WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 220: An Unwelcome Delegation (3)
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Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Brawl.
Blood Brawl had gone into seclusion twenty years ago, and Flame Ghost Consort ten years ago. Both were Black Path masters who had been branded public enemies of the martial world.
It seemed they had crawled back into the world after hearing that the Black Alliance had been formed.
“Nice to see you. You got here rather quickly, didn't you?”
Flame Ghost Consort approached, casually shaking the blood from her hands.
Ak Byeongbi slammed his iron spear into the ground and warned her.
“Stop!”
Ak Byeongbi did not seem to recognize Flame Ghost Consort or Blood Brawl either, but unlike at the inn, their presence was far from ordinary. His guard was fully raised.
Flame Ghost Consort, on the other hand, kept her relaxed smile and affected a coquettish manner.
“Oh my! You're so cold. You'll hurt my feelings...”
She pouted and put on a sulky expression.
Compared to Ak Byeongbi, who looked old even among middle-aged men, Flame Ghost Consort looked like a young woman barely shy of thirty.
But...
‘Isn't that woman over sixty?’
Knowing who she truly was made the sight hard to bear.
More importantly, I wondered why those two had separated from the party they had been traveling with and come here alone.
I wasn't naive enough to believe it was a coincidence.
Ak Byeongbi did not lower his guard.
“What are you doing here?”
His gaze moved from the bodies strewn across one side to the trembling bandits.
Flame Ghost Consort clapped as though it were nothing.
“Oh! I was teaching them a lesson for their wicked deeds.”
“Teaching them a lesson?”
“Yes! Isn't it wrong to covet other people's lives and possessions, then extort a toll from them?”
“...”
Flame Ghost Consort smiled with her luscious lips and continued.
“If our identities make you uncomfortable, you may simply pass on by.”
“...Hm.”
The suspicion did not leave Ak Byeongbi's face, but Flame Ghost Consort only smiled sweetly at him.
“Of course. We merely wish to punish people who dare play at being bandits when they aren't even real bandits.”
“I see.”
Did he think it was simply a fight between villains?
Ak Byeongbi eventually nodded and turned around.
“We continue!”
At his command, the carriages began moving slowly.
The escort warriors and delegation members remained wary of the two as they passed.
As promised, Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Brawl did nothing but watch.
Still, as I went past them, I looked around and let out a deep sigh.
I was glad Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Brawl were letting us pass quietly. That much was certain. But...
Tremble, tremble, tremble.
The amateur bandits were pale and trembling as though they had seen the reapers of the underworld.
They looked as though they had brought their farming tools straight from home. Their only weapons were sickles and pitchforks.
...No matter how hard I tried to look away, I couldn't stop noticing them.
‘Sigh... Of all people, why did they have to run into Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Brawl...?’
If they had encountered us, they would have received a beating and suffered broken bones.
...That should have been the end of it.
I eventually stopped walking.
“What are you planning to do with those people?”
“Jin Sowoon!”
“Benefactor Jin!”
The people ahead of me called out in surprise, but I kept my eyes on Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Brawl.
Flame Ghost Consort's eyebrows twitched.
“Why are you curious about that, Young Master?”
“They seem to be people who turned to banditry because of the famine...”
I swept my gaze over the subdued bandits trembling on the ground, then glared at Flame Ghost Consort.
“I think killing them would be excessive.”
“Excessive?”
Flame Ghost Consort stroked her lips with a bloodstained finger and cackled.
“We lost our companions because of them. They must take responsibility for that.”
“And death is how they take responsibility?”
For an instant, resolve flashed in Flame Ghost Consort's eyes.
“If you set foot in a world where the strong prey on the weak, you must always answer with your life.”
“...”
“Besides, if we hadn't punished them, your party might have fallen victim to them. Are you all right with that?”
“We aren't that weak.”
“Hmm...”
Flame Ghost Consort stared at me with an odd intensity before speaking again.
“Then will you fight us for the sake of people who might have targeted you?”
An obvious provocation.
I did not avoid her eyes.
The martial attainments of Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Brawl, as I remembered them, were two levels above the Eight Evils.
If we fought them here, our side would not escape without serious losses.
“Did you interfere in our business without even being prepared for that?”
“...”
At that moment, Flame Ghost Consort half turned her head.
“Fighting Slave.”
“Got it!”
Blood Brawl, whom she had called Fighting Slave, knocked over one of the amateur bandits in his grip and tried to crush their head beneath his foot.
“Damn it!”
I used the Taeul Eighty Thousand Divine Steps, passed Flame Ghost Consort, and blocked Fighting Slave's kick.
Thud.
