Chapter 152

Baekyak Meets the Princess of the Ten Thousand Horses

The place Qingmu Maya reached after climbing the mountain path was where Sima Jue and Zhu Ziliang had stayed until recently. Had Qingmu Maya found Sima Jue and Zhu Ziliang, it was highly likely he would have killed them without any particular reason.

Surveying the surroundings, Qingmu Maya cautiously inquired.

“Does the noble master foresee who will survive?”

Cheng Mu Maya’s tone had completely shifted to respectful speech.

He had no choice.

It was the natural choice Qingmu Maya had made.

Meanwhile, the Demon Lord who had seeped into Gu Huashan showed no sign of revealing himself. Only his voice flowed out from somewhere.

“How could anyone have foreseen that? I certainly didn’t expect Master Geum to be killed by the successor of the Eunha Trading Guild today.”

“What if the King of Power were to fall victim to the Lord of Ten Thousand Horses as well? What would you do then?”

At this question, the Demon Lord let out a low, hollow laugh.

Whether it’s the court official sweeping the courtyard or the current Manmagung, they’re all the same to me. There’s nothing truly great in this world. Only the illusion that one is doing something great. If you’re worried about the Ten Thousand Horses Palace, you should survive this time and become its ruler. The Ten Thousand Horses Palace was founded to gather the world’s defeated soldiers; who cares who dies there? And the ruler of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace probably didn’t think he was doing anything great either. That’s why he lived so carelessly. If he had the skill to be killed by the King of Power, it was just bluster.”

Cheongmokmaya asked.

“Did you never have any attachment to the Ten Thousand Horses Palace to begin with?”

“So they did exist. But Wizhichun and Yeonjahun are dead. They’re gone now. Seeing they couldn’t kill each other, they must have been friends after all. Friendship is truly terrifying, isn’t it? Watching those two was entertaining, yet that very friendship led to both their deaths. Had one been killed and absorbed, only the Three Gods could have stood against them.”

“That’s true.”

Even the friendship between Wei Zhichuan and Yan Zaxin, which hardly seemed like friendship at all, was an entertaining spectacle for the Demon Cultivator to watch.

Cheng Moku Maya and the Demon Lord planned to pass the time chatting like this while waiting for those returning from killing the Ten Great Masters of the Jianghu.

The ancient volcano remained unchanged, but the voices of those who gathered there had shifted from the path of righteousness to the path of evil.

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Sama Gyeok, Ju Jaryang, and Yi Ja-eon did not return first. They waited anxiously nearby, hearing the loud sounds of the King of Gwon fighting fiercely.

They could not bring themselves to join the fray.

For it was a battle where thunder roared, the earth caved in, whirlwinds raged, and the world kept flashing with an inexplicable light.

The level was different.

They knew full well that if they foolishly joined in, all three would die instantly.

Yet he had no intention of fleeing either.

How could they flee first, leaving behind the very person who came to save them?

If that were to happen, it felt like all their martial arts training up until now would become utterly meaningless.

Moreover, this was a friend who had arrived in the dead of night, vowing to save them.

All they could do was wait anxiously until the fight ended. Though they were weak men, they weren’t the sort to leave a friend alone in a place like this.

The silence stretched on until, suddenly, a figure appeared, moving with lightness—it was, of course, Dan Woo-sung.

Sama Gyeok, Ju Jaryang, and Yi Ja-eon breathed sighs of relief.

“Ah…”

“Brother!”

“Over here!”

Dan Woo-sung couldn’t help but be quite surprised to see his friends and the youngest member still nearby.

“I told you to return first… What are you doing still hanging around?”

Sama Gyeok looked Dan Woo-seong up and down as he appeared unharmed and said.

“I was waiting to go together.”

Joo Ja-ryang scrutinized Dan Woo-sung’s face from every angle.

“You’re fine. That’s good. Somehow, we were the ones waiting who ended up more on edge.”

Lee Ja-eon spoke to Dan Woo-sung as if he hadn’t been worried at all.

“Let’s go, Brother. I thought I’d get struck by lightning while sightseeing around here.”

Suddenly, Zhu Ziliang put his arm around Dan Wuxing’s shoulder, and Sima Jue also latched onto his right side, linking arms with Dan Wuxing before bursting into laughter like old times.

“Ha ha ha…”

The three of them huddled together like a rowdy trio, arms linked, before Zhu Ziliang shouted.

“Let’s go!”

Li Zayan, who was following alongside, said.

“Guys… You’re not kids anymore. What’s with this childish behavior from grown men?”

