Cut This Bastard Down
‘A Heavenly Demon Divine Cultist?’
Yes.
On the surface, he looked like your run-of-the-mill waiter. Friendly face, the kind you’d see anywhere. The type who probably had a name like Jang Sam. And this guy was a cultist?
‘How do you know?’
The tea. Look at the spilled tea on the floor.
I glanced down discreetly. The waiter had wiped up the spill, but a spot remained uncleaned.
It’s a secret code mark used by cultists. He pretended to mop it up while leaving the symbol behind.
I couldn’t make it out at all. It just looked like a sloppy wipe leaving some moisture behind. Even as a hardcore Return of the Murim Warrior fan, I couldn’t know every single code. I knew codes existed, but they were usually glossed over as “complex patterns” or the like.
Luckily, I had Pa Cheon to clue me in.
‘What does it mean?’
Come to the cult branch, it instructs.
I nodded ever so slightly. Here it comes.
The Black Shadow Corps’ original mission was to seize the treasure, hunt down the fleeing Dok So Gong, and recover the item.
We’d already been delayed by the cave collapse, and now we’d veered off course. It made sense for headquarters to reach out. The cult was hypersensitive to external activities. Cultists operating in the jianghu often “defected” out of the blue.
‘No wonder “traitor” is the worst insult in the cult.’
Worse than cursing someone’s parents. They’d accept a deathmatch on the spot over it.
Anyway, if he’d fooled Un Yeop Ja’s eyes, he was likely a cult spy embedded in the jianghu.
‘With orders given, he’ll have to move.’
Exactly.
‘Where’s the branch in Taeryeong County?’
Overseeing Cheonghae Province, so probably the Silver Frog Money House.
Cliché as hell. A silver toad bank?
‘The problem is these guys.’
I eyed Un Yeop Ja and Dang Si Hyeok.
“I hear people from the East love spicy food. I’m the same.”
“Nonsense! When it comes to spice, it’s Sichuan! And Sichuan means Tang Clan! I can handle the heat better than anyone.”
“Perfect. Let’s see who can eat spicier dishes. Waiter! Bring out the hottest stuff you’ve got!”
They were off in their own world. Pairing Dang Si Hyeok with Un Yeop Ja had dulled the Taoist a bit—gave me a headache. He’d been kind and earnest before; now he was like a good-hearted but dim big brother. Dang Si Hyeok wasn’t arrogant anymore, which was nice, but the kid had gotten a little dopey.
‘……Guess I am the protagonist.’
What nonsense is this?
‘It’s a cliché: people around the protagonist mysteriously lose IQ points.’
I haven’t a clue what you’re on about.
Yeah, you and them both. Better this way, honestly. Too sharp, and my acting gets tough.
“Well then.”
I stood up.
“You two enjoy the spicy feast. I’m full, so I’ll head out first.”
“Pardon?”
“Huh, bro? Where are you going?”
“Need to hit the money house for a withdrawal.”
“In that case, let me escort you. Or better yet, why not do business with the money house our Tang Clan uses? I’ll introduce you—you’ll get better terms.”
I shook my head.
“Didn’t you two agree to a showdown? A martial artist settles it with fists, not blades?”
Their eyes sharpened at my words. Competitive spirits ignited.
“Well said.”
“As you command, bro—we’ll settle this!”
“Yeah, yeah. Win big, both of you.”
If flapping your tongue counts as martial arts, you’d be a supreme master.
‘Toying with righteous sect brats is child’s play.’
I’d sweet-talked plenty of marks in sales. Naive junior disciples were easy pickings.
Leaving the innocents upstairs, I descended. Sa Wol awaited, face as blank as ever.
‘Still risky to wander alone……but.’
I’d planted the illusion I was stronger, and this wasn’t cult turf—it was righteous sect backyard. She wouldn’t start trouble. Her goal was overall vengeance, not just my death.
‘Should be fine for now.’
I told Sa Wol, “We’re going to the Silver Frog Money House.”
Her expression sharpened.
“I’ll guide you.”
And so, with Sa Wol in tow, I headed to the branch.
Cult branches weren’t everywhere.
Most were in cities like Xining or Wuhuan, but Taeryeong County was close enough in Cheonghae Province to host one.
They disguised as trading companies, escort firms, or money houses.
‘Even temples, sometimes.’
Cheonghae branches posed as money houses—like banks in the modern world.
Pure cliché.
I stood before the Silver Frog Money House with Sa Wol. Guards flanked the main gate.
“What business brings you?”
