Chapter 624
According to Ju Hwaran, her grandfather, the Escort King Ju Gongsan, once said this about the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace:
‘The Southern Barbarian Region is no different from a single kingdom, and the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace is a vast ranch encompassing five counties.’
The words of the Escort King, who had once traveled across the Four Seas and Nine Provinces, were not wrong.
The domain directly ruled by the Beast Palace covered as many as five counties—truly immense. By sheer territory alone, it far exceeded the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families of the Central Plains.
‘One might say it’s the difference between direct and indirect rule.’
In the Central Plains, the Son of Heaven was sovereign. In the Southern Barbarian Region, the Beast Palace was the supreme authority.
So while it could not surpass the great orthodox sects in martial strength, its influence naturally outstripped them.
If there was one part of the Escort King’s words that was inaccurate…
‘It’s not a ranch. It’s a safari.’
Never before had I seen a place with such a bizarre mix of animals, plants, climates, and terrain.
Following Yal Mok and his men, we crossed pastures, jungles, mountains, and rivers, leaving me dumbfounded.
“What kind of damned weather is this?”
At my mutter, Ju Hwaran, riding on my right, spoke.
“There’s a saying—one mountain can have four seasons, and within ten li the weather changes. It describes the ever-changing nature of the Southern Barbarian Region.”
“Now that I’ve experienced it myself, I can’t deny it. But tell me, Lady Ju—what made you take an escort mission into a place like this?”
“I didn’t think it would be this extreme. I’ve accompanied my father before, but never this deep into the Southern Barbarians.”
Wearing a thick fur cloak, Ju Hwaran smiled faintly, her breath white in the cold air.
When one thought of the Southern Barbarian Region, the first image was always jungle. I’d thought the same, like any Central Plains man.
But this cursed land held tundra, temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates all crowded together like apartments in a block.
“At this point, it’s practically a damned land.”
“…Mind your tongue.”
On my left rode Nam Ho, perched atop a black panther with Yal Mok’s men. Even hunched down to dodge branches, the old Shadow Pavilion agent glared at me.
“Imagine if they understood what you said. They’d be delighted, wouldn’t they?”
“So what? It’s the truth. And I spoke in Han, they can’t understand.”
Just then, Yal Mok, riding ahead, suddenly spoke.
“I’d prefer if you shut that mouth.”
“…That was Han.”
“…Was it?”
Well, damn.
I felt like a card cheat caught swapping the bottom card at a gambling table.
Though clumsy, Yal Mok had spoken in clear Han. Nam Ho and I exchanged a glance before I asked,
“You learned Han?”
“A little. I lost interest quickly and quit.”
“I see. A little, and you quit quickly?”
At my probing tone, Yal Mok’s expression hardened.
“Still, I understand enough. Words like ‘cursed land,’ for example.”
“…It would be best if you stayed quiet until we reach the Beast Palace and leave this cursed land behind.”
With him being this blunt, I had nothing to say.
As I closed my mouth, Nam Ho chuckled like a sage.
“Well done. Thanks to you, the Beast Palace and the Murim Alliance will now join hands with ease.”
“You’re mocking me. Still, we did hear good news, didn’t we?”
“Good news for Dark Heaven, perhaps. The Murim Alliance’s greatest prodigy, who came here to propose an alliance, asked the Young Palace Lord whether he had a grandfather, and then called the Southern Barbarians a cursed land. If anything, it sounds like you belong to Dark Heaven. Are you sure you’re not?”
“Do I look like I belong to Dark Heaven?”
“No. But I can’t help having doubts. Enough nonsense. What’s this good news you’re hiding?”
I answered with confidence.
“We’ll be arriving at the Beast Palace soon.”
“…You son of a—”
“Don’t curse.”
“You think I can hold it in? Taesan might be a problem, but frankly, you as Pavilion Master are no less a menace. If you lose your temper when we meet the Beast Miao King, what then?”
“Menace? That’s harsh. I know when to hold back. And Taesan may be lacking in some ways, but he’s a powerful asset. When the time comes, he’ll prove useful.”
Just then, a sorrowful beastly cry rose behind us, followed by a desperate shout.
“Yooowoooh!”
“Young Palace Lord! This giant Han brat is chewing on my bear’s ear!”
“Taesan! Bear meat!”
