Chapter 629
After parting ways with Yal Mok, I turned toward the temporary quarters where the Fire Dragon Pavilion members were waiting.
Thanks to my martial skills, there was little danger of being attacked by anyone, but there was no real benefit in wandering around alone in a place with this kind of atmosphere.
And as I walked like that, I eventually found myself at the Outer Hall of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.
“…When did I end up here?”
I mumbled to myself as I looked around.
Hidden in a dense thicket, the area was so quiet that it seemed not even a rat was nearby—
Well, not exactly.
Like loyal guards of the Ministry of Defense, a couple of monkeys—the unofficial mascots of the Southern Barbarian Region—were loitering around.
—Screech?
‘A Han guy like you should’ve just stayed locked up in your room. Why’d you crawl out here?’
That’s what their curious gazes seemed to ask, but I had no shame.
‘I got lost, okay?’
Of course, I did move stealthily, suppressing my breathing and avoiding attention just like I was taught by that so-called top assassin disguised as a divine ally.
But one thing was clear: I was lost.
Even though the lodging was barely a quarter-hour away and there were only two paths, I still got lost. And if I say I got lost, then I got lost.
‘Still, since I came as a representative of the Murim Alliance, I should be able to scout things out alone.’
A guy I knew back in hunter training once said something like this—
“A perfect lie becomes the truth… if you don’t get caught.”
So yeah, the trick was not to get caught. Simple.
Ssshh.
Taking a slow breath, I stepped out of the bushes and naturally blended into a group of people nearby.
I concealed my presence, suppressed my aura, and lowered my posture slightly to blend in with them—just as Moon Kyung had once taught me.
‘You know who the scariest assassin in the world is?’
‘I do. It’s you, sir.’
‘I’m sorry. Truly sorry. Please don’t draw the dagger from your sleeve. I’m begging you, teach this foolish one the way.’
Moon Kyung, who had looked ready to kill me, had replied—
‘An ordinary man.’
‘Ordinary?’
‘Someone so ordinary he blends in anywhere. That’s the deadliest kind of assassin.’
What Moon Kyung taught me wasn’t just for assassins.
He’d brushed it off as just a simple trick not worth calling a martial art, but I’d never forgotten it—and it came in handy more often than you’d think.
Just like now.
‘Definitely different from the Central Plains. Very different.’
I subtly turned my head and scanned the Outer Hall.
The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace truly was a unique place.
It wasn’t a sect—it was more like a small city, where people of many different tribes coexisted. Compared to the Central Plains, where Han made up the overwhelming majority, this place was like a melting pot of races.
A Miao woman wearing brilliant jewelry strolled confidently through the market, basking in attention. A Baek tribesman in white traditional robes tried haggling with a monkey perched on his shoulder.
And right ahead of me, an old man walked with a limp…
Wait. Sir, why are you walking over here?
“You there. I’m looking to buy some cloth from the market. Which shop is good? If I were just ten years younger, I could find it with my eyes closed. But age makes memory fade, you know.”
Maybe I blended in a little too well.
Caught off guard by the old man’s question, I hesitated for a moment before casually answering—
“If you go straight and turn into the alley on the right, you’ll find it.”
“An alley to the right? Was there a fabric shop there?”
…How would I know that, sir?
But I kept my expression confident and nodded.
“Yes, there are tons. More fabric than the hairs on your head. They sprouted up like mushrooms after rain.”
“Is that so? What’s the shop’s name?”
Wait, he wants the name too?
If I stutter here, he’ll start getting suspicious. So I just spat out the first thing that came to mind.
“It’s called Hyeok’s Fabrics. They’ve got good quality.”
“Hyeok’s Fabrics? Never heard of it… I must’ve underestimated your local experience.”
It was clearly a reckless answer, but things like this are all about confidence. I looked him straight in the eye and said firmly—
“They’ve been open for over ten years now.”
“Really? Strange. I could’ve sworn…”
“Isn’t that why you asked me in the first place? Because your memory’s fuzzy?”
“Well, I guess that’s true.”
“Sir, if I may—how old are you?”
“Me? Eighty-two.”
“I’m twenty-two. I still remember things from when I moved from Dad’s side of the family to Mom’s.”
“…You remember that?”
“I’m only twenty-two. I remember everything. So trust me.”
“…Alright, thanks.”
As the elder, who had lost the battle of confidence, turned to leave, I suddenly remembered something and quickly spoke up.
“Excuse me, sir?”
“Yes?”
“Where are the biggest crowds right now? I was supposed to meet someone, but I can’t find the bastard anywhere. Figured I’d check for myself.”
“Then head that way. I saw a ruckus earlier. Probably because of the upcoming festival.”
Just then, as he pointed with his cane, the elder paused and peered at me closely with faded eyes.
