The Sage of the East
An awkward silence swept through the room.
Sa Wol kept her head bowed low, pretending not to hear. Tak Horak nodded eagerly with wide, sparkling eyes.
Even the Cheonghae Sam Geol trio, still on their knees, wore stunned expressions.
Why? What?
[…….]
…….
[You crazy demon bastard! Get out of my body right now! You――.]
Sorry. I didn't think it'd be this embarrassing.
It was a line I'd saved up from those popular webtoons back in the real world, something I always wanted to drop on asshole customers during my sales gigs. Figured it'd come in handy someday. Never thought it'd be here, though. The vibe was way different from what I'd imagined. I thought it'd fly in a wuxia world.
"Anyway."
I turned back to Un Yeop Ja and continued.
"I've accepted your apologies, so let's call it here. Just a little misunderstanding between us, right?"
"……Is that really enough?"
By murim common sense, even for a righteous sect, they'd have to cough up an arm. That's why there were so many one-armed warriors out there.
But I wasn't a warrior. The shell was Sado Hwan, sure, but the soul inside was modern-day Kim Dong Yun.
I nodded with a faint smile.
"I'm not even from the jianghu, am I? I don't want to stir up needless grudges and cause trouble in the martial world."
Punishing those punks wouldn't be satisfying—it'd just be more headache. No, this was about winning Un Yeop Ja over. He was the epitome of righteous, upright posterity: always walking the straight path, pursuing justice. He'd eat this up.
"……!"
As expected, Un Yeop Ja's eyes widened like saucers. Sure enough, they crinkled into sweet half-moons. He smiled and offered a clasped-fist salute.
"Truly a noble soul."
"No need for that."
I returned the gesture. It felt awkward—I'd never done it before—but with my "eastern traveler" persona, it should slide.
Un Yeop Ja turned to the room, his warm, spring-sunshine face toward me now freezing over like ice.
"Did everyone hear that?"
"Yes!"
The beggars snapped to attention like new recruits on their first day, barking out in unison.
"This young hero wishes to let it go, so we shall. However! If any of you cause trouble again without considering the full circumstances, I, Un Yeop Ja of Kunlun, will hold you accountable in Kunlun's name. Understood?"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The beggars bowed repeatedly, thanking him for his mercy. Amid it all, So In-gyeol took a smack to the back from the Somyeongjang lord and started vomiting blood, his face ashen. Isn't that internal injury acting up?
Baek So Hyang came forward with her family head, bowed, and retreated. No way she'd act out again anytime soon.
If that'd been the real Baek So Hyang, it'd have been a wipeout.
Then Pa Cheon chimed in.
[Too lenient.]
What is?
[A true warrior takes responsibility for their words and deeds. Just as they demanded of you, they should bear the consequences.]
It's not like I'll see them again anyway.
[You'll get burned someday. Remember, demon: this body you're in is mine.]
You sure take good care of your own body, huh.
[Of course.]
But there was one thing Pa Cheon didn't know. This was a wuxia world. Extras like those popped up and vanished all the time.
As soon as my chat with Pa Cheon wrapped, Un Yeop Ja approached.
"My apologies, young hero. If I'd come with my initial invitation, this wouldn't have happened. I was delayed by temple matters."
"No, no. Kunlun's a long way off—you got here fast enough as it is. I'm grateful."
"You've already eaten, so how about some tea?"
"Sounds good."
I ended up sharing tea time with Un Yeop Ja. Sa Wol and Tak Horak wisely withdrew downstairs, following my order to stay out of sight.
From our brief chat, Un Yeop Ja seemed like a good guy, but... well, kinda boring. Too straight-laced and naive. His textbook-perfect speech was a bit stifling. Plus, I could see his truth-seeing eyes flashing now and then, so I had to watch every word.
Of course, knowing the info ahead of time, I slipped through every filter like a pro.
Maybe that's why he now saw me as some eastern immortal sage. Had I overdone the image-building?
He'd just done it again.
"……You mean you endorsed the ruler of the East? No way."
"Well, not directly, but I did play a part."
The candidate I voted for did win, so not entirely wrong.
[Liar.]
I gave Pa Cheon another mental nudge.
He had no idea how much energy it took to spin these tales with a straight face.
Honestly, my smile wasn't a real smile. It was like tightrope-walking a cliff edge on my hands—one slip, and I'd plummet, identity exposed.
A tiny mistake, and it was over.
Anyway, his truth-seeing eyes confirmed my words, and Un Yeop Ja marveled endlessly.
"You're even more remarkable than I thought. I may have been rude."
"Hahaha, no. The court and jianghu don't mix, and I'm from the East besides."
"For such a hero to come west incognito... must be something vital."
"Sorry, can't discuss that. Circumstances."
I couldn't very well say, Actually, I'm from the cult you wanna exterminate. I didn't know the full story, but Un Yeop Ja harbored deep grudges against the Divine Cult. In wuxia lore, Taoists and monks repaid grudges as virtue—that's why he led the charge against the cult in Murim Returnee.
Roughly get the gist.
Probably family slaughtered or village wiped out by the cult. Tragic, but commonplace in jianghu.
About an hour in, we'd exhausted topics. If this world had soccer, I could've said, "Son Heung-min's goal yesterday was insane," but nada.
And his habit of locking eyes—trait or personality?—was getting heavy.
Hey, Pa Cheon. Got any convo starters?
[Nothing to say to Murim Alliance dogs.]
Pa Cheon harbored resentment toward jianghu folk too. Made sense—the cult were the persecuted ones.
To avoid his gaze, I glanced at the stairs. Then—
"……Impressive senses, as expected. You felt it too?"
