Chapter 1121
“Wha- What is this sound?”
“Sounds like a tiger’s roar?”
“No…. It sounds like a cow crying?”
“Why are we hearing cows and tigers all of a sudden?”
The bandits of Nokrim and Namgung Family blinked, not understanding this situation at all.
However, Sichuan Tang Family and Mount Hua seem to have guessed something and turned their heads with an ‘Ah!’ exclamation.
“Could it be?”
Tang Family and Mount Hua disciples ran towards the door without saying anything. Then Namgung Family and Nokrim also got caught up in the atmosphere and started running after them.
As Baek Cheon opened the door violently and stepped out, a sight that was more splendid than what he expected… No, more splendid than he was expecting entered his eyes.
It was a procession. A long line stretches along the riverbank. The surprising part was that it wasn’t just people in the line.
“Wow…”
“That’s incredible.”
“That’s a tiger, right?”
“Isn’t that a snake?”
“…Then what on earth is that?”
It was a sight that could be described as a variety of things. Enormous tigers the size of houses, fierce-looking leopards, a gigantic snake that seemed capable of swallowing a person whole in one gulp…
Ppuooo!
Even an unidentified giant animal raises its long, snake-like nose and lets out a roar.
“Wha- What is that?”
“A monster?”
“You idiots. That’s an elephant.”
“An elephant?”
“Yes! Elephant!”
“Wow? This is my first time seeing one in person. Is that what an elephant looks like?”
It was shocking enough to see such a huge beast for the first time in their life, but it was even more shocking to see such strong-looking men walking alongside them, seemingly unafraid of the beasts.
The rare and exotic sight left everyone wide-eyed in amazement. Where else could one witness such a spectacle?
Especially Namgung Dowi, who was seeing this sight for the first time, could not help but be amazed.
“What, what in the world…?”
Tang Pae helped Namgung Dowi with a bitter smile.
“These are the warriors of Southern Beast Palace.”
“Ah….”
Namgung Dowi nodded as if he finally understood. He too had heard that the warriors of Southern Beast Palace handled wild beasts. However, there was a big difference between knowing it in your head and actually seeing it with your own eyes.
“So they are allies.”
“Yes. They are also members of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”
Tang Pae smiled faintly.
” Beast Palace is one of the founding sects of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, even before Namgung or Nokrim.”
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Tang Family, aside from Mount Hua, is the one that has the closest affinity to Beast Palace. They have had frequent exchanges with each other due to the Yunnan tea trade. Hence, their evaluation was bound to be favorable.
“However….”
Ppuooo!
Koheuhuhuhung!
“…Do they always travel with beasts like this?”
“….”
“They must have encountered many people on their way here… Walking around like this in broad daylight is a bit…”
“That… Uh….”
Tang Pae scratched the back of his head with a troubled expression. Indeed, it wasn’t easy to get used to this sight if you were seeing it for the first time.
“Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t… Recently, they haven’t been bringing them along much. But this time, they’ve brought a lot.”
Namgung Dowi blinked as he watched the beasts mingling with the people approaching. They were all extraordinary. Namgung Dowi was not particularly knowledgeable about beasts, but he felt that these beasts had a different aura from ordinary beasts.
‘Are they all mystical beasts?’
Surely, even in a place as different as Yunnan, there wouldn’t be tigers as big as houses everywhere. If not, how could people live in such a place?
Even in Yunnan, it was clear that those beasts were mystical creatures.
As expected, the tiger that had been walking majestically at the head of the procession looked at Namgung Dowi and the disciples who were waiting for them and then revealed its fearsome teeth.
Grrrrrr.
When the low, characteristic roar of a tiger was heard, goosebumps ran down the spines of those who heard it. That growl instinctively triggered fear in humans.
Namgung Dowi swallowed dry saliva. Those standing beside him flinched and took a step back.
Grrrrrr!
The tiger, encouraged by their reaction, hunched its shoulders slightly and then let out a powerful roar that seemed capable of swallowing and shattering the entire Yangtze River.
Rooaaarrrr!
A momentum that seemed to shake the very atmosphere. It was a roar so great that even those who were familiar with Beast Palace, including Namgung, instinctively grabbed the handle of their swords.
Grrrrrr.
The moment when the tiger glared at everyone with its bright yellow eyes and was about to roar again.
Dododododo.
Something quickly jumped out from among the disciples of Mount Hua with a loud and dainty sound of footsteps.
“Huh?”
Namgung Dowi’s eyes widened in surprise.
The animal that jumped out was one he knew very well. It was a pure white marten in Mount Hua uniform that he had seen countless times before.
The marten, which had been scurrying forward, arrived right in front of the large tiger, standing up on its hind legs with its back straight.
“That…!”
Namgung Dowi, momentarily flustered, reached out his hand without realizing it.
Of course, he knew that the marten was a mystical creature, but the size difference between it and the tiger was too extreme. The marten was at best big enough to be wrapped around a person’s neck, but the tiger standing in front of it was obviously much bigger than an average cow.
How could he not be alarmed when this tiny marten stood before such a massive tiger?
Grrrrrr.
The tiger looked at the marten standing in front of it and bared its creepy fangs. It seemed ready to bite the small weasel in half at any moment.
With clear hostility in both eyes, the tiger lowered its body and crouched down as if it were going to pounce. The tiger’s stiff hair stood on end. Its appearance was so ferocious that it looked more like a demon from some part of the underworld than a tiger.
Roaaaarrr!
Eventually, the moment when the tiger let out a roar so loud that it shook one’s insides, Baek-ah, who had been displaying signs of discomfort by tapping its tail on the ground, leaped into the air. Then, with a swift movement of its short hind legs, it struck the tiger’s jaw.
