Chapter 130

The King of Power Confronts the Madmen 2

Kwangshin, Kwangwang, Kwangma, and Cheolmyeongho gathered.

If one were to attach the character for madness to Cheol Myeong-ho, Mad Fox (狂狐) would be fitting. Remove the suffixes added to the nicknames—god, king, demon, fox—and the pure character for madness remains.

What exactly is madness?

It signifies madness.

It also refers to a particular inability to discern right from wrong.

It also encompasses straying from common norms and rules.

Recklessness that goes too far, arrogance that pierces the heavens—these too belong to the realm of madness.

Thus, the simple word “madness” encompassed a multitude of meanings.

Humans are inherently complex beings with intricate mental worlds, and some live steeped in madness.

This is because of their stories.

The story of Danwooseong, who experienced death and reincarnation; the story of Cheolmyeongho, the insignificant gambling den owner; and the story of Kwangshin, who endured life dreaming of bloody revenge—each story intertwined with their respective natures, steering their lives toward madness.

Of course, the Mad Demon’s nature was no different.

Thus, as the four silently sized each other up, they realized these bastards were utterly insane.

‘This one and that one—they’re all madmen.’

That was their shared sentiment.

Cheolmyeongho spoke.

“He looks like a real troublemaker at first glance, Master.”

With Gwangshin by his side, Cheolmyeongho had no one to fear lately. Day by day, he was becoming a master of blunt speech.

Gwang-shin asked Cheol-myeong-ho.

“He certainly looks like it. What kind of guy do you think he is?”

The two often enjoyed critiquing people. When Cheolmyeongho started evaluating someone, he usually found various flaws to rant about, and Gwangshin felt a satisfying relief, like having his back scratched, upon hearing it. That’s why the two made a good team in their own way.

Cheol Myeong-ho pointed his finger at Gwangma and said.

I know this sort well enough. He’s just a bastard. Born with brute strength and an overwhelming physique, he probably lived for the thrill of beating people since childhood. He should’ve taken a few beatings himself to become human, but since he only ever hit others, he ended up less than human. Put kindly, he’s a wild beast; put harshly, he’s a beastly bastard. Look how his face turns bright red in an instant. Good grief, what a temper. You’d think he was a persimmon. Hey, hey, it’s scary—get your face back to normal color.”

Cheolmyeong-ho was spouting some incomprehensible nonsense, but the Madman was getting worked up regardless.

As he glared sideways at Cheol Myeong-ho, his face turned red and then pale.

‘This worthless punk, not even worth a punch…’

He was keeping his mouth shut, displeased that his silent training was being disrupted by such a lowlife.

He would have understood if Kwonma had hurled such insults. After all, he had been defeated by him. Moreover, he could somewhat relate to the peculiar arrogance of the man before him. It felt like facing the Grand Master of the Manma Palace.

But what the hell is this cripple with the scar on his face?

As the Madman let out a long sigh, this time the Cultist asked Danwooseong.

“He seems like a demon, so why did you spare him?”

Danwooseong explained in response to Gwangsin’s question.

“This madman knows the location of the Demon Palace, the stronghold of the Demon Cult. He lives on the condition that he reveals the location and then dies there himself. When I met him, he was being chased by the Demon Palace.”

“So he risked his life to die where he wanted. What a self-willed bastard.”

Kwang-shin understood this sort of character.

They tried to dress it up with all sorts of excuses, but these bastards were the kind who needed a reason to die.

Though the Madman himself would deny it, he still clung to life. That’s why he insisted on dying in the Palace of Ten Thousand Horses.

The god of the madmen was also a man who could peer deep into the Madman’s heart.

Knowing the Mad Demon practiced silent meditation, Danwooseong answered again.

“It seems there are those called Grandmasters in the Ten Thousand Horses Palace. The enemies of the senior disciple I killed in the martial world recently were the Heavenly Demon and the Sword Demon. Both these and the Mad Demon are disciples of the Grandmasters. Judging by the disciples’ ages, it appears the Old Masters are still alive.”

Kwang-sin nodded.

“I see. A disciple trying to kill his master. It happens often, not just in the martial world but in the demonic path as well. I understand that. But Madman, you are a man who needs complete rehabilitation.”

Kwang-sin knew what men like Kwang-ma hated most.

“You seem to despise humanity, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom the most.”

The madman glared at the fanatic.

