WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 58: The First-Rate Martial Artist Who Amazed the Divine Sword (6)
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“Is what you possess truly worth as much as the Changgung Merchant Group?”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword still looked doubtful.
I drew my sword.
“Please look at this first.”
I began to perform the martial art he had shown just moments ago.
My movements were imperfect because they had not yet settled into my body. The difference in our experience with martial arts was vast, so unlike his sword, which conveyed intent even through the simplest sword path, mine was lacking.
Still, it was undeniably the same sword art.
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword’s eyes widened as I reproduced it without the slightest deviation.
“You... remembered it in that short time?”
“It is my Heaven-Sent Punishment, a punishment bestowed by heaven.”
“You call that a punishment?”
He tilted his head as though he did not understand.
It was the reaction I usually received when I told people I could remember everything.
“The sight of the puppy I raised as a child being carried away in a fox’s jaws is as vivid to me as if it happened only moments ago.”
One could not understand what one had never experienced.
“...I suppose that could be so.”
That was not what mattered now.
“Please watch this next. It is the countermeasure I devised.”
I began performing the Shattering Form of the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art.
It was a sword art created solely to break the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art.
It was the method that had allowed the Demonic Cult’s martial artists to cut down orthodox martial artists so helplessly.
It struck at weaknesses even more decisively than the counter-form the Azure Emperor Divine Sword had shown.
At the same time, I deliberately thrust at completely irrelevant points rather than using only the Shattering Form.
If I showed him the complete Shattering Form Jegal Cheongi had created, he might feel threatened.
Even so, Jegal Cheongi’s Shattering Form far surpassed the one the Azure Emperor Divine Sword had made.
“I see why San was so flustered.”
“But there is a serious problem shared by this Shattering Form and the one you created, Senior.”
“What do you believe it is?”
“First, it is too difficult for those who have learned the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art.”
A sword art was learned through the body.
At first, one learned it with the mind. Afterward, one learned it with the body.
Postures ingrained in the body did not change easily.
“Second, outside of countering the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art, it is worse than a third-rate sword art in an ordinary battle.”
“...I agree.”
“Third, this sword art’s purpose is too obvious.”
“What is wrong with having a clear purpose?”
“What happens if the Namgung Clan’s martial arts deny the very foundation of the Namgung Clan?”
“...Meeting you was an excellent choice.”
To suppress a traditional sword art passed down for centuries while preserving its profound essence.
It was a complicated problem that no one but a genius like Jegal Cheongi could even imagine.
Jegal Cheongi had divided breaking forms into three categories.
Lower forms, middle forms, and upper forms.
The names did not refer to the strength of the techniques, but to how many openings they revealed.
A baiting move that exposed one’s body to the opponent was a lower form.
A move that linked one technique to the next was a middle form.
A move that protected oneself was an upper form.
Because of this classification, the final move of a martial art could be a lower form, while the opening move used to show respect could be an upper form.
“This is the price I wish to offer.”
I took up an opening stance.
Beginning with the First Form, Firmament’s Gentle Continuity, I started to perform the Ascendant Forms among the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art’s breaking forms.
Of the thirty-six forms, I showed perfect Ascendant Forms for exactly half. For the rest, I mixed in forms I had created myself.
At the Azure Emperor Divine Sword’s level, he would be able to distinguish the jade from the stones within them. Through that, he could recreate the complete Ascendant Form.
Once I had performed all thirty-six forms, sweat streamed down my forehead.
“Huh...”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword remained dazed for some time, as though reconstructing the forms he had just seen in his mind.
Then, realizing he had lost himself for a moment, he shook his head.
“How could you have conceived of this?”
That was when I began my plausible lie.
“Anhui Province, where the Taeul Sect is located, has two dragons. For the Taeul Sect to rise to the heavens, it must contend with those dragons. Yet our sect’s martial arts were too weak for that.”
“You used the memories that cannot leave your mind?”
“Rather than making futile efforts to forget my memories, it was easier for me to find weaknesses.”
“Even so...”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword shook his head.
“It is astonishing. The killing intent is too strong, but it is a sword that can overcome the Changgung Unhindered Sword Art’s weaknesses and dominate the sword art itself.”
His high praise was for Jegal Cheongi.
Jegal Cheongi’s wish was for the Martial Alliance to stand tall in the martial world once more and restore its righteous spirit.
Yet not every sect welcomed someone breaking down its martial arts.
Jegal Cheongi was often falsely accused of handing over the weaknesses in White Path martial arts to the Demonic Cult.
And now, Jegal Cheongi’s wish had reached Namgung Taeha, the Namgung Clan Head, through me.
“Was that what you used against San?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you force yourself to take up your sword?”
“I had never seen the Emperor Sword Art. Even if I had, it is too complex to counter, so I had no choice but to force myself.”
