WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 314: The Late-Winter Knife Wind (2)
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A thick, bitter aroma wafted from the wooden box.
Ordinary... No, using the word ordinary for an elixir pellet was strange in itself, but still.
It was a scent one could not find in an ordinary elixir pellet.
I looked at Sama Jeong skeptically.
“Don't you like it?”
“What is this?”
“An elixir pellet that only you can take in the Taeul Sect.”
“...The smell, no, the fragrance smells like poison.”
I felt like Dang Seohui had used a poison with a similar scent before...
As I frowned, Sama Jeong nodded.
“It could be poison to an ordinary martial artist. It will reduce your internal energy somewhat if you take it.”
Huh? This man was dangerous. After everything I had gone through to gather all this internal energy...
“But once you take it, you'll never break a bone again.”
“My bones won't break?”
Sama Jeong raised an eyebrow.
“Have you heard of Vajra Honey?”
“Isn't that a weight-loss medicine?”
Vajra Honey was made by Cheonghwa bees that consumed the sap of centuries-old black ebony trees.
For some strange reason, anyone who consumed it lost weight rapidly, as though they had fallen ill.
Still, it only made them lose weight and caused no other problems, so it was widely used by women for cosmetic purposes.
Who wouldn't like losing weight without having to eat less?
Of course, it was classified as one of the rarest kinds of honey because one had to find a forest of centuries-old black ebony trees, then locate the Cheonghwa bees living within it.
Come to think of it, people also said Vajra Honey cleared up your skin or something.
In any case, it was hard to acquire and expensive, but it was not medicine martial artists would want to take.
It did nothing to increase internal energy and only made you lose weight.
Wouldn't that leave you looking utterly pathetic?
In the martial world, where appearance counted for at least seventy percent, no martial artist would go out of their way to obtain Vajra Honey.
“That is what happens when ordinary people take it. But do you know why they lose weight?”
As I listened in silence, Sama Jeong kept signaling to me with his eyes.
What? Did he want an answer?
“I don't.”
When I shrugged, Sama Jeong began explaining with a smug expression.
“When someone takes Vajra Honey, their bones absorb their vitality.”
My frown deepened.
Their bones absorbed vitality...? That was just poison.
“But do you know what happens when a martial artist takes Vajra Honey?”
Sama Jeong trailed off as if waiting for a reaction.
What was this man trying to do? He had kept asking me questions from the start.
I asked with a skeptical look.
“What happens?”
“Hohoho, don't be surprised.”
Sama Jeong spread both hands wide.
“The bones absorb only their internal energy, then become as hard as diamond.”
“...”
“I hear women who consumed Vajra Honey have never broken an arm or leg in their entire lives.”
Wasn't that because the rich women taking it had never had reason to break their arms or legs?
I felt as though I were listening to some swindling medicine seller peddling an elixir of immortality.
He hadn't seemed like this when I first met him...
“Well? Doesn't that make you want it? Don't you want to take it right away?”
Sama Jeong came close, his eyes glittering wildly.
What was wrong with him?
I took my hand off the wooden box and stepped back.
“I don't want to take it.”
“Hm? Why not?”
“What is the point of having hard bones? Where would I use that?”
“This friend! Think about it. Your internal energy is exhausted, and you've been driven into a desperate situation. Then! Even if your opponent tries to break your hand with a club, your hand won't break!”
“Martial artists use swords and sabers in the first place.”
“Ah, right. Hmm... Then perhaps your bones won't get cut either?”
Why did he make that last part so vague?
‘Perhaps they won't get cut?’
As my expression darkened further, Sama Jeong hurriedly continued.
“Then how about this? You're in a desperate situation. Your enemies are chasing you, and you've been driven to the edge of a cliff!”
“...”
“You must make a choice. Die at your enemies' hands, or fall from the cliff and die after breaking your bones.”
After pausing for a moment, Sama Jeong opened the wooden box with a decisive expression and held it before my eyes.
“But! In truth, you've taken spiritual medicine made from Vajra Honey! Then even if you leap from the cliff, you won't die from broken bones! You could have a fated encounter down there, recover, and have another chance for revenge!”
I'd waited to see how far he would take this, and now I was hearing complete madness.
