23. What Humans Can’t Let Go Of
To be honest, looking for a weapon to replace the Ruyi Jingu Bang is a contradiction in itself.
‘Where in the world could there be another divine weapon like that?’
Not in Hell, not in the Heavenly Realm.
The Ruyi Jingu Bang is the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
The Sangbo Gold Rake used by Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing’s beloved Hangyao Treasure Staff are both legendary weapons, but they can’t even be compared to the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
He hadn’t even hoped to find a weapon like the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
He’d be satisfied with something decent—something he could wield comfortably.
‘It’d be nice if I could find something good here.’
The Yangha Iron Workshop was enormous.
The heat from the blazing fires felt like it could scorch your skin.
Artisans hammered away without rest, and countless Martial Artists came and went.
There were plenty of ordinary townsfolk too, thanks to the impressive display of high-quality farming tools.
Even at a glance, the quality looked excellent. Even Sun Wukong, renowned throughout the world, found it satisfactory.
As Sun Wukong, with his striking appearance, entered, all eyes turned to him.
He had the handsome face of a Central Plains native, but with blond hair and foreign features. One of the artisans cautiously stepped forward to greet him.
It was clear at a glance that he was someone of unusual status.
Master Artisan Hyeok tilted his head at Sun Wukong’s request.
“A staff made of steel, you say?”
A Martial Artist looking for a staff, not a spear or sword… He glanced over his guest, puzzled.
He’d never seen hair like that before—golden waves that rippled like the sea, as if wrapped in fine silk.
Even his golden eyes looked like they’d been inlaid with gold.
He radiated an aura that made it hard for anyone to approach.
But on closer inspection, there was something different. The playful curve of his lips softened that unapproachable air.
He looked like a carefree, cheerful wanderer, yet also like someone born to nobility—a truly fascinating character.
Without realizing it, Master Artisan Hyeok found himself staring at Sun Wukong’s face for quite a while.
“I know I’m good-looking, but if you stare too much, it’s a bit embarrassing.”
“Ah, my apologies. Young master…?”
Master Artisan Hyeok trailed off. He certainly looked noble and young, but somehow “young master” didn’t quite fit.
“Just call me ‘sir.’”
“Yes, sir.”
Master Artisan Hyeok nodded, though even “sir” didn’t seem quite right for someone so young.
There was something odd about him—no, more than odd, downright strange.
Sun Wukong placed his order for the weapon he wanted.
Master Artisan Hyeok blinked in disbelief, wondering if he’d heard correctly.
“So, how heavy did you say?”
“Thirteen thousand five hundred catties.”
“…Excuse me?”
That… That number was absurd.
Seeing his hesitation, Sun Wukong muttered, “Guess it’s too much, huh?” Then he clarified,
“How heavy can you actually make it?”
“If you want a staff that a person can wield freely, the maximum would be around thirty catties. Of course, a true Martial Master could handle up to a hundred, but crafting something like that is difficult. There’s the matter of balance, too.”
“Don’t worry about how it’ll be used. Just make it as heavy as possible. As for the length… let’s see, since I can’t adjust it at will, that’s a bit inconvenient. About this long?”
The length he indicated was longer than a typical staff. Just thinking about balancing the weight made Master Artisan Hyeok’s head ache.
“Yes, yes. You really want it as heavy as possible?”
He’d been working the forge for over forty years, but he’d never had a request like this.
Then Sun Wukong added,
“I’d like you to melt this down and use it.”
Master Artisan Hyeok frowned as Sun Wukong pulled out a chunk of rusty scrap metal.
But his trained eyes immediately recognized it as a piece of a rusted sword.
And yet, he was being asked to melt it down and use it…
A true artisan always uses the finest iron—wait, what?
“Hold on a moment!”
As he took the sword fragment, Master Artisan Hyeok’s eyes widened at its weight.
‘What is this? Why is it so light?’
He’d handled iron for decades. Just by lifting it, he could roughly gauge its density and quality. He wasn’t called an artisan of the Yangha Iron Workshop for nothing.
Compared to all his experience, this was far too light. He even wondered if it was iron at all. Maybe it wasn’t.
