Beastman (3)
“Grrr.”
The beastman glared at Baek So-cheon, growling low in its throat.
“Damn it! Looks like saving you pissed that thing off good.”
“Be careful! Those claws are razor-sharp!”
“Be careful? You’re the one who needs to block it!”
Shiiiek.
The beastman lunged straight at Baek So-cheon.
Thud.
Just before it could pounce, Yeom Hwa-sin’s kick sent the creature flying far off into the distance.
“You bastard! Your opponent is me.”
Yeom Hwa-sin stepped in front of Baek So-cheon.
Once he started putting his real power into it, the situation changed completely from before. It was clear he’d been holding back on purpose, letting himself get pushed into a defensive stance.
Of course, the beastman was no slouch either. Its claws had left scratches on Yeom Hwa-sin’s skin. The final blow, where he’d feigned a crisis, had dug deep enough to draw blood. It was just a tear in his thick hide, but seeing blood from the Diamond Indestructible Body was an achievement in itself.
But for all its impressiveness, the end result was the same: no one in the murim could yet stand against Yeom Hwa-sin.
As if to prove it, one strike from Yeom Hwa-sin sent the beastman hurtling through the air. In a flash, his massive frame shadowed after it like a ghost.
Thwack!
Another merciless blow from Yeom Hwa-sin crashed into its face.
Its features caved in deep, but the beastman didn’t die.
Yeom Hwa-sin stomped down on the fallen creature.
Boom!
Even with its chest crushed, the beastman clung to life. It thrashed wildly, raking at Yeom Hwa-sin’s shin with its claws.
That desperate struggle was plenty threatening, so Yeom Hwa-sin hopped back lightly.
The beastman seized the opening, crawling across the ground and launching itself forward.
Falling behind in the fight against Yeom Hwa-sin, it switched targets. It hurtled toward Baek So-cheon—pure instinct driving it to kill him before dying itself.
With half its face smashed to pulp, it was a terrifying sight in its final frenzy.
Baek So-cheon felt he’d need to use his inner power just to dodge.
Thud.
But the beastman froze right at his nose.
Yeom Hwa-sin had appeared behind it with I-hyeong-hwan-wi, seizing its head in an iron grip.
From behind, Yeom Hwa-sin wrenched its jaws open by force and bellowed.
“Kill it!”
Baek So-cheon didn’t hesitate. He drew Gui-yeong Geom and thrust it straight into the beastman’s maw.
Squelch.
The blade punched out through the back of its neck. Its body was steel-tough, but not its mouth.
Yeom Hwa-sin grabbed the protruding tip and whipped it around in a quick circle.
Shraaack, slice!
Its head tumbled to the ground as its neck was severed.
The two men slumped to the dirt, exhaling heavily. Baek So-cheon offered his belated thanks. Without Yeom Hwa-sin’s block earlier, he’d have had to unleash his inner power—or take a serious wound.
“Thanks.”
“Nah. We killed it easy thanks to you.”
Each had saved the other once.
“Earlier, what if I hadn’t jumped in to save you?”
“I’d have looked even cooler.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“A long scar across the face makes a man look tougher, don’t it? Black Heaven Alliance Lord and all—my face is too damn pretty right now. Take a good look. Baby-smooth, ain’t it?”
“Your skin might be holding up, but your mental age is straight-up childish!”
“Don’t be jealous.”
Baek So-cheon shook his head in disbelief.
His eyes fell on the beastman’s corpse.
“Releasing a monster like this! They’re beyond forgiveness.”
If they hadn’t put it down, this bloodthirsty thing would’ve roamed the world slaughtering endlessly.
“True enough.”
“True my ass. You’re gonna forgive them anyway, aren’t you?”
“Have to. If a blade cuts you, you sheath it—not snap it in half, right?”
“You really want to unify the murim this bad? Even like this?”
“What if I don’t? Play nice guy leader of the unorthodox sects?”
Baek So-cheon had no comeback for that.
He gathered the beastman’s body with the two men they’d fought earlier and buried them together. They said mortal enemies reincarnated as husband and wife—maybe these three would in their next lives.
“Why bother burying them? Just leave ’em.”
“Bury ’em when you can.”
“Who’s gonna thank you?”
“I know. You know.”
“Good deeds just get you screwed in this world.”
“That’s why I’m fighting you, isn’t it? To make sure it ain’t. I’m crashing first.”
Baek So-cheon lay down right there.
“You not sleeping?”
As Yeom Hwa-sin tossed more wood on the fire, he replied to Baek So-cheon’s question.
“Like you said, just staring into the flames ain’t half bad.”
Baek So-cheon fell into a deep sleep that seemed almost too sound, while Yeom Hwa-sin silently watched over him until the fire died out.
They’d finally arrived at Gyo-ryong-mun.
The carriage slowly approached the wide-open main gate in the distance.
“How many antidote pills left?”
“One.”
If Gyo-ryong-mun had no antidote, Jong Mu-jin would die.
“What if they don’t have the antidote for the blood poison that poisoned your warrior?”
The Sa-do Chil-ga was a coalition of seven clans. If another sect had used the poison—or outsourced to outsiders—Gyo-ryong-mun might not have it.
“They’ll have it.”
“Why so sure?”
“They say even three together always includes a mastermind. Seven of ’em? At least one made the smart call.”
Despite the casual guesswork, Yeom Hwa-sin already knew their personalities well. He’d predicted Jeong-gyun’s fall to the Mad Demon Path earlier. He probably had a good idea what decision they’d reached.
Baek So-cheon feigned ignorance as he steered the carriage onward.
“Let’s see if that smart one was as clever as you, and the other six as naive as me, following along.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’ll be back on our path soon enough.”
