Chapter 425. The Mad Monk and Me.

When no one could answer the Mad Monk’s words.

Yoran sprang to her feet the moment she saw the Ghost Demon walking out with a bright expression.

“Second Master.”

“Yoran.”

While we watched master and disciple reunite after so long, Moyong Baek and Gongson Sim, who were returning from their morning walk, came over to the table and exchanged greetings with the Mad Monk as well, making the atmosphere quite chaotic.

In any case, everyone had one thing in common: most of them could not take their eyes off the liquor the Mad Monk was drinking.

I thought the Mad Monk disliked commotion and would soon leave.

“Monk.”

“Speak.”

“If you are going to see the sea, I will guide you.”

The Mad Monk looked at me.

“If it is because of Yoran, there is no need. I had intended to climb Mount Hua alone to see the Sect Leader anyway. Thanks to Yoran, the journey was not dull. Unexpectedly, Yoran was well informed about news of the jianghu, so I was able to hear all sorts of stories.”

“It isn’t only because of Yoran.”

“Then is there another reason? I heard the sea is extremely far from here.”

I answered honestly.

“If I don’t see the sea this time, when will I ever see it?”

“Even so, you are the sect leader of an entire sect. To accompany a mere foolish monk is more than I deserve.”

I looked at Eldest Brother.

“……Eldest Brother, should we all go together?”

Eldest Brother laughed.

“No. Hearing the monk’s words has made me want to see the sea as well, but if all of us go, Yoran will have to come along too. And during the journey to the sea, there may be things that Yoran need not see. Third Brother.”

“Yeah.”

Eldest Brother looked at me as though he had something he had to say.

“You go. Forget Haomun’s affairs for a while. Forget the things that forced you to run wild enough to suit the name Mad Demon. Since the monk is going to see the sea anyway…… take this chance to go on a journey while looking after yourself. It is not the journey of a Sect Leader, nor the journey of the Mad Demon, but the journey of Lee Zaha. The three of us will handle the miscellaneous matters. Whether they are Haomun’s affairs or the affairs of the jianghu.”

To be honest, I thought that if I asked them to come with me, the three of them and Yoran would all come along.

It was rare for Eldest Brother to speak at such length, so I pondered for a moment.

“For my sake?”

Eldest Brother nodded.

“Since the Cult Leader left like that, there should be no problem, given his nature. He is a man who keeps his promises. He will retire. From now on, if a problem arises in the Demonic Path, we contact the Cult Leader. If the White Path causes trouble, it has become a jianghu where sending a single letter to Alliance Leader Im will suffice. And if the scholars or the Black Path run rampant, we can contact Cheonak. What could happen from now on?”

When I nodded, the Mad Monk cut in.

“From what I hear, in the Central Plains, the Cult Leader, the Beggar Sect Chief, and Cheonak are the strongest. Did the Cult Leader perhaps lose to the Sect Leader?”

Since Moyong Baek, Gongson Sim, and the Ghost Demon also did not know the outcome, Eldest Brother explained clearly once again.

“They went up Mount Hua and had a one-on-one duel. The Cult Leader, who had agreed to retire if he lost, left with Cheonak, saying he would inform the other Samjae of his retirement. Though we did not see the martial bout ourselves, the Cult Leader is a man whose words and actions are certain…… so it is clear he was defeated by the Sect Leader.”

The Mad Monk nodded as though astonished.

“The Sect Leader’s attainment is remarkable. At such a young age…… Then are you the greatest in the Central Plains?”

We looked at the Mad Monk in surprise.

Come to think of it, it was not the greatest under heaven, but the greatest in the Central Plains. How could all under heaven consist only of the Central Plains?

Eldest Brother said.

“As you say, monk, he would indeed be the greatest in the Central Plains.”

The Mad Monk said.

“If the Sect Leader truly goes with me to see the sea, then I will be traveling with the greatest in the Central Plains. It is truly an honor. My foolish junior brother spoke of the Sect Leader day and night, and now I see he had good reason.”

Yoran asked.

“First Master, may I not go with you?”

Eldest Brother looked at Yoran and gave a slight smile.

“Yoran, with your qinggong skills, you cannot keep up with your masters’ steps.”

“Ah, we have to go using qinggong?”

“At times we will walk, but at times we will use qinggong as well. Most people of the jianghu are impatient. Once you at least possess qinggong skills that do not put you far behind your masters, then we shall all go see it together. That will be more meaningful.”

Yoran nodded.

“Understood, First Master.”

I explained to the Mad Monk the proper reason why I should accompany him.

“Monk, go with me. I will be of help.”

“What help would there be?”

I tapped the part of my clothes where my money pouch was.

“I have quite a lot of money. This time, all sorts of liquor.”

The Mad Monk answered immediately.

“Confirmed.”

“Yes.”

As soon as the word confirmed came out, the Lust Demon hurriedly suppressed his laughter.

