The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 33

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 33: The Second-Rate Martial Artist Seeking a Legend (5)

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Of all the splendid buildings in Yueyang, the most extravagant was undoubtedly Yueyang Tower, which offered an unobstructed view of Dongting Lake.

This famous tavern, Yueyang's pride, was a place high officials and nobles had to visit if they wanted to claim they had properly enjoyed themselves. Among scholars, anyone who claimed to appreciate refined pleasures had to visit at least once.

Even for those who could afford Yueyang Tower's murderous prices, securing a reservation was as difficult as plucking stars from the sky.

"The others are at Yueyang Tower."

"I heard it's incredibly difficult to get a reservation there. Did you book it months ago?"

"What? Ah... Hehe."

At my question, Namgung Seonhwa merely gave Seong Moran a meaningful look, as if she knew something I did not.

The moment we entered Yueyang Tower, everyone who had been drinking noisily turned to look at us.

Everyone here looked like someone who could throw their weight around wherever they went, yet the arrival of the Namgung Clan must have been novel even to them.

"Shall we go up?"

"..."

Yueyang Tower had seven floors. The higher one went, the more clearly Dongting Lake spread out below.

For that reason, the price rose exponentially with every floor.

The tower itself had become a place that represented one's status.

'The Taeul Sect wouldn't even be able to enter a place like this.'

Even though my money pouch was stuffed with gold in this life, unlike in my previous life, I still instinctively recoiled from places like this.

Whenever I ate somewhere like this, I thought of the faces of my fellow disciples and hall masters at the Taeul Sect.

Despite my faint hope that it would not happen, the Namgung Clan party climbed all the way to the seventh floor.

They had even reserved seats beside the windows.

The companions Seonhwa had mentioned were already seated, having a light drink.

Every one of them gave off an extraordinary presence.

"This is Young Master Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect."

When Seong Moran introduced me, the eyes of the four men seated ahead of us darted quickly.

Then the man wearing a blue headcloth introduced himself first.

"I am Ha Minjung of the Hyeongsan Sect."

The man in the blue headcloth gave a slight nod. He was Ha Minjung, the Gosŏng Sword of the Hyeongsan Sect, a sect not counted among the Nine Sects One Gang but considered no weaker than them.

The Hyeongsan Sect was always followed by the phrase, "five hundred years of regret."

At the Martial Alliance's founding, it had been given the chance to join but had declined to participate. Now, unable to enjoy the same standing as those sects, it was mocked by the martial world as a sect that had spent five hundred years regretting its choice.

"I am Ak Muhen of the Shandong Ak Clan."

He was the eldest son of the Shandong Ak Clan, one of the Five Great Clans and the origin of the Ak Clan Spear Art, an unparalleled martial art that had even been adopted by the military as its official spear technique.

"I am Yang Insu of the Yang Family Estate."

Even the eldest son of the Yang Family Estate, which held the twenty-ninth peak among the One Hundred Eight Peaks, was here.

People from remarkable families had gathered in one place.

Now I understood why they had taken seats on the seventh floor of Yueyang Tower.

Curiously, while I offered a cupped-fist salute, all of them merely nodded in response.

I was used to such treatment and did not care much, but Seong Moran's expression gradually darkened. Namgung Seonhwa, noticing it, quickly stepped in.

"We didn't properly introduce ourselves earlier, did we? I'm Namgung Seonhwa of the Namgung Clan. I've heard a great deal about you from my brother San."

The men could not hide their surprise at Seonhwa's words and behavior.

Perhaps because of Seonhwa, the last man, who had a gentle face, rose from his seat with an easy smile and returned my salute.

"I am Yu Jiryang of the Mount Mao Sect."

Even the Mount Mao Sect was here, a sect more distinctive than any other due to its mastery of formations and sorcery.

This was truly a gathering that lacked nothing.

"But why has a friend from the Taeul Sect come here?"

Ak Muhen directed this strange question at neither me nor Namgung Seonhwa.

"Ah, Young Master Jin will be joining us."

At Seonhwa's answer, the brows of the three men furrowed deeply.

"Hmm... Does the Taeul Sect also seek the Mita Sacred Water?"

"They may seek it if they wish. Whether they have the skill for it is another matter."

"I wonder if we are not simply adding another person to protect."

Ha Minjung, Ak Muhen, and Yang Insu spoke in turn. Seong Moran's expression worsened by the moment.

"Then how many companions have you brought?"

"I came alone."

"What?"

Ha Minjung looked at Namgung Seonhwa as though he had heard something absurd.

"Uh... Well..."

"If it makes you uncomfortable for Young Master Jin to come along, I will withdraw as well."

"Sister."

Seong Moran's sudden declaration made not only the three men, but me as well, widen our eyes.

"I'm sorry, Seonhwa. Even if I obtain the sacred water, I'll make sure to give it to you."

Seong Moran bit her lip as though she had made up her mind completely, met my eyes, and nodded.

