WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 148: Those Who Wear Black Masks (7)
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The Dividing Light Five Ghost Sword Formation stopped an inch from Jin Sowoon’s neck. Grinding his teeth, the middle-aged Mount Cang Sect martial artist searched the people standing atop the walls for their leader.
“Who is it? Who dares interfere in Mount Cang Sect’s affairs?!”
At the man’s roar, the martial artists all looked toward a single spot.
“It has been a long time, Senior Dividing Light One Star.”
A woman lightly descended from the wall and clasped her hands in greeting. Dividing Light One Star gritted his teeth.
“Since when has the Namgung Clan stood above Mount Cang Sect?”
The Namgung Clan.
Men in martial uniforms bearing the Sky Vault Unit insignia watched the estate with stern expressions.
“The Namgung Clan has never stood above Mount Cang Sect.”
“Then how do you explain this situation?”
“...”
Dividing Light One Star pointed his sword at Jin Sowoon.
“Jin Sowoon entered Yuwol Sect’s estate wearing a mask and inflicted irreparable harm upon a Mount Cang Sect disciple. Did you step in to defend him?”
Namgung Seonhwa looked at Jin Sowoon, gave a small nod, and answered.
“Of course not. I only came here to investigate the disappearances occurring in Yueyang.”
“...”
At Namgung Seonhwa’s words, Dividing Light One Star’s eyebrows twitched. He turned to the Yuwol Sect martial artists.
“...”
One of them shook their head slightly. Dividing Light One Star composed himself and glared at Namgung Seonhwa.
“What are you talking about? Disappearances in Yueyang?”
“If you have been in Yueyang, Senior, you must have heard of those committing murder and kidnappings while claiming to be members of the Demonic Cult. We came to investigate them.”
“And you claim... that Yuwol Sect is behind it?”
“At present, yes.”
“You do know that Yuwol Sect is a lay martial sect affiliated with Mount Cang Sect?”
To disgrace one of its affiliated lay sects was the same as disgracing Mount Cang Sect itself.
Dividing Light One Star was asking Namgung Seonhwa whether she could bear the consequences of opposing Mount Cang Sect.
“They committed evil deeds and hid their disgrace by claiming to be the Demonic Cult. What matters now is not whether they are an affiliated lay sect of Mount Cang Sect.”
“Answer me! Did you act like this knowing Yuwol Sect was affiliated with Mount Cang Sect?!”
Namgung Seonhwa glared at Dividing Light One Star for a moment at his icy demand.
“...”
If she gave ground now, a tremendous backlash would follow.
She could not retreat.
“...I know that very well.”
“Good. We will settle right and wrong through the Martial Alliance. We will demand compensation not only for this incident, but also for crippling a Mount Cang Sect disciple.”
Namgung Seonhwa’s expression hardened at his words.
If this matter reached the Martial Alliance now, the evidence would obviously be destroyed.
Worse, if they brought up Jong Byeokgi’s severe injuries, any proper investigation would be impossible.
Then Jin Sowoon, still surrounded by the Dividing Light Five Ghost Sword Formation, removed his mask and spoke.
“Is there really any need to take this all the way to the Martial Alliance?”
Sowoon’s relaxed voice made Dividing Light One Star’s lips tremble.
“Be quiet. Separate from this matter, we will repay the harm done to Junior Brother Jong with your sect’s blood.”
“That will not happen. Mount Cang Sect must first take responsibility for the incident in which its disciple claimed affiliation with the Demonic Cult.”
“You brat!”
Dividing Light One Star’s killing intent flared as though he might explode at any moment.
“You shouldn’t do that.”
Namgung Seonhwa’s voice was low.
“What?”
“If you’re thinking of killing everyone to silence them, give it up. The Namgung Clan is not so weak.”
A chilling coldness came over Namgung Seonhwa’s face. To a man who had taken her for an innocent person who knew nothing, it was an unexpected sight.
Dividing Light One Star hesitated briefly, then steadied himself and clenched his teeth.
“Everyone, that bastard...”
He could not finish.
A leisurely voice from somewhere cut him off.
“All right, enough. What are fellow members of the Martial Alliance doing fighting each other like this?”
