WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 60: The Black Flame Dragon Playing with the Dragon Phoenix (2)
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In my previous life, my dream was to join the Dragon-Phoenix Association.
There was the honor of belonging to a gathering of the greatest talents of the age, the responsibility of punishing evildoers, and the respect and admiration of people from all walks of life.
Before I learned the truth, every child in the Taeul Sect, myself included, dreamed of joining the Dragon-Phoenix Association.
After training, we would gather in small groups and play Dragon-Phoenix Association.
The boys played the dragons, while the girls played the phoenixes, nurturing our dreams.
When I heard they were coming, I tossed and turned every night for a week. I even kept the paper I wanted their seal on from getting creased.
Yet contrary to my expectations, the Dragon-Phoenix Association that visited then cast the Taeul Sect into a pit of despair.
I had no idea what they had been thinking.
Hwa Jeongsan, the Dragon-Phoenix Association's New Plum Blossom Sword.
The swordsman I had admired most requested guidance from the Sect Leader. The Sect Leader could not last fifty exchanges against a junior twenty years his junior, pushed himself too far, and eventually suffered qi deviation.
“Tsk. It seems there is little benefit to remaining among the One Hundred Eight Peaks.”
Those were Hwa Jeongsan's words as he watched Sect Leader Hong Mungi cough up blood from internal injuries.
Hong Mungi miraculously survived, but he lost all his internal energy and could no longer move as he once had.
He entrusted the sect's internal affairs to Jin Taesan and its external affairs to Gye Cheolyeong, who was attending the Martial Arts Academy at the time.
Gye Cheolyeong took every Taeul Sect disciple, none of whom had even fully matured, to the Martial Alliance and treated them like servants.
“Even thinking about it again feels like hell.”
It could not be said that things were the same as in my previous life.
The Taeul Sect had already changed, beginning with Gye Cheolyeong.
Still, if their attitude remained the same as before, I had no intention of leaving even a shred of respect for the Dragon-Phoenix Association.
“At this pace, I have plenty of time.”
Rather than travel on horseback, I was running with the Peerless Wanderer Divine Art.
Traveling by horse meant following the roads, but the Peerless Wanderer Divine Art allowed me to run in a straight line and save time.
As I raced fast enough for the sharp wind to lash at my ears, I heard a scream from far away.
“Hm?”
[Is anyone there?! Please save me!]
It was a woman's voice. She sounded injured.
The distance was considerable, but I still had enough time with the Peerless Wanderer Divine Art. I immediately changed direction.
#
A group of young men and women was leaving Hefei.
Their clothes and weapons each reflected their individual personalities.
They could have passed for the children of noble families traveling together, but each wore what appeared to be a weapon at their waist, whether a sword or prayer beads.
It was a strange group with only one thing in common: their exceptional looks.
“What a shame. When one thinks of Hefei, one thinks of the Iron Sword Sect.”
A man in black-and-white martial robes clicked his tongue.
“Why did the Taeul Sect have to be selected for an inspection?”
They had originally planned to enjoy lavish hospitality at the Iron Sword Sect before moving on to the next province.
But an urgent order from the Martial Alliance instructed them to inspect the Taeul Sect, one of the One Hundred Eight Peaks.
“This is not good for the Taeul Sect either.”
The man in monk's robes spoke with a grave expression.
An audit mission was simply an occasion to show their faces and strengthen ties between the Martial Alliance and the One Hundred Eight Peaks. An inspection, on the other hand, required them to coldly judge whether a sect among the One Hundred Eight Peaks was qualified to remain there.
These randomly assigned inspection missions were important matters that could decide whether an allied sect would be removed from the One Hundred Eight Peaks.
“The Taeul Sect's reputation has improved lately. Why inspect them now?”
A beautiful woman in a white fur coat asked from behind them.
“Because of that reputation, I imagine.”
The man in black-and-white robes smiled broadly, pleased that the beautiful woman had spoken to him.
