WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 190: Rewriting the Sichuan Bloodbath (10)
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A heavy tension hung over the Academy Director’s office.
It was not because Jegal Somyeong was frowning and openly displaying their displeasure.
The true reason for the heavy atmosphere was...
“Hohoho, had I known the Academy Director had such fine taste in tea, I would have visited from time to time.”
“...Pardon? Ah, is that so? Then I’ll arrange for the same tea to be sent to the Alliance Leader’s Hall...”
“No, no. How can I spend the Alliance’s money so freely? I’ll simply drop by from time to time.”
“...”
At Hyeok Mugang’s words, Buk Wonpyeong barely concealed his stunned expression.
The Martial Alliance Leader planned to come by at all hours to drink his tea?
The very thought was suffocating.
Yet the Martial Alliance Leader took it a step further.
“Would frequent visits make you uncomfortable?”
“N-No! How could that be? I’m only grateful that you wish to visit so often.”
Buk Wonpyeong forced a smile, but the corners of his mouth and eyes trembled.
Watching him look like a rabbit bowing before a leopard gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.
Served him right.
He had flatly refused the Head Disciple’s request, so the Grandmaster Ancestor must have been punishing him.
Hyeok Mugang raised his chin slightly and continued.
“At my age, there are few places that seek me out. Staying in the Alliance Leader’s Hall every day is no easy burden either.”
“...”
“I traveled the martial world with the inheritor of the previous Supreme Sword and made many memories. Those were truly enjoyable days.”
It was as though he were saying, I knew your master too, understand? I traveled the martial world with him and did all sorts of things, boy.
It was the sort of story old men loved to tell, yet the impression it gave was entirely different.
Was it a sovereign’s bearing?
In a way, it was only natural.
The mark Hyeok Mugang had left on the martial world transcended both the White Path and Black Path. It was enough to inspire reverence in every martial artist active in the martial world.
‘Perhaps it is only natural, considering even the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans have never been able to pull him down from his position as Alliance Leader.’
Hyeok Mugang had neither a sect nor a master.
The story of how he rose to one of the Ten Greatest Under Heaven through martial arts he had forged alone, overcame countless schemes and power struggles, and was ultimately elevated to the position of Martial Alliance Leader was enough to stir the hearts of everyone living in the martial world.
I also held a special feeling toward him.
When the Orthodox-Demonic War began, he had fought most fiercely at the very front.
Even when we were disappointed by the Nine Sects One Gang and disgusted with the Five Great Clans, the White-Handed Divine Sword had never betrayed our trust.
‘...Perhaps that is why he failed.’
In the end, Hyeok Mugang too had been one of the great stars that fell during the Orthodox-Demonic War. Yet even after the war ended, the White-Handed Divine Sword remained an eternal lamp in our hearts, one that would never go out.
Seeing the hero I had once only glimpsed from afar standing before me made my heart tremble strangely.
‘...Though perhaps I’m just trembling because I’m nervous.’
It could not be helped. He had come along at the exact time Jegal Somyeong was supposed to scold me.
I had come prepared to be scolded by Jegal Somyeong, but I had no desire to be chewed out by the White-Handed Divine Sword as well.
As Hyeok Mugang spoke with the sweating Buk Wonpyeong, his gaze casually turned toward me.
I lowered my head deeply, determined not to end up like Buk Wonpyeong.
Fortunately(?), Jegal Somyeong’s teeth-grinding voice came first.
“Jin Sowoon... Do you have any idea what you have done?”
Gulp.
‘To be honest, I did make a few mistakes, but didn’t I save the Academy students because of it?’
I swallowed the words I had prepared.
I simply intended to endure the insults with the mindset of a meat shield(?) that had abandoned all thoughts of defense.
I had more than enough experience as a meat shield in my previous life.
But then...
“Hoho, Grand Strategist. Didn’t we agree not to do this?”
That familiar, relaxed, benevolent voice interrupted.
‘What?’
While I still looked on suspiciously,
“That is why I told you not to follow me.”
“Hoho, Grand Strategist. Wouldn’t that make our promise meaningless?”
