22. Still Keeping Up the Act
Sha Wujing stopped Sun Wukong, who was about to dash out immediately.
"But we really need to think this through. Honestly, there’s no clear solution this time. If the Azure Hero Society refuses to do business, what can we do?"
"That’s true."
"This is Murim. The orthodox sects may talk about justification, but when it comes down to it, they never hesitate to use force. The sword is the best justification there is. The Azure Hero Society has plenty of skeletons in their closet, too. They even run a few Brothel Houses—honestly, they’re worse than the Black Path. They trap desperate women with ridiculous debts and work them to the bone. The Black Path has nothing on them."
Sun Wukong’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"How do you know about the courtesans’ debts?"
"Oh, you know, just rumors I heard."
"Did you go to a Brothel House and ask a courtesan directly?"
Sha Wujing changed the subject with a straight face.
"Anyway, the point is, the Azure Hero Society has done enough shady things that if the Namgung Clan swooped in, took them down, and reclaimed all their interests, no one would say a word. The other orthodox sects have done the same. The only problem is that it’s the Namgung Clan. If anyone else did it, no one would care, but there’s this idea that the Namgung Clan shouldn’t."
"Then why did the Namgung Clan entrust this to me?"
"They’re just borrowing your name and face."
"I figured as much."
"It probably hasn’t spread yet that you’re a Retainer here. It’ll come out eventually, but for now, putting you up as the frontman keeps the other sects from getting too wary."
Sha Wujing had a point.
"Even if it does come out that you’re a Retainer, they can just say, ‘Oh, the Retainer attacked the Azure Hero Society out of personal grudge.’ Who’s going to argue with that? In the martial world, there’s no better justification than settling a personal vendetta."
"So I’m just lending my face, and Namgung does all the work?"
"Exactly. The problem is, if it goes that way, the grudge from the Azure Hero Society—and even the Hoseong Sect—will land on you, Great Hero."
"Smart move."
"Yeah. Whoever cooked this up in the Namgung Clan is sharp. Probably the Master of Myeong'i Hall or the Law Enforcement Hall Leader."
Sun Wukong looked at Sha Wujing with a curious expression.
Sha Wujing, who’d been enthusiastically making his point, suddenly hesitated.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I’m just surprised you’re smarter than you look."
"Hey, I’ll have you know, I’m from a secular Shaolin background, alright? I’ve got a knack for intuition."
A single compliment and his shoulders went up a mile.
Sun Wukong smirked.
‘Some things never change.’
Even in his past life, unlike Bajie, Sha Wujing was always the cool-headed, calculating one.
‘Honestly, he was more like a second-in-command than Bajie ever was.’
Sun Wukong trusted Sha Wujing.
Whenever something happened, he’d leave the important Tripitaka with Sha Wujing and go off to hunt demons. Bajie, who was never reliable, had to be kept close at all times.
"…Great Hero? Is something wrong?"
"What?"
"You’re looking at me with this weirdly gentle expression. It doesn’t suit you."
"…"
"It’s kind of scary."
Sun Wukong rapped Sha Wujing on the head and looked away.
‘A frontman, huh…’
"You know, you don’t have to take this job. Honestly, it’s rare for them to ask a Retainer directly like this."
But if he refused, he probably wouldn’t be able to stay as a Retainer much longer.
To be honest, Sun Wukong found it all a hassle.
‘But I need more time.’
He hadn’t spent the last fortnight just inventing new Mental Cultivation techniques. He’d also tried to track down any clues about Tripitaka.
No luck so far. The only leads were the two people bound to him by the String of Karma.
‘Namgung Jin-Baek, and Muhwa.’
Whether those two were Tripitaka, or just connected to him, he couldn’t be sure.
‘Finding Tripitaka isn’t something that’ll happen just because I’m in a hurry.’
That’s how fate works.
—Fate is tied to destiny. Life is a repetition of fateful encounters. It’s a journey through walls and stumbling blocks wrapped in hardship and trial. Wukong, you mustn’t rush. That’s just how fate is.
—…So what’s that supposed to mean? I’m telling you, I’ll just ride the Nimbus Cloud to Tianzhu and bring back the scriptures!
—No.
—Come on, you get to ride a horse, but I have to walk?
…Come to think of it, he never walked either, always riding the White Dragon.
Anyway, the String of Karma was tangled up, so it couldn’t be unraveled in a day.
To figure things out like Sha Wujing, you’d need a stroke of luck.
Sun Wukong decided to focus on other matters first.
‘First, I’ll get closer to the Namgung Clan.’
Accepting this job was his own decision.
