The Monkey King's Gambit
Sun Wukong led a pitiful man drenched in blood all over to draw the eyes of the Qingxie Fang warriors and headed straight for the ironworks.
A man soaked head to toe in blood was an unusual sight. Naturally, a crowd of chattering people gathered.
Muhwa bit his lip.
“Isn’t this too attention-grabbing?”
“Attention is exactly what we need.”
“If you have another plan, tell me.”
“Since you asked for my cooperation, just watch for now.”
“...”
Muhwa sighed and stared at Sun Wukong’s back.
The wavy golden hair cascading down his shoulders made his mind complicated.
Stacking a reputation and then attacking in this way was fairly common in the martial world.
It was the most discussed topic among the elders of the Namgung Clan.
Using Sun Wukong as the banner, the Namgung Clan would intervene under the pretext of protecting their “disciple” Sun Wukong if Qingxie Fang caused trouble.
Muhwa opposed it. The Namgung Clan had the worst reputation, and if they showed unscrupulous dealings for the sake of this deal...
Of course, the elders sneered that the righteousness of the right path was nothing to them.
“Indeed, it feels oddly fitting with the Namgung family.”
Muhwa sighed.
His head ached over how to handle and resolve this matter.
“If we keep having fun like this, they’ll think the easiest way to solve it is with a sword.”
His thoughts didn’t last long. The ironworks was across the way, so they arrived right away.
The pitiful man and the disheveled warriors made the ironworks chaotic.
Sun Wukong summoned the previous blacksmith.
“This, what is this...”
“These warriors are the owners of this ironworks? But these bastards tried to steal my iron sword and swung their swords.”
“...”
“If they come running and swinging their swords, demanding to sell the iron sword at a low price, that’s robbery.”
Sun Wukong’s voice boomed.
Muhwa pressed his forehead.
His plan seemed correct.
The ironworks was filled with warriors from Anhui Province. Among them, there were definitely some from the Hao Sect or the Open Sect.
Even if not, the situation would spread to Anhui soon.
“Stacking the reputation properly.”
The surroundings buzzed with Sun Wukong’s words.
The iron sword? The Qingxie Fang bastards came running to steal it.
Ah, if it’s the iron sword, it’s tempting. But is it really the iron sword? Who is this old man?
Hey, what is this? Is this guy trying to fight the Qingxie Fang alone? Without backup?
When the attention of the crowd turned to him, Sun Wukong finally spoke.
“Who would trust the scoundrels committing such underhanded acts and entrust them with a commission? Cancel it.”
“Ah...”
The blacksmiths looked as if they had lost their country.
“When the Namgung Clan was managing the ironworks, such things didn’t happen.”
During the time when the Namgung Clan ran the business, such incidents didn’t occur.
The blacksmith who recalled the past sighed and lowered his head.
“Regarding how to refine it, we were consulting with the artisans, so we haven’t touched it yet. We’ll return it immediately.”
The blacksmiths brought the boxes with solemn faces.
More people gathered around.
It was because of the anticipation of being able to see the iron sword, which they had only heard rumors about.
Sun Wukong even opened a bit of space so they could look inside more closely.
“This teacher, the only artisans in Anhui who can handle the iron sword are here. Please reconsider once more...”
The blacksmith said with a lingering voice.
But Sun Wukong didn’t care and opened the box.
“...”
For a moment, the surroundings fell silent.
The voices that had been chattering with high expectations disappeared.
In the suffocating silence, the artisans’ dumbfounded voices could be heard.
From behind Sun Wukong, who was watching, Ojeong said with a bewildered face.
“Nothing? Where did it go?”
There was nothing in the box.
Ojeong thrust his hand into the box and searched thoroughly.
“No, there’s only one strand of the Great Alliance’s hair here, and the sword fragment is gone!”
Ojeong held up a golden hair strand and said in a dazed voice.
The blacksmiths were startled and looked inside. They were equally dumbfounded.
“This, what is this...”
“We definitely locked it with a lock!”
The atmosphere was tense. The warriors who had gathered around took notice.
The iron sword was entrusted to the ironworks. This is a fact. The Qingxie Fang had committed underhanded acts to steal the iron sword. This is also an incident that occurred. So, Sun Wukong, who entrusted the iron sword, was trying to get it back because he was angry. Of course. But the entrusted iron sword disappeared?
“...”
“Did the Qingxie Fang bastards steal it while we weren’t looking?”
“Hah, but they are the right path martial world after all.”
