The Return of the Crazy Demon-Chapter 238: I Am a Legend

I arrived where the Three Calamities were fighting and observed the situation.

Shin Gae and Cheonak were engaged in a one-on-one duel, while at a suitable distance, the White-Robed Scholar sat in a lotus position, watching the battle unfold.

It was unclear whether he had withdrawn or was injured.

Shin Gae and Cheonak were utilizing a vast area as they fought, and from a distance, it still looked like a Yellow Dragon and a Red Tiger were clashing.

As I watched, I began to understand why the White-Robed Scholar had withdrawn.

There was no room to interfere.

It was like a painted scene where the Yellow Dragon and Red Tiger filled the entire pure white space.

It was a breathtaking sight—nothing more, nothing less.

Though I couldn’t see the White-Robed Scholar’s expression, he too seemed lost in awe, appreciating the moving artwork.

It felt as though someone barging in would only ruin the artistic beauty of the scene.

That’s how impressive Shin Gae and Cheonak’s fight was.

Without disturbing the White-Robed Scholar’s appreciation, I walked over and sat cross-legged at an appropriate spot.

Only then did the White-Robed Scholar turn his head toward me.

“......”

Ignoring his gaze, I continued admiring the Yellow Dragon and the Red Tiger. To reach the realm of the Martial God, I had to witness this fight with my own eyes and imprint it in my heart. Suddenly, a thought came to me.

I already possessed the Heavenly Pearl. If I cut myself off from the world for a while and channeled the Heavenly Pearl’s power into internal energy, I would grow stronger at the fastest rate. The problem was, during that period of isolation, everyone I knew might die.

Turning my back on the world wasn’t my way.

That’s why I was going through all this trouble...

The White-Robed Scholar interrupted my thoughts.

“...Yi Zaha, where is the Blind Scholar? Why are you here alone?”

I answered while watching the fight with my arms crossed.

“The Blind Scholar was unfortunately killed by his own subordinates.”

The White-Robed Scholar responded in a scolding tone.

“Can’t you stop with the lies? Why is it that every time you open your mouth, it’s a lie?”

“It’s not a lie, it’s the truth.”

I looked away from the White-Robed Scholar...

Then I focused on the expression of the Red Tiger—no, Cheonak—from afar.

Cheonak was still smiling.

But he wasn’t the only one smiling. At times, Shin Gae also let out hearty laughter as they fought. He looked pleased with Cheonak’s counterattacks. Perhaps the only moments those two could genuinely laugh were when they were clashing with fellow Calamities. Seeing the Cult Leader laugh made me smile as well.

‘He’s enjoying himself.’

Suddenly, the White-Robed Scholar shouted at me from the side.

“Yi Zaha!”

“What?”

“I asked where the Blind Scholar is! Why would his own subordinates kill him?”

I turned my head and glared at the White-Robed Scholar who was interrupting my appreciation.

“You crazy bastard. I said he’s dead. How could I have killed him? Are you saying I’m stronger than the Blind Scholar?”

The White-Robed Scholar replied,

“That’s not possible. No way.”

“That’s what I’m saying...”

“What about the subordinates who followed him?”

“They’re all dead.”

The White-Robed Scholar let out a long sigh and resumed watching the fight.

I, too, returned to spectating.

Watching fires and watching fights were said to be the most entertaining things in the world, but even they couldn’t compare to the duel between the Yellow Dragon and Red Tiger.

I couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Incredible.”

After exchanging a round of force, the two flew in opposite directions like flashes of light, and just as they stopped mid-air, they landed on the ground. Though they were a good distance away, the aftershock of the force clash rode the wind and reached where I sat.

My hair fluttered momentarily.

Shin Gae’s voice rang out.

“Cheonak, shall we take a short break?”

Cheonak’s voice was even clearer.

“Old man, you’re tired. Take a rest.”

“No way I’m tired. Just think for a moment. We’ve had too many meaningless attacks.”

Soon the two sat far apart on the ground, each lost in thought.

Cheonak folded his arms and nodded.

“You’re right.”

As I watched the two, I felt strangely satisfied. Seeing martial artists so powerful they could touch the heavens acknowledging each other and taking a break was deeply moving.

