Chapter 136
Chapter 136
One Step
A full night had already passed since the flames of war that had swept through the Beast Palace finally subsided.
The Blood Cult's assassination attempt against the Palace Lord and Maeng Yong's conspiracy with the Wolf Tribe to stage a rebellion had left all Beast Palace warriors deeply shocked and wounded.
Yet, fortunately, no one had succumbed to despair.
This was partly due to the Beast Palace's unwavering belief in standing strong against any trial.
But above all, the greatest reason was one man—a man who had rekindled hope and inspired dreams of a new future for the Beast Palace.
The inheritor of the power of their legendary ancestor, Chuk Yeo-un, the Beast Fighting God.
The hero who had single-handedly defended the Beast Palace from its darkest crisis.
Tang Se-woon was the very reason they still stood.
The Main Palace of the Beast Palace
"Good, just like that. Let it settle slowly, like breathing."
"Ugh..."
Se-woon placed both hands on Umun Tak's back, guiding his energy flow.
Even so, it was far from easy—Umun Tak groaned continuously, sweat pouring down his face in thick rivulets.
And rightfully so.
He was in the process of stabilizing the Beast Palace's lost divine artifact—the Wildfire.
The power of the Wildfire, which he had wielded to control the Jiangshi against Qilian Demon, had rebounded violently once the battle ended.
The moment Qilian Demon died, Umun Tak collapsed, his face drained of all color. Se-woon had spent the entire night tending to him since then.
Behind them, Umun Gol and the four tribal chiefs watched with a mix of concern and awe.
"...To think the successor of the Wildfire, which we believed lost forever, would be the Lord of Shadows..."
"Hah, truly unimaginable."
"They say the pain of harboring an unawakened Wildfire is excruciating. And we never even realized..."
"Sigh... I can only feel ashamed..."
Umun Gol felt a flicker of relief as he observed the chiefs' reactions.
If even they responded this way, then his younger brother Umun Tak—long treated as a half-baked warrior within the Beast Palace—would finally be recognized as a true warrior.
No, in truth, he would be revered far beyond that.
After Se-woon, Umun Tak had played the greatest role in repelling the fiends and Jiangshi.
Then, at last, Umun Tak succeeded in stabilizing the Wildfire.
"I-I think it's done."
"Mmm, good. Well done—it's properly settled now. But don't let your guard down. From now on, you must focus diligently on external martial training to maintain this state."
"Y-yes! Understood!"
His face flushed, Umun Tak nodded repeatedly.
His eyes, fixed on Se-woon, brimmed with reverence and awe.
With Umun Tak's treatment complete, the meeting began in earnest.
Umun Gol and the four chiefs bowed respectfully before Se-woon.
Even Umun Gol, the Beast Heavenly King, knelt on one knee without hesitation.
Se-woon accepted their salutes while surveying their faces.
'Hmm, five in total.'
With Maeng Yong and the Wolf Tribe annihilated, the Beast Palace's tribes had been reduced from five to four.
Umun Gol at the forefront, followed by the newly appointed Bear Tribe Chief Tasadon, the Tiger Tribe Chief, the Boar Tribe Chief, and lastly—
'...Pata Mun.'
Pata Mun, with whom Se-woon had briefly posed as grandfather and grandson to conceal his identity.
After a moment, Se-woon slowly spoke.
"Bear Tribe Chief."
"...Yes, Fighting God."
Since the Blood Turmoil, every warrior of the Beast Palace had addressed Se-woon as the Fighting God.
The Reborn Fighting God.
They revered him as Chuk Yeo-un's return, bowing with utmost respect.
"My apologies. Though it was unavoidable to deceive the fiends infiltrating the Beast Palace, I committed a grave discourtesy toward you in the process."
"Not at all. While I was indeed startled, in the end, it prevented far greater damage to the Beast Palace. Please, Fighting God, do not trouble yourself over it."
"Your words are appreciated. However, there is something I must tell you."
"Yes?"
Se-woon answered Pata Mun's confusion.
"Pataho is alive."
"...!!"
Pata Mun's pupils trembled as if struck by an earthquake at the news of his son—whom he had believed dead—still living.
The other chiefs were equally stunned.
"What I told you before about Pataho was true. However, he is currently imprisoned in the Blood Cult's main stronghold."
"A-ah..."
"But I promise you this—I will rescue him."
Tears welled in the wrinkled corners of Pata Mun's eyes.
With a trembling voice, he bowed deeply to Se-woon.
"I... I can only thank you."
"It is only what must be done."
Se-woon spoke casually, but the gazes of Umun Gol and the chiefs shone with respect.
And then—
Thud!
Finally, Umun Gol stepped forward as their representative and revealed their purpose for coming here.
"Fighting God, ascend now to the throne of the Palace Lord!!"
"!!"
"Ascend—!!"
As Umun Gol led the call, the remaining chiefs bowed their heads and echoed him.
Yes. Their goal was singular.
They had come to beseech Se-woon to take the seat of the next Beast Palace Lord.
Se-woon was not a southern barbarian but a man of the Central Plains, and already the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
But none of that mattered to the warriors of the Beast Palace.
The moment he inherited the ink-blood of their ancestor Chuk Yeo-un—
No matter what background Tang Se-woon came from, he had already earned the right to become their ruler.
