WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 232: Darkness Within Darkness (2)

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The Martial Alliance had ruled the martial world for five hundred years and grown arrogant beyond measure.

The Blood Cult understood that arrogance well.

That was why, in the early days of the Sichuan crisis, they had been able to strike the Elder Council and the Martial Arts Academy students hard across the back of the head, leaving them dazed before stabbing them in the side.

What they had failed to consider was that the Martial Alliance could afford to be arrogant because it possessed power.

The Martial Alliance would not stay still after being struck from behind and stabbed in the side.

It cracked its neck from side to side, seized the Blood Cult by the throat with its massive, blunt hand, and squeezed.

The tide of battle turned in an instant.

Most of the Blood Cult martial artists and spirit practitioners who had run wild through Sichuan either fled or fell beneath the Martial Alliance's blades. Even the Iron Zombies, their final weapon, had melted into handfuls of poisonous water at the Poison King's hands.

Since the opening of the war, the Blood Cult had not won a single battle. They had only kept retreating, again and again.

The Blood Cult was no longer running wild in Sichuan.

Yet the war was not over.

Because of that, Maeng Juwon, who had suffered every day at the Mantong Office, now had to suffer in Badong, Sichuan.

"Where am I? Who am I?"

They had selected only the elite and dispatched them in haste, but there were still several thousand people.

There was the immense amount of food required to feed them three meals a day, the replacement of weapons lost during battle, and the lower-ranking martial artists assigned to support the horses and fighters.

Once the servants were included, more than ten thousand people were chirping about being hungry and cold.

When the Martial Alliance dispatched a force, supplies were usually acquired locally through branches in each provincial capital. That was possible only when dealing with a single unit-level force.

In an unexpected war like this, logistics were far beyond the ability of administrators who had only ever run branch offices.

Even as the administrators worked overtime like it was part of their daily routine, supplies failed to arrive properly, which only fueled the martial artists' anger.

And on days when a martial artist, enraged at receiving only one meal, grabbed an administrator by the collar and spun them through the air a few times...

"At this rate, we're all going to die...!"

Administrators who had considered the branch office their lifelong workplace and sworn never to leave no matter what began fleeing in the dead of night, making the logistics situation even more disastrous.

And so.

The Grand Strategist, taking pity on the martial artists dispatched to Sichuan, made a decision.

"You go. To Badong!"

"..."

What was I, some puppet who had to obey whenever I was told? I was not pitiable either...!

But.

"Dammit..."

Before he knew it, he had arrived in Badong.

That was how Maeng Juwon of the Mantong Office came to Badong.

Swallowing his frustration, Maeng Juwon surveyed the situation.

There were three things he hated most.

The first was overtime caused by excessive work.

The second was an overwhelming workload caused by understaffing.

The third was being dispatched because of understaffing.

Considering all that...

...he would not have been wrong to write a resignation letter on the spot.

"Dammit..."

A tragic man who had longed for enough personnel to leave work on time, only to receive even more work.

Rather than embracing the "letting go" spoken of in White Path martial arts, Maeng Juwon drew upon the "rage" spoken of in Black Path martial arts. Growing increasingly ferocious, he swiftly brought Sichuan's situation under control.

"Who writes a report like this?! The reports are a mess, so the supplies are a mess! No! Seeing how you're deliberately wasting supplies, it seems you have some scheme to weaken the Martial Alliance's strength. We should send you to the Enforcement Hall for an investigation!"

"Find people! What? There are none? If you can't recruit them, kidnap them! The Martial Alliance will take responsibility afterward. Bring in every passing scholar and merchant, then put them to work. Filling the ranks comes first!"

"Supplies! Supplies! Get them food first! Once their stomachs are full, they won't throw tantrums over every little thing!"

As Maeng Juwon skillfully handled the food lifeline of dispatched martial artists, something no one in the Martial Alliance had managed for nearly thirty years, he unknowingly proved himself to be the Grand Strategist's finest favored puppet.

"So the Mantong Office's greatest talent, whom the Grand Strategist cherishes most, was not just a rumor after all!"

"Exactly!"

Thanks to his efforts, supplies that had been blocked as tightly as the blood vessels of martial artists who had lived carelessly all their lives finally began to flow, little by little.

#

The moment he arrived in Sichuan, Maeng Juwon ensured that every martial artist received three hot meals a day. Just as he was about to catch his breath, he found himself sweating again.

"Still no response plan?"

Though he did not realize it himself, his true duty was that of a strategist.

He was responsible for formulating plans and offering advice on the battlefield so the war could proceed smoothly.

The problem was that even Maeng Juwon could not resolve what was happening in Sichuan.

