Chapter 166: Yin-Yang Demon-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 166: Yin-Yang Demon-1
Qinghai Province.
Even considering the entirety of the Central Plains, Qinghai Province boasted the most vast territory, yet its population was pitifully small. This was because most of Qinghai’s terrain consisted of incredibly rugged mountainous regions.
Furthermore, being a high-altitude area, the weather was exceptionally cold, and even indigenous vegetation was scarce, making it a difficult place for animals to survive.
Of course, that didn't mean it was uninhabited.
Nature could never truly overcome human adaptability. There was a group that had overcome that harsh environment and taken root there: the Demonic Cult.
Qinghai was home to countless mountains, and for hundreds of years, the Demonic Cult had been situated in a place called Mount Tianshan, also known as the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
The treacherous terrain of Qinghai had made them even more resilient, and the cold and hunger had gifted them with a profound craving.
They always yearned for one thing: to live in the prosperous and warm Central Plains.
No matter how disciplined the followers of the Demonic Cult were, Qinghai was simply too cold for human habitation, and food was always in short supply. During years of famine, it was common for them to descend to nearby villages and resort to cannibalism.
To them, the abundance and warmth of the Central Plains were objects of both inferiority and intense desire.
They had launched countless invasions, all to secure a place in the warm Central Plains and claim a new world for the Demonic Cult.
However, their invasions always ended in failure, forcing them to retreat and hide within the Hundred Thousand Mountains to escape the martial artists of the Central Plains, all while waiting and longing to recover their strength.
"Khehehehe... so that story is true?"
A middle-aged man spoke, a laugh escaping his lips.
"There is no doubt, sir. This information was delivered directly from the main headquarters."
A cunning-looking man replied, bowing low.
The middle-aged man nodded. Since the main headquarters only handled verified intelligence, if they had sent this information, it was undoubtedly true.
"Khahahaha!"
Soon, the man burst into a loud roar of laughter. He was in an exceptionally pleasant mood. He had just received news that Hwangbo Gang, the master of the Heavenly King Divine Fist who had once slaughtered countless members of the Cult, was dead.
That wasn't all.
The Hwangbo Clan’s main force, the Heavenly King Unit, had been annihilated, and the clan had even declared Sect Seclusion.
And all of this had happened at the hands of the Poison King, a fellow hero of the Great War of Righteousness and Demons.
There was no reason not to be delighted.
"Khahahaha!"
The man’s laughter grew louder, echoing across the entire mountain.
"Hwangbo Gang, that raging boar of a man has finally met his end!"
He spoke as if in admiration. In truth, he had a debt to settle with Hwangbo Gang. During the Great War of Righteousness and Demons, he had been defeated by Hwangbo Gang and forced into a humiliating retreat.
For over twenty years, he had been sharpening his blade, waiting for a chance to repay that debt. To hear that the man had died at the hands of the Poison King was incredibly satisfying.
Of course, a part of him felt a sense of regret. He had wanted to crush Hwangbo Gang’s head with his own hands, but that opportunity had been snatched away.
"So, what should we do now?" the man asked his subordinate.
Hadn't they descended from the Hundred Thousand Mountains specifically to annihilate the Hwangbo Clan? But now that the Heavenly King Divine Fist was dead and the clan had declared Sect Seclusion, he felt a bit conflicted.
"Ma-noe has sent word to proceed with the plan as scheduled. The order is to exterminate the entire clan, leaving not a single foundation stone behind."
The subordinate relayed the message from Ma-noe, the Chief Strategist of the Demonic Cult.
"Tsk, how bothersome."
The man muttered, clearly displeased with Ma-noe’s directive. A Hwangbo Clan without the Heavenly King Divine Fist was nothing special. Besides, hadn't the Heavenly King Unit, their main fighting force, been wiped out as well?
It would surely be a one-sided massacre.
"Still, won't this allow us to preserve our strength?" the subordinate answered politely.
It was a valid point. Without Hwangbo Gang and the Heavenly King Unit, they could exterminate the Hwangbo Clan without suffering a single casualty.
"But there’s no fun in that! No fun at all!" the man shouted in frustration.
He had spent twenty years training with the sole intent of killing Hwangbo Gang. Now, those twenty years of effort had vanished before he could receive his reward.
The man wanted to confirm just how strong he had become over those two decades. He had chosen Hwangbo Gang as his first opponent, but that plan had gone up in smoke.
"Wait, how about this? We exterminate the Hwangbo Clan and then head to the Tang Clan. We can wipe out the Tang Clan along with the Poison King. What do you think? Isn't that brilliant?"
