Chapter 120: The Fist King Gazes at White Cat 1
The Fist King Gazes at White Cat 1
Chapter 120: The Fist King Gazes at White Cat 1
Dan Woo-sung stared intently at the Sword Demon, who appeared half out of his mind, and thought:
'So you really are using the Mind's Eye technique.'
Just as his senior, the Sword Emperor, possessed a unique martial art for detecting an opponent's energy, he had guessed that the Demonic Path might have something similar.
As Dan Woo-sung approached without any clear explanation, to the Sword Demon, it seemed as though a dead man had come back to life and was walking toward him.
The sight alone was terrifying.
When Dan Woo-sung came even closer, the Sword Demon, astonishingly, could see his face more clearly than anyone else's—as if his eyes had been restored just for this moment.
It was unmistakably the face of the man he had killed.
The Sword Demon muttered to himself:
"No... It can't be. How could a dead man...?"
Startled beyond reason, the Sword Demon began to flee in panic. In his flustered escape, he blurted:
"I won't fight you. This feels... unpleasant."
For the first time since attaining his Blade Immunity physique, he was running away in desperation.
Using his Lightfoot Technique to retreat, the Sword Demon sought out the Heavenly Demon with his Abyssal Sight. In all the world, the Heavenly Demon was the only person he could rely on.
And the only one who could unravel this mystery. He needed someone to confide in, someone who could calmly determine whether this was truly the Fist King or not.
The Heavenly Demon had eyes, after all.
As he fled, the Sword Demon could sense the Fist King—whom he believed to be long dead—pursuing him.
The scenery unfolding before him was anything but normal. His body crashed full-force into a massive tree, gouging a deep hollow into its trunk before charging onward. The Abyssal Sight couldn't properly perceive objects devoid of energy. A blind man was still blind, after all.
Like a gale tearing through the landscape, the Sword Demon sprinted desperately toward the Heavenly Demon and cried out:
"Heavenly Demon! Save me! It's the Fist King!"
Fortunately, through his Abyssal Sight, he could make out the Heavenly Demon's form ahead.
Just as he was pushing his Lightfoot Technique to its limits, a surge of force struck him from behind.
BOOM!
Launched into the air, the Sword Demon swung his Demon Sword horizontally mid-flight, deflecting Dan Woo-sung's strike before twisting back toward the Heavenly Demon.
He felt something ripple in the air ahead—like passing through a wave—and then the Heavenly Demon's figure came into sharper focus. Turning his head frantically, he saw the Fist King standing still, his head tilting side to side.
Thankfully, the Fist King's form was growing indistinct.
'What is this? An illusion formation?'
When the Sword Demon turned back, the Heavenly Demon was executing palm strikes against empty air.
The Sword Demon looked around in confusion.
"Hey, Sect Leader. Who are you fighting? The Fist King is nearby. Help me out here."
At his words, the Heavenly Demon's expression—mid-battle with nothing—froze stiff.
"Hah. Not bad."
What kind of nonsense was this now?
Seeing the Sword Demon suddenly appear within the Phantom Battlefield, the Heavenly Demon mistook him for another illusion conjured by the Phantom Demon.
But the Phantom Demon hadn't anticipated the Sword Demon entering the Phantom Battlefield so effortlessly.
Now, the ever-suspicious Heavenly Demon and the blind Sword Demon were both trapped within the illusion.
The Sword Demon spoke again:
"Sect Leader, snap out of it. Who are you fighting? An illusion?"
With nothing visible to him, the Heavenly Demon's actions naturally seemed bizarre.
Observing the situation from a distance, the Phantom Demon quietly withdrew his clones before focusing his gaze on the two.
The corners of his lips curled upward.
'This just got interesting. It'd be even better if they fought each other.'
In the vast, empty expanse where his clones had vanished, the Heavenly Demon and Sword Demon stood facing each other.
The Sword Demon said something that sounded utterly absurd to the Heavenly Demon:
"The Fist King followed me here. Be careful."
The Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue.
"The Fist King is dead."
When the Sword Demon looked at him, the Heavenly Demon's face twisted into that eerie grin again.
