Journey to Hubei
“Was your dream not good?”
“Ah... Teacher Sun, no, Master.”
“No need to call me Master. Your expression is strange?”
“No. The dream was too eerie. I had trouble sleeping.”
Namgung Muyoung smiled casually and bowed.
“I’ll depart first with my father for the Wulin Alliance. After things are settled at Wudang Sect, I’ll return to the Namgung Clan and meet you then.”
Sun Wukong looked at Namgung Muyoung quietly and nodded.
They had departed later than expected. Thanks to the spar between Sun Wukong and Namgung Jinbaek, and the others gaining a taste of martial arts.
Namgung Jinbaek and Muyoung headed first to the Wulin Alliance in Hainan Province.
Sun Wukong had to send another person.
Teacher Sun...
Sun Wukong felt a strange feeling.
A snow-white owl rubbing its head against his shoulder.
Myodu-eung was grumbling nonstop.
Grumbling looked like a baby bird chirping noisily at its mother from the outside. It was so bad that people around were gossiping about it.
Sun Wukong sighed.
“Even here your power is different. If you go to Wudang beyond Hubei, you’ll just be a plain beast.”
That’s right...
“Moreover, there’s a land god on Wudang Mountain who has lived much longer than you. He survives even after being eaten by spiritual energy.”
The hierarchy of land gods was clear. The power order was definite.
When the previous Myodu-eung was calling out the hazy mist.
Myodu-eung couldn’t use any power.
Just the revealed spiritual energy made the hierarchy switch easily.
Because he couldn’t use his own power.
Moreover, land gods weaken the farther they are from their territory.
Myodu-eung was slowly losing power as he moved away from Waryong Mountain.
That was why Sun Wukong had only used him as a messenger.
“So, stay at Waryong Mountain.”
Yes...
Myodu-eung was young, but not stupid.
If he had been foolish, even with Sun Wukong’s command, he wouldn’t have been much help.
Yet he was grumbling for one reason.
Nyaaa.
Grumble.
The owl glared with big eyes.
The cat that had been head-butting Sun Wukong lifted its chin arrogantly from his arms.
That’s not a cat. It might be a fox.
“...I’d rather die than suffer.”
Is this a mountain god or a beast?
Even if he hadn’t learned properly from the previous Myodu-eung, Sun Wukong was encountering a new type of land god.
“It seems Myodu-eung really follows Teacher Sun like a master.”
After finishing preparations, Myodu-eung smiled lightly.
“I raise my child, I raise my child.”
“I’ve never seen a spirit follow a person like this.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen it too.”
Sun Wukong stuck out his tongue.
He flicked Myodu-eung up into the air from the cat fight.
Myodu-eung spun around in the air a few times in disappointment before heading back to the Namgung Clan.
A small note was tied to Myodu-eung’s foot.
“Is everything ready?”
“We should start departing soon too. What about him?”
Myodu-eung looked around and shouted.
“Seowol! We should start departing!”
Glancing sideways, Seowol, whose face was slightly flushed, walked over briskly.
Sweat beads on her hair and slightly elevated breathing.
Sun Wukong chuckled. Myodu-eung also had a bitter smile.
“Training again?”
“Yeah.”
Seowol answered nonchalantly and looked at Sun Wukong.
A straightforward gaze that would be burdensome for others.
It was even blatant.
Even though it was a big woman’s gaze that one would avoid, unlike her words.
Sun Wukong wasn’t an ordinary person. He replied bluntly.
“What. Why.”
“When is the spar? Master.”
“That Master talk...”
Sun Wukong was startled.
Myodu-eung, watching, smiled as if it was interesting.
“Master is correct. It’s not wrong to call Seowol that.”
“It’s not grand or anything. Just like an uncle taking care of his nephew and niece.”
“They aren’t children.”
“To my eyes, they’re like newborns. House Law Lord, you too.”
“...Me too?”
Myodu-eung avoided his gaze, slightly taken aback.
To Sun Wukong, they were all just children.
For Sun Wukong who had lived for a long time, what was a mere decade or so?
