WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 57: The First-Rate Martial Artist Who Amazed the Divine Sword (5)
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Namgung Taeha had first taken up a sword at the age of six. Over half a century in the martial world, he believed he had lived through unimaginable events and met extraordinary people.
After passing sixty, he had thought nothing could surprise him anymore. Yet the words that came from the mouth of the youth before him, who had not even reached twenty, left him stunned.
“What did you say you wanted?”
“I said the Changgung Merchant Group.”
“Hah...”
A hollow laugh escaped him at the absurdity of it.
“Are you making such an outrageous demand because you want me to refuse?”
“If I possess what the Divine Sword seeks, isn't this an opportunity? There is no reason for me to refuse.”
His manner was unwavering, and his voice remained level.
Was this youth truly suggesting such a ridiculous condition in earnest?
“Are you asking for an entire thatched house just to catch a flea?”
The Changgung Merchant Group was the greatest foundation supporting the Namgung Clan.
To ask for it was no different from asking for all the Namgung Clan’s assets.
“The rafters are already on fire. Shouldn't you tear them away before everything burns down to the pillars’ foundations?”
“...?”
There was something strange about the arrogant youth’s words.
He had never mentioned it. What could this boy possibly know?
“What do you mean by that?”
“Isn't there a problem with the collateral branch? That is why you summoned me.”
“!!”
Had their internal troubles leaked outside?
That could not be. No one in the Namgung Clan would want such a shameful situation to become known.
More importantly, the collateral branch that harbored treasonous ambitions would never reveal its plans openly.
They would immediately draw suspicion, and their crimes would be exposed in full.
Was that not why they had failed to find the people behind the attack on his grandchildren at Goueom Mountain? The collateral branch had kept such a tight lid on the matter.
Even if rumors had spread in secret, that youth was no more than a disciple of the Taeul Sect. There was no way he could know the Namgung Clan’s inner circumstances in such detail.
“...Could it be?”
Once that thought occurred to him, Namgung Taeha began to wonder about Jin Sowoon’s identity.
He no longer felt that the boy could be merely a disciple of the Taeul Sect.
The moment suspicion arose, his thoughts stirred his internal energy, and fierce killing intent poured forth.
The youth seemed to possess uncommon internal energy and talent, but this killing intent was far beyond anything he should have been able to endure.
“How do you know of that matter?”
“...!”
“Speak. This is an important question, one that may determine whether you live or die based on your answer.”
He released killing intent strong enough that even Namgung Jinmyeong would not have endured it head-on. Yet the youth only furrowed his brow and stood firm.
Wondering if he had somehow released too little, Namgung Taeha looked toward Namgung San, who stood to one side.
Having sensed the gravity of the conversation, Namgung San had not approached. Now, terrified by the killing intent radiating from Namgung Taeha’s body, he had retreated to the far end of Daeyeon Hall.
‘What in the world...?’
As Namgung Taeha stood there in shock, Jin Sowoon continued.
“...I first became suspicious when Senior Namgung San came looking for the Academy Admission Token. The power of one of the Five Great Clans could not have weakened enough that they were unable to even take the Martial Arts Academy’s regular examination. Yet Senior Namgung San tried desperately to take the Academy Admission Token from me.”
Killing intent was fear that stirred one’s instincts.
Even those who had trained their minds to an extreme degree would find it difficult to endure the killing intent he released in earnest.
“The second clue came when Miss Seonhwa went to Demon Spirit Plateau in search of the Mita Sacred Water. Considering the Great Lotus Divine Pellet you receive once every five years and the Namgung Clan’s exceptional orthodox internal cultivation method, the Mita Sacred Water was not an elixir worth risking your lives over while competing with the Black Path.”
“...”
To endure killing intent, one needed prior experience facing something even greater.
Yet what could a youth who had not reached twenty possibly have faced that surpassed the killing intent of the Divine Sword?
“The third clue was the attack at Goueom Mountain. Five hundred people moved through Anhui Province, which is practically the Namgung Clan’s own backyard, to attack members of the Namgung Clan’s direct line. If the Namgung Clan did not know of their movements beforehand, then its eyes and ears were not doing their jobs.”
Even as sweat streamed down his face and the color drained from it, he spoke to the end.