Jegal Somyeong looked ready to explode with anger, while Hyeok Mugang smiled pleasantly as he held them back.
No way!
‘Hyeok Mugang truly is a person with the bearing of a hero!’
Hyeok Mugang turned to me.
“Academy Representative Jin Sowoon, you have done a splendid thing this time.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Jegal Somyeong’s face, on the other hand, crumpled like paper.
‘Oh?’
The situation became clear in my head.
Jegal Somyeong had likely wanted to scold me before giving me any credit.
Hyeok Mugang must have opposed it.
That was why Jegal Somyeong had come all the way to the Martial Arts Academy to avoid Hyeok Mugang, only to be caught by him anyway.
‘That seems about right.’
Once I understood the situation, what I needed to do also became clear.
I answered as respectfully as possible.
“It was nothing. I only did what I should have done.”
Hyeok Mugang patted my shoulder with a satisfied expression.
“Even what should be done is not something everyone can do. I also heard that, while acting as the Academy Representative, you endured serious conflict with the Orthodox Society.”
“Isn’t that the hardship one must naturally endure to rise when there is no one to pull you up? Even so, it was nothing compared to what you endured, Alliance Leader. I never thought it was particularly difficult.”
“Hohoho, yes! Exactly so. A true man must be able to embrace even those with faults. That is right, that is right.”
Hyeok Mugang laughed heartily for quite some time.
That was enough flattery.
Now it was time to clean up my mistakes.
I clasped my hands and bowed deeply.
“Even so, I am deeply ashamed of myself.”
“Hm?”
Hyeok Mugang, who had still been smiling, asked in surprise at my sudden attitude.
“What do you mean?”
I answered in a miserable voice.
“Although I saved ‘hundreds’ of people and prevented the ‘Blood Cult incident,’ which could have spread much further through Sichuan, thereby saving the Academy students in the immediate sense and Martial Alliance warriors in the long term...”
I paused briefly and glanced discreetly at Jegal Somyeong.
“Would there not be those who believe I failed to follow the proper procedures in the process?”
Then I looked at Hyeok Mugang and let the corners of my eyes droop with all my might.
“That is why I am deeply ashamed and embarrassed. If you choose to punish me, I will gladly accept any punishment.”
The instant I finished speaking, Jegal Somyeong’s gaze became as sharp as an axe.
Hyeok Mugang softly chuckled and closed his eyes.
He stroked his long white beard, which made him look like an immortal, several times.
After a brief silence, he opened his eyes wide.
Golden light flashed in them for an instant.
“I... am truly fortunate.”
His gaze toward me was filled with affection.
“During my tenure, such an outstanding rising talent has appeared. Can I not say I have faithfully fulfilled my duties as Martial Alliance Leader?”
It went beyond praise. It was admiration...!
I gripped my shoulders to stop them from rising and spoke even more humbly.
“You overpraise me.”
As I kept my head lowered like a criminal, I could feel someone snorting beside me.
“Y-You damned bastard...! You dare use that glib tongue to avoid punishment for your mistakes!”
Jegal Somyeong’s face had turned red with frustration.
Was it still not enough to fool them?
Then again, what did it matter? The Martial Alliance Leader was already on my side. Heheh.
I deliberately made an even more guilty expression.
“Grand Strategist... I am truly sorry. But for someone as lacking as myself, it was the best I could do for the greater good. If you punish me... if you truly believe you must, I will accept it willingly.”
The agitated Jegal Somyeong finally pointed at me.
“Ha...! Alliance Leader, did you see that? This brat is truly frightening. Knowing I would scold him, he is trying to use you as his backing...”
“Now, now, Grand Strategist. Please calm down. What are you saying to our young hero?”
“Wow... Wow... Seriously. Wow...”
After calming Jegal Somyeong, Hyeok Mugang called to me again.
“Academy Representative Jin Sowoon. Raise your head. The process may have been flawed, but you prevented an enormous amount of blood from being shed in the martial world. Your merits outweigh your faults.”
The benevolent smile on his face briefly gave way to solemnity.
“That does not mean all is forgiven simply because the result was good.”
His gentle yet firm voice continued.
