The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 422

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 422: The Price of Fame (2)

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“Ugh... This is unbearable!”

Her delicate brow furrowed, and her elegant eyebrows rose sharply.

Even that expression brimmed with grace and beauty, enough to leave any man staring with his mouth hanging open.

But the Taeul Sect disciples knew this beautiful woman became a cold-blooded witch whenever she was angry, so they carefully tried to soothe her.

“Senior Sister Wang, please calm down.”

Even Gang Yuseong, the most skilled among the Taeul Sect disciples, cautiously watched her mood as he tried to calm her.

“Junior Brother Yuseong! Do you think this is right?”

“...”

Her voice struck like an ice pick, and he quietly shut his mouth.

The person who usually looked after him and the younger disciples like a mother had become so cold in an instant.

Yuseong, still young, had no idea how to handle it.

Then Kwak Samnam, who had been listening nearby, spoke calmly.

“They say they’ve sent a message to the Head Disciple. The elders of the sect will likely reach a decision soon as well.”

The reason Wang Soso was so coldly furious was the people protesting in front of Taeul Sect.

The crowd gathered at the main gate had already grown to nearly seventy, making the atmosphere increasingly tense.

Whenever young disciples passed through the front gate, the hostile stares grew sharper.

The people who had once only thrown out one or two blunt remarks were now openly cursing at the children and picking fights with them.

Yet whenever Taeul Sect elders appeared, they acted as though they had done nothing, gradually souring the sect’s mood as well.

What was worse, the parents who had sent their children to Taeul Sect were growing anxious, and children had begun skipping lessons one by one.

Taeul Sect had temporarily instructed everyone to use the back gate, but some of those who had set up camp outside blocked that entrance too and did the same thing.

“Even so, isn’t this too cowardly? Can people who call themselves martial artists really behave like this?”

Samnam gave a bitter smile at Wang Soso’s words.

When he was younger, he had his own fantasies about people of the martial world. As he grew older, though, he became increasingly disappointed. By now, he no longer held any expectations.

“There’s no justification to disperse them yet.”

It was not an organized group that had gathered to protest. Each person was acting of their own accord.

The Martial Alliance’s Hefei branch only said there was nothing it could do about the situation.

Nothing had technically happened yet.

“Argh! Seriously!”

“Senior Sister, please calm down a little.”

Samnam and Yuseong broke out in a cold sweat as they tried to settle Wang Soso down.

Of course, that only made Soso feel more frustrated.

‘Seriously!!!’

Wang Soso, who was helping with the Great Heaven Merchant Group’s affairs, knew well that the problem was not limited to these protesters.

The real issue was the Great Heaven Merchant Group.

The flow of funds had been blocked, and cries of distress were already rising from all over.

Cash was still coming in from retail stores, inns, and taverns around Mount Cheonmok, but the Great Heaven Merchant Group’s main business was raw materials, including minerals.

The sums involved were large, so even one business partner delaying a payment could shake the entire merchant group.

They could not easily shift to a new line of business either, since they were chronically short on manpower.

Even if they began a new business, it would take time to establish itself. They were trapped with no way forward or back.

Soso had watched commerce from a young age, so she knew better than anyone that even after Taeul Sect reopened its gates, the current situation would not be easily resolved.

“It is unpleasant, though. We can’t confront them directly, but it would be nice if we could take action indirectly.”

At Gang Yuseong’s calm words, Wang Soso suddenly trembled as if she had realized something.

“That’s right! Why didn’t I think of that?!”

If she could not deal with them directly, she could deal with them indirectly.

If they acted underhandedly, there was no need for her side to remain fair and upright.

“Samnam! Didn’t you say your father is the head cook at Hwaeom Inn?”

“Huh? Ah... yes.”

“And Ilnam’s father runs a smithy, right?”

“Yes. It’s small, but he runs it in Hefei.”

“Right. There’s no business in Soeum County.”

Soeum County was the village closest to Taeul Sect.

But Hefei had grown larger, and the main roads had improved, making it possible to buy most necessities there at better prices and with better quality.