No, I shouldn't get chased to the edge of a cliff in the first place. If a martial artist had to flee, the basics were to flee toward an escape route.
I sighed and asked quietly.
“...Tell me honestly. Is this medicine really safe?”
The excitement in Sama Jeong's eyes faded somewhat.
“...The truth is, I wanted to see a martial artist take it. The effects on women are well known, but I was curious whether it would have the same effect on a martial artist.”
“...”
Was this bastard trying to use me as a test subject?
Sama Jeong hurriedly waved both hands.
“Ah! But don't worry. Even if it has no effect, it won't have side effects. Of that, I'm absolutely certain!”
When I merely stared at him, he let out a small sigh and muttered.
“Still, even losing a small amount of internal energy would be a great loss to a martial artist. I'm sorry. Your dantian is so large that I became a little greedy...”
Then he forced out a smile.
“Don't worry. I'll make you a better elixir pellet in place of the one you gave up. Just wait until I gather the ingredients.”
Sama Jeong closed the wooden box, his shoulders drooping as he turned away.
I watched his reluctant retreating figure for a moment, then walked over and snatched the box from his hand.
“Hm? Don't tell me?”
He had already made it. It would be a waste.
If it really made bones harder, it might help the Taeul Sect's children too.
And above all else.
“You'd better keep your promise.”
There was always a chance I might have a fated encounter after falling off a cliff.
...It would be rather unfair if I broke my bones then.
Gulp.
The bitter elixir pellet scraped roughly down my throat.
#
After taking the elixir pellet, my whole body shivered for a while, as though I had the chills.
At the same time, I could feel the internal energy that should have been firmly rooted in my dantian gradually disappearing.
At first, I worried too much was draining away, but it wasn't as much as I'd expected.
About five years' worth?
That would have been an enormous amount in my previous life, but in this life, it didn't make much of a difference.
“And?”
“My muscles feel a little tight.”
With sparkling eyes, Sama Jeong questioned me about my condition one detail at a time.
He studied my expression, asked how I felt, and carefully wrote down every change in my body.
“Testing it on a martial artist is certainly convenient.”
Did this man just openly call it an experiment?
“Now, shall we proceed to the next experiment?”
“...”
Well, he wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.
Whether I was dumbfounded or not, Sama Jeong began stacking bricks he'd brought from somewhere.
Each platform rose to waist height, with enough space between them to rest a forearm.
“Place your arm here.”
“...”
“Hm? Why are you looking at me like that? Ah, I didn't explain myself clearly. My apologies. I want to test whether your bones have become harder.”
...I thought he was apologizing for the wrong thing, but whatever.
Still, I raised my arm as he instructed.
The situation annoyed me, but I was curious too.
If my bones became hard by absorbing internal energy, how hard would they become?
...The problem was that my body was the test subject.
Once I placed my arm atop the platforms, Sama Jeong brought over a long club.
It looked hard, polished smooth from use.
I looked up at him blankly.
“Do you have the strength to hit me?”
“I have some internal energy myself. Ah, right! Don't raise your internal energy. That would ruin the experiment.”
How much internal energy could a councilor possibly have?
I should have stopped thinking there.
Smack.
“...”
The hard club shattered, scattering powder everywhere.
It hurt so much that I couldn't even scream properly.
‘Ghk! What the fuck was that?!’
He had struck so hard that the two bricks supporting the platform crumbled apart.
I didn't need to look to know it was broken.
Just as my eyes widened, convinced my arm had definitely snapped...
Sama Jeong was smiling brightly.
“Look! Just as I thought, it didn't break!”
“...”
“This club was made from black ebony. They say it is stronger than most steel. Yet it shattered into pieces, while your bones are fine. See? I was right, wasn't I?”
I lowered my gaze to my arm with a vacant expression.
The skin had begun turning red from the powerful impact, but my bones were unharmed.
I clenched my fist, and I could still exert strength normally.
It hurt like hell, but Vajra Honey really did seem to have worked.
As I worried the bruise would be severe, Sama Jeong looked at my arm in slight surprise.
“W-wait a moment.”
Then he hurried into the councilor's office.
At least he seemed to be thinking of treating me.
My arm hadn't broken, but it was bleeding a little.