“When we twist all reason to fit the result, illegal or improper conduct arises in the process. Take this matter as a lesson and always examine your own actions.”
“I will remember it.”
“If you understand, relax your expression and raise your head. Your current appearance does not suit the bearing of a hero.”
As I raised my head, I paused and made a show of cautiously watching Jegal Somyeong’s reaction.
Jegal Somyeong struck their chest in disbelief.
“Wow... This brat is an incredible actor. Instead of sending him to the Mantong Office, we should send him off to perform Peking opera.”
“...”
Hyeok Mugang shook his head.
“Grand Strategist, that is enough. Has he not reflected sufficiently already?”
“No! Ha... Hoo...”
At a loss for words, Jegal Somyeong finally let out a long sigh as if giving up.
I barely hid the corners of my mouth that wanted to rise.
With Hyeok Mugang having said this much, I no longer had to worry about being scolded by Jegal Somyeong.
‘This went far better than I expected.’
Just as I thought I only needed to leave the Academy Director’s office with a light heart,
“More importantly, you have rendered great service, so we must give you a reward. What would be suitable?”
Was this why heroes who rose alone to the position of Martial Alliance Leader were different?
“What reward are you talking about? Not being punished is reward enough for that brat.”
Jegal Somyeong still showed none of a hero’s bearing.
Hyeok Mugang chuckled as he looked at them.
“The Grand Strategist is quite mischievous. You have been thinking harder than anyone else about what to give Academy Representative Jin.”
“That was... for after he had accepted his punishment willingly.”
“In any case, what is there that would be worth giving this child?”
Faced with Hyeok Mugang’s firm attitude, Jegal Somyeong eventually sighed.
“I do not know. He has not even become an official member of the Alliance yet, so we cannot promote him. Nor can we give wealth to an Academy student...”
As Jegal Somyeong trailed off, Hyeok Mugang asked me,
“Academy Representative Jin Sowoon, is there anything you need? If there is, speak freely.”
I quickly searched through the library in my mind.
It would be best if it was something the Martial Alliance possessed right now and could give as a reward.
At the same time, it could not be something too excessive for my merits. Better still if it was something whose value had not yet been properly recognized.
Taking all of that into account, the thing I needed most among the Martial Alliance’s possessions at this point was...
“I would like Vajra Indestructible Iron and Wind-Screaming Paulownia.”
“Vajra Indestructible Iron... I understand, but why do you need Wind-Screaming Paulownia?”
“I have a personal use for it.”
After considering it carefully, Hyeok Mugang asked,
“Are you planning to forge a sword?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm... Then would Black Iron not be better?”
“Alliance Leader!”
Jegal Somyeong stared in shock.
Both Vajra Indestructible Iron and Black Iron were precious, but the martial world regarded Black Iron as the superior metal.
Above all, it had greater capacity for qi, making sword qi more efficient even when using the same amount.
The Scarlet Radiance Sword from my previous life had also been a divine artifact forged from Black Iron.
‘But few people know that it is weaker than Vajra Indestructible Iron.’
That truth would not be revealed until the Orthodox-Demonic War began and Demonic Cult monsters appeared.
I had felt it during the Iron Zombie incident as well. When facing monsters with skin harder than a human’s, nothing was better than Vajra Indestructible Iron.
Considering the beings I, and the martial world, would have to face in the future, preparing weapons made from Vajra Indestructible Iron was a better choice than using Black Iron.
There was also a secret no one knew.
The hidden effect of Wind-Screaming Paulownia and Vajra Indestructible Iron.
When Vajra Indestructible Iron was refined with Wind-Screaming Paulownia, it showed even greater capacity for qi than Black Iron.
If the Scarlet Radiance Sword were forged from Vajra Indestructible Iron, Wind-Screaming Paulownia, and Blood Sea Jade, it would be greater than even the one I had seen in my previous life.
“Black Iron is too precious for someone like me. Vajra Indestructible Iron and Wind-Screaming Paulownia are enough.”
“Hoho... A martial artist would normally covet a better weapon.”
Hyeok Mugang, who had been looking at me with kind eyes, turned to Jegal Somyeong.
