WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 425: The Price of Fame (5)
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Ever since Jegal Somyeong began leading the Martial Alliance through the Mantong Office, their greatest focus had been keeping people of different backgrounds apart.
Wudang members with Wudang members, Shaolin members with Shaolin members, Mount Hua members with Mount Hua members.
They had spent what could fairly be called thirty years preventing people from rallying around their origins, supporting one another, and forming groups and factions. All to establish a centralized system centered on the Martial Alliance.
If each combat pavilion of the Martial Alliance became affiliated with a single sect or power, it would be no different from the Martial Alliance splintering apart and becoming a tool for private interests.
Even so, the policy of separation had its limits.
First, they could not stop individuals from choosing their own career paths.
Second, no matter how thoroughly they divided everyone up, differences in the size of each group would eventually cause people to gather and split apart again.
The Martial Alliance's strongest combat forces, including the Azure Dragon Pavilion, Red Dragon Pavilion, and Red Phoenix Pavilion, had mixed backgrounds to some degree, but they could not erase their strong ties to one side.
The many combat pavilions below them naturally became even more heavily shaped by their respective factions.
That was how the First Hall of the Vermilion Bird Pavilion came to be.
The essence of Cheongsu Jin-in’s political influence.
Only people from Wudang could enter and serve there, to the point that it could practically be called Wudang's branch within the Martial Alliance.
Though it was only a hall, it possessed facilities comparable to those of a combat pavilion. It was also where the greatest number of Wudang disciples residing in the Martial Alliance were stationed.
People jokingly mocked it by calling it the Wudang Pavilion, but to Wudang's people, it was a symbol of pride.
And now, a grim, solemn atmosphere hung over that very Wudang Pavilion.
“...I'm sorry, but you can't.”
Suspicion over the attempted assassination and pursuit of Dam Ak had turned toward Wudang, hanging a blade over their necks.
It had always been difficult for anyone without close ties to Wudang to enter, but the place had become even more closed off now. No outsiders were being allowed in at all.
Then an unwelcome guest arrived at the First Hall of the Vermilion Bird Pavilion.
“So you're saying I can't go in?”
Someone they could not easily refuse.
“Didn't I tell you? All outsiders are being restricted right now.”
“I'm an officially approved member of the Martial Alliance.”
“...No, that's not what I meant.”
The best way to crush someone who spoke only of what was right was to use force and authority.
But the small young woman standing before them was not someone either of those things would work on.
Neither her family nor her own abilities were something a mere gatekeeper could block, even if that gatekeeper came from Wudang.
“It's just that things have been unsettling lately, so it's uncomfortable for us when outsiders come and go. If you could please return...”
“Unsettling? Are ghosts coming out or something?!”
“No... that's not...”
It was even worse when their words would not get through to the other person.
“...All right. Please wait a moment.”
In the end, the gatekeeper informed those inside.
Contrary to expectations, the reply came quickly.
“You may enter.”
“Where is Yong Soa?”
“I'll take you there.”
Once she entered the building, everyone's attention turned toward the outsider.
Dang Seohui walked on with an indifferent expression, seemingly unbothered by the stares, while the gatekeeper continued leading her with a slightly exhausted look.
They passed through the hall's corridors and a shared training ground before arriving at a private training ground.
At its center stood Yong Soa, sword drawn, carrying himself with quiet pride.
“You may leave.”
The gatekeeper bowed deeply and withdrew.
As Dang Seohui moved closer, Yong Soa lightly shook his head.
“I was in the middle of training, so wait a moment.”
“It's all right for you to show me your training?”
“This isn't the first time, is it?”
Starting with the Two Principles Sword Art, then the Three Talents Sword Art, the Five Elements Sword, the Seven Stars Sword Art, the Supreme Purity Sword Art, and more, every sword art of the Wudang Sect unfolded from his hand.
There were no gaps between one stance and the next, nor between one sword art and another. Everything flowed together as smoothly as water.
“Ah...!”
Even Dang Seohui, usually so unmoved by such things, could not easily look away from that feast of swordsmanship.
Pure white beauty.
A mesmerizing sight that stole her gaze.
When the Nine Palaces Chain Sword and Mysterious Heaven Seven Stars Sword gave way to the Thirteen Taiji Stances...
“...”
Dang Seohui lost even the words to speak.