“Argh!”
The amateur bandit whose head had nearly burst screamed and passed out, their crotch wet.
Tingle.
Even my bones rang from blocking Blood Brawl's foot.
It felt as though they would break if he put in any more force, so I kicked his foot upward with all my strength.
Whoosh. Tap.
Though the force of his stomp had been immense, Blood Brawl spun through the air like a feather and landed lightly on the ground.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang, clang.
The delegation members also prepared for battle.
Ak Byeongbi readjusted his grip on his iron spear, Ilmyeong tucked his prayer beads into his robe, and Dang Seohui slipped throwing knives between her fingers.
Blood Brawl grinned as though he was enjoying himself.
“See? I told you he was interesting.”
Despite the formidable presence radiating from the delegation, Blood Brawl and Flame Ghost Consort simply continued their conversation.
Flame Ghost Consort covered her mouth and laughed softly.
“You were right. You said he was more interesting than Little Buddha. He really withstood Fighting Slave's kick?”
At her words, the delegation members' faces tightened.
Knowing Little Buddha's identity meant they remained so relaxed despite knowing this was the Martial Alliance delegation's caravan.
Blood Brawl pointed at me with his chin.
“Kid, what sect are you from?”
I met his gaze and answered.
“Isn't it martial-world etiquette to state your own sect before asking about another's?”
Blood Brawl looked as though he had been struck for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.
“...Hahahahaha. You're a truly amusing brat.”
His laughter vanished at once.
“So you're refusing to tell me?”
Of course, I wasn't the sort of person who insisted others show me courtesy.
“I'm Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
I could feel it.
The delegation members' narrowed stares.
But what was I supposed to do? These were major Black Path figures who had once been designated public enemies of the martial world.
Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Brawl put on surprised expressions at my answer.
“Huh? You're the Black Flame Dragon?”
“Oh my! Really?”
“...”
The two suddenly relaxed their fighting intent and stepped closer.
What was with those reactions?
“You look much gentler than I expected.”
“They say you're the Black Path's Joint Successor. Who taught you?”
My head spun for a moment.
‘Don't spread bullshit! That ideological inquisitor is right there!’
I did not have the courage to shout my thoughts at two masters, so I quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, they are likely the heads of their households. I ask that you let them go after giving them a beating.”
Flame Ghost Consort, as though she had already lost interest in the bandits, kept her gaze fixed on me. Blood Brawl furrowed his brow and shook his head.
“No!”
“What?”
“I've never spared anyone who interfered with my business.”
“...”
Wasn't that temperament the reason he had been branded a public enemy of the martial world?
How could he not have reflected even once after twenty years?
As I stood there dumbfounded, Blood Brawl crossed his arms and made me an offer.
“But if you defeat me in a wager, I'll listen to you.”
“What kind of wager?”
“Withstand three moves from me. If you do, I'll spare them.”
Without a moment's hesitation, I pointed at Ak Byeongbi.
“He's the leader of our caravan. Can't he withstand the three moves instead?”
“...!”
I could feel Ak Byeongbi glaring at me with wide eyes.
But what could I do? Blood Brawl scared me too.
Blood Brawl firmly shook his head.
“No. You will withstand my three moves. Otherwise, I'll kill every one of these bastards.”
That temper of his.
I finally let out a sigh.
“Sigh... Fine.”
As I spread my legs shoulder-width apart and took a Draw-Sword Stance, curiosity filled Blood Brawl's eyes.
“Oh? Does the Taeul Sect have a Draw-Sword Stance?”
“This is the first I've heard that Blood Brawl has such a long tongue.”
“...!”
Surprise appeared on Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Brawl's faces for the first time.
Naturally, the delegation and escort agency members were almost fainting after learning their identities.
Blood Brawl's expression became serious.
“You knew who we were?”
“Aren't you going to start?”
“...Heh heh, interesting.”
When I did not answer, Blood Brawl placed his hands behind his back and raised one knee to his waist.
Red energy gathered around his foot, and tremendous power began pouring from it.
“First move.”
Boom!
With a sound that tore through the air, force shot out like an arrow and aimed for my heart.
I raised my internal energy and unleashed the first form of the Three White Moon Heaven-Subduing Forms.
Whoosh!
It was far slower than the blood energy Blood Brawl had fired, but Extreme Swiftness was fast enough to catch up with it.
The two energies collided directly before my nose.
Screeeeeech!
A sound like grinding metal rang out around us, as though it would tear apart our eardrums.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
I had barely blocked one move, yet it felt as though all the strength had drained from my body.
“Huh? That sword of yours...?”
