Chapter 69
69. Farewell.
Namgung Mu-yeong’s face hardened with a terrifying intensity.
His cheeks trembled as if he might draw his sword at any moment.
But Mu-yeong didn’t let his turbulent emotions erupt in a fiery outburst.
After taking a deep breath, he fixed his now-calm eyes on Namgung Seo-wol.
“Why did you kill him on your own accord?”
“Because he was evil.”
Seo-wol replied bluntly. The answer came so quickly that Mu-yeong was momentarily at a loss for words.
“They were people who didn’t deserve to live.”
“But still…”
“There are more like them.”
Mu-yeong hesitated. It wasn’t because he had nothing to say.
He knew Seo-wol always faced people with an expressionless face, but he could sense the faint emotions hidden beneath. Right now, he could see a subtle anger simmering in Seo-wol’s otherwise emotionless eyes.
“If we let them live and go elsewhere, there will just be more victims.”
Mu-yeong couldn’t find a retort. Seo-wol’s words hit the mark.
If they didn’t catch the murderer quickly, there could be more victims like those at the Lesser Immortal Sect.
Taking these criminals to the Murim Alliance or the Wudang Sect would only waste time.
They had to be eliminated as soon as possible.
After all, these villains had no hope of redemption. Killing them was the only way to punish them.
That was the Namgung Clan’s approach to dealing with the demonic outlaws.
Sun Wukong watched the two with a curious gaze.
* * *
The sole survivor of the Lesser Immortal Sect was the sect leader’s only daughter. Her name was Immortal Fragrance, and her martial arts skills were at the threshold of first-rate—a rare talent in such a rural place.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you so much.”
Immortal Fragrance repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Sun Wukong and the others.
Though she looked exhausted, she was a woman of strong will.
She personally examined the half-burned bodies one by one with her own hands, gently cleaning each corpse that had been carelessly tossed aside.
These were the bodies of her father and the disciples who had been like family. With tightly clenched lips and a face drained of color, Immortal Fragrance’s hands trembled, but she didn’t stop.
Mu-yeong, who was helping her, murmured in admiration.
“She’s a remarkable woman.”
“Is that why you gave her the clan token?”
At Sun Wukong’s question, Mu-yeong shook his head.
“This tragedy happened in Anhui Province. The Namgung Clan must take responsibility.”
“Even so, she insisted on going to the Namgung Clan rather than the Wudang Sect or the Murim Alliance.”
Namgung Mu-yeong’s face flushed slightly.
“She’d feel more at ease with the Namgung Clan, since we’ve already met.”
Sun Wukong let out a small chuckle. Mu-yeong handed Immortal Fragrance the Namgung Clan’s token and a letter written in the Young Clan Master’s name.
Namgung Clan, Wudang Sect, Murim Alliance.
She could seek refuge with any of the three.
It was Mu-yeong’s way of showing consideration.
But he wasn’t the only one being thoughtful.
Sun Wukong glanced over the bodies and spoke.
“There are a lot of bodies. Shouldn’t we at least give them a simple funeral?”
“We can’t even make coffins… and it’d be hard to dig individual graves for each.”
It was impossible to bury all the bodies.
Sun Wukong suggested a Buddhist cremation. Though the Lesser Immortal Sect’s roots were in Taoism, Immortal Fragrance didn’t mind.
She was leaving this place anyway.
Even if they built graves, there would be no one to tend them.
“Cremation is fine, right?”
“…Yes.”
Sun Wukong stood before the bodies, quietly pressing his palms together.
Clap.
“…!”
The sound of his palms meeting spread through the air.
Seo-wol’s eyes widened as if her heart had been squeezed tight.
Silence fell over everything. It wasn’t just ordinary quiet—the sounds of insects, birds, even the distant flow of water all seemed to vanish.
In that stillness, only the calm sound of Sun Wukong’s hands coming together echoed.
Sun Wukong’s lips were always curled in a smile, his eyes crescent-shaped.
He always seemed to be wearing a mischievous grin, as if he couldn’t help but laugh.
He never seemed serious, not even in battle. Even during martial duels, he never wore a solemn expression.
Seo-wol remembered clearly—the first duel, and the Wheel Turn during the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage.
It always felt like an adult playing with children.
