WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 166: The Sea of Blood Spreading Across Sichuan (2)
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“Damn it!”
My contempt for the Martial Alliance’s higher-ups in my past life hadn’t come solely from an inferiority complex.
The hypocrisy of those in power was nothing new, nor was capable people coveting authority.
The problem was that their incompetence harmed me.
The Sojeong Unit of White Wolf Pavilion was filled with low-ranking martial artists.
It wasn’t even part of the Martial Alliance’s main force.
Not even an independent unit.
Just an offshoot.
Yet their incompetence had reached even me.
They gave the orders, and we simply followed.
They were the incompetent ones, but we were the ones who died.
At this point, they might as well have been Demonic Cult spies.
The reason I fought so desperately against those in power in this life was because I never wanted to see this shitty situation happen again.
Rather than watching my junior brothers and comrades return as corpses once again because of some idiotic order from above...
I was almost at the point of thinking it would be better to join the Demonic Cult and destroy the Martial Alliance with my own hands.
‘They really are incredible bastards.’
The Orthodox Society members of the Elder Council had led the Nine Sects One Gang to Sichuan.
As withdrawals from the Orthodox Society accelerated because of the Soul-Destroying Formation incident, they must have wanted to draw unaffiliated students into their organization. So they had rounded up every student remaining at the academy and headed for Sichuan.
“They really are incredible bastards.”
I’d blocked them again and again, telling them not to dig their own graves, yet they found a gap and started digging anyway.
If the Orthodox Society went to Sichuan and got themselves killed, then so be it.
Fine. They made that choice, and their disciples would die because of it!
If they destroyed themselves through such stupidity, how could I stop them?
But damn it.
Why did they have to take Moyong Jaehwa and Eun Seollan too?!
I couldn’t tolerate them causing trouble on such a wide scale.
In my past life, Moyong Jaehwa had held back the Demonic Cult for a long time during the Martial Alliance’s Great Retreat, while Eun Seollan had laid the foundation that allowed the Martial Alliance to establish itself in the Northern Sea later on.
If my plan failed and this life also became an age ruled by the demonic path, those two would be the last hope capable of preserving the spirit of the White Path martial world.
That was aside from the fact that they were precious younger siblings to me.
Those bastards were practically using the deed to the last refuge their ancestors had left them as kindling for a reckless fire game.
Considering the tragic future, even setting fire to the entire Martial Alliance and burning every hall to the ground would cause less harm than letting those two die.
‘Ah! I really want to join the Demonic Cult.’
Suppressing my frustration, the first place I ran to was Buk Wonpyeong’s office.
“The Academy Director is currently away on a trip.”
I was so worked up that I had forgotten I was the one who had sent him to the Taeul Sect.
If Buk Wonpyeong had been at the academy in the first place, he would have stopped the Orthodox Society from moving.
“Are you all right, Young Master Jin?”
Seong Moran asked worriedly.
“...”
All right? Not at all.
The reason the casualties in Sichuan had been so severe was partly because the academy students had been unprepared for the dark arts used by heretical martial artists. The greatest reason, though, had been the careless way the units were deployed.
They had divided into ten groups to search for the culprits in that insane operation, and the Corpse Mountain Blood Cult had swallowed the academy students as though waiting beneath a persimmon tree with its mouth open for ripe fruit to fall.
Assuming the command structure was no different from back then, I first had to find out which of those ten units Eun Seollan and Moyong Jaehwa had been assigned to.
“Recent information from the Hao Sect said that those appearing in Sichuan are no ordinary threat.”
My companions flinched at my words.
They had encountered the Demonic Cult before, so they became especially tense.
“Then... then we have to stop them.”
Namgung Seonhwa shook her head at Seong Moran’s words.
“They won’t listen to us, Sister.”
Seong Moran’s eyes turned fierce.
“Why did those bastards take our younger siblings with them?!”
I barely stopped Seong Moran, who looked ready to draw her sword and race straight to Sichuan.
“The urgent matter is finding out where Jaehwa and Seollan are.”
It would be one thing if those bastards willingly shared their unit assignments, but would they?
We would have to search until our feet sweated, and I couldn’t do that alone.
It would be better to nullify the entire event.
Yes, nullify the event itself...
“...Huh?”