The man’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. He figured that the Poison King, who was strong enough to force the Hwangbo Clan into seclusion, would be a worthy opponent to test his martial arts against. Moreover, if he could wipe out both the Hwangbo and Tang Clans, it would be a double victory for the Demonic Cult.
"P-Please calm yourself, sir. There are rumors that the Poison King has reached the Profound Realm. Even for you, Unit Leader... it would be impossible."
Startled by the man's suggestion, the subordinate spoke up cautiously.
Who exactly was the Poison King? He was the man who had killed both the Poison Demon—who was said to be at the peak of the Transcendent Realm—and the Heavenly King Divine Fist. According to the rumors, he had even reached the Profound Realm, a stage referred to as being a Half-Immortal.
How could anyone hope to face such a person?
Grip.
It happened then. The middle-aged man suddenly reached out and grabbed the subordinate’s head.
"Aaaargh!"
The subordinate screamed at the agonizing pain blooming in his skull.
"You overstep your bounds."
The Fist Demon stared at his subordinate with a chilling gaze.
"I-I'm sorry!"
"I am the Fist Demon! The Fist Demon! You dare compare me to the likes of the Poison Demon or the Heavenly King Divine Fist?"
The middle-aged man, the Fist Demon, fumed as if his pride had been deeply wounded. Who was he? He was one of the top powerhouses in the Demonic Cult, an absolute master who had reached the peak of the Transcendent Realm and was looking toward the Profound Realm.
How could he be compared to such losers?
"Do you not know that more than half of all rumors are nothing but lies? No matter how great that Poison King fellow is, he couldn't have crossed the wall! Do you think the wall to the Profound Realm is so easily scaled?"
The Fist Demon launched into a lecture. What kind of stage was the Profound Realm? It was a supreme level, often called the realm of a Half-Immortal. How could the Poison King, who wallowed in the filth of the secular world, reach a height that even he—who had spent twenty years in closed-door meditation—had yet to touch?
The Fist Demon tightened his grip on the subordinate’s head.
Crunch.
"Aaaaaaaagh!"
"If you ever utter such nonsense again, I will crush your skull. Do you understand?"
"I... I understand!"
"Hmph."
Hearing the subordinate’s answer, the Fist Demon snorted. He wanted to crush the man's skull right then and there, but this fellow was a strategist personally raised and assigned by Ma-noe. Killing him would only make things difficult when troublesome matters arose later. Besides, he should at least give him one chance, shouldn't he?
Admiring his own supposed generosity, the Fist Demon released the subordinate’s head.
"Ugh... uuuugh..."
The subordinate rubbed his head, his face a mask of misery.
"We exterminate the Hwangbo Clan and then move on to the Tang Clan. There will be no further discussion."
The Fist Demon spoke in a firm tone. He had become stubborn. Being told he was no match for the Poison King made him want to crush the old man’s skull immediately.
"I... I understand."
"And don't report this to Ma-noe. He’ll surely try to stop me."
The Fist Demon added a warning. Ma-noe, who understood nothing of a martial artist’s pride or competitive spirit, would definitely try to interfere. He had to prevent that situation in advance.
"......"
The subordinate fell silent. In truth, he had intended to report everything to Ma-noe as soon as the conversation ended to stop the Fist Demon’s rampage.
"Your answer?"
"...I... I understand."
At the Fist Demon’s prompt, the subordinate bowed his head. If he refused here, his head would surely explode.
"Good. That’s how it should be. You’d better think carefully; Ma-noe won't be able to protect your head from me."
The Fist Demon spoke, radiating murderous aura. The subordinate’s face turned pale at the threat. The Fist Demon looked at him with satisfaction. With this much intimidation, the man wouldn't dare try anything behind his back.
Of course, even if he did, it didn't matter. He could just crush his skull then.
The Fist Demon began to walk briskly. Time was tight if he wanted to hit the Tang Clan after finishing off the Hwangbo Clan.
Hehehe, just you wait, Poison King.
The Fist Demon chuckled to himself as he walked.
It was then.
Step. Step.
The sound of footsteps began to echo from somewhere. The Fist Demon tilted his head in confusion. Where were they? Even though they had left the Hundred Thousand Mountains, they were still strictly within the Demonic Cult’s territory.
To hear the footsteps of a human, not an animal... Moreover, they were the only ones who had left the Cult recently. There shouldn't be any other human footsteps here.
Step. Step.
As he was lost in thought, the footsteps grew louder. Curious, the Fist Demon turned his head toward the source of the sound.
It was coming from directly ahead. Looking forward, something caught his eye. An old man was walking toward them from not too far away.
Step. Step.
