The Return of the Crazy Demon-Chapter 241: I’m Living a Good Life

“If things keep going like this, Baekdo will keep getting pushed back. The scholars and the Cult should clash first to give us some breathing room, but it doesn’t seem like that’s happening. Strangely enough, if the White-Robed Scholar hadn’t subtly intervened, either Cheonak or I would have died today.”

“Mm.”

Come to think of it, if the White-Robed Scholar and I hadn’t been there, Cheonak and the Beggars’ Sect Leader would’ve fought each other for three days and nights like in the past.

The Beggars’ Sect Leader is aware that Baekdo is being pushed. Maybe he’s forgotten that he himself is Baekdo’s greatest force. Since we got through this crisis, things probably won’t fall apart as badly as they did in my past life. The scholars won’t find it easy to get rid of the Beggars’ Sect Leader now.

I offered him some advice.

“If you keep in touch with the Alliance Leader or with me, nothing major should happen.”

The Beggars’ Sect Leader nodded.

“I didn’t want to burden you... but all right. Still, Cheonak may be more skilled in martial arts, but the White-Robed Scholar seems to be more of a strategist. He’s an unreadable one.”

I nodded.

“He’s definitely a strategist.”

Then the Sect Leader suddenly asked me with a straight face.

“Zaha, what if I handed over all of my internal energy to you? Could you handle the next fight?”

I replied instantly.

“There’s no need for that. I refuse.”

“Why? With that energy, you could hold your own even against the Three Calamities.”

“Even a body has its limits. It’ll burst.”

“You’re good at bursting, aren’t you?”

“Exactly. Either way, I need to keep training to expand my capacity first. If I get stronger on my own, that means there’s one more master on our side. Why condense two people into one?”

The Sect Leader asked seriously.

“Is that way of thinking related to your martial philosophy?”

I nodded.

“Yes, I think so. I’m working my way up from the bottom. I didn’t start off with some great martial arts technique. I began by brawling in inns, alleys, and on the streets. Since I started this way, I’m going to climb the proper way without skipping any steps.”

The Sect Leader smiled, clearly pleased.

“Good. That’s a fine way to think. I rose up from the bottom too, though I skipped over a lot in the middle. Maybe that’s why the next level has been so hard to reach. I’m not sure.”

Honestly, it’s not like I don’t envy his internal energy.

But it’s not mine.

And if the Sect Leader grows weaker, what’ll happen to the beggars under him?

I can’t even manage Haomun properly.

We crossed the bridge again and went to find Noshin. There were still no people around, but signs of a fight were everywhere—bloodstains, discarded weapons, broken stones.

Looking past the bridge, we found Noshin. He looked like a beggar, covered in blood and sitting there. He must have fought remnants of the scholars.

He was drenched in blood, probably from going up against one of the White-Robed Scholar’s top disciples. Up close, I saw the blood wasn’t his—it had splattered onto him from killing the scholar faction.

I asked the Sect Leader,

“Senior, mind if I talk to him?”

There’s a time to intervene and a time not to. This was the latter.

The Beggars’ Sect Leader looked at me.

“You leaving?”

“I’ll scout the area.”

Shin Gae patted my back and nodded. I watched him walk over to his disciple. I met Noshin’s eyes but didn’t say anything.

The Sect Leader and I were already mentally bonded. Even if we parted now, it wouldn’t feel like anything.

From now on, anyone who attacks the Beggars’ Sect is someone who’s attacking me. With Cheonak gone and the Martial Alliance possibly joining in, I didn’t have much to worry about anymore.

I suddenly got a craving for something to eat, so I wandered into a nameless diner.

I ordered rice, stir-fried intestines, and some alcohol, then sat waiting while organizing my thoughts. Since the Beggars’ Sect had opened a branch near Ilyang County, I figured I should open a Haomun branch nearby too.

Thinking about it again, the Beggars’ Sect has trash rules.

But Haomun’s a mess too.

Probably because I’m a mess.

But I still plan to include people with day jobs in Haomun, so I’m not going to run it like a strict martial sect.

I know myself.

I’m not detail-oriented.

A proper sect can go to some disciple later. Haomun can stay a mess, just like me. Honestly, it’s too much trouble for me to fix it.