Baek So-cheon glanced back through the small window behind the driver’s seat, wondering what he meant.
Yeom Hwa-sin stared out the window, offering no answer.
Gyo-ryong-mun’s gates stood wide open.
Lord Yo Jeol-saeng himself came out to greet Yeom Hwa-sin at the entrance.
“Welcome, Alliance Lord.”
“Doing well?”
The two exchanged warm greetings. After a formal nod to Baek So-cheon, Yo Jeol-saeng asked Yeom Hwa-sin.
“To what do we owe this unannounced visit?”
“Passing by, needed a favor from your sect’s lord.”
They acted as if the earlier attack—and counterattack—had never happened.
“What favor?”
“One of my men’s poisoned with blood toxin. Got an antidote?”
“Perfect timing, then. We have just the thing for blood toxin.”
“Haha, lucky break.”
“Men! Bring the patient inside.”
At Yo Jeol-saeng’s order, Gyo-ryong-mun warriors carried the unconscious Jong Mu-jin from the carriage.
“We’ve prepared drinks. Come inside.”
“Lead on.”
Yo Jeol-saeng guided Yeom Hwa-sin and Baek So-cheon to the main hall, where a table was set.
They caught up like old friends. Laughter and drinks flowed, but Yo Jeol-saeng’s mind raced through hellish scenarios. Yeom Hwa-sin could kill him in an instant on a whim.
But the punishment for this wasn’t death.
“Thinking of forming an elite unit from the alliance’s young talents.”
“Ah, I see.”
A flicker of dismay crossed Yo Jeol-saeng’s face, gone in an instant.
“Seems fitting for the proud heirs of Sa-do Chil-ga to lead them. What say you, Lord Yo?”
In plain terms: hand over your kids as hostages to Black Heaven Alliance.
Accept, or war. Two choices only.
Yo Jeol-saeng chose to follow the smart one’s lead naively. They’d already decided internally to accept any terms.
“Wise words. My eldest has solid leadership skills—should be a great help to you.”
“As expected from Lord Yo’s loyalty. It pleases me greatly. But what of the others?”
“They’ll be thrilled.”
With the main issue settled, the drinks didn’t last long.
“Long journey—rest early.”
“Will do.”
An attendant led Yeom Hwa-sin and Baek So-cheon to their quarters. Baek So-cheon left without fuss. Yo Jeol-saeng was on the kill list, but this wasn’t the place or time.
Once they were gone, a hidden door opened, revealing the six other leaders.
They’d been ready to ambush if Yeom Hwa-sin tried killing Yo Jeol-saeng. Selfish as they were, protecting their clans, they knew one truth: division meant death for all.
Cheon-sa-hoi Lord Do Jeong-gil, who’d read Yeom Hwa-sin right before, nailed it again. He’d predicted no death for Yo Jeol-saeng.
“He even knew we were hiding.”
“Felt like it. He shot his energy this way.”
“Yeah, I caught it too.”
Yeom Hwa-sin had come prepared not just for the seven, but any other ambushers lurking.
“Gotta admit, the man’s got balls.”
This visit proved those balls came from sheer skill.
Cheol-han spoke up, face sour.
“We really sending our kids to him?”
Yo Jeol-saeng replied.
“He killed the beastman. We do as he says.”
“No other way?”
“Don’t worry. He won’t kill kids for no reason.”
They all nodded. His overwhelming strength actually eased their minds.
Then Do Jeong-gil dangled an unexpected hope.
“One wildcard, though.”
“What?”
“Baek So-cheon. I don’t buy he’s turned. That man’s righteous faction blood through and through.”
“Then why travel with Alliance Lord Yeom?”
“No clue. But one thing’s sure: if anyone kills Yeom Hwa-sin, it’ll be Baek So-cheon.”
They all hoped so. Unaware they were on his kill list—and far more terrifying as enemies than Yeom Hwa-sin.
Thus ended Sa-do Chil-ga’s rebellion. No deaths, but heirs as hostages, and they’d lead the charge against the righteous in any war.
For risking his life, not a bad outcome.
“Lie low and watch the situation for now.”
The seven clasped fists and parted.
The next day, Jong Mu-jin woke. Learning what Yeom Hwa-sin had done, he bowed deeply.
“I’ll never forget this grace.”
His already fierce loyalty deepened further.
Through this, Baek So-cheon learned much from Yeom Hwa-sin. Taming rage for a greater goal was no easy feat—and essential for great leaders. Beyond martial insights, he was gaining lessons in ruling men.
Yeom Hwa-sin said to Baek So-cheon.
“Well, troublemakers gone. On with the trip?”
Baek So-cheon climbed aboard first.
“Let’s go.”
Yeom Hwa-sin boomed with laughter at his eagerness.
“Hahaha!”
Jong Mu-jin took the driver’s seat again. No destination named, but northward they went.
No one—not even Sa-do Chil-ga—could stop them now.
The carriage raced north.
The landscape turned white. Snowy vistas unfolded.
Endlessly northbound, it halted at the foot of a snow-capped mountain.
“You’ll need to go on foot from here.”
“Wait here.”
“Understood.”
Baek So-cheon and Yeom Hwa-sin began climbing the snow-shrouded peak. No human tracks, not even animal prints in this forsaken place.
Crunch, crunch.
Treading the pristine snow felt oddly pleasant.
Soon, Yeom Hwa-sin stopped before a sheer ice cliff.
“Where’s this?”
“North Sea Ice Palace.”
The murim’s most enigmatic sect. Untouched by worldly affairs, with power no faction dared challenge—the pinnacle of mystery.
Baek So-cheon had suspected as much from the northward trek.
But Yeom Hwa-sin’s follow-up blindsided him.
“The place that’ll restore your dantian.”