WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 14: The Third-Rate Martial Artist Saving a Girl
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The sixtieth-birthday celebration, which had been scheduled to last a week, ended on its second day.
Those who had traveled a long way from other provinces were dissatisfied that they had not even been able to enjoy themselves properly, but no one uttered a curse.
The atmosphere at the Iron Sword Sect had turned grim after the incident, and no one could easily vent their anger.
Important figures from across the land had attended, yet none received a farewell from Seong Cheonwol, the Iron Sword Sect Leader.
After the incident, Seong Cheonwol shut himself away, while Seong Mohyeon was confined in the Golden Prison.
“He learned the Absorbing Star Grand Art! I am telling you, he definitely learned the Absorbing Star Grand Art!”
Seong Mohyeon screamed about the Absorbing Star Grand Art like a madman, but even the servants who brought him food only looked at him with resentment.
Then I woke somewhere other than my original lodgings.
‘What is this?’
My father and Gang Chaeseok could not afford silk clothes like these, and their bear-like builds would not have suited them anyway.
“Are you awake?”
“Who are you?”
“Are you trying to test me with that question? Or mock me? Either way, I find it unpleasant.”
“...”
“Is that all the courtesy you can show the person who helped with your ridiculous little act? You, who spoke of righteousness?”
As expected, Jegal Somyeong knew everything.
The Taeul Mind Method was an exceptionally pure cultivation method. Even if Seong Cheonwol had disturbed my acupoints a little, I would not have suffered internal injuries.
“My apologies, Grand Strategist.”
“Enough. Sit.”
Jegal Somyeong was busy reading and signing documents, apparently still burdened with a mountain of work.
I poured myself some tea to soothe my thirst.
“The injury inside your mouth looks serious. Shall I have them bring water instead?”
“Ahem... I-I’m fine.”
I had not suffered internal injuries, but I needed to vomit blood for dramatic effect, so I had torn at the flesh inside my mouth. For a while, I would not even be able to stand the smell of spicy food.
“Did you know?”
“I became certain after seeing your condition. Still, it surprised me that you had not suffered internal injuries. Does the Taeul Sect possess such an excellent internal cultivation method?”
“It is the Taeul Mind Method, the foundation of the Taeul Sect.”
“The Taeul Mind Method should not allow you to gather that much internal energy.”
A question I had no need to answer.
What mattered now was why Jegal Somyeong had not told the Iron Sword Sect Leader despite knowing the truth.
If Jegal Somyeong had become certain after seeing the wound in my mouth, then they must have already suspected it beforehand. Yet instead of stepping away, they had helped my plan along.
“...”
Whenever they finished drafting one document, they read another, signed it, or rolled it back up and returned it to its place.
“From when did you begin planning this?”
“What do you mean...?”
“At the banquet held the day before? Or when Seong Mohyeon mentioned the forbidden art?”
“...I do not understand what you mean.”
“You are wasting time. Must I explain how grave it is to invoke the Enforcement Hall and drag the Martial Alliance into your little performance before you speak?”
Only then did I understand why Jegal Somyeong had knowingly played along.
They had joined in simply because they found the scheme entertaining.
I recalled Cheongi saying that intelligent people took great interest in things that were ingenious and surprising. That gave me confidence that I could get something from the Grand Strategist as well.
“I still do not understand what you are talking about.”
“...Must I resort to the rod?”
“I have heard that silver is more effective than a whip when one wishes to loosen someone’s tongue.”
Looking utterly dumbfounded, Jegal Somyeong placed the Ninefold Sword, which had been standing beside them, on the table.
“I heard you initially refused when Seong Moran proposed holding the banquet.”
It seemed they had investigated every detail of the incident.
“The Iron Sword Sect Leader also said he would give me three Iron Heart Pellets. Has that arrangement been cancelled?”
“Hoho.”
Jegal Somyeong took out a small wooden box from their robes. I quickly opened it and confirmed that it held three Iron Heart Pellets.
