Combining my previous life and this one, I can proudly say I've lived as a martial artist for quite a long time.
I've even immersed myself deeply in both the orthodox and unorthodox paths, so—though it's a bit of an exaggeration—there probably aren't many people as well-versed in the Central Plains martial world as I am.
Thus, if I were to sum up the Central Plains martial world I've seen and experienced so far in one phrase…
It's a world of arrogant bastards who live for their own self-satisfaction.
The Orthodox Sects look down on the Unorthodox Sects, the Unorthodox Sects look down on the Orthodox Sects, and they all regard the Outer Murim with curiosity while always considering its people beneath them—haughty fools.
But the problem is that their arrogance has a basis.
The Orthodox Sects have their reasons to despise the Unorthodox Sects, the Unorthodox Sects can enjoy greater wealth and glory than the Orthodox Sects, and while the Outer Murim is impressive, it's nothing compared to the entirety of the Central Plains martial world.
Even this is only the story of the martial world. If the Imperial Court, which always stood back with its hands clasped behind its back, were to step in, the gap between the Central Plains and the Outer Murim would widen even further.
It's the same across the board—not just in martial strength, but in skill, art, commerce, and every other aspect.
That's why it became a sort of common sense to think of the Central Plains as the center of the world, and those outside as lesser beings.
Well. That was only until they got beaten.
The existence of the Heavenly Demon was nothing short of a calamity.
Half of the proud Five Great Families and Nine Great Sects and One Gang were wiped out, the Imperial Court that had held back foreign invaders hastily turned its armies around only to be slaughtered, and even all the survivors joining forces could only suffer defeat after defeat.
Pride, arrogance—all of it melted away like snow under the sun.
Only after setting down everything were the people of the Central Plains able to look at each other, and at the people of the Outer Murim, squarely.
The Orthodox Sects came to realize that the Unorthodox Sects simply knew no other way to be born and to live, and the Unorthodox Sects came to realize that the Orthodox Sects' righteous cause was not empty words but genuine conviction.
And they learned that the South Man Beast Palace was not merely a gathering of savages.
They had charged in without warning, seized Guizhou, and ruled by force, compelling humans and beasts to live together—at first, there had been considerable resistance, or so it was said.
At first, everyone despaired, thinking these were people who treated humans like beasts and beasts like humans, and that they would all become livestock living only because they couldn't die.
But after actually living there for a few years, it turned out to be more livable than expected.
Whatever negotiations they had held with the Demonic Cult, apart from the first few clashes, there were no further conflicts, and it became one of the safer places in the Central Plains.
They learned that the strong held countless rights over the weak, but that those rights came with commensurate responsibilities.
And they also learned that one could train one's strength at any time and challenge for a higher position.
Days that were neither as chaotic nor as humiliating as I had imagined.
Only then did people realize that the Outer Murim was, after all, a place where people lived, and that it had its own system of governance—they simply hadn't bothered to understand it.
As for me, I had fled north long ago, so I had almost no dealings with the South Man Beast Palace, but given my location, I had heard more than a few stories through the grapevine.
I could safely say that I was one of the people who best understood the inner workings of the South Man Beast Palace in this day and age.
"So from now on, everything I do is done in respect of the South Man Beast Palace's laws—don't misunderstand."
"Huh?"
Maeng Yu-baek, who had been half-zoned out during my long-winded explanation, tilted his head.
And Seol Ri-hyang and Seomun Hwa-rin, as if sensing something, patted Maeng Yu-baek's shoulders from both sides.
"Well, that's how it turned out."
"Hmm. Don't worry too much. No one is going to die. No one is going to—"
"B-Both of you, what are you saying so frighteningly?!"
Of course, Maeng Yu-baek, who had sensed the ominous atmosphere, jumped up in alarm, but it was already too late. Everything had been prepared long ago.
In the distance stood a peculiar palace-like structure. As I gazed at the South Man Beast Palace, Tang So-wol drew close to my side.
"Heh heh. So you're using that method again this time."
"It's the most convenient, after all. Have you grown tired of me like this?"
If Tang So-wol said yes, I was willing to use a slightly less efficient but more gentle approach.
It was in that sense that I had asked, but Tang So-wol only shook her head with a gentle smile.
