Chapter 164

A Disciple’s Ode to His Master

Cheol Myeong-ho couldn’t help himself.

True to his nature, his sharp tongue blurted out.

He’s a man who lived a life that was originally worthless and meaningless. He was beaten by a friend who changed first, and after meeting Kwangshin, his life did change little by little, but his essence was like this from the start.

He was a man of low caliber. So low that he could even tarnish the dignity of this very position created by the Magician.

It was as if the low-level language used at the bottom shattered the gentleman’s dignity.

Cheolmyeongho, however, felt like his bowels would burst listening to that mad old man’s words.

That old man was the reason his master, Gwangshin, had lived in such agony. He was an unforgivable old man.

‘That son of a bitch.’

Cheolmyeongho, seeing the Demon Lord glaring at him, spoke with even greater malice.

“I didn’t come to see a hero. You just seem mad. What do you think, you senile old fool of the Great Mandu Palace?”

At the mention of Mandu Palace, the Mad Demon, who had been observing both sides with a stiff expression until now, struggled to suppress a laugh, his face contorting strangely.

The Mad Demon couldn’t even tell why he was laughing.

Perhaps it was because he’d been running dumpling errands all this time. Or maybe it was because he knew the senior masters’ moods inside out. Either way, the Madman’s eyes were bloodshot from trying so hard to hold back his laughter.

‘And in the midst of all this, a dumpling palace…’

Just as the Demon Scholar was about to speak, Cheolmyeongho bellowed.

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear it. Shut your mouth!”

The noble Magician Gentleman had never engaged in a verbal spat with a lowly commoner from the marketplace, so he had no choice but to shut his mouth.

Instead, the Demon Lord surveyed the masters of the righteous path.

His gaze held reproach, asking where they had found such a creature.

Even the Ten Thousand Horse Palace Lord stared at Cheolmyeongho with an expression of utter bewilderment.

“Hey, kid. You wanna die first?”

Cheol Myeong-ho, now the focus of everyone’s attention, glared at the Manma Palace Lord.

“Who are you? You look like some slick con artist emcee from a street performance troupe, full of tricks. The senile old fool hired you properly. You just stick to hosting.”

This time, even the Manma Palace Lord couldn’t retort to Cheol Myeong-ho’s bizarre outburst.

“Huh…”

It felt like they’d needlessly provoked a madman who shouldn’t be touched. Anyway, if the Ten Thousand Horses Palace Lord moved to kill him, the fanatics and righteous believers sitting nearby would surely step in to block him.

With that, the atmosphere grew peculiar.

The masters of the White Path were protecting him so that Cheolmyeongho could continue speaking.

Cheol Myeong-ho pointed his finger deliberately, like a demonic scholar.

“So the mad old man who climbed the peak was a god who controlled people’s lives, was he? What kind of god was that?”

“······.”

As if suddenly remembering, Cheol Myeong-ho spoke with a serious expression.

“Ah, the god of senility. Pahahahahahahahaha…”

It was a laugh he stubbornly forced out.

Cheol Myeong-ho laughed and swore to himself.

I will laugh even if I die here.

This mad laughter was a hymn of praise to the fanatical master.

.

.

.

Master, that fellow has simply lost his mind.

Do not grieve.

Your disciple will laugh at him to his heart’s content.

.

.

.

As Cheolmyeongho continued laughing like a madman, Gwangshin closed his eyes once, then opened them and let out a laugh.

When Gwangshin laughed, Uisun, feeling satisfied, began to laugh too. As Uisun burst into laughter, Yujeonghong, his heart lightened, joined in laughing as well.

“Hahahahahaha…”

Even the demon, who had been holding back laughter until now, joined in.

“Uwahahahahahaha.”

Everyone found Cheolmyeongho utterly hilarious.

It felt refreshing too.

The situation itself was ridiculous, and it was also funny that the magic side was keeping quiet. If someone tried to kill Cheolmyeong-ho right now, every man present would rise to block the attack. The realization that those gathered here were people who didn’t take each other’s lives lightly made laughter flow once more.

The atmosphere had lightened.

The men, who had grown genuinely gloomy listening to the Mado Junja’s bizarre misdeeds, burst into laughter, collectively shaking off their negative emotions. Even the suffocating atmosphere the Mado Junja had created shattered under the sound of their laughter.

As the laughter subsided, Dan Woo-sung turned to the Demon Knight and asked.

“So, if a hero were to be born in this era, what would you have wanted to do? Surely you weren’t just itching to die.”

Danwooseong deliberately addressed the Demon Lord, as if drawing the danger focused on Cheolmyeongho toward himself.

The Demon Lord would never be angered by such words. Calmly gazing at Cheolmyeongho, the Demon Lord replied.