The three men looked at me, demanding an explanation as if they could not understand what was happening, but I did not understand the situation myself.

If she wanted to accompany me because she wished to stab me, that would have made sense. Yet judging by what she had done on my last day at the Iron Sword Sect and what I saw now, that did not seem entirely right either.

"Miss Seong... You don't need to go that far..."

I tried to calm the situation. This party was going to die in Demon Spirit Plateau anyway, so leaving now was not necessarily a bad thing.

Namgung Seonhwa cut me off.

"Sister Moran came solely to help me. If she leaves, I'll leave with her."

When even Namgung Seonhwa acted this way, the three remaining men looked troubled.

It was like finding a silver coin in the road, only to see it covered in excrement.

"Ahem. That can happen. Didn't we gather to cooperate with one another? We should understand even if someone takes a free ride."

"Come to think of it, perhaps this is for the best. At least he has no companions with him."

"Young Master Jin, did you save a country in your past life or something?"

The three of them did not forget to get in one last remark.

As Seong Moran sat down, she said, "If you've already forgotten what happened to the Iron Sword Sect after they underestimated the Taeul Sect, you should be more careful."

"..."

"...Ahem."

As an awkward silence settled over the table, Yu Jiryang smiled and spoke.

"I hear Hero Ha obtained a map."

Everyone's attention turned toward him. Ha Minjung smiled smugly and pulled a scroll from his robe.

When he opened it, tiny drawings packed together like an anthill filled the page.

"Oh, so this is the map. Where did you get it?"

"Miss, that is confidential information. I cannot reveal it so easily. Ha ha."

The map Ha Minjung displayed was the cave map the master of the black market outlet had shown me.

"Can we trust it?"

Despite his small conflict with Seong Moran earlier, Ha Minjung still smiled.

"I hear it was made by someone who lived there for half a year."

"Even then, I don't think we can trust it completely."

"Of course, it is only for reference. Still, how can that compare to entering such a complicated place without a map like this?"

Seong Moran's tone remained cold, but the gazes the three men directed at her remained warm.

Only then did I understand their relationship.

'They're at that age.'

Seong Moran was a cool beauty with striking features, while Namgung Seonhwa was a delicate, adorable beauty.

With two of Anhui Province's Three Great Beauties before them, their gazes naturally softened.

To men around the age of twenty, beauties like Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa were precious simply by existing.

On top of that, they possessed exceptional family backgrounds and martial arts. It was only natural for hot-blooded young men seeking prospective partners to want to impress them somehow.

'They're having fun.'

Watching them laugh and chat, unaware of what lay ahead, I sampled the Jade Dew Wine, Yueyang Tower's famous specialty.

Then the floor below grew noisy.

Those of us talking gradually leaned out to look toward the stairs. At the same time, the men rose from their seats as if struck by lightning.

"Yong Soa!"

"It's Yong Soa!"

"Wudang's First Sword, Yong Soa!"

At those words, my whole body shuddered as though I had been struck by lightning as well.

Yong Soa and several people who appeared to be his fellow disciples came up to the seventh floor, guided by an attendant. When Ha Minjung and the others met Yong Soa's eyes, they immediately offered him the utmost salute.

"Great Hero! It is an honor to meet you."

"It is an honor."

When Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa stepped forward and offered cupped-fist salutes as well, Yong Soa merely nodded in response.

Even so, no one seemed offended.

"Above dragon and phoenix, Yong Soa soars through the heavens."

The Dragon-Phoenix Association was a gathering of the greatest talents chosen from every class of the Martial Arts Academy.

The saying meant that even the Dragon-Phoenix Association could not compare to Yong Soa.

The association's leader was known as Little Buddha, a transcendent genius destined to master all seventy-two supreme arts of Shaolin Temple in the future. Considering that, the saying was incredibly arrogant, yet not one member of the Dragon-Phoenix Association took offense.

Yong Soa was a genius far beyond ordinary genius. His name had even appeared among the Hundred Swords Under Heaven from time to time.

Considering that he was only in his mid-twenties, it was an astonishing achievement.

"So... everyone has gathered."

Yong Soa swept his gaze through the room before it settled on me.

His eyes were emotionless and impossible to read.

The ones who grew impatient were Ha Minjung and the others.

They each frowned and nodded toward him, clearly telling me to go greet him.

"..."

There had only been one time in my previous life when I had met him this closely.

That was when he had come to execute me.

He did not know it, but this was not a pleasant situation for me at all.

I lifted my cup and turned my gaze toward Dongting Lake.

Soon after, Yong Soa looked away from me as well.

"...Are you all planning to go to Demon Spirit Plateau?"

"Ah, yes. That is correct. Are you going there as well, Great Hero?"

"It is an order from my sect."

Yong Soa had no need for the Mita Sacred Water in the first place.

"Ah, I see. Then would you consider accompanying us? We have secured a map of the interior."

"...I have already secured a map, and I just met someone who had been there. Still, if you wish to come with us, I will not stop you. I cannot stand by and watch my friends' younger siblings die."

"..."

His tone was not pleasant, but they brightened at the thought that he would accompany them.

"...Of course, that applies only to those whose identities are certain."

Yong Soa's gaze turned toward me again.

Seong Moran hurriedly stepped forward to defend me.

"His identity is certain. He is Young Master Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect, which holds the first peak among the One Hundred Eight Peaks."

"...The Taeul Sect? I have never heard of it. I cannot take that risk. If you intend to go with him, I will consider you separate from us."

"...!!"

Seong Moran looked back and forth between Yong Soa and me in shock.

After finishing the Jade Dew Wine, I rose and approached Seong Moran.

"Miss, I think this is as far as we go. The consideration you have shown me until now is more than enough."

As I turned to leave, Yong Soa said through clenched teeth, "Arrogant."

"...What do you mean?"

"You will find it difficult to survive there alone."

I tilted my head.

"Are you saying that if I follow you, I will certainly survive?"

"..."

"Hey!"

Ha Minjung could not endure my words and shouted, but I ignored him and continued.

"Once we enter, no one can guarantee life or death anyway, can they? If that is the case, I would rather take responsibility for my own life than entrust it to someone else."

Yong Soa said nothing for a moment.

"...Arrogant indeed."

He looked as though he were admonishing a child.

"Before worrying about others, why don't you worry about yourself first? Being from the Wudang Sect does not mean swords cannot pierce your body."

With those words, I offered cupped-fist salutes to Seong Moran, Namgung Seonhwa, and Yu Jiryang in turn, then left Yueyang Tower.

Only after passing through the crowded streets for quite some time did my rational mind return.

"Hoo..."

The composure I had maintained even at the Iron Sword Sect had run wild in every direction like a dog freed from its leash.

I had met him only once in my previous life, but I could not help it. Though he did not know it, the choices he had made had cast many White Path forces into despair.

"Still, it is strange. The Wudang Sect and the Namgung Clan entered together, so why was only the Namgung Clan completely wiped out?"

I knew Yong Soa and the Wudang Sect had participated in the struggle for the Mita Sacred Water.

What I did not know was that they had gone together with the Namgung Clan's group.

"Could he discard even one of the Five Great Clans? Did a third-rate sect not even enter his eyes from the beginning?"

A bitter smile formed on my lips. Knowing the tragic ending and still being unable to say anything was a burden only those who knew the future had to bear.

After I had taken a few more steps, I heard footsteps running toward me from behind.

"Miss Seong? What are you doing here? Weren't you going with the Wudang Sect?"

"Haa... I don't know. Whether I go in with them or not, I'll survive, but you... You'll definitely die, won't you?"

"What?"

"Ah, forget it. I've already decided. Haa, what will my father and grandfather say if they find out?"

As Seong Moran sighed and looked up at the sky, the Namgung Clan's people approached one after another.

"I'll keep it a secret from the Iron Sword Sect that we met Great Hero Yong Soa."

"Seonhwa!"

"You came all this way to help me. How can you just leave?"

"No... I was just a little worried."

Seong Moran glanced at me repeatedly, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Is that all right?"

"It's all right. If we go with them, Great Hero Yong Soa will probably take it in the end anyway. This is better."

"Our group has grown even smaller now."

Yu Jiryang followed behind them with two men who appeared to be part of his group.

"Hero Yu, I am sorry."

"It is all right. We were hired for this from the beginning. Just make sure to protect us formation specialists."

I asked something that had been on my mind for a while.

"This may be a strange question, but isn't it dangerous for formation specialists to enter that place?"

Namgung Seonhwa smiled and answered.

"I heard there is a formation inside created from natural objects."

"A formation?"

"Yes. That is why even the Hao Sect members, despite having a map of the place, could not consider taking the Mita Sacred Water for themselves."

"...I heard natural formations are not difficult to break."

Naturally formed formations, created by chance, usually collapsed helplessly before overwhelming destructive force.

The Namgung Clan had no reason to fear a natural formation when it had so many skilled martial artists, aside from the clan's young lady.

"Um... It uses natural objects, but I heard it is not a natural formation. It is said to be a massive formation constructed using methods from three or four hundred years ago."

"..."

As though lightning had struck my mind, scattered pieces of information began falling into place.

'Could it be...?'

Namgung Seonhwa spoke anxiously.

"But what should we do about the map? We failed to secure one."

"I'm sorry, Seonhwa."

"No. They do not have all the information either. It might be easier for us to obtain a map instead."

It seemed the party that had originally been going together had planned to divide their tasks and gather whatever they needed after entering the caves.

After sorting through the contents of the library in my mind, I spoke.

"Ah, you do not need to worry about the map."

"What?"

"I memorized it all."

Everyone tilted their heads, unable to understand what I meant.

Then Seong Moran seemed to realize it, and her face froze in astonishment.

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