Chapter 16 — This Is What I’m Talking About
Heavenly Demon Cult.
They proudly called themselves the <Heavenly Demon Divine Cult>, but in the Murim, their name carried only one meaning.
Public Enemy.
A common foe that had to be eradicated at all costs.
For the past several hundred years, the Heavenly Demon Cult had been the true axis of evil that threw the Central Plains into chaos.
Sometimes they spread their influence in secret, corroding the Murim from within. Other times, they launched massive all-out wars that drenched the entire world in blood.
The Nine Great Sects and every other major power in the Central Plains always remained on high alert for any movement from the Cult.
Especially Kunlun, which was geographically the closest, felt that threat more acutely than anyone else.
If the Heavenly Demon Cult ever launched an invasion of the Central Plains, Kunlun would be the first place their flames reached.
Over a decade ago, a group of the Cult’s scouts had infiltrated near Kunlun’s mountain entrance path. The Kunlun disciples patrolling the area clashed with them, and after a fierce battle, dozens of disciples lost their lives.
That incident remained a horrific nightmare still burned into Kunlun’s memory.
For that reason, in Kunlun, being accused of having any connection to the Heavenly Demon Cult was practically a death sentence.
And yet that damn Myeong-hoon had dared to pin the absurd label of “Heavenly Demon Cult spy” on me.
‘A spy of the Heavenly Demon Cult? What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that!’
Spy? In my previous life, I had fought against the Heavenly Demon Cult and burned to death alive in the flames of the Myriad Calamity Flame.
To accuse me of being their spy?
‘So they’re trying to bury me right here.’
Fine. Let’s go all the way today and see who buries whom.
I stared at Myeong-hoon’s group with ice-cold eyes.
The same guys who had been trembling just from meeting my gaze earlier were now acting full of confidence.
They shouted at the top of their lungs, veins bulging on their necks.
“Look at him! Those demonic eyes! He’s definitely a spy of the Heavenly Demon Cult!”
“Daoist Myeong-hoon is right! Hurry up and arrest that bastard!”
“That’s right! Interrogate him thoroughly and root out all the remaining Heavenly Demon Cult remnants hiding in Kunlun!”
To me, their shouts were nothing but absurd nonsense.
But the atmosphere surrounding me was turning extremely dangerous.
Every time the words “Heavenly Demon Cult spy” left their mouths, the killing intent directed at me grew thicker.
The warriors of the Hall of Martial Law glared at me with hands ready to draw their swords at any moment. Even Hall Master Hyun-yul and the young enforcer beside him wore grave expressions.
The mood was so tense that it wouldn’t be strange if my head flew off right then and there.
“You wicked bastard of the Cult! Kneel immediately and confess all your sins before Hall Master Hyun-yul!”
“Hurry up and spit it out! Where are the Cult remnants that hid you?!”
Myeong-hoon’s gang’s roars echoed through the silent Hall of Martial Law.
They sneered at me with ugly, triumphant smiles as if they had already won.
However.
The person who was truly enjoying this situation wasn’t them.
It was me.
‘Yeah, keep barking. Today, I’ll show you exactly what hell looks like.’
At first, I had planned to end things moderately as long as the Affairs Hall members were guaranteed safety.
But these bastards had already crossed the line far beyond that.
‘I’ll make you realize, very painfully, just how big of a mistake you’ve made.’
I took a short breath and looked directly at Hall Master Hyun-yul.
“They are accusing me of being a spy of the Heavenly Demon Cult. If I truly were one, then I would have to offer my life here and now.”
Hall Master Hyun-yul’s eyes subtly changed.
His brows slowly furrowed.
“So what are you trying to say? That you can prove their words are false?”
“Before that, I would like to ask Hall Master Hyun-yul one question.”
“You have something to ask me?”
Hyun-yul looked at me with interest.
I spoke in a quiet but firm voice, emphasizing each word.
“I have heard that the Hall of Martial Law considers upholding Kunlun’s laws and discipline as its highest priority. Is my understanding correct?”
“That is correct. That is the very reason the Hall of Martial Law exists.”
I nodded at Hall Master Hyun-yul’s firm answer.
