WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 120: The Black Flame Dragon in Golden Garments (5)

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“They say a woman's transformation is no crime, but I think this one should be.”

Come to think of it, Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran were both renowned beauties in Anhui Province.

They simply had not had time to dress up because the journey they had shared with me had been so harsh. If they truly put their minds to it, no one in this year's Academy class could compare to them.

At my teasing, Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran covered their mouths and laughed.

Even that sight looked like a painting, and soft groans rose from all around us.

“What an upsetting thing to say. This is how we normally look.”

I nodded without thinking at Seong Moran's words.

She looked much as she had when I first saw her at the Iron Sword Sect.

Recently, though, I had vividly remembered her chewing on mud-covered jerky without hesitation, so I had not been able to imagine this.

“But is that lady traveling with you?”

When I pointed to the other beauty standing behind them, the two women, along with the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers, wore strange smiles.

“You don't know?”

“You really don't know?”

Even counting my previous life, I had seen plenty of beautiful women from afar. Still, I had never seen one like the beauty before me, whose crimson robe and golden ornaments suited her so perfectly.

“It's me, Senior Brother.”

“...Huh?”

My mouth fell wide open.

The voice was unmistakably hers.

“Saryeon?”

The beauty in the crimson robe nodded.

“Ha! No, but your gait was definitely that of someone I'd never seen before.”

With my absolute memory, I could remember people in many ways.

I could not forget the gestures, gait, and movements of someone with whom I had spent my childhood twice.

Yet Saryeon's gait clearly was not Saryeon's. Her robe concealed much of it, but even her frame and build were not the same as before.

“Seriously, Young Master Jin? Is the thing you're most curious about after seeing your junior sister for the first time in half a year really her gait?”

Seong Moran clicked her tongue.

“It's fine, Sister. Senior Brother has always been a dull man who can't understand a woman's heart at all.”

“W-what are you talking about?”

“Should I tell them about how you confessed to Uncle Heo's youngest daughter and got rejected?”

As if taking revenge, Saryeon brought up an old story and sealed my mouth.

At Saryeon's story, Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa widened their eyes as though they had found something exciting to talk about.

...

But Saryeon must have arrived at the Academy before the conflict with the Iron Sword Sect was resolved. When had they become so close?

“Are you really not going to tell me what happened?”

Too much had changed for it to be explained by her simply growing taller.

Much like when I drank the Mita Sacred Water, Saryeon's body had changed to closely resemble a Martial God Physique.

Saryeon exchanged a meaningful glance with Namgung Seonhwa.

“I met the Divine Sword a while ago.”

“The Azure Emperor Divine Sword?”

“Yes. When he saw me, he said it would be a shame to waste my potential and performed Marrow Cleansing on me.”

“Wha...?”

“At the time, I still hadn't absorbed it.”

Saryeon did not say so directly, but I immediately understood what she meant. The various spiritual medicines she had received from Wang Soso, who no longer needed ice crystals.

If she had learned the Taeul True Scripture, she might have been able to absorb them, but the Great Tremor Divine Art alone had apparently been insufficient.

“That's how I ended up like this.”

Saryeon spun in place proudly. Even that small motion gave off a strange fighting spirit.

“That's wonderful. Did you thank the Divine Sword?”

“Of course.”

“Good. I'll thank him personally later as well.”

Namgung Seonhwa looked around and spoke to me.

“But why is it so quiet? We expected Young Master Jin to be swarmed by people, so we deliberately came a little late.”

...

The warm atmosphere brought by the three women quickly faded.

Eunho briefly explained what had happened, and all three of them frowned.

“That really happened?”

“This won't do.”

Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa looked even more enraged than we did.

“Seeing how deliberately they are ignoring us, this doesn't seem like it will be easy.”

Namgung Seonhwa's eyes widened.

“Young Master Jin, don't you know who I am?”

“...”

“I'm Namgung Seonhwa of the Five Great Clans. Just trust me.”

Namgung Seonhwa strode away, and we followed her.

The people who had avoided us as if we carried the plague only moments ago stood frozen like stone statues once the three women joined us.

“Senior Brother, was Miss Namgung always so fiery?”

Saryeon came close and spoke quietly. Recalling when I first met Namgung Seonhwa at Dongting Lake, I answered.

“No, I think she was a little calmer back then.”

“...Hmm, I knew it. They say you have to choose your friends well. At this rate, I'll feel terribly sorry toward the Divine Sword...”

