Chapter 2
Chapter 2
2.The Place I Arrived at After Running Away
Everyone ages.
Like me.
There was a time when I could outrun the Murim Alliance for seven days and nights without tiring, but not anymore. I feel ten years older than before I was chased.
If I had known this would happen, I would have practiced harder.
Humans always repeat the same mistakes and regret them too late.
Because I hadn't planned an escape route, I had somehow taken the wrong path. The curses of the guys chasing me were getting clearer and clearer.
The curses were truly diverse.
I became a son of a bitch, a bastard, a commoner, and a parentless orphan, which, to be honest, is true. Yet, a moment ago, I even heard them cursing my parents.
To think there are guys who curse the parents of an orphan like me, the world has gone mad.
Quite a few guys who spewed such nonsense died by my hand, but now there were too many chasing me, so running away was the best option.
For a man of my caliber to be running away like this…
It's utterly shameful.
But remember this.
The Demonic Sect is this terrifying.
Even though I killed and killed while running away, the Demonic Sect still had quite a few masters left who could face me.
* * *
Once, my foolish dream was to become the Martial God.
Why does my old ambition come to mind while I'm being chased?
I have no idea.
Anyway, whenever I talked about my dream, people around me called me crazy, so becoming the Martial God must really be a pipe dream. But I assert that something easily achievable is not a dream.
I think a dream should always be something difficult to achieve.
It's the same now.
Because I set my dreams and goals high, I'm not being chased by some third-rate sect, but by the most vicious of the vicious, the Demonic Sect, aren't I?
I guarantee that if you're a real man, you have to be chased by the Demonic Sect.
That's the qualification of a man.
Maybe it's because they're such bastards, but the feeling when being chased was more thrilling than ever.
Although I may not have become the Martial God, I was once chased by the Murim Alliance, and now I'm being chased by the Demonic Sect, so I've achieved feats that ordinary men can't.
By the way, the thing I stole from the Demonic Sect must be something extraordinary.
Otherwise, why would those lunatics be chasing me so desperately?
I actually knew a long time ago that tormenting the Demonic Sect was this fun. But even though I knew it back then, I didn't dare to try it because I lacked the skills.
My thought now is this.
I should have trained a little more before setting out.
As I said, humans always repeat the same mistakes.
Damn it…
* * *
I originally always thought to myself that I was skilled in psychological warfare, schemes, tactics, strategies, sowing discord, and lying, that the seduction scheme never worked on me, that I could drink endlessly, and that my lightness skill was outstanding.
The most versatilely crazy guy in this Jianghu, that's me.
I'm also the guy who hid that versatile skill the most.
In particular, the reason why the seduction scheme, which has many historically proven cases, never worked on me was because normal beauties didn't like me in the first place.
I've proven this through long experience.
Seeing the fog blurring my vision as I run, it seems there's a place nearby where fog often appears.
Where am I running to anyway? Judging from the terrain, the cliff in front of me looks like the famous Ten Thousand Feet Cliff.
The Ten Thousand Feet Cliff is a truly famous place.
It's because the masters of Mado and Baekdo, who faced off from both sides with that precipitous gorge in the center, competed to determine who was superior.
If Baekdo had won back then, I wouldn't be chased so urgently like this.
As if declaring a truce, both sides cut off the only remaining Sword's Cry Bridge (the narrow bridge that allowed crossing the gorge).
Now that the Sword's Cry Bridge is cut off, there's no way for me to cross this Ten Thousand Feet Cliff.
There's no paradise in the place you arrive at after running away, and indeed, there was a cliff.
Starting from my escape from the Demonic Sect's headquarters, I had already crossed Mount Taeul, Mount Myeongri, and Mount Chuhon, and while running across unnamed mountains and rivers, my left arm was cut, my face was stabbed, and I suffered a penetrating wound to my left shoulder.
Suddenly, with a wistful look, I looked down the cliff, and it was nothing special, just like my past life.
Even in this situation, I pondered why I had never dated a beauty even once.
Is that why? They say that when you're facing death, you tend to think of the person you miss the most, but there was no one for me to think of.
A sigh naturally escaped my lips.
“…I should have had even a short romance.”
I lived too seriously.
I wish someone would write this on my tombstone.
