WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 573: Dragon Hunting
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Northern Forest Alliance camp.
The tent assigned to the Orthodox Society Special Operations Unit.
"What the hell are we even doing here?"
A quiet complaint broke through the stifling air.
Several others nodded, clearly sharing the same sentiment.
They had gathered the finest among the Nine Sects One Gang's elites, only to have them play at being bandits.
It was an order from above, but this time, it was hard to accept.
And the conditions were miserable.
Supplies barely arrived, and the rations were even worse.
When they were served porridge with strange things floating in it, things even Beggar Sect disciples would not eat, they wanted to forget the mission and run away.
The bandits' habits were just as unbearable.
Most of them did not wash properly or even clean their clothes.
After a fierce battle, the stench of blood and rancid sweat drifting in from every direction made them retch, even on an empty stomach.
They had been instructed not to reveal their identities, but even without that order, the Special Operations Unit had no desire to mingle with the Northern Forest Alliance. They could not even leave their tent.
There was only one reason they endured an operation that was practically a punishment.
Yong Soa.
The man most highly regarded within the Orthodox Society, the one expected to rise to its highest position.
Because he was here, no one dared consider abandoning the operation.
'What is he thinking?'
It was strange enough that Yong Soa, with his extreme fastidiousness, had joined an operation like this. Yet he had shown not the slightest lapse, maintaining astonishing focus throughout.
Everyone knew he was usually neat and immaculate, but to preserve that appearance even in these wretched conditions while seeing the mission through to the end...
Even among fellow elites, he seemed completely out of place.
'It's like the world will end if this operation fails.'
'Could there be another mission we don't know about?'
'Then why is he only following the Northern Forest Alliance's orders?'
The Orthodox Society Special Operations Unit had come after receiving a special mission, but they did not act independently.
They did not even review or adjust the operation beyond the bare minimum.
As if they were subordinates, all they did was follow orders and cut down bandits who barely had the basics of martial arts.
The strange part was that victories kept coming even in battles where they were not involved.
So many victories that it was hard to believe the Northern Forest Alliance had been losing until recently.
No one in the Special Operations Unit bothered to look into it.
They only had to complete their assigned mission and return.
Things were different now.
"They were clearly from the White Path, right?"
"Is that even something you need to guess? Anyone could see it was Hwa Jeongsan, Dang Seohui, and Moyong Seol."
"..."
Their gazes naturally turned to Yong Soa.
The Dragon-Phoenix Association members who had operated alongside him were now standing against them.
"Could there have been some miscommunication with the higher-ups?"
They had come to help the Northern Forest Alliance.
Yet there were people helping the Southern Forest Alliance as well.
In this confusing situation, there was only one person they could rely on.
"Yong Soa, what are we going to do?"
"Nothing changes."
Yong Soa calmly wiped down his sword.
"Shouldn't we at least speak with them?"
Yong Soa raised his head for the first time.
His gaze drifted into the distance, as if he were recalling someone.
"...Talking won't change anything."
"What does that mean?"
As the irritated voice rose, Yong Soa turned toward its owner.
"It means that no matter what circumstances they have or what they say, we'll do our job. There's no reason to speak with them."
"..."
Yong Soa quietly resumed cleaning his sword, as though the conversation were over.
Then he put his mask back on.
At the same time, everyone in the Special Operations Unit followed suit.
A voice came from outside, as if it had been waiting for that moment.
"Have you all rested well?"
The person who entered the tent was the Beoma Stronghold Leader.
They had clearly come to criticize them over the recent defeat.
Yet...
"You have all worked hard. Thanks to you, we got through a crisis that nearly wiped us out."
"...?"
When they had returned, curses had been flying from every direction.
The other stronghold leaders had even openly asked, "Are you the only ones who came back alive?"
From the Special Operations Unit's perspective, being criticized by mere bandits was unpleasant enough.
From the Northern Forest Alliance's perspective, the Special Operations Unit had returned unharmed after a failed battle, making them equally irritating.
Despite that, the Beoma Stronghold Leader smiled broadly.
"If you continue performing like this, we could ask for nothing more."
Then came praise that seemed utterly hollow.
"A new operation has been decided. You will all proceed to Hebi."
"...?"
Every member of the Special Operations Unit widened their eyes.
They had never revealed their identities or names, nor had they ever shown their faces.
They had not even said who led the unit.
