WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 153: The Black Flame Dragon Amid the Chaos (3)

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After leaving the banquet hall, Hong Saryeon let out a long sigh.

Her jaw ached from how much she had laughed inside.

As she tried to recall how long it had been since she had laughed like that, Saryeon quickly realized how meaningless the thought was.

Ever since she had taken the enormous burden of the Taeul Sect onto her shoulders, she had always felt as though she were walking along the edge of a sharpened blade.

‘I was never fit to carry this burden in the first place.’

Yet she had no choice but to carry it, because she knew everyone would suffer the moment she set it down.

“Pfft...”

She suddenly remembered her eldest martial brother arriving late to the banquet and relentlessly beating Geumpyo.

When she asked why and tried to stop him, he had muttered something incomprehensible about doing it all to establish Taeul Sect traditions.

Honestly. Since when had the Taeul Sect even had traditions?

Even as she chuckled to herself, she began to feel sorry for her eldest martial brother.

The reason her shoulders felt lighter,

the reason she could laugh so freely,

was because her eldest martial brother had taken her burden upon himself.

“...I'm truly pathetic.”

Rather than thinking of helping the person who had taken on her burden, she was simply relieved.

Even she found herself pathetic.

“What are you doing out here alone?”

At the familiar voice, she turned her head. A man in a black martial robe embroidered with silver approached her.

Saryeon turned away again without answering.

“Is something troubling you?”

“...”

That was how he always was.

He carried the heaviest burden,

did the most painful work,

and still looked after those around him.

“If something is troubling you, tell me.”

“...”

Even though he was the one bleeding the most...

“Nothing. It's nothing...”

“You rascal.”

His rough hand came down upon her head.

It carelessly ruffled the hair she had so carefully arranged, ruining its shape.

She had told him countless times that she hated having her hair touched.

Yet the calluses brushing against her scalp kept her from voicing her complaint.

They felt like branches brushing against her, like rough stones rubbing against her skin.

That rough, hard sensation felt so good, so comforting.

She neither slapped his hand away nor avoided his touch.

“Saryeon, you always worry about the other children and neglect yourself.”

Who was he to say that?

“I'll do my best to look after you, but this eldest martial brother of yours isn't very dependable, is he? So if you need anything, make sure to tell me first.”

“...”

Then who looks after you, Senior Brother?

She wanted desperately to ask, but the words would not leave her mouth.

She already knew what he would say.

“I'm always sorry that this senior brother isn't more reliable.”

And that answer would tear her heart apart.

“Sniff... sniff...”

Why did she always cry in situations like this?

Ever since she had grown up, she had never shed a single tear, even before her father. Yet how many times had she cried in front of her eldest martial brother?

“H-Huh? A-Are you crying? Ah, right! I'm sorry. You told me not to touch your hair. I'm sorry. I forgot.”

Why did this foolish senior brother never understand why she was crying?

No matter how much time passed, she could not understand it.

“L-Look. It's back to how it was before. This should do it, right?”

As he spoke, he messed up her hair again.

The more he tried to fix it, the worse it became. Yet as her hair grew messier, Saryeon's emotions slowly settled.

“...Stop it.”

“Just wait a little longer. I'm almost...”

“I said stop!”

“...Ah! I'm sorry.”

The senior brother who had bared his teeth fearlessly before absolute masters stiffened at her shout and took a step back.

“Phew...”

“You aren't angry, are you?”

“I'm not angry.”

“You sound angry.”

“Honestly!”

When she raised her fist, he lifted his hands and feet as though frightened, shielding his face.

The ridiculous sight made Saryeon burst out laughing again without meaning to.

“Pfft. Seriously.”

Once more, she forgot all about her burdens and laughed to her heart's content like a child.

“Don't worry so much. Everything will turn out well.”

“...”

What exactly would turn out well?

Saryeon did not know precisely what Jin Sowoon was looking toward.

