Chapter 599: Just Ask to Borrow a Sword

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Fist Demon donned the God of War, but he did not let his guard down.

His opponent was strong. Even fighting with all his might, he still had not managed to kill the man and had been forced to put on his gauntlets. Furthermore, the current Jang Hu was in a state where he had summoned every last drop of his venomous spirit.

A single moment of carelessness would mean death, a truth that applied equally to them both.

They surged toward each other. The blade protruding from Jang Hu's fist made his arm effectively longer than the Fist Demon's.

SWOOOOSH.

The blade, capable of slicing through cast iron like paper, grazed past the Fist Demon's face. The Fist Demon was unsure if the God of War could block a blade with such killing intent, so he carefully responded by dodging the attacks as much as he could.

He could not keep dodging forever, however. In an instant, a blade of killing intent flew in from an angle he could not avoid.

"……"

The blade tore through the empty air but was stopped dead by the Fist Demon's palm.

Damn it! It was blocked.

Jang Hu saw that the gauntlets were completely undamaged. This was the might of the world's number one gauntlets.

SWOOOOSH.

Jang Hu twisted his body and leaped back to evade the Fist Demon's counterattack.

"Must be nice hiding behind your gauntlets. Why don't you carry a shield, too?"

It was a persistent attempt to wound his pride and make him take off the God of War.

PANG, PANG!

The Fist Demon struck his palm with his other fist and replied.

"This is enough."

This was not the reaction Jang Hu had wanted. His provocations and mockery had no effect.

Jang Hu was unaware of a crucial fact. The Fist Demon had wandered the Central Plains with the Cult Leader since his youth and possessed more practical combat experience than any other Demon Supreme. He was a man who had faced every kind of provocation from every type of enemy.

SWOOOOSH.

Jang Hu's fist swiftly aimed for the Fist Demon's vital points. He knew just one clean hit would end the fight. If the blade pierced his body, his fist would immediately smash into the wound.

The Fist Demon dodged the incoming blade and threw a punch.

WHOOOSH.

The cheek that the Fist Demon's fist brushed past grew hot as if burned, like a giant lump of iron had grazed him.

SHWIIK!

After dodging the attack, Jang Hu aimed his blade at the man's abdomen. The Fist Demon's body was so large it seemed a random stab would surely hit something. Yet the attack only grazed him, and then grazed him again. It was not easy to leave even a single scratch on his body.

Of course, Jang Hu did not easily allow the Fist Demon's punches to land either. This was a matter of survival. One hit, and he would die.

This sense of crisis kept both of their bodies in a state of extreme excitement. One might assume fighters of their caliber would fight calmly while assessing the situation, but that was not the case. Right now, the two were in a state of extreme agitation.

It was a state of ultimate excitement where they wouldn't feel pain even if their bones broke and flesh tore, a state where they would throw a punch with a severed wrist as if it were still attached. That was why they could block the attacks. The blows they exchanged flew with such extreme speed and power that they could never be blocked without being in such a state of excitement. If they weren't agitated, their minds wouldn't be able to withstand it.

Their fists were suddenly imbued with enhanced qi, and their forms would vanish in an instant. The air around the two men continuously exploded with a force that threatened to burst eardrums.

BOOM! BOOOM! BOOOOM!

It was a power that would have shattered anything standing there. A rock would have turned to dust, and a lump of iron would have been flattened like a rice cake.

Since both men had surpassed the stage of being bound by technique, their fight was a true display of the pinnacle of fist arts.

The Flower Sword Supreme watched their fight and sensed it was heading toward its final stage. After fighting nonstop while pouring out such tremendous inner arts, there was no way they had much left. Both of them would surely try to settle the match soon.

She silently cheered for the Fist Demon.

If the Fist Demon were to die by some chance, his death would not be his alone. The aftermath would affect everyone who had witnessed it, including Lee Ahn, Geom Mugeuk, and even herself.

You must win, for our sake.

