WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 254: Time for the Fruits to Bear
──────
“How did you know?”
“What are you referring to?”
Blood Brawl’s hand moved like lightning.
I did not even have time to react.
Before I knew it, his left hand had struck my paralysis acupoint, locking down my movements.
A qi-infused dagger had appeared in his other hand at some point, and he was pressing it firmly against the nape of my neck.
If he put even a little strength into it, I would not escape death.
Gulp.
After undergoing Bone Reforging and Rebirth, I had thought I had narrowed the gap between us a little. As expected, it was not a distance I could close in a day or two.
“I asked how you knew that place truly existed...”
“I did not.”
“...I am not joking. Tell me truthfully how you knew.”
I could understand Blood Brawl’s excessive reaction to some extent.
The Black Forest was something like their final resting place.
Keeping my neck as still as possible, I answered, “I truly did not know. But now I do.”
“What?”
“Didn’t your reaction just tell me that the Black Forest exists?”
“...”
The Black Forest was one of the rumors that drifted through the martial world like legends.
A place where retired Black Path masters were said to gather.
It was also called the Black Immortal Realm, making it a fine topic for drunkards to chew over.
In my previous life, I had thought it was nothing more than another ridiculous rumor, like the Taeul Sword Emperor.
But seeing this reaction, I was certain.
“How surprising. The Black Forest really does exist.”
“...Is that true?”
Blood Brawl’s pupils trembled violently.
“Setting aside whether it is true or not, who would believe such a place actually exists?”
“...”
Of course, that was a lie.
There had been a time in my previous life when the masters of the Black Forest poured into the martial world in great numbers.
That was when I learned the Black Forest was real.
After the Sword Demon’s Black Alliance collapsed and even the Black Path martial world had been devastated, the gates of that legendary place opened.
The appearance of absolute Black Path masters, most believed dead or retired due to age, had been a considerable shock even to the Martial Alliance.
Enduring the pain at my neck, I added, “It seems my habit of making jokes has brought an unexpected benefit.”
“Have you not considered that your life has become more dangerous?”
“Doesn’t the fact that you haven’t killed me already mean you recognize your mistake?”
Shhk.
Blood Brawl lowered his hand.
Once my paralysis acupoint was released, I rubbed my neck.
It had bled a little, but that was a small price to pay for drawing out talk of the Black Forest.
Blood Brawl warned me in a low voice.
“You would do well to forget everything you just heard.”
“Why?”
After slipping the dagger into his robe, Blood Brawl stared at me.
“People would not believe it in the first place. More importantly, anyone who hears even a little about that place from you will die, one by one.”
“...”
As I listened, I began to wonder if the Black Forest had remained an empty rumor because that was what its people wanted.
“I will not speak of it anywhere.”
“You had better not, unless you wish to see pointless deaths.”
I nodded once, then brought up the real matter.
“In exchange, I have a request.”
“...This is not a condition for a deal.”
“Then I am simply asking you.”
Blood Brawl looked at me as though I were absurd, but I did not yield.
If the Black Forest appeared at the same time as in my previous life, it would be too late.
Looking straight into his eyes, I said, “Please let me meet the elders of the Black Forest.”
“Do you think the Black Forest is some tourist attraction?”
“I do not want to see the Black Forest. I want to meet the people within it.”
“Why?”
At times like this, it was faster to make him understand the reason himself than to give him a long explanation.
“You have seen it yourself, Elder. What is happening in the Black Alliance and the martial world.”
“What are you talking about...”
Blood Brawl frowned as he spoke.
Even if I did not spell it out, the chain of events in the Black Alliance should make it easy enough for him to understand what I intended to do in the Black Forest.
Blood Brawl drew a firm line.
“That is the martial world’s affair.”
“The Black Forest is also within the martial world, isn’t it?”
“We do not interfere in worldly affairs.”
But I could not back down so easily.
“Then didn’t you and Flame Ghost Consort interfere in worldly affairs by coming to the Black Alliance?”
“That is...”
In the end, Blood Brawl clamped his mouth shut.
He knew this kind of argument would lead nowhere.
“This matter happened within the Black Alliance. Do you not realize that the more you involve yourself in the Black Path martial world, the less room you will have in the White Path martial world?”