The Mad Monk looked around at us, then finally gazed at Yoran.

“Yoran.”

“Yes, monk.”

“As you said, they are fine masters. I will go see the sea with your Third Master, so let us meet again if the opportunity comes.”

“Understood.”

The Mad Monk said with a smile.

“The greatest under heaven that you wish to become is a realm that cannot be reached if you waste each day idly.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The Mad Monk was speaking as though he were Yoran’s fifth master.

Would this tangle the lineage again? In general, the lineage around me was already a mess, so it did not matter much. The Mad Monk seemed to truly have some intention of teaching Yoran, because he brought up these words.

“What did I say was most important when learning your Fourth Master’s martial arts?”

Yoran answered.

“To see it perfectly through to the end.”

“Only by seeing it through to the end can you begin something else. If you complete your Fourth Master’s ice arts, I will teach you martial arts of the extreme yang line that are their exact opposite. Do you think the day will come when you learn from me?”

Yoran nodded.

“Yes. I will be sure to learn.”

The Mad Monk’s attitude toward Yoran was so gentle that it was like seeing a monk from a great temple who simply loved martial arts.

The Mad Monk said to us.

“I hurried here in case something serious had happened. I did not know it would be this peaceful. Though I call myself a monk, I have shown the disgraceful sight of drinking liquor, so this may be sudden, but I shall take my leave now.”

As expected, the Mad Monk had a tendency to escape from crowded places.

Since I had already said what I had said, I rose together with the Mad Monk.

The Mad Monk asked me.

“Sect Leader, do you truly intend to go?”

“Monk, on the way east, there will be many groups of the Black Path who have given up being human.”

“I have cultivated my martial arts in a fairly rough manner as well, you know?”

"You mean we should beat them up together."

Gwangseung smiled.

"I cannot lose to the young Lord. Let us go. I shall admire the scenery outside, so exchange a few more parting words and come out. Well then, everyone. Let us meet again as our paths cross."

Gwangseung grabbed the captain and went outside the Plum Blossom Hall.

People crowded densely around me, who was about to depart on a journey soon.

Moyong Baek asked.

"My Lord, do you have any words to convey to Haomun?"

"None. Instead, capture Cha Seongtae and tell him to suffer under the First Brother and the rest of the masters. Have him take charge of inspecting training as well. That crazy bastard—I wonder if he's training properly."

"I shall convey the message."

This time, Gongsong Sim asked me.

"My Lord, if you have any words for Alliance Chief Im, I shall visit and inform him. I must deliver the news anyway."

I nodded and answered.

"Please let Elder Brother Sobaek know that this younger brother has become the Supreme Under Heaven."

"Did not the Monk say the best of the Central Plains?"

"Ugh, it's troublesome, so let us just say the best of the martial world. If I ask him to lower my ranking, the Alliance Chief will know what I mean."

"Well, I know that too."

Supreme Under Heaven, best of the Central Plains, best of the martial world, best innkeeper—whatever, it's all me anyway. I looked around at my brothers and comrades, then knelt on one knee to meet Yorani's eyes.

"Yorani."

"Yes, Master."

"You must not cast aside filial piety in your quest to become the Supreme Under Heaven. Do you know what I mean?"

"Yes."

"If you do that, you will get a severe scolding from the masters."

"I shall keep it in mind."

"I have now proven that this master is more dangerous than Manjangae. But since I am the most wicked and narrow-minded among your four masters, I shall go reflect while gazing at the wide sea. This master has much to reflect upon."

"Master, but..."

"Hmm?"

"Why are you always so busy?"

"I wasted too much time on pointless things, and so I have become busy like this. It is because I am a worthless man, so you must not follow my example. I am going."

"Take care."

"Suddenly I feel sorry for the East. Should we not send word for them to be careful in advance?"

The Hall Master of Plum Blossom Hall followed me to the end to bid farewell.

"My Lord, farewell."

"You have worked hard as well, Hall Master. Let us meet again when I return."

Seeing that, on the whole, they worried about the East rather than about me, I wondered if this was right, yet I also felt it was not wrong.

I looked around at my comrades at the entrance, then went to Gwangseung, who was waiting outside.

...Gwangseung walked as if he were leaving for the East immediately, then asked me if there was a temple nearby. I did not know either, so after asking some people, we found a small temple.

When we actually climbed the low mountain and looked around,

a shabby temple appeared that was almost embarrassing to call a temple. A common Buddha statue sat all alone in a roofless place, and Gwangseung and I stood side by side, gazing at the statue for a moment.

Gwangseung spoke while looking at the statue.

"Munju."

"Yes."

"Before we depart, you and I have committed much killing, so it would be good to repent before the Buddha. Repentance is no great matter. It is not thinking about the sins of those we killed, but merely praying for the rebirth of those lives. There is no formality; we need only pray for their peace with our hearts."