That’s why Sun Wukong’s expression now felt so strange.
His lips were pressed into a firm line. His eyes were calm, his presence composed.
A solemn atmosphere enveloped everyone.
After some time, Sun Wukong broke the silence with a quiet chant.
“……”
A low, resonant Sutra.
A verse from a Buddhist scripture, wishing for peaceful rest in the Buddha’s realm, flowed from Sun Wukong’s lips.
Seo-wol stared blankly at the scene.
Mu-yeong, too, looked at Sun Wukong in surprise.
It was a long Sutra. Unless you had memorized it, you couldn’t recite it so fluently. And it wasn’t just rote recitation.
There was power in it. A mysterious, magical force infused every word.
Between the words and sentences, in every breath, a powerful energy could be felt.
That energy instantly seized the surroundings.
It was a spiritual force that could only be exuded by someone who truly understood every stroke and meaning of the text.
Was this what the Sutra of a great Buddhist monk was like? At some point, Mu-yeong found himself overwhelmed by the solemnity.
As Sun Wukong finished the Sutra, he respectfully lit each body on fire.
Whoosh.
The flames quickly spread from one body to the next, growing larger.
It was a simple Buddhist funeral, but the sincerity of emotion was unmistakable.
At last, Immortal Fragrance, who had held herself together until now, broke down in tears.
Sun Wukong only stopped chanting the Sutra when the flames had consumed all the bodies.
The crackling of burning wood, the muffled sobs of Immortal Fragrance.
Through it all, Sun Wukong’s voice could be heard.
“It’s natural to feel wronged by such a death.”
A gentle Qi Wave spread through the flames.
The raging fire calmed, as if it understood his words.
“But life is a circle, endlessly turning. Let go of your regrets, and look forward to your next life.”
Sun Wukong reached his hand into the flames.
Seo-wol and Mu-yeong, watching, flinched.
Sun Wukong calmly waved his hand through the fire.
As if forming a mudra.
“I’ve already told King Yama to let you reincarnate as humans, unless you’ve committed some grave sin.”
He paused for a moment, then plucked a strand of his own hair.
Namgung Seo-wol tilted her head in curiosity.
‘His hair.’
One of Sun Wukong’s quirks was how much he treasured his hair.
He was always stroking it, picking out stray strands.
It was so silky that even Muhwa often expressed envy.
Sun Wukong blew softly on the strand of hair, letting it drift like a feather into the flames, where it vanished.
“With this, even King Yama won’t dare treat you poorly.”
Watching the flames flicker, Sun Wukong recited the Fire Incantation.
“Go in peace.”
Namgung Mu-yeong and Seo-wol watched the solemn scene, their eyes trembling.
It was as if a halo shone behind Sun Wukong.
A radiant golden light, like that behind the Buddha.
* * *
After wrapping up the matter at the Lesser Immortal Sect, Sun Wukong immediately set out in pursuit, but things didn’t go smoothly.
Perhaps it was because the Wudang Sect Taoist who had fled had recovered after receiving treatment at the Lesser Immortal Sect.
Even Owl Demon found it difficult to track the Taoist’s trail any further.
Unlike before, the fugitive was now carefully erasing his tracks as he fled.
It made sense—anyone who survived among the Blood Warriors would have to be formidable.
More importantly, Owl Demon was moving outside his own territory.
The farther he got from the Namgung Clan’s domain, the narrower Owl Demon’s field of vision became.
Owl Demon muttered, sounding utterly dejected.
Sun Wukong ruffled his hair with a wry smile.
“That’s enough. You’ve done well.”
Even making it this far, Owl Demon had played a crucial role.
At least they knew there were still survivors, that those survivors were important, and that the men in black were pursuing them with all their might.
That was a result in itself.
“I suppose it’s time to contact the Master of Myeong’i Hall.”
Sun Wukong immediately set out to find Namgung Cheon-Young.
“There are several bases.”
Mu-yeong took the lead.
True to its former glory, the Namgung Clan had bases all over Anhui Province.
From Safe Houses where no one stayed, to small shops.
Their bases were scattered throughout Anhui in various forms.
Even after their power had waned since the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, the Namgung Clan’s ability to maintain influence in Anhui Province was impressive.
Before long, they arrived at a respectable town.
Mu-yeong headed straight for an herbal medicine shop.
