Chapter 181: A Cliff Not for Climbing

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Fist Demon was at the Grand Training Ground.

Dozens of Iron Fists honed their fist techniques. The Fist Demon stood before them with his arms crossed.

He was the Undefeated Fist Demon Dan Woogang, the strongest master of fist arts, who had never suffered a single defeat.

The Fist Demon stood a head taller than me, his entire body muscular. His bronze skin looked as hard as steel, impenetrable to any blade. His fists were especially large, easily the size of a woman's head.

The phrase 'a body that is a weapon' must have been coined for the Undefeated Fist Demon.

One thing decisively captured attention. The Fist Demon had a truly terrifying face. The demons in our Cult's paintings were likely modeled after him. If the Majanghu War broke out, his face alone would make him the perfect vanguard. How many in the murim would dare meet his gaze?

The Fist Demon slowly turned his head and looked at me.

His thoughts didn't matter. His ghastly appearance made any expression look like he wanted a fight.

Of course, I have no prejudice based on appearance. How many times have I learned that appearance and character don't match? How many people who killed with a smile looked perfectly normal?

I bowed my head politely. "Greetings, Fist Demon."

The Fist Demon didn't greet me back. He just looked at the Iron Fists again. It was a complete dismissal, but I didn't mind.

In the past, my pride would've been hurt, but not now. Don't get worked up. Please, don't get worked up. When you look back on it, it's nothing.

There had to be a reason he acted this way on my first visit.

I stood aside and watched the Iron Fists train.

Under the scorching sun, the Iron Fists held a single stance like statues. None of them stirred, as if the world would end if they moved. Then again, with the terrifying Fist Demon watching, no one dared move just because they were tired.

A suffocating tension filled the air. Fortunately, no one made a mistake the Fist Demon would notice.

Time passed.

The martial artist at the front shouted, and the Iron Fists shifted to the next stance. They twisted their bodies, pulling one outstretched fist to their waists.

They assumed another stance and became statues again, pouring their heart and soul into every movement.

This is proper training. Of course, how many of them truly understand its deep meaning and make it their own is another matter.

The training ended after two hours.

The Iron Fists dispersed. The Fist Demon walked to his residence, completely ignoring me until the end.

He must have heard the recent rumors about me. His complete disregard could be seen as a form of conversation.

I imagined his terrifying face smiling brightly at me. I imagined us exchanging jokes.

Hey, Fist Demon, if you treat me like this, this is what I'll imagine.

The next day, I went to see the Fist Demon again.

Just like the first day, he glanced at me once, then silently watched the Iron Fists train.

He ignored me again, but no one laughed. It was likely discipline born from fear of the Fist Demon. I thought the Iron Fists were the most well-disciplined subordinates of any Demon Supreme I had seen.

When the training ended, the Fist Demon finally spoke to me.

"Second Young Lord."

His voice was surprisingly gentle compared to his terrifying face. I expected a heavy, cold voice, but it was soft. It was as if someone else spoke for him from behind while he just moved his lips.

"Why do you think I acted that way yesterday?"

"Was it because I visited during training hours?"

The Fist Demon turned and strode away as if my answer was wrong.

So you won't make it easy for me, huh?

I watched his retreating back and smiled faintly.

I went to see the Fist Demon again the next day. I was the one visiting, but the Fist Demon was the one inducing my visits.

Today, I visited before training began. I sat on the railing in front of his office building. Passing Iron Fists glanced at me as they went by.

The Fist Demon ignored me, but none of the Iron Fists showed disrespect. Instead, their gazes held subtle favor and respect. The Second Young Lord of today was a completely different person from the one right after I regressed.

Just then, the Fist Demon came out of the building.

"Did you sleep well?"

He glanced at me and started walking without a word. I followed him toward the Grand Training Ground.

"I thought hard about yesterday's reason. Is it because I didn't visit you first among the Demon Supremes?"

I had already met and formed connections with the other Demon Supremes. Excluding the Poison King, he was the seventh.

The Fist Demon stopped walking. He looked at me with his terrifying face and asked, "Do I look like such a petty person to you?"

"Then I must be the petty one. If it were me, I think I'd be very angry."

The Fist Demon said nothing more and left. I watched him walk away and shouted, "I'll see you again tomorrow!"

But I couldn't see the Fist Demon the next day.

Only the Iron Fists were in the training ground. I watched them train until the end, then returned.

I came up empty for three days straight. I couldn't tell if he was deliberately avoiding me or just busy.

So this is how you're going to play? These damn Demon Supremes are all so difficult and picky. There isn't a single easy one among them.

Let's see who wins, I thought. As I turned to leave, one of the Iron Fists passed by and spoke to me discreetly.

"The Demon Supreme is in the small training ground right now."

I gave him a look that asked why.

He said quietly, "My family recently received a great deal of help from a matter handled by the Sanzu River Hall."

He bowed deeply and left. Telling me this must have been a burden for him, but he seemed very grateful for the Sanzu River Hall's help.

"[Thank you.]"

I sent my thanks to him through telepathy as he walked away.

I immediately went to the small training ground.

The Fist Demon sat there alone, lost in thought. Meditation didn't seem to suit such a large, rugged man, but the sight of him sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed was surprisingly fitting.

I spoke quietly from behind him. I didn't mention the three wasted days or how I found this place. I just spoke as if we had seen each other yesterday.

"Are you keeping your distance because of my brother? Since you've already decided to support him, are you trying not to break that conviction?"

After a brief pause, the Fist Demon opened his eyes. "What kind of grand conviction would that be, to mistreat someone for such a reason? The ones who ruin the world are those with misguided convictions."

