The Thing Humans Cannot Discard
In truth, seeking a weapon to replace the Ruyi Jingu Bang was an impossible feat.
‘Where in the world was there a divine weapon of that caliber?’
Not in hell, nor in heaven.
The Ruyi Jingu Bang was the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
Even the Demon-Subduing Staff that Zhu Bajie had wielded or the Demon-Subduing Staff that Sha Wujing had used were magnificent divine weapons, yet they could not compare to it.
Seeking a weapon like the Ruyi Jingu Bang was not something one could even hope for.
If it was merely something decent enough to hold and swing, that would suffice.
‘If I can find something good here, that would be ideal.’
The scale of Yangha Ironworks was immense.
The heat from the roaring flames was so intense that it seemed as though it could sear the skin.
The artisans hammered their hammers without pause, and countless martial artists came and went.
Even ordinary civilians were present in significant numbers, thanks to the display of high-quality farming tools.
Upon a cursory glance, the quality looked exceptionally good. It was at a level that even the unparalleled Sun Wukong would find satisfactory.
When the extraordinary-looking Sun Wukong appeared, all eyes turned toward him.
With his handsome face, golden hair, and red eyes, the artisan carefully came out to greet him.
From the looks of it, he seemed to be of an unusual status.
Revolution Artisan tilted his head at Sun Wukong’s order.
“You wish for a staff made of steel?”
A weapon-seeker from the martial world…
Not a sword, but a staff. In his bewilderment, he stole a glance at the man opposite him.
Golden hair that rippled like waves he had never seen before. It was so beautiful, as though draped in long silk.
Even the golden pupils embedded with gold fragments.
Anyone would feel an aura of something precious that one could not approach lightly.
Upon closer inspection, the feeling was different. The playful curve of his lips softened the impression of something untouchable.
He looked like someone who found all things in the world pleasurable and carefree, or like a being of noble birth. A strange fellow indeed.
Revolution Artisan found himself staring at him for a long time without realizing it.
“I have a handsome face, but if you stare too much, it makes me a bit uncomfortable.”
“Ah, my apologies. Young Master…?”
Revolution Artisan trailed off. He seemed noble and young, yet the title of Young Master felt somehow out of place.
“It would be better to call me Teacher.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
Revolution Artisan nodded. The term Teacher suited him poorly.
Especially for a young friend.
The feeling was strange in every way. No, it was beyond strange; it was outright eerie.
Sun Wukong ordered the weapon he desired from Revolution Artisan.
Revolution Artisan blinked in disbelief.
“So… how much weight?”
“Thirteen thousand five hundred catties.”
“…What?”
That…
The number was absurd.
Sun Wukong muttered, ‘As expected, it’s difficult,’ then answered.
“How heavy can you make it?”
“If it’s a staff that a person can lift and swing freely, even the heaviest would be around thirty catties at most. Of course, for a high-level expert, a hundred catties would be no problem, but it would be difficult to make it that heavy. There’s also the issue of balance.”
“I don’t care how you use it. Make it as heavy as possible. The length… it’s inconvenient since I can’t adjust it freely. Around this much?”
The length was also longer than a standard staff. Thinking about balancing the weight center already gave him a headache.
“Yes, yes. You will truly make it the heaviest?”
He had been working the bellows for over forty years, but this was his first time hearing such an order.
Revolution Artisan’s brows furrowed at Sun Wukong’s next words.
“I want you to melt this and use it.”
Revolution Artisan’s brows furrowed. The thing that had come from Sun Wukong’s pocket was a mass of heavily rusted iron.
Of course, as an artisan, he instantly recognized it as a scrap of a rusted sword.
Yet he wanted him to melt it and use it…
Artisans always used the highest quality iron…
“Wait, wait!”
Revolution Artisan took the scrap and his eyes widened at the weight he felt in his hand.
‘What is this? Why is it so light?’
He had worked with iron for decades. He could judge its weight and homogeneity just by lifting it. He was not some ordinary artisan of Yangha Ironworks.
Even compared to his countless experiences, it was too light. It was so light that he wondered if it was truly iron. No, perhaps it wasn’t iron at all. The thought flashed through his mind.