Yet the Beoma Stronghold Leader said,
"Come now, hurry along."
They were speaking directly to Yong Soa.
#
Yong Soa was watching a future that was slowly returning to its proper course.
The Martial Alliance had found stability again and was preparing to relocate to the Northern Sea.
It was not completely the same, though.
While the Mantong Office and Profound Mystery Pavilion's classified materials were being moved, three of the One Hundred Eight Peaks, Gangcheon Sect, Shura Sect, and Cheongeom Sect, had been destroyed. Kongtong Sect, one of the Nine Sects One Gang, had suffered damage severe enough to nearly destroy it as well.
It was a future he had never seen before.
Still, it was enough that the Martial Alliance had not become a tool of the Demonic Cult and had not vanished from the martial world.
He did not know exactly what had led to this, but it did not matter.
The fact that he could see himself working within the Northern Forest Alliance was proof that the future was heading toward its proper course.
"I don't understand what they're thinking."
After the Beoma Stronghold Leader left the tent, the Special Operations Unit began talking among themselves.
"They're pulling key personnel from the front lines and placing them in the rear."
The operation they proposed barely deserved to be called an operation.
Even children playing war games in a village would not use a strategy like this.
"Yong Soa, are you really going?"
The Beoma Stronghold Leader's suspicious behavior was more than enough to make them doubt the situation.
"They requested it. There's no reason not to go."
Yong Soa's response was matter-of-fact.
"But wasn't the Beoma Stronghold Leader... a little strange earlier?"
"What was strange about them?"
"..."
Unease without a clear basis could not be put into precise words.
In the end, they had to give it another excuse to make it tangible.
"What if something happens?"
Yong Soa stopped while packing his things.
If something were going to happen, Dragon Eye would have shown it to him.
The fact that it had not meant this situation was also part of the future he had seen.
"Even if there is a problem, would it truly be a problem?"
The unit member opened and closed their mouth at Yong Soa's bold words, then fell silent.
As he said, even if the Northern Forest Alliance bandits were planning something, there was no way they could defeat Yong Soa.
The Southern Forest Alliance also had Martial Alliance personnel among its ranks.
Rather than allowing the situation to grow more complicated, it would be better to leave this place.
"True. I suppose you're right."
Once that formless unease faded, the Special Operations Unit began packing much faster.
Yong Soa quietly watched them.
His yearning for change had created despair.
He had escaped that despair and barely returned to the original flow.
And he vowed never to stray from that natural order again.
#
After occupying Bongho Stronghold, the Southern Forest Alliance reorganized its main force at Bongho Stronghold and Black Axe Stronghold.
They had spent all this time defending. Now it was time to attack.
Filled with malevolent qi, the Southern Forest Alliance finally crossed Heze and entered Henan Province.
Their first target was Samma Stronghold.
It was the largest stronghold near Kaifeng.
The Green Forest stronghold, which had originally housed eight hundred people, had swelled to two thousand. But its flimsy wooden palisades and traps were useless against the Southern Forest Alliance's Green Forest fighters, who flooded in like a tidal wave.
"Fall back! I'm going in!"
With the efforts of Yuseong Hall and the Gale Unit, Samma Stronghold fell in less than half a day without even managing a proper siege.
“““Waaaaah!”””
At the same time, Southern Forest Alliance strongholds in Changge, the Dabie Mountains, and Baofeng began retaking Northern Forest Alliance strongholds. The Southern Forest Alliance secured more territory than it had held before the war began.
"This is strange."
"It really is strange."
"Deputy Hall Master, you think so too?"
"Of course I do."
After all, even if she was the Candied Fruit Ghost, Dang Seohui was from the Dragon-Phoenix Association and was called one of the greatest talents under heaven.
She had not simply taken the Deputy Hall Master position for no reason...
"Black Phoenix Stronghold has done all this, so why isn't there a single stronghold that actually bears the name Black Phoenix Stronghold?"
Right. That was true.
When Bang Duchil had first sent word, the Southern Forest Alliance had been on the verge of losing to the Northern Forest Alliance.
Yong Soa, dispatched by the Orthodox Society, had been there when Yuseong Hall arrived at the Southern Forest Alliance.
The battle against the Northern Forest Alliance should have been far more desperate.
There had been Demonic Cult masters Bang Duchil feared, Demonic Cult units even the Gale Unit could not handle, and the Orthodox Society on top of that.
