29. The Scheme of Killing Two Birds with One Stone
The Namgung Clan was in turmoil.
Overnight, the atmosphere of Murim in Anhui Province had shifted.
The Azure Hero Society, which had claimed to be the second and third most powerful force in Anhui, had collapsed.
Of course, in the world of martial arts, it's not unusual for a sect to be destroyed amidst the tangled web of grudges and alliances.
The real shock was in how it all happened.
"Honam Island, you say? A former executive of the Evil Faction Alliance has appeared?"
"And he united the Black Path to utterly destroy the Azure Hero Society?"
"So, once again, the Namgung Clan has blocked the Evil Faction Alliance's schemes?"
"Ah, to be precise, it was a retainer, apparently."
"A retainer?"
"If it's a retainer strong enough to take down Honam Island, could it be the Iron-Faced Black Sword? It's been quite a while since he joined as a retainer, hasn't it?"
"No, you're wrong. They say it was the Golden Prince."
"The Golden Prince?"
Rumors about Sun Wukong were spreading quietly.
The Namgung Clan was so busy dealing with the rumors and public opinion swirling through Anhui that they barely had time to breathe.
With their small numbers, the overworked Namgung Clan was stretched to the breaking point.
Of course, Sun Wukong, who had caused all this, was completely unconcerned.
He lay on a rock, hands behind his head, enjoying a nap.
<So, you're saying that guy's previous life was a demon?>
Flap, flap. Owl Demon swooped down, a bit of a nuisance, but Sun Wukong answered kindly.
Owl Demon had been the key player in this whole affair.
"Even you thought he was suspicious, didn't you?"
<I'm not sure. I just reported anyone unusually strong, since you, Great Sage, told me to do so.>
"It's suspicious when a powerful outsider suddenly shows up, especially since I haven't been with the Namgung Clan for long."
Owl Demon soared through the skies of Anhui, peering down at the land below.
Despite being an Earth God and Mountain Spirit, he dutifully followed Sun Wukong's orders.
It was the same during the ascetic journey in Tianzhu. Every Earth God in the world trembled before Sun Wukong.
Back then, Sun Wukong was a criminal, with no official position in the Heavenly Realm, technically ranked below the Earth Gods—yet none dared to defy him.
- Ah, you wretched little things. You'd better get a taste of this master's iron staff and come to your senses. Get out here, now!
Why was that? The strict hierarchy of Heaven was distant, but Sun Wukong's booming voice, pounding the ground with the Ruyi Jingu Bang, was right in their faces.
Owl Demon, though a young Mountain Spirit, never forgot the terrifying stories passed down from his elders.
From Sun Wukong's perspective, Owl Demon was admirably diligent.
<But one of them disappeared.>
"You said there was another human always with the Demon King of Chaos, right?"
<Yes. He seemed as strong as the top fighters here in the Great Sage's residence.>
"And compared to the Demon King of Chaos?"
<The Demon King of Chaos looked like a pushover by comparison.>
"Can't see him now?"
<No. I've been flying around since morning, but not a trace. Looks like he ran off.>
"No one escapes the eyes of the Owl Mountain Spirit, so he must have already left Anhui Province."
Sun Wukong clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"I should've caught them both. Either they're quick-witted, or just lucky."
<But I remember exactly what he looked like.>
"Is that so..."
Sun Wukong's reaction was lukewarm. Owl Demon, who had hoped for praise, blinked his big eyes.
<He had a long neck, slanted eyes, and a dark spot next to his nose.>
"I'll keep that in mind."
Sun Wukong spoke as if it didn't matter.
Physical appearance wasn't important.
What mattered was the soul inside.
"How ironic."
Who would've thought the one who appeared this time would be the reincarnation of the Demon King of Chaos?
A truly twisted fate.
A grudge far deeper than anything with the Blood-Iron Fiend.
Sun Wukong clenched his teeth, suppressing the urge to kill him on the spot and tear his soul apart.
'This time, I need to dig deeper.'
Sun Wukong felt an intense sense of inevitability.
The Blood-Iron Fiend, and the Demon King of Chaos.
Both were bound to him by strings of karma soaked in blood, and both were reincarnated demons.
