The Return of the Crazy Demon-Chapter 239: I Imagined the World Being Dyed

Cheonak said to me.

“It’s been a while since someone threatened me. How refreshing.”

As I watched Cheonak’s expression, I sensed something was off. Cheonak continued speaking.

“So to summarize, it means it’s fine as long as I don’t kill you?”

I gave a short shake of my head and looked at Cheonak.

‘Is this bastard insane? That’s one hell of a twisted interpretation.’

The White-Robed Scholar swallowed and warned,

“Cheonak, don’t do it.”

Cheonak laughed at being told not to. Floating toward me while seated in mid-air, Cheonak struck at me with his left palm.

Since it was a simple linear ambush, I immediately blocked with my right palm.

Puhk... A sound burst out, and Cheonak laughed.

“You’re threatening me in a way even the Cult Leader couldn’t?”

While pouring the full extent of my internal energy into my right palm, I felt my blood surge in reverse. At first, it was a normal palm strike, but Cheonak was gradually raising his internal energy. Even though I knew his inner strength was deeper than mine, actually clashing with him made my insides boil with anger.

‘Fine then, let’s do this.’

The Beggars’ Sect Leader spoke.

“How can a junior possibly endure your energy?”

Cheonak glanced sideways at the Beggars’ Sect Leader.

“If he can’t endure it, he should take responsibility for what he said.”

The Beggars’ Sect Leader snorted.

“Responsibility, huh.”

Suddenly, another Puhk— sound rang out as the Beggars’ Sect Leader and Cheonak clashed palms. Was he trying to save me? Or was he trying to blow me up and die together? I was confused.

Cheonak spread his palms to both sides and laughed.

“Hehehe. Fine, at this level, the Haomun Lord can endure. I’ll deal with you with only my leftover strength.”

Even while taking in Shin Gae’s full palm strike, Cheonak casually opened his mouth.

As I was barely enduring Cheonak’s energy, the moment Shin Gae joined, I took a deep breath. But then, Cheonak’s energy surged again without pause, making it hard to breathe.

‘Is this really his leftover strength?’

The White-Robed Scholar said with a troubled expression,

“Good grief, I saw it with my own eyes. Because of this guy’s freakish energy, the Four Heavenly Kings’ protectors disappeared, and even the Kings themselves retreated. I’m telling you, it’s not an exaggeration. Shouldn’t this be added to your arsenal, Cheonak? Though I’d be fine claiming it too. By the way, if Yi Zaha really explodes Ilwol Gwangcheon from within, how will you stop it? What a waste of martial arts.”

I cursed at him with my eyes.

‘This bastard.’

Cheonak responded with a grin,

“Shut up, Baek family bastard. Since I’ve got Yi Zaha pinned, you deal with the Beggars’ Sect Leader.”

The White-Robed Scholar looked around and said,

“That won’t do. If a truly formidable expert shows up while the four of us are clashing, who’s going to handle it? I’ve never heard of four people suffering mutual destruction all at once. If someone’s aiming to take advantage, we’re screwed. I’ll just coolly observe and act as referee.”

Then, after scanning the surroundings, the White-Robed Scholar suddenly thrust out his left palm and attacked Shin Gae.

Puhk!

My eyes widened.

‘Why does what he says and what he does never match?’

Before I could think rationally, I also struck the White-Robed Scholar with my left palm. I couldn’t just watch Shin Gae die in front of me.

Puhk!

The White-Robed Scholar caught my energy with a shocked expression.

“Are you insane?”

Only after the strike did I realize my mistake—but I didn’t regret it. The situation was already dangerous, so what was the point of fearing more risk? Instead, from now on, I would even use the Heavenly Pearl to threaten.

This was a game of wits with my life on the line.

Still concerned, Shin Gae checked on me.

“You alright?”

I only nodded, afraid that exhaling would weaken me. Anyway, eight palms were clashing simultaneously, all emitting force.

“......”

Shin Gae opened his mouth.

“Cheonak, why not stop now? This is a meaningless battle.”

Cheonak replied,

“Even mighty Shin Gae is feeling fear?”

“Of course not.”

Then Cheonak turned to mock the White-Robed Scholar.

“And you?”

The White-Robed Scholar smiled.

“To be honest, the moment Zaha explodes, I plan to run. I want to see whether Ilwol Gwangcheon is faster, or I am.”

In other words, he wasn’t afraid.

I had underestimated these three.

“......”

Cheonak teased me.

“Go ahead and explode, junior. Let’s see who dies.”

It was only after hearing his taunt that I laughed. My threatening expression had been good—but the words I uttered became reality.

Come to think of it, since my arms were spread to both sides, I couldn’t form Ilwol Gwangcheon.

Fortunately, Shin Gae was pouring out an incredible amount of energy, and the force of the scholars pressing against me was weakening.

