Chapter 203 - Who the Hell Did You Mess With!

The moment the First Immortal saw the Fist Demon, he knew things had gone wrong—disastrously wrong.

His survival instincts screamed at him to flee. But the Fist Demon's qi presence froze his entire body, freezing both his will to fight and his will to escape.

Just then, eight experts who had been hiding nearby revealed themselves. As they moved to encircle the Fist Demon, the First Immortal's frozen heart thawed a little.

The Eight Ghost Swords.

The eight moved as one, and had once been infamous throughout Murim. In martial combat, adding a second fighter did not double one's strength, any more than a hundred attackers became a hundred times as strong.

But the Eight Ghost Swords were eight times as strong. Perhaps not literally, but that was the impression they gave. Their coordinated fighting techniques were that flawless.

That was why they could stand boldly against the muscular man before them, undaunted by his terrifying qi presence.

Strictly speaking, the Eight Ghost Swords were not his subordinates. They were enforcers his financier had sent to ensure he did his job properly.

They were his bodyguards and the hands that carried out his every command—but also his watchers.

"Kill him!"

At the First Immortal's command, the Eight Ghost Swords launched themselves forward without hesitation, thrusting at eight of the Fist Demon's vital points simultaneously.

The instant they moved, the Fist Demon threw a punch at the Ghost Sword directly in front of him.

KRA-BOOM! THWACK!

A thunderclap rang out, followed by the crushing impact of flesh and bone shattering. One of the Eight Ghost Swords flew backward, smashed through a tree, and fell. It was Black Cloud Asura, the first form of the Thunderbolt Asura Fist.

One had been sacrificed, but the other seven swords struck the Fist Demon's body.

CLAAANG!

The blades struck a human body, yet the sound was metallic. The fifth form, Adamantine Asura, had activated, temporarily making his entire body as hard as steel.

At the very instant the Ghost Swords recoiled in shock—

THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD!

The second form, Thunderbolt Asura, erupted from the Fist Demon's fists. It was so fast that he looked like a many-armed asura throwing all its punches at once.

That single move sent six of the Ghost Swords flying in every direction. Killed instantly by the blows, they crashed into trees and rocks and tumbled across the ground.

Just as the last remaining Ghost Sword was about to lunge for the Fist Demon's eyes, the Fist Demon's enormous frame tore through the air at tremendous speed. His punch carried his full weight.

BOOM!

The victim's flesh and bones twisted as though caught in a whirlwind.

Struck by Heavenly Thunder Asura, the third fist form, the last Ghost Sword flew so far away that he vanished from sight.

All of it happened in an instant.

All the Immortals perceived was a thunderclap, a flash of something, and the Eight Ghost Swords lying scattered as corpses. It felt like divine punishment descending from the heavens.

A heavy silence fell.

The sight was so unreal that all four, the First Immortal included, stared in a daze.

Over the past few years, the First Immortal had witnessed the Eight Ghost Swords' skill many times. When ordered to kill, they killed, no matter who their opponent was. Even renowned experts fell to their flawless coordinated attacks.

Watching them fight, he had established a rule for himself:

If four of them fell, he would flee without looking back.

He had decided that if their perfect coordination broke down, it was time to run. But what was he supposed to do now? What if they all died in an instant?

Geom Mugeuk understood. The Fist Demon had deliberately demonstrated a range of forms, starting with the first, for him to watch.

It was distinctly different from his own fist technique—more domineering, yet more powerful. It was not a question of how much internal energy they possessed. The qi presence imbued in those fists was more vigorous and potent.

"Ah! That was truly magnificent."

Seeing something once like this was better than hearing about it a hundred times.

Hearing Geom Mugeuk's admiration, the First Immortal thought the young brat from the Righteous Fist Sect was lying. He could not even see the punches, so what was magnificent about them? Who could possibly display such godlike might...? Ah!

'It's the Fist Demon! You idiot! You're only realizing that now?'

Those enormous fists, those thick forearms that looked as though they had forced open the gates of hell themselves—if this man was not the Fist Demon, who was? Who else could send the Eight Ghost Swords to the next world so effortlessly?

"Please spare me, Lord Fist Demon!"

The First Immortal threw himself flat on the ground. At the name, the other three prostrated themselves in terror as well. Learning that their opponent was a Demon Supreme of the Demonic Cult made their whole bodies tremble.

Still lying facedown, the First Immortal sent a sound transmission to the Third Immortal.

