By the time Kei had finished treating everyone in the city, night had completely fallen. True to his word, the Southern Barbarian King handed over the payment and invited Kei to the celebration feast.
"Doctor Kei, we're holding a war council banquet tonight. Would you honor us with your presence?"
"A feast, huh? Sure."
Kei nodded and followed him to the city center. When they arrived, a huge bonfire was already lit in the middle of the square. Men and women of all kinds danced and cheered around it. This was the final celebration before war.
"Doctor, thank you for healing my people," the Southern Barbarian King said sincerely. He raised his cup and downed three bowls in a row before pouring one for Kei.
"I'd heard all sorts of rumors about you. At first, I didn't believe them. A human? Helping demons? Gaining renown among monsters? That seemed impossible. But after meeting you, I understand. You have a special kind of charisma."
He downed another three cups.
"I know you won't join my rebellion. I won't force you. But the people of the Southern Kingdom are suffering. If you can, please help them as you travel. I'll even pay you in advance."
Another three cups went down his throat. His burning eyes locked with Kei's.
"I plan to travel all of the Southern Kingdom. Anyone I meet, I'll treat. Like my sign says: big illnesses, small ones—all ten coins."
"Oh, and another thing. The ones I treated just now—their ailments are gone, and their resistance to poison has improved. But that's not enough. The poison miasma around your city is still a threat. Over time, people will still fall ill."
Kei pulled out a pouch of seeds and handed them over.
"These are plants that can purify the air. Plant them around the city. They'll help reduce the toxicity."
The Barbarian King received the seeds solemnly. He tucked them away like treasures.
"I heard your clan has a tradition at these feasts—arm wrestling matches for fun. I think that's interesting. Wanna try with me?"
Kei rolled up his sleeve. Behind him, the husky perked up.
"Arm wrestling! Everyone, come watch!"
His booming voice drew in all the nearby demons. They looked between the muscular Barbarian King and the slim human, murmuring.
"This puny human wants to arm wrestle the Southern Barbarian King? Does he not value his life?"
"Humans may be smart, but we monsters have brute strength! Arm wrestling's all about raw power. That guy's doomed."
"Crush him, my king!"
Luolan looked worried. In her mind, Kei was always a gentle doctor who healed people. She had never seen him fight. And now he was challenging a walking pile of muscle?
She prepared to secretly poison the Barbarian King… but Kei gently patted her head, his face calm and confident. She pouted but obeyed.
"Doctor Kei… surely you're joking, right? I won't hold back just because you're human."
"Don't hold back. Come at me."
They locked hands—one massive paw, one lean human hand. The Barbarian King's muscles bulged again, twice over.
"Impressive grip," he muttered.
"Whenever you're ready," Kei said.
"Then—HAAAA!"
BANG!
With a deafening crash, the Barbarian King flew into the ground—slammed down in one move.
Everyone stared in shock.
"What just happened?!"
"The Southern Barbarian King… he lost! Instantly!"
"No way! Did that human cheat?"
"No! I didn't sense any magic. It was raw strength—pure, terrifying strength!"
The crowd was stunned. They knew the king's power—he could shake mountains. Yet he'd just been one-shotted.
"What happened…?"
The Barbarian King lay on the ground, utterly bewildered. It happened too fast. He blinked at Kei and the crowd, finally realizing—
"I lost."
Kei offered a hand. "Wanna go again?"
"Yes!" the king said, springing up. This time, he looked deadly serious.
He gathered all his power—twice his full strength. He wouldn't lose again.
"Here I come!"
"Ready."
BANG!
Once again, the Barbarian King was slammed down in an instant.
This time, no one could deny it.
He had gone all out.
And still lost.
"He's so strong!"
"Not just a healer—he's a warrior too!"
"I wanna toast him!"
Cheers erupted. The demons respected strength above all—and Kei had earned it.
"Told you Kei-nii was the best!" Luolan stood proudly beside him, arms akimbo, nose in the air like she'd just won herself.
"Pfft. You lot haven't even seen the real deal yet," the husky muttered, gnawing on his bone.
