The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 246

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 246: Today's Fortune (5)

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The Demon Brain knew that knowledge beyond human comprehension could not be passed down in its entirety to a single person, so they raised disciples to inherit it piece by piece.

They were the Seven Demon Wisdom Lords.

Je Geumhak was the one who held the title of Fiend Lord among them.

And of all the Seven Demon Wisdom Lords, it had to be this bastard...

The one who would later kill Jegal Somyeong, the Martial Alliance's Grand Strategist, and play a decisive role in bringing down the Martial Alliance.

I'd never encountered him even once in my previous life, yet here I was, facing him head-on in this one.

Did that make any sense statistically?

Ilmyeong hadn't cursed me just because I mentioned the mind-reading art, had he?

There was no other explanation.

“...Hmm. Just who are you, Black Flame Dragon?”

Gun Yuhyeon... no, Fiend Lord Je Geumhak tilted his head.

“You know about the Double Shadow Demon Brigade, the Devouring Gauntlet, and even my identity. How?”

“...”

If only there were a disease that killed people for being too curious. Then I wouldn't have to deal with this bastard.

He slowly nodded at my silence.

“As expected, you won't answer, will you?”

Crack. Crack.

Je Geumhak straightened his bent fingers and began gathering different energies in each hand.

“You'll want to speak soon enough.”

Those damned bastards. They said even Wudang Sect's Duality Heart Art couldn't wield two distinct energies so clearly.

Still, I couldn't stand here complaining forever.

No one was going to appear and solve this for me just because I complained.

He began combining the two different energies.

Fire energy and water energy were natural opposites, yet the force produced by their union somehow felt even more immense.

It looked as ominous as a lit Thunderclap Bomb.

Three White Moon Heaven-Subduing Forms.

First Form.

‘Extreme Swiftness.’

I attacked while he was taking his time.

At the very least, I thought he wouldn't be able to use the Devouring Gauntlet while both hands were occupied.

Swoosh!

Sword qi pierced through the air, about to slice through his chest.

Clap!

He brought his hands together.

Then...

Whiiiiing!

An enormous force burst out and filled the entire space.

“Aaargh!”

There was no resisting it with internal energy.

The attack pushed the space itself toward me, carrying power that rivaled the Mad Heaven Divine Palm.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Perhaps because of the confined space, the explosion couldn't spread outward and rebounded inside.

The returning shock felt powerful enough to grind every bone in my body to pieces.

‘Crazy bastard...’

If Dam Ak took that attack, he wouldn't survive.

I quickly turned and shielded Dam Ak from the impact.

“What are you...?”

Dam Ak looked at me as if he couldn't understand what I was doing.

Honestly, neither could I.

If I died here anyway, what did it matter whether Dam Ak lived or died?

Still, Dam Ak was the man who had kept the Martial Alliance alive through that desperate Orthodox-Demonic War in Jegal Somyeong's place.

My body had moved toward him on its own.

Je Geumhak's mocking voice came from beyond my burning back.

“Trying to save someone who may become your enemy. Is that the chivalry of the Black Flame Dragon?”

Chivalry? Had I ever dreamed of becoming a chivalrous hero?

I'd abandoned that dream long ago, when Gye Cheolyeong took the special admission spot from me while I could do nothing.

“I don't move for something like chivalry.”

The Taeul True Scripture stirred in anger at my will, slowly cooling my burning back.

Thankfully, the Heavenly Silkworm Treasure Robe Wang Geumsan had given me had limited the damage.

A sneer formed on my lips.

“I move out of spite.”

Even if Dam Ak became my enemy, if he could make the Demonic Cult suffer in my place, I was willing to lay down my life for him.

“Die, you bastard!”

I scattered the Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist with my left hand and the Twin Heavens Sword Art with my right, pressing him hard.

Je Geumhak continued raising ice walls to block the sword qi while flicking his fingers to dispel the real blades and fist force hidden among the illusions.

The moment my attacks stopped, he would probably pour out those fireballs and counterattack.

I had a rough idea of how he fought now.

Ting! Ting! Ting-ting-ting-ting-ting!

Just as I expected, Je Geumhak moved to dispel the real blades and fist force. The moment a fireball gathered in his left hand...

I threw the Black Dragon Sword at the fireball and used the Taeul Eighty Thousand Divine Steps to move behind him.