"Surely not. I know well that young hero Cheon uses his strength with proper consideration for time and place—how could I think otherwise?"
"Hm?"
"Am I wrong? If it weren't the South Man Beast Palace but another family or sect of the Orthodox Sects, I imagine you would have started with words, putting your reputation forward."
"…Probably so."
"If this method was simply chosen because it would be most effective for the people of the South Man Beast Palace, then when you persuade other masters of the Unorthodox Sects in the future, you'll see even greater things. If you're already this surprised, it would be hard to stay by young hero Cheon's side."
"That is also true."
If the South Man Beast Palace operated on the logic of pure strength, the Black Alliance was a place that moved on both strength and mutual benefit.
Naturally, the way to respond would also have to change. In a somewhat more forceful manner, that is.
"Of course, it's not as if I don't think that flaunting fame or flaunting strength would end up being the same thing, but…"
"…"
"But what can be done? This is just the kind of person young hero Cheon is. You know well how to keep your own principles, so I can only follow along."
"I'm grateful for your trust. Then let's see if I can't straighten up and do this properly, so as not to disappoint you."
He straightens his back a little more and puffs out his chest. He circulates the internal energy throughout his body at its usual speed, but slightly looser.
What is completed as a result is a body that looks a bit larger and more solid, along with the pressure naturally radiating outward from the internal energy.
Could it be that they felt my energy even from a distance? The two gatekeepers standing guard before the main gate draw their respective weapons and aim them at me.
At the same time, a wolf and a fox press tightly against their sides, growling.
A considerable amount of energy radiates from their bodies—not quite a Spirit Beast, but they seemed to be at the step just below that level.
At the very least, they were certainly no ordinary animals. They were likely the companions of the two gatekeepers, tamed through the Beast Palace's secret art.
As I drew closer, to the point where both my face and Maeng Yu-baek's flustered expression trailing behind me became discernible, the gatekeepers shouted.
"Stop right there, man of the Central Plains! Do you know where you are, daring to—!"
"Young miss?! Why have you returned like this! Surely not…!"
Perhaps having imagined something ominous, the gatekeepers straightened their postures with determined expressions. I don't dislike people who are faithful to their role.
And so, I decided to subdue them quickly.
Rather than merely letting my internal energy flow, I went ahead and enveloped the entire surroundings in my aura. The killing intent that naturally followed came next.
The first to react were the beasts with their keen senses.
"Yelp!"
"Yipe!"
The two beasts collapsed with pitiful cries. Before the gatekeepers could even be startled, they took the killing intent head-on.
"Kugh!"
"Ghk!"
Their faces went pale as they staggered and sank to the ground. I'd only meant to scare them a little, but it seemed to have hit harder than intended.
I passed by the two who were struggling to get back on their feet, offering them a small smile.
"Impressive. This will be over soon, so rest for a while."
I lightly sidestepped the gatekeepers who were trembling and reaching toward me, then kicked the front gate.
KWAANG!
The gate swung open cleanly with a loud noise. Watching the shattered bolt tumble across the ground, I shouted.
"Come out!"
My voice, laced with internal energy, echoed throughout the entire South Man Beast Palace.
In response, the space known as the South Man Beast Palace itself began to react immediately, as if it were a single living creature.
The thick energies that had been scattered sparsely began to pair up, at least two at a time, drawing closer, and the beast-like scent that a keen-nosed Harmony Realm martial artist could detect grew steadily stronger.
Before long, barely any time after I had passed through the main gate, the martial artists and beasts of the South Man Beast Palace had gathered in a row before me.
Every single one of them carried an aura similar to Maeng Yu-baek's internal energy, and curiously enough, that applied not just to the people but to the beasts as well.
It was as if the beasts themselves had trained in martial arts. They weren't Spirit Beasts, but they gave off a similar feeling—so that was why.
I had only heard of this in passing, never seen it with my own eyes, so it was rather fascinating. For now, at least, it seemed to operate on a completely different principle from how Maeng Yu-baek handled the Seven Flower Centipede.
As I looked around with interest, a middle-aged man with the strongest energy stepped forward as their representative and asked,
"That green martial robe. And that dreadful killing intent… Might you be the Blood Flower Sword Demon?"
"No. Call me the White Moon Sword Lord from now on."
"…Understood."
