The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 502

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 502: The Beginning of Night (7)

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After disembarking at Geumdan Port, the Yuseong Hall members, hereafter referred to as the temporary hall members, raced toward Chengdu as dawn broke. Crossing the mountains, we reached Chengdu before noon.

Once we entered Chengdu, Sichuan, Dang Seohui eagerly took the lead.

“The candied fruit from that shop is delicious.”

“You should only buy mooncakes from that shop when the owner makes them herself.”

“I’ve been a regular at that shop since the owner’s grandfather ran it, but it hasn’t tasted as good since his grandson took over.”

Her directions were a little strange, but I was too busy taking in Chengdu’s distinct Sichuan sights, so unlike the inland regions, to mind much.

After crossing Chengdu’s bustling streets and heading toward the outskirts, we found that shops had once again been arranged along a main road.

Smaller roads branched off from it, while the main road stretched straight ahead.

Just in case, I asked.

“Senior Dang, does this road lead to Tang Clan Town?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“...”

“Why do you ask?”

Dang Seohui did not seem to find anything strange about the road itself, but Nam Hwaseong and Ilgak’s faces had stiffened, just like mine.

In a massive city like Chengdu, building an entire road for a single clan was proof of the Tang Clan’s influence.

Nam Hwaseong muttered as though in pain.

“They said the Tang Clan ruled Sichuan...”

The Tang Clan was certainly somewhat removed from the martial sects of the Central Plains.

Both geographically and in its history, the clan felt distant from the Central Plains.

That was why its pressure felt even greater when one experienced its true power firsthand.

“Hm?”

Then something strange caught my eye.

[Sichuan’s daughter, the Poison King’s granddaughter, Dang Seohui, concludes her Dragon-Phoenix Association activities in triumph.]

A banner made from a huge sheet of cotton cloth hung prominently beside the road, its words written in bold, flowing strokes.

[Sichuan’s daughter, the Poison King’s granddaughter, Dang Seohui, passes selection for Yuseong Hall, directly under the Mantong Office!]

And there was not just one.

[Well done, Dang Seohui! Promoted to Deputy Hall Master of Yuseong Hall!!!]

They even recorded every recent event in detail.

Everyone turned to look at Dang Seohui.

“Grandfather wrote them. He likes writing on large pieces of cloth.”

I doubted that was the only reason.

Every banner was about Dang Seohui.

Once we passed those dazzling banners and reached the end of the road, an unusual estate appeared. At the center of the enormous village stood high, fortress-like walls stretching far into the distance.

The Greatest Tang Clan Under Heaven.

It was an unbearably arrogant signboard, yet no one found it strange.

The Tang Clan was one of the few sects with the right to call itself the greatest under heaven.

‘Even the Demonic Cult had struggled against the Tang Clan.’

Dozens of people passed through the wide-open gate, while others stood in a long line to visit.

Dang Seohui strode confidently toward the center of the crowd.

Those who had initially frowned and seemed ready to curse stopped short when they saw the color of her clothes.

As attention gathered around her, the Tang Clan members receiving visitors gradually turned to look our way.

The instant they recognized Dang Seohui, they sprang to their feet.

“L-Lady Dang!!!”

Abandoning their work, four or five people rushed over and surrounded Dang Seohui, greeting her at once.

“You did not even send word. We were so disappointed.”

“Didn’t you say you were on a mission?”

“Has that Hall Master been giving you trouble? Just say the word, and I’ll make sure no one ever finds out what happened to him...”

“Lady Dang! What about that Jin fellow? Is he still not interested in you?”

The excessive welcome was like a dead child returning home, but Dang Seohui barely reacted, as though she was used to it.

“Oh, you must be busy. What brings you here so sudde...?”

Dang Seohui abruptly pointed at me.

“Jin Sowoon came because he wants to meet Grandfather.”

When Dang Seohui pointed at me, every Tang Clan member turned toward me.

“Hello, I’m...”

Even people who had not approached Dang Seohui suddenly looked my way. It was a little frightening.