“They say they took the Iron Sword Sect's patriarchal treasure and saved the beloved daughter of the Wang Family Estate. There were even rumors that they rescued people on Demon Spirit Plateau recently. Isn't the Dragon-Phoenix Association being criticized because of it?”
More precisely, Yong Soa was the one being criticized. Still, considering that he was the symbolic figure of the current Dragon-Phoenix Association, it was hardly pleasant to be dismissed along with him.
“The Martial Alliance probably ordered the inspection for that reason. Wasn't the Taeul Sect admitted to the One Hundred Eight Peaks because of that lie about the Taeul Sword Emperor?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“For example, the Iron Sword Sect has been growing rapidly, so the Taeul Sect became anxious and started spreading lies as it did in the past...”
“That is ridiculous.”
“It is only an example. An example.”
“Then I will handle the evaluation this time.”
Hwa Jeongsan, the man in black-and-white robes, frowned slightly at the beautiful woman in the fur coat.
“What do you mean by that? We agreed that I would handle this.”
“You are too ruthless, Young Master Hwa. An inspection is a mission, so I understand that much, but you should not leave your opponent injured.”
“...I do not know what you mean. I am actually going easy on them.”
“Do you think I would not notice that you deliberately draw your opponents to their limit?”
Hwa Jeongsan gave an awkward smile.
“But if I do not, how can I know their true skill?”
He turned to the man in monk's robes with a pleading look.
With Yong Soa absent, the man in monk's robes was effectively the leader of the Dragon-Phoenix Association.
“...I think Hwa Jeongsan should step forward after all.”
“What do you mean? It is not as though it has been decided.”
“The Martial Alliance contacted me. They said to let Hwa Jeongsan conduct the evaluation.”
The woman in the fur coat looked back and forth between Hwa Jeongsan and the man in monk's robes with a conflicted expression.
Yong Soa and Hwa Jeongsan were close friends, and the monk had known them both for some time.
There was clearly something she did not know, but she could not press the matter any further when the monk invoked the Martial Alliance.
“Understood.”
At that moment, she saw Hwa Jeongsan and the man in monk's robes exchange meaningful looks.
#
“Damn it...”
The journey back to my sect was not as smooth as I had expected.
“I cannot exactly run with my ears and eyes closed.”
I had known that my five senses improved after my internal energy increased and I underwent Rebirth through the Mita Sacred Water.
The problem was that after attaining enlightenment, their range had expanded far beyond what it had been before.
Even sounds from great distances reached me clearly. Running across high ground as though I were flying, I could see the whole world spread out before me.
The first time, I saved a woman who had fallen from a cliff.
The second time, I saved an herb gatherer chased by a wild beast.
The third was a man whose leg had been broken after being pinned beneath a horse.
The fourth was a child who nearly drowned while playing in a valley stream.
“At this rate...”
No matter how fast the Peerless Wanderer Divine Art was, I might not arrive in time.
But I could not ignore someone dying before my eyes and simply pass them by.
“I need to run as fast as I can.”
Just as I was about to increase my speed, thinking the wind might drown out any cries for help...
[Do not, do not do this! We have already given you everything we have!]
I heard a young man's voice.
I tried not to turn my head or get involved, but my head turned on its own. When I focused my eyes, I saw a young man and an old man being threatened by bandits.
“Haah...”
My feet were already moving toward the voice.
Without time to assess the situation, I used the Thousand-Pound Drop in midair and landed on the ground.
Thud!
Dirt scattered in every direction, and silence briefly fell over the area.
On one side were a young man about my age and an old man, just as I had expected.
On the other stood bandits carrying swords and axes.
“Who are you?!”
The bandits did not look surprised by my sudden intrusion.
I had thought a move like the Thousand-Pound Drop would send amateur bandits fleeing as though their tails were on fire, but my expectations were completely wrong.
