33. That's Not How You Do It.
"You must appreciate the finer things, Retainer."
Peng Zhihun muttered with amusement. The large annex attached to the Ten Thousand Scents Pavilion.
They, too, had tried to use that space, but were refused because someone important was already there.
To think someone would confidently enter a place even the heirs of the Five Great Families were turned away from...
Hwangbo Yong shrugged his shoulders.
"Taking over the whole annex for yourself. Hmph."
"Considering how all the rumors about the Namgung Clan died down after the other Retainers joined, this one must be quite active."
Jegal Seo-seo showed his curiosity.
Perhaps it was the exotic appearance. Jegal Seo-seo's interest was subtle but clear.
Namgung Mu-yeong, on the other hand, was cautious.
He'd never actually seen this person—how could he know what kind of person they were?
As the conversation shifted toward the Namgung Clan's Retainer, he grew even more uncomfortable.
"If that's the case, why not enter the clan today? Everyone seems curious about the Retainer."
"Hahaha. They're just curious about the Golden Prince. The other Retainers are all elders, aren't they? It's hard enough dealing with the elders of the family, let alone those renowned figures."
"..."
Well, that was understandable.
Even Namgung Seo-wol, with her usually sullen face, glanced toward the annex with a hint of curiosity.
The Retainers she'd known since childhood were practically figures from the previous generation.
They were almost like grandfathers to her, and she wasn't particularly close to any of them.
They were all eccentric, preferred solitude, and some hadn't even left the clan grounds in years.
But the Golden Prince was different.
He even came out to the tavern like this.
'How old is he, anyway?'
It's not like she couldn't recognize him from afar.
Everyone here was an heir to one of the Five Great Families.
They all knew each other's faces.
But something about him was odd. His presence made it hard to guess his age. His face had an innocent glow, making him seem young, but there was also a mysterious depth that made him feel like an old man.
'Whatever. I can just ask Muhwa later.'
Namgung Seo-wol wanted to leave this boring place and hurry back to the clan.
The other heirs of the Five Great Families never appealed to her.
She missed the elders of the Namgung Clan, who were always free-spirited and never fake.
The heirs she'd met in the Murim were all... full of pretense.
Of course, she understood.
That was what was expected of an heir. The Hidden Dagger Behind a Smile—smiling on the outside while hiding your true intentions.
'Mu-yeong's problem is that he's too genuine. He's not pretending—he really means it.'
Sigh. As his cousin, I should look after him.
She had no idea that Namgung Mu-yeong was equally determined to look after her, since she was so unpredictable.
As Seo-wol was thinking this, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
"Black Blade Troop."
A group of rough-looking men stormed in.
The Black Path men headed straight for the annex.
"Hmm?"
"Isn't that...?"
Wasn't that where Sun Wukong went in?
The Black Blade Troop shouted in front of the annex.
"Master! We came after hearing the news!"
"Father said he wouldn't hand over Ho Family Fortress to me? I came to take it myself!"
Hwangbo Yong clicked his tongue.
"The Black Path don't even recognize their own fathers, blinded by their lust for power."
"Well, that's how the world works everywhere, isn't it?"
"But the Retainer went inside earlier..."
As Peng Zhihun muttered, the annex door opened.
*
"You said you'd help me, didn't you?"
"Your tone's gotten short again."
"...Didn't you?"
"Aren't I?"
The Ho Family Head was dumbfounded.
The shouting outside was his son's voice.
The anger in his tone made it clear he'd come with a purpose.
The Ho Family Head glared at Sun Wukong.
He'd been lying low at the Ten Thousand Scents Pavilion, acting as if he were dead.
If he showed himself before he was fully recovered, it would only undermine his authority.
He'd never said such things out loud. He'd thought them, sure, but never declared them. This was just stirring up trouble.
He wanted to punch the ever-smiling Sun Wukong in the face.
"Why not direct that energy toward your unfilial son, who's trying to steal power from an old man?"
"..."
The Ho Family Head flinched at the clear, penetrating gaze that seemed to read his mind.
Those red eyes with golden pupils.
He instinctively sensed danger. It would be safer to face his son in his weakened state than to throw a punch at those eyes.
In the end, the Ho Family Head staggered over and kicked open the door.
His son, the spitting image of himself in his youth, stood there, brimming with confidence.
Around him stood burly men, as if guarding a superior.
The Ho Family Head sighed.
'He really is my son.'
How long had it been since he'd hidden out at the Ten Thousand Scents Pavilion? His son had already taken control.
At this point, it would make sense for the old father to step down and hand over power.
But where did his son's ambition to seize his father's authority come from?
"Like father, like son. Tsk, the kid really does take after his old man—not just the looks, but the hunger for power, too."
Wujing, who had returned at some point, quietly sat in front of Sun Wukong and picked at the side dishes.
"You got back fast."
"It was nothing. I just told your son that his father was plotting against him at the Ten Thousand Scents Pavilion, and he followed me without much suspicion."
"Foolish brat."
Sun Wukong clicked his tongue.
As long as he got a useful pawn, it didn't matter if the Ho Family Fortress ended up in the son's hands.
Sun Wukong had weighed both options for a moment.
"So, what are you planning? When I went to the fortress, the son had already taken over, and even the neutral folks aren't opposing him—they're just not helping."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. After the master attacked the Azure Hero Society and got crushed, then begged the Namgung Clan for his life, his authority is gone."
"Which makes this perfect."
"Sorry?"
"He'll need someone to lean on, even if he takes power."
It's only natural to pile more debt onto someone who's desperate.
Wujing understood the logic.
The question was, what would he actually do?
Only one method came to Wujing's mind.
"Are you going to kill him, Great Hero?"
"Hey! I follow the Non-killing Principle."
"..."
