The Return of the Crazy Demon-Chapter 236: Grand Strategist Yi Zaha

While the Beggars’ Sect Leader blocked my front like a sturdy wall, I sifted through 38,500 different strategies in my mind, but nothing stood out.

“......”

To exaggerate, unless the Cult Leader himself suddenly showed up and joined forces with the Beggars’ Sect Leader, we were completely outmatched. The likelihood of that happening was about the same as the Cult Leader achieving enlightenment and becoming a beggar of the Beggars’ Sect.

Suddenly, I looked up at the clear sky.

‘Today's weather: still clear.’

Then I heard the Beggars’ Sect Leader speak.

“Cheonak, it’s been a while. Shall we go one-on-one? Or are you all coming at once? I don’t mind either way.”

Scholar Cheonak responded with a laugh.

“Today’s not the time for such theatrics.”

Somehow, it sounded like he was telling us not to expect a romanticized duel today. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The Beggars’ Sect Leader turned to me.

“...Why are you still here, Munju? This is not a fight you can handle.”

The White-Robed Scholar added,

“Zaha, I never said I’d let you go. Stay right there.”

Behind the Beggars’ Sect Leader’s back, I quietly prepared Ilwol Gwangcheon and calmly replied,

“Just step aside for a moment.”

As the Sect Leader turned slightly, I lunged forward, wrapped in the aura of Ilwol Gwangcheon, charging at the three Scholars.

The Beggars’ Sect Leader and the White-Robed Scholar shouted in unison:

“Zaha!”

“Be careful!”

With a loud crackling sound, Ilwol Gwangcheon manifested—and startled, the three Scholars simultaneously lashed out at me. Thinking I might actually die here, I immediately switched Ilwol Gwangcheon into a Light Veil and flung my arms wide in the shape of a great cross.

In an instant, the Light Veil I created devoured all the sound in the vicinity.

‘This is a gamble.’

I converted the energy of Ilwol Gwangcheon into Reversal of Heaven and let the radiant veil absorb the deadly strikes from Cheonak—one of the Three Calamities—the White-Robed Scholar, my past-life nemesis, and the real-named Scholar who had killed a disciple of the Hwangbo Clan.

Through the semi-transparent veil of light, I could see Cheonak’s palm energy, the Scholar’s chi, and the true-named Scholar’s force distinctly.

There was no sound, yet it felt like my eardrums were being torn apart.

Their attacks bounced off the Reversal of Heaven veil and began to reflect back toward their senders, but even I was blasted away in the opposite direction, as if caught in a storm.

In midair, the Beggars’ Sect Leader caught my wrist, and I gripped his tightly in return.

Without a word, I yanked him onto my back and started running.

From a grand strategist’s perspective—

Of the 38,500 strategies available, fleeing at full speed felt like the most efficient, the most optimal, the most intelligent option. Of course, up to this point, everything was premeditated.

The next part of the plan would be executed while on the run.

Exposing the Reversal of Heaven veil—one of the rarest ultimate techniques—was a regretful move, but survival came first.

I spoke as I carried the Beggars’ Sect Leader on my back.

“Leader!”

“Why are we suddenly running?!”

“If you survive, I’d die fighting. So just listen. Stop worrying about Noshin for now. Because of your disciple, you’ve lost your composure. Trust me. Noshin won’t die.”

“You’re sure?”

So he was worried after all.

“Yes! Those bastards want to kill you and use Noshin like a slave. That way, the entire Beggars’ Sect falls into their lap. Why would they kill him? Controlling Beggars’ Sect gives them a massive intel advantage over both the Cult ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ and the Martial Alliance. Worry about me instead.”

“Understood. But must we run like this? I’m faster.”

“......Just stay on my back for now.”

“Why?”

“Save your internal energy. The fight hasn’t even started.”

Thankfully, unlike during earlier light footwork training, the Sect Leader now felt as light as a feather. I wasn’t even sure whether I was using Jeunjong or my usual footwork, or some hybrid that had never existed before—I was running that fast. I zigzagged behind buildings, scaled walls, switched directions repeatedly, and only sprinted at full speed across open fields after creating enough distance.

I had a half-step lead when I suddenly felt a chill and asked,

“...Are they already catching up?”

The Beggars’ Sect Leader glanced back.

“They’re already here.”

Of course I knew. The laughter of the White-Robed Scholar echoed from behind—stretching long, ghost-like across the field.