He asked for permission, then struck the fragment with one of the workshop’s finest steel swords.
Clang!
“…Unbelievable.”
The result was shocking. The high-quality steel sword from the Yangha Iron Workshop snapped.
Master Artisan Hyeok stared at the fragment in his hand. Amidst the bluish rust, a faint jet-black gleam shone through.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
“Could this be…?”
He looked at Sun Wukong, his pupils trembling. His hands shook as he gripped the fragment.
“Is this… meteorite iron?”
The rarest, highest-quality iron that falls from the sky with a meteorite.
Sun Wukong thought for a moment, then nodded.
“It was forged by the Grand Marshal Tai Shang from seven stars, so calling it meteorite iron isn’t wrong.”
Master Artisan Hyeok’s face went from stunned to elated.
At the mention of meteorite iron, the other artisans, faces flushed with excitement, crowded around.
Sun Wukong glanced around at the gathering, then cleared his throat.
“Can the Yangha Iron Workshop handle this?”
Understanding his intent, Master Artisan Hyeok exchanged glances with the other artisans.
Their expressions all became resolute.
With utmost care, they lifted the fragment of the Seven Star Sword as if it were a sacred relic.
“We can’t mix it with steel to make an alloy. In all of the Central Plains, only a master craftsman of the highest order could manage that. But with this amount, we could wrap it around the tip of a steel staff.”
“Wrap it as a band?”
“Yes.”
“What if I have more?”
Master Artisan Hyeok looked shocked.
“You have more meteorite iron?”
Sun Wukong nodded.
“So, how much…?”
“Enough to make a whole longsword out of meteorite iron.”
“…!”
Master Artisan Hyeok’s jaw dropped.
He was speechless. There were a handful of divine weapons in the martial world forged with meteorite iron, but most only contained a tiny amount. A weapon made entirely of meteorite iron was almost unheard of.
‘He’s not lying!’
He couldn’t dismiss it as a lie—not when the proof was right in front of him.
If all those fragments were meteorite iron, he had to believe Sun Wukong’s claim.
He’d brought the evidence, after all.
“So, then…”
“Try refining that first. If it works out, I’ll entrust the rest to you.”
Master Artisan Hyeok and the other artisans bowed their heads with determination.
“Leave it to us.”
“Be careful not to lose it. If you do, it’ll be a disaster. Seriously.”
Sun Wukong smiled meaningfully.
*
Inventory of Treasures
Name: Seven Star Sword
Type: Divine Artifact
Creator: Grand Marshal Tai Shang
Owner: Formerly Golden Horn King, currently Grand Marshal Tai Shang
Location: Lost
*
“That scrap was meteorite iron?”
Sha Wujing asked in a daze as they left the Yangha Iron Workshop.
“I didn’t know they called it that. The old man, Grand Marshal Tai Shang, made it from plucked stars.”
“He made it from stars?”
…Creative, that old man.
He never thought he’d hear Grand Marshal Tai Shang and meteorite iron in the same sentence.
But still, was it really meteorite iron?
“Huh. No wonder the Blood-Iron Fiend was after that hunk of junk.”
It all made sense now.
“…But aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“Already did.”
“But you said you’d finish the Yangha Iron Workshop job today…”
“I’ve set the bait. Now I just have to wait for a bite.”
“Are you Jiang Taigong or something?”
Sun Wukong laughed and headed for the tavern right in front of the Iron Workshop.
Sha Wujing tilted his head at Sun Wukong’s relaxed attitude.
“It’s the middle of the day, so let’s skip the booze and just eat.”
“Ah, right. Gotta eat before we work.”
Sha Wujing sighed, realizing that trying to predict Sun Wukong’s actions was a waste of time.
Inside, after ordering some simple food, Sun Wukong sprawled out comfortably.
Meow.
Sha Wujing glanced at Sun Wukong with a strange look. The cat poked its head out from Sun Wukong’s arms and eagerly swallowed the fruit he offered.
‘He came all the way to the Yangha Iron Workshop, but he’s just lazing around.’
Well, it was better than the two of them causing trouble together.
Just then, a woman entered the tavern. With her striking makeup and beauty, she immediately drew attention. Sha Wujing admired her figure, whistling inwardly.