Moreover, hadn't Se-woon slain the fiends weaving their dark schemes before their very eyes? Hadn't he single-handedly destroyed countless terrifying Jiangshi, displaying awe-inspiring divine might?
In the Beast Palace, where only the Law of the Strong prevailed, no greater proof was needed.
They had already acknowledged Se-woon as their master.
"Hmm..."
For a moment, Se-woon seemed to ponder, resting his chin on one hand as he let out a soft sigh.
Umun Gol and the chiefs watched him with bated breath.
Hadn't they rushed here, unable to wait even a single night, fearing he might abandon them and return to the Sichuan Tang Clan?
"All warriors of the Beast Palace will follow you with unwavering loyalty, Palace Lord!!"
"Every warrior will walk the path you tread, Fighting God!!"
Listening to their impassioned cries, Se-woon's eyes gleamed as if he had reached a decision.
Step. Step.
Then, he walked past them, striding purposefully toward one place.
'With this, the first move is complete.'
Unbeknownst to anyone, a faint smile curled on Se-woon's lips as he turned away.
But it lasted only a moment.
Thud.
At last, Se-woon seated himself upon the Beast Palace Lord's throne.
"Ooooh!!"
"Palace Lord!!"
The moved chiefs roared with exhilaration.
And so, Tang Se-woon—the Demon-Slaying Blade, head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, one of the Seven Great Families—
Officially ascended as the new Beast Palace Lord, succeeding Umun Gol, the Beast Heavenly King.
Two Days Later
"Heh heh, so you really did swallow the Beast Palace whole."
Mumyung chuckled dryly as he spoke to Se-woon.
Se-woon reclined in the swaying carriage, gazing absently out the window.
Stars glittered brilliantly against the pitch-black night sky.
After solidifying his control over the Beast Palace in just two days as its new lord, Se-woon had immediately set out for the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Mumyung shook his head in disbelief and continued.
"A man of the Central Plains becoming the Beast Palace Lord... Honestly, who would even believe this if we told them?"
"Lower your voice. You'll wake the sleeping one."
Se-woon turned his head toward Umun Tak, who was fast asleep at the far end of the carriage.
"If he wakes up, it won't be because of me—it'll be from their howling."
Mumyung pointed playfully toward the driver's seat.
Outside, the growls of wild beasts echoed continuously.
In truth, what they rode in could hardly be called a carriage.
It was more fitting to call it a Tiger Chariot.
Because instead of horses, two white tigers pulled it forward.
The Tiger Chariot, drawn by the Beast Palace's sacred beasts, raced through the mountain paths at incredible speed.
They would likely arrive far sooner than when they had departed the Tang Clan.
Ignoring Mumyung's grumbling, Se-woon turned his gaze back outside.
Though the night sky blazed with dazzling stars, his heart was calmer than ever.
'The war with the Blood Cult is truly drawing near.'
He was already devising countermeasures against the Blood Cult, which would soon bare its fangs openly.
Though he had gained the immense power of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, he felt no arrogance.
This was merely the first step toward toppling the Blood Cult—there was still a long road ahead.
'I must accumulate even more strength and resources.'
Having glimpsed him through Qilian Demon's eyes, the Blood Cult would now target him without restraint.
But Se-woon had already laid swift plans to counter them, leaving only the harvest to be reaped.
The first of these was—
'With the Wildfire now in hand, I can complete the Mystical Forge within the clan.'
Upon returning, he would immediately forge the Mystical Forge.
At this speed, he would arrive well before the deadline promised to the Divine Doctor of the Shining Maiden Sect.
With the Mystical Forge, he would arm the warriors of both the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Beast Palace—and prove his capabilities to the Divine Doctor.
'Moreover, once the Mystical Forge is mine, I can seize the position currently held by the White Night Iron Forge within three months.'
The White Night Iron Forge was indisputably the greatest forge in the martial world.
Thus, the position Se-woon sought to claim was none other than supremacy.
With the Mystical Forge and the title of Divine Craftsman, the financial power to wage war against the Blood Cult would soon be his.
Once three months passed, none of the Elder Faction—including Namgung Myeong—would see the coming storm.
"Ugh, can't we move this coffin somewhere else? It's creeping me out."
Just then, Mumyung nudged the wooden coffin placed in the center of the chariot with his foot.
Inside lay the key to Se-woon's second plan—
Solidifying the alliance between the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Emei Sect, led by Bok Ho-shin.
Then, Mumyung's expression turned serious as he looked at Se-woon and spoke.
"Once we reach Sichuan, you'll prepare immediately, right?"
At his question, Se-woon tore his gaze from the night sky and met Mumyung's eyes.
A chilling frost had already settled in Se-woon's gaze.
"Yes."
"Heh heh, good. I never liked those bastards anyway."
Mumyung grinned in satisfaction.
What they intended to carry out was the third and final plan.
The Sichuan Tang Clan would officially declare its stance Between Righteousness and Evil to the martial world—the first step in seizing control of the Unorthodox Factions.
And that meant—
'We strike the Qingcheng Faction.'
A faction within the Elder Faction.
The complete eradication of the Qingcheng Faction, led by Juk Seong-ja, from the map of Sichuan.
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