Sun Wukong tore his gaze from Myodu-eung and looked straight at Seowol.
“And you don’t spar until you pull killing intent from your sword.”
“Why!”
“If your skill only increases in this state, that sword will devour you.”
“...”
“Pull the power from the sword. Understand?”
“...Yes, Master.”
Sun Wukong sighed.
Every time he heard that Master title, it felt like something crawling on his body.
Seowol stubbornly didn’t give up the Master title.
The clan leader had personally called Muyoung and Seowol to be his disciples as Master, but Seowol was clearly doing it because she liked it, attaching it to the end of every sentence.
“It’s not just that.”
Myodu-eung said with a light smile. Sun Wukong sighed.
Actually, he knew.
“The clan leader over there is quite cunning, isn’t he? Pretending not to be, but weaving a scheme.”
“It’s not like he became clan leader for nothing.”
Sun Wukong officially became the Master of Muyoung and Seowol from Namgung Jinbaek.
This was not a simple meaning.
It meant that Sun Wukong had an official status in the Namgung Clan, not just as a guest.
Exactly, the Master of the successor.
Of course, it wasn’t the Master-Disciple relationship of a sect passing down martial arts.
Many famous clans did strict and harsh education for their successors.
So-called successor training.
The entire power of the family was mobilized for the successor’s instruction.
The jianghu was vast, and there were countless experts like sand grains, and high-level experts flowed like the Yangtze River.
Naturally, not only internal but also external experts were invited as Masters for the successor’s training.
Anyone could be a successor’s Master.
It couldn’t be compared to the Master-Disciple bond formed in one sect, but it was still legitimately becoming the Master of the future clan leader.
It couldn’t be an ordinary person. Because you would gain future power and influence.
Usually, successors of clans belonging to the righteous path gathered famous ladies with high prestige from the same righteous path.
“However, that Sun Wukong has become the successor’s Master has great meaning.”
“I know. I wonder what the clan leader was thinking.”
At first, he thought it was just simple worry for Muyoung and Seowol.
Clearly there was a big reason, but there was also a hidden meaning.
“He wants to emphasize that I am officially a person of the Namgung Clan for now.”
Myodu-eung smiled bitterly.
“Yes. Because Teacher Sun’s reputation is great now.”
“It’s not that great.”
Sun Wukong turned his head with a ‘hum hum’. Myodu-eung had known Sun Wukong for quite some time. Now he knew Sun Wukong’s personality well.
A look of pretending not to like it but secretly liking it.
“There’s a bit of hidden exhibitionism.”
Myodu-eung’s thought was correct.
“Of course it’s great! Because we got the current Qingqiu who is the direct disciple of the sect leader, the Heavenly Edge Sword Star. And we defeated the absolute expert who fought equally with the clan leader!”
“Well, that’s stretching it a bit... hmph.”
When Myodu-eung spoke a little exaggeratedly, Sun Wukong’s shoulders rose slightly.
Myodu-eung smiled faintly. Feeling that he was an unpredictable person, but in these aspects, human warmth was felt.
“Well, in the end, it’s because I’m good.”
Sun Wukong nodded.
Another reason Namgung Jinbaek made Sun Wukong his Master.
Because of Sun Wukong’s current fame.
“Because the Heavenly Edge Sword Star explained everything while going to Wudang.”
“That person is honest. He won’t easily say lies.”
“The righteous path’s pillar, Wudang Sect, can’t just watch over this favor. But if Teacher Sun is not an ordinary guest but the Master of the young master of the Namgung Clan...”
“Indeed, the clan leader is cunning.”
Sun Wukong stuck out his tongue.
“Well, I accepted it knowing everything.”
Namgung Jinbaek’s scheme was something Sun Wukong had already noticed.
No, he had figured it out from the very position he was asked.
Even knowing, he accepted it. Sun Wukong still stared at Seowol’s eyes looking at him.
Destiny...
A bright shining pure white destiny string.
Yoo Gong... You are right to bring Sanzang to me this time too?
