WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 59: The Black Flame Dragon Playing with the Dragon Phoenix
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It was decided that the Changgung Merchant Group's Hefei headquarters would be abolished.
The divisions that had served as the headquarters would return to the family estate on Mount Huang, and until the Taeul Sect moved in, the site would operate as the Changgung Merchant Group's Hefei branch.
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword handled everything swiftly.
He established the Firmament Merchant Hall to immediately oversee the merchant group, mines, tea houses, inns, and other businesses. By appointing Namgung Songju as its Hall Lord, he subdued opposition from the Elders' Council and the collateral line.
Since Namgung Songju, who had led the collateral-line faction, remained silent, they had no choice but to follow suit.
While all this unfolded over two days, I spent my time in Emperor's Pavilion reviewing my martial arts and retracing the insights I had gained.
Two days later, I sat down to receive the Changgung Merchant Group's ownership deed.
To my surprise, Namgung Songju was the one who came to draw it up.
“...”
“Sit.”
Namgung Songju calmly held out the deed as if nothing had happened.
I examined it carefully in case he had tampered with it.
I had memorized thousands of ownership deeds from the Martial Alliance. Even Wang Geumsan, renowned as he was, could not read one better than I could.
As I inspected the document, Namgung Songju murmured as though speaking to himself.
“My father laid the foundations of the Changgung Merchant Group, expanded its businesses, and built the basis for the Namgung Clan's golden age.”
“...?”
“The Namgung Clan had made only one hundred Great Lotus Divine Pellets over the past two hundred years. After my father took charge of the Changgung Merchant Group, we became able to make at least ten every five years. Thanks to that, each member of the direct line could receive one Great Lotus Divine Pellet every five years.”
“...What are you suddenly talking about?”
Namgung Songju continued as though he had not heard me.
“My father regretted that the fruits of his labor would never reach me. But I did not mind. In the Namgung Clan, collateral branches exist for the direct line, and the clan grows strong only when the direct line grows strong.”
“...”
“My father spent his entire life outside the Namgung Clan, sweating blood and enduring hardship. Yet before he died, he never received even one Great Lotus Divine Pellet.”
Namgung Songju stared into empty space, his gaze fixed on something only he could see.
Had he come here to make me feel guilty for what I had done?
“They had already been swallowed by the direct line.”
“...”
“What you did was trample the dreams of the Namgung Clan's collateral branches, who have been oppressed for centuries. Are you satisfied?”
After hearing him out, I asked, “I only need to sign here, correct?”
“...”
As I signed it, I spoke.
I did not feel even the slightest guilt over his words.
“Everyone thinks their own circumstances are the most pitiful. Their own situation is the most unfair, and their own life the most miserable.”
“...We...”
I understood how he felt.
No, I could feel it.
“If it was so unfair, why didn't you simply leave the Namgung Clan?”
“!”
In my previous life, I had resented my weak sect deeply.
I had endlessly resented the sect that could give me nothing and only took from me.
“The Changgung Merchant Group's rise was impressive. But would it have been possible without the Namgung Clan's name?”
Blinded by that resentment, I had failed to see what I had received from the Taeul Sect, or the protection it had given me.
I had failed to see what I was running away from. I only understood after I had lost everything.
“It would not have been. And as I understand it, once one becomes part of the collateral line, one is no longer bound to the clan. Is that right?”
“...”
“You had no obligations, so you had no rights. Yet you remained in the Namgung Clan because you wished to rely on its name, did you not?”
“...”
The man before me.
In my previous life, he achieved everything he wanted before dying at the Azure Emperor Divine Sword's hands.
As he watched the Namgung Clan burn and the collateral-line bloodline die at the Divine Sword's hands, had he been satisfied?
“I, too, once resented being born into the Taeul Sect. My father was the Outer Hall Lord, so I couldn't simply leave the Taeul Sect and live elsewhere. I spent my days resenting it all until I lost countless precious things I had taken for granted. Only then did I realize something.”
“...What was that?”
“The things I take for granted aren't a given.”
“...”
“Merchant Group Leader, you may find your circumstances endlessly miserable, but from my perspective, you have enough to live without envying others. At the very least, no one would sneer when you spoke of the Namgung Clan.”
“...”
“My misfortune won't make you happy, of course. Still, if you're going to complain, shouldn't you complain before a high official instead of a beggar beneath a bridge?”
