The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 421

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 421: The Price of Fame

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Taeul Sect, near Hefei in Anhui Province.

No one had paid much attention to this historic sect with its five-hundred-year tradition.

That was the harsh reality of the current martial world. Martial arts only good enough to make a living as an escort warrior(?) could neither make money nor build influence.

If it had been a five-hundred-year-old restaurant instead, it might at least have profited from secret recipes passed down through the generations.

With nothing left of its tradition but five-hundred-year-old foundation stones, Taeul Sect had preserved its tenuous existence through its place among the One Hundred Eight Peaks, though no one knew how it had gained that position in the first place.

Naturally, the martial world did not look kindly on that.

Countless people had tried to remove Taeul Sect and claim its place, yet for some reason, Taeul Sect had retained that position for the past five hundred years.

The martial world’s gossips believed that even if someone brought down Taeul Sect and took its place, all they would gain was the reputation of having defeated Taeul Sect.

In other words, no one wanted to do it themselves, but they hoped someone else would. Thanks to that herd mentality, Taeul Sect had defended its place among the One Hundred Eight Peaks for so long despite its weak influence.

“So basically, they’ve had it easy as hell all this time, right?”

Jin Taesan grimaced at Gang Chaeseok’s crude phrasing.

“Watch your language! Do you want to speak like that in front of the Hall Masters and elders?”

Gang Chaeseok’s face turned bright red at Jin Taesan’s rebuke. He tried to choose his words more carefully.

“...So basically... they’ve had it... easy... Damn it!”

He gave up halfway through and gulped down his tea.

Still, tea could not quench his thirst for alcohol.

As Gang Chaeseok repeatedly refilled his cup from the teapot, Hong Mungi asked Jin Taesan, “How is the Great Heaven Merchant Group doing?”

“They haven’t suffered any major losses yet, but we can clearly feel the pressure building.”

The prices of goods they received had suddenly risen, while payments owed to them kept being delayed.

For now, it was only a drop in the bucket. If it continued, though, they would eventually have trouble keeping their funds flowing.

“Is there no chance it will resolve itself?”

Jin Taesan shook his head.

“There hasn’t been a drought, a natural disaster, or a war. Isn’t it strange for our business partners to all face problems at once?”

The only likely answer was the forces standing behind those partners.

In the martial world, where relationships were as intricate and tightly woven as a spiderweb, two connections were enough to lead one to either an enemy or an acquaintance.

Considering how Taeul Sect had kept the Orthodox Society at a distance, perhaps the backlash had simply been slow in coming.

As everyone sank into thought, someone spoke.

“What if we collect the payments by force?”

“!”

“!!”

“!!!”

The Sect Leader’s quiet voice took hold of the room.

“We should confront them directly and take what they owe us, even if we have to force the matter.”

The Hall Masters and elders stared at Hong Mungi in surprise.

The old Hong Mungi would never have handled matters this way.

He had been a man who understood the way of a gentleman and practiced it throughout his life. Few could compare to him in that regard.

Hong Mungi explained the reason for his change.

“Do you believe it is right for our children to go hungry because of a pack of scoundrels?”

“...!”

Everyone was surprised by Hong Mungi’s change, but no one reacted negatively. That was the role of a leader.

Instead, they began looking at him with eyes full of trust, as though he had become even more dependable.

“Even if we don’t make a direct show of force, we could still apply pressure.”

Jin Taesan shook his head.

“But isn’t that exactly what they want?”

“Why?”

“The Great Heaven Merchant Group does not have enough personnel to exert that kind of pressure. To use Taeul Sect’s strength as well, we would have to reopen the sect.”

“...”

No one was unaware that Taeul Sect stood behind the Great Heaven Merchant Group.

The fact that forces stronger than the merchant group had begun delaying payments first made their intentions obvious.

Once people saw Taeul Sect remaining still despite unpaid debts, even unrelated business partners would surely begin withholding the Great Heaven Merchant Group’s money one by one.

“It will take less than half the time it took to build the Great Heaven Merchant Group for it to disappear.”

The mines would remain even if the Great Heaven Merchant Group vanished, but under the current circumstances, it was uncertain whether they could even receive a fair price for their iron ore.

