WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 184: Rewriting the Sichuan Bloodbath (4)
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[The Orthodox Society was attacked in Sichuan.]
When the news first arrived, the other elders of the Elder Council could not hold back their sneers.
News that a fierce rival had fallen flat on their face and broken their nose was more satisfying than any meal.
The members of the White Path Society and Twelve Peak Alliance, who had been displeased by the Orthodox Society's paltry event, felt as though an aching tooth had finally been pulled.
In response to the news from Sichuan, the Martial Alliance prepared to form a unit for immediate dispatch.
The Elder Council, on the other hand, wanted the Orthodox Society to suffer a little longer. They kept putting off discussions about forming a unit, leaving the Martial Alliance's combat pavilions unsure whether they should prepare at all.
It did not take long for the smug expressions on the Elder Council's faces to turn sour.
- Numerous casualties from the Qingcheng Sect and its lay martial sects.
- Numerous casualties from the Mount Emei Sect and its lay martial sects.
- Numerous casualties from the Mount Hua Sect and its lay martial sects.
- Numerous casualties from the Kongtong Sect and its lay martial sects.
- Qingcheng Sect Elder Eun Huigwang missing.
- Mount Emei Sect Elder Jeongmyeong missing.
- Mount Hua Sect Elder So Chunghyeon's death confirmed.
- Kongtong Sect Elder Jeong Saik's death confirmed.
- Shaolin Temple Elder Hyesung suffering side effects from dark arts.
- Mount Cang Sect Elder Myeonghyeon suffering side effects from dark arts.
The endless stream of bad news stunned not only the Elder Council, but the entire Martial Alliance.
A few people nearly fainted upon reading the note at the end of the report, which stated that the exact casualty count had not been included because the dead and wounded could not yet be properly distinguished.
After that, no one dared obstruct the dispatch of Martial Alliance martial artists to Sichuan.
But it would not be the Martial Alliance if it ended there.
This time, they objected to the scale of the deployment.
“Strategist Jegal. Do you think this makes any sense? Has some White-Black War broken out? Azure Dragon Pavilion, Red Dragon Pavilion, Black Martial Pavilion, and even Golden Phoenix Pavilion? Are you planning to fight all of Sichuan?”
“It seems the Elder Council is not taking the current situation seriously. Elders from Mount Hua, Kongtong, Qingcheng, and Mount Emei have gone missing or been killed. On top of that, Shaolin's Elder Hyesung and Mount Cang's Daoist Myeonghyeon are suffering side effects from dark arts.”
“Even so, this is going too far. Too far!”
“Are people who know where to draw the line the ones questioning and obstructing the dispatch of martial artists?”
“Grand Strategist!”
Those who had raced through the martial world together in their youth forgot their dignity and pointed fingers as they argued, just as they had in their spirited younger days.
The debate was so heated that, if not for their positions and the people watching, they might have settled it with martial arts. Jegal Somyeong, who knew the truth, was on the verge of exploding.
‘It's not as though I can tell them the Blood Cult has appeared!’
What Jin Sowoon had told them was still only an inference.
Jegal Somyeong believed Jin Sowoon's account had merit, which was why they had intended to dispatch only the bare minimum of personnel. Yet even that was enough to provoke the Elder Council and the other sects.
Meanwhile, Qingcheng and Mount Emei, whose elders had vanished in what was practically their own backyard, were refusing to wait any longer. They were making noise about mobilizing their own martial artists to capture the culprits.
It was chaos in every sense of the word.
Some people complained about why they were sending so many people.
Qingcheng and Mount Emei insisted they would deploy their own martial artists at once.
Even a marketplace would have looked more orderly.
“Damn it. If he was going to throw us a problem, couldn't he at least provide a solution?”
At Jegal Somyeong's words, Maeng Juwon, whose swollen forehead had yet to go down, grumbled.
“Isn't persuading the Elder Council the Grand Strategist's responsibility?”
“...Why is this bastard listening in on my muttering?”
Of course, Jegal Somyeong knew this was not Jin Sowoon's fault. Still, it was unbearably frustrating.
If they believed the Blood Cult had appeared, even this many personnel seemed insufficient.
If they treated it as nothing more than the deaths of several elders, the fear remained that, if it truly was the Blood Cult, this was not something a small force could handle.
As they wrestled with that dilemma, another message arrived.
- An Iron Zombie has appeared.
- The enemy has been confirmed to be the Blood Cult.
They said hearing something too absurd made the mind freeze.
The message Jin Sowoon sent turned the entire Martial Alliance to stone.
Jegal Somyeong, who had been predicting the Blood Cult's involvement, trembled as though struck by lightning.
“J-jiangshi? Jiaaangshi? Irooon Zombie?”
“Grand Strategist, please compose yourself.”
“Hey, you idiot! How am I supposed to compose myself?! It says jiangshi! Jiangshi! Not just anything, but jiaaangshi!”
