Namgung Clan’s Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal

8. I Know Who You Are. You.

Demon Compendium

Name: Serpent of Mount Chiljeol

Type: Snake Demon

Combat Power: On par with the Celestial Soldiers, Celestial Captain level

Demonic Power: High-grade demon

Cause of Death: Swallowed Sun Wukong, but was instantly killed when he tore his way out from inside.

*

Hey, Guanyin Bodhisattva, look at this.

Still, out of respect for your reputation, I didn’t kill him.

After the fight ended, Sun Wukong looked around.

“Damn it.”

Annoyance flared up instantly.

“All the plates and cups are smashed.”

His mood soured. There was no way to enjoy any more drinks in this atmosphere. Biting into the last remaining apple, Sun Wukong lightly slapped the unconscious Blood-Iron Fiend’s cheek.

“Hey, wake up, you snake. Don’t sleep here, or your face will get stuck, old man.”

The slaps grew harder and harder.

It was as if he was saying, ‘Still not awake? Still holding out?’

Smack! Smack! Smaaack!

Finally, when a couple of teeth went flying, Blood-Iron Fiend woke up from his stupor.

His dazed, vacant eyes showed he had no idea what was going on.

Sun Wukong didn’t care and spoke up.

“Who is it? The one who told you to gather those sword fragments. Answer well. I may be a merciful Buddha and a man of beautiful heart, but I hate lies.”

Blood-Iron Fiend didn’t answer. Sun Wukong’s eyes began to glow red.

When the Flaming Golden Eyes appeared, Blood-Iron Fiend started to tremble. Anyone would. If you saw those burning, fire-red eyes and those endless golden pupils right in front of you, you’d be terrified too.

But the worst part was the feeling that his mind was being pried open—enough to make his skin crawl.

Blood-Iron Fiend mumbled something. Sun Wukong began to radiate killing intent.

In truth, since coming down to the Mortal World, Sun Wukong had never once unleashed his killing intent.

He’d never really had a reason to want to kill anyone.

Those times when Sideburns and Narrow-Eyed tried to rob him?

Just a bit of fun.

The fight with the Stone Flower Sect?

Just exercise.

The recent scuffle with Blood-Iron Fiend?

He was just curious about the guy’s past life.

But now, it was different.

“You’re an evil man. In your past life, you were a monstrous serpent who devoured countless people. You should be grateful you were reincarnated instead of going to hell, but now you’re committing new sins. If I kill you and send you to hell, who could blame me?”

For the first time, Sun Wukong truly harbored murderous intent. The atmosphere was on a whole different level. If Sun Wukong truly set his mind to killing someone, there were few who could escape.

How could a former man-eating serpent possibly withstand that?

It was just a threat, but an effective one.

People who disregard others’ lives tend to value their own the most.

“T-the person is… keh!”

Unable to withstand it, Blood-Iron Fiend tried to speak, but suddenly coughed up a chunk of black blood.

“...Tsk.”

Sun Wukong clicked his tongue and withdrew his killing intent. Worried the guy might die, he quickly tapped several points on his body to stop the bleeding and regulate his breathing. The bleeding stopped, but Blood-Iron Fiend passed out again.

Sideburns, who had been watching, sidled over.

“I’ve never seen it before, but isn’t that a Sealing Technique? The kind the demonic outlaws use when they don’t trust their own men.”

“A Sealing Technique? Do martial artists use that often?”

“Not really. I’ve only heard of it—never seen it myself. There are all sorts of rumors, but it’s said to be more legend than reality. Like some mythical technique.”

Sun Wukong twirled his hair.

Great, things just got complicated.

The guy was about to talk, but something forcibly stopped him.

‘A Sealing Technique, huh…’

Is it really the kind used by martial artists?

No.

‘It’s almost exactly like something I know.’

To be precise, it’s more like a spell technique. It’s different from martial art skills that use internal energy.

Back in the day, when Sun Wukong ran wild in the Mortal World, he’d seen this kind of spell technique.

