27. It's Me, You Bastard.
A Flawed Non-killing Principle.
Not killing, but making someone live as if they were dead.
"Spend the rest of your life eating temple food and making offerings in repentance."
Sun Wukong's face turned cold.
It was the face of a Judge—utterly devoid of emotion.
Any martial artist would show their feelings.
The murderous intent when facing an enemy.
The thirst for revenge when killing a nemesis.
Or the wicked delight of a villain who kills for pleasure.
If you’re a martial artist—or even just human—that’s only natural.
No matter how disciplined, a martial artist can’t hide it completely. However faint, traces always remain.
But right now, Sun Wukong’s face defied all common sense.
No emotion.
It was as if the very word was written across his face, so intense that the leaders recoiled in fear.
"Eek!"
They threw themselves forward in desperation.
Even with torn hands, ripped muscles, and shattered bones, the Internal Qi surging from their dantian never ran dry. As befitted the leaders of the Anhui Underworld Faction, the explosive power when their condensed energy burst forth was formidable.
No matter how great a Martial Master, even if they were the head of the Namgung Clan, the best response would be to dodge first and counterattack later.
But Sun Wukong chose the exact opposite. He dove straight into the heart of their assault.
A straight line.
That was the image that flashed through Muhwa’s mind as she watched, stunned by Sun Wukong’s martial prowess.
No circling curves, no sudden reversals—just a pure, unyielding straight line.
From the side, that straight line was blindingly fast.
From behind, it was unwavering stability.
But what would it look like from the front?
The faces of the Black Dragon Sect Leader and the Head of Black Lotus Military Hall turned deathly pale.
The golden pupils in those growing red eyes.
The straight line charging right at them was a calamity.
Sun Wukong’s hands seized each of their throats.
With a grip that threatened to snap their necks, he slammed them down hard into the ground.
CRACK!
"I thought his main weapon was a staff…!"
In the middle of the fight, Wujing’s jaw dropped.
The impact was so overwhelming that all fighting in the area came to a sudden halt.
Given the ferocity of the Anhui Underworld leaders, even Sun Wukong should have needed several exchanges to subdue them.
There’s a reason people say to leave an escape route when fighting a cornered enemy.
Even a cornered rat will bite a cat.
Let alone the ruthless Underworld Faction, whose cruelty makes even martial artists shudder.
This was the desperate struggle of leaders who command entire Black Path Factions.
Wujing had some idea of Sun Wukong’s level, but he never imagined he’d neutralize them in a single move.
Even Muhwa, who had been cutting down the Cloud Night Chamber Leader and other lackeys, was shocked.
‘His skill was proven when he killed the Blood-Iron Fiend, but this…!’
Overwhelming. How many in Anhui Province could exert such absolute dominance?
‘With martial prowess like that…!’
Muhwa reached a conclusion.
Sun Wukong’s identity and past were still a mystery, but whatever else, he must not become an enemy.
At the very least, he should be kept as a Retainer and brought over to the Namgung Clan’s side.
After all, how many in the martial world have a spotless past or identity?
While Muhwa’s thoughts continued, Sun Wukong hoisted the two limp Underworld leaders.
Their faces were smashed, and the impact of hitting the ground had wrecked their spines.
The only sign they were still alive was the faint, wheezing sound of escaping breath.
"I could kill you, but I won’t. That is the Buddha’s mercy."
Sun Wukong revealed his own version of the Non-killing Principle. He spoke seriously, then suddenly burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking.
"Ah, this is nice. Now I get why Tripitaka hated killing. Not killing feels so satisfying."
It’s got a certain, you know? Gravitas. I’m practically a Buddha now. Practically.
As Sun Wukong started cackling, the screams, groans, and clash of weapons around them faded into silence.
Muhwa thought to herself,
‘He’s a bit too dangerous to keep as a Retainer.’
Leaving the two where they lay, Sun Wukong strode toward the Ho Family Head.
