Namgung Clan’s Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal

Chapter 66

66. Born This Way

Namgung Mu-yeong’s ascension as Young Clan Master was a complete success.

And with that, the Dragon Phoenix Assembly came to a close.

For the Namgung Clan, it was a splendid event. Their finances had revived, thanks to the return of lost interests and businesses. With the influx of money, they hosted an event that was nothing short of impressive. They even set a new precedent with the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage, where the Five Great Families’ successors acted on Mu-yeong’s command.

They had gained much. But when news of the incident—one that could only be called the Wudang Blood Warrior incident—spread, the mood quickly soured.

The successors of the Five Great Families each chose their own path.

“Jegal Clan has deep ties with the Murim Alliance, and many of our kin work there. I’ll go with you.”

Jegal Seo-seo, accompanied by a small escort, joined Muhwa, who was heading to the Murim Alliance.

After the Dragon Phoenix Assembly and the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage, Jegal Seo-seo had confirmed the Namgung Clan’s solid standing among the Five Great Families.

‘At least as long as I lead the Jegal Clan, Namgung will hold the upper hand.’

Jegal Seo-seo made his decision swiftly and acted on it.

The other families, however, looked troubled.

“We can’t act on our own without orders from our clan. We’ll report this to our elders and await further instructions.”

The Tang siblings turned and headed straight for their clan without looking back.

“I’ll do the same—report what happened at the Assembly and ask my elders for guidance.”

Hwangbo Yong of the Hwangbo Clan and Peng Zhihun of the Hebei Peng Clan did likewise.

It was only natural. Even as heirs, they were still Blood Warriors.

Since the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, this was the first time the Wudang Sect had been attacked.

No successor could step forward in such a major incident.

They had to follow their clan’s decision.

For the Namgung Clan, this was actually a relief.

If any of them had insisted on coming along, unable to suppress their boiling blood, it would have been a headache.

If any successor were to be injured or killed, how would their family react?

After all, all the elders and retainers—including Namgung Jin-Baek—had stayed behind, sending only their young successors.

“I entrust you with my letter. Please deliver the details of this incident to your elders.”

With Namgung Jin-Baek sending a letter personally, the Five Great Families would surely respond soon.

‘I hope we resolve this before then.’

Namgung Jin-Baek glanced over at Mu-yeong and Seo-wol, who stood to the side.

Sun Wukong was leaning against the wall, yawning with a look of boredom.

The successors preparing to depart gathered around him.

Namgung Jin-Baek tilted his head.

“Master Sun, thank you for your guidance during the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage.”

“It was a great help. I learned a lot.”

“We won’t forget this favor.”

Namgung Jin-Baek let out a wry chuckle.

‘For those proud successors—even heirs—to show such respect…’

He clicked his tongue in disbelief.

Sun Wukong, the one receiving their gratitude, still looked bored.

‘He’s won the goodwill of the future heads of the Five Great Families.’

Namgung Jin-Baek smiled faintly.

In a way, he was someone to be wary of.

But Namgung Jin-Baek’s core was as vast as the sky, and his heart as broad as the open heavens.

‘As long as we don’t betray Master Sun, he’ll never turn his blade against the Namgung Clan.’

Sun Wukong was a companion to the Namgung Clan.

‘If anything, we need to hold on to him even tighter.’

Namgung Jin-Baek made a silent vow, his expression turning serious.

* * *

A fierce wind brushed against his cheek.

Namgung Mu-yeong squinted against the gusts blowing straight into his face.

The wind whipped at him relentlessly.

Running through a sunless mountain, the headwind was biting.

Mu-yeong gritted his teeth and shouted, “Master Sun! This isn’t the way to Aksa!”

Far ahead, a tiny figure—barely a dot—showed no sign of stopping.

“What on earth is he thinking?”

When Namgung Jin-Baek told him to go with Sun Wukong, Mu-yeong had felt secretly relieved.

Whatever his personality, Sun Wukong’s skills were the real deal.

Having him as an ally was a huge reassurance.

He clearly favored the Namgung Clan.

He wasn’t the type to betray them. But traveling together was proving difficult.

“To just take off at full speed with Light Body Technique out of nowhere…”

The moment they left the Namgung Clan, Sun Wukong shot forward without hesitation.

His speed was simply overwhelming.

Mu-yeong and Seo-wol’s Light Body Technique was nothing to scoff at.

At first, they managed to keep pace, shoulder to shoulder. But that didn’t last long. After half a day, Mu-yeong and Seo-wol inevitably fell behind due to differences in internal energy.

Now, Sun Wukong was so far ahead he looked like nothing more than a dot.

‘It’s as if his internal energy is limitless.’

It seemed to surge endlessly.

Even though they weren’t heading toward Aksa, but instead cutting through strange mountains and forests, nothing could slow him down.

Just keeping up was a struggle.

The difference in the depth of their internal energy was clear.

“Seo-wol, are you okay?”

“Yeah!”

Namgung Seo-wol’s eyes sparkled, as if she was actually enjoying herself.

Her determination to chase Sun Wukong at all costs was clear.

Sun Wukong’s overwhelming Light Body Technique had ignited Seo-wol’s burning competitive spirit.

“Look! He’s not leaving any footprints behind!”

No matter how skilled, even the best Light Body Technique leaves faint traces.

Especially after running for so long, or over rough terrain, some sign is inevitable. Only a true Martial Master can leave almost nothing behind.

Just look at the clear footprints Mu-yeong and Seo-wol were leaving behind.

They tried not to, but now, out of breath, they could hardly focus on moving their energy delicately enough to erase all traces.

But where Sun Wukong had passed, there was nothing.

Not even a snapped twig.

