Chapter 2. The Place I Fled To

Everyone grows old.

I'm no exception.

In the past, I could run for seven days and nights without tiring, evading the martial alliance, but not anymore. I feel like I've aged ten years more than before I was chased.

If I had known this, I would have practiced a bit harder.

Humans always repeat the same mistakes and regret them too late.

Since I didn't plan my escape route, I ended up taking the wrong path. The curses of the pursuers grew clearer.

The curses were truly diverse.

I became a bastard, a son of a bitch, a bastard, and an orphan, which is actually true. But just a moment ago, I even heard them cursing my parents.

To think that there are people who curse an orphan's parents, the world has truly gone mad.

Quite a few of them died by my hands for spouting off like that, but now there are too many of them, so running away is the best option.

For a man like me to be running away like this...

I am utterly ashamed.

But remember this.

The Demon Sect is this terrifying.

Even while fleeing, I killed and killed, yet the Demon Sect still has many experts who can match me.

* * *

Once, my foolish dream was to become a Martial God.

Why do I think of my old aspirations while being chased?

I don't know.

Anyway, every time I talked about my dream, people called me crazy, so it seems that becoming a Martial God is indeed a futile dream. However, I can say with certainty that a dream that is easily achieved is not a dream.

I believe that a dream should be something that is difficult to achieve.

It's the same now.

Because I set my dreams and goals high, I am not being chased by a third-rate sect, but by the Demon Sect, the worst of the worst.

I can confidently say that a real man should be chased by the Demon Sect.

That is the mark of a man.

Perhaps because they are truly despicable, the feeling of being chased was more thrilling than ever.

Although I failed to become a Martial God, I have been chased by the martial alliance before and now by the Demon Sect, achieving what ordinary men cannot.

Still, the item I stole from the Demon Sect doesn't seem to be ordinary.

Otherwise, why would these lunatics chase me to the death?

I realized long ago that tormenting the Demon Sect is a fun thing to do. However, even though I knew this, I didn't dare to try it back then because my skills were not up to par.

Now, my thoughts are like this.

I should have practiced a bit more before taking action.

As I said, humans always repeat the same mistakes.

Damn it...

* * *

I always thought of myself as a versatile madman in this martial world, skilled in psychological warfare, strategy, tactics, sowing discord, and deception, immune to the charms of beauties, and excelling in drinking and lightness of foot.

I am the most versatile madman in this martial world.

I am also the man who best concealed his versatile skills.

The reason why the charms of beauties, historically proven to be effective, never worked on me is that normal beauties never liked me.

This is proven by my long experience.

Seeing the foggy area ahead, I realized I must be near a foggy place.

Where am I running to? Judging by the terrain, the cliff ahead looks like the famous Ten Thousand Obstacles.

Ten Thousand Obstacles is a truly famous place.

It is where the experts of the dark and white paths fought over the carved valley in the center.

If the white path had won, I wouldn't be in such a hurry now.

Both sides declared a truce by cutting the Sword Ring Bridge, the only remaining bridge that crossed the valley.

With the Sword Ring Bridge cut, I have no way to cross Ten Thousand Obstacles.

They say there is no paradise where one flees, and indeed, there is a cliff.

Starting my escape from the Demon Sect's headquarters, I have crossed Mount Taiyi, Mount Mingli, and Mount Chuhun, and now I am running over unnamed mountains and rivers, with my left arm cut, my face pierced, and my left shoulder penetrated.

Looking down the cliff with a wistful gaze, I saw nothing special, much like my past life.

In the midst of this, I wondered why I had never dated a beauty.

Perhaps, when facing death, one naturally thinks of the most cherished person, but I had no one to think of.

A sigh escaped me.

“...I should have had a short romance.”

I lived too seriously.

I wish someone would write on my tombstone:

‘Mad Demon, died from being too serious...’

From behind, the sound of someone slicing through the air approached. Given the skill level, it must be the Demon Sect's top expert, the Bright Left Envoy.

He is a master of strategy, sending his subordinates to chase me and then appearing at this critical moment in perfect condition.

The Bright Left Envoy is as notorious in the martial world as I am.

He is a perverted lustful man who only targets the beautiful women of the martial families with compound surnames like the Southern Palace, Western Gate, and Hundred Miles. Before joining the Demon Sect, he was known as a lecher in the martial world.

That doesn't mean I am a pervert.

I never had the chance.

Suddenly, a deep anger rose from within me. Is it because of the mood, or because of the Bright Left Envoy, or because of his past deeds?

Anyway, the Bright Left Envoy, the most feared man by the white path's female experts, landed in a magnificent pose.

To be a pervert, one must be good-looking, right?

‘That pimp-like bastard.’

For the Demon Sect's powerful figure to personally follow me here, religion is indeed terrifying.

* * *

The Bright Left Envoy approached me with his hands behind his back, his voice low.

“Making me go through all this trouble. Damn you. I'll admit, your lightness of foot is even better than the rumors.”

In response to the Bright Left Envoy's serious flattery, I replied with a calm expression.

“Is the pervert here?”

“...”

“I've never seen a pervert run as hard as you. Impressive.”

From the Bright Left Envoy, who felt deeply wronged after chasing me for three days and nights, a strained voice emerged.

“Shut up, you madman. This is no time for jokes. Showing such ease at the cliff of Ten Thousand Obstacles? Understand the situation.”

“Whether this is a cliff or paradise, the fact that you are a pervert remains unchanged. And teach your subordinates some manners. I am not a dog, and certainly not a son of a bitch. But I am an orphan.”

The atmosphere became solemn for a moment.

“...”

“To curse the parents I never met, you bastards. That's why you are called the Demon Sect.”

“Stop the nonsense and return what you stole.”