‘That’s obvious…’

Kwangshin declared stubbornly.

“Therefore, I shall teach you the principles of humanity, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom.”

The Demon King’s eyes widened.

“…”

“And since you are the one who tried to kill your master, I shall become your master once more. I will teach you no martial arts, but I will take you in.”

This too would be what Gwangma hated most.

The Madman blinked.

‘What the hell are you talking about, you crazy bastard.’

As the Madman looked around in utter bewilderment, the Fanatic pointed at Danwooseong.

“That’s your senior brother.”

Kwang-shin then pointed at Cheol-myeong-ho.

“Your second senior brother.”

Kwang-shin looked at Kwang-ma.

“You are the youngest. The Mad God Sect does not permit suicide. Young disciples should take note.”

Cheol Myeong-ho crossed his arms like Dan Woo-seong, then looked at the Mad Demon.

“Heh heh heh heh heh, I already have a junior disciple. What a joyous day. Though I’m a bit worried about this naughty brat, as his senior, I’ll often scold him if he acts foolishly. You little brat, what’s that look you’re giving your senior?”

Danwooseong looked at Cheolmyeongho and said in a stiff tone.

“Congratulations.”

Cheol Myeong-ho glared at Dan Woo-seong and replied.

“Thank you, brother.”

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The martial arts alliance member who had been watching up to this point reentered the Baekmun Banquet Hall and reported.

“Nothing much seems to be happening. Elder Gwangshin appears to be instructing that prisoner who was brought in. The atmosphere feels too serious to interrupt.”

Yoo Jeong-hong waved his hand dismissively, as if to say he understood.

“Understood. Now, even if thunder and lightning strike outside or a typhoon blows, just leave it be.”

“Yes!”

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Cheol Myeong-ho spoke to the Madman in a flat, monotone voice.

“What are you doing, Mad Priest? Why aren’t you bowing to the Master? Did you give your manners to the dogs just because you’re some demonic cultivator from either the Ten Thousand Demons Palace or the Ten Thousand Dumplings Palace? That won’t fly. Hurry up and bow to the Master. Unless you want to die.”

Mad Priest crossed his arms, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

‘Crazy bastards… these three crazy bastard brothers.’

“Huhuhuhuhuhuh.”

After laughing for a long while, the Madman spread his palm right in front of the Fanatic’s face and unleashed a torrent of energy.

Whoosh!

A powerful force, strong enough to shatter mountains, poured forth.

As soon as Kwangshin countered with his shield, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Crack!

The madman’s robes fluttered violently, as if facing a typhoon.

Simultaneously, his entire body swayed as if colliding with a wall of eternal ice. His expression twisted into one of disbelief as he trembled violently, pouring forth his inner energy.

Yet he felt a bizarre sensation, as if he were futilely slapping down surging seawater with his palm.

‘What the hell is this?’

Launching an attack without warning was the Madman’s nature.

He had declared he would take him as a disciple the moment he saw him, and had made the Fist Demon and the madman his own senior brothers. Yet, having launched the first strike, the Madman could not help but reassess the man before him.

A different kind of shock washed over him compared to when he fought Kwon Ma.

Even while exchanging fierce blows, his expression remained calm. Yet his eyes held an unsettling, unpredictable madness.

‘Demon magic? Impossible.’

Despite the collision of their fierce martial energies, the ground remained undisturbed, and no energy waves erupted from either body.

Instead, the Madman’s energy seemed to vanish into thin air, as if being absorbed.

Even from the Mad Demon’s perspective, this was a master of a vastly higher realm. This was because the Mad Demon had never slackened in his training all this time.

The madman couldn’t help but recognize his true identity from the words this man had spoken earlier and his murderous glare.

‘This is the fanatic. He’s still alive.’

The man said to be the strongest in the White Path, who had torn apart and killed the former Heavenly Demon in a joint attack, stood before him. A shiver ran through the Demon King’s entire body.

‘This… this is how strong he was.’

As the Mad Demon gradually reduced his inner energy and withdrew his hand, the fanatic reached out with his left hand, feigning a grab for the Mad Demon’s collar. The instant his opponent reacted, he lashed out with his right hand, slapping him hard across the face.

Smack!

It was a simple combination of feint and strike, yet its speed and execution were flawless. The Madman’s head snapped violently to the side.