After being soundly slapped across the face in Sichuan, the Blood Cult had backed away step by step until they reached Changdu, where Sichuan met Qinghai.

The Martial Alliance had already learned through Cheonmok Pavilion's investigation that the Blood Cult's main base was in Qinghai. They were not the sort to hesitate when it came to uprooting the source.

The problem was this.

These people with their Heaven-Defying way of thinking had scattered bizarre traps around their base and entered the final stage of battle.

‘No surprise they're descended from those bastards.’

There were illusion formations that left lasting aftereffects, incurable lethal poisons, and animal-shaped jiangshi created through Heaven-Defying arts, all piled up in abundance.

Even the Martial Alliance could not recklessly take a step forward because of them.

Then, as if matters were not bad enough...

"The Black Path bastards have started moving too...!"

While the war raged in Sichuan, the Black Path had kept their hands and feet tucked in, terrified that the fallout might reach them. Now, they were cautiously watching the situation and beginning to stir.

The Sichuan Black Path forces who had not attended the Black Alliance Founding Ceremony began gathering one by one, and reports came flooding in that they were preparing for battle.

The Martial Alliance had reached the point of worrying that, after the Blood Cult, they might have to expose their side to the Black Path as well.

They could neither advance to suppress the Blood Cult nor leave the Blood Cult behind and return.

"Haa..."

As Maeng Juwon massaged his throbbing head with both hands, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Why hasn't that brat said anything yet?"

"Th-the Grand Strategist is doing everything he can to observe the Black Alliance's movements."

"So when will we get results?!"

The speaker was short enough to reach only Maeng Juwon's shoulder, with a body as hard as stone and long black hair that was unusual for an elder. Though the elder had been berating him since morning, Maeng Juwon could not snap back as he had at the Mantong Office.

At the Mantong Office, he had defied Jegal Somyeong as though he had ten lives.

Even then, he had relied on his quick mind to determine which lines he could cross, defying them only to the degree that would be tolerated.

But events in Badong were moving so urgently that he had not even had time to gauge how far this elder's limits extended.

Besides.

Even if Jegal Somyeong used force, it would only leave him bruised. There was no reason to expect the Poison King to show such mercy.

Trying to calm the Poison King's anger, Maeng Juwon said, "Th-the thing is, all information is blocked off at the moment..."

Neither Cheonmok Pavilion nor the Beggar Sect members dispatched to Shanxi Province had sent any information.

He did not know what order the Black Alliance had issued that made Sichuan's Black Path scum keep cracking their joints and preparing to move.

Still, how could they make a decision without any information?

"Hmm..."

As the Poison King's eyes narrowed, Maeng Juwon began hiccuping.

Ah, was he about to become a handful of poisonous water?

Then a cold voice pierced his pride.

"Why did a useless fool like you come?"

"What?"

Wait, that crossed the line.

Was he not the one who had opened the flow of Sichuan's supplies, which had been blocked as tightly as the blood vessels of someone about to die?

In martial terms, it was no different from opening all three dantians and achieving the Five Qi Convergence. It was an incredible accomplishment.

No one else in the Martial Alliance could have done as well as him. Yet this man called him useless?

Was this old man with the strange way of speaking not going a little too far...!

"Jin Sowoon."

At the name that followed, Maeng Juwon had no choice but to freeze.

"Why did that child not come? I clearly said to send that child."

"Ah..."

Maeng Juwon understood at once.

If that guy had been around, Maeng Juwon would never have ended up here.

"That friend is currently serving as an envoy to the Black Alliance."

"Hmm... Is that so?"

"Yes."

The Poison King clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"You and that brat. I dislike the way both of you handle matters."

"I'm sorry."

"You'd best obtain a decision as quickly as possible. Otherwise, I will advance within seven days. Remember that."

"...Yes."

He could not bring himself to say no.

If they delayed any longer, it would not matter how good the supplies were. The front line might keep falling back until they were wiped out between the Blood Cult and the Black Path.

‘Grand Strategist...’

All he could do was hope that the Black Alliance's movements would soon be identified, allowing the Mantong Office to make a decision.

#

"It's time to keep your promise."

Blood Brawl still looked unwilling to accept defeat.

"Just one more game..."

I firmly shook my head.

"Keep your promise first. We can play again afterward."

Of course, even if we played ten more games, no, a hundred more games, there was no way I would lose to Blood Brawl.

Go was ultimately a battle of calculations.

What was the point of facing someone with tens of thousands of game records stored in my head?

Besides, among those tens of thousands of records were many belonging to Blood Brawl's other identity, the Imperial Knight Daoa.

Unless he underwent a complete transformation through Go itself, he would never beat me.

Blood Brawl finally leaned back.

"I'll let you meet him tonight."

