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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 100: Hell's Entrance Exam: Gate ‘III’ (3)

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Who ruled the martial world today?

When people heard that question, they thought of the Martial Alliance.

Over the past several centuries, the martial world had been reorganized around the Martial Alliance. The Alliance had ushered in its prosperity, and wherever the government's authority could not reach, the Martial Alliance did. People trusted the Alliance more than the officials.

Then who ruled the Martial Alliance?

Broadly speaking, it was the Nine Sects One Gang, centered around the Orthodox Society, and the Five Great Clans, centered around the White Path Society.

The Twelve Peak Alliance was also worth mentioning, but compared to those two powers, they were still newcomers, so they could be set aside.

In terms of strength, the White Path Society could not compare to the Orthodox Society because of the latter's two overwhelming giants.

Shaolin Temple of Buddhism.

Wudang Sect of Taoism.

Those two giants not only represented the Nine Sects One Gang and the Martial Alliance, but could be said to represent the entire martial world.

That was why making an enemy of Wudang Sect or Shaolin Temple was no different from making an enemy of the entire martial world.

"Why would Wudang specifically choose Young Master Jin and the Taeul Sect as if they'd been waiting for you?"

If I had to find a reason, it would be what happened at Demon Spirit Plateau. Still, could that really be called my fault?

Yong Soa had run away alone to save himself inside the Soul-Destroying Formation, and I had been dragged into the formation while trying to stop him.

Wouldn't it be natural for those who witnessed the carnage there and barely survived to curse Yong Soa with one heart, regardless of whether they belonged to the Black Path or the White Path?

If Yong Soa had merely been a disciple of the Mount Cang Sect, every survivor from Demon Spirit Plateau would have marched to Mount Cang and held a hundred-day protest demanding that the sect hand over the culprit.

The only reason the matter had been quietly buried while Yong Soa avoided much of the criticism was proof of just how powerful Wudang was.

"Yong Soa may have made them shine brighter, but the disciples of the Hyeon generation are said to be far beyond others their age. If they hold a grudge against the Taeul Sect, giving up the examination may be one option."

After seeing the list of Gate III opponents, every Taeul Sect disciple except me looked utterly stunned. Moyong Jaehwa, who had come out early that morning to carefully choose an opponent, could not forgive such unreasonable, one-sided tyranny and had gone to confront Wudang Sect.

"If we give up Gate III, we might fail the examination altogether."

Possessing a Gate III Token meant one had the ability, wealth, and family backing to match.

Taking a Gate Token from such people was never easy.

Even if we managed to take one, we would also have to consider how to escape the other pursuers afterward.

Some people even kept themselves physically separated from their Gate Tokens.

In the end, when comparing, "Will we become the ones running away?" with "Will we take someone else's Gate Token and then become the ones running away?" the former was clearly much easier.

"Haah..."

That was why Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran were worrying over our examination instead of finding opponents for themselves.

Click.

The door opened, and Moyong Jaehwa stomped in, breathing heavily.

Naturally, we stopped talking and looked at him.

"My prediction was correct."

"What prediction?"

"As expected, they had no particular reason. They claim they have questions to ask about their missing junior brother, but the timing doesn't match, does it?"

Thinking about it, it was not even that unfair. Wudang Sect had so many disciples that it was natural for them to split their people among the four examination gates across the country. It was also natural for them to seek out the opponent who seemed weakest at Gate III.

And if that seemingly weakest opponent happened to be the person who had dragged their sect's name through the mud, they had all the more reason to eliminate them.

"Right, I thought so. You should go out and choose an opponent first."

Moyong Jaehwa was an examinee too. I appreciated that he had acted for my sake, but he could not neglect his own examination.

"I already chose one."

"Huh? Didn't you go to Wudang Sect?"

"I did. They were so impossible to reason with that I told them I'd teach them a lesson myself."

"......"

● Gate III Examination Opponents

Hyeongun of Wudang Sect - Moyong Jaehwa of the Moyong Clan

#

"At this point, shouldn't we accept him as a lay disciple of the Taeul Sect?"

Geumpyo said that as he watched Moyong Jaehwa get more outraged than the actual Taeul Sect disciples.

"I don't know. If we did, the Wind-Splitting Sword would either grind the Taeul Sect to dust or cripple Jaehwa's legs."

Since he would not split the only son of the direct line in half, he would probably grind the Taeul Sect to dust. Maybe it would be fine once Cheongi's Mechanism Formation was complete.

Even in my previous life, Moyong Jaehwa had been unable to walk his own path because of the Wind-Splitting Sword's meddling.

