WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 66: The Great Peng Waiting for the Typhoon (4)
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In the end, it was decided that members of the Elders' Council would go to the Changgung Merchant Group.
Naturally, Jin Taesan, the Outer Hall Lord, would take the lead.
Perhaps because the financial pressure had finally eased, Father kept letting out long sighs.
The Sect Leader and hall lords needed to reorganize Taeul Sect internally while learning the Taeul Sword Emperor's martial arts, so even closing one’s gates would not give them a moment to rest.
Fortunately, some of the elders had once worked for small merchant groups or escort agencies to keep Taeul Sect afloat, so there should not be much difficulty.
Besides, Wang Soso was at Taeul Sect, and they could always ask Wang Geumsan for help.
Though the matter had mostly been settled, the elders and hall lords did not rise from their seats.
They all seemed unable to wait any longer to see the Taeul Sword Emperor's true legacy.
Hong Mungi ordered wine and food, arranging a small celebration and an opportunity to view the true legacy.
While everyone's attention was on the legacy, I quietly slipped out of Daehyeon Hall.
Then I went straight to find Wang Soso.
With closing one’s gates all but certain, there was something the Sect Leader and elders had overlooked.
The Martial Alliance would never let this end so easily.
Moyong Gang had acknowledged it, and so had the Dragon-Phoenix Association, but Mount Cang Sect and Mount Hua Sect had suffered a serious blow to their pride.
It would have been one thing if only one person had been humiliated, but there were two. And those two were the foremost prodigies of Mount Hua and Mount Cang.
If the two sects joined forces, some of the people hovering around Taeul Sect would begin taking an interest in the Taeul Sword Emperor's legacy.
Once that sentiment became widespread, Moyong Gang's recognition from afar would no longer be of much help.
At the very least, we needed to buy time until Taeul Sect had completely closed its gates and severed contact with the outside world.
“Brother! I'm over here!”
I approached Wang Soso, who was practicing with the other junior disciples at Gwaehwa Hall's training ground.
She had grown considerably in the few months since I had last seen her. She was already beginning to lose the look of a little girl.
'They say girls grow up early.'
I had seen countless beauties renowned throughout the martial world, including Moyong Seol, Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, and the women of the Dragon-Phoenix Association.
Still, Wang Soso's beauty did not fall short of theirs in the slightest.
No, she still had more growing to do, so there was even more to look forward to.
'Now I understand why fathers with daughters dislike their sons-in-law so much.'
Just imagining Wang Soso marrying someone made me feel as though a younger sister were being taken away from me.
“Your swordsmanship has improved greatly.”
“I've been working hard. Soon, I think I'll be able to spar with Eunho for more than a hundred exchanges.”
“Eunho is among the ten strongest of the junior disciples.”
“Exactly. So, what did you need from me?”
“Your family must have plenty of gold sycees, right?”
Wang Soso tilted her head.
“Not just gold sycees. We have golden toads, golden dragons, golden deer...”
“Yes, yes. Could I ask you for one favor?”
“You can ask for two. Or even three.”
I held out a banknote worth one hundred nyang.
“Hmm?”
#
“What do you mean by that?”
Moyong Seol recounted what had happened with Jin Sowoon.
“...Yes. I wronged Young Master Jin.”
“Good heavens...”
Moyong Gang never lost his smile under normal circumstances.
His playful, mischievous expression made him easy for his grandchildren to approach.
Yet now, he looked like someone who had just watched a beloved puppy smash an expensive porcelain vase.
“I'm sorry.”
“You clearly saw that those people from the Dragon-Phoenix Association were the ones in the wrong.”
Moyong Seol, who had always received Moyong Gang's affection without rival, found her grandfather more unfamiliar than ever.
“Tsk. I went through the trouble of creating an opportunity to bring you two together, yet it has become useless now.”
“...?”
Neither Moyong Seol nor Moyong Jaehwa understood what Moyong Gang meant, but neither questioned him.
“Life in the martial world does not always follow the scriptures.”