"Why are you smiling? What's so funny?"
The Heavenly Demon glanced around before replying:
"How long has the Fist King been dead, and you're saying he's nearby? Can you summon the dead now?"
The Sword Demon also scanned their surroundings.
The pursuing Fist King was gone—naturally. The moment Dan Woo-sung detected the strange barrier enveloping the Phantom Battlefield, he had turned back, recognizing it as an illusion formation.
Thus, only the Heavenly Demon and Sword Demon remained inside.
Sensing something amiss, the Sword Demon surveyed the area with his Abyssal Sight. Having believed he'd already dealt the Phantom Demon a grievous wound with his Demon Sword Art, this situation was baffling.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon, still uncertain, lashed out at the Sword Demon's exposed back like lightning.
THUD!
The Sword Demon's body clanged metallically as he tumbled across the ground. Blade Immunity didn't negate impact. Dazed as though his skull had been rattled, he staggered up—but he was a monster in his own right. Mostly unharmed, he growled:
"You crazy bastard...!"
The Heavenly Demon kept grinning.
The Sword Demon raised his Demon Sword.
"Is this the Phantom Demon's doing? Heavenly Demon, it's me. Yeon Ja-heun."
Unlike when dispelling the clones, the Heavenly Demon's palm strike had felt startlingly real this time.
"The Left Envoy? What nonsense are you spouting about the Fist King?"
He assumed the blind Sword Demon had wandered into the Phantom Battlefield by accident.
The Sword Demon pressed:
"That bastard 'Fist Demon'—his true form was the Fist King. Are we inside an illusion formation right now?"
"The Phantom Demon's Phantom Battlefield."
"The Phantom Demon is still alive?"
"Very much so. Maintaining this battlefield drains his energy. We could be stuck here until we're both exhausted. He's a tenacious one. If you're really Yeon Ja-heun, find him for me."
The Sword Demon swept his Abyssal Sight across all directions before inadvertently meeting the Heavenly Demon's gaze again.
Still grinning at him.
The Sword Demon raised his sword once more.
"You damn bastard, still smiling. Did you attack me knowing full well it was me?"
The Heavenly Demon waved a hand dismissively and sat cross-legged.
"A mistake. I held back, just in case. Listen, Ja-heun. If you're not an illusion, move away from me. Somehow, your blindness lets you traverse this battlefield freely. The smart move is for you to exit and kill the Phantom Demon."
"Hmm..."
"To my eyes, this is just a dark void. We should part ways for now. Your blindness clouds your judgment. Mutual suspicion will only worsen things. You go first. I'll finish my battle with the Phantom Demon here. And stop mentioning the Fist King—why fear the dead? How could a dead man return? Even if he did, he couldn't possibly be stronger than you now. Stay calm."
The Heavenly Demon pointed upward.
"The Phantom Battlefield's persistence means the Phantom Demon is nearby. Whether you kill him or I wait him out, he dies here today."
His unusually composed tone steadied the Sword Demon's nerves.
"Understood."
As the Sword Demon finally retreated backward...
The Heavenly Demon nodded.
"Farewell, old friend. Take care."
"Next time, will we be enemies?"
"Not if I can help it."
When the Sword Demon stepped back, blades poured from the Phantom Battlefield, clashing against his body.
The Heavenly Demon watched intently.
As the Sword Demon vanished...
The Heavenly Demon addressed the Phantom Demon:
"Phantom Demon, the duration of this battlefield equals your remaining lifespan. Enjoy it while it lasts. You think you've trapped me? Hardly..."
Smiling, he threatened the Phantom Demon within his own illusion:
"These cheap tricks and deceptions are child's play. You should've accepted my offer to become the Left Envoy. Choosing to die and join him instead... I'll obliterate you without leaving a single drop of blood behind."
Cross-legged, the Heavenly Demon cackled, his laughter echoing through the Phantom Battlefield like ricocheting arrows.
...
Dan Woo-sung observed his surroundings after distancing himself from the strange barrier.
After the fleeing Sword Demon entered it, all sound had ceased.
He guessed it was likely the Phantom Demon's creation.
