The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 398

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 398: Personal Revenge (8)

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Few people moved through the entertainment district after sunrise.

Those who did were mostly attendants cleaning up after people who had enjoyed a heated night, or waking those who had collapsed in the street, too drunk to stand, and sending them home.

Having worked hard all night, the employees of respectable entertainment establishments were now ready for bed.

At this hour, when everyone was closing their doors to get some rest, a figure dressed in clothing never seen in the entertainment district entered the mouth of an alley.

An attendant sweeping the alley tapped a colleague on the shoulder.

“Hey... over there.”

The man recognized the stranger’s attire and turned pale as he covered his colleague’s mouth.

“Shh! Look carefully! That’s a Shaolin Temple robe!”

“Good heavens... I nearly got into serious trouble.”

No matter how quietly they spoke, the street was so empty that the attendants’ voices echoed all around them.

Hyesung’s wrinkled scalp flushed red. Pretending not to hear a thing, he clenched his teeth and exercised every bit of patience he had.

‘Of all places...’

He understood.

Having openly defied the Mantong Office and the Alliance Leader’s Hall, it made sense to hide in a place like this for a while to avoid encountering anyone from the Martial Alliance.

Even now, Jegal Somyeong was turning the Elders’ Council upside down within the Martial Alliance.

Still, he could not help wishing they had chosen somewhere a little more respectable.

When Hyesung entered a tavern...

“Ah! Welcome.”

An attendant with bloodshot eyes staggered over and greeted him.

“I’ll show you in.”

The previous night’s mess had apparently been thoroughly cleared away. The tavern had been cleaned and was being aired out.

Following the attendant to the rear of the tavern, Hyesung found Qingxiu Zhenren standing with his hands behind his back, gazing at a pond with a pavilion at his back.

“...Welcome.”

“Did you get any sleep last night?”

At Hyesung’s question, Qingxiu Zhenren watched the carp swimming through the pond before answering.

“I’ll sleep soundly once I confirm that bastard is dead.”

“...I see.”

“To be more precise, I couldn’t sleep.”

Hyesung swallowed a groan.

It had taken longer than expected.

Originally, they had expected Dam Ak to die inside Wuhan.

Yet not only was he alive, he was openly trying to leave Hubei Province.

That had complicated matters even further.

Even so, Hyesung had no choice but to deliver the additional bad news.

“The Chief Strategist has learned the truth.”

For an instant, Qingxiu Zhenren’s body stiffened.

Killing intent briefly flowed from him before he composed himself and spoke as if nothing had happened.

“So that is why the Cheonmok Pavilion Master could not come.”

Hyesung’s expression only darkened further.

“...Things are proceeding differently from what we expected.”

“Don’t worry. The Beggar Sect is already moving...”

“The Chief Strategist knows! It’s only a matter of time before the Martial Alliance Leader learns as well!”

Snap.

Hyesung abruptly closed his mouth.

Qingxiu Zhenren had opened a pure white fan and was leisurely enjoying the breeze.

After his brow twitched for a moment, Hyesung caught sight of Qingxiu Zhenren’s cold, gleaming eyes behind the fan and could not easily break the silence.

After a while, Qingxiu Zhenren asked softly.

“Are you afraid of them?”

“What nonsense...”

“Then why are you showing such unease?”

“...Ahem.”

Embarrassed, Hyesung fell silent. Qingxiu Zhenren slowly moved and sat across from him.

Trickle.

A fragrant scent drifted from the teacups set out in place of liquor cups.

“A war will break out in the end. After this unavoidable war is over... how do you think historians will record us?”

“...”

As if giving Hyesung time to answer, Qingxiu Zhenren slowly took a sip of tea.

Hyesung could not readily open his mouth.

“Those who blindly obeyed the commands of a rotten Martial Alliance and stood by as it fell into ruin. Or...”

Qingxiu Zhenren smiled as he continued.

“Those who removed the brain of evil before the war and brought peace to the world. How would you like to be remembered, Master Hyesung?”

“...”

“Do not be afraid, Master Hyesung.”

“...I am not afraid.”

Hyesung frowned as he looked at Qingxiu Zhenren’s composed face. The man had no doubt the Orthodox Society would win.

“I am only concerned that Jin Sowoon has become involved. He is impossible to predict.”

Jin Sowoon.

At the mention of the name that irritated him most, a crack briefly appeared in Qingxiu Zhenren’s expression.

