WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 383: Ambush

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I had no choice but to admit it.

These bastards were far better at imitating the White Path than the rank-and-file demonic beings I had faced in my previous life.

Someone who had made a name for himself in the martial world through exceptional skill despite being a lay disciple would naturally have solid fundamentals.

The moment I saw a slight flaw in his command of the Nine Palaces Divine Movement Sword, the finest martial art available to lay disciples, sweat ran down my back. Something felt wrong.

Then, when I used the Shattering Form as a final gamble...

Swish!

I became certain when I saw him block it perfectly.

‘At this point, only the demonic beings and I know the Shattering Form.’

Even Yong Soa had looked flustered the first time he faced it.

“Yong Soa couldn't do that when he first saw it, but some lay disciple can? Hah. A demonic bastard reciting Buddhist scripture. Isn't that right?”

Song Baekpungsa's expression stiffened instead of answering.

“I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“You haven't changed your expression no matter who you've faced these past few days, yet now you're spouting nonsense. Hey, you don't know what your face looks like right now, do you?”

“...”

“You look exactly like a thief caught in the act, you bastard!”

Once I knew he was one of the Five Ghost Demons, there was no reason to hesitate.

Shrrrrr.

The Twin Heavens Sword Art shot out and hemmed Song Baekpungsa in from all sides.

Song Baekpungsa countered with the Whirlwind Sword Art, wielding his soft sword.

Whoom, whoom, whoom.

A harsh whirlwind roared around him like hornets buzzing beside my ears, blocking the Twin Heavens Sword Art.

The compressed winds protecting Song Baekpungsa like a thick barrier soon shot outward all at once, driving back my sword art.

Shrrrrk.

Shrrrrk.

Sword qi swept out, carving long grooves into the ground and walls.

Song Baekpungsa shouted triumphantly, as if he had gained the advantage.

“I know your confidence has grown after earning fame as the Academy Representative, but I am a disciple of the Wudang Sect!”

He unleashed the Whirlwind Sword Art again while striking out with his other hand, using the Seven Stars Fist.

“I won't lose to a mere disciple of the Taeul Sect.”

Even his stubborn arrogance, so typical of a renowned White Path sect, made it strange that he was not truly a White Path martial artist overflowing with pride in the Wudang Sect.

But...

Bam! Bam-bam-bam-bam!

If he continued fighting as a proper Wudang Sect martial artist, he would never escape this place.

The Five Elements Sword was Song Baekpungsa's primary sword art.

Even if he knew the Shattering Form, Wudang martial arts would not work against me. I had mastered the Ascendant Form and Demon-Subduing Form as well.

Every sword thrust aimed at five vital acupoints was blocked.

Every fist qi strike aimed at seven points was scattered.

Song Baekpungsa took the offensive through several exchanges while I retreated, but he was the only one accumulating injuries.

The instant he evaded my Shattering Form and exposed himself...

I immediately used the Demon-Subduing Form and thrust toward his eye.

Screeeech!

With a chilling whistle through the air, one of his eyes was bound to be gouged out.

His body blurred and swayed. The tip of the Scarlet Radiance Sword passed perilously close to his ear instead.

Swish!

His earlobe was sliced in half, but no blood spilled.

Right. There was no blood.

“Hey, demonic bastard. That movement art you just used wasn't from Wudang, was it? Where did you learn it?”

“...Do you not understand what a lay disciple is?”

“Your severed earlobe isn't bleeding either. Did you barely have one to begin with? Hmm... They say narrow earlobes bring no fortune. Ah, is that why you're living as a demonic being?”

“The Black Flame Dragon has committed the crime of making a false accusation, one strictly forbidden by the Martial Alliance. What a tragedy.”

I snickered at the sight of him still trying to act composed and dignified.

His brow twitched briefly. Then, as if there were no need for further conversation, he moved first.

Yet this was completely different from the Wudang movements he had shown so far.

He began wielding a tyrannical martial art, as though he had tossed all the profundities of Taiji aside.

Bam-bam-bam-bam!

The explosions were too loud for merely dispersing the impact.

It could only be intentional.

Hah, look at this bastard.

I drew out even more internal energy.

The sword forms of the Twin Heavens Sword Art embroidered the air wildly as they descended on him.

Previously, he would have surely escaped by using the Taiji principles of the Five Elements Sword. Instead, he stubbornly continued using the Whirlwind Sword Art.

