novelraw Chapter 63
Chapter 63
63. Pass If You Can Pull Out the Staff
Namgung Jin-Baek watched the mist for a long time, his eyes calm and steady.
"Master of Myeong'i Hall."
"Yes, Clan Leader."
"Go to Hubei with a martial artist skilled in light footwork and urge the envoy to hurry."
"...Are you not going to wait for Master Son to come out?"
Namgung Jin-Baek's eyes sharpened for a moment.
Namgung Cheon-Young flinched.
"It's not that I don't trust Master Son. But we must always prepare for every possibility."
"Understood."
"This is an urgent matter, so, Master of Myeong'i Hall, I want you to go yourself."
"I will carry out your orders."
Namgung Cheon-Young's figure vanished.
"Even if Master Son fails, couldn't we send someone right after he comes out?"
Muhwa spoke cautiously.
Namgung Jin-Baek shook his head firmly.
"Master Son is certainly a remarkable martial artist. But Muhwa—no, Law Enforcement Hall Leader. You don't think I'm any less of a martial artist than he is, do you?"
Muhwa quickly shook his head. No matter what anyone said, Namgung Jin-Baek was the strongest martial artist in the Namgung Clan. Even across the Central Plains, when the Ten Martial Masters were mentioned, he was always at the top of the list.
'Yes, Master Son is strong...'
He was always overshadowed by the fame and weight of the previous clan leader, the Sword God, but Namgung Jin-Baek was the Sword God's younger brother.
His talent was exceptional, and his efforts had been relentless.
A martial master worthy of respect.
If Namgung Jin-Baek failed to resolve this mysterious incident...
No matter how strong Sun Wukong was, it was dangerous to assume he could handle any anomaly.
Namgung Jin-Baek had to consider every possibility.
'Still...'
He couldn't help but imagine Sun Wukong emerging with his trademark mischievous grin, as if nothing had happened.
Sensing this, Namgung Jin-Baek continued.
"What's inside there, as you felt, Law Enforcement Hall Leader, is not something that can be resolved with martial arts. It's like those strange phenomena that Taoists or Buddhist monks used to unravel in the past."
"That's true."
"Of course, Master Son might resolve it brilliantly. But there's no harm in sending the Master of Myeong'i Hall to the envoy. We can just say he went out to greet them."
"Ah...!"
Muhwa let out a small exclamation.
"After all, the envoy is coming as planned. There's no need to create a tense atmosphere."
"Exactly. If we say we went out to greet them, they'll think the Namgung Clan is being amicable. There's no problem."
Muhwa nodded lightly.
"You should get moving, too. Search the old records, use every method you can to find out what's going on."
His command was as heavy as a decree.
Everyone bit their lips at Namgung Jin-Baek's unusually serious tone. They could feel in their bones that the situation was grave.
Not only were the Five Great Families' promising heirs inside, but also Namgung Mu-yeong and Seo-Wol, the successors of the Namgung Clan.
Losing them would be a catastrophe.
Everyone moved quickly with serious faces. How much time had passed?
A cry, almost a scream, rang out.
"The mist is thinning!"
All heads turned at once.
"Oh...!"
"The mist is disappearing!"
Everyone dropped what they were doing and gathered.
Even from up close, the mist was visibly thinning.
A gust of wind swept through, and the mist vanished completely.
The lush, green forest was revealed in all its glory.
"Heh..."
A hollow laugh escaped Namgung Jin-Baek's lips.
It wasn't that he distrusted Sun Wukong.
"But how...?"
He just couldn't understand it.
"If it was a Qi Formation, it could be broken by force."
But what was inside wasn't just a Qi Formation.
It was something inexplicable.
It was like the strange phenomena that sometimes appeared when renowned Taoists performed rituals.
"Indeed, Master Son has helped the Namgung Clan once again."
"Surely, Master Son must have done something in there."
"As expected... he's truly an honored guest of the Namgung Clan!"
The voices of the Namgung Clan's martial artists were filled with excitement.
Namgung Jin-Baek couldn't help but smile.
'He's really won over the Namgung Clan's heart.'
Well...
'Even I have come to think highly of him.'
A thought flashed through Namgung Jin-Baek's mind.
A plan he had considered before.
He hadn't discussed it with anyone yet, but he saw great potential in it.
'After the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, the Namgung Clan had always been wary of outsiders, yet he's blended in this much.'
He was almost frightened by how easily Sun Wukong had integrated himself.
But what could he do?
"Once again, Master Son has greatly aided the Namgung Clan!"
Muhwa spoke with a face full of trust.
Even the usually difficult Muhwa now showed strong faith in Sun Wukong. Namgung Jin-Baek gave a wry smile.
"For now, let's go check the situation, Hall Leader."
Namgung Jin-Baek slipped into the forest with Muhwa.
* * *
"...Examiner?"
Sun Wukong immediately understood what was going on.
'So there were examiners at every checkpoint.'
He waved his hand lightly.
Examiner? No way he would take on such a bothersome role.
Namgung Seo-wol stared at him with sparkling eyes. Namgung Mu-yeong wore an unreadable expression.
The other promising heirs also looked at him expectantly.
"I'm not the examiner—"
—Master Son, wait, please hold on a moment.
"..."
Sun Wukong stopped mid-sentence, his brow furrowing.
He turned his head sharply.
He caught a glimpse of shadows behind a tall tree.
It was Namgung Jin-Baek and Muhwa.
They must not have expected to be spotted so quickly—the shadow flinched.
—For now, let's save the details for later and start with our thanks. Thanks to you, Master Son, the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage can proceed safely.
Sun Wukong crossed his arms.