‘This is good.’

Only then did Cheonak notice me and ask the White-Robed Scholar,

“Where’s the Blind Scholar?”

The White-Robed Scholar answered,

“Seems he was killed by Yi Zaha.”

From a fair distance, Cheonak stared at me. For a moment, I felt as if his eyes turned crimson and his face transformed into that of a giant tiger. Strangely, though, I didn’t feel much fear.

Cheonak spoke to me in a voice as clear as if he were right beside me.

“With your level, it would have been impossible. What happened?”

I looked Cheonak straight in the eyes and answered.

“It was impossible for someone like me.”

“I know that.”

“He was killed by his own subordinates.”

“Why do you keep lying?”

I figured if Cheonak got up and rushed at me, he’d arrive with a single breath.

But with my personality, I couldn’t put it nicely.

“The Blind Scholar killed a palanquin bearer. He was screaming from having his legs severed, but the Blind Scholar seemed annoyed by the distraction and lost his own legs in turn. Even though his martial prowess was far superior, he kept sacrificing his subordinates. If he’d taken their advice and fought properly, I would have lost.”

Cheonak asked, as if curious about what came next.

“And then?”

“They charged at me together, so I froze them all at once.”

“You’ve even learned frost techniques. And after that?”

Grinning with bared teeth, I answered,

“The subordinates who were his eyes and mouth couldn’t function anymore. He lost his legs, and then his eyes again. While I danced among the frozen men, the Blind Scholar—still trying to kill me—was stabbed by one of his own subordinates who had been waiting all along. Why? Because he was blind.”

“......”

“Then I finished it. So was it because I was strong that he died? Or because he abandoned his subordinates? Or did he just kill himself? I don’t know. The bastard died, and that’s that. What’s certain is, I was weaker than the Blind Scholar. You already knew that, didn’t you?”

I crossed my arms again and glared at Cheonak.

“Do you understand now, senior?”

From afar, Cheonak bared his white teeth. He must’ve smiled wide. He nodded slightly and said to me,

“Mm, yeah. So you’re Yi Zaha. Lucky bastard.”

“Luck is also skill.”

Suddenly, Cheonak burst into laughter while staring at the sky.

The White-Robed Scholar said to me,

“You should’ve just explained it like that from the beginning...”

I looked at the White-Robed Scholar.

“Hey, fellow scholar.”

“What?”

“You wouldn’t listen even if I told you the truth.”

“What’s the truth?”

I side-eyed the White-Robed Scholar and said,

“You guys.”

“Yeah? What about us? Go on.”

“Why are you trying to kill the Beggars’ Sect Leader? Because he’s of the White Path? Because you were ordered to? Or because you truly want to? The Sect Leader isn’t someone who’d make enemies. He’s not a tyrant like an emperor. He’s the kind of man who’d give alms to a passing traveler. A man who doesn’t forget kindness and ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ steps in when injustice arises. With what justification are you trying to kill the leader of the beggars? He’s not interested in fame, power, or wealth. That’s who the Sect Leader is. What justification do you have? What cause? You have nothing. A man like the Sect Leader is rare. No one should kill him. That’s the truth. But you bastards never listen even when I spell it out.”

“......”

“Of course, if you’ve got some terrifying superior who gave the order, then you have to follow it. Sure, you do. How can a slave disobey orders? Were you dreaming of being a slave when you studied so hard? Impressive bastard.”

“Your words go too far.”

I tapped my head with a finger and glared at the White-Robed Scholar.

“Think a little. Is that thought really yours? Is that malice really yours? A so-called scholar doesn’t even know what’s right. You’re drunk on your secret society games. Just go die, you bastard. Didn’t I say? We should raise heroes over a thousand years. To stop another emperor from rising... That very Sect Leader is the one who grew into a true hero through countless trials and miracles. Raising heroes and protecting them—those are one and the same.”

The White-Robed Scholar chuckled.

“You madman, here you go again.”

I started raising my voice and finally shouted.

“What justification do you bastards have to kill a hero when you were once oppressed by an emperor? Can’t you see that man before you is like Jing Ke? You damn scholar bastards... Don’t go around bragging about reading a few books. People who never read a single line are better than you. Go die.”

