Chapter 117: The Fist King Flees
The Fist King Flees
Chapter 117: The Fist King Flees
As Mad Demon reached out with both hands to seize Dan Woo-sung's arms—
Dan Woo-sung grabbed Mad Demon's head, steadied his stance, and drove his knee into the man's face.
CRACK!
Even as he staggered, Mad Demon blocked a kick with his hand, rolled twice across the ground, then sprang up and charged again.
THUD-THUD-THUD!
At a glance, Mad Demon's assault seemed wild and reckless, but as he took hits, he searched for openings—twisting toward Dan Woo-sung's neck, tearing at limbs—each movement carrying the intent to maim.
Amidst the chaos, Dan Woo-sung landed three or four punches before kicking Mad Demon square in the shoulder, sending him flying once more. Yet again, Mad Demon tumbled across the dirt, then leapt up as if unharmed, laughing.
"Heh heh heh... Not bad."
Both men smiled at the same time.
Their love for battle was their only common ground.
As Mad Demon pressed forward, trying to grapple, Dan Woo-sung held back from flooding him with lightning energy. He was still gauging the man's physique.
By his estimation, Mad Demon could endure lightning longer than Sword Demon's underlings—long enough to retaliate with a suicidal counterattack.
This was merely a probing skirmish, each testing the other's limits.
In truth, Mad Demon planned to endure the lightning with his regeneration, then seize Dan Woo-sung's body with both hands and rip him apart. Pain tolerance was his specialty. And the Ashen Dust Demon Art was a martial art that thrived on such reckless combat. Knowing he couldn't defeat Dan Woo-sung outright, Mad Demon intended to trade blows until half-dead, then regenerate.
If their epithets were laid bare:
Madness (狂), Fist (拳), Demon (魔), King (王).
In fact, Dan Woo-sung's temperament had once earned him the title "Mad King" from Mad God. Strip away his sense of duty, and he wasn't so different from Mad Demon.
Dan Woo-sung, too, was a cruel and violent man.
Which was why both recognized each other instantly.
Mad Demon stepped closer.
"Fist Demon. You fight well for a youngster. Instinct or experience—hard to say. Let's spar for a day or two, night and day."
Dan Woo-sung replied flatly,
"You overestimate yourself."
Just as Mad Demon moved in, Dan Woo-sung's gaze flickered past him. Simultaneously, Mad Demon halted and turned to look behind him.
Someone was approaching with Lightfoot Technique.
Mad Demon muttered,
"Damn it... Just when things were getting fun."
A man in a yellow robe descended swiftly from above and spoke to Mad Demon.
"Who are you fighting?"
His voice was thin and crisp. Perched unnaturally steady on his shoulder was a white cat.
Of course—it was Young Palace Master, the young leader of Ten Thousand Demon Palace.
Behind him, Blood Lord and Phantom Demon landed simultaneously.
Mad Demon frowned.
"Why the hell did you all follow me here?"
Young Palace Master chuckled, stroking the cat as he glanced curiously at Dan Woo-sung.
The white cat had fought Mad Demon before—even been struck by him—so it could track his scent. Once they entered Anhui, Mad Demon had slowed down, allowing them to catch up.
Mad Demon scowled at Blood Lord and Phantom Demon.
"Hey, idiots... Since when did you become errand boys?"
Blood Lord snorted. Phantom Demon answered with silence.
Dan Woo-sung crossed his arms, observing the newly arrived masters of the Demonic Path. He assumed they were all from Ten Thousand Demon Palace.
But absurdly, the pursuers didn't stop there.
As Young Palace Master's group turned their heads—
Another unbelievable sight unfolded in the air. Heavenly Demon Wi Ji-cheon descended with Lightfoot Technique, carrying Sword Demon Yeon Ja-heun on his back.
Sword Demon dismounted, removed his blindfold, and surveyed the scene with Abyssal Sight.
Heavenly Demon strolled leisurely, hands clasped behind his back, observing the tense standoff.
"What a gathering."
