WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 410: The Reason to Live (4)
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It had only been one sichen, but my condition was completely different after finishing my qi circulation.
The wounds that had refused to stop bleeding had healed considerably, and some of my depleted internal energy had returned.
“Young Master Jin, just what are you? I have never seen anyone recover like this before.”
It was a little uncomfortable that Dam Ak had watched me recover from right beside me.
I calmly shrugged.
“This is what happens when you learn martial arts.”
Dam Ak’s furrowed brow showed no sign of relaxing, but what better answer was there for someone ignorant of martial arts?
“As the Black Alliance’s strategist, I have read countless martial manuals. Yet among the arts that teach methods of caring for one’s body, I have never seen one that grants recovery like yours.”
“That’s because you’re a leading figure in the Black Path martial world, Strategist Dam. You’ve only seen Black Path martial arts. Traditional White Path martial arts are naturally like this.”
“...”
What was he going to do about it if I said so?
Everyone knew the martial arts of the Nine Sects One Gang and Five Great Clans, but only those within them truly understood their principles and effects.
As we spoke, I could sense the jackals gradually gathering again.
Didn’t they ever get tired?
When I tried to rise, Dam Ak abruptly stood and moved behind me.
I stared at him in disbelief.
“What are you doing?”
“I was going to get on your back.”
“Ha. Do I look like a horse you can ride around? You said we weren’t pressed for time!”
“Ah... Walking is difficult.”
“...?”
Seriously, had he been riding on my back all this time simply because he did not want to walk?
I was still dumbfounded by the sight of him pouting and grumbling when a welcome sound reached us.
Screee!
The cry of the courier hawk sent by the Hao Sect.
I quickly took out the Black Token. The Iron Eagle, which had been diving straight down, spread its wings before me and lightly settled on my shoulder.
After stroking its head, I checked the letter tied to its ankle.
“...Heh heh.”
The moment I read the news, I could not hide my pleased smile.
“What could possibly make you smile like that?”
What could it be?
“Heh heh...”
“Young Master Jin, why are you laughing like a villain? You’re making me nervous.”
A villain? Who did the true villain of the current martial world think he was calling a villain?
Either way, it was welcome news. News that would let me wipe away all my pent-up anger in a single stroke.
#
“They said they’ll meet us at Eunhyeon.”
While we were traveling toward Anhui Province, Dam Ak received a letter as well.
The people waiting in Anhui had sent word that they would come as far as Eunhyeon to meet us.
Dam Ak suggested we wait for them, but I insisted on continuing onward.
Moving was more appropriate for the situation, but above all...
“Walking is difficult...”
I didn’t want to be your guardian anymore. I was sick of being both your guardian and your sedan chair!
“There!”
“Get them!”
Just as I was about to hoist Dam Ak onto my back, around twenty martial artists who had clearly been sent by the Orthodox Society blocked our path.
Judging from the emblems on their clothing, they appeared to belong to the Cheongjin Sect.
I could only tilt my head.
‘But the Cheongjin Sect isn’t even a Wudang Sect lay sect.’
It had been founded by someone from the White Sword Association, a Wudang Sect lay martial sect. More accurately, it was a lay sect founded by a lay sect.
In both influence and history, it was only slightly better than the Taeul Sect of my previous life.
“Stop!”
They told me to stop, so I stopped.
Did they really think they could threaten me by blocking my way like this?
When I obediently halted, their swords pointed at Dam Ak.
“If you do not wish to die, hand over that man.”
“If you resist, we will show no mercy.”
Did they not know the Taeul Sect was one of the One Hundred Eight Peaks? Or had they never heard my name?
“...”
I stood before them without even drawing my sword.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Jin Sowoon, the Black Flame Dragon.”
“...Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect.”
I corrected their misinformation, but they did not seem interested in listening.
“Jin Sowoon... I have heard much of your wicked reputation. Stop acting as a spy, surrender to the White Path, and repent...”
“Pfft!”
Dam Ak burst out laughing in the middle of the serious atmosphere.
When sharp gazes turned toward him, he waved his hands.
“Ah, forgive me. I should have held it in... Pwahaha!”
The solemn mood shattered in an instant.
There was no point trying to restore it now.
With a sigh, I glared at them.
They had been getting on my nerves for a while.
“Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect is clearly part of the White Path, you bastards!”
Rumble!
The energy of the Mad Heaven Divine Palm gathered in my hand and shook violently, mirroring my feelings.
“You should get at least one thing right, whether it’s knowing your place or knowing the facts!”
Kwakakakakakakakakakakakakakaboom!
“Aaaargh!”
“Urgh!”
“Gaaah!”
The storm-like Mad Heaven Divine Palm swept through the area. The Cheongjin Sect disciples were sent flying in every direction, their arms twisted as they vomited blood.
“Young Master Jin, if you attack so flamboyantly, aren’t you basically telling everyone we’re here?”
“If the Black Alliance’s people arrive, I won’t be able to take revenge. I need the pursuers to get here quickly.”
“Revenge? What are you suddenly talking about?”
Dam Ak asked again, but I did not have time to answer.