His calm expression broke as he shouted.

“You think such a clumsy attack will catch me...!”

As he turned his head and raised an ice wall...

Ssssss!

I drove the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand to its limit and pierced through the ice wall.

“What is this...!”

“Did you think you're the only one who can control fire energy?!”

The ice wall instantly turned to vapor under the blazing heat of the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand, leaving his chest wide open.

Yet when Je Geumhak blocked one Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand with the Devouring Gauntlet, the heat flickering in my palm shrank at once and disappeared without a trace.

Damn, this was impossible.

Still...

“I've got one hand left!”

I thrust out my remaining hand with all my strength.

One Demon-Extinguishing Hand was blocked by the Devouring Gauntlet, and I was about to pierce his heart with the other.

“You think I'll let you?”

Je Geumhak met the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand with the fireball in his palm.

Whoooosh.

Two flames spread out with perfect precision, as if dividing the space in half.

“What...?”

Je Geumhak's eyes wavered in disbelief.

Then the immense pressure that had begun in our palms broke free of control and exploded in every direction.

Boom! Boom-boom-boom!

I desperately raised my internal energy and protected my face.

Scorching heat swept across my arms, shoulders, legs, and thighs.

When the bright light faded, the space before me no longer looked the same.

Black holes had appeared in the crimson walls, and the room was now filled with nothing but ashes with nothing left to burn.

I hurriedly checked myself.

Other than a few minor burns, I wasn't seriously injured.

I quickly picked up the Black Dragon Sword and checked Dam Ak.

“Are you all right?”

“...”

As expected, Dam Ak had already passed out.

At least he was still breathing, so that was fortunate...

Twitch. Twitch.

I turned at the sudden movement.

“Fuck...”

He was still alive?

Je Geumhak's body, which had collapsed like a pile of black ash, twitched.

And it didn't stop there.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Bits of black ash fell away one after another as Je Geumhak slowly stood.

This was really fucking ridiculous.

His lips slowly parted.

“...Hoo.”

Crack. Crack.

Je Geumhak stretched and rolled his shoulders.

The explosion had blown away every scrap of his clothing, yet there wasn't even a small burn mark on his body.

“This martial art follows a path somewhat similar to that of our Heavenly Cult. How did that happen?”

It was a blessing Dam Ak was unconscious.

Though if I died here, none of it would matter anyway.

Still, the fact that I was worrying about it proved how desperately I wanted to live.

As I glanced down at Dam Ak, Je Geumhak's brow furrowed deeper.

“...Could you perhaps be an illegitimate child of our Heavenly Cult?”

This bastard had gone too far.

“If that's the case, we should talk some more...”

When I didn't answer out of sheer disbelief, he seemed to take it as confirmation.

“Why the hell are you turning a perfectly normal person into a bastard?!”

Another miserable battle of attrition began.

He blocked my attacks, and wounds began appearing on my body one by one.

It looked as if our strength was evenly matched, but in truth, he showed no sign of exhausting his internal energy.

I, on the other hand, had to pour in all my internal energy and stamina just to barely defend against his attacks.

‘At this rate...’

A bad thought rose in my mind, but I shook my head.

Negative thoughts wouldn't help in this situation. They would only drain what little strength I had left.

I should think of something good... something good...

There was nothing good to think about. Damn it.

Then...

Crackle.

Golden light flashed through the blackened mystic formation, and a shiny bald head appeared.

“Benefactor Jin... What is this place...?”

It was the most welcome bald head I'd ever seen in my life.

Whip!

I immediately fired the Flying Dragon Claw, caught Dam Ak, and threw him toward Ilmyeong.

The bald man caught Dam Ak by reflex and shouted in alarm.

“B-Benefactor Jin! If you suddenly throw something like this, I can't help you...!”

You getting out of here is helping me!

Not long after Dam Ak's body slipped through the gap Ilmyeong had created, the black opening turned crimson again.

A mocking laugh sounded behind me.

“How foolish. The one who leaves has a better chance of surviving.”

Je Geumhak shook his head as if it were a shame.

But I wasn't fooled.

If I left and got trapped inside the mystic formation, dealing with him would only become harder.

There was no way this bastard had set up a mystic formation he didn't understand.

I sneered back.

“That's rich coming from a cat pretending to care about a mouse.”

That was their true nature.