The rising energy reached its peak, and just as she anticipated a grand conclusion...
Swish.
The beautiful aura that had adorned the training ground and the world vanished in an instant.
Click.
His cherished Whirlwind Sword returned to its scabbard, and his white martial robes rustled as he walked toward Dang Seohui.
He had performed every sword art without rest, yet his breathing had not been disturbed in the slightest.
“Why... did you stop?”
Dang Seohui frowned in displeasure.
She had been so absorbed that she had forgotten all about sweets.
“Because it isn't Perfect Wall yet.”
The man who had created that entrancing spectacle answered calmly.
That was not his best.
“...When will it become Perfect Wall?”
As always, Yong Soa answered Dang Seohui's question without emotion.
“It won't take long. What brings you here?”
“Are you asking because you don't know?”
“When I ask a question, it's because I truly don't know.”
An aloof manner without the slightest hesitation.
Like a towering white tree, so still that it seemed unwilling to permit even the wind to stir a single leaf.
Dang Seohui looked up at the man she knew well, yet could never grow accustomed to.
“Why did you submit my application to the Azure Dragon Pavilion?”
“...”
Yong Soa looked down at Dang Seohui, whose cheeks had puffed out, with indifferent eyes.
“I had to submit it anyway, so I filed them together to avoid doing the work twice. Is there a problem?”
“I'm asking why you acted as you pleased without asking what I wanted.”
“You were going to the Azure Dragon Pavilion anyway.”
“Did you see that too?”
“...”
Silence rarely came from Yong Soa.
As Dang Seohui studied his expression, one of her eyebrows twitched.
“You didn't see it?”
“...”
He did not answer her pressing question.
He simply watched the small Dang Seohui with calm eyes.
Dang Seohui deliberately stirred up a small breeze.
“I heard you let Jin Sowoon land a sword strike on you.”
“...That was an uncertainty.”
One leaf on the white tree swayed gently.
The corner of Dang Seohui's mouth slowly rose.
It was an oddly unsettling smile, one that did not reach her eyes.
“You didn't see it?”
Yong Soa's gaze, usually so indifferent, sharpened for once.
“No human can respond to every uncertainty. I am included in that.”
“Is that so?”
“...”
A sudden breeze blew, and the leaves of the white tree that had been still until now quietly rustled.
“Anyway, I'm not going to the Azure Dragon Pavilion. Keep that in mind and dispose of my application yourself.”
“Are you planning to abandon the Great Undertaking?”
“Who can avoid that matter? Could anyone abandon it even if they wanted to?”
“...”
“I want to place my hopes in another possibility as well.”
Dang Seohui seemed to be smiling for some reason.
She immediately turned around and left the training ground.
Yong Soa watched her retreating back, then quietly mulled over her words in the now-empty training ground.
He did not need an explanation to know what this other possibility was.
‘Jin Sowoon.’
Since their first meeting at the Demon Spirit Plateau, Jin Sowoon had become one of the rare people to occupy Yong Soa's thoughts.
During the Martial Arts Academy regular examination, Yong Soa had even extended a hand to him, only for Jin Sowoon to brush it aside with an irrational choice.
Since then, Jin Sowoon had continued to escape his predictions.
“What exactly are you?”
The image of Jin Sowoon before his eyes sneered obnoxiously and spoke with certainty, as if he had seen it himself.
[There is nothing but despair in the future of the Martial Alliance you lead.]
For a curse about an uncertain future, his attitude was far too confident.
The man was clearly gifted at deception, just as the rumors said.
“It's baseless nonsense as expected, Jin Sowoon.”
Before long, Yong Soa erased the unimportant words from his mind.
“Only the future I create can be the one hope.”
#
A bloody purge began in earnest within the Martial Alliance.
Starting with the personnel connected to Bongan Hall, everyone involved in the pursuit of Dam Ak was dismissed and sent away with their belongings.
The matter had not been made public, but many Wudang Sect members connected to the incident at a manor in Wuhan were also dismissed and made to return to Mount Wudang.
For a while, the Martial Alliance was packed with escort agencies carrying moving loads.
With so many Unit Leader-level officials dismissed, people in the ranks below them were each promoted by one rank.
Considering how long it normally took to rise in rank, many considered this whole affair an opportunity sent by heaven.