The duty of being the only man who could carry on the bloodline of a direct family branch was tragic by nature, wasn't it?

"Either way, we'll give up Gate III."

"Huh?"

At Geumpyo's abrupt words, Eunho and Dongryong nodded at the same time.

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"Taking on a challenge is all well and good, but shouldn't someone from the Taeul Sect become the first in history to enter the Martial Arts Academy?"

"......"

I tilted my head, unable to understand what Geumpyo meant.

Yet he tilted his head right back at me.

"If we get injured in a spar, we won't be able to help you through the Great Journey. Are you planning to go alone?"

"Huh?"

At last, Geumpyo struck his chest in frustration and shouted.

"How are we supposed to fight Wudang Sect's swordsmen?!"

Was this not insubordination? Daring to raise his voice at an eldest senior brother who was like the heavens?

"Geumpyo..."

"Yes!!!"

"Your voice is a little loud."

"Um... I don't think it is?"

I could understand their reactions.

How frightening were Wudang's swordsmen?

Even setting aside the depth and efficiency of their sword forms, their internal energy was on a completely different level.

Did Azure Stone Milk flow through the waters of Mount Wudang? Did they eat ten-thousand-year fleeceflower root at every meal? The average internal energy of disciples who had only just reached adulthood exceeded half a gapja.

That was only the average. The internal energy of disciples capable of entering the regular examination would be greater still.

Hyeonsu, the bastard who had chosen me in particular, had passed the regular examination as the top candidate of his class in my previous life and later joined the Dragon-Phoenix Association.

Yong Soa's brilliance made the disciples of the Hyeon generation look like fools, but taken individually, they too were people who would one day leave their names in martial history.

By simple calculation, the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers would have to attack together just to face one Wudang swordsman.

The Martial Alliance would never listen if we said, "Their internal energy is stronger, so the three of us will go together!" And it was no pointless concern to worry that they might be badly injured because we already had bad blood with Wudang, leaving them unable to complete the Great Journey.

"Of course, I don't think you'd be unable to take the examination without us, Senior Brother. Still, wouldn't it be more convenient to have us with you than not?"

"Geumpyo..."

"Yes."

"I'll let it slide this once."

"Hehe... Yes!"

For some reason, Geumpyo rubbed his hands together and gave me a servile smile.

Eunho sighed as he watched his older brother.

"Do you want us not to give in just because something seems impossible? If that's what you mean, we can do it. But looking at the bigger picture, I thought it would be more helpful to move together with you, Eldest Senior Brother."

Dongryong hugged the Changgung Sword tightly and nodded over and over.

"Why are you thinking about losing first?"

"......"

"Do you know that the ‘spirit’ in essence, qi, and spirit cannot be negative?"

Geumpyo, Eunho, and Dongryong all tilted their heads in the same direction.

"Tsk, tsk. Studying martial arts formulas is not all that matters. Without understanding and insight into the affairs of the world, you'll be trapped within your own limits."

"Does understanding and insight into the affairs of the world let us overcome the difference in internal energy?"

How disrespectful, when I, the great eldest senior brother, was speaking. Eunho dared to answer like that.

Eunho, you had definitely been poisoned by the demonic qi of the Dark Soul-Severing Unit.

"Geumpyo."

"Yes!"

"Aaagh!"

After being choked by Geumpyo, Eunho rubbed his neck and deeply furrowed his brow.

I continued.

"The moment you ask, 'What should we do to avoid losing?' the thought of losing is already planted in your mind."

"Then what should we think?"

"You must think about how to win before you can find a way to win."

"A way to win?"

"Think carefully. The clue is close to you."

Normally, there was no way a Taeul Sect disciple could defeat a Wudang swordsman.

Yet if they considered the nature of a spar and understood that their ultimate goal was not to kill or incapacitate the opponent, but to obtain a Gate Token, other options appeared.

Besides, their eldest senior brother was a third-rate martial artist who had memorized every Shattering Form of the Nine Sects One Gang.

The problem was that I only knew the Shattering Form for Wudang Sect's Taiji Sword. Still, that only meant we had one problem to solve.

If they remembered how I fought Namgung San before, they would find the answer.

"...Ah!"

After thinking for a long time, Eunho opened his mouth as if he had realized something.

"Do you understand now?"

"Could it be... that you believe in some kind of new religion? Something like, if you believe, it will happen...?"

"......"

#

"To think I have to waste my time on something like this."

Hyeonsu had heard that Ilgak of Shaolin had obtained three Gate I Tokens and two Gate II Tokens.

