Chapter 674
There are phenomena in this world that cannot be understood by common sense.
And the woman reflected in Baek Sang’s bloodshot eyes at this very moment was one of them.
“…Southern Demon Empress.”
A voice quietly echoed through the space that existed only for the two of them.
The woman, the Southern Demon Empress, smiled brightly.
“It’s been a while, Baek Sang.”
Her smile was endlessly beautiful—and even more devilishly alluring—which made Baek Sang’s heart sink heavily.
‘How in the world…’
It wasn’t surprising that she had infiltrated a place under strict guard. But the fact that he—who had reached the realm of peak masters—hadn’t sensed her presence at all…
It had been nearly thirty years since Baek Sang first learned of her existence.
So many things had changed compared to the period when he had been half-mad with grief after losing his child, yet the gap between him and this enchantress had not narrowed in the slightest.
“…What brings you here?”
Baek Sang asked stiffly, his expression hardened. The Southern Demon Empress put on a playful pout.
“Why? Are you perhaps unhappy to see me?”
Her words were heavy with mischief, but Baek Sang knew better than to show even a moment of carelessness in front of her.
He forced his heart to steady and replied.
“I simply did not expect you to come in person. Normally you would have sent a message through a courier or shadow messenger.”
The Southern Demon Empress—no, the Dark Heaven—had always done so.
Meeting veiled figures whose identities were unknown, or discovering encrypted messages left in unexpected places—such things had long since become routine to Baek Sang.
And at the same time… things he could never refuse.
“In four days, it will be the appointed date again. You needn’t have come; I would have gone to you.”
It was something they had repeated for decades.
On the first day of every month, between 3 and 5 a.m., Baek Sang exchanged messages with Dark Heaven. And once every three months, he secretly visited them alone.
“Four days? My, has time passed so quickly?”
But the way she widened her eyes, as if she had truly forgotten, made Baek Sang’s fists clench involuntarily.
“You—”
“Kidding. I was joking. No need to get prickly. Sometimes you’re unexpectedly adorable, you know?”
She giggled lightly.
“In truth, I came for several reasons. A lot has happened lately… and since you finally became the ruler of Southern Barbarian Region, I wanted to congratulate you in person. But—”
She covered her mouth and laughed softly.
“Who would’ve thought I’d end up seeing the famously cold Baek Sang—no, the newly appointed palace lord—shed tears?”
Despite her lifted lips, her eyes held a heavy depth.
Baek Sang felt a chill run down his spine as he answered.
“It was nothing. Looking into the mirror simply reminded me of the past.”
“Ah. You were thinking of your son—the one who looks so much like the face in the mirror?”
“…Let’s stop that topic. What matters is not the past, but the road ahead.”
“Well, if that’s what our palace lord wishes, then sure. A fine mindset.”
Smiling faintly, she continued.
“Still, I can’t deny I’m a bit disappointed. For a moment I thought you were crying because you were moved by my gift.”
“…I appreciate the mirror. I use it well.”
“Uh-huh. I worked hard to get it as a gift for your ascension, and this is all the gratitude I get.”
Casting him a sharp glance, the Southern Demon Empress approached the window.
From the palace lord’s hall, built upon the highest hill in the inner palace, countless buildings and houses spread out below like a miniature world.
“Wow, what a view. Truly fitting for the place where the palace lord resides. You’ll get to enjoy this scenery every day.”
“I am only the interim palace lord.”
“Interim… You don’t actually believe that, do you?”
She chuckled softly.
As Baek Sang remained silent, she shifted her gaze back outside.
Sunlight poured down. A refreshing breeze drifted in. A clear sky with not a single cloud.
It had been a long time since she’d seen such weather. The Southern Demon Empress suddenly felt her mood lighten.
How could she not?
After all, this was the very sky she would soon drown in absolute darkness.
“…Ah.”
The wind flowing through the wide-open window stirred her silk-like hair.
After a brief moment of silence, her lips parted.
“You know, don’t you? The great work is entering its final phase.”
Her soft, low voice pierced his ear. Baek Sang’s eyelids trembled faintly.
In front of him flashed decades of time… and the face of a single person.
“…Of course.”
“Everything is proceeding smoothly—aside from a few minor complications.”
Baek Sang immediately sensed who she meant. And the moment the Southern Demon Empress spoke the two names, he knew he was right.
“Beast Miao King… and Jin Taekyung.”
Resting her chin on her hand, she watched the endless line of Southern Barbarian warriors marching below.
