Namgung Clan’s Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal

15. Demonic Power

After Sun Wukong left the main hall, a brief silence fell.

Namgung Jin-Baek broke the quiet.

"What do you all think of him?"

The man who had just stood in the hall—Sun Wukong.

The elders and retainers found it hard to speak.

It was difficult to define him. That was the honest sentiment among the elders.

The chief steward spoke in an apologetic tone.

"To be honest, I have no idea."

Namgung Jin-Baek agreed.

"It's hard to read him."

Whether it was intentional or not, Sun Wukong had revealed his intentions simply.

He admired the Namgung Clan and would be grateful to be accepted as a retainer.

His attitude was sincere.

He seemed a bit arrogant, but it wasn't rudeness—more like someone unconstrained by formality.

The Master of Myeong'i Hall spoke cautiously.

"He's a man with no discernible origin. We don't know his sect, his master, what martial art skills he's learned, or where he's been active. There's no past to speak of."

At best, only his recent movements were known: a clash with the unorthodox sects in Hubei, a confrontation with the Blood-Iron Fiend, and, after a pursuit, subduing him on the river.

There were no records of his earlier activities. It was as if he had dropped out of the sky.

"That's not all. For someone who supposedly captured the Blood-Iron Fiend, he had more than a few awkward points."

Muhwa interjected.

"From his steps to the way he stood, there was no trace of martial arts anywhere."

"He didn't seem trained at all."

"I agree with the Law Enforcement Hall Leader. May I ask the elders—did any of you sense internal qi from Sun Wukong? I'm embarrassed to say, but I didn't sense even a trace."

The elders looked sheepish at the Master of Myeong'i Hall's words.

"I didn't sense anything either."

"Oh, you didn't, brother? Nor did I."

"What? You too?"

The Namgung Clan's top fighters had gathered in the hall. Every one of them was a veteran who had survived the Great War of Righteousness and Evil.

From the moment Sun Wukong entered, they had all tried to gauge his abilities.

Yet, not a single one could sense his internal qi.

It meant their own skills fell short of understanding someone with such an unknown origin. Embarrassed, none wanted to say it aloud.

But as one or two began to speak, the rest fell silent, as if on cue.

"…All of us?"

No one had sensed Sun Wukong's internal qi. Those who thought, 'I didn't feel it, but surely someone else did,' were all equally flustered.

"Huh."

"No way. That's impossible."

"Does that even make sense?"

While everyone was bewildered, Namgung Jin-Baek's voice cut through.

"This is difficult."

All eyes turned to him as he gave an awkward smile.

"To tell the truth, I couldn't sense even a bit of his internal qi either."

"…!"

A chilling silence swept the hall.

Namgung Jin-Baek, the current Number One Sword of the Namgung Clan.

If even he couldn't sense it…

When confronted with something unbelievable, people sometimes deny it.

The elders fidgeted anxiously.

The Master of Myeong'i Hall swallowed hard.

"There are two possibilities. Either he's an unbelievable Martial Master, or he's learned a unique mental cultivation that makes it easy to hide his internal qi."

Most leaned toward the latter. But no conclusion was reached.

"So, Clan Leader, will you accept him as a retainer?"

"Hmm. Well…"

Namgung Jin-Baek fell silent in thought. After a while, he made his decision.

"I'll accept him as a retainer."

It was an unexpected decision. The elders cautiously voiced their objections, but Namgung Jin-Baek shook his head.

"For some reason, he doesn't feel unfamiliar. It's as if I've known him for a long time. But, on one condition."

"On one condition…?"

"Unlike the other retainers, I'll ask him to cooperate with us on a few matters."

Muhwa, who had been listening quietly, nodded as if she understood.

"You mean, you'll ask for his help with things the Namgung Clan can't get involved in directly."

The Namgung Clan is watched by all corners of the martial world.

If they draw their swords, the response is immediate and sharp. Especially since there are plenty of enemies waiting for a chance.

"But if it's not the Namgung Clan acting, but a retainer acting on his own, others can't react as sensitively—at least on the surface."

The Namgung Clan was already short on numbers. Each person handled the work of two or three. Everyone was busy, and unresolved matters kept piling up.

"If he refuses, we'll just treat him well and send him on his way."

"If he agrees, then it's clear he has some purpose for coming to the clan…"

"While carrying out the tasks, he'll have to reveal his true martial art skills, and his identity will gradually come to light."

Muhwa let out a small sigh of admiration. The clan leader was always giving her headaches by stirring up trouble, but his sharpness was worthy of the head of the clan.

The Namgung Clan is a martial family. The Number One Sword Family Under Heaven, made up of only a few.

When the clan leader decides, that's how it is.

That is the Namgung Clan.

*

An entire building was given to Sun Wukong. But inside, it felt empty. There was hardly any furniture. The wide space felt desolate.

"So many empty buildings."

Sun Wukong spent several days familiarizing himself with the area.

The Namgung Clan was so large and sprawling that it took time to look around.

A newcomer with no sense of direction could easily get lost.

A vast bamboo forest surrounded the Inner Courtyard, where the direct descendants and retainers stayed.

Beyond the bamboo forest, to the east, was the residence for retainers—Pavilion of Elegance.

It was a scale befitting a clan once called the greatest in all of the Central Plains, surpassing even Anhui.

Yet, for its size, there were few people. In fact, everyone with the Namgung name was someone Sun Wukong had already met in the main hall—except for those on special missions out in the martial world.

There weren’t many servants or menials either. Truly, their numbers were few.

"They must have been burned by spies during the Great War of Righteousness and Evil. It's no wonder they don't let just anyone in."

