Chapter 71:The Devil’s Date before war

The black and crimson aura that had swallowed the entire neutral city slowly receded like a retreating tide.

For several moments, nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

Thousands of martial artists, sect leaders, clan elders, and rising geniuses stood frozen, staring at the black-clothed young man in the center of the street.

They had all felt it.

That aura.

It was not merely killing intent.

It was something older.

Something more terrifying.

As if a calamity wearing human skin had briefly opened its eyes.

Then—

Lucifer suddenly grinned.

A lazy, carefree grin.

He scratched the back of his head and laughed.

Lucifer: "Relax, old men. I'm not here to kill everyone before the tournament starts."

He spread his arms.

Lucifer: "After all… I'm not a lunatic."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Every person present had the exact same thought.

'Right… the lunatic himself says he isn't a lunatic.'

Some elders nearly coughed blood.

A few disciples looked as if they wanted to cry.

Even the great elders of the Murim Alliance looked at him with complicated expressions.

No one believed him.

Not even a little.

This was the same man who had annihilated the Green Forest because someone disturbed his sleep.

The same man who had killed a great elder.

The same man who had slaughtered an entire tournament's participants.

The same man who had destroyed the Eighteen Strongholds.

And he was saying he wasn't a lunatic.

It was almost insulting.

But nobody dared to say it.

Because the devil was smiling.

And somehow, his smile was scarier than his anger.

Without paying attention to anyone, Lucifer shoved one hand into his pocket and began walking toward the Neutral Town.

The crowd automatically split apart.

No one dared stand in his way.

Only after he disappeared did everyone release a collective sigh of relief.

A catastrophe had been avoided.

For now.

Meanwhile, in another street of Neutral Town—

Ock and Ryeong walked side by side.

The city was bustling.

Vendors shouted.

Children laughed.

Martial artists filled the streets.

Yet both sisters remained silent for a while.

Finally, Ryeong spoke.

Ryeong: "What does that lunatic even think about?"

Ock looked at her.

Ock: "You shouldn't badmouth someone."

Ryeong stared at her.

Ryeong: "You're defending him again."

Before Ock could answer—

A hand suddenly landed on Ryeong's shoulder.

A familiar voice spoke beside her ear.

Lucifer: "Are you guys talking about me?"

Ryeong jumped.

Ryeong: "HOLY SHIT!"

She nearly punched him.

Ryeong: "Where did you come from?!"

Lucifer shrugged.

Lucifer: "That's not important."

He pointed between himself and Ock.

Lucifer: "Since your brother and sister are here, why don't you go play elsewhere? Shu. Shu."

Ryeong's eye twitched.

Ryeong: "Whose brother?"

Lucifer pointed at himself.

Lucifer: "Me."

Ryeong: "LIKE HELL!"

She almost exploded.

Ryeong: "You used our clan! You used my sister!"

Before things escalated, Ock quickly stepped between them.

Ock: "You shouldn't say that."

Ryeong looked betrayed.

Ryeong: "Sister! Why are you defending him?!"

She pointed at Lucifer.

Ryeong: "Don't worry! I'll protect you from this lunatic!"

Lucifer tilted his head.

Lucifer: "Then who's going to protect you?"

Ryeong froze.

Before she could answer, Lucifer looked toward several Tang Clan elders nearby.

Lucifer: "Elders."

The old men immediately straightened.

Lucifer: "Why don't you take Ryeong for a stroll while Ock and I catch up?"

The elders didn't even hesitate.

Elders: "Right!"

They grabbed Ryeong.

Ryeong: "H-Hey?! Wait! What are you doing?!"

They practically carried her away.

Who in their right mind would oppose the devil?

As Ryeong's voice faded into the distance, Lucifer smiled.

Lucifer: "Right. The annoying flies are gone."

He looked at Ock.

Lucifer: "Shall we talk?"

But Ock had already started walking away.

Lucifer blinked.

Lucifer: "Hey."

No response.

She kept walking.

Lucifer: "Hey!"

Still no response.

She continued walking.

Lucifer sighed and followed behind her.

For several minutes, only the sound of footsteps could be heard.

Finally—

Lucifer: "You really missed me, didn't you?"

Ock didn't even turn around.

Ock: "Why do you think that?"

Lucifer grinned.

Lucifer: "Because you're pretending I don't exist."

This time Ock stopped.

She slowly looked at him.

Ock: "That's right."

She looked away.

Ock: "You are demonic. I am orthodox."

She resumed walking.

Ock: "If people see us together…"

Lucifer: "Like I care."

Ock: "That's the problem."

She finally looked at him.

Ock: "You don't care."

Her voice softened.

Ock: "But I have to care."

She looked toward the city.

Ock: "My clan… my sister… my people…"

Lucifer became quiet.

Then he asked—

Lucifer: "So you don't care about me?"

Ock stopped again.

She stared at him.

A strange expression crossed her face.

Then she asked softly—

Ock: "Does the devil even need someone to care about him?"

Lucifer looked away.

For the first time since meeting him—

he seemed uncertain.

Lucifer: "…Not really."

Ock sighed.

Ock: "You are unbelievable."

Both resumed walking.

After a while, Lucifer spoke.

Lucifer: "So… did your anger melt after talking?"

Ock blinked.

Ock: "Who said I'm angry?"

Lucifer looked at her.

Lucifer: "I know when you're angry."

She didn't answer.

Because somehow—

he was right.

Lucifer suddenly pointed ahead.

A restaurant stood in the center of the busy street.

The smell of food filled the air.

His eyes sparkled.

Lucifer: "I'm hungry."

He looked at Ock.

Lucifer: "Let's eat and talk."

Then—

he actually put his hands together.

Lucifer: "Pretty please?"

Ock stared at him.

