"W-What is that sound?"
"Sounds like a tiger's roar?"
"No… it also sounds like a cow's moo?"
"Why are both cow and tiger sounds coming in here?"
The swordsmen of the Green Forest bandits and the Namgung Family blinked in confusion, unable to understand the situation at all.
However, the disciples of the Sichuan Tang family and Mount Hua seemed to have an inkling, and with a sudden "Ah!" they turned their heads sharply.
"No way?"
Without anyone saying a word, the disciples of Tang Family and Mount Hua rushed toward the door in a crowd. Then the Namgung Family and the Green Forest also caught the mood and began running along.
When Baek Cheon violently flung open the door, his eyes saw the scene he had guessed… no, a sight even more spectacular than he had imagined.
It was a procession. A long line along the riverbank. The problem was that the line was not made up of just people.
"Wow…"
"Amazing."
"Is that a tiger?"
"That's a snake though?"
"…Then what on earth is that?"
It was a scene that perfectly fit the word 'varied.' Literally, tiger-sized tigers, leopards that looked fierce at a glance, and gigantic snakes that could easily swallow a person whole…
Pwooooooo!
Even a mysterious giant animal with a long, snake-like nose raised high and let out a cry.
"W-What is that?"
"Is it a monster?"
"You idiots. That's an elephant."
"Elephant?"
"Yes! An elephant!"
"Whoa? I've never seen one in real life. So that's what an elephant looks like?"
Just the sight of these huge beasts, seen for the first time in life, was astonishing, but adding to the shock were the robust men walking alongside them, seemingly unafraid.
Everyone's eyes widened at this rare and unparalleled sight. Where else could one see such a scene?
Especially Namgung Do-Wei, seeing this for the first time, could not help but be greatly impressed.
"W-What on earth is this…?"
Tang Pae gave a wry smile and helped Namgung Do-Wei.
"These are the warriors of the Nanman(Barbarian) Beast Palace."
"Ah…"
Namgung Do-Wei finally nodded as if he understood. He had known that the archers of the Nanman Beast Palace handled wild beasts, but there was a big difference between knowing in theory and seeing it with one's own eyes.
"So they are our allies."
"Yes. They are also fierce warriors of the Heavenly Friends Alliance."
Tang Pae smiled slightly.
"The Beast Palace is a sect that began alongside the Heavenly Friends Alliance, even before the Namgung Family or the Green Forest."
Except for Mount Hua, Dang Pae is arguably the sect most familiar with the Beast Palace, due to frequent exchanges through Yunnan tea trade. Naturally, their evaluation was favorable.
"But…"
Pwooooooo!
Kuhuhuhuhuh!
"…Do they usually travel around with so many beasts?"
"…"
"They must have met many others on the way here… but wandering around like that in broad daylight is a bit…"
"Well… uh…"
Tang Pae scratched the back of his head awkwardly. Indeed, it would be hard to get used to that sight at first.
"Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't… Recently, they haven't been bringing many beasts. But this time, they've brought quite a lot with them"
Namgung Do-Wei blinked and watched the beasts approaching among the people. None were ordinary. Though not an expert on animals, he sensed an unusual aura from them.
'Are they all spiritual beasts?'
Indeed, no matter how different Yunnan is from the Central Plains, such tiger-sized beasts wouldn't be scattered everywhere. How could people live in such a place?
Even in Yunnan, these beasts were clearly special spiritual creatures.
Sure enough, the tiger leading the group walked proudly and looked at Namgung Do-Wei and his sect members as if waiting for them, baring its terrifying teeth.
Grrrrr.
The tiger's low growl sent chills down the spines of those who heard it. That cry triggered a primal fear in humans.
Namgung Do-Wei swallowed dryly. Those beside him flinched and stepped back one step.
Grrrrr!
Seeing this, the tiger grew more fierce, slightly lowering its neck, then roared fiercely as if to swallow and crush the entire Yangtze River.
Kuhahahahahah!
A qi wave that seemed to shake the air. Even those who knew what the Beast Palace was, including Namgung, instinctively gripped their sword hilts at the tremendous roar.
Grrrr.
The tiger glared at everyone with bright yellow eyes and was about to roar again.
Dododododo.
With cute, quick footsteps, something darted out swiftly from among Mount Hua's disciples.
"Huh?"
Namgung Do-Wei's eyes flickered.
What darted out was an animal he knew well: the white weasel dressed in Mount Hua's martial uniform he had seen many times.
The weasel hurried forward, reached right in front of the huge tiger, stood on two legs, and straightened its back.
"That…!"
Momentarily startled, Namgung Do-Wei instinctively reached out his hand.
Of course, he knew the marten was a spiritual beast, but the size difference with the tiger was extreme. The marten was barely big enough to wrap around a person's neck, while the tiger was clearly much larger than an average cow.
How could he not be startled seeing such a small marten blocking the path of such a huge tiger?
Grrrr.
The tiger showed its terrifying fangs at the marten standing before it, as if ready to bite it in half at any moment.
With clear hostility in its eyes, the tiger crouched low as if starting a hunt. Its stiff fur bristled wildly, making it look more like a demon from the netherworld than a tiger.
Kuhuhuhuhuh!