I asked, just in case.

"How does the Monk know that I have committed so much killing?"

Gwangseung looked at me.

"Munju, do you think becoming the Supreme Under Heaven was easy? I do not see it as such. Listening to Yorani, the story that surprised me most was that you originally ran an inn. Having risen to become the Supreme Under Heaven from a place that is neither a martial sect nor a great clan, the process could not have been smooth."

"That is true."

"Let us pray for their peace. Closing your eyes while standing tends to make you dizzy, so it is good to sit comfortably at times like this."

I sat beside Gwangseung, looked at the Buddha statue, then closed my eyes.

As Gwangseung had said, I briefly prayed for the souls of those I had killed. As I sat with my eyes closed trying to think of them, unexpectedly, I grew confused because the number of people I had killed was not merely one or two.

'My sins run deep.'

How long should a time of repentance last? I had never spent such time with the Gwangseung of my previous life, so it was quite bewildering. But soon, I heard Gwangseung's voice.

"...Munju, that is enough. There is no need to force it."

I opened my eyes and asked.

"Are you finished already?"

"I must have committed less killing than you, so of course I would finish first. Will you continue?"

"Let us rise. I did not expect it, but I grew quite dizzy."

"I suppose so."

Gwangseung treated the Buddha statue like a neighborhood older brother.

"...Well then, we shall be going."

It was so natural that one might think he was on brotherly terms with the Buddha. After finishing the slightly bewildering time of repentance, I descended the mountain again with Gwangseung.

Gwangseung suddenly took a deep breath and spoke as if relieved.

"Now my heart feels somewhat lighter."

"Is that so?"

"Are you not, Munju?"

"As for me, I am just the same."

Since I did not know what manner of killings Gwangseung had committed before coming to the Central Plains, I casually asked.

"But what killings did you commit? Even near the Japbu Milgyo, there are martial artists..."

Gwangseung said.

"There are those worth killing everywhere. There were those who tormented the faithful, and not content with that, lusted after wealth, spearing people to death without a second thought, stringing up their bodies to mock even the dead. Generally, beasts like these cannot be reasoned with. When such men gather in groups, a competitive mentality arises, making them all the more cruel. If this is overlooked for long, a tradition forms among them, and they commit banditry, plunder, and murder with ever more brutal methods. It is the role of the martial monk to kill them all at the appropriate time, but..."

"But?"

"My views did not align with the elder monks, so I faced difficulties both within and without. If I did not kill, the people suffered. Yet if I stepped forward to resolve matters every time, the elder monks suffered. Truthfully, I too could not find an appropriate solution."

I stopped walking and looked at Gwangseung.

Somehow, what I had done in the martial world and what Gwangseung had done in the Western Regions were not very different.

This was why this man was Gwangseung, and I was Gwangma.

Unlike in my previous life, I had a premonition that this man might never return to the Japbu Milgyo. It was because there were many who suffered here as well. Broadly speaking, this man was also the Munju of the Seongmun, which belonged to Haomun.

Gwangseung spoke to me, who was staring intently at him.

"Munju."

"Yes."

"As we go east, how about we beat the cruel ones to death on the spot, or crush their arms and legs so they can never torment the innocent again? Truthfully, that would be more meaningful than looking at the sea."

“Did we not just repent together?”

The Mad Monk looked at me and grinned.

“……So, with a new heart.”

I gave a faint smile and held out my hand.

“Let me have that monk’s staff for a moment.”

I took the golden staff the Mad Monk handed me—Unbreakable Faith—and slung it over my shoulder. After placing the burden the Mad Monk had carried in his heart upon my own shoulder, I said,

“Let us go. To see the sea.”

...Master and I headed for the sea.

<Return of the Mad Demon> Main Story Complete.

***Afterword and Side Story Notice***

Hello. This is Yu Jinseong.

I have concluded the story of Return of the Mad Demon, which began in February 2020, after a year and six months.

The longest work I had written before was Walking the Night Drunk on Blades, at 250 chapters, so this time I wrote while falling, both physically and mentally, into a state of qi deviation far more often than usual.

However, thanks to all the readers who followed along, this became a special story for me as well. Some of you may feel that there are still stories left to tell. I will take some time to rest, then return and deal with the remaining stories in side chapters.

Surprisingly, during this serialization period, I never once came down with body aches, so I thought I might not have to take any breaks. But perhaps because of my inner demons, I suffered greatly from insomnia while serializing, and ended up taking several unexpected hiatuses. I apologize.

I told myself I would write this afterword calmly, but it is not easy.

Around the time I Jaha returns after seeing the eastern sea, I will return with him and write the side stories.

Thank you for being with me through these 425 chapters.

It was a journey that was at times difficult, at times full of laughter, and one in which I was seized by madness throughout.

But above all, I was grateful and happy to have you with me.

Sincerely, Yu Jinseong.