WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 431: Wings Flying South
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A huge crowd flocked to Taeul Sect.
Most had not come because they cared about the reopening ceremony itself. They had come to see the people attending it.
They wanted to use this opportunity to forge even the slightest connection with remarkable figures.
On the surface, though, they had come to congratulate Taeul Sect.
The gifts they brought were enough to fill an entire training ground.
Of course, there was no chance they could obtain a private audience with the Martial Alliance Leader or Chief Strategist.
They had enough sense to be satisfied with exchanging distant greetings and making themselves familiar faces.
Moyong Gang was unaccustomed to such occasions, so he avoided the crowds while looking for Jin Sowoon.
The other three carried out their roles with ease and brought honor to Taeul Sect.
The entire process helped restore Taeul Sect’s place in the minds of the martial world.
On the day of the reopening ceremony, countless people attended with solemn expressions.
Moyong Gang, Namgung Taeha, Hyeok Mugang, Jegal Somyeong, and Wang Geumsan.
The strange sight of those five giants seated in Taeul Sect’s places of honor stirred complicated emotions among the attendees.
“I offer my gratitude to all fellow martial artists who have attended the reopening ceremony of our humble sect.”
Every one of them was in a position to command Taeul Sect, not personally attend an event to congratulate it.
“For a long time, Taeul Sect closed its gates due to internal circumstances and escaped the responsibilities it should have borne.”
Yet those remarkable figures were more solemn and respectful than anyone else present.
That put the other attendees on edge as well.
“Taeul Sect has now completed its preparations. We will no longer close our gates. We will not avoid the tasks before us, and we will bear our responsibilities.”
Even those who would normally get drunk and cause trouble at another person’s event came to their senses under the solemn atmosphere and attended properly.
“Taeul Sect’s closing of its gates has ended. Therefore...”
The Taeul Sect members, dressed in formal attire for the ceremony, struggled to contain the swelling emotion in their chests.
“I hereby declare the opening of the gates!”
When Taeul Sect had closed its gates, no one knew.
Even if they had, no one cared.
But look at it now.
“Woooooah!”
Thunderous cheers and applause shook Taeul Sect.
It was no longer the Taeul Sect of old.
No, it was a new Taeul Sect.
Hundreds of martial artists waited beyond those gates for the reopening ceremony to end.
Yet at this moment, the people of Taeul Sect did not fear them.
Just as Hong Mungi had said, Taeul Sect would never close its gates again, no matter what happened.
#
For three days, music never ceased during the day, and the lights never went out at night.
Countless people came and went after being served food and drink.
Even as the reopening ceremony drew to a close, no one left Taeul Sect.
No, they could not leave.
The real event was about to begin.
A martial arts tournament.
The Infinite Martial Contest.
It was common for a sect’s celebration to hold a martial arts tournament as entertainment over drinks.
But an unlimited contest that accepted every applicant was rare.
That was why those visiting Taeul Sect could not bring themselves to leave.
It was a chance to witness the strength of Taeul Sect, which had recently caused such a stir in the martial world.
People’s curiosity was further sharpened by the expectation that its outcome would be bleak.
The fall of a hero.
A hero’s rise inspired awe and anticipation.
And the fall of a hero once treated as sacred...
It brought even greater pleasure by proving that the object of their awe was no different from any other lowly human.
Rather than reaching the stars they looked up to, people wanted to drag those stars down to earth.
It was human instinct.
Whether they supported Taeul Sect or envied it, there was nothing more interesting than witnessing its destined despair with their own eyes.
“Are you confident?”
In the end, Elder Moyong Gang caught me.
To be exact, he had somehow known exactly where I was and found me.
“I’m worried people will point fingers when the Clan Head of the Moyong Clan acts like a burglar.”
“Cut the bullshit.”
I tried to excuse myself with a few words, but this old man had no concern for appearances.
If he had not come from a legitimate White Path faction, wouldn’t this man have become the Black Alliance Lord?
No, he would have become a public enemy of the martial world and died long ago.
“What scheme are you plotting to pull something like this?”
“Do I need another scheme? We never wanted to reopen our gates in the first place.”
“If you had no scheme, why would you use old men like me as props?”
“Who would use you as a prop?”
What nonsense.
Where in the world was there a prop more eye-catching than the host?
“You really intend to keep fighting until you lose?”
Moyong Gang tilted his head as though he could not understand at all.
This was why pampered young masters from prestigious households were no good.
“Taeul Sect isn’t a powerful, enormous faction like the Moyong Clan. Why do you think we have to win every time?”
“Why fight when you know you’ll lose?”
In my previous life, Moyong Gang had fought the Demonic Cult even knowing he would lose.
Even when he knew his clan would be destroyed, he revealed all of the Moyong Clan’s martial arts to the martial world.
People were truly contradictory.
A man who now placed his clan’s honor and reputation first would one day give everything he and his clan possessed to the martial world.
“Has the Moyong Clan never suffered defeat or decline throughout its centuries of history?”
“...”
“The will to keep fighting even after losing again and again. The resolve to step forward once more, no matter how small the clan becomes. Isn’t that what tradition and history are? I was taught that is how one establishes a clan.”
Moyong Gang’s eyes widened for a moment.
Then he sank into thought.
I wished he would go somewhere else to think.
“Well... I can’t tell whether the soil is good or the trees simply grow well.”
Moyong Gang muttered something incomprehensible.
“I saw a curious ‘monster’ residing in the Old Taeul Hall. Were you not planning to use that person?”
When had he seen that?
“What do you take me for?”
“...”
“Are you going to keep this up?”
