WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 210: A Favor from an Enemy (3)
──────
I gathered people to break the formation.
“You told me to bring my master as well, so I brought him.”
First, I summoned Moyong Jaehwa and Yeo Samtong of the Ghost Bow Sect, who was serving as Jaehwa’s martial arts master.
Then I had Ilgak, Namgung Seonhwa, and Cheol Sunjik of the Twelve Peak Alliance summoned.
While waiting for them to arrive, I listened to a Jegal Clan formation master explain the Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation.
At this point, I probably knew more about the formation than they did, but I pretended to listen obediently.
“The Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation was created as a Living Formation from the beginning.”
“A Living Formation?”
I kept my expression neutral, as though I were hearing the term for the first time.
The formation master’s shoulders lifted with pride.
“Until the energy of the entire Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation is exhausted, it will never collapse. Whenever it is struck from within or without, its energy naturally moves to repair the formation.”
The concept of the Living Formation had certainly changed the landscape of arcane formations.
Still, I did not like seeing them look so pleased with themself even in this situation.
As though I had just realized something astonishing, I slapped my forehead with an exaggerated gesture.
“Ah! So if we try to force it apart, all the academy students could die.”
“...”
The formation master looked as though they had bitten into something foul. By the time they finished explaining the Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation, everyone I had summoned had arrived.
“You were looking for me?”
Cheol Sunjik, who had arrived with Ilgak and Namgung Seonhwa, wore a deeply dissatisfied expression.
Still, he came.
“May I ask why?”
I told him honestly.
“There are not many people I know who possess one gapja of internal energy.”
“...Nam Hwaseong also possesses one gapja of internal energy.”
“Do you think that bastard can control his internal energy with any finesse?”
I shrugged, and Cheol Sunjik could offer no rebuttal.
After a moment of silence, he stared directly at me.
“Do you believe I will help Academy Representative Jin Sowoon?”
“I am not asking you to help me.”
“Then?”
Who else? My reliable backing.
“I am telling you to follow the Grand Strategist’s orders.”
“The Grand Strategist?”
When my gaze shifted behind him, Cheol Sunjik turned in surprise.
“Is there a problem?”
Jegal Somyeong’s deep voice landed heavily.
Cheol Sunjik bowed his head, cold sweat running down his face.
“...N-no, sir.”
Jegal Somyeong glanced over Cheol Sunjik before looking at me.
“How long will it take you to prepare?”
“I will finish within a quarter-hour.”
“Good.”
While Jegal Somyeong made preparations in case something went wrong, I asked Yeo Samtong, “Can you help Jaehwa fire arrows at four locations at once?”
“Four locations?”
I nodded and explained more clearly.
“They need to land at the same time.”
Yeo Samtong fell into thought.
“Hmm...”
“Brother, I am not skilled enough to...”
Then Yeo Samtong nodded.
“I believe it can be done.”
“What?”
Instead of the dumbfounded Moyong Jaehwa, Yeo Samtong answered confidently.
“The wind around the Great Training Ground is not very strong. It should be possible.”
“What does that have to do with...?”
I clasped my fists toward Yeo Samtong.
“Understood. Please prepare for my signal.”
“No, no! Brother! I cannot do it!”
Though this was clearly about him, the decision had been made without consulting him. Jaehwa looked utterly flustered.
This was not even the first time. Why was he panicking so much?
I grabbed Moyong Jaehwa’s shoulders with both hands.
“Jaehwa! Seventy-eight lives rest in your hands! You can do this!”
“No... Brother! I said I cannot...”
“The rest of you, come over as well.”
“B-Brother...?”
Leaving Moyong Jaehwa behind, I finished the preparations by explaining to Ilgak, Namgung Seonhwa, Cheol Sunjik, and Buk Wonpyeong where they needed to stand and what they needed to do.
As everyone moved into position, only Cheol Sunjik remained where he was, staring at me intently.
“Do you not understand the method?”
There was no way someone as intelligent as him had failed to understand.
No, did he hate the idea of working with me that much?
Even though we were saving people?
“That is not what I am wondering about.”
Cheol Sunjik’s eyes turned cold.
“Why are you doing this?”
“What do you mean?”
As though he truly could not understand, Cheol Sunjik asked me, “The Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation is a newly created arcane formation. No matter how exceptional Academy Representative Jin Sowoon may be, I do not believe you can safely break a formation you have seen for the first time. If that is the case...”
He took a step closer and lowered his voice.
“Would it not be enough to pretend you know nothing?”
“...”
“Then the White Path Society would naturally collapse, and Academy Representative Jin Sowoon’s position would become secure.”
It was a reasonable question.
As he said, perhaps I was doing something foolish.