‘Huh? Why’s she coming this way?’
Her eyes were slightly upturned, giving her a fierce look. She glanced around, furrowed her brow, and walked over.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
She fired off at Sun Wukong as soon as she reached him.
Sha Wujing’s eyes widened.
“The makeup suits you.”
“I’m just hiding my identity.”
“It works. My companion here still hasn’t recognized you.”
“Huh?”
Sha Wujing blinked in confusion, staring at the woman. Sharp eyes…
“Wait a minute.”
He finally realized who she was, his eyes going wide.
“Aren’t you the Law Enforcement Hall Leader…?”
“Shh. Don’t say it. This is Azure Hero Society territory. This tavern belongs to them, too…”
Sha Wujing’s jaw dropped. He’d thought she was a rare beauty even among the Namgung Clan, but with that heavy makeup, she looked like a completely different person.
Sun Wukong chuckled at the sight.
Muhwa frowned, clearly not amused.
“Sir Sun, didn’t you agree to move with the Namgung Clan’s Martial Artists?”
“Did I? I don’t remember.”
He acted as if his memory was fuzzy, but it was obvious he was just playing dumb.
“Why did you go off on your own?”
“I acted quickly for the sake of the Namgung Clan, since you asked for cooperation.”
“…Sigh. The main house is drawing up a plan.”
“What plan? Use me as the front and take it by force?”
Muhwa hesitated, biting her lip. A hint of guilt crossed her face.
“It’s the plan Master of Myeong’i Hall came up with. You guessed it. The other elders want to take it back by force, but I don’t think that’s the best way.”
“What’s your plan, then?”
This time, Muhwa was at a loss for words.
She didn’t have a clear solution yet.
She could accept using Sun Wukong as the face of the operation—he’d agreed readily enough.
‘But using force to seize it is just too dangerous.’
She was doing her best to come up with an alternative.
But then she heard Sun Wukong had left the clan.
And headed for the Yangha Iron Workshop, no less.
To Muhwa, Sun Wukong was an unpredictable, enigmatic figure.
Who knew what he might do?
So she’d rushed out herself, even going so far as to disguise herself with makeup she’d never worn before—makeup fit for a courtesan.
“What are you thinking? The Iron Workshop was in an uproar when I got there. Meteorite iron, and all that…”
“I just ordered a weapon.”
“You came all this way just to order a weapon? But why now, of all times? Your appearance is so striking that everyone will remember you. And meteorite iron, no less!”
“Oh, the food’s here. Let’s eat first.”
“….”
Muhwa glared at Sun Wukong for a moment.
“Eat up.”
With a sigh, Muhwa picked up her chopsticks. The food was quite good, and her sharp expression softened a bit as she ate.
Sun Wukong smirked.
Muhwa’s eyes narrowed.
“And why did you have to show off the meteorite iron like that?”
“Why not?”
Muhwa pursed her lips. Her eyes were clearly angry, but her mouth kept eating, which Sun Wukong found amusing.
Muhwa let out a deep sigh.
Why now, of all times, did he have to order a weapon—and with meteorite iron, which would spread rumors in an instant?
She glanced around and lowered her voice.
“This is Azure Hero Society territory. There are Martial Artists from the Iron Workshop everywhere. And this tavern…”
At her words, Sha Wujing finally realized the source of the prickling stares.
‘Damn. I thought people were looking at us.’
Sha Wujing looked at Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong just stroked his cat, as if nothing was wrong.
“If you want to know what I’m thinking, it’s easier to watch than to explain.”
“Huh?”
“There’s one thing about humans that never changes, no matter how hard Tang Sanzang tries.”
“…?”
Just then, a group of Martial Artists approached them.
They were from the Azure Hero Society.
“Excuse me, young master.”
A hand landed heavily on Sun Wukong’s shoulder.
“I hear you’re carrying some valuable items.”
Sun Wukong smirked and looked at the Azure Hero Society Martial Artist.
“Even the most enlightened monks, right before becoming Buddhas, struggle to let go. Human greed, you know?”
And just like that, someone had already bitten the bait he’d cast.