39. If You’re Human
"Martial Art Skill."
"..."
Namgung Jin-Baek couldn't respond right away to the unexpected answer.
After a brief silence, Namgung Jin-Baek spoke.
"You want a Martial Art Skill?"
Sun Wukong nodded.
Namgung Jin-Baek looked at Sun Wukong with surprise.
'He never seemed greedy for Martial Art Skills.'
Most martial artists desire stronger skills. But that doesn't apply to those who've already reached a certain level.
'He must already have mastered some incredible Martial Art Skill.'
Otherwise, the feats he’s shown so far would be impossible to explain.
Sun Wukong already possessed remarkable Martial Art Skills.
There was no need for him to covet more here.
Besides, openly asking for a Martial Art Skill is one of the surest ways to arouse suspicion.
"I could teach you one of the publicly available Martial Art Skills that the Outer Hall Warriors used to learn."
Namgung Jin-Baek trailed off.
His expression clearly showed he doubted whether Sun Wukong really needed something like that.
Of course, even the public Martial Art Skills aren’t easy to come by.
Back when the Namgung Clan was at its peak, these were the skills practiced by the Outer Hall Warriors—not direct Namgung blood, but still under the clan’s protection.
They were excellent techniques, enough for a talented person to glimpse the pinnacle, even if not quite first-rate.
'But for Master Sun, they’d be meaningless.'
Namgung Jin-Baek was actually prepared to pay a hefty price.
Not just because he’d asked Sun Wukong to serve as an Observer this time.
The Namgung Clan had gained a lot from the Azure Hero Society incident.
But most important was the appearance of a Martial Master like Sun Wukong.
'If I could bring him to our side...'
No price would be too high.
Sun Wukong shook his head.
"Not that. I mean the Martial Art Skill that the Clan Leader uses."
A heavy silence fell.
Namgung Jin-Baek didn’t immediately grasp what he meant, so casually had Sun Wukong spoken, as if he were just making small talk.
The silence grew icy. Namgung Jin-Baek’s face hardened. Namgung Mu-yeong, who had escorted Sun Wukong this far, gaped in shock.
After a while, Namgung Jin-Baek broke the silence.
"There is a Martial Art Skill that only the Clan Leader and his direct heir can learn. Is that what you’re asking for, Master Sun?"
"That’s the strongest one, right? Then yes."
At Sun Wukong’s boldness, Namgung Jin-Baek burst out laughing. Only after a long laugh did he nod.
"Well, I suppose only something of that caliber would interest you. But it’s impossible."
Regardless of how he felt about Sun Wukong, it simply couldn’t be done.
The Clan Leader’s direct Martial Art Skill.
Even among the Namgung bloodline, only the heir can learn this peerless skill. How could he possibly hand it over to an outsider, not even of the Namgung name?
To even name it as a price was absurd.
If it had been anyone but Sun Wukong, Namgung Jin-Baek would have seriously thought the other party was challenging him to a duel to the death.
"If you were a Namgung, and the heir at that, maybe. But unfortunately, it’s impossible."
"Well, that can’t be helped. But you do have liquor, don’t you?"
"Liquor?"
"A household as prestigious as yours must have some truly fine liquor stashed away."
"Of course. We have something we bring out only for the most honored guests."
"Then let’s call that my payment for your request."
"Heh..."
Namgung Jin-Baek let out a helpless laugh.
Sun Wukong really did seem utterly unconcerned.
He even emphasized that it had to be truly fine liquor.
It was as if this was his real aim all along, rather than the Martial Art Skill.
Why had he even brought up the Martial Art Skill?
Even when told it was impossible, Sun Wukong showed not a hint of disappointment. He accepted it with a calmness that betrayed no emotion. He simply shrugged it off.
And now he wanted to settle for a drink. Namgung Jin-Baek quietly studied Sun Wukong.
"Will that be enough?"
"It’s not like you’d serve me cheap swill. As a bit of a connoisseur myself, I’ll judge it for you. I’ll have to see if it’s better than the Jade Emperor’s Imperial Liquor."
They say a position changes a person.
During the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, Namgung Jin-Baek was just a swordsman who swung his blade. But after becoming Clan Leader, he’d changed quite a bit.
Discernment.
He’d developed an eye for people.
'He really is a fascinating man.'
Even with his improved insight, Namgung Jin-Baek found Sun Wukong hard to pin down.
After a moment’s thought, Namgung Jin-Baek stood and suddenly drew his sword.
"I can’t give it to you. But I can let you witness it."
"Father!"
Namgung Mu-yeong, who had been quietly watching, cried out in alarm.
Namgung Jin-Baek spoke calmly.
"Mu-yeong, you’ll soon begin learning it yourself when you become Young Clan Master. Think of this as a preview."
"Father—no, Clan Leader! Letting an outsider witness our Martial Art Skill is taboo in Murim, and the Soaring Sky Boundless Sword, no less...!"
Namgung Jin-Baek didn’t answer. He just smiled lightly at Sun Wukong.
"There’s only one kind of person who’s ever seen the Soaring Sky Boundless Sword. Only someone of Namgung."
Sun Wukong couldn’t think of anything to say to that.
"It’s an honor."
The truth was, Sun Wukong had thought he ought to receive some kind of payment, but there wasn’t really anything he wanted.
What meaning did anything in this mundane world hold for him, anyway?
All he needed was to find Tang Sanzang. Using the Namgung Clan for that purpose was something he’d already decided on.
He’d only brought up the Namgung Martial Art Skill because it had crossed his mind while developing the Demon-Slaying Skill. He hadn’t expected anything. When refused, he’d just decided to get some good liquor out of it.
"If you’re going to show me, I’ll watch with my eyes wide open."