Five men stepped over the main gate.
One of the five men in Martial Alliance uniforms was someone Dividing Light One Star knew well.
“Yueyang Branch Head...”
“It’s been a while, Brother Song. You said you were only stopping by Yueyang to rest, but it seems things didn’t stay so quiet.”
“How did you come to be here...?”
“Of course, I came to investigate after hearing there were people impersonating the Demonic Cult.”
Dividing Light One Star glared at Namgung Seonhwa as if he wanted to kill her.
The situation was turning against him.
After the Demon Spirit Plateau Incident, the Yueyang Branch Head from Wudang Sect had stepped down, and a member of the Sichuan Tang Clan had taken the position.
If the balance tipped anywhere, it would naturally tip toward the Five Great Clans.
“Branch Head, we can’t casually cooperate with an investigation into such a grave matter without permission from the main sect.”
“Of course. But there’s no reason we can’t at least cooperate with the investigation, is there?”
“This is an insult to Yuwol Sect, Mount Cang Sect’s blood ally.”
“Ah, what are we to do about that...?”
As the Yueyang Branch Head scratched his head, a voice spoke up.
“I believe I can help with that.”
It came from Jin Sowoon, who was still standing within the Dividing Light Five Ghost Sword Formation.
“Hm? And you are?”
“I am Jin Sowoon, the Martial Arts Academy representative.”
“Ah, so you’re Jin Sowoon? I’ve heard so much about you from Seohui that my ears hurt.”
Jin Sowoon looked flustered.
“...You’ve heard about me?”
“Yes. That quiet girl wouldn’t stop talking, so I thought I should meet you someday. To think we’d meet in a place like this... In any case, what did you mean when you said you could help?”
“First... if you release Miss Seong Moran, we’ll be able to learn about this case without investigating the estate.”
“Really?”
The Mount Cang Sect martial artists initially refused to back down, but under pressure from the Martial Alliance members, they eventually retreated one by one.
The moment she was released, Seong Moran leaped over the wall and entered the forest. She soon returned with a pale woman on her back.
“This is Jang Seolyeon. She was imprisoned in the basement of this estate.”
A heavy silence settled over the area for a long while.
Jin Sowoon looked down at Jong Byeokgi, who was writhing on the ground, and spoke.
“I came here to find Miss Jang. I encountered Jong Byeokgi here and explained the situation to him, but he attacked me as though he’d been caught as the mastermind behind this. I only responded in kind.”
A Yuwol Sect martial artist shouted as though Sowoon’s claim was absurd.
“Lies! Didn’t you attack Young Master Jong without saying a word?!”
Jin Sowoon gave a sinister smile.
“You can determine whether I’m lying by examining the basement beneath that warehouse. That is where I found Miss Jang.”
“Ah...!”
Only then did the Yuwol Sect martial artists realize their mistake.
But words once spoken could not be taken back.
At this point, neither the Mount Cang Sect martial artists nor Dividing Light One Star could interfere with the search.
While the Sky Vault Unit and Mount Cang Sect faced each other, the Martial Alliance members quickly opened the warehouse and entered.
A short while later...
“Eh?”
“There are...”
“People... People are imprisoned here!”
At the cries of the Martial Alliance members searching the warehouse basement, the branch head looked at Dividing Light One Star.
“...”
The question was clear. Was Mount Cang Sect involved as well?
Dividing Light One Star’s face turned red as he spread his internal energy in every direction.
Boom!
His martial uniform swelled as though it would burst, and his killing intent put the martial artists on edge.
“Everyone, prepare yourselves!”
At Namgung Seonhwa’s shout, the Sky Vault Unit martial artists drew their swords and prepared for battle.
Sowoon and the Taeul Sect disciples also deployed the White Tiger Deathblow Sword Formation once more.
Then Dividing Light One Star shot toward the Yuwol Sect martial artists like an arrow.
“You dared commit such acts in Mount Cang Sect’s name?!”
The Yuwol Sect martial artists were the ones caught off guard.
“M-Mighty Warrior! This matter was originally arranged by Mount Cang Sect...”
“Silence! What are you all waiting for?! These people dared disgrace Mount Cang Sect while under Mount Cang Sect’s protection!”