One guard stepped forward. “Ah, it’s the Eastern Sword Dragon. You’ve heard, right?”
“Oh! The one who repelled those vicious demonic cult thugs with sheer presence?”
“Exactly. You have an appointment with the branch head. This way.”
I nodded and entered. No such appointment existed. Our guide was a cultist, apparently. Mixed with non-cultists, maybe.
Sa Wol and I waited in what looked like a reception room.
No one came. A maid brought tea, but no host appeared.
‘That maid a cultist too?’
No.
So they were just leaving us hanging……
Power play, huh?
Common in sales. Book an appointment, then make ’em wait 30 minutes, an hour. People tire out idling; it puts you psychologically ahead.
‘Cult’s a real mess.’
What impudence.
‘A secret branch pulling this on fellow cultists? Normal to you?’
……
‘When they should be sticking together.’
The cult’s exile to the borderlands didn’t make them united. Under the Heavenly Demon’s hands-off rule, internal power struggles raged. Especially among the Mad Demon Six Families, including mine. The six great houses bickered over scraps daily.
“Sa Wol.”
“Yes, Division Leader.”
“Who runs the Taeryeong branch?”
“Cult rank 107, Kwak Jin.”
As expected from genius Sa Wol—minus the dull moments—her answer was instant.
“A blood relative of the Kwak family. Explains the attitude.”
Nine Yin Kwak Family. One of the Mad Demon Six Families with the deepest history, having produced the founding Heavenly Demon. Pride ran thick.
Rank 107 was high for a backwater like Taeryeong. At least a Peak realm master. Why plant such a powerhouse here?
Anyway, at that level, he’d try strong-arming me. The Asura Demon Sado and Sado Family ranked mid-tier among the six.
“What now?”
“Stay quiet until I say.”
Sa Wol bowed.
Obvious play: provoke a scene, spin it into scandal later to pressure the Sado Family.
Bonus: probe rumors about me, Sado Hwan.
Sado Hwan officially ranked 23rd. Handsome, peerless martial artist, versed in poetry, painting, music—a total cheat character.
Yet no real achievements. Rare sightings, shrouded in mystery. Hunting Dok So Gong was his first mission as Black Shadow leader.
Loyal cultists or rank-and-file might buy it, but the Six Families suspected.
‘……The Heavenly Demon’s favor shields him from scrutiny.’
The current Heavenly Demon was tight with Sado Hwan—no one dared question openly.
‘Chills thinking about it.’
Not the cult, but the one who designed this whole board. How far ahead did he plan to fool everyone?
‘Outside cult turf. Perfect spot to test rumors about me.’
I’d earned “Eastern Sword Dragon,” but tied to Black Shadow Corps—they wouldn’t buy it yet.
In other words……
‘Crush ’em here.’
Cult thinking defies normal logic. Strength reigns; they challenge superiors constantly. It’s virtuous there. Faction differences aside, a low-rank branch head picking a fight with me? Expected.
So was a superior crushing inferiors. They even admired it. Charismatic dominance, call it what you will. Madhouse.
Compared to me barking at Sa Wol or Tak Horak, I was a soft boss.
Break the branch head’s nose here, and rumors about me die down for a while.
Sa Wol glanced at the door—sensing presence. I didn’t look. Couldn’t sense qi anyway. Even if I could, same reaction. Act like presences don’t faze me.
The door opened.
A portly middle-aged man entered. Money-loving vibe; mopping sweat with a handkerchief despite the mild weather.
“Aigoo, who do we have here? The Eastern Sword Dragon himself.”
As words ended, his lips twitched.
Taeryeong County Branch Head Kwak Jin greets the Black Shadow Leader.
Sound transmission utterly unlike his spoken words. Skillier than he looked.
Cowardly, though. I couldn’t do sound transmission. Needed to fix that.
Before returning to the cult, time to list must-haves.
Unaware of my thoughts, he continued.
“Heard your fame spread last night.”
Report the reason for mission delay.
Grabbing at straws, as expected.
“Drove off the Black Shadow Corps with sheer aura, they say.”
Fail to comply, and I’ll file for discipline. Charges: mission delay, and…… fraternizing with jianghu folk, betrayal of the cult.
I stayed silent.
“Well, the Black Shadow Corps are just ragtag compared to real forces. Ha ha ha!”
No transmission this time.
Deliberate jab to rile me.
Playing dirty, eh?
I kept a stone face, pondering inwardly.
What act to pull? How to make him not underestimate me?
Answer came quick.
“Sa Wol.”
“Yes.”
“Cut this bastard down.”
The madman act.