I firmly shook my head.
“This did not happen only in the Black Alliance. I have repeatedly seen traces of those behind these incidents in Henan Province, on the Puyang Plains, and in Sichuan.”
“...”
Blood Brawl still looked displeased.
Still, he understood what I meant better than anyone, even if he did not like it.
“If the Black Forest exists within the martial world, then it cannot exist without the martial world. And if the Black Forest does not cooperate to stand against that group, the martial world will be in danger.”
“You...”
Blood Brawl’s face hardened more than ever.
“You are quite fearful. Even so, they are only one group within the vast martial world.”
“That one group is shaking both the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance to their foundations without leaving behind a single trace.”
“...”
Seeing Blood Brawl’s troubled expression, I closed my mouth as well.
If I said any more, I would only worsen his negative feelings.
After a while, Blood Brawl spoke.
“What do you intend to do in the Black Forest?”
Without hesitation, I revealed my plan.
“I intend to prepare before it is too late.”
“You intend to bring out the Black Forest’s people?”
“Yes.”
Blood Brawl closed his eyes and shook his head.
“That is impossible.”
“Even if they have left the secular world, their roots remain in the martial world. Joining the fight only afterward would be no better than locking the stable after the horse has bolted.”
Blood Brawl remained silent for a long time.
Was I planning to repeat the regrets of my previous life?
I stepped closer.
“Once everything is gone, regret will be useless.”
“...That is not it.”
“What?”
“That is not the reason.”
“Is there a reason?”
“...”
Blood Brawl watched me for a long while, his eyes filled with complicated thoughts.
At last, his heavy lips opened again.
“...Come to the Black Forest, and I will tell you.”
“...!”
Good.
I cheered inwardly.
That meant he was allowing me to visit the Black Forest.
My joy was short-lived.
Blood Brawl’s subdued voice reached me.
“But not now.”
“Then when will it be possible?”
“I will tell you when the time comes.”
“You do not even know how long it will take?”
Blood Brawl fell into thought for a moment.
Then he slowly nodded.
“...Yes.”
“Then where should I contact you? I will continue moving around.”
“Wherever you are, we will find you. When the time comes, I will tell you.”
Much lingering disappointment remained, but it was enough that the conversation had reached this point.
I knew I should not press him any further.
“I will wait. But I hope it will not be too late.”
“With you, perhaps it may be possible...”
Blood Brawl murmured something I could not understand, almost to himself.
#
Until the very end, I tried to persuade Cha Seokdu.
But he ignored me, and in the end, he would not even meet me.
I had built the Black Alliance’s foundation and stability for him.
This was why people said you should not trust creatures with black hair.
Especially the ones with black hearts.
“That is enough. The Martial Alliance has also dealt with the Blood Cult in Sichuan because of this incident, so you have done more than enough.”
Even Ak Byeongbi, the delegation leader, said that, so I must have done my part well.
“Besides, these are Black Path people. They are beings who cannot coexist with us. Look even now. You saved the Black Alliance from danger, yet not a single person has come to see us off.”
As he said, I could understand Cha Seokdu, but it was disappointing that even the Black Path figures I had ties with had not shown themselves.
“If anyone criticizes you for failing to secure an alliance, I will step in. Do not worry.”
“...”
What was with this man?
Why was he suddenly so considerate?
Hmm... I was glad it seemed our misunderstanding had been resolved.
Still, it felt as though our relationship had become even more twisted.
Dang Seohui went a step further.
“There is no need to worry. If words do not work, you can become the Vice Alliance Lord of the Black Alliance.”
Dang Seohui had become noticeably close to the Four Emperors Association martial artists while I was asleep.
Among our delegation, she was the one most reluctant to return to the Martial Alliance.
Just as the two of them helped me let go of some of my lingering disappointment, an escort warrior reported, “Delegation Leader, all preparations are complete.”
At the escort warrior’s words, we gathered our personal belongings and headed outside.
The carriages that had arrived loaded with gifts were empty now, apart from a few supplies for the return journey.
As we were about to mount the horses brought by the escort warriors, the area outside suddenly became noisy, and a group of people began entering the horse yard.
Then a familiar face stepped forward.
“Huh?”
“I am a little late.”
Strategist Dam clasped his hands in greeting toward Ak Byeongbi, who was about to mount his horse. Ak Byeongbi returned the greeting without thinking.
“I did not expect you to come out.”
Ak Byeongbi’s expression was full of surprise.
A faint smile formed on Dam Ak’s lips.
“An ancient sage said that failing to express gratitude is worse than being a beast.”
“...”
Did he know Ak Byeongbi had cursed them out quite a bit?
After looking over the delegation members, Dam Ak fixed his gaze on me and added, “We may become companions walking the same road in the future. Naturally, I had to come.”
Ak Byeongbi struggled desperately to control his expression.
Oh, his face looked like it might burst at this rate.
“...Thank you for your consideration.”
Dam Ak waved a hand as if it were nothing, then immediately pointed behind him.
“In addition, the Alliance Lord has prepared gifts.”
“Gifts?”
A moment later, more than ten people carrying boxes of various sizes entered the horse yard one after another.
“What are those?”
The instant Dang Seohui’s curious question ended, they stood on either side of Dam Ak and opened the boxes.
“Ah! That is!”
Ilmyeong was the first to cry out.
He could not take his eyes off the box closest to Dam Ak.
Then he let out an emotional exclamation.
“A, a Maitreya Little Buddha Statue!”
Ilmyeong trembled as if he had met the Buddha himself.
Even his scalp was shaking violently, making for quite a rare sight.
“Ho...!”
The other delegation members were no different.
Dam Ak, who had prepared the gifts, remained calm.
“The Alliance Lord also expressed disappointment that we could not form an alliance this time. Still, two groups separated by great distance cannot become close all at once. The Alliance Lord suggested that we close that distance one step at a time.”
As I looked at the items in the boxes, I unconsciously blurted out, “It feels like we have gotten three steps closer.”
“...”
Ak Byeongbi shot me a sharp look at my unnecessary remark, but then turned away and clasped his hands toward Dam Ak.
“I will make certain that the Black Alliance’s intentions are conveyed to the Martial Alliance.”
The corners of his lips had risen slightly at some point.
He always acted like he did not care.
“All right! Load them over here! Keep it up, everyone!”
As the escort warriors loaded Dam Ak’s gifts into the empty carriages one by one to my enthusiastic cheers, Dam Ak approached me.
He stared silently at my face before suddenly saying, “Thank you.”
“For what?”
At my question, he cleared his throat a couple of times and turned his head away.
“...Let us meet again.”
His ears seemed a little red.
I gave him a faint smile.
“Of course we will.”
He had not said it directly, but I somehow felt I understood Dam Ak’s feelings.
Dam Ak lightly nodded and turned away.
Soon after, I was about to pull hard on the reins, thinking it was finally time to leave.
“...!”
We had to stop again because people now filled the front of the horse yard.
“What is this...!”
Black Path martial artists filled the road.
The escort agency’s carriages had no way through them.
“W, what should we do?”
Ilmyeong frowned at the sight of the fierce-looking people, but Ak Byeongbi spoke calmly.
“We simply go.”
“What?”
Ak Byeongbi raised his chin and looked ahead.
“I mean they are not trying to stop us.”
As confusion appeared in Ilmyeong and Dang Seohui’s eyes, the people blocking the road began to split apart to either side.
Then.
Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap.
Someone started clapping.
Cheers soon followed.
“Farewell! Come back again!”
“Black Flame Dragon! You really are the Black Path’s divine prodigy!”
“Martial Alliance lackeys, you take care too!”
There seemed to be a few things I did not want to hear mixed in there...
Still, friendly voices surrounded us.
Some people tossed rice cakes and money pouches from all directions.
Dang Seohui picked out only the things that looked fit for snacks.
When I turned to look, the Alliance Leader’s Hall personal guards wore expressions that showed they had no idea what was happening.
None of us replied to their greetings, but their cheers continued without end.
A faint smile had appeared on the delegation members’ faces.
Once we had left the Black Alliance and their send-off was no longer visible, Ak Byeongbi pulled on his reins to slow down and approached me.
“Perhaps I was wrong.”
“What are you suddenly...?”
Leaving only those words behind, Ak Byeongbi moved forward again.
Footnotes:
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
