Chapter 659
Crunch.
A large, fur-covered paw stepped on a pile of dry leaves.
Between parted jaws, sharp fangs glinted faintly. Crouched low among the bushes, the sleek black body was ready—every muscle coiled for the hunt.
‘What kind of prey will I eat today?’
All it took was to spot a target, dash in swiftly, and sink its fangs into the neck. As long as one avoided the poisonous creatures that showed up without warning, hunting in the Southern Barbarian lands wasn’t difficult.
At least not for a predator like the black panther, who sat near the top of the food chain.
Grrrrr…
The black panther’s yellow eyes swept its surroundings as a low growl rumbled out.
It had caught the scent—many scents—carried on the wind from afar.
Sniff. Sniff.
Its sharp senses quickly identified the intruders. Humans.
No, not just one—humans, plural.
A group of roughly a hundred was approaching from the distance.
Grrr…
An irritated growl escaped the black panther’s throat.
It was no wonder. Humans were unpleasant prey. Despite their small size, they hunted beasts much larger than themselves. And the more of them there were, the stronger they became.
Just like now.
Swoosh.
The black panther rose from its crouch.
Only fools hunted humans alone. The smart thing to do was to change ground and find another meal.
It had made up its mind and was about to turn away when—
“Ugh… ughh…”
It froze, eyes narrowing toward the brush ahead.
A lone human stumbled out, panting, then crouched down among the weeds.
“Argh. Thought I was gonna die.”
The sounds—and the smell that followed—were enough to make even a predator flinch.
Light flashed across the black panther’s slit pupils.
There was no doubt.
This human had separated from the group… to relieve himself.
Unaware that this place would become his grave.
Grrr…
One target. A foolish, defenseless human.
The black panther’s decision was swift.
Its powerful muscles tightened, then released like a drawn bow.
Thud—swoosh!
It shot forward like a black arrow.
Before the man could even turn his head, the panther closed the distance.
When he finally noticed and lifted his face, it was too late. The beast’s jaws gaped wide, gleaming fangs descending.
‘ “Kraaaaah!”
‘Thud! Crunch!’
A thunderous roar, followed by the wet sound of flesh tearing.
The two figures rolled together across the ground.
And then, a moment later, the survivor revealed himself.
“Puhah!”
A man’s face emerged from the blood-soaked fur, drenched in crimson.
It was the panther’s blood.
The man who had driven his sword through the beast’s skull panted heavily.
“Huff… huff… damn it. Almost died taking a shit.”
Getting ambushed mid-defecation—honestly, that was a first.
If it had been a year or two ago, he’d have become the black panther’s dinner for sure.
But just as a seed eventually sprouts, the man had grown much stronger than before.
“Guess getting my ass beat so much improved my reflexes. …Anyway, how the hell do I get out from under this thing?”
He grunted, pinned beneath the heavy carcass.
Then—
“How strange. When you said you had to take care of something, you meant ‘this’?”
The familiar voice made the man’s face light up.
“Oh, Sir Song!”
The owner of the voice—Song Ilseom—let out a sigh.
“I told you not to call me that.”
“Why not? You help someone in need, that makes you a hero.”
“You talk smooth—just like your superior.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. But maybe don’t say that in front of the captain. You might get beaten into the ground, even if you are a hero.”
Song Ilseom nodded grimly at the heartfelt warning coming from Hyuk Mujin’s soul.
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good choice. Anyway, could you please get this thing off me? I’m about to die here. I’m seeing my dad’s face in the light already.”
“Oh? When did he die?”
“What are you talking about? He’s still alive and kicking.”
‘This idiot.’
Song Ilseom paused, wondering if the man was mentally sound, then gave up on the thought and grabbed the panther’s corpse.
In the Fire Dragon Pavilion, where Song Ilseom served, sane people were rare. And their pavilion master was the craziest of them all.
Rustle. Thud.
Finally free from being crushed, Hyuk Mujin dusted off his dirt-covered clothes and asked,
“Whew, that was close. Where’s everyone else?”
“They’re setting up camp. The young mistress is resting there as well. After traveling nonstop for nearly ten hours, it was decided we needed a break. A messenger bird also arrived while you were gone.”
“A messenger?”
“Yes. It seems to be from the Southern Barbarian Palace. Probably carrying additional orders.”
“Well, that’s good news. My backside was about to split open from all the damn bumping around anyway.”
“The beasts need rest too. Still, I have to admit—the Southern Barbarians trained them well. They’ve got stamina like prairie horses.”