Until a massive organization completely collapsed, it was nothing more than a monster fiercely pursuing its own interests.
By stepping in, I might even save the White Path Society from the brink of collapse.
But.
So what?
Even in my previous life, the people sacrificed for political reasons were always those at the bottom.
Only after the blood of those insignificant people flowed without end and stained the feet of those above did they finally come to their senses.
Now that I had even a little power, was I supposed to act just like those people who had grown complacent in power?
Was I supposed to imitate their ugliness and become just like them?
Unfortunately.
“Because I can.”
I had no intention, not even the slightest, of becoming as base as them.
“What?”
Cheol Sunjik frowned as though he could not understand my answer.
I looked at him indifferently.
“I am saving them because I can. That is the only reason.”
His eyes shook violently, as though he still could not understand.
“...But if you fail, you may have to bear the responsibility. Are you truly all right with that?”
I shrugged before answering.
“That is the responsibility a person who gives orders must bear. Is it not?”
“...”
Cheol Sunjik bit down on his lip as though something had offended him.
#
Living Formation.
An unprecedented arcane formation that had blocked the demonic beings’ path and prevented slaughter.
Yet the emergence of the Demon Brain, who had broken even such an unprecedented arcane formation, had dealt the Martial Alliance a severe blow.
The Sojeong Unit had likewise lost every refuge where they could rest, even briefly. That was why we had ground our teeth at the Demon Brain again and again.
Still, it felt strange to break the Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation using the Demon Brain’s method.
‘Am I getting help from that damned Demon Brain?’
I quickly pushed the stray thoughts from my mind.
So what if I was borrowing the Demon Brain’s method?
I could save people with it.
If it could save allies and kill enemies, I would gladly accept help from not only the Demon Brain, but even the Heavenly Demon.
Steeling myself, I looked around.
“I will begin.”
At my shout, the four people standing at four of the Eight Gates began drawing up their internal energy at once.
They poured powerful internal energy into the four remaining gates, excluding the main Living, Death, Open, and Rest Gates.
Rumble.
Under the pressure closing in from all directions, the Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation began to shake.
The visible arcane formation revealed all its movements to the outside, as though its hidden inner workings had been exposed.
Before long, the black mist filling the formation began gathering around the attacked gates.
It was concentrating its power at the attacked points to defend against outside force.
“Now!”
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Our opportunity had come.
The four people’s internal energy erupted at once, and the form of the Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation collapsed for an instant.
I shouted toward them.
“This is where it begins! Keep feeding in your internal energy at a steady rate!”
The Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation kept gathering power to repair its shattered outer walls, but the force pressing in from outside was too great for it to restore itself properly.
At last, even the power surrounding the main gates began moving toward the other gates.
“Jaehwa!”
At my signal, Moyong Jaehwa, standing on the roof, began firing arrows according to Yeo Samtong’s instructions.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Four arrows rose along different paths, soaring too high to see before falling at the same time.
Their blunt arrowheads struck the pillars of the Living, Death, Open, and Rest Gates simultaneously.
Boom!
The impact shook the ground, and the Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation swayed.
Realizing its main gates had been attacked, it quickly tried to send its power back to them.
We could not let that happen.
“Hold it back!”
This was why I had no choice but to call Cheol Sunjik instead of Nam Hwaseong.
We had to keep holding down the power trying to return.
“Aaaagh!”
“Aaaagh!”
“Hup!”
Perhaps the force was greater than expected, because everyone except Buk Wonpyeong let out a fierce shout.
Part of the mist within the Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation faded, and the people inside became visible.
Hope had appeared.
Now for the final step.
Standing atop the roof of the central hall, I extended the Flying Dragon Claw to its limit, binding the four pillars of the Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation.
“Aaaaargh!”
I gripped the Heavenly Silkworm Thread with both hands and pulled on the pillars forming the gates.
The Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation began to tremble little by little.
It felt precarious, like a loose baby tooth.
With just a little more force, it seemed I could pull all the pillars out.
“Ah!”
Though I had gone to the trouble of calling Cheol Sunjik instead of Nam Hwaseong so he could control the internal energy...
Perhaps they had failed to predict the force of the violently shifting energy as the pillars shook. Panic appeared on Buk Wonpyeong and Ilgak’s faces.
“Benefactor Jin!”
“Jin Sowoon! We lost it...!”
The energy blocking the four people moved toward the pillars I was trying to pull out in an instant.
The four could not immediately stabilize the surging energy.
As a result, the formation’s power began flowing toward the main gates!
At this rate, I might be dragged inside the formation.
‘Damn it!!!!’
From here on, it was a battle of endurance.
With the mindset of a gambler who had staked his life on a wager, I poured all my energy into it.
‘Do you know how many spiritual medicines I have consumed?!’
