WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 306: The Black Flame Dragon, Sacred One of the Dark Path (4)
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After the Wang Family Estate and Jin Sowoon joined them, the Great Heaven Merchant Group’s journey became far more comfortable.
The Wang Family Estate’s servants prepared every meal with fresh ingredients, while martial artists far more skilled than the Great Heaven Merchant Group’s guards took turns standing watch.
And with Jin Sowoon, the Martial Arts Academy’s top student, accompanying them, the journey could hardly have been safer.
‘...Should I be happy about this or worried?’
Yet the reason Go Jungtak’s face remained clouded throughout the journey was precisely because Jin Sowoon and the Wang Family Estate’s carriages had joined them.
‘No matter what, if he crushes Black Path sects like that...’
At first, Go Jungtak could not shake the worry after watching Jin Sowoon lead Sangmun Sect’s Black Path martial artists back to their own sect and attack it.
Jin Sowoon might have been the Martial Arts Academy’s top student, but it was still a Black Path sect.
From Go Jungtak’s perspective, entering alone into a den occupied by dozens, perhaps hundreds, of people hardened in the Black Path martial world was madness.
When Go Jungtak suggested they go save him to Wang Soso, who was practically in charge of the Wang Family Estate, she only widened her eyes.
“What? Brother Jin? Why?”
She was utterly certain Jin Sowoon would return safely.
Instead, Go Jungtak was the one who looked strange for worrying.
But...
‘He really came back unharmed.’
He had done more than return unharmed. Jin Sowoon said he had even received a promise from Sangmun Sect that they would protect the merchant group from then on without collecting protection-transit fees.
Go Jungtak had been wondering what sort of trick Jin Sowoon had pulled to secure such a promise when...
Bang!
“Where’s the Great Heaven Merchant Group?”
A second group of Black Path martial artists came looking for the Great Heaven Merchant Group’s carriages.
Pow, pow, pow, pow!
Once again, Black Path teeth flew out like corn kernels.
“Take me to your sect leader.”
...The exact same thing that had happened with Sangmun Sect repeated itself.
Go Jungtak was horrified.
The Black Axe Sect Jin Sowoon had provoked this time commanded a force twice as large as Sangmun Sect’s.
The Black Axe Seven Hounds, who had founded the Black Axe Sect, were dangerous figures infamous not only in Hebei but even in Anhui Province.
Unlike the relaxed Wang Soso, Go Jungtak followed Jin Sowoon to the Black Axe Sect, worried that the merchant group leader’s eldest son might suffer some misfortune.
Then...
Huh?
Boom!
Pow, pow, pow!
Thud! Thud!
Go Jungtak’s expression gradually became that of someone who had seen through the ways of the world.
‘I worried for nothing.’
What was this supposed to be? It felt like watching a bear invade a beehive.
The bees risked their lives to sting the bear, but the bear was too busy stuffing itself with their precious honey.
As though the stings were not even an annoyance.
‘Still, to be this strong...’
Go Jungtak had never learned martial arts, but working for escort agencies and merchant groups had allowed them to meet many martial artists.
Go Jungtak had thought their abilities were already well beyond ordinary, yet Jin Sowoon...
‘Is he really human...?’
Not a single one among the nearly a hundred Black Path martial artists, the sort who would have made Go Jungtak piss his pants on sight during a trade journey, remained standing.
Then Jin Sowoon wrapped an arm around the sect leader’s neck and began threatening him about something.
“...”
...Go Jungtak did not particularly want to know what the threat was.
At least no one from the merchant group had been hurt, which was a tremendous relief.
Go Jungtak thought that would be the end of it.
The Black Path sects ahead would command even larger forces.
Surely Jin Sowoon would not continue stepping in so easily.
But...
Bang!
“Where’s the Great Heaven Merchant Group?”
Smack!
“Take me to your leader.”
P-please stop...!
Go Jungtak’s silent plea went unheard.
Whenever someone came to collect a protection transit fee, Jin Sowoon headed out and returned only after a Black Path sect had been crushed.
Before they entered Anhui Province, seven Black Path sects had been destroyed.
At that point, another concern began creeping into Go Jungtak’s mind.
“Is... is it really all right to leave this alone, Miss?”
Wang Soso tilted her head at Go Jungtak’s question.
“Hm? What is?”
“Young Master Jin keeps coming into conflict with Black Path martial artists. I’m worried whether it’ll be all right.”
“Hmm... Didn’t Brother Jin say he had become friends with them? I think things are going rather well.”
“...”
“And didn’t they say that Black Path sects would protect us in the future, even without us paying protection transit fees?”
