The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 389

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 389: Ambush (7)

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Who would deliver a letter this way?

At first, I considered whether it was a prank, but I dismissed that theory for two reasons.

If someone had meant to mock the epithet Black Flame Dragon, they would not have left a letter containing nothing but an incomprehensible string of numbers.

The second reason was the delivery method.

[If I return, do not deliver this. If I do not return, deliver it.]

The sender had expected from the beginning that they might not return. No, that they might be unable to return.

The fact that they had sent me a letter in such a cipher meant they were likely someone I had dealt with before.

Thinking over the people around me lately, most had entered Wuhan, but no one had left it.

In other words, it was unlikely that the sender had gone outside Wuhan.

‘Then...’

Of the people who had entered Wuhan, someone who could not return to this inn.

That was the person who had left behind this package and letter.

There was only one person who fit all those conditions.

‘Dam Ak!’

The only person who had entered Wuhan yet had circumstances preventing him from returning to the inn was the Black Alliance’s Chief Strategist.

And he had specifically used the epithet Black Flame Dragon.

Why, then, had he left this letter behind?

‘He called for me.’

He wanted me to enter the mystic formation he had set up within the Martial Alliance.

The problem was that even if I understood his intention, I could not do as he wanted.

If he wanted me to enter the formation, he should have written down how to get in properly. What was I supposed to do with nothing but an incomprehensible list of numbers?

‘I never took him for this kind of person, but he’s terribly unprepared.’

That was the problem with geniuses. If they could do something, they assumed everyone else could as well.

I refused to be cowed by the oppressive ways of geniuses and searched for a solution.

As it happened, someone in Wuhan was almost as brilliant as Dam Ak.

And we were very close.

“...Brother...”

Even so, I felt bad about waking him in the middle of the night.

“...Brother.”

Jegal Cheongi approached me with half-lidded eyes, then buried himself in my arms and stood there blankly.

“Cheongi, are you asleep?”

“...No, Brother.”

He answered slowly and rubbed his eyes.

Then he smiled brightly.

“Did you come because you missed your little brother in the middle of the night?”

His eyes were so full of expectation that I nodded before I could stop myself.

“Y-Yeah. That’s right.”

“I’m touched, Brother.”

Cheongi buried his face in my chest again.

This brat was not still asleep, was he?

This was rather urgent.

I patted his back and roused him from his drowsiness.

“Cheongi, I’m sorry, but... could you take a look at this?”

“What is it?”

When I held out the leather sheet, life gradually returned to his dazed eyes.

“Why do you have this, Brother?”

“You know what it is?”

“This is Radiant Moon Numerology.”

“Radiant Moon Numerology?”

Cheongi nodded vigorously and began explaining.

“Mystic formations twist the natural order to create illusions. There are mathematical principles commonly used in those formations.”

“So this is one of those systems?”

“The Jegal Clan mainly combines roughly five systems, such as Five Elements Numerology, Yin-Yang Numerology, and Heaven-and-Earth Numerology. Radiant Moon Numerology is commonly used in the Black Path martial world when constructing mystic formations or sword formations.”

Just as I had expected.

Dam Ak had definitely sent this letter.

Did geniuses truly understand one another?

“Then can you use this to find the Living Gate within the mystic formation?”

“What kind of mystic formation is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“...”

That was because the area had become forbidden ground after the attack on Bongan Hall.

“Even mystic formations based on the same numerical system can be laid out in entirely different ways. Most people also tend to hide the foundational numerology in the deepest part of the formation...”

So he was saying it could not be done.

A small sigh escaped me, and Cheongi cautiously asked, “Must you... enter it?”

Honestly, it was difficult to judge.

If Dam Ak had laid down the formation, he could have dismantled it himself.

If it could not be easily dismantled, he would not have been able to leave such a clue behind.

Then why was he asking me to enter when he could come out on his own?

In both my previous life and this one, he had been a man who prepared thoroughly for every possibility.

The package delivered by the waiter was likely one of the many arrangements he had prepared.

Which meant that Dam Ak must have...

‘Foreseen a situation where I would absolutely need to enter.’

I was curious.

He knew of the Demonic Cult. He knew what direction the Black Alliance and the Martial Alliance needed to take. Why had he called me inside?

Yes, whatever the reason.

“I have to go in.”

I had to enter.

Cheongi stared into my resolute eyes, then nodded.

“Then there is one way.”

“What is it?”