While I was finishing off the rice with stir-fried intestines, someone showed up at the entrance and looked at me.

“Lord of the Sect, so you were here.”

I nodded as soon as I saw it was someone from the Martial Alliance.

“Have you eaten?”

The man smiled.

“Not yet. Please finish your meal. The Alliance Leader is waiting for you by the bridge.”

I kept eating, but knowing the Alliance Leader himself had come made it hard to digest. He must’ve moved incredibly fast to get to Shin Gae this quickly. Even though the situation was already resolved, the fact that the Leader came personally was a big deal.

Before going to see him, I finished my drink.

I delayed on purpose so Shin Gae could have some time with his disciple and then with the Leader too.

Just as I was about to get up, laughter came from outside, and both Alliance Leader Im Sobaek and Shin Gae entered the diner.

I had # Nоvеlight # been eating alone, so I wiped my mouth with my hand.

Im Sobaek asked,

“You left your senior and ate alone?”

The Sect Leader looked at me.

“You couldn’t wait? I told you earlier I was hungry too. Sit back down.”

I bowed lightly to Im Sobaek and sat back down. I noticed he had more gray hair on the sides now.

I called to the kitchen.

“Three bowls of rice. Large stir-fried intestines. Another bottle of alcohol.”

“Got it.”

As I turned around, I realized something: The Three Calamities and the Alliance Leader were sitting in this humble diner.

‘Damn, that’s intense.’

For a moment, it felt like they were masters who had come to catch me. But no—that’s just a lingering trauma from my past life. Martial crimes are a thing of the past. Still, the name “Martial Alliance Leader” carries weight. It’s probably because of the enormous responsibility that comes with it.

“Alliance Leader, how have you been?”

Im Sobaek looked at me.

“And you?”

“I’ve been busy fighting everywhere.”

Im Sobaek chuckled.

“I haven’t been idle either. Senior.”

“Hmm?”

He asked Shin Gae,

“How did you two meet?”

“I heard a lot of rumors, so I went to find him.”

“You went yourself?”

“Yes.”

Im Sobaek looked at me curiously.

“That’s never happened before.”

“No, it hasn’t.”

Only then did I place cups in front of the two like a proper tavern boy and poured their drinks. Even though I’d become stronger, was leading Haomun, and had a decent reputation, I still found myself playing inn boy in front of the Three Calamities and the Alliance Leader.

‘That’s my fate.’

After pouring, I asked,

“Oh, what about Brother Noshin?”

Shin Gae replied,

“The Alliance Leader arrived, so we didn’t talk much... I’ve sent him to the Martial Alliance for now.”

“What?”

Shin Gae said flatly,

“He’s not fit to be a beggar. He’s not innocent, but he’s not weak either. He’ll learn a lot from the Alliance Leader. Is that a problem?”

Im Sobaek, who had been listening, shook his head.

“Noshin is welcome. His footwork is fast, and his martial arts are strong. I’ll keep an eye on him. However, the Alliance has its rules. If he commits a serious crime, I’ll deal with it by the book without notifying you. Is that all right?”

“Go ahead.”

“Yes.”

Listening to this, I reaffirmed that I should stay far away from the Martial Alliance. A guy like me would probably spend more time behind bars than walking Jianghu.

Then the stir-fried intestines arrived, and we picked up our chopsticks again.

“I’ll pay. Please eat.”

The Alliance Leader and the Sect Leader rubbed their chopsticks together and started eating. Their eyes widened as they looked at each other.

They looked impressed.

I picked at my food and watched them eat. Even though I hadn’t cooked it, it felt like I was playing host.

They were men who really enjoyed their food.

As he ate, the Sect Leader said,

“I had a brief duel with Cheonak earlier.”

Im Sobaek let out a hiccup and pounded his chest. I poured him a drink and gestured for him to drink.

After taking a sip, he looked surprised.

“Ah, is that why you called me?”

“It was a bit of a crisis, but the fight ended in a strange way.”

“I see.”

Im Sobaek suddenly stared at me.

“...Did you blow something up again?”

I burst into laughter and nearly choked. The Sect Leader chuckled.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I did.”

I drank the alcohol he poured for me. The flavor... how to describe it? It was like a magnificent mix of alcohol and stir-fried intestines. With both the greatest expert of Baekdo and the Martial Alliance Leader visiting this place, I thought maybe I should rename the diner.

