Namgung Clan’s Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal

Chapter 62

62. What an Entertaining Trick.

Sun Wukong swallowed hard.

Even the mighty Sun Wukong could only fall silent at the sight of the enemy’s manifested form.

The Seven Great Sages—once the strongest demons in the world.

Among them, the Bull Demon King was the eldest. He was both truly vicious and powerful.

And, more than anyone, he was wise.

‘If the Bull Demon King had rampaged recklessly like me, the world would have been thrown into chaos long ago.’

Sun Wukong recalled a distant past, a time during his asceticism when he had no choice but to face the Bull Demon King in a final battle.

Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing—the three brothers—charged at him.

Even that wasn’t enough, so reinforcements from the Heavenly Realm arrived.

Countless gods who had once come to capture Sun Wukong now stood by his side to fight.

But they still couldn’t kill the Bull Demon King.

If the Bull Demon King hadn’t surrendered and had fought to the death, maybe they would have succeeded in killing him.

But if that had happened, half of the Heavenly Realm would have been destroyed.

Sun Wukong let out a sigh.

‘It’s not certain.’

The new clues, unfortunately, pointed to the Bull Demon King, but Sun Wukong wasn’t ready to jump to conclusions. Still, he couldn’t deny that he was the most likely suspect.

"Hong Hae-ah wouldn’t have burned the Earth God for no reason."

Samadhi True Fire was Hong Hae-ah’s unique spell technique.

The Hellfire of Tribulation.

Flames that could burn not only steel but everything in existence—so fierce that even Sun Wukong’s skin would shrivel.

Even the world-renowned Sun Wukong, who had come out unscathed from Tai Shang Lao Jun’s Eight Trigrams Path.

"Besides, that Hong Hae-ah, no matter how old he gets, there’s always something childish about him."

Owl Demon had said that he even remembered his past life.

His temperament probably hadn’t changed much either.

"He’s got a side that’s a lot like me."

Specifically, like Sun Wukong in his stone monkey days.

A wild, reckless troublemaker.

The only one who could control Hong Hae-ah like a puppet was his father, the Bull Demon King.

"Hong Hae-ah may be strong, but he’s not bold enough to steal Tripitaka’s soul all on his own."

But the Bull Demon King was different.

Sun Wukong pushed the faint memories to the corner of his mind.

"More importantly, Hong Hae-ah doesn’t have anything like Fate Vision to peer into past lives."

Sun Wukong’s Flaming Golden Eyes were a kind of Fate Vision.

He could glimpse into past lives.

But after descending from the Heavenly Realm to the Mortal World, that power had weakened, and now he could only perceive the soul’s true form when the seal was unlocked.

There’s no way Hong Hae-ah could have such an ability.

"But the Bull Demon King…"

Sun Wukong trailed off.

Even he hadn’t fully grasped the Bull Demon King’s abilities.

He was a cunning one, skilled at hiding his true self.

‘He might possess Fate Vision.’

If so…

It would be possible to gather demons with suspiciously deep ties to Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong sighed again.

Every clue pointed to the Bull Demon King.

But there was a reason for his hesitation.

Was it the Bull Demon King’s strength?

Sun Wukong admitted it. The Bull Demon King was one of the strongest beings in both the Heavenly and Mortal Realms.

But that wasn’t what made Sun Wukong hesitate.

"Hmph, as if I’d be afraid."

From the time he was just a stone monkey, Sun Wukong had bared his fangs at the Heavenly Realm.

He’d openly defied the Jade Emperor and never backed down, even when the gods came at him in droves.

A strong enemy was nothing more than bitter medicine to make Sun Wukong even stronger.

"The real question is, how could the Bull Demon King be in the Mortal World?"

<…That’s right. The Bull Demon King is locked in the deepest Heavenly Prison.>

"The Heavenly Prison that no one can escape from."

There were only two such prisons.

Buddha’s Five Fingers, the Five Elements Mountain, that had confined Sun Wukong.

And the Heavenly Prison that held the Bull Demon King—beneath Buddha’s Sole.

He’s definitely locked up there.

