Namgung Clan’s Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal

4. The Bandit Chief of Hayeon Mountain Camp, Known as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven

To be honest, Sun Wukong was a bit taken aback.

‘Why does this feel oddly familiar?’

Yeah, this was just like when the Heavenly Realm’s soldiers came after him back in his wild days—he’d acted just like that.

But these humans he’d never seen before wouldn’t be talking about taking his life.

Naturally, the person they were after wasn’t Sun Wukong.

“D-damn it! It’s the Stone Flower Sect warriors, boss!”

“We’re in trouble, Narrow-Eyed. The Stone Flower Sect Master is here in person!”

The sideburned man and Narrow-Eyed both jumped in shock, their faces pale.

Sun Wukong let out a snicker.

‘Ah, this is getting interesting.’

After all, the best kind of spectacle is a good fight.

Sun Wukong’s mischievous nature—always fond of pranks at others’ expense—hadn’t gone anywhere. He quietly slipped to the back, watching with keen interest.

“You filthy trash of Hayeon Mountain! Did you really think you could rob the Stone Flower Sect’s warehouse and get away with it?”

“To think you’d crawl out of your mountain hideout yourself—Stone Flower Sect Master, the Red Wolf of Hubei, will claim your life!”

The sect master, Red Wolf of Hubei, was a sharp-looking middle-aged man.

‘Hmm. So he’s one of those Murim types.’

Sun Wukong could feel the same kind of energy in him that he’d sensed from Sideburns, stirring in his lower abdomen. He compared the two.

‘Huh. He’s nothing special. He’s even weaker than Sideburns.’

After all, Sun Wukong’s power came from Demonic Power. As a Great Demon, he was a master of it. He could tell at a glance.

‘They say Murim is full of people stronger than you. When am I going to see one?’

For all his bluster, this guy wasn’t nearly as strong as Sun Wukong had hoped.

But that didn’t make things less interesting.

‘Honestly, fights between weaker guys are more fun to watch anyway.’

The Stone Flower Sect had the sect master and, though the rest were a bit lacking, seven sword-wielding warriors.

On this side, besides Sun Wukong, there was only Sideburns and Narrow-Eyed.

Sideburns, despite sweating bullets, managed to keep a brave face. Narrow-Eyed, on the other hand, looked about ready to wet himself.

‘Still, he’s got some backbone for a bandit chief.’

Well, that’s probably why he swung his fist at my head earlier.

Just then, Sideburns quietly sidled up to Sun Wukong and whispered,

“Uh, Great Hero…”

“Hm?”

“You’ll help us, right? I mean, we’ve come all this way together.”

“Why would I?”

Sun Wukong replied, taking a few steps back.

Sideburns hadn’t expected him to distance himself, and his face twisted in betrayal.

“Wait, but—if I’m gone, who’s going to guide you to the Namgung Clan?”

“You think you’re the only one who knows the way? I’ll just find another guide.”

“You… what a scoundrel… ha.”

Sideburns shot Sun Wukong a frosty glare, full of resentment.

In the end, realizing he couldn’t count on Sun Wukong’s help, Sideburns bit his lip and stood tall.

He squared his shoulders, looking surprisingly dignified.

“Red Wolf of Hubei, huh? Everyone in Hubei knows you’re really the Red Dog of Henan—a mangy mutt. Aren’t you embarrassed to call yourself that?”

“That filthy bandit dares insult me!”

Bang!

Sideburns stomped the ground hard. With Internal Qi behind it, the atmosphere instantly shifted.

Oh, he’s got some guts. He didn’t win the bandit chief’s seat in a game of chance, after all.

“I am the Hayeon Yaksha! For you to appear before me, you must have a death wish!”

“You really are insane, you bandit.”

“No, you’re the crazy ones! You know you’re dead men, yet you dare stand before the chief of Hayeon Mountain Camp!”

That’s right. Lose the war of words, and you lose the battle of morale.

“Here stands our chief of Hayeon Mountain Camp, the one and only Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong!”

