Chapter 672

Shhhh—!

The fierce wind whipped through the white fur. Gripping the white tiger’s scruff, I watched the scenery rushing past.

Dense brush filling every direction, towering trees rising like giants.

A snake hiding between mossy rocks glared at us with bright yellow eyes, and a leopard crouched low in the grass, searching for prey, froze at the sight of the white tiger and slowly backed away.

Above all this, the sky was slowly brightening.

‘Already?’

Muttering inwardly, I soon realized quite a bit of time had passed.

We escaped the dungeon right after midnight—at least three hours had passed while we ran nonstop.

Grrr.

No wonder. The breath of the white tiger, Muyaho, carrying me on his back was far rougher than before, and fatigue showed in his every step.

‘Can’t blame him.’

With all my time in Murim, I can guarantee this: even a peak-level master trained in light movement techniques would end up with varicose veins after sprinting through this hellish terrain for three hours.

Let alone Muyaho—a great tiger with a body much larger than an ordinary one.

He must’ve burned through a tremendous amount of stamina and muscle just navigating terrain that’d make Kim Jeongho quit mapmaking.

And on top of that, he had to carry someone with my body size.

I’m not a veterinarian, but anyone could see Muyaho’s state with their eyes closed.

‘He only endured because he’s a spiritual beast.’

Even in Southern Barbarian Region, he’s one of the finest—his fundamental athletic ability is excellent. But moving like this would only prevent him from exerting strength when needed.

I stroked his scruff and whispered:

“Let’s stop somewhere nearby and rest.”

– Grrr.

Understanding easily, he nodded.

Just then, the sound of flowing water came from not far away. Slowing our pace, we soon found a small stream.

A few wild animals were already there drinking.

Squeee?

A boar. Perfect.

Without hesitation, I acted on the thought that popped into my head.

‘Open inventory. Summon.’

After stuffing anything and everything into my inventory to survive, I’m basically a walking armory now.

I pulled out some cheap iron spears I didn’t even remember storing and threw them. Two large boars collapsed immediately without even squealing.

Swoosh—thud!

Squeee!

Looks like those were their parents.

Seeing the fleeing piglets dart away with cries tightened my chest.

“Haa…”

– Grrr.

Muyaho dipped his head with solemn eyes.

Then I spoke, wearing a sad expression:

“The piglets’ meat is more tender. Should’ve caught them instead.”

– …Grr?

Ignoring Muyaho’s stare—like he was wondering whether I was even human—I skinned the boars and skewered them on the iron spear.

Fwoosh. Crackle.

I used Scorching Yang Energy to light a campfire. Watching the meat cook as smoke rose made me let out a soft laugh.

No special reason. Just that the situation was so absurd I couldn’t help laughing.

‘I’ve made all of Southern Barbarian Region my enemy, and I’m sitting here having a barbecue.’

I knew it was insane.

In fact, retracing the path back toward the center of Southern Barbarian Region—the southeastern path—was already insanity.

But no matter how many times I thought about it, the conclusion was the same.

If I chose to follow Yohee’s tracking incense, then this was the best thing I could do.

Even lighting a fire just a hundred li from the outer palace was for this reason.

‘The more attention I draw here, the better the chances others survive.’

Before leaving, I told Taesan repeatedly:

Don’t look back. Run. Persuade the scouting parties’ chiefs through Yal Mok, and use Dragon Phoenix Escort Agency’s fast ship to escape Southern Barbarian Region.

But Taesan remained quiet for a while before speaking:

‘Captain.’

‘What.’

‘Taesan will go with you. Taesan cannot let you go alone.’

Maybe because it was dawn, or maybe because I didn’t expect him to say that—I felt surprisingly emotional for a moment.

But despite that warmth, my cold head knew the truth.

If even one of them came with me, none of us would survive.

‘Wait with the others. I’ll be back soon.’

‘When? How many nights should Taesan wait?’

‘Hmm… maybe ten nights?’

‘Taesan refuses. Ten nights is too long.’

‘Fine. Five nights.’

‘Good. Promise.’

‘Yeah. Promise.’

And so I left—leaving behind a promise I couldn’t even be sure of myself.

Five nights.

Could I return that quickly? Could I return at all? Honestly… I didn’t know.

Even after escaping the dungeon, the logout function was still blocked, and countless Southern Barbarians—now hostile—were likely closing in on me.

Maybe even now…

Rustle.

Yeah, even at this very moment.

– Grrr.

Muyaho, drooling at the sight of the roasting boar, suddenly gave a low growl.

I calmed him while sharpening my senses.

With heightened awareness, new information poured in clearly.

‘Around fifty. Not sure which tribes, but all warriors… no beasts with them. Probably left them behind to avoid being detected.’

Even if they had brought a whole truck of beasts, nothing would have changed. If anything, this made things easier.

Finishing my assessment, I slowly turned the skewered boar.

Sizzle—

Beyond the sound of cooking meat, hushed whispers from the uninvited guests tickled my ears.

– That’s him. Yal Mok’s treasured white tiger is beside him. It must be him.

– I… I’m not certain. We can only see his back. Maybe we should go back and request support…

– Fool. The heavens has given us a chance, and you want to hand the merit to another tribe? After coming all this way, you speak of retreat?