In a resolute voice, I continued.
“If that is the case, then those who seek to harm and undermine the very foundation of Kunlun should also be punished severely.”
“Of course. So, what is your main point?”
As if waiting for exactly that question, I answered loudly.
“Right here and now, I wish to make a formal accusation.”
The moment my voice echoed through the Hall of Martial Law, a strange silence fell over the room.
Everyone stared at me with curious eyes, wondering what I was about to say.
Even Hall Master Hyun-yul watched me with a deeply suspicious expression.
I deliberately let the silence linger for a moment, savoring it.
After the brief pause, I spoke clearly and loudly.
“Kunlun has always been the righteous leading sect of the Murim, following the path of the Dao and justice. Standing at the very forefront of that upright path are the First Elders. If there are those who dare accuse one of the First Elders of being a spy of the Heavenly Demon Cult, then they are the true demonic beings seeking to uproot Kunlun’s foundation from its very core.”
I raised my arm and pointed directly at Myeong-hoon’s group.
“The despicable villains trying to destroy Kunlun’s foundation are right there. I, Han Mujin, hereby formally accuse these wicked evildoers!”
The instant I finished speaking, Myeong-hoon’s gang erupted in furious protests.
“W-what?!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?! When did we ever—!”
“Silence, all of you! This is the Hall of Martial Law!”
At Hall Master Hyun-yul’s sharp command, they immediately shut their mouths.
His gaze returned to me.
“From now on, you had better weigh every single word you speak with extreme care. If you’ve made such a claim without any evidence, you will be punished severely on the spot.”
Before Hyun-yul could even finish his chilling warning, I reached into my robe and pulled out the item I had prepared, raising it high.
In an instant, every eye in the hall turned to the object in my hand.
It was a small, old, faded wooden plaque.
“What is that…?”
“Something’s written on it… Kunlun Secret Archives…? Keeper of the Archives?”
“Was there such a position in Kunlun?”
Murmurs broke out from all around. Most people looked utterly confused.
However, Hall Master Hyun-yul’s reaction was completely different.
The moment he recognized what the plaque signified, his pupils shook violently.
“That plaque… could it be?”
For the first time, a flicker of panic crossed Hall Master Hyun-yul’s face.
I nodded and spoke.
“Correct. This is the Head Plaque of the Abandoned Martial Hall.”
“The owner of that plaque should be someone else… Why do you have it?”
Unlike before, Hyun-yul’s tone toward me was now noticeably cautious.
The corner of my mouth curled up slightly without me realizing it.
He clearly knew this plaque belonged to Jin Gwang-ung.
I spoke to him with overflowing confidence.
“It is now mine. The previous Head of the Abandoned Martial Hall personally transferred the authority to me.”
“Don’t tell me you are… the ‘proxy’ that Elder Jin Gwang-ung chose?”
Hoo. So he even knew about that.
He was better informed than he looked.
Then it was time to play my trump card properly.
“Yes. I am Han Mujin, the current Head of the Abandoned Martial Hall and the direct disciple of First Elder Jin Gwang-ung.”
The moment my words fell, the atmosphere inside the Hall of Martial Law shifted once again.
This time, the silence that descended was completely different from before.
People looked back and forth between me and Hall Master Hyun-yul with dazed expressions.
Only Myeong-hoon’s gang still failed to grasp the situation.
“Abandoned Martial Hall? Direct disciple of First Elder Gwang-ung?”
“Lies! A mere Affairs Hall servant claiming to be the direct disciple of a First Elder?!”
I glanced at them briefly before turning my gaze back to Hall Master Hyun-yul.
“Do you think I am lying?”
Hyun-yul slowly shook his head.
“No. Simply possessing the Head Plaque is enough to prove your identity. No one in Kunlun could obtain that plaque unless it was personally granted by Elder Jin Gwang-ung.”
After Hyun-yul finished speaking, the young martial artist standing beside him stared at me with a subtle, piercing expression.
It wasn’t mere curiosity.
His sharp eyes seemed to be trying to see right through me.
‘What’s with this guy? Why is he glaring at me like that?’
His gaze was slightly irritating, but I decided to ignore it for now.
