WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 146: Those Who Wear Black Masks (5)

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“I knew it from the moment I came with Young Master Jin. Traveling with someone like him, my ass...”

Seong Moran grumbled as she removed her flashy accessories and outer robe.

“As I told you, we did not come here to travel...”

“Who said anything? Why are you secretly listening to me talk to myself?”

No, if she was muttering right into my ear in a place this quiet, wasn’t she trying to make me hear it?

“...Once this is over, I’ll treat you to a grand feast at Songhyang Pavilion.”

“Who likes those brothels men go to...? I hear it’s wonderful to take a boat out on Dongting Lake and enjoy the night view...”

Considering we were about to face the Mount Cang Sect, bringing up a boat ride on Dongting Lake was her own way of being considerate.

I gladly nodded.

“Only the night view? How about taking out the largest, most luxurious boat, with musicians and cooks aboard? That’s how one should enjoy a vacation, isn’t it?”

Seong Moran flared her nostrils and pursed her lips, forcing back a smile.

“Well... that would be nice. But are you really all right with this, Young Master Jin?”

“With what?”

“Spending that much money, facing the Mount Cang Sect. To be honest, once this is resolved, you’ll gain nothing from it.”

“...”

I had been little more than a meat shield, but I had still risked my life on the front lines to halt the Demonic Cult’s advance.

The White Path’s hypocrisy was nothing new, but seeing these bastards wear the Demonic Cult’s mask to pursue their own interests made my stomach churn.

“Isn’t that what a swordsman should do?”

“...”

“What is it?”

“It just doesn’t suit you when a rising star of the Black Path martial world says something like that. A Black Path chivalrous hero...”

“...Words like that keep giving people the wrong idea...”

“Eldest Martial Brother, they’ve started moving.”

Geumpyo turned to speak.

I stopped talking and shifted my gaze.

Three men emerged from a pavilion that looked like an abandoned building on Yueyang’s outskirts, its doors creaking as they opened.

One was the attendant we had met at the Flowing Flower Pavilion. The other two were unfamiliar.

The attendant headed back toward Yueyang, while the two men moved in the opposite direction.

“They’re moving.”

“Where are they going?”

“They’ll likely verify the information, then report it to their superiors. That’s when the one in charge will appear.”

“As expected... You understand their ways so quickly, like a true Black Path martial artist.”

“...”

This woman, honestly.

#

The Geum-Eun-Dong brothers, Seong Moran, and I quietly followed the men.

The brothers and I could use the Ghost Breath Movement Art, so we followed close behind. Seong Moran trailed farther back, her expression full of questions.

The men led us to a secluded manor on Yueyang’s outskirts.

We hid on the manor’s roof.

Seong Moran looked around with a serious expression.

-Are the captives hidden somewhere else?

We examined every corner of the manor, but found no sign of anyone being held prisoner.

The tight security also made the search difficult.

Still, one thing caught my eye.

-I don’t think so.

-Why not?

-Do you see all those wheel tracks at the back gate? This manor doesn’t seem to be used often, so why would there be so many tracks?

-Ah...

-They’re likely transporting people, or bringing in food to feed them.

-As expected, you know quite a lot.

-...What do you mean by that?

-Nothing. In any case, they must be somewhere in this manor. Where do you think they are?

-...The Hao Sect’s Yueyang Branch had a fairly large underground area, didn’t it?

-It did.

-If there’s no sunlight and the interior is divided by partitions, would they even know where they are?

-So we need to search underground?

Using the moonlight peeking through the clouds, I pointed to a warehouse in the south.

-I believe they’re in there.

-Why?

-If they have guards stationed outside a warehouse like that, either it holds gold and silver, or what’s inside is worth as much as gold and silver.

-Hmm... We should wait until Seonhwa brings people.

I shook my head. The plan had never allowed us that much leisure.

-They’ll move quickly because of the Namgung Clan. If we wait, we may lose them all.

