Namgung Clan’s Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal

Chapter 65

65. The Wudang Blood Incident

The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

"Namgung Ho of the Hall of Radiant Justice greets the Clan Head."

A man entered, his exhaustion plain to see.

He was one of the warriors who had accompanied Namgung Cheon-Young to greet the Wudang Sect delegation.

His face was deathly pale, his steps unsteady with fatigue.

Sun Wukong glanced at him.

'His Internal Qi is completely depleted.'

He was mustering the last of his strength just to observe proper etiquette.

'He left yesterday afternoon to receive the delegation and only returned this evening.'

He must have rushed back using all his lightness skill the moment something went wrong.

Noticing his exhaustion, Namgung Jin-Baek got straight to the point.

"Explain. Is what’s written in this letter true?"

"When we arrived at the land of the Martial Arts Manual, rumors were already spreading in the area. They said a group dressed in Wudang Sect robes had entered Anhui Province."

"But you didn’t actually see any Wudang Taoists?"

"Correct. They had all vanished. It was as if the rumors were false, as if they had never come to Anhui at all."

Namgung Jin-Baek’s face darkened noticeably.

The Martial Arts Manual was within Anhui Province.

No matter how remote, any incident involving Murim in Anhui Province fell under the Namgung Clan’s jurisdiction. They could not shirk responsibility.

"The Master of Myeong'i Hall went ahead to wait for the Wudang Taoists at a crossroads. But no matter how long he waited, they never came. Fearing they might have taken another route, he searched everywhere…"

"So, they never showed up?"

"Yes."

"Then is this tragedy just speculation?"

Namgung Cheon-Young’s letter had been written in such haste that it lacked details.

"No, sir. Sensing something was off, the Master of Myeong'i Hall thoroughly searched the area and found faint, almost erased bloodstains."

"…"

"Not only that, but there were also traces of a fight. The problem is, all of it had been deliberately erased. If not for the Master’s keen abilities, we would have never noticed a thing."

"And what proof is there that it was the Wudang Sect?"

"This."

The warrior carefully pulled something from his robes—a tassel used to decorate a sword hilt.

Namgung Jin-Baek’s eyes twitched slightly.

"It’s the ornament Wudang Sect warriors attach to their swords."

Though torn and battered, its color and shape were unmistakable.

The dried, blackened blood hinted at what had occurred.

"There were also signs of burning at the site. Everything was meticulously erased, and the wind scattered the traces, making it hard to find more. But the Master of Myeong'i Hall is still tracking them."

At that, Namgung Ho broke into a violent cough.

Namgung Jin-Baek swallowed hard.

"Have some cool water and rest. Replenish your Internal Qi and recover your strength. You’ve done well."

After sending Namgung Ho away, Namgung Jin-Baek sat in silence for a long time.

Muhwa, who had been quietly listening, spoke in a low voice.

"We didn’t attack the Wudang Sect, but this is still a problem for the Namgung Clan, Clan Head."

"…"

"After all, those coming as envoys to the Namgung Clan met with disaster within Anhui Province. If we claim to rule Anhui, we have a moral duty to investigate and pursue this."

"As a pillar of the Orthodox Faction, it’s our responsibility…"

"And to kill righteous warriors on Namgung Clan territory? Whoever did this clearly holds us in contempt."

"If we just stand by and do nothing, our clan’s prestige will be at stake."

"Not just our reputation or justification—if someone dares attack the Wudang Sect, they must be…"

"Some bastard from the Evil Faction Alliance, no doubt."

Namgung Jin-Baek’s voice was calm, but a subtle anger simmered beneath. He flicked his sleeve sharply.

"Summon every member of the Namgung Clan at once."

"Yes, Clan Head."

Muhwa hurried out.

Namgung Jin-Baek watched her leave, then turned to Sun Wukong.

"For years, it’s been so peaceful that our warriors have been itching for action… and now, suddenly, such a heinous incident occurs."