That was not the only problem Taeul Sect faced.

“Hall Master Gang, how many people are gathered outside?”

“More than thirty, based on last night’s count.”

It had not even been four days since ten people first gathered, yet their number had already tripled.

Their demands were all the same.

Taeul Sect had to reopen the sect.

And accept martial challenges.

People connected to Mount Cang Sect and Wudang Sect had come, as had people seeking to build their own reputations through Taeul Sect.

If there was one sect making the greatest stir in the current martial world, Taeul Sect would be the first to come to mind.

“...We’re paying the full price of our name.”

It was difficult to build fame, but even harder to maintain it.

The current martial world was demanding a price from Taeul Sect equal to that fame.

“Sect Leader, the people gathered before Taeul Sect are not the real problem.”

Hong Mungi furrowed his brow slightly at Jin Taesan’s words.

There was an even greater problem?

“According to Clan Head Wang, Martial World Newsletter notices condemning Taeul Sect are being circulated throughout the martial world.”

“...Martial World Newsletter?”

“Yes. Public anger is growing over Taeul Sect retaining its place among the One Hundred Eight Peaks and expanding its influence without accepting the responsibility that comes with it.”

Not everything written in those notices was true.

Taeul Sect had fulfilled the responsibilities tied to its place among the One Hundred Eight Peaks, and it refrained from outside activity except when absolutely necessary.

It was different from other sects in that regard.

Even so, public anger toward Taeul Sect continued to grow.

Jealousy.

It was only natural that people would be sick with envy when a sect like Taeul Sect, which had spent five hundred years barely surviving without any presence, began making a name for itself and expanding its influence.

When someone who had stood beside you climbed a cliff higher than your own, human nature made you want to grab their hem and pull them down.

“Once that public anger gains justification, sects rather than individuals will move. No matter how it began, Taeul Sect will not remain intact by then.”

“So we cannot avoid it.”

“But if we reopen the sect now, countless hungry ghosts will come to tear Taeul Sect apart.”

Such a moment came for everyone.

A moment when one could neither fight nor run.

If one ran at that moment, one had to give up everything they possessed all over again.

The same was true for a sect.

Hong Mungi closed his eyes for a moment.

“I want to hear your opinions.”

His voice was heavy.

“Do you believe the time has come for Taeul Sect to reopen the sect?”

Yet no one could easily answer.

Whatever they said, they knew Hong Mungi would bear the responsibility in the end.

That was why they could not speak. It would be irresponsible to pass that burden onto him.

“...”

Hong Mungi smiled instead.

They had not changed after all.

Their lives had grown more comfortable.

Their martial arts no longer fell short of those of any sect in the martial world.

Their disciples had made names for themselves, and people now looked at them differently.

Even so, they were still people of Taeul Sect.

And so was he.

“I did not take this seat to enjoy the most. I took it to bear the greatest responsibility.”

“...”

“So you need not feel sorry for me, nor feel guilty. That is my duty. Your duty is to speak your opinions.”

After Hong Mungi went that far, one Hall Master who had been watching cautiously raised a hand.

“To be honest, I do not think we should reopen the sect.”

“Why not?”

“Our children are growing quickly, but they cannot yet be considered fully mature. If we reopen the sect, we will not be able to refuse all the martial challenges that follow. We are clearly short of masters capable of facing them all.”

“You need not worry about that.”

“Pardon?”

The Hall Master asked again, unable to understand.

Hong Mungi watched the Hall Master for a moment before answering without the slightest hesitation.

“I will personally answer every challenge letter sent by an individual.”

A Sect Leader personally facing wandering martial artists and lay disciples?

It was unimaginable.

The Hall Masters were about to rise in agitation when Hong Mungi raised his hand first.

“Of course, if anyone can last more than fifty seconds against me, any one of you may take my place.”

“...!”

Gang Chaeseok, who had been silently listening, turned red.

“What are you saying? The Sect Leader himself will step forward? What if you lose...!”

“And if I lose?”

“Eh?”

Gang Chaeseok, who had been about to explode, froze.

