Chapter 688
Baek Sang stood alone before the mirror.
The mirror gifted to him by the Southern Demon Empress was unlike any ordinary one. It was large enough to reflect his entire body, and the surface was so flawless that not even a hairline scratch could be found.
A top-grade treasure—rare even in the Central Plains, let alone among the Southern Barbarians.
But the only reason Baek Sang looked at it was because it reflected the face of a man who resembled him exactly.
There has never been a moment like this.
More than forty years had passed. He had steeled himself countless times, pushing through every tremor to reach this point… but now, his heart was more restless than ever.
It means we’re nearing the end. The grand plan that has endured for decades.
As he muttered silently, the door behind him opened. A familiar figure stepped inside.
Baek Sang’s eyes met the reflection of the Guard Captain in the mirror.
“Did you bring him?”
The Guard Captain paused at the sight of his lord’s somber back, then answered.
“He is on his way.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Urgent news has arrived.”
“Urgent news…?”
Baek Sang gestured for him to continue. The Guard Captain leaned in and whispered.
“Last night, a massive fire was witnessed three hundred miles north.”
“Mt. Aino, then.”
“Yes.”
“The one who caused the fire must be Jin Taekyung.”
“We still need confirmation, but based on everything so far, he is the most likely.”
“It must be him. Another swarm of moths blinded by merit must have rushed in.”
“The small and medium tribes near Mt. Aino joined forces. They launched an attack with five hundred warriors and a hundred beasts, but…”
Baek Sang raised a hand to cut him off.
There was no need to hear more.
Five hundred hastily gathered warriors? They would be swept aside. The saying “the few cannot stand against the many” changed depending on the opponent. Jin Taekyung was an exception.
“I already know the result. What happened afterward?”
“After defeating them, he headed to Mt. Aino alone.”
“He must have a purpose. Likely the Poison-Blooded Land.”
“The flames are too intense for further confirmation. The fire that began at the entrance has already spread to the mid-mountain.”
“He’s made up his mind, then.”
Mt. Aino was one of the greatest mountains in the Southern Barbarian region.
A rugged range with deep valleys and ancient trees. A massive expanse stretching a hundred miles.
With a Fire Demon setting foot there, the flames would take at least four days and nights to die down.
Perhaps the entire mountain will burn.
A coincidence too incredible to ignore. It had been over two hundred years since a Fire Demon consumed Mt. Aino, and the one who had burned down the Five Poisons Sect back then was also a member of the Blazing Flame Sect.
That was how Southern Barbarian regained peace.
But would the same happen now?
Still gazing at his reflection, Baek Sang spoke heavily.
“Evacuate all tribes near Mt. Aino and gather three thousand capable warriors to seal off the mountain.”
The Guard Captain faltered for the first time.
“Even with the general mobilization order… you want three thousand men?”
“We must restrain him—just in case.”
“But my lord, even that many cannot fully surround Mt. Aino…”
“Mt. Aino is vast, but its entrances are few. Deploy with that in mind.”
The Guard Captain thought, then bowed.
“Understood.”
“What of the other tribal chiefs’ movements?”
“As reported earlier, five tribal chiefs have gone missing. Their warriors who left as scouts have also disappeared.”
“So that’s how it is. They refuse to face reality.”
Baek Sang murmured calmly.
Those missing chiefs were the ones who had stayed loyal to Beast Miao King to the very end—some even spitting at Baek Sang’s attempts to win them over.
“My lord, they have clearly betrayed us. It isn’t too late—send a pursuit team—”
Baek Sang shook his head.
“Someone told me recently: even if a tree is sick, it doesn’t mean the forest is. You only need to thin out a portion.”
“That means…”
“For hundreds of years, thirty-two tribes lived together on this land. But I’ve often asked myself… how long should we maintain this form?”
The Guard Captain’s eyes widened at the implication.
Baek Sang continued in a low, heavy voice.
“Thirty-two is too many to unite with a single will. From now on, it is time to remove the sick trees and prune the forest.”
Expulsion—or eradication.
