WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 385: Ambush (3)

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Drip. Drip.

Only the sound of falling blood echoed through the garden.

The golden radiance that had illuminated the surroundings as brightly as day now seemed like a lie. Even the moonlight had vanished, and dense darkness swallowed everything.

Splash.

I'd wondered what could possibly live in a pond filled with nothing but moss. A single goldfish poked its head out to inspect the intruder before slipping back beneath the water.

In the suffocating silence, I quietly exhaled and looked at Bang Sawon's legs.

Two shattered legs he had cut off with his own hands to reach me.

Whenever I saw traces like these, I found the enemy harder to understand.

Martial arts were tools for the basic will to live.

Just as more money and greater power could prolong one's life, stronger martial arts could do the same.

The stronger someone was, the stronger their will to live could be said to be.

But these people were different.

To them, greater power and internal energy were nothing more than tools for something other than their own lives.

They used their lives like firewood, meant to burn away and vanish.

As if that were only natural.

“Phew.”

After letting out a long breath, I used the Great Yang Palm to blast a small pit into the ground.

Then I put every trace of what had once been Bang Sawon into it.

After roughly concealing the evidence, I looked around.

Among the shattered liquor bottles, one intact bottle remained.

I gave it a shake. There was still quite a bit left.

I shouldn't drink if I wanted to prepare for another one of them to appear.

“...After all that shit, would they really come?”

The thought was brief, and my actions were swift.

I felt so foul that I wanted to scrub my mind clean somehow.

“Gah.”

The liquor was absurdly bitter.

It had no fragrance at all. It was harsh liquor meant for no purpose beyond getting drunk.

I didn't know whether Bang Sawon had been poor or simply enjoyed harsh liquor, but I had never drunk anything this potent, even during my time in the Sojeong Unit.

“...”

I considered throwing it away, then tipped it into my mouth again.

As a snack, I cursed one of the Five Ghost Demons who had impersonated Bang Sawon.

“No wonder he couldn't stay sane after drinking garbage like this. Idiot.”

Jegal Somyeong's death was three days away.

And I had only caught two of the Five Ghost Demons so far.

With Je Geumhak absent from this life, how would they make their move?

I thought about who among the Seven Demon Wisdom Lords could replace Je Geumhak, but no one came to mind.

The reason Je Geumhak had been able to step forward and kill Jegal Somyeong was simple.

Unlike the others, his demonic qi did not show on the surface.

The other demon lords would have no choice but to reveal their demonic qi, directly or indirectly. They couldn't infiltrate and kill Jegal Somyeong as Je Geumhak had.

That meant the Five Ghost Demons would carry out the assassination alone...

Could the remaining three succeed after two had died?

Or would they give up and return?

I stared at the mound of earth, darkened by blood.

“...”

For a moment, I clung to that faint hope, then shook my head.

Those bastards wouldn't abandon their mission over a trial like this.

They'd only devise something more vicious.

That made my task clear.

Moving even a moment sooner was the only way to prevent Jegal Somyeong's death.

Just as I rose, breaking the silence...

Twitch.

The hairs on my neck stood on end, and my gaze snapped toward the main gate.

Creeeak.

“...!”

I sensed a presence I shouldn't have been able to detect.

The same presence I had felt recently in Mukrim.

That horribly unpleasant presence made it hard to breathe.

Step. Step. Step.

A figure approached slowly, deliberately making footsteps despite being capable of concealing them.

As if taking a stroll, the figure looked around the crumbling garden.

A moment later, the moon emerged from behind the clouds, and its light revealed a masked man.

The masked man looked around, saw my face, and gave a small laugh.

“Weren't you waiting for me?”

The first rule of assassination was secrecy.

Carry out the operation without anyone noticing, then leave before anyone knew what had happened.

That was why, if the remaining Five Ghost Demons had sensed the battle at the Transcendent Manor, I had been certain they would not come.

To shake him, I asked the question that had caught the previous two off guard as well.

“This is the first time I've heard one of the Five Ghost Demons speak.”

I tightened my grip on the sword hilt and drew up the Three White Moon Heaven-Subduing Forms, intending to cut him down the instant he faltered.

But...

He showed no opening at all.

No, he spoke calmly, as if he had known already.

“So you really did know about us.”

“...!”

“The Demon Brain said as much. That you would know of our existence.”

Why was the Demon Brain suddenly coming up?

And what did he mean, they knew that I knew?

“Killing Second Spirit... no, even Bang Sawon was quite unexpected.”

When I remained silent, he asked another question.

“Are you an illegitimate child of the Shadow Demon Sect? Or just a deserter?”