As a result, only older merchants remained in Soeum County.

But the people currently protesting at Taeul Sect would not willingly go all the way to Hefei, which took at least half a day even at a fast pace.

That meant they had to eat and sleep in nearby Soeum County.

“Let’s go!”

“Huh? Where?”

Wang Soso shook her jingling purse and cocked her head.

“To build a village.”

“Huh?”

Yuseong and Samnam did not understand what Soso meant, but they still trotted after her.

They had never suffered a loss by following Wang Soso.

Once she reached Soeum County, Soso began seeking out the only inns and taverns in the area.

“Thank you.”

Then she met with their owners and bought the buildings outright.

Business had been good recently with so many people coming and going from Taeul Sect, but no one knew how long that would last.

The owners could not refuse Soso’s offer of twice the price.

On top of that, her offer to let them continue working while receiving a monthly stipend was like being showered with money in their sleep.

They had no reason to refuse.

After buying inns and taverns as easily as if she were buying sweets, Wang Soso went on to buy every small restaurant and street stall.

In half a day, the entire little village of Soeum County had fallen into Wang Soso’s hands.

“I’ll tell you what we need to do today.”

Soso confidently addressed the people from the shopping district she now owned.

“Starting today, triple the prices of food, alcohol, and rooms.”

“What?”

“What do you mean? Then all the customers will leave.”

“Well, we’ll see about that.”

Everyone was dumbfounded, but no one could refuse the new owner’s orders.

They had nothing to lose anyway.

The martial artists staying and eating in Soeum County were the ones outraged when prices tripled overnight.

“There are limits to everything! You tripled the prices overnight!”

“I’ve never seen such outrageous profiteering in my life!”

“Who’s the owner? Come out here!”

Wang Soso, Gang Yuseong, and Kwak Samnam stood before them.

Behind them stood martial artists from the Wang Family Estate.

“I’m Wang Soso, the owner.”

The martial artists were briefly entranced by her beauty, but they soon regained their senses and voiced their complaints.

“Even if you are from the Wang Family Estate, we cannot tolerate such profiteering!”

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“Uh, what?”

Her pale smile, like an ice flower, overwhelmed everyone present.

“Will you go protest at the Wang Family Estate? Like you did at Taeul Sect?”

“...”

Wang Soso did not give an inch as she faced the fierce-looking martial artists.

“If you dislike the prices here, you may go to Hefei whenever you like. The Wang Family Estate isn’t forcing you to buy anything.”

“...”

Naturally, the martial artists cursed at the prices that had tripled overnight and either headed to Hefei or simply sat there stubbornly.

As inns, taverns, and other commercial establishments gradually emptied, the former owners of the shops began worrying about Wang Soso instead.

“Miss, perhaps you should lower the prices while you still can?”

“It’s fine. Let’s think of it as a period of interior repairs.”

Carpenters who had renovated Taeul Sect and the Wang Family Estate rushed over to repair the shops that were nearly falling apart.

Over the next two or three days, those protesting at Taeul Sect gradually began to realize something.

They could not go to Hefei for every meal, and it was not easy to survive indefinitely on Fasting Pellets and jerky.

After watching everyone else’s reactions, they slowly began heading to Soeum County one by one.

Then...

“You’ll need to pay more.”

From that point on, Wang Soso doubled the prices again.

“What kind of bullshit is this?!”

“Three days ago, the prices were already three times higher than normal!”

“Oh, you didn’t know? The number of people trying to stay in Soeum County has doubled compared to a few days ago. Since demand has increased, the prices naturally doubled as well.”

As the number of martial artists gathered near Taeul Sect passed one hundred, some people began not to care whether prices were doubled or tripled.

Once they realized there were only a few inns and taverns in Soeum County, they even began competing to secure places.

At that point, the price no longer mattered.

“If you don’t like it, leave. No one’s stopping you.”

Though Wang Soso’s firm words made them explode in anger, no one left.

The moment they left, someone else would take their place.