That’s right. The chief of Hayeon Mountain Camp, Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong… Wait, what?

Suddenly, the Stone Flower Sect warriors’ murderous gazes all turned to Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong slowly turned his head. Sideburns stood tall, arms crossed at his waist, looking smugly at him.

“……”

“……”

You little bastard.

*

Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong!

The monkey demon who ran wild, playing pranks on all the famous Daoists, monks, immortals, generals, even the Jade Emperor himself!

And now—

“Wow, I just got stabbed in the back, hard.”

Sideburns flinched but did his best to keep a triumphant expression. He shouted loudly, making sure everyone could hear.

“C-chief! Y-you’re going to take them on yourself?”

His voice trembled uncontrollably. Sun Wukong was genuinely impressed.

‘This guy’s got guts.’

Absolutely fearless.

It was so absurd, he couldn’t even get angry. If anything, he was starting to respect Sideburns.

“What, the blond guy’s really the chief?”

“Hayeon Mountain Camp? Aren’t those two just calling themselves bandits?”

“Wasn’t there a third one?”

Red Wolf of Hubei and his warriors whispered in confusion. Sun Wukong certainly stood out—a giant of a man, with broad shoulders and powerful limbs, looking every bit the martial artist.

And then there was the golden hair and golden eyes.

Red Wolf of Hubei’s eyes narrowed as he studied him.

‘Doesn’t look like he has any Internal Qi built up.’

There are two reasons you can’t sense someone’s Internal Qi.

Either they’re so much stronger than you that you can’t even comprehend it—

Or they have none at all, or so little it’s not worth mentioning.

‘No way a Martial Master would show up here. And certainly not to hang out with bandits.’

Red Wolf of Hubei was almost certain. It was the latter. He himself was a well-known figure among the Black Path in these parts.

‘At best, a bandit chief wouldn’t have much Internal Qi. He’s nothing.’

That Hayeon Yaksha was just bluffing, trying to show off with a nobody.

Red Wolf of Hubei snorted.

“Hey, yellow-head.”

“…Me?”

“Yeah. Don’t get yourself killed. I know you’re not really the chief.”

“Uh… I’m not the chief, but that’s kind of insulting.”

“What?”

Sun Wukong tilted his head, annoyed by the man’s mocking tone and the way he pointed his sword at him.

When Sun Wukong showed no sign of backing down, Red Wolf of Hubei cocked his head.

“Heh. You really don’t know your place. Who the hell are you to step up like this?”

Who am I?

Well, if you insist.

Sun Wukong cleared his throat and spread his arms wide.

“If you ask who I am, it’s only right to answer. Listen up!”

“Huh?”

The Stone Flower Sect warriors looked puzzled. All he’d done was spread his arms, but somehow, all eyes were drawn to him. Even though it was broad daylight, the sunlight seemed to shine brighter on Sun Wukong alone.

A chilly wind blew, swirling around Sun Wukong as if he were its center.

The world fell silent. There was a strange power to it, as if everything revolved around Sun Wukong.

As the warriors’ jaws dropped at the bizarre sight, Sun Wukong’s voice rang out, both thunderous and rhythmically strange.

“Who am I, you ask? I am the stone monkey born beneath Huaguo Mountain, forged by heaven and earth, the Handsome Monkey King, the Golden-Furred Monkey Lord, the greatest star and sage under the heavens—none other than the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong!”

Ah, whenever he introduced himself like this, all the demons, mountain spirits, and earth gods would tremble and bow before him.

Sun Wukong half-opened his eyes and glanced around.

“……”

“……”

Silence.

How much time passed? The quiet was finally broken by a stifled laugh.

“Pfft!”

…Did they just laugh?

“Pff, pffft…”

“Heh, heheheh.”

“What, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong?”

“You’d have to be completely insane…”

Why don’t people ever believe me when I say who I am?

As Sun Wukong stood tall, Red Wolf of Hubei sneered.

“Sun Wukong, huh? Then call your Nimbus Cloud.”

“…There are circumstances.”

“Pfft.”