Moyong Gang's voice was calmer than ever.
“When someone tries to use you as a stepping stone, you must prove that you are not someone they can trample so easily. In such cases, harsher methods can also be an option.”
“...”
Moyong Seol had nothing to say, even if she had ten mouths.
At the same time, she could not help wondering why Moyong Gang was speaking so strongly about it.
Of course, she could not ask.
“If I had been in that situation, I would have shattered that brat Hwa Jeongsan's dantian.”
“...”
“Tsk. I thought going to the Martial Alliance would make you more flexible, but you have only become stiffer.”
“...”
“He is the one who saved your father. I need not say more for you to understand what you did wrong, do I?”
“Yes. I understand.”
“Go and apologize sincerely. Make sure no resentment remains in either his heart or yours.”
“Yes...”
“And leave that Dragon-Phoenix Association nonsense. If you stay there any longer, you may become fixed in your ways. Return to the main estate with me this time.”
“...Understood.”
As Moyong Gang rose from his seat, he muttered,
“I heard he also has ties with that child Seonhwa. I only hope that bastard Namgung Taeha has not already set his sights on him...”
Naturally, Moyong Jaehwa and Moyong Seol still had no idea what their grandfather was talking about.
#
Moyong Seol immediately relayed her decision to the Dragon-Phoenix Association.
Ilmyeong's face darkened as he listened.
Except during emergency summonses, the Dragon-Phoenix Association did not force its members to participate in its activities.
That was partly because its activities were largely limited to inspecting Martial Alliance branches and the One Hundred Eight Peaks. More importantly, every member was too vital to their own sects and the Martial Alliance, so they had been granted autonomy from the beginning.
As a result, Yong Soa of Wudang Sect, Namgung San of the Namgung Clan, and Hyeyeon of Mount Emei Sect had not joined this activity.
With Jong Byeokgi and Hwa Jeongsan already in poor condition, Moyong Seol's departure meant that the Dragon-Phoenix Association's activities had effectively come to a halt.
“Our schedule will be disrupted.”
“I'm sorry.”
“It's all right. Everyone has their own circumstances.”
Ilmyeong spoke with a heavy expression.
“There is nothing we can do. Taeul Sect turned out differently from what we expected...”
So Jeho of Qingcheng Sect trailed off after catching the sharp looks in Jong Byeokgi and Hwa Jeongsan's eyes.
Jong Byeokgi's resentment ran particularly deep.
“That damned brat...”
He had lost in a completely unexpected place, to a completely unexpected opponent, by a completely unexpected method.
Then Moyong Gang appeared, and every way to reverse that defeat had vanished like a bubble.
Now Jong Byeokgi had to worry about whether Moyong Gang might retaliate against him.
“I, I... I will definitely... Agh!”
As he spoke, a fierce pain shot through his temple, and he clutched his head.
One side of his head was grotesquely swollen, as though a huge horn had grown from it.
Dang Seohui, who had been treating him, grabbed his hair and forced him back down.
“Did you not hear me tell you to stay still? If you do not want to live with headaches for the rest of your life from the side effects, you should remain still.”
“...”
Dang Seohui was a madwoman who would use poison even on fellow members of the Martial Alliance when she was in a foul mood.
Jong Byeokgi clamped his mouth shut and ground his teeth.
Ilmyeong's brow remained furrowed as he watched them.
'Should I say he is on Yong Soa's level...?'
Jin Sowoon gave Ilmyeong the same feeling he had felt when he first met Yong Soa.
“Perhaps... the martial world will soon be thrown into turmoil.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean we must reevaluate Taeul Sect.”
“We cannot let this end like this.”
Jong Byeokgi sprang upright after hearing Ilmyeong's words.
Dang Seohui's temper immediately flared, and she drove a needle into his paralysis acupoint.
“Urk!”
“Did you not hear me tell you not to move? Do you want to experience the agony of having your tendons separated and your bones dislocated?”
“N-No. No, I will stay still...”
