41. Just Knock Them on the Head.
Sun Wukong blended into the group with ease.
“So, you’re saying your hometown is Huaguo Mountain?”
“Of course. My home is a beautiful place. Even the scenery of the Heavenly Realm can’t compare.”
“Oh my, I’d love to visit someday, but isn’t it too far?”
“It’s tens of thousands of li across the sea. Sadly, it’s nearly impossible for humans to get there.”
“Ahahaha.”
Naturally, no one took Sun Wukong’s words seriously.
Everyone just took it as lighthearted banter.
Who would believe stories about Huaguo Mountain, the Heavenly Realm, sneaking drinks from the Jade Emperor’s stash, or stealing peaches from the Queen Mother of the West?
Besides, at a drinking party, even the most trivial stories can become entertaining depending on the storyteller.
And Sun Wukong was quite the storyteller.
Until now, the Five Great Families’ younger generation had always been subtly jockeying for position with veiled words, but now, Sun Wukong’s pure jokes brought a refreshing change.
Of course, Sun Wukong wasn’t telling a single lie.
—There is no sin greater than lying. Deceiving, mocking, and tricking others is a crime akin to murder, Wukong.
Sun Wukong had always followed Tripitaka’s teachings faithfully.
There was no need to deceive children.
‘People reveal their true selves when they feel comfortable.’
A person’s true nature is something to be hidden.
No matter how much someone tries to present themselves as an Immortal, there’s always something disappointing about their true self.
‘It’s truly fascinating.’
Yet, when people grow closer or more comfortable, they reveal their true selves without even realizing it.
The closer the friend, the better the person, the more natural it is to hide one’s true nature.
—That’s why there’s nothing more incomplete than a human. Perhaps even more so than countless Demonic Beasts.
Sun Wukong gave a bitter smile at the faint echo of Tripitaka’s voice in his mind.
Late at night. The bright, full moon. The shower of starlight. The lively atmosphere of the drinking party.
All of it lowered everyone’s mental defenses.
The more seasoned a Martial Artist, the higher their mental barriers.
Unfortunately for Sun Wukong, these juniors weren’t quite at that level.
‘They’re trained Martial Artists, but compared to someone like Namgung Jin-Baek, they’re still rough around the edges. All of them.’
Here, the juniors had, knowingly or not, shown their true selves in front of Sun Wukong.
“Haha, that’s a funny story. Master Sun, you’d make a better storyteller in the marketplace than a Martial Artist!”
Sun Wukong glanced at Hwangbo Yong.
‘When I saw him at the Ten Thousand Scents Pavilion, he seemed sharp and perceptive.’
But once he’s drunk, he doesn’t seem to realize what slips out of his mouth.
As soon as he spoke, Jegal Seo-seo, sitting nearby, shot him a sharp look.
That, in truth, was probably his real self.
‘Doesn’t matter.’
Even if it’s their true nature, as long as they keep up appearances, what’s the problem?
Demons can’t hide their true forms or put on a façade.
‘That’s the very reason humans came to rule the Mortal World.’
Sun Wukong paid particular attention to Hwangbo Yong.
‘Nothing especially remarkable about him.’
He’s got decent skills, is perceptive, and if he keeps polishing himself, he has the makings of a leader.
But Sun Wukong’s perspective was different.
‘He’s not an enemy, and there’s no hint of anything sinister.’
Sun Wukong shifted his gaze.
Under the pavilion, seven Martial Artists were sharing drinks and conversation with Wujing.
For a moment, Sun Wukong’s eyes met one of theirs in midair.
The Martial Artist quickly looked away, but Sun Wukong just smiled.
‘So, you’re keeping an eye on me.’
And that one—he was the one with a past grudge.
Since they were brought by the Hwangbo Clan, Sun Wukong wondered if Hwangbo Yong was somehow connected.
But there was no sign of it.
At least, it didn’t seem like Hwangbo Yong was part of that shadowy group or one of their lackeys.
Sun Wukong looked away again.
Namgung Mu-yeong and Namgung Seo-wol.
