Chapter 15: Kneel
In novels, there's usually one type of person who's not the scariest but the most annoying. The kind who leaves with a "You'll regret this" as they exit.
That's exactly what the group climbing up now was like. Given So In-gyeol's family, they were probably from Somyeongjang. One, two, three... ten in total. They'd brought quite the crowd.
Haa...
I should've recognized them when they turned back with their empty threats.
And it didn't end there.
Thud thud thud!
With a clamor of noise, another group came rushing up noisily.
The Somyeongjang people caught sight of the leading middle-aged man and showed a flicker of delight.
"Well, if it isn't... isn't that the head of the Baek family?"
"Somyeongjang Lord?"
"What brings you all the way out here?"
In response to the Somyeongjang Lord's words, the Baek family head stroked his beard furiously and said,
"I heard some insolent bastard dared toy with my precious daughter from the Baek family, so I've come for him... So Hyang. Is that the one?"
"Yes. That's the man who hurt Young Master So and toyed with me."
I barely suppressed a hollow laugh. It was utterly ridiculous—not at them, but at this world inside Murim Returner. I'd felt it before, but every cliché I'd ever dismissed with a "No way" was playing out faithfully here.
These days, the trend is to smash through everything for that satisfying payoff.
The problem was I couldn't act recklessly in righteous faction territory. This wasn't just about small fry like Somyeongjang or the Baek family. Kunlun behind them, and the Murim Alliance—those were the real issues.
In fact, Tak Horak had been on the verge of jumping up with a "Do you know who this is?!" but he'd barely held back. Sa Wol's lips twitched; she'd probably sent him a transmission telling him to stand down.
At that moment, the Baek family head, still fuming, declared,
"I heard the bastard has some skill, so I've specially brought the guests staying with my clan."
"Guests? You don't mean... the Cheonghae Sam Geol?"
"Exactly. Heroes, come on up."
No sooner had the Baek family head spoken than three men ascended the stairs as if they'd been waiting. Each wielded a sword, saber, and spear—distinctively rugged types. They were twice my size, built for external martial arts over internal energy.
Everyone except our group gasped in admiration at their entrance.
"The Cheonghae Sam Geol!"
"The eldest is a peak expert on the cusp of the Peak realm, right?"
"The other two are seasoned first-rate. I heard they recently teamed up to beat some Peak demonic swordsman called the Absolute Lustful Wanderer."
"The Baek family sharpened their blades for their daughter..."
Unprompted explanations laced their awe.
Of course, I had no idea who they were. As a veteran of Murim Returner, I remembered all the major players' aliases. These guys? Nothing.
Hey, Pa Cheon. Ever heard of the Cheonghae Sam Geol?
[I've never heard of such nobodies.]
Yeah, figured as much.
Murim aliases follow rules. First: the shorter, the stronger. Heavenly Demon. Sword Saint. Already two examples.
Second: regional names mean extras—local operators only.
Third: groups mean weaklings. Trios, duos, septets—they're fodder.
The Cheonghae Sam Geol ticked every box. "Cheonghae" meant they roamed that area in a pack. They might strut in a backwater like Taeryeong County, but head to Xining and Kunlun would smash them like clay pots.
The eldest, the sword-wielder, swaggered over to me, bristling.
"You the one? The bastard who messed with the Baek family head's daughter?"
A sneaky goatee on a guy trying to sound dignified. His brothers crossed their arms, smirking sleazily. To me, it was vile; to the Somyeongjang and Baek small-timers, trustworthy nods all around.
I channeled internal energy through my eyes. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art's domineering, majestic power surged up my meridians. Vision sharpened instantly—the world expanded, slowing. No exaggeration: through the open window, I spotted a bird rocketing from afar. Wait, why was that bird flying straight at us so fast—
That's not a bird?
A brilliant idea hit. I shifted my gaze to the eldest. My aura-laden stare made him falter briefly, but...
"Hah—!"
He raised his sword to block and bellowed. His energy wave fluttered his robes, dispersing my pressure.
"They said you use sorcery—vile tricks, as expected!"
Normally, my gaze would've paled faces or sent steps backward. He'd blocked it. First time since arriving here. The reason was obvious.
Staging.
I'd prepped theatrics to leverage my one tool: aura. Make them underestimate, then flip for "hidden master" effect. But now, it favored them—they knew I was at least Peak.
With staging half-blocked, aura faltered. No surprise.
Time to awaken this.
My goal: survive this mad cliché murim world. That meant more proactive staging, better setups.
