However, 'Return of the Mad Demon' is strangely something you keep watching even while complaining about it.

It starts off just like any other martial arts cliché rebirth story, but twists the plot to create a new flavor.

It's like adding a slice of cheese to ramen and suddenly experiencing a Michelin-starred sensation.

Moreover, the setting is unique. Most martial arts stories unfold during the Song and Ming dynasties, but this one suddenly jumps to the Sixteen Kingdoms period.

"The Nine Great Clans? That was a time when such things didn't even exist!" It completely flips the worldview.

So, for existing martial arts fans, there's a taste of watching a historical simulation unfold.

Imagine the protagonist actively creating the process of the Nine Great Clans coming into existence.

At that point, if you don't find it fresh, you must be lacking in conscience.

But the real core charm is the humor. The setting that the protagonist, Lee Ja-ha, was a mad demon in his past life is fully utilized, and the narrative is constantly wild.

It's just from the perspective of a crazy person. No need for a fourth wall, no need for martial arts clichés. While describing energy manipulation, it says, "Stirring the air like an idiot," and during a scene of energy overflow, it exclaims, "What the hell!"

At first, I thought it was written by someone who was sick while writing web novels.

Even the tension in battles is mocked as "the sight of two grown men staring blankly at each other with their palms pressed together." At this point, the author is the real madman, not the reader.

The protagonist, Lee Ja-ha, was a person who suffered as a commoner in his past life and eventually became a mad demon.

After his rebirth, he vows to become a dark hero who protects the lives of ordinary people like commoners, merchants, and courtesans.

He scoffs at martial artists but simultaneously possesses an ironic humanity that cannot tolerate the oppression of the weak.

He beats the evil sect leader and organizes the Hao Sect to protect them, gradually recovering the humanity he lost in his past life.

Though he appears to be a simple violent munchkin, the overall structure of the work is closer to growth and recovery.

The composition of the world's factions is also unusual.

Instead of familiar classifications like righteous and evil sects, the powerful faction of scholars, descendants of the Hundred Schools of Thought, creates an unpredictable balance.

This setting, rare in martial arts, is also evaluated as fresh.

The author, Yoo Jin-sung, was previously an award-winning martial arts writer, but he had no major hits.

However, many praise that his writing exploded in 'Return of the Mad Demon', with reactions saying, "The latter half of the story feels like the author was possessed by a god." In the comments, there are jokes mixed with truth saying, "He must have poured all his writing talent into this one work."

The story's tempo and structure are also strengths. There are almost no common web novel issues like dragging, character breakdowns, and the pacing is excellent with smooth plot transitions.

Personally, I think there are many touching scenes, and contrary to the first impression of just rebirth and madness, the conclusion as a classic growth narrative is quite satisfying.