Now that they knew Jeonghwa was connected to the Namgung Clan, they would be watching the Namgung Clan as well.

The best course was to keep them here until the Namgung Clan arrived.

Seong Moran’s eyes widened behind her black mask.

-Are you insane? You want us to handle this alone? There are more than eighty people here.

-I’ll make as much noise as possible. While I do, Lady Seong, please rescue the captives.

-...

-I suspect the Mount Cang Sect is involved. If they step in, we’ll no longer be able to resolve this.

-A-All right. But... don’t die.

-I understand.

Seong Moran took a couple of steps, then turned back toward us.

-Even if you lose an arm or a leg, try not to damage your face too badly.

-...Are you really worried about us right now?

That was an awfully intense way to show concern.

-...Anyway, be careful. I’ll move as quickly as I can.

I looked at the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers and asked,

“Lady Seong told us not to die. Are you worried?”

Geumpyo adjusted his grip on his sword, wearing an incredulous expression.

“She’d faint if she heard that Martial Brother Jin threw us into the Twin-Curtain Strongholds.”

When had I ever thrown them in there...?

Before I could make my excuse, they leaped down.

#

Moonless Unit Leader Jeong Somyeong’s eyelid twitched while listening to the report.

‘Insane...’

The Namgung Clan? The Namgung Clan? How could this make any sense? That insignificant courtesan was from the Namgung Clan...?

“Are you certain?”

“It hasn’t been confirmed, but...”

“But what? Finish your sentence properly, you bastard! Don’t you understand that our sect’s survival is at stake?”

“We obtained information that the Changgung Merchant Group submitted a request to the Beggar Sect to find Jeonghwa.”

They must have noticed something was wrong while searching on their own, which was why they had submitted the request. On top of that, the ones looking for Jeonghwa were Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran.

The two women’s close friendship was well known, which made the information even more credible.

“We were so close to swallowing Green Bamboo Pavilion whole...”

It was regrettable, but there was no choice. If their trail was discovered here, Green Bamboo Pavilion would be the least of their concerns.

“What is Green Bamboo Pavilion’s master doing?”

“They commissioned the Mount Cang Sect and are staying at the Sacred History Tea House.”

The original plan had been to drag things out for a few more days, then hand over the girl while pretending they had only just found her and secure the contract. But under these circumstances, they could not leave any evidence behind.

“Kill that bitch Jeonghwa and throw her body into Dongting Lake. Mobilize every martial artist in the sect. We’re relocating to another manor.”

“Yes!”

“Hurry. If the Namgung Clan moves first...”

Aaargh!

Jeong Somyeong could not finish speaking because of the screams outside.

Urk!

Bang!

A thunderous crash followed the screams, as though an explosion had gone off.

They had already arrived? Was that possible given the timing?

It could not be.

Jeong Somyeong snapped around.

“You bastards! You led them here!”

“T-That cannot be. We checked three times before coming here.”

“...”

Then there was only one conclusion.

The intruders were masters skilled enough to follow them without being noticed.

Jeong Somyeong’s face turned pale.

“Ask the sect for help at once... No, go straight to the Sacred History Tea House!”

“Y-Yes!”

“I’ll go out myself.”

The sight that greeted Jeong Somyeong upon leaving the pavilion was utterly miserable.

The elites selected by the sect lay scattered everywhere, while masked attackers swung their swords without restraint.

After seeing their skill for only a short while, Jeong Somyeong quickly judged that they were not opponents they could easily handle.

“Everyone, stop!”

Jeong Somyeong raised their voice.

“Didn’t I tell you to stop?”

Only then did the Yuwol Sect martial artists withdraw.

“What brings such honorable thieves to this remote place?”

While speaking to the intruders, Jeong Somyeong hurriedly sent a sound transmission.

-Gather every martial artist in the manor here.

Then they continued casually.

“Do you know that this manor is operated by the Yuwol Sect?”

“...”

Though Jeong Somyeong tried to settle things peacefully, the intruders remained mute.