Jong Byeokgi quickly sought help from Hwa Jeongsan.
“Jeongsan, you say something too. Surely this cannot simply be allowed to pass?”
“...”
Hwa Jeongsan sat silently with downcast eyes.
“And what if it is not allowed to pass?”
At Seo Saryeong's question, Jong Byeokgi's eyes darted around.
“Of course we report it to the Martial Alliance. We report that martial arts of unknown origin have appeared!”
“But Elder Moyong Gang has already publicly acknowledged them.”
Jong Byeokgi glared at Moyong Seol.
“Hmph! Have you forgotten our duty? We conduct inspections and audits without being swayed by outside pressure. Is that not right, Jeongsan?”
“...”
Hwa Jeongsan did not answer. Instead, Moyong Seol's eyes turned cold.
“Do you think the Moyong Clan will remain still?”
“Did I not say that does not matter? The Martial Alliance must decide everything. Can the Moyong Clan disregard the Alliance's decision?”
Ilmyeong's eyes darkened again as he watched Jong Byeokgi and Moyong Seol trade barbs.
There was some truth to what Jong Byeokgi said.
If Jong Byeokgi and Hwa Jeongsan acted, Mount Cang and Mount Hua would move at the same time. If today's matter were reported as well, even more people would take an interest in the martial arts. Once it reached that point, even the Wind-Splitting Sword could not stop them alone.
That was how righteous justification worked.
“Hmm... Will this really be all right? Young Master Jin does not seem easy to deal with.”
Seo Saryeong caressed her red lips with pale fingers as she spoke. Jong Byeokgi swallowed involuntarily, then spoke with even greater confidence.
“Just wait and see. I will make it happen. If Mount Cang and Mount Hua move first, other sects will surely take an interest as well.”
Jong Byeokgi was planning exactly what Ilmyeong had anticipated.
Ilmyeong knew his own sect would not be free from this matter either.
Could Shaolin truly remain uninterested in Taeul Sect's martial arts, which had broken the Vajra Prajna Palm?
At that moment, Moyong Seol looked behind her.
Seo Saryeong and Hwangbo Yeon followed her gaze.
Soon, a young man walked in from beyond the wall, bundles in both hands.
“Young Master Jin...”
Moyong Seol's words sharpened Jong Byeokgi and Hwa Jeongsan's gazes.
Jong Byeokgi begged Dang Seohui to release his paralysis acupoint, but she only watched Jin Sowoon in silence.
“The Sect Leader asked me to see whether you have encountered any inconvenience.”
He wore a smile and carried himself confidently.
He looked as though he had forgotten the desperate sparring match from the day before.
Ilmyeong also smiled faintly and stepped forward a few paces.
“Thanks to you, we have been staying very comfortably. I hope we have not been imposing.”
“Receiving the Dragon-Phoenix Association is an honor for every martial sect. You cannot stay long, but please make yourselves at home while you are here.”
The Dragon-Phoenix Association members' gazes wavered at Jin Sowoon's words.
Had they not fought desperately only yesterday? How could he speak so casually?
“Are you all right, Young Hero?”
“I have aches everywhere as well. Mount Hua's swordsmanship is truly fierce.”
“...”
Hwa Jeongsan glared fiercely at Jin Sowoon.
Jong Byeokgi glared as well with his body frozen beside him, but he looked more ridiculous than frightening.
“Forgive me, Venerable Ilmyeong, but I brought some curved tea.”
Curved tea was monks’ slang for alcohol.
“Ho ho, curved tea?”
“One of my junior disciples is from the Wang Family Estate, so I asked her to obtain some Golden Powdered Bright Wine.”
Golden Powdered Bright Wine was a precious liquor produced directly by the Wang Family Estate. It was a specialty of Hefei, but not something just anyone could taste.
When he untied the bundles, five lavishly decorated bottles emerged.
“...Since you have come all this way, I thought you should at least taste a local specialty.”
“Thank you. I cannot drink, but the others will be able to enjoy it. Taeul Sect has shown us kindness in many ways.”