Before his words had even faded, the Mount Cang Sect martial artists began cutting down the Yuwol Sect martial artists.
“Argh!”
“S-Save...!”
“Please, save me!”
The Namgung Clan had no time to stop them.
The violence was too sudden and decisive for anyone to intervene, or even think of intervening.
It was a one-sided, overwhelming slaughter.
The dying Yuwol Sect martial artists looked at the Mount Cang Sect martial artists with resentment, but Mount Cang Sect looked back at them as though they were insects.
“Tsk, tsk.”
The Yueyang Branch Head, who had somehow come to stand beside Jin Sowoon, spoke.
“What a cruel form of justice.”
The meaning behind those words was unclear, but Jin Sowoon somehow felt they were not wrong.
#
Jang Dowon was an incredibly strong person.
When I came to the Martial Alliance in my previous life, martial world experts had coveted the Fifteen Divine Weapons Jang Dowon created. They had tried to force him to make divine weapons for themselves, but nothing worked.
Some held swords to his throat, and others used outright violence, yet Jang Dowon never yielded.
Everyone had wondered whether someone without even a trace of internal energy could possess such strength.
“Sniff... Sob...”
Now, that Jang Dowon was crying endlessly.
He clung to his granddaughter, whose existence even I had not known about, and wept for a long time.
“We should give them some space.”
They needed time to release the anxiety of losing each other and enjoy the joy of their reunion.
After a brief investigation, the rescued captives were sent home.
The Martial Alliance had intended to help reassure them, but Mount Cang Sect moved first and saw every captive home with the utmost care.
“Why did Mount Cang Sect go out of its way to do that? In the end, this was their doing.”
“A guilty conscience needs no accuser.”
Mount Cang Sect had made Yuwol Sect a scapegoat, but everyone, especially those around the Martial Alliance, came to learn of Mount Cang Sect’s rotten true nature. Its standing would steadily be driven into the ground.
As Mount Cang Sect departed, I had the chance to speak privately with Dividing Light One Star.
Dividing Light One Star ground his teeth at the sight of me.
“Jin Sowoon, I will not forget what happened today.”
“Of course you shouldn’t forget it.”
“...What?”
“Did I not catch those who disgraced Mount Cang Sect in Mount Cang Sect’s name? This is a situation where you should naturally reward me. Isn’t it?”
“...”
Dividing Light One Star’s eyes shook violently.
“Surely the great Mount Cang Sect won’t accept help from its blood ally and simply let the matter pass? I can’t believe it. Tsk...”
Dividing Light One Star’s eyes were still trembling, and now even his lips trembled.
Then the Yueyang Branch Head spotted us while passing by and stopped.
“Are you two still fighting?”
“No. Senior Dividing Light One Star was pretending nothing had happened after receiving my help, so I was questioning him. I didn’t know the great Mount Cang Sect could be so petty.”
“...”
The Yueyang Branch Head looked at me with an expression no different from Dividing Light One Star’s.
“I’m not asking for much. I used a lot of energy in this incident, so please send me a spiritual medicine or something. And don’t slip poison into it in an attempt to assassinate me.”
The Yueyang Branch Head’s gaze moved from me to Dividing Light One Star.
“Will you send it?”
“...Mount Cang Sect.”
Dividing Light One Star swallowed his boiling rage and said,
“...does not forget debts of gratitude or enmity.”
With that, Dividing Light One Star spun around and stalked away.
I was about to turn away with a mocking smile at his back when,
“You, come see me.”
“Why?”
The Yueyang Branch Head did not answer and simply walked away first.
Couldn’t he answer when someone asked him a question?
#
So this was what had happened.
For a long time, Yueyang’s branch head had come from Wudang Sect.
Because of that, Wudang Sect’s influence in Yueyang remained strong, even with an affiliated lay sect of Mount Cang Sect present.
But after the Demon Spirit Plateau Incident, the former Wudang Sect branch head lost power and disappeared, and Mount Cang Sect tried to seize Yueyang once more.