Sun Wukong chuckled.

"Maybe I’m the one bringing misfortune."

Namgung Jin-Baek shook his head in alarm.

"Nonsense. If anything, you’ve brought us luck, not calamity."

Sun Wukong smiled quietly.

'Well, luck and misfortune are two sides of the same coin.'

The gods of the Heavenly Realm never hesitated to call Sun Wukong the God of Calamity.

After all, the havoc he’d wreaked had left indelible scars on the Heavenly Realm.

Tripitaka once said that all those disasters were what allowed Sun Wukong to undergo asceticism and become a Buddha. In the end, disaster became a blessing.

'Whether it’s luck or misfortune, the fact remains that these things started happening after I arrived at the Namgung Clan.'

To the Namgung Clan, was Sun Wukong a blessing, or a calamity?

He shrugged.

'That’s not for me to worry about.'

What could he do? It was all fate, after all.

Sun Wukong stepped outside and looked up at the sky.

'Owl Demon. Go and search every corner.'

A pale light soared into the moonlit sky.

* * *

"I’ll go. Please allow me, Clan Head."

Namgung Jin-Baek sighed as he looked at Namgung Mu-yeong standing before him.

It wasn’t just Mu-yeong. Seo-Wol was beside him, staring intently, as if to make her presence known.

Seo-Wol’s silent gaze weighed heavier than Mu-yeong’s earnest plea.

"It’s dangerous."

"What in the martial world isn’t dangerous? If we only seek comfort and safety, how can we call ourselves heroes or warriors?"

"The Wudang delegation was coming to the Namgung Clan. Do you think the Wudang Sect would send anyone incompetent? Absolutely not. They’d have chosen only the most skilled. Yet, all of them were taken out."

"I am a warrior of the Namgung Clan, and the Young Clan Master."

He wouldn’t back down. Namgung Jin-Baek was quietly proud. The child had grown up steadfast, even among the fierce elders of the clan.

That made it all the harder for him to answer.

'It’s been a long time since the entire clan agreed on something…'

At the very least, they had to investigate, track down the culprit, and rescue any survivors. That was the duty of the righteous sects, and the responsibility of a prestigious clan.

Even if relations with the Wudang Sect weren’t the best, the fact that the culprit was likely from the Evil Faction Alliance made it all the more serious.

Sama Ryeon, who once unified the Evil Faction Alliance.

The Namgung Clan would chase such a foe to the ends of hell.

'The problem is, we’re short on people.'

It was a recurring issue for the Namgung Clan.

Everyone was juggling five or six tasks at once.

There were also countless business interests and enterprises to manage.

Every little complaint or suggestion from the businesses ended up on the clan’s plate.

The elders and retainers were reliable with the sword, but hopeless at administration. Work piled up endlessly.

If even one person was absent, chaos would ensue.

Even Chae Gong, the retainer, was helping out just to keep things afloat.

'If I could, I’d go myself.'

He understood the gravity of the situation. Since the end of the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, no major sect like the Wudang Sect had been attacked.

'But…'

Namgung Jin-Baek closed his eyes.

Blood-Iron Fiend, Honam Island, White-Eyed Demon Lord, Nine-Brain Elder.

'There were those who plotted right under our noses.'

He felt uneasy about leaving his seat.

Haunting memories of the past tormented him.

If a surprise attack came while he was gone, as it had during Sama Ryeon’s time…

It wasn’t that he distrusted the elders and retainers, but a lingering anxiety held him back.

"That’s why I’m asking you to let me go."

Mu-yeong saw right through Namgung Jin-Baek’s hesitation.

Officially, he was Namgung Jin-Baek’s successor.

Privately, he was his son.

"I may be the Young Clan Master, but I have no official duties yet. Seo-Wol is the same. Even if we leave, the clan won’t grind to a halt."

"Hmm."