‘So there are still people in the world who use this sort of thing.’

Sun Wukong’s eyes grew calm.

‘It’s all a little too convenient to be coincidence. Too convenient.’

He shuddered, feeling things were getting messier.

“So what do you plan to do now?”

“How come you don’t look tired? I’m exhausted from fighting.”

“I was saving my strength just in case. Not that it would happen, but if you, Great Hero, were in danger, I’d need to have enough energy to land a blow.”

“Against me?”

“Oh, no, of course not.”

Sideburns played it off.

Sun Wukong noticed Sideburns’ attitude had changed.

He no longer seemed afraid—if anything, he seemed almost detached from worldly concerns.

“Well, you know what kind of day it’s been.”

“Nothing special.”

“I picked up Great Hero without knowing who you were, got beaten like a dog, got dragged down the mountain to the Namgung Clan, ran into the Stone Flower Sect, robbed those guys, then suddenly went after the infamous Blood-Iron Fiend. And then we beat him up. All that happened in just six hours.”

In short, he was so exhausted that he’d reached a state of enlightenment.

It also meant he’d grown a little closer to Sun Wukong.

It was inevitable. After all, Sun Wukong had saved Sideburns from the Stone Flower Sect.

To Sideburns, Sun Wukong wasn’t so bad.

At least, he didn’t seem like a bad person. Crazy, yes, but not bad.

And just a moment ago, when he talked about karma, his words had left a crack in a wall that had been sealed for years—a deep resonance. There was something profound and noble in the way he said things so casually.

At this point, Sideburns had moved past fear and was now simply curious, his guard lowered. Of course, exhaustion played a big part.

“Then tie that guy up and keep an eye on him.”

“You want me to watch him?”

“Take turns with Narrow-Eyed. I’m tired and need to sleep.”

“You’re a celestial god, Great Sage. Even you need sleep?”

“I poop and pee, too.”

“Uh, but I’m really tired…”

“You’ve been goofing off all day. Don’t give me that.”

“I really don’t think I can handle watching that guy with my skills.”

Sideburns genuinely looked exhausted.

“I did all the fighting, so why are you more tired? This is getting annoying.”

“My body and mind are worn out. Today was probably the most shocking day of my life.”

“You’re already tired, so what’s a little more?”

Sideburns replied with an exasperated look.

“Be honest with me.”

“About what?”

“Don’t people often say you have no conscience?”

“This is the first time I’ve heard that. Feels weird.”

“You’ll probably hear it a lot from now on, so you’d better get used to it.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Yeah, you bastard. My heart’s been pounding all day because of you. Can’t you just go to the Namgung Clan by yourself?”

“……”

When Sun Wukong’s face went blank, Sideburns quickly sobered up and bowed his head.

“Sorry. When I’m drunk, I don’t even recognize my own mother. That was just the booze talking. I get a little mean when I drink.”

“You only had one drink.”

“I get drunk just from the smell.”

Sun Wukong let out a dry laugh.

“You know, I think I’m starting to get a sense of who you are.”

“What?”

“Now that you’re dropping the act and showing your real self, I’m starting to see you.”

“Do people often say you’re impossible to talk to?”

“That’s also a first for me.”

“You’ll probably hear that a lot, too.”

Honestly, Sideburns was so tired he was just saying whatever came to mind.

Next to him, Narrow-Eyed wondered if Sideburns had caught Sun Wukong’s madness after spending just one day with him.

Sun Wukong didn’t care—in fact, he seemed to find it amusing.

“Alright, I’m going to bed. Keep an eye on him.”

Narrow-Eyed tilted his head.

‘Somehow, it feels…’

There was a sense of closeness in his voice.

He just argued with me, but now he feels friendlier?

Is he the type who gets close to people by breaking down barriers?

Narrow-Eyed, half-joking, said,

“Hey, if you’re drunk, just go to sleep.”

“……”

“Uh, sorry. I guess I’m drunk too.”