Yet the Northern Forest Alliance kept losing despite having every reason to win.
"What the hell is going on...?"
The Candied Fruit Ghost nodded along with me.
"I heard newly occupied strongholds are given new names. One of them needs to be named Black Phoenix Stronghold."
"...We're discussing something important right now."
"What could possibly be more important than this? There is a Black Dragon Stronghold, but no Black Phoenix Stronghold."
My head hurt.
I had discussed this with Bang Duchil and Baek Soryeong, but they only had suspicions. None of us knew what was happening.
Baek Soryeong nodded as if she agreed with me.
"Information is not leaking out at all. It's strange."
The first thing we sent after entering Henan Province was a scouting party.
I asked about them.
"What did the scouts say?"
"They said the enemy is only increasing its vigilance. They aren't doing anything else."
In a situation where several things should already have happened, nothing happening at all made me even more uneasy.
'This never happened in my previous life...'
Events were unfolding so differently that there was no real way to use my memories.
"Let's slow down a little and move after we finish reorganizing."
The only response available to us was to increase the number of scouts and give our people time to recover from their exhaustion.
If we stopped attacking now, there was no telling how long the war would continue.
Just as the meeting ended and I was about to leave...
- Hurry up and tell them.
A sharp sound transmission pierced my ear.
The Candied Fruit Ghost must have been secretly listening in.
Seriously, what a life.
The atmosphere was serious, so I had been about to leave without saying anything. Then I felt prickling killing intent from an unknown direction.
Where the hell are you hiding?
If I left like this, I would probably end up poisoned and bedridden when a real battle came. I turned back.
A long sigh escaped me.
"There is one more suggestion I would like to make..."
The Southern Forest Alliance decided to slow its advance.
"Ahem."
And Dang Seohui became the actual leader of Black Phoenix Stronghold.
“““Black Phoenix! Black Phoenix! Black Phoenix!”””
#
Travel north from Fengqiu and you reach Huaxian. Continue farther north into Hebei Province, and you reach Puyang.
Pass through Puyang, go by Hebi, and advance to Linzhou. There, you will arrive at Jungak Stronghold, where the Northern Forest Alliance's main headquarters lies.
Then the long war between the Southern Forest Alliance and Northern Forest Alliance will end.
'Here again...'
The Puyang Plains had to be cursed.
Countless people and demonic beings had once gathered there over the Academy Admission Token, spilling rivers of blood in a desperate battle. Now the Southern Forest Alliance and Northern Forest Alliance were fighting there again.
Thump- Thump- Thump- Thump- Thump-
Heavy drumbeats echoed from every direction.
Each beat made my heart pound faster in response.
It was not something used in battles between martial artists, but it seemed effective against Green Forest fighters who were little different from ordinary people. Some were already breathing hard.
"Charge!"
"Charge!"
Orders rang out from both camps at once, and thousands of Green Forest fighters rushed at each other.
Crash-
"Aaargh-"
At the front, Bang Duchil continued driving through the Northern Forest Alliance as fiercely as a raging bull.
Only moments had passed since the battle began, but the Northern Forest Alliance's formation visibly shrank the instant Bang Duchil appeared.
"It looks like this will end quickly too."
As Dongryong said, the battle seemed likely to end soon.
For some reason, the Green Forest fighters at every stronghold we had passed through had quickly surrendered.
Then...
Boom-
"Hm?"
The Black Phoenix Stronghold Leader, the members of Yuseong Hall, and I all looked skyward.
Something was flying across the battlefield like a bird riding the wind.
'What an incredible movement art!'
It leaped an enormous distance in a single bound, then dropped straight into the center of the battlefield.
It blocked Bang Duchil's path.
Boom- Boom-
Despite the distance between them, thunderous explosions sounded whenever the two figures collided.
That was not all.
Figures in black martial attire burst out from among the Northern Forest Alliance's Green Forest fighters like wedges and began tearing their formation apart.
"Group Leader Jin!"
I did not even need to raise my energy sense.
The foul demonic qi rolling off them was already strong enough to reach us.
"Let's go!"
Yuseong Hall and the Gale Unit charged into the battlefield together.
"Jin Sowoon... Group Leader."
While we ran, Hwa Jeongsan moved close to me.
"I think... I think I saw that bastard."
I turned at his sudden words. Hwa Jeongsan's face was stiffer than I had ever seen it.