Saryeon muttered something I could not understand.

“Brother Jeonggi!”

At Namgung Seonhwa's shout, the man who had been looking our way swiftly turned his head.

“Why are you pretending not to see your younger sister?”

Namgung Seonhwa put her hands on her hips and spoke angrily. The man who had turned away gave an awkward smile and rose from his seat.

“I kept looking over, wondering who that beautiful lady was. It was you, Sister Seonhwa.”

“Why are you avoiding my gaze? Have you done something wrong to me?”

“Ha ha, what are you talking about? I heard you had a hard time during the regular examination.”

“Ah, there is someone I should introduce to you. Someone who shared those hardships...”

Before Namgung Seonhwa could finish, the man called Jeonggi nodded.

“I know. Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect.”

He looked at me intently and nodded.

“I am Jegal Jeonggi of the Jegal Clan. We may not have met directly, but I have heard much about you.”

He was none other than Jegal Cheongi's older brother and Jegal Hyeonun's second son, Jegal Jeonggi.

He studied me with an odd expression before turning away.

“Hmm... Sister Seonhwa, I don't think this is the right time for us to talk.”

“What do you...”

Jegal Jeonggi looked toward a nearby table.

Namgung Gipyo, with his weasel-like face, was glaring at us with murderous eyes.

“This is a symbolic occasion. Trying to restore shattered trust by invoking old ties in a place like this can only look shallow.”

Unable to listen any longer, Seong Moran stepped forward.

“Brother Jeonggi, aren't you being too harsh?”

“Hoo...”

Jegal Jeonggi let out a brief sigh, then his expression changed.

Even the last trace of goodwill he had shown until moments ago had vanished.

“Why will you two not join the White Path Society?”

“That is...”

“Not only Namgung Gipyo, but every member of the Namgung Clan has joined the White Path Society. The Iron Sword Sect could have joined as well, but they chose not to. Doesn't that mean you have decided not to stand with us?”

“That is...”

“Of course, the Taeul Sect's people may join us as well. But why do you refuse?”

“Are you saying we should obey the White Path Society's orders? Whose will is this? Is it the will of the White Path Society's elders?”

Jegal Jeonggi shook his head as if frustrated.

“It is no one's will. If it were, the Orthodox Society and the Twelve Peak Alliance could not have all come together like this. This is only to prevent chaos.”

“What does that...”

“If a disciple of the Taeul Sect alone stands above the Nine Sects One Gang, the Five Great Clans, and the One Hundred Eight Peaks, what will the people of the martial world think?”

Namgung Seonhwa was so agitated that the veins at her temples stood out.

“What are you even saying?!”

“Young Master Jin must belong somewhere as well. If he does not wish to, it would be best for him to step down on his own. Otherwise, we will drag him down.”

“...”

“It may not be pleasant, but enjoy the banquet.”

“Any more discussion and this will turn into a shouting match.”

With those words, Jegal Jeonggi turned away.

We stopped Namgung Seonhwa from rushing at him and returned to our table.

...

...

The mood was even worse than before.

No one dared to speak.

“...I'm sorry, Young Master Jin. I couldn't help.”

“Why should you apologize, Miss Namgung? Please don't take it to heart.”

The choice was to be led around by the Nine Sects One Gang, the Five Great Clans, and the One Hundred Eight Peaks, or to give up the position of representative.

“Academy student Jin Sowoon.”

I turned toward the voice and saw one of the instructors approaching our table.

I rose from my seat and faced him.

“So my prediction was right after all.”

He was Yi Jagon, who had visited the Taeul Sect as a Gyeonseong Envoy.

“Weren't you with the Education Hall?”

“Now that the regular examination is over, there won't be any work for me as a Gyeonseong Envoy for a while. I was recently assigned here as an instructor.”

The Taeul Sect disciples already knew him, so they met his eyes and gave brief martial salutes, but nothing more came of it.

No, our situation was not comfortable enough to recognize someone and greet them brightly.

“Judging by the situation, things don't seem to be going well.”

“...Instructor, aren't you only acknowledging me now as well?”

“Ha ha, did you notice?”

“It would be a lie to say I didn't.”

“Try to understand. Unlike a Gyeonseong Envoy, an instructor has many people to watch out for.”

“Even so, aren't you in a better position than the academy teachers?”

Instructors were practically martial arts masters to the Academy students.

To hold that position, one needed not only martial skill but also a background and career that did not fall behind the students'.