Something like The Stir-Fried Intestine Place Even the Alliance Leader Came To.

I paid ahead of time and sat back down. Things were getting noisy outside, but I figured the Alliance members were on guard, so I didn’t worry.

Looking at it now—

The Sect Leader’s had a tough life.

And so has the Alliance Leader, getting dragged around everywhere.

I kept my mouth shut, poured drinks and water, and waited on them as quietly as I could.

After a while, the Sect Leader wiped his mouth and said,

“That was delicious.”

“Shall we go?”

The Sect Leader patted the Alliance Leader’s back and said,

“You must be busy. Sorry for calling you all the way here.”

Im Sobaek smiled faintly.

“It’s fine. Nothing happened, thankfully. It’s been a while since I marched like this. Felt good to stretch.”

We left the diner—now famous for hosting the Alliance Leader—and scanned the surroundings. As expected, Alliance members were stationed nearby. But three men who clearly didn’t belong to that disciplined group stood out.

Their expressions were different from the calm Alliance members.

They looked like criminals who had barely escaped the Martial Alliance, standing in a row and daring to glare at Baekdo’s top master and the Alliance Leader.

Im Sobaek said,

“Sword Demon, even you rushed here. I’m surprised.”

The Sword Demon nodded slightly, and the Lecher and the Drunk bowed with clasped fists.

“Alliance Leader.”

Turns out, experts from the Beggars’ Sect had contacted them, and now the Four Great Villains had arrived. But would these Villains even recognize the Beggars’ Sect Leader? His presence was so nonexistent they were only looking at the Alliance Leader.

The Sect Leader asked Im Sobaek,

“The Sword Demon? Is that the one I know?”

“Most likely. He left the Cult on his own.”

Only then did the Sect Leader look shocked and address him.

“So you’re the former Left Guardian?”

The Sword Demon looked back with a dead-serious expression.

“Who are you?”

The Sect Leader replied,

“I’m the one who fought that Cult bastard back in the day.”

The Sword Demon, Lecher, and Drunk all looked stunned.

“......”

Clearly not buying it, so I stepped in.

“This is the Sect Leader of the Beggars’ Sect. One of the Three Calamities.”

Villains, come on in.

The three scanned the Sect Leader’s energy, but of course, they wouldn’t find anything. Not because of a lack of skill—but because the Sect Leader had mastered the art of lowering his presence to perfection.

Now I realized he was intentionally suppressing his presence just to watch their reactions.

‘Wow, chilling... he’s testing them?’

I’d been through that myself, so I finally understood his intent. The Sword Demon said calmly,

“So you were one of Baekdo’s Three Calamities. Pleased to meet you.”

A proper Sword Demon-like greeting. Next!

The Drunk bowed.

“Sect Leader, this junior is called Yukhap.”

He left out the “teacher” title since it was the Three Calamities. Next!

The Lecher politely bowed.

“Senior, I’m Mong Yeon, second son of the Wind-and-Cloud Mong Family. It’s an honor to meet you.”

That slimy greeting flowed out so naturally. Rotten bastard.

Finally, the Sect Leader laughed brightly and looked around at the men who had rushed over.

“Judging by the mood, you all came to support the Lord of Haomun. Fine juniors. These are your acquaintances, yes?”

Everyone—including the Alliance Leader, the Sect Leader, the beggars, and the Four Great Villains—looked at me.

“Yes.”

The Sect Leader asked,

“Sworn brothers?”

“Not exactly. Just drinking buddies.”

“They all look like a handful to call just drinking buddies. Skilled too.”

“Is that so?”

I made brief eye contact with the Alliance Leader and blurted something unnecessary.

“...They’re all living a good life.”

The Alliance Leader blinked and replied.

“Did someone say otherwise?”

“Exactly.”

Who really knows what’s going on inside me?

If you cause enough trouble, it’s only natural to feel intimidated in front of the Alliance Leader. Somehow, I felt like even if I became stronger than him, this feeling would never go away.

Maybe because the Three Calamities and the Alliance Leader were all in one place, the Four Great Villains were uncharacteristically quiet today.

And I understood how they felt.

People with many sins often act like this.

Just like me.