What was happening in Sichuan was classified, yet somehow the news began spreading throughout the Martial Alliance. Before long, it became more turbulent than ever.
The Martial Alliance, which had been trembling incessantly like an anxious examination candidate shaking their leg, finally decided to send its absolute elite to Sichuan.
There were no further distinctions based on the scale or affiliation of the deployed force, and the Elder Council approved the plan unconditionally.
Alliance Leader’s Hall of the Martial Alliance.
Jegal Somyeong had brought the dispatch approvals from the Elder Council and Mantong Office. Just before receiving the Alliance Leader's seal, they spoke with the Alliance Leader.
“Iron Zombies... What do you make of it?”
At Hyeok Mugang's question, Jegal Somyeong answered without concealing their concern.
“I can only hope... that it is not true.”
“The Grand Strategist believes it is real as well.”
“There is one suspicious point. Even after searching old records, I found no indication that the Blood Cult was capable of creating Iron Zombies.”
“Then does that mean they are connected to the Demonic Cult after all?”
Hyeok Mugang asked lightly, but Jegal Somyeong pressed their lips together.
Even the Martial Alliance's Grand Strategist had truths they did not wish to face.
They would make thorough preparations, but they believed what mattered most was ensuring the incident never happened in the first place.
“Even so, if it has already happened, we must face it.”
“...”
Jegal Somyeong silently agreed with Hyeok Mugang's words.
“The number of martial artists being dispatched is remarkable.”
“It is only for the worst-case scenario, but if the Blood Cult and Iron Zombies have both appeared, even this number may not be enough.”
“Will the Black Path Alliance not be displeased?”
A mobilization on this scale would surely irritate their rivals.
The Black Path martial world had only just found its footing and begun forming an alliance, so an operation by the Martial Alliance could not help but trouble them.
If this became the spark that forced them to contend with the Black Path Alliance while fighting the Blood Cult, the Martial Alliance could find itself surrounded on all sides.
Suppressing a rising sigh, Jegal Somyeong replied, “We will have to explain the situation in detail and ease their dissatisfaction. Even if we must make some concessions, we cannot simply leave the Blood Cult alone.”
Hyeok Mugang could not shake his worried expression.
“I'm already concerned about what the Lord of the Four Emperors Association will demand.”
Jegal Somyeong nodded in agreement.
“But what matters now is the Blood Cult and the Iron Zombies. If they enter the martial world, the damage will be on an entirely different level from a brawl with the Black Path.”
“I understand. I will consider what we must offer them. By the way, what became of the Academy students?”
The Grand Strategist's expression grew complicated again.
“...They say Tiger Hall's deployment to Sichuan prevented major casualties.”
“What a relief. They say this was also thanks to that child, Jin Sowoon?”
For some reason, Hyeok Mugang looked delighted. Jegal Somyeong let out a long sigh.
“That is correct. But there may be procedural issues, so I do not know whether he should be punished or rewarded.”
Everything he had done was good.
He had gone to save the Academy students, uncovered the Blood Cult's existence, and revealed that Iron Zombies existed. Naturally, he should be rewarded.
Yet he had ignored the academic schedule and persuaded Maeng Juwon, the Mantong Office's department head, to deploy Tiger Hall.
There were no apparent procedural issues, but if someone wanted to find fault, there was plenty to seize upon.
Jegal Somyeong's head already felt ready to burst from the many problems piling up. The thought of Jin Sowoon's matter being added to them was almost too much.
“He should be rewarded.”
Hyeok Mugang's voice was calm.
Jegal Somyeong frowned.
“It is not so simple...”
“Compared to a major crisis, are procedural issues not minor? He saved countless people and bought us time to respond.”
Tap.
The Alliance Leader set down his teacup with a sharp sound.
“If we punish someone like that, no one will act so readily in the future. They will put their own safety first.”
“...”
Jegal Somyeong knew that fact too well to add anything.
How obedient people could become within a system.
Once they lost the will to question and reflect, becoming consumed by the system, they would start overlooking wrongdoing even when they saw it.
Both bringing Maeng Juwon, once a low-ranking scholar, into Mantong Office and trying to bring in Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect were meant to guard against that very outcome.
“If anyone attempts to obstruct the decision to reward him for this matter, Alliance Leader’s Hall will take responsibility.”
At Hyeok Mugang's resolute words, Jegal Somyeong finally nodded.
“...Understood. Mantong Office will do the same. But let us handle rewards and punishments after the matter of the Blood Cult is over.”
“That is only natural.”
Having finished most of what they needed to discuss, Jegal Somyeong presented the order of deployment.
“Then, here...”
Hyeok Mugang read through the documents, lifted the golden seal, and froze just before stamping it.
“If I stamp this, there will be no turning back, correct?”
“...”