“I only sought an opponent worthy of my utmost effort. Yet, failing to forge a hero, failing to create a demon god—that too was likely my limitation. That is what has unfolded until now…”

Before the Magician’s words had even finished, Dan Woo-sung deliberately clapped his hands.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.

The sound of applause swallowed the gentleman’s words.

Dan Wooseong then raised his thumb and said.

“You senile old fool, I get it, so stop. Truly, it’s a tedious monologue.”

Even Dan Wooseong, who seemed to be in a foul mood, picked a fight with the Madou Gentleman, causing Cheol Myeongho to burst out laughing again.

“Hahahahaha…”

After all, these two were friends, friends indeed.

Dan Woosung rose as if to block Cheol Myeongho from behind, then swiftly ended the situation that had just unfolded.

“So who is the vanguard?”

Dan Woosung glared at the entire Mado. Behind him stood the seniors, friends, and mentors he wished to live alongside.

He was swept up in a strange sense of elation.

This very feeling was the White Path.

Dan Wooseong was the Kwonwang, ranked as the lowest-ranked master among the top ten masters. That was precisely why he stepped forward first. The opposing side would surely send their lowest-ranked master as well. His plan was to tear that low-ranked opponent to pieces, then recover his internal energy using the Samra Mansang Chukgi Technique, preparing to face the Demon Realm’s noble warrior.

Before the Blue-Eyed Maya seated in the center of the clearing could speak, the Lord of Ten Thousand Horses struck first.

“Master Mok, please instruct me. I am the Kwonwang, the lowest-ranked of the Ten Great Masters.”

Cheongmok Maya glared at the Prince of the Ten Thousand Horses once before rising from the clearing. There was no easy opponent anyway. Having already killed the First of Fujian, there was no particular reason to avoid the King of Power, whose fame lagged far behind the Three Gods.

Cheongmok Maya said to Danwooseong.

“I’ll take him on.”

Dan Woosung suddenly turned around and locked eyes with Gwangshin. Dan Woosung intended to show this fight to Gwangshin.

He intended to sing a different hymn than the one with Cheolmyeongho.

Gwangshin and Danwooseong, who had suddenly met eyes, shared a smile.

‘Be careful.’

‘Yes.’

Cheongmok Maya spoke to Dan Wooseong in a truly leisurely tone.

“Young man, I hope your skill surpasses that of the best in Fujian.”

Dan Woo-sung returned Qing Mu Maya’s words verbatim.

“Old man, I hope your skill surpasses that of Master Jin.”

Only then did Qing Mu Maya’s expression change abruptly.

“Did you kill Master Jin?”

Dan Woosung smiled without affirming or denying it. His expression seemed to say, Why ask something so obvious?

Cheongmok Maya muttered.

“No way.”

It was incomprehensible, given he was the man who had vied with Hwa Sabu for leadership of the Five Elements Demon Sect.

Dan Wooseong, walking toward the open field, glared at the Manmagoongju once before circling around and observing the grandmasters on the three peaks in turn. He too wondered whether the battle here would unfold as fairly as a martial arts contest. But inevitably, if anyone intervened in the contest, a full-scale war would erupt.

‘All-out war isn’t so bad.’

After drawing a wide circle, Dan Wooseong reappeared before Cheongmok Maya.

Cheng Mu Maya charged first.

Closing the distance in an instant, Qingmu Maya extended her right hand. Like branches unfurling, a sickly green demonic energy flowed out from her palm.

Puuuuk!

How could that be called energy?

It was the Wood Spirit Hand technique.

It truly looked like twisted branches that wouldn’t break easily were reaching out. It was the true form of the Thousand-Year Ancient Tree Technique that had tormented and killed the top martial artist of Fujian.

Dan Wuseong dodged the ominous spear-like attack with a flick of his wrist.

In an instant, both men’s speed exploded as their stances and fists clashed, sending dust billowing across the area.

The Demon Cultivator smiled the moment he witnessed the duel he hadn’t seen in ages.

Most of the White Path practitioners watched the duel with tense expressions.

The defining characteristic of the Thousand-Year Ancient Tree Art was that the energy erupting from its tension was so distinct it could take physical form—a quality that concealed deception.

It was never a martial art that only extended from the heart.

Specifically, what Qingmu Maya excelled at was engaging in a clash of palm techniques in this manner, then preferring to pierce the opponent’s throat or vital points with the Thousand-Year Ancient Tree Palm erupting from his entire body, or the Wood Spirit Palm extending from his whole body.

At such moments, Qingmu Maya appeared like a hedgehog enveloped by countless Wood Spirit Arrows.

Demon arts are demon arts.

Therefore, the seemingly ordinary duel with the King of Power was merely psychological warfare—a setup to kill the opponent in one fell swoop with the Moksungsu.

An ominous atmosphere enveloped Gu Huashan.

Even Gwangshin and Uisin sensed that the Grand Master, Cheongmokmaya, was hiding something, but warnings to be cautious held little meaning.

