WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 348: Revenge (4)

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The sun, which I hadn't seen in a long time, hung high in the sky, but I couldn't relax.

As expected, the Demonic Cult bastards hadn't been able to follow us.

We'd gone through hell to make it along that route ourselves.

It was practically impossible for a larger force to take a longer route and get ahead of us.

That didn't mean the sight of only three people standing before us was reassuring.

'If only three came... that must mean three are enough.'

The man in the center was on a level similar to Je Geumhak.

If the ones on either side were comparable to him as well...

That only meant they were even more confident.

"Unit Leader!"

The Life-and-Death Unit members who had caught up stiffened as they looked at the three figures.

I gave the order at once.

"Pull back all the injured and anyone who can't fight."

"...But there are only three of them?"

Judging by numbers alone, they must have thought we held an overwhelming advantage.

But if the man in the middle was on the level of one of the Seven Demon Wisdom Lords, numbers meant nothing in our current state.

More than half of us were injured, and the rest couldn't bring out their full strength either.

"Khrrk, Jin Sowoon! I'll kill you!"

When the grotesque man on the right directed his hatred at me, the unit members stared in surprise.

"Y-you know him?"

"No."

Even an ordinary person wouldn't forget a face like that.

How could I?

I truly didn't know him.

"Then why is he calling you like you killed his parents?"

"Who knows..."

I didn't know either.

Thinking about it, though, there was one possibility.

"Because I'm a chivalrous hero?"

"..."

"Bad guys usually hate righteous people."

Hmm. That had to be it.

When no one answered, I turned to find Goh Aryeom, who had been asking the questions, staring at me with the expression of a temple Buddha.

'Why does a disciple of a Taoist sect look like that?'

Then that unpleasant metallic voice rang out again.

"You dog bastard! How dare you pretend not to know me! I'll drag you away and peel off your flesh piece by piece, khrrk, until you think death would be better!"

The rag-wrapped man spewed horrifying words of hatred.

After calmly listening to the curse filled with his resentment, I asked, "Um... who are you, exactly?"

I was genuinely curious.

I'd done plenty of chivalrous deeds, but could even an evil bastard unaware of their own wrongdoing hate me this much?

"Khk! You bastard..."

"No, I seriously don't know."

As the rag-wrapped man tried to leap at me, the woman on the left gestured through the air.

The man's hands twitched as if something had seized him, and he seemed unable to move as he wished.

"Kikikiki. They said you were crazy, but you're worse than most of our people."

The beautiful woman with unusually large molars giggled.

Unlike when the rag-wrapped man spoke, the Academy students stiffened whenever she opened her mouth.

"Ugh... W-what is this?"

"My heart... my heart..."

More and more people, men and women alike, began showing strange physical reactions.

'This is...'

It was definitely the effect of a Bewitching Soul Art.

They simply couldn't properly recognize their condition because of the situation.

'Even exhausted as they are, she's affecting the Academy students this much?'

My concern deepened further.

The Bewitching Soul Art couldn't be her primary martial art.

I didn't know every Demonic Cult technique, but I'd never heard of anyone who had built their reputation on the Bewitching Soul Art alone.

The fact that a mere secondary art had such powerful effects sent a chill through me.

It was maddening that I had no information on the woman.

'Why was I such a nobody in my previous life?'

From the looks of things, she held considerable status and strength even within the Demonic Cult.

Since I'd never seen her before, I couldn't even judge who she was or how strong she might be.

"Anyway, you all worked hard getting here. It couldn't have been easy with us in your way. Still, you're pretty capable for Central Plains bastards."

After offering congratulations that didn't sound sincere in the slightest, the woman got to the point.

"We're looking for something. We were wondering whether you have it."

These bastards were always looking for something.

And they were so diligent about murdering people while they were at it. Very diligent.

"If you return it, we'll go back too."

What bullshit. I didn't believe a word of it.

"What is it?"

Still, I decided to hear what they were looking for. Maybe I could use it against them.

That monster had ignored the Five-Spirit Flower Dew last time because it was searching for a ring.

The strange-looking woman smiled as she brushed her lips with a fingertip.

"The Sunfire Monkey's Fire Purification. The Fire Purification was actually more important than the Ice Purification."

"..."

"If you give us that, we'll really leave. I can swear it."

...Just as expected of demonic beings who lied whenever they opened their mouths, she was making a promise she had no intention of keeping.