Revolution Artisan asked for permission and took the high-quality steel sword he had displayed as merchandise. He swung the scrap with all his might.
Clang!
“…Hah.”
The result was shocking. The high-quality steel sword from Yangha Ironworks had broken.
Revolution Artisan stared at the scrap in silence. Between the heavy rust, a faint black light was mixed in.
Revolution Artisan’s throat bobbed.
“Could this be…?”
Revolution Artisan looked at Sun Wukong. His pupils shook violently. The hand holding the scrap trembled as well.
“Is this… meteor iron?”
The finest rare iron that comes from a fallen meteor.
Sun Wukong thought for a moment and nodded.
“Since Taishang Laojun made it by taking the Seven Stars, calling it meteor iron is not entirely wrong.”
Revolution Artisan’s face lit up with excitement.
At the sound of meteor iron, the artisans who had been focused on their work rushed over with flushed faces.
Sun Wukong glanced at the scene once and cleared his throat.
“Can you do it here at Yangha Ironworks?”
Revolution Artisan, having understood the intent, exchanged glances with the surrounding artisans.
The artisans’ expressions became resolute.
They carefully lifted the Seven Star Sword fragments as if they were precious treasures.
“We cannot mix it with steel to create an alloy. In this land of the Central Plains, only the greatest master smith in the world could make it possible. But with this amount, it should be possible to wrap it around the end of a steel staff.”
“In a band shape?”
“Yes.”
“If there is more than that?”
Revolution Artisan’s expression showed surprise.
“Do you have more meteor iron?”
Sun Wukong nodded.
“H-how much…?”
“The amount needed to make one staff entirely from meteor iron.”
“…!”
Revolution Artisan’s mouth fell open.
He could not speak immediately. There were quite a few divine weapons refined with meteor iron in the martial world, but most contained only a tiny amount of meteor iron. Cases where it was refined entirely from meteor iron were almost nonexistent.
‘It’s not false!’
Revolution Artisan’s eyes were filled with meteor iron right before him. If all the fragments were meteor iron, he had no choice but to believe the words about making an entire staff from it.
He had already brought the evidence.
“H-how much…?”
“First, refine that. If it’s okay, I’ll entrust the remaining meteor iron as well.”
Revolution Artisan and the artisans bowed their heads with resolute expressions.
“We will entrust it to you.”
“Be careful not to lose it. If you lose it, it will be a big problem. Really.”
Sun Wukong smiled meaningfully.
***
Inventory List
Name: Seven Star Sword
Classification: Divine Treasure
Crafter: Taishang Laojun
Owner: Former Gold Horn Demon King
Current Owner: Taishang Laojun
Storage Location: Lost.
***
“So… this was meteor iron?”
Ojeong asked as they left Yangha Ironworks with a dazed expression.
“I didn’t know it was called meteor iron. Taishang Laojun made it by taking stars.”
“Taishang Laojun made it by taking stars?”
…Creative, this guy.
Knowing about meteor iron and talking about Taishang Laojun.
But still, was it really meteor iron?
“Hah. So that’s why Sa Hyeol-cheol-gwi was after such a precious thing. There was a reason.”
Sun Wukong understood it all over again.
“…But are you not working?”
“I already did.”
“No, you said you would finish Yangha Ironworks today…”
“I’ve already laid the bait. Now I just need to wait with the fishing rod tilted.”
“You’re the Strong Angler?”
Sun Wukong smiled as he headed to the tavern right in front of the ironworks.
Ojeong tilted his head at the leisurely demeanor.
“It’s broad daylight, so drinking might not be appropriate. Let’s eat something.”
“Ah, yes. I should eat before I work.”
Ojeong tilted his head, then sighed. He had realized that there was no better way to waste time than guessing Sun Wukong’s actions.
After entering and ordering a simple snack, Sun Wukong stretched out comfortably.
Nyaah.
Ojeong stared at Sun Wukong with a strange gaze. The cat that had only poked out its face from his pocket happily ate the small fruit Sun Wukong offered.
‘This guy came looking for Yangha Ironworks, yet he’s this relaxed.’
Well, it was better than the two of them working together.
At that moment, a woman entered the tavern. With her heavy makeup, she looked like a beauty at first glance. Ojeong whistled inwardly as he admired her figure.