I snorted in response.

“If I easily returned what I worked hard to steal, I wouldn't be the Mad Demon but a waiter.”

“What nonsense.”

“I say this because I was once a waiter.”

“Ha.”

The Bright Left Envoy sighed deeply, as if exhausted.

Meanwhile, the Demon Sect's forces were gathering like dark clouds before a storm.

Why do they like such dark clothes?

The Demon Sect's forces, now gathered like dark clouds, blocked my escape route and waited for the Bright Left Envoy's orders.

Their eyes were sharp.

They must be very angry, having lost over a hundred men to my hands during the chase.

Given the significant blow I dealt to the Demon Sect, shouldn't the martial alliance give me the Hero of the Year award?

Thinking about my situation, I realized I had forgotten that I had caused many troubles and became a public enemy of the martial world. Moreover, my ranking as a public enemy is higher than that pervert.

The title 'Mad Demon' was given to me by the white path first.

‘The Hero of the Year is out of the question.’

The Bright Left Envoy, watching my smiling face, said:

“Mad Demon, how can you still smile in such a situation? What's in your head?”

“Pity.”

“What for?”

“You would have suppressed your laughter even if the Sect Leader farted. That's your limit.”

“...”

“You would have forced a laugh even at the Sect Leader's lame jokes.”

“That's not true.”

“Shut up! That's what a sycophant does. But I always laugh as I please. Sycophant, was the old Sect Leader so terrifying to you?”

The Bright Left Envoy replied with a grim expression.

“Is there anyone in this martial world who doesn't fear the Sect Leader? No. Look at the Alliance Leader who always avoids the Sect Leader's challenge to a one-on-one duel. Even if there is a stronger expert than the Sect Leader in this martial world, no one would fear the Sect Leader. You know that.”

“What nonsense? I exist. When have I ever feared your Sect Leader?”

“Then why did you run and make people so tired?”

“The Sect Leader is not scary, but the pervert is truly terrifying. Anyway, regardless of whether you fear the Sect Leader, focusing more on your perverted interests would be good for your mental health. Hey, Envoy, the officer behind you is smiling?”

I pointed at the Demon Sect's officer, but the Bright Left Envoy's gaze remained fixed on me.

The Bright Left Envoy said coldly.

“It doesn't work.”

I nodded.

“Can't be helped. You chased me for this, right?”

I carefully took out the Heavenly Jade from my robes and extended it to the Bright Left Envoy.

This is the item in question.

The Bright Left Envoy's frog-like eyes turned sharp like a hungry leopard's.

“...!”

I proposed to the Envoy.

“Seeing your eyes light up at the sight of the Heavenly Jade, you must have been after it. I thought it was strange for the Demon Sect's Bright Left Envoy to chase me here personally. It's a good distance from the sect. Since it's come to this, how about we split it fifty-fifty? You and I will divide the martial world. Then you can do your perverted things as you please.”

I gently coaxed the Envoy, but the response was lukewarm.

“It belongs to the Sect Leader.”

“But why do your eyes shine with greed? Listen, disciples. The Envoy has other thoughts about the Sect Leader. Send one person back to inform the Sect Leader of the situation. The Envoy is trying to steal the Heavenly Jade and start a rebellion. Who wants to take the credit? No one? You're all cowards.”

Sowing discord is always fun. But it didn't work on the Demon Sect. However, I am always persistent.

“Look at your superior. The Envoy is so deep in thought about my words that he can't even respond.”

The Bright Left Envoy said.

“Stop talking nonsense and return the Heavenly Jade. If you do, we'll step back for now. We didn't come to take your insignificant life, but to retrieve the Heavenly Jade.”

“Oh, really?”

“I'll say it again, the Heavenly Jade is more important than your life. I'll come for you later to settle this. It will be a one-on-one duel, as you like.”

A liar was there.

“A one-on-one duel as I like?”

“Yes.”

“Is that something you say after setting up a web to catch me? If you had proposed a one-on-one duel from the start, your hundred subordinates wouldn't have died. You always mess things up, you stupid pervert. I'd rather become a monk and give up this life. Step aside. This Heavenly Jade is round and makes a clear sound when struck, perfect for a wooden fish. I can't just give it away.”

“Then I have no choice but to kill you.”

“Come on, you bastards. I'll become a Mad Monk today!”

Despite saying 'come on,' I extended my hand as if I was about to throw the Heavenly Jade into Ten Thousand Obstacles.

The Bright Left Envoy quickly extended his hand.

“Don't, don't!”

Seeing the panic on the Bright Left Envoy's face, I felt a sense of accomplishment.

At least it's clear now.

What I stole is truly an incredible and terrifying item.

I still don't know what it is.

If I throw the Heavenly Jade into Ten Thousand Obstacles, the Bright Left Envoy and his subordinates will have to jump in too.

The Bright Left Envoy, with a look of intense thought, tried to reason with me.

“Why are you doing this? I overlooked your unreasonable actions because keeping you alive would make the Alliance Leader more miserable. We also treat public enemies well. But this changes things. I invited you to join us politely, and you steal a holy artifact? Repaying kindness with theft is not something a person does.”

“True, but I can't return it because they cursed my parents.”

“Apologize. We are not afraid of you but of the Sect Leader's wrath. Please, just return the holy artifact.”

“Is that how you beg?”

“Is that how you talk to someone who stole it?”

My arm moved toward Ten Thousand Obstacles again.

“I'll throw it first. Let's have a proper fight.”

“I'll apologize. Wait, let's try to resolve this through dialogue.”

I nodded.

“Fine. Then what is this Heavenly Jade? Don't play games, just tell me.”

Hurry up, you bastard!

I'm dying to know.