He took a moment to steady his breath, then looked me straight in the eye.

“You enter with me.”

“...”

Uh... that was a little difficult.

What I was about to do was extremely dangerous.

“...”

Though, now that I thought about it, there had never been a time when what I did was not dangerous.

Still, this was especially dangerous.

I had to sneak into a forbidden area of the Martial Alliance, and I was bringing Jegal Cheongi along.

Taking my martial junior along to do something bad was morally questionable, but the greater issue was that the Chief Strategist was Cheongi’s grandfather.

“Is there no other way?”

Cheongi blinked at me and answered calmly.

“If you memorize all thirty mystic formations and about twenty sword formations based on Radiant Moon Numerology, it might be a little less dangerous. But...”

He was remarkably logical when saying something could not be done.

Memorizing them was not a problem, but it would take time.

And it was not as if I could leisurely analyze the formation while entering it.

Hmm, what should I do...?

No matter how much I thought it over, there was only one answer.

I gently gripped his shoulders.

“This may be a little dangerous, and it may feel a little illegal.”

“Surely... you are not planning to raid a Black Path faction? You cannot! I’ll work harder and earn more money for you, Brother.”

“...”

What did this kid think I was?

No, what did all my martial juniors think I was?

“It’s not that.”

“Ah, that hurts, Brother...”

Ah. It seemed I had unconsciously tightened my grip on his shoulders.

I quietly let go, then gave his head a few light pats.

“The place we need to go is the Martial Alliance.”

“Could it be Bongan Hall?”

“Yes.”

“Then it must be connected to something important.”

Cheongi nodded as if he understood something.

‘What? What does he think he understands?’

As I tilted my head, he clenched his small fist.

“I understand. I will go with you, Brother.”

“No, what exactly do you understand?”

“To be honest, I don’t know what you intend to do. But whatever it is, I know you would not do something wrong.”

“...”

Had he not just suspected me of planning a robbery?

“Please wait a moment. I’ll change into stealth clothes and return.”

“Wait, you have stealth clothes...?”

I did not know why he even owned stealth clothes, but Cheongi left before hearing my answer.

I thought about it for a moment, then gave up.

There was only one answer now anyway.

‘We’re trying to stop a war. The Chief Strategist will forgive this much, right?’

Jegal Somyeong’s chilly gaze flashed through my mind, but I quickly pushed it away.

The place I headed to with Jegal Cheongi, who had changed into stealth attire, was not the Martial Alliance, but the lodging. His stealth attire was just black martial clothes and a face mask, though I had told him to remove the mask because it would stand out.

“Were we not going to Bongan Hall?”

“Security is tight.”

“I have learned a little stealth art as well.”

I knew. His swordsmanship was also better than that of most people.

But the Martial Alliance’s security was at its highest alert.

Everyone was waiting for someone, anyone, to violate their perimeter and come charging in.

There was no way we could easily get through such strict security, and getting caught would certainly bring disaster.

We needed a safer method.

Creak.

When I opened the door to the lodging, Dang Seohui was sprawled over the table, drooling as she slept.

I carefully approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Tap.

Though Dang Seohui had seemed asleep, her other hand moved with astonishing speed and seized mine. At the same time, three large needles slipped from between the fingers of that hand and, before I knew it, were aimed directly at my vital acupoints.

Gulp.

I could feel the prickling edge of the needles against my throat.

“Mmm... Junior Jin?”

Dang Seohui looked at me again through eyes that had barely opened.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“Yawn... I thought you were an attacker.”

Being treated like an intruder in my own lodging.

It was not important, so I let it go and spoke as she put away the needles.

“I need your help, Senior Dang.”

“...I’m sleepy.”

She turned her head away and rested it on the table again.

Would straightforward words not work on her?

“It is time to become a true hero.”

“...”

Dang Seohui flinched and lifted her head. Her eyes were still half-closed.

“Yawn... I am already a true hero.”

She started lowering her head again.

I had brought something for exactly this.

Rustle.

Dang Seohui’s ears perked up, and her eyes flew open.

“...What is that?”

“Have you heard of Pak Family Snow Cakes?”

“P-Pak Family...! The ones that always sell out because they run out of ingredients...”

I nodded brightly.

“Yes. Those very Snow Cakes.”

Dang Seohui’s eyes began to sparkle.

I quickly raised the Snow Cakes out of her reach.

“I-I would like some.”

Dang Seohui rose onto her tiptoes and strained to reach them.