Blood Brawl, who was in Dam Ak's quarters, deeply furrowed his brow.

“Shouldn't we go in? Half an hour has already passed.”

He had come all the way to Dam Ak's quarters at Jin Sowoon's request, but Jin Sowoon had only told him to stop anyone trying to enter from outside.

Dang Seohui firmly shook her head.

“Jin Sowoon isn't someone who sends people on pointless errands.”

“Hmm?”

Dang Seohui, who usually had a vacant look as if no one knew what she was thinking, began taking out various mother-of-pearl bottles and throwing knives from her robe.

Even Ak Byeongbi, who had not fully recovered, gripped his iron spear and prepared to fight.

Blood Brawl asked again without thinking.

“What do you mean?”

“Jin Sowoon said a dangerous person would come here.”

“A dangerous person?”

Blood Brawl expanded his energy sense, but the only people moving around nearby were insignificant Black Path martial artists.

A dangerous person?

Whoosh.

At that moment, Flame Ghost Consort jerked in surprise and began gathering fire energy in both hands.

“Below us.”

“Below?”

Blood Brawl lowered his head.

The shadows cast by the torchlight began changing into strange shapes.

The moment he realized something was wrong and kicked off the ground...

Shhk! Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!

Black blades burst out and attacked them.

“...You fucking bastards!”

Blood Brawl shook the blood from his ankle and flared with anger.

But he didn't lash out with his feet as recklessly as usual.

That single exchange had told him these enemies were no pushovers.

The blades that had targeted Blood Brawl's ankles slowly slipped back into the shadows. Then black figures writhed into view around them.

They were beings wrapped head to toe in black cloth.

Torchlight flickered over them, yet nothing could be seen within the robes covering even their heads.

“Who are you?”

“...”

The figures didn't respond at all to Blood Brawl's growl.

Nearly ten of them split into two groups, and half attempted to enter the mystic formation.

Blood Brawl and the others rushed toward them, but the remaining robed figures launched unexpected attacks that stopped them.

“What the...?”

Their robes billowed out, swallowing every fireball and force attack before deflecting them away.

While Blood Brawl's group watched their attacks be rendered useless, half of the robed figures entered the mystic formation.

“How dare you...!”

Blood-red qi rippled around Blood Brawl's bleeding right foot.

Dang Seohui, who had been watching ahead beside him, spoke in a slightly trembling voice.

“We need to be careful. Jin Sowoon said they were fearsome people.”

That reckless bastard, who had no sense of self-preservation, had called them fearsome...

They had exchanged only one move, but their methods were far from ordinary.

Blood Brawl felt more strength gathering in his feet than usual.

I had always been deeply interested in fighting with mystic formations.

A mystic formation let me drag an opponent onto a battlefield of my choosing.

Gamblers loved fleecing suckers at tables they had set themselves. Why would martial artists be any different?

Maybe that was why I had deployed the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation at the Martial Arts Academy and let everyone experience mystic formations. To prepare for the day we fought the Demonic Cult together.

The enemy would be trapped inside the mystic formation and walk step by step toward the gates of hell, while our side moved freely through it, offering support and rescuing the wounded.

Whether the enemy possessed unbelievable martial might or the bizarre power of dark arts, a properly arranged battlefield let us handle them.

Seeing something I had only imagined become reality made it feel even better.

‘The problem is that these fucking bastards are using that strategy on me.’

Five people in black robes entered through the crimson wall.

I had been about to teach Je Geumhak about justice and principle.

“Haa...”

The moment I recognized them, I sighed.

The Formless Shadow Demon Unit.

The Demonic Cult's shadow unit, known as its guard martial artists, had entered.

I'd expected someone to come help him, but I hadn't expected the Formless Shadow Demon Unit.

Then again, they would need to be at least this capable to break through Blood Brawl, Flame Ghost Consort, and Dang Seohui and enter the mystic formation.

Je Geumhak's position within the Demonic Cult apparently wasn't as low as I had thought.

Noticing my reaction, Je Geumhak immediately pressed the advantage.

“Oh? Judging by your expression, you know who they are as well.”

“...”

Until now, Je Geumhak had spoken with an easy, polite tone. Now he sounded completely natural.

Sure, he must be happy. If I were in his position, I would've thrown the same words back at him.

I pointed my chin at the Formless Shadow Demon Unit.