Roughly a day earlier, the advance scouts had left the Outer Palace and begun their forced march.
No one knew when that old monster called the Blood Monk would cross Guangxi and head south, so it was the only choice.
“When will we arrive?”
“According to the two chiefs, in two days if we’re lucky. Three at the latest. The young mistress seems to think the same.”
“So basically, we have two days to get there no matter what. That’s what I’m hearing, right?”
“You heard correctly. To stop the Blood Monk, we need to move as fast as possible.”
“Faster than this?”
“Maybe even faster.”
“…Faster than this, huh.”
With a bitter expression, Hyuk Mujin nodded.
“Damn it. Guess we don’t have a choice.”
“You give up easily.”
“Try following our captain around for a year or two. You’ll stop caring about everything—including your own life.”
“That won’t happen.”
“Why not?”
“Because if it weren’t for the young mistress, I wouldn’t even be here. She’s the only reason I set foot in this accursed Southern land.”
At his firm answer, Hyuk Mujin shrugged.
“Then I guess we’ll be seeing each other often.”
“What?”
“You just said it yourself—the only reason you came here was because of the young mistress. And she’ll be with our captain from now on, right?”
“…Hyuk Mujin.”
“You’re not too bright for a hero, are you?”
Song Ilseom froze for a moment, then spoke in a cold voice.
“Do you have a death wish?”
“No, sir. Sorry.”
Hyuk Mujin quickly apologized and, while nervously glancing at him, pulled his sword from the panther’s skull.
‘Splurt.’
Blood gushed from the split wound. After wiping the blade clean, he sheathed it and looked up at the darkening sky.
“It’s already night.”
They’d left at night, but after traveling so long, the second night had already fallen.
And several more nights would pass before they returned to the Southern Barbarian Palace.
“I just hope we don’t run into the Blood Monk. I feel uneasy without the captain here. You think so too, right, Sir Song?”
No answer came.
Instead, after a brief silence—
‘Shing.’
The sound of a blade unsheathing echoed behind him.
Realizing what it was, Hyuk Mujin swallowed hard.
“Uh… sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to say you’re dumb. You’re brilliant, actually.”
A cold voice answered.
“…Shut up and turn around.”
“Sir Song, please. I’m begging you.”
“I should be the one begging. Just shut up and draw your sword.”
‘He’s lost it.’
Holding back tears, Hyuk Mujin turned around on shaking legs.
And then he understood.
Why Song Ilseom’s tone had gone cold. Why he’d told him to draw his weapon.
“I thought they were allies… guess I was wrong.”
Rustle.
The grass swayed in the dark.
The hundred-man scouting unit they had been traveling with now stood before them—two tribal chiefs at their head, looking grim.
“It’s not just your mistake. We didn’t expect it to come to this either. But we have no choice.”
“We received a message. With the palace’s official seal. Orders we cannot refuse.”
A message.
At those words, Song Ilseom felt a sinking dread. Something had happened back in the Inner Palace—something big.
But what mattered most was one person.
“Where is the young mistress?”
The question carried a murderous edge.
One of the chiefs, who had supported the Beast King and shown favor to Jin Taekyung during the Assembly, sighed.
“Her swordsmanship was sharper than expected. Her reflexes, too.”
“I’ll ask one last time. Where is she?”
‘Thoom!’
A wave of killing intent burst from Song Ilseom, so fierce that even the beasts accompanying the scouts backed away.
Feeling that terrifying aura, the other chief hastily shouted,
“S–She’s alive! Just restrained with pressure points!”
Song Ilseom clenched his jaw. Relief and guilt crashed over him like a tide.
‘I should’ve stayed by her side, no matter what.’
Even if he had, the result wouldn’t have changed. The enemy numbers were too great.
Still, the thought of Ju Hwaran fighting alone burned in his mind.
“…Damn it.”
With a curse spat through his teeth, Song Ilseom slowly lowered his sword.
And beside him, Hyuk Mujin did the same.
‘Rustle. Thud.’
Their swords sank into the ground.
The chief gestured, and warriors moved in to confiscate their weapons and bind them.
“…Sir Song, I think we’re screwed.”
This time, Song Ilseom didn’t answer.
No—he couldn’t.
Tap, tap, tap.
Hands struck their bodies, sealing their pressure points.
As his limbs stiffened, Song Ilseom muttered inwardly.
‘What the hell have you done, Jin Taekyung?’