who rejected even basic exchanges—subjugation? Most would dismiss it as nonsense even if the information leaked into the Central Plains.
Sima Jin himself would have thought it impossible if he hadn't heard it directly from Hyeok Mulin.
He had turned the impossible into reality.
No one but the Cult Leader could have achieved such a result.
Staring intently at Hyeok Mulin, Sima Jin soon let out a chuckle and smiled.
'Yes, this is our Cult Leader.'
He shouldn't be this surprised.
There would be even greater things to witness ahead.
As Sima Jin composed himself, Hyeok Mulin asked in a flat tone,
"There's one thing I'd like to ask. Do you know anything about the Blue Eyes?"
"Blue Eyes, you say?"
Sima Jin tilted his head, pondering deeply before continuing.
"I've heard that a tiny fraction of the dark-skinned natives possess blue eyes, but I've never seen one myself."
"Hm. As I thought."
The rebellion of Suma Geon.
His final warning before his last breath.
Blue Eyes.
Hyeok Mulin had mulled over it extensively, but nothing had come to mind yet.
Of course, he had first thought of the natives as well.
But.
'It doesn't seem like such a straightforward clue.'
Thus, on the way back to the Heavenly Demon Palace, Hyeok Mulin had pondered the hint left behind.
This was something even his previous life hadn't prepared him for.
Unlike his past seclusion in the Heavenly Demon Secret Vault, traversing the world on foot and uncovering its secrets had yielded information unknown even then.
On the journey back, he had fallen into prolonged contemplation about it, and now, after asking Sima Jin, he neatly organized his thoughts.
There was no need to seek it out first.
Just as they had schemed to seize and control the Southern Wild Beast Palace, if their aim was some place in the world, they would surely reveal themselves again.
And Hyeok Mulin was certain.
It wouldn't be long before he encountered them once more.
Having sorted his thoughts, Hyeok Mulin then inquired about the events within the cult during his absence.
As Sima Jin reported them one by one, he soon shared something intriguing.
"Come to think of it, Ibija's unit returned to the main palace from Mount Taegang Snow a few days ago. They said they'd completed special training."
"Oh? Did they seem any different?"
"Yes. They were noticeably more disciplined than before. I had my doubts when they formed the unit by gathering hunters, but Ibija seems to have real leadership."
The reason Hyeok Mulin hadn't taken them to the Southern Wild Beast Palace.
As a newly formed unit, they lacked cohesion, so he hadn't deployed them in actual combat yet.
Thus, when Hyeok Mulin headed south, they had left under Ibija's lead for special training.
They had gone to Mount Taegang Snow, where blizzards as big as a man's head raged.
"Hearing that makes me even more eager. I should check them out myself."
"They could be deployed on missions right away without issue."
"No. Not yet."
Hyeok Mulin shook his head at Sima Jin's words.
He had high expectations for Ibija's unit.
Wasn't it to be the second Heavenly Demon Army succeeding the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad?
That was precisely why he needed to solidify its foundation meticulously.
"I should go see them."
The most important thing for a unit serving the Heavenly Demon.
Some might say martial prowess, but that was only half right.
First and foremost.
For them, unwavering loyalty was paramount.
To that end, Hyeok Mulin planned to meet them directly and reveal himself without restraint.
Those who followed without hesitation would come along; those who wavered would be left behind.
To truly bind the Heavenly Demon Army, a culling was necessary.
"Should I instruct Ibija to clear his schedule?"
Hyeok Mulin shook his head at Sima Jin's question.
"No need. Instead, clear my schedule."
Before meeting Ibija's unit, there was someone he needed to see first.
"Someone will come seeking me in the near future."
Man Ho had returned.
At the news, all the retainers of the Man Clan rushed out barefoot to greet him.
After heading to the Southern Wild Beast Palace, he had been out of contact for quite some time, so their worry had been immense.
Confirming he was safe, they all beamed with smiles as they welcomed their returning patriarch.
And the good news didn't end there.
Man Ho, who had traveled at the Heavenly Demon's side all that time, had come back to the clan.
Everyone was curious about what had happened and what shift in his mindset had occurred, but none dared ask him directly.
Though questions lingered, they were content that their patriarch had returned to the clan.
However, the clan's joyful atmosphere didn't last many days.
Thud. Thud.
During mealtime, with the clan's heavyweights gathered.
In the heavy silence, Man Ho at the head seat slowly brought food to his mouth.
He chewed leisurely, lost in thought, saying nothing.
In that quiet where only the sound of chewing echoed.
Clack.
As if finished eating, Man Ho set down his chopsticks and rose from his seat.
"I'll head out first."
"Yes, Patriarch."
The retainers bowed their heads until he left the room.
Once his presence faded, they slowly raised their heads and looked at one another.
"Again today?"
"Yes, again."
Their gazes soon fixed on Man Ho's rice bowl.
Two full spoonfuls of rice remained.
Someone clicked their tongue.
"For the patriarch to leave rice behind—what day is this now?"
He usually polished off two bowls with ease, yet he hadn't even finished one, leaving it like that.
And it wasn't just a day or two. The same scene had repeated for days now.
It was shocking enough to make their jaws drop, so the retainers buzzed with concern.
"And unlike usual, he was especially quiet during the meal."
"He seemed deep in thought."
"To see the patriarch so changed."
Their worried eyes converged on one person.
The only one who might know why he had changed.
Among the heavyweights, the only one who had accompanied Man Ho to the Southern Wild Beast Palace—Grand Commander Man Ji—drew all their stares.
"What exactly happened at the Southern Wild Beast Palace?"
They fell silent, awaiting his answer.
The man, who had been eating quietly, set down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth.
After sweeping his gaze over the eyes fixed on him from left and right, he spoke.
"I can't tell you what happened. And even I don't know everything."
"...I suppose not."
"But surely everyone has sensed it's related to the Cult Leader."
That was true.
Man Ho had been at the Cult Leader's side with the provisional title of Right Protector.
"Then did the Cult Leader persuade him directly in the South?"
"Maybe he received some major proposal that requires deep deliberation."
"Seems like he's pondering the balance among the Seven Great Demon Clans."
Starting with Man Ji's response, the room quickly grew noisy with speculation.
Amid the flurry of guesses, Man Ji spoke in a subdued voice.
"No need for confusion."
Meeting the retainers' eyes, he continued firmly.
"We simply follow wherever the patriarch leads."
At his words, the quieted retainers nodded to one another.
The Man Clan's rule was simple.
Follow the patriarch, Man Ho.
Everything else was unworthy of thought.
As the meal and conversation resumed in the settled atmosphere, Man Ji alone quietly sipped his tea and gazed out the window.
'But from what I've seen, the patriarch's heart has already...'
Slurp.
Foreseeing the Man Clan's future path, Man Ji slowly closed his eyes.