– B-But brother, if he’s truly that… that Han tribesman we’ve heard of, how could we possibly handle such a monster?

– He’s human. Flesh and blood. And by the look of him cooking meat alone like a fool, he must’ve gone insane from fear. If we take him now, not only will we earn a fortune—father might even make me a new tribal chief.

I dusted off my clothes and stood. Then, turning around abruptly, I asked:

“Really? Do I look that pathetic right now?”

U… Ugh?

Even from thirty jang away, I could feel it—the trembling air, the mix of emotions swirling through the warriors who thought they approached stealthily.

Shock. Dismay. And…

“Attack!”

A rash decision born from stupidity and hollow ambition.

But they didn’t know.

They didn’t know that despite my ragged clothes, my condition was perfect—and that I had already launched toward them—

Swooooosh!

My body shot forward like a flash of light. The wind exploded behind me, blowing the brush apart.

Between scattering leaves, I saw their eyes widen in terror.

“What are you doing? Why haven’t you drawn the rest?”

Despite my friendly advice, their hands froze—unable to draw even half their weapons.

Their leader was no different.

“Y-You…”

I recognized the face from somewhere.

Not that it mattered right now.

“Why aren’t you attacking?”

“W-What?”

“You told them to attack. I came all the way here and you’re not going to?”

“T-That is…”

“No? Then I’ll do it.”

I spoke calmly:

“Attack.”

And in the next instant, a massive shadow fell across the ground.

– ROAAAR!

With a roar, a giant body leaped over my head and crashed down upon the man.

Crunch! Crackk!

Some say force and intimidation can’t be tools of conversation. They say gentle words and a warm attitude open tightly shut mouths.

They’re not entirely wrong. But the truth is that not just any force works—only merciless, overwhelming force opens mouths.

And I’ve always been quite talented at this.

“What’s the current internal situation of Southern Barbarian Beast Palace?”

“J-Just kill me!”

“Muyaho?”

Crunch!

“Gyaaah!”

“Good job. Now talk.”

Ptoo.

“Kugh… kuhuu…”

“Stop sniveling like a little girl.”

“Huuk… huu…”

“That was just your leg. Cry again, and next is your balls. Understand, you little shit?”

“Mmff… mmm…”

“Good. Now I’ll ask again. What’s going on inside Southern Barbarian Beast Palace right now?”

The interrogation went smoothly.

Of course, I’d done the prep work.

The ones who attacked late—I broke their arms. The ones who tried to run—I broke their legs.

After turning around twenty of them into cripples and giving them a “one bite” chance with Muyaho, they all became as obedient as golden retrievers.

‘That should be enough.’

They could’ve lied, sure, but the information had enough consistency and credibility for me to take it as truth.

After all, facing death makes everyone honest. Especially when their balls are on the line.

When everything was over, I glanced at the man who suffered first under Muyaho.

Barely clinging to life, he wheezed. When our eyes met, he let out a weak groan.

‘I knew I recognized him.’

Bloodline never lies—he was a perfect copy of his father, the tribe chief.

Not that his father meant much to me.

On the first day of the tournament and on the day of the Western Yao Tribe massacre, he was just another bootlicker desperate to stand behind Baek Sang.

But that was exactly why I was sparing him and the others.

“Go back and tell them.”

At my quiet words, he shuddered and asked:

“T-Tell them what?”

“That I’m here. Somewhere not far from you, watching.”

“Forget nothing you heard today. I won’t forget either.”

He trembled, and so did every Southern Barbarian around us watching my every move.

They would remember today until they died.

My expression, my tone, my voice, my actions.

And the warning I left when I learned from the interrogation that the Miao warriors who attacked the dungeon last night were still alive:

‘If you touch them, you’ll all die. Maybe not today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next year. Maybe when you think it’s finally over.’

Fear of a threat comes from believing it can come true.

And in their eyes, I was someone who absolutely would make it come true.

Heir of the Blazing Fire Sect. Successor of the Fire King Jeok Cheon-Gang. A monster who shook the world before even turning twenty.

That was enough.

Today, I carved unforgettable fear into their bones—and that fear would spread among the Southern Barbarians on Baek Sang’s side.

Fast. And far.

Enough that no tribe would dare touch those people again.

Baek Sang was still there, so it wouldn’t guarantee perfect safety—but it was the best I could do.

“Leave now. Unless you want to die here.”

…

After a moment, seated on a thick tree branch, I watched fifty pale-faced figures flee the forest.

When their terrified silhouettes disappeared like they were haunted by ghosts, I slowly raised Scorching Yang Energy.

Fwoom—

Flames ignited in my palms.

Now it was time to light the beacon—one that would pull the massive net, Heaven’s Net, toward me. A towering blaze using an entire forest as kindling.

Fwoosh—KRAAAH!

The horrifying heat and flames devoured the forest. Watching the inferno, one thought crossed my mind:

‘If the old man saw this, he’d swear at me for days.’

I smirked and turned away from the blazing forest.

Ahead of me, Muyaho was already racing forward with half-burnt boar meat hanging from his mouth.