More than Jin Sowoon’s martial aptitude or the formidable inner power no one knew how he had acquired, Namgung Taeha could not help admiring the youth’s mental strength in withstanding his killing intent.
He looked like someone who had crossed through a hell where this level of killing intent was nothing.
“The fourth clue was when the Divine Sword said that you would obtain that sword art, which I do not know, no matter the price. Now that you understand, would you please rein in your killing intent? It is becoming difficult to endure.”
“...”
After hearing everything, Namgung Taeha withdrew his killing intent.
Thud.
Jin Sowoon collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
Namgung Taeha gave his honest impression.
“...For the first time in my life, I feel awe toward another person.”
“...”
Even though the Azure Emperor Divine Sword himself had praised him, Jin Sowoon did not answer.
“Are you angry?”
Thinking he might have sulked because the killing intent had been too strong, Namgung Taeha approached him.
Jin Sowoon was unconscious, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
“Hoho... So you endured in that spot until you reached this state?”
Namgung Taeha had never seen anyone so stubborn.
Then, as he watched Namgung San rush over after seeing Jin Sowoon collapse, he understood why Namgung San had been bound to lose.
#
Late at night.
Hong Mungi, Gang Chaeseok, and Jin Taesan, three of the Taeul Sect’s key figures who had spent the entire day busy, gathered together with a bottle of liquor each.
“It has been far too long since all of us met like this.”
Gang Chaeseok and Jin Taesan smiled bitterly at Hong Mungi’s words.
In the past, they had gathered like this all the time and shared drinks. These days, they were so frantically busy that they barely had enough time to sleep.
Of course, they all knew who was responsible for their busy lives without needing to say it.
“You said there was something important to discuss?”
They had gathered today because Jin Taesan said he had something very important to discuss.
Dark circles hung beneath Hong Mungi and Gang Chaeseok’s eyes. They looked as though they wanted to return to bed at once.
“But why did you call me? I’m already out of my mind because of Yuseong.”
One day, an escort warrior had suddenly brought four children with them.
The oldest-looking boy had handed over a letter containing the absurd claim that Jin Sowoon had agreed to accept them as Taeul Sect disciples and asking the sect to look after them.
“Whenever I think back to then... Ah, my head hurts.”
“So you dislike it?”
Gang Chaeseok held his head as he lifted his cup.
Even so, a faint smile lingered on his lips.
The Busaeng Hall course for the fourth-generation disciples had already ended. To teach Yuseong, they would have had to make him wait until the next generation of Busaeng Hall students entered.
Yet that would mean risking the loss of the proper time for him to learn martial arts, especially since fourteen was such an awkward age.
In the end, Gang Chaeseok had no choice but to give him private lessons so he could keep pace with the disciples attending Gwaehwa Hall.
Surprisingly, Yuseong’s aptitude surpassed that of every disciple in the sect’s history.
He was a genius who grasped ten things after being taught one.
Not long after entering the Busaeng Hall course, he was already skilled enough to enter Gwaehwa Hall.
“That boy will likely become the Taeul Sect’s greatest prodigy.”
Gang Chaeseok, who had been teaching Gang Yuseong day and night, burst into laughter without even noticing his exhaustion. Jin Taesan watched him with a bitter smile.
“That is actually why I called you as well.”
“Hm?”
“You will need to teach one more disciple.”
“...What do you mean? Did that brat Sowoon send someone else?”
“He did send him.”
“...?”
“...?”
Gang Chaeseok looked at Hong Mungi.
As far as he knew, aside from Yuseong and his siblings, Jin Sowoon had not sent anyone else. Yet Hong Mungi also seemed entirely unaware of this.
“There is Jegal Cheongi.”
“...?”
Gang Chaeseok rubbed at his ear.
“Did I hear that wrong?”
Jin Taesan still wore a bitter smile.
Gang Chaeseok’s eyes widened.
“Hey! Enough with the jokes! Why are you calling over a tired man and doing this to him?”
“It is not a joke.”
“...”
Jin Taesan turned to Hong Mungi.
“Jegal Cheongi... That child wishes to learn the Taeul Sect’s martial arts.”
“...Is that even possible?”
“If the Sect Leader permits it, it should be.”
“...No, I mean would the Jegal Clan allow it?”
Jin Taesan had said the same thing when Jegal Cheongi first told him.
Jegal Cheongi then handed him a letter.
