WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 478: Each One's Purpose (2)
──────
When people were denied something they had taken for granted, they became flustered.
The more confidently the other person refused, the more they began to wonder whether they had misunderstood something.
That had been con artist Seo Unchang's answer when the Sojeong Unit asked how he had avoided the martial arts demonstration every low-ranking Martial Alliance warrior was required to undergo.
As he said, it was quite effective. I had to admit it.
The moment I heard Song Yeseol's words, I found myself thinking, 'Was an inspection optional?'
But this Dragon-Phoenix Association visit was not for friendship.
We were here to root out the Blood Cult's arts and forbidden arts that had spread throughout the martial world.
And there was no way the Martial Alliance would give its inspection targets a choice in a matter like that.
"..."
Ilgak, Yong Soa, and I exchanged looks.
Not a single word was spoken, yet suspicion hung heavily between us.
Perhaps she sensed something was off when we remained silent. Song Yeseol suddenly changed her tone.
“Ah! I may have worded that in a misleading way. To be precise, our circumstances aren't good, so I'm asking that you visit us later.”
Their circumstances weren't good.
I didn't know what the others thought, but I knew one thing.
Her excuse was clumsy.
Seo Unchang always said that if you wanted to avoid con artists like him, you had to be shameless and press them relentlessly.
You could deal with the guilt of being rude later.
“Are your circumstances truly that bad?”
Song Yeseol's face was full of worry.
“Still, as a member of the Martial Alliance, we're trying our best.”
Seo Unchang had also said women were better liars than men.
“I see. How urgent is the situation?”
“...Pardon?”
Interfering in another sect's affairs was against martial world etiquette, but it was better than risking danger just to observe those manners.
"..."
I silently watched Song Yeseol.
She stared back at me as though she couldn't believe a person like me existed.
Ilgak was the first to lose patience.
“Benefactor Jin... It isn't proper to interfere too deeply in another sect's affairs...”
Baldy, keep quiet.
“We came as members of the Martial Alliance to strengthen our ties with Whirlwind Estate, our ally. We aren't simply here for a free meal.”
When someone was looking for an opening to escape through, blocking even that opening was the best way to expose a con artist's nature.
“They say someone who abandons you when your circumstances are poor isn't a true friend. The Martial Alliance is Whirlwind Estate's ally and friend. The Martial Alliance won't turn away from Whirlwind Estate's hardship by using it as an excuse.”
By the time I finished, Song Yeseol's face had gone blank.
I had blocked every way out. Now she could either offer an even more absurd excuse or tell us the truth.
“May we hear what these circumstances are?”
A bitter smile appeared on Song Yeseol's blank face.
“Just the other day, the Martial Alliance branch office coldly told us they couldn't help.”
"..."
“Now that I've even heard you say you wish to help, I can't possibly remain silent.”
A faint killing intent flickered in her eyes.
“Whirlwind Estate is on the verge of going to war with Blood Heaven Fort.”
“...What?”
“I didn't want to bring harm upon others, but I will repay this help for Whirlwind Estate a hundredfold, a thousandfold in the future.”
Song Yeseol bowed deeply with a fist-and-palm salute.
“...What?”
Somehow, I had just enlisted in someone else's war.
#
“Is this really all right?”
On the way to Whirlwind Estate, voices drifted over from people standing a short distance away from Song Yeseol.
“This may be Dragon-Phoenix Association business, but if they're at war with Blood Heaven Fort, shouldn't we stay out of it?”
Sharp gazes turned toward me.
I steadied myself by repeating Seo Unchang's words again and again.
Then I deeply furrowed my brow.
“Can you simply turn your backs on a sect that refuses even the smallest help out of concern for its guests' safety, despite being driven to the edge of a cliff?”
I looked at them as if they were the most shameless people in the world.
This wasn't revenge for being denied mooncakes.
I simply despised martial artists who turned away from justice and had forgotten chivalry.
“Are the Martial Alliance, the Orthodox Society, the White Path Society, the Twelve Peak Alliance, the One Hundred Eight Peaks, and all the other sects not fellow travelers?”
"..."
“If someone fights for chivalry, does it matter where they come from? Aren't they also a fellow traveler of the martial world?”
Those who had voiced their complaints fell silent.
I pressed on.
“If you don't understand how violently the comfort and solidarity you enjoy can weigh upon those who have neither, you may return. Only those who wish to come need visit Whirlwind Estate with me before returning.”
