WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 382: The Overflowing Waves (7)
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The Mantong Office was built like a vast great hall.
Rows of desks stood without partitions, while bookshelves crammed with an endless flow of documents lined the walls.
At first glance, the layout seemed open and spacious, designed to maximize the Mantong Office's efficiency.
“Uh...?!”
“Argh!!”
But countless unprocessed documents had now spilled beyond the shelves and piled across the floor, turning the office into a maze.
Anyone who wished to work in the Mantong Office had to navigate that maze.
Not even Jegal Somyeong, the Mantong Office's Chief Strategist, was exempt.
Tap, tap, tap.
Today, a small figure followed Jegal Somyeong wherever they went.
Whoosh-
Even when Jegal Somyeong abruptly changed direction.
Tap, tap, tap.
The figure faithfully followed.
Dressed in a long blue-green robe that made her seem even smaller, Dang Seohui continued trailing behind Jegal Somyeong. Before long, Jegal Somyeong frowned in irritation.
“You don't need to follow me around.”
The small figure replied.
“You needn't concern yourself with me, it is.”
“...It is?”
Jegal Somyeong frowned, but Dang Seohui only tilted her head with a blank look, as if she had no idea what was wrong.
“...I know your speech habit, but at least add a polite ending.”
“You needn't concern yourself with me, it is... politely?”
What was that bizarre hybrid?
Jegal Somyeong let out a groan and sighed softly.
“That Poison King bastard spoiled you too much.”
“I was never spoiled, it is.”
Jegal Somyeong glared at Dang Seohui.
“...Politely.”
“Why are you copying that old man's irritating way of speaking?”
Muttering under their breath, Jegal Somyeong glared at Dang Seohui again.
“If you're assigned here, the person who'll give you direct orders and assign your work is Maeng Juwon, the Head of the Mantong Office, over there. Go learn from them.”
“My grandfather said it is good to learn from the person who is best at something, it is.”
“...”
“...Politely. This is very inefficient, it...”
Rubbing their throbbing temples, Jegal Somyeong finally seemed to give up. They ignored Dang Seohui and returned to work.
Tap, tap, tap.
Watching the unfamiliar sight, Maeng Juwon, who had just arrived at work, muttered blankly.
“...What the hell is that?”
Another Mantong Office official sighed softly.
“She's an applicant.”
“An applicant for what?”
“A Mantong Office applicant.”
Maeng Juwon's face twisted like a sheet of paper.
“The White-Handed Divine Maiden?”
“The Dragon-Phoenix Association has finished its activities, hasn't it? It is time for its members to be assigned within the Martial Alliance. She says she wants to experience what the Mantong Office does, so she's following the Chief Strategist around like that.”
“No, why is the White-Handed Divine Maiden coming to the Mantong Office?”
“How would I know?”
The official shrugged.
Maeng Juwon, who had spent every day happily imagining the new recruits who would join them, suddenly developed a headache.
The White-Handed Divine Maiden.
Certainly, she was one of the finest talents not only among her peers, but even among the older generation. That was only in terms of martial prowess, though.
Tap, tap, tap.
“...I told you not to follow me.”
“I told you not to concern yourself with me, it is.”
“...”
“...Politely.”
Dang Seohui darted through the Mantong Office like a newly hatched chick.
She was wholly unsuited to the Mantong Office, which had to preserve the balance of the martial world by taking careful steps along the thin, dangerous line of political neutrality.
Not only was she highly skilled, but her background was formidable as well. Could someone who did not even listen to Jegal Somyeong possibly work at the Mantong Office?
“She'll fail the test... right?”
Maeng Juwon tried to cling to that small possibility, but the official beside Maeng Juwon shook their head.
“At the Academy, her theory grades ranked right after Ilmyeong's.”
“...”
Well, that must be why she had participated in the Dragon-Phoenix Association's activities. Her grades in both theory and practical training had been excellent.
“Well, from the perspective of filling our ranks, isn't that good...?”
“What?”
Maeng Juwon frowned fiercely at the official, who was talking as if it were someone else's problem.
“Do you want to serve a subordinate like that, someone who acts like your master?”
“...She'll have a position. It's not as though she'll commit insubordination.”
Since when had this bastard become such an extreme optimist? Was it because of all the overtime?
“Really? Then from now on, the White-Handed Divine Maiden is your exclusive responsibility.”
“...I'll submit my resignation...”
“Rejected in advance.”
At Maeng Juwon's firm words, the official let out a long sigh.
“Then this really isn't an ordinary matter.”
“Right. If the White-Handed Divine Maiden joins as a recruit...”
“No, not that.”
“Hm?”
At that moment, a man walked gracefully between Maeng Juwon and the official.