“Then, how can we trust this place and entrust our goods?”
The surroundings became chaotic. In the serious atmosphere, the blacksmiths panicked and hurriedly searched around. But there was no way the missing iron sword would be found.
Sun Wukong, watching, said with a cold face.
“People say seeing is believing, but your deeds are crude.”
It wasn’t the playful atmosphere from before.
It was just that the cold gaze had changed.
Even so, the blacksmiths trembled with the chill that made their hearts cold.
“This matter will have to be taken responsibility by the Qingxie Fang.”
A deeply sunken voice.
The faces of the Qingxie Fang warriors, including the pitiful man, who had been standing like dead on one side, hardened.
***
The Namgung Clan’s Fengliu Yuan.
Surrounded by Sun Wukong, Namgung Cheonyeong, Muhwa, and Ojeong.
Muhwa asked with a suspicious voice.
“The iron sword was there, right?”
“Several tens of people saw it, so there’s no doubt that the iron sword kept by the blacksmiths of the ironworks is a fact.”
“Really, the Qingxie Fang just hid it?”
“...”
Sun Wukong remained silent. Muhwa looked at him with suspicious eyes.
Did the Qingxie Fang really take the iron sword?
Yes, they can take it.
“Those who rushed at Sun Wukong at the inn to take the iron sword even more, they might have been greedy. But this isn’t it.”
The incident at the inn where Sun Wukong was rushed could be explained as some warriors’ rebellion.
It could end with apology, punishment of the perpetrators, and appropriate compensation.
Stealing the officially entrusted iron sword at the ironworks is a different matter. Not just some rebellion, but the responsibility of the entire Qingxie Fang.
Moreover, the entire process was witnessed by the warriors.
The Qingxie Fang suddenly coveted the iron sword, became underhanded bastards who even used swords.
No matter how you think about it, it was right to return the iron sword right there.
If it were the Qingxie Fang that Muhwa knew, they weren’t the kind of sly ones who would give away the rights they had at a bargain price during a serious battle.
“Then, originally there was no iron sword...”
What trick did they use? Sun Wukong, instead, Ojeong jumped up.
“No, are those the right path? We really handed it over. Wow, I knew from the time we were doing business by kidnapping geisha and tying them up. These guys are real black demons, really. Now they’re stealing the iron sword too? Hah, really.”
Sun Wukong still had a light smile, hard to read his inner thoughts.
On the other hand, Ojeong was straightforward.
No matter how you look, his face is aggrieved.
“Really, did the Qingxie Fang steal the iron sword?”
If things turn out like this, it would definitely be advantageous.
“The Namgung Clan can sufficiently intervene.”
Namgung Cheonyeong said with a somewhat excited voice.
“As long as we say that Sun Seonsaeng is our disciple and the iron sword is the clan’s property, it works.”
Muhwa bit his lip and looked at Sun Wukong.
Still with a suspicious expression, he toyed with his finger like a cat.
“For the responsibility of this incident, we will have to compensate sufficiently. Among them, we can get back some of our rights.”
“In the long run, it’s rather not good.”
Muhwa firmly shook his head.
“We can return some rights as a sign of apology. However, something like Yangha Ironworks would be difficult. The real problem is that the public’s gaze will change. Someone will definitely think that this incident was a trap laid by the Namgung Clan secretly.”
“Um...”
“Unless we fight the Qingxie Fang and absorb all of it, we have no choice but to compromise at an appropriate level. The moment we receive some rights, won’t they think we laid a trap and committed underhanded acts? Then, returning all the scattered rights will become even more difficult.”
No matter how you look, it’s not beneficial. The Namgung Clan’s financial lifeline was drying up, and even simple rights were urgent. Recalling the wrinkled face of the gold lord who always sighs, one can feel how dry the clan’s assets are.
At that time, Sun Wukong interjected.
“Is the Qingxie Fang the right path?”
“They are somewhat sly, have a domineering side, and sometimes even resort to underhanded acts like the demonic path, but they are indeed the right path.”
“Then, it’s fine.”
“...”
Muhwa tilted his head at the incomprehensible words.
Sun Wukong shrugged his shoulders.
Where he was looking, he even had a faint smile.
“The Qingxie Fang coveted the iron sword, but the ones who coveted it were not the iron sword, but the fragments of the Seven Star Sword. There are those who covet the thing itself.”
***
The Qingxie Fang leader, Moseonbo, sighed greatly.