What're you— Heavy footsteps thudded up the stairs. I'd just turned to dodge eyes, but it lined up perfectly.
Problem: Men in pale green robes climbing up. Cabbage-worm green. Only one group strutted in those proudly in jianghu.
Sichuan Tang Clan.
Poison and hidden weapons obsessed. And—
The ones who tried to trade for the Black Feather Fan!
Sa Wol and Tak Horak should've reported this first. What were they doing, letting these guys up?
Bad call staying at the inn. People picking fights every damn day.
I quickly shifted the Black Feather Fan out of sight.
Almost simultaneously, the lead man—slit-eyed—spoke, straight at me.
"You there. Hold up."
He continued.
"Turn. Around."
"……."
"Deaf? I said turn."
Guess hiding the fan was obvious. Hidden weapon experts had killer eyesight. As I pondered, Un Yeop Ja stepped up.
"Who are you?"
"Taoist runt, butt out."
"I asked who."
One of the men behind declared proudly.
"This is Sichuan Tang Clan's Third Young Master, Dang Si Hyeok. Show respect."
Cheonghae Castle was Kunlun turf. Yet this third son—not even heir—held his head high. Typical Tang arrogance. Among the Five Great Families, they were notoriously haughty.
Gray-area between righteous and demonic, pulled into the Alliance, noses in the air.
All great families had passive arrogance, like chaebol heirs. Dang Si Hyeok was third-gen rich kid.
Even mild Un Yeop Ja's forehead vein throbbed. Pissed. Rightfully—Alliance righteous sects respected territories unspoken rule. Or coordinate ahead. Tang barging into Cheonghae was blatant rudeness.
"Respect, you say?"
Un Yeop Ja shot up.
"I am Un Yeop Ja, second disciple of Kunlun's Greatest Sword, Qing Shui Zhenren of Kunlun."
Dang Si Hyeok's face flickered panic. Disciple of Kunlun's top sword meant next top sword—higher status and skill.
"Ah, forgive my ignorance. I am Dang Si Hyeok."
Late salute, but Un Yeop Ja was icy.
"This young hero is an esteemed guest from the East, my guest. What business justifies harassing him?"
"Got intel on a Demonic Cult dog prowling. That's why."
"Then contact Kunlun formally."
"Urgent, so we came direct... The target had one trait."
"Trait?"
"Carries a black-feathered fan. Heard it's a peculiar cult treasure."
Un Yeop Ja and Dang Si Hyeok's eyes snapped to my waist. Where the Black Feather Fan hung.
Tang Clan alright.
They excelled at intel and tracking, clan style. Probably not pegged me as cult, just traced the fan intel here. Plan: seize, claim cult, silence by kill.
Maybe swept the area, caught traces.
Jianghu was no place for complacency. Anything anytime.
Un Yeop Ja shook his head at Dang Si Hyeok's words.
"This hero's no cultist. I confirmed personally. Black fans are common market junk."
"Still, I must inspect that fan."
"Need swords to think straight?"
"Just a quick check. If not cult, it's ordinary."
"Fine. But if he's clean, Tang Clan formally apologizes to Kunlun. Young hero, show it—prove your innocence."
He winked just for me.
He trusted me implicitly, saw a chance to milk Tang rudeness for my gain.
……Fuck.
Problem: It was the real Black Feather Fan. I was cult.
What now?
Fake flying sword? Forced it'd raise Un Yeop Ja's suspicions.
Then—
"Big trouble!"
A Tang beggar rushed up, yelling.
"Demonic Cult! Black Shadow Corps sighted!"
Yo, Pa Cheon. Cult have another Black Shadow Corps?
[No.]
Then what Black Shadow Corps were they talking about?
"Demonic Cult? You said cult?"
Un Yeop Ja's demeanor sharpened. His fierce glare yanked a reply from the Tang warrior.
"Y-Yes. Intel came in."
"What kind?"
"Group in black entering Taeryeong County."
"Source?"
"Beggar Clan."
The 'Gang' of the Nine Great Gates. Wuxia's Naver for protags. Beggar intel was solid.
Un Yeop Ja muttered chillingly.
"Heard Black Shadow Corps sighted near Yoneong... High chance those black-clad are them."
What the... no way?
A hunch hit; I asked Pa Cheon.
Pa Cheon.
[What?]
You called me soft earlier. For letting those guys go.
[Yes.]
Your personal take, or cult standard?
[Obviously.]
Pa Cheon declared proudly.
[Any cultist would think you're soft. Insult demands repayment—even decades later. That's cult way.]
Goddamn cultists.
[Insolent!]
Insolent my ass! You made this mess.
[Got a hunch?]
Tak Horak. That idiot's work.
Tak Horak must've rallied the Black Shadow Corps. Average cultist thinking: insults demand payback. Repaying mine.
Tak Horak had highest rank barring Sa Wol, so instant turnout. Cult's strict hierarchy, direct boss summon.
Explained no prior warning on Tang arrival—they weren't here.
Now Sa Wol irked me. Unit leader should've stopped it. Though she was muscle-bound puppet. Sharp in martial, blunt elsewhere—logic hard for her.
Tak Horak. Overzealous loyalty turning troll.
Wait. Flip the script.
Tang pegged me cult suspect via fan—buildup to seize.
If I prove not cult here?
Under next Kunlun top sword's protection, even Tang can't touch.
Maybe break this deadlock proper.
Boost Un Yeop Ja favor more...
Get that item I want.
"Un Yeop Ja. And Young Master Dang."
I stood, drawing eyes.
Half acting was staging.
Time to shine on Tak Horak's unintended stage.
"Cult's here—no time for bickering."
"Then?"
I raised Pa Cheon.
"I'll stop them. Right now."
My own men.