“Why? Did you think of something?”
“I think... there may be a way.”
“What way?”
If they had used a loophole, I could use one too.
“It may not be a perfect solution, but we can save those two.”
The Martial Arts Academy belonged to the Mantong Office.
If the Academy Director was absent, the person in charge of the Mantong Office commanded the Martial Arts Academy.
That meant it would all be over if the Mantong Office issued an order prohibiting the event.
‘Of course, it won’t be easy.’
Jegal Somyeong was already under severe pressure from the Elder Council.
Naturally, they wouldn’t want to pick another fight with them.
Then I had to at least obtain an order that would allow me to bring Moyong Jaehwa and Eun Seollan back.
I would take my companions and rescue them.
There was no time to waste, so I headed straight for the Martial Alliance’s Mantong Office.
“Hm? What brings you here?”
Maeng Juwon of the Mantong Office still had dark smudges around their eyes.
“Where is the Grand Strategist?”
Despite my urgent question, Maeng Juwon retained their vacant expression.
“The Grand Strategist? They went home a while ago.”
“What?”
What kind of time did the Martial Alliance’s Grand Strategist have to go home? Why now, of all times?!
“The regular examination is over, so they took leave for the first time in nearly a year. Do you need something?”
The Mantong Office’s chain of command was simpler than I had thought. When the Grand Strategist was absent, authority passed to the next rank.
Which meant the head of the Mantong Office was now...
“Head Maeng Juwon.”
This poor Maeng Juwon standing before me was the one in charge.
“The academy students have gone on an event without even receiving the Academy Representative’s approval.”
“...Is that so?”
“This is an incident that violates the Martial Alliance’s strict Alliance Regulations.”
Maeng Juwon remained relaxed.
“Of course it is. But didn’t the elders accompany that event? You know that matters like this are usually overlooked by custom. Why are you suddenly making an issue of it?”
Maeng Juwon spoke with the expression of a bureaucrat so worn down that there was nothing left to wear away.
“I understand how you feel. You don’t like those old men of the Elder Council stepping in at this point. But what can we do? Some matters have to be overlooked.”
“...”
“Besides, can’t you see? Those old men rushed everything through while the Grand Strategist was away. This was what they were aiming for from the start.”
Unaware of how serious the situation was, Maeng Juwon patted my shoulder.
“It can’t be helped. Close your eyes and let it pass this once. Once they return, you can put them in their place with another event.”
No, that wasn’t the problem.
Our kids were going to die.
“Then could you at least write an order directing Moyong Jaehwa and Eun Seollan, who were forcibly mobilized for that event, to return to the academy?”
“Hm?”
“I don’t want those two participating in the event.”
“...”
Maeng Juwon put down the documents in their hand and stared straight into my eyes.
“What are you plotting?”
“Pardon?”
“It’s only an event they went on, like an outing. They’ll return on their own once enough time passes. If they are your people, participating in that event won’t make them the Elder Council’s people, will it?”
Ugh, this was frustrating.
I couldn’t just reveal that the Blood Cult would emerge in Sichuan.
“...I’m worried the Orthodox Society might taint them.”
“...”
Maeng Juwon’s vacant expression disappeared. After glaring at me, they shook their head.
“No.”
“What?”
“I said no. Go back.”
“No, why?”
“Didn’t I tell you? This event was planned directly by those old men of the Elder Council. If I interfere with their event, do you think a mere Alliance official like me can withstand it?”
Maeng Juwon picked up their documents again and turned their back to me.
Was that it after all?
Telling Maeng Juwon to confront a group even Jegal Somyeong was wary of was no different from telling a low-ranking martial artist to face the Heavenly Demon Black Sword Unit.
“...It would have been so much better if you had listened to me earlier.”
Hm?
Had I misheard?
“What did you just say?”
“...What are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you just say something like, ‘If you had listened to me earlier...’?”
Maeng Juwon tapped the innocent documents with their finger.
“...Why are you eavesdropping on my muttering?”
What muttering? It had sounded like someone was speaking straight into my ear.
“...What do you want?”
Maeng Juwon’s eyes began to shake violently.
They looked like the Traceless Divine Thief standing before gold and silver treasures, unable to stop themself from reaching for a jewel.
