WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 102: The Grand Journey Through Hellish Chaos
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“See? I told you! I said my senior brothers would pull it off!”
Though she said that, Wang Geumsan knew.
Ever since her senior brothers had left Taeul Sect, Wang Soso had been drawing dawn water every morning and offering prayers.
He found it endearing how she jumped for joy while clutching the letter sent from Nanyue, so Wang Geumsan simply pretended not to know and nodded.
“You were right. They really did it.”
In truth, Wang Geumsan's feelings were not much different from Wang Soso's.
The hellish regular examination had begun with only four of them.
He had assumed they would simply travel through the martial world, gain some experience, and return.
Yet they had not only passed Gate I and Gate II with excellent results, but also won Gate III Tokens from Wudang Sect.
Every one of Taeul Sect's four disciples had done so.
There was no doubt that this result came from Jin Sowoon's abilities.
No matter whom one brought in, nobody else could have produced the same outcome as Jin Sowoon.
‘If I'd known this would happen, should I have asked him to become my son-in-law instead of offering him a job?’
For a time, rumors had circulated that he was trying to bring Jin Sowoon into the family as a son-in-law.
He had laughed it off as a misunderstanding, but looking back, that had been his best chance.
“Tsk.”
As a merchant, he could not help regretting missed opportunities.
“Come to think of it, why did Wudang Sect choose my senior brothers?”
Wang Soso's smiling face turned cold. Wang Geumsan inwardly flinched.
“W-Well. Wouldn't Wudang Sect choose the weakest group at Gate III? From that perspective, choosing Taeul Sect was only natural.”
Wang Geumsan hoped Wang Soso would let it go, but her thoughtful expression made it clear she would not.
“So they still hold a grudge over what happened at Demon Spirit Plateau.”
“...”
She had seen straight through it.
After the incident at Demon Spirit Plateau, Wudang Sect had not hidden its displeasure over Yong Soa's reputation being damaged.
Taeul Sect had also recovered the Taeul Sword Emperor's true teachings with Moyong Gang's recognition, drawing the attention of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans.
Wudang Sect had chosen Taeul Sect because of Yong Soa, and because they wanted to confirm the Taeul Sword Emperor's sword forms for themselves.
“Father, how much business does the Wang Family Estate do with Wudang Sect?”
“Now, Soso.”
Not long ago, she had also cut off the trades tied to Mount Hua Sect and Mount Cang Sect.
Furious over what the Dragon-Phoenix Association had done at Taeul Sect, Wang Soso had told Wang Geumsan everything and asked him to pressure Mount Hua and Mount Cang.
Yet Wang Geumsan, a merchant with a level head, would never allow himself to suffer losses over such youthful emotions.
“I'll make you twice the profit we earned from Mount Hua and Mount Cang.”
That was how Wang Soso's new ventures had begun.
After dismantling every business connection tied to Mount Hua and Mount Cang, she began establishing new trade routes to the north and the Western Regions.
She had not accepted losses even at the outset.
The moment Wang Soso reached out, partners seemed to extend their hands as though they had been waiting for her. The Wang Family Estate's profits grew enormously, as did its sphere of influence.
Of course, there were side effects.
With trade cut off from Mount Hua and Mount Cang, they could no longer expect protection throughout Shaanxi Province. The Wang Family Estate had to invest heavily in expanding its own armed forces.
‘That isn't entirely a bad thing.’
The larger the estate became, the greater its power to expand further.
The real problem was that Wang Geumsan himself was exhausted.
Soso might draw up the proposals and plans, but Wang Geumsan had to carry them out in the end.
For Wang Geumsan, who wanted to spend more time with Soso than develop the family business, it was torture.
“Wudang Sect does not do much business with us. Besides, isn't this how matters in the martial world usually go? Let it pass.”
Wang Soso remained firm.
“No. Father, if you retreat once, you'll have to retreat twice. If the Wang Family Estate had been the sort of family that bit down on its enemies and never let go, would something like my kidnapping have happened?”
Blood did not lie. Wang Soso truly was the Wang Family Estate's daughter.
She had sharp business instincts, and the countless books she had read while forcibly confined at home throughout her life had broadened her horizons. Her natural gift for speaking also meant she never gave an inch to anyone.
“Haa...”
In the end, she always got what she wanted.
“If Wudang Sect does not have much business with us, then we should take their business away from them.”
“...”
“Father, I'll submit a proposal. Will you look it over for me?”
She asked him to judge whether the plan was good, but Wang Geumsan knew better than anyone that it could not possibly be anything less than excellent.