“What future do you want, Senior Brother?”

At the very least, she needed to know what future he sought if she was to keep pace with him.

“The future I want...”

Without answering, Jin Sowoon looked out over Dongting Lake, dark beneath the night sky.

“To me, the dark Dongting Lake looks just like the world.”

“...”

“And I want the Taeul Sect to be one of those brightly shining lights.”

Jin Sowoon spoke with eyes that seemed to trace back through distant years.

“That is the only thing I want.”

His words were difficult to grasp.

Still, when Saryeon saw his gaze sink into deep thought, she could not ask any more questions.

She could only resolve to do everything in her power to help him achieve whatever he desired.

#

In the aftermath of the Demonic Cult Impersonation Incident that had shaken Yueyang, every sect and business connected to the Mount Cang Sect had gone quiet.

Beginning with the Yuwol Sect, sects affiliated with it were being investigated by the Mount Cang Sect. Those who had ruled Yueyang like tigers in the mountains now lowered their heads on their own, afraid some fault might be found.

The Changseong Sect was no exception.

The sect was in an awkward position due to the arrival of several unwelcome guests.

“Didn't you say just a few days ago that we should join forces to protect Yueyang?!”

“Naseong Martial Arts School and the Red Bamboo Gang have already fallen to Black Path attacks.”

“They'll never stop here. They'll keep going until all of Yueyang is in their grasp.”

They were disciples from nearby White Path sects and their friends.

If they had merely been people of that standing, the Changseong Sect would not have admitted them inside in the first place.

‘I thought impressive people had gathered because they were Academy students...’

The Changseong Sect Leader shot the Guardian Hall Lord a sharp glare.

They attended the Martial Arts Academy, but most had no connection to the Orthodox Society, the White Path Society, or the Twelve Peak Alliance.

Considering that they might rise through the Martial Alliance ranks in the future, it was certainly right to listen to them.

Still, with their own sect standing on the edge of a precipice, their future did not look very bright either.

“We are already devising measures. Return to your sects and wait for now.”

“Our sects are on the verge of falling before the Black Path's blades. Please help us.”

The Changseong Sect Leader knew.

More than half of Yueyang would likely fall into the hands of the Black Path martial world because of this incident.

But with suspicion toward the Mount Cang Sect running so high, they had no justification to act against the Black Path.

The Mount Cang Sect was surely planning for the future.

Once the Black Path's atrocities grew worse and public condemnation reached its peak, they would step in again and seize Yueyang. That was why they were ignoring the Black Path for now.

“Didn't I say we were devising measures? Have you not considered that your interference is making matters even more difficult?”

At the Changseong Sect Leader's order to leave, the Academy students, including Jang Woojae, who had been fiercely protesting, were driven out of the Changseong Sect.

“Sniff... What are we supposed to do now...?”

Jang Woojae, the direct heir of Yujang Sect in Yueyang, despaired before his sect's future, which flickered like a candle in the wind.

“I'm sorry. I hate that you've had to see me like this...”

The Academy students who had visited the Yujang Sect during the break at Jang Woojae's invitation could only look at him with pity.

Like Jang Woojae, they had entered the Academy after staking the very foundations of their sects.

They had no means of helping the Yujang Sect in the first place.

“Shouldn't we ask somewhere else for help?”

“Didn't you see? Every place we passed refused us.”

“I heard some members of the Orthodox Society are holding a meeting in Yueyang right now.”

“The Orthodox Society?”

“Yes. I heard that not only Academy students but senior figures affiliated with the Alliance have come as well. Wouldn't it be best to ask them for help?”

“Where are they?”

Jang Woojae sprang up from the ground as though grasping at a frayed rope.

#

“What have you been thinking about?”

At the voice behind him, Ilgak snapped back to his senses.

“...”

A large ship shone brighter than any other in the center of Dongting Lake.

Ilgak had been watching the man and woman standing by its railing, but he turned his gaze away.