“...Are you checking them right in front of me?”
“It is best to be certain about everything.”
Jegal Somyeong looked as though they were wondering what sort of person I was.
“It began when I heard that the Iron Sword Sect had used the Gyerong Merchant Group to invite the Taeul Sect.”
“What?”
“If it had merely been for friendship, would they not have sent a formal invitation? Instead, they used the Gyerong Merchant Group, which held considerable influence over the Taeul Sect, to force our attendance. Why would they do that unless they had an ulterior motive?”
“Hah...”
Since it was something I had known since my previous life, I answered honestly. Trying to lie in front of the Grand Strategist would only expose everything.
“Then did you know Seong Mohyeon would mention a forbidden art? And how did you make Seong Mohyeon think that way?”
“Which of the two are you asking about?”
“I am curious about both.”
“Then the terms do not add up.”
“What terms do not add up? Without me, you would have obtained neither the Ninefold Sword nor the Iron Heart Pellets. You might have even lost your life.”
“Instead, the Iron Sword Sect and the Martial Alliance will be criticized for this incident for years to come. The Iron Sword Sect will never again dare to try to suppress the Taeul Sect and enter the One Hundred Eight Peaks.”
“Whatever the case, it worked out so well because I helped you.”
“You did not do what you should have done from the beginning, Grand Strategist. You only resolved the matter after it grew serious. That cannot be called help.”
“I did not do what I should have done?”
“Our Taeul Sect was being unjustly oppressed, yet rather than judging right from wrong, you were calculating who would benefit the Martial Alliance more.”
“...That is my duty.”
“Then I did not receive your help, nor do I owe you anything. Would it not be unfair for me to answer all your questions?”
For the first time, Jegal Somyeong’s mouth fell open.
“In the martial world, there are people who wait for days with fortunes in hand simply to speak with me for the span of an ilgak. You would refuse such an opportunity, though you need only answer a few questions?”
“Is that not because they expect to gain something worth more than a fortune from meeting you?”
“Ha! You have no need of me?”
“The Taeul Sect took in Gye Cheolyeong so that we could eat three meals a day instead of two. What benefit could the Taeul Sect gain from joining hands with you, Grand Strategist?”
“Hah...”
It was an open display of displeasure.
Still, if we never met again, was the Grand Strategist anything more than an old man to me? Even if I entered the Martial Alliance, how often would I have reason to meet a high-ranking figure of the Mantong Office?
“Will today not be the last day I ever see you, Grand Strategist?”
“...”
“If you have nothing more to say, I will take my leave.”
“...Tell me whether you knew Seong Mohyeon would mention a forbidden art.”
As expected of the Grand Strategist, their curiosity about strategy was greater than their curiosity about martial arts.
“It did not have to be a forbidden art. Seong Mohyeon was certain of victory, and even the people of the Taeul Sect knew that. In such a situation, Seong Mohyeon would not have been able to believe defeat was possible. Any outstanding talent who crossed swords with me would probably be unable to shake the thought that I had used dark arts.”
“...So you might simply have won?”
“Did you not know that as well, Grand Strategist?”
Jegal Somyeong was not merely intelligent. They were also an exceptional martial artist. In their youth, whenever their Snowflake Iron Fan moved, the blood of Black Path martial artists scattered in every direction and flowed like a river.
“Then would it not have been enough to win the match cleanly?”
“Would simply winning have gained me anything?”
“...”
“After I won overwhelmingly, who knows what methods they might have used to harm us later? But once an incident like this occurs, they will stay quiet for at least ten years.”
“I could have ignored it until the end.”
“If you had, the Martial Alliance would have lost any justification for maintaining itself. Would you truly have done that?”
Would the Grand Strategist stubbornly ignore everything while drunkards from across the land watched? It would only worsen the already declining public opinion of the Martial Alliance.
“...Even so, what if you had been accused of learning a forbidden art until the very end?”
“Then the Enforcement Hall of the Martial Alliance would likely have taken my corpse and proven through an examination that I had not learned a forbidden art.”