“Please do not mention it. Are we not all fellow martial artists gathered beneath the Martial Alliance's banner? Ha ha ha!”
Sowoon laughed heartily, but not one of the men could laugh.
Somehow, they felt thoroughly outdone by Sowoon, who was years younger than them.
The women, on the other hand, watched him with sparkling eyes.
“Young Master Jin, how can you be so strong? I was truly astonished that Taeul Sect's martial arts were so formidable.”
The Soul-Stealing Western Beauty, Seo Saryeong, spoke in a warm voice like spring flowers. Jong Byeokgi's expression changed as he realized something.
The Soul-Stealing Western Beauty was subtly making it clear that she intended to withdraw from this matter.
“...”
She had also handed Jin Sowoon an opportunity to speak about Taeul Sect's martial arts.
As expected, Jin Sowoon did not let that opportunity pass.
“Actually, I would like to thank Hero Hwa for that.”
Everyone tilted their heads.
“...”
“Although we recovered Grandpatriarch Master's martial arts with great difficulty, we had been wondering how to reveal them to the world. We could have simply announced it, but we did not know what disputes it might cause. Like today, for instance.”
Ilmyeong's mouth slowly opened in surprise.
“But then Hero Hwa said he wanted to see the Taeul Sword Emperor's sword forms, so we gained a wonderful opportunity.”
“Th-That was... Ahem.”
Hwa Jeongsan could not say anything.
The moment he admitted that his original intent had been mockery, he would be the one humiliated.
“Therefore, it is true that I overdid things, and Hero Hwa was injured as a result. The Sect Leader is deeply concerned that I injured a benefactor.”
At the word “benefactor,” Hwa Jeongsan's face flushed red.
Ilmyeong watched Jin Sowoon casually toss out such words as though observing some fascinating creature.
Jin Sowoon walked over to Hwa Jeongsan.
He set down the small bundle in his other hand, then pushed it toward Hwa Jeongsan.
“...What is this?”
“We are a small sect, so we have no elixir pellets or other items that can restore vitality. This is meant as a substitute.”
“...Hmph. Whatever Taeul Sect has prepared...”
Hwa Jeongsan grumbled as he roughly opened the bundle, but his expression began to change.
Inside was an exquisite jewel box. When he opened it, he found a plum tree carved from ox horn and gold.
Even Seo Saryeong, who regularly adorned herself with extravagant gold and silver jewelry, widened her eyes.
“Good heavens...”
“I acquired it by chance a few months ago. Perhaps it was meant to create this connection. I hope Hero Hwa can use it to obtain the elixir pellets needed for his recovery.”
“...A connection?”
“You may not know this, but the current lord of Busaeng Hall was formerly a lay disciple of Mount Hua Sect. In the end, Mount Hua's Dao had come full circle and reached Taeul Sect as well.”
“...”
“Yet I committed such an error in the midst of all that. How grieved must the Sect Leader have been?”
Hwa Jeongsan had already lost the ability to speak. Beside him, Jong Byeokgi's face, still frozen in place, turned red and white.
“Hwa Jeongsan, give that worthless thing back. Why should we forgive them over something like that?”
Hwa Jeongsan gave Jong Byeokgi a sharp look.
“...Be quiet!”
“What?!”
“Is this not all because you unnecessarily involved yourself?”
Jong Byeokgi's face turned even redder.
“Gah!”
On top of that, Jin Sowoon had Moyong Gang standing firmly behind him as an enormous backer.
His eccentric temperament, overwhelming martial arts, and powerful clan made the risk of turning him into an enemy far too great for the possible gain.
Perhaps Hwa Jeongsan had remained silent until now because he had been searching for a way out.
Jong Byeokgi glared venomously at Jin Sowoon.
“Brat! Do not think this is over!”
Jin Sowoon returned his gaze coldly.
“I also have something to say. Taeul Sect will remember today's events for a long time.”