“If you came after wealth, you’ve chosen the wrong place. This manor was built for Yuwol Sect martial artists to train in.”

The intruders still did not speak.

Then, after inspecting them closely, Jeong Somyeong noticed something strange.

Some were tall and heavily built, while others looked like children who had not finished growing.

‘Could they be children?’

As that thought occurred to Jeong Somyeong, their anger began to rise.

“If you won’t speak, why did you come here?”

Once nearly all the Yuwol Sect martial artists had gathered, Jeong Somyeong’s words grew shorter.

“You fools. To come seeking your own graves.”

“...”

The largest intruder raised a black sword as dark as the mask covering their face.

“What are you waiting for?”

Jeong Somyeong’s patience finally broke at the intruder, who was acting as though they owned the place.

“Attack! Show them the terror of the Yuwol Sect!”

“Yes!”

The battle that had briefly stopped began again.

#

The martial art I used most in my previous life was undoubtedly the Lesser Heaven Sword Art.

Not because it was my strongest martial art, but because it consumed the least internal energy. It had been an unavoidable choice.

Five Yuwol Sect martial artists charged first.

When their attacks converged on one point, there was nowhere left to evade.

Rather than retreating, I stepped forward and thrust out with the Lesser Heaven Sword Art.

“Urk.”

The martial artist whose right shoulder was pierced dropped their sword and collapsed.

I evaded another martial artist’s frenzied sword swings and cut through their heel.

“Aaargh!”

When flesh and tendons were severed, even a demonic martial artist would clutch the wound and collapse.

I stepped on the fallen martial artist’s body and sprang up, thrusting at the vital points of three martial artists at once.

Clang! Clang! Stab!

Two attacks were blocked, but the third struck true. A spray of blood erupted, followed by a groan of pain.

“What are you doing? Kill him already!”

More martial artists rushed in at the commotion.

Their growing numbers soon gave them courage, and that courage spread among them.

I brought down three, but six more joined them.

It was no different from my previous life.

Every battle against demonic martial artists had been like this. So many rushed at me that I could not tell whether they were people or waves. Before I knew it, my meager internal energy would run dry, leaving me to block their swords with muscle alone.

A sword swung by the instinct to survive, without even knowing why.

Perhaps it was because of that desperate feeling, or because the battlefield was so chaotic, but there had been times when I drove my sword into the neck of an opponent wielding sword qi.

“Urk.”

“Huff, huff, huff.”

“Gurgle.”

Just like the Yuwol Sect martial artists dying now, their throats torn open.

Those demonic martial artists had worn the same expressions as these people, unable to believe their own deaths.

“You idiots! Are you saving the sword formation to make soup with it?”

The martial artists who had been rushing me blindly spread out.

I clung to them relentlessly, swinging my sword before they could form their sword formation.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Stab!

After three exchanges, another Yuwol Sect martial artist fell.

Again, after three exchanges, more Yuwol Sect blood spilled.

The situation resembled the battlefield of my previous life, but the sight before me was completely different.

“Activate the formation!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Thirty swordsmen began circling in unison.

The Yuwol Sect’s Thirty Flowing Moon Sword Formation was unmatched in sheer offensive power.

“We’ll go!”

With Eunho’s shout, the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers deployed the White Tiger Deathblow Sword Formation.

The sword arts of the three, each moving separately, began to flow as though wielded by a single person.

“Gold-Silver Armor!”

At Eunho’s shout, all three began scattering the Twin Heavens Sword Art at once.

The Thirty Flowing Moon Sword Formation, which had seemed ready to crush the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers’ formation in one blow, could no longer advance, as though it had struck a solid wall of steel.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Though the Yuwol Sect martial artists far outnumbered them, the White Tiger Deathblow Sword Formation did not budge, as though rooted in the ground.

“Star Illusion!”

Starting with Eunho, two of them simultaneously produced illusion swords.

Dozens... no, hundreds of illusion swords began surrounding the entire Thirty Flowing Moon Sword Formation.