“That’s what worries me.”
Why were they called Black Path martial artists?
They ignored established common sense and rules whenever they pleased. They did not care what others thought and lived however they wanted.
To them, promises were things that could be broken whenever they pleased.
They might be bowing their heads now, only to seek revenge later. If enough dissatisfied people gathered, they might even attack as a group.
“Hmm...”
“This isn’t the time to sit here absentmindedly worrying about it...”
After listening to Go Jungtak’s concerns, Wang Soso thought for a moment before speaking.
“Brother Jin must have something in mind.”
“...What?”
He had something in mind?
Had he not simply charged in, beaten them into a pulp, and returned?
There had not seemed to be any deep scheme or careful thought behind that series of events...
“You think he acts without thinking.”
“...”
Go Jungtak could not hide their awkward expression at Wang Soso’s strange smile.
Her smile faded as she asked another question.
“Brother Jin... reached his current position as a disciple of Taeul Sect. Do you know what that means?”
Taeul Sect had struggled to eat even two meals a day and had to stay in the Gyerong Merchant Group’s good graces.
A disciple without any martial talent from such a third-rate sect had entered the Martial Arts Academy through his own efforts. Go Jungtak had thought that alone was impressive.
But Wang Soso shook her head.
“That isn’t all. Brother Jin established the Great Heaven Merchant Group, and he also recovered Taeul Sect’s lost secret teachings. He did all of that himself.”
Go Jungtak’s mouth fell open.
It was difficult to believe that one person had accomplished all of that.
Wang Soso nodded as though such a reaction was only natural.
“It’s hard to believe, but it’s true.”
“...Huh.”
“There has never been a time when Brother Jin’s actions lacked purpose. I’m sure he has his reasons for what he’s doing now as well.”
After hearing Wang Soso’s words, Go Jungtak saw Jin Sowoon differently.
Did he truly harbor some deep intention that Go Jungtak did not know about?
Go Jungtak looked toward Jin Sowoon, who was enjoying daytime drinks with the martial artists at another table.
Even while drinking, Jin Sowoon kept watching the inn entrance.
“Why are the Black Path bastards around here so slow? Can they even make a living like this?”
A martial artist beside him asked, “Wouldn’t it be better if we passed through without any trouble?”
“What are you talking about? What about all the money they took from us? What about when I’m not around in the future?”
After snapping at him, Jin Sowoon ran his tongue over his lips.
“Ah, I hope the ones coming this time have saved up plenty of money. The last bastards wasted so much that they were completely broke...”
Go Jungtak tilted their head.
Did he really have some deep plan that Go Jungtak did not know about?
He just looked like a thug trying to extort money...
Bang!
Go Jungtak’s thoughts went no further.
“Where’s the Great Heaven Merchant Group?”
...Jin Sowoon’s next prey had entered the inn.
“They’re finally here!!!”
For some reason, Jin Sowoon’s excited voice rang loudly through the inn.
#
Friend.
A word for someone you have kept close and spent a long time with.
Father used to tell me to make many friends when I was young.
He said any friend might help me someday.
I had not followed Father’s advice in my previous life.
But in this new life, I was diligently putting it into practice.
“We’re friends, right?”
When I asked, the new friend I had made quickly nodded.
“R-right! Aren’t we friends?”
This friend was known by the epithet Venom Fang Sword. He looked fierce, but he had a warm heart.
He even shared all the income he had earned with me.
Where else could I find such a warm friend in this world?
“I look forward to working with you.”
“D-don’t worry. It’s a merchant group run by you, Jin Sowoon, so of course I’ll protect it. Cough! I-I have a firm grip on this entire area, so don’t worry!”
My friend boastfully thumped his chest.
It would have been nice if he had opened his heart before his eyes had swollen black.
Watching him made my heart ache for no reason.
In any case, Father had been right.
Making lots of friends brought lots of help.
I decided I should make even more friends in the future.
Just as I finished catching up with my friend and was about to leave his sect...
Crunch, crunch.
“...?”
A group of men shoved open the half-destroyed gate and poured inside.
Then, wearing fierce expressions, they all drew their sabers.
“Venom Fang Sword, accept my blade at once!”
“How dare you lay your hands on our Jeondeung Inn... Huh?”
The martial artists had stormed into Venom Fang Sect with the murderous air of people ready to go to war.
But soon...
They stared blankly at the broken furnishings scattered everywhere and the injured Venom Fang Sect disciples lying on the ground.
“W-what is this...?”
“Did some of our people arrive before us?”