The stragglers had begun charging in after seeing the Mad Heaven Divine Palm.
“Why do you keep ignoring my questions?”
Dam Ak asked again from behind me in a sullen voice.
Did this man not realize that his life was in imminent danger?
“Young Master Jin is so relaxed. Why would I need to be nervous?”
Fuck, that startled me. Did he have mind-reading abilities or something?
I had no time to dwell on that and fixed my gaze ahead.
Tatatatatatak!
I gathered the swords stabbing toward me with Lotus, then pulled them in all at once.
“W-What?!”
“My sword!”
I sent the weapons hanging in the air straight back to their owners.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Argh!”
“Cough!”
I did not know whether every weapon found its proper owner, but I returned one to each of them fairly.
“Urgh...”
Oh, the one with a spear stuck in their thigh might feel a little cheated.
I kicked off the ground and rushed forward, breaking their arms and legs one by one.
Maybe it was because strength had returned to my body. Their bones snapped cleanly like fish bones.
“Ghk... Aaaah...!”
“W-Wait!”
“Ah!”
They stared at me in disbelief, then watched their allies’ limbs break one after another and could not hide their shock.
Naturally, I used the Flying Dragon Claw to pull back anyone who tried to flee and broke their bones too.
“S-Surrender...”
“What surrender?”
“Gaaah!”
Arms and legs broke like hollow stalks. One after another, people began foaming at the mouth and passing out because they could not bear the pain.
“Isn’t this too cruel? They are already unable to fight.”
Dam Ak, who had hidden safely behind me the entire time, groaned as he watched the terrible scene.
What was this man saying? Was he really from the Black Path?
Feeling the bones crack beneath my hands, I answered.
“They were trying to kill us... Why are this bastard’s bones so hard?! Hup!”
“...”
“They had their bones broken instead of losing their lives. At this rate, they’ll bow toward wherever we are every day for the next three years.”
“...You finally answered my question.”
Oops. I was busy, so excuse me.
As I dealt with the stragglers, the real beggars I had left at Jukho Mountain appeared as well.
Their skills were no different from the other stragglers, so I broke one arm and leg each.
“Gaaah!”
I gently tapped one of them on the head with my foot as they screamed in pain.
“Hey. Start every day by bowing toward wherever I am each morning.”
“...You crazy bastard! What kind of bullshit are you saying?!”
The beggar clutched their broken arm and screamed in rage. I gave them a bright smile and explained my reasoning.
“I spared your life and broke your arm, so won’t begging be easier now?”
“...You crazy bastard, we don’t beg! You crazy bastard!”
As I dealt with the beggars, the people I had been waiting for finally appeared.
“You came.”
I struck the back of the struggling beggar’s neck, knocking them out, then rose to my feet.
The middle-aged man at the head of the force twitched his brow.
“You were waiting for us here?”
“I can’t let someone wrong me and get away with it.”
“You have lost your mind.”
The Fierce Tiger Unit and its Unit Leader, Myeongjin.
Fortunately, that madman Hyeonyeong had not come.
I let out a faint scoff as I looked at them.
“Did you think I fled because I was afraid of the Fierce Tiger Unit, the weakest unit of the White Cloud Unit?”
“What?”
Those who had reached the Absolute Realm could not easily face a great sect as individuals, no matter how formidable they might be.
The strength of a sect that had carried on its traditions for centuries was the martial world itself.
That was right. It was the fundamental reason the unreasonable structure of the Orthodox Society, White Path Society, and Twelve Peak Alliance had remained unchanged for centuries, even as it oppressed individuals.
The reason I had not confronted them head-on.
“Justification. I did not have justification.”
Even with justification, a human could not contend with a mountain or the sea.
It would be different if another mountain stood behind them.
“So you are saying you would not have fled if you had justification?”
Myeongjin growled in a low voice.
“Then why do you think I’m waiting here?”
If things went wrong because I was too harsh, they would eventually find an excuse to pressure and crush the Taeul Sect.
“Ha! Running around with a Black Path man has driven you mad.”
I took out the letter I had received that morning.
“I learned something very interesting this morning.”
“...”
“An order was issued from midnight two days ago to restrain anyone carrying out unreported martial action throughout Hubei and Anhui Province.”
“So what?”
Myeongjin and the Fierce Tiger Unit’s faces turned ashen. It seemed they already knew.
“There is even a proviso stating that summary judgment is permitted for those who refuse to comply.”
This was why I had waited at Eunhyeon despite Anhui Province being so close.
It was not often that I had justification like this, with a mountain, the Martial Alliance, standing behind me.
Was that not the real charm of a snake pit?
“You think that order will give you power? Ha!”
A deep sneer remained on Myeongjin’s lips.
“You have gained a little fame and now think the world belongs to you?”
Did I think the world belonged to me?
“I want to ask you the opposite. Do you think this world belongs to the Wudang Sect?”
I drew the Scarlet Radiance Sword.
As if reflecting my state of mind, the blade gave off a red glow. A shriek of unknown origin rang out.
Grrrraaaah.
“Enough that you think you can ignore the Martial Alliance’s orders, which you consider so important?”