‘Eh? Why is she coming this way?’
Her eyes narrowed in anger. The woman looked around, narrowed her brows, and approached.
“What are you doing?”
The woman approached Sun Wukong and immediately confronted him.
Ojeong’s eyes widened.
“The makeup suits you well.”
“I’m just hiding my identity.”
“It’s quite effective. My little brother still hasn’t noticed.”
“What?”
Ojeong blinked in confusion. He stared at the woman for a long time. With her sharp eyes…
“Eh?”
Only then did Ojeong realize. His eyes widened.
“Are you… the Law Enforcement Hall Master…?”
“Shh. Don’t say it. This area is within the territory of the Qingxie Hall. This tavern is also under their business…”
Ojeong’s mouth fell open slightly. He had thought she was a rare beauty from the Namgung Clan, but with her forceful makeup, she looked completely different.
Sun Wukong chuckled at the sight.
Muhwa’s brows furrowed at the laughter she found displeasing.
“Teacher Sun, I believe you were supposed to move together with a martial artist from the Namgung Clan.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
His memory was vague, but it was not. Who could not see through the act of pretending to be clueless while acting spirited?
“Why did you move alone first?”
“I moved immediately because I wanted to cooperate with the Namgung Clan and show my loyalty.”
“…Hah. The main family is devising a plan.”
“What plan? Using me as a decoy and raiding with force?”
Muhwa hesitated for a moment and bit her lip. A hint of guilt appeared on her face.
“It’s the plan devised by the Law Enforcement Hall Master. You seem to have guessed it. The other elders emphasize recovering it with force, but I don’t think it’s a good plan.”
“What plan does the Hall Master have in mind?”
Even Muhwa had no sharp counter.
But she was doing her best to think of alternatives.
Using Sun Wukong as a decoy was something she could accept. Sun Wukong had readily agreed as well.
‘Still, raiding with force is truly dangerous.’
Raiding with force was something she hated. She was doing her best to come up with other plans.
Yet she had heard that Sun Wukong had left the clan.
Moreover, he had headed to Yangha Ironworks.
Muhwa saw Sun Wukong as an unpredictable, strange existence.
She did not know what mischief he would cause.
So she rushed out herself.
She had never done anything like this before, hiding her face with heavy makeup like a geisha.
“What are you thinking? When I came, the ironworks was noisy. Meteor iron, this, that…”
“What? I just ordered a weapon.”
“You came just to order a weapon? But why at this exact timing? Teacher Sun’s appearance is too eye-catching, so it will be imprinted in their minds. Especially with meteor iron!”
“Ah. The food has arrived. Let’s eat first and talk.”
“…”
Muhwa stared at Sun Wukong with narrowed eyes.
“Eat first.”
Muhwa sighed and picked up her chopsticks. The food was quite rare, but her sharp expression softened a little once she ate.
Sun Wukong chuckled.
Muhwa’s brows rose.
“Moreover, flaunting meteor iron like that, how are you going to handle it?”
“Why?”
Muhwa hesitated. Her eyes were clearly angry, but her mouth kept opening to eat. Sun Wukong found it amusing.
Muhwa sighed heavily.
Why at this timing even if ordering a weapon, and why meteor iron, which would spread rumors in an instant?
Muhwa glanced around and lowered her voice.
“This area is within the territory of the Qingxie Hall. There are always martial artists at Yangha Ironworks. And this tavern is…”
At Muhwa’s words, Ojeong finally understood the meaning of the prickling gazes.
‘Damn it. No wonder they were staring.’
Ojeong looked at Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong stroked the cat as if to say, ‘What’s the problem?’
“Explaining my thoughts in words is bothersome, so it’s better to just look.”
“What?”
“Humans, no matter how hard they try, have one thing they cannot change.”
“…?”
At that moment, a group of martial artists approached them.
Martial artists from the Qingxie Hall.
“Excuse me, Young Master.”
A hand landed on Sun Wukong’s shoulder.
“I heard you have some precious items.”
Sun Wukong smiled and looked at the Qingxie Hall martial artist.
“Even the great Buddha monks who are about to become Buddhas find it hard to discard. It’s human greed, after all.”
Well, the bait on the thrown fishing hook had already been caught.