WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 309: The Spark of Malice (2)
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After O Ilsik died, the Jeondeung Sect disciples' attitudes changed a little.
The ones who had mindlessly shouted about charging forward began holding back, focusing on their own pain and tending to themselves.
“Argh!”
“My arm!”
“M-My leg! My leg!”
Their screams were far better than listening to that fucking slogan.
Of course, it didn't end there.
Once they came to their senses, they realized that I had killed O Ilsik and grew even more furious.
“Aren't you a White Path martial artist too? How can a fellow White Path martial artist side with Black Path martial artists and commit murder?!”
“We will never overlook this! We will report you and your sect to the Qingcheng Sect and the Martial Alliance...!”
Some threatened to report me, while others swore revenge against the Taeul Sect.
What a complete mess.
I answered lightly.
“Ah, do you all want to die right now?”
“...”
Gulp.
The Jeondeung Sect disciples stayed silent, but their bodies trembled faintly as they struggled to contain their anger.
Hmm. They still hadn't grasped the situation.
“Do you think this will just end here?”
“What... what do you mean by that?!”
“Your sect leader learned a forbidden art prohibited by the Martial Alliance. And all of you are suspected of learning that forbidden art.”
“What? W-What are you...?”
“D-Don't lie! Our sect leader wasn't that kind of person!”
“You're trying to frame him!”
At least the sect consisted of adults who aspired to become escort warriors.
Had it been a clan-like sect such as the Taeul Sect, where children and elderly people lived together, the scene would have been far more tragic.
I spoke coldly to those who couldn't face reality.
O Ilsik learning demonic martial arts wasn't their crime, but if I let them all go, there was no telling what greater disaster might come later.
“Well, an investigation will reveal the truth.”
Except for the severely wounded, I bound them all and headed for the Venom Fang Sect.
It was the only force of any size in the Hwangcheon County area.
I had the Venom Fang Sword's subordinates buy fetters and binding ropes, then drove iron stakes into the house the Jeondeung Sect disciples had used as lodgings. After fastening the fetters to them, I turned the place into a makeshift prison.
It was crude, but it should hold for several days.
I loosened my stiff shoulders as I looked at the Venom Fang Sect disciples lined up on either side.
“The Martial Alliance will send an investigation team. If even one person dies before they take custody of them, all of you...”
The Venom Fang Sword swallowed so loudly it sounded like thunder.
“...will die by my hand.”
“Y-Yes!”
He didn't need to bow all the way to the waist, though...
Why had he been so respectful since earlier?
In any case, it appeared that only O Ilsik and Deung Gohyeon, his most devoted follower, had learned demonic martial arts.
O Ilsik had probably known better than anyone that it was a suspicious martial art, so he couldn't have easily passed it on to others.
They knew that demonic martial arts were a grave crime punishable by execution or even extermination of an entire clan. They wouldn't have casually passed them on to anyone else.
‘Besides, even Deung Gohyeon probably didn't realize he was learning demonic martial arts.’
That said, the Jeondeung Sect disciples couldn't be cleared of suspicion.
Like Deung Gohyeon, they might have learned it without realizing...
Well, the Martial Alliance's Inspectorate and Enforcement Hall could decide that themselves.
I handed the Venom Fang Sword a bill of exchange.
“Use this to cover their food until the Martial Alliance arrives, and repair the damaged facilities too.”
The Venom Fang Sword accepted the bill of exchange with gratitude in his eyes.
“...Young Master...”
“Don't feel burdened, just take it...”
“This is only worth one hundred silver taels.”
“...”
“There are over eighty Jeondeung Sect disciples alone...”
What?
I had bought ten bottles of Bamboo Leaf Liquor, fried pork, and even candied snacks with one silver tael. A hundred taels should be enough.
No, wouldn't there even be enough left over to build a pavilion?
#
When word spread that Jin Sowoon, who had gone to the Venom Fang Sect the previous night, had also stormed the Jeondeung Sect, the people of the Great Heaven Merchant Group and the Wang Family Estate were dumbfounded.
It would have been one thing if it had ended there.
Then they heard that the Jeondeung Sect was a sect that claimed to follow the White Path and had even formed a loose connection with the Qingcheng Sect.
Clatter.
...In the end, they dropped the spoons they were holding.
“No!!! Young Master!!! Weren't you only going to get the money back?! You stormed a White Path sect?!”
“Ah, there were circumstances. Don't worry. Even the sect leader's death can be handled without any trouble...”
“Whaaaat?! Y-You killed the sect leader?!”
“Ah... You didn't know that?”
When Jin Sowoon scratched his head awkwardly, Go Jungtak was so shocked that he fainted.
Even Wang Soso's relaxed expression turned grave.
“Brother. Even if they aren't affiliated with the Martial Alliance, there will be trouble if they are a sect that claims to follow the White Path.”
“Don't worry. I can resolve it.”
“...”
The merchant group's procession leaving Hwangcheon County carried one additional coffin.
At first, everyone in the merchant group was horrified to hear they had to transport a coffin. Once they learned that leaving it behind would prevent the Jeondeung Sect matter from being resolved, though, they tightly shut their mouths.
After entering Hefei in Anhui Province, Jin Sowoon carried the coffin to the Martial Alliance's Hefei Branch.
News that Jin Sowoon had killed the Jeondeung Sect leader had spread by then, causing a brief disturbance.
“Academy student Jin Sowoon. You must provide a reasonable explanation for this matter. Even as an Academy student, invading a White Path sect and killing its sect leader is a serious crime.”
Under strict scrutiny, Jin Sowoon presented Deung Gohyeon's corpse.
“Urgh!”
“W-Why bring this here?!”
“Fuck! Open the window!”
The weather had warmed considerably, and the unpreserved corpse gave off a stench sharp enough to sting the nose.
As if he were used to such smells, Jin Sowoon reported calmly.
“This incident occurred while I was investigating this.”
“What do you mean, this?!”
At the deputy branch head's shout, Jin Sowoon pointed at Deung Gohyeon's eyes.
The people who had been covering their noses and frowning followed Jin Sowoon's finger with their gazes...
“...?!”
One by one, they widened their eyes in shock and lowered their hands from their noses.
“What kind of sorcery is this?”
“Did someone spill ink on them?”
“No, they're far too black for that...”
Those unnatural eyes instantly made them understand this was no ordinary matter, and Jin Sowoon was cleared of suspicion on the spot.
He added a detailed explanation.
“The only unusual physical change was in his eyes. But he moved as though he felt no pain, exceeding the limits of his body.”
“Exceeding the limits of his body?”
“He didn't even notice when his ankle broke. He kicked off the ground and charged at me.”
“...”
It was behavior rarely seen from a normal martial artist.
Those who knew the limits of internal energy and the human body better than anyone would never do something so reckless.
The branch members didn't say it aloud, but those few clues were enough for them to sense that this was connected to a forbidden art.
Their attitude toward Jin Sowoon changed immediately.
“As expected, the top student of the Martial Arts Academy is different.”
“A disciple of the renowned Taeul Sect truly is different.”
“Of course. I always knew Taeul Sect, Hefei's pride, would produce such an outstanding figure one day.”
“Is the Taeul Sect leader doing well?”
Because the Academy's top student had reported it personally, nothing could be omitted along the way.
The report on this incident would also affect the alliance members' performance reviews.
Knowing that well, Jin Sowoon said nothing more.
The Martial Alliance's Hefei Branch made the unusual decision to announce its suspicions about the Jeondeung Sect before conducting an investigation.
The charge was that they had used dark arts to cause disorder in the wider world.
The Hefei Branch members rushed to Hwangcheon County first, while the Martial Alliance's executive office also dispatched investigators.
While the White Path martial world was thrown into an uproar over the Jeondeung Sect investigation, a strange rumor began spreading through the Black Path martial world, centered on Hwangcheon County.
“I hear the Black Flame Dragon is actually the Joint Successor of the Black Path masters.”
“Hahahaha! You idiot, you actually believe that nonsense?!”
“Huh! It's true! A sect called the Venom Fang Sect in Hwangcheon County was in danger after the Jeondeung Sect attacked it. Then the Black Flame Dragon went alone to the Jeondeung Sect and wiped them out!”
Naturally, no one readily believed such a ridiculous rumor.
Jin Sowoon came from the Taeul Sect, one of the Martial Alliance's One Hundred Eight Peaks, and he was also the top student of the Martial Arts Academy.
Once someone gained Academy student status, their rise within the Martial Alliance was guaranteed. Every student's background was investigated in detail.
The Academy itself was a place that people with shady pasts couldn't enter.
At first, people thought it was just a joke made by Black Path martial artists who enjoyed mocking White Path people. Yet the rumors going around this time were far too specific and clear to be mere jokes, so they continued spreading and multiplying.
After all, it was true that the Jeondeung Sect had suffered damage close to destruction.
“They say he locked up every Jeondeung Sect disciple in the Venom Fang Sect and tortured them mercilessly.”
“I heard he even killed the Jeondeung Sect leader!”
“Huh, impressive... No, but why is the Martial Alliance doing nothing? Those hypocritical bastards hunt the Black Path like rats whenever anything happens to a White Path sect, even if it isn't an allied sect.”
“Why do you think he's called the Black Flame Dragon? He must have plotted something from the inside.”
“That's right! I hear he framed the Jeondeung Sect for using dark arts and had them listed as a target for extermination. He's no ordinary man!”
As the Martial Alliance's response seemed to align with the baseless rumors, Black Path martial artists began believing them one by one.
“They say he toured all of Henan Province and inspected every Black Path sect.”
“I hear he called every Black Path martial artist he met his friend!”
“From what I heard, when he was with the Black Alliance, he caught up with Elder Blood Brawl after a long time apart.”
“Then did he learn martial arts from Elder Blood Brawl too?”
“That's not all! They say Elder Blood Brawl accepted him as his only disciple!”
The rumor that had begun as a tiny snowball continued growing.
“The Black Flame Dragon's prestige is truly astounding!”
“As expected of the Black Path martial world's Joint Successor and Black Maitreya!”
...The rumor began in Henan Province and Anhui Province, then gradually spread throughout the realm.
Of course, Jin Sowoon, the subject of the rumors, knew nothing about it.
#
After finishing my business at the Martial Alliance branch, I headed straight for the black market outlet.
“Oh! Young Master, welcome.”
The black market outlet owner, whom I had never seen before, recognized me without even checking my Black Token.
“You did this last time too. How do you even recognize me?”
“Haha, we can't fail to recognize an honored guest. Naturally, we know all about your appearance. And there's this as well.”
“Hm?”
The black market outlet owner pulled out a small hanging scroll.
It depicted a man wearing white silk clothes decorated with elaborate patterns embroidered in gold thread.
Across his chest, in letters as large as a gate, was the phrase, “Top Student.”
My hands trembled.
“W-Where did you get this?”
That damned Eunho and the cursed picture he made...
“Ah! You didn't know? After you entered the Academy as its top student, many parents bought it as a charm to pray for their own children's success. It has become widely distributed.”
What kind of bullshit was that?!
Why were they using someone else's embarrassing past as a charm...?!
“This may be a little rude to say, but people see a Taeul Sect disciple entering the Academy as its top student as something like Diligence of Fireflies and Snow:[1] whenever a household has someone taking an examination or something similar, they always hang this scroll... Huh?”
Before I could think rationally, my body moved on its own and tore the scroll to shreds.
Only after that embarrassing picture was reduced to scraps did I realize that the scroll belonged to the black market outlet owner.
“Ah, I-I'm sorry.”
“...It's all right.”
Swish.
“I have another one.”
The black market outlet owner smiled brightly and produced another hanging scroll.
“...”
I almost reached for it again but stopped myself.
...There were probably more identical scrolls somewhere.
Hah, fuck.
The owner carefully rolled up the scroll and put it away somewhere safe, then looked at me.
“What can I help you with today?”
I collected myself and explained why I had come to the Hao Sect.
“I need to meet Hall Master Yang Gunbaek.”
“...”
The owner's face, which had been full of smiles until then, stiffened.
“What is this concerning?”
“The Jeondeung Sect.”
“...The dark arts?”
“That's how it's being presented on the surface.”
The owner tilted their head as though they didn't understand.
I looked directly into their eyes and added, “I handed over a corpse last time. Tell him it concerns that, and he will understand.”
#
The Martial Alliance said they would investigate, but they probably wouldn't conduct a proper one.
They were more sincere than anyone about sweeping away demons and eliminating evil, yet paradoxically, they viewed the Demonic Cult as little more than an imaginary goblin.
As the Hefei Branch members had already shown, once they began jockeying for political credit, the truth would become even more obscured.
I had to begin investigating before the traces disappeared.
‘There may be a bigger problem...’
It looked like I needed to prepare sooner than planned.
If the Demonic Cult had already been operating secretly within the White Path martial world before the Orthodox-Demonic War began, every plan I had prepared so far would become useless.
That was why I had left out the Bloodburst Pellet when reporting to the Martial Alliance.
I still wasn't certain whether the Bloodburst Pellet drew out a demonic being's demonic qi. If word of it spread and reached the Demonic Cult's ears, it might create another variable.
“Phew... Keeping peace in the martial world is really difficult.”
“What did you say, you brat?!”
“I said keeping peace in the martial world is difficult.”
“You little bastard! Keep your hand raised properly!”
I raised my hand high again.
No, honestly, what had I done wrong?
I had saved the Great Heaven Merchant Group's protection transit fee and made sure they would receive protection during future trade trips.
Shouldn't I be praised for this instead?
“Good grief! That, that brat!”
Unable to control his anger, Father was about to throw an inkstone when Lord Wang quickly stepped in to stop him.
“Enough. He did all this for the Great Heaven Merchant Group, did he not?”
“If that brat hasn't truly become a Black Path martial artist, then why is he storming into innocent White Path sects and stirring up trouble?!”
“Ah, didn't you say they had learned dark arts? Then he did what had to be done.”
“As expected of Lord Wang...”
“Jin Sowoon, shut the hell up! Hah, then why did that crazy bast... Why did that brat have to do it?!”
Who knew protecting peace in the martial world could be so lonely and isolating?
As I avoided Father's disapproving gaze, trained under Baek Haegwang at the Taeul Sect, and passed out every day, the Hao Sect contacted me again.
[1] Diligence of Fireflies and Snow: a Chinese idiom for persevering in study despite hardship, recalling scholars who read by firefly light in summer and reflected snowlight in winter.
Footnotes:
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