“I am Jin Sowoon of the Taeul Sect. Are you bandits?”
“We are from Jeoksan Stronghold...”
“I see. Could you not simply let them go? I am rather busy.”
“I am not done speaking yet!”
Just as I was about to tell the old man and young man to step back because this did not seem likely to end peacefully, the young man's posture, habits, and gait reminded me of someone in my memories.
‘Moyong Jaehwa?’
Moyong Jaehwa, the son of Moyong Sangwon and Moyong Seol's younger brother, whom I had met recently.
When I looked closely at his neck, I saw a subtle difference in skin tone.
He was wearing a human-skin mask to conceal his identity.
‘What is going on?’
Moyong Jaehwa had practiced martial arts since childhood, yet all his acupoints were sealed.
When I turned to look at the old man beside him, I found that he too wore a human-skin mask. The energy he kept hidden was anything but ordinary.
The moment my gaze fell on him, he briefly revealed one of his habits. That mannerism also belonged to someone in my memories.
The Wind-Splitting Sword, Moyong Gang.
An ultimate master who rivaled the Azure Emperor Divine Sword for the highest place among swordsmen.
“No... What is this...”
Before I could speak, the bandits attacked from behind.
I immediately used Lotus to slam two bandits into the ground, then used the Lesser Heaven Sword Art to knock aside an axe.
“Are... you all right?”
It was a strange question, but Moyong Jaehwa once again understood what I meant.
“Thank you. I nearly met with a terrible fate.”
Real terror, as though he had truly faced death, lingered on Moyong Jaehwa's face.
In contrast, a playful glint slowly appeared in the Wind-Splitting Sword's eyes.
‘They say he was called an eccentric hero even in his youth...’
He seemed to be traveling through the martial world with his grandson, pretending to be someone who knew no martial arts.
While the bandits hesitated after my strike, I spoke to the two of them.
“Then... it should be all right for me to leave now?”
“What?! What do you mean?”
“...”
I had heard that the Wind-Splitting Sword took his pranks quite seriously and gave a great deal of trouble to anyone who interfered with them.
At that moment, Moyong Gang quickly threw himself to the ground.
“P-please spare us, Great Hero! If not me, then please save my grandson at least!”
“...”
He bowed with his face to the ground, trembling as though he truly feared the bandits.
‘Will he give me trouble if I leave like this?’
There was no need to leave behind any cause for resentment. I decided to play along and deal with the bandits as quickly as possible.
“All of you, leave. You are no match for him.”
I subtly told them who Moyong Gang was, but bandits who had spent their whole lives living by the blade did not understand.
“You bastard! You have some skill!”
“Boys! Kill him!”
“Get him!”
“Waaah!”
Thirty men rushed at me all at once.
Without delay, I used the Taeul Eighty Thousand Divine Steps, weaving through them as I swung the Black Dragon Sword.
After only three breaths, the bandits returned to their places, looking as though they did not know what had happened.
“Eek!”
“Ugh!”
“What is this?!”
Their waistbands were severed at the same time, and their pants dropped to the ground.
“The next thing cut off will be a little below your waistbands. Would you like to continue?”
Every bandit instinctively clutched his groin.
Then they ran away as fast as they could.
As I sheathed the Black Dragon Sword, Moyong Gang approached from behind.
“Boo hoo hoo. Great Hero, thank you so much! How could I ever repay this kindness?”
“...How did you come this deep into the mountains?”
“Ah, I came to teach my grandson how to become an herb gatherer.”
“...Ha, haha.”
His bent back, shabby clothes, and basket strapped to his back made him look exactly like an herb gatherer. I could tell he truly enjoyed this prank.
“...I see. Then I will be on my way...”
“Sir!”
As I tried to leave quickly, Moyong Gang grabbed the hem of my pants.
“W-what is it?”
“The truth is, one of my lifelong wishes has been to visit the Taeul Sect. Since we met by fate, could we not go to the Taeul Sect together?”