Rather than deflecting, shoving aside, and creating openings, he used the Whirlwind Sword Art.

Boom! Boom! Boom-boom-boom!

Violent winds burst out with repeated explosions, as though Thunderclap Bombs were raining down.

Though he had felt the difference in our internal energy, Song Baekpungsa had chosen to meet force with force. His clothes became a mess, and countless cuts opened beneath them.

He had avoided the swords targeting his vital acupoints, but there was no way he could push aside the Twin Heavens Sword Art's countless variations through raw strength alone.

Of course, Song Baekpungsa knew that too.

“You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? You want someone to find us and come over.”

“...”

The corners of Song Baekpungsa's eyes trembled.

He put more power into his fists.

Boom! Boom-boom!

The intent behind detonating fist qi before it even reached me, an action that looked foolish at first glance, was obvious.

Too obvious.

“So that's it. You aren't shouting because it wouldn't suit Song Baekpungsa's personality?”

Song Baekpungsa once again used the Five Elements Sword, now carrying Wudang's profound principles.

I drew out even more internal energy and crushed him in one stroke.

So that even if he revealed his true self, I could subdue him immediately.

Boom-boom-boom!

I blocked the energy blazing like fire and broke the sword path that flowed freely like wind.

I shook the center that stood firm as a boulder and sealed the movements that flowed gently like water.

Screeeech!

It was convenient to have overwhelming internal energy at times like this.

I could suppress almost any kind of energy.

Unless he drew on demonic arts, Song Baekpungsa could not stop the Scarlet Radiance Sword.

“Cough!”

At last, he began suffering internal injuries.

“Urgh!”

After coughing up a mouthful of blood, he drew in a deep breath as if he had made a decision.

At the same time, I took a signal flare from my robe.

“Help me! Is anyone there?!”

Song Baekpungsa's resounding Lion’s Roar rang out as I fired the flare.

Boom!

Then, as though embroidering the night sky, fireworks began exploding in every direction.

Boom! Boom! Boom-boom-boom!

While Song Baekpungsa stood stunned by the sudden bursts of light, I unleashed the Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist with all my strength.

Kwararararararara-boom!

Massive fist qi exploded toward him.

Crushed beneath the overwhelming force, Song Baekpungsa swung both arms frantically to disperse the fist qi.

But...

“Just as I thought.”

It was clearly not Wudang martial arts.

A tyrannical martial art filled with killing intent.

Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-bam!

Song Baekpungsa was driven back three zhang. The instant he barely dispersed the force while pressed against a wall...

I thrust out the Scarlet Radiance Sword and severed his right arm.

Slice.

“Gaaaaah!”

Song Baekpungsa let out a grotesque scream that seemed squeezed from his throat.

I frowned at the sight.

“The screams Demonic Cult bastards force out are always strange to hear.”

“...You crazy bastard...”

Song Baekpungsa glared at me with blazing eyes.

“Are you really... really going to see this through?”

“What are you talking about?”

“...Framing someone and committing murder only works against inexperienced brats.”

“You're still pretending to be Song Baekpungsa after coming this far?”

“I am Song Baekpungsa!”

His gaze was firm without the slightest wavering.

Who could look at that expression and be certain he was not Song Baekpungsa?

“Wow, at this point, I almost want to be fooled too.”

“Stop talking nonsense...!”

“Five Ghost Demons.”

His eyes shook, and silence fell in an instant.

I stared directly into both his eyes and asked, “Where are the other four?”

His lips moved as if he were choosing his words, but only a few words came out.

“...What, what are you talking about? Five Ghost Demons?”

“Tell me, and I'll kill you cleanly. There won't be any terrible pain.”

“How can I tell you when I don't know anything?”

“So you're saying you won't talk?”

“I am not one of the Five Ghost Demons! I am Maeng Gongwi, Song Baekpungsa!”

He clung to the act with terrifying persistence.

Enough to make the person who doubted him start doubting themselves.

That was why I never forgot.

Their persistence.

I also drew out my own viciousness.

So I would not be devoured by theirs.

I thrust my sword toward him once more.

Slice.

In the end, I severed his left ankle.

Song Baekpungsa screamed again as his foot was cut off without resistance.

His face had turned white.

“If... if I die here, urgh... Wudang will never let you go. Someone, someone must have seen you.”

How could they look exactly like the people they impersonated?

Did these bastards truly become their target in order to play the part?

“Cough... Someone surely...”

“Who is that someone?”