“...Jin Sowoon...”

“...!”

“...!!”

“...!!!”

...What was wrong with them?

The Tang Clan members stared at me as though frozen.

Then a towering man among them drew in a deep breath.

“L-Lady Dang... J-Jin Sow...!”

He unleashed a thunderous Lion’s Roar.

“LADY SEOHUI HAS RETURNED WITH THAT JIN SOWOON BASTARD!!!!”

“???”

As though some great disaster had struck.

“AND THAT JIN SOWOON BASTARD HAS COME HERE TO MEET THE CLAN HEAD!!!!”

The wild Lion’s Roar rang throughout the Tang Clan.

Soon after,

“W-What is this?!”

Bells loud enough to startle even Nam Hwaseong began ringing across the entire Tang Clan estate.

Clangclangclangclangclangclangclang-

Doors opened in the walls, accompanied by the sounds of a Mechanism Formation activating.

People in Tang Clan martial uniforms climbed atop the walls with solemn expressions. Each held a mother-of-pearl vial in one hand and what appeared to be concealed weapons between the fingers of the other.

It looked as though war had broken out.

The man standing beside Dang Seohui approached and stared at me.

‘What the hell is this?’

Then he held out his hand.

“...Welcome to the Tang Clan.”

His attitude showed no welcome or pleasure whatsoever, despite his words.

“...”

Seriously, what was this?

Dang Wigwan, who introduced themself as the First Hall Master of the Flame King Pavilion, guided us inside.

The main residence at the center of Tang Clan Town had a structure somewhat similar to the Martial Alliance.

Because the clan was so closed-off, most research, education, and training had to take place within the main residence. That was why it had been built this way.

Despite its high walls and abundant Mechanism Formations, though, it did not feel cramped.

If anything, the large buildings stood far apart, making the entire place feel immense.

- Hey, is this really right?

Nam Hwaseong sent me a sound transmission from two steps ahead.

- Doesn’t it feel like everyone is looking at us with hostility?

The atmosphere inside was bizarre beyond words.

Countless people in green robes had stopped what they were doing and stared openly as we moved through the estate.

It almost felt as though a green gleam flashed in their eyes.

Then a man in green robes strode toward us.

“!!!”

Nam Hwaseong, Geumpyo, and Yayul Geuk stopped at once. Their hands moved toward their weapons, only for them to force themselves to hold back.

The man stopped in front of me.

“Phew...”

“Looks like First Senior Brother did something wrong again...”

I could feel the three idiots behind me sigh in relief.

The man cheerfully held out his hand.

“It is an honor to meet the renowned hero Black Flame Dragon in person.”

“...I don’t know what you mean.”

Annoyed, I walked past him, but he moved like the wind and blocked my path again.

“Hoho, I heard you dislike the nickname Black Flame Dragon. It seems that was true as well.”

What was this bastard’s problem?

Judging by his green robes and the faint green light in his eyes, he seemed to have learned the Tang Clan’s direct-line martial arts.

But I had no idea why he was picking a fight with me.

I looked at Dang Wigwan, hoping Dang Wigwan would rebuke this rude bastard. Instead, Dang Wigwan folded their arms and watched with interest.

“Do you intend to leave my hand hanging?”

“...”

The moment I finally clasped his hand, a vast amount of internal energy tried to enter my body through his palm.

“Ho... You must be confident in your internal energy.”

He had even mixed a trace of poisonous qi into it. The skin where we touched prickled.

‘It seems he wants to humiliate me...’

Still, I had come here to ask for a favor. I couldn’t turn him into a cripple.

It would be better to handle this at an appropriate level.

After overcoming the Asura Locking Metal, Breaking Jade Art, I had gained the ability to divide my internal energy into several streams and control them at once.

“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Jin Sowoon.”

Keeping his invading internal energy firmly trapped in my palm, I tightened my grip.

Crack-

His eyes widened, and he clenched his teeth.

He began drawing on even more internal energy, but it was nowhere near enough to break through the Taeul True Scripture after it had reached the Dantian Ascension Realm.