“C-Cough. What could I possibly want? I don’t want anything.”
Look at that. At this rate, they would tear the documents apart.
They tried to turn their head away, yet their eyes remained fixed on me.
With their eyes rolling that much, maybe they could see the back of their own head.
“If you tell me what you want, I’ll consider it.”
“Cough, cough!”
Maeng Juwon coughed dryly for a long while as if phlegm had caught in their throat, then spoke.
“Come to the Mantong Office on both of your days off. On weekdays, come for two days after your academy schedule ends.”
“...”
What was this? Had working too much finally driven them mad?
“What am I supposed to do at the Mantong Office?”
“What else? Learn the work in advance and practice it.”
Why would I do that?
“I won’t.”
“Then it will be difficult for me to write that order.”
“...”
I stared at Maeng Juwon.
They pretended to be calm, but one foot tapped rapidly against the floor.
They tried their best to look uninterested, but they were clearly worried that they might lose this chance.
Novice gamblers with a decent hand always looked like that.
I rose from my seat.
“All right.”
Maeng Juwon’s eyes widened rapidly.
“I’ll just skip the academy without permission and go bring them back.”
“Eh? Don’t you know unauthorized absence can be grounds for dismissal from the academy?”
“I know. I’ll just complete my mandatory service and return to my sect.”
“You won’t remain in the Martial Alliance?”
“I crave wealth and glory. If I become an officer, I may pass through the Mantong Office to earn a promotion. If I don’t, there’s no reason for me to remain in the Martial Alliance.”
“...”
“Sorry for taking your time. I’ll be going.”
I said that and started walking outside.
Maeng Juwon hurriedly grabbed my sleeve.
“Hey, you! Why are you so impatient? Fine! Just come on your two days off.”
Trying to pull a con on someone who used to rig gambling games among the Sojeong Unit’s thugs.
“One of my days off. I’ll come, handle the work perfectly, and leave.”
“Fine! Two days while you’re learning the work. Once I think you’ve learned it all, only one day. I won’t compromise any further.”
Maeng Juwon spun around as if issuing an ultimatum.
I thought for a moment.
It was a shame to lose one precious day off, but considering I could use the Mantong Office to make trouble for disobedient members of the Nine Sects One Gang or Five Great Clans, it wasn’t necessarily a bad deal.
“Fine. Then please make sure to write an order canceling the event held by the Orthodox Society...”
“Fine! And I should issue an arrest warrant for the Elder Council’s anti-Alliance conduct as well, right?”
Maeng Juwon enthusiastically began rifling through documents before I had even finished speaking.
Didn’t they just say they couldn’t withstand this as an ordinary Alliance official?
“...An order canceling the event will be enough.”
“Hmm... Then again, I probably wouldn’t survive if I turned the entire Nine Sects One Gang into enemies.”
“...”
“Oh, right. Won’t you need martial artists too? How about a hundred elite martial artists? That should be enough to intimidate them into stopping the event.”
As if to show off the Mantong Office’s influence, Maeng Juwon brought out all kinds of documents.
“...”
What exactly was this person? Did they have no fear of consequences?
There really were no ordinary people in the Martial Alliance.
#
When I delivered the Mantong Office’s leave pass and event-cancellation order to the academy, the academy administrators and instructors looked troubled.
The second academic term had barely begun, yet the Academy Representative and the entire student leadership group were saying they would all leave the academy. It was an absurd situation for them too.
But what did they expect me to do? We had an order from the Mantong Office.
If they hadn’t wanted this situation, they shouldn’t have listened to the Elder Council’s demands in the first place.
“How did you even get something like this from the Mantong Office?”
Namgung Seonhwa examined the order several times as if she couldn’t believe it.
“There is... a sad story behind it.”
One day of my holiday had vanished.
I looked at my companions and asked, “I brought the order, but the Elder Council may ignore even this. Anyone uncomfortable with that is free to stay behind. ...Ah, Eunho, you stay right there. Unless you want to get hit. Taeul Sect members are attending automatically.”
I had said it out of consideration for Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, but both women answered fiercely.
“What are you talking about? Even if we have to fight them, we need to bring them back.”
“People who refuse to obey a Mantong Office order should not be forgiven.”
I couldn’t help smiling at their eagerness.