The Fist Demon narrowed his eyes, observing the approaching old man. He was a scrawny man with a rather harsh impression, the kind of person who looked like he had a nasty temper.
Is he a herb gatherer?
At first, he thought it might be a herb gatherer who had lost his way and wandered into the Cult’s territory. However, the old man’s attire was far too suspicious for a herb gatherer. He didn't have a basket on his back, nor did he carry a hand hoe.
A hunter?
The Fist Demon shook his head. What kind of hunter climbed a mountain empty-handed? The old man didn't have anything that could be used as a weapon.
While the Fist Demon was lost in thought, the mysterious old man arrived right in front of him.
"You! Do you have any idea where this path leads?"
The Fist Demon shouted at the old man. He didn't know who the man was, but this was strictly the territory of the Demonic Cult. It wasn't a place just anyone could enter.
"Heh... isn't it the Demonic Cult?"
At the Fist Demon’s question, the old man replied with a chuckle.
"So you entered this place knowing that! You must be tired of living!"
The Fist Demon fumed, his anger flaring at the old man’s response. Approaching this place while knowing it was the Demonic Cult’s territory sounded like nothing but a death wish.
"Stop the nonsense and just lead the way. It’s been so long since I’ve visited that I can’t seem to remember which way is which."
Despite the Fist Demon’s murderous words, the old man responded with utter nonchalance. His calm attitude made the Fist Demon’s face flush with rage. If he had taken a wrong turn, he should be on his knees begging for forgiveness, yet he was demanding directions?
And from the great Fist Demon, no less? He couldn't help but be furious.
"You’re an old man who won't learn until he sees his own coffin!"
With those words, the Fist Demon swung his fist at the old man. There was no mercy for such an arrogant human. He would simply strike and shatter him. Because he was the Fist Demon.
His fist, as hard as a boulder, flew toward the old man.
Whoosh!
He swung his fist with such force that the sound of the air tearing echoed around them. With that kind of power, most martial artists would explode upon contact.
Crack!
However, his fist never reached the old man. Before it could make contact, it was twisted back.
"Aaaaaaaagh!"
The Fist Demon grabbed his mangled hand and screamed.
"Dammit!"
Using his other hand, the Fist Demon grabbed the twisted fist and wrenched it back into place.
Snap!
"Aaaargh!"
Though he felt immense pain, the Fist Demon managed to return his fist to its original position.
"That’s why I told you to stop the nonsense."
"Dark Ghost Unit! Attack that old man!"
The Fist Demon turned around and barked orders to his men. He didn't know what kind of foul sorcery the man had used, but he intended to overwhelm him with numbers.
At the Fist Demon’s command, the members of the Dark Ghost Unit drew their swords and lunged at the old man.
"Ho ho."
The old man burst into laughter at the sight. It seemed he had been away from the Murim for far too long, seeing as these green brats didn't know their place and dared to attack him.
Swords lunged forward. However, the force of the strikes was redirected back at the attackers.
"Aaaargh!"
Another man swung his sword. But the blade changed direction mid-air and pierced the throat of the Dark Ghost Unit member standing next to him.
"Gurgle..."
The man whose throat was pierced died instantly, letting out a final gasp.
That wasn't the end. Numerous martial artists of the Dark Ghost Unit began to kill one another against their own will. Blood sprayed, flesh tore, and bone was exposed. They all swung their swords at the old man, but the tips of their blades only found themselves and their comrades.
Screams filled the air, and blood began to flow onto the ground.
After some time had passed, the ground was littered with the corpses of the Dark Ghost Unit. No one was left standing on the earth except for the Fist Demon and the old man.
They had been annihilated.
Tremble, tremble.
Watching the Dark Ghost Unit being wiped out, the Fist Demon began to shake uncontrollably. He had witnessed an absolute, divine power that he couldn't even hope to touch.
Annihilating the Dark Ghost Unit wasn't that difficult for the Fist Demon himself. He was, after all, a master who had reached the absolute state known as the Transcendent Realm.
However, killing them all without even lifting a finger was impossible for him.
His trembling grew even more violent. The Fist Demon knew. He knew there was a martial art that could not only return all attacks but also change their direction at will.
"...The Great Shift of Heaven and Earth."
The Fist Demon knew. He knew of the only person who, despite not being the Cult Leader, had mastered the Demonic Cult’s protection art, the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth.
".......The Yin-Yang Demon."
The Fist Demon stared at the old man with eyes full of terror.
"Is the Heavenly Demon doing well?"
The old man, the Yin-Yang Demon, spoke with a thick smile playing on his lips.
At the Yin-Yang Demon’s question, the Fist Demon’s face turned deathly pale.