The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything - Chapter 80

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Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 80: Those Who Chase the Dragon

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Bang Duchil was persistent.

Whenever our eyes met, he followed me around, constantly going on about becoming sworn brothers.

If Dongryong had not been recovering from his injuries, I would have wanted to flee in the middle of the night already.

"I'm... sorry."

Dongryong sat up in bed with his head lowered like a prisoner between Geumpyo and Eunho.

"Please forgive me, Eldest Senior Brother."

Surprisingly, Dongryong clearly remembered what he had done.

He said that within his consciousness, he had clearly remained himself, yet it was not he who had moved his body.

There was no way to observe the outside world through one's consciousness after the Heavenly Killing Star awakened. Dongryong had only managed to retain consciousness because of the Taeul True Scripture.

Fortunately, the higher Dongryong's attainment in the Taeul True Scripture rose, the more firmly his consciousness would take root. Dongryong would never turn into an evil spirit again.

"I won't... I won't do it again."

"Do what?"

"Those... those sorts of things."

He could not even finish his sentence and began to choke up.

I struggled to hold back my laughter at his watery eyes, which looked ready to spill tears at any moment.

"You mean turning into an evil spirit?"

"Sniff, sniff."

Tears dripped from his wide, rabbit-like eyes.

He was terrified that his killing nature might awaken again and did not know what to do.

For some reason, he seemed so cute that I wanted to tease him.

"But what if your killing nature awakens again next time..."

"Waaah! Sniff, sniff."

Dongryong finally burst into tears.

Geumpyo and Eunho dropped to their knees.

"Senior Brother! I'll take responsibility!"

"Eldest Senior Brother! I will too!"

Why were these two suddenly kneeling?

"Hmm, and how do you two intend to take responsibility?"

"We talked about it last night. If... if Dongryong starts turning into an evil spirit again, Eunho and I..."

"That's enough! What are you even talking about?"

My heart suddenly sank.

What in the world was going through their heads?

I let out a sigh.

"Don't worry. Dongryong will never become an evil spirit again."

"Really, Senior Brother?"

"Yes. Of course, to be truly safe, he must practice the Taeul True Scripture desperately and raise his attainment much further. But once he reaches the fifth level, he will be able to suppress his killing nature. Once he reaches the seventh, he will never lose himself to it again."

Geumpyo and Eunho hurriedly rose and wrapped their arms around Dongryong's shoulders.

"Dongryong! Did you hear that? You're not an evil spirit! My little brother could never be one!"

"See? This brother told you that you had nothing to worry about!"

Dongryong smiled as tears and snot streamed down his face.

I could not tell whether he was happy because he would not become an evil spirit or because he could remain with us.

The three of them did not know it, but thanks to the Taeul True Scripture, Dongryong now possessed talent as a martial artist that would not fall behind any extraordinary physique.

Watching the three brothers excitedly link arms, I said, "That is why you must not neglect your training from now on. There was a reason I made you practice circulation exercises so desperately."

"Of course, of course. Even if you said red beans could make soybean bricks, I would believe you without question, Senior Brother."

"Good grief."

The destruction had displaced twelve hundred people from the three villages around Mount Cheonmok.

Their homes had been devastated. The roofs of their unattended thatched houses had collapsed, and blood spilled by the bandits had seeped into the streams and wells. They had no means to carry on with their lives.

"Mom, I'm hungry."

"Yes, hold on a little longer. Let's go up the mountain and gather some edible greens."

"You won't leave me behind again, will you?"

"...Okay. This time, we'll go together."

Even so, they were endlessly grateful that they had survived and could see one another again.

"Everyone says they plan to leave their hometowns and head toward Hangzhou. It will be difficult to survive even this winter here."

Village Chief Huh, who had effectively become the representative of all three villages, let out a long sigh.

"Still, it's fortunate that we were able to find each other again. It's all thanks to you."

"It was nothing."

Village Chief Huh pulled out the five-thousand-tael banknote I had given them.