"It's definitely him."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Baeksong Sect. I definitely saw someone who belonged to Baeksong Sect."
Hwa Jeongsan looked even more shaken than when he had encountered the Orthodox Society members.
"What should I do?"
"Capture him alive... if possible."
There was a good chance he knew the truth behind all this.
"And if I can't?"
Before I could say anything, Hwa Jeongsan continued.
"If you start telling me to remember I'm a disciple of Mount Hua Sect, I'll kill him."
"..."
Then again, capturing someone alive, especially a martial artist, in the middle of a war was no easy task.
"Deputy Hall Master."
I called Dang Seohui, but she did not react, perhaps because she could not hear me.
"Deputy Hall Master Dang!"
Was it because the war drums were too loud? I shouted louder, but the Candied Fruit Ghost still did not respond.
'Come on, surely not...'
Just in case...
"Black Phoenix Stronghold Leader."
I called softly, and she turned toward me as though she had been waiting.
"What is it?"
Honestly.
"...Go with Hwa Jeongsan and capture a Baeksong Sect member alive."
The Candied Fruit Ghost nodded brightly.
"This is nothing for the Black Phoenix Stronghold Leader. Hwa Jeongsan, follow me."
Hwa Jeongsan looked at me uncertainly.
"It's better than going alone, isn't it?"
"..."
With a frown, Hwa Jeongsan ran off with the Candied Fruit Ghost, splitting away from our group.
"Aaargh-"
"Urgh-"
The closer we came, the louder the screams and the stronger the bloody smell became.
The disgusting demonic qi also grew so intense that it seemed to stab against my skin.
"Everyone, fall back!"
As I shouted, the Gale Unit unleashed Lion's Roar together.
"Everyone, fall back!"
As we had agreed beforehand, the Southern Forest Alliance's Green Forest fighters retreated as far as they could, opening a path.
Those who could not escape the enemy's reach died helplessly.
The moment I saw their swordsmanship, memories of them rose in my mind.
'The Iron Demon Sword Unit!'
One of the Demonic Cult's most aggressive units had entered the Green Forest Alliance war.
And there was also the Demon-Slashing Wolf Unit in red martial attire.
'Even Bang Duchil's grandfather couldn't handle this.'
This was not something Bang Duchil and the Gale Unit could face alone.
Even with me added to their side, we did not have enough strength to overwhelm them.
'What the hell is that man thinking?'
Bang Duchil was locked in a bloody battle with an unknown man at the center of the battlefield.
I watched him, then shook my head.
This was the time to focus on the battle.
"The ones in black mainly use heavy swords! The blades of the ones in red are filled with the principle of Change, so be careful!"
That was all I could tell them for now.
Three White Moon Heaven-Subduing Forms
First Form
Extreme Swiftness
Space split apart, and even the blood spraying in every direction was severed in two.
The Demonic Cult bastards caught within it desperately swung their weapons.
Screeech-
Then the sound of torn air arrived, followed by their screams.
I had successfully unleashed the first move, but I was not pleased.
Thud- Thud-
Thud-
More of them had been wounded or decapitated than killed instantly.
'They're stronger than the ones I've faced until now.'
It did not matter.
If one move could not kill them, I only had to kill them with a hundred moves or a thousand moves.
I was no longer Jin Sowoon, desperately swinging a rusty blade before Demonic Cult members.
Three White Moon Heaven-Subduing Forms
Second Form
Extreme Strength
Countless streams of qi force surged toward them like waves.
Just as they were about to swallow the Iron Demon Sword Unit as though a qi force barrier had covered them...
Boom-
Space twisted strangely.
The qi force that should have flown straight forward bent away, then collided with a fist-shaped mass of qi force flying in from somewhere else and exploded.
Kwoooom-
Boom-
The earth overturned, and people flew away like fallen leaves.
Through the thick dust, a man with a build similar to Bang Duchil's walked forward with heavy steps.
Calling him unarmed would have been impossible when the fist guards on both his hands looked so unusual.
His huge frame alone was imposing, but with fist guards like boulders covering his hands, he looked like a living siege weapon.
There was only one person in the Demonic Cult with such a distinctive appearance.
He was...
"At last, we meet."
Gan Se-ung, the Fist Lord of the Seven Demon Wisdom Lords.
"It was damn hard just to see your face-"
He grinned, revealing yellow teeth.
"Black Flame Dragon."
He looked as though he had been waiting for me.
Footnotes:
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