They say there’s nothing more entertaining than watching a fight—but that saying leaves something out.

It’s only fun if the ones fighting are true powerhouses.

Watching stray dogs bark and bite each other doesn’t compare to watching a tiger and a bear clash. Why? Because you can't easily predict who will win.

The tiger may move with grace and flash, but all it takes is one unlucky swipe from the bear’s massive paw to snap its neck clean.

That’s the kind of fight happening right now.

The Lust Demon is a man who can fight well even without drawing from his full internal energy. I would know—I’ve gone head-to-head with him, grabbing him by the hair.

Master Yukhap, on the other hand, is a man who knows how to endure. His sword art is built around impenetrable defense followed by a devastating counterattack. That’s why I can read the flow of this fight clearly.

But the two men involved… they’re starting to fray.

As the duel drags on longer than expected, both are showing signs of unease.

Yukhap seems surprised at just how overwhelmingly strong this younger man is.

Meanwhile, the Lust Demon seems equally shocked that this unremarkably ugly bastard is perfectly deflecting every one of his ice-based attacks.

Even as I thought about all this, their duel was growing more intense.

The explosions of sound were deafening, and there was now a gleam of killing intent in their eyes.

At this rate, the Lust Demon might lose a limb, or Yukhap might end up frozen solid and suffer grave internal injuries.

‘Damn, they really can fight.’

I’d already achieved what I wanted by setting up this clash between the Ghost Demon and the Lust Demon.

I had reached out to hidden martial masters ahead of time, dragged them together, made them fight—and now, I got to sit back and watch. It filled me with a pride so vast it nearly felt noble.

But since it looked like one of them might end up hospitalized or dead, I finally had to open my big mouth again.

“This isn’t a fight to the death, you idiots. Get a grip. Did you two run into your mortal enemies or something?”

I even started chuckling just to scatter the overwhelming killing aura they were exuding.

“Did your romantic rival steal your girl? Is that it? The ugly guy stole your sweetheart and now it’s life or death?”

The Lust Demon snapped.

“Shut it!”

Yukhap cursed under his breath.

“Goddamn it…”

They separated briefly to catch their breath… and then went at it again.

I hadn’t expected the match to last this long. Now, actual killing techniques were starting to emerge in their styles.

Every time that happened, I called it out # Nоvеlight # on purpose.

“Wow, was that a cheap trick? Didn’t work, huh? Saw through it right away?”

Suddenly, the Lust Demon unleashed a massive palm strike mid-air.

BOOOOM!

Even I, spectating nearby, felt the cold energy sweep past me.

It was, of course, a strike infused with his Ice Arts. The sheer force of it, tinged with white, was absurdly beautiful.

At the same time, Yukhap’s sword erupted with a muddy yellow aura, and the white palm shattered into a ten-pointed cross.

CRACK!

The Lust Demon then dove in through the chaotic swirl of force and launched a furious assault. Yukhap calmly stepped back, blending defense and counterattack to respond.

I clapped, genuinely impressed.

“That was nice. Both of you. Damn…”

Yukhap’s responses were far more fluid than when he had fought me. He must’ve polished his style through frequent meditation. Meanwhile, the Lust Demon was now revealing techniques he had held back during our previous duel.

Suddenly, the Lust Demon clenched his jaw hard.

From the look of it, he was about to unleash his ultimate technique, forgetting I was even here.

‘This little bastard… you really about to use your secret technique right now?’

I shot into the air from my seated position and dove right between them.

“Stand down.”

While suspended mid-air, I wrapped my left hand in Moonlight Cold Heart Technique and caught Yukhap’s sword. My right hand, imbued with Flame-Binding Seal, collided with the Lust Demon’s incoming energy.

KAAA-BOOOM!

The Lust Demon staggered back several paces.

Yukhap’s sword was now halfway frozen from the chill of my technique.

The Lust Demon shouted,

“What the hell are you doing?!”

I pushed Yukhap’s sword aside and answered.

“Break time.”

Yukhap scowled.

“Since when do you call the breaks?”

Hands on my hips, I glared at them both.

“I didn’t set up this fight so one of you could lose a damn arm or end up coughing up blood from internal injuries. Idiots. Know your limits.”

The Lust Demon opened his mouth to protest, but I roared first.

“Shut it, you little shit.”

“…”

“You two have been going at it this long and still haven’t landed a decisive blow. That means neither of you is overwhelmingly stronger. I saw both of you preparing to use your ultimate techniques, so I stopped it. What’s the point in risking your life just to win a spar? This isn’t a blood feud.”

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

“Lord of Haomun. It’s been a while.”

I turned to see the Sword Demon approaching, holding a wooden practice sword.

Sharp-eared bastard must’ve heard the clash from afar and come over.

He always carried the atmosphere of a man engulfed in shadows. That faint smile of his, barely visible on his face, was the only light peeking through that darkness.

That hint of a smile seemed to be all the mental stability he needed to remain sane.

I smiled brightly the moment I saw him.

“Senior, you’re here.”

The Sword Demon looked at Yukhap and asked,

“You were fighting my disciple. Who might you be? You don’t look like mortal enemies.”

Yukhap studied him and replied,

“A humble swordsman from Yeongbo Mountain. I’m called Master Yukhap. And you are?”

The Sword Demon replied,

“A swordsman who trains here in Baek Eung-ji.”

Seeing the two of them side by side was a moment worth savoring.

The Sword Demon looked at the Lust Demon, his expression now serious.

“My disciple.”

“Yes, Master.”

“What do you think of the swordsman from Yeongbo Mountain?”

The Lust Demon looked at Yukhap and replied,

“He’s impressive. His defense is incredibly solid.”

“Then spar with him again sometime. I quite enjoyed the sound of your Ice Arts shattering from afar.”