“...Then let me ask you. Are you satisfied now?”
I held up the ownership deed.
“I have more than enough. To you, this may be only one of dozens of branches you possess, but for my sect, this alone will ensure everyone can eat three hot meals a day and never have to wear threadbare clothes again.”
“...”
“If you are truly dissatisfied, leave whenever you wish. That is the advice I can offer.”
I carefully folded the deed, tucked it inside my robe, and rose.
As if only just remembering, Namgung Songju spoke.
“That matter...”
“The bodies were cleared away long ago. Do you think wild animals would leave shallow-buried corpses alone?”
“...I was deceived.”
Namgung Songju did not react strongly.
“I look forward to working with you.”
Leaving Namgung Songju without a reply, I walked out.
#
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword decided to enter closed-door training with Namgung San.
Namgung Seonhwa was meant to join them, but because no one knew when their training would end and the Martial Arts Academy's regular examination was approaching, her training in the new sword art was postponed until later with Namgung Jinmyeong.
The Namgung Clan was certain to become chaotic when the collateral line's businesses suddenly returned to the main house. Even so, the Clan Head chose the drastic measure of leaving his position vacant, likely because he believed completing the Ascendant Form was the only solution that could fundamentally quell the turmoil.
“It is the Firmament Cloud-Guarding Sword Art.”
“What is?”
“The name of the new sword art.”
I clicked my tongue at the Azure Emperor Divine Sword's words.
“Why did you have to include ‘cloud’ in the name? Wouldn't Firmament Martial Might Sword Art be better?”
“Is your name not Jin Sowoon?”
“...”
I could only open and close my mouth.
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword smiled faintly and continued.
“You intend to take this year's Martial Arts Academy regular examination, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then take good care of my granddaughter.”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword pointed at Namgung Seonhwa as he spoke. Namgung Jinmyeong and Namgung Seonhwa, who had been listening nearby, tilted their heads.
“Shouldn't I be the one asking her to take care of me? I'll probably take the examination alone, or with only a few junior disciples.”
Namgung Jinmyeong and Namgung Seonhwa stared at me in shock.
“What nonsense!”
“Young Master Jin! You cannot do that!”
The Azure Emperor Divine Sword clicked his tongue as he looked at them.
“That is the sort of child he is. You will need to help him a great deal.”
“Why are you doing this? Hadn't we already settled our accounts?”
“My goodness. I wrote a few words for a letter to send to that Poison King bastard. Perhaps I should tell them not to send it after all.”
He was bringing up the favor I had asked of him, asking him to put in a word with the Sichuan Tang Clan after I used the Hundred-Feather Fire Tube.
“That was all to save your grandson and granddaughter...”
“Ahem. Regardless, you bought and used it through an uncertain channel. The Tang Clan may wonder whether you possess other such artifacts.”
“Haah...”
I had used one of the Sichuan Tang Clan's forbidden-use hidden weapons, so it was only a matter of time before the news reached them. Unless the Namgung Clan, or rather, someone of the Azure Emperor Divine Sword's stature, stepped in, there was no telling what might happen to the Taeul Sect while I was away.
The Tang Clan specialized in poison, and its ruthlessness rivaled even Black Path sects. I could not leave even a seed of suspicion behind.
“We may not be able to travel together, but if our routes overlap, I'll keep an eye on her. Is that enough? It seems I'll have to bring my junior disciples as well.”
“Good. Very good.”
As the Azure Emperor Divine Sword nodded, Namgung Jinmyeong and Namgung Seonhwa still looked unable to understand.
#
The Namgung Clan's Closed-Door Training Chamber was designed so that it could only be opened from the inside.
And only Namgung Taeha, the Clan Head, could open its door.
After entering the chamber, Namgung San stood by the entrance, lost in thought.
“What are you doing there? Every moment is precious if you are to complete and master the sword art.”
“Ah, it isn't that. I don't think I told Young Master Jin something I should have.”
“To whom?”
“To Young Master Jin.”
“What did you need to tell him?”
“The Dragon-Phoenix Association will be visiting the Taeul Sect this time.”
“Why would children visiting a martial sect be such a serious matter?”
The Dragon-Phoenix Association was an honorable organization that only those who graduated from the Martial Arts Academy with outstanding results and achieved a certain level of martial attainment could enter. Yet to the Azure Emperor Divine Sword, it seemed no more than children playing.