I deliberately lowered the Snow Cakes until they briefly brushed her fingers.

“Y-You are giving them...”

Then I raised them high again.

“Not for free.”

“Th-Then...?”

“Help me with something.”

“What do you need?”

“I need to enter Bongan Hall.”

“...”

Dang Seohui’s eyes turned cold.

“Are you trying to sneak in?”

“Yes. I must enter secretly.”

“Breaking the law is not allowed.”

“A true hero must sometimes do what others point fingers at. All for the greater cause.”

“...”

Dang Seohui’s gaze wavered as she fell into deep thought.

Then Jegal Cheongi quietly muttered, “...Brother, isn’t she the White-Handed Divine Maiden? Will such absurd persuasion really work on someone like her?”

“Cheongi. What matters when persuading someone is not the logic. It is the emotions you connect with.”

“What does that...”

“Watch.”

I deliberately moved my hand and made the Snow Cakes rustle.

Dang Seohui looked back and forth between the Snow Cakes and my face. At last, she nodded with a firm expression.

“This is all for the martial world...”

As Cheongi stared in disbelief, I quickly answered, “The martial world will never forget Hero Dang’s sacrifice!!”

Before I knew it, the Snow Cakes had slipped from my hand and into Dang Seohui’s.

After entering the Martial Alliance, we headed for the Outer Compound.

Security was tight, but no one stopped us with Dang Seohui leading the way.

Before reaching Bongan Hall, we hid in the shadows away from the others’ eyes.

I left Jegal Cheongi behind, since he was comparatively weaker at concealing his presence, and Dang Seohui and I approached the wall around Bongan Hall.

Dang Seohui took out no fewer than three mother-of-pearl bottles.

“...Senior Dang, do not kill them. They are allies.”

Dang Seohui gave me a displeased look.

“I need to use Forgetting Herb and Paralysis Herb together. If they realize they fell asleep, they will notice that someone infiltrated the place.”

Tch. I had tried to teach a fish how to swim.

I kept my mouth firmly shut.

Sniff, sniff.

Dang Seohui closed her eyes, raised her nose high as if catching a scent, then acted as though she were sensing something invisible in the air.

Soon, she slowly opened the mother-of-pearl bottles.

Ssssss.

White smoke flowed from the three bottles over Dang Seohui’s reddened hand and began spreading through the area around Bongan Hall.

The eyelids of those watching their surroundings with stern eyes began to droop.

Then their bodies stiffened, and they shut their eyes where they stood.

“It is done.”

After patting Dang Seohui on the head, I called Cheongi over and prepared to climb the wall into Bongan Hall.

Whoosh.

Dang Seohui followed us.

“We will handle it from here.”

“How will you get back out? Will you come out while alerting everyone?”

That was true.

My hesitation was brief, and I moved even faster.

At this point, it would be ridiculous to insist that it was a secret and refuse.

I gave a light nod and moved again.

Inside Bongan Hall, Alliance members had somehow fallen asleep while remaining perfectly upright.

Having only ever seen people collapse to the ground after being struck by sleep poison, the sight was truly extraordinary.

‘A true successor to the Poison King’s teachings...’

After passing through that strange scene, we stepped outside to the annex.

Whoooosh.

The mystic formation in question was operating, spreading black mist.

“Can you do it?”

“...”

Knowing time was short, Jegal Cheongi did not even have the chance to take out paper, brushes, ink, and inkstone. Instead, he pulled out several strange tools and began muttering.

Not long afterward, he parted a section of the mist with his hand.

The moment he took a step forward...

Shhk.

Part of the mist cleared away, revealing an entrance.

“From now on, you must follow only me.”

With Jegal Cheongi in the lead, we carefully began crossing the formation.

I had to stop Dang Seohui several times when she kept trying to touch things.

The darkness surrounding us and the fact that we could not see even an inch ahead gave it a feeling similar to the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation.

Cheongi alternated between checking his tools and the leather letter, carefully opening a path step by step.

How long had it been?

“Brother, we have arrived.”

We had reached the exit of the mystic formation.

“I’ll go first.”

Preparing for every possible situation, I stepped forward.

Whoosh.

The surrounding mist mysteriously receded, revealing the annex before us.

And at its center...

“...You are late, Young Master Jin.”

Dam Ak, who looked somewhat thinner, stood with his hands behind his back and stared at me expressionlessly.

I felt relieved and glad that he was alive, and I was about to approach him.