He had followed Blood Lord and Phantom Demon to kill them, but they'd stuck close to Young Palace Master, making it difficult. Worse, the white cat complicated things. His plan was to wait until Mad Demon clashed with someone—then seize the chance to kill Blood Lord or steal the cat.
The moment Dan Woo-sung saw the man in violet robes, he recognized him—his nemesis from his past life.
'You've got to be kidding me.'
And the hollow-eyed man was unmistakably Sword Demon.
What an unbelievable situation.
Battling Mad Demon had led to him being surrounded by Demonic Path masters.
Heavenly Demon studied Dan Woo-sung, then asked Sword Demon,
"Friend, do you sense his energy?"
Sword Demon, who had been observing Dan Woo-sung with Abyssal Sight, remained silent. Heavenly Demon called his name again.
"Yeon Gaju?"
He couldn't use the title "Sword Demon" in front of a stranger.
Sword Demon scrutinized Dan Woo-sung's unseen form once more before speaking.
"He is wreathed in white flames. Is he young or old?"
He was asking Heavenly Demon to identify the man.
Through Abyssal Sight, Sword Demon saw a figure engulfed in white fire, watching him intently. The energy felt eerily similar to the Fist King he'd once faced—a robust physique wrapped in blazing Extreme Yang, flames licking at the air.
Heavenly Demon also looked back at Dan Woo-sung.
"He's young."
Blind Sword Demon deduced like a ghost.
"He may be a disciple of the Fist King."
Mad Demon finally stepped in to correct him.
"Not Fist King—Fist Demon."
Dan Woo-sung stayed silent, scanning the assembled Demonic Path masters.
Heavenly Demon, Sword Demon, Mad Demon, the man in red robes, the silent figure with only his eyes exposed, the master with a white cat on his shoulder... and nearby, the presence of an assassin. He'd sensed someone arriving late with Lightfoot Technique, but their aura had vanished seamlessly. Dan Woo-sung guessed the last arrival was an assassin-type master.
If all of them attacked at once, only the legendary Three Gods could withstand it.
His past-life enemies stood before him, yet he was powerless.
Dan Woo-sung, equally stunned, kept his arms crossed, watching. If they all came at him, he'd flee without hesitation. But that seemed unlikely—Mad Demon didn't appear eager to cooperate with them.
Young Palace Master spoke.
"Wi Gaju, Yeon Gaju. Let's capture the fugitive first, then return."
Blood Lord added,
"We can't let that one live either."
Heavenly Demon chimed in.
"Of course. No reason to spare him now that he's seen us."
Mad Demon scoffed.
"You idiots... I'm not going back to prison. And the Fist Demon is mine to kill. I'll slaughter anyone who interferes. Think you can take me on with numbers? I welcome it."
Heavenly Demon smirked at him.
'Ah, this lunatic.'
In an instant, every master began calculating.
Mad Demon knew Heavenly Demon wanted to kill Young Palace Master's group.
Young Palace Master needed to recapture Mad Demon.
Blood Lord and Phantom Demon were wary of Heavenly Demon—they'd seen Tyrant get absorbed.
Meanwhile, the scheming Sword Demon observed silently, ready to kill anyone with his Demon Sword and absorb them. Blindness made him the most impatient.
Young Palace Master stepped back.
"Then let the Gajus jointly attack the stranger first. Fugitive, you'd best stay still—or I'll release White Cat."
Heavenly Demon interjected.
"No need. Let Mad Demon and Fist Demon settle their fight. No one interfere."
Mad Demon burst out laughing.
"You insane bastard... Just gonna watch, huh? Heavenly Demon, you lying piece of shit. I'd sooner trust suicide than you. A lifetime of deceit, and now you think you can fool me?"
Heavenly Demon frowned when Mad Demon said his title aloud.
'Tch, this madman...'
As Heavenly Demon's expression hardened, Mad Demon pointed at each person, deliberately introducing them to Dan Woo-sung.
"Fist Demon, listen well. The one with the cat is Young Palace Master of Ten Thousand Demon Palace. Without the cat, he's basically a corpse."
Blood Lord stifled a laugh behind his hand.
Mad Demon continued.