How did they recover so quickly?

I couldn’t even see how they had countered the backlash from the Reversal of Heaven. But I hadn’t chosen to flee for nothing.

“Senior, the true-named Scholar is blind. If we sprint, only Cheonak and the Scholar can catch up. That means...”

The Sect Leader cut me off.

“...The blind one came in a palanquin.”

“Palanquin? You said palanquin? That’s cheating.”

The Sect Leader explained,

“Four light-footed masters are carrying the true-named Scholar. They’re fast.”

They were completely insane.

“But it’s still only the three Scholars, right?”

“There are over thirty following behind them. The gap’s widening. Cheonak and the Scholar are leading.”

I focused on the road ahead and veered toward a desolate plain, trying to recall our path. The Sect Leader asked in a more composed tone,

“Can you even fight after running like this?”

“If I’m tired, so are Cheonak and the Scholar. I’m counting on you, Senior. Now do you see the brilliance of my strategy, one that even Sima Yi would envy?”

I planned to let the breathless Cheonak and Scholar fight the fully-rested Sect Leader I’d graciously carried here. The leader of beggars burst into laughter.

“Hahaha.”

That laugh was enough. A laughing Sect Leader brings blessings. I couldn’t laugh—I was too winded.

‘Well, that chills the mood a bit.’

Anyway, the plan was to exhaust the Scholars with relentless pursuit, then drop off the fully intact Beggars’ Sect Leader to settle the score. The side strategy of distancing the true-named Scholar had failed, though.

Didn’t expect a palanquin.

The Sect Leader said,

“They’ll catch up soon. Cheonak and Baekui are incredibly fast. The blind one is falling behind.”

My decision to flee wasn’t just instinct—it was cold analysis. What if another Scholar showed up? Or worse, the elusive Swift Party Leader? If so, we’d be doomed.

“Any other masters following?”

“Seems not. The Scholar gave orders—some of the trailing group veered off, likely to intercept Alliance Leader Im and buy time. Where are we headed? This way leads to a cliff.”

While running, I answered without much thought.

“We’re going to the cliff, of course.”

Why? One reason.

Jumping off a cliff wouldn’t necessarily stop Cheonak or the Scholar, but the blind one wouldn’t be able to follow. Even with skilled carriers, that’s pushing it.

The Sect Leader asked belatedly,

“You mean to jump?”

“We’ll either cross it or leap. That place isn’t made for the blind.”

“Not a bad idea, but... you should put me down now.”

A cold chill ran down my spine.

From far behind came, “Haomunju...” and then right near my ear, the same voice said, “You’ve gotten faster.”

I immediately let the Sect Leader down.

The moment Shin Gae’s feet touched the ground, he exploded with force.

KWA-AAAAANG!

The explosion boomed, and when I turned, the two-on-one had already begun. Shin Gae unleashed energy at Cheonak and the Scholar. If only I’d fled farther—they might’ve tired out more. Still, I’d managed to buy a breath or two in this master-level clash. No matter how skilled those two were, overwhelming a prepared Sect Leader wouldn’t be easy.

I took a moment to catch my breath and observe the battle.

“......”

The Sect Leader radiated a sickly yellow aura from both palms, like a rampaging Yellow Dragon. His movements were too fast to follow, but the golden chi left visible trails—making him appear truly draconic.

Cheonak fought like a mad tiger who hadn’t washed his hair in years. Whenever his face flashed into view, he was grinning and baring his teeth.

Meanwhile, the White-Robed Scholar remained calm, his movements sly and nimble—like a white crane overdosed on elixirs.

‘That slippery bastard.’

Just as I’d hoped, only Cheonak and the Scholar had caught up. They immediately launched a joint attack, but even I could tell they weren’t overpowering the Sect Leader.

‘Good. Confirmed.’

Wherever they moved, the ground cratered beneath them. The deafening blasts made it hard to breathe normally.

Once the fight started, the three ignored me completely. Most masters wouldn’t dare interfere in this fight.

If I can’t trust the Sect Leader, who can I trust?

So I left him to his two-on-one and darted away. I found a shallow depression in the ground, flung myself down like a desert animal, and began observing.

“Whew... here comes the self-loathing.”

The true-named Scholar’s palanquin would arrive soon.

Just how strong was someone who could kill a disciple of the Hwangbo Clan?

Honestly, he looked even stronger than the Heavenly Alliance Leader. That’s why I fled.