There’s absolutely no way out.

There’s no way the one behind all this in the Mortal World could be the Bull Demon King.

When Sun Wukong escaped from the Five Elements Mountain, it was only because Tripitaka was there…

"…!"

Suddenly, Sun Wukong jolted as if struck by lightning.

He’d only escaped the Five Elements Mountain thanks to Tripitaka’s power.

Only Tripitaka could free him from centuries of imprisonment.

Then, what about the Bull Demon King beneath Buddha’s Sole?

Sun Wukong pressed his forehead.

"…Damn it, please don’t let it be you, big brother."

A cold blue flame of tribulation burned in Sun Wukong’s eyes.

* * *

Sun Wukong felt stifled.

If it really was the Bull Demon King, he’d have to talk to the Heavenly Realm.

"Master Jangkyung only comes when the time is right."

Tsk.

He’d just have to wait.

Sun Wukong shook off his regrets and turned his gaze.

Owl Demon was staring at him.

There was a faint glimmer of fear in his eyes.

Sun Wukong let out a brief sigh.

‘If it was Hong Hae-ah’s Samadhi True Fire… well, he did his best.’

He fought until his body was burning to death.

He could have just flown away, but he didn’t.

Owl Demon had done his part, even if he failed in the end.

Sun Wukong picked up the iron staff embedded in the ground. Owl Demon flinched.

"You did well."

<…Pardon?>

"Rest easy in the afterlife. When this is over, I’ll go up to the Heavenly Realm and help you ascend."

Owl Demon’s eyes widened at Sun Wukong’s unexpected mercy.

"When you’re done, clear away that damned fog and put things back the way they were."

Owl Demon appeared, holding something in his beak.

"Hmm?"

Two pills.

Even at a glance, they were extraordinary. Their elegant fragrance filled the Flying Cave.

"…"

Not just any spirit beast’s inner core—this was the Earth God’s inner core.

Could there be anything more precious in the world?

A human would become a revered Taoist or monk.

A Taoist or monk could gain the power to ascend.

It was a priceless treasure. And there were two.

But Sun Wukong’s expression was unimpressed.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

Owl Demon was momentarily at a loss for words.

True, what use would this be to a god of the Heavenly Realm?

This was Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, not some low-ranking deity.

Sun Wukong clicked his tongue at the sight.

"Still, on second thought, it might come in handy."

Communication with the heavens, huh.

"Maybe I can use it to summon Master Jangkyung whenever I want."

If even a human could ascend with Owl Demon’s inner core, then Sun Wukong, despite all the restrictions, might be able to call Master Jangkyung whenever he wished.

Without hesitation, Sun Wukong popped one into his mouth.

Owl Demon watched nervously.

<…>

Nothing happened. Sun Wukong frowned.

"It’s pretty crude compared to Tai Shang Lao Jun’s pills."

"Still, it’s useful enough."

Sun Wukong nodded. He felt like he could send his will to the Heavenly Realm at any moment.

Master Jangkyung would probably appear right away if called.

"And as for the other one…"

"To Tripitaka?"

"Once it starts to break down, it’ll collapse all at once."

Sun Wukong nodded.

The inner core Owl Demon had given him was more useful than he’d thought.

"Alright."

Sun Wukong recalled the young Owl Demon and gave a wry smile.

"I’ll raise him well."

With that, Owl Demon’s body slumped to the ground.

Though not a cat, he purred softly, breathing shallowly.

Sun Wukong smiled bitterly and carefully tucked him into his robe. Strangely, the cat whose territory had been invaded didn’t hiss, but instead licked his fur with its tongue.

"Get along, you two."

Meow.

The cat cried as if it understood. Sun Wukong felt the weight in his arms and walked out of the Flying Cave.

"Hmm…?"

Sun Wukong blinked.

A young man stood before him. He had a youthful, slightly awkward face.

He wore the Namgung Clan’s martial robes and carried a sword with a blue base and white stripes.

‘Who’s this?’

The young man must have seen Sun Wukong, but didn’t even glance at him. Suddenly, he began swinging his sword.

Sun Wukong folded his arms and watched.