Ju Jaryang clicked his tongue and retorted.

“You dumbass, if you’re jealous, just say so. You were a good-for-nothing yourself, so wanna join us? Come here, little brother.”

Lee Ja-eon said.

“I’ll pass.”

His Majesty Kwon Wang walked down the street, his arms hooked over his friends’ shoulders.

The friends knew Danwooseong had run all night to save them. And they knew full well from the sounds they heard that he’d fought a fierce battle against a formidable opponent.

In the end, all they could offer was this simple shoulder-to-shoulder support. Instead of words of thanks, they broke the silence with awkward jokes.

Joo Ja-ryang said.

“Man, this reminds me of the old days.”

Dan Woosung, sandwiched between them, said.

“Seriously, do we have to walk like this?”

Sama Gyeok said.

“Shut up. Let’s just walk like this for a bit. It’ll give us time to reminisce.”

The three old troublemakers charged ahead recklessly with their childish antics, prompting Lee Ja-eon, who had been following behind, to click his tongue.

“Come along, masters.”

The three men, who hadn’t even responded to Lee Ja-eon’s words, charged forward recklessly. Though he was being ignored by his older brothers, Lee Ja-eon couldn’t help but feel good. His expression brightened as he chased after them. Judging by the eldest brother, nothing much seemed to have changed in the meantime.

Who knew having a place to return to could feel this good.

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Dawn at the Eunhwasangdan, where Danwooseong was returning.

Baekyak, who had taken it upon himself to serve as the Divine Physician’s escort, rose at dawn as usual, donned his snow-white dobok, and set out for Yangpyeong Lake.

Escort is escort, training is training.

Having heard some of the events that had transpired concerning the Divine Physician, Baekyak couldn’t afford to relax. He deliberately circled the area around the Eunha Trading Guild once before heading to Yangpyeong Lake. He planned to run for half an hour and then return for breakfast.

As he deployed his lightness skill.

A master who moved without making a sound followed behind, but it wasn’t particularly surprising.

Baekyak must have thought he wouldn’t notice, for he kept trailing behind, hiding in the mist as if mocking him.

Baekyak deliberately ran at a moderate pace, gazing thoughtfully at Yangpyeong Lake before turning his steps back toward Eunhwasangdan.

On the familiar walking path, where the dawn mist had already lifted, an unfamiliar voice called out to Baekyak.

“Hey there.”

Baekyak stopped, turned around, and stared blankly at the empty space. Then the unfamiliar voice called out to Baekyak again.

“Young lady.”

Baekyak answered.

“Why? Speak.”

At Baekyak’s blunt reply, the other fell silent for a moment.

“……”

As Baekyak resumed walking, the unfamiliar man asked.

“What is your relationship with the merchant guild’s successor?”

His voice carried well, revealing no position. It sounded as if it echoed from all directions.

Baekyak replied.

“What good would knowing do?”

“How else would I know whether to kill you, kidnap you, demand a ransom, or summon the Crown Prince to intimidate him?”

Baekyak replied in a flat tone.

“That’s how it goes.”

“Then I’ll just kidnap him for now. After all, I can’t seem to find a proper way to lure out the Crown Prince.”

As the unidentified man somewhere signaled an impending attack, Baekyak replied while walking down the road.

“If that’s possible, then do so.”

“How can you be so full of confidence? A young lady like you…”

With the sound of robes fluttering in the air, a man finally revealed himself. Outwardly, he appeared to be in his late forties to early fifties, though his appearance made it difficult to gauge his exact age.

His aura was peculiar.

Dark circles ringed his eyes, his hair was grown long like a woman’s, and a scent of perfume wafted from his body.

His expression held no dignity, his robes hung loosely as if he were wearing an oversized garment, and he carried no weapons.

Above all, the moment he appeared, he looked at Baekyak with a disinterested gaze and said this.

“Young lady, you are a rare beauty.”

As the man stared at her intently, as if he had fallen for her at first sight, Baekyak asked.

“Are you the Palace Master of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace?”

Come to think of it, this was a showdown between the Palace Master and the Deputy Palace Master.

The Palace Master of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace replied with a slightly flustered expression.

“Young lady, how did you know? We didn’t announce our visit.”

Baekyak inquired.

“What made you so confident to come alone?”

The Palace Mistress of Ten Thousand Horses retorted.

“Why bother bringing anyone else to kidnap a single woman? I’m perfectly capable on my own.”

Now the conversation finally clicked.

