The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 262

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 262: Brocade-Clad Night Journey (3)

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『...Thus, the Black Alliance has completely put its internal affairs in order and is in the process of establishing its structure. It is sending letters to sects that have not yet joined, encouraging them to do so, while members of the Black Path martial world who have heard rumors of the Black Alliance are making their way there one after another. The Black Alliance's future expansion...』

A report that had arrived from Shanxi Province.

It contained detailed information that had yet to become known to outsiders.

The report came from the information-analysis organization established by the Twelve Peak Alliance's major sects to narrow the information gap between themselves and groups such as the Nine Sects One Gang, commonly known as the Research Institute.

“It's only natural for those desk-bound scholars to view the world negatively, but this is a bit much.”

Cheol Sunjik shook his head.

Since the Research Institute's founding, it had never once offered a positive outlook. Not now, nor ever before.

Even so, the Twelve Peak Alliance had never denied its findings or altered them to suit its own tastes.

Its perspective was cold and accurate.

Cheol Sunjik knew that well.

Only by examining oneself with an objective eye could one move forward.

If they wanted to change the hierarchy of the martial world, which had remained unchanged for the past five hundred years, sleeping on a pile of firewood and tasting gall would not be enough.

He did not mind hearing bitter words every day if it meant moving forward.

Yet the future predicted for the Twelve Peak Alliance in this report was so bleak that even the previous reports seemed optimistic.

“The emergence of the Blood Cult and the Black Alliance's rise. Powerful sects armed with justification expanding their influence, while small and medium sects are sacrificed in the process...”

The outcome was all too clear.

The Twelve Peak Alliance, no, the One Hundred Eight Peaks, would naturally be among those small and medium sects.

After all, the One Hundred Eight Peaks existed for no reason beyond allowing the established powers to suppress rising forces.

They had been given the lofty-sounding title of the One Hundred Eight Peaks, a position with neither authority nor power, and told, “Be satisfied with this much.”

A position that bore responsibility without granting any rights.

The problem was that this had happened more than once or twice.

Whenever a new force had tried to rise over the past five hundred years, all kinds of incidents had eventually caused it to collapse.

Each individual incident might not have been connected, but if the same thing repeated itself throughout history, no one would dismiss it as coincidence.

“Hwaseong, what do you think?”

“...”

The huge man stubbornly kept his mouth shut.

Nam Hwaseong had joined the representative corps, claiming he would keep an eye on Jin Sowoon, yet he had never once relayed any “information” about what Jin Sowoon and the representative corps had been doing.

“Do you truly believe Jin Sowoon is someone who will bring change?”

Nam Hwaseong's eyes flashed for a moment.

“Brother Cheol, I honestly don't know much about that sort of thing.”

He continued in a calm, straightforward tone.

“I was never meant to be the one who uses his head. I only pass along what I've seen and heard.”

Nam Hwaseong pretended to know nothing.

A smile slipped from Cheol Sunjik's lips as he watched him.

He could see Nam Hwaseong struggling to pass on useless information with that brain of his that barely worked.

It was strange. Jin Sowoon had been away from the Academy for quite some time on delegation business.

So why was Nam Hwaseong reluctant to act like a spy?

Cheol Sunjik quietly studied him.

“Do you like him that much?”

“W-what are you talking about?”

Nam Hwaseong's composed expression shattered at once, as though someone had uncovered a secret of his clan.

“What could I possibly like about that fucking bastard? He treats me like a spy every day and makes me run errands.”

Nam Hwaseong was, in fact, a spy, yet he was furious about being treated like one.

Cheol Sunjik, who could quickly grasp what lay in another person's heart, sensed it.

The great trust hidden beneath Nam Hwaseong's anger and curses.

He had spent over fifteen years at Cheol Sunjik's side without ever showing such loyalty, yet he gave it to Jin Sowoon, whom he had known for less than a year and who had even been his fierce rival during the regular examination.

Cheol Sunjik had lived without trusting anyone or seeking anyone else's trust, so he had thought it would not matter if he saw such a sight.

Yet a question arose within him without his realizing it.

“Are your feelings more important to you than the revival of your sect?”

“...”

Nam Hwaseong, who had been fuming, abruptly stopped.

“The Samwon Sect spent an astronomical sum on this regular examination. It did everything it could to ensure you passed. Do you truly intend to betray the sect that went to such lengths to place you in the Academy?”

Nam Hwaseong's gaze turned cold.

“Brother Cheol, watch your words.”

Though he did not release killing intent, his gaze seemed sharp enough to cut.

“Since taking part in the regular examination, I have never once forgotten my sect. I have never betrayed my sect for my own feelings.”

“Is that so?”

Cheol Sunjik did not believe in trust between people.

He had even thought those who shared such loyalty were foolish.

Yet why was it that every time he looked at the foolish Nam Hwaseong before him, something twisted in his chest?

“It is unfortunate, but Jin Sowoon will not change the world through his strength alone. At best, he will use the Nine Sects One Gang as his backing and expand his own power and that of his sect.”

“...”

“His talent cannot be denied. But in the end, he is someone who will rise only to a suitable position, then stop.”

Through this delegation, Jin Sowoon had become a bridgehead between the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance.

The Martial Alliance would have no choice but to make good use of him.

But even if he reached an important position, the Martial Alliance's established powers were not people who would surrender their places.

They would offer a gift that shifted the One Hundred Eight Peaks' position by a suitable amount, and Jin Sowoon would refuse it for show before accepting what those above gave him.

‘And he will be satisfied with that.’

Just as the One Hundred Eight Peaks had been for the past five hundred years.

“And the Taeul Sect may take the Samwon Sect's place.”

Cheol Sunjik looked directly into Nam Hwaseong's eyes.

Hoping the uncomfortable feeling swelling in his chest would quickly be resolved.

“When the Taeul Sect and the Samwon Sect exchange positions, can you still stand at Jin Sowoon's side?”

The Twelve Peak Alliance struggled desperately to change that.

It had spent a long time trying to make those who passed down their power through generations as though they were the masters of the martial world realize that the natural order was not fixed.

Yet Jin Sowoon was seriously obstructing that cause.

For his own benefit alone.

“Nothing will change if we respond in the same manner.”

“...”

“Wasn't it your wish to change this world?”

Nam Hwaseong had a simple side to him.

He became deeply absorbed in whatever captured his attention and did not look around him.

That had allowed him to achieve great things at a young age, but it also meant he could not see the bigger picture and therefore could not accomplish great deeds.

“The world will soon change.”

“What are you planning, Brother Cheol?”

Cheol Sunjik shook his head.

“You know well enough that I can't tell you right now.”

“...”

“When the time comes, you will have to make a choice as well.”

Cheol Sunjik rolled up the lengthy report and rose from his seat.

“You will have to decide what serves the cause.”

He patted Nam Hwaseong's shoulder and headed outside.

Nam Hwaseong stared at the door through which Cheol Sunjik had left for a long time.

After finishing the delegation's report, I planned to head straight to the Martial Arts Academy.

I had already parted ways with my personal guard, and I was about to say my final goodbyes to Ilmyeong and Dang Seohui as well.

But...

“I'd like to see Junior Brother Ilgak after so long.”

“I want to sleep more too. Mumble, mumble.”

...Go home and sleep!

In the end, I had no choice but to head to the Martial Arts Academy with them.

It had not even been that long since I left the Academy, but seeing its main gate still stirred something in me.

‘Then again, I've spent more time away from the Academy than attending it.’

Nothing about the Academy's facilities had changed.

The mood among the students, though, was different from usual.

With the upcoming annual evaluation, the students were training fiercely.

Perhaps because he knew that, Ilmyeong looked at them with pity in his eyes.

“They must all be very anxious because of the annual evaluation.”

That was rather unexpected.

“Were you anxious about the annual evaluation too, Senior Ilmyeong?”

The name Ilmyeong had been famous even before he began his activities in the martial world.

It felt strange to think that someone like him had also feared the annual evaluation...

But his answer differed from what I expected.

“No. I've simply watched everyone suffer those anxious feelings every year.”

Ilmyeong wore the smile of a Buddha who had already transcended worldly troubles.

“...”

Ah, he was somehow irritating.

It was only natural for geniuses to invite jealousy and resentment.

Look at him. He was annoying even when he was just standing there.

Ilmyeong looked around once, then continued.

“Even so, seeing classmates who have shared hardship and joy for a year return to their hometowns is not pleasant.”

Some people said the Academy's rules were too harsh.

They argued that there was no need to filter students by rank again within an Academy that was already difficult to enter.

Yet the Martial Alliance's policy had never changed.

Only the finest talents, selected again and again, could hold authority.

The cold principle that only those capable of bearing the weight of responsibility could bear responsibility for other people's lives had never changed.

‘Of course, it is rather contradictory when they were still thoroughly beaten by the Demonic Cult.’

As I recalled my previous life, Ilmyeong spoke to me with a somewhat bitter expression.

“Benefactor Sowoon, you hold the position of Academy Representative, do you not? Then it can't feel entirely pleasant.”

“What do you mean?”

“I attended the Academy alongside Yong Soa, so I did not feel everyone's expectations or the immense responsibility of being Academy Representative as strongly. Still, as Shaolin Temple's representative, I have come to understand the burden of a position that carries such great responsibility.”

“...”

He looked at my face once more and smiled softly.

“I would not even bring this up to someone else, since they would not understand even if I told them... but I feel that you already know.”

I did not answer.

As we walked toward the Academy Representative's office again, I heard murmurs around us.

“Isn't that Little Buddha over there?”

“The person on his back looks like the White-Handed Divine Maiden.”

“Did the Dragon-Phoenix Association come here?”

Even the Academy students who had been training with such focus that they would not have noticed the world collapsing forgot to wipe away their sweat as they watched us, stamping their feet in excitement.

They were already divine prodigies recognized in the martial world simply for entering the Academy, but even to them, the Dragon-Phoenix Association of the previous class was no different from heroes elevated to near-divine status.

I had thought the same.

“Amitabha.”

As if answering the people's cheers, Ilmyeong lightly pressed his palms together.

The Academy students watching from afar immediately pressed their palms together in return.

It was absurd to see such a spineless display of group behavior.

Why were those Daoist disciples suddenly putting their palms together? Did they have no pride?

Many people whispered from a distance, but none dared approach.

When we reached the building that held the Academy Representative's office...

“Academy Representative, you have returned... Gasp! The people behind you are...”

“Yes, these are the people who traveled with me...”

Before I could finish, the Academy student ran off while shouting loudly enough to shake the hallway.

“The Academy Representative has returned with the Dragon-Phoenix Association!”

Soon, people who had been working poured out and rushed toward us.

“Academy Representative!”

“Eldest Senior Brother!”

“Brother!”

All the familiar faces had come out to greet me at once.

Right, of course I would be overshadowed by the Dragon-Phoenix Association. Still, I had these people...

“Gasp! Senior Ilmyeong!”

“It's Senior Dang Seohui!”

Without the slightest hesitation, the Academy students who had been running toward me passed me by and surrounded Ilmyeong.

What? Can't you see me...

“Why have you come here, Seniors?! Please, have a seat!”

“This is crazy... Her cheek is so white and soft...!”

Though I stood right in front of them, the Academy students poked Dang Seohui's cheek and spoke to Ilmyeong as if I did not exist.

‘Ah, I'm fucking lonely.’

I wanted them all to just get lost.

“Did everything go well with the work you left for?”

I nodded as I savored the scent of Seven-Colored Flower Tea I had missed so dearly.

“Of course, of course. Who do you think I am?”

Eunho still looked at me suspiciously, as though he did not trust me.

“I heard rumors are spreading through the Black Path martial world that the Black Flame Dragon is the Black Alliance's true divine prodigy... What stupid thing did you do this time... no, what did you do out there?”

“...Have their fabrications and propaganda not been going on for a day or two? If you believe everything you hear, then the rumor that I am the Black Path martial world's Joint Successor must be true too.”

“...”

Eunho stared at me silently for a moment.

I ignored his gaze as naturally as I could.

“I heard the Black Flame Dragon's epithet has changed to Black Maitreya... That is fabricated too, right?”

Pfft.

For a moment, I stared blankly at the fragrant Seven-Colored Flower Tea I had involuntarily spat out.

“Black... Maitreya?”

“Yes. They say every time a disciple of the Taeul Sect used the Mind-Reading Art, the Black Path martial artists bowed their heads on their own?”

Crazy bastards, crazy bastards, crazy bastards.

As expected of the Black Path, even when they came up with an epithet, they did it with malicious intent.

They had given me an epithet that would make every Buddhist sect rooted in the martial world lose their minds if they heard it.

They were subtly trying to screw me over...

Wait, could Dam Ak have used a scheme to kill with a borrowed knife?

“Anyway, as soon as Senior Sister Hong heard that, she entered closed-door training, saying she would break Eldest Senior Brother's legs.”

Perhaps he remembered Saryeon's face just before she entered closed-door training, because Eunho shuddered for a moment.

What was that... Why were you making me nervous?

“You should probably prepare yourself.”

“...”

It was praiseworthy that she had entered closed-door training of her own accord, but her reason was to break the legs of her revered eldest senior brother.

Hm... I could not decide whether I should be pleased or not.

After pressing down on my throbbing head for a while, I changed the subject.

The more I thought about it, the more my head would hurt.

“By the way, why is that thing here?”

In one corner of the office, Yayul Geuk was glaring sharply at me.

“Do you think I came here because I wanted to?!”

“...”

That bastard still acted like that whenever he saw me.

“I'm asking why you're here. You're not even part of the representative corps...”

“I am part of the representative corps.”

“What?”

That rebellious bastard had joined the representative corps.