It was nothing serious to a martial artist, though ordinary people might see it as a fairly severe injury.
‘Tsk... He isn't a bad person at heart.’
The problem was that his obsession with medicine sometimes made him seem out of his mind.
Though could that really be called a problem?
Wasn't that kind of passion what allowed him to become so skilled?
As I waited for Sama Jeong to bring herbs and golden wound medicine...
Shing.
I turned at the ominous sound.
“Hup!”
Sama Jeong emerged from inside, holding a long saber.
What was this?
“...Didn't you go inside to get golden wound medicine?”
“Hm? Golden wound medicine?”
“...”
Sama Jeong beamed like sunlight melting winter snow and chattered excitedly.
“We have to continue the experiment! The records say that even ordinary blades cannot cut completely through the bone...”
I had been mistaken.
This wasn't a matter of passion.
He was definitely just insane.
Tap!
I used the Peerless Wanderer Divine Art at full speed and fled the clinic.
“W-where are you going? You! Just let me try cutting it once, won't you...?!”
...The voice of a madman faded into the distance.
#
I spent most of the break at the Taeul Sect.
I trained with Baek Haegwang for half of every day, went to Jang Dowon's forge to pester him about when he would make the next divine weapon, then spent the rest of my day with the Taeul Sect's children while avoiding Sama Jeong, who wanted to try cutting my arm.
The break flew past.
Time dragged on during difficult days, yet sweet rest always passed so quickly.
The Sect Leader and Hall Masters suggested holding a small banquet for us before we returned to the Academy, but Father, who kept a tight hold on the purse strings, didn't like the idea.
He was still sulking over what I had done in Hwangcheon County.
In any case, I wasn't the only guest of honor. Saryeon and the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers were included as well, so Father eventually held a small banquet.
Thanks to that, all the Taeul Sect's disciples, their parents, and the sect's people were invited, and everyone enjoyed the banquet together.
“Everything worked out in the end, so why are you worrying so much?”
Father, who had been drinking at my words, opened his eyes wide and shouted.
“You little bastard! Do you know how much effort I put in to erase the traces of the Black Path clinging to you?!”
Ah, he wasn't angry about the Jeondeung Sect?
“Whenever the Great Heaven Merchant Group passes through somewhere, Black Path sects attach themselves to it as escorts! Escorts! And they do it for free!”
Hmm... Wasn't that a good thing?
“That's good news. It cuts costs and improves security, killing two birds with one stone... Urk!”
I barely dodged the wine cup flying at my face.
My father, of all people, throwing a wine cup? What was going on?
“You brat! You know it too! This world will seize flaws that don't even exist and turn them into crimes. Yet you're willingly putting on the guise of the Black Path...!”
Ah, that was what he was worried about.
I drank from my cup and said calmly.
“Even if I had no flaws at all, those who hate me would find a way to hate me.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
Huh? What was this?
The mood at the banquet suddenly turned cold.
Everyone who had been chatting loudly looked this way.
Had I said something seriously wrong?
That wasn't it, though...?
I mostly ignored the atmosphere around me and continued.
“It has been like that from the beginning. No matter how much I achieve or prove myself, those who refuse to believe won't believe, and those who want to pick a fight will pick a fight. It will probably remain that way.”
I calmly spoke about what I had felt all this time.
When I entered the Academy and became the top student, I thought proving myself would change something.
Even the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans, those who had ruled the martial world for centuries.
I thought that if I broke through the unfair standards they imposed and the unequal conditions they forced on others to suit their own interests, I would earn their recognition.
‘What bullshit...’
Yet the more I broke through the walls they had built and the higher I climbed their fortresses, the more they restrained and threatened me.
It would probably continue in the future too.
“So I've decided not to care. If they're people who will hate me anyway, isn't it better to quickly separate enemies from allies?”
I paused briefly and emptied my cup in one swallow.
“If I show myself honestly like this, those who will become enemies will become enemies quickly, while those who will become allies will become allies. Isn't that right?”
No one answered me.
Most wore bitter expressions.
I had spoken of separating enemies from allies, but the chance of actually gaining allies was low.
They must have been wondering whether any sect would truly want to stand alongside the Taeul Sect.
Then.
“Excuse me... Is anyone here?”