The Flower Sword Supreme glanced at Lee Ahn, who was standing beside her. She sent a telepathic message to Lee Ahn.

[Don't see this as your father's fight. See it as the Fist Demon's fight.]

How could the intelligent Lee Ahn not understand what that meant?

[Yes, Sword Supreme.]

It meant she should set aside her personal feelings and engrave their every movement in her mind, not missing a single one. Where else would she get the chance to witness such a fight firsthand?

PAPAPAPANG!

As they exchanged blows with the utmost concentration, Jang Hu suddenly lost his balance. The Fist Demon did not miss that moment and slammed his shoulder into Jang Hu's chest.

KWAANG!

The moment he was hit, Jang Hu swung the blade of killing intent, but the Fist Demon's hand blocked it.

SWOOOOSH.

"……"

Jang Hu was struck in the face by the Fist Demon's punch and slid backward. Blood trickled from his nose.

A nosebleed in a fight between masters of this level? It was something that truly should not happen, yet it was also something that could only happen because of the nature of their fight.

Jang Hu pressed the acupoints on the bridge of his nose to stop the bleeding. He then asked, "That was your chance. Why didn't you press the attack?"

The Fist Demon did not attack, even though Jang Hu was tilting his head back and looking at the sky.

The Fist Demon massaged his own wrist and fist as he replied.

"You like setting traps, don't you?"

He was referring to the time Jang Hu had used the blade of killing intent when he was cornered. The remark hit its mark. Jang Hu had indeed been planning to launch a surprise attack if the Fist Demon had followed up.

Jang Hu's chest felt tight with frustration. He had never faced such a difficult opponent in his entire life. His gaze naturally turned to Lee Ahn.

If only I could take the Fist Demon's daughter hostage.

The reason he had not yet acted on this thought was the Flower Sword Supreme standing in front of Lee Ahn. If he carelessly provoked her and she also intervened, the gates of hell would truly open.

I didn't want to resort to this method.

Jang Hu unleashed the move he had been saving.

It was a technique that required him to use his innate Tianjin energy, a technique that could only be used by taking the life of his disciple, Jin Dan. This, however, was the only way to defeat that big fist, which was stronger than he had anticipated.

"Alright, let's end this now."

Jang Hu's gaze turned to his disciple, Jin Dan, who had been watching the fight until now.

Jin Dan met his master's gaze and felt that it was finally his time to step up.

I will help you, even if it costs me my life.

The characters engraved on Jin Dan's fist began to emit a red glow. Then, as if on cue, a blue glow like a ghostly fire erupted from Jang Hu's hand.

SHAAAAAAH.

The blue and red lights began to advance toward each other.

Originally, Jang Hu was supposed to contain both of these energies within his own fist.

However, these two energies were polar opposites, and having them in one person's body would cause a massive internal injury from the clash. Since his power was not great enough to prevent that, he had stored one of the energies in his disciple's fist. He had to gather this energy as one and eliminate the Fist Demon as quickly as possible. Once the two energies began to clash, he himself would not be safe.

Jin Dan knew he had to transfer the energy, but he was unaware of a crucial fact. He did not know that not only the energy in his hand but also his own life force and innate Tianjin energy would be sucked away, leading to his death. He did not know it was such a wicked evil art. No, he did not know he had such a heartless Master.

HWIIIIIIII.

The blue and red energies met in the air and began to mix.

At that very moment, a light, short whoosh of wind was heard.

"……"

In the next moment, the red energy that had filled the air returned to Jin Dan's body.

CHAK.

The sound of a sword being sheathed followed.

The Flower Sword Supreme was now standing behind Jin Dan. A splitting sound, JIIIK, was heard as a line formed on his body.

SLUUUURK.

Jin Dan's body was sliced diagonally, spewing blood. He lost his life without ever knowing why or how he died.

Jang Hu, who had never imagined the Flower Sword Supreme would intervene, shouted with a face contorted in rage.

"You crazy bitch!"