“Insane...”

“What is this...?”

“What the hell is that?!”

Unable to distinguish illusion swords from real blades, the Yuwol Sect martial artists within the formation looked overwhelmed by the Twin Heavens Sword Art filling the air.

Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!

The sound of blades piercing flesh rang out all at once, followed by screams of pain.

“Argh.”

“Urk.”

“Gurgle.”

I charged toward the other Yuwol Sect martial artists, who stood dazed as they watched the White Tiger Deathblow Sword Formation.

The Twin Heavens Sword Art descended upon them.

“...Huh?”

“I-Illusion swords?”

Some martial artists squeezed their eyes shut as the Twin Heavens Sword Art flew at their throats, then looked bewildered to find their necks unhurt.

But not everyone was so fortunate.

“Urgh!”

“Aaargh!”

“Urk!”

The Yuwol Sect martial artists struck by real blades hidden among the Twin Heavens Sword Art fell dead.

Five more fell.

I shot forward like an arrow and scattered the Twin Heavens Sword Art once more.

Shhhhk!

Dozens of sword blades appeared and vanished, confusing their eyes as they claimed lives in the gaps.

The Yuwol Sect martial artists, once emboldened by their numerical advantage, were slowly beginning to retreat.

“You worthless idiots...”

Tap.

Someone who appeared to be their leader leaped down from the pavilion.

I flicked out my left hand and unleashed the Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist.

Thudthudthudthudthudthud!

“Hup!”

The figure tried to twist in midair but could not avoid the assault of the Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist, crashing back into the pavilion at the same speed they had descended.

Bang!

The already old pavilion creaked as dust scattered from it.

With their leader gone, I began sweeping through the confused martial artists one after another.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Having already recognized the difference in strength, the Yuwol Sect martial artists’ swords no longer held any spirit.

All that remained was defensive desperation as they struggled to survive.

To someone like me, who had survived countless battlefields, they were nothing but easy prey.

Aaargh!

Urk!

Ghk!

Blood burst in every direction with wet hissing sounds.

The Yuwol Sect martial artists watched their comrades die, looking lost as to what they should do.

Once the area had been cleared to some extent, a black figure dropped from the roof and landed beside me.

-Young Master Jin.

Surprised by Seong Moran’s appearance, I asked,

-Have you rescued them all already?

-No. I couldn’t rescue them.

-Why not?

-There are too many captives. There are more than ten children alone.

-...

-It would be better to finish this quickly, rescue them, and leave.

As I rapidly considered how to change the plan,

Boom!

A signal flare rose from the ruined pavilion and painted the dark night sky with fire.

“Urk.”

The leader who had crashed into the pavilion stepped outside again, blood trickling from the corner of their mouth.

“...You rat-like bastards. I don’t know who you are, but don’t think you’ll leave this place alive.”

We could not afford to waste any more time.

Meeting Seong Moran’s eyes, I drew up all my internal energy.

“Young Master Jin...”

“Step back for a moment.”

The trembling air gathered into my palm in an instant.

Then one-third of the internal energy filling my dantian vanished.

Rumble!

The Mad Heaven Divine Palm shot forth, swallowing the pavilion and its leader whole.

“Aaargh!”

“Urk!”

“Ghk!”

As martial artists caught in the Mad Heaven Divine Palm screamed and fell, Seong Moran and I lunged forward at the same time.

We had never coordinated with only the two of us before, but perhaps because of the experiences we had shared during the regular examination, our movements aligned perfectly without a word.

It felt as steady as fighting alongside the Sojeong Unit in the past.

“I-Iron Sword Sect! You... You are from the Iron Sword Sect!”

Just as I was about to rush forward and cut down the one who recognized Seong Moran’s martial arts,

“Everyone, stop!!”

A Lion’s Roar that shook the manor grounds thundered through the estate.

“...”

At the manor entrance stood Jong Byeokgi, his clothes in disarray, glaring at us with blazing eyes.

Footnotes:

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