Jegal Somyeong kept their lips tightly shut as though they had eaten honey. After a long while, they finally spoke.
“...You risked your life over something so minor?”
“Did you say ‘minor’? Because of that ‘minor’ matter, the Iron Sword Sect used the Gyerong Merchant Group to pressure the Taeul Sect. Because of that ‘minor’ matter, the wounds my father received from Seong Jutak twenty years ago still remain as scars. Because of that ‘minor’ matter, the people of the Taeul Sect were prepared to risk their lives fighting the entire Iron Sword Sect.”
“...”
“Is the name of the Jegal Clan not more precious than gold? Why should a small sect be any different?”
“Hmm...”
This was always the problem with people in high places. Their own names were sacred beyond all else, but they believed our names were not worth risking our lives for.
That narrow-mindedness was what had turned the Martial Alliance of my previous life into that mess.
“Then let me ask one thing. If the name of a small sect has such value, how would the Taeul Sect face the Jegal Clan when the two stand in opposition?”
“...”
Instead of answering, I looked at them.
They immediately understood my meaning and gave a disbelieving laugh.
“Chuckle. The terms do not add up, is that it?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. What must I give for the terms to add up? I have devoted my entire life to the Martial Alliance, so I have no money to offer.”
Rummaging through their robes, Jegal Somyeong took out a small ivory token.
The ivory token, roughly two fingers long, bore the words “Academy Admission.”
A thing rumored to exist, yet rarely seen by anyone in person.
It was an Academy Admission Token that allowed one to enter the Martial Arts Academy without taking the regular examination, called the Hellish Exam, or using the One Hundred Eight Peaks’ privilege of special admission.
An Academy Admission Token that could not be obtained even with an immense fortune had appeared right before me.
“Will this suffice?”
I swiftly snatched up the Academy Admission Token and tucked it into my robes. Jegal Somyeong let out another dumbfounded sigh.
“To stand against the Jegal Clan... It is truly terrifying even to imagine. If I had to choose the most troublesome opponent among the Five Great Clans, I would choose the Jegal Clan.”
“Spare me the flattery. Speak.”
“Well, first I would sell every last piece of the sect’s property.”
“And then?”
“Then I would divide the property, separate the adults from the children, and scatter everyone across the land. Even the Jegal Clan, a White Path faction, would not send pursuers to wipe us all out.”
“...”
Jegal Somyeong looked at me as though watching a dog eat filth.
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“...”
“You asked me to answer the question. You did not say I had to provide the correct answer.”
“...Was this another scheme?”
“The terms do not add up.”
“...I am sick of hearing about these terms.”
“May I leave now?”
“You will come to the Martial Arts Academy, will you not?”
“...Must I really enroll?”
“The Academy Admission Token belongs to you now. How you use it is your choice. It has already proven its worth simply by existing.”
“I understand. I do intend to challenge the Martial Arts Academy.”
“Completing the Martial Arts Academy would be advantageous if you wish to enter the Mantong Office.”
“Yes... I suppose so.”
A genius among geniuses.
The Mantong Office was a top-tier post that only those with exceptional intelligence could enter.
But it was the place I wanted to go least.
“If you complete the Martial Arts Academy, I will make a position for you in the Mantong Office.”
“??”
I nearly screamed at Jegal Somyeong’s absurd nonsense.
The Mantong Office? In my previous life, I could not even fight alongside my junior disciples because I was buried in documents. Was I supposed to do that again in this life?
I would rather die.
Once the war began in earnest, I would have to go to the battlefield anyway. In that case, it would be better for me, my junior disciples, and those on the front lines if I built field experience beforehand and raised my rank.
“Ah... I have no interest in the Mantong Office.”
For the first time, Jegal Somyeong tilted their head.
“I have been wondering since the martial arts match. Are you perhaps a little insane?”
No, honestly, was not the person who chose to sit behind a desk while their junior disciples died the truly insane one?
Footnotes:
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