The Flower Sword Supreme looked at Jang Hu and spoke leisurely.

"Wasn't this a one-on-one fight? Was it a fight where two-on-one was allowed?"

If he agreed, it would be an admission that it was okay for the Flower Sword Supreme to join in. Another string of harsh curses erupted from Jang Hu's mouth.

"You dog-like bitch! You cowardly Demonic Cult bastards, you're worse than vermin!"

Lee Ahn grew angry at the insults directed at the Flower Sword Supreme. The target of the insults, however, was completely unconcerned.

The person she was concerned about right now was the Fist Demon. The Flower Sword Supreme looked at the Fist Demon and bowed her head slightly.

She could not know what would have happened if the disciple's energy had merged. It was, of course, a fight she should not have interfered in so recklessly. But the Flower Sword Supreme believed in the Fist Demon's change, in his softened heart and his changed life. She hoped that today's fight was for victory, not for honor.

Fortunately, the Fist Demon did not look displeased at all. He instead expressed his gratitude to her.

"Thank you."

Jang Hu sneered at the Fist Demon.

"Wearing the God of War, and now you're even getting help from a woman."

He tried to get under his skin until the very end, but it did not work.

The Fist Demon replied, "If that woman is the Sword Supreme, isn't her help worth receiving?"

A smile graced the Flower Sword Supreme's lips at the Fist Demon's words. To think he would say something like that about her. Yes, her prediction was correct.

Lee Ahn could finally feel it. This was a true battle of Demon Supremes. It was a battle of true adults who did not get caught up in an opponent's provocations and did not lose sight of what was important. She was once again seeing the path she had to walk.

Conversely, Jang Hu's expression completely hardened. If the man who had submitted the report on the Eight Demon Supremes were in front of him, he would have smashed his head in right now. The report he had submitted about the Demon Supremes was all nonsense.

He did not know the reason why the Fist Demon was trying to win this fight. The Fist Demon had no desire to gain honor by defeating him. He simply wanted to defeat him quickly and wait for one person here.

He hoped that when Geom Mugeuk emerged, the first person he saw would be himself, not the foul-mouthed Jang Hu. He wanted to see the Young Cult Leader smile brightly and make a joke. It did not matter if the joke was not directed at him. No, it would be better if it was not. Let him say it to Lee Ahn or to the Flower Sword Supreme. He was a man for whom just watching that scene was enough.

Come to think of it, I felt the same way when I used to travel with the Cult Leader in my youth.

He wanted to make sure no one dared to treat the Cult Leader disrespectfully. It was the very feeling of wanting to protect the Cult Leader so he could be the protagonist, even if he himself was not.

The Fist Demon clenched his fist, pouring that feeling into it.

GWAAAK.

Emotion and immense inner arts were loaded into Jang Hu's fist.

GWAK.

They knew instinctively that this was the final clash.

SSSSSKS.

The blade of killing intent protruding from Jang Hu's fist grew even longer.

The Fist Demon said to him, "Instead of doing that, why don't you just go to my daughter and ask to borrow a sword?"

The Fist Demon knew how to mock, too. He also knew how to enjoy a fight but was just holding back because Lee Ahn was watching.

Of course, Jang Hu did not just take it.

"Why borrow it? I can just tear you all to pieces and take it."

The two men threw themselves at each other.

SWAAAAAAAAAACK!

Jang Hu unleashed the Phantom Killing Fist, his final seventh fist, the Sahon-gyeok. The Fist Demon used the Thunder Arhat Fist, his final sixth fist, the Hell Lightning Asura.

The Fist Demon's fist contained waiting and longing. Jang Hu's fist contained hatred and loathing.

Before their fists collided, the Fist Demon did not see the hell Jang Hu had unleashed. Instead, he saw a cliff. It was the cliff he had looked up at for so long.

The Fist Demon felt the power entering his arm and fist was different from usual. It was a feeling that was hard to describe. A confidence that he could shatter the cliff erupted from his fist.