Kwaaang!
The tiger, hit by Baek-ah’s hind leg, was flung away like a shot cannonball, skipping across the ground like a stone on water.
Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!
Namgung Dowi’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
“God….”
Baek-ah, who had blown away the tiger with one strike, spat on the floor and then pounded the ground with his hind legs.
‘That….’
That back looks very familiar. That…
No, wait. Before that… Do martens spit? Is it really right to call that a marten? Can we call it that?
The tiger, which had been knocked to the ground, trembled as it tried to get back up.
Kiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
The moment a piercing cry burst from Baek-Ah’s mouth, the tiger was clearly frightened even to a human eye. The tiger, which had charged like lightning, quickly dropped down submissively in front of Baek-Ah.
Tak. Tak. Tak. Tak.
Baek-ah was clicking her tongue and making a very trivial sound, raising its tiny, almost insignificant front paw in comparison to the tiger. Then it gently patted the tiger’s cheek.
For some reason, it felt like he could hear someone saying, ‘Find your manners.’
It wasn’t just Namgung Dowi who heard that hidden voice, as the house-sized tiger lowered its head with a crestfallen expression. It was a sight where even a three-year-old could understand who was stronger.
Baek-ah, who had subdued the tiger in an instant, looked back at the other beasts behind with his eyes wide open. The beasts that had been so majestic just a moment ago suddenly turned around and avoided its gaze.
“Euhahahahat.”
At that moment, a loud burst of laughter erupted. Shortly after, a man who appeared twice as large as an average strongman stepped forward.
“Baekjeon has grown even more ferocious. I thought sending it to Taoist sect might mellow its temper.”
Namgung Dowi flinched momentarily upon seeing the man. It was the first time in his life that someone’s mere appearance had made him feel so intimidated.
“Gungju-nim!”
In contrast, the disciples of Mount Hua and Tang Family cheered upon seeing Maeng So, the Lord of Beast Palace.
‘Gungju-nim? That person?’
Namgung Dowi’s eyes were filled with tension. Truly the Lord of the Beast Palace, his presence was overwhelming.
At that moment, a cold voice was heard from behind.
“No, why on earth did you bring all of these here?”
Maeng So burst into laughter as he watched Chung Myung walking towards him with a frown on his face.
“Understand me. Didn’t you ask me to bring all the capable ones?”
“You mean these are capable?”
“No. The useful ones are others. Even though they’re mystical creatures, they’re still wild beasts, aren’t they? If we bring all the people that can fight, there will be no one left to control them. To avoid any problems, I had to bring them along, right?”
“Ugh.”
“Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t bring all of them. I selected only the most ferocious and ill-tempered ones.”
“…Ferocious and ill-tempered?”
“Huh?”
“Those guys?”
As Chung Myung smiled and motioned with his chin, Maeng So turned his gaze to where he was pointing.
Chok!
Baek-ah lifted its small paw and pointed in one direction. The beasts of Beast Palace, which had been strutting confidently, suddenly drooped their tails and shuffled off in that direction. At first glance, they looked very discouraged.
“…Even predators have their natural enemies.”
Even Maeng So was surprised by this sight and ended up laughing awkwardly.
“I don’t think it was this bad before. What on earth did you do to that guy? It seems several times stronger than when I last saw it.”
He didn’t bother mentioning that it also seemed several times more aggressive.
Chung Myung spoke nonchalantly.
“I didn’t do anything in particular. I just made it understand that if it lazes around like a dumb beast, it will end up as a fancy fur muffler.”
“…It must have been tough.”
“For me?”
“No, that guy.”
“….”
Maeng So shook his head. Who would have thought that there would be people in the world who could handle mystical creatures better than Beast Palace?
With a single gesture, Baek-ah drove all the house-sized beast into the warehouse, then stomped the ground with its hind legs and came right up to Chung Myung. Standing upright in front of him, it placed its paws on its hips and puffed out its chest.
“What?”
Bang! Bang!
When Baek-ah hit the ground with its tail, Chung Myung snickered as if he was no match.
“Fine, fine. Good job.”
Kiiii!
Baek-ah nodded and quickly climbed up onto Chung Myung, perching on his shoulder. Chung Myung glanced at Baek-ah and gently poked its black nose with his index finger.
“But remember.”
Kii?
“If those beasts get caught causing trouble in the future, you’re going to get screwed.”
….
“Let’s do well.”
Baek-ah, who had become gloomy, leaned down weakly on Chung Myung’s shoulder.
Everyone who was watching the absurd situation shook their heads.
‘Is it the person or the beast that’s amazing?’
‘Anyway, I’m telling you, there’s nothing of common sense that’s going on here.’
‘Just don’t think about it. It’s easier to just accept.’
Chung Myung looked at Maeng So and smiled.
“It must not have been easy leading all the beasts here, but you arrived earlier than expected. It must have been difficult coming from far away.”
“You’re saying nonsense.”
Maeng So smiled broadly. It was a smile so soft and warm that it was unexpected from his imposing appearance.
“When a friend calls, of course I come.”
Chung Myung chuckled at those words.
“Meeting a friend calls for a drink.”
“Hahahaha! I figured as much, so I brought all the Dowonhyang (???(桃原香)).”
“Oh? That amazing liquor! Wow! I’m going to have a blast for the first time in a while!”
The massive Maeng So and the Chung Myung, who’s slightly smaller than a normal person, managed to put their arms around each other’s shoulders and walked inside, giggling.
Namgung Dowi, who had been standing there blankly, asked with a bewildered face.
“Are those two usually that close?”
“…Strangely enough, that’s how it is.”
“….”
Namgung Dowi thought to himself again. It’s truly remarkable to have such a bad personality and yet be so good at making friends.