It was nothing compared to Hyeonsu's original goal of five Gate I Tokens and two Gate II Tokens, but at the moment, Hyeonsu could not help envying Ilgak.

Shaolin Revered in the North.

Wudang Honored in the South.

People often described the two great pillars of the martial world this way, but the scales had shifted toward Wudang long ago.

Wasn't it obvious from the fact that the Martial Alliance headquarters stood in Hubei Province, where Wudang was located, rather than in Henan Province, where Shaolin stood?

Common folk enjoyed watching others fight. They wanted Wudang to have a rival, and Shaolin was the natural choice for that role. Even if ignorant people compared Shaolin to Wudang, there was no reason to be offended.

Still, even someone at the highest position had to prove their worth.

The instant Henan Province was selected as the site of this regular examination, Hyeonsu had not minded defeating Shaolin and proving Wudang's value to the martial world once more.

"But Taeul Sect?"

Hyeonsu had obtained one Gate I Token and was searching for another mountain stronghold to earn the next one.

After thinking of how Yong Soa, the eldest senior brother of the previous class, had entered the Martial Arts Academy with an unprecedented record, Hyeonsu had been prepared to surpass not only Ilgak, but his own eldest senior brother's record as well.

Yet Hyeonsu's examination had come to a halt there. The main sect had sent spiritual medicine, then immediately moved Hyeonsu and the junior disciples to Nanyue.

"It couldn't be helped. We're not swayed by the words of ignorant people, but they directly mentioned Eldest Senior Brother."

Taemyeong was another victim of this examination.

As Taemyeong said, the public outcry had grown too loud for the great Wudang Sect to ignore.

"Hmph! What a baseless epithet. The Black Flame Dragon, of all things."

Ever since Hyeoncheong, their eldest senior brother, had earned the epithet Yong Soa through the regular examination, Yong Soa had symbolized Wudang's strength and been the pride of Wudang Sect's disciples.

Even Ilgak, called the Little Buddha, was no more than a star in the night sky compared to the sun that was Yong Soa.

Yet those lawless Black Path scum had found some disciple from the insignificant Taeul Sect, given him the epithet Black Flame Dragon, and compared him to Yong Soa.

There seemed to have been some misunderstanding, as White Path sects occasionally spoke of cursing Yong Soa too, but Hyeonsu did not care much about it.

If Elder Brother Hyeoncheong had made that choice at Demon Spirit Plateau, it must have been the best choice at the time.

"Still, if the Wind-Splitting Sword personally guaranteed him, could it not mean that the Taeul Sword Emperor's martial arts have returned?"

"That elder's eccentric behavior is nothing new. They probably found some martial art of uncertain authenticity for some ridiculous reason and declared it to be the Taeul Sword Emperor's martial art."

Hadn't the Henan Branch Head said that there had never been an examination as chaotic as this regular examination?

All kinds of bizarre rumors and strange events kept occurring. Wasn't Jin Sowoon, who was expected to be dragged here by Taejeong, now standing at Nanyue on his own two feet?

"Still, I hope that rumor is true."

"Ah, that one."

Nine Gate I Tokens and seven Gate II Tokens, was it? If that were true, surpassing Ilgak and entering the Martial Arts Academy as the top candidate would not be an empty dream. Of course, it was impossible to believe.

"Senior Brother, it's time."

The first spar today belonged to the youngest, Hyeongun.

There were only four Taeul Sect disciples, so Hyeonsu had intended to find Hyeongun another suitable opponent. Then Moyong Jaehwa had suddenly charged in, gotten angry all on his own, and applied to become Hyeongun's opponent.

"Don't worry too much. The Moyong Clan's Heaven-and-Earth Shattering Flash Sword is excellent, but Moyong Jaehwa's aptitude falls far short of the Smiling Iron Sword's."

"I'm not worried."

The large training ground was filled with people waiting for their examinations, others waiting for their opponents, and spectators who had come simply to watch.

All members of Wudang Sect entered the large training ground, and not long after, the Taeul Sect disciples and their companions arrived.

"What a strange sight."

Moyong Jaehwa still looked furious, while Jin Sowoon and Dongryong of the Taeul Sect seemed no different than usual. Geumpyo and Eunho, on the other hand, looked exhausted, as though they had not slept a moment all night.

"At this rate, they may as well have given up the spar."

"Don't let your guard down until the end."

Hyeonsu said that, but inwardly, he could not suppress a sneer.

This was how it was. Facing Wudang placed this kind of burden on an opponent.

"Begin!"

At the referee's shout, Hyeongun and Moyong Jaehwa assumed their opening stances.