Mu-yeong suddenly felt goosebumps rise on his skin.

‘It’s like he’s walking on air, not the ground!’

Soaring Void Path.

The highest realm of Light Body Technique, as if walking through the sky.

Of course, no one can literally walk on air.

But this was the level people described when they spoke of the ultimate Light Body Technique—leaving no trace at all.

‘But this really feels like he’s not touching the ground at all!’

What an unfathomable level.

He couldn’t even begin to grasp it.

The more he saw, the more he felt dizzy at the bottomless depth of it all.

Seo-wol, on the other hand, chased after Sun Wukong with eyes full of fascination.

“And the path is like this, too.”

There was another reason why keeping up was so difficult.

The path was treacherous. It wasn’t a well-maintained road.

It was an animal trail, untouched by people.

They’d been pushing through such terrain for half a day. Sun Wukong kept a steady pace from the start.

It was as if he’d been here before, as if he knew every inch—moving forward without hesitation.

His uncanny ability to find and follow the animal trails made it seem like he could see right through the landscape.

No matter how hard Mu-yeong and Seo-wol pushed themselves, they kept falling further behind.

How much time had passed?

Suddenly, the dot that was Sun Wukong began to grow larger.

“Master Sun!”

Sun Wukong had stopped.

Mu-yeong, panting, finally managed to speak.

“Master Sun, why are we still going this way… This isn’t the direction to Aksa.”

“What’s the point of going to Aksa?”

Sun Wukong replied curtly.

“The Master of Myeong’i Hall is already tracking the traces left there, isn’t he? And there’s no way the culprits would still be hanging around.”

“But that’s the only clue we have to follow.”

It was the only trail they could pursue.

“Not necessarily.”

Sun Wukong grinned and looked up at the sky.

A bird flying overhead folded its wings and landed gently on Sun Wukong’s shoulder.

“Oh… That’s the white owl that was with Sister Muhwa.”

Sun Wukong stroked Owl Demon’s head.

No matter how much a human trains—expanding their senses, quickening their step, sharpening their sense of smell—nothing beats a bird flying through the sky when it comes to tracking.

And this was no ordinary bird. Not even a mere spirit beast.

This was the Earth God himself, personally aiding in the pursuit.

Owl Demon reported,

“Is that where they are?”

Sun Wukong wrinkled his nose.

Amid the fresh scent of grass, there was a faint, metallic tang.

Sun Wukong grinned.

“You really do have a remarkable sense of smell.”

Owl Demon puffed out his chest. Sun Wukong chuckled. Maybe it was because the soul of the previous Owl Demon had briefly resonated with him, but the current Owl Demon was larger, his eyes shone brightly, and his beak was sharper than ever.

“So the Blood Scent from Aksa leads that way?”

Sun Wukong nodded.

Mu-yeong, who had been catching his breath and gathering his internal energy, tilted his head.

“Were you just… talking to an owl?”

“Yeah.”

“…And you can smell blood?”

“You can’t?”

Mu-yeong gave him a strange look, but Sun Wukong didn’t care.

“Let’s go this way.”

Mu-yeong was too tired to ask more. He’d planned to take the lead until they met up with Namgung Cheon-Young, but things hadn’t worked out that way.

Partly because of his own reserved nature, but mostly because of Sun Wukong’s unpredictability.

He didn’t know Sun Wukong’s teacher or sect, so he couldn’t even guess his background.

But he was on friendly, almost equal terms with Namgung Jin-Baek, the head of the Namgung Clan.

It was difficult for Mu-yeong.

He had no choice but to follow Sun Wukong’s lead.

Soon, they came upon a small village.

It was a quiet, peaceful place by the river, where people farmed.

When strangers—armed with swords and a heavy iron staff—appeared, the villagers looked on in fear.

Sun Wukong glanced around, then turned to the village chief who came rushing out.

“Wh-what brings heroes of the martial world to our humble village…?”

Heroes of the martial world, indeed.

Sun Wukong waved a hand dismissively. He enjoyed teasing timid people, but he didn’t bother this time.

“Has anyone injured come through here?”

“This is a remote place… Sometimes people come looking for the Lesser Immortal Martial Hall up there, hoping to learn martial arts.”

“Lesser Immortal Martial Hall.”

Sun Wukong sharpened his gaze in the direction the chief pointed. In the far distance—far beyond what ordinary eyes could see—he could just make out a large manor.

It was called a manor, but compared to the other buildings, it was just a big house.

“Originally, a retired Wudang Sect Martial Master set up a hall to teach the local kids. As it grew, it recently became a sect of its own. We still call it the Lesser Immortal Martial Hall, but it’s really the Lesser Immortal Sect now.”

Sun Wukong nodded at the chief’s explanation.

“Let’s head that way.”

“….”

Namgung Mu-yeong still looked full of questions. Sun Wukong met his gaze without a care.

“The Blood Scent is coming from over there, too.”

Mu-yeong couldn’t quite believe it.

Even focusing his internal energy into his eyes, he could barely make out the shadow of a distant building. It was that far away.

And he could smell something from there?

With all the scents mingling in this village?

He looked at Sun Wukong with deep suspicion, but didn’t protest.

They’d come this far—he might as well see what Sun Wukong was up to.

As for Namgung Seo-wol…

“Can you really smell something over there?”

“Yeah.”

“You’ve got a better nose than a dog.”

“That almost sounds like a compliment, but also kind of an insult.”

“Did you train your senses?”

“I was just born this way.”

“Jealous.”

Sun Wukong spoke as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Seo-wol watched him, eyes shining with admiration.

‘Somehow, I have a bad feeling about this, Father.’

Namgung Mu-yeong felt a strong premonition.