Once I said that, those who had complained began to despise themselves beneath the crushing weight of guilt.
'Serves them right.'
I walked on as if disregarding them, as though daring them to go back if they wished.
Yet no one I could sense behind me through my energy sense dared return to Kaifeng.
“Thank you.”
Song Yeseol had come up beside me at some point and spoken quietly.
“I pretended not to hear, but... I heard everything.”
She tried to look unaffected, but her eyes were brimming with tears.
“Thank you again. I truly mean it.”
Song Yeseol bowed deeply.
“Did the branch office not help at all?”
“As you know, Kaifeng might as well be Blood Heaven Fort's territory. The Kaifeng branch office said that if they intervened, it could lead to an all-out war between the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance.”
A cold smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
It was contempt for vicious hypocrisy.
Shame at her own helplessness.
Those who learned how cold the world was at their most desperate moment became excessively cynical.
She could remain unfazed even before the admired Dragon-Phoenix Association because she had already been betrayed enough by the things she believed in.
She looked exactly as I had when my sect fell into crisis in my previous life.
“What utter bullshit.”
“...What?”
“If a major Martial Alliance force were in danger, would they have stood by with the same excuse?”
"..."
Song Yeseol's eyes reflected a complicated mix of emotions.
“This is nothing new, but every time I see the Martial Alliance act so hypocritically, it makes me want to vomit.”
Her expression went blank again.
She was someone whose feelings showed honestly on her face.
“...You're quite different from the rumors.”
Huh?
“What do the rumors say?”
Song Yeseol suddenly began sweating as if I had asked something completely unexpected.
What was with that reaction?
“Are there a lot of bad rumors?”
“Ah... Not exactly. They say you're a more spirited person... Yes.”
“Hmm... Could you perhaps explain that in more detail?”
“Ah! I need to use the latrine for a moment. Please go on ahead.”
With that, Song Yeseol threw herself into the brush.
After I walked on in a daze for a while, Yong Soa approached me.
“You seem close. Did you know each other before this?”
“Not at all.”
“I see...”
Yong Soa, who looked as though he had no interest in anyone else, was staring toward the brush Song Yeseol had disappeared into.
“Enough. Tell me what you saw.”
“What are you talking about?”
“What will happen to Blood Heaven Fort and Whirlwind Estate?”
Yong Soa's indifferent gaze met mine for a moment.
“I don't know.”
Then he looked ahead as though nothing had happened.
“You knew Whirlwind Estate was in danger, didn't you?”
If Yong Soa hadn't known, wouldn't he have shown even the slightest reaction when Whirlwind Estate refused the inspection?
“You knew Miss Song was coming as well, didn't you?”
Yong Soa slowly turned his head.
Annoyingly, the sun was directly behind his head, shining like a halo.
“It isn't as though I see everything. If I did, I wouldn't be able to do anything at any moment.”
I narrowed my eyes to study his face, only for the sunlight to stab directly into them.
'Damn it.'
By the time I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again, Yong Soa had already slipped back among the Dragon-Phoenix Association members.
'There's definitely something going on.'
#
Whirlwind Estate stood on the outskirts of Kaifeng.
It was the size of a small manor. The modest interior decorations and worn martial uniforms suggested it wasn't particularly well-off.
When the Dragon-Phoenix Association arrived, the people of Whirlwind Estate wore bewildered expressions.
More precisely, they were clearly flustered because guests had arrived at a time when they couldn't receive them.
“I don't see any young disciples.”
The absence of the young disciples, who would have welcomed the Dragon-Phoenix Association most eagerly, made the place feel even quieter and more awkward.
“Even if they're disciples, we can't let them be hurt because of the adults' greed.”
“Did you evacuate them somewhere else?”
Song Yeseol shook her head.
“Most of them are children from nearby villages. They often join the estate as disciples so they can have another meal, since they usually eat only once a day.”
"..."
The moment I saw Song Yeseol's forlorn smile, something seemed to prick at my chest.
“I'll take you to the Estate Master immediately.”
As we neared an inner building that appeared to be the Sect Leader's Hall, middle-aged men and women poured out.
It seemed they had been discussing how to deal with Blood Heaven Fort until moments ago.
When they spotted us and bowed, there wasn't the slightest trace of expectation on their faces.
“Welcome.”