Someone entered the Great Heaven Merchant Group.
“Ah, I apologize. We're not conducting business today...”
Gang Chaeseok spoke, but the visitor shook his head.
“I haven't come to request work. I've come to deliver something.”
“Something?”
The man nodded and took out a sheet of paper from his robes.
“This is a gift from the Sect Leader of One Pillar Sect to Young Hero Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect.”
“...”
“...”
Everyone's gaze turned toward me at once.
Gang Chaeseok rose to his feet and accepted the paper from the man.
“‘I offer my gratitude to Young Hero Jin Sowoon for preventing a dangerous incident that could have caused turmoil in the martial world. Jo Seonghyeop, Sect Leader of One Pillar Sect.’ What is this...?”
As Gang Chaeseok and the others from the Taeul Sect stood dumbfounded after reading the letter, another person entered the Great Heaven Merchant Group.
Behind him came horse handlers carrying loads of goods.
“Is Jin Sowoon here? I've brought goods sent by Cheongeom Sect.”
That wasn't the end.
“Young Hero Jin Sowoon...”
“Is Jin Sowoon here?”
“Jin So...”
Gifts poured into the Great Heaven Merchant Group without end.
Everyone at the banquet rose from their seats, too busy accepting gifts to do anything else.
Most of the letters praised me for the Jeondeung Sect incident and said they looked forward to my future actions.
The banquet hall had fallen quiet before anyone knew it.
Gang Chaeseok, looking over a letter, lifted his head with an excited expression.
“Are we really... about to gain allies?”
As Gang Chaeseok spoke in a daze, Hong Mungi laughed and raised his voice.
“Why is everyone so bewildered? It happened exactly as Sowoon said.”
“...”
“Don't you want to open the gifts?”
The moment Hong Mungi finished speaking, the mood shifted again.
The Hall Masters and children began opening the mountain of gifts as soon as they received permission, their mouths falling open whenever they saw what was inside.
“I've never seen silk this soft before.”
“Uh... Outer Hall Lord, there are silver ingots here...”
“There is a sword in this one!”
I walked over beside Father, who was staring blankly at the scene.
“See? I was right, wasn't I?”
“...”
“Even if I have a small flaw, those who truly see me will see me properly.”
Father turned a complicated gaze on me.
I patted his shoulder and pointed to one side.
“Over there, the Hall Masters are trying to pocket a few silver ingots. Aren't you going to stop them?”
Father finally shook his head and let out a faint laugh.
“...That won't do.”
Just as the lively atmosphere of the banquet was about to return.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A fierce-looking man entered the Great Heaven Merchant Group.
The banquet turned cold once more at the sight of someone whose face practically said, ‘I'm with the Black Path.’
Shhk.
Several Hall Masters placed their hands on the swords that had arrived as gifts.
The fierce-looking man stood in the middle of the banquet hall and shouted.
“Is this the Great Heaven Merchant Group?”
“It is.”
Gang Chaeseok stepped forward.
“Who are you people?”
Instead of answering Gang Chaeseok, the man whistled.
Then ten fierce-looking men entered behind him, each carrying a coffin-length box.
“Where is Great Hero Jin Sowoon?”
“...Great Hero?”
Gang Chaeseok looked at me for an explanation, but I couldn't say anything.
I'd never seen him before either.
The man followed Gang Chaeseok's gaze toward me, then suddenly clasped his hands in salute.
“Stronghold Lord, have you been well?”
Huh? Stronghold Lord?
...Was he talking to me?
“What are you doing, boys? Put them down.”
“Yes!”
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The ten men placed the boxes on the floor and flung open their lids.
They were filled with coins, silver, and jewels.
The man lowered his head deeply and reported to me.
“This is last year's annual tribute from Black Dragon Stronghold to the Stronghold Lord. We started late, so our earnings were meager. Please forgive us.”
What the fuck was he talking about?
“B-Black Dragon Stronghold?”
“A-annual tribute?”
The Taeul Sect members stared at me in shock.
Then a low voice came from behind me.
“A... small flaw?”
I turned my head.
“Black Dragon Stronghold?”
Father looked as though he was ready to kill someone.
No, I really didn't know anything about this.
This was so, so unfair.
Footnotes:
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