“Hall Master, we only just arrived.”
While the intruders were too flustered to speak, Venom Fang Sword gritted his teeth and sprang to his feet.
“You despicable Jeondeung Sect bastards. Of all times...”
He was in the middle of cursing when his eyes met mine, and he clamped his mouth shut.
What was going on here?
Perhaps they had roughly grasped the situation by then, because the Jeondeung Sect members raised their sabers triumphantly.
“Venom Fang Sword! Today, we’ll settle this once and for all!”
“Grr, Deung Gohyeon! Can you still call yourselves a White Path sect after doing this?”
“I told you clearly. One day, justice would judge you. Today is that day!”
From the look of things, Venom Fang Sect and Jeondeung Sect seemed to be rivals in this area.
They had probably happened to attack while I was visiting Venom Fang Sect.
But...
‘That’s strange.’
I had never heard of a White Path sect called Jeondeung Sect.
Was this another problem related to the Black Alliance?
“Jeondeung Sect was founded by a disciple of Fenghyang Sect, Qingcheng Sect’s affiliated lay martial sect. They sell Qingcheng Sect’s name while committing the same evil deeds we do.”
That was what Venom Fang Sword, a notorious Black Path martial artist, told me.
So they were the lay disciples of a disciple from Qingcheng Sect’s affiliated lay martial sect?
At this point, even mentioning Qingcheng Sect’s name would probably be embarrassing.
In fact, every member of Jeondeung Sect used a saber.
“So...”
At that moment, Venom Fang Sword cautiously spoke to me.
“Could you help us...? W-we’re friends, aren’t we?”
I could not hide my deep disappointment at Venom Fang Sword’s words.
“Asking a friend for something unreasonable makes you a terrible person. You don’t qualify as a friend, tsk. Should I just wipe you out?”
“W-what are you saying?”
“Hey, I’m a disciple of a White Path sect. What if I join you and fight disciples of a White Path martial sect? Do you know how much trouble that would cause?”
“...”
“Besides, a friend who can’t even handle his own affairs isn’t worth having. Hmm... Yes, it would be better to get rid of you.”
“W-wait! Wait!”
Venom Fang Sword glared fiercely.
“Our Venom Fang Sect isn’t that weak. Even in our current state, we can still fight!”
“Oh... Really?”
I turned back from where I had been headed and sat down on a bench.
To be honest, I was curious which side would win.
Once I sat down, Venom Fang Sect drew in a breath as though they had gained an army of a thousand soldiers.
“All Venom Fang Sect disciples, gather!”
The thunderous shout echoed throughout Venom Fang Sect.
At least not many of them had broken arms or legs, which was fortunate.
Venom Fang Sect also had far more people, and even excluding those too injured to fight, they still outnumbered Jeondeung Sect.
No, but what gave these Jeondeung Sect bastards the nerve to attack in the first place?
They did not even look that strong.
“Who is that?”
Deung Gohyeon pointed at me, but Venom Fang Sword growled, “That is none of your concern.”
Deung Gohyeon then warned me, “If you interfere carelessly, I will never forgive you.”
I readily nodded and waved a hand.
The battle between the two groups began.
“Uaaah!”
“Attack!”
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
As I expected, Venom Fang Sect and Jeondeung Sect were about evenly matched.
No, to be honest, Venom Fang Sect seemed a little better.
They had better adaptability overall.
They also had more nerve.
True to the textbook style of a White Path sect, Jeondeung Sect tried to avoid even minor injuries while only wounding their opponents. Venom Fang Sect, on the other hand, ignored small wounds and, with macho bravado, charged in while targeting nothing but their opponents’ throats.
Venom Fang Sect should have been able to win, but the two forces remained evenly matched.
‘Their injuries must be deeper than I thought.’
Come on, I had not even hit them that hard.
During the battle, Venom Fang Sword shot me a resentful look.
But no matter how he looked at me, there was nothing I could do for him.
What could I do now?
As Venom Fang Sect gradually began to lose ground, Jeondeung Sect grew bolder.
“Attack! Today, we’ll erase Venom Fang Sect from this world!”
“Uwaaaah!”
Jeondeung Sect’s sabers grew sharper as their momentum rose, and Venom Fang Sect’s members, forced onto the defensive, began slowly retreating.
At that moment, Venom Fang Sword seemed to make up his mind. He took a red pellet from his robes and swallowed it.
‘Huh? That’s...?’
Then Venom Fang Sect’s second- and third-in-command also swallowed red pellets.
Soon, every member of Venom Fang Sect began taking pellets one after another.
