The Heavenly Demon Cult Serial Murder Case: #5 — A Chinese Man Must Never Do This

Any man worth his salt must endure any humiliation if it means accomplishing a great deed. The story of Guo Jia's humiliation that Seol Ga-nom had told her was exactly that kind of tale. When Han Xin was young, he was a total show-off, always strutting around with a massive sword at his waist, acting like a big shot. One neighborhood thug who found the sight unbearable blocked his path, spread his legs wide, and thrust out his belly.

“If you really know how to use that blade, then split my stomach open. But if you’re just carrying it around for show, I’ll be generous and close my eyes. So crawl between my legs.”

Han Xin’s blood boiled with rage. But if he got a red mark for murder, he could forget about ever entering government service. In the end, unable to abandon his dream of becoming a civil servant, Han Xin crawled between the thug’s legs. That was the story.

There was also the tale of Goujian, King of Yue. This was the same Goujian who had been helped by the Yue Maiden. After waging war against Fuchai, King of Wu, with the fate of the continent on the line, Goujian lost and was taken prisoner. Grinding his teeth in fury, he outwardly acted like a pathetic, obedient slave. When Fuchai fell ill, Goujian even tasted the man’s feces and declared that since there was no problem with the flavor, it wasn’t a serious illness—then personally took ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his pulse! (Incidentally, pulse diagnosis via feces was surprisingly a legitimate medical practice.)

Moved by this, Fuchai released him. Or perhaps he simply didn’t want to keep such a disgusting shit-eater as a servant. Afterward, Goujian met the Yue Maiden, armed his troops with the mass-produced version of the Yue Maiden Sword, and crushed Wu into oblivion.

And here stood yet another beautiful hero—or rather, heroine—who had to endure such humiliation. Her name was Seomun Cheong, a beautiful girl who had completed her mandatory military service.

Compared to what Cheong was about to suffer, Han Xin crawling between legs and Goujian eating shit were nothing at all.

I… I…!

Cheong looked down at the weapon in her hand. The long handle, the sleek spine, the elegantly heavy blade with its blood groove carved into it. And the single-edged side.

Cheong’s entire body trembled with humiliation.

I can’t believe I have to use a saber…!

Indeed. Cheong had picked up a saber.

But this too was a noble sacrifice for the greater good. It was a sublime act of self-sacrifice for Cheong’s dignity, her petty desire for revenge, and most of all, for the sake of fun. As a side bonus, it might provide a tiny bit of peace to the Central Plains Murim by eliminating the wicked demonic hands of the Cult. Though honestly, she didn’t really care about that part.

The Freedom Training Points she’d get as a reward were the real prize… or so Seol Ga-nom had claimed.

“If only the Small Hand Witch rampages around, it gets boring. Let’s pin some crimes on the Demon King Saber Gate, one of the Cult’s three major external factions.”

That had been his suggestion.

Cheong stared down at the saber again.

Hmm. But. Just a little?

It actually felt pretty good.

Thanks to collecting all sorts of martial arts, Cheong’s pure physical strength had long since surpassed human limits. She was probably the strongest person across the entire Central Plains, the Five Oceans, and the Six Continents. To someone like her, a sword simply felt too light.

The Blood Shadow Lightning Saber Technique, in particular, was a style that used massive sabers. Such weapons were rare in the Central Plains. No matter how much the authorities turned a blind eye, openly carrying around a weapon this enormous would still draw attention. The law prohibited carrying private weapons. Plus, it was inconvenient. This heavy thing weighed twenty pounds just in steel. Having to lug around something so big and heavy all the time would be a massive pain.

But for Cheong, the perfect weight that felt effortless in her grip was actually quite satisfying.

She looked down at the fallen Taepyeongdan member. This unfortunate villain had committed the crime of slacking off on patrol, hiding in an alley, and lying on a mat. As a result, he would never rise again. Of course, the biggest cause of death was probably the fact that he had been carrying a great saber.

“Your weapon’s pretty dope, huh? I’ll borrow it for tonight and return it later, so don’t worry too much.”

The Taepyeongdan member did not answer. The dead do not speak.

Cheong gauged the western direction. She’d been told the main Taepyeongdan headquarters was that big building with the blue roof over there.

The Taepyeongdan, a subsidiary of the Heavenly Demon Cult’s Inner Palace Department, had the primary duty of maintaining public order in Tianshan Shinshi. They also handled firefighting, taxation, and loan-related financial products. However, there were constant opinions that there was no real need for the Taepyeongdan since Tianshan Shinshi’s security was already too perfect.

After all, no serious crimes had occurred in Tianshan Shinshi for the past several hundred years.

For reference, robbery, murder, rape, and human trafficking were not considered “serious crimes” in Tianshan Shinshi. They were simply viewed as proof that the victim had been a fool or careless idiot. Therefore, it was a clearly documented and undeniable fact that Tianshan Shinshi was a paradise on earth, completely free from heinous crime.

Seol Ga-nom was, in the end, an outsider who had drifted in. So the plan to first burn down the security station and throw the city into chaos was something that would make any true Cult member snort in derision.

What’s the point of burning down people who have nothing to do?

Everyone would simply assume it was just the usual robbery, murder, rape, and trafficking happening a bit more openly without people noticing. A stupid Central Plains person might call that “chaos,” but to the Cult members… well.

For that reason, the Taepyeongdan was also living quite peacefully. In truth, they had never even considered the possibility that someone might attack them. The patrollers were everyone’s friends—people you could easily befriend with the price of one night of heavy drinking.

Moreover, it was currently the season when sudden night shifts left everyone’s heads spinning, all sorts of illnesses were going around, and people were holing up in Taepyeong-dong claiming it was hard to come to work.