Once we entered, Gongsun Myeong, the master of Whirlwind Estate, greeted us.
Despite his troubled circumstances, Gongsun Myeong forced a smile.
“Please forgive me for failing to properly receive such honored guests.”
Gwak Susan clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute.
“Your words alone are appreciated. We heard what has happened on the way here. You're preparing for a decisive battle with Blood Heaven Fort.”
When Gongsun Myeong looked at Song Yeseol, she nodded.
“It seems our Head Disciple told our guests unnecessary things.”
Gongsun Myeong said.
“Unfortunately, that is what happened.”
“May I ask what caused this situation to escalate so far?”
“The reason?”
“Yes. To be frank, Whirlwind Estate standing against Blood Heaven Fort... seems as though it will only result in innocent casualties.”
It was advice that bordered on disrespect, directed at a senior several levels above him in martial world standing, but Gongsun Myeong did not seem particularly bothered.
“That is understandable, from the perspective of those who do not know the full circumstances.”
It was not that Gwak Susan's words hadn't hurt him. Rather, he had learned through years of dealing with people that it wasn't easy for one person to understand another.
“If this were simply a dispute over trade rights or profit, we could have made an appropriate concession.”
He continued calmly.
“What they want is Whirlwind Estate's ancestral burial grounds, and Whirlwind Estate itself.”
"..."
“When they desire the annihilation of our sect, what concession could possibly calm this situation?”
Gwak Susan's mouth closed tightly.
This was a matter too heavy for him to address.
“I heard this Dragon-Phoenix Association visit was not solely for friendship.”
"..."
“Of course, we would normally cooperate with an inspection as much as needed. But circumstances are not favorable now. Whirlwind Estate's signboard may disappear as soon as tomorrow.”
He spoke as though it were nothing.
“I know you came all this way because you wish to help, but we cannot allow promising young talents to shed blood because of us. We have received your goodwill in full, so I'm afraid I must ask you to return now.”
As Gwak Susan desperately sent me a signal for rescue because he didn't know what to do, I stepped forward.
“I am Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect.”
“...!”
Surprise briefly crossed Gongsun Myeong's face.
Since he didn't say anything, I continued without concern.
“Do you know how great the difference in strength is between Blood Heaven Fort and Whirlwind Estate?”
“Blood Heaven Fort has roughly a thousand people under its command. About three times the number of this estate.”
I shook my head.
Kaifeng was the place in Henan Province where Black Path forces were most rampant.
Blood Heaven Fort, Kaifeng's greatest sect, was naturally connected to the other Black Path sects.
“Manpa Estate, Jinpyeong Society, and Guigol Sect will join Blood Heaven Fort. In that case, the difference in strength will be closer to sixfold.”
"..."
There was no way Gongsun Myeong didn't know something that even I, who had never visited Kaifeng in my previous life, knew.
Unless they fought a siege battle, those numbers were impossible to handle.
And from the look of it, Whirlwind Estate hadn't even set up a cheap mystic formation.
“Even so, do you intend to protect Whirlwind Estate to the very end?”
Gongsun Myeong took a deep breath.
“Yes.”
“I see.”
“Is that not what it means to protect one's sect's name?”
Gongsun Myeong did not look like someone facing imminent death.
“I know you came here to help, but please return now. It is time for us to decide who will be sent away and who will remain.”
And I truly hoped he would not have to face that fate.
“We will remain as well.”
“Pardon?”
“What?!”
“...Huh?!”
Why were voices of surprise coming from both ahead and behind me?
Gongsun Myeong asked again with a bewildered expression.
“Why would you remain?”
“Since you know who I am, I'll speak honestly. We came here to conduct an inspection. If Whirlwind Estate disappears, wouldn't that mean our mission has failed? If we are to succeed in our mission, Whirlwind Estate cannot disappear.”
“What kind of nonsense is that...?”
Unable to understand at all, Gongsun Myeong stared at me, and my hand naturally pointed toward Yong Soa.
“More importantly, Wudang Sect's foremost young talent is here. Yong Soa, the divine prodigy of the Orthodox Society and the Martial Alliance's Divine Dragon. If Yong Soa dies, Wudang Sect will not remain idle. Blood Heaven Fort will be sufficiently intimidated.”
The moment I finished speaking, not only Whirlwind Estate's people but every Dragon-Phoenix Association member turned to stare at me.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Their gazes were unbearably sharp.
Footnotes:
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