"That red-robed mosquito bastard is Blood Lord. Next to him is Phantom Demon, who stutters when he talks. The blind one is Sword Demon, and the smug-faced prick always grinning is Heavenly Demon. What a gathering of lunatics! KHAHAHAHA—!"
Mad Demon clutched his stomach, laughing so hard the ground trembled, dust swirling.
"KHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Heavenly Demon, Young Palace Master's group—even Sword Demon sighed in unison.
Sword Demon shook his head.
"The pinnacle of insanity. If you want to cause trouble, go to the Murim Alliance. Why live like this? Mad Demon, you mad bastard."
Thanks to Mad Demon, the identities of all the Demonic Path masters were laid bare.
Dan Woo-sung nodded, arms still crossed.
"All from Ten Thousand Demon Palace, I see."
Mad Demon cackled.
"Hah! Such composure. Fist Demon, you're better than these clowns."
But Mad Demon, too, planned to kill indiscriminately if chaos erupted.
This place was no different from the gates of hell.
Despite their formidable strength, the absurdity of the situation left everyone hesitating.
Amidst it all, Heavenly Demon smiled faintly.
Because Mad Demon hadn't mentioned Right Envoy.
Heavenly Demon gave a subtle nod—a gesture so slight it might seem like a habit to the unobservant.
With Heavenly Demon's signal, Right Envoy—hidden in stealth—closed in on Dan Woo-sung's back.
Dan Woo-sung, meanwhile, kept his eyes on Heavenly Demon, who was studying his expression.
He gave nothing away, his face utterly still.
Just as Mad Demon sniffed the air, Heavenly Demon's brow furrowed.
'Right Envoy, stop.'
Too late.
Right Envoy lunged from the shadows, dagger aimed at Dan Woo-sung's spine.
In that instant, Dan Woo-sung's hand shot back, seizing Right Envoy's wrist as he activated Lightfoot Technique. The crackle of lightning energy echoed as he retreated, dragging Right Envoy along, the assassin's scream trailing behind them.
"GAAAAAH—!"
Dan Woo-sung had waited, feigning ignorance, then countered and fled in one motion.
Heavenly Demon snatched Sword Demon and gave chase, shouting,
"Young Palace Master, handle Mad Demon. I'll catch that one."
As Heavenly Demon awkwardly carried Sword Demon in pursuit—
Mad Demon unleashed a dual-palm strike aimed at Sword Demon's back. If Sword Demon dodged, Heavenly Demon would take the hit. A reckless, indiscriminate attack.
Heavenly Demon spun and countered with a single palm.
BOOOOM—!
The clash of energies dissipated midair.
Mad Demon suddenly roared,
"Sword Demon, now's your chance!"
Sword Demon, dazed on Heavenly Demon's back, turned his Abyssal Sight toward the man's skull. A chill ran down Heavenly Demon's spine as he hurled Sword Demon to the ground.
The atmosphere turned icy.
Sword Demon gripped his sword, steadying himself as he tilted his head.
"Heavenly Demon... Did you doubt me?"
Young Palace Master grinned.
'Perfect. Just perfect.'
Heavenly Demon activated Lightfoot Technique, speaking curtly.
"I must save Right Envoy first."
As he vanished after Dan Woo-sung, Mad Demon laughed.
"Save him? He's already dead. Sword Demon, shame you missed your chance. Should've strangled him. See? That's the kind of man he is. KHAHAHA—!"
With Heavenly Demon gone—
Blood Lord stepped forward, smirking.
"Young Palace Master, let's kill Sword Demon first. He didn't come to capture Mad Demon—he was after us. Probably you too. This is rebellion. Ungrateful trash like him should die early. Mad Demon, join us."
Mad Demon cackled.
"What a fucking mess. Absolute chaos."
Blood Lord pressed,
"Mad Demon, ally with us. Shouldn't we kill this conscience-lacking Sword Demon first? Missing your friend already?"
Mad Demon sneered.
"Bullshit. I don't do joint attacks. You kill him, you trash. No—I'll help Sword Demon. Yeon Ja-heun, you blind bastard, come here. You can't handle them alone."
Sword Demon dragged his sword across the ground and stood beside Mad Demon.