“Any organization that stagnates will eventually rot. Removing that rot is also our duty.”
“I see. Now I understand.”
“Just as I thought, you...”
“I understand why the Wudang Sect, which boasts a longer history than the Martial Alliance, has fallen to this state.”
“Shut up!”
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The Fierce Tiger Unit members drew their swords as one.
There was no point talking any further.
Three White Moon Heaven-Subduing Forms
First Form
Extreme Swiftness
Unlike at Sky Bridge, I could pour out my full strength without restraint.
Screeeech!
Along with the sound of air tearing behind me, four Fierce Tiger Unit members failed to evade my sword and suffered long sword wounds across their chests.
Three White Moon Heaven-Subduing Forms
Second Form
Extreme Strength
The first form had not even produced sword qi, while Extreme Strength produced a vivid form as though it were real.
I poured in more internal energy than I normally used.
I could not contain the fury boiling in my chest.
Kwakakakakakakakakaboom!!!
Within the storm of sword force crashing down like waves, four Fierce Tiger Unit members had their swords broken and suffered internal injuries, vomiting blood.
Shocked by the sudden turn of events, Myeongjin shouted an order as if in desperation.
“Form the sword formation!”
Myeongjin hurriedly regained his wits. Soon, an energy that constricted my entire body formed around me.
But the Seven Stars Sword Formation was being formed by fewer than ten people, and the sword art that created it was the Seven Stars Sword Art.
To someone who knew the Shattering Form, it was no different from taking an exam while looking at the answer sheet.
I defended with the Lesser Heaven Sword Art, then found an opening with the Greater Heaven Sword Art.
Perhaps because I had circulated my qi, my body felt sharper than usual as I slipped inside, allowing me to increase my speed even further.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
I narrowly avoided the two swords stabbing toward me at once and used the Shattering Form to break the Seven Stars Sword Art of two members.
Clang! Craaack!
“Gasp!”
“What is this?!”
The Fierce Tiger Unit members could not comprehend the absurd fact that they had suddenly lost their swords.
I drove my foot forward and kicked them both.
Thud! Crash!
The two slammed into trees and immediately lost consciousness.
Once they were gone, the already incomplete sword formation shook even more violently.
And against a formation at this level...
“Brute force is enough to break it.”
Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art
Ten Thousand Swords
Six blades of Ten Thousand Swords took shape, and I unleashed the Twin Heavens Sword Art at the same time.
The storm of blade edges, gathered into a sphere, slammed directly into the Seven Stars Sword Formation.
The storm struck the formation with tremendous weight. The massive shock that shook the air made the people maintaining it stagger.
No matter how deeply Wudang’s principle of emptiness embodied Taiji, it was meaningless before overwhelming destructive power if one could not truly let oneself go like water.
The inward-sloping current shattered in an instant with a thunderous blast.
Pupupupupupupupupupupung!
The people who had barely held their ground to maintain the formation could not disperse the impact and staggered backward.
A Seven Stars Sword Formation that showed an opening was no longer a Seven Stars Sword Formation.
They could neither make use of the formation’s effect nor respond perfectly as individuals.
And the result was...
“How are you going to make a living with swords now? Wudang should start begging too!”
All that awaited them was a miserable future they had never imagined as Wudang Sect disciples.
Kwakakaboom!
“Gaaaaah!”
“Cough!”
“M-My arm!”
After the explosions of sword force and sword qi passed, only Fierce Tiger Unit members with severed arms and legs remained.
They lay trembling on the ground, foaming blood. They looked so miserable that no one would have guessed they had formed the Seven Stars Sword Formation moments ago.
“W-What is this...?”
Myeongjin, the Fierce Tiger Unit Leader, shook all over as though he could not believe the scene before him.
I wanted to cut off every one of their heads immediately, but I could not.
Up to this point, it was judgment. Anything beyond it would become slaughter.
Without bothering to rein in the killing intent overflowing from my body, I turned my gaze.
“You are the only one left.”
Then I took a step toward Myeongjin.
But look at this bastard.
“Ugh... Ugh...”
He was backing away?
“D-Dark arts! He is using dark arts!”
He unleashed the White Path martial artist’s ultimate killing move, “He is using dark arts!”, and began running away.
My dantian felt as though it would tear apart from the excessive use of internal energy, but I could not stop.
“Where do you think you are going!”
I immediately raised the Sacred Flame Demon-Extinguishing Hand and unleashed the Void-Destroying Fist, shattering his dantian.
“Gaaaaaah!”
Trying desperately to evade my hand, he collapsed and rolled across the ground while clutching his lower abdomen, which had turned black.
Then the sound of hooves shook the earth.
Two hundred people came racing toward us through a cloud of dust like mad.
“T-The Black Alliance!”
“Run!”
The bystanders scattered in panic.
When the Black Alliance members surrounded Dam Ak and me, drawing their swords, Dam Ak placed a hand on my shoulder, which rose and fell with rough breaths as though he understood my condition.
“Young Master Jin, you may rest now.”
Unable to remain tense any longer, I collapsed to the ground as if fainting.
I was putting aside being a guardian and a sedan chair.
I just wanted to sleep.
Footnotes:
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