Hong Mungi’s voice remained calm.

“Will Taeul Sect disappear because I lose?”

“...That is not the point. Our dignity...”

“Dignity?”

Hong Mungi gave a low scoff.

“Will it feed us? Will it protect Taeul Sect?”

“...”

He then turned his gaze and looked at each person seated in the inner hall.

“I do not seek to fight to proclaim my own strength. Even if I lose, even if I am defeated, I want them to know that Taeul Sect is not a sect they can take lightly. What meaning, then, do victory and defeat have?”

The Hall Masters fell silent at Hong Mungi’s resolute words.

There was nothing wrong with what he said.

Even so, they could not allow Hong Mungi to step forward personally.

Leaving dignity aside, it would create another problem if the pillar of the sect stepped forward so readily.

Yet they could not blindly oppose Hong Mungi, whose firm resolve had already carried him fully into the ranks of masters. Naturally, their gazes turned toward the only person who could reason with him.

“Hmm...”

Jin Taesan felt everyone’s eyes turn to him and fell into thought.

‘How did things end up like this?’

Hong Mungi, whom he had known since childhood, had always pursued peace and stability.

He was a man who always laughed gently and said that it was best when everyone got along, almost like a Buddha.

Yet as if he were paying the price for all the generosity and consideration he had shown, he had somehow become an impassioned advocate of battle.

Some people had even begun wondering whether malevolent qi had entered his brain while he was learning martial arts from Baek Haegwang.

In any case, there was nothing wrong with what Hong Mungi said. Still, if they reopened the sect and tried to resolve every challenge and conflict through force, Taeul Sect’s destruction was as certain as fire being hot.

But Jin Taesan did not have the confidence to cool the Sect Leader’s blazing passion, which looked as though a fire had already been lit beneath it.

More precisely, he had no definite grounds to oppose reopening the sect.

The Great Heaven Merchant Group was truly in danger.

As he tried to find a quick solution to the complicated problem, Jin Taesan felt his energy rapidly draining.

After a brief period of thought, he gave his answer.

A way to cool the burning Sect Leader’s passion while allowing them to step back from the immediate problem and consider it more carefully.

“How about we ask him first?”

“Ask? Do you mean Master Baek?”

“No. Someone else.”

An expert in tangled problems. No, an expert at tangling up any problem, and a tangled problem himself.

“Jin Sowoon.”

“Huh?”

It made Jin Taesan uncomfortable to refer to his own son as though he were a third party, but there was no other way.

Jin Sowoon was the only one who could calm Hong Mungi now.

“Wasn’t it that bastard Jin Sowoon who suggested closing one’s gates in the first place? Then wouldn’t it be proper to ask him when and how we should reopen the sect?”

The Hall Masters repeatedly nodded, apparently sharing that view.

They did not want to watch their Sect Leader charge out like a vanguard commander and crack wandering martial artists over the head.

It would be best if they could reopen the sect without fighting, but if they did fight, they had to win.

“Hmm... Wouldn’t that take too long?”

“Do you know how many messengers and carrier pigeons travel between Wuhan and Anhui? If you send a letter now, Jin Sowoon will probably send a reply by this evening.”

“Ha ha, you really are something.”

Hong Mungi smiled briefly at Jin Taesan’s joke, which eased the mood.

Then came a short period of consideration.

The Hall Masters watched Hong Mungi with tense expressions.

“Let us hear Sowoon’s opinion first.”

Once they heard the answer they wanted, everyone let out a long breath.

“Whew. This is difficult.”

Deciding on closing one’s gates had not been easy, but reopening the sect felt several times harder.

After returning to the Martial Alliance, I had to remain apart from the others.

When I wondered why I was being treated this way, Jegal Somyeong spoke like the cantankerous elder they were.

“You should be grateful I’m not throwing you into the Golden Prison.”

The place they led me to was a small annex in the Martial Alliance’s outer compound.

Two martial artists stood guard at the entrance. Security was tight.

Still, they were all human, so I tried making a small request.

“We have been assigned to monitor you, Jin Sowoon. We cannot agree to bring you alcohol.”

People could be so rigid. Tch.