—Wasn't that Righteous Fist Sect successor trying to kill the Fist Demon?

—Yes.

—You stupid fuck! Do those two look like enemies to you?

—I don't understand what's happened either.

—You fucking moron!

He wanted nothing more than to leap up and beat the Third Immortal half to death first. But he could not.

He had spent his entire life giving his temper free rein. Never once had he held back his anger. He had even chased down someone who glared at him in the street and gouged out their eyes. He never spared anyone who provoked him. Yet now, that fury was well under control.

"Please spare us!"

All four begged for their lives.

The Fist Demon slowly walked toward them.

"So these bastards believed that story without a shred of doubt?"

Geom Mugeuk smiled at the Fist Demon's lingering resentment.

"Yes. They live that way themselves, so they assume everyone else does too."

I cleared up their misconception about the Fist Demon.

"All of you, lift your heads. Straighten your backs."

They raised their heads, still kneeling.

"You fools! The Fist Demon, laying hands on the fiancée of a successor to a sect belonging to the Cult? Does that sound remotely plausible? I made it up to lure you out. Understand?"

"Yes! Yes!"

The Immortals bowed their heads, agreeing unconditionally.

Geom Mugeuk asked the Fist Demon,

"How do you feel? A little better?"

The Fist Demon shook his head. Right. Of course he would not feel better.

Geom Mugeuk thought the Fist Demon would not have reacted so strongly over anything else. Claims that he had killed someone or treated someone with contempt would not have made him blink.

But he was a man who utterly loathed doing such things to women. Thinking about it, that made sense. He was someone who punched cliffs, someone who had never once caused trouble involving women. That was the Fist Demon.

"You came out to slack off and even let yourself be turned into a lecher. Thank you."

Geom Mugeuk was genuinely grateful.

"Knowing you, Master, I realize how much you hated this. Thank you for putting up with it."

He voiced his gratitude like this. Surely, with a bond like theirs, it went without saying? No! It had to be said aloud. How could anyone know if you never said it?

This was what he appreciated most about the Fist Demon: instead of hiding his displeasure and letting it build inside, he expressed it openly, giving Geom Mugeuk the chance to soothe his feelings.

"The lecher who appeared and vanished in Murim over these past few days without anyone knowing was probably the best fighter of any lecher in Murim history."

At Geom Mugeuk's joke, the Fist Demon finally smiled.

Their gazes met across the moonlight. I could sense that his expression had relaxed. The Fist Demon's anger did not ease when those bastards learned the truth. It only eased when he heard thanks for his patience, and an apology.

That was why Geom Mugeuk could even hear him say something like this:

"You said this would save hundreds, thousands of young people, didn't you? Then becoming a righteous immortal for once might not be so bad."

As though regretting having spoken, the Fist Demon looked up at the moon. His broad back looked even larger and sturdier than before.

Meanwhile, the First Immortal was sending a sound transmission to the Fourth Immortal.

—The Fist Demon won't let us live. Watch for an opening and take that young brat hostage! It's our only way out.

Judging by the atmosphere, the two were clearly close. If they could take him hostage, they could at least seek a way to survive.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk approached them.

As he passed the Fourth Immortal and came toward the First, the Fourth sprang up like lightning and successfully leveled his sword at Geom Mugeuk's throat.

"Move and this bastard dies!"

The First Immortal shouted,

"We've got him!"

After glancing their way, the Fist Demon looked up at the moon again and said,

"You should have taken me hostage instead."

The moment his incomprehensible words ended, Geom Mugeuk was already facing the Fourth Immortal.

'When did he turn around?'

It was a question the Fourth Immortal, with his sword at Geom Mugeuk's throat, should never have had to ask.

Geom Mugeuk's fist gave a light tap. The result, however, was anything but light.

THWACK!

The Fourth Immortal's head snapped backward, then returned to its original position. Could a neck bend that far and be all right? It could not.

He collapsed forward and never rose again. His neck had broken, killing him on the spot.

Geom Mugeuk turned to the remaining three and said coldly,

"For starters, I don't like that you've named yourselves Immortals."

Seeing him, the First Immortal realized:

'Ah! He isn't the Righteous Fist Sect's successor!'

That sect's young successor could not possibly dispatch the Fourth Immortal so easily with a sword held at his throat.

'Damn it! Fuck!'

The First Immortal regretted it over and over.