The intention of the man who overthrew the former ruler and ascended as Palace Lord was clear.
The Guard Captain swallowed, then asked,
“What are your orders?”
“If they flee, let them. If they return to their bases and gather warriors—then we will have justification and power.”
He understood. The balance of power had already shifted long ago.
But something else troubled him.
“If the Palace Lord—no, if Yal Chok joins them, things won’t go smoothly.”
Baek Sang looked at him for a moment, then spoke.
“Long ago, when I lived in the Central Plains, I heard an interesting tale…”
“My lord?”
“A monkey born from stone. His strength and temper were so fierce that Sakyamuni Tathagata challenged him. Asked if he could escape his palm.”
The Guard Captain listened silently.
“The monkey scoffed, flew through the skies, and wrote his name on the five pillars at the world’s end. When he returned—he discovered those pillars were Tathagata’s fingers.”
Baek Sang spread his hand toward the mirror.
In the reflection, the vast Palace Lord’s Hall seemed to rest in his palm. Heaven, river, land, mountain—Southern Barbarian looked no different.
“Yal Chok is the same. As long as I sit on this throne, he cannot escape my grasp.”
“You mean…”
“He headed east. Personally lead a thousand Baek tribe warriors and pursue him.”
“Understood.”
As the Guard Captain bowed, he whispered:
—My lord, the opponent is Beast Miao King. In an emergency, you should use the White Heaven Squad.
But Baek Sang silently shook his head.
The White Heaven Squad was the blade he had honed for decades. It would be drawn only at the decisive moment.
“That is all. A guest has arrived. You may leave.”
Though his words were for the Guard Captain, Baek Sang’s gaze remained fixed on the old man standing in the doorway.
“Then I will take my leave.”
When the Guard Captain departed, Baek Sang turned.
“You are here, Great Elder.”
The reply was sharp.
“Can’t you shut that filthy mouth?”
Thud.
An elderly man approached, leaning on a cane. Age spots covered his face; wrinkles creased every bit of exposed skin.
In his pus-filled eyes burned unfiltered fury.
“You truly are a terrible man.”
“It seems you overheard the conversation.”
“Do you think this old man doesn’t know your rotten intentions? Wasn’t it meant for my ears?”
“That’s right—about Yal Chok, that beast who defied the Grand Assembly and betrayed the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace—”
“You!”
Swish! Thud.
The cane swung with all the strength the elder could muster, but Baek Sang caught it effortlessly.
A powerless attack. He flicked his sleeve, and invisible force pushed the elder back into his seat.
“You’ve aged. But your temper is unchanged.”
The elder trembled.
“If I had known you’d become this monster, I’d have killed you myself long ago.”
“Too late. Yal Chok has fled, and the fate of the Miao Tribe lies in the hands of a child you once beat for stealing fruit wine.”
“Now is not the time for old grudges. The tribal chief and vice-chief are gone. Everything depends on the choice of the Great Elder.”
The elder glared silently, then spoke.
“You have Southern Barbarian in your hands at last. With that ugly greed.”
“You may curse me freely. There is nothing I won’t do to obtain what I desire.”
“You are the Palace Lord of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace. What more do you want? Do you seek the Beast King Stone and godhood?”
Baek Sang shook his head.
“I don’t care for legends whispered by old men. What I want is the future—and your wise decision.”
“The Baek Sang I knew was not like this.”
“I changed. Everything does.”
“The Palace Lord trusted you. Even when I warned him again and again.”
“No trust must be repaid forever.”
“It isn’t too late. Even now—”
“I crossed the river long ago. I am already riding the tiger’s back. Now it’s your turn.”
Crack.
The elder’s fist clenched so hard his bones popped.
“You’re telling me… to betray the Palace Lord?”
“No.”
Baek Sang lifted his teacup.
“I want the entire Miao Tribe—including you—to betray him.”
“If you want to save your ten thousand people, read the flow correctly.”
“You bastard!”
“Keep this in mind. This is my first—and last—offer.”
Baek Sang sipped his tea. The elder shut his eyes tightly.