“...What do you mean? Everyone passing by, of course...”

“As you just saw, all the streets in this area have been sealed off. There would be no ordinary people who saw me following you.”

“...”

“So who is it?”

Looking down at the severed cross-section of his ankle, I added quietly, “The person who will report that I killed you.”

“...!”

“Actually, I don't need to hear it anymore. One of your comrades is probably the one who'll accuse me of killing you. Still, do you intend to give me the list of the others?”

“...”

As I took another step toward the silent Song Baekpungsa, his face turned even paler.

His eyes darted around, but with his ankle cut off, he could not move.

At last, he raised both hands and shouted.

“A-All right! I'll talk! I'll tell you, so stop for a moment!”

“...”

Song Baekpungsa's eyes shook violently.

Just in case, I released the Flying Dragon Claw and drew out the Jade Clarity Celestial Phenomenon Force.

A golden glow wrapped around the Flying Dragon Claw's Heavenly Silkworm Thread.

Watching that, he pleaded.

“Just spare my life! Yes! I'll go to the Enforcement Hall and tell them everything! It doesn't matter if there are no Wudang Sect people present. Please, just spare my life, and I'll tell you anything!”

Song Baekpungsa, who had never concealed his arrogance, now fell to his knees and even clasped his hands in supplication.

It was an attitude impossible to associate with the merciless Five Ghost Demons.

I sent out finger wind, struck his paralysis acupoint, then seized his blood vessels and twisted his qi and blood circulation.

“Guh-gh-gh-gh...!”

With all his qi channels twisting in agony, Song Baekpungsa writhed across the ground, his entire body convulsing.

“Who are the other four?”

“Ghk... I, I was wronged...”

As I severed his remaining left wrist and was about to cut off his right ankle as well...

“Young Master!”

Someone stopped me.

It was the Hao Sect's Wuhan Branch Head.

“You should... you should stop.”

“...”

When I looked at the Branch Head in silence, they inhaled sharply.

“A person should not inflict such suffering on another person. You know that better than anyone, don't you, Young Master?”

Song Baekpungsa lay on the ground, his right arm and left hand severed, one foot cut off, with the veins all over his body swollen as though they might burst.

Even if I stopped now, it seemed doubtful he could ever live normally again.

The Branch Head's face twisted as they looked down at him.

“Besides... he keeps insisting he is innocent... You should interrogate him with firmer evidence. This man is an important figure in Wudang.”

Though he was trembling, Song Baekpungsa barely grabbed the Branch Head's foot as if it were his lifeline and begged.

“S-Save me! Please, save me!”

Right. He had kept up the Song Baekpungsa act until now because he had sensed the Branch Head's presence.

The moment the Branch Head began to lower their head toward him without realizing it...

I drove my sword straight through his heart.

Stab!

Song Baekpungsa's trembling body went limp.

At the same time...

“Young Master Jin!!!”

The Branch Head, who had been reaching toward Song Baekpungsa, looked at me in horror.

“This man was not the real Song Baekpungsa.”

Impassively, I pulled the Scarlet Radiance Sword free and slid it into its sheath.

The stunned Branch Head hurriedly touched Song Baekpungsa's face.

But when the skin pulled along with their hand, their expression turned cold.

“W-What have you done?! He really is Song Baekpungsa! Even if you are a guest retainer, you used the Hao Sect to commit murder so recklessly! If that is the case, I will never overlook this!”

I asked the agitated Branch Head, “Did you bring Bone-Dissolving Powder?”

“I made myself clear. I have no intention of letting this matter pass...”

“We need Bone-Dissolving Powder to confirm that he is wearing a human-skin mask.”

“What are you...?”

My unwavering attitude made the Branch Head fall silent.

After hesitating for a moment, they eventually handed me the Bone-Dissolving Powder. I sprinkled a tiny amount over Song Baekpungsa's face.

Soon after...

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle.

White smoke rose, and the skin began curling up.

Then the skin forming his face peeled away, revealing a grotesque man beneath it, with parts of his nose and ears cut off.

“H-He really was not Song Baekpungsa?”

As though possessed, the Branch Head collapsed to the ground and stared blankly at me.

“...”

I understood well the shock that came from facing a demonic being's true identity for the first time, but I had no room to comfort them.

‘It would have been better if he had at least fought back.’

Even knowing Song Baekpungsa's true identity, I was overcome by immense mental fatigue.

Footnotes:

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