‘Gwangma, died from being too serious…’
Along with the sound of the wind cutting through the air from behind, someone was arriving, and with that level of skill, it must be Gwangmyeong Jwasa, a top master of the Demonic Sect.
He's also a master of using his brain, having used his subordinates in the chase and then appearing with a perfectly fine body at this crucial moment.
Gwangmyeong Jwasa is a guy as infamous as I am in Jianghu.
Strangely, he's a perverted Lustful demon who obsessively targets only the beautiful young ladies of the Murim clans that use generational names, such as the Namgung Clan, the Seomun Clan, and the Baekri Clan, and before joining the Demonic Sect, he had the nickname Lustful demon in Jianghu.
That's not to say that I'm a pervert either.
I just never had the chance.
Is it just my imagination that anger is surging from the depths of my heart, or is it because of Gwangmyeong Jwasa? Or is it because of that guy's past actions?
Anyway, the man most feared by the female masters of Baekdo, Gwangmyeong Jwasa of the Demonic Sect, landed in the open space with an incredibly cool pose.
So, you have to be handsome to become a pervert?
‘That pretty-boy son of a bitch.’
For the Demonic Sect's powerful figure, whose nose is so strikingly high that it's scary, to personally follow me this far, religion is truly terrifying.
* * *
Gwangmyeong Jwasa approached me with his hands behind his back, deepening his voice as much as possible.
“To make me go through so much trouble. You damned bastard. Anyway, I'll admit that your lightness skill is even better than the rumors say.”
To Gwangmyeong Jwasa's serious bullshit, I replied with an indifferent expression.
“The pervert has arrived.”
“……”
“I've never seen a pervert run as hard as you. It's impressive.”
A voice that sounded like it was being squeezed out came from Gwangmyeong Jwasa's mouth, who was resentful of having chased me for three days and nights.
“Shut up. You crazy bastard. This is no time for jokes. You're being so relaxed at the cliff of the Ten Thousand Feet Cliff? Get a grip on the situation.”
“Whether this is a cliff or paradise, the fact that you're a pervert remains unchanged. And teach your subordinates some manners. I'm not a dog. I'm definitely not a bastard. But I am an orphan.”
The atmosphere became somber for a moment.
“……”
“To curse the parents I never even met, you bastards who deserve to be torn to pieces. So that's why you're called the Demonic Sect.”
“Stop the nonsense and hand over what you stole.”
I scoffed and replied.
“If I were to obediently return something I worked hard to steal, I wouldn't be Gwangma, but a servant.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“I'm saying that because I used to be a servant once.”
“Haa.”
Gwangmyeong Jwasa sighed deeply as if he was tired.
Meanwhile, the Demonic Sect's forces, arriving one after another, were gathering like storm clouds before a storm.
Why do those guys like wearing such dark clothes?
The Demonic Sect's forces, which had gathered like storm clouds, densely blocked my retreat route and waited for Gwangmyeong Jwasa's command.
Everyone's eyes were sharp.
They must be furious because over a hundred of them died by my hand in the chase.
If I've inflicted this much damage on the Demonic Sect, shouldn't the Murim Alliance give me the Hero of the Year award?
Reflecting on my situation for a moment, I briefly forgot that I had also caused a lot of trouble and become a public enemy of the Murim. Moreover, my Murim public enemy ranking is even higher than that pervert's.
That's because the nickname Gwangma was first given to me by Baekdo.
‘Well, the Hero award is out of the question.’
Gwangmyeong Jwasa, who had been watching my grinning expression, said.
“Gwangma, how can you still laugh in this situation? What on earth is in your head?”
“How unfortunate.”
“What is?”
“You must have desperately held back your laughter even when the Sect Leader farted. That's your limit.”
“……”
“You must have forced a burst of laughter every time the Sect Leader made a pointless joke.”
“I didn't do that.”
“Shut up! That's called a pathetic lackey. But I always laugh as I please. Lackey, are you that afraid of the old Sect Leader?”
Gwangmyeong Jwasa replied with a sullen expression.
“Is there anyone in this Jianghu who doesn't fear the Sect Leader? There isn't. Look at the Alliance Leader, who always avoids the Sect Leader's offers for a one-on-one duel. Even if there are masters in this Jianghu who are stronger than the Sect Leader, there won't be any who don't fear the Sect Leader. Don't you know that?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? I'm here. When have I ever feared your Sect Leader?”
“Then why did you run all the way here and make people tired?”