“I am Jong Byeokgi of Mount Cang! Do you think I would be afraid?”
“...You should be. Elder Moyong Gang said he would take you away.”
“Ghk! W-What does that mean?”
“You interfered with his antics, so should you not pay the price? Ah, and he also said he would send a letter to the Sect Leader of Mount Cang. You should prepare yourself for punishment when you return.”
Jong Byeokgi's face turned sickly pale, while Hwa Jeongsan let out a sigh of relief.
“...Would you tell the Sect Leader that this junior reflects deeply on his rude behavior?”
Hwa Jeongsan's words shocked Jong Byeokgi and the Dragon-Phoenix Association members.
“Did I not say it? He is grateful instead. Did you not say that the martial artist you, the New Plum Blossom Sword of Mount Hua, admired most was the Taeul Sword Emperor?”
“Ahem... I did.”
“What greater praise could Taeul Sect receive?”
“Ahem... Why say such things? After seeing your sword forms, I have become convinced that my thoughts until now were correct.”
Jong Byeokgi's expression grew increasingly bizarre as he watched Hwa Jeongsan smile and converse with Jin Sowoon as though nothing had happened.
Ilmyeong, who had watched the entire exchange, felt a chill in his heart.
'He is... frightening.'
The way Jin Sowoon had acted during the sparring match had not simply been to display the recovered legacy.
He had looked as though he had encountered an enemy he could never share the heavens with.
There had been a relentless insistence on drawing blood.
Yet he was now smoothly spinning the lie that none of that behavior had been sincere.
Thanks to Moyong Gang, it was safe to say there would be no issue between the Dragon-Phoenix Association and Taeul Sect.
The real problem was Mount Cang and Mount Hua, the greatest victims of the incident. Yet Jin Sowoon had generously compensated only Mount Hua, even invoking their past connection.
As a result, Hwa Jeongsan had no choice but to let go of his resentment toward Jin Sowoon. Jong Byeokgi, left alone, would not only lack justification, but would appear even more at fault.
'His martial arts are formidable, but his schemes are even more exceptional.'
What made Yong Soa remarkable was the talent he possessed, talent that could not be surpassed. But he was not frightening.
Yong Soa could not become a ruler, so he was not someone to fear.
Jin Sowoon, on the other hand, possessed the deep calculations needed to manipulate people at will.
'The martial world will be shaken greatly by Taeul Sect... no, by that young man.'
Jin Sowoon looked at the Dragon-Phoenix Association members again with an easy expression.
“Then please rest comfortably. I will be on my way.”
As Jin Sowoon turned to leave, Dang Seohui called out to him.
“You must stop for a moment.”
The Dragon-Phoenix Association members looked at her in surprise.
She did not speak to strangers she was meeting for the first time.
“You and I have unfinished business.”
“Ah... You mean that.”
For the first time, Jin Sowoon looked troubled.
“We have decided to let the matter of the Golden Dragon hidden weapons pass. There was also the Divine Sword's letter, and letting this matter pass is our apology for what happened today.”
It was a matter the Dragon-Phoenix Association knew nothing about.
One thing was clear, though. Dang Seohui was also showing that she had no intention of joining Jong Byeokgi in pursuing this matter.
“Th-Thank you.”
“Instead, you must spar with me next time.”
“!!”
For Dang Seohui, proposing a spar was an expression of interest.
“Today?”
“Today is not the right time.”
Jin Sowoon, who had no way of knowing that, simply nodded lightly.
“Please give me pointers someday.”
“Then it is a promise.”
Jin Sowoon left through the door.
“I will be going as well.”
Moyong Seol left without waiting for a reply. Anyone could see that she was following Jin Sowoon.
“My, I never knew Seol could be so forward.”
Seo Saryeong covered her red lips and chuckled.
“...This is troubling in many ways.”
“...”
“...”
The men of the Dragon-Phoenix Association, who had never wanted for anything in the world, tightly shut their mouths as they experienced a strange sense of defeat for the first time in their lives.
Footnotes:
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