“Urgh... Urgh... Uaaah!”
Venom Fang Sword, who had been retreating while avoiding the attacks of three Jeondeung Sect martial artists, suddenly released an enormous wave of qi and sent all three flying more than thirty feet away.
“Huff... Huff... Huff...”
White vapor poured from his mouth with every deep breath.
His face had turned bright red, while his eyes gleamed an even deeper crimson.
Ah, fuck. That was...
‘Bloodburst Pellet.’
It was the same thing Gye Cheolyeong had used during the examination.
The balance between the two already evenly matched forces began rapidly tipping.
Drunk on the Bloodburst Pellet’s power, Venom Fang Sect’s disciples pressed Jeondeung Sect back.
“Aaargh!”
For the first time, someone from Jeondeung Sect suffered a serious wound and collapsed.
“Gah!”
“W-what is this...?!”
One after another, Jeondeung Sect’s martial artists began falling.
Just as I was about to step in to stop them, thinking all of Jeondeung Sect’s martial artists might die at this rate...
“Jeondeung Sect shall live forever!”
What was this now?
This time, a Jeondeung Sect disciple swallowed a pellet held in their hand.
Other Jeondeung Sect disciples followed and began taking pellets as well, and enormous waves of qi spread outward.
Boom, boom, boom!
‘You guys have Bloodburst Pellets too?’
...Fuck, how had a martial world fight turned into a battle between drug addicts?
While I could only lament...
The battle became even again.
Perhaps because both sides were anxious to finish before a hundred exchanges had passed, they began forcing attacks through while accepting injuries, and the battle became increasingly brutal.
‘What a mess.’
Bloodburst Pellets were useful when fighting an opponent of similar skill, provided that opponent had not taken one.
In a situation like this, they only led to mutual destruction.
Both sides seemed to know it. As they approached one hundred exchanges, everyone’s movements gradually slowed.
“Huff! Huff! Huff!”
“...D-damn it, what do we do?”
It was an extreme standoff as both sides watched each other.
They could neither keep fighting nor stop after coming this far.
A brief silence hung between the two forces.
Then an enormous wave of qi erupted from among Jeondeung Sect’s martial artists.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
The source of that qi was none other than Deung Gohyeon.
Fifty exchanges had already passed since he took the Bloodburst Pellet, yet his martial robes were still swollen as though they would burst, and his hair stood suspended in the air from the explosive wave of qi.
“I’ll... I’ll kill you all!!!”
“H-Hall Master! If you continue any further...!”
One of Jeondeung Sect’s disciples hurriedly tried to stop him, but Deung Gohyeon answered by swinging his saber.
Slash!
The disciple’s neck was severed, and a fountain of blood burst forth.
“W-what...?”
As Jeondeung Sect’s disciples froze at the sudden turn of events...
Deung Gohyeon rushed toward Venom Fang Sect’s disciples like lightning.
Slaaash!
Blood sprayed as the heads of three Venom Fang Sect disciples rolled across the ground.
He had severed not one, but three heads with a single strike.
“Uhahaha!”
Perhaps impressed by that one stroke, Deung Gohyeon began swinging his saber again.
His movements were merciless.
Venom Fang Sect’s disciples desperately tried to block him, but for some reason, there was now an enormous gap between their abilities and his.
Shiiing!
Slash! Slash! Slash!
The speed at which he swung his saber was extraordinary.
He even cut through blades wreathed in sword qi before severing Venom Fang Sect disciples’ necks.
Venom Fang Sect’s disciples, overwhelmed by terror, abandoned any attempt to resist and began fleeing.
But...
“W-where do you think you’re going! Today, I’ll eradicate Venom Fang Sect down to its very roots!”
Bang!
When Deung Gohyeon, consumed by murderous fury, kicked off the ground, the earth split open and blasted sand in every direction.
His footwork was a mess, yet his speed was insanely fast, fast enough to block the path of Venom Fang Sect disciples who had fled first.
‘...Can a Bloodburst Pellet really do this much?’
No matter how powerful a Bloodburst Pellet was, there was a limit to how much potential it could draw out from a person.
Did Deung Gohyeon not look as though he had gone far beyond that limit?
Besides, had he not just killed a disciple of his own sect first?
Like someone defying the laws of the world...
Thump, thump.
At that moment, the Red Phoenix Bangle trembled against my body.
I raised my head and met Deung Gohyeon’s eyes.
“...!”
Goosebumps rose all over my skin.
His eyes had turned completely black, like obsidian.
‘Demonic martial arts...’
Those damned eyes stared at me as though I were prey.
Footnotes:
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