After a long silence, a hoarse voice escaped him.
“Impossible.”
Thud.
Baek Sang set down his cup.
“You will not regret that answer?”
“Kill me. It won’t change. Ask anyone in the Miao Tribe—the answer will be the same.”
“You don’t disappoint.”
Baek Sang snapped his fingers.
Warriors of the Baek Tribe entered.
“Imprison all leaders of the Miao Tribe, including the Great Elder.”
The warriors took the elder by both arms.
As he was dragged out, the old man screamed:
“Baek Sang! You bastard! Are you not afraid of Heaven?!”
When the voice faded, Baek Sang stared at his empty teacup.
“What is there left to fear? Even the steps that led me here must be Heaven’s will.”
There had been a time when he resented Heaven.
After the Great War of Justice and Evil, Baek Sang returned home and drank endlessly—welcoming oblivion, cursing the dawn that woke him again.
Why did you save me? Why?!
Those days were worse than death.
But he could not drown forever. He still had something he must do.
Baek Sang looked at the blue sky through the window.
Is this truly your will? No… did you ever watch over me at all?
As always, Heaven offered no answer.
Except—
“Um, shall I refill your tea?”
Baek Sang turned toward the voice.
A pretty servant girl stood at the door.
“I don’t need it.”
“But the cup is empty?”
“I said I don’t—”
His words trailed off.
He stared at her for a long moment.
“Come in.”
At his quiet order, the guards stepped back and closed the door.
The servant girl approached and poured tea.
Steam rose. A floral fragrance spread.
But something felt wrong—like he’d inhaled a Poison Mist.
As the cup filled, Baek Sang spoke quietly.
“Whose face is that? Southern Demon Empress.”
The servant girl—no, the Southern Demon Empress—smiled brightly.
“A child who worked in the Inner Palace. She was so young and adorable. Irresistibly so.”
“Did you kill her?”
“My, is that important?”
“That’s…”
“How amusing. Hundreds have died, yet you worry for one servant girl.”
Baek Sang replied calmly,
“I asked only because it might disrupt the plan. Things in the Inner Palace are discovered quickly.”
“Oh, if it’s that—don’t worry.”
She lifted the teacup with a cold smile.
“If there’s a problem, it’s at Mt. Aino—not here.”
“Mt. Aino? Then perhaps…”
“Yes. Jin Taekyung caused trouble. I haven’t been able to contact him at all.”
Baek Sang thought, then asked,
“Was it a trap?”
“Indeed. A trap to catch the old tiger who fled the palace. Who knew a young tiger would fall in instead?”
She set down the teacup with a soft click.
“And who knew the young tiger was strong enough to break the trap?”
“It must have been a trap you were confident in.”
“Two Transcendents. One was Black Hand Demon Fist. The other was…”
She stopped, smiled.
“Anyway, he was strong. Even stronger than Black Hand Demon Fist.”
“That is astonishing. I believed they could handle Beast Miao King as well. No wonder the Heavenly Demon Lord showed interest in that child.”
Baek Sang felt shock after shock.
Jin Taekyung had single-handedly killed two Transcendents. Even the Heavenly Demon Lord was interested in him.
His thoughts crystallized.
Jin Taekyung…
The face of a young man he could never grasp flashed in his mind.
Baek Sang looked at the Southern Demon Empress.
“So you will move personally now.”
A Transcendent was a pillar of power. With two gone, the Demon Empress would have to intervene—
Or so he thought.
“No. Why would I?”
She snorted lightly.
“I have no time for that. Even if two pieces fell, the situation will not change. The grand plan comes first.”
“You mean…”
“Beast Miao King and Jin Taekyung no longer matter. Fortify the Inner Palace and Outer Palace. Gather every troop.”
She rose, her movements flowing like a dance.
Her cheerful voice echoed.
“Three days—four at the latest.”
“Prepare well. On that day, everything will begin… and end.”
Thud.
The door closed behind her.
Even long after she left, Baek Sang remained frozen.
That day was approaching.
The day he desired more than anyone—
and feared more than anyone.