Driven by a desperate desire to rest even a little longer, Wang Geumsan changed the subject.
“Wouldn't it be better to celebrate your senior brothers' victory first?”
At the mention of Taeul Sect's disciples, her face softened again.
The child who had seemed like a fierce wolf a moment ago became a puppy.
“I'll hold a small feast. Why don't you spend some time with the people from Taeul Sect?”
If they feasted for a week or so, perhaps she would forget about revenge and everything else.
“Really? But I heard there is still an important gate left. If we throw a feast too carelessly...”
Wang Geumsan's heart began racing.
“Regardless of the examination's outcome, Taeul Sect's disciples defeating Wudang Sect's disciples is a symbol that will remain in history. Isn't it more important to give such a process its proper meaning?”
He spoke with a desperation he had never felt even while negotiating with royalty. Wang Soso finally nodded.
“I suppose... you're right?”
“Of course. The process is more important than anything else.”
“Thank you, Father!”
Wang Soso leaped into Wang Geumsan's arms.
His chest swelled at the warmth of his daughter in his arms, something he had not felt in a long time.
“Can I tell the Taeul Sect senior brothers this news?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
The instant he finished speaking, Wang Soso ran off.
Wang Geumsan instinctively reached out and grabbed her shoulder to stop her.
“Soso, you mustn't run...”
He was certain he had grabbed Soso's shoulder, yet his hand passed right through her.
“An afterimage?”
When he looked up, Wang Soso was already far ahead.
Wang Geumsan could not hide his surprise. Because of her constitution, Wang Soso had only been able to learn the foundational Taeul Mind Method.
How could every step and movement of hers contain such profound mystery?
“Huh...”
Wang Geumsan decided he would have to visit Taeul Sect soon and ask about it.
“Perhaps I'll bring up the son-in-law matter too.”
#
“Haa...”
“Hmm...”
“Ahem...”
An awkward silence hung in the air.
Whenever their eyes met, uncomfortable noises slipped out.
“Um... I'm fine.”
Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa could not hide their exasperated looks at Moyong Jaehwa's words.
“We aren't fine, idiot!”
“Haa... How am I supposed to face Sister Seol...?”
Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa had each defeated their opponents and obtained Gate III Tokens. Taeul Sect's disciples, who had been expected to lose to Wudang Sect, had all won as well. It should have been an occasion for celebration.
Yet Moyong Jaehwa, who had been considered a promising candidate, had lost to a Wudang Sect disciple and dampened the mood.
“Still, isn't it fortunate that Eldest Brother and everyone from Taeul Sect passed? Doesn't this prove that justice still stands firm in the martial world? Haha.”
“...”
“...”
Not only Jin Sowoon but even the Moyong Clan martial artists looked at him in dumbfounded disbelief.
While Moyong Jaehwa gave an awkward laugh, Namgung Seonhwa looked at Jin Sowoon.
“We should leave immediately, right?”
Jin Sowoon shook his head.
“We rest today.”
“What?”
Namgung Seonhwa's eyes widened at the unexpected answer. She had assumed that, now that they had Gate Tokens, they would leave faster than anyone else.
“The things I ordered for the final Great Journey have not arrived yet. We will also leave alongside those who pass on the second day, so we can spread the pursuers out a little.”
“The things you ordered?”
“They should make the Great Journey a little easier.”
“...”
Before Namgung Seonhwa could even guess what they might be, Moyong Jaehwa cautiously approached Jin Sowoon.
“Eldest Brother, could we come with you too?”
“...”
“...”
“...”
Jin Sowoon, Seong Moran, and Namgung Seonhwa all looked at Moyong Jaehwa coldly.
“You need to obtain a Gate III Token, don't you?”
Moyong Jaehwa's only remaining chance was to take a Gate III Token during the Great Journey.
If he traveled with Jin Sowoon's group, who had no choice but to flee, he could lose even that final opportunity.
“I don't think I have much hope anyway. And if I stay with you, Eldest Brother, perhaps I'll have a chance somehow...”
“...”
Moyong Jaehwa still had eighty people with him. If he chose a suitable Gate III Token holder and fought at the right time, he still had a chance to pass.
“Will that be all right?”
“Of course.”
“No, I am asking whether it will be all right once the Wind-Splitting Sword finds out that you traveled with us.”
“...Ah! I-I'll be fine.”
Moyong Jaehwa muttered under his breath, “I'll get beaten to death anyway...”