He quickly regained his composure and slowly ran a hand over his teacup.

“...That is why I sent Hyeonyeong myself.”

“Ho... Is that so?”

Qingxiu Zhenren’s eyes flashed.

“That child will not be swayed by wickedness like Ilgak.”

“...!”

At the mention of his disciple’s name, Hyesung’s face turned crimson.

Ever since Ilgak, once considered an outstanding rising talent, had stopped listening to him, Hyesung’s own prestige had plummeted into the dirt.

“T-that child has not been swayed by wickedness!”

“Then why did he volunteer for White Wolf Pavilion?”

“...Ahem.”

Hyesung’s face reddened so deeply that even his ears and scalp flushed.

At that point, Hyesung was too irritated to maintain his unmoving mind.

No matter how little Ilgak listened to him, Ilgak was still a direct disciple who had learned Shaolin Temple’s Muscle-Tendon Change Classic.

Parents did not call their children unfilial just because an adolescent rebelled.

They only blamed the friends who had led the child astray.

Ilgak was only lost for a while.

“It is true that Ilgak is going through a period of confusion. But everything that has happened is because of that Jin Sowoon. He is that cunning and dangerous.”

“...”

Qingxiu Zhenren looked at Hyesung as though he were ridiculous.

“I also admit that he is no ordinary person. But is there any need to elevate your opponent just to hide your disciple’s shortcomings?”

“...”

Hyesung’s lips trembled, but he could not continue.

Someone was rushing through the garden.

“Who is it? I said not to let anyone in!”

At Hyesung’s sharp voice ringing through the courtyard, the approaching person stopped.

The terrified figure hurriedly bowed.

“I-I am from the Beggar Sect.”

“The Beggar Sect?”

“Yes. Something urgent happened during the pursuit, and I came to report it.”

“A report? Have you dealt with Dam Ak?”

“No.”

“No?”

Then why had they come all this way to deliver a message? At a time when every moment mattered.

By now, they should have identified which carriage Dam Ak had entered and concentrated their forces.

As questions and anger tangled in his head, an unexpected statement came from the Beggar Sect member.

“Among the fleeing carriages... someone used a military spear art.”

“The military?”

Qingxiu Zhenren and Hyesung’s eyes widened at the completely unexpected news.

The Beggar Sect member hurriedly elaborated.

“Someone used the Yuk Family Spear Forms.”

“The Yuk Family Spear Forms... You mean the Beijing Yuk Family?!”

“Yes.”

Qingxiu Zhenren and Hyesung exchanged complicated looks.

“The Beijing Yuk Family...”

The unexpected name had left their minds blank.

“...Why would the military involve itself in martial world affairs?”

Since ancient times, it had been an unwritten rule that the authorities did not interfere in martial world affairs.

In return, the martial world did not interfere in the authorities’ affairs.

But the military was somewhat different.

The military obeyed only imperial orders, and the one who ultimately commanded the imperial court was the Emperor.

“Dam Ak was said to have served the imperial court before. Do you think it is related to that?”

At Hyesung’s words, Qingxiu Zhenren quickly covered Hyesung’s mouth.

“He did not serve the imperial court for long. It may only be a deception.”

The Beggar Sect member interrupted.

“We are reporting this only after cross-checking it. It was definitely the Yuk Family Spear Forms.”

At the Beggar Sect member’s certainty, Hyesung began pressing Qingxiu Zhenren.

“They say it is certain. What will we do now?”

“Nothing changes. If he had been so important from the beginning, would the imperial court have simply watched him go to the Black Alliance?”

“...”

Hyesung knew.

Qingxiu Zhenren’s words were only wishful thinking.

It was not the first time the imperial court’s whims had turned the martial world upside down.

But they had already come too far to turn back.

He could not carelessly add anything more.

“Um... what should we do about the pursuit?”

“What do you mean, what should we do?”

“The Taeul Sect carriage and the carriage carrying the person who used the Yuk Family Spear Forms are heading in different directions.”

“Pursue both carriages.”

“We do not have enough people for that.”

Qingxiu Zhenren deeply furrowed his brow at the Beggar Sect member’s words.

Still, there was no other way.

“...The Orthodox Society will send people.”

“Understood.”

Even after the Beggar Sect member left the garden, neither man spoke.

Their thoughts had become terribly complicated.

The pursuers saw the Yuk Family Spear Forms, panicked as though they had seen a goblin, and disappeared without a trace.

Thanks to that, we were able to cross Horyeong Mountain around the time night fell.

“Ugh... Sitting in a carriage all day has made my whole body stiff.”

Dam Ak finished a bowl of meat soup in front of the fire, then leisurely stretched and voiced his complaint.

Who was supposed to be the one on the run here?

“Can I have more?”

Dang Seohui and Jegal Cheongi, who had ridden in the carriage with Dam Ak, did not complain once, unlike the unruly Dam Ak.

Learn something from our kids, you Black Path heavyweight.

I nodded while stroking Dang Seohui’s hair.

“Of course.”

The moment I finished speaking, Dang Seohui and Jegal Cheongi hurriedly dipped wooden ladles into the pot and shared the food amicably.

Watching them, Dam Ak shifted his gaze toward me.

“It seems like there haven’t been any pursuers since this afternoon. What did you do?”

“It’s classified, so I can’t tell you.”

“How petty.”

Hah. What a ridiculous thing to say.

“Is the pursuit over now?”

Not a chance.

They may have been startled by the Yuk Family Spear Forms, but the relentlessly persistent Orthodox Society would never give up here.

Their obsession with justice was no different from the fixation demonic beings had on blood.

I reminded Dam Ak to stay alert.

“Don’t let your guard down until we reach Anhui Province.”

“I see. Yawn.”

...No, I said not to relax so peacefully...

“Then may I sleep first? Perhaps because I never learned martial arts, I tire easily.”

“...”

It seemed he had swallowed my words whole. Before I knew it, Dam Ak had flopped onto the ground and closed his eyes.

I walked over to the Taeul Sect members sitting a short distance away.

Except for the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Brothers, most of them had gathered in one place and were quietly sharing a meal.

“Is the food all right?”

“Have you eaten?”

At the unfamiliar Sect Leader’s words, I quickly nodded.

“Still, come over and rest for a while. I saw you fighting alone earlier, so you must be exhausted.”

Ah, as expected, the unfamiliar Sect Leader is the only one who cares about me.

Father, why can’t you show such kindness?

I looked at Father with a desperate wish in my eyes.

“...What are you staring at?”

Amazing. Whose father is this? I really feel sorry for his child.

“Why did you insist on coming along? I told you to go with Estate Lord Wang.”

“You brat! I was once among the five strongest martial artists in Taeul Sect.”

That was true. As the Outer Hall Lord, he had thrown his weight around more than once or twice to stop money from leaking away.

“Ah... but that was in the past.”

I had expected Father to fly into a rage at my jab, but contrary to my expectations, his expression became serious.

“I have to come with you. I need to see with my own eyes just how dangerous the things you have been doing are.”

“...I haven’t been doing anything that dangerous.”

“Hmph! A swindler’s words are more trustworthy than yours.”

Seriously, what father says that to his own son?

“Don’t worry, Brother. I’ll protect the Hall Lord.”

Saryeon stepped in at Soso’s words.

“Not Brother. Eldest Senior Brother!”

What was this? Soso was smiling, and Saryeon had no expression at all, so why was I the one feeling afraid?

“E-Eldest Senior Brother... I will also do my best, however little I may be able to contribute.”

Yuseong, who had been sitting quietly beside them, lowered his head with a flushed face. I stroked his hair.

“All right. Thank you for looking out for him.”

I did not know how much Soso had improved, but with Saryeon and Yuseong here, I did not think anything too dangerous would happen. That was why I agreed to Father coming with us.

I did not know how much attention the carriage carrying the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Brothers would draw, but eventually the Taeul Sect members here would need to draw attention themselves.

I could only hope that no one would be seriously injured in the process.

Perhaps my feelings had been conveyed.

The unfamiliar Sect Leader patted my shoulder with his firm hand.

“Don’t worry too much. Taeul Sect has finished its business in Wuhan and is returning to Hefei. No one has any cause or reason to block our path.”

Was this what it meant for hearts to be in sync?

The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Brothers and Saryeon had always been with me, but I had still felt crushingly alone at every turn.

Sometimes, the burden I carried on my back felt too heavy.

Yet at this moment, the thought that I was with Taeul Sect filled me with strength.

Even if the entire Orthodox Society came charging at us, I would not be afraid.

The unfamiliar Sect Leader’s hand on my shoulder gradually tightened.

“If they stand in our way...”

A rough, imposing aura poured out around him.