“Yes, sir.”

I chimed in.

“Senior, since you’re here, how about some tea?”

“You came all this way. That’s the least I can do. Come.”

As we walked, I showed off the wooden sword Elder Heo had given me.

“Recognize this?”

The Sword Demon glanced at it and nodded.

“Is it any good?”

“Too light. I’m still adjusting.”

“I heard from Yongmyeong when I visited the infirmary. He said you stopped by just days earlier. Also heard you got a new sword. The former Chief Commander’s been a bit worried about you, you know.”

“Huh. Why would a sick man be worrying about me?”

The Sword Demon chuckled.

“He said you’re the first person since me to speak so bluntly to the Cult Leader. Apparently, even the Cult Leader took notice of you.”

“No kidding. I wonder how.”

“There are a lot of people under him trying to curry favor. Someone probably reported everything, including your appearance. Might’ve been a spy present, too.”

“Sounds about right. Oh, by the way—this man here, Master Yukhap, and I recently killed a man believed to be Hwan Guija.”

“Hwan Guija?”

The Sword Demon tilted his head.

“That wouldn’t have been an easy opponent. Did you team up?”

“Hwan Guija underestimated us. The arrogance he showed before dying was something else.”

“Ah. He probably let his guard down because you looked too young. He always had that cocky streak. Not a surprising death, then.”

Behind us, Yukhap sighed.

“By the way, this Cult Leader you’re talking about… would he be the same one I’ve heard rumors about?”

I nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Then… is this swordsman here part of the Demonic Cult?”

I shook my head.

“He left after clashing with the Cult Leader. No need to be tense.”

The Lust Demon, trailing behind, asked curiously,

“Master, is there a famous sword sect in Yeongbo Mountain?”

The Sword Demon raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you asking me? You fought him. Ask him.”

So the Lust Demon turned to Yukhap.

“Are you from a famous sword sect?”

His directness made both Yukhap and the Sword Demon sigh.

Since neither wanted to answer, I replied for them.

“He’s the last disciple of Yukhapmun.”

The Lust Demon frowned.

“Yukhapmun? Never heard of it.”

I shot him a look while walking.

“Of course not, you ass. All you stare at are women’s asses.”

The Sword Demon said to me,

“Strange, really.”

“What is?”

“You seem to be more effective than I am when scolding him.”

“I know why.”

“Do tell.”

“Because I’m an expert on useless bastards. It’s my specialty. I’m the best in Jianghu at it.”

The Sword Demon chuckled. Behind us, the Lust Demon sighed. He probably couldn’t speak as freely with his master around.

After a long silence, the Sword Demon asked me something unexpected.

“How is Master Moyong?”

“He’s doing well. I wish he could’ve come with me.”

The conversation turned peaceful and casual. I liked that.

‘Now, if I get the Sword Demon and Yukhap to fight after tea…’

That would be a match worth seeing. Both chose the sword over all other martial arts. Both were incredibly stubborn in their own ways.

Plus, the Sword Demon was currently training with a wooden blade, and Yukhap’s defense was practically absurd.

If Yukhap fought the Sword Demon, I’d get even more out of it than the fight with the Lust Demon.

A man who roams Jianghu, setting up duels just to watch them play out—that’s who I am. But beneath it all lies a deeper motive:

The peace and safety of Jianghu. The growth of my allies. Broadening my own experience. Sharpening everyone's competitive edge. Martial arts exchange. And the hope that every member of the Evil Society of My Past Life becomes a true grandmaster.

Who would ever understand my heart?

***

That little bastard couldn’t even make tea properly, so the Sword Demon brought the tea set out himself.

But this wasn’t the usual tea we’d had before.

He poured a little of some thick liquid that looked like poison extract into each of our cups, then topped them with water.

“Senior, what is this?”

He handed out the cups.

“Plum.”

“Plum? That plum?”

“Elder Heo recommended it. Good for digestion. Also helps with repressed emotions, supposedly.”

I asked, confused,

“Do you… have repressed emotions?”

The Sword Demon looked around.

“Don’t we all?”

“…”

“Don’t act surprised. Drink.”

The four of us downed our plum drinks. It wasn’t particularly good or bad—just… ambiguous. We drank it because we were told it was medicinal.

All four of us were rather blunt, quiet men. I usually talked the most, but with the Sword Demon present, the mood stayed heavy. I couldn’t do my usual rambling.

The Sword Demon silently refilled our cups—plum extract first, water second.

We drank another.

Tea ceremony, led by a swordsman of the demonic path. Two rounds of plum, smothering silence.

They say plum is good for indigestion. At that moment, I felt like I was about to choke on it.

Then the Sword Demon looked at me and said evenly,

“Lord of Haomun, you’ve been working hard.”

“Not really.”

He pointed to Yukhap.

“You brought a skilled swordsman to spar with my disciple. Then you introduced him to me. You clearly consider all three of us allies. That’s why I say you’ve worked hard.”

He turned to the Lust Demon.

“Don’t you agree?”

The Lust Demon dipped his head.

“Yes. I underestimated him at first, but my opinion changed after the fight. He’s not one of those random sword-wielders I usually duel in Baek Eung-ji. Master, I understand the Lord’s intent.”

“Good.”

Then the Sword Demon looked at Yukhap.

“And you, Master Yukhap?”

He nodded.

“I don’t often get to spar with such formidable fighters. I understand his intent now.”

Suddenly, all three turned to me.

“Hmm.”

They were clearly waiting for me to say something. I folded my arms and replied curtly,

“…As long as you get it.”

I wondered if anyone would understand my heart.

Turns out… these three did.

Maybe it’s because I’m an expert in dumb bastards.

.

.

.

Then again, maybe it’s because they’re dumb bastard experts too.

So in the end, when I asked who would understand me…

It was you guys.