Then I desperately began pulling the pillars again.
The taut Heavenly Silkworm Thread dug into my palms, but I ignored it and put in even more strength.
Pain like my nerves were being torn into pieces flooded my entire body.
Yet I remembered the cries of those trapped inside the formation and roared.
“Aaaaargh!!”
#
Once someone entered the Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation, terrible nightmares emerged.
Those who had killed were consumed by guilt, while those who had committed wrongdoing were overwhelmed by remorse and could not move.
They had only wanted to experience the Myriad Manifestations Formation, yet the energy controlling their upper dantian drained all strength from their bodies.
They tried to draw up the energy in their dantian to protect their steadfast hearts, but they could not cast off the illusions.
Tremble. Tremble.
An academy student who had just escaped an illusion looked down at both hands.
The corpses that had filled the surroundings and the blood that had covered the student’s body were all gone.
“C-clearly...”
In the illusion, the student’s clan had been exterminated because of the student’s mistake.
Family, relatives, comrades, and friends had all died, and only the student had remained behind, waiting for death.
It had certainly been so...
Just as the student was begging an unseen enemy for mercy, the scene that had seemed real suddenly vanished.
‘What happened?’
Both hands trembled violently.
The student’s martial uniform was clean, without a single stain.
Around them stood academy students who looked just as dazed.
Only then did the student realize they had entered the Myriad Manifestations Formation and experienced an illusion.
Hearing a shout from above, the student looked up.
“Aaaaargh!!”
A man was holding a thin thread and straining with all his might.
The man looked familiar.
‘J-Jin Sowoon?’
The student could not hide their shock upon recognizing Jin Sowoon.
Was this another illusion?
Looking around, the student saw that the other academy students also looked stunned, as though they were seeing the same sight.
“I cannot hold on!”
Someone’s voice came from beyond the Myriad Manifestations Formation.
At the same time, black clouds began covering the ceiling again.
The academy students swallowed by the black clouds soon began screaming from within.
Aaaagh!
Sob... sob...
Please... Please...
Forgive me! I was wrong!
Their cries rang out clearly.
Only then did the academy students realize that entering those clouds caused the illusions, and that Jin Sowoon was doing something to stop them.
‘But why...?’
Jin Sowoon was practically their enemy as members of the White Path Society.
Most of those who had entered had joined the White Path Society’s event because they harbored strong hostility toward Jin Sowoon.
Why was Jin Sowoon trying to save them?
“Aaaaargh!!”
Unable to keep holding the thin thread with his hands, Jin Sowoon wound it around his arms.
Under the tension digging into his flesh, his skin began swelling grotesquely. Blood streamed from both hands and ran down the thread.
“Why...?”
“What is this...?”
“Not Jegal Jeonggi... Jin Sowoon?”
The other academy students reacted little differently.
All they could do was stare blankly at Jin Sowoon’s desperate expression, forgetting even that they were in danger.
Then Jin Sowoon, looking down at them, shouted.
“What are you idiots doing?! Break the pillars connected to the thread right now!”
“What? What did he say?”
Blood still dripped from both of his hands.
“Urgh... If you want to get out of there, break the pillars!”
“O-okay!”
Without anyone needing to lead them, people stood before the pillars connected to Jin Sowoon’s thread.
Even within the Myriad Manifestations Formation, the pillars were not difficult to find.
The blood flowing down the thread had soaked them.
“Move it, you bastards!”
No one frowned at Jin Sowoon’s curse.
As though possessed, they only did as he said and struck the pillars.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang.
Once everyone gathered every last bit of internal energy and began attacking the pillars, the pillars soon started shaking violently.
Crack.
“Hahp!!!”
With Jin Sowoon’s resounding shout, the pillars were pulled free all at once and shot high into the sky.
Thud! Thud! Crash!
The four pillars fell to the ground at the same time.
The black mist that had covered every direction gradually faded, then vanished completely.
“M-my goodness!”
The Dualities Eight Trigrams Myriad Manifestations Formation, which the Jegal Clan had created with painstaking effort, had been broken by Jin Sowoon.
It was an unprecedented absolute formation said to surpass the Seven Stars Seven Locks Formation.
“...”
“...”
Everyone inside the Myriad Manifestations Formation and everyone outside it stared at Jin Sowoon with their mouths hanging open.
“Ah, damn it. I almost died.”
Jin Sowoon collapsed onto the ground and cursed. Naturally, everyone’s eyes turned toward his hands and arms.
“You damned White Path Society bastards! Try not to cause so much trouble.”
Most of the people in the Great Training Ground belonged to the White Path Society, yet none showed resentment or rushed at him.
“...”
“...”
“...!”
They only stared blankly at his bloodied hands and arms.
Footnotes:
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried