WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 247: Today's Fortune (6)

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Thinking about it, perhaps the reason my past life had been so harsh was that I was simply born unlucky.

Otherwise, why would this life, in which I was far stronger than before, feel even harsher than my previous one instead of going smoothly?

What were the odds that I'd regress and encounter the Yin-Yang Twin Demon when I had never even seen them in my past life?

Maybe bastards with rotten luck stay unlucky even after regression.

What a truly rotten world.

That was why watching the look on someone else's face as my misfortune passed to them felt...

“Th-the Absorbing Star Grand Art!”

So damn good.

“That’s right, you bastard!”

We'd spent a few days together in the Black Alliance. My rotten luck had definitely rubbed off on this guy.

Wasn't that obvious?

How unlucky did Je Geumhak have to be? He had secretly infiltrated the martial world, dismissed a White Path hero as small fry, and tried to kill him, only to discover that the hero had secretly learned the Absorbing Star Grand Art.

This was why my parents had told me to choose my friends carefully...

“Ah! Demonic beings don't have parents, do they?”

“...”

Fwoosh!

The internal energy flowing through the Azure Dragon Bangle passed through my dantian and directly into the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand in my right hand.

Perhaps because so much internal energy was pouring into it, my hand could no longer contain the power that should have remained in my palm. It burst outward in every direction, setting flames alight.

Boom!

Crackle. Crackle.

The Formless Shadow Demon Unit member whose robe had caught fire frantically flapped it about, trying to put it out. But the sacred flames born of sacred power would not be easily extinguished after encountering demonic qi.

“Urgh!”

The color gradually drained from Je Geumhak’s face until it turned pale.

Looking at him like this, he resembled a celestial maiden painted on a beauty scroll.

It was unpleasant, so he could have one too.

Boom!

“Ghk!”

I drew out his internal energy, greatly enlarged the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand, and blasted the ground at his feet.

At the same time, I hooked an arm around Je Geumhak’s neck and held him in front of me like a shield. Then I threateningly swung the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand at the Formless Shadow Demon Unit.

“Don't move, you sons of bitches! Just try moving, you beggar bastards. The instant you do, this asshole gets roasted whole!”

“...”

“...”

The members who had barely put out the flames by cutting away their robes looked at one another.

Then two of them vanished into the floor.

The moment I realized what was happening and turned around...

Stab.

“Ghk!”

Pain shot through my entire body from my right side.

You cowardly bastards!

Thankfully, the Heavenly Silkworm Treasure Robe kept my strength from draining away immediately.

“You sons of bitches...”

If they were going to play like that, I had my own methods.

I immediately drew more power from the Azure Dragon Bangle.

The energy being absorbed through it had now reached a level I could barely withstand.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

With nothing left to lose, I scattered the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand wildly around me.

If I was going to die anyway, wouldn't it be less lonely if we all died together?

It annoyed me that I would be walking the road to the underworld with these bastards, but at least I could mock them along the way.

“Come at me, you fucking bastards!”

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Fueled by a tremendous amount of energy, the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand began taking on a form similar to the Blood Jade Hand I had seen in my past life.

My flame-wreathed hand glowed red-hot, turning into a Fire Fixation that could burn anything to ash.

When I grabbed the blade that had stabbed my side, it melted away in an instant.

Clang.

Huh? This was pretty good.

I immediately covered Je Geumhak’s face with the Demon-Extinguishing Hand.

Sizzle──.

A pungent smell filled the air as he let out a monstrous scream for the first time.

“Gaaah!”

Just as I thought I could finish Je Geumhak off with a little more effort...

Stab. Stab.

The swords of the Formless Shadow Demon Unit pierced my right arm and thigh.

Those cowardly bastards only stabbed places the Heavenly Silkworm Treasure Robe didn't cover.

The pain made me instinctively want to pull my arm away, but I forcibly suppressed that urge.

If I pulled away because it hurt, I'd really be heading to the underworld alone.

“...That'd be too lonely!”

Twisting wildly, I knocked away the blades and rolled across the floor with Je Geumhak.

The first person I'd ever tightly embraced and rolled around with was Je Geumhak...

Fuck, I really was an unlucky bastard.

“Haa... haa... haa...”

I was absorbing internal energy and pouring out the Demon-Extinguishing Hand, but my body was slowly reaching its limit.

Even with the Azure Dragon Bangle, the energy still had to pass through my dantian and blood vessels.

There was no avoiding the physical strain.

“Ghk...”

My entire body was overloaded, just as it had been when I rescued Moyong Sangwon. I was so dizzy that I felt as if I would lose consciousness at any moment.

“Hngh... hngh... hngh.”

Fortunately, Je Geumhak also groaned in agony.

Then something strange happened.

Whoosh...

The heat of the blazing Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand gradually subsided.

The hand that had glowed red like a Fire Fixation rapidly began returning to its original color.

The same amount of internal energy was still pouring into it...

Then frost formed over my hand.

Startled, I looked at Je Geumhak, who was pressed tightly against me.

“Damn it...”

I realized the problem wasn't with me.

Sensing danger, Je Geumhak had begun using another method.

Then...

Crack.

Starting from my hand, my entire arm rapidly began freezing as though it had suffered frostbite.

At the same time, even the energy flowing in from the Azure Dragon Bangle began to change.

‘...What is this?’

It wasn't simply internal energy filling my empty dantian.

True qi began filling me, just as it had when I absorbed the Human-Faced Spider’s inner core long ago.

What was this? I'd never experienced anything like this, even when draining a person’s life force...

When I checked his condition again, his bloodshot eyes and bristling hair told me that he was using innate qi.

No way.

‘This bastard...’

...He was good for my body!

Along with an ocean-like amount of internal energy, I absorbed an enormous amount of innate qi. Just as when I had consumed the Ten-Thousand-Year Flower Ginseng, true qi began filling my dantian to the brim.

Yet no more internal energy could be absorbed because of the sheer volume of true qi.

And if this continued, it felt like my frozen arm would shatter. I had no choice but to let him go.

The moment our unpleasant yet thrilling contact ended, I could only marvel inwardly.

‘Huh... Thirty years’ worth?’

In that short time, my dantian had expanded tremendously.

Lately, no matter what spiritual medicine or elixir pellet I consumed, my internal energy had not increased by much.

Je Geumhak had increased my internal energy more effectively than any spiritual medicine.

I looked down at him as he lay twitching on the floor.

His unlucky face suddenly looked rather pretty.

Well... maybe that was because half of it had melted.

“Argh!”

As Je Geumhak screamed while clutching his face, three members of the Formless Shadow Demon Unit surrounded him protectively.

The remaining members rushed at me.

Honestly, I no longer had the strength to move.

I wished they would just take Je Geumhak and run away so they could treat him too...

“Capture that bastard alive! Drag him to the Demonic Cult, then carve off his flesh piece by piece until he dies!”

The man who was good for my body didn't seem to have that in mind.

I took back what I said about his face looking pretty, you bastard.

I barely stayed upright by forcing strength into both legs.

“Haa, haa, haa.”

It was good that my dantian had grown, but I had already reached my limit.

Every part of my body, including my lower abdomen, was screaming in pain, and blood still streamed from my wounds.

I used the Lesser Heaven Sword Art, a technique so familiar that I could perform it even after waking from sleep, but I could not bring out even half the skill I had possessed in my past life.

Clang clang clang.

Attacks that were laughably easy to read still landed on me, and every time they did, new wounds were carved into my arms and chest.

Fuck, I had never been hit by such ridiculous attacks even in my past life.

My eyes and mind could clearly see the sword paths, but there was no way to stop them.

Whoosh!

I forced myself to attack first, only to reveal more openings and suffer further attacks.

Thud.

Crash.

I rolled twice across the floor before forcing myself back up.

My trembling legs wanted to collapse to their knees at any moment...

But I couldn't kneel.

If I knelt here, I wouldn't be going to hell. I'd be dragged to the Demonic Cult.

I wanted to leave Yong Soa the honor of becoming the first White Path martial artist to enter the Demonic Cult.

Or that useless bald senior, Ilmyeong.

‘Je Geumhak... If I can just take Je Geumhak with me...’

My goal had changed from survival to mutual destruction.

If I could at least drag the Yin-Yang Twin Demon to hell with me, Jegal Somyeong might get to live a little longer.

More importantly, it was the only way to make the Formless Shadow Demon Unit retreat.

The target that now embodied both my purpose and my goal shouted, shaking the room.

“Move aside! First, I will peel that bastard’s face off!”

The man who was good for my body, Je Geumhak, who would now earn the epithet Half-Beautiful, Half-Monstrous thanks to me, created flames in his hand and walked toward me.

Watching him closely, I brought the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art to its peak.

Hummm─.

Eight swords of the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art formed in the cramped air.

Yeah, eating something good for the body really did improve my skill right away.

I didn't stop there. I poured internal energy into them until sword force coated their blades.