“Captain!”
“Taesan, stop! Don’t eat!”
“Seize that Han brat at once!”
I glanced back briefly at the commotion and muttered to Nam Ho,
“Though, yes… his appetite is an issue.”
“Damn it. Appetite is one thing—this is savagery. Is that even human?”
I couldn’t deny it. Even I was starting to suspect that Taesan was some unknown existence straddling the line between man and beast.
‘Fire Dragon Pavilion… is this really all right?’
Taesan gnawed on the bear’s ear, Sama Pyo tried to stop him, and the bear bellowed in pain, clearly unwilling to carry its rider.
Sighing, Yal Mok spoke.
“We’re here. Now get down.”
He was right. The chill in the air vanished, replaced by hot, humid air. A dense tropical rainforest awaited us.
And beyond it—
Rumble…
A gate hidden beneath tree trunks opened, revealing countless halls and houses.
This was one of the many faces of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, their hidden kingdom in the deepest, most secluded part of the Southern Barbarian Region.
—
Any clan or sect of size had an outer and inner court.
To prepare against attacks, they maintained both internal and external defenses.
But the outer court of the Beast Palace far surpassed that of any normal sect.
‘This is practically a city.’
No wonder the Escort King compared it to a kingdom.
Unusual houses and grand structures unlike anything in the Central Plains filled my sight.
In one place, a market bustled with trade. Nearby, children no older than six or seven laughed and played with young beasts.
People, buildings, commerce, and industry—all thriving.
It was a city, in every sense. Heok Mujin’s mouth hung open.
“I thought I’d seen a lot, but this is beyond imagination. Captain, look at that! Incredible.”
“Yeah. But you know what’s even more incredible? Us.”
“…Huh?”
“If you’ve realized that much, shut your mouth and stop gawking. We’re drawing enough stares already.”
Judging from the scale of the outer court alone, there were likely thousands of households living here.
And since the Beast Palace forbade outsiders, of course we stood out.
For many, it was probably their first time seeing Han people.
It was pointless to draw more attention, especially now.
“Hey, are those Han?”
“They look a bit like us, but strange.”
“Don’t look. Didn’t you hear the story from the north? A Han group massacred a Miao village. They might be the same lot.”
“Of course I heard. But what could they do here? Looks like the Young Palace Lord brought them in.”
“Doesn’t look like captives to me. Anyway, what are Han doing here?”
Different faces, different clothes, different tongues.
Among us, only I, Ju Hwaran, and Nam Ho could understand their words.
“Seems the rumors spread fast.”
“I only understand the Miao and Bai tongues, but yes, the mood is bad.”
“That massacre happened only weeks ago. Tribal disputes are common, but outsiders causing bloodshed? That’s once in a decade. No wonder word spreads fast.”
Had it been a positive reputation, we might have been welcomed anywhere. But the massacre a month ago had the opposite effect.
Heok Mujin shrank back, muttering.
“Crazy bastards. Why did the Heavenly Demon Escort Agency have to commit such atrocities here of all places…”
“Good question.”
Sama Pyo cut in with a curious tone.
“Why now, of all times? I bet someone here is thinking the same as me. Right?”
Song Ilseom replied flatly,
“Yes, but no.”
“…Yes, but no?”
“It means I don’t want to talk to you. Don’t bother me.”
“You’re pettier than I thought. Fine.”
At my sharp look, Sama Pyo smirked but backed off.
But his question lingered with me as well.
‘The Heavenly Demon Escort Agency…’
Coincidence, or design? The timing was too suspicious.
I didn’t yet have the answer.
‘Still, maybe this means the worst hasn’t happened yet.’
Before meeting Yal Mok, I’d feared the worst—that Dark Heaven had already unleashed its schemes and the Beast Palace was in chaos.
The Han’s reputation might have sunk to rock-bottom, but at least hell hadn’t broken loose yet.
‘Better to be scolded than to see carnage.’
I muttered inwardly—when suddenly, I felt it.
‘This…’
Others may not have noticed, but I did.
The subtle heaviness in the air.
The overwhelming aura cutting through the noise and bustle.
My gaze followed that aura to the end of a vine-covered stairway—
Where an old man sat, shirtless, his massive body radiating strength.
Before he even spoke, I knew who he was.
‘The Beast Miao King.’
It was him.