This was the same man who challenged emperors.

The same man who fought armies.

The same man who terrified the entire Jianghu.

And now—

he looked like a child begging for food.

She almost laughed.

She tried to refuse.

But somehow…

she couldn't.

She sighed.

Ock: "Fine."

Lucifer grinned.

Lucifer: "You're the best."

The restaurant was packed.

Every table was occupied.

People from all over Jianghu had gathered to watch the tournament.

The moment Lucifer and Ock entered—

the entire restaurant became silent.

The waiter nearly dropped his tray.

The manager almost fainted.

The Devil.

And the Poison Queen.

Together.

What kind of cursed combination was this?

The manager hurried over.

Sweat covered his face.

Manager: "O-Oh my! Such distinguished guests! Unfortunately, all our seats are occupied today, so perhaps…"

Lucifer smiled.

A very dangerous smile.

Lucifer: "Dead men don't eat, do they?"

The manager's soul almost left his body.

Lucifer slowly reached toward Chirin.

The manager nearly collapsed.

At that moment—

a voice came from upstairs.

???: "There are empty seats here."

Everyone looked upward.

On the second floor sat two figures.

The First Dragon.

And the First Phoenix.

The manager almost cried in relief.

He had survived.

For now.

Upstairs.

The atmosphere was awkward.

Very awkward.

The First Dragon looked at Lucifer.

Lucifer looked at him.

Then—

First Dragon: "Can't you behave even in public places?"

Lucifer sat opposite him.

Lucifer: "Behave?"

He looked confused.

Lucifer: "What is that?"

THUD.

Ock punched him.

Ock: "Sorry."

The First Dragon and First Phoenix were speechless.

The Devil…

was listening to someone?

The world truly had changed.

The First Phoenix smiled awkwardly.

First Phoenix: "No need to apologize. We came here because this place is famous."

Lucifer: "You came to see the food? Not eat it?"

Everyone sighed.

This was going to be painful.

Soon the food arrived.

The First Dragon and First Phoenix ate gracefully.

Elegant.

Refined.

Like proper nobles.

On the other hand—

Lucifer lay down.

Directly on Ock's thighs.

Using them as a pillow.

Then he began eating.

Everyone froze.

Even Ock was speechless.

Ock: "Can't you act normal for one minute?"

Lucifer looked up.

Lucifer: "Why? Don't you like me laying here?"

Ock's face turned red.

Ock: "T-That's not what I meant!"

Silence.

The First Dragon and First Phoenix stared.

They couldn't process this.

The Devil…

the man feared by all Jianghu…

was lying on the Poison Queen's lap.

The First Dragon cleared his throat.

First Dragon: "I never thought I'd see you two together after Lucifer used your clan."

Lucifer looked at him.

His smile disappeared.

Lucifer: "Quit trying to create problems between us."

His voice became cold.

Lucifer: "Whatever Ock and I do isn't your business."

The First Dragon's expression darkened.

But he controlled himself.

The tournament was near.

His time would come.

Ock changed the topic.

Ock: "The tournament is about to begin. Shouldn't you prepare?"

Lucifer: "Nah."

He stuffed food into his mouth.

Lucifer: "Too lazy."

Everyone's mouths twitched.

A direct slap to the Murim Alliance.

He didn't even consider them opponents.

The First Phoenix couldn't help asking—

First Phoenix: "Then why did you come?"

Lucifer smiled.

Lucifer: "To date Ock."

Silence.

Again.

The world was on the brink of war.

The Above Heaven Tournament was about to begin.

And this lunatic came…

for a date.

Ock laughed softly.

Ock: "That's just like Lucifer."

The First Dragon and First Phoenix looked completely defeated.

They would never understand these two.

After eating, they eventually left.

Only Lucifer and Ock remained.

As they walked back—

Ock suddenly spoke.

Ock: "Why was the Phoenix so interested in you?"

Lucifer blinked.

Lucifer: "Me?"

Ock: "Don't pretend."

She looked at him.

Ock: "I saw her looking at you again and again."

She looked away.

Ock: "She wanted to ask you something."

A pause.

Ock: "Because of me, she couldn't."

Lucifer suddenly grinned.

Lucifer: "Oh?"

He leaned closer.

Lucifer: "Don't tell me you're jealous."

Ock immediately turned red.

Ock: "W-Who said I'm jealous?!"

She crossed her arms.

Ock: "I don't care how many girls you have! I don't care who likes you! I don't care if you marry a hundred women—"

Suddenly—

she stopped.

Because Lucifer had moved.

He pulled her into his arms.

Then—

kissed her.

Time froze.

The bustling city disappeared.

The noise vanished.

Only two heartbeats remained.

She could feel his warmth.

Could feel his heartbeat.

Could feel how tightly he held her.

After a long moment—

he let her go.

Then he smiled.

A small, genuine smile.

Lucifer: "There may be a lot of girls in my life."

He looked directly into her eyes.

Lucifer: "But I guess… you're the first."

Ock's eyes widened.

For once—

she had no words.

No poison.

No calm expression.

Nothing.

She simply turned around and walked away.

Silently.

Chirin watched everything.

Then looked at Lucifer.

Chirin: "I didn't know you were the romantic type."

Lucifer looked offended.

Lucifer: "What did you think I was?"

Chirin blinked.

Chirin: "A guy who likes killing."

Lucifer thought about it.

Then nodded.

Lucifer: "Fair."

And with that—

the Devil and his sword spirit followed after the Poison Queen.

Above them, dark clouds slowly gathered.

The tournament.

The war.

The catastrophe.

Everything was about to begin.

But for a brief moment—

the Devil wasn't thinking about bloodshed.

He was looking at the girl walking ahead of him.

And somehow—

for the first time in a very long while—

his smile looked almost human.