Namgung San gave a bitter smile.
“They are visiting for an inspection this time.”
“An inspection?”
“Yes. They conduct regular audits every year, but for some reason, the Taeul Sect has been selected for a special audit this time.”
Namgung Taeha frowned as he listened.
“Tsk. Are they still going around doing that sort of thing?”
Namgung Taeha seemed to have some idea what this meant.
After all, Namgung Taeha himself had belonged to the Dragon-Phoenix Association when he was young.
“...Shouldn't I go back and tell him?”
“Leave him be. He is a child who will handle things well on his own. Come here at once.”
“...Yes.”
Though the conversation had ended, Namgung San felt uneasy. Before long, he realized it was not because he had failed to deliver the news to Jin Sowoon.
“...”
It was because his grandfather, Namgung Taeha, had used words for Jin Sowoon that he had never once used for him, his younger sister, or even their father.
“A child who will handle things well on his own. Hah.”
Then a roar rang out from deeper inside the Closed-Door Training Chamber.
“Why are you not coming in already?!”
“Yes! I'm coming!”
#
Lately, Jin Taesan had felt even sleep was a waste of time, so he had minimized his reports to the Sect Leader. Carrying a letter, he visited the Sect Leader's residence.
“...Are you all right?”
Hong Mungi looked deeply concerned when he saw Jin Taesan's face.
“...Ah, yes, I'm fine. More importantly, please look at this.”
“It is from the Martial Alliance's Hefei branch.”
“The Dragon-Phoenix Association will be visiting. It is the usual audit procedure.”
Hong Mungi read the letter, nodded, and folded it.
“I see.”
“How should we prepare? I think we should begin by cleaning the halls.”
“That will not be necessary.”
“No, Sect Leader.”
“Is this not something we have always done? And from what I can see, the Taeul Sect is in far better condition than it was during the last audit. Doesn't the Wang Family Estate send servants every week?”
“...That is true.”
“Empty one hall and prepare new bedding. The Dragon-Phoenix Association will need somewhere to stay when they arrive.”
“Yes. Understood.”
“At any rate, the children will be pleased.”
The Dragon-Phoenix Association's audit missions were, in truth, closer to a tour by young idols who represented the Martial Alliance.
It had begun as a system meant to have young martial artists, unsullied by conflicts of interest, establish the martial world's rules. By the present day, though, its greater role was fostering children's dreams and fantasies of the martial world.
Those who belonged to the Dragon-Phoenix Association enjoyed that status as well.
“More than that, go get some sleep. You look as though you'll die soon.”
“...Yes. Once the Dragon-Phoenix Association leaves, I intend to do nothing but sleep for a while.”
“Good. You have worked hard.”
Hong Mungi gave a small laugh as he watched Jin Taesan shuffle out of the residence.
“Does he enjoy the work his son gives him that much? Heh heh.”
#
I rested for another day to absorb Namgung Seonhwa's share of the Great Lotus Divine Pellet.
Then I immediately packed my belongings and informed the maidservant that I would return to my sect. The maidservant in charge of Emperor's Pavilion relayed the news to Namgung Jinmyeong and Seonhwa.
The two came personally to see me off.
“You are leaving already?”
“I have been treated far better than I deserved. Thank you for your consideration.”
“You have been treated as my father's guest until now. How about staying as my guest from now on?”
Regret was plain in Namgung Jinmyeong's eyes.
“I would like that as well, but I believe it must wait until later.”
“Hmm? Did something happen?”
“The Dragon-Phoenix Association will be visiting the Taeul Sect.”
“Ah... I see. You're at the age when you, too, would admire the Dragon-Phoenix Association's members.”
Namgung Jinmyeong nodded as though he understood.
Then Namgung Seonhwa cut in.
“Father, may I visit the Taeul Sect too?”
“The regular examination is right around the corner, and you want to chase after the Dragon-Phoenix Association? You should be thinking of joining them.”
Namgung Jinmyeong shook his head at Namgung Seonhwa, who pouted.
Unfortunately, the reason I wanted to return so quickly was the exact opposite of what the father and daughter believed.
Thinking of those people from my previous life made my teeth grind.
‘The Dragon-Phoenix Association...’
Around this exact time in my previous life, the Dragon-Phoenix Association visited the Taeul Sect.
And because of them, the Sect Leader suffered qi deviation.
Footnotes:
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