The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 30

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 30: The Second-Rate Martial Artist Seeking a Legend (2)

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The hall fell silent, as though cold water had been thrown over it.

Not only the hall lords, but even the elderly elders seemed ready to speak, only to lift their cold teacups to their lips, unsure what to do.

“...Outer Hall Lord.”

Sect Leader Hong broke the silence.

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Do we have any trustworthy miners and blacksmiths?”

After thinking for a moment, Father nodded.

“Heo Ilnam’s father has always supplied our Taeul Sect with weapons at low prices. I also heard that Geumpyo and his brothers’ father used to work as a miner.”

“Then, as quickly as possible...”

“I’ll verify it at once.”

“Good. After that, find an estate broker...”

“I’ll have us purchase Seokju Mountain immediately.”

Father answered each question before the Sect Leader could even finish asking it.

Yet Sect Leader Hong seemed dissatisfied even with that and looked steadily at me. Then, as though making up his mind, he spoke with a firm expression.

“Do we have the money to buy Seokju Mountain?”

“Seokju Mountain is a rocky mountain that has never had an owner. Even slash-and-burn farmers have never settled there because the land is too barren.”

“Then purchase Seokju Mountain first. Confirm the mine afterward.”

“Sect Leader!”

“Do it.”

Father looked between Sect Leader Hong and me before nodding.

“Understood.”

“Gwaehwa Hall Lord.”

“Yes.”

“Visit Geumpyo’s father and Heo Ilnam’s father, and request their cooperation.”

“Understood.”

“Move quickly. Remember, the fate of the sect may depend on this.”

“By your command!”

Father immediately went to the local government office to negotiate the purchase of Seokju Mountain.

Officials who normally demanded bribes whenever anyone bought or sold state property only asked what we intended to use Seokju Mountain for. They raised no objections.

Once Seokju Mountain fell into the Taeul Sect’s hands, Heo Ilnam’s father and Geumpyo and his brothers’ father promptly climbed the mountain and confirmed that it could support an iron ore mine.

They said such a thing was rare, but someone had dug deeply into the middle of the cliff, making it easy to inspect.

We had bought Seokju Mountain and found the mine, but we could not begin development at once.

Money was one issue, but the Taeul Sect had never possessed an asset as enormous as a mine and had no idea how to proceed.

More importantly, if anyone learned that Seokju Mountain held an iron ore mine, they might try to harm the Taeul Sect.

In the end, Sect Leader Hong and Father sought help from the Wang Family Estate.

“Ha ha ha! They say Heaven helps those who help themselves, and in the end, Heaven has bestowed such a great blessing upon you.”

“We’re ashamed.”

“I worried that the Gyerong Merchant Group’s conduct might shake the Taeul Sect. Still, this is my daughter’s sect.”

“I’m grateful for your words alone.”

“So, how may I help?”

“The Taeul Sect lacks the means to develop the mine on its own. If the Estate Lord helps us, we could not ask for more.”

“Ho ho. How can people who will soon own a great mine be so soft-hearted? Do you expect to earn great wealth by being swayed by sentiment? Let us do this. I will invest in the mine. I’ll develop it and bring in miners. In exchange, the Wang Family Estate will have exclusive rights to sell half of the iron ore produced by the mine for ten years.”

Jin Taesan was astonished. This was practically risk-free profit.

“Would that truly be acceptable? Wouldn’t Estate Lord Wang suffer a loss...?”

“I may lose a little at the beginning, but that is all part of the investment. I looked into it separately, and the iron from Seokju Mountain is high-quality black iron. The deposits are substantial enough that there will be no need to worry for fifty years. If we have exclusive rights to sell half of it, even at market prices, these terms will benefit the Wang Family Estate far more.”

When Jin Taesan had considered jointly developing the mine with the Wang Family Estate, he had expected to give up a portion of the profits.

But the terms Wang Geumsan offered were entirely favorable to the Taeul Sect while completely removing any concern over the initial capital.

“I heard that the Outer Hall Lord’s son discovered the mine.”

“It seems that brat was fortunate while wandering about.”

“Ho ho. It seems the Outer Hall Lord is the only one who does not know his son’s true worth.”

“You flatter him.”

“If you feel grateful toward me, tell Sowoon to visit Wang Residence Village sometime. Perhaps because of my mistake when we first met, he has not come despite my invitations. It has left me quite uncomfortable.”

Jin Taesan cursed his son inwardly. What did that brat think he was, refusing when a man like this was calling for him?

Even though he was his own son, Jin Taesan could not understand him.

* * *

“So you want me to visit Wang Residence Village?”

“Regardless, he offered the Taeul Sect excellent terms. Leaving aside offering thanks, as her senior brother, it is only proper for you to visit a junior disciple’s home and pay your respects.”

At Gang Chaeseok’s words, I narrowed my eyes.

“You’re not planning to sell me off to the Wang Family Estate, are you?”

“Ahem. Who said anything about selling you off...?”

“No, but you looked like you wanted to wrap me up nicely and hand me over to the Wang Family Estate.”

“Ahem. This is all for the Taeul Sect...”

“I’m not going.”

“What!”

“Why would I go there? Estate Lord Wang is investing for his own profit anyway.”

“No, but...”

“Then acknowledge that I’ve completed Gwaehwa Hall’s training.”

“What?”

“Then I’ll go pay my respects.”

“What kind of nonsense is that all of a sudden?”

“There’s something I need to do. I must act now to accomplish it, but I’d need another six months to complete Gwaehwa Hall’s training.”

Sect Leader Hong, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“What are you planning to do that you will not be able to do in six months?”

I could not be honest here. If I said I intended to lead my junior disciples as the Taeul Sect’s Head Disciple to take the regular examination, they would look at me as though I were insane, just as Saryeon had.

“I’m sorry. I can’t tell you yet.”

“This damned brat. How can we help when you’re doing something you can’t even speak of?”

“I’ll tell you when the time comes in six months.”

“Urgh.”

Gang Chaeseok shook his head and began emptying cup after cup of liquor.

“Is it important?”

“Yes. It is.”

“How important?”

“The Taeul Sect’s future depends on it.”

“Hack!”

“!”

Gang Chaeseok choked on his drink and burst into coughing. Father, who had silently been holding his cup, also widened his eyes at me.

Sect Leader Hong watched me closely, then looked at Jin Taesan.

“What do you think?”

“...He’s a rotten brat who doesn’t tell even his own father anything. I don’t know.”

Father pouted in a way that did not suit him, apparently feeling hurt.

“When you ask us to acknowledge that you completed Gwaehwa Hall’s training, do you mean you have already learned all its martial arts?”

“Yes.”

“...Hmm. Very well. Do as you wish.”

“!”

“Sect Leader!”

Sect Leader Hong continued calmly.

“Everything you have done until now has been for the Taeul Sect. I believe what you do next will be no different. You are doing what we should have done, so at the very least, I do not wish to break your wings.”

“...”

Gang Chaeseok and Father lowered their heads deeply. Sect Leader Hong smiled faintly and spoke.

“Still, make sure to pay your respects at the Wang Family Estate before you go.”

* * *

Father staggered along.

On the way back to our quarters after leaving Daehyeon Hall, Father’s gait resembled the footwork of the Drunken Fist. Unlike usual, he had drunk four bottles of the bamboo-salt clear liquor Sect Leader Hong had served.

“Get ahold of yourself, Father.”

“Let go, brat. This father of yours is perfectly fine.”

“Then walk straight.”

“Forget it. Are you going to throw this useless father away in the mountains if he can’t even walk on his own?”

“Why are you acting like this?”

“Brat, the worst child in the world is one who tells their parents nothing.”

“What’s the best child, then?”

“A child who comes and chatters away, telling their parents every last detail.”

“Then you should have had a daughter. Why did you have a son like me instead?”

“When Sect Leader Hong had a daughter, I wanted to switch you right then.”

“Honestly.”

I took the Seven-Colored Jewel from my robe.

Within the Taeul Sect, where only moonlight shone, its seven brilliant colors illuminated every direction.

Father, who had been showing off drunken footwork, stood as straight as a bamboo stalk.

“...W-What is that?!”

“I even prepared something like this to become the best child. But since I can’t be one anyway, I suppose I should trade it for some taffy.”

“Y-You were going to give that to me?”

Father looked as though he had sobered up at once.

“Forget it. I’ve already become an unfilial son. What’s the point of being filial now?”

Father suddenly cleared his throat and spoke.

“Did you know? Above the best child is a child sent by Heaven.”

“...”

“A child sent by Heaven brings their parents a jewel that shines with brilliant colors.”

As he spoke, Father took the Seven-Colored Jewel from my robe and held it before his eyes.

“Honestly.”

“I-Is this real?”

“I don’t know, since I can’t appraise jewels. But Namgung San said it could buy three palace-like estates, so it must be real.”

“N-Namgung San? Why would Namgung San give you this?”

“I actually made a bet with Senior Namgung San. I won and received this.”

“Ho ho...”

“Use seventy percent of the money from selling the jewel however you wish. With the remaining thirty percent, please buy up every landlocked plot around the Taeul Sect.”

Though I told him to spend it however he wished, that money would eventually flow back into the Taeul Sect.

That was the kind of life Father had always lived.

“Landlocked plots? Why?”

“Some of it should become fields for growing famine-relief crops, and we need space to set up Mechanism Formations. If we gain more disciples, we’ll need to expand the buildings too.”

“Mechanism Formations? Do you know how much those cost?”

Father tilted his head, as though he could not make sense of it all.

“If the mine provides money steadily, we can install Mechanism Formations as well. I happen to know someone skilled whose price is low.”

I said this while thinking of Jegal Cheongi, who should have been suffering in Golden Prison by now.

“If we set up Mechanism Formations, we can defend ourselves better against outside forces and build our strength upon that foundation. Isn’t that the foundation of a great sect?”

“...”

Father looked at me with eyes as complicated as the jewel casting seven-colored light.

“Let’s go, Father. This filial son sent by Heaven will offer Father a drink.”

“...Come to think of it, I saw you secretly drinking earlier.”

“What are you talking about? A filial son sent by Heaven doesn’t drink alcohol.”

“If only you would stop talking.”

* * *

Saryeon packed a large bundle and joined the group of Gyeonseong Envoys.

They would begin intensive training to bring themselves up to the level of those who entered the Martial Arts Academy through the regular examination before enrolling.

Everyone from the Taeul Sect came out to see Saryeon off.

After greeting the elders and hall lords first, Saryeon stood before Sect Leader Hong and his wife with tears shimmering in her eyes, as though she might cry at any moment. It seemed she was anxious about leaving her parents’ embrace for the first time.

“Do well. Once you reach the Martial Alliance, take good care of the disciples.”

Saryeon only nodded in reply.

Then the junior disciples rushed over in a crowd, surrounded Saryeon, and made a fuss over saying goodbye. Only after they finally quieted down did she stand before me.

“You really don’t regret this, right?”

Saryeon still looked full of guilt.

“The intensive training period is only six months. If you don’t want to fall behind those who enter through the regular examination, you’ll need to train yourself to the bone.”

“...If it seems too much, give up on the regular examination whenever you want. I’ll rise high enough to take care of every junior disciple, no matter what it takes.”

“Good. That resolve is enough.”

Even after I smiled at her, Saryeon stood before me for a long time, fidgeting with her fingers as though she still had something to say.

“We are departing.”

When Yi Jagon announced their departure, she finally joined the procession, looking lost.

She looked back several times.

After everyone from the Taeul Sect had gone inside, I remained outside for a while, waiting until the procession disappeared from view.

Then Geumpyo, Eunho, and Dongryong sidled up beside me.

“Senior Brother.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Please take us with you.”

“Hm? Where?”

“We heard you were taking the regular examination. We want to go with you.”