Jin Sowoon let out a quiet sigh and asked Unit Leader Baek Wongak, who led the Moyong Clan martial artists. Speaking with Moyong Jaehwa, who seemed to have already lost his reason, appeared impossible.
“Wouldn't it be better for him to pursue a Gate III Token?”
Baek Wongak sighed.
“The Young Master already said last night that he wanted to accompany you.”
“But he did not obtain a Gate III Token...”
“The Young Master's stubbornness rivals the Wind-Splitting Sword's. He is also worried about Young Lady Namgung and Young Lady Seong. Besides, our clan owes you a debt, Sowoon.”
Baek Wongak did not say it outright, but Jin Sowoon understood that they were referring to Moyong Sangwon.
Only then did he realize that Moyong Jaehwa was giving up the rest of his examination for their sake.
They could not make it through the Great Journey with fewer than forty people, excluding the injured.
For them, Moyong Jaehwa had chosen to abandon his own examination and accompany them.
“...All right. Then we'll do that.”
Jin Sowoon could not reject Moyong Jaehwa's consideration. As he let out a quiet sigh, Moyong Jaehwa, who had been tearing at his hair, brightened and jumped around happily.
#
The next day, two strange-looking steel carriages arrived in front of the inn.
The rough, unadorned carriages had iron plates attached all over their exteriors.
Moyong Jaehwa looked at them curiously and asked, “Eldest Brother, what are these for?”
“I plan to use them for sleeping during the Great Journey.”
“Ah, did you order them separately because of the ladies?”
“No. Everyone will take turns sleeping in them.”
“Do you mean taking turns and sleeping one day at a time?”
“No, taking turns sleeping while we march.”
“What?”
“We will keep moving except when we eat. If we're going to do that, won't we need a safe place to sleep, even if only for a while?”
“...”
Moyong Jaehwa stood there with his mouth hanging open, staring at me as though he could not believe what he had heard.
I took out the newly ordered shields from one of the steel carriages and handed them to the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers.
“Haa...”
“Tsk.”
Geumpyo and Eunho still accepted them with long sighs.
“Why? You don't like them?”
“Of course we do. Imagine how disappointed our parents would be.”
“You don't have to wear them if you don't want to.”
“What?”
“Really?”
Geumpyo and Eunho brightened at my words.
“Oh? It looks like you ordered new ones. We ordered a few spares too.”
Namgung Seonhwa approached us, wearing a small shield like ours on her left arm.
“I was so envious of them on the Puyang Plains.”
Not only Namgung Seonhwa, but Seong Moran, the Changgung Unit, and even the Iron Sword Sect martial artists all wore small shields.
Moyong Jaehwa and the Moyong Clan martial artists could only stare at them in bewilderment.
“You did well. These will be necessary during the Great Journey ahead.”
“Huh? Aren't Geumpyo and Eunho wearing theirs?”
Namgung Seonhwa asked in surprise. The two answered with awkward smiles.
“What are you saying? We were just putting them on.”
“I can't use martial arts without one of these.”
I gave a bitter smile and turned to Moyong Jaehwa.
“We brought spare shields, so distribute them to any Moyong Clan martial artists who want one.”
“Ah... Y-Yes.”
#
And so the Great Journey began.
From the moment we left Nanyue, people began following us one by one.
As before, some kept their distance while others followed closely behind.
“There are a lot of pursuers, just as expected.”
At least their numbers were limited because it was only the second day, and many candidates were still taking the examination.
Once the third day came, the Gate III examination ended, and the failures were decided, the pursuit would become fiercer.
“I'll push our speed as high as possible.”
“Wouldn't it be difficult if we start pushing from the beginning?”
“Once we pass Puyang, there is a valley ahead. We will get there as early as possible, then rest briefly.”
“Rest? Didn't you prepare those steel carriages so we would not have to rest?”
“I plan to strike Wudang Sect there.”
“What?”
Namgung Seonhwa's eyes went wide.
I pointed behind us.
“The most dangerous opponents among them are Wudang Sect. If we do not deal with them, the Great Journey will become much harder.”
“Even so, attacking them in the middle of all this...”
Dongryong suddenly cut in.
“Sister Seonhwa, I was told that when people chase you without reason, you should give them one.”
“What?”
Namgung Seonhwa's brow furrowed deeply.
“Who taught you something that ridiculous?”
Dongryong proudly pointed at me.
“...”
“No, that is not what it means...”
An awkward silence settled between Namgung Seonhwa and me.
This was unfair.
I had not told him that saying for a situation like this.
Footnotes:
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