AR Chapter 144

“It’s him! That’s him!”

Chu Saeng shouted. At the sight of the white mask, he was half out of his mind.

“Run! No, we need to run!”

Thinking I was frozen in fear, Chu Saeng shouted almost convulsively.

“Even you can’t handle that person! Let’s run quickly!”

When I still remained motionless, Chu Saeng frowned and drew his sword.

“Damn it! Let’s fight together!”

“You truly are suited for the righteous path.”

“Are you mad? What nonsense are you talking in this situation!”

I could understand why his father left the dying wish not to trust people. Even in this situation, he was someone who wouldn’t run away and worried about my safety.

The man in the white mask had reached our table.

The white-masked man silently stared at us.

Chu Saeng trembled. Though he had sworn revenge, facing the enemy, his body wouldn’t move as his will commanded.

I was the one who broke the heavy silence filling the room.

“Why didn’t you show me such a dangerous world before?”

Surprisingly, he was the real Extremely Evil Laughing Demon.

When I first saw him, I naturally thought he was the fake who had visited Moon Wind Sect.

But watching him walk toward us, I realized he was the real Extremely Evil Laughing Demon. Only Extremely Evil Laughing Demon could show such qi.

“Why are you here?”

“Why is Second Young Master here?”

At our exchange, Chu Saeng’s eyes widened in surprise.

He must be confused – whether this was the real one, or if I was in league with the fake.

I asked Chu Saeng:

“Look carefully. Is this the same person who came then?”

Chu Saeng trembled as he looked at Extremely Evil Laughing Demon. After a moment, he shouted:

“Ah! He’s different. Definitely different. His face is even better looking!”

“He’s wearing a mask though?”

“True. But he definitely looks better.”

I smiled and looked at Extremely Evil Laughing Demon.

“This person seems to see through your mask, Laughing Demon.”

“Or perhaps my mask is better looking.”

I understood what Chu Saeng meant. Not just anyone wearing a mask could give off Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s presence.

His qi, feeling, atmosphere – Extremely Evil Laughing Demon had a unique quality. That’s what Chu Saeng expressed as “better looking.”

“So this is the real Extremely Evil Laughing Demon.”

“Didn’t I tell you? The one you’ve met was fake. Now, greet him. This is Laughing Demon, a Demon Supreme of our cult.”

Chu Saeng froze as if struck by lightning. He didn’t know what to say. He looked at Extremely Evil Laughing Demon and me with shock and fear.

But the real shock for Chu Saeng was yet to come.

“When I visited Valley of Evil before leaving the cult, you had already left.”

“I heard there was someone imitating me.”

With Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s personality, he wouldn’t leave such a person alone.

“But how did you know I would be here?”

“I didn’t know Second Young Master would come.”

A surprising answer came from Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s lips.

“Today, I came to this place to receive a Debt Coin.”

I was shocked. Even more shocked than Chu Saeng.

“You’re the owner of the Debt Coin?”

When Extremely Evil Laughing Demon opened his palm, there lay half a coin.

As Chu Saeng took out his necklace at that sight-

“Huh? Huhhh?”

The coin hanging from the necklace and Chu Saeng floated up and were pulled along. Extremely Evil Laughing Demon had pulled him with Void Seizing Technique.

The coin in Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s palm also floated up and met the coin hanging from the necklace in midair. The coins joined perfectly.

Pulled before Extremely Evil Laughing Demon, Chu Saeng looked back and forth between the joined Debt Coin and Extremely Evil Laughing Demon in shock. He could never have imagined the person his father saved was Extremely Evil Laughing Demon. Neither could I.

With a casual gesture, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon snapped the necklace cord and retrieved his half of the Debt Coin.

In place of the dazed Chu Saeng, I spoke to Extremely Evil Laughing Demon.

“I never imagined you were the owner of the Debt Coin.”

“It was a very long time ago.”

It felt strange to think there was a time when Extremely Evil Laughing Demon had such clear debts of gratitude. Even more surprising that he came today to keep that promise.

“While I’m glad to see you, this meeting feels like a trap.”

Indeed, before Extremely Evil Laughing Demon appeared, all guests had left, and even the innkeeper had disappeared. Not even passersby remained in front of the inn.

“His impersonation of you doesn’t seem coincidental either.”

