Episode 2. At the Place I Reached by Running Away

Everyone grows old.

Like me.

In the past, I could run for seven days and nights while shaking off the Murim Alliance and still not tire. Not anymore. I feel as though I’ve aged ten years more than before I was chased.

If I had known it would come to this, I would have trained a little harder.

Humans always repeat the same mistakes, and regret them only after it is too late.

Because I had not set an escape route in advance, I had somehow taken the wrong path as well. The curses of the bastards pursuing me were becoming clearer and clearer.

Their curses were truly varied.

I became a son of a bitch, then a bastard, then a lowborn wretch, then an orphan without parents. The orphan part was actually true. And yet, just a moment ago, they had even cursed my parents.

To think there are bastards who curse the parents of an orphan like me. The world truly has gone mad.

There had been quite a few bastards who died by my hand after running their mouths like that, but right now, far too many of those cursing bastards had come rushing after me. Running was the wiser choice.

For a man of my caliber to be fleeing in such a shameful manner……

It is utterly disgraceful.

But remember this.

The Demonic Cult is that terrifying.

Even though I killed and killed again while fleeing, the Demonic Cult still had quite a few experts left who could contend with me.

* * *

Once, my foolish dream was to become a Martial God.

Why was I remembering an ambition from the old days in the middle of being chased?

I could not say.

In any case, ever since long ago, whenever I spoke of my dream, the people around me called me a madman, so becoming a Martial God must truly be an absurd dream. But I can say this with certainty: something that can be achieved easily is not a dream.

I believe dreams should, without exception, be difficult to achieve.

Even now, I believe that.

Because I set my dreams and goals high, am I not being chased not by some third-rate sect, but by the worst of the worst, the Demonic Cult?

I guarantee it: if you are a man among men, you must be chased by the Demonic Cult at least once.

That is the qualification of a man.

Perhaps because they were truly doglike bastards, the feeling of being chased was more exhilarating than ever.

Though I never became a Martial God, I have been chased by the Murim Alliance before, and now I am being chased by the Demonic Cult, so I have accomplished feats that ordinary men could hardly achieve.

By the way, it seems the thing I stole from the Demonic Cult is no ordinary object.

If not, why would those lunatics chase me so desperately?

In truth, I had learned long ago that tormenting the Demonic Cult was this entertaining. However, even after learning it back then, I had lacked the skill at the time and did not dare attempt it.

What I think now is this.

I should have stepped out after training just a little more.

As I said, humans always repeat the same mistakes.

Damn it……

* * *

I had always thought, all by myself, that I was well-versed in psychological warfare, schemes, tactics, strategy, sowing discord, and lies; that honey traps did not work on me at all; that I could drink without ever refusing a cup; and that my lightness skill was outstanding.

The most versatile madman in this martial world—that is me.

The man who had hidden those versatile skills most tightly was also me.

In particular, the reason honey traps, which have many historically proven examples, did not work on me at all was because normal beauties did not like me in the first place.

This point was proven through long experience.

As I ran, my vision began to turn hazy, so it seemed there was a place nearby where fog appeared.

Where in the world was I running? Judging from the terrain, the cliff visible before my eyes seemed to be the famous Manjang Cliff.

Manjang Cliff was a truly famous place.

That was because, with that sheer gorge between them, the experts of the Demonic Path and the White Path had once come forth from both sides and competed for supremacy.

If that had ended in the victory of the White Path, I would not be chased so desperately like this.

As though declaring a ceasefire, the two sides cut down the only thing that had remained, Geommyeong Bridge (劍鳴橋, the narrow bridge that had allowed one to cross the gorge).

Since Geommyeong Bridge had been cut, I now had no way to cross this Manjang Cliff either.

They say there is no paradise at the place you reach by running away; sure enough, there was a precipice.

After I began fleeing from the Demonic Cult’s main headquarters, I had crossed Mount Taeul, Mount Myeongni, and Mount Chuhon, then gone over nameless mountains and crossed waters. Along the way, my left arm was slashed, my face was stabbed, and I suffered a penetrating wound to my left shoulder as well.

When I suddenly looked down below the cliff with distant eyes, there was nothing much there, just like my past life.

Even in the midst of this, I pondered why I had never once dated a beauty.

Was that why? They say that when death is before your eyes, you are bound to think of the person you miss most, but I had no one to think of.

A sigh escaped me on its own.

“……I should have at least had a short romance.”

I had lived far too seriously.

I hope someone writes this on my epitaph.