Two demons slain by Sun Wukong's own hand.
'Isn't it strange? Too much so.'
As for the other human who'd been with the Demon King of Chaos, Sun Wukong could guess his previous life by now.
He was surely a demon Sun Wukong had killed. The problem was, there were so many, it was impossible to narrow down.
'If only there were just a few.'
Sun Wukong gave a bitter smile. No wonder the Heavenly Realm saw him as a Judge.
He'd killed more demons with his Ruyi Jingu Bang than anyone could count.
Despite being the king of demons, Sun Wukong was a paradox—one who slaughtered his own kind.
Just like the mental cultivation technique in his dantian, named the Demon-Slaying Skill.
As Sun Wukong lost interest, Owl Demon grew anxious, as if his tail were on fire.
<Um, is there anything else you need me to do?>
Truthfully, Owl Demon was lonely.
In the past, every hill, lake, and forest had its own Earth God. Mountain Spirits would gather and spend time together. Not anymore. Now, Owl Demon was the only Mountain Spirit in all of Anhui Province.
And now, a god from the Heavenly Realm had descended—a legendary figure he'd only heard about in rumors.
Owl Demon secretly wanted to get closer to Sun Wukong.
Meow.
Perhaps awakened by the commotion, the cat that had been basking in the sun on Sun Wukong's chest let out a sharp cry.
It stretched out its front paws and hissed at Owl Demon, who was dumbfounded.
<This insignificant creature dares bare its teeth at me, a Mountain Spirit?>
Owl Demon didn't like the cat.
It wasn't a Mountain Spirit, nor even a spiritual beast, just a lowly animal that never left Sun Wukong's side.
"Now, now, get along. That's Master Jangkyung."
<Huh? You mean Taebaek Golden Saint, Master Jangkyung?>
"That's right."
Owl Demon, who'd been about to peck the cat's nose, drooped his shoulders.
So this was the spirit form Master Jangkyung revealed when incarnating.
How could he harm the spirit form of a Heavenly God?
As Owl Demon backed off, the cat raised its chin and elegantly curled up on Sun Wukong's chest.
The sight was so haughty that Owl Demon seethed inside.
Leaving the squabble between Mountain Spirit and animal behind, Sun Wukong continued his thoughts.
'In any case, the bait worked perfectly.'
After confirming the Demon King of Chaos's suspicious movements through Owl Demon, Sun Wukong had been pondering how to catch him. That's when the Namgung Clan requested his help.
A brilliant idea came to Sun Wukong. He set the bait. While it targeted the Azure Hero Society, it was also meant to hook the Demon King of Chaos.
'If he's from the same group as the Blood-Iron Fiend, he can't help but react to the Seven Star Sword fragment.'
If the bait hadn't worked, as Muhwa feared, Sun Wukong would've just used meteorite iron to threaten them and reclaim a few business rights.
As for the Namgung Clan's future standing in Murim, that didn't matter to him.
After all, they had requested his help, and he simply obliged.
Luckily for the Namgung Clan, the Demon King of Chaos took the bait.
And in a big way.
He unleashed the Black Path to attack the Azure Hero Society. They nearly died, but Sun Wukong saved them—together with the Namgung Clan.
The situation was reversed. The Namgung Clan had worried that their actions would make them look like schemers, just like the Black Path, trying to reclaim their interests.
But now, despite having been a sect that stole from a retainer, the Namgung Clan had saved the Azure Hero Society in the name of justice. They'd even stopped a surviving executive of the Evil Faction Alliance.
Now, the Azure Hero Society had only one choice.
Rebuilding was impossible. Maintaining their many business interests would be difficult. In Murim, even the righteous are just prey if they lack strength.
So what would the Azure Hero Society do?
Be absorbed by the Hoseong Sect, with whom they'd once had ties?
Ridiculous.
'That was only possible when the Azure Hero Society was strong enough to negotiate for its own rights.'
Could they maintain their independence?
In the end, there was only one option: the Namgung Clan. They're both righteous sects. This time, the Namgung Clan had even protected them from a surviving executive of the Evil Faction Alliance. The moral justification was clear.
Contrary to public perception, the Namgung Clan was shrewd and capable.