“Good. Then let’s prepare at once.”
Preparations were quickly completed.
We gathered after packing our weapons and emergency rations.
“First, take one of these.”
I handed each person a small leather pouch.
Those who had been maintaining their swords accepted the items, checked their contents, and asked, “I know what the signal flare is, but what are the necklace and talisman for?”
The necklace had been made from Fragrant White Jade that I had entrusted to Jang Dowon.
The Corpse Mountain Blood Cult might be a branch of the Demonic Cult, but they still used wicked techniques that disturbed the mind.
Like demonic qi, prolonged exposure could damage one’s clear mind and leave lasting aftereffects. You could end up seeing illusions for the rest of your life.
Rather than directly blocking the Corpse Mountain Blood Cult’s attacks, we needed to be more careful not to fall victim to their wicked arts.
It was inferior to a Demon-Expelling Four-Spirit Bead, but it was still better than chanting the Demon-Subduing Mantra like mad.
“The talisman is a Demon-Subduing Talisman from the Hyeongsan Sect. It should help protect you against demonic and heretical martial artists we encounter.”
Namgung Seonhwa stared at the talisman in surprise.
“Hyeongsan Sect talismans are incredibly expensive...”
“We can’t set out to save someone, only for me to get hurt instead.”
#
Just as we finished preparing to depart, the people Maeng Juwon had sent arrived at the academy.
“...”
I was left speechless when I saw who they were.
“I am Gu Jeongryong, Tiger Hall Master.”
Maeng Juwon had said they would send an appropriate force, so I had expected something like Black Martial Pavilion or Red Phoenix Pavilion.
‘This person really went all-in.’
It was Tiger Hall.
The strike force within Azure Dragon Pavilion best suited to offensive operations.
They had sent the force that was deployed whenever Black Path martial artists invaded the Martial Alliance.
Were they telling us to pick a fight with the Elder Council?
‘No, could someone of the Head of the Mantong Office’s rank even order them to move?’
Even Jegal Somyeong, the Grand Strategist, carefully considered each organization’s interests when dispatching forces.
Of course, considering we might have to deal with both the Corpse Mountain Blood Cult and the Elder Council, Tiger Hall’s arrival was more welcome than unwelcome.
The issue was whether they would listen to me.
“You’re heading to Sichuan?”
Gu Jeongryong’s expression was grave.
Even with a Mantong Office dispatch order, they probably did not want to take orders from an academy student who was their junior.
“Yes.”
“How will you organize the unit?”
“We’ll first locate the academy students currently in Sichuan, then move all at once.”
“...We are a group primarily made up of strong martial artists. You know that, correct?”
“We’ll handle the search. Hall Master, please only assist with enforcing the order.”
“You want us to stand by, then oppose the Elder Council?”
“Will that be difficult?”
“...If it is the Alliance’s order, we must follow it.”
Oh? Was this person more reasonable than expected?
“Still, I will leave all responsibility, including command, to you.”
“...”
So they meant they wouldn’t take responsibility. Naturally.
That was actually welcome from my perspective.
Getting into a conflict with Tiger Hall at a time like this would be a huge loss.
We still lacked people, but our force wasn’t unusable.
The most important thing was to deliver the Mantong Office’s order to the Elder Council and secure justification for canceling the event.
Any lack of martial strength was only a secondary problem.
As one, we all began moving quickly.
We crossed the vast grounds of the Martial Arts Academy and reached its main gate.
Then someone called out to me from the side.
“Representative Jin Sowoon.”
“...”
Someone I was never happy to see approached.
“I’m busy. What do you need?”
I made no attempt to hide my annoyance, but the visitor remained relaxed.
As expected, someone I didn’t like.
“It seemed the Academy Representative was about to do something, so I came to see.”
“This has nothing to do with the Twelve Peak Alliance. Please return.”
Cheol Sunjik continued with that slick face of his.
“Still, can’t you spare a moment to hear us out?”
“...Hear you out?”
I definitely should have cracked his skull during the regular examination. Then he wouldn’t be holding up a busy person like this.
This time, I looked at him with every intention of cracking his skull if he said anything pointless.
Yet...
“May we move with you as well, Representative?”
Cheol Sunjik smiled with an unreadable expression.
Footnotes:
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