But if you're going to break his spine so he can't even crawl...
Wouldn't killing him be more merciful?
"You only say that because you don't know what hell is."
"Ah, right, right."
Wujing's reaction went cold. Sun Wukong felt wronged.
What kind of place is hell? Better to live, even if you can't control your bowels, than to go there.
Sun Wukong took pride in his Non-killing Principle. What compassion, what a Buddha-like spirit!
Ahh.
Are you watching, Guanyin Bodhisattva?
'When I find Tripitaka, I have to brag about this.'
While he was lost in such odd thoughts...
The father and son, unable to restrain themselves any longer, drew their swords and began shouting.
The Ho Family Head, giving up on relying on Sun Wukong, gripped his sword.
On the Black Path, fights aren't decided by skill alone.
It's about how ruthless, how cunning, how gutsy you are—in other words, how much nerve you have.
All of it comes from experience.
In the Murim, they say to beware of old men, but on the Black Path, that warning carries even more weight.
To grow old on the Black Path means you've survived the most brutal back alleys.
Those who didn't survive never got the chance to grow old.
'Still...'
"Father, let me take you somewhere nice. Go rest and recover."
It was hard to fend off his son's cold, merciless sword.
"Ugh!"
Swallowing his groans, the Ho Family Head swung his sword again and again.
A sly smile formed on his son's lips. It was as if he could hear him saying, "I'm taking over as head, Father."
Blood seeped from his wounds, soaking the white bandages in an instant.
The Ho Family Head was tormented by the thought that the fortress he'd built over a lifetime was slipping away.
Then it happened.
[Ah, that's not how you do it.]
A voice echoed in his head.
It was similar to Transmission of Sound, but not quite. It felt like a heavenly revelation, ringing through his mind.
He instantly recognized it as Sun Wukong's voice.
[Step left, then slash low and across.]
When he hesitated, a scolding shout thundered in his mind, making his head ring.
The Ho Family Head followed the instructions. One step left—just as his son's sword came down on that very spot.
"...!"
A chill ran down his spine. As if possessed, he slashed low. His son's face twisted in shock.
"Urgh!"
A strike aimed at an unexpected opening. His son stumbled, tripping over his own feet.
The Ho Family Head's eyes lit up as he tried to press the attack. It was a clear opening.
But Sun Wukong intervened.
[Withdraw your sword and step right.]
The Ho Family Head hesitated briefly. If he pressed the opening, he could finish it. But he felt a strong instinct to follow the voice. He moved as instructed. His son's face showed confusion.
'What the...? Did the old man eat something weird?'
The Ho Family Head had taught his son martial arts himself. Naturally, his son knew all his moves by heart. That's why this felt so unfamiliar.
The Ho Family Head was moving in ways his son had never seen before.
'Did he even hide his martial arts from his own son?'
The son, who never imagined his father would deceive even him, suddenly realized he wasn't as cunning as his father yet.
The Ho Family Head, for his part, found this unfair.
[Diagonal step. What, do I have to tell you the stride length, too?]
[Seriously? Are your feet triangles? Why are you moving like that? Step back, then thrust!]
Commands and criticisms poured into his mind without mercy.
The Ho Family Head's body trembled. Was it from the insulting words? No. For the first time in sixty years, he understood what it meant for a sword to dance.
'Was my martial art skill always this powerful?'
He was moving with a speed and ferocity he couldn't comprehend.
His footwork technique became crisp and light.
His breathing was easy, and energy surged through his body.
All this, just from moving in sync with Sun Wukong's commands.
The Ho Family Head felt satisfaction down to his fingertips from this strange experience.
And that wasn't all.
"My goodness, the Master is still that strong?"
"To move like that, bleeding from such a serious wound!"
"Clearly, the Young Master still can't match the Master..."
Voices of awe rose around him.
A shiver ran through the Ho Family Head, like a bolt of lightning striking his mind.
'Ah!'
These were the ones who'd already sided with his son.
Yet now, they were looking at him with admiration and longing.
Why had Sun Wukong orchestrated this fight in such a public place?
'To show that the old, ailing Ho Family Head is still strong and unyielding, even while bleeding.'
The leader of the Black Path had to be strong—strong enough to control these rough men.
'If he intervened directly, it would look like I was relying on outside help to keep my power... but this way!'
A leader who seizes power with outside help never commands true respect.
But this was different. There was no problem. The Ho Family Head was clearly showing his vigor and strength.
He was impressed all over again. He'd already realized Sun Wukong was a Martial Master beyond his reach. But the way he set the stage was razor-sharp.
'He's meticulous. More terrifying and fierce than anyone on Honam Island. For now, it's best to go along with his plans.'
Having made up his mind, the Ho Family Head knocked his son down and looked around.
The warriors of the Ho Family Fortress stared at him in awe.
Suppressing his rising emotions, the Ho Family Head swept the room with a cold gaze.
Through the blood-soaked bandages, his eyes glinted menacingly.
The warriors of the Ho Family Fortress gulped and, one by one, bowed their heads.
The Ho Family Head spoke with authority.
"We return to Ho Family Fortress."
"...Yes, Master."
A thrill ran through the Ho Family Head's body. Genuine submission from the heart.
He could see it in the bowed heads. He'd reclaimed the fortress he'd built with blood and sweat from his son. Sensitive to the winds of power, he could feel it for sure. But his son still couldn't accept that the fight was over.
"Raaagh!"
Unable to bear the situation, the defeated son lunged from behind with his sword.
A true Black Path sneak attack.
The Ho Family Head spun around and parried the blow.
Clang! The son, shocked by the force transmitted to his wrist, dropped his sword.
The spinning sword flew...
Clang!
...and landed at the feet of the heirs of the Five Great Families.
A cold silence fell over the hall.