To think someone would go this far to save me. Looking at Shin Gae’s old face, my vision blurred slightly. For the first time in a while, gratitude overcame my anger.

‘Wow. I really do live a strange life. Who do I think I am.......’

Not wanting Shin Gae to die, I did everything I could: unleashing Golden Nine Free-Wandering from my right palm and Moonlight Cold Heart Technique from my left.

Victory didn’t matter.

If I couldn’t hold out, we all die.

‘This is ridiculous.’

I held on fairly well for half a moment.

Despite my effort, Cheonak’s energy pushed back Golden Nine Free-Wandering and tried to penetrate. I designated my palm as the last wall and braced myself like defending a fortress. The cold energy from Moonlight Cold Heart was diffusing oddly, but I didn’t give up.

Using two martial arts simultaneously, reading the room, thinking fast, maintaining breath—my crown felt like it was burning.

Even amid this, Shin Gae kept attacking the White-Robed Scholar and Cheonak to ease the pressure on me.

Suddenly, Shin Gae’s stomach growled. The three of us turned to look at him at once.

‘Wow, he really is a beggar.’

Shin Gae gulped.

“I’m hungry. What are we even doing? We honed these martial arts just to survive. Pathetic.”

Cheonak shook his head, looking bewildered by the beggar’s words.

“Ha...”

The White-Robed Scholar snorted too.

“You’re something else.”

Looking at them now, I realized I was the only one taking this seriously.

When you lack internal energy, even jokes become impossible—such is the internal struggle of martial artists.

Among the eight palms, estimating the depth of power, it felt like the order was me, White-Robed Scholar, Cheonak, then Shin Gae, in ascending depth. As time passed, Shin Gae started overwhelming the two, and I began counterattacking alongside him.

To think I’d be attacking Cheonak.

Of course, Shin Gae was bashing both of them on the head with a stick.

I cheered him on while tapping their heads with chopsticks—my form of support. Anyway, I was now on the offensive too.

Because of the beggars’ commander, I was becoming a useful man.

‘Nice.’

Sweat rolled down the White-Robed Scholar’s face, then hissed and evaporated. Steam rose from Cheonak’s crown. I couldn’t talk, so I mocked them with my expression.

Every time our eyes met, I made the most annoying face possible as I released internal energy.

Summarized, my expression said: “Heeheeheehee.”

Suddenly, Cheonak and the White-Robed Scholar exchanged glances, and the force pressing against me intensified. It seemed they’d changed strategy, as the four of us, palms locked, started spinning in place together.

It felt like riding an amusement ride—not pleasant.

‘Goddamn it, what now?’

When I came to, Cheonak was fully engaging Shin Gae, and the White-Robed Scholar focused on me.

It was a confirmation that I was the weakest among the four. Cheonak suddenly erected a barrier, providing only minimal defense against me and fully attacking Shin Gae. I’d been in plenty of internal energy battles, but this level was beyond me.

I was annoyed enough to go cross-eyed but couldn’t do anything.

‘This is nuts.’

In a moment of snapped rationality, I looked at Shin Gae and stitched my reason back together like sewing thread.

Honestly, I had no intention of exploding Ilwol Gwangcheon and dying together. The beggars’ commander was trying to save me—so I wasn’t planning a mutual suicide.

‘I don’t know. Just hang on.’

When I suddenly glared at the White-Robed Scholar with a murderous look, he flinched—failing to maintain his poker face.

‘Yeah, this guy can’t go all out.’

He was the one who feared Ilwol Gwangcheon the most.

I suddenly felt the internal energy paths narrowing, so I scolded the Heavenly Pearl.

‘Time for some expansion. Expansion, you bastard. Damn you, Heavenly Pearl.’

The moment I grouped it with the Lecher as a bastard, I heard a crackle in my mouth, and felt blood vessels burst in my eyes.

Did the Heavenly Pearl understand?

Suddenly, a dam inside my body collapsed. The three others looked at me in shock.

“......!”

My whole body felt stifled, and just like when I unleashed the Lecher bastard, yin and yang energy erupted from me like waves. I saw a violet mist rise like heat haze, and my whole body was wrapped in currents.

I released Violet Mist Energy throughout my body.

Of course, this Violet Mist came from the Heavenly Pearl. Breathing became easier, but my body screamed in pain. The kind of pain that’s hard to describe. I guessed the Violet Mist forced open my inner pathways—making me moan unintentionally.

“Agh...”

Everything I saw turned violet.

And for some reason, I suddenly thought of wild berries. I had no idea why. Maybe because I was in so much pain, strange thoughts flowed freely. It wasn’t Ilwol Gwangcheon that was the problem—it felt like I might shit myself.

Because of the pain, I opened my mouth.

“I’m gonna blow.”

The White-Robed Scholar and Cheonak looked at me in alarm. I turned to Shin Gae.

“Senior, get out now.”