It was a fairly large establishment.
“Welcome, heroes of the martial world! We have everything from wound-healing medicine to Mystic Frost Elixir and Fire Art Stone Powder!”
The shopkeeper greeted them warmly. Mu-yeong replied calmly.
“We’ll need wound medicine, Mystic Frost Elixir, and Fire Art Stone Powder. All of it.”
“Oh my, you’re a very special guest! Please, let me show you inside.”
Sun Wukong noticed the shopkeeper’s eyes briefly change before returning to normal.
Even though Mu-yeong wore the Namgung Clan’s uniform, the shopkeeper strictly followed protocol.
‘Impressive. Even the Ho Family Fortress could learn a thing or two from this.’
They followed the shopkeeper inside.
Past shelves filled with all kinds of herbs, they reached a staircase leading down to the basement.
“Greetings to the Young Clan Master of the Namgung Clan.”
Once they reached the basement, the shopkeeper greeted them with a Tiger Fist salute.
“It’s been a while, Master Yang.”
“It’s been about five years since we last met. You’ve grown into a fine young man.”
“You flatter me. Ah, this is Mr. Son, who is staying as a retainer with the Namgung Clan.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m just an ordinary herbalist with the surname Yang.”
Sun Wukong nodded.
The herbalist had no Internal Qi. He was an ordinary civilian.
‘Which means no one would suspect him.’
Mu-yeong briefly introduced Mr. Yang.
After being saved by the Namgung Clan during the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, Yang had offered this place as a Safe House to repay the favor.
He also diligently provided local information when needed.
“It must cost a fortune to keep all these places running across Anhui.”
“Many have already been shut down. Only a few key locations remain. Until recently, we couldn’t even manage the core sites.”
“Until recently?”
Namgung Mu-yeong gave an awkward smile.
“It’s all thanks to Mr. Son.”
“In that case, I’ll use them with peace of mind.”
Sun Wukong sprawled out on a cot in the corner of the basement, completely at ease.
Namgung Mu-yeong smiled wryly.
After Sun Wukong’s achievements in reclaiming business interests and assets from the Azure Hero Society, the Namgung Clan’s finances had started to recover.
The funds that came pouring in were used to restore these Safe Houses.
Not just here—thanks to Sun Wukong, many Safe Houses had come back to life.
No one could complain about Sun Wukong acting as if he owned the place.
In fact, Mu-yeong found this attitude even more welcome.
‘Just a moment ago… he felt so distant.’
That solemn face surrounded by flames, the radiant glow that seemed to spread like an illusion.
Even Mu-yeong, who had no ties to Buddhism, and Seo-wol, had bowed deeply in respect.
But now, he was back to his usual self.
Honestly, Mu-yeong preferred him this way.
It reminded him of the elders of the Namgung Clan—straightforward and honest with their emotions.
As Mu-yeong watched, the herbalist spoke cautiously.
“We’ve been waiting for you.”
“You knew we’d come?”
“The atmosphere around here has been tense lately. More importantly…”
The herbalist didn’t finish his sentence.
Sensing something behind him, Namgung Mu-yeong instinctively reached for his sword and spun around.
Fortunately, there was no need to draw it.
“Master of Myeong’i Hall! You’re here—huh?”
Namgung Cheon-Young had arrived first. Mu-yeong’s greeting trailed off.
Namgung Cheon-Young, looking exhausted, managed a bitter smile and gave a Tiger Fist salute.
“I’m sorry to greet you in this state. I heard the news—you completed the Azure Dragon Rite of Passage and officially became the Young Clan Master.”
Mu-yeong swallowed hard. His gaze trembled as he looked at Namgung Cheon-Young.
Cheon-Young looked terrible. His upper garment was discarded, his body wrapped in bandages. Every movement brought a strong smell of medicine.
He was clearly seriously injured.
And this was none other than Namgung Cheon-Young, the leader of the Hall of Radiant Justice.
Mu-yeong’s eyes grew grave.
“What happened?”
Namgung Cheon-Young let out a deep sigh.
“…We need to bring the Clan Leader.”
“My father?”
Mu-yeong’s face stiffened.
To call for Namgung Jin-Baek—
That could only mean…
“This is not someone anyone but the Clan Leader can handle.”