Chapter 95: The Fist King Speaks of Rankings
The Fist King Speaks of Rankings
Episode 95: The Fist King Speaks of Rankings
When Blade Emperor launched one final, futile attack—
Sword Demon seized the moment and drove his sword into Blade Emperor's abdomen.
At the same time, Blade Emperor channeled the Blood Blade Technique into the fingers of his left hand and stabbed them straight through Sword Demon's eyes.
Thunk!
As Blade Emperor's fingers burned through Sword Demon's eyes and buried themselves deep—
"GAAAH!"
Sword Demon jerked his head back, tearing the fingers free, then dropped his sword and clutched his ruined eyes with both hands, howling in agony.
Darkness thicker than ink settled over the world.
Heavenly Demon, witnessing the sudden turn of events, clapped a hand over his mouth—barely stifling a laugh. Then, glancing toward Right Envoy, who waited in the shadows, he gave a slight shrug. Didn't see that coming.
Blade Emperor yanked the sword from his gut and, in the same motion, cleaved through First Sword's neck as the swordsman rushed him. With Second Sword, they exchanged blows—each driving their blades into the other's flesh.
Thud!
Squelch!
The moment Blade Emperor finally cut down all five masters of Blade Immunity, he dropped to one knee, coughing up bright red blood. Heavenly Demon applauded as if genuinely impressed.
"Truly worthy of your reputation, Elder Blade Emperor. I salute you."
Still kneeling, Blade Emperor grinned up at him.
"Did you enjoy my gift?"
Heavenly Demon nodded.
"Very much. You've worked hard."
Blade Emperor stared at him with something like pity before speaking again.
"Here's one more."
"NO!"
Heavenly Demon's face twisted as he lunged forward—but in that instant, Blade Emperor raised the sword he'd planted in the ground and plunged it into his own dantian, killing himself on the spot.
"Tch... You crazy old bastard. Now—"
Heavenly Demon grabbed a fistful of Blade Emperor's hair, staring down at his lifeless face before letting out a dry chuckle.
"Well, old man, you keep surprising me till the end. Magnificent. Truly magnificent. This, too, must be the way of the White Path. Rest in peace."
Blade Emperor had realized the demonic cultivators practiced arts that drained internal energy—so he took his own life before they could claim it. Even Heavenly Demon hadn't anticipated this.
"Honestly, the White Path's just as full of lunatics. Right, Right Envoy?"
Right Envoy, wrapped head to toe in cursed bandages inscribed with demonic runes, finally emerged from the shadows and answered succinctly.
"Indeed."
Heavenly Demon had thought it a bluff—but Right Envoy had truly been lying in wait.
Turning to Sword Demon, who sat slumped in despair, his world now swallowed by darkness, Heavenly Demon sighed.
"My friend... you've suffered greatly. Lost all your men, too."
Sword Demon exhaled, resigned.
"I should've killed you sooner. My mistake. Just finish me."
Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue.
"Don't be ridiculous."
He walked over, picked up the fallen Demon Sword, and approached Sword Demon. Kneeling, he placed the blade across Sword Demon's lap and spoke softly.
"Why would I kill you?"
"Do it, you madman."
"You're the only friend I have in this world."
"I never considered you a friend to begin with."
"Then start now. You think I'd cast you aside just because you've lost your eyes? Pick up your sword and stand."
Sword Demon sounded exhausted.
"You insane bastard. Just kill me already. Stop playing with me."
He knew escape was impossible—blind and at Heavenly Demon's mercy.
Heavenly Demon's expression softened as he coaxed him.
"Lord of the Heavenly Sword Alliance, my friend... don't embarrass yourself in front of your men. Let me help you up."
He pulled Sword Demon to his feet.
The moment Heavenly Demon's hands touched him, Sword Demon shuddered. This might be his only chance—but Heavenly Demon was surely prepared.
Heavenly Demon kept soothing him.
"Let's retreat for now. This was my fault. I never thought you'd fall to him, of all people. Come. Right Envoy, withdraw the troops. We'll go ahead."
"Understood."
Sword Demon shoved Heavenly Demon away, fear in his voice.
"I can walk alone."
Heavenly Demon scoffed.
"Blind and stubborn? Climb on my back. Here—if you're so furious, strangle me as we go. Just get on. We can't die by the White Path's hands—only each other's."
As Heavenly Demon patted his back insistently, Sword Demon trembled. It felt like another test—another cruel game played since childhood.
"I won't climb. I'll break your neck and die with you."
Heavenly Demon hoisted him up anyway.
"Do as you like. First, we leave."
With Sword Demon on his back, Heavenly Demon activated his Lightfoot Technique. Sword Demon longed to snap his neck—but without Heavenly Demon, his blindness would leave him truly helpless.
Blood (or tears?) streamed from his ruined eyes as he whispered:
"This was your doing. The missing Twelve Demon Blades—you killed them. Admit it."
Heavenly Demon chuckled mid-stride.
"How could I orchestrate this? You think I infiltrated the Namgung family alone, lured Blade Emperor out, and made him blind you? Does that sound plausible? I don't know what happened to your men. We both underestimated Blade Emperor. And it's not just them—even Left Envoy, whom I took in, seems dead. Yet I never doubted you. Did you kill him?"