Especially returning to the battle-obsessed Divine Cult.
The eldest placed a hand on his sword hilt.
"In the jianghu, a loose tongue gets cut off, a wayward arm severed. Today, yours go."
Crazy bastards. Taeryeong was Cheonghae turf, Kunlun's righteous stronghold. They were righteous too, yet spouted demonic brutality casually.
Young master. What now?
I'll kill them all.
As tension spiked, Sa Wol and Tak Horak transmitted. I wanted to reply, but transmission required first-rate energy projection.
Impossible for this second-rate body. I shook my head. Another fix needed—super peaks without it would raise flags. Items could patch it, though.
"Hand over your tongue and arm quietly."
My aura (bluff) failed due to botched staging. Fix the staging, and it'd work again.
Pa Cheon. Block one strike?
[A sword without sword qi?]
Good.
[But after one?]
Got plans.
I placed Pa Cheon on the table. Gripping it one-handed, I crossed my legs casually.
"I'll count to ten."
"What?"
"Kneel and beg forgiveness within ten. Do that, and you live."
"Kuhuk, kuahaha!"
"Ten."
The eldest clutched his head, roaring with laughter. His brothers behind snickered in disbelief.
"Heh, bro. This guy's lost it."
"That's why he's so calm before us Cheonghae Sam Geol."
"Seven."
"...He's serious?"
The spear-wielding youngest's words froze the eldest and second's laughs.
"Five."
"You mad bastard!"
The eldest drew his sword.
"Four."
He strode forward. Tak Horak and Sa Wol tensed.
"Three."
"Madman."
"Two."
"I'll take your head!"
"One."
His sword arced for my neck. Enhanced vision traced its path perfectly. I flicked Pa Cheon's blade with a finger.
Whiiing—!
Clang—!
Bared Pa Cheon clashed, sparks flying. It looked like I'd parried a full-power swing with a mere flick—immense energy must've poured into my sword, they'd think.
"What?!"
Shock brief. He withdrew for another swing.
Then—
"What do you think you're doing?!"
A majestic roar, and through the window—not a bird, but a man flew in.
Un Yeop Ja.
Earlier enhanced sight had spotted him using Cloud Dragon Eight Forms. I'd stalled knowing he'd arrive.
Better true education than risking Sa Wol or Tak Horak for ammo.
"Ku, Kunlun?"
"Un Yeop Ja!"
The small-timers paled, recognizing him. Then, like it was perfect timing, they rushed him.
"Zhenren! Perfect timing. That vile fiend used sorcery to torment our son!"
"He toyed with and shamed my daughter too."
"Right! Sorcery means demonic cult dog for sure!"
"As a Kunlun warrior, you won't stand for this, right?"
Oblivious to his endlessly rising brows, they blabbered.
"Hoo—."
Un Yeop Ja sighed, tempering his boiling blood with breath control—befitting a famed righteous successor.
Calmed, he spoke.
"Do you know the one you're tormenting is my guest?"
Silence. They glanced between us.
"Pardon...? Him—no, that gentleman—is Un Yeop Ja's guest?"
Realization dawned; faces blanched.
Sure, Somyeongjang and Baek strutted in Taeryeong, but Kunlun dominated all Cheonghae—one of the Nine Great Sects.
Tormenting their guest? Suicide.
Especially the eldest, who'd threatened tongue and arm—ashen, sword still drawn in panic.
"Moreover! Daring to label and attack a guest of I, disciple of mighty Kunlun—as a demonic cult dog—is an insult to Kunlun! I cannot overlook this."
His frost-like words made them tremble.
I smirked.
"So now, whose tongue and arm get cut?"
"Th-that... um..."
I stood, addressing Un Yeop Ja.
"That's enough."
"Kim Dong Yun!"
A heavy alias: "Do-u," friend of the Way. Fit for jianghu luminaries.
"Do-u is too much."
"Then young hero. Young hero, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"I was late and rude. Thus, I leave their fate to you."
Arrogant, perhaps—but Kunlun's prestige made it natural. All gawked at me, terrified and mute.
The Cheonghae Sam Geol sweated bullets.
Looking at them sparked a fun idea.
An old meme, but one I'd thought dozens of times at work. This cliché-packed world? I could cliché back.
I approached the trio. They gulped.
Staring at the eldest, I said,
"Kneel."
The Cheonghae Sam Geol dropped to their knees without a word.
"This is the difference in our eyes."
Pretending to be the Heavenly Demon