His chest was half-caved in, and he was barely clinging to life.
"Who the hell are you? Who just shows up out of nowhere and—"
"Oh, if you ask like that, this Master Sun can’t help but answer."
Sun Wukong spread his arms wide, as if he’d been waiting for the question. For a moment, it was as if sunlight was shining down on him in the silent aftermath.
‘But the sun’s not even up… Where’s that light coming from…?’
Wujing, staring blankly, suddenly snapped to his senses and shouted,
"It’s Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"
"…"
Wujing let out a long sigh.
That guy, seriously. He almost started his nonsense again, even in this situation.
Sun Wukong shot Wujing a slightly annoyed look. Wujing deliberately turned away, ignoring him. Sun Wukong sighed and addressed the Ho Family Head. For some reason, he seemed a bit down, which made the Ho Family Head uneasy.
"Anyway, listen, old man."
"…"
"I have one question. Are you taking orders from that thing rampaging inside the walls?"
"Heh. No matter who you are, you’ll die to that real monster. Say your last words while you can."
"Hmm. You’re already making me question my Non-killing Principle."
"Wait! Don’t kill him. He’s at least smart enough to talk to."
Before anyone realized, Muhwa had finished off the Cloud Night Chamber Leader and approached.
With all the Underworld leaders down, the remaining lackeys threw down their weapons and surrendered.
The Anhui Underworld Faction had effectively collapsed.
The Ho Family Head, still defiant, spoke up.
He still radiated the venom of a true Underworld leader.
"Heh. Smart enough to talk? Don’t get cocky. Even the Namgung Clan won’t find this easy."
Sun Wukong glanced at Muhwa.
"You said he’s reasonable?"
"He will be, after a little more persuasion."
Muhwa spoke nonchalantly, then smacked him on the head with her sheathed sword.
It was a merciless beating. The Ho Family Head, gritting his teeth, finally screamed in pain.
"Think he’ll talk now?"
"Guh… What do you want…?"
"Not yet, huh."
Muhwa cut him off and started beating him again.
Wujing sidled up to Sun Wukong and whispered,
"She’s with the Namgung Clan too."
"Yeah, I figured."
Even Wujing, who’d been through countless battles, and Sun Wukong, who’d faced every ordeal on his journey to Tianzhu, felt a twinge of pity.
It’s only natural, seeing an old man get beaten so one-sidedly.
Muhwa glanced over and shrugged.
"With a tough guy like this, you have to make it clear who’s strong and who’s weak. Beat the venom out of him completely."
Sun Wukong nodded at her ruthless words.
"Well, I’ll go take care of things inside before the Azure Hero Society boys get wiped out."
Sun Wukong left the rest of the lackeys and the Ho Family Head to Muhwa and Wujing, and turned away.
Im Bo’s eyes were closed.
His head spun, nausea rising, and his bones ached.
With half-lidded eyes, he looked around.
Corpses everywhere.
If there was a hell, this was it.
Death was the only word that could describe the scene.
There was one thing all the bodies had in common.
They were all wearing the uniforms of the Azure Hero Society.
Im Bo’s head throbbed again.
He clenched his teeth and stared straight ahead.
A hulking brute with long, shaggy hair covering his eyes.
That brute’s great saber had slaughtered everyone in the Azure Hero Society.
Im Bo had barely survived thanks to his subordinates’ help, but he knew he was at his limit.
"What grudge do you have against our Azure Hero Society…!"
"I have no grudge. I’m only after the fragment of the Seven Star Sword. Whether you live or die, it doesn’t matter. Where is it?"
His tone was flat.
Im Bo let out a hollow laugh.
The fragment of the Seven Star Sword.
He must mean the meteorite iron.
When it was sent to the Iron Workshop, it was just a rusty shard.
Meteorite iron was incredibly valuable, and plenty of people, like Zhang Baodao, would kill for it.