I called out their true motive.

"If that had been your goal from the start, you wouldn't have driven us this far."

"..."

Look at that. She was flustered.

"More importantly, what are you doing in Mukrim?"

"Hm?"

"I'm asking why you dared do this much against the Martial Alliance."

I deliberately emphasized the words Martial Alliance.

It was the surest way to make the Academy students realize just how dangerous these people were.

All I had to do was show them that these people didn't fear the Martial Alliance.

"What's so special about the Martial Alliance?"

As I expected, the woman spoke as if it were nothing, and the Academy students tensed at the unexpected response.

She added with an eerie smile, "Mukrim is an important place to us. You stirred up a place like that, so how could we leave you alone?"

"So you tried to annihilate us?"

"We can't let you take something important that you won't even be able to use properly."

Curses erupted from all around us.

"These lunatics... They tried to wipe us out over one item?"

"Just who the hell are they...?"

Just as I expected, their danger had been made clear without me having to spell it out.

The atmosphere grew restless, but the woman only shrugged.

"Anyway, give us the Fire Purification, and we won't pursue you anymore."

"What if we don't have it?"

"...Lies like that aren't very nice. We already found the Sunfire Monkey's corpse. If someone had tried to eat it, their whole body would have been consumed by fire, leaving behind only a lump of blood and the Fire Purification. So one of you has it."

Fuck, it was that dangerous?

I really needed to stop putting everything in my mouth just because it was good for the body.

Anyway, that was beside the point.

I couldn't confess now that I had absorbed it.

I didn't believe for a moment that they would keep their promise.

"You think we'll believe such ridiculous lies?"

"Hmm. It seems you won't believe us even though the situation has changed."

While the woman muttered to herself, the rag-wrapped man twisted his mouth and head wildly before speaking again.

"Jin Sowoon!"

As the woman and rag-wrapped man caused a commotion, the man in the center frowned and put an end to it.

"It doesn't matter. We can find the Fire Purification after killing them all."

"Ah, we almost had them convinced."

At the woman's gesture, red cloth began winding around her body.

As her flowing palace gown wrapped around her, her outfit changed into that of a martial artist.

The instant I saw it, I recognized her identity.

'The Blood Lord, Ice Flower Witch.'

A witch infamous among the Seven Demon Wisdom Lords for having the foulest methods.

In my previous life, the battlefields she passed through had been left with nothing but shredded corpses and mummified bodies.

"There are more of them than I thought."

The Ice Flower Witch's gaze held no interest as she looked down at the Academy students climbing the hill.

No matter what she said, she was clearly confident she could deal with any number of them.

"So, what'll it be? Do you want to do this in the sparring format you like, or will you do what you're good at and gang up on us? I don't mind either way."

Crack. Crack.

At the Ice Flower Witch's words, the skin and bones of the man in the center began to twist.

His ordinary body suddenly grew larger, his mouth jutted forward like a beast's snout, and sharp claws like those of a Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Bear sprouted from his hands and feet.

"I hope there are some tasty ones among you. Otherwise, this mission won't be worth the trouble."

In contrast to the three enemies' relaxed attitudes, the Academy students erupted into panic.

Each of the three enemies looked strange and grotesque.

Their actions were beyond anything imaginable in the Central Plains, making reality itself feel distant.

I filled my voice with internal energy.

"Prepare for battle!!!"

Those who had been lost in confusion immediately snapped back to their senses and drew their swords.

Clangclangclangclang!

Right. This wasn't the time to question this unbelievable reality.

It was time to fight.

"Let's go!"

It was time to begin the final battle.

#

There were only three of them, yet the pressure each one gave off was beyond imagination.

As though each were an army of one.

Having grown up surrounded by support and praised as experts in their own right, the Academy students faced them.

Yet the three enemies did not hesitate to fight the many Academy students.

And before that bizarre sight, the Academy students shrank back instead.

"...Are they really planning to fight us with only three people?"

"What the hell are they?"

Not being able to judge an opponent's level was fatal for martial artists.

"Only Unit Leaders, step forward! The rest of you, fight alongside members of your original sects!"

Those who had been about to charge in hesitated at my command.

They probably thought I was being overly cautious against only three people.

But there was no time to explain.

I had to show them first, so they could judge the enemy's level for themselves.

I rushed toward the beast in the middle, who looked the strongest.

'Aberrant Fiend Demon Art.'