Hyeongun displayed Wudang's pride, the Taiji Sword, while Moyong Jaehwa used the Moyong Clan's primary sword art, the Heaven-and-Earth Shattering Flash Sword.

Considering that the Wind-Splitting Sword's epithet had ultimately originated from the Heaven-and-Earth Shattering Flash Sword, it was not a sword art to be underestimated. Yet what mattered was the person wielding it.

"It's over."

The tip of Moyong Jaehwa's sword trembled faintly as he took his opening stance.

An ordinary person would not notice it, but someone who had achieved unity of sword and self could immediately recognize the flaw.

The Heaven-and-Earth Shattering Flash Sword had elevated the two incompatible principles of weight and speed into one sword art. Unless the practitioner reached a certain level and attained realization on their own, it was a martial art that could not unleash its destructive power.

The Taiji Sword, meanwhile, was based on yin and yang, the two natures that formed the foundation of all creation. It was an efficient sword art through which one could gain realization simply by practicing it for a long time, even without a sudden moment of enlightenment.

Clang, clang, clang.

Sure enough, after thirty exchanges, Moyong Jaehwa's hands and feet began to tangle.

From yin to yang, then from yang to yin. By changing its nature alone, the Taiji Sword kept Moyong Jaehwa from displaying his own sword art.

The fury on his face gave way to panic, then finally became an expression that looked ready to cry.

Unable to cleanly cut through the Taiji Sword with speed or crush it with weight, Moyong Jaehwa was dragged around by its shifting blade until a sword rested beneath his throat.

"Stop! Candidate Moyong Jaehwa! Will you continue?"

"Huff, huff, huff, huff."

Had he found a suitable opponent and sparred, he would have passed Gate III.

Instead, he had recklessly challenged a Wudang swordsman with no chance of success. For a martial artist who needed to examine himself with calm reason at all times, it was conduct unworthy of one.

The frustration from such a foolish choice would turn inward as self-blame.

"Answer me! Will you continue?"

"I... I lost."

People let out cries of admiration as Moyong Jaehwa lowered his head.

Wudang had not even shown its true strength, yet simply seeing a small part of Wudang's power filled people with awe.

That was Wudang's place in the martial world.

"Next opponents, Hyeonsu of Wudang Sect and Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect!"

Cheers grew louder across the training ground when Hyeonsu's name was called.

His name had not shone beside Yong Soa's, but Hyeonsu was already famous for possessing unbelievable internal energy and skill for someone his age. Hyeonsu, Wudang's Little Dragon, possessed a gapja of internal energy despite having only just reached adulthood.

"Senior Brother Hyeonsu, they say the Taeul Sect's new sword art combines illusion and transformation."

Hyeonsu could not hold back his sneer at Taemyeong's words.

"I heard it had changed, yet it amounts only to illusion and transformation? Remember this as well. Taiji cannot be shaken by deception."

"We'll remember!"

When Hyeonsu stepped onto the large training ground, Jin Sowoon stood there, black from his martial uniform to his sword.

"You had the nerve not to run away."

"Run away? Me?"

Seeing Jin Sowoon nonchalantly point to himself shattered the peace Hyeonsu had built through Taoist cultivation. He wanted to snap that finger.

"Your courage is admirable, so I'll yield you three exchanges."

Jin Sowoon tilted his head. Naturally, he would not understand why someone who was practically a mortal enemy would yield him three exchanges.

"I want to see the Taeul Sword Emperor's sword art you supposedly acquired. Wouldn't everyone gathered here be disappointed if this ended before they could witness that legendary martial art?"

Laughter burst out from every direction at Hyeonsu's words.

“Hahahahaha!”

Jin Sowoon considered the matter for a while longer, then asked the referee.

"Is this allowed?"

He was still pointing at Hyeonsu with that finger Hyeonsu wanted to break.

"If both parties agree, it does not matter."

"All right. Are you sure this is fine?"

"Go ahead, as much as you..."

As Hyeonsu continued speaking, Jin Sowoon's black martial uniform swelled as though it would burst.

An ominous wave of energy erupted from him, and Hyeonsu's heart dropped.

His instincts told him there was danger, but his reason said otherwise. The conflicting thoughts made his movements hesitate.

Swoosh.

The moment Jin Sowoon swung his sword, his Black Dragon Sword appeared in every direction. Before and behind, left and right, even filling the sky, black swords covered everything.

He knew they were illusions and transformations, but there were too many to tell which was real.

Forgetting that he had promised to yield three exchanges, Hyeonsu instinctively displayed the Taiji Sword.

But...

'What am I supposed to block first?'

There were too many swords.

Footnotes:

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