But for a martial master of this caliber to attack a major orthodox sect like the Azure Hero Society…
‘Either he has a terrifying backer, or he’s supremely confident in his own strength.’
Im Bo sensed it was both.
He’d already felt the man’s overwhelming skill. And clearly, he had some powerful backing.
No matter how skilled, you can’t command the Anhui Underworld Faction like puppets.
Who are the Underworld Faction? They never lose their venom, even facing death.
For those guys to bow their heads, it has to be either godlike skill or a massive force behind him.
"It’s not here. I told you, we don’t have it!"
"Many have witnessed and testified. The artisans received it, confirmed it, and then it vanished. Didn’t you steal it?"
His voice was utterly emotionless. It sent chills to the bone. Even after killing so many martial artists, his breathing didn’t falter, his tone didn’t change.
He seemed obsessed, as if only the meteorite iron mattered.
Im Bo bit his lip.
In the end, he’d have to fight to the death.
He might not be a paragon of virtue, but Im Bo was still a martial artist.
He had the courage and spirit befitting a true warrior.
He couldn’t beg for his life from someone who’d slaughtered his men like straw dummies.
Im Bo summoned his strength and launched himself at the brute like a thunderbolt.
The brute swung his great saber with heavy force.
CLANG!
Im Bo’s sword was knocked aside. His weakened grip couldn’t hold it.
The brute spoke in a low voice.
"If you won’t bring it, I’ll burn everything and find it in the ashes."
The great saber came down toward Im Bo’s head.
CLANG!
Something blocked the blade. The brute’s wrist throbbed from the impact, and he barely managed to hold onto his saber. The shock was so intense it felt like his wrist might snap.
What had stopped it?
Embedded in the wall, blocking the saber, was a broken sword fragment.
The brute turned his head and growled like a beast.
"Who are you?"
Amid the blazing heat of the demonic fire, a golden light shimmered.
The upturned corners of his mouth were like a child’s smile. It shouldn’t have suited an adult, but on him, it looked perfectly natural.
Sun Wukong jerked his chin.
"It’s me, you bastard."
"…"
The brute fell silent at Sun Wukong’s sudden appearance. The truly shocked one was Im Bo.
Golden hair. The man who’d beaten up Ban.
He never imagined he’d show up here. He never dreamed he’d be saved at the brink of death, and his eyes widened in surprise.
Sun Wukong glanced at him.
"Hey, old man. Get out… get out, unless you want to die."
Im Bo bit his lip and crawled out.
Sun Wukong surveyed the carnage around him and sighed.
All human deaths are fate. They’re written in the Book of Life and Death.
These people died as the book decreed.
Still, Sun Wukong didn’t like this brute.
"Did you really have to kill them all to feel satisfied?"
"And who are you?"
"What do you think, you bastard? I’m the one holding the Seven Star Sword fragment you’re after."
"…!"
A flicker of emotion crossed the brute’s face. Sun Wukong leaned against the wall.
"Just one question. Are you Blood-Iron Fiend’s comrade, or his superior?"
"…So you’re the one who killed Blood-Iron Fiend."
"Yep."
"I couldn’t touch you while you were with the Namgung Clan, but now that you’ve come out, this is perfect."
"You seem tougher than that snake, so you must be the boss. One more thing—how many more are above you?"
"Die, and hand over the Seven Star Sword fragment."
"So that’s how it’s going to be, huh."
Sun Wukong shrugged.
"Can’t give it back. I’m real close with the original owner."
"That’s nonsense."
The brute scoffed.
Sun Wukong’s eyes sparkled.
"So you know who the original owner is?"
"…"
Sun Wukong grinned.
The original owner of the Seven Star Sword was none other than Grand Marshal Tai Shang of the Heavenly Realm.
"Ha, this is odd. You’re definitely human… but…"
Sun Wukong smiled slyly.
"Were you a demon in your past life?"
Beyond the Flaming Golden Eyes, in another world—
A blood-red Red Thread of Fate pulsed with ominous energy.