If the Phantom Demon was fighting someone, the Heavenly Demon was the probable opponent—since the Blood Lord and Right Enforcer were already dead.
That left the young lord of Ten Thousand Demon Palace...
As if on cue, a furious shout came from not too far away:
"White Cat! Stop chasing! White Cat!"
Apparently, Mad Demon had fled after being beaten to a pulp. Or was perhaps catching his breath.
Dan Woo-sung moved away from the Phantom Demon's barrier and approached Young Palace Master.
He and White Cat arrived before the young lord almost simultaneously.
White Cat positioned itself protectively in front of Young Palace Master, eyeing Dan Woo-sung warily, ready to attack at its master's command.
Having never encountered such a spiritual creature before, Dan Woo-sung studied White Cat closely.
"Fascinating little thing."
Unlike its ferocity when pursuing Mad Demon, it now seemed relatively docile.
From behind White Cat, Young Palace Master spoke:
"You're the Fist Demon, they say? Is it true?"
Ignoring him, Dan Woo-sung kept his eyes on White Cat.
"White Cat seems tired. Or perhaps it dislikes fighting to begin with."
Young Palace Master interjected:
"Tired? Hardly... Anyway, I'm just here to capture that violent Mad Demon. Don't mistake me for an enemy."
Dan Woo-sung gave him a baffled look.
"You're from Ten Thousand Demon Palace..."
Young Palace Master perched on a large rock.
"So, do you even know what Ten Thousand Demon Palace does? We're an organization that suppresses the Demonic Path."
"What kind of bullshit is that? You crazy bastard."
Pointing at Dan Woo-sung, Young Palace Master remarked:
"Hmm, your speech certainly matches the Demonic Path."
Just then, White Cat suddenly shrank back to its original form. Young Palace Master said calmly:
"Come here."
White Cat leaped onto his shoulder and studied Dan Woo-sung curiously.
Petting the creature, Young Palace Master murmured:
"You've worked hard."
Originally, Young Palace Master had been most wary of the Sword Demon's subordinates, the Twelve Demon Blades. With their Blade Immunity, he feared White Cat couldn't withstand their combined assault. Strangely, however, the Twelve had been absent for a long time.
If they'd been defeated, it meant the Heavenly Sword Alliance faction had lost all its power.
Young Palace Master offered an awkward smile.
"Let's not fight. I don't battle those of the Demonic Path."
Dan Woo-sung glanced around.
Mad Demon had fled.
The Heavenly Demon and Sword Demon were likely confronting the Phantom Demon.
For the young lord of Ten Thousand Demon Palace, it was odd that no guards or subordinates were visible.
Dan Woo-sung said:
"You don't fight the Demonic Path?"
Young Palace Master nodded.
"Correct."
Studying his expression closely—the dumbfounded look, the fearful eyes—Dan Woo-sung felt inexplicably uneasy. Either this guy was a complete idiot, or he'd been perfectly trained to appear like one.
Suddenly, Dan Woo-sung knelt on one knee and reached out toward White Cat.
"Come here, White Cat."
He glared at Young Palace Master.
"Let me see White Cat. Send it over. No need to be petty—we're both of the Demonic Path, aren't we?"
Young Palace Master chuckled.
"Looking isn't hard, but you might die doing it."
"My risk to take."
Dan Woo-sung called again:
"White Cat."
The white cat's ears twitched as it focused on him. Dan Woo-sung patted the ground slowly.
"Come here."
At that moment, even Young Palace Master was curious what this madman's actions would provoke. He thought Dan Woo-sung utterly insane. Almost as if competing to see who was crazier, he stroked White Cat and said:
"Go on."
As White Cat leaped down and approached, the corners of Young Palace Master's lips twitched upward. Now...
"Kill."
A single word, and White Cat would tear Dan Woo-sung apart.
When Dan Woo-sung extended his hand, White Cat ambled over and tapped it with a paw.
Planting both front paws firmly, it looked up at him.
Dan Woo-sung offered his palm—an invitation to step up. As White Cat did so, he grinned while meeting its gaze.
"Cute little thing."