WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 110: The Grand Journey Through Hellish Chaos (9)

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Everyone's eyes turned to me.

I didn't take my eyes off Ilmyeong.

"Is the Dragon-Phoenix Association here?"

For some reason, Ilmyeong glanced at Namgung Seonhwa before looking back at me.

"…Well, not everyone, but the Dragon-Phoenix Association has made its move."

"And the person who wants to see me is Yong Soa?"

"That is correct."

The Nine Sects One Gang were making moves that seemed unrelated to the examination, while the Dragon-Phoenix Association had appeared here for reasons I couldn't understand.

The conflicting information tangled in my head.

I was too drained to make a cool-headed decision.

Trying to analyze the situation would be too much.

Instead, I decided to make an instinctive choice based on intuition.

"Forget it. If this is meant to be a reconciliation, any other time would be better than now."

Ilmyeong chuckled at the mention of Demon Spirit Plateau.

"He probably won't apologize."

He said it as though it were an unchanging truth.

I knew it too, so I nodded.

"Then I have even less reason to see him."

Ilmyeong looked around. The darkness hid everyone's faces, yet he examined every corner without missing a single person.

"If this continues, failing the examination won't be the problem. Can you bear all the consequences, benefactor?"

"Those two might not have been able to take this examination in the first place because of him."

When I pointed at Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, Ilmyeong nodded again.

I'd been rather fond of Ilmyeong in my previous life, but seeing him act like this irritated me. Would he keep smiling like the Little Buddha even if I smacked him across the head?

"Young Master Jin."

Seong Moran joined the conversation.

"We're all right."

When Seong Moran looked at Namgung Seonhwa, Namgung Seonhwa nodded as well.

"I'm not all right."

"…What matters now isn't what happened at Demon Spirit Plateau. It's the Martial Arts Academy regular examination."

Everyone nodded without realizing it.

They wanted to escape this situation, whatever it took.

My intuition told me something entirely different, but now that everyone had said their piece, I couldn't hesitate any longer.

I rose.

"Where is he?"

#

Namgung Seonhwa, Moyong Jaehwa, and I set out together. I selected only those who had some influence within the Dragon-Phoenix Association.

Ilmyeong slowed the ghostly speed of his Vajra Immovable Body Art to match ours.

Namgung Seonhwa and Moyong Jaehwa were already in poor condition, and simply using movement arts was consuming much of their mental strength.

After following him for about half an hour, light began to shine in the distance.

Torches burned here and there, while a large bonfire lit up the surrounding area.

A fat pig turned above the fire, filling the air with a savory scent.

It was a far different scene from our own situation, with thousands pursuing us.

Feeling annoyed for no good reason, I said, "Do you have no consideration for Senior Little Buddha, who avoids cooked food?"

He replied with a smile like the Buddha's.

"This isn't for us. It's for all of you."

"…"

"I thought you'd need nourishment first, once you had the chance to rest."

The unpleasant feeling from my previous life returned.

It felt as though things concerning us were changing around us without anyone bothering to tell us.

I shut my mouth and followed the Little Buddha.

Past the bonfire, a smaller fire had been lit farther inside.

Seven men and women stood on either side of it.

Some were faces I'd seen at the Taeul Sect, while others were faces from my previous life.

At the center stood that man.

"It's been a long time."

"…"

Namgung Seonhwa and Moyong Jaehwa started to cup their fists, but after looking at me, they lowered their hands again.

Some of the men and women standing to either side frowned at my rudeness toward a senior, but Yong Soa himself showed no reaction.

"I hear you're going through a difficult time."

His calm tone scraped at my nerves.

"Before that…"

Everyone's eyes turned toward me.

"Apologize first."

"…!"

"…!"

"…!"

Their eyes widened in shock. One person even gaped as though they couldn't believe it.

Yong Soa stared directly at me.

In my previous life, I hadn't even dared meet his gaze. Those eyes had seemed capable of seeing through everything.

"My actions were only natural. I have nothing to apologize for."

"Do you know how many people nearly died because of you?"

"At the time, the best choice was for me to leave and bring back help. The fact that you deciphered the formation and escaped is merely a judgment made in hindsight from the outcome."

"Did it never occur to you that your actions tangled the formation further and made rescue more difficult?"

"In the end, you deciphered the formation, and I did the best I could. Everyone chose their own best course, so no one needs to apologize."

"You certainly know how to string together sophistry."

"I heard your companions are exhausted. Will you keep wasting time like this?"

Yong Soa looked at Namgung Seonhwa and Moyong Jaehwa. I readily nodded.

"Why did you call me here?"

"To help you."

"Ha!"

I was the one who couldn't control my emotions at Yong Soa's words.

Who would have thought the day would come when I heard him say he wanted to help me instead of kill me?

"Why?"

"Because it is my best course."

He said it calmly, as though our past meant nothing to him.

Knowing that his attitude was sincere made it all the more irritating.

"Explain."

Yong Soa tilted his head as though he didn't understand.

"Does the reason matter?"

"Justification is the greatest driving force behind the White Path. Would Yong Soa, a hero of the White Path, come all the way here without one?"

Yong Soa stared at me with his usual alien gaze.

"The Orthodox Society, formed around the Nine Sects One Gang, is calling every disciple here except the core disciples of each sect."

Namgung Seonhwa's hand trembled.

Even imagining it seemed painful for her. I quietly took her hand.

"They're coming just to catch us?"

"Not you all. You."