"And even if we can’t catch the culprit, the fact that the Young Clan Master is personally involved will show our resolve. There’s no stronger statement than that."

Mu-yeong was right. That was the dilemma. Both Mu-yeong and Seo-Wol had grown tremendously after the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage and Sun Wukong’s guidance.

The clarity in their eyes was proof.

Still, he hesitated.

As a father, and as an uncle.

But he was the head of the great Namgung Clan.

He had to make the best decision.

"Young Clan Master Namgung Mu-yeong, Namgung Seo-wol. The two of you will join the Master of Myeong'i Hall and investigate this incident."

"Yes, Clan Head."

"Mu-yeong. You may be the Young Clan Master, but you still lack experience in the martial world. The Master of Myeong'i Hall is already on the trail, so think of yourself as assisting him."

"Understood."

Mu-yeong wasn’t the type to abuse his position.

Besides, Namgung Cheon-Young was the head of a core institution within the clan.

"Even if you identify the enemy, don’t rush in. Be cautious, and think twice before acting."

"I know that sometimes, the proper attitude for a warrior is to retreat when the enemy is strong."

"I know you do. But sometimes, youthful passion makes us forget that."

"…"

Mu-yeong couldn’t quite deny it.

Namgung Jin-Baek smiled wryly.

He was still a hot-blooded youth.

And as for Seo-Wol by his side…

"I’ll do my best!"

Namgung Jin-Baek smiled again, bittersweet.

When it came to martial arts, she was just like her father.

"Tsk, Seo-Wol. This is an official setting. You should show more respect to the Clan Head…"

When Mu-yeong scolded her, Jin-Baek waved him off.

Since when did the Namgung Clan stand on ceremony?

"Seo-Wol, don’t just charge in with your sword because someone looks strong."

"…Okay."

"Follow the Master of Myeong'i Hall’s instructions. Understood?"

"Okay."

This time, she answered without hesitation.

Namgung Jin-Baek paused.

'Even Cheon-Young can’t handle Seo-Wol?'

All the elders and retainers were the same.

In their minds, the previous Clan Head—the Sword God—loomed large.

As his daughter, everyone doted on her.

Namgung Jin-Baek wasn’t sure if the Master of Myeong'i Hall could rein in Seo-Wol’s stubbornness.

'To handle that tomboy…'

Maybe only Muhwa, whom Seo-Wol followed like an older sister, could manage it.

But Muhwa was headed to the Murim Alliance. She needed to report and discuss the incident there. The Murim Alliance was full of seasoned warriors from the Nine Great Sects, so Muhwa was the only suitable envoy.

'Mu-yeong always gives in to his cousin, too…'

A certain person crossed Namgung Jin-Baek’s mind.

* * *

"If we go, we’ll probably have to visit Wudang Mountain, right?"

"Most likely. The Wudang Sect will send out a search party, and we’ll need to discuss the incident. We should speak with them directly."

"Wudang Mountain, huh…"

Sun Wukong repeated the name.

"Maybe I’ll take this chance to visit."

At Sun Wukong’s mutter, Namgung Jin-Baek’s face brightened a little.

Sun Wukong grinned.

"I’ll go, Clan Head."

"Thank you, Master Sun. Then… please look after Seo-Wol for me."

"That little rascal?"

"She’s a real handful… Please keep her in check."

Sun Wukong smiled faintly.

"Don’t worry. I, Sun Wukong, will handle it."

Having seen Sun Wukong’s martial prowess firsthand, Namgung Jin-Baek figured he was at least on par with himself.

That would put him among the top ten Martial Masters in the martial world.

But that was just an estimate.

Sun Wukong had never once shown his full strength.

Even Namgung Seo-wol never dared act up in front of him.

Sun Wukong was the perfect choice.

And yet—

Seeing Sun Wukong standing there, so confident and relaxed…

'Why do I feel uneasy about this?'

Namgung Jin-Baek felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.