They reclaimed their interests for a reasonable price.
In this world, where taking by force is never a problem, that's impressive.
The Namgung Clan's reputation for being more ruthless than the Evil Faction and more vicious than the Black Path was considerably softened as a result.
They gained a lot.
But Sun Wukong gained even more.
'The Demon King of Chaos knew exactly what the Seven Star Sword was.'
He'd gotten closer to the shadowy organization, and was more convinced it was connected to Tripitaka's affairs.
'I've reclaimed business rights from the Azure Hero Society, and even boosted my reputation.'
He'd earned the Namgung Clan's full trust—and even their gratitude.
Even in the midst of chaos, the clan head, Namgung Jin-Baek, had come personally to thank him several times.
'That's already two birds with one stone.'
Sun Wukong closed his eyes and basked in the sunlight. The more he thought, the sleepier he became.
"...You seem awfully relaxed, don't you?"
A disgruntled voice rang in his ear.
Without opening his eyes, Sun Wukong muttered,
"You must be busy, yet you still have time to visit me?"
"Of course I do. You're the main hero of this incident."
There was a certain edge to her words.
Sun Wukong chuckled and turned toward Muhwa. She flinched.
'...'
A faint smile on his lips, eyes half-closed in a lazy manner, his face was peaceful.
Resting his elbow on the ground and his head in his palm, he looked just like the reclining Buddha statues she'd seen in countless temples.
Especially with a white owl and a cat glaring at each other nearby.
And that rock—wasn't it the very one where the Namgung Clan's founder supposedly ascended to heaven as a dragon?
It was almost sacrilegious, but she couldn't bring herself to point it out. Sun Wukong had become the Namgung Clan's benefactor.
Muhwa cleared her throat.
"Did you anticipate Honam Island's appearance?"
"I'm no fortune-teller. How could I see the future?"
"Still, it's all so coincidental. Wasn't your real target Honam Island, not the Azure Hero Society?"
Sun Wukong paused to think.
'Maybe it's time to share some information.'
He explained the connection between the Blood-Iron Fiend and the Demon King of Chaos, leaving out anything about Tripitaka, and stuck to the facts.
Muhwa was shocked by what she heard.
"The Blood-Iron Fiend, and even Honam Island? They're part of a shadowy organization?"
For the Namgung Clan, the first thing that came to mind was the revival of the Evil Faction Alliance, which had once been destroyed.
"So, you've been tracking them all along?"
"Well, that's not wrong."
"And your reason?"
"A personal grudge?"
"......"
Muhwa didn't press further. Her mind was already a whirlwind.
With the shadow of the Evil Faction Alliance looming, she had no room for other thoughts.
The Namgung Clan might be stabilizing, but when it came to the Evil Faction Alliance, there could be no compromise.
Total annihilation.
They would chase them to the ends of hell and wipe them out.
Sun Wukong saw the determination on Muhwa's face and nodded to himself, satisfied that his expectations were correct.
'The more help, the better.'
Sun Wukong smiled inwardly.
Maybe luck was on his side.
The Demon King of Chaos was a remnant of the Evil Faction Alliance, after all.
Sun Wukong had never hesitated to ask for help.
Even on his ascetic journey, he constantly sought aid from the gods of the Heavenly Realm, and bullied the Earth Gods into lending their power.
The Namgung Clan was a useful ally.
'Now, the Namgung Clan is deeply entangled in this.'
The Demon King of Chaos had been caught by him and the Namgung Clan.
That shadowy organization would now see Sun Wukong and the Namgung Clan as a single enemy.
'I'll have to stay with the clan, and work together from now on.'
Thus, not just two, but three birds had been killed with one stone.
Muhwa, who'd been massaging her throbbing head, finally took a deep breath and collected herself.
Her mind was still in chaos, but she remembered why she'd come to see Sun Wukong.
"Honam Island is asking for you in the Heavenly Prison."
"For me?"
"Yes. He won't speak to any interrogator, only asks for you. And he keeps saying strange things."
"Strange things?"
Sun Wukong sat up, his eyes gleaming.
Muhwa spoke with a troubled look.
"Well, it's..."