He was always so careful. Had this been merely a clash with a demonic martial artist, he would never have shown himself. But once he heard it involved the Fist Demon, he had no choice. One wrong move could destroy the entire Mutual Aid Society system he had worked so hard to build.

'Get a grip! Get a grip!'

The tiger already had him in its jaws. Fortunately, there were three pieces of prey, not just one. It might spare one of them.

'I'll survive! I will survive.'

He was making so much money now. He could live in luxury for the rest of his life. He could not die like this.

"Which of you is the worst?"

Geom Mugeuk's question made all three flinch.

"Why so startled? You chose people too, didn't you? Who should we threaten? Who should we fleece? If you can choose, why can't I?"

He pressured them as though intent on paying them back in kind for their crimes.

"If you don't choose, I'll kill all three!"

As if by prior agreement, the First and Second Immortals looked at the Third. They often joked that he was the worst of them, so the decision was easy.

The Third Immortal cried out indignantly,

"No! I did the most good. I gave young people hopes and dreams!"

"I know very well that isn't true. Didn't you say it earlier? It wasn't for my youth, but for yours?"

"Please spare me!"

"When those young people begged like this, did you spare even one of them?"

"..."

"I thought not."

THWACK!

Geom Mugeuk's fist caved in the Third Immortal's face, killing him.

THUD.

Just as he had told him earlier that he would forget everything as of today, Geom Mugeuk tossed his corpse aside carelessly. He thought this was precisely the treatment they deserved. He might promise to spare them to extract information, but he had no intention of letting a single one live.

The First Immortal prepared to make his final choice. He would run without looking back. Even if a hidden weapon struck him in the back and killed him, he would die fleeing. There was a sliver of hope: he was confident in his lightness arts.

Just as he was about to turn, someone stood beside him and draped an arm around his shoulders.

"You can't escape. I'm not joking—even with a watch's head start, he'd catch you. Running is what he does best."

The middle-aged man who had come up beside him acting so friendly was the Wind Heaven Cult Leader.

The First Immortal could not gather his wits.

'Who is this now?'

Not only had the man approached without a sound, but how had he known he was about to flee?

Finally, the First Immortal lost control and roared at the Second Immortal,

"You fucking moron! Who the hell did you mess with!"

Choosing their targets was the Second Immortal's job.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader smiled.

"Exactly. There was a time I asked myself that a lot too."

Soon afterward, Go Wol appeared as well.

"I searched his safe house and found a ledger."

The thick ledger contained hundreds of names and the amounts they had borrowed.

"I'll see to this ledger myself."

Knowing Go Wol would handle it wisely and with sound judgment, Geom Mugeuk readily nodded.

The First Immortal's face contorted. How had they found his safe house, too? He had been so very careful. His head spun. This was a natural disaster.

Geom Mugeuk subdued the First and Second Immortals' mute and paralysis points.

"Only one of you lives. Whoever tells me something more useful will survive, won't he? Blink if you have something to say."

Without hesitation, the First Immortal blinked rapidly.

Geom Mugeuk released his mute point.

"The remaining eight hundred thousand taels are in the Central Plains Bank. My seal is inside my robes, and I'll give you the passphrase needed to withdraw the money."

The First Immortal gave Go Wol the passphrase.

The Second Immortal was dismayed. The First Immortal was surrendering the money so easily? No, that much he understood. How could anyone resist the Fist Demon?

What shocked him was this: the man had blurted it out without even a single apologetic glance his way. He had pronounced a death sentence on him without even pretending to hesitate.

Geom Mugeuk addressed the Second Immortal.

"Unfortunate for you, but it looks as though our First Immortal will shed his mortal form and ascend to immortality."

The Second Immortal blinked rapidly.

After subduing the First Immortal's mute point, Geom Mugeuk released the Second's. Since the First had so heartlessly decided to save only himself, the Second had no reason to hesitate either.

"There's another ledger."

The First Immortal's eyes widened, but with his mute and paralysis points subdued, he could do nothing.

As though he had expected this, Geom Mugeuk said to the Second Immortal,

"The financier's ledger."

They must have been paying a certain amount back to their financier every month. A ledger recording when and how much.

"It's hidden inside the First Immortal's belt."

Go Wol removed the First Immortal's belt and examined it, finding a tightly rolled sheet of paper inside. It detailed the tribute payments. If they needed to take formal action against the person behind this, it would be vital evidence.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the First Immortal.

"Looks like you'll have to yield the honor of ascending to our Second Immortal."

The First Immortal began blinking faster than light.