“Is this how I should process it?”
The voice was unusually clear for a man. Maeng Juwon turned instinctively, then let out a small gasp upon seeing Yong Soa's face.
“Y-Yong Soa?”
“You must be the Head of the Mantong Office.”
“Th-that is... correct.”
Yong Soa glanced at the sun outside the window, then spoke quietly.
“As I understand it, employees are expected to arrive by Dragon Hour.”
“...”
“Punctuality is a basic virtue for an Alliance member. Please be mindful of it from now on.”
With that, Yong Soa gave a slight bow, left the completed document behind, and walked away.
“...”
“...”
A heavy silence fell.
“...Did that kid just warn me?”
“This is really bad.”
The official watching Maeng Juwon mutter with a dazed expression let out a long sigh.
“What are we going to do now?”
“What do you mean? We stop them from coming here, obviously!”
“How? Are you going to fight them with martial arts?”
“Ha, what martial arts? Don't you know scholars fight with documents?”
Maeng Juwon declared boldly and picked up the document Yong Soa had written.
Finding even the tiniest mistake and blowing it up into something as large as Mount Tai was one of Maeng Juwon's specialties.
Maeng Juwon curled their lips and snorted.
“Let him feel to his bones how I've handled the Orthodox Society, the White Path Society, and the Twelve Peak Alliance all this time...”
Yet as Maeng Juwon continued reading, their voice grew as faint as an ant's.
By the end...
“Crunch.”
Maeng Juwon ground their teeth. Even that did not seem enough.
“Fuck.”
A curse slipped out.
The startled Mantong Office official looked at Maeng Juwon anxiously.
“...W-what is it?”
“See for yourself.”
The official accepted the document and nodded without meaning to.
It was not perfect, but there was absolutely no way to call it lacking.
“Oh, at this level... with a little more training, he could reach Jin Sowoon's level...”
“Are you happy? Are you?! Damn it! The one bastard who should be coming here didn't even take the test, and all these strange people keep hanging around the Mantong Office!”
Maeng Juwon's bright mood from when they arrived at work had become more miserable than ever.
#
Dang Seohui moved together with Yong Soa.
For some reason, Yong Soa persistently asked why, but I naturally did not answer. Despite my attitude, Yong Soa showed no sign of displeasure, which irritated me even more.
Of course, Dang Seohui was already savoring the thought of becoming a true chivalrous hero, so it was not as though Yong Soa could stop her.
Still, I worried that he might interfere with my plan.
Then, at that moment,
[I’ll join you as well.]
He suddenly said something absurd.
What was he talking about?
My mind was briefly thrown into confusion, but I soon collected myself.
Fine. I had no idea what he thought he was joining, but if he wasn't going to interfere with me, what did I care what Yong Soa did?
In fact, having two people who could guard Jegal Somyeong at close range was fortunate.
It let me focus more on Song Baekpungsa.
The Hao Sect had continued tailing Song Baekpungsa while I was away, and I had obtained a complete list of the people he had met.
But...
“Hmm...”
Nothing stood out.
I assigned separate tails to the noteworthy individuals and kept receiving reports on them.
Even after reviewing all that information, nothing seemed strange.
In the end, I decided to follow him myself.
“It's good to see you. Have you been well?”
“Great Hero, you look well.”
“It is all thanks to the grace of the Wudang Sect.”
Song Baekpungsa had once been a Wudang Sect lay disciple and escort warrior. In his youth, he gained fame through escort work, then opened the Song Baek Escort Agency in Jiangxi Province and struck it rich.
Afterward, he strengthened his ties with Wudang, expanded his influence throughout Jiangnan, and effectively served as the Wudang Sect's Jiangxi branch.
Given his lofty position, his schedule in Wuhan was as packed as that of the head of any major organization.
He treasured every moment, meeting people and discussing business over drinks during the brief intervals between appointments.
Between engagements, he circulated his internal energy to drive out the smell of alcohol, washed quickly, changed into fresh clothes, and moved on to the next appointment.
He was the very image of a thorough merchant.
The people he met were all impressive figures as well.
Monks of Shaolin Temple itself, leaders of the Orthodox Society, and powerful figures within the Martial Alliance were among his main clients.
I had heard plenty about his disappearance in my previous life because so many people inside and outside the Martial Alliance had searched for him afterward.
Over decades, he had built trust and worked with others on ventures tied to shared interests. His disappearance had a major impact on other sects and merchant groups as well.
That soon caused a massive upheaval within the Martial Alliance.
The more I saw, the more complicated things became.
Should I see that person as someone impersonating Song Baekpungsa?
Or had Song Baekpungsa himself been an agent planted by the Demonic Cult long ago?