I recalled roughly 12,300 strategies in a flash. To use Zaha Divine Arts properly, I needed rage. But planning strategies dulled my anger—what a pathetic contradiction.

They say heaven helps those who help themselves, but right now the Crazy Demon inside me wasn’t lending a damn hand.

‘Goddamn it...’

When I saw dust rising, I pulled out my wooden sword and prepared an ambush.

‘Assault Commander Cha Seong-tae, reporting for duty.’

Damn it.

Why would I think of Cha Seong-tae’s line now?

Anyway, I had to become Assault Commander Yi Zaha. The palanquin approached, incredibly fast. But honestly, they looked pitiful. What sins had they committed in a past life to be carrying a blind man like that?

‘Sorry, but you’re all dying today.’

I waited until the palanquin was near, then rose and unleashed a low sweeping sword energy.

SHRREEEEEEEEE!

I lowered the attack point and slashed wildly, flinging waves of sword energy. The blind Scholar leapt into the air.

But I wasn’t aiming for him—I was after the palanquin bearers.

In an instant, I sliced their legs off. They screamed and collapsed. Honestly, they weren’t weak—they just couldn’t abandon their burden. That moment of hesitation cost them their legs.

Only then did I lower my sword and approach the blind Scholar.

I thought the bearers’ moans might disrupt his hearing, but...

He casually swung his sword a few times and killed them all—then turned to face me.

“......”

A man who stares down a blind man—that’s me.

Chills.

His white eyes, those pupil-less orbs, locked onto me.

“Haomunju, is it?”

Just in case, I sidestepped. His head turned with me. I danced around and replied in a distorted voice.

“Just a wandering swordsman. Any problem?”

The blind Scholar smiled faintly.

“Let’s see if you still joke when you’re dying.”

He charged like a ghost. I unleashed sword wind from my wooden blade while retreating. I stirred up a storm of dirt and dust, then swept it all up in my sword wind and hurled it at him.

But with a few swings, he cleared the haze and gave me back a crystal-clear sky.

I nodded solemnly.

“Fine. Let’s do this properly. First, your name—”

“Silence.”

“Son of a bitch.”

He lunged again, and I dropped low and ran.

He might be blind, but he followed impressively well.

Whenever sword energy flew toward my back, I dodged mid-air, spun, twisted sideways, even lay tilted in midair to avoid it. I ran left, right, jumped high—so exhausting I almost reconsidered fighting.

But no.

Exploit the opponent’s weakness—always.

So I kept running.

I’m not about to lose a light footwork battle to a blind man.

“Scholar, shall we test our footwork first?”

“A Munju fleeing like this—don’t you feel ashamed?”

Even while bolting, I didn’t drop the banter.

“Ashamed? Never once in my life. Know what that means? I’m shameless.”

I praised myself and mustered all the courage I had.

Hunted by the Martial Alliance, chased by the Demonic Cult, now pursued by a blind man—who else could claim such a trifecta?

Only me.

But as I neared the cliff, Scholar’s subordinates popped out, surrounding the area. Somewhere nearby, I heard Chilgyeom’s voice.

“Munju, you’ve been surrounded.”

I found him and replied,

“I got myself caught on purpose. Out of old friendship, I’ll spare you. Fall back.”

As I spun and surveyed the crowd...

A whole host of nameless experts had gathered, watching me like I was a circus act.

Chilgyeom offered terms.

“Kneel and surrender. I’ll let you live. We have history—I'll at least treat you like a slave.”

The encirclement laughed darkly. I straightened my expression and spoke to the blind Scholar.

“Did you never teach your subordinates manners? I may be your enemy, but I’m still the head of a sect. What kind of disrespect is this?”

The Scholar turned toward Chilgyeom and said,

“Watch your mouth.”

I sheathed my wooden sword and dropped my arms, exhaling long and slow. I felt at peace. The blind Scholar was disadvantaged in group combat. He’d leave it to his subordinates while regaining his energy.

His minions were my shield. As they crept closer, tightening the noose, I thought of one—no, just one—technique.

‘Will it work? It has to.’

I recalled the mindset of the Lecher. What did he plan to do, after freezing a woman solid with Ice Arts?

At last, the cold fury of Moonlight Cold Heart Technique began rising inside me. I didn’t even know what to call this new technique, so I just muttered what came to mind.

“Lecher, you son of a bitch...”