‘The Mad Demon died from taking things too seriously……’

Someone was arriving behind me with the sound of wind being cut apart. With skill of that level, it was probably the Left Envoy of Radiance, one of the Demonic Cult’s top experts.

He was also a master of petty cunning who ground his subordinates down in the pursuit, then appeared with his body perfectly intact at such a decisive moment.

The Left Envoy of Radiance was a bastard whose infamy in the martial world was as widespread as mine.

Strangely enough, that bastard was a perverted lecher who obsessively targeted only the beautiful young ladies of martial families with compound surnames, such as the Namgung Family, Seomun Family, and Baekri Family. Before throwing himself into the Demonic Cult, he had borne the moniker Lust Demon in the martial world.

That does not mean I am a pervert too.

I never had the opportunity.

Was the rage that suddenly surged from deep within my chest just my imagination, or was it because of the Left Envoy of Radiance? Or was it because of that bastard’s past deeds?

In any case, the man most feared by the female experts of the White Path, the Demonic Cult’s Left Envoy of Radiance, landed in the clearing with an incredibly splendid posture.

To become a pervert, do you first need to be handsome?

‘That pretty-boy son of a bitch.’

To think that a power holder of the Demonic Cult, whose nose bridge stood so unusually high it looked intimidating, had personally followed me all the way here. Religion truly is terrifying.

* * *

The Left Envoy of Radiance approached me with his hands clasped behind his back, lowering his voice as much as he could.

“To think you made me suffer this much. You damned bastard. In any case, I will acknowledge that your lightness skill is even greater than the rumors claimed.”

At the Left Envoy of Radiance’s overly serious nonsense, I replied with an indifferent expression.

“The pervert has arrived.”

“……”

“This is the first time in my life I’ve seen a pervert run as diligently as you. Impressive.”

Having been unable to let go of the resentment of chasing me for three days and nights, the Left Envoy of Radiance let out a voice that sounded as though it had been squeezed from his throat.

“Shut up, you madman. This is no time for jokes. You dare act so relaxed at the precipice of Manjang Cliff? Grasp the situation you’re in.”

“Whether this is a cliff or paradise, the fact remains that you are a pervert. And teach some manners to your subordinates. I am not a dog. Much less a bastard. However, I am indeed an orphan.”

The atmosphere grew solemn for a moment.

“…….”

“Cursing my parents whom I never even had the chance to meet, you damned bastards. This is why you are called the Demonic Cult.”

“Stop talking nonsense and hand over what you stole first.”

I snorted and replied.

“If I were to obediently return something I stole with such effort, I would not be the Mad Demon, but a waiter.”

“What kind of dogshit is that?”

“I’m saying this because I was once a waiter.”

“Hah.”

The Left Emissary of Light let out a long sigh, as if exhausted.

Meanwhile, the Demonic Cult’s forces arriving one after another were gathering like storm clouds before a tempest.

Why do they like such pitch-black clothes?

Before I knew it, the Demonic Cult forces that had gathered like dark clouds thoroughly blocked my escape route and awaited the Left Emissary of Light’s command.

Everyone had a sharp look in their eyes.

Over a hundred had died by my hand during the pursuit, so they must be burning with rage.

Having dealt such a devastating blow to the Demonic Cult, I would think the Martial Alliance ought to give me this year’s Righteous Hero Award at the very least.

Recalling my situation for a moment, I had briefly forgotten that I too caused so much trouble that I became a public enemy of Murim. My ranking as a public enemy was even higher than that pervert’s.

After all, the moniker “Mad Demon” was first given by the orthodox sects.

‘Well, so much for the Hero Award.’

The Left Emissary of Light, observing my grinning expression, spoke.

“Mad Demon, how can you possibly laugh even in this situation? Just what is inside your head?”

“Pitiful.”

“What is?”

“Even if the Cult Leader farted, you would have desperately suppressed your laughter. That is your limit.”

“…….”

“Even when the Cult Leader told trivial jokes every time, you must have forced out boisterous laughter.”

“I did not.”

“Shut up! That is called the flattery of a good-for-nothing. But I always laugh as I please. You sycophant, is the old Cult Leader that frightening?”

The Left Emissary of Light replied with a disgruntled expression.

“Is there anyone in this martial world who does not fear the Cult Leader? There is none. Look at that Alliance Leader who avoids the Cult Leader every time he proposes a one-on-one duel. Even if there were an expert stronger than the Cult Leader in this martial world, there would be none who do not fear him. Do you not know this?”

“What kind of dogshit is that? I exist. Since when have I feared your Cult Leader?”