His form was weak and sloppy. The tip of the sword lacked strength, and his stance had no center.

Still, the young man repeated the motions relentlessly, sweat pouring down his face.

Sun Wukong chuckled.

"This must be what martial artists call a ‘fateful encounter’ or something."

He wasn’t a real person.

Just a trace. The founder of the Namgung Clan who once trained here.

It was Namgung Ryong.

Sun Wukong watched with interest. The young man’s face gradually aged.

His features grew more serious, his lips set in a firm line.

His sword strikes changed as well—sharper, heavier, more focused.

‘Why did this fateful encounter activate?’

This was a place managed by the Namgung Clan. There’s no way no one knew about it.

Or maybe it had just been hidden until now.

Why did it suddenly activate?

Only one thing had changed.

‘Was it Owl Demon’s spiritual power that awakened it?’

Well, with that much spiritual power, the flow of the surroundings would change.

Sun Wukong continued to watch, amused.

Then, suddenly, he felt a tingling at his fingertips.

Sun Wukong lifted his iron staff.

The man was wielding a sword.

He couldn’t imitate it exactly with a staff.

But Sun Wukong moved as if such limitations didn’t exist.

He mimicked the clumsy sword strikes Namgung Ryong had performed as a youth.

With a staff, not a sword.

Immediately, Sun Wukong adjusted his movements to match his weapon.

The motions were completely different, yet he adapted them so naturally to the staff that it seemed as if it had always been a staff technique.

He followed every trace Namgung Ryong had left in his youth.

Namgung Ryong gradually became middle-aged. His hair began to gray, and each sword swing was so heavy that the air trembled.

Sun Wukong’s eyes sparkled.

‘Soaring Sky Boundless Sword.’

The sword Namgung Jin-Baek had shown him.

This was the process of its creation. The very first time it was formed.

It was different from what Sun Wukong had seen before. Clearly distinct from the way Namgung Jin-Baek had wielded it.

This was its original form.

Sun Wukong’s lips curled up.

"This is fun."

The Soaring Sky Boundless Sword neared its completion.

As it did, the once robust Namgung Ryong’s body shrank. His hair turned white, his back hunched, and his face wrinkled—he was now an old man.

He swung his sword with difficulty. The speed and weight had diminished, but his center was clearer than ever.

Sun Wukong’s staff moved in sync.

The sword moved slowly, ever so slowly.

Even as he watched, it was hard to tell if it was moving at all.

Sun Wukong didn’t miss a single motion.

At some point, the iron staff’s movement stopped.

"…"

Namgung Ryong was gone. The traces carved into the wall ended there.

"…Unfinished, huh."

Nothing beyond this point.

Sun Wukong knew what this was.

The end of the sword that Namgung Jin-Baek often spoke of.

The Emperor Sword Form.

But Namgung Ryong hadn’t completed it.

Sun Wukong folded his arms and pondered for a while.

How much time had passed?

A faint laugh escaped his lips.

"What an entertaining trick. For a human, anyway."

Sun Wukong replayed all the movements in his mind as he stepped out of the Flying Cave.

The fog that had clouded his vision had vanished.

Lush, green scenery spread out before him.

"Oh…!"

Sun Wukong locked eyes with Namgung Mu-yeong.

In front of the Flying Cave, the post-core disciples were gathered, looking exhausted.

‘Hmm…’

Sun Wukong made a face of annoyance.

If he’d left right after Owl Demon passed, he wouldn’t have run into them.

But he’d stuck around to watch the fateful encounter, and now they’d caught up to him.

This was the final trial, after all.

Sun Wukong was about to wrap things up and leave.

Just then, Namgung Seo-wol shouted.

"The final test!"

"…What?"

Another post-core disciple responded.

Jegal Seo-seo shouted.

"Ah, is the final trial really being proctored by Master Sun?"

"…"

"Finally, we get to witness Master Sun’s martial arts firsthand!"

Sun Wukong looked at them silently.

Namgung Mu-yeong tilted his head, while the others gripped their weapons with anticipation.

Sun Wukong’s brow furrowed.