“Isn't this a little cowardly? We were fighting one on one.”

“They say the White Path sects' greatest strength is their numbers.”

I'd never agreed with that.

Wherever the Sojeong Unit went, we were always outnumbered by the enemy.

“Spreading lies and stirring people up. Are you really the Demon Brain's disciple?”

“Heh heh heh.”

He laughed unpleasantly.

No, he had probably laughed as he normally did. Maybe it only seemed unpleasant because I was already in a foul mood.

It felt as if I could see the end of this life approaching too.

“You truly are an interesting man. I can understand why the Little Demon would take an interest in you.”

The moment he said “Little Demon,” my thoughts turned cold.

There was only one person in the entire Demonic Cult whom its lackeys called the Little Demon.

Je Geumhak watched my hardened expression and shifted his gaze aside.

“I originally came here for a different purpose...”

He looked toward the place Dam Ak had escaped through, then grinned at me.

“But perhaps this will be more entertaining.”

This wasn't just because I was in a bad mood.

That bastard was definitely grinning in a disgusting way...

“Will you come with me to the Heavenly Cult?”

“What?”

Had I heard that right?

The Black Alliance offered me the position of Vice Alliance Lord just the other day.

Now I was already being invited to the Demonic Cult? Was I really advancing this quickly?

“That's the most horrifying thing I've heard in my life.”

“Ah, I wasn't asking your opinion. I was only telling you what had been decided.”

“...”

Crazy bastard.

Completely crazy bastard.

I looked back and forth between him and the mystic formation.

Then the Formless Shadow Demon Unit began moving.

Entering a mystic formation whose structure I didn't understand would be suicide.

But if I stayed here, there was a good chance I would be dragged to the Demonic Cult.

Neither option was welcome.

A laugh forced its way from my lips.

‘It's been a while since I've faced such a cruel choice.’

If every choice would only make my situation worse, I would at least choose the one that could make my opponent suffer.

That was how I had endured my miserable previous life.

Tap.

I used the Peerless Wanderer Divine Art, even though it was poorly suited to such a narrow space.

Bang!

The speed was one thing, but even controlling my direction was difficult.

I knocked aside a Formless Shadow Demon Unit member's sword, grabbed their robe, and barely managed to stop.

Then I twisted away from the blade extending from the black shadow and unleashed the Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist couldn't even reach an ice wall. It was stopped by the robes the Formless Shadow Demon Unit members spread out.

No, the robes that blocked it slowly wrapped around me instead, catching my fist and arm.

My left arm couldn't move, as if it were caught in a net.

I had roughly expected this.

Rumble.

I wrapped the Black Dragon Sword in sword force and unleashed the Lesser Heaven Sword Art.

The sword force shot forward in a straight line like a beam of light, piercing through the ice wall and about to drive into Je Geumhak's temple.

Whoosh! Thud!

Another Formless Shadow Demon Unit member's robe wrapped around my right hand and stopped it.

Je Geumhak tilted his head aside and smiled.

“As expected, you didn't know what power the Formless Shadow Demon Unit possesses.”

He nodded and took a step toward me.

Then he leaned in close, wearing a triumphant smile.

“They are quite skilled at capturing opponents alive.”

That smile was disgusting enough to make me want to crush it.

“Is that so?”

I immediately used the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand with both hands caught by the Formless Shadow Demon Unit members.

Whoosh.

As flames began to rise, the robes around my hands loosened for a moment.

But more robes soon moved to wrap around my wrists.

Je Geumhak's expression became even more relaxed as he watched.

“It's useless. Once they catch someone, they never...”

That expression was exactly why I hated him.

“Never, is it?”

I extended the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand with all my strength.

The Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand, imbued with the sacred force of the Jade Clarity Celestial Phenomenon Force, was exceptionally effective at subduing demons from the start.

Tap.

My left hand burned through the robe and met Je Geumhak's hand.

Crack-crack-crack.

Then, as if frost had fallen over it, the heat of the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand began to fade, and the feeling in my hand grew distant.

Je Geumhak, still relaxed, shook his head.

“Your heat doesn't last long either.”

This bastard seemed very confident in his own martial arts.

Why didn't he consider that I had deliberately extinguished the flames?

I grinned at him.

“Because I don't need it anymore.”

“?”

I immediately activated the Azure Dragon Bangle on my left hand.