“By the way… which tribe are you from?”
“…Pardon?”
“You don’t look like a fellow Yao. Yet your command of our language is quite—”
“Oh, look! There he is. Take care, sir.”
“Wait—hey!”
I quickly walked away, leaving the elder behind.
No matter how well you blend in, if someone stares at your face for too long, they’ll eventually catch on.
Even if the difference isn’t dramatic, the facial features of Han and the tribespeople of the Southern Barbarian Region were distinct enough to notice.
Still, it wasn’t like I had no options.
Fortunately, I had quick hands. The market was packed with tribespeople, and one of the busiest vendors was swamped selling traditional animal masks.
Long story short, stealing a mask was no problem at all.
‘Inventory open. Store.’
Ding.
—You have obtained [Poorly-Made Tiger Mask]!
Faster than your hands is the system itself.
By the time I naturally passed by a few people, a tiger mask painted with crude dye was already on my face.
‘This should do. Won’t stand out too much around here.’
Maybe because of the upcoming festival the elder mentioned, but for every ten people in sight, two or three were wearing masks like mine.
As I walked in the direction he had indicated, I listened in on the conversations around me.
“You heard? The Great Chiefs of the Yi Tribe and Yao Tribe are back.”
“Yeah? I heard they left two weeks ago to deal with those man-eating beasts.”
“They mobilized over five hundred warriors, so it must’ve ended quickly. Though it sounds like the Yi Tribe’s chief didn’t accomplish much, unlike the Yao.”
“Just as expected. Didn’t really have hopes for the Yi Tribe anyway.”
I didn’t miss the familiar terms used in the chatter.
‘Yi Tribe and Yao Tribe.’
Together with the Miao and Baek Tribes, the Yi and Yao made up the four great tribes of the Southern Barbarian Region.
I recalled what Nam Ho had told me on the way here.
‘The four great tribes are the Miao, Baek, Yi, and Yao. Among them, the Miao is the strongest, followed by the Baek.’
‘What about the Yi and Yao?’
‘Thirty years ago, the Yi Tribe was ahead.’
‘But not anymore, huh.’
‘Exactly. Time changes everything. The Yi Tribe’s current chief inherited the role from his predecessor but is said to be weak-willed. Meanwhile, the Yao Tribe flourished—they got an exceptional leader. No man could’ve done better.’
‘Wait…?’
‘Yes, your guess is right. The Yao Tribe’s chief is a woman. Incredibly smart—and stunningly beautiful.’
At that moment, my train of thought was cut off.
Not by choice—but by force.
What broke my thoughts was a soft, clear melody that drifted in from afar.
Ting—ting—
It carried gently on the humid Southern Barbarian breeze and reached my ears.
The once-bustling market fell silent in an instant, and someone gasped under their breath.
It was irresistible—like an act of nature.
The music was that pure. And through the parting crowd emerged a procession, grand and graceful.
Boom… Boom…
Accompanied by a soft drumbeat, the procession was led by hundreds of men and women.
Men of the Yi Tribe wore black tops bordered with floral brocade and wide-pleated pants.
Women of the Yao Tribe, wearing pointed hats, walked slowly in two lines.
“Wow…”
“The Yi and Yao have arrived!”
Cheers burst from every direction.
While everyone marveled at their beauty and elegance, I focused on the weapons strapped to their waists and shoulders.
‘Each one of them’s a warrior.’
In the Central Plains, they’d be called martial artists. Here, as members of their respective tribes, they were like disciples of their own sects.
‘And based on what I just heard, their chiefs have returned from a beast extermination mission… so this is more than a parade—it’s a victory march.’
In such marches, the victorious generals never fail to appear.
And here, those generals were the chiefs of the great tribes.
“There! Look—!”
Cries of excitement erupted.
Hundreds of eyes turned to one direction, and then the next moment—
“Waaaaah!”
A thunderous cheer shook not just the Outer Hall but the entire Southern Barbarian Region.
At the center of the procession, two figures appeared, waving.
One—a man riding a massive black bear—was likely the Yi Tribe’s Great Chief.
And the other…
“Yohee! It’s Great Chief Yohee!”
A woman, beaming brightly amid overwhelming attention and adoration.
Even if I hadn’t heard the crowd, I would’ve known immediately she was the Yao Tribe’s Great Chief.
‘The Yao Tribe’s chief is a woman. Incredibly smart—and stunningly beautiful.’
Nam Ho had been right.
Yohee’s beauty was mesmerizing. Even dangerously enchanting.
Each time her deep eyes swept across the crowd, sighs escaped from people’s lips.
Maybe that’s why—
While everyone was cheering and praising her, I stood like a statue—and ended up drawing her attention.
Her eyes sparkled as they landed on me.