Despite Jegal Somyeong's silence, Hyeok Mugang nodded and pressed the seal down heavily.
Thud.
The great giant known as the Martial Alliance, which had stood motionless like a rotten old tree, began to move.
#
“Hall Master.”
Gu Jeongryong turned at Jin Sowoon's call.
“Have you gathered everyone?”
“Yes, thanks to your consideration.”
Gu Jeongryong's brow creased slightly.
What consideration had he shown?
In truth, all he had done in this affair was transport the wounded.
The one who had taken the lead in resolving what happened in Sichuan was Jin Sowoon.
Gu Jeongryong dared to say that, if Jin Sowoon had not come to Sichuan, the Martial Arts Academy's Orthodox Society would have met its end there.
The thought made Gu Jeongryong curious about Jin Sowoon all over again.
“What exactly are you?”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, what is your true identity?”
“My identity? I'm a disciple of the Taeul Sect and the Martial Arts Academy representative...”
“Never mind. I asked something pointless.”
As Gu Jeongryong shook his head, Jin Sowoon scratched the back of his head with an expression that suggested he had no idea what he had done wrong.
“By the way, why did you call me?”
“Ah, there was something I wanted to ask.”
“Me?”
“Yes. A few Tiger Hall members keep asking me when I'm going to buy them banishing evil and suppressing spirits. What do they mean?”
“...”
Gu Jeongryong's face turned red.
“Ahem... Well...”
“Does banishing evil and suppressing spirits mean the banishing evil and suppressing spirits I know?”
Gu Jeongryong's coughing grew louder.
“Ahem! Cough! Ahem!”
“Have you suffered internal injuries?”
“Urgh... No. There was just a personal matter. Um, could you buy them some food and tell them it is banishing evil and suppressing spirits?”
“...”
Jin Sowoon tilted his head, looking as though he did not understand at all.
In the end, Gu Jeongryong had no choice but to take several silver coins from his robe.
“I'll pay. They have worked hard, so soothe them properly.”
Jin Sowoon immediately accepted the silver coins with a bright smile, as if he had never been confused in the first place.
Not a trace of his innocent expression remained.
“Of course. For the people who worked so hard, I'll gladly do it.”
“...”
Gu Jeongryong was left with an uneasy feeling.
He quickly changed the subject.
“I am thinking of increasing the procession's pace. What do you think?”
“There are many wounded. Will that be all right?”
“From what I can see, the situation in Sichuan is far from ordinary. The Blood Cult... They will never simply give up.”
“Ah, that is all right.”
Gu Jeongryong tilted his head.
“It is?”
“Yes. I cut off the Young Cult Leader's head. The Blood Cult will be unable to move for some time, if only because they must report that.”
“...”
Gu Jeongryong was briefly at a loss for words at the calm explanation before finally speaking.
“You cut off his head? You?”
“Yes. I thought they might pursue us, so I cut off the problem before it could grow.”
“...”
Gu Jeongryong's gaze naturally turned toward the bundle in Jin Sowoon's hand.
It was about the size of a watermelon and roughly round.
Eun Seollan also used her ice art on it morning and night...
“Surely that is not...”
Jin Sowoon answered cheerfully.
“Yes! It is exactly what you are thinking.”
“...”
Why are you carrying that?
The question rose to Gu Jeongryong's throat, but he forced it back down.
Gu Jeongryong already had countless questions about Jin Sowoon, beginning with how he had predicted what would happen in Sichuan.
If he heard every detail, his head would become far too complicated.
Gu Jeongryong decided to set his curiosity aside as quickly as possible.
“Hmm, I see. You are quite remarkable.”
“You flatter me.”
Then Gu Jeongryong swiftly changed the subject.
“Still, I think we should pick up the pace. It seems that not only the Blood Cult, but also the Green Forest strongholds are involved in this matter.”
“...Ah. That?”
“You saw the corpses too, so you know...”
“I was the one who did it.”
“What?”
Gu Jeongryong's head began to spin at this new absurdity.
Unlike Gu Jeongryong, Jin Sowoon remained as calm as ever.
“Well, I had no way to break through the Blood Cult's forces, so I brought in the Green Forest bandits and set them against the Blood Cult.”
“...”
Gu Jeongryong tried once again to ignore the complicated story, but this time he could not hold it in.
“Have you lost your mind? The Blood Cult was already too much, and you brought in the Green Forest too?”
“Ah, I'll take care of all that...”
At that moment, Gam Cheonak approached them with an unusually grim expression.
“Hall Master.”
“What!”
The answer came out unnecessarily sharp.
Normally, Gam Cheonak would have snapped back in the same manner. Instead, Gam Cheonak spoke in the same grave voice.
“The Green Forest has appeared ahead.”
“What?”
“There seem to be around a thousand of them.”
“...”
There was a reason Gam Cheonak had endured Gu Jeongryong's thorny tone.
Footnotes:
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