The two junior disciples watched the entire process in silence.

“Scary...”

Gang Yuseong nodded at Kwak Samnam, who had barely managed to speak.

“The old innkeeper used to say there’s someone scarier than people who throw around their martial arts.”

“Scarier...?”

Samnam tilted his head.

“Yeah. He said people who throw around money are the scariest.”

Samnam looked back at Soso.

Wang Soso covered her mouth with one hand and laughed, “Oh ho ho,” as she mocked the martial artists.

“...”

Samnam looked at Yuseong again and nodded solemnly.

“...Let’s make sure we never offend Senior Sister Wang.”

“Yeah!”

The two looked at each other and firmly nodded.

Despite all the chaos at the estate, I ultimately did not go to the Inspectorate to be questioned.

That was only natural.

I had done nothing wrong, so why should I go to the Inspectorate or Enforcement Hall to be investigated?

I was simply spending my time comfortably enjoying tea in my quarters.

“That’s called house arrest.”

“Mm, can’t hear you.”

“...”

I was just sitting quietly in my own quarters and enjoying tea. How was that house arrest? This was a sweet rest I had not enjoyed in a long time.

“Haah...”

Eunho pressed hard against his temples as if he had a headache.

How pitiful... This was why I told him not to go to the Mantong Office, yet he did anyway. Tsk.

“I clearly warned you. I said if you went to the Mantong Office, you’d start getting gray hair early...”

“Who do you think caused this?!”

Trickle.

What was that sound?

“Everyone from Wudang Sect is boiling with anger right now. Their main sect will definitely raise an objection over this incident as well.”

I wiped the tea that had run from the corner of my mouth.

Well, I understood how Eunho felt. But still.

“So what? Are you saying I should’ve stood there and let them beat me to death?”

“That’s not what I mean...”

Eunho muttered, “You should’ve held back a little.”

I knew too.

I knew how far I should go if I wanted to keep things from escalating.

But how could I pass up such an incredible opportunity? I could officially beat the Wudang Sect disciples to a pulp and get away with it.

Unless I switched to the Black Path, I would never get another moment this good.

“Listen, Eunho. Letting an opportunity this sweet pass by is what idiots do.”

“But... the consequences are continuing to grow.”

“Mm?”

Eunho pulled out a letter from inside his clothes.

“It’s from Taeul Sect.”

“What is it...?”

The moment I quickly read the letter, I felt my whole body stiffen.

“They say more than a hundred people are protesting in front of Taeul Sect, demanding it reopen its gates. And because of this incident, Wudang Sect people will gather there as well. If that happens... Taeul Sect will be caught in an impossible position.”

Eunho kept saying something beside me, but I could not hear it properly.

The contents of the letter made anger boil up from deep in my chest.

“You... you...”

“Senior Brother, do you understand the situation now...?”

“How dare they try to cheat me out of my money!!!”

The Great Heaven Merchant Group’s payments were being delayed!

“...Ah, is that why you’re so angry?”

For some reason, Eunho looked like a stone Buddha.

“It seems Taeul Sect will have no choice but to reopen its gates. But won’t it be a problem if the Head Disciple cannot attend the reopening ceremony?”

“Why can’t I attend?”

“Because you beat up the Wudang disciples.”

“That’s because they were the ones in the wrong.”

“Do you think Wudang Sect will let this go? Even if it is only a formality, they need to see the Head Disciple punished before there are grounds to discipline Wudang Sect.”

Wasn’t this when he was supposed to take my side? Why had he become so cold?

Did the Mantong Office only have ice-cold water?

“Fine. Thaaank you for assessing the situation so calmly.”

I had raised a tiger cub. A tiger cub.

Taeul Sect reopening after closing its gates was roughly around when I expected.

They would have needed to end their period of closing their gates by the time the junior disciples began their mandatory service anyway.

“I’m not joking. The situation is really bad.”

The problem was that circumstances were unfavorable.

After thinking for a moment, I patted Eunho’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

“A plan?”

Eunho’s tearful eyes narrowed.