It didn’t seem he acted as Extremely Evil Laughing Demon just because he wore a mask; rather, it felt like the incident was aimed at Extremely Evil Laughing Demon from the start. Did that mean the Heaven’s Mandate Society was targeting Extremely Evil Laughing Demon?

“Do you have any suspicions about who it might be?”

After brief consideration, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon replied with a troubled expression.

“How could there be just one? I can think of about fifty people right now.”

I laughed incredulously, and Extremely Evil Laughing Demon laughed too. Chu Saeng was still too shocked to adapt to the situation and silently listened to our conversation.

“Are there others who use the Blood Calamity Finger besides you?”

“!”

I felt Extremely Evil Laughing Demon flinch for a moment.

“Why do you ask?”

“The marks the impostor left on Moon Wind Sect’s walls were very similar to your Blood Calamity Finger. The technique was so refined it could have been left by you.”

After a pause, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon answered.

“There are others.”

I didn’t ask further. I knew he gave that answer specifically because it was me asking.

“Perhaps our opponent is no ordinary foe.”

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon nodded at my words. He seemed to have a good idea who was behind this.

When our conversation paused, Chu Saeng asked me:

“But they called you Second Young Master… surely not?”

I replied with a meaningful smile:

“Who else at this young age could have such a conversation with a Demon Supreme?”

“Are you really of the Heavenly Demon’s blood?”

“I am.”

“Ah! To think I’d see the Demonic Cult Leader’s heir and a Demon Supreme in one place!”

An ordinary warrior might never see such people in their lifetime, yet he saw both at once.

“I knew you weren’t ordinary. Actually, if you’d said ‘I am the Heavenly Demon,’ it wouldn’t have seemed strange at all. I would have believed you were the Heavenly Demon who reversed aging. You really are… no, I should call you Second Young Master now.”

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon laughed softly, as if understanding exactly how Chu Saeng felt.

“Don’t treat me formally, stay comfortable as before.”

“Is that alright?”

“It’s fine. If I wanted special treatment, I would have revealed my identity from the start.”

“I understand. No, I get it.”

When our conversation ended, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon spoke to Chu Saeng.

“Whatever the situation, I must repay past debts. Now, what help do you need? Choose carefully. The Debt Coin can only be used once. I’m granting this favor for your father’s sake, so choose wisely.”

After brief consideration, Chu Saeng glanced at me.

“Second Young Master will make the request in my place.”

He entrusted the use of the Debt Coin to me.

“Why entrust it to me?”

“From your conversation, this seems bigger than just my family’s affair. Would this end with just asking for revenge? My limited judgment says no. I don’t know what request to make to Laughing Demon. That’s why I’m entrusting it to you.”

I thought it was a wise decision.

Yes, Chu Saeng. Keep using that sharp mind of yours well from now on.

I smiled and spoke to Extremely Evil Laughing Demon.

“What do you think? Will you accept my request in his place?”

“Originally, I only granted requests from direct family members, but since it’s Second Young Master, I’ll make a special exception.”

“Thank you.”

After brief consideration, I spoke to him:

“Make me the successor of our cult.”

Startled, Chu Saeng shouted accusingly:

“Why are you using my Debt Coin for your own business?”

“You entrusted it to me, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but still. I never expected such a request. You should ask for revenge for our family.”

Just then, as Chu Saeng was protesting, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon answered:

“Fine, I accept.”

What he accepted wasn’t the Debt Coin request, but my joke.

Meanwhile, Chu Saeng was desperate.

“No! This is invalid! Invalid!”

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon looked at him with cold eyes.

“Who are you?”

Chu Saeng flinched at Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s attitude that suggested business was finished.

“Who are you to keep hovering around me?”

Looking back and forth between Extremely Evil Laughing Demon and me, he sighed and reproached himself.

“My temper seems selective. That patience tank that would overflow at the smallest pebble won’t overflow before him. It probably wouldn’t overflow even if you poured the ocean into it.”

I smiled at his self-deprecating sigh and said:

“You may have lost the Debt Coin, but haven’t you gained the future Heavenly Demon instead?”

Chu Saeng looked at me with surprise at those words.

“Sorry for the joke. Let me properly introduce myself. I am Geom Mugeuk, Second Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. I pledge my name to avenge your family.”

Finally realizing it was a joke, Chu Saeng was moved. A more certain promise than the Debt Coin had been made.