Even before Sha Wujing explained, Sun Wukong had guessed their intentions.
He’d fully expected that the grudge from the Azure Hero Society and Hoseong Sect would fall on him.
But he accepted anyway. He’d already done the math in his head.
‘Even if the grudge comes my way, so what? What’s the worst that could happen? I’m still a Retainer, aren’t I? It just means I’m in the same boat as the Namgung Clan.’
Sun Wukong was a Retainer of the Namgung Clan. Unless they cut him loose, he’d always be seen as one of them.
‘If I’m going to do it, I might as well make myself indispensable to the Namgung Clan.’
Take the initiative.
‘I’ll set the stage myself.’
Finding Tripitaka, tracking down those who stole his soul—all of it.
*
For the first time since entering the clan, Sun Wukong was heading out.
Sha Wujing sighed and followed behind him.
People always plot at night by instinct.
‘If anything happens, word will spread in no time.’
The streets were noisy in broad daylight. Crowds bustled as always, and Sun Wukong’s striking looks drew plenty of attention.
But what could they do? There was no turning back now.
Not that Sun Wukong was the type to turn back anyway. Sha Wujing did his best to share what he knew.
"Yangha Iron Workshop is famous as Anhui’s Best Ironworks. If it weren’t for the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, the Namgung Clan would never have sold off their interests."
Running a sect takes a lot of money.
The Namgung Clan was no exception. The problem was, they still hadn’t recovered from the wounds of the Great War of Righteousness and Evil.
Their finances were in dire straits.
Yet they still had to maintain their position as one of the Five Great Families.
"They haven’t taken in any Retainers for years now, probably to save every penny. From what I’ve seen, they’re even poorer than I expected."
They had no choice but to reclaim the interests they’d given up during the Great War.
"But that’s easier said than done. And with all the grudges they’ve made, there aren’t many merchant groups, trading companies, or security agencies willing to do business with the Namgung Clan. Everyone avoids them like the plague."
Their cash flow had dried up completely.
"In this situation, Yangha Iron Workshop is essential. For a martial family, having an Iron Workshop is a must. And this is Anhui’s Best Ironworks—a goldmine. No way they can let it go."
"When did you dig all this up?"
"I had Semo look into it."
"That guy?"
"He’s not much of a Martial Master, but he’s got sharp ears. He’s good at picking up gossip wherever he goes."
Who knew he had such a talent?
After chatting for a while, they arrived at Yangha Iron Workshop.
Sha Wujing asked quietly,
"The Namgung Clan said they’d send some martial artists with us, but today we’re just scouting, right?"
"No."
"Sorry?"
"We’re finishing this today."
"…What?"
"If we drag this out, the Hoseong Sect will definitely get involved. Why waste time? Quick and clean."
Sha Wujing closed his mouth.
He wasn’t even going to let anyone else butt in?
‘Ah, Semo, you bastard.’
Should’ve brought him along.
He’d claimed his shoulder still wasn’t healed—what an excuse.
Lucky bastard, sharp bastard…
"You brought your sword, right?"
"…Yes."
Sha Wujing gripped the scabbard at his waist nervously.
Watching him, Sun Wukong muttered as if making up his mind.
"They say Yangha Iron Workshop is famous. Maybe I’ll pick up a new weapon while I’m at it."
"What’s your main weapon? Is it a sword?"
So far, Sun Wukong’s martial prowess had been overwhelming even without a weapon. Sha Wujing had guessed he was a Martial Master of fists and kicks.
‘Unless you’re a true master of unarmed combat, how do you beat someone like the Blood-Iron Fiend barehanded?’
That wasn’t just a beating—that was pure violence.
After their Martial Duel, Sha Wujing had changed his mind.
‘He’s a sword expert, too.’
If anything, it was an understatement. It was as if Sun Wukong had given him a lesson.
Sun Wukong had only watched a Martial Form once and copied it perfectly. The memory of him mastering it in just Ten Moves still gave Sha Wujing chills. To surpass a level he’d spent over a decade reaching, in a single instant.
He was definitely a sword master.
"I actually prefer a staff."
"A staff?"
"Come on, don’t you know what the favorite weapon of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Master Sun, is?"
Ah.
"…The Ruyi Jingu Bang?"
Still keeping up the act, I see.
He’d been quiet lately, but here we go again. Sha Wujing sighed without realizing it.
He always dodged the details like this, and for some reason, Sha Wujing felt a little left out.
‘Man, I really am curious about his past.’
How does he never drop the act of being the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong? There are plenty of crazy people in the world, but this is the first time he’s seen someone so creatively insane.