Then Black Talisman Palace and the rest of the Black Path martial world, who had gritted their teeth and kept quiet while Wudang Sect was around, began running wild. Mount Cang Sect could not control Yueyang with only two sects, so it invoked the Demonic Cult to clean up Yueyang again.
“You knew all that, so why didn’t you do anything until now?”
I asked incredulously as the Martial Alliance branch head explained the situation.
The Yueyang Branch Head scratched his head as though wondering what I was talking about.
“Do you think I did nothing because I didn’t want to act?”
“Then why aren’t you conducting a further investigation?”
“An investigation? Would we be the ones doing that?”
“...”
“Mount Cang Sect has already made its move. It claimed Yuwol Sect was behind this incident, then raided Yuwol Sect.”
Not even a day had passed since the incident.
“They were quick.”
“Well, they must have always been ready to run.”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“Isn’t that how justice in the martial world is maintained?”
After saying that, the branch head walked to one side of the office.
The branch head’s office was filled with strange devices. When he lit an oil lamp set beside one of the devices, the contraptions of iron and wood began operating with creaking sounds, their springs winding tight.
The flame from the oil lamp heated a cup above it. The steam rising from the cup seemed to be what powered the machine.
In the end, fragrant tea trickled from the end of the device.
The branch head set out two cups of tea.
I quietly breathed in the aroma and took a sip. Its fragrance spread through my mouth.
“It’s delicious... Is it a special tea?”
“It’s only ordinary Longjing tea. How you brew tea matters more than the tea itself.”
After drinking half a cup, the branch head watched the steam rise from the tea and muttered as if speaking to himself.
“Justice is similar. Depending on how you use it, it can produce a murky taste or a clear one.”
“...”
“You don’t look as though you agree.”
“Murky justice cannot be called justice anymore.”
“Is that so?”
The branch head did not seem interested in arguing and scratched his head again.
“Anyway, you worked hard on this. Thanks to you, my term will be extended a little longer. This has been a headache for some time.”
Still feeling somewhat frustrated, I asked again.
“Didn’t you intend to resolve this personally?”
The Demonic Cult. They had impersonated the Demonic Cult.
That was not courage. It was insanity.
Yet this calm branch head had known all that and stood by, watching from afar.
“I did.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“Mount Cang Sect stopped me right away.”
“...”
“That’s what makes the position of a Martial Alliance branch head strange. At times, it holds absolute authority, but at other times, it is nothing more than a puppet.”
“...”
“I could have fought by drawing on the clans’ power, but I wasn’t confident I could resolve it. If someone like you hadn’t appeared, this matter wouldn’t have been resolved in the first place.”
The branch head scratched his head and continued.
“Anyway, thanks to you, it was resolved neatly in one stroke, so Yueyang should be quieter for a while.”
“You should still take some action, shouldn’t you?”
“Me? Why?”
“Won’t Mount Cang Sect come after me over this?”
For the first time, the branch head broke into a wide smile at my dissatisfied voice.
“Goodness, you made an escape route for yourself, yet you’re asking me to make one for you too?”
“...”
“Nearly killing Jong Byeokgi was partly due to a personal grudge, wasn’t it? Mount Cang Sect has already portrayed Jong Byeokgi’s collusion with Yuwol Sect as the true cause of this matter.”
“...”
“On top of that, you’re receiving compensation from Mount Cang Sect through Dividing Light One Star. What could Mount Cang Sect possibly do to you?”
Hah, he had seen through everything.
It wasn’t a plan meant to be exposed so easily.
I studied the Yueyang Branch Head’s face closely.
Someone with this much insight and awareness could not be ordinary, yet no matter how deeply I searched my memories, I had never seen him before in my life.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Haha, just as Seohui said, you truly are shameless.”
“But you’ve been speaking as though we share some connection, and I find that rather unpleasant.”
“Unpleasant? That won’t do. It certainly won’t do. I’ve committed a crime deserving death. A crime deserving death, truly.”
After making a great fuss, the branch head suddenly stopped and flashed a broad smile.
I was beginning to feel a little frightened.
“Why would we not share a connection?”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t you use the Golden Dragon Hidden Weapons that I made as you pleased? Isn’t that quite a connection?”
Crazy.
Why was that suddenly coming up?
Footnotes:
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