Right now, I had more urgent matters to attend to.
Cleaning up the trash right in front of me.
I took a deep breath and spoke in a firm, resolute voice.
“There are those who have accused me — the Head of the Abandoned Martial Hall, one of Kunlun’s official halls — of being a spy of the Heavenly Demon Cult and have attempted to frame me.”
I slowly turned my body to face Myeong-hoon’s group.
“These despicable wretches have not only targeted me, but have also accused my master — First Elder Jin Gwang-ung, one of the pillars of Kunlun — of being a remnant of the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
The more I spoke, the paler Myeong-hoon and his gang’s faces became.
The ones who had been sneering in disbelief earlier were now trembling like leaves in the wind, their eyes filled with pure terror.
I had no intention of showing them any mercy.
I continued with strength in my voice.
“Furthermore, they have threatened and even used violence against disciples of the Affairs Hall, who are also part of Kunlun.”
It was time to finish this.
I pointed at them and declared in a stern tone:
“These wicked bastards have trampled on Kunlun’s laws, disrupted the discipline of our sect, insulted a respected master, and harmed innocent disciples!”
The air inside the Hall of Martial Law grew heavier with every word.
Since none of this could be taken lightly, everyone held their breath as they waited for what came next.
I took one step forward and proclaimed Kunlun’s justice.
“If the Hall of Martial Law truly exists to uphold Kunlun’s laws, then these individuals must be dealt with first. That is the way to strengthen Kunlun’s pillars and protect the honor of the Martial Dao.”
Another heavy silence fell.
In the tense atmosphere where no one dared speak recklessly, Hall Master Hyun-yul finally opened his mouth.
“…Do any of you have anything to say regarding the accusations made here?”
Myeong-hoon’s face stiffened dramatically.
His lips quivered, and a shaky voice finally escaped.
“I-I was just… that guy looked suspicious… I thought he might be a remnant of the Heavenly Demon Cult—”
“So you dared to accuse the direct disciple of a First Elder of being a spy of the Heavenly Demon Cult without any confirmation?”
Hyun-yul’s voice was now much lower and heavier than before. The pressure it carried was deeper than any shout could achieve.
“What exactly made him suspicious? Was it simply because he didn’t sit right with you? Was that all?”
Cold sweat dripped down Myeong-hoon’s forehead.
He couldn’t utter a single word, as if his tongue had been paralyzed. His eyes just darted around desperately.
“The Hall of Martial Law exists to protect Kunlun’s laws and discipline.”
Hall Master Hyun-yul slowly rose from his seat.
“And you have defied those very laws and committed acts that can never be forgiven.”
“H-Hall Master Hyun-yul! T-this is unfair! I-I only—”
“Shut your mouth!”
At Hyun-yul’s sharp command, Myeong-hoon’s body froze rigid.
“You have already crossed the line simply by failing to control your tongue and spreading reckless lies.”
After a heavy silence, Hall Master Hyun-yul delivered his verdict.
“Warriors of the Hall of Martial Law, hear me! Arrest these men immediately! Their crimes include false accusation, threats, violence, and disturbing Kunlun’s discipline — all serious offenses. In the name of the Hall of Martial Law, detain them and subject them to strict interrogation before delivering severe punishment!”
“Yes!”
The enforcers moved in unison.
Myeong-hoon’s gang tried to flee in panic, but it was already too late.
They were subdued in an instant by the warriors of the Hall of Martial Law.
“I was wrong! Just once, please give me one more chance…!”
“H-Hall Master Mujin! P-please forgive me! Spare me, please!”
They cried and begged pathetically, but it was useless.
The enforcers roughly grabbed their arms and tied their wrists with thick ropes.
They were forced to their knees and thrown to the floor.
The arrogance and mockery they had shown while looking down on me earlier had completely vanished from their faces.
Now, with terrified expressions, they trembled violently and begged me for mercy.
Seeing their miserable state, I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.
‘If you’re going to falsely accuse someone, you should be prepared to pay the price.’
I slowly walked forward and stood before them.
The men kneeling on the cold floor could only stare at my feet as they shook.
A smile naturally spread across my lips.
‘This. This is exactly why I Regressed.’