The White Wolf Pavilion, which had nothing to do with this incident, saw no personnel changes.
Watching their fellow graduates from the Martial Arts Academy get promoted before them, the White Wolf Pavilion members cursed the wrong person.
“It's because of that damn Unit Leader!”
“Do you know how much difference there is in the monthly stipend between ranks?!”
“Jin Sowoon, wake up!”
Their curses did reach my ears, but I didn't bother responding.
“Who told them to apply to the White Wolf Pavilion?”
“Senior Brother, please don't say that in front of people... You might get in trouble.”
Eunho spoke with a strangely weary expression, but it didn't affect me much.
Why blame someone else after applying of their own accord? Everyone was responsible for their own life.
In any case, I didn't have time to personally go to the White Wolf Pavilion and beat up the people cursing me.
I had been just as busy over the past few days.
First, my drifting affiliation was finally decided.
Yuseong Hall.
That absurdly childish name, belonging to some rootless place I'd never heard of, was now my affiliation.
“I don't remember there ever being a place called Yuseong Hall. Where exactly is it attached to?”
“It was just created. It's directly under the Mantong Office and operates as an independent department.”
Directly under the Mantong Office, and independent?
“So that's why I was appointed Hall Master.”
The rank was Hall Master.
Considering my accomplishments and skill so far, it was a fitting position, but such a sudden rise still made me suspicious.
“Didn't the Orthodox Society or White Path Society raise objections?”
“When would the Orthodox Society have time for that now? And...”
Eunho hesitated for a moment before swallowing the rest of his words.
“Never mind. There'd be no good in finding out now anyway.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You won't be reporting for duty right away anyway, will you?”
That was related to the second matter.
The Taeul Sect's reopening ceremony had been scheduled.
The Taeul Sect asked how they should respond to the current situation. Thinking the time had come, I conveyed my intention to reopen the sect.
The Great Heaven Merchant Group had already grown in influence, so we had gained all the advantages closing our gates could provide.
If we wanted to expand our power further, reopening was unavoidable.
And this was the best time to open the Taeul Sect's gates again.
A few days after I sent the letter, the Taeul Sect finally decided to reopen.
My fellow disciples and I submitted leave requests and began preparing to return to Hefei for the first time in a long while.
“Miss Namgung Seonhwa, Miss Seong Moran, and the people here are acquaintances. But why are these people coming?”
As I looked through the list of guests attending the reopening ceremony to arrange carriages, I couldn't help tilting my head at the names of fellow graduates I wasn't even close to.
“Well, perhaps they want to offer congratulations.”
“It's not a founding ceremony. What is there to congratulate us for?”
“Maybe they're worried there won't be any guests.”
“They look like they'll only come to eat.”
Eunho took the list from my hand as though snatching it away.
“I'll take care of this. Now tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“What you received from the Alliance Leader.”
That bastard was quick to read the room.
“Received what? Don't you know we agreed to quietly put this matter behind us?”
“Come on. The great Senior Brother Jin Sowoon wouldn't just let it go.”
What was with that disrespectful attitude?
Was he starting to crave a personal training session?
“Ah, sorry. I heard something so ridiculous that it slipped out.”
He changed his attitude so suddenly that I was less dumbfounded by it than by the thought of what image of me had taken root so deeply in his mind.
“Yes, I received something.”
“Really? What did you get? A treasury of gold coins? A treasury of silver coins?”
“Were you always interested in things like this?”
“Geumpyo received the Vajra Shield, and Dongryong received the Black Dragon Sword. I'm still using a cheap iron sword!”
I thought he had grown less interested in martial arts after shifting his career path toward the Mantong Office.
Apparently not.
“What I received this time isn't something like that.”
Eunho could not hide his disappointment.
He would be surprised later.
I patted his shoulder.
“Wait a little longer. I'll find you a weapon you can use soon enough.”
It was good that I had secured Jang Dowon, who made divine weapons.
But acquiring materials was breaking my back.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Eunho's face brightened at once, and he asked again insistently.
“I'll look forward to it. Then what did you receive?”
It wouldn't be any fun if I told him beforehand.
“You'll find out at the reopening ceremony.”
“At the reopening ceremony?”
I only grinned at him without answering.
Not just Eunho, everyone attending the reopening ceremony would have quite an expression on their faces.
Footnotes:
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