Tension appeared on the faces of the heirs before him.
He didn't pay them any mind as he listened to the Transmission of Sound, but to them, it looked like he had suddenly scowled and crossed his arms, lost in thought.
A strange tension filled the air.
'Why is he being so humble?'
Sun Wukong noticed the subtle change in Namgung Jin-Baek's attitude through the Transmission of Sound.
He had always been respectful, but now he seemed almost deferential.
'Because I cleared away Owl Demon's mist?'
Well, that was something to be grateful for.
But knowing Namgung Jin-Baek, he'd probably try to settle things with some kind of trade or reward.
He always had.
Sun Wukong glanced at the heirs.
'It's because of them.'
He grinned and sent his intent to Namgung Jin-Baek.
—Is this about the examiner business?
—...Master Son, you really are sharp. Yes. Originally, I was supposed to be the final examiner and face the heirs in the Wheel Turn.
—So why not just do that?
—Well...
Namgung Jin-Baek's explanation was simple.
—The other Five Great Families don't know what happened today, right?
—That's right.
The anomaly that occurred during the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage hadn't spread outside yet.
Only Namgung Clan blood relatives and a few retainers were allowed near the site.
The rest of the Five Great Families' members were waiting elsewhere for the results.
—The heirs seem to think the anomaly was just another Qi Formation like before.
—No one got hurt, after all.
—Exactly. So...
—You want to keep it under wraps?
Namgung Jin-Baek hesitated, then answered.
—Yes. This Azure Dragon Rite of Passage will set a precedent. It's not just for the Namgung Clan, but an event for all the Five Great Families' heirs.
—If problems occur from the start, it could give them an excuse not to participate next time.
Sun Wukong crossed his arms.
It would be awkward for him to refuse to act as examiner now.
And it would be just as strange for Namgung Jin-Baek to suddenly show up and conduct the test.
Even if they tried to gloss over it, people would notice something was off.
Especially Jegal Seo-seo, who was staring at him with particularly sharp eyes.
There was a hint of suspicion behind that gaze.
'If that clever kid starts asking questions, he might figure out what really happened today.'
Sun Wukong twirled his hair.
—It may not be much, but I will show my sincerity.
—Sincerity, huh...
—Of course, I won't forget to properly thank you for resolving today's anomaly.
Sun Wukong chuckled.
What did he care about some reward?
He found Namgung Jin-Baek's unusually humble attitude amusing.
'Namgung Jin-Baek...'
He had already confirmed that Muhwa was Zhu Bajie in a past life.
Now it was time for Namgung Jin-Baek to find out, too.
'Might as well make him owe me a favor.'
Sun Wukong decided to let him rack up some debt.
"Alright, this Master Son will be the examiner for the final trial."
Sun Wukong drew out his iron staff, spun it flamboyantly, and slammed it into the ground.
He grinned.
"If you can pull out this iron staff, you pass the test set by the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Master Son."
Of course, the contents of the test were entirely up to Sun Wukong.
* * *
"If the test is to pull out the iron staff..."
Muhwa trailed off.
Such an outrageous test.
"I know Master Son is strong... but is he just making it easy for the kids to pass?"
The heirs were all impressive.
Peng Zhihun, Hwangbo Yong.
Their skills with sword and saber were already well-known in the martial world.
Jegal Seo-seo's martial arts were the weakest, but still not to be underestimated.
He was only weak compared to the others, not actually weak.
And then there were Tang Cheng and Tang Xiao, the twin siblings from the Tang Sect of Sichuan.
They weren't known in the martial world, but that was due to the Tang Sect's secrecy.
From what they'd seen over the past few days, the twins' poison arts were extraordinary.
Even the Namgung Clan elders who had served as examiners in previous trials had been amazed.
So Sun Wukong's standard seemed too outrageous.
Muhwa couldn't help but suspect he was just trying to make things easy and get it over with.
"Well... I don't quite agree with you, Law Enforcement Hall Leader."
Namgung Jin-Baek gave a wry smile, and Muhwa turned to look at him.
"Uh, well..."
Muhwa couldn't finish his sentence.
Bang! Bang!
"Ugh!"
It was dazzling. Next to the iron staff planted in the ground, Sun Wukong faced the heirs with only his fists and feet.
The fight was a Wheel Turn, but he didn't hold back, and the heirs were knocked out one after another in no time.
Sun Wukong made full use of the iron staff standing like a pillar.
He hid behind it to block swords and sabers.
Clang! Clang!
Of course, Sun Wukong never even touched the staff. He spun around it, confusing the heirs, and struck with his fists and feet whenever he saw an opening.
"What is this...?"
Muhwa's jaw dropped.
He'd known Sun Wukong was a high-level martial master, but...
This was like a master teaching children.
Namgung Jin-Baek also wore a wry smile.
His mouth smiled, but his eyes were cold.
'I made him the examiner to see for myself just how skilled Master Son is.'
Of course, he also wanted to keep the anomaly under wraps from the Five Great Families.
But that wasn't his real motive.
As soon as he saw the heirs facing Sun Wukong, he realized it.
Namgung Jin-Baek had never seen Sun Wukong's martial arts in person.
He could only guess at his level.
But seeing it with his own eyes was a world apart from guessing, especially for a martial master like Namgung Jin-Baek.
'But at this rate...'
Namgung Jin-Baek let out a sigh without realizing it.
Sun Wukong seemed to notice his thoughts and grinned as if enjoying a joke.
After thinking for a while, Namgung Jin-Baek looked at Muhwa.
"Law Enforcement Hall Leader."
"Yes?"
"Go and try to pull out that iron staff yourself."