When I looked around, not only Ilmyeong and Dang Seohui but even the Flame Ghost Consort wore expressions of amazement.

What was so surprising about this much?

The important part was only beginning.

#

When night fell, Blood Brawl attempted to leave through the door while using a stealth art.

I looked at him in disbelief.

"Why are you moving in secret?"

"Everyone is desperate to cut off your head. Are you telling me to let them see you boldly meeting the Black Alliance Lord?"

Well, that was true, but what if I could not use a stealth art?

"That's your problem. Want to play again? If you win this time, I'll let you go out openly."

What an ugly old man who could not accept defeat.

"Forget it. Let's go."

I used the Ghost Breath Movement Art and followed behind him.

Though he said nothing, Blood Brawl looked at me after my presence vanished as if wondering what sort of person I was.

Soon, his sound transmission reached me.

[What martial art is that?]

[If you reveal the secret of your martial art, Elder, I'll tell you too.]

[...]

Blood Brawl glared at me briefly before taking the lead again.

Seriously, what a sly old man overflowing with curiosity.

Security around the Black Alliance headquarters was as tight as ever, but no one noticed Blood Brawl or me.

I naturally assumed he would lead me to the Black Alliance Lord's office, but Blood Brawl took me somewhere strange.

Was he taking me to a torture chamber instead of an office?

Then, when we reached a dead end, Blood Brawl pressed one section of the wall.

The dead-end wall silently moved aside, revealing an entrance.

"Here."

After passing through a long corridor without a single Night-Luminous Pearl, I entered a room leaking a faint light.

Black Alliance Lord Cha Seokdu and Dam Ak were there.

"Welcome, Black Flame Dragon!"

Cha Seokdu's face was bright red. He suddenly pulled me into a hug and patted my back several times.

What was this? Had he been drinking?

He looked completely composed, but a thick scent of alcohol came from his arms.

"It's regrettable that we can only meet in a place like this. Still, aren't you practically a founding contributor to the Black Alliance? I wanted to hold a grand banquet in your name."

This man was saying something terrifying with a straight face.

It would be less damaging if the Black Alliance simply sent an assassin to my quarters.

If he held a banquet and publicly declared me a founding contributor, I would truly become a Black Path divine prodigy with no way out.

I barely managed to pull away from him.

"Have you been well?"

"Enough. Stop with the half-hearted politeness between us, hahahaha!"

Cha Seokdu said that, poured a drink, and offered me the cup.

At a time when everyone in the Black Alliance wanted us dead, the Black Alliance Lord himself was offering me a cup of alcohol.

Dang Seohui was not even with me. Should I drink this or not?

...

After considering it, I emptied the cup in one gulp.

If I was going to die anyway, being poisoned to death would hurt less than dying under torture.

Cha Seokdu's hearty laughter shook the room.

"Uahahahaha! As expected, you're bolder than most Black Path martial artists. Are you really not interested in joining our Black Alliance?"

"Not at all."

"What a shame. What a shame."

As he said that, Cha Seokdu filled my cup again.

Watching his hand, I got to the point.

"The reason I wished to see you is..."

"I know. It's because of Ak Byeongbi."

His hand stopped as he poured the drink.

"I'm sorry, but there is no way I can help this time either."

I looked directly into his eyes.

"The Commander said he did not do it."

Cha Seokdu watched me for a moment, then looked down at his cup. He drained it in one gulp and roughly wiped his lips.

"Do you believe that too?"

"I'm going to trust him."

"Not that he did not do it, but that you're going to trust him... I would like to do the same, but I cannot."

"Why not?"

Dam Ak answered my question.

"Because everyone wants blood."

Dam Ak continued staring at me as though he could pierce me with his sharp gaze.

"Strategist Dam, do you think blood is necessary too?"

"I think it is inevitable."

Wow. That was the gaze of someone looking at a sworn enemy.

What had happened to that person in this life?

"Even if the Black Alliance disappears before it can properly stretch its limbs?"

"We'll find out if we try."

As barbed words flew between us, Cha Seokdu stepped in to mediate.

"Both of you, stop. We did not meet here to declare war."

Cha Seokdu shook his head at Dam Ak, then turned to me.

"What do you think is our Black Alliance's problem right now?"

The problem facing the Black Alliance was no different from the one faced by the Black Path Alliance that the Sword Demon had created in my previous life.

Once I thought carefully about why they had fallen apart, the answer was obvious.

"You lack strength."

"That's right."

I did not mean they lacked actual power.

The Black Path forces of the world had already gathered, so in raw strength, they were as powerful as any organization.

What I had identified was the issue of the Black Alliance leadership's authority.

They did not have the authority, the power, to enforce their orders across the entire Black Alliance.