‘Hmm…’
These two were a different story.
‘Seo-wol is a real fanatic.’
Seo-wol, staring intently at him, was fidgeting with her fingers.
Sun Wukong could see right through it.
‘She’s replaying our Martial Duel in her mind.’
Even at a drinking party like this.
A true Martial Art Skill fanatic, through and through.
‘…Tripitaka had that same single-mindedness.’
That relentless pursuit of an ideal, almost to the point of frustration.
The determination to endure the most harrowing trials and attacks from terrifying Demonic Beasts.
That much, he saw in Seo-wol.
‘But no.’
Killing Intent.
The chilling Killing Intent in her sword was of a different nature.
It came from her very core.
If she were Tripitaka reincarnated, it would be impossible. Sun Wukong gave up on that idea. Namgung Seo-wol was not Tripitaka.
‘On the other hand, Mu-yeong…’
His aura was similar to Tripitaka’s. But Sun Wukong still couldn’t be sure.
‘He hasn’t had a drink.’
He hadn’t let his guard down or shown his true self. Unlike the other Namgung Clan members, he was especially wary of Sun Wukong. The stronger the wariness, the higher the mental barrier.
Sun Wukong knew he’d have to break down that barrier to see his soul’s true nature.
‘Sigh. This one’s going to be tough too.’
In the end, the ones he needed to approach first were Muhwa and Namgung Jin-Baek.
‘It’s probably better to focus on Muhwa first.’
Sun Wukong shifted his gaze again.
‘Jegal Seo-seo… I can see the gears turning in his head.’
But it didn’t really matter. Sun Wukong wasn’t bothered by people who schemed.
Those who think they’re clever are nothing special once you knock them on the head.
He actually found such opponents easier to deal with.
The only slightly troublesome one was…
‘Peng Zhihun.’
The one who quietly sat back, nursing his drink and observing.
‘I really can’t stand observer types.’
He’d say a few words here and there, but never took the lead.
He only participated enough to show he was present.
He neither drew attention nor aroused suspicion.
‘People like that are the trickiest when things get heated.’
Well.
Even so.
‘They’re nothing special if you just knock them on the head.’
Sun Wukong chuckled.
Unfortunately, the conversation didn’t last much longer. By the time Sun Wukong had joined, the party was already winding down.
Even the attendants under the pavilion seemed ready to call it a night.
“It’s gotten quite late. The Tang Siblings from the Sichuan Tang Clan will be arriving tomorrow, so perhaps we should end things here for tonight.”
Namgung Mu-yeong spoke up.
A chorus of disappointed voices rose from around the group.
“Tonight was really fun.”
“Master Sun, you really livened up the atmosphere for us juniors.”
“Indeed. I wish we could have more gatherings like this.”
When Jegal Seo-seo spoke, Hwangbo Yong laughed.
“Miss Jegal, haven’t we had plenty of drinking parties already?”
“Not just among us juniors.”
“Hm?”
“There are a lot of Retainers like Master Sun in the Namgung Clan, aren’t there?”
“Oh.”
Realizing what Jegal Seo-seo meant, the group let out murmurs of surprise.
The Retainers of the Namgung Clan.
There were so many eccentric figures that they always sparked curiosity in the martial world.
What the martial world really wanted to know was: who are these Retainers?
Some were well-known, but others lived quietly in the Namgung Clan, their identities a complete mystery.
Above all, it was Sun Wukong’s presence that sparked this line of thought.
‘He’s even more fascinating than I expected.’
Just as Sun Wukong had observed the juniors, Jegal Seo-seo was busy turning things over in his mind.
‘He completely changed the mood with light jokes, acted like a clown to make us feel at ease… but only his mouth was smiling, not his eyes.’
As Sun Wukong suspected, Jegal Seo-seo was thinking hard.
‘The Namgung Clan’s Retainers really are extraordinary.’
Jegal Seo-seo found himself curious about the other Retainers.
Most Retainers were retired eccentrics or Martial Artists.
He’d always assumed that drinking with them would be boring.
But tonight’s gathering with Sun Wukong was genuinely enjoyable.