Leaving those people, who were deeply committed to their work, behind, I headed to the small training ground within the annex.

Without alcohol, there was only one way to clear my troubled mind.

“Yong Soa.”

My memories quickly placed Yong Soa, vivid and distinct, at the center of the training ground.

Once he appeared before my eyes, heat rose from deep inside me.

“You think you’re so great? You know everything?”

I let my anger flare, then stopped when I saw how ugly I was being.

“Whew.”

Beside him, I recreated Yong Soa as I had seen him in the final moments of my previous life. That was the Taechung Divine Sword.

Similar height. Similar bearing.

That irritating face still looked unpleasant despite his age.

His black hair had turned white, and his face was full of the marks of time, but the aura he gave off could not be compared to the young Yong Soa’s.

The martial world’s divine prodigy, an undefeated master, an absolute existence.

He was a perfectly flawless figure who seemed as if he had stepped from a cheap novel.

The Demonic Cult had appeared after five hundred years of preparation.

While every White Path sect was helplessly driven back before its demonic claws, Yong Soa alone had held his ground and never suffered defeat.

He had been the only hope of the entire martial world.

The brightest lamp, shining alone even as the darkness of the Orthodox-Demonic War fell over the martial world.

And now, I intended to uncover the secret behind that brightest lamp’s strength.

“This makes no sense.”

The battle at the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect was one thing, but what I experienced at the Wuhan estate today made no sense.

My own level was part of it, but more importantly, I had prepared a hidden trump card through countless sessions of mindscape cultivation after the battle at the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

“There’s something.”

I raised my head and looked at the Taechung Divine Sword.

The Demonic Cult, which knew the Shattering Forms of the Martial Alliance’s major sects, cut down Martial Alliance martial artists as though they were reeds.

Until Jegal Cheongi brought out the Breaking Strike Form to counter the Demonic Cult’s Shattering Forms, the Martial Alliance had suffered defeat after defeat.

Yet the Taechung Divine Sword alone had never lost.

No, not once had he faced a Demonic Cult master without cutting off their head.

It was a miraculous result beyond belief.

“Back then, I thought it was only because he was incredibly skilled.”

I was no longer the foolish Jin Sowoon who looked at the world so narrowly.

It was not that I refused to acknowledge the difference in skill and aptitude.

When I considered the gap between Yong Soa, who had perfectly understood Taiji Fist before he was ten, and myself, there was clearly bound to be a difference in ability.

But if you were human.

If you were a being who lived with both feet on the ground.

How could you be perfect every time?

You got injured, and an unexpected final move could land a blow on you.

A first-rate martial artist could die to a third-rate thug’s blade, and people appeared who assassinated Peak Realm masters using nothing more than Ghost Breath Movement Art.

“But that never happened to you.”

I looked at the Taechung Divine Sword, then shifted my eyes to the current Yong Soa.

In my previous life, the Taechung Divine Sword had been such a godlike existence that I never had a chance to observe his battles and martial arts up close.

But things were different now.

I already had memories of fighting Yong Soa three times.

The expressionless Yong Soa with that irritating face drew his sword.

Then he spoke.

[Do you believe that a human can memorize two hundred thousand formation paths?]

Yong Soa at Demon Spirit Plateau.

[I asked why you are alive.]

Yong Soa at the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

[You are uncertainty. And that contains countless dangers.]

Yong Soa at the Wuhan estate.

They each swung their swords.

Different places. Different circumstances.

Yet they had something in common.

‘Fuck...’

They were incomparably beautiful.

His martial arts did not portray feminine beauty through graceful curves like the martial arts of Baihua Palace, yet a fully realized technique and complete understanding created perfect beauty simply by existing.

Anyone who faced him had no choice but to become the villain.

There could be no one capable of matching his beauty.

Suppressing the sickening feeling twisting in my stomach, I began reviewing his martial arts from the beginning.

“...”

I watched again.

“...”

Again.

“...”

Again...

“...What is this?”

The current Yong Soa’s attainment was not at the level the Taechung Divine Sword had reached in my previous life.

Which meant that while it was natural I had not been able to reach Yong Soa at Demon Spirit Plateau...