Cha Seokdu smiled bitterly.

"We are not a place with a completed system like the Martial Alliance. For now, we have filled the ranks with members of the Four Emperors Association, but when a majority opinion emerges, the Black Alliance will have no choice but to be pulled along by it."

"..."

He stopped using a cup and began drinking directly from the bottle.

The concern on his face could not be easily washed away with alcohol.

Then.

Thud.

He set the bottle down on the table with a loud sound.

"Let's do this. Ak Byeongbi will be imprisoned in a Black Alliance prison. He will probably not be able to leave for a long time. In exchange, I'll buy you and your companions time to escape."

"Can that calm the war faction?"

"It's only a temporary measure. Eventually, the Black Alliance will probably go to war because of the majority opinion."

Though Cha Seokdu, the Lord of the Four Emperors Association, had become the Black Alliance Lord, he was little more than a figurehead for now.

I leaned forward and looked directly at him.

"Are you planning to start a war to gather power?"

Cha Seokdu stopped moving, and Dam Ak's eyes trembled.

Once blood was spilled, voices would emerge within the Black Alliance urging everyone to strengthen the leadership to restore order.

Power would naturally gather in the leadership, and they would gain authority.

Perhaps that was what Dam Ak was thinking.

But.

"If that happens, the Martial Alliance will hold another grudge."

If they kept trading blows like this, things would become the same as in my previous life.

I had no intention of standing by and watching that happen.

Dam Ak smiled faintly at my resolute expression.

"There is another way."

"What is it?"

"Punish every member of the delegation. Once everyone has vented their anger, they may feel better."

Damn, he casually said something horrifying.

Was it because it was not his problem?

I shrugged as though his provocation had not affected me.

"I hope that does not happen."

"Nothing will be resolved if we simply sit still."

"..."

Hmm. He was right that nothing would be resolved by sitting still.

I softened my words somewhat.

"Doesn't this feel strange?"

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it all too perfect?"

Cha Seokdu tilted his head.

I stroked my chin and continued.

"A Commander with a grudge killed Gu Gyeak. Doesn't that feel too obvious?"

Dam Ak's eyes sharpened.

"What are you saying?"

Was I the only one who felt it?

At a time when the war faction was gaining influence, the person who was practically its leader had been killed in an ambush.

And at the hands of the infamous Inspectorate department master from the White Path.

The circumstances fit together too perfectly, as though they had been copied directly from a scene in history.

Everything was naturally flowing toward a war between the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance.

Ak Byeongbi had not even concealed his martial arts. No matter how deep his grudge was, there were limits.

Having personally experienced a generation-defining great war, I knew history did not flow with such precise logic.

Wars sometimes began over ridiculous contests of pride, and after perfect preparation, an entire unit could be annihilated by a single small mistake.

History only filled in the empty spaces after events occurred, creating a plausible chain of cause and effect.

But this was so natural that it felt unnatural.

"I think someone deliberately wants a war between the Black Alliance and the Martial Alliance."

Perhaps Dam Ak had considered the same possibility. He paused and stared at me.

Then he shook his head.

"...There are already many in the Black Path martial world who hold grudges against the Martial Alliance."

"Of course there are. But the problem is that the circumstances fit together almost too deliberately."

"..."

Dam Ak's expression stiffened, but I did not care in the slightest.

"If that is the case, if we are being played by someone's intentions..."

I drew a breath, then asked them both.

"Should we simply accept this situation?"

Cha Seokdu furrowed his brow, seemingly unable to understand.

Unlike him, Dam Ak rested his chin on his hand and thought deeply.

After the two exchanged glances for a while, Dam Ak spoke.

"In theory, it sounds meaningful. But isn't it ultimately nothing more than an attempt to escape this situation?"

I immediately shook my head.

"No. I'm fairly certain."

"Certain? Do you have any evidence?"

Perhaps this was the last chance to prevent a war between the Black Alliance and the Martial Alliance.

It was time to make a decisive move.

Without the slightest hesitation, I answered.

"Yes."

"...What is it?"

At my firm answer, Dam Ak watched me without losing his suspicious gaze.

"I'll explain that gradually. First, I have a request."

"What is it?"

"Allow me to investigate the incident."

Both their faces filled with doubt.

"What do you mean...?"

"If I stir things up here and there, the person who caused this incident will reveal themselves again."

As though he had understood my intention, Dam Ak leaned forward.

"Are you saying you will act as bait?"

"Yes."

Dam Ak and Cha Seokdu looked at each other.

Cha Seokdu chuckled.

"It will be dangerous. Are you sure?"

Now that I had even staked my grandfather's honor, there was no turning back.

"I'll resolve it."

Moving straight ahead was my only path to survival.

Footnotes:

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