The middle-aged man nodded with a somewhat sour expression. He pushed back the ox-sized man who kept trying to step forward, then continued.
"But I fail to see why you would act so rudely toward our Beast Palace. Could it be that this has something to do with the young lady Yu Baek behind you?"
"Hmph. You could say that. I found it admirable that she tried to strike out on her own at such a young age, so I thought I'd look out for her—but then your second son went and sent an assassin."
"Pardon…?"
Startled by the word "assassin," the middle-aged man turned to look at Maeng Yu-baek. Maeng Yu-baek, who had been fidgeting like someone who'd sold out their own country, cautiously nodded.
"Th-that's right, Elder Dae-ah. They used the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild to keep me from leaving the house or earning any money, and starved me for a long time. And when I managed to survive anyway, they tried to have a vagrant kill me along with all my people!"
As if recalling everything that had happened, Maeng Yu-baek rolled up her sleeve, revealing a gaunt arm.
At this, the middle-aged man called Elder Dae-ah looked at Maeng Yu-baek's arm with a flustered expression.
Since these were people who were fundamentally honest in the face of power, pursuing and harming Maeng Yu-baek—who had already decided to tuck her tail and retreat—would be considered an extremely shameful act.
Moreover, they hadn't even faced her head-on in a fair fight; instead, they had shamelessly starved her and tried to have someone else's hands do the killing.
This would be regarded as a tremendous stain within the Beast Palace.
Perhaps sensing that this wouldn't end easily, Elder Dae-ah spoke with a grave expression.
"…I understand what you're saying. However, now that you've already left the Beast Palace, Lady Yu-baek, you have no authority to pressure us like this. I will speak to the Palace Lord and have the Second Young Master disciplined, and I will ensure such a thing never happens again. Would you please withdraw for today?"
"Th-that's…!"
Hearing that she had no right to order them around once she'd left the Beast Palace, Maeng Yu-baek's eyes flew wide open.
It was only natural to be furious after nearly dying, only to be told to go home and that they would handle things themselves.
But from their perspective, this was only natural. Having left the Beast Palace, Maeng Yu-baek was no longer the child of the Palace Lord, but merely a single Martial Artist.
Attempting to kill someone who had already left the household was wrong, and the method was shameful, but the Beast Palace, far stronger than a mere Martial Artist like Maeng Yu-baek, could not afford to bow its head.
As a man of the Central Plains, I could hardly understand getting so worked up over a matter that offered neither justification nor benefit, but I supposed the reverse would be the same.
So the right move here was to play by the opponent's rules.
I opened my mouth, shrouding the surroundings in an even more vicious killing intent.
"I wonder whether the Beast Palace can ignore the words of Sect Leader O-gong, but can it also ignore my words?"
"What is this…!"
Those of lower martial level gasped and fainted, while those who could be counted among the ranks of experts staggered with choked, gurgling sounds.
The beasts with keen senses fared even worse. Most of them foamed at the mouth outright, and only those who had reached the level of Spirit Beasts managed to barely hold onto their wits…
Their will completely broken, they either bowed their heads to me or buried their faces between their own tails, trembling uncontrollably.
Startled by this, Tang So-wol rose onto her tiptoes and whispered.
"Young hero Cheon! Isn't this too much? It doesn't look like you're showing the difference in power—it looks like you're trying to crush them outright!"
"…I didn't intend to go this far either."
I'd only meant to scare them. I hadn't meant to raise my killing intent to the point where people would pass out.
The gatekeeper earlier was the same—for some reason, the Beast Palace's martial artists seemed overly sensitive to killing intent…
I couldn't tell whether they were simply timid or overly sensitive to killing intent.
I kept a cold, impassive expression on my face, but inwardly, I was flustered.
Then, cutting through the Beast Palace's martial artists and beasts alike, an old man approached, riding atop a massive black panther.
His face was pale, clearly marked by illness. His body was quite emaciated as well, yet his bearing alone was impossible to ignore.
The moment I saw him, I knew at once. This man was the Beast Palace Lord.
"Would you withdraw your killing intent? Your killing intent is rather peculiar to us."
"…Beast Palace Lord?"
"That's right."
Even with his battered body, the Beast Palace Lord stepped forward with dignity and looked straight at me.
"What business brings you here, slayer of the Spirit Beast?"
"?"
What was he talking about now?