“What do you think? Our young hero wishes for them. Are those materials in the treasury?”
Jegal Somyeong’s eyes twitched.
“How does he know every detail of the items in the treasury...?”
Soon, they sighed deeply as though they had given up.
“I believe we can give them to him.”
“Then that settles it. Does the Grand Strategist have anything to add?”
“No.”
Hyeok Mugang smiled and looked back at me.
“Academy Representative Jin Sowoon, the award ceremony can only be held after all matters in Sichuan are concluded. But I will make arrangements so you can use the materials first.”
Was the award ceremony important? The materials were what mattered.
That was truly the generosity of a hero of the martial world.
After glancing at the Grand Strategist, I quickly answered.
“Thank you.”
With everyone except Jegal Somyeong seemingly satisfied, the atmosphere naturally shifted into casual conversation.
The topic moved to Sichuan, and since I had not known what discussions had taken place within the Martial Alliance, it was a good opportunity to satisfy my curiosity.
I listened quietly so as not to interrupt the flow of the conversation.
“Fortunately, that old man, the Poison King, and Qingcheng’s ox-nosed Daoist have agreed to step forward.”
“That is fortunate. I was quite worried about what we would do if they refused.”
“The incident occurred in their own backyard, so naturally they should step forward.”
The Martial Alliance had already dispatched enough personnel, so it had no trouble engaging in battle.
Yet because it lacked enough people among the ranks of absolute masters, the greatest problem had been how to deal with the Blood Cult’s powerful fighters.
Fortunately, Sichuan’s absolute masters had stepped forward, resolving the issue to some degree.
‘This will be resolved sooner than expected.’
In my previous life, they had spent too long identifying the enemy, resulting in a delayed response. They also did not know how powerful the dark arts were, and the damage had been immense.
On top of that, the existence of the Iron Zombies and Blood Demons, beings with absolute martial strength, had caused so many deaths that the Martial Alliance nearly collapsed.
Compared to then, the current situation was fortunate enough that one could say there had been no damage at all.
“Still, I cannot understand it. Why have those Blood Cult bastards stopped their eastward advance?”
“Hmm...”
Even Jegal Somyeong, with that brilliant mind, tilted their head in confusion.
“If their identities had not been exposed, that would be one thing. But now that everything has been revealed, dragging things out cannot possibly benefit them.”
“We should tell them to remain cautious for now. There may be some kind of trap.”
As I quietly listened to the two of them, I finally remembered something very important I had forgotten.
“Um...”
When I, who had remained silent until now, opened my mouth, everyone focused on me.
“I should have told you earlier.”
I placed the bundle I had brought onto the table.
Everyone’s gaze gathered there again.
“What is that?”
Confusion appeared in Hyeok Mugang’s eyes as he looked at the bundle.
I scratched my head for no reason as I looked at him.
“Ah, well, um. It is the head of the Blood Cult’s Young Cult Leader.”
“...”
“...?”
The three of them wore blank expressions as if they could not understand what they had just heard.
After a brief silence,
“What?!”
Buk Wonpyeong made a strange noise, sprang to his feet, and quickly untied the bundle.
Then,
“Ha...”
The face of the Blood Cult’s Young Cult Leader appeared. Their eyes were wide open from the shock of the unexpected attack that had killed them.
The faces of all three were filled with astonishment.
I looked at them and continued my report.
“That is probably why they cannot advance eastward. This person seemed to play a fairly central role within the Blood Cult.”
In truth, losing the Blood Sea Jade and Illusion Token was probably the greater reason, but there was no need to mention that.
“You... You are the one who did this to them?”
I nodded at Jegal Somyeong’s question.
“When we withdrew, I felt they might attack us from behind, so I removed the problem in advance.”
Jegal Somyeong and Buk Wonpyeong wore stunned expressions in turn.
Even Hyeok Mugang’s gaze wavered, despite his efforts to control his expression.
“...”
Their looks said, What kind of person is this?
Unable to find anything in particular to say, I quietly sipped my tea.
Slurp.
Oh, it really was delicious.
Now I understood why Hyeok Mugang wanted to visit so often.
Footnotes:
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