“So, that iron sword was really entrusted to Yangha Ironworks?”
“Yes. All the artisans confirmed it, and at that time, other customers in the ironworks also witnessed it.”
“Then, where did the iron sword go!”
Moseonbo’s anger exploded. If it was just gone, he would have ignored it. But since the pitiful man led the warriors and committed underhanded acts and got caught, how would the martial world’s gaze be?
They would call them bastards who tried to steal someone else’s things and actually stole them like black demons.
“Leader, the golden monster seems to be the new disciple of the Namgung Clan.”
“Damn it, the Namgung bastards said they would buy the business rights of Yangha Ironworks and caused trouble. Was it a scheme?”
The disappearance of the iron sword was a clear fact. Moseonbo had no choice but to nod.
“We need to negotiate.”
“Then?”
“We have to return some rights. We can make up for the value equivalent to the iron sword, apology, and compensation. As long as we keep the valuable ones.”
Honestly, even that was too much. But he realized that this was the best, and it could even become an opportunity.
Moseonbo’s mind was racing. During the serious battle, hadn’t he raised his forces without Namgung Clan shedding blood?
“Crises are always opportunities.”
Currently, the perpetrator seems to be the Qingxie Fang.
If the Qingxie Fang compromises here and returns the rights?
No matter who looks, they won’t think the Namgung Clan used their disciple to scheme.
The Namgung Clan is being looked down upon even in the right path.
The Qingxie Fang can protect the valuable rights while receiving support from other sects.
Just as Moseonbo was about to go to the Namgung Clan right away.
“Leader, big trouble!”
An incident occurred.
“What is it?”
“A weird monster appeared and is swinging a sword, demanding to hand over the iron sword, and his skill is not ordinary.”
“The rumors have spread. The iron sword, wandering wanderers would all covet it.”
Moseonbo smiled coldly.
It’s the martial world that gets crowded just from hearing one baseless rumor like the one where Jang Bo appeared somewhere.
If it’s Anhui martial artists, hearing about the iron sword appearing at Yangha Ironworks, it’s natural that covetous martial artists appear.
“How dare they look down on our Qingxie Fang...”
Moseonbo gritted his teeth.
During his time as successor, the Qingxie Fang couldn’t even bow to the Namgung Clan.
Since Moseonbo became the leader, he has grown to the point where he can compete with the Namgung Clan over rights.
It’s not a place that is so easy that similar bastards would come in.
Moseonbo’s eyes, full of clear pride, shone coldly.
“Lead the warriors and go deal with it. Don’t show any mercy. There will be many wandering warriors who will come rushing because they heard the baseless rumors, so do it as a warning.”
“Yes.”
The warriors who went out with momentum due to Moseonbo’s command didn’t return.
No, to be precise, they didn’t return alive.
Thud!
“...”
The cold corpse of the warrior who had jumped out with momentum fell in front of Moseonbo.
Moseonbo’s eyebrows twitched.
The gaze that trembled reached the monstrous man with blood-red eyes at the door.
The giant with the big knife shot a ferocious gaze through his disheveled hair.
“Where is it. The iron sword, no, the fragment of the Seven Star Sword.”
“...”
Moseonbo felt instinctively.
A sense of crisis. Even within the right path, there are times when they unite so much that they mark each other as enemies.
When a true evil appears that can only be called evil.
“Hand it over, the fragment.”
“...”
“If not?”
“Then, we will have no choice but to kill all and burn them. That will be the only thing left in the flames.”
The giant said indifferently.
***
“The Qingxie Fang has been ambushed!”
The sudden news reached the Namgung Clan. The uncertainty of rumors was not the issue.
The Qingxie Fang had directly sent a request for help to the Namgung Clan.
Muhwa looked at Sun Wukong. He wasn’t surprised at all, and rather, a faint smile peeked out.
“He had other thoughts!”
Muhwa asked in a stiff voice.
“What is it?”
“Human greed has no end.”
Sun Wukong said nonchalantly.
Human greed has no end.
The Qingxie Fang coveted the iron sword.
“The ones who wanted the iron sword, no, the fragment of the Seven Star Sword, were indeed in Anhui.”
The iron sword, no, the fragment of the Seven Star Sword.
Sun Wukong threw the bait. Not to the Qingxie Fang, but to those above Sa Hyeol-cheol-gwi.
“Now, then, we are going to save the crisis-stricken Qingxie Fang.”
Sun Wukong laughed as if it was fun.