I was about to curse at him, but stopped.

“I heard you made great contributions to destroying the Blood Demon Sect. Then you must truly be a descendant of the Shadow Demon Sect.”

I didn't know what was going on, but the man before me and the Demon Brain both seemed to be mistaken about me.

That beast Naeng Okhwan had said something similar before...

I had done my best to keep information contained, but somehow it seemed to have reached the Demonic Cult.

Then should I let them know that I was a White Path martial artist who hated them more than anyone?

Or should I use this to confuse them and draw out information instead?

My decision came quickly.

“Why does that matter now?”

I decided to make full use of his suspicion.

“...Then it is true. Are you really a descendant of the destroyed Shadow Demon Sect?”

Of all misunderstandings, they thought I was the descendant of a ruined demonic sect.

“I told you already. Why does that matter?”

Shing.

I drew the Scarlet Radiance Sword and raised my killing intent.

Awoooooo.

An ominous scream of unknown origin flowed out.

In the silent estate, only the red light spilling from the Scarlet Radiance Sword illuminated the surroundings with an unsettling glow.

Yet he showed no sign of alarm. He leisurely stroked his chin.

“Have you been hiding among White Path disciples all this time? Did you step forward for revenge because the Divine Cult appeared?”

I considered how to answer, then decided to keep it simple.

The Shadow Demon Sect and the Taeul Sect had both been destroyed by the Demonic Cult, after all.

“I'm sick to death of demonic beings. I feel like burning every last one of them.”

“Hmm... Is that so? Don't you think of the remaining descendants of the Shadow Demon Sect?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You don't seem to know much about the situation within the cult. The Shadow Demon Sect has barely clung to existence for one hundred and fifty years already.”

The man's empty gaze met mine.

“The Demon Brain said that the Blood Demon Sect's betrayal had been dealt with, so the Shadow Demon Sect would be restored this time.”

From what he said, the Shadow Demon Sect appeared to have been wiped out by the Blood Demon Sect for some reason.

And they seemed to think I was a descendant of the Shadow Demon Sect who had escaped.

Since the Blood Cult descended from the Blood Demon Sect, the story fit well enough.

I deliberately smiled coldly.

“How could I trust those who betrayed us once?”

The man tilted his head.

“Strange. Have you forgotten that resisting the Divine Cult can only end in death?”

I couldn't quite understand what he meant. What exactly were they planning to restore, and how?

“What exactly are you planning to restore, and how?”

“Perhaps everything that was lost, and more.”

I probed further in case I could learn something about a future I had not known, but no new information came out.

The man looked me up and down with a meaningful gaze.

“Do you intend to return to the cult?”

I thought I had done enough to dispel his suspicions. It was time to ask what I truly wanted to know.

“Then... do I simply follow you?”

“Hmm...”

“Or do you need help with this mission?”

“Do you know what the mission is?”

I remembered it exactly.

The operation Je Geumhak had named in my previous life was Turtle Hunt.

When I told him...

“Ha ha!”

The man suddenly burst into loud laughter.

What was that about...?

My brow furrowed at his strange reaction.

“Ah, forgive me. It's simply so astonishing. The Demon Brain truly is...”

As if he had laughed until tears came to his eyes, he lightly wiped the corner of one eye.

Then, in a voice far colder than before, he murmured.

“The Demon Brain told me this. If you offered to help when invited, then asked about the mission...”

His eyes flashed madly.

“I should kill you.”

His voice was colder than ice.

When I said nothing, he gave a mocking laugh.

“Isn't it astonishing? Descendant of the fallen Shadow Demon Sect.”

At his signal...

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Black figures began landing throughout the estate.

I had no idea what was happening, but I suddenly worried about Dang Seohui, whom I had sent to Jegal Somyeong.

What if I had tried to change history and led an innocent person to death instead?

‘Except that bastard Yong Soa, of course.’

I looked at the masked man and crooked a finger.

“If you're going to do it, hurry up. There's someone I'm worried about.”

#

The Chief Strategist's residence was near the Mantong Office.

It was not a grand pavilion. The department often worked late into the night, so they needed a place where people could at least catch a short nap.

The Chief Strategist had intended to use the sleeping quarters assigned to Martial Alliance scholars.

But...

“N-no... I mean, those quarters are too humble for the Chief Strategist.”

“Haha... They would certainly be uncomfortable...”

The scholars were the ones who were horrified.

They already spent their days uncomfortably working face-to-face with their superiors. They couldn't serve the ultimate superior, the Chief Strategist, even during the few moments they slept.

The scholars united and planned a small pavilion for the Chief Strategist to sleep in. After processing the matter faster than ever before, a small pavilion with a pond was built near the Mantong Office.