“Ahem. Then at least show us your Ruyi Jingu Bang.”

“…There are circumstances with that, too.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake! Hayeon Yaksha! Is this yellow-haired lunatic the best you could drag in while running away?”

“Hahahaha!”

Sun Wukong silently watched them laugh.

After a while, the laughter finally died down. One of the warriors at the front wiped away tears and stepped forward.

“Hey, Great Sage. If you don’t want to get stabbed, just—”

At that moment, Sun Wukong’s body flickered.

Or at least, that’s how it looked.

In the blink of an eye—or perhaps in a fraction of that time—Sun Wukong’s body stretched like a bolt of lightning, and his fist landed squarely on the warrior’s chest.

It was as smooth as flowing water. His stance, the bend of his knee, the explosive force as he straightened—it all came together in a perfect punch.

It looked like an ordinary punch.

BOOOOM!

“…!”

Red Wolf of Hubei’s eyes twitched.

The guy who’d been mocking him a moment ago flew past his ear.

Just one punch.

With that one blow, the man’s chest caved in visibly, and he was sent flying.

Silence fell over the area. Sweat beaded on Red Wolf of Hubei’s face.

‘I didn’t see it.’

He couldn’t see the movement. Did he even move? His fist was still hanging there. Did he really just punch the guy and send him flying?

What did this mean?

A movement too fast for the eye to follow, and that effortless composure.

“A Martial Master…”

A real Martial Master he couldn’t hope to handle.

As he trembled in shock, Sun Wukong’s voice boomed like thunder.

“Hey, you lot.”

“…!”

“You’ve made a big mistake.”

“Y-you lunatic!”

Sun Wukong walked forward, cracking his knuckles one by one.

A hint of anger appeared on his face.

When he’d roughed up Sideburns and Narrow-Eyed, it was just for fun. He’d just wanted to mess with some humans for a change.

But now, he was serious.

“I can let insults to my parents slide, but not to myself. You dare insult me to my face?”

“……”

…Isn’t that backwards?

“I’ll have to teach you all a lesson.”

“Attack him, all at once!”

Red Wolf of Hubei and his warriors charged together.

Even without the Ruyi Jingu Bang, Sun Wukong was a master of combat. Even before he had the staff, he’d cracked plenty of skulls of fools who rushed him.

He stomped on one man’s knee as he leapt, knocked aside a sword from the side, grabbed a shoulder and smashed it, drove his fist into an opponent’s gut, and spun around to kick another in the face as he tried to sneak up from behind.

“Gaaaah!”

Red Wolf of Hubei screamed, his face covered in blood. The sect master and his warriors all groaned in a heap. Sun Wukong kept swinging his fists and feet—breaking noses, smashing cheekbones, knocking out teeth. Bam, bam, bam.

Every move was efficient. No Internal Qi, no tricks, just perfectly calculated motions, taking them down one by one.

The warriors fought with desperate resolve, but they couldn’t even lay a finger on him before being utterly destroyed.

As for Sun Wukong—

‘Ah, I should do some light exercise more often. My body’s gotten stiff.’

It felt like a warm-up before a real workout.

Overwhelming martial prowess.

Narrow-Eyed cheered as he watched what could barely be called a fight—it was more like a one-sided beating.

“Boss! We’re winning! He’s taking them all down!”

“……”

“Huh? Boss? Why are you shaking? Why are you sweating? Boss, your face is white as a sheet! We’re winning!”

Sideburns kept trembling. Narrow-Eyed suddenly remembered what had happened earlier.

He’d dragged Sun Wukong into this mess, even though he hadn’t wanted to get involved…

“Ah.”

So that means—

“Aaah! Nooo!”

“Gaaaah!”

Bam! Crack! Crunch!

He’d forced that monster into this…

Narrow-Eyed quietly stepped back.

‘I didn’t say anything, so I’m not involved…’

Tremble.

Sideburns remembered clearly. That dumbfounded look Sun Wukong had given him. Those golden eyes he couldn’t even meet.

“…We’re doomed.”

He never imagined he’d be this much of a monster.