Jin Taesan carefully passed it to Hong Mungi.
“It is a letter from Jegal Hyeonun, the Clan Head of the Jegal Clan and Jegal Cheongi’s father.”
Hong Mungi quickly accepted the letter and read it.
By the time he set it down, his eyes had grown as wide as a rabbit’s.
“The Jegal Clan says that accepting him as a full disciple would be impossible, but they would be grateful if we accepted him as a lay disciple.”
“...I do not understand.”
It was not unusual for a member of a clan to enter a sect as a lay disciple.
Even children of the Five Great Clans often became lay disciples of the Nine Sects One Gang when their family’s martial arts did not suit them.
Still, for Jegal Cheongi, a member of one of the Five Great Clans, to enter the Taeul Sect, which ranked near the bottom of the One Hundred Eight Peaks, as a lay disciple was difficult to understand even from Hong Mungi’s perspective as Sect Leader.
“...Hoho, truly.”
“He says he made a promise to the Clan Head when he left the clan. Once he becomes capable of protecting himself, Yeongyeong will no longer have to work as his shadow guard. That is why he is so determined to learn martial arts.”
Now that he knew the circumstances, Hong Mungi felt he could not refuse. Still, something bothered him. Why would Jegal Cheongi seek to learn the Taeul Sect’s martial arts when his own clan possessed powerful martial arts?
“It seems Cheongi strongly insisted that he wanted to belong to the same sect as Sowoon, his sworn older brother.”
At that, Hong Mungi could only laugh.
“You truly had an incredible son.”
“...He is also the Sect Leader’s disciple.”
“How could the bond between master and disciple compare to that between father and son?”
“What will you do?”
“What else can I do? We cannot turn away someone who seeks the Taeul Sect’s teachings. Hall Lord Gang Chaeseok will have to work a little harder from now on.”
“...Damn it. That bastard Sowoon is making me suffer from a thousand li away.”
Though he grumbled, Gang Chaeseok still smiled.
Training excellent talent had always given him great satisfaction.
“I was already starting to run out of things to teach Yuseong.”
“Already?”
“Do not even mention it. I thought only his aptitude was exceptional, but he is an unbelievably diligent worker too. I have never seen him sleep.”
Gang Chaeseok shook his head as though he were sick of it.
“I hope Jegal Cheongi is not as bad as Yuseong. I never knew teaching prodigies could be so draining.”
Hong Mungi looked at Jin Taesan and asked, “How are our finances?”
Various events had occurred in the Taeul Sect recently, bringing winds of change. Of course, that also meant there were many places where money had to be spent.
“We are holding on for now, but our funds will soon run dry.”
“...Hm. I do not know whether to be happy or not.”
“We should be happy. The sect is growing, after all. Iron ore has started coming out of the mine little by little, so we should be able to endure for some time.”
Developing an iron ore mine required time.
“The Lord of Wang Family Estate has suggested that we establish a merchant group.”
“A merchant group?”
“Yes. Since we already possess an iron ore mine, he suggested building financial stability around it. He said he would help with the initial investment.”
“I do not know how to repay the Lord of Wang Family Estate for such generosity. Please convey our thanks.”
“I understand.”
“But if we establish a merchant group, it will likely have to be in Hefei. Yet the Changgung Merchant Group is already there, is it not?”
The Changgung Merchant Group’s headquarters, owned by the Namgung Clan, was located in Hefei.
All three men knew that the Namgung Clan’s commercial activities began with the Changgung Merchant Group, so they could not speak easily.
“I suggested that we focus on trading iron ore at first. We can slowly expand our goods with forges and ironworks as the foundation.”
“Even if the Wang Family Estate helps us, there is no need to provoke the Namgung Clan. We should first ask whether we may enter the iron industry.”
“I understand.”
Hong Mungi looked at Jin Taesan and Gang Chaeseok.
“I know that both of you have been through a great deal. Still, I hope you will endure a little longer. I believe these changes in the Taeul Sect are not a bad thing.”
“We feel the same.”
“Exactly!”
The three men wore small smiles as they swallowed their bitter liquor without touching the food before them.
#
That damned old man. To throw around killing intent so crudely.
If I had not experienced holding out against the Heavenly Demon Black Sword Unit in my previous life, I would have fled long ago.