Wujing quietly slipped in.

Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you were leaving?"

"Well, since the Great Hero's goal is to find someone, and I already promised to help, I might as well see it through to the end."

Sun Wukong snickered at Wujing's nonchalant words.

You chickened out, didn't you?

If he left, there was a high chance that some shadowy group connected to the Blood-Iron Fiend would approach.

If they were even more powerful than expected, not even the Namgung Clan would be safe.

He took a fragment of a sword from his robe.

To humans, it was just a useless piece of scrap metal.

The very fact that someone was collecting these meant this was no ordinary case.

Sun Wukong felt it instinctively.

'There's definitely a connection between the disappearance of Tripitaka's soul and those after this thing.'

For now, Sun Wukong had two immediate goals.

To find Tripitaka's reincarnation here in the Namgung Clan.

And to track down those after this object.

'They'll show themselves eventually.'

Sun Wukong hated complicated calculations. He preferred simple logic.

If they want this, they'll come looking for it.

Eventually, when they're desperate, they'll show themselves first. Until then, he just had to keep searching.

'Still… this isn't going to be easy.'

Already, there were two suspects.

First, Muhwa, and then the clan leader of the Namgung Clan.

"Namgung Jin-Baek… I don't think he's the one, though."

The String of Karma burned pure white.

His past life and Sun Wukong were deeply connected. Bound by a strong karmic tie. But somehow, he didn't feel like Tripitaka.

'A Tripitaka who's absurdly strong? That just doesn't fit.'

There was one thing that surprised Sun Wukong after entering the Namgung Clan—the potential of human internal energy.

'There was a Great Demon here.'

It was almost laughable.

The internal qi writhing in Namgung Jin-Baek's dantian was enough to make even Sun Wukong chuckle. It was as profound and weighty as the demonic power of a Great Demon.

In the past, he would have mistaken him for a Great Demon disguised as a human.

'So this is the level humans have reached.'

Sun Wukong let go of his old prejudices.

In the past, humans couldn't even handle low-level demons.

There were rare exceptions—some outstanding Taoist priests or monks with great spiritual power—but they were few and far between.

Now, things were different.

Not just Namgung Jin-Baek, but even the elders sitting beside him were all strong.

'And yet, someone here managed to deceive the Heavenly Realm and steal Tripitaka's soul.'

There are no demons in the Mortal World right now, so it must be a human.

Sun Wukong felt a surge of irritation.

Seeing the level of these humans, he realized this wouldn't be easy.

If Tripitaka hadn't just lost his soul out of stupidity, then there must be a culprit—and that culprit's abilities would be formidable.

'Then again, knowing Tripitaka, he might have just lost it himself.'

That crybaby was always a bit scatterbrained.

Sun Wukong twirled his hair.

"Well, looks like it's about time for this old teacher to get serious."

He needed to check his strength. Sun Wukong moved alone to the garden behind the building.

How much of his original power from the Heavenly Realm was still sealed?

His physical abilities hadn't weakened much.

Copper Head, Iron Forehead.

A head like bronze, a forehead like iron.

A body so tough that no blade or spear could leave a scratch.

Flaming Golden Eyes.

Eyes of fire with golden pupils.

The ability to see beyond the surface, to glimpse the truth.

'This has weakened a bit.'

They used to be divine eyes that saw through everything, but now, not so much.

He could only read his opponent's mind to a certain extent.

If someone had strong mental defenses, it would be even harder. Sun Wukong clicked his tongue. Still, thanks to these eyes, he could see the String of Karma, which was a huge help.

Physical strength never really impressed Sun Wukong.

The important thing was something else.

"This is…"

From the moment he descended to the Mortal World, he'd felt a strange power.

Even without consciously focusing, something asserted its presence strongly.

It didn't feel unfamiliar.

No, how could it not be familiar?

Long ago, it was what allowed him to rise to the rank of Great Demon and call himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

Demonic Power.

The moment he became aware of it, the monster that had slept within Sun Wukong for so long began to stir.

Crackle.

Sun Wukong clenched his teeth.

Through tightly gritted teeth, a crimson energy billowed out as white steam.

"Why now?"

He spat the words out, grinding his teeth.

After his asceticism and becoming the Victorious Fighting Buddha—a true god of the Heavenly Realm—the power of the Great Demon had vanished.

But now, demonic power surged through Sun Wukong's entire body like a mad, unending spring.

His eyes blazed red.

From his burning eyes, a blood-red light burst forth.

His breath, flowing through nose and mouth, was thick with ominous crimson energy.

It was so intense and beast-like that he could barely contain it.

A wild, explosive aura swept the area.

Sun Wukong gathered and calmed the power.

The rampaging force slowly quieted at its master's command. Yet, a sinister red aura still lingered around him like a halo.

Sun Wukong muttered, his voice rough.

"The power of the Heavenly Realm is sealed, but now that I'm in the Mortal World, my demonic power returns?"

It was a power he'd given up. The moment he abandoned being a demon and took a post in the Heavenly Realm, he had forsaken it himself.

He was no longer the Great Demon Sun Wukong, but the Victorious Fighting Buddha.

"Why are you giving this power back to me, Bodhisattva?"

His red eyes turned to the sky.

To regain demonic power meant to become the Demon King.

It meant becoming the Great Sage Equal to Heaven of the Seven Stars.

It meant being the Great Demon Sun Wukong.

In the reddening twilight sky, a single star flashed.

As if answering Sun Wukong's question.

"That is…"

A strange light appeared in Sun Wukong's eyes.