Suddenly, I locked eyes with Cheonak again. Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I pointed my finger at him.

“You too, senior. You’d be better off just dropping dead.”

“......”

Cheonak picked his ear and asked the Sect Leader,

“What’s with that guy? Did I hear him right? Did he just tell me to drop dead?”

As Cheonak stood up, the Sect Leader stood as well.

“That’s just how he is. Please understand.”

“Oh? Then don’t expect me to understand.”

Suddenly, Cheonak disappeared and appeared right in front of me. Just as my hair fluttered, the Sect Leader arrived almost simultaneously and said to Cheonak,

“What are you doing to a distant junior?”

Cheonak grinned and plopped back down, glaring at me. He seemed ready to pick a fight.

“Zaha, tone it down.”

The Sect Leader gave me a look telling me to restrain myself and also sat down.

In an instant, I, the White-Robed Scholar, Cheonak, and the Sect Leader sat in a circle, studying each other’s expressions.

Cheonak said to me,

“Master of Haomun, keep talking.”

I straightened my back and answered.

“Shall I, senior Cheonak?”

“Yes, our pale-faced little junior.”

I felt like Cheonak would suddenly swing a paw and rip me apart, but I couldn’t hold back what I wanted to say.

“A man with great strength suddenly storming into a yard and twisting a chicken’s neck out of rage... that’s what it feels like.”

Cheonak pointed to himself in shock.

“Me?”

I nodded.

“Suddenly killing a chicken is already pathetic enough, but some do it to people. Slaughter without cause is something only fools do. Those who treat the weak like livestock—I entered the martial world to kill such people.”

“And who the hell are you?”

“I’m the leader of workers.”

I pointed to the Sect Leader.

“Our senior Shin Gae is the leader of beggars. We know why the weak are weak.”

Cheonak looked at the Sect Leader, then back at me.

“Is there a reason?”

I nodded.

“...Because they’re too busy surviving. They have mouths to feed and no time to train in martial arts like us. They don’t want to live like slaves, but they have children to raise and old parents to care for, so they choose to live like slaves. They work, get paid. Wake up early, sleep late. That’s most people. And people like you treat them like chickens and cows, beat them to death. Because you don’t understand why the weak are weak. But senior Shin Gae and I understand. The Beggars’ Sect started to protect disabled beggars. And Haomun was made so workers wouldn’t be beaten to death by martial artists.”

I looked at Cheonak, then at the White-Robed Scholar next to me.

“I was never a slave to begin with. I don’t take orders. If I had been born in the time of the First Emperor, I’d have been Jing Ke. Poverty never mocked me.”

I pointed at Cheonak.

“Even someone as strong as you can’t dismiss me lightly. That’s who I am.”

Cheonak laughed with a dumbfounded look.

“You look like you’d die if I hit you once. Where’s this confidence coming from?” 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

I looked at Cheonak, the Sect Leader, and the White-Robed Scholar with a bit of a blank stare.

“Within me, the sun and moon I’ve absorbed are colliding against the flow of nature. I will never die alone. If they clash and I explode, we all vanish together.”

My vision blurred for a moment, and I saw the whole world turn purplish.

The clear sky, the scholars’ complexions, and the worried face of the Sect Leader all turned purple.

I must’ve unintentionally activated my Zaha Divine Art.

But unlike before, my heart remained calm.

I just wanted to talk, so I threatened Cheonak, one of the Three Calamities.

“If you strike me, we all become legends here. I’ll die, but so will the Calamity and the White-Robed Scholar.”

Cheonak, wondering what the hell I was talking about, looked to the White-Robed Scholar for his opinion.

After a moment of thought, the White-Robed Scholar said,

“...Don’t hit him, idiot. Look at his eyes. You don’t mess with madmen.”

In that moment, I felt that if I swallowed the saliva building in my throat, my bluff would be exposed. So I spouted nonsense as it came to mind.

“I am a legend.”

Right after I said it, I casually swallowed the saliva and kept a composed expression. Cheonak was still staring at me, but I activated the art of detachment and maintained a blank face.

“......”

If I had known this trick before, I wouldn’t have lost money in the gambling hall.

Even now, I’m thinking such pointless thoughts.

Life is mysterious.