“...The Taeul Sect is not Shaolin Temple. How could visiting it be your lifelong wish?”
His claim was so absurd that I clicked my tongue, but he still wore an earnest expression.
“I have heard of the Taeul Sect's prestige, which has recently shaken the martial world, and vowed that I would visit it. How could an old man like me enter the Taeul Sect alone? Would you not accompany us?”
“...I am in a hurry, but I will inform the Taeul Sect. You can visit with your grandson whenever you like.”
“No! Sir! Meeting this way is also fate! I must visit this time.”
The words, ‘What herb gatherer would pester a martial artist like this?’ rose to my throat, but I could not bring myself to say them.
“G-grandfather, please stop. You are making the martial artist uncomfortable.”
Moyong Jaehwa's neck turned red with embarrassment. His face should have reddened as well, but the human-skin mask hid it.
“Be quiet! Do you think you will meet such an excellent martial artist again in your life? If not now, there will be no chance.”
When he showed no sign of backing down, I finally gave up.
“All right. Let us go together. Just in case, you have not learned any movement art, have you?”
“...”
“...Heh heh. What are you saying to an herb gatherer who has spent his whole life in the mountains?”
“I understand. Then I will carry you both.”
Moyong Gang waved his hands.
“Oh, that will not do. I actually get motion sickness from movement arts, so if we run too fast, I will lose my senses.”
“...”
Moyong Jaehwa looked at his grandfather as though he were mad.
“...Then are you saying we should walk?”
“There is no other choice...”
“That will not work. I am sorry, but I must leave first. I have something urgent to do.”
If we walked, I really would be too late.
“...But I think I could ride a horse.”
“...”
“Of course, if you would procure horses for us...”
I was beginning to get annoyed. My sect leader was on the verge of suffering qi deviation, yet this man was being so stubborn just to continue an eccentric act.
I tilted my head.
“That is strange.”
“What is?”
“How can someone who gathers herbs in a mountain village be so insistent with a martial artist?”
“Cough, cough. What are you saying? When did this old man ever insist on anything... Heh heh.”
“Of course not. To trouble a martial artist of that level, one would have to be at least a renowned elder of the martial world. An old man as shabby and cantankerous as you could not possibly be such an incredible person, could you?”
“Cough! Shabby and cantankerous? I think your words are a little harsh.”
I did not know why he was playing this game, but people who enjoyed eccentric behavior usually devoted everything to it.
Someone as eccentric as Moyong Gang would not stop this act unless a blade was held to his neck.
In other words, this was the only time I could put my head in and out of a tiger's mouth without danger.
“Were my words harsh?”
“A little.”
“Heh heh. Criticizing a martial artist as proud as me? You might get a taste of a martial artist's fist that can cross mountains and rivers.”
“Cough...”
Moyong Gang's face gradually twisted.
Feeling as though I was repeatedly putting my head in and out of a tiger's mouth, I continued.
“Let us do this. First, I will use my movement art to take you to the nearest horse market. Then we can ride horses to the Taeul Sect together. You can endure that much, can you not?”
“...Cough. If that is the only way, what power does this old man have?”
Moyong Gang nodded.
I suddenly wondered what name he used when he behaved like this.
“May I ask your name?”
“Ah! I am Gang of the Yong Family. That boy is Jaehwa.”
“Ah... Of course you are.”
I could not tell which part of this act he was being sincere about.
#
“They are coming!”
Every member of the Taeul Sect had gathered in its main courtyard.
The hall lords and elders had assembled to welcome the Martial Alliance's guests. The children, who had not even been called, brought their friends to see the Dragon-Phoenix Association.
“Everyone, take your places!”
When Jin Taesan reined in the children running about, the young disciples hurriedly split to either side. In the process, clouds of dust rose from the entrance all the way to Daehyeon Hall.
‘Damn. We should have sprinkled some water.’