Namgung Jinbaek’s past life, Yu Baekheum.
The role he was to play in destiny was to bring Sanzang to Sun Wukong.
Yu Baekheum was a strong human who was hard to find even by looking back at history.
An immortal in the literal sense.
What kind of person would hunt demons without dao power or internal energy in that era?
This person happened to be at Wuxing Mountain, rescuing Sanzang who was surrounded by demons and bringing him to Sun Wukong. It was a plan made by the connection.
Sun Wukong believed in destiny.
It had meaning that past connections continued to the present.
Namgung Jinbaek, reincarnation of Yu Baekheum, directly entrusted Muyoung and Seowol to Sun Wukong.
Two people connected by the destiny string.
Sun Wukong was certain.
One of them has Sanzang.
That was destiny.
***
The road to Hubei was peaceful.
It was so free that it felt like there was no special incident.
After crossing the Anhui border into Hubei, there was no incident.
Myodu-eung said with a smile.
“If we were wearing the Namgung Clan uniforms, it would be different.”
Sun Wukong glanced sideways.
Myodu-eung and Seowol were wearing not the Namgung Clan uniforms, but plain, monotonous uniforms.
“Are there many enemies in Hubei?”
“The adults have stirred things up a lot here and there. There’s almost no one in Anhui to mess with us, but even in Hubei Province, not only officials but even righteous path people are going there.”
“You must have made quite a few enemies. With the Namgung Clan, they wouldn’t dare to touch you.”
“That’s just how grudges are. It’s not something a jianghu person would give up on grudges just because the opponent is strong.”
“It’s a value system that’s perfect for dying.”
“That’s the jianghu. Anyway, it’s not scary. We have to get to Wudang Mountain as soon as possible. It’s better than getting involved in unnecessary trouble.”
On the other hand, Sun Wukong’s appearance was different.
“You don’t stand out at all?”
Myodu-eung was cautious enough to say it. Everyone’s gaze would turn to him because he was so flashy. A robe embroidered with all kinds of colors and luxurious patterns.
Just looking at it, it was high-quality fabric.
“Originally, I’m the kind of person who stands out.”
“That’s right...”
But.
Even though he was already standing out, there...
“Rather, if I dress like this, they won’t dare to cause trouble. They’ll just gossip behind my back. That’s how humans are.”
“Hmm.”
“And if something happens, no matter what I do, it will happen. That’s just fate.”
“Suddenly?”
“It’s like there’s an obstacle at the passage.”
Instantly, Myodu-eung’s fur stood up.
His sensitive qi slowly caught something.
Clang- clang- a metallic sound ringing.
Myodu-eung’s eyes widened. Sun Wukong chuckled.
“Now you can hear it.”
From this, it was clear that Sun Wukong had been feeling the aura from the beginning.
It wasn’t an ordinary sensitive qi.
Even Myodu-eung would miss it if he didn’t concentrate, so it was faint.
After Myodu-eung, Seowol also perked up her ears.
Only after seeing Myodu-eung’s reaction did she feel the qi a beat later.
“Hmm, should we take a detour?”
The closer they got, the noise became more intense.
Even just the clashing metal sounds were enough for a fight of dozens of people.
The terrible screams and shouts were a fight like killing each other.
“It doesn’t seem like bandits.”
“Yeah. The qi is quite strong.”
“It doesn’t seem necessary to get involved. Let’s take a detour.”
“The day isn’t late?”
“Huh?”
“When I went to India, I slept a lot on the road, so now I can’t sleep unless it’s a bed.”
Myodu-eung hardened his expression.
Sun Wukong’s meaning was clear.
Just break through.
Myodu-eung sighed.
“Well, the Namgung Clan can’t back down in fear.”
“Moreover... I’m starting to get interested in that.”
“Huh?”
“That name on the flag.”
“You can see that?”
A hard-to-describe expression appeared on Myodu-eung’s face.
It was far away, barely able to discern the name with just sound.
Nothing visible. Just a well-polished road stretching out.
But Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
“Meeting here is quite coincidental.”