Shin Gae smiled calmly and replied.

“That’s not possible. Life and death aren’t so different. I’ll stop it somehow, so endure. If we disappear, there will be no one left to stop the Cult Leader. Don’t give up.”

Even now, I felt I understood why Shin Gae had grown so powerful. He was simply a man of incredibly high spiritual caliber. Even in the face of death, he did not waver.

Like a high monk of Buddhism.

Suddenly, Cheonak muttered as I had before, about the Lecher.

“Cult Leader, you son of a bitch.”

The White-Robed Scholar said to Cheonak,

“...You withdraw your strength first. I can’t contain this any longer.”

Cheonak nodded without a word.

“Alright.”

As soon as the pressure from the right side disappeared, I turned to Cheonak.

What a ridiculous way out of danger.

Because the Cult Leader was a son of a bitch, I survived. Which meant in my past life, the Cult Leader, the Lecher, and all those bastards were in bed together?

Everyone’s expressions slowly changed. We all backed off and, like men who’d repented, withdrew our energy and lowered our hands.

“.......”

This kind of tense silence was rare.

“Hoo.”

I shut my mouth and stayed still. Screw Asura and whatever else. I just focused on breathing.

Cheonak looked up at the sky and spoke in a flat tone.

“How absurd. I admit—it was a threat whose words matched the action.”

Suddenly, I was acknowledged. With these maniacs, it didn’t even surprise me.

The White-Robed Scholar nodded.

“Cheonak, good on you for stopping.”

I said to the three of them,

“Now that I know none of you fear death, I won’t try such a threat again. It wouldn’t work anyway. But thanks to it, I came close to death—and achieved martial growth.”

Somehow, with these people, honesty was the best approach.

Shin Gae nodded and said to me,

“Zaha, I almost crapped myself right there.”

“Sir?”

“Shat.”

“Ah.”

Cheonak asked Shin Gae,

“Beggar, what the hell are you? Your inner strength has deepened. Beggar bastard.”

To which Shin Gae replied,

“As you know, I’m just a beggar. What identity could I have? I was just panhandling on a bridge with the Haomun Lord. You guys make it hard to even earn a meal. Let’s not meet often. And Cheonak, thanks for not being too harsh on the junior. I know you held back.”

At Shin Gae’s words, Cheonak’s remaining killing intent shattered and disappeared.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Cheonak, for the first time, asked the White-Robed Scholar with a deflated look,

“Every time I fight this beggar bastard, I feel drained. Are we retreating like this?”

The White-Robed Scholar pulled out a dry brush from his robe and lightly tossed it. It soared into the sky, shattered, and vanished.

“Seems I’ve read too many books. Didn’t expect to fail like this. I’ll focus on training for a while. I have nothing to say since I lost to the Sect Leader earlier.”

He looked at me.

“But had the Blind Scholar lived and you hadn’t been here, the Sect Leader would’ve died today. Regardless of my defeat.”

I answered calmly.

“Even if he were here, wouldn’t it have been difficult?”

The White-Robed Scholar shook his head.

“No. Not because of martial skill. The beggar couldn’t have fought properly because of his disciple. It was a battle designed with psychological warfare. But as plans unraveled one by one, I lost interest. Cheonak, you must’ve gained something too. Let’s end it here.”

As Cheonak stood with him, he asked Shin Gae,

“Beggar, have you seen the Cult Leader lately?”

“No.”

“What do you think he’s like?”

“No idea. The guy’s {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} impossible to read. But seeing your growth cheers me up. You’ve improved.”

“Goddamn beggar bastard. At least try to tell friend from foe.”

Cheonak looked at me.

“You lunatic, not bad for your age.”

I nodded.

“See you again. You’re pretty well-crazy yourself.”

I had a brief eye standoff with the Three Calamities. Still enemies, but it felt like we were old generals exchanging jokes before battle.

Suddenly, Cheonak threw out something unexpected at me.

“And I am not a slave.”

I replied with disinterest, hoping he’d leave already.

“Congratulations.”

Cheonak gave a strange smile and said something I didn’t expect.

“A long time ago, I was a slave.”

The White-Robed Scholar grabbed Cheonak’s arm and turned him away.

“Quit the pointless talk. Let’s go.”

“Let’s have a drink next time.”

I said to Cheonak, but the White-Robed Scholar cut in.

“Shut it.”

Worried that Cheonak might be influenced by me, the White-Robed Scholar quickly dragged him off. That actually made me feel a bit disappointed. Somehow, I really did want to have a drink with Cheonak. My mind ran wild thinking about his past as a slave.

‘Incredible. He said he was a slave?’

Maybe Cheonak killed his own master?

Just my imagination. Somehow, I felt confident I could dye anything—righteous or demonic—in violet. But since the White-Robed Scholar was watching, I couldn’t finish conquering Cheonak.

That was the only real regret.