"Hahaha. Master Sun, it’s not a joke when I say only Namgung people have seen the Soaring Sky Boundless Sword."
"...?"
"Anyone who wasn’t Namgung died the moment they saw it."
Sun Wukong chuckled.
"Maybe I should’ve just settled for a drink after all."
"But even if you’re not Namgung by blood, you can still be of the Namgung Clan. Like the Law Enforcement Hall Leader, Master Sun."
Sun Wukong instantly understood what Namgung Jin-Baek was getting at.
'Ah, this guy’s got a sly side.'
It was Sun Wukong who’d tried to get something out of this, but Namgung Jin-Baek had turned the tables in an instant.
He was clearly trying to make Sun Wukong a true member of the Namgung Clan.
If Sun Wukong witnessed the Soaring Sky Boundless Sword, it would mean he was firmly on Namgung’s side.
And if he ever became an enemy, as Namgung Jin-Baek had said, anyone who saw the Soaring Sky Boundless Sword and wasn’t Namgung would have to die—a deadly warning.
Sun Wukong was suddenly reminded of something.
'Tang Sanzang used to have a sly side too.'
Oh? Always pretending otherwise.
He’d get everything he wanted, and before you knew it, he’d have Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing all wrapped around his finger.
Sun Wukong let out a wry smile.
"As long as Namgung isn’t my enemy, I won’t become Namgung’s enemy either, Clan Leader."
"Good."
Namgung Jin-Baek nodded.
That settled it.
Their relationship had now gone beyond that of a mere Retainer—it was an official alliance with the Namgung Clan.
Namgung Jin-Baek slowly took his stance.
The Soaring Sky Boundless Sword.
And, if perfected, the Emperor Sword Form.
Namgung Jin-Baek hadn’t reached that level yet, but he took great pride in his Martial Art Skill.
He was showing a peerless skill to an outsider, but Namgung Jin-Baek wasn’t worried.
'Just seeing it doesn’t mean you can use it.'
No matter how much of a genius someone was, they couldn’t master it just by watching.
Even Namgung Jin-Baek himself had only reached this level after decades of training. How could anyone hope to understand it just by seeing it once?
'It’s actually a relief that Master Sun is a Martial Master.'
Ironically, it was because Sun Wukong was a Martial Master that Namgung Jin-Baek felt at ease.
For a master of his caliber to try and learn the Soaring Sky Boundless Sword now, he’d have to give up everything.
All the Martial Art Skills he’d learned so far, his entire path—everything would have to change. The Mental Cultivation, the Footwork Technique, the forms, every aspect was different.
Could anyone throw everything away and devote themselves to a skill they’d only seen once?
Impossible. If you’re human, that is. There’s no way a human could master a Martial Art Skill just by seeing it once. Especially not the Soaring Sky Boundless Sword.
Yes, it’s impossible.
If you’re human.
*
"Did something good happen?"
Sha Wujing looked at Sun Wukong with a strange expression.
He always wore a smile, but after spending so much time together, Sha Wujing had learned to read the subtle differences in those smiles.
Right now, that smile looked genuinely happy.
Even the faint blush on his cheeks.
"You said you had a drink with the Clan Leader. What’s got you in such a good mood?"
"The liquor was quite good."
"Of course it was. How could it not be?"
"They called it Ancient Well Tribute Wine."
"Gasp."
Sha Wujing’s jaw dropped.
"You don’t mean the Ancient Well Tribute Wine, one of the Eight Famous Spirits of the Central Plains?"
"Eight Famous Spirits?"
"It’s crystal clear, sweet, and has a rich aroma..."
"That’s about right."
"Shouldn’t you have taken me along to a drinking party like that?"
"You can’t even hold your liquor."
"Still, for a drink like that!"
Sun Wukong waved him off.
The liquor really was good enough to make Sha Wujing throw a fit.
Even Sun Wukong, who’d tasted every liquor brewed by the immortals of the Heavenly Realm, found it excellent.
The way Namgung Jin-Baek’s face darkened as Sun Wukong downed cup after cup was worth seeing. He couldn’t say a word. The usually serious and sly Namgung Jin-Baek squirming in his seat was quite a sight.
Sun Wukong had drunk with the intention of teasing him, but Namgung Jin-Baek hadn’t said a word.
'Well, that’s understandable. All he did was show me a Martial Art Skill as payment.'
Namgung Jin-Baek had demonstrated the Soaring Sky Boundless Sword to show the true power of the Namgung Clan.
'It really was impressive.'
Sun Wukong reflected.
'It looked strong enough to cut down a Great Demon.'
Namgung Jin-Baek may have been focused on bringing Sun Wukong to his side, but Sun Wukong had his own reasons.
A sword that could slay a Great Demon.
That kind of power was a valuable asset for Sun Wukong as well.
'And... I got to see something good.'
It’s said to be taboo to witness another’s Martial Art Skill, but that’s a bit of a joke.
There are hardly any who could see both the strengths and weaknesses just by watching.
Let alone perfectly understand it and make it their own in such a short time.
Yes.
'If you’re human, that is.'
Sun Wukong smiled faintly.
"Wow. That must’ve been some incredible liquor. You’re grinning from ear to ear."
At Sha Wujing’s words, Sun Wukong chuckled and suddenly stood up.
"What are you doing?"
"Have to earn my keep after all that free liquor."
"I didn’t get any, so I’m going to bed."
"Come along."
Sha Wujing pouted. Sun Wukong grinned.
"I hear the younger disciples are having a little drinking party. Let’s go see if we can get a drink out of them."
"...You’re going to crash the juniors’ party right now?"
Anxiety flickered across Sha Wujing’s face.