No matter how much one prepared for an important visitor, it always felt insufficient. Jin Taesan shook his head.
As everyone's eyes turned toward the gate through the pale dust...
A group of young men and women crossed the Taeul Sect's threshold.
At that moment, Jin Taesan unknowingly raised his internal energy.
‘Hm?’
An unprecedentedly powerful force began to spread heavily through the courtyard.
Step. Step. Step.
Every time the group advanced one step, the dust swirling in all directions began to settle heavily to the ground as though pressed down by something.
It was an advanced technique that used internal energy.
The young disciples gasped softly at the mysterious sight.
“Wow...”
The hall lords and elders, on the other hand, began frowning just as Jin Taesan had.
Those who entered through the gate with weapons at their waists were scattering internal energy all around them.
It was not proper etiquette in the martial world.
Pressing the dust down with true qi created an impressive spectacle, but it was also more than enough to intimidate their hosts.
Even setting aside their position as guests, it was not something to do before elders who stood far above them in seniority.
By the time they approached Daehyeon Hall, every speck of dust in the Taeul Sect had settled, and men and women with the bearing of dragons and phoenixes stood in the center of the courtyard.
The man in monk's robes at the front clasped his fists in greeting.
“This junior of the martial world is Ilmyeong of Shaolin Sect. I greet the Sect Leader of the Taeul Sect. Have you been well since we last met?”
Led by Ilmyeong, the dragons clasped their fists together.
Hwa Jeongsan, Mount Hua's New Plum Blossom Sword.
Jong Byeokgi, Mount Cang's Flying Cloud New Wind.
So Jeho, Qingcheng's Clear Wind Bright Sword.
Ak Buksan of the Yue Family, the Heavy Spear True Man.
Behind them, the phoenixes calmly bowed their heads.
The eyes of the Taeul Sect's young men all turned toward them.
Their arrival felt as though spring had come to the Taeul Sect, filling the air with the scent of flowers.
The woman in crimson palace robes, with strikingly red lips and alluring eyes, was Seo Saryeong, the Soul-Stealing Western Beauty and second among the Four Phoenixes.
Right beside her stood Hwangbo Yeon, the Jade-Faced Gentle Smile, an unrivaled beauty in blue robes whose faint smile was said to make even an ascended Daoist return to the mortal world.
Beside her was Dang Seohui, the White-Handed Divine Maiden, a genius in poison arts who had made the Tang Clan violate its own rule against passing down its secret arts to women.
Behind them stood Moyong Seol, the Smiling Iron Sword. She wore a white fur coat and a white veil covering half her face, but even that could not easily conceal her beauty.
“““The Dragon-Phoenix Association greets the elders of the Taeul Sect.”””
When they greeted everyone in one voice, the young disciples cried out in excitement.
Once the brief excitement died down and the dragons and phoenixes raised their heads, Hong Mungi smiled kindly.
“Welcome. You must have had a difficult journey.”
Hwa Jeongsan, dressed in black-and-white martial robes embroidered with plum blossoms, stepped forward.
“Thank you. Seeing the Taeul Sect disciples carry out the noble work of eradicating demons and evil at the forefront of the martial world has washed away all the fatigue I felt on the way here.”
Jin Taesan began to sense something strange as he listened to Hwa Jeongsan and saw Jong Byeokgi curling his lips behind him.
“Ho ho, is that so? Still, get plenty of rest. When I heard you were coming, I had fresh bedding prepared in the guest quarters. It may not be much, but make yourselves comfortable.”
“Thank you, but as those affiliated with the Martial Alliance, we cannot burden the local sect. We booked rooms at an inn the previous day.”
“...”
The elders' expressions hardened at Hwa Jeongsan's words.
“How rude.”
Jin Taesan turned toward the quiet voice and found Jegal Cheongi speaking.
“That is true. It is basic courtesy.”
Wang Soso answered.