I quickly cut Blood Brawl off.
“Two moves remain.”
“The more I see, the more interesting you are.”
Blood Brawl unclasped his hands from behind his back and curved them into a circle.
Whoooooosh.
The sound of air being sucked in from every direction rang out as an enormous mass of energy gathered in his palms.
I prepared the Mad Heaven Divine Palm and met it head-on.
Boom!
Boom!
Crash!
Blood Brawl's energy clashed with the Mad Heaven Divine Palm, making the entire nameless mountain thunder.
Some of the trembling amateur bandits and horse handlers could not withstand the shock and vomited blood.
Whoosh.
When the thick cloud of dust cleared, Blood Brawl was staring at me in disbelief.
His eyes gleamed with interest.
“Huh... I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but perhaps they had actually underestimated you.”
After blocking Blood Brawl's second move, I was no longer in any condition to answer.
‘I'm going to die at this rate.’
Most absolute masters held back at least a little, even for amusement. But this madman Blood Brawl did no such thing.
Not wanting to lose either, I put on as much bravado as I could.
“One move remains.”
Blood Brawl nodded, apparently excited.
“Yes, yes. If you withstand this too, I'll grant your request.”
Blood Brawl took a stance, then lightly threw a punch.
Red fist force shot out from his fist.
It was a simple move without feints or variations, but the vast power within it made me curse inwardly.
‘Fuck... He's really trying to kill me!’
I unleashed the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art, covered one of the Ten Thousand Swords with sword force, and poured every last bit of my internal energy into it.
The fist force had no variations and moved unbearably slowly, yet it seemed to reach me in the blink of an eye.
“Haaah!”
The instant the fist force and sword force collided.
Boom.
The energy in the area exploded, creating a momentary vacuum. Then air rushed back into it, setting off explosions in every direction.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
I held on until the end, but the force finally drove me from my position.
“Huff, huff, huff, huff.”
I had not even moved that intensely, yet my breath came in ragged gasps and cold sweat ran down my entire body.
Once the explosion subsided, Blood Brawl still stood where he had been, looking down at his fist.
“Well? I won, didn't I?”
Blood Brawl smiled at me after I had been pushed from my spot.
The moment his hand moved toward the bandits...
I stood between him and them, extending the Black Dragon Sword.
Blood Brawl's eyebrow twitched slightly.
“...Do you wish to die in their place?”
“I don't.”
“Then move.”
“I don't want to do that either.”
“Huh?”
Blood Brawl's formerly playful face hardened.
“There's a limit to how many times I'll spare you because you're amusing. If you don't wish to die, you should move aside.”
I did not want to die, but I did not want to watch these people die either.
“It won't be easy.”
“Huh...”
Fortunately, I had withdrawn quickly enough that I had not suffered any internal injuries.
More importantly, after the three moves ended in my defeat, the delegation members took up positions and surrounded Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Brawl.
They could attack at any time.
At the very least, we could buy the amateur bandits enough time to escape.
As I thought that, Blood Brawl looked at Flame Ghost Consort.
Judging by the way Flame Ghost Consort's lips moved, she seemed to be using sound transmission.
“Hmm?”
Blood Brawl soon made an odd expression and nodded.
Flame Ghost Consort then spoke.
“Then how about this? We only intended to punish them because we lost the companions who were meant to guide us.”
They were killing people because they got lost?
As expected, they were mad Black Path bastards with no common sense.
Before I could find words in my disbelief, something even more absurd followed.
“So why don't you let us travel with your caravan?”
Hah, I really couldn't predict them.
“...Do you know where we're going?”
“Are you not going to the Black Alliance's founding ceremony?”
“...”
Flame Ghost Consort opened her eyes wide and added.
“Oh, don't misunderstand. I only guessed. I heard the Martial Alliance had sent a delegation.”
“Then you're saying you'll spare them?”
Flame Ghost Consort shrugged.
“Of course. The problem has been resolved.”
I was not the leader of this caravan. Strictly speaking, it was not even my caravan.
If permission was needed, I naturally had to receive it from Ak Byeongbi, the caravan commander.
When I turned to look at Ak Byeongbi, he slightly shook his head.
An unmistakable refusal.
I nodded at Ak Byeongbi, then spoke to Flame Ghost Consort.
“Fine. Travel with us. But you must keep your promise.”
“...!!!”
Even as Ak Byeongbi glared at me from afar as though he wanted to kill me, Flame Ghost Consort smiled and answered.
“Of course.”
Still, the suspicious looks I had received so far had only changed into murderous glares.
That was better than someone actually dying.
Yes, it was.
Footnotes:
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