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon joined in too.

“This matter is related to me, so I intend to handle it. Don’t worry and go back.”

“Thank you. Really thank you.”

“I deeply regret that your family got involved because of me. If I had known this would happen, I would never have given the Debt Coin to your father.”

Though he didn’t say sorry directly, I could tell he felt apologetic.

“No, how could this be Laughing Demon’s fault?”

“This is no place for you to stay, so hurry back.”

“Yes.”

I asked worriedly:

“Is it alright to send him alone?”

I was concerned he might run into trouble on his way back, since it was clear enemies were already nearby.

“There’s no need to worry.”

His answer suggested he knew about those behind this incident.

After making a fist-palm salute to Extremely Evil Laughing Demon and me, Chu Saeng turned to leave. At the door, he turned back.

“I feel like I might not see you again, so I’ll say this. Perhaps after this is over, our sect might join the righteous path. So if there’s ever a war between the righteous and demonic paths… please go easy on our family.”

I responded to his joke with another joke:

“Then you’ll have to save me once. I’ll cut a coin for you.”

Chu Saeng smiled brightly.

“I’m certain that Father sent me precious people. Young Master, please become a Heavenly Demon who doesn’t start wars between the righteous and demonic paths. I look forward to meeting you again someday.”

Chu Saeng made a final, very polite bow and left.

Left alone in the inn, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon spoke:

“Second Young Master, give up on becoming the Heavenly Demon.”

“What are you saying when I even used the Debt Coin?”

“Live like this, traveling the Central Plains. Meeting people like Chu Saeng, smiling like this. This suits you better.”

I could tell. Extremely Evil Laughing Demon meant these words sincerely.

“Did you perhaps receive a bribe from my brother? Did you join his side while I wasn’t looking?”

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon laughed loudly.

As soon as Chu Saeng left, enemies began revealing themselves one by one. This meeting was definitely set up to draw out Extremely Evil Laughing Demon.

The first to appear were three old men.

They were of similar age, and peculiarly, all wore matching red armor. Just from their attire, I recognized who they were.

The Three Blood Path Armies^[1].

They were once wandering warriors who terrorized the martial world, accepting any assassination contract for money. They were known to kill anyone, child or adult, and would even kill their own parents for money.

Finally driven out as public enemies of the martial world for their excessive evil deeds, they had disappeared – until showing themselves here today.

They had been infamous in middle age, but now they were old men. Their diminished muscles were replaced by wickedness gained from countless battles. They sat far from us.

Next, a middle-aged woman entered the inn, languidly waving a pink fan. She wore elaborate palace clothes with heavy makeup, and her figure was voluptuously sensual.

The Blissful Demon Enchantress^[2].

She was a legendary villainess who turned men’s essence into internal energy. That skin and figure so unsuited to her age were created by stealing countless men’s essence and lives. She too had once been the number one public enemy of the martial world. Though rumors said she died from having her energy drained by a legendary pervert, here she was, alive and well.

She sat on a table with her white legs crossed, exposed.

Next entered a middle-aged man.

Carrying a straight saber at his waist, he emanated qi like a beast roaming the wilderness.

The Blood Wolf Blade^[3].

He was a warrior who traveled the Central Plains seeking masters solely to become stronger. He would do anything to win and forced even unwilling opponents to fight. Thus, many masters died unjustly at his hands.

He too became a public enemy, and there were many rumors about his end. Some said he died fighting an elder of the Righteous Alliance, others that he died challenging a Demon Supreme, or that an unknown recluse master killed him. Making all those rumors meaningless, he now gulped down tea from a pot by the entrance.

The last to appear was a man dressed entirely in black, from his clothes and shoes to the dark cloak he wore.

The King Yama’s Divine Commander^[4].

Though he looked normal now, he was once a madman who massacred martial artists. He believed himself an emissary sent by King Yama and thought he governed life and death. He too had disappeared after causing bloodshed when pursued as a public enemy.

The simultaneous appearance of these villains who once shook the martial world felt unreal. Moreover, the mastermind who had impersonated us hadn’t even appeared yet.

Though it wasn’t time to be casual, I couldn’t help saying to Extremely Evil Laughing Demon:

“What exactly did you do to them?”

Looking at the villains emanating killing intent toward him, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon answered awkwardly:

“All familiar faces.”