"That's what I want to know. Why are they coming specifically for me? Is it simply because I'm expected to enter as the top student?"

"That is how important it is to the Orthodox Society now."

"And you intend to help me correct that wrong?"

One of the men standing beside Yong Soa stepped forward.

"This brat has gone too far. He was like this at the Taeul Sect too, but his arrogance knows no bounds."

So Jeho of Qingcheng was there too.

I gave him a glance, ignored him, and continued looking at Yong Soa.

So Jeho's face reddened, but I didn't care.

"Fine. How do you intend to help? You aren't saying you'll take us to the Martial Arts Academy."

"That is what I will do."

"What?"

"Do you think I can't?"

The Dragon-Phoenix Association was made up of those with the finest records among the current generation of Martial Arts Academy graduates. Yong Soa and Ilmyeong were both here as well.

"Isn't the question whether you should or not?"

It was something they should not do.

"The examination rules state that anyone who receives help from their sect, alliance, or those connected to them will be disqualified."

"Do you believe everyone follows the examination rules?"

"…"

"You only need to decide. Will you do it or not?"

"Fine. I can't refuse under these circumstances. I would like to hear the conditions."

"Conditions?"

"There must be a price."

"There is none."

At Yong Soa's words, Namgung Seonhwa and Moyong Jaehwa widened their eyes along with me.

"You only need to enter the Martial Arts Academy with the best results and become the top incoming student."

Yong Soa slowly raised his hand, then pointed at the two beside me.

"However, neither they nor any of your companions may come with you."

A strange silence settled over the area.

"…"

"…"

Namgung Seonhwa and Moyong Jaehwa looked empty, as though the sand they had been clutching in their hands had slipped away.

"Hehehehe."

I had expected it, so a laugh escaped me instead.

"As expected, that small-minded nature of yours hasn't changed."

"Brat, you've gone too far!"

I paid So Jeho's shout no mind.

"I refuse."

"Why?"

Yong Soa looked utterly unable to understand.

I gave the best answer I could.

"Because it isn't the right thing to do."

For the first time, Yong Soa's expression cracked faintly.

"Explain."

"Explain, huh…"

He probably disliked the powers that currently controlled the Martial Alliance.

In a few years, Yong Soa would create his own faction and gradually consume the Martial Alliance.

Shaking up the established powers and reminding them of their incompetence was something rising factions had to do.

The arrival of a new hero could also provide justification to replace the people of the Orthodox Society and the Elders' Council.

What was more, if he created that hero with his own hands and could mold him as he pleased, it would be even better.

A person from a lowly sect whom he could discard without trouble once they were no longer useful.

Many thoughts crossed my mind, but I did not bother voicing them.

Instead, I turned my mind toward finding the best way to provoke him.

"Because I cannot agree with the justice you speak of."

His justice had ultimately preserved the lineage of the White Path.

Yet in the end, his justice had abandoned all my companions.

"We've wasted enough time. I wouldn't call it payment, but buy us about a day. The Dragon-Phoenix Association should be capable of that much."

As I turned to leave, So Jeho stepped forward again.

"I haven't told you that you may leave."

Ignoring him, I took a step forward.

"You bastard!"

So Jeho of Qingcheng released a powerful killing intent.

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't have bothered me, but now it washed over my entire body and seemed to shred my nerves.

Namgung Seonhwa and Moyong Jaehwa groaned and collapsed to the ground.

The killing intent he had released unconsciously injured them internally.

"Ugh!"

When Namgung Seonhwa retched and spat out a mouthful of black blood, So Jeho's face finally turned pale.

He looked as though he had never expected this to happen.

The White-Handed Divine Maiden, Dang Seohui, quickly rushed over and checked Namgung Seonhwa's pulse. She took out a medicinal pill and put it into Namgung Seonhwa's mouth.

Once Namgung Seonhwa's complexion improved, Dang Seohui examined Moyong Jaehwa as well. As she turned to return to her place, she stared at me.

"How much sleep have you had?"

"Since when?"

"…"

With an impassive expression, Dang Seohui reached out to check my pulse. I quickly pulled my hand away.

"…"

Dang Seohui looked at me again with a sulky expression.

"You need to give me your hand."

"No."

"Is this because of So Jeho?"

"Yes."

"If So Jeho dies, will you give me your hand?"

"Can you do that?"

So Jeho's face went white.

"I can make him shit blood for about a month. Give me your hand in return."

"You promised."

Dang Seohui checked my pulse, then opened her usually half-lidded eyes wide.

"Do you want to die?"

"Do I have a fatal illness?"

"You're in the worst condition out of everyone here. It wouldn't be strange if you died immediately."

Namgung Seonhwa and Moyong Jaehwa, whose complexions had recovered, stared at me without being able to speak.

"Get the pursuers off us so I can sleep."

"You'll die like this."

"Even so, I have no intention of giving up the Martial Arts Academy regular examination."

"Then you need to follow Yong Soa."

"Senior Seohui."

"Why are you calling me?"

"Isn't something strange about the people here?"

"?"

"They're all from the Nine Sects One Gang. Among the Five Great Clans, only you are here, Senior Seohui."

"…"

"Yong Soa's justice is ultimately nothing more than dividing people into his own side and everyone else."

Dang Seohui looked at Yong Soa with half-lidded eyes.

Yong Soa's expression had not changed.

"I don't know what Yong Soa said to win you over, Senior Seohui, but he is no different from the rotten remnants of the current Martial Alliance that he despises."

"…!"

"…!"

"…!"

Footnotes:

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