One of the Demonic Cult's Seven Great Monstrous Arts.

Even in the Demonic Cult, where normal people were scarce, this demonic art was considered especially unusual. Its grotesque abilities were famous as well.

Boom!

Its claws collided with my sword force, but instead of being cut, they produced an explosion.

"I told you last time."

Fluent human speech came from the beast's mouth, making it profoundly unnatural.

But its strength was even more unnatural.

Krrrrk.

It pushed back my sword force in its entirety. The power was absurd.

"That's irritating!"

I barely avoided the palm force that passed by my neck.

Holding the Jade Clarity Celestial Phenomenon Force within me, I unleashed the Twin Heavens Sword Art.

Shhhhk!

A storm of golden sword force swept toward the beast, but it curled up and kicked off the ground, escaping in an instant.

Thud!

So it could just avoid it?

I unleashed the Twin Heavens Sword Art even faster.

Shhhhk!

Flashing sword force cut across its skin.

"Khk. That stings."

The beast burst through the storm of sword force and drove down its fist.

I used Lotus to pull it toward me, but I didn't feel as though my power had taken hold properly.

It spun through the air and regained its position.

"Flower-Grafting? You have all kinds of worthless tricks..."

Before it could finish, it kicked off the ground and leaped high.

A powerful fist force slammed down where I had been.

"Unit Leader Jin!"

Ilgak had joined the front line before I realized it.

"You should go over there."

He urgently pointed toward the rag-wrapped man.

"He's targeting Unit Leader Jin's companions."

Fuck, that bastard.

I hesitated, wondering whether Ilgak alone would be enough, when Nam Hwaseong ran over and threw a fist at the beast.

Clang!

"Argh, this fucking body! Why is it so damn hard?!"

Right. He had fought an Iron Zombie before.

When I turned my head, I saw Academy students splitting off and rushing over one by one.

This should be enough to leave this place to them.

I shouted at Ilgak and Nam Hwaseong, "Its defense and attack power are beyond anything you can imagine. Be careful!"

"Unit Leader Jin, you be careful too."

"Hurry up! Before we all fucking die!"

Die, my ass. He was the kind of bastard who would cling to life harder than anyone.

Ignoring Nam Hwaseong, I ran toward my companions.

Explosions erupted repeatedly behind me.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Every time the Blood Lord, Ice Flower Witch, swung her hand, a terrible explosive force burst out with a deafening roar.

For a moment, my steps stopped.

Was it really right to leave this place?

"You damned bitch!"

"Fall back a little, then attack!"

"Tch! Just wait!"

But the enraged Academy students were responding appropriately.

They had gathered with members of their own sects again, but they were calmly responding according to their Unit Leaders' orders.

Right. It was time to trust them.

I ran toward my team again.

The Fifth and Sixth Units were support units, but they were also responsible for evacuating the injured.

If that rag-wrapped bastard attacked them, countless people could be hurt.

As I ran without a moment to spare, the unpleasant rag-wrapped man came into view.

An ominous killing intent poured from his body.

"You incomplete jiangshi[1] bastard!"

Rumble!

I condensed the Mad Heaven Divine Palm in my hand into a single point and unleashed it.

Boom!

The Mad Heaven Divine Palm shot forward, shattering the rock walls as it bore down on the rag-wrapped man, ready to tear him into pieces.

"With something like this..."

The rag-wrapped man turned and raised a hand.

Boom!

A massive shield of ice appeared and twisted away the Mad Heaven Divine Palm's force.

Then...

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the Mad Heaven Divine Palm erupted in the air, the ice shield shattered into pieces and began circling the rag-wrapped man.

At that moment.

"...!"

The rag-wrapped man's appearance matched someone in my memory.

Fuck, he survived that?

I looked at his unpleasantly stitched face.

"Je Geumhak."

"Yes. You finally recognize me."

Je Geumhak raised one corner of his mouth.

He looked grotesque beyond words.

Still, when I recalled how he had once looked like a delicate young nobleman, I found his current appearance rather pitiful.

I offered a brief impression.

"You've changed a lot..."

Ah, was that too brief and hurtful?

"Um... I think you look better than before?"

"K-kill... I'll kill you!"

I had only meant to comfort him.

For some reason, Je Geumhak's killing intent grew even denser.

[1] Jiangshi: A reanimated corpse in Chinese folklore.

Footnotes:

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