"Want another try?" Kei offered again.
"No… I lost." The king sat up, dazed.
"That strength… it's like arm wrestling a mountain. I'm just an ant."
Kei chuckled. "Among humans, I'm considered quite strong. But compared to you muscle monsters, I look skinny."
He wasn't jacked—he was lean and powerful, with condensed, explosive energy. But beside towering demons with boulder-sized biceps, he looked fragile.
"I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
Kei gently pulled Luolan forward and removed her hood.
"Her name is Huan Du Luolan."
"...!!"
"Ah?!"
The Barbarian King, Luolan, and the onlookers were all stunned.
"The Poison Emperor's daughter?!"
"We're screwed. The Emperor is coming!"
"Get your weapons!"
Chaos erupted. The first plan? Capture Luolan!
"STOP!"
The Barbarian King's roar froze the crowd.
"Doctor Kei… so you support the Poison Emperor. I've lost. I've completely lost. If you're going to kill me, do it. But don't involve my people—they're innocent."
He shook his head bitterly and bowed.
"Princess… you win."
Luolan was bewildered. Win what? She didn't even know they were competing!
"Eh? What's going on? Kei-nii, what did I win? What am I supposed to do right now?"
"Relax. I just wanted to introduce her."
Kei smiled. "You know how I met her? She was lost in the mountains. All alone. Crying."
"She found me, clung to me, and asked to go home. Just a little girl, really."
He told the full story of how they met. By the end, everyone was looking at Luolan differently.
"W-What? Everyone gets lost sometimes! It's the mountain's fault, not mine!"
"I wasn't crying! I just… my tummy was growling, that's all!"
She was blushing furiously, huffing in frustration.
"She's just a kid," many muttered to themselves.
"Barbarian King, this is who you're rebelling against?"
"No. I'm rebelling against Huan Du Qingtian!"
"Then go challenge him directly. Die with pride. Don't drag your people down with you."
Kei raised his empty cup.
"So… you still have the guts to rebel?"
The Barbarian King thought for a moment, then poured wine into both their cups.
"No. Not rebel. Challenge."
"That's more like it."
They clinked cups and downed them.
The crowd looked between Kei and the king, unsure what to do.
"Let the Doctor pass. And call off the rebellion—for now."
The path cleared. The husky carried Kei and company out of the city.
"Are we really giving up the rebellion?" someone asked.
"No. I'll challenge Huan Du Qingtian myself. As Kei said—demons value strength. If we're going to change things, we must do it with honor. No more schemes."
"I will challenge the Emperor. If I win, I'll lead proudly. If I lose… I'll die with no regrets."
He watched Kei's silhouette fade in the distance.
"I lost twice tonight," he whispered. "Once in strength… once in spirit."
"If he were Emperor of the Southern Kingdom… maybe we wouldn't need a rebellion at all."
He looked at the seeds in his hand, then turned away. That very night, he led his people to plant them himself.
By morning, the giant leafy plants had grown and encircled the city.
"Such fresh air! I feel reborn!"
"Breathing feels amazing!"
"Look! The miasma's being absorbed by the leaves! We're safe!"
"Long live the Doctor!"
"Long live the Human Demon King!"
"Wait… isn't the Barbarian King our leader? Won't he be mad we're praising someone else?"
Demon kings weren't just titles—they symbolized power and territory.
But the Barbarian King just smiled and shouted—
"LONG LIVE THE HUMAN DEMON KING!"
The whole city erupted with cheers.
"Let's stop rebelling. Let's build the greatest city in the Southern Kingdom!"
"YEAH! Let's make the greenest, healthiest city ever!"
With the toxic air gone and the climate cooler, hope bloomed like the leaves around them.
The Barbarian King gazed toward where Kei had left. In his mind, the mountain he once imagined… was smiling back.
It had turned into Kei's face.
"I think we should build a statue of the Human Demon King. What do you all think?"
"AGREED!"
While Namban City celebrated, chaos erupted in the royal palace.
The Poison Emperor had been attacked—and vanished.
(End of Chapter)
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