Trusting in the Kwonwang’s skill was all they could do.

Dan Woosung constantly moved, studying Cheongmok Maya’s gaze and expression. Despite being pushed back several times after blocking Dan Woosung’s punches, he radiated an overflowing sense of ease. Normally, one would expect him to be mentally shaken.

The junior disciple’s cultivation was in no way inferior to that of the senior master of the Ten Thousand Horse Palace.

Annoyingly, Danwooseong already knew his own power was deeper than that of Cheongmokmaya.

But he only held a precarious advantage.

With so many eyes watching, there was no need to exert his full strength.

He merely watched Cheongmok Maya’s exceptionally fine sword techniques, parrying, dodging, and countering each strike as if they were evenly matched opponents.

With things standing thus, the remaining task became clear.

Whether their techniques would work against each other, or not.

Cheong Mokmaya was beginning to think about slowly drawing the Mokryeongsu from his body once Kwonwang started deploying defenses as solid as an iron wall.

There were two methods.

One was to charge at the Yang Pai Gu Xiang formation and unleash the Mu Ling Shu, which had a much longer range.

The other was to force an internal energy duel, deploying the Wood Spirit Sword while their hands were locked together.

He was confident in either approach.

At that moment, Dan Woosung’s lips curved into a smile.

It was an intensely provocative smile.

Cheong Mokmaya, who had been pouring out fierce martial energy as if deliberately provoked and enraged, narrowed his brows.

He deliberately abandoned defense, launching himself diagonally into the air as if executing the Yang Pai Gu Xiang opening stance, then spun his entire body while thrusting out both arms.

It was indeed the Yang Pai Gu Xiang technique, the Heaven-Shaking Twin Dragon Hands, which placed little emphasis on defense.

As the immense force surged like a wave, Dan Wuxing calmly channeled his energy into both palms and thrust them forward with ordinary precision.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!

The deafening roar drowned out all other sounds.

The air was thick with dust kicked up by the shockwave, obscuring vision.

In that instant, dozens of wood spirit tendrils shot out simultaneously from Cheongmokmaya’s entire body like the arms of a monster.

The shrieking sound was drowned out by the earlier deafening roar.

The moment dozens of neck-ringed beasts suddenly appeared before Dan Woo-sung’s eyes…

Dan Woo-sung pushed off the ground with his right foot.

It was the Divine Warrior’s ‘Journey Across the Heavens’ technique.

The extended wooden spears followed Dan Wooseong, maintaining an extremely narrow gap right before his eyes.

As the distance widened, Qingmu Maya naturally infused her entire body with even deeper energy.

The wooden spirits moved like serpent heads imbued with individual wills, relentlessly pursuing Dan Woosung.

Hovering in midair, Dan Wooseong narrowly evaded the neck-snaking serpent before crossing his double blades and unleashing a thunderous strike just before touching the ground.

Following this, Danwooseong’s countermeasures unfolded with successive layers of supreme ascending subtlety.

His footwork was the Divine Traveler’s Roaming Heaven and Earth Technique, his elimination of the Wood Spirit was the Thunder Wall, his breathing was the All-Things Gathering Qi Technique, and his ground-based movement was his body art…

Only then did the Mokryeongsu’s advance pause momentarily.

Standing still, Dan Woo-sung stomped his left foot, unleashing a thunder fist.

The white fist grew enormous, obscuring Dan Woosung’s figure behind it…

Dan Woosung, leaning forward with hands behind his back, lunged forward, chasing the Thunder Fist. The short aftereffect of the Thunder Fist strike was proof of his skill.

Following the Thunder Fist, Danwooseong lightly leapt upward.

Cheongmok Maya extinguished that massive brain-shaped lightning bolt with her right arm, then sent a neck-searing strike with her left hand toward the Fist King presumed to be behind it.

In an instant, the form of the Kwonwang, suspended in midair, turned as white as lightning.

This was the Kwonwang’s innate martial skill, the Transcendent Light Body Technique.

The moment Qingmu Maya lost sight of the Fist King, he uttered a single word.

“Huh?”

Time seemed to slow.

Just then, sitting in front of where Qingmu Maya was looking was Guangxin.

The instant Gwangshin’s eyes widened…

Cheongmok Maya swung her hand blade backward like a horizontal slash. But before her arm could fully extend behind her, both shoulders were seized.

“Ha…”

Before any words could escape, Danwooseong, who held Cheongmokmaya’s shoulders, tore her body apart with both hands right before Gwangshin’s eyes.

Pluff!

Gwonwang, holding Cheongmokmaya’s body in both hands, looked up at the sky for a moment.

Splatter!

The blood that had spurted high up splattered onto Danwooseong’s face. Only then, his face covered in blood, did Danwooseong meet Gwangshin’s gaze and speak.

“Master, it’s a gift.”