“Your tongue is as sharp as ever.”

“Forgive me. I'm in a very poor mood today.”

“Well, I suppose you would be.”

Yi Jagon looked around as if he understood.

“Did you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“I know that you deliberately gave up special admission.”

“...”

“Well, it isn't unheard of. Among the One Hundred Eight Peaks, especially those in the Twelve Peak Alliance, there are occasionally people who do such things. But someone with nothing to his name, like you, making that choice is unheard of.”

I could not deny his words. To an outsider, my choice had been close to suicide.

“Still, when you gave up that privilege, I somehow expected to see you again at the Academy.”

“...What do you mean?”

“I realized it when I saw you deal with the Bloodburst Pellet. You don't do the sort of things others would think of.”

“...”

“I don't know what you think, but even now, I can't imagine anyone else becoming representative. I have a feeling you'll remain the representative. I don't know how you'll do it, though.”

After saying that, Yi Jagon patted my shoulder and headed toward another table.

He was headed for the table occupied by the Twelve Peak Alliance.

...

I quietly looked around and reflected on myself.

It felt as though my perspective had narrowed while I blindly pursued admission to the Martial Arts Academy.

‘Haah...’

Once I considered why I could not focus on the present, the answer came unexpectedly quickly.

“Young Master Jin?”

I walked out to the center of the banquet hall.

Standing there without a word, I slowly looked around.

The noise in the hall died down, and more and more people turned to watch me.

“What is he trying to do?”

“Is he stepping down as representative himself?”

“Then why is he dressed so extravagantly?”

“Ha ha ha.”

Perhaps I had expected this life to be different from my previous one.

Looking at Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, Moyong Jaehwa, and Jegal Cheongi, I may have thought the others could change as well.

I infused my voice with internal energy and spoke.

“Greetings, Academy students. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Jin Sowoon, the representative of this year's Academy class.”

I looked around and lightly clasped my hands in salute in every direction.

“Some of you may know me, while others may not. Some of you may like me, while others may not. But I won't concern myself with such things. As the Academy Representative, I intend to do my utmost to fulfill my duties.”

No one responded. I continued.

“Throughout history, the Academy Representative has likely always been a child of the Nine Sects One Gang or the Five Great Clans. Recently, a representative has occasionally come from the Twelve Peak Alliance, but that history is not particularly long. This time, it is me.”

What did it matter if they did not change?

That too was their choice, and their current behavior was no more than the petty conduct I had despised so deeply in the past.

“Just as you think, I am only a disciple of a weak sect. I belong neither to the Nine Sects One Gang, the Five Great Clans, nor the Twelve Peak Alliance. Nor do I intend to place myself beneath them.”

Hostile looks flew toward me.

Mocking laughter rose from all around, as if asking how far I thought I could go.

“So, setting all that aside, I have decided to think only of this year's Academy students.”

I was only giving them an opportunity.

I did so because I believed it was my duty, as someone who knew the tragic future.

“I will do my utmost to ensure that when you graduate from the Academy, you leave as people on a completely different level from when you entered. I will also guide us in a direction that does not lean toward any faction.”

“The best way would be for you to disappear.”

People snickered at someone's remark.

I nodded readily.

“Of course, according to the natural order you prefer, the best course would be for me to leave. But then you would only remain content exactly as you are now.”

“A disciple of the Taeul Sect sure talks big.”

“First, I will appoint some executive officers here.”

“...”

“First, Miss Namgung Seonhwa of the Namgung Clan. Miss Seong Moran of the Iron Sword Sect. Then my junior disciples, Hong Saryeon and Yi Eunho.”

“He has lost his mind.”

“Yeah, go play house among yourselves. It won't last long anyway.”

The backlash was no small matter.

Even those who had just been appointed as officers could not hide their agitation.

“And now, four positions remain.”

“Is there any reason to leave four positions open? Just hand them out to whoever you want.”

“I will fill the remaining four positions with people willing to sacrifice themselves for the other Academy students.”

“...”

“For your information, it will be first come, first served. The first person to come forward will become the fifth executive officer.”

“He has lost his mind...”

I was only carrying out my duty.

Whether they followed me or not was up to them.

“It seems no one will follow you. Are you all right with that?”

“It doesn't matter.”

“...”

If they followed me, they would live.

If they did not...

“I have no right to force anyone. Everything is your choice.”

They would have no choice but to die, just as they had in the original history.

Footnotes:

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