Sun Wukong’s face didn’t change. That indifferent look was the last thing Narrow-Eyed remembered.

Whack!

A sharp blow to the crown of his head, and as his consciousness faded, Narrow-Eyed whimpered,

‘Why can’t I be friendly with him…?’

As Narrow-Eyed passed out, Sideburns let out a sigh.

“Can you take the next shift?”

“No, if you’re tired, wake him up and switch.”

Sideburns just hung his head in silence.

Watching his back, Sun Wukong simply laughed endlessly.

The string of karma burned as white as fire.

For some reason, Sun Wukong felt good. He didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the karma.

*

“He got away.”

“…You say that so confidently.”

“What can I do? He’s stronger than me.”

“Funny, you don’t have a scratch on you.”

“Only a fool would pick a fight he can’t win and lose his life.”

“That’s extremely irrational.”

“Sorry?”

“You didn’t consider you might lose your life to me.”

Only then did Sideburns shake off his fatigue and bow his head quickly.

He’d spent a long time in organizations. From being a secular disciple at Shaolin, where you had to suppress your desires, to living among bandits.

There was one thing he’d learned in all those places.

‘You have to know your limits.’

No matter how nice someone is, if you cross a certain line, it’s the end.

Right now, Sideburns’ instincts were screaming that he was at that line.

“Sorry. I guess I’ve been tired and drunk since yesterday, and my mind’s not right.”

“I told you, you barely drank.”

“I really do get drunk just from the smell. I’m a lightweight.”

“You look like you could drink a barrel.”

Sun Wukong chuckled. Sideburns glanced at him, then let out a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness. He hadn’t crossed the line. Sun Wukong didn’t seem upset at all. Even though the Blood-Iron Fiend they’d captured had escaped, he didn’t seem to care.

Almost as if…

‘He knew he’d escape?’

But if that’s true, shouldn’t he have kept a closer watch?

Why make me the guard?

If he’d watched him himself, would the guy even have dared to run…wait.

‘Hold on, did he let him escape on purpose?’

No way.

Sun Wukong gave a meaningful smile. Sideburns was dumbfounded.

“So what now?”

“It’s because of the thing he was after.”

“What’s so special about it? It’s just junk.”

“To human eyes, maybe. But for someone to risk everything and show themselves just to get it, do you really think it’s ordinary?”

“……”

“And more importantly, he didn’t even seem to know exactly what it was. Someone sent him.”

Sideburns’ mouth fell open.

Blood-Iron Fiend was acting on someone’s orders?

Come to think of it, Sun Wukong was right. With his reputation, he should’ve been hiding, not showing himself. He must have been desperate to find this thing.

“So, Great Hero, you’re after the real boss behind all this?”

“Yeah. This thing bothers me too.”

“You let him go on purpose, didn’t you?”

“If they value this thing so much, they’ll come looking for it. That snake will go running to report back.”

Sideburns clicked his tongue.

He might seem careless and clueless, but he’s anything but.

‘Who’s the real snake here? I feel like there are a few more snakes hiding inside that guy.’

Sometimes, he really did feel like a Martial Master who’d seen it all.

“I thought you caught Blood-Iron Fiend just to get into the Namgung Clan.”

Sun Wukong shrugged as if to say, ‘What are you talking about?’

“Huh? What do you mean? I’m just going to walk in.”

“…?”

Sideburns immediately sensed he was missing something in this conversation.

“Why are you going to the Namgung Clan, anyway?”

“I’m looking for someone. That’s all.”

“Did that person invite you personally?”

“Invite? No. I’m just going.”

“…You’re going to the Namgung Clan without an invitation?”

“Why would I need an invitation? If a guest comes, you open the door and serve them a meal. Don’t be so uptight.”

“Come on, that’s… sigh.”

Sideburns opened his mouth, then pounded his chest in frustration.

“The Namgung Clan strictly forbids outsiders.”

“What?”

“They don’t just let anyone in.”

“……”

Sun Wukong’s face suddenly hardened.