Yes, I'll shatter it!

And so the two fists, one of the Fist Demon and one of the Fist King, collided head-on.

KWAAAAANG!

Even the layered hatred and loathing could not overcome the Fist Demon's heart for Geom Mugeuk.

PAPAPAPAK!

The blade of killing intent shattered, creating a shower of white light. The Fist Demon's fist broke the blade and then smashed Jang Hu's fist as well.

GWADEDEUK!

"Uwaaaaaaaah!"

A wretched scream echoed from Jang Hu's mouth, but the scream did not last long. Jang Hu saw it then. A black shadow filled his vision, as if the sky itself was collapsing upon him.

KWAM!

The Fist Demon's large fist, having crushed the other's, flew straight on and embedded itself in Jang Hu's face. Jang Hu's protective enhanced qi shattered to pieces, and his face caved in, completely collapsing. With his face smashed, the Fist King Jang Hu slowly fell forward.

No thunder was heard from the Hell Lightning Asura.

In his last moment, what Jang Hu saw was Death, sitting in the audience and watching the fight.

THUD.

Jang Hu, now dead, collapsed to the ground. The life-and-death battle between the Fist Demon and the Fist King had finally come to an end.

"Father!"

Lee Ahn ran to the Fist Demon and threw her arms around him. She was so happy that her father was safe. She had not shown it on the outside, but he could not know the desperation in her heart as she had watched.

The Flower Sword Supreme had told her to see it as the Fist Demon's fight, not her father's, but how could she have possibly done that?

"I'm alright."

Lee Ahn only felt relieved after the Fist Demon's reassuring answer. Then, speaking not as a daughter but as a martial artist, she shared her thoughts on the fight.

"You were truly amazing."

The Fist Demon grinned. It was an awkward smile, but it suited his rugged face perfectly.

The Flower Sword Supreme watched the scene in silence and could tell. The Fist Demon had ascended to another realm through this fight. For those at their level, a life-and-death battle with such a rival was a miraculous encounter, more precious than any miracle herb.

Yeom Baekyin stared blankly at the completely wrecked martial arts academy. The corpses piled there were all from his own side. Since he had clearly sided with Jang Hu, he would have no excuse if the Fist Demon decided to strike him down with a single blow.

Just then, something caught Yeom Baekyin's eye.

"……"

Everything around him was shattered, but some things were not. They were the chairs with the mechanisms to descend underground. In this place where everything was collapsed and broken, only those chairs remained intact.

Could it be?

Was it a coincidence? Or was it something else? Yeom Baekyin's gaze turned to the Fist Demon.

The Fist Demon was slowly taking off the God of War. His gaze was deep as he looked down at the gauntlets. He folded them neatly, then picked up the clothes that had fallen to the floor and placed the God of War inside.

He had not noticed when he took it out, but the leather pouch for storing the God of War was securely fastened. The pouch was attached in a way that it would never be lost unless someone snatched his clothes and stripped them from him.

Yeom Baekyin was half in doubt, but Lee Ahn knew for sure.

Her father had fought in a way that did not destroy those chairs.

It was not as if they could not climb up if the passage was destroyed. This was a courtesy to the Young Cult Leader. It was the Fist Demon's courtesy to let them come up comfortably through the mechanism they entered, instead of making them dig their way up through the ground.

Her father had not beaten him through luck. The fact that he had left these chairs intact, even in the midst of that urgent battle, meant one thing.

Father was stronger.

And Lee Ahn could feel her father's heart for the Young Cult Leader. It was the heart of a Demon Supreme who wanted to wait for the Young Cult Leader after neatly tidying up this place.

She thought that perhaps her father's heart in protecting the chairs was not so different from Geom Mugeuk's heart in not wanting to break the table at the Alluring Inn.

As if to confirm her speculation was correct, the Fist Demon looked at the chaotic scene and spoke to Yeom Baekyin.

"An esteemed person will be coming up, so clean this place up."