“I'm not afraid of the Sect Leader, but perverts are truly terrifying. Anyway, if you want to focus more on your favorite perverted activities, it would be good for your mental health to leave the sect as soon as possible. Huh? Jwasa, the executive behind you is smiling, isn't he?”
I pointed my finger at the Demonic Sect's executive, but Gwangmyeong Jwasa's gaze was fixed on me like a fixture.
Gwangmyeong Jwasa said with a cold expression.
“It doesn't work.”
I nodded.
“I can't help it. So, you guys chased me so much because of this, right?”
I carefully took out the Celestial Jade from my chest and held it out to Gwangmyeong Jwasa.
This is the item in question.
Gwangmyeong Jwasa's frog-like eyes became sharp like a lynx that had been starving for three days.
“……!”
I proposed to Jwasa.
“Seeing your eyes light up as soon as you saw the Celestial Jade, I guess you were after this too. I thought it was strange that the Demonic Sect's Gwangmyeong Jwasa himself would come all the way here. It's quite far from the sect, so this is good. Since it's come to this, how about we split it in half? You and I will divide the Jianghu of this era. That way, you can do your perverted acts as you please too.”
I gently coaxed Jwasa, but the reaction was lukewarm.
“That belongs to the Sect Leader.”
“Then why are you looking at it so greedily? Listen, disciples. Jwasa has other intentions towards the Sect Leader. One of you should return first and report the incident to the Sect Leader. It seems Jwasa is trying to take the Celestial Jade and start a rebellion. Anyone want to earn merit? No one? Cowards.”
Sowing discord is always fun. But it didn't work on the Demonic Sect. But I was always persistent.
“Everyone, look at your superior. Jwasa can't even answer because he's pondering my words.”
Gwangmyeong Jwasa said.
“Stop talking nonsense and hand over the Celestial Jade first. If you just return that, we'll retreat for now. From the start, it wasn't the Celestial Net of Earth that was deployed to take your insignificant life.”
“Oh, really?”
“I'll say it again, that Celestial Jade is more important than your life. I'll come find you alone later and ask you about this incident again. In a one-on-one fight that you like.”
The lying tongue was right there.
“A one-on-one fight that I like?”
“Yes.”
“Is that something you can say after deploying the Celestial Net of Earth? If you had tried to take it with a one-on-one challenge from the start, a hundred of your subordinates wouldn't have died. You stupid pervert, you always mess things up. I'd rather become a monk than believe your words. Everyone, clear the way. This Celestial Jade is round and makes a clear sound every time it's struck, so it's suitable for a wooden bell. A crazy monk can't just hand over his wooden bell.”
“Then we have no choice but to kill you.”
“Come on in, you bastards. I'll have to become a Mad Monk today!”
Contrary to saying come on in, I reached out as if I was about to throw the Celestial Jade into the Ten Thousand Feet Cliff.
Gwangmyeong Jwasa hurriedly reached out a hand.
“D, don't do it!”
Seeing the panic flashing across Gwangmyeong Jwasa's face, I thought it was a rewarding day.
Anyway, it became clear.
That what I stole is a truly enormous and terrifying thing.
I still don't know what it is, though.
If I throw the Celestial Jade into the Ten Thousand Feet Cliff, Gwangmyeong Jwasa and his subordinates will have to jump into the Ten Thousand Feet Cliff too.
Gwangmyeong Jwasa tried to appease me with an expression of diligently racking his brain.
“Why are you doing this? We've turned a blind eye to your absurd actions because we need to keep you alive so that the Alliance Leader suffers more. We originally tend to favor Murim public enemies anyway. But this changes things. We kindly recommended you join the sect, but you stole a sacred object? To repay kindness with theft. This is not something a human would do.”
“That's true, but I can't return it because you cursed my parents.”
“I apologize. We're not afraid of you, but of the Sect Leader's wrath, so please just let us recover the sacred object.”
“Is that how you ask for a favor?”
“Is that how you talk when you've stolen something?”
My arm moved again towards the Ten Thousand Feet Cliff.
“I'll throw it first. Let's have a proper fight.”
“I apologize. Just a moment, let's resolve this through dialogue.”
I nodded.
“Okay. Then what exactly is this Celestial Jade? Tell me without racking your brain.”
Hurry up, you bastard!
I'm dying of curiosity.