“Then why did you flee all the way here and cause people such trouble?”

“The Cult Leader is not scary, but a pervert is truly terrifying. Anyway, regardless of whether the Cult Leader is scary, if you wish to focus more on the perverted things you enjoy, leaving the cult quickly would be good for your mental health. Huh? Left Emissary, that subordinate behind you is laughing right now?”

I pointed at the Demonic Cult executive with my finger, but the Left Emissary of Light’s gaze remained fixed on me like a nail.

The Left Emissary of Light spoke with a cold expression.

“That won’t work.”

I nodded.

“It can’t be helped. You chased me all the way here because of this, didn’t you?”

I carefully took out the Heavenly Jade from my bosom and held it out to the Left Emissary of Light.

This was the item in question.

The Left Emissary of Light’s frog-like eyes sharpened like a lynx starved for about three days.

“……!”

I proposed to the Left Emissary.

“Seeing your eyes roll the moment you saw the Heavenly Jade, you were after this too. No wonder I found it strange that the venerable Left Emissary of Light would chase me all the way here personally. You’ve come quite far from the cult headquarters, so this is perfect. Since it’s come to this, how about we split it half and half? You and I will divide the martial world of our era. If that happens, you’ll be able to do your perverted things to your heart’s content.”

I gently tempted the Left Emissary, but the reaction was lukewarm.

“That belongs to the Cult Leader.”

“Then why are your eyes shining so greedily? Cultists, listen. The Left Emissary harbors ulterior motives against the Cult Leader. Someone hurry back first and report this emergency to the Cult Leader. It seems the Left Emissary intends to seize the Heavenly Jade and start a rebellion. No one wants to earn merit? What a bunch of cowards.”

Sowing discord is always fun. But it didn’t work on the Demonic Cult. However, I was always persistent.

“Everyone, look at your superior. The Left Emissary is so troubled by my words that he cannot even reply.”

The Left Emissary of Light spoke.

“Stop with the useless talk and hand over the Heavenly Jade first. If you return only that, we will withdraw for now. This was never the Heavenly Net we spread to take your worthless life in the first place.”

“Ah, really?”

“I say again, that Heavenly Jade is more important than your life. I will visit you alone later and question you again for the crime of this matter. With the one-on-one fight you favor.”

A deceitful tongue lay there.

“The one-on-one fight I favor?”

“Yes.”

“Is that something to say after spreading the Heavenly Net? If you had proposed a one-on-one duel to take it from the start, your hundred subordinates wouldn’t have died. You stupid perverted bastard, you always mess things up. I’d sooner become a monk than believe your words. Everyone make way. This Heavenly Jade is perfectly round and produces a clear, melodious sound when struck, making it ideal for a wooden fish. This monk cannot carelessly hand over his wooden fish, now can he?”

“Then I have no choice but to kill you.”

“Come in, you bastards. I suppose I must become a Mad Monk today!”

Contrary to my words inviting them in, I extended my hand as though I would throw the Heavenly Jade into the Ten Thousand Zhang Cliff at any moment.

The Left Emissary of Light hurriedly extended a hand.

“D-don’t!”

Seeing fluster pass over the Left Emissary of Light’s face, I felt this was a rewarding day.

In any case, one thing was certain.

The thing I stole was truly enormous and fearsome.

Even though I still didn’t know what it was.

If I threw the Heavenly Jade into the Ten Thousand Zhang Cliff, the Left Emissary of Light and his subordinates would have to leap after it.

The Left Emissary of Light cajoled me, his expression showing him racking his brains.

“Why in the world are you doing this? The reason we turned a blind eye to your absurd antics all this time was because keeping you alive makes that Alliance Leader suffer more. We were also inclined to treat public enemies of Murim favorably. But this changes things. We courteously invited you to join the cult, and you steal our sacred object? Repaying kindness with theft. This is not something a person should do.”

“That may be true, but since you cursed my parents, I cannot return it.”

“I apologize. We are not afraid of you, but of the Cult Leader’s wrath, so please, allow us to recover the sacred object.”

“Is that the tone of someone asking a favor?”

“Is that the tone of someone who stole it?”

My arm moved toward the Ten Thousand Zhang Cliff again.

“I’m going to throw it first. Let’s have a proper bout.”

“I apologize. Please, wait. Let’s settle this through conversation.”

I nodded.

“Good. Then what exactly is this thing called Cheonok? Don’t try to be clever—just tell me.”

Come on, you bastard!

I’m dying of curiosity.