"But if you’re the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, why don’t you have the Ruyi Jingu Bang right now?"
At that, Sun Wukong let out a sigh deep enough to reach the earth’s core.
"Ha. There’s a long story there. But since you want to know, I can’t not explain."
"Don’t people tell you all the time that you love explaining things?"
"Never heard that in my life."
"You’ll be hearing it a lot from now on."
"To cut to the chase, I threw it away."
"That’s… a bit much."
Did his story just spring a leak?
Sha Wujing was dumbfounded.
"When you think of Journey to the West, it’s Sun Wukong and the Ruyi Jingu Bang. ‘Grow, Ruyi Jingu Bang!’ That’s the catchphrase."
"You really know your stuff. See? There’s no one in the world who doesn’t know the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong."
Sun Wukong suddenly puffed up with pride, leaving Sha Wujing speechless.
"So why did you throw it away?"
"After my ascetic journey to Tianzhu, I didn’t need it anymore."
"Still, how could you throw away the Ruyi Jingu Bang?"
"I had my reasons."
"Just give it up. You’re running out of steam on this Sun Wukong act, so you’re making up a story about throwing away the Ruyi Jingu Bang? That’s a stretch."
"Just listen."
"Go ahead."
"Let’s say you find a rare, amazing, one-of-a-kind, jaw-droppingly impressive…"
"Impressive?"
"Erotic picture book in the marketplace."
"An erotic picture book?"
Sha Wujing frowned.
Why bring up an erotic picture book out of nowhere?
"Yeah, and it’s so incredible that as soon as you see it, you think, ‘I wouldn’t trade this for its weight in gold.’"
"Oh…"
"So what happens when you get your hands on it?"
"Well… you’d have a good time, I guess."
"Exactly. You enjoy it. But then, when it’s all over—when it’s really over—how do you feel?"
"Empty?"
Sha Wujing blushed, a strange contrast to his rough appearance.
Anyone else would find the gap intimidating, but Sun Wukong just chuckled.
Unlike Zhu Bajie, who was obsessed with women in their past life, Sha Wujing was always stoic.
"You feel empty, right? Like you’ve suddenly achieved enlightenment. Like you’ve become a Buddha. And then, when you look at the picture book again, it just looks filthy."
"Ah…"
Sha Wujing let out a sigh without realizing it.
He found himself drawn into the story.
"It even starts to disgust you. So you burn the picture book."
"Ah!"
"And then you cry your eyes out, clutching the ashes, full of regret."
"Ah."
"That’s how I feel now. I really achieved enlightenment after my ascetic journey."
"You explained it so well. You’re a natural teacher. That was seriously convincing."
Sha Wujing nodded enthusiastically without meaning to.
"So you’re saying you threw away the Ruyi Jingu Bang because you felt you’d let go of all earthly attachments?"
"Exactly."
Sun Wukong let out a deep sigh.
Who would’ve thought he’d ever use his powers again in the Mortal World?
After his ascetic journey, much of Sun Wukong’s ferocity had faded.
He’d even been recognized by the Tathagata and became the Victorious Fighting Buddha, so he was riding high.
So he just tossed the Ruyi Jingu Bang down to the Mortal World, beneath the clouds.
‘I do feel a little bad, though.’
The Ruyi Jingu Bang is a divine artifact. It even has a will of its own.
As its master, he did feel a bit guilty.
Unlike the Nimbus Cloud, it couldn’t move on its own, so he’d have to go find it himself.
‘I’ll have to visit Wudang Mountain and Mount Song soon.’
If the Mountain Spirits of Wudang Mountain and Mount Song knew, as the Owl Demon suggested, they might know where the Ruyi Jingu Bang ended up.
While Sun Wukong was lost in thought, Sha Wujing suddenly spoke up.
"But what’s with that cat?"
Sha Wujing narrowed his eyes.
A black cat was rubbing its face against Sun Wukong’s golden hair.
—Meow.
It really didn’t suit him.
"It’s cute, though."
As Sha Wujing reached out, Sun Wukong scolded him.
"Hey! That’s Master Jangkyung. Show some respect."
"What?"
"You can’t just treat him however you want. Make sure to greet him properly every time you see him."
"The cat?"
"Even if he’s Master Jangkyung."
Ah.
A new addition to the act.
‘Ha…’
Sha Wujing let out a hollow laugh. If he hadn’t gotten mixed up with the Blood-Iron Fiend, he’d have just gone back to Hayeon Mountain. How long would he have to play along with this nonsense?
The future looked bleak.