‘This is driving me insane.’
If it was the former, things would be easy to resolve. If it was the latter, the worst-case scenario was that the Wudang Sect and many other sects would retaliate against me instead.
Still, would worrying create a better choice?
I had to make a decision.
And I had no intention of gambling an uncertain future on some desperate wish.
“...Since when did I ever hesitate?”
I released the Ghost Breath Movement Art.
I removed the barrier concealing my energy sense and continued watching him.
Whether he had noticed my presence or not, he continued with his planned business.
After finishing his packed schedule late into the night, he finally seemed to relax a little. He untied the sash fastening his robe and walked at ease.
He browsed the wares of merchants who still had their stalls open late at night, buying a few things as he looked around the market without the slightest hint of anything unnatural.
As I followed him slowly but steadily, he entered a dark alley.
The moment I stepped in after him,
“I wondered who was following me. It turns out to be someone quite famous.”
He was waiting for me inside the alley.
“Black Flame Dragon Jin Sowoon.”
“...”
“You don't even look surprised. I suppose you were following me deliberately.”
I carefully studied his face and expression.
Yet I could find no sign of deception or traces of a human-skin mask.
“Why is a Taeul Sect disciple following me? A man with the greatest reputation these days, no less.”
There was even faint hostility in his gaze and a weighty aura about him.
If this was not a genuine Wudang Sect lay disciple, then who could be called a true White Path martial artist?
“...”
My thoughts became tangled.
Still, I could neither wait idly nor clean things up after an incident happened.
I had to prove it now.
I clasped my hands in salute and bowed my head.
“I have long admired your reputation, Senior. I came hoping to receive some instruction from you.”
“Hohoho, Black Flame Dragon Jin Sowoon? You wish to receive instruction from an ordinary lay disciple like me?”
“The reputation you earned by building the Song Baek Escort Agency in Jiangxi Province with a single sword cannot be dismissed as ‘ordinary.’”
“Haha! You are gilding me with praise you do not mean. I cannot imagine what you are plotting.”
Song Baekpungsa bared his teeth in a faint show of hostility.
“Even if your words are true and you only seek instruction, now is not an appropriate time. Pay a formal visit later.”
“...”
Neither his attitude nor his tone seemed suspicious.
Even so, I drew my sword.
If I had to choose between Jegal Somyeong dying and becoming enemies with the Wudang Sect, I had to choose the latter.
‘Besides, I’m already on bad terms with the Wudang Sect.’
Shing.
The Scarlet Radiance Sword revealed its blade. As I released my internal energy, a faint tension crossed Song Baekpungsa's face.
“I heard people from your sect have come to Wuhan.”
“...”
“Can you take responsibility for this?”
There was no need to answer.
The result had already been decided.
Swoosh-
The Lesser Heaven Sword Art thrust forward sharply, and Song Baekpungsa removed the belt around his waist.
Shrrrk.
A blade hidden within unfurled like a snake and met the Scarlet Radiance Sword.
The Five Elements Sword, a foundation of Wudang, blocked the Lesser Heaven Sword Art.
Clang! Shrrrk-
I immediately unleashed the Greater Heaven Sword Art to dazzle his eyes, but Song Baekpungsa calmly used the Five Elements Sword, deflecting the illusion swords while meeting the real swords head-on.
“Tell me. What are you plotting?”
Honestly, the moment he executed the Five Elements Sword perfectly, I felt something had gone wrong.
But was there any reason to turn back after coming this far?
“...To be honest, I wanted to test something.”
“Test?”
“A martial art I recently acquired.”
As I spoke, I released my control over the Scarlet Radiance Sword.
Kuaaaaah!
An originless scream rang out in every direction as the blade turned red.
Song Baekpungsa, who had been relaxed until then, flinched and stepped back.
I seized that opening and unleashed the Shattering Form meant to break the Five Elements Sword.
Clang! Shrrrk!
The Shattering Form thrust between the illusion swords of the Greater Heaven Sword Art.
Song Baekpungsa seemed to go all out. His martial robes swelled as if they would burst, and his hands and feet moved in every direction as though dancing, blocking the Scarlet Radiance Sword.
Shhk.
The swords clashed once.
“Hah...”
I could not hide my triumphant smile.
“Fuck, I was scared shitless.”
“What?”
“I was scared because I thought you might not be from the Demonic Cult.”
“...What are you talking about...?”
I looked at his face and twisted my lips into a wider grin.
“You bastard. You blocked the Shattering Form perfectly, and you're still trying to imitate Song Baekpungsa?”
The face of Song Baekpungsa, no, one of the Five Ghost Demons, contorted violently.
Footnotes:
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