"This is what you left with me."

"Didn't I tell you to buy whatever supplies you needed?"

"We aren't so shameless."

Village Chief Huh paused before continuing.

"I will repay this kindness somehow. It may not happen in my lifetime, but then in my children's... and if not, my grandchildren's... Even if that fails, I will make certain it is repaid through the generations that follow."

The village chief's hair was completely white. They looked apologetic because they had no way to express their gratitude.

We searched the Twin-Curtain Strongholds, but there had been no treasure to speak of.

Yang Gunbaek said the Twin-Curtain Strongholds had spent a great deal of money recently expanding their mountain bases.

Useless bastards.

We had wiped out the strongholds, yet there was nothing to distribute among the villages.

"If it takes that long, I'll never receive any benefit from it."

"..."

I held out the banknote again.

"It may not be enough, but please use it to rebuild your villages."

If the villages vanished, it would also take a long time for mountain strongholds on Mount Cheonmok to be rebuilt.

If the strongholds could not grow, it would take Bang Duchil longer to take control of the Green Forest Alliance.

More than that, I knew all too well how it felt when people with nothing to do with a great battle or war were swept into it and left to suffer.

'If I truly need money, there are a few more places I could raid.'

"But..."

The village chief, who had never received anything in their life, seemed frightened by the sheer amount of five thousand taels.

Hmm. What should I do about this?

I did have an idea.

"Then how about this? Rebuild the villages with this money, then send a portion of the villages' future profits to Taeul Sect."

"...?!"

Village Chief Huh's eyes lit up.

"Would you feel more comfortable if you thought of it as an investment?"

People like Village Chief Huh found it easier to accept help when they had even a small burden to bear.

That was the nature of people who had never received anything for free in their lives.

"Th-Then..."

"Would that be acceptable?"

Village Chief Huh nodded fiercely.

"For the next thirty years, I will send one-tenth of the profits from all three villages to your sect."

"Ah, no... That's too much."

I had only meant for them not to feel burdened, not for them to put shackles around their own necks.

Yet Village Chief Huh shook their head so hard it looked as though it might fall off.

"No. Only then can I accept this money, and only then can the villagers settle back down here with peace of mind."

"..."

The villages around Mount Cheonmok lay along a route merchants had no choice but to take.

Those exhausted from crossing the high mountain range had to stop and rest there, either before crossing it or after they had done so.

Village Chief Huh and the others had no idea how much their villages could prosper.

When I could not readily answer, Village Chief Huh grasped my hand with determined eyes.

"I have one request instead."

"What is it?"

"Please allow us to use Taeul Sect's name in the villages."

"What do you mean...?"

"I mean, let us say that these villages are under Taeul Sect's protection."

Such protection agreements were common in commercial districts where sects had established themselves. Yet it was unheard of for someone like me to make an agreement covering three whole villages, especially villages so far from the sect.

Taeul Sect had also closed its gates, and this place was too distant for the sect's influence to reach.

"I want others to fear troubling our villages, at the very least."

Village Chief Huh kept glancing at Bang Duchil and his group.

They were likely wary after hearing that new mountain strongholds might be established on Mount Cheonmok.

Still, while we cleaned up the bodies after the battle, they had watched Bang Duchil blast out a massive pit with a single palm strike, bury every corpse within it, then cover the pit again with one punch. Since then, they had been unable to say anything.

I scratched my head.

"That may be difficult. Taeul Sect isn't a sect that people fear all that much to begin with..."

At that moment, Baek Soryeong, who had been listening to our conversation, began whispering to Bang Duchil.

Bang Duchil bent his massive body to hear her, nodded, then stepped forward.

"I will do it!"

"Pardon?"

"I will do it. I will protect the three villages."

"..."

Bang Duchil thumped his chest and laughed heartily.

"In return, become sworn brothers with me. That will give me a reason to protect them, will it not?"

"..."

Village Chief Huh brightened at Bang Duchil's words and looked at me. Baek Soryeong, standing beside Bang Duchil, was holding back laughter.