"Don't be absurd."
"Exactly. Some things are beyond our schemes. My arrogance brought us here. And I hesitated to help earlier because—yes—I feared you. We've always feared each other. That's how we reached this point. If I wanted you dead, Right Envoy and I would've struck together. Will you lose allies and your only friend? Or collapse over lost eyes? The martial world has blind swordsmen. Pull yourself together. I'll find a way."
"What way? There's no cure for blindness."
"We'll go to Ten Thousand Demon Palace. They must have a demonic art to replace your sight. I'll demand it. That's where outcasts like us gather. I'll rip out a ghost's eyes for you if I must. You're still alive—I'll fix this."
"Just treat my wounds first."
"Fine. After you recover, we'll go. I'll handle everything."
Sword Demon fell silent. With his vision gone, he couldn't tell if his face was wet with blood or tears.
Heavenly Demon sped up, whispering to him:
"I'll be your eyes. Don't worry."
At that moment, Sword Demon's heart blackened like the void.
I just want to kill them all.
When Sword Demon didn't respond, Heavenly Demon smiled soundlessly and raced onward. The two old friends vanished into the night—one's heart as dark as the blindness consuming the other.
While Heavenly Demon and Sword Demon debated the nature of friendship—
Dan Woo-sung found himself standing night watch with Cheol Myung-ho for the first time in ages. There was little to do. They'd lit a campfire near the merchant group's carriage and alternated between staring at the flames and the stars. Since Baek Yak's subordinates weren't his to command, he'd volunteered for the duty—a contrast to Heavenly Demon absorbing Sword Demon's forces.
Cheol Myung-ho broke the silence.
"Need more firewood."
Dan Woo-sung grunted.
"Get it."
Cheol Myung-ho lowered his voice.
"I've fetched it twice already, Your Highness."
The Fist King sighed—then went to gather firewood himself. Returning, he couldn't help but laugh. Even if he became the strongest under heaven, this bastard would still curse him to his face.
(Of course, the reverse was unthinkable—but if Cheol Myung-ho ever claimed the title, Dan Woo-sung would make sure he regretted it daily.)
As Dan Woo-sung tossed dry wood into the fire, Cheol Myung-ho mused:
"Are all martial artists insane?"
"Where's this coming from?"
"Master's impressive, sure—but not exactly sane. And Lady Baek... I don't know. Too carefree. She ate with gusto while you fought outside. Granted, she probably knew you'd win—but still. Sword Emperor's eccentric too."
"They've got their quirks. Not all are mad. And you're hardly sane yourself."
"True. But lately, I've realized my insanity was just preparation for the martial world. Fate, I guess."
"Dumbass."
Cheol Myung-ho pressed on.
"Demonic Path's resurfacing, right? That's why Master returned—and Sword Emperor too."
"They're already here. I've killed a few. Some even had blade-proof bodies."
Cheol Myung-ho's eyes widened.
"Blade-proof? How'd you kill them?"
"Tore them apart."
"Like jerky?"
When Dan Woo-sung nodded, Cheol Myung-ho tossed him a piece of dried meat from his pocket. They chewed in silence for a while.
Between bites, Cheol Myung-ho said:
"Still better than counting coins in a gambling den. So—seriously—where do you think I rank now? No bullshit."
Dan Woo-sung counted on his fingers.
"Well..."
"Yeah?"
"Maybe top ten thousand. Twenty?"
"Are you deaf? I can't hear the dogs barking over your nonsense. The Eight Dragons Sect leader claimed he's top two hundred. I'm on par with him—so I'm at least that high. Twenty thousand? Where are you?"
Dan Woo-sung smirked, then glanced toward the inn where Mad God slept.
"Not many left above me."
"Stop boasting."
"It's true."
Between the Three Gods, the Sect Leaders, Blade Emperor, and Sword Emperor, only seven remained. Adding the two strongest of the Black Path made nine. Even if the strongest of the outer lands appeared, it wouldn't breach ten. But Dan Woo-sung, remembering their strength from his past life, guessed he'd rank mid-tier among them.
So few indeed stood above him now.
(The Demonic Path didn't count—he planned to kill them all regardless.)
Cheol Myung-ho stood, dusted off his pants, and demonstrated his Fox Spear Technique before Dan Woo-sung.
As his halberd moved, so did the wind.
Finishing the sequence, he asked:
"Well? How'd I do?"
Dan Woo-sung answered honestly.
"Pathetic."
Suddenly, Cheol Myung-ho grinned—a strange, knowing smile—as he raised his halberd again.
"Someday, I'll say this to you: Hey, friend. Not many left above me now. Watch your back."
Dan Woo-sung leaned back, amused.
"That day'll never come, idiot."
Cheol Myung-ho, now every bit a martial artist, countered:
"It might. The Poison Fox of the gambling den's already learned the Fox Spear Technique. If the Silver River's bastard prince can grow this strong, why not me? Our Master's senior to Sword Emperor—it's not so far-fetched."
Swinging his halberd, he added:
"And if that day comes... the martial world will be glorious."
As Heavenly Demon and Sword Demon wandered the pitch-black night—
Dan Woo-sung and Cheol Myung-ho shared a quiet, ordinary evening.