Yong Soa stood before that pond, staring impassively at the pavilion.

A stubborn argument continued within.

“What do you think you're doing? Get out at once!”

Jegal Somyeong, who rarely raised their voice over ordinary matters, shouted in fury.

Yet the small opponent, whose shadow in the wavering candlelight was just as small, boldly shouted back.

“Grandfather said I should copy every action of someone capable... that's what he said.”

“I should deal with that damned old Poison King!”

“The Chief Strategist should just do what they usually do... that's all.”

“...”

Seeing Jegal Somyeong's shadow tremble in the candlelight, Yong Soa tilted his head.

‘Is there wind? There shouldn't be.’

Then the door flew open, and a small figure in a blue-green robe was thrown... no, launched out of the pavilion.

The figure, about to fall dangerously onto the ground, twisted through the air in a strange motion, then landed smoothly as if sliding across the floor.

Swish.

A roar soon came from inside.

“If you come in here one more time, I'll make sure you can never set foot in the Mantong Office again! Remember that!”

Bang!

The door shut with enough force to seem as though it might break.

Dang Seohui, who had landed perfectly, stared at the dark pavilion with a sullen expression.

“Hmm... At this rate, I can't become a true hero.”

Yong Soa, who had watched the whole scene, spoke.

“...Why are you doing this? The Chief Strategist is not a toy.”

At his question, Dang Seohui looked up at him.

Then she quickly turned away, approached the pond, and crouched down.

Her cheeks puffed out in annoyance, Dang Seohui picked up a small branch and swirled it through the pond.

After a brief silence, she quietly asked, “Then why did Yong Soa come here?”

The question could have offended him, but Yong Soa answered readily.

“He is an uncertainty. His unexpected plans are a source of future instability.”

Drawn in by Dang Seohui's strange movements, crucian carp gathered around her branch. One climbed out of the water along the thin branch, opening and closing its mouth with a foolish expression.

Watching it, Yong Soa lightly flicked a finger.

The goldfish frolicking on the branch slipped and fell.

Splash.

The goldfish slipped back into the pond.

Dang Seohui glared sharply at Yong Soa.

Yet he answered in the same detached voice, his expression equally blank.

“Even small creatures are living beings. It is not right to torment them.”

“...”

Dang Seohui remained crouched there, looking at the pond.

From behind her small back came a question filled with clear confusion.

“Why are you doing pointless things?”

Pointless things.

Dang Seohui clenched the branch tightly in her hand.

“I also acknowledge that Junior Jin is an uncertainty.”

She did not give up and stirred the pond again.

“But Junior Jin's plans have always produced the best results, results that no one could imagine.”

“...”

Dang Seohui's hand eventually stopped, and her small but firm voice continued.

“Uncertainty brings imperfection.”

“...”

Dang Seohui stared straight at Yong Soa.

“Are you certain?”

Yong Soa did not avoid her direct gaze.

“I am not uncertain.”

“Were you certain at Demon Spirit Plateau, during the regular examination, and in Mukrim too?”

Certain... certainty.

Yong Soa silently watched Dang Seohui for a moment, then spoke.

“Those moments were not uncertain either.”

“I admit that. But it is also true that Jin Sowoon found better answers.”

“...”

Dang Seohui, who had been stirring the pond with her branch, picked up a fist-sized pebble and began tapping it into the air with the branch.

Then she struck the stone as it hung in the air.

Thump.

Countless cracks instantly appeared across the pebble, reducing it to small fragments that fell into Dang Seohui's hand.

Clatter. Clatter.

Dang Seohui rolled the pieces around in her palm like a child who had found a toy, then smiled softly.

“And... playing with Junior Jin is fun too.”

“Is it only for fun?”

Dang Seohui shook her head.

“I don't think what Junior Jin does is so pointless...”

As she spoke, Dang Seohui's gaze suddenly turned toward a patch of darkness.

Yong Soa followed her gaze.

He had sensed what Dang Seohui sensed.

“...That is a rare, filthy presence.”

Clatter. Clatter.

The pebbles moving in Dang Seohui's hand grew smaller and smaller.

“They came all the way here... They're dangerous people.”

“I agree.”

“Do you also admit that Junior Jin was right?”

“...”

Even in this urgent moment, Dang Seohui looked at Yong Soa, but he did not turn his head.

Sensing the filthy, sinister presence, Dang Seohui straightened and steadied her stance.

Even so, she did not forget to add one more remark.

“That is cowardly of you, unlike Yong Soa.”

Yong Soa remained silent.

Footnotes:

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