In my previous life, I had been suspected of being a Black Path spy because I worked with the Green Forest Alliance on several operations. Now I was about to become sworn brothers with the future leader of the Green Forest Alliance.

At this point, no one could blame them for treating me as a Black Path martial artist.

Before I knew it, Village Chief Huh was staring at me with desperate eyes, as though leaving behind final words.

"If... if that can happen, I will have no regrets even if I die right now..."

Pressing my fingers against my throbbing head, I asked Bang Duchil, "Why do you insist on becoming sworn brothers with me? My sect is nothing special, and neither is my background. I'm only a third-rate martial artist."

"I have never met anyone greater than me."

"Greater than you? I encountered a fortunate opportunity, that's all. I only got this far because I was lucky. But Brother Bang, you achieved tremendous martial arts without anything to begin with. Even considering your future potential, I can't compare to you."

At my firm statement, Bang Duchil shook his huge head.

"The greatness I speak of isn't something like martial arts."

"...What?"

Then he revealed surprisingly white teeth in a broad grin.

"A man who steps forward without fear for the weak, who does not hesitate to give up his own precious wealth, and who possesses such remarkable generosity is not easy to find even if you search the whole world."

"..."

"You were the first person ever to astonish me. I cannot make someone like you my subordinate, so isn't it only natural that I would want to become sworn brothers with you?"

The logic was absurd, but there was no way out.

When someone came at you with that much sincerity, it was difficult to refuse them outright.

Village Chief Huh, who had looked as though they would die just moments ago, nodded hard enough to break their neck.

"Haa..."

In the end, I let out a long sigh.

It wasn't as though I had ever truly walked the path of a prestigious White Path man.

"Fine. Let us do it..."

"Go bring a blade!"

No, I hadn't even finished agreeing yet. More importantly, a blade? A blade?

"Why do we need a blade?"

"To become sworn brothers, we must make a blood oath..."

This man said frightening things as though they were nothing.

I stopped him and looked toward Baek Soryeong beside him for help.

"We've seen enough blood already. Let us simply share cups as brothers!"

"Yes, Brother. I don't wish to smell blood anymore either."

Fortunately, Bang Duchil obediently listened to Baek Soryeong.

"Should we? Village Chief Huh, is there any alcohol in this village?"

"You bastards drank it all, and now you ask that?"

Absurdly enough, Village Chief Huh did not stop cursing even after seeing Bang Duchil's divine might.

Of course, Bang Duchil did not particularly care.

"Hmm... We will have to buy alcohol from a nearby village first. Wait here a moment, little brother."

We had not even shared our cups yet, and he was already calling me little brother.

I was already worried about how arduous the road ahead would become.

As Bang Duchil lumbered away, Baek Soryeong approached and whispered softly.

"You truly are remarkable, Young Master Jin."

"What do you mean?"

"At first, it may seem as though you're the only one losing out, but in a few years, you'll earn enormous profits. The revenue from the three villages around Mount Cheonmok, and becoming sworn brothers with the leader of the Green Forest Alliance... Isn't that so?"

Baek Soryeong called Bang Duchil the leader of the Green Forest Alliance as naturally as though she had seen his future.

She truly was no ordinary person.

"That must have been Miss Baek's idea, correct?"

When I voiced my suspicion, Baek Soryeong gave me a meaningful smile.

As expected, there was no way such a thought had come from the head of that massive but simple-looking Bang Duchil.

"Why did you tell the future leader of the Green Forest Alliance to become sworn brothers with someone from a White Path sect?"

"That was entirely Brother's idea. He wants you on his side badly but didn't know how to go about it, so I only gave him a little advice."

"..."

Baek Soryeong slowly looked over my face before continuing.

"Also, I thought Young Master Jin would become Brother Bang's greatest threat in the future. That's why I thought it would be best to form a bond with you now."

"Me?"

As for me, I had been considered one of the most harmless people in the Martial Alliance in my previous life.