The Lord of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace was talking about how Baekyak’s beauty was outstanding, and Baekyak was asking the Lord of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace what gave him the confidence to come alone.

After all, this was the Lord of the Ten Thousand Horses, who had spent his days cavorting with women even in the palace.

Emerging into the world after so long, he found it incredibly enjoyable.

He left troublesome matters to his subordinates, while he himself roamed the martial world, abducting and toyed with beautiful women. He had appeared at the Galaxy Trading Guild quite late. As the Demon Cultivator had said, the Manma Palace Lord was still living a dissolute life. Had he not occupied the Palace Lord’s position and continued wandering the martial world like this, he would have been called a Lust Demon.

He planned to create lovers here and there, have them bear children, and then distribute and transfer the assets of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace.

Therefore, meeting women was something the Manmagung Master truly took seriously.

But the moment he saw Baekyak, he realized one thing.

It would be difficult to find such a beautiful woman, not only in the Ten Thousand Horse Palace, but even in the martial world.

The Manma Palace Lord, who had briefly regained his appetite, spoke to Baekyak.

“Young lady, what is your name?”

Baekyak replied.

“None of your business.”

The Lord of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace said.

“Let’s do this. If you come with me willingly, I won’t harm a hair on your head. I shall make you my legitimate wife.”

How could such a person be the master of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace?

Baekyak was also bewildered.

The problem was that he couldn’t gauge the extent of his abilities. Baekyak stared at the Master of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace and thought.

‘Something feels off.’

Baekyak suddenly appeared before the Master of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace and thrust out a palm strike.

The Ten Thousand Horse Palace Master responded with his palm force without showing any sign of surprise…

Crack! With a loud sound, the Ten Thousand Horse Palace Lord’s body flew backward. It wasn’t just flying; it rolled across the ground with a loud clatter.

Thud, thud, thud.

The Ten Thousand Horses Palace Lord sighed, brushed off his clothes here and there, and stood up.

Baekyak’s face grew increasingly stiff.

It couldn’t be helped.

The issue isn’t that it was sent flying.

Despite clearly exchanging energy with the White Flower Palace, the Ten Thousand Horse Palace Lord showed no surprise at the ice attack.

After briefly folding her hands respectfully, the Princess of Ten Thousand Horses spoke formally to Baekyak.

“Young lady, you are the descendant of Lord Mujin. I did not recognize you. Allow me to formally greet you.”

The Ten Thousand Horses Palace Lord bowed to Bai Yao as he spoke.

“I am the Ten Thousand Horses Palace Lord, Tie Hansheng. That the descendant of Lord Wuzhen has reappeared in the martial world, yet the Ten Thousand Horses Palace was unaware—this is entirely the fault of the Tie family. But why, pray tell, is the descendant of the great Heavenly Horse residing in such a humble place as the Galaxy Trading Company? Are you here on your own accord? Or did someone send you?”

Baekyak couldn’t help but swallow hard when the madman suddenly turned serious.

‘What the hell?’

As Baekyak stared back in surprise, the Palace Lord of Ten Thousand Horses spoke again.

“In any case, welcome. How should I put this? I’m truly delighted. There was a pathetic old man here at the palace named Suyue Maya who studied ice magic. He devoted his entire life to it, yet his results were unsatisfactory. However, since ice magic is a martial art that other great masters also yearn to replicate, I shall step aside here and report to the great masters. I shall return. Young Master Baek, then.”

As Baekyak was about to speak, the Lady of the Ten Thousand Horses raised a finger and said,

“Shh! If I say I’m going, I’m going. If I say I’ll come back, I will come back. You cannot stop me. Until next time.”

Payak, paying no heed, unleashed the White Night technique—a move from the White Flower Divine Art—from his entire body, aiming to bind the Ten Thousand Horses Palace Lord to this spot.

At that instant, a gasp of surprise escaped the startled Manma Palace Master, then stopped.

“Ah!”

But Baekyak let out a cry as well.

“Ha.”

The Cold Palace Lord moved faster than the chill spreading across the land, halting dozens of paces away, enveloped in the cold.

But it was too far out.

Then, drawing upon his own inner energy to dispel the cold at the very edge of the Great White Night, the Demon Horse Palace Lord fled, saying this.

“Ah, I nearly died. I’ll be more careful next time. Until we meet again.”

The Demon Palace Lord was receding at a speed beyond the reach of any remedy. No, his form had vanished even while he was speaking.

If there were demonic arts in speed, the Ten Thousand Horse Palace Lord would appear like a demonic being who had delved deeply into the essence of swiftness.