Those words were unexpected. Based on his appearance, he seemed like the type to stick to a decision until death.

"Then you might be able to support me instead of my brother."

The Fist Demon closed his eyes again, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.

I bowed my head politely. "I'll be sure to return tomorrow with the answer."

I could tell he was testing me. Otherwise, he would have bluntly told me not to come. In any case, this wasn't bad. If we saw each other often, I was sure I could find the answer to our relationship.

After leaving the Eastern Fist Garrison, I headed to the Southern Blade Sect to meet the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Strangely, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was also sitting in his courtyard, lost in thought.

"Is today some kind of group meditation day for the Demon Supremes? Then I should probably do some thinking myself."

I went and sat beside him.

With his eyes still closed, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon said quietly, "You've only ever swung a blade to death, so you don't know how to deal with fists, do you?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon knew my exact situation.

"How did you know?"

"How would I know? The rumor that you've been visiting the Eastern Fist Garrison is all over the place."

"The rumors spread so fast. Those loose-lipped cultists!"

"You'll lose all the fish you've caught that way."

"It's fine. I'll just go catch them again. There are only seven of them, so there should be some fun in it."

"Why seven?"

I stared quietly at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"Have you already caught and eaten me?"

I laughed out loud at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's words. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon must have found his own words funny because he laughed along.

"Actually, I came to see you about that. What kind of person is the Fist Demon?"

"Usually, guys who use their fists are ignorant, but the Fist Demon is smart. He's a very smart man."

A smart Fist Demon. That must be why the Drunken Demon said you couldn't easily win against him without considerable resolve. It's also why Father said the odds were four to three but still a tight match.

"A smart person's fist always hurts more."

"Do you regret not catching him before this old man?"

"First, I have to say this. I don't know what kind of person the Fist Demon is, but this much is certain. A Blade Demon in hand is worth ten Fist Demons in the bush!"

Flattering the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was never a waste. Normally, flattery makes you wonder what you're even doing, but not with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon wasn't worried. It wasn't because he thought of himself as a fish I had already caught, but because I genuinely liked him. When I asked him to be my left wing, I only needed a Demon Supreme.

But now, I didn't care if he wasn't a Demon Supreme or just a stable hand in our Cult. I wouldn't even care if he had no influence on my succession. I just liked the Blood Heaven Blade Demon as a person. As long as that feeling didn't change, our relationship was secure.

"Do you know why the Cult Leader likes the Fist Demon?"

"Father likes the Fist Demon?"

"He doesn't say it out loud, but he probably likes him the most among the Demon Supremes."

"Why does he like him?"

"Because the Fist Demon is a madman for martial arts."

That explained everything. He met Father's number one condition for liking someone.

"He's not just crazy, he's purely crazy for it."

"And you say he's smart? That's cool, isn't it?"

"Cool? You've met your match."

"It's fine because I have you, Elder. If you weren't here, who would I get this kind of advice from? How would I even live?"

"You'd live just fine, drinking with the Drunken Demon and hanging out with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was jealous of the other Demon Supremes, as expected, but he still generously gave me information about the Fist Demon.

"You can't deny it, can you?"

"I'll visit again when I need to meditate. I'll bring the Fist Demon with me then."

"Don't you dare!"

With that, I left the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's residence.

The next day, I went to see the Undefeated Fist Demon again.

He was not in the Grand Training Ground or the small one. After searching, I found him before a cliff within the Eastern Fist Garrison. I knew our Cult was vast enough for lakes, but I never knew it had a cliff like this.

"Did you sleep well?"

He didn't accept my greeting today either, but it didn't matter. He let me roam freely within the Eastern Fist Garrison, which meant he didn't dislike my visits that much.

I stood beside him and looked up at the cliff.

"I think I've finally found the answer, but please promise me something first. Promise you won't get angry after hearing it. No, you can get angry, but promise you won't hit me with those fists."

The Fist Demon slowly looked at me. He didn't promise with words, but his gaze was enough.

"You wanted to show your subordinates something. Not that you could easily ignore the Second Young Lord, or that you supported the First Young Lord. You really wanted to say, 'I have no interest in your succession battle,' didn't you?"

Was that the right answer?

Unlike the other times, he didn't chase me away. His gaze just returned to the cliff.

I stopped dwelling on the answer and looked up at the cliff with him.

"I didn't know there was a cliff like this in the Cult's grounds. If you climbed to the top, you could probably see the entire Cult."

"This cliff isn't for climbing."

"Then what is its purpose?"

His answer was surprising.

"This cliff is to be destroyed with these fists. In a single blow!"

I was startled because I could feel his sincerity.

"You think it's an absurd goal, don't you?"

No matter how strong the Fist Demon was, destroying this cliff in one blow was impossible. Even Father probably couldn't do it.

"No. I was just wondering why I never had such a concrete goal."

I've never had a concrete goal for my martial arts. Of course, that's probably because Hwa Mugi occupied that spot.

It had been a long time since I heard a martial artist state such a concrete goal. It stirred something in my heart.

"May I join you in this goal?"

"You'll try to slice this cliff with a single sword strike?"

"No. I want to try destroying it with my fists, too."

This time, the Fist Demon was the one who was startled. He probably never imagined I would give such an answer.

But I was completely serious. If I could destroy this cliff with my fists, I felt I could also defeat Hwa Mugi. Beyond Hwa Mugi, I wanted to take on the challenge as a martial artist. I then said something even more surprising to the Fist Demon, who stared at me with his terrifying face.

"Please teach me your fist arts."