Just as the tiger let out a roar so huge it shook its insides, Baek Ah, who had been tapping her tail on the ground in discomfort, leapt into the air and swiftly struck the tiger's jaw with a sharp back paw.
Kwahang!
The tiger hit by Baek Ah's back paw bounced away like a fired cannonball, skipping across the ground like a stone skipping on water.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Namgung Do-Wei's eyes nearly popped out.
"Whoa…"
Baek Ah, having sent the tiger flying with one strike, spat on the ground and then stomped the floor with its back paw.
'That…'
That silhouette looked very familiar. That…
Wait, do martens even spit? Is it really right to call that a marten now? Can it be called that?
The tiger that had been slammed to the ground trembled as it got up.
Kiiiiiiiiii!
As Baek Ah let out a piercing cry, the tiger visibly paled even to human eyes. The tiger that had charged like lightning quickly prostrated itself before Baek Ah.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Baek Ah clicked her tongue with a trivial sound, then raised her tiny front paw, almost insignificant compared to the tiger, and tapped the tiger's cheek.
It felt as if a voice saying "Get your act together" was heard.
Namgung Do-Wei was not the only one who heard that hidden voice; the tiger the size of a house hung its head in obvious sulkiness. Even a three-year-old child could tell who was stronger.
Baek Ah, who had instantly subdued the tiger, gleamed its eyes and looked back at the other beasts. Those beasts that had been so majestic moments ago quickly tucked their tails and avoided eye contact.
"Hahaha!"
At that moment, a booming laugh erupted. Shortly after, a man who looked twice as big as an average strongman stepped forward.
"Baek Ah has gotten even more ferocious. I thought sending her to the Taoist sect would improve her temper."
Namgung Do-Wei flinched momentarily looking at the man. He had never seen anyone so intimidating just by appearance.
"Palace Lord!"
Meanwhile, the disciples of Mount Hua and Tang family brightened immediately upon seeing Beast Palace Lord Meng So.
'Palace Lord? That person is?'
Tension appeared in Namgung Do-Wei's eyes. Indeed, the Beast Palace Lord. His presence was no joke.
At that moment, a dry voice came from behind.
"Why did you bring all these creatures here?"
Meng So burst out laughing as he saw Chung Myung walking over with a scowl.
"Understand the situation now, didn't you say to bring all the useful ones?"
"You mean these are useful?"
"No. The useful ones are others. Even if they're spiritual beasts, they're still wild animals. If you bring all the fighters, no one can control them. To avoid problems, we had to bring them along."
"Ugh."
"Don't look at me like that. I didn't bring them all. I only picked the more ferocious and bad-tempered ones."
"…Ferocious and bad-tempered?"
"Huh?"
"Those guys?"
Chung Myung chuckled and gestured, and Meng So turned his gaze toward where he pointed.
Click!
Baek Ah raised her small front paw and pointed, and the beasts of the Beast Palace slunk away dejectedly in that direction. They looked utterly deflated.
"…Because every creature has its natural enemy."
Even Meng So seemed surprised by this and gave a helpless smile.
"It didn't seem this bad before. What on earth did you do to that one? She looks several times stronger than before."
He didn't bother to say that her temper seemed several times more violent too.
Chung Myung said casually.
"I didn't really do anything. I just made her understand that if she just plays around as a beast cub, she'll become an expensive scarf."
"…must have had a hard time."
"Me?"
"No, that one."
"…"
Meng So shook his head. Who would have imagined anyone could handle spiritual beasts better than the Beast Palace people?
With a single gesture, Baek Ah herded the huge beasts into the warehouse, then tapped the floor with her back paw and hurried up to Chung Myung. It then placed its arms on its waist and pushed its belly forward.
"What?"
Tap! Tap!
Baek Ah slapped the floor with her tail, and Chung Myung chuckled disdainfully.
"Alright, alright. Good job."
Kii!
Baek Ah nodded and quickly climbed onto Chung Myung, standing on one of his shoulders. Chung Myung glanced at Baek Ah and tapped her black nose with his index finger.
"But."
"Kii?"
"If those guys cause trouble in the future, you're the one who dies."
"…"
"Let's do well."
Baek Ah sulked and lay weakly on Chung Myung's shoulder.
Everyone watching that absurd scene shook their heads.
'Is it the humans who are amazing, or the beasts?'
'Anyway, nothing happening here made any sense till now.'
'Let's not think about it. Just accept it and be comfortable.'
Chung Myung chuckled looking at Meng So.
"It must not have been easy to bring all these beasts, but you arrived earlier than expected. Thank you for coming from afar."
"You say the darndest things."
Meng So smiled gently, a softness and warmth unimaginable from his intimidating appearance.
"When a friend calls, you naturally have to come."
Chung Myung grinned at those words.
"Since I've met a friend, it's time for a drink after a long time."
"Hahaha! I knew you'd say that, so I brought all the Peach Blossom Fragrance wine."
"Oh? That amazing liquor! Kuu! Time to indulge after a long time!"
The large Meng So and the slightly smaller Chung Myung linked arms and chuckled as they walked inside.
Namgung Do-Wei, standing dazed, asked with a flustered expression.
"Are those two usually that close?"
"…Surprisingly, yes."
"…"
Namgung Do-Wei thought anew that it was truly remarkable to have such a bad temper yet be so sociable.