Crack- Creak-

His thumb dislocated, and his hand began twisting into an unnatural shape.

Blood vessels rose across his face and filled his eyes.

“Ugh...!”

Realizing something had gone wrong, he tried to withdraw his internal energy and pull his hand away.

“Now, that’s rather rude... Do you not intend to return my greeting?”

As though his hand had taken root like an ancient tree, he could not pull free.

Crack-

“Ghhk-”

Another sound like wood splintering rang out. He clenched his teeth, and blood soon ran from his lips.

Since the Tang Clan’s medical skills were so good, I considered going a little further before stopping.

“Gasp!”

The moment he finally escaped my grasp, he rolled across the ground, clutching his right hand.

A large handprint, matching the shape of my own, was clearly imprinted across it.

Lying on the ground, he ground his teeth in frustration. After looking once at Dang Seohui, he glared at me.

“Do not... do not think I acknowledge you because of this!”

“...”

Then what the hell had he been testing me for? What exactly was he trying to acknowledge?

Could one of these bastards just explain it clearly?

When I looked at Dang Wigwan for an explanation, Dang Wigwan nodded two or three times with apparent satisfaction despite seeing a clan member collapse.

“Come. Refreshments and tea have been prepared at the Guest Pavilion.”

Dang Wigwan offered no explanation.

What the hell was going on?

Had they not come here to make an important request?

Geumpyo recalled what they had heard on the way from the port to Chengdu.

First Senior Brother had clearly said that, despite being extremely busy, something had gone wrong and they needed to visit the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Then what was with that attitude?

“Why do those bastards keep hovering around me?”

First Senior Brother acted less like someone asking for a favor and more like a loan shark coming to collect a debt.

“Senior Brother, please calm down.”

“Does this look like a situation where I can calm down? They’ve been showing hostility for no reason since earlier.”

First Senior Brother hated it when others were hostile toward him for no reason.

When people looked down on him, he practically had a fit.

But was this not a little different?

Geumpyo’s gaze shifted toward Dang Seohui, who was too busy eating all the snacks she had missed to pay attention.

“Senior Dang...”

“Deputy Hall Master!”

With sugar syrup all over her mouth, her suddenly serious expression was cute.

“Yes, Deputy Hall Master. Um... Have you ever told your clan members about First Senior Brother?”

“What kind of story do you mean?”

“I mean, about your relationship...”

Dang Seohui tilted her head.

“I told them everything that happened with Junior Jin.”

“...Then have you told them about your other friends? Senior Hwa Jeongsan, Senior Yong Soa, and the others?”

“Why would I tell them that?”

Hm... That confirmed it.

What Geumpyo had vaguely suspected was now certain.

In other words,

‘This is like the youngest sibling bringing a boyfriend home.’

The looks directed at First Senior Brother were those of constables eyeing a thief.

Only First Senior Brother seemed unaware of it.

‘Tch...’

Geumpyo hoped they could meet the elders, deal with their business, and leave quickly.

But the Tang Clan members had less patience than Geumpyo expected.

“Young Hero Jin, I have seen how you handle internal energy. But that alone is not enough.”

The people who had only been watching with unpleasant expressions finally began stepping forward.

“What have they been going on about this whole time?”

First Senior Brother’s patience seemed to have run out too.

In the end, Geumpyo had no choice but to step in. If First Senior Brother lost his reason, he might cause trouble at the Tang Clan while they were here to ask for help.

“May I face you instead?”

“...?”

The man who had come for First Senior Brother frowned.

“I’m also a member of the Taeul Sect. By facing me, you will be able to see First Senior Brother’s abilities as well.”

Geumpyo assumed the Opening Stance.

But then,

“You seem to be mistaken. I’m not interested in seeing the Taeul Sect. I only want to see Jin Sowoon. That fellow.”

“Urk!”

Geumpyo’s body began to stiffen in the Opening Stance.

‘W-When did...?’

Though humiliation stiffened Geumpyo’s entire body, their face burned.

“Ugh, idiot...”