Beside her, Geumpyo, Eunho, and Dongryong nodded. Only Gang Yuseong, who had not yet learned the etiquette of the martial world, tilted his head in confusion.
They were the only children who were not excited by the Dragon-Phoenix Association's arrival.
“Senior Brother, what do you mean?”
“The Dragon-Phoenix Association, dispatched by the Martial Alliance, is also meant to strengthen the alliance, so it is customary for them to stay at the sect they visit. Even apart from that, it is already discourteous for guests to visit and deliberately arrange lodging elsewhere.”
“Ah...”
From far away, Hong Mungi spoke again.
“Is that so? Then it cannot be helped. Will you not even have time for dinner?”
The children who did not know the circumstances grew uneasy at the Dragon-Phoenix Association's hurried manner.
“Yes. We have another appointment, so we believe we should only greet you before leaving.”
“Hmm... That is unfortunate. I have received your greetings, as well as those of the Martial Alliance. It is regrettable, but we shall speak at length another time.”
Just as Hong Mungi, the Sect Leader, turned away after saying that, Hwa Jeongsan clasped his fists and spoke again.
“Before that, I have one request.”
“A request?”
“Yes. It is very important to this Hwa.”
“Speak.”
“Then I will shamelessly make my request. My dream has always been to spar with swordsmen who have reached the purest heights. I have heard that the Taeul Sect has long preserved the swordsmanship of the legendary Taeul Sword Emperor, and I wish to experience it for myself. If not now, I cannot promise when another chance will come. I beg you to personally offer this junior your guidance.”
“Ha...”
“Hah!”
Long sighs came from among the elders.
A disciple from another sect asking to spar directly with the leader of a sect was rude beyond measure.
“How dare he!”
Jegal Cheongi rolled up his sleeves and tried to step forward.
Wang Soso stopped him.
“Junior Brother. Stay where you are.”
“But, Senior Sister...”
“He said he was from Mount Hua Sect, did he not?”
“Yes.”
“Mount Hua Sect will have many financial difficulties in the future.”
Wang Soso clenched her teeth as though making a vow.
“Urgh...”
Wang Soso's voice was loud enough that the Dragon-Phoenix Association might have heard, but Jin Taesan could not bring himself to stop her.
He felt exactly the same way.
How much mockery had the Taeul Sect endured over the story of the Taeul Sword Emperor?
Was Hwa Jeongsan not praising the Taeul Sword Emperor only to humiliate the Taeul Sect once again?
“I have traveled a long distance and must travel far again. I believe this will be the only chance in my life, so I make this request.”
Hwa Jeongsan's gaze turned to Hong Mungi, followed by the eyes of everyone in the sect.
“...”
“Please show the generosity of the sea and grant great instruction to this junior, who has only just begun to hold a sword.”
When Sect Leader Hong Mungi gave no answer, Hwa Jeongsan even went down on one knee.
At this point, neither the elders nor Hong Mungi could remain silent any longer.
‘This will become a disaster.’
Hong Mungi could not defeat Hwa Jeongsan, a Mount Hua Sect disciple and member of the Dragon-Phoenix Association.
If this continued, he might be utterly humiliated before the other disciples.
The disciples' morale, which had only recently begun to rise, could also be crushed in a single blow.
“...If you insist that strongly, then I have no choice. Bring me a sword...”
Hong Mungi began to rise with half-resigned acceptance, and Jin Taesan tried to stop him.
Bang!
Someone struck the Taeul Sect's gate hard with their palm.
The eyes of everyone, including the Dragon-Phoenix Association, turned toward the gate.
“Haah, haah, haah. That request... haah, I will... haah, grant it... haah.”
For some reason, the person standing at the gate was covered head to toe in dust, struggling to catch his breath.
After a long while, he finally steadied his breathing and raised his head.
The Taeul Sect disciples cried out as though they had seen a ghost.
“Eldest Senior Brother!”
Footnotes:
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