Thus, in a city where overtime had become a vulgar joke, one woman was crossing the Taepyeongdan’s training grounds.

Left from the main gate, a five-story building. That was the Taepyeong-dong dormitory for the Taepyeongdan warriors.

The night watch standing guard in front of the dormitory saw a figure approaching, dragging a massive saber behind them. The person was wrapped head to toe in tight black clothing. In the Central Plains, it would be called nightwalker attire.

The night watch jumped up in surprise, but then recognized the saber being dragged by the nightwalker and let out a sigh of relief. In truth, there wasn’t a single person in the city who wouldn’t recognize it. That ridiculously huge saber with the red tassel was the weapon used by direct disciples of the Demon King Saber Gate.

If it was someone from the Demon King Saber Gate returning at this hour, then probably…

The night watch put on a welcoming face.

“S-Sabum, you’re back already? You should at least pretend to be on patrol. If you return this early, it messes up the entry log.”

In response, the figure in black replied,

“Cry. Cry and prove your innocence.”

At the sudden nonsense, the night watch asked back.

“What? Sabum, did you drink? Why would I cry? I’m a grown man—”

“Who said I was telling you to cry?”

Cheong snapped, then spoke again.

“Cry, Hell-Severing Demon Saber.”

The Hell-Severing Demon Saber drew a perfect circle like a full moon. It was the first form of the Blood Shadow Lightning Saber Technique—Blood Full Moon. A simple technique where one simply placed the pommel on the ground and swung it vertically downward like a lightning strike. However, when combined with the Blood King Demonic Energy of the Blood Demon King Divine Art, it truly created the sight ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of a blood-red full moon rising above the ground.

The blade slammed vertically into the crown of his head and burst out between his legs. The squelching sensation transmitted through her hands. The feeling of pressing down with a weapon, forcibly breaking, crushing, and tearing—it was an entirely new world of sensation.

“Ahhh… This is seriously too good…”

It wasn’t cutting. It was the taste of ripping. This was quite the delicacy.

Cheong’s body shuddered once before she strode forward. It was the moment the reaper of death entered Taepyeong-dong.

----

At that same time, Seok Hum-hum, a senior investigator of the Inner Hall Taepyeongdan, was once again engaged in a lonely struggle all by himself.

It was because that wicked villain, the Small Hand Witch, had infiltrated Tianshan Shinshi.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, Seok Hum-hum had requested the dispatch of the Heavenly Demon Guard’s combat unit and simultaneously proposed a special night shift for the Taepyeongdan. However, the higher-ups seemed to have slightly different thoughts. They approved the night shift but ordered that if the Small Hand Witch was found, she should be captured alive if possible, or at least surrounded to buy time.

They coveted the Small Hand Demonic Art.

As one of the few remaining consciences within the Taepyeongdan, Seok Hum-hum was furious, but when ordered to do something, he had no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠choice but to obey.

Today as well, staying up all night on overtime, he was reasoning out the Small Hand Witch’s hiding place by connecting the victims on a map of Tianshan Shinshi.

“Small ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hand Witch. Where are you hiding? It’s definitely somewhere in the eastern district…”

He had made some progress. The witch was definitely in the eastern district. And when one said eastern district, it had to be somewhere in the red-light district, hiding among the prostitutes.

It was then that a subordinate burst in, making a huge fuss.

“This is terrible! Fire! There’s a fire!”

Seok Hum-hum looked at his subordinate with pity.

“Firefighting is also the duty of the Taepyeongdan. Even if it’s been a while since we had to put out flames, panicking like that means I’ll have to revise the firefighting training plan.”

“That’s not it!”

“What do you mean, ‘not it’? What are you doing? Go wake up the warriors in Taepyeong-dong right now and have them grab the firefighting equipment and head out!”

“The fire is in Taepyeong-dong!”

Seok Hum-hum’s face twisted.

“What? Damn it! Ring the bell and gather all nearby warriors! What are the rest of the personnel at headquarters doing?! Tell them to grab the fire-suppression tools and assemble at Taepyeong-dong immediately!”

Thus, the night of the Taepyeongdan was shattered.

All personnel on night duty gathered, carrying buckets of sand, oil cloths, and water jars, desperately working to extinguish the flames at Taepyeong-dong. Even the citizens of the city who had been peeking out to watch the fire in the middle of the night were caught on the spot and forced to carry water jars, sweating profusely.

Then, as he was directing the process, a chill suddenly ran down Seok Hum-hum’s spine.

A fire had broken out, so why was no one coming out of the building?

It was human instinct to jump out a window even if it was a thousand-li cliff when a fire broke out. Yet the entire building was blazing fiercely—how could there be no sign of any people at all?

----

At that moment, Cheong was inside the Taepyeongdan’s main administrative hall. It was the heart of the Taepyeongdan and the place where all command, reporting, and document-related work took place.

“Dealing with the warriors sleeping in Taepyeong-dong shouldn’t be difficult. They’re the kind of people who have no military discipline to speak of. Once everyone’s attention is focused on the fire, set the records office ablaze. What? Where is the records office? I don’t know that either. Figure that much out yourself.”

So Cheong had figured it out herself. She had spared one person in Taepyeong-dong, ripped out his jaw, tore off one ear, then grabbed the remaining ear and asked. He kindly changed careers to become a tour guide. As thanks for the guidance, Cheong personally escorted him to the afterlife. She was a kind person who repaid guidance with guidance.

Cheong tossed the self-igniting bottles Seol Ga-nom had given her. The pine resin-mixed oil splashed cheerfully between the shards of pottery with a cheerful clink.