“To be honest, they’re more than minor complications. One is a peak master strong enough to stand among the Ten Kings. And the other—well, the other is Jin Taekyung.”
Baek Sang stared at her back.
Finally… it had come.
Surely this was the true reason she had come in person today after all these years.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? For what?”
“I should have handled it. It was my failure.”
“Hm.”
Humming lightly, she continued.
“You’re right. But it was also *our* mistake. I never thought the Beast Miao King would make such a reckless move. And…”
Her gaze flicked toward his left arm.
Now hidden beneath a snowy fox-fur robe, the place where his arm had been was empty.
“I can tell you struggled.”
Though the bleeding had stopped, the pain radiating from the spot cleanly severed by the opponent’s energy was something he would have to endure for quite some time.
Baek Sang gritted his teeth through the lingering pain.
“I couldn’t stop him. Even after mobilizing all nearby forces, he still broke through our encirclement.”
“Well, a King is still a King, even if the weakest of them. Or…”
Her eyes narrowed.
“…perhaps a trace of compassion remains? The compassion of someone who still calls him sworn brother?”
“That…”
“Am I wrong? Can you say so with certainty?”
After a short silence, Baek Sang spoke.
“…Perhaps. Yes. Perhaps I wanted to buy him… at least a little time.”
“Do you know what you’re admitting right now?”
“Of course. But this much I can swear—such a thing will never happen again.”
The Southern Demon Empress stared at him silently, then let out a small sigh.
“…Good. That’s a relief.”
“…What is?”
“That you admitted it. If you hadn’t, I was planning to tear your limbs off within a few days.”
“…!”
“Truly fortunate. We may not see each other often, but I do like you, you know?”
With a shy smile unfitting of her nature, she continued.
“It’s like when you see an ant drowning and flailing desperately in the water—you can’t help but want to root for it. Oh, not that I’m calling you an ant. I’m just bad with metaphors.”
Baek Sang felt the blood in his entire body turn cold.
What weighed upon him now was fear so vast it swallowed humiliation and shame whole.
Once again, he understood.
The woman before him… was truly dangerous.
To Dark Heaven, he was a puppet, a leash-bearing dog—or less.
Even so…
‘This is the path I chose.’
That was the harsh truth.
Long ago, he had taken the hand offered by the Southern Demon Empress—by Dark Heaven—and in return, he had been granted hope.
Hope that lifted him from the abyss after he lost his child. Hope that gave him a reason to live on.
And because of that, he could no longer stray from this road.
Having mounted the tiger, he had no choice but to keep running with all his strength.
Thud.
It was a sight no one in Southern Barbarian Region would ever believe.
But the scene taking place right now inside the palace lord’s hall was reality.
The new palace lord of Southern Barbarian Region—the ruler of its vast lands—knelt on one knee.
Before a woman more beautiful than anything in this world.
“Please grant me your command… Demon Empress.”
The Southern Demon Empress looked down at him, her expression languid beneath the golden sunlight pouring through the window.
“This is why I like you.”
She extended her hand toward the world outside.
Toward the endless stream of Southern Barbarian warriors answering the new palace lord’s call for full mobilization—
and the clear blue sky above their heads, as if she meant to seize it.
“Three days. Within three days, find the Beast Miao King and eliminate the source of this trouble. As for Jin Taekyung…”
Her voice turned cold, as though she could darken the heavens in an instant.
“…we’ll take care of him.”
Everything was entering the final stage.
The Southern Demon Empress did not doubt it.
The path opening through Southern Barbarian Region would become the bridgehead toward Central Plains.
And at its end, the return of the Almighty Lord of Heaven awaited.
—
Hyuk Mu-jin would bet his balls on it.
That was probably the greatest beacon fire in all Southern Barbarian history—no, in Murim history.
Fwoosh—KWOOM!
Two days since I sent Taesan off and headed south. I was burning the seventh mountain.
Ah, including the grasslands, maybe the eighth?
“Wait, was it seven? Or eight?”
Grrr.
“Well, not like that matters.”
I ignored the discontented look on the white tiger’s face.
His once-white fur was now dirty with blood and soot.
Not his blood, of course. Just an unavoidable side effect of taking down six pursuit squads along the way.
But soon enough, even Muyaho’s grumbling would fade.
No—soon, neither of us would have the luxury to worry about trivial things.
Squish.
The tiger’s massive forepaw stepped into the mud.
And the fact that the beast, who had been racing like the wind, now let out a soft growl while staring at the dark forest…
Meant only one thing.
Yeah.
“We’re here.”
Staring at the mountain swallowed in darkness, I murmured.