“...Ah, you are right. But why did you show only eighteen forms?”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword had precisely noticed the remaining half I had omitted.
“With my limited mind and ability, completing even half was difficult.”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword tsked and laughed.
“No. You considered the danger of showing every form.”
“...”
As expected, deceiving the Azure Emperor Divine Sword was impossible.
“...It is a sufficient price. No, it is more than enough. I would not regret handing over the entire Changgung Merchant Group, let alone a branch.”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword nodded.
His face was filled with relief, as though he had found the answer to a problem that had plagued him for a long time.
“I will convene the Elder Council. I will present the agenda you proposed, but the final persuasion will be yours.”
“That will be enough.”
“Also, I will give you one Great Lotus Divine Pellet, and two to the Taeul Sect. I would like to give you more, but that is all the Namgung Clan has left.”
I bowed as deeply as I could and clasped my fist in salute.
“I will never forget this kindness.”
“You had better not. You are the brat pulling out the Namgung Clan’s very foundations.”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword smiled contentedly, then briefly turned serious.
“There is something I am curious about. Why do your martial arts look incomplete whenever you perform them?”
Because I did not know the method of circulating internal energy, it was the best I could do. Yet even that seemed deliberate to the Azure Emperor Divine Sword.
“I can learn forms with my eyes, but I cannot learn oral formulas with my eyes.”
“What are you talking about? Did you not say you could remember everything you had seen?”
“How can my body immediately bring to life what my mind has remembered?”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword tilted his head.
“I do not know what fortuitous encounter you had, but had you not already reached the realm of Five Dragons Serving the Sage and achieved harmony of essence, qi, and spirit?”
Previously, while forcing open my upper dantian to find a path through the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation, I had opened my middle dantian as well. It had not been an ideal situation, but it was still a fortuitous encounter. Thanks to that, I had reached the realm of Five Dragons Serving the Sage.
Even though I had avoided an energy clash, had the Azure Emperor Divine Sword discerned my realm from that alone?
“...That is correct.”
“Does harmony of essence, qi, and spirit not mean that your body moves according to your thoughts? If your mind has memorized something, then your body has remembered it as well.”
“...!”
Thunder crashed through my mind, and my body trembled.
I had reached the realm of Five Dragons Serving the Sage through a fortuitous encounter, but I had never considered what harmony of essence, qi, and spirit truly meant.
Noticing this, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword clicked his tongue.
“What a foolish fellow. Achieving harmony of essence, qi, and spirit means your internal energy, body, and mind have become one. Think carefully. If a memory remains clear in your mind, then your body remembers it clearly as well.”
“...”
“Did you not know?”
“...I had never thought of it.”
“Hoho. Hmm... I do not mean to belittle your sect, but perhaps no one in your sect has reached a realm like yours?”
“...Yes.”
The Taeul True Scripture and spiritual medicines had both come to the sect through me for the first time.
“That was likely the problem.”
“...”
“Do not worry. You are here now, are you not? Among the generations beneath you, there may be someone even more outstanding than you.”
“...Thank you for your guidance.”
“Sit quickly. If you do not organize an insight the moment it comes, it will fly away.”
I immediately sat cross-legged and circulated the Taeul True Scripture.
I could not let an insight more precious than a thousand gold pieces slip away at this moment.
“Tsk, tsk. Does this repay a little of what I owe? It still does not seem enough... How should I repay him...?”
As I fell into a state of selflessness, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword’s tongue-clicking lingered in my ears.
#
Clear memories rose within my state of selflessness.
Gye Cheolyeong of the Taeul Sect performed the Three Shadows Sword Art, while Hong Saryeon performed the Flash Lightning Sword Art.
Hwa Jeongsan of the Martial Alliance’s Mount Hua Sect performed the Plum Blossom Sword Art, while Ilmyeong of Shaolin Sect performed the Eighteen Arhat Palms.
The Flame Demon Ghost-Eye Unit slaughtered people with the Flame Demon Ghost-Eye Sword Formation, while Gwak Gung, the Black Lion, annihilated Mount Tai with a single punch.
Then I appeared, beginning to imitate them.
It was not like before, when I merely copied their movements.
My intent settled within their movements. Whenever my intent moved, my internal energy moved in the most efficient direction.
After that, I appeared again, holding the Black Dragon Sword.
I circulated the Taeul True Scripture and unleashed Ten Thousand Swords.
Within those Ten Thousand Swords, both others and I were shattered into pieces and vanished forever.
As I slowly opened my eyes amid the crumbling dust, I saw Namgung San standing with his arms crossed and Namgung Seonhwa watching me with worried eyes.
“You are awake?”
“...How long was I like this?”
“You sat there for an entire day.”
I had thought it was only an instant, yet so much time had already passed.
“Have you been waiting here for me all this time?”
Namgung San shook his head.
“Grandfather said you would awaken around now and told us to bring you.”
As I nodded and rose, Namgung San stared intently at me for a long time.
“You... something must have happened between you and Grandfather.”
“What do you mean, Brother?”
Namgung San answered Namgung Seonhwa’s question.
“The Young Master Jin I saw yesterday and the Young Master Jin I saw today seem like entirely different people.”
“...What?”
Namgung Seonhwa looked utterly confused, while Namgung San’s competitive spirit showed plainly.
“If it were not for Grandfather’s orders, I would have sparred with you right away. This time, there will be no restrictions on internal energy, of course?”
Namgung Seonhwa looked back and forth between Namgung San and me in shock at his words, as though he knew something.
Embarrassed, I quickly changed the subject.
“You said the Divine Sword had summoned me?”
“Let us go.”
Namgung Seonhwa, who had been unable to join our conversation properly, finally grabbed the hem of my clothes.
“Grandfather has convened the Elder Council. He told us to bring Young Master Jin there. What on earth happened?”
“Ah, the Divine Sword said he wished to give me a gift as thanks and told me to name what I wanted.”
“What did you ask for?”
“I asked for the Changgung Merchant Group.”
“...What?”
“!!”
Not only Namgung Seonhwa but Namgung San as well snapped their heads toward me, looking at me as though I were insane.
#
A chill filled the inner chamber.
The elders seated in rows on either side did not look kindly upon me as I entered with the Namgung siblings.
It appeared the Azure Emperor Divine Sword had already brought up the Changgung Merchant Group.
I sat beside the Azure Emperor Divine Sword and across from Namgung Songju, the actual owner of the Changgung Merchant Group. The Namgung siblings stood against the wall behind me, watching anxiously.
“...”
In contrast to the elders, who openly showed hostility toward me, Namgung Songju calmly drank his tea.
“I have just heard something unimaginable from the Clan Head. The elders here were also quite outraged upon hearing it.”
Namgung Songju set down his teacup, his expression calm.
“It is difficult to believe... but the Clan Head said it was his own decision.”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword had told them it was a choice he had made, out of consideration for me.
“Then I cannot help but ask what you think. The Clan Head says he will give you the Changgung Merchant Group’s Hefei branch. What do you think?”
The moment Namgung Songju finished speaking, the elders released their energy.
Some even secretly released killing intent, squeezing at my throat.
I circulated the Taeul True Scripture to protect my mind and body before speaking.
“Since I did not do it while expecting compensation, I believe it is more than I deserve.”
Namgung Songju gave a faint smile.
“I thought so...”
“...But since a great senior is giving it to me, I intend to accept it gratefully.”
“!”
Namgung Songju’s brow furrowed deeply.
Loud sighs also escaped among the elders.
‘Look at that ignorant brat.’
‘He is like a colt running wild without knowing his place.’
‘A mere snake trying to swallow a bull.’
Most of those were words they could not say before a guest.
They were enraged to that degree.
“Since you did not seem surprised when the Changgung Merchant Group was mentioned, this was not merely the Clan Head’s intention, was it?”
“Does that matter?”
“I thought I had warned you in advance. It seems you did not take it to heart.”
A blue glint of killing intent shone from Namgung Songju’s eyes.
“The Changgung Merchant Group is the Namgung Clan’s very pillar. Hefei in Anhui is the foundation of the Changgung Merchant Group. You dare ask for such a thing? How lightly do you regard the Namgung Clan?”
The elders now began to openly reveal their killing intent.
Even the Namgung siblings standing behind me and Namgung Gitae, who stood behind Namgung Songju, began to flinch under the pressure.
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword, the Clan Head, should have been displeased by Namgung Songju’s presumptuous words. Yet he merely watched with an intrigued expression.
“If the Changgung Merchant Group is the Namgung Clan’s pillar, should its foundation not be the Namgung Clan on Mount Huang? Why is distant Hefei its foundation instead?”
“!!”
“The Changgung Merchant Group is already one of Jiangnan’s five greatest merchant groups. Yet most of its territory is concentrated in Jiangnan. Does operating from Hefei in Anhui not add unnecessary distance to the north?”
Namgung Songju pressed his lips together.
Everyone knew it in theory, but their interests prevented them from voicing it.
“Hefei in Anhui is geographically important, but from the Changgung Merchant Group’s perspective, is it not meaningless? Giving away one branch like that should not be difficult for the great Namgung Clan. Or is the Changgung Merchant Group in Hefei more important than the Namgung Clan on Mount Huang?”
The moment I finished speaking, an elder bellowed.
“You brat! You have gone too far!”
“People praise you once or twice, and you have become completely disrespectful.”
“That is not something an outsider like you needs to concern yourself with!”
Most of those in the Elders' Council were martial artists from the clan or blood relatives from collateral branches.
They did not want the direct line to become stronger and diminish their influence.
“Hmph. You have brought forward a rather sound argument.”
At the center of them all stood Namgung Songju.
“What you say may be partly correct. Even so, we cannot hand over Hefei.”
“...”
The elders all nodded at once.
“We cannot ignore the Clan Head’s wish to give you a gift. Recently, your sect made an inquiry about iron distribution. I heard you were fortunate enough to discover a mine. The Changgung Merchant Group will handle its distribution. Let that stand in place of the Clan Head’s gift.”
The elders nodded as though they could concede that much.
Then I spoke.
“I want the Changgung Merchant Group’s Hefei branch.”
“...”
The tension that had begun to ease tightened again.
Namgung Gitae seemed unable to endure any longer, as the whites of his eyes gradually began to show.
“You. Do you truly wish to see this through to the end?”
“...”
Namgung Songju, who had been speaking to me, looked toward the Azure Emperor Divine Sword as though threatening him.
“Even if you take the Changgung Merchant Group, I am confident that I can erase your sect and take it back.”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword did not flinch at that ominous gaze.
Having already secured the Shattering Form and the Ascendant Form, he was confident there was nothing to worry about.
Still, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword watched carefully to see how I would act.
“Do you wish for it that badly?”
The heat in the room was rising.
Namgung Songju stared at me as though I were his mortal enemy.
“...Calm yourself and think about it. This is not such a bad proposal.”
“You...”
I sent a sound transmission to Namgung Songju as he began to rise.
-The reason you viewed me unfavorably... was because of Wang Soso of the Wang Family Estate, was it not?
Namgung Songju’s cold expression cracked for an instant.
He struggled to regain his composure, but his eyes shook violently.
-I formed a small connection with Lord Wang Geumsan when I saved Wang Soso. He is still desperately searching for the culprit who kidnapped Soso. He said he would throw that person into hell even if he had to expend all his power. Though I knew the full circumstances, I kept quiet because I feared a terrible blood feud might erupt between the Wang Family Estate and the Namgung Clan.
Panic began to show on Namgung Songju’s face.
After a long while, he replied through sound transmission.
-...What are you talking about?
-A martial artist of the Hidden Palace Unit may rank among experts, but when caught off guard, they revealed the Namgung Clan’s martial arts in the end. ...For kidnappings and assassinations, one normally employs people with specialized training.
-Do you have proof?
-May I tell you where the body is? It should not have completely decayed yet.
Seeing Namgung Songju and me move only our lips as we conversed, the elders began to tilt their heads one after another.
-More importantly, after talking with the Azure Emperor Divine Sword, I learned that the Changgung Merchant Group... no, the collateral and direct lines are at odds with each other. If Lord Wang Geumsan learns the truth and joins hands with the Azure Emperor Divine Sword in such a situation... it would make an excellent justification for the Divine Sword. Do you think anyone among those who stood against the Divine Sword until just moments ago will survive?
As I spoke, I looked at Namgung Gitae.
At the same time, Namgung Songju followed my gaze toward Namgung Gitae.
-The enormous justification that had restrained the Azure Emperor Divine Sword has already been shattered by your mistake. Can you bear his wrath?
Namgung Songju looked toward the Azure Emperor Divine Sword.
“...”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword watched Namgung Songju’s flustered expression with interest.
-What will you do? Will you bear the wrath of Lord Wang Geumsan and the Azure Emperor Divine Sword? Or will you pay the price with the Changgung Merchant Group’s Hefei branch?
-The secret...
-Even if the Changgung Merchant Group’s Hefei branch falls into my hands, I would lose out if the Changgung Merchant Group disappeared.
-If you use this to threaten me again, I will stake everything I have to destroy you and your sect.
-From now on, you and I will be sharing mutual interests, will we not? I may ask a companion for something, but I am not someone who threatens companions.
-...
After repeatedly hesitating over whether to send another sound transmission, Namgung Songju looked at Namgung Taeha and opened his mouth.
“Clan Head... now that I think about it, not only the Namgung Clan but many fellow martial artists owe Young Master Jin and the Taeul Sect a debt because of Demon Spirit Plateau. It would be absurd for the Namgung Clan, called one of the pillars of the martial world, not to repay that debt. I believe it would be best to hand over the Changgung Merchant Group’s Hefei branch as the Clan Head wishes.”
“What are you saying...!”
“No! Group Leader, what are you saying all of a sudden?!”
At Namgung Songju’s unbelievable words, the elders instantly rose from their seats and crowded forward.
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword and the Namgung siblings opened their mouths wide at an event they could scarcely believe even as they witnessed it with their own eyes.
I calmly savored the Biluochun and said to them,
“The fragrance of this Biluochun is excellent as well.”
Footnotes:
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