The madman, suddenly struck in the face, prepared to counterattack as the fanatic’s hands pounded his entire body. Fist techniques, palm techniques, finger techniques, kicks, then more fist techniques, palm strikes, and kicks followed in rapid succession. The madman couldn’t even fall before being beaten senseless by the fanatic.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Any ordinary master would have died instantly from just one of these hits. Yet the Madman endured.

Kwangshin assaulted Kwangma with a faint smile never leaving his face. At one point, Kwangshin grabbed Kwangma’s arm and pressed down on his shoulder.

The Madman’s knees instantly buckled to the floor.

Thud······!

Kwangshin looked down at Kwangma and said.

“Will you die? Or become my disciple? Answer me. Either choice suits me well. If the demon path chooses death, I welcome it. If you become my disciple, I’ll be delighted to teach you the way of humanity, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom. Your choice cannot take away my joy… You need only choose. You worthless demon scum.”

Kwangshin let out a low, throaty laugh.

Following his defeat by Kwonma, Gwangma now felt he was suffering consecutive losses to Gwangshin. He felt his mind shattering.

Danwooseong, watching with his arms crossed, spoke to the Mad Demon.

“If you want to die, then die. I can’t interfere with what my master is doing either.”

Cheolmyeongho tilted his head and said.

“Brother, we finally have a new apprentice. How can you tell him to die? Out of the question. Youngest Madman, go beg Master’s forgiveness and join us as a disciple. That’s the only way I’ll be at ease. A hot-tempered apprentice won’t be much trouble. Just bring some dumplings now and then.”

Guhk!

Gwangma, who had been holding on, spat out a mouthful of blood the moment he heard he had to run dumpling errands.

Cheolmyeongho hurriedly stepped back, cursing under his breath.

“That filthy bastard… he’s really going all out. Why the sudden blood-spewing?”

Kwangma wiped the blood from around his mouth with his hand and looked at Cheolmyeongho. He really seemed unaware that falling into a state of demonic possession could cause one to vomit blood. That made it all the more frustrating.

The Madman barely managed to part his trembling lips and said.

“Then I’ll die.”

Cheol Myeong-ho sighed and shook his head.

“Pathetic bastard. Drop dead.”

Kwangshin chimed in, his face expressionless.

“Die.”

Danwooseong picked up the thread as if on cue.

“Go to hell.”

The madman blinked his eyes, observing the expressions of the three people. Not a single one showed even the slightest hint of regret over his death or any intention to stop him.

“Haa…”

After a moment of anguish, the madman swallowed hard and slammed his fist against his own forehead.

Thud!

Simultaneously, the madman collapsed to the floor.

Kwang-sin, Dan-woo-seong, and Cheol-myeong-ho stared at him with emotionless expressions. As Kwang-ma’s body twitched slightly, Kwang-sin spoke.

“Is that all it takes to kill you? You’re not even capable of taking your own life.”

Cheol Myeong-ho asked, looking puzzled.

“What? He’s not dead?”

Danwooseong explained.

“He’s mastered a bizarre demonic art that heals wounds.”

The absurd situation of the Mad Demon attempting suicide.

Only the combination of the Demon King’s mastery of the Reincarnation Demon Technique, his unique regenerative abilities, and a shred of clinging to life prevented instant death. While the power was sufficient, it could be considered a failure since he had never attempted suicide before.

It was a case where physical resilience surpassed the force of the attack.

Kwang-sin spoke to the fallen Kwang-ma.

“Quite an unusual demonic art. Well then, I’ll teach you how to kill yourself. First, smash your dantian to turn your inner energy into dust. Then, grab a short dagger and slash your belly until you die. That should do the trick.”

Cheolmyeong-ho nodded vigorously at the Grand Master’s words.

“Truly, your words are most wise. That would kill him.”

The Mad Demon, slowly recovering from his injuries through the Reversal of the Demon’s Wrath technique, rose to his feet. He gasped for breath, then struck his dantian with both palms.

Thud!

At that instant, the self-defense technique he had cultivated his entire life activated unconsciously. Not only the Madman, but Danwooseong and Gwangshin couldn’t help but notice.

But strangely enough, even the sharp-witted Cheol Myeong-ho burst out laughing.

“Ha, this guy’s hilarious. What are you doing? If you don’t want to die, just say you don’t want to die. You crazy bastard.”

Kwangma stared at Cheolmyeongho with a truly dazed expression. Realizing he couldn’t reason with him, he concluded this was no one he could defeat.