At first, I endured out of pride. At the end, I endured through pure stubbornness and passed out. When I came to, it was morning.
Looking around, I saw that this was not Emperor's Pavilion.
A moment later, an attendant entered.
“Have you awakened?”
“Where am I?”
“This is Daeyeon Hall.”
“...You mean the Clan Head’s residence?”
“Yes. The Clan Head is waiting for you at the training yard.”
The attendant left after saying that. I adjusted my clothes and headed outside.
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword stood in the training yard, looking toward the summit of Mount Huang.
“Are you awake?”
The playful air he had shown the day before was gone.
Because of what happened yesterday, I deliberately did not respond.
“...My apologies. It was difficult for me to readily believe what you said.”
My brow twitched despite myself. The Azure Emperor Divine Sword was apologizing to someone like me, a mere junior of the martial world.
At this point, I could not continue to nurse my pride either.
“It is all right. From the Clan Head’s perspective, it was a situation worthy of suspicion.”
“...Speaking with you does not feel like speaking with a young man. It feels as though I am dealing with a wily old demonic master.”
After saying something that sounded neither like praise nor criticism, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword drew his sword.
“For our discussion to proceed, there must first be proof sufficient to guarantee your life. Only then can we move forward.”
As he spoke, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword began a sword dance.
His sword art clearly began with the opening stance of the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art, but it gradually began to change in a strange way.
“...”
By the end, it had transformed into an entirely different martial art.
Every route in its sword paths blocked the living paths of the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art, while its blade thrust into its death paths.
The sword art’s intent was unmistakably aimed at breaking the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art.
“What do you think?”
“...This has only put my life in greater danger.”
The Namgung Clan Head was studying a counter to the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art, which contained the clan’s secret teachings.
It had many shortcomings compared to the Shattering Form created by Jegal Cheongi, but anyone could see that the sword art Namgung Taeha had created was meant to overturn the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art.
“Hehehe. Do not worry. No one will learn this secret unless you reveal it.”
“...”
“Now then, since I have guaranteed your life, shall we negotiate again? Do you possess what I seek?”
“I do.”
“As expected. ...What do you truly want?”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword asked again.
I gave the same answer as yesterday.
“I want the Changgung Merchant Group.”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword frowned.
“Do you truly believe that makes any sense?”
“To be precise, I want the Hefei branch of the Changgung Merchant Group.”
“Hmph! Hefei is not called a branch. It is the Changgung Merchant Group’s headquarters. How is asking for that any different from asking for the entire Namgung Merchant Group?”
“That is why I said I want the Hefei branch. Why is the Changgung Merchant Group’s headquarters in Hefei rather than at the Namgung Clan on Mount Huang?”
“Well... Naturally, because that is the center of the transportation routes...”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword, who had been speaking, shut his mouth tightly.
The Namgung Clan’s present crisis had come about because its main family and the merchant group’s headquarters were separated.
It was true that the Namgung Clan’s economic activities had entered a golden age through the efforts of the collateral branch.
Yet the existence of a headquarters separated from the main family weakened the main family’s influence and greatly increased the influence of the collateral branch living at the headquarters.
That was the primary cause of the Namgung Clan’s current tragedy.
“Do you not think there is a problem with your own words, Clan Head? Hefei is certainly Anhui Province’s largest city, but it makes no sense for the Changgung Merchant Group and all its subordinate organizations to look toward the headquarters in Hefei. Should they not be looking toward the Namgung Clan at Mount Huang?”
“Hoho...”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword let out a hollow laugh.
“Your every word feels worth a fortune. What you have said has made me feel tempted to give you the Changgung Merchant Group in Hefei at this very moment.”
“To be precise, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword would not be giving it to me. I would be taking away your greatest concern and helping you.”
“Hoho, yes, yes. You are right.”
The smile vanished from the Azure Emperor Divine Sword’s face.
“Still, most of the Changgung Merchant Group has already fallen into Namgung Songju’s grasp. Even if I wished to give it to you, the Elder Council would not permit such an abnormal transaction. Namgung Songju would also oppose it under any pretext.”
“I will persuade the head of the Changgung Merchant Group.”
“Hm? You will persuade them?”
“Yes. In the end, they will have no choice but to give me the Changgung Merchant Group’s Hefei branch.”
Thinking of how pleased Father would be, I could not keep the smile from my face.
Footnotes:
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