His preconceptions about them being lonely recluses faded a little.
“How about inviting the Retainers to teach us juniors and holding a gathering like this?”
At Jegal Seo-seo’s suggestion, Namgung Mu-yeong paused to think.
‘Hmm.’
But his deliberation was brief.
‘Not a bad idea.’
Retainers lived under the same roof as the Namgung Clan.
They weren’t people the Namgung Clan could command at will, but from the outside, they were seen as another source of the clan’s strength.
‘If the Retainers step forward at a gathering of the Five Great Families…’
It would be another show of strength.
‘Of course, the problem is whether any of them would actually show up.’
Namgung Mu-yeong glanced at Sun Wukong, who was chuckling.
‘He’s just a special case.’
Still, Jegal Seo-seo’s idea was a good one in Namgung Mu-yeong’s eyes.
He glanced at Hwangbo Yong, who tried to hide it, but his face had stiffened slightly.
He, too, was sharp enough to sense what this could lead to.
Seeing that, Namgung Mu-yeong made up his mind.
‘If it comes to it, I’ll ask Father for permission and make it happen.’
Namgung Mu-yeong agreed readily.
“Very well. I’ll ask the other Retainers for their opinions. But most of them prefer to keep to themselves, so I can’t promise anything.”
“Well, Master Sun, can we at least get your answer first?”
With the spotlight on him, Sun Wukong grinned and nodded.
“How could I turn down a gathering with drinks?”
He glanced around at the group.
‘These kids really do think a lot, cheeky as ever.’
He’d been treated to drinks by Namgung Jin-Baek and had witnessed some impressive Martial Art Skills.
Sun Wukong figured he owed them at least this much.
* * *
“Did you have fun? You all seemed to be laughing and making quite a ruckus.”
There was a hint of sharpness in Wujing’s words.
Sun Wukong snorted.
“You seemed to be getting along just fine with them too, calling each other brother and all.”
“Well, I had to. Didn’t you see the looks they were giving me, as if to say I’d be in trouble if I didn’t behave?”
“Your senses have gotten sharper. You picked up on that?”
“I just took a guess, but I was right, wasn’t I? Did you really look at me like that?”
Sun Wukong just chuckled at Wujing’s words.
After the party ended, they’d returned to their quarters. Sun Wukong asked Wujing,
“So, did you find out anything?”
“They were famous wanderers from Shandong. Those seven.”
“So the Hwangbo Clan recruited them?”
“Yes. The Hwangbo Clan has been expanding its power lately.”
“Well, that’s an internal matter for the Five Great Families.”
Sun Wukong had no interest in their internal power struggles.
When Sun Wukong showed no further interest, Wujing switched topics.
“Yes. Those seven only joined the Hwangbo Clan recently. Still, their skills were recognized.”
“Hmm. So, newcomers like them were chosen as attendants for such an important event?”
Sun Wukong crossed his arms, deep in thought.
Even clans bound by blood sometimes recruit outside Martial Masters.
That’s what the Outer Hall is for.
“The Namgung Clan used to have one too.”
No matter how close the blood ties, there’s always a distinction between direct and collateral lines.
Usually, collateral relatives belong to the Outer Hall.
And not just them.
“Sometimes, people come in through marriage, right?”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
When a woman marries in, she becomes part of the new family.
For example, if someone marries into the Namgung Clan, she doesn’t come alone.
She brings her bodyguards, attendants, and servants.
They’re people, but in a way, they’re like part of the dowry.
They become attached to the woman, and thus become new assets of the Namgung Clan.
The problem is, they’re not blood relatives—they’re outsiders.
“Those are the people who end up in the Outer Hall.”
The Outer Hall is made up of collateral relatives and outsiders who’ve joined the clan.
All the major Five Great Families have such organizations.
Except for the more closed-off Tang Sect of Sichuan and Namgung Clan.
“Anyway, that’s not the important part.”
Wujing changed the subject again.
“There’s something really odd.”
“Odd? What is it?”
“Those seven.”
Wujing lowered his voice, trailing off.