“You have arrived, Master.”

Without answering Ilgak's greeting, Hyesung moved to where Ilgak had stood and looked toward the large ship.

Then Hyesung nodded as though everything made sense.

“You have been consumed by worldly cares.”

“...”

Ilgak could not answer, shame filling him at Hyesung's words.

“I heard that boy defeated you. Was it truly that shocking?”

When Ilgak's expression twisted, Hyesung shook his head.

“Your cultivation is lacking.”

“...It is not because I was defeated.”

“Then what is it?”

“I wish to know the root of existence.”

“Tsk. I thought you had attained enlightenment after learning the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic and undertaking wall-facing meditation...”

As Hyesung clicked his tongue, Ilgak, who had fallen into thought, asked in a low voice.

“Master. Did I truly attain enlightenment?”

“Doesn't the Vajra Force you manifested support that?”

“Master, I learned that Vajra Force, Taiji Force, and Three Purities Force can only be manifested by those who have undergone deep cultivation and endurance, meditation and contemplation, and suffering that brings one to the brink of death.”

“That is true. They are not powers that just anyone can wield.”

Ilgak looked once more at the man among the pair standing on the ship.

“What he manifested was clearly Jade Clarity Celestial Phenomenon Force. How was that possible?”

“...”

Ilgak had yet to escape the shock of the Jade Clarity Celestial Phenomenon Force Jin Sowoon had displayed during their spar.

No, he had been deeply troubled ever since that day.

“He is crude, cowardly, dishonest, and skilled at lying. He does not hesitate to use any means for his goals. Then how can someone like that use Jade Clarity Celestial Phenomenon Force? Is he truly an evil man?”

“...Tsk, tsk. You have been confused by the phenomenon before your eyes.”

Hyesung shook his head.

“Devils sometimes appear before you wearing the faces of saints, and poison is always mixed into sweet-smelling liquor. Why are you being deceived by a mere phenomenon that confuses the eye?”

“...”

Ilgak was confused.

Could everything that had happened, everything Jin Sowoon had shown him, truly belong to someone wearing the mask of an evil man, as Hyesung said?

Then had Ilgak's own conduct merely worn the appearance of a saint?

“Cast aside your delusions. Fifty thousand delusions nourish worldly cares. Never forget that this is the first step of cultivation.”

It was accepted Buddhist doctrine.

A golden rule he had never once doubted.

Ilgak forced apart his reluctant lips.

“...I will remember it.”

After nodding for a moment, Hyesung spoke.

“A message came from the Society Leader.”

“...The Orthodox Society Leader?”

Ilgak had heard indirectly about what had happened in Yueyang.

They should have been busy enough dealing with this incident, which would bring disaster upon the Mount Cang Sect. Why had they sent word?

“Yes. They want us to investigate what happened in Sichuan.”

“...You mean external activities?”

“That is correct.”

“...But there is not much time left before we must return to the Academy.”

He swallowed the rest of his words.

During the term, Academy students needed the Academy Representative's permission for outside activities.

He knew that saying so would only stir Hyesung's worldly cares.

“That is why they want us to go. Before the Academy Representative can control us.”

“...”

The intent was obvious.

“It is an action with an obvious intent.”

They were deliberately acting with Jin Sowoon in mind.

“They must also be acting deliberately with the situation in Yueyang in mind.”

They intended to weaken Jin Sowoon's influence and extract something from him.

“This may be an opportunity to gain a foothold in Yueyang. The Mount Cang Sect would probably surrender Yueyang in its current state.”

“...”

Unable to offer any response, Ilgak pressed his palms together.

“Amitabha.”

“Yes, yes. This is something that could never have been accomplished without the Buddha's grace.”

Hyesung burst into smug laughter.

As Ilgak watched, Hyesung's face briefly looked like that of a devil. Startled, Ilgak hurried to cast aside the delusion.

‘Amitabha.’

Footnotes:

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