One-third of the internal energy Je Geumhak had filled me with vanished in an instant. Then the eight swords began their blade dance, unleashing the Twin Heavens Sword Art.

Whoooosh!

The storm of sword blades that swept through the confined space began cutting apart Je Geumhak and the Formless Shadow Demon Unit without distinction.

Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang!

Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang!

The deafening sound of blades colliding.

Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!

Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!

Explosions that seemed ready to rupture my eardrums.

Flash. Flash. Flash.

The bursts of light created by colliding forces blinded me and turned my vision white.

Everyone within reach was an enemy anyway. There was no need to pick targets.

I closed my eyes and continued the blade dance.

Boom! Boom! Boom boom boom boom!

The storm of energy clashes filled the cramped room again and again.

Honestly, I had to admit it.

The mystic formation this bastard had deployed was incredible.

Even while the pressure felt ready to burst my internal organs, it didn't develop a single crack. That was enough to call it incredible.

“Bleurgh!”

When the storm of blades and energy clashes finally subsided, my insides were churning so violently that I vomited a bowlful of black blood.

When I barely opened my eyes and checked my opponents...

I couldn't help but smile brightly.

“Fuck...”

One member of the Formless Shadow Demon Unit had been reduced to a rag on the floor. It seemed I had managed to take out one of them.

But then...

Rustle.

The remaining four, who had wrapped themselves tightly around Je Geumhak and shielded him with their bodies, slowly began to separate.

I couldn't hold back the curse when I saw that.

“You fight like fucking scum.”

He stared at me with venomous eyes.

“Is that all?”

I wanted to tell him no and land a punch on him.

Honestly, I had no strength left either.

Swish──.

The robes of the Formless Shadow Demon Unit wrapped around my arms and legs.

Just as I had felt with the Sojeong Unit in my past life, death felt vividly close.

I was filled with more regrets about my life than ever, and fear washed over my whole body.

“I will make you regret, again and again, taking things this far.”

Je Geumhak’s voice had once been as clear as jade beads rolling across a silver tray. Now it was as rough as that of an ugly old man staring death in the face.

And it sounded more terrifying than anything I had ever heard.

‘...Am I going to die now?’

My arms and legs were restrained, so I couldn't even take my own life.

To end my life myself, I tried to reverse the flow in my dantian and strike the baihui point.

Then, as if I sensed this was the final moment of my life, countless memories flashed through my mind and made me reflect on my life...

‘Fuck, why are these the memories coming up?’

I thought I'd at least see my father’s face or the faces of the people from Taeul Sect.

Instead, the first memory that appeared was the face of the gambler fooling around with the Cunning Deception Divine Art.

[Come on, bet money to win money! This game doesn't come around every day! It's the game even a passing dog can guess! Find the bean! The bean!]

Damn it.

Bring up a different memory!

When I screamed inwardly, the scene finally changed.

[You contain sound, then make it explode in another space.]

Blood Brawl appeared next.

Then I saw Je Geumhak creating an ice barrier to block my sword...

No, you clueless memories, get lost already!

Just one person! At least one woman...

[Martial arts seek to resemble the Way of nature, yet do not seek to become one with it. Can the Way of martial arts and the Way of nature not become one?]

But...

The next person to appear was Moyong Gang.

Why were only these creepy faces appearing when I was reflecting on the final moments of my life?

I had too much grievance to die like this.

...Right. I couldn't die.

“Ha... hahaha...”

At my laughter, Je Geumhak frowned with his horribly melted face.

“You're laughing?”

I gave him an even brighter smile.

“Did you check your fortune today?”

“Fortune?”

“If I check my fortune today... I think I'll draw the Five Heavenly Kings.”

Je Geumhak tilted his head at the sudden remark.

“What are you...”

“I don't think I'm going to die today.”

A voice filled my mind.

[An attempt to unite the Way of martial arts with the Way of nature.]

My rigid dantian slowly began to move.

I didn't force open the tangled blood vessels.

It simply moved quietly in place.

There was no need to reach outward or make contact.

The Way simply existed there.

There was no need to force it into motion.

I only had to resonate with it and move together naturally.

That was Void-Destroying.

And then...

Fwoosh.

Fwoosh.

Fwoosh.

Fwoosh.

Four sacred flames suddenly bloomed above the heads of the Formless Shadow Demon Unit members.

“W-what...?”

A sacred flame then bloomed in Je Geumhak’s chest as well.

[That is the Void-Destroying Fist.]

Moyong Gang’s voice quietly echoed through my mind.

Footnotes:

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