It was practically rude, but this old man would not understand unless I spoke this bluntly.
“Ahem! If you’re not, then you’re not. Why are you getting so worked up and making a fuss? Anyway, remember clearly that you owe me one!”
It seemed he understood at last.
Thanks to that, I had a large bump on my head, and the trump-card External Elder I had prepared could not be used after all.
He’s no help at all.
#
The large training ground that had been used for the banquet was thoroughly cleaned.
Those who had enjoyed the feast moved behind the training ground.
People who could not find places even settled atop buildings and walls.
Taeul Sect had greatly expanded during its reconstruction, but it could not accommodate every spectator who had suddenly gathered. They did not stop them.
“We will begin the martial arts tournament.”
Geumpyo was the first to step onto the platform.
Jin Sowoon whispered to the back of the tense disciple’s head.
“I recently learned a fascinating restriction. If you can endure it, it’s like a fated encounter that will guarantee that you advance by one level.”
“...Out of nowhere?”
“If you cannot face ten opponents, I will grant you that ‘fated encounter.’”
“...”
Geumpyo’s body trembled at their senior brother’s boundless encouragement.
What the hell had Senior Brother learned now?
Had Senior Brother ever brought back a normal training method after saying something like that?
A fated encounter, my ass.
It would surely be torture... no, a training method that forced them to endure pain so excruciating that death would seem preferable while hovering between life and death.
Their peers at the Martial Arts Academy had heard about Taeul Sect’s training methods and even gotten angry, telling them to stop lying.
They said no sane person would willingly undergo such bizarre training.
That was why Geumpyo and Eunho always said the same thing.
It would be better to throw themselves from any cliff than gain the “fated encounter” Senior Brother talked about.
“Whew...”
The racing heartbeat slowly settled.
Senior Brother had mentioned ten people and a “fated encounter,” which meant Geumpyo possessed enough skill to face ten opponents.
Step. Step. Step.
The first opponent climbed onto the platform from the opposite side.
The martial artist was six feet tall, with a sturdy build, a rough beard, and a large eunuch saber.
Even the fighting spirit pouring from the figure’s entire body matched exactly what Geumpyo had imagined a true martial artist to be as a child.
Gulp.
To face ten people like that...
Could Geumpyo really do it?
Feeling a scorching gaze, Geumpyo turned.
Swish.
Senior Brother stood there, smiling as he drew a thumb across his throat.
Restriction, fated encounter, growth...
Maybe it would be better to die here.
The confidence that had been fading flared back to life.
“Lee Geumpyo, a second-generation disciple of Taeul Sect, asks for your guidance!”
As Geumpyo performed a clasped-fist salute, the opponent frowned.
“You use a shield?”
“Huh? Ah... yes.”
“You don’t even know the basics.”
“...”
What was that supposed to mean?
The basics...
Wasn’t everything Geumpyo had learned while being beaten by Senior Brother every day the basics?
What about Geumpyo did that person think lacked the basics?
Before Geumpyo could even ask that innocent question.
“Aaaaah!”
The opponent erupted in rage as if personally insulted.
Their martial robes swelled as though about to burst, and the eunuch saber spun in a wide arc.
That was strange.
With so many openings, wouldn’t they be ambushed?
Ah! They were deliberately showing openings!
Geumpyo raised the Vajra Shield higher and lowered their stance.
First, they had to understand how the opponent fought.
But then...
“Thousand-Pound Crushing Strike!”
The opponent even shouted the move’s name, kindly revealing where the eunuch saber would strike.
Geumpyo was not entirely sure what to make of that, but still angled the Vajra Shield and diverted the saber’s path.
Boom.
The eunuch saber struck the ground, and the attack missed.
At that moment, Geumpyo saw it.
The martial artist’s expression, eyes wide with shock.
There was no room for doubt.
Were they surprised?
It was a face filled with astonishment and fear.
Whoosh.
Geumpyo instinctively used the Phantom Shadow Kick.
Their body moved on its own.
It had been ingrained through all the sparring matches with Senior Brother.
If Geumpyo did not throw out a kick during an opening like this, Senior Brother’s ruthless attacks would rain down.
Bang!
With a crisp sound.
Whoosh!
The martial artist’s six-foot frame flew through the air and out of the training ground.
Then.
Crash!
The martial artist struck a three-hundred-year-old tree in Taeul Sect’s courtyard and passed out on the spot.
“...”
A cold silence descended over the grounds, as though a sudden shower had fallen.
Everyone stared at Geumpyo with strange expressions.
Only then did Geumpyo realize a mistake had been made and hurriedly shouted.
“Ph-Phantom Asura Kick!”
“...”
Geumpyo had always fought battles that crossed the line between life and death. This was their first formal bout.
Geumpyo did not even know the basic rule of calling out a move’s name.
Yet even after hurriedly correcting that mistake, the mood in the training ground showed no sign of changing.
“Um... I’m sorry. I didn’t know I had to call out the move...”
As Geumpyo hurriedly lowered their head, Gang Chaeseok, acting as referee, approached and raised Geumpyo’s hand.
Step.
“Lee Geumpyo of Taeul Sect wins!”
At the same time.
“Woooooah!”
Thunderous cheers erupted among Taeul Sect’s disciples.
Applause and cheers soon poured out from the spectators as well.
What was going on...?
“Geumpyo.”
As Geumpyo looked around in a daze, Gang Chaeseok whispered quietly.
“Even in a formal bout, you don’t need to call out a move’s name.”
Geumpyo’s face turned as red as a ripe persimmon.
Footnotes:
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