I was so harmless that the Martial Alliance put me at the very front during its war against the Demonic Cult and used me as a meat shield.

When I tilted my head in confusion, Baek Soryeong gave her usual meaningful smile.

"Hehe, you still lack self-awareness. That's why men are cute."

"Eldest Senior Brother!"

While I was sharing cups with Bang Duchil and we were emptying the five jars of alcohol bought as an excuse for it, Geumpyo came running in.

"I think you should come outside for a moment."

When I stepped outside the inn, a procession filled with injured people was passing by.

Their faces immediately came to mind.

'The Gyerong Merchant Group.'

The group of one hundred wandering martial artists that had marched proudly to wipe out the mountain strongholds had been reduced to less than a quarter of its original number.

Even those who remained were mostly wounded, wrapped in bandages and fitted with splints.

"Senior Brother."

Following Eunho's gaze, I saw Gye Yeonseung, whose empty right sleeve fluttered in the wind, leading a cart carrying two black coffins.

Since neither Gye Yeonseok nor Gye Cheolyeong was in sight, it seemed the two of them were inside those coffins.

"..."

When Gye Yeonseung met my eyes, they immediately looked away as though they had committed some crime.

We said nothing until the Gyerong Merchant Group disappeared from sight.

"Should we feel sorry for them?"

"No."

"Pardon?"

I looked directly into the questioning eyes of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers.

"We should be afraid. We don't know when we may end up like that as well."

The moment I finished speaking, I released my killing intent.

"..."

The three brothers raised their eyebrows, but otherwise showed no reaction.

"Gahk."

A scream came from an unexpected place.

Yang Gunbaek emerged from behind the alley, their face pale with shock.

"Did... did something bad happen?"

Yang Gunbaek trembled as they spoke.

"Ah, my apologies. I was training my junior brothers."

Yang Gunbaek looked at my junior brothers and me as though they had seen ghosts.

The Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers excused themselves, leaving us alone. The moment Yang Gunbaek sat down, they asked, "You truly cannot control the wind, correct?"

Bang Duchil was making a fuss over becoming sworn brothers, and Yang Gunbaek was making a fuss over whether I could control the wind.

"Didn't I tell you? At this time of year, strong northwesterly winds blow. The mountain's fallen leaves were also completely dry because of the long drought."

"You truly are an extraordinary person. I thought only someone like Zhuge Liang of old could say such things."

Yang Gunbaek looked at me with complicated eyes for a moment, then spread a map over the table.

"Gate I of the hellish regular examination has ended. A total of three thousand eight hundred and forty-two people received Gate Tokens."

"The Hao Sect will be busy from now on."

"...Yes."

"How many people are targeting us?"

"..."

The number of people who passed the first gate was enormous, but the number of people who failed was even greater.

The Martial Arts Academy regular examination tested not only whether one could pass the gate, but whether one could reach the final destination with a Gate Token.

And those who failed the gate began targeting the Gate Tokens of those who had passed.

"We will block as many as we can, but the Beggar Sect has already begun moving..."

"I know. That's why we need to know more precisely."

"There are... quite a lot."

Bang Duchil had decided not to continue taking the Martial Arts Academy examination because he would remain at Mount Cheonmok. Along with the two Gate Tokens he had originally possessed, he handed all four Gate I Tokens he received this time to me.

Yang Gunbaek could not easily continue.

I nodded as though I understood.

Gate Tokens changed hands countless times, and those who guarded them killed countless people.

It was not White Path against Black Path.

White Path martial artists fought one another in a war greater than most Black-White Wars, all in the name of an examination.

That was how significant the Martial Arts Academy was to the rising generation.

After arranging my thoughts, I asked Yang Gunbaek, "So, how many people are currently targeting Mount Cheonmok... no, targeting us?"

This was the true nature of the Martial Arts Academy regular examination.

This was why it was called the hellish regular examination.

Yang Gunbaek finally answered gravely.

"We estimate at least two hundred groups. More than four thousand people."

"..."