WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 9: The Third-Rate Martial Artist Protecting His Sect's Honor (3)

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Seong Moran was growing weary of receiving guests.

“Ha ha, Miss! You’re as beautiful as the rumors say!”

“You’re Xishi herself.[1] Your father must be so pleased.”

“The moment you entered, I thought the sun had risen.”

Countless men showered her with excessive attention.

“I heard your sword is exceptionally sharp. Would you let me see it later?”

“I’m also well versed in the sword. Why don’t we have tea sometime and exchange views on swordsmanship?”

“Would you consider coming to my family as an exchange disciple? I could speak to my grandfather...”

They strutted about as if they possessed incredible skill.

“Flowers raised in a greenhouse who’ve never seen a real fight.”

Could they really act so arrogantly through their own ability alone?

Would it be possible without a sect’s protection or investment from one’s family?

She never imagined they were anything like herself, who had made it this far without receiving anything from her family.

Of course, she couldn’t voice such thoughts.

She still remembered how grotesquely Seong Mohyeon’s face had twisted when he failed to overwhelm her in their spar, as well as the concern in the elders’ eyes. Seong Moran had no intention of needlessly stirring up trouble.

“There isn’t a real martial artist here. There’s not even a decent man.”

She was bored.

Her mother had nagged her endlessly about the family’s reputation, so she endured it, but it was painfully dull.

Her father, grandfather, and even Seong Mohyeon seemed to be plotting something, yet they hadn’t told her about it, and she wasn’t especially interested.

‘It’s probably something about the One Hundred Eight Peaks.’

All the men gathered together to talk about was scheming.

They should just have a proper duel instead. The Iron Sword Sect had surpassed the Taeul Sect in strength long ago.

If they demonstrated the difference in their power and magnanimously accepted the other side, they would at least look like martial artists.

“How boring.”

It was a great shame Namgung Seonhwa couldn’t attend the banquet.

If she had been here, it wouldn’t have been nearly this dull.

“She must be busy right now.”

She had heard that Namgung San, who had attended the sixtieth birthday celebration in Namgung Seonhwa’s place, was hosting a banquet. Still, she had no desire to go.

It would only be packed with people desperate to flatter the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect.

She had already heard enough praise and flattery to last her a while.

“Miss! Miss!”

A maid was looking for Seong Moran.

“Oops.”

Knowing why, Seong Moran lightly kicked off the ground and landed soundlessly on the roof.

“Where did she go?”

The maid reached the spot where Seong Moran had stood only moments ago and continued looking around.

“The young master is looking for you. Miss! Miss!”

Only after the maid disappeared did Seong Moran let out a quiet sigh.

“Ah...”

She had not even been able to stretch properly while pretending to be a demure young lady. As she finally stretched with satisfaction, her eyes settled on a man and woman between the pavilions.

They were Gye Cheolyeong and the young lady from the Taeul Sect.

“Hm... Are only the two of them going?”

Seong Moran recalled the man named Jin Sowoon whom she had seen during the day.

His internal energy had seemed meager, and there had been no marks at his temples.

His martial arts had appeared utterly unremarkable, yet he had subdued that Bamboo Salt whatever-his-name from Green Bamboo Fort in an instant.

“That’s strange.”

It wasn’t only that one move which had intrigued her.

A person’s manner was shaped by what they possessed.

Those with powerful family backgrounds naturally held their shoulders high, while those without them lowered their heads. A person who built a name through personal effort rather than background could also carry themselves with confidence.

Yet Jin Sowoon’s background was the Taeul Sect, and he was far too young to have built a name for himself.

On top of that, he had answered her father, Seong Jutak, point by point with flawless logic until he had nothing left to say.

“Was he not afraid of the Iron Sword Sect?”

As that thought crossed her mind, she abruptly rose.

“This could be fun.”

The tedious banquet suddenly seemed as though it might become enjoyable.

Seong Moran lightly kicked off the roof and flew into the night sky.

* * *

“...Doesn’t something seem strange?”

Gang Chaeseok, who had entrusted Jin Sowoon with an important task, spoke as Jin Taesan changed his clothes.

“Hm... It is somewhat strange. The dining arrangements, the guest rooms...”

“No, no, not that. Jin Sowoon, your son.”

“Sowoon?”

“Isn’t he acting strange? You saw it earlier, didn’t you? The way he held his head high before Seong Jutak and lashed him with words. It hurt just watching.”

“...”

“Come to think of it, ever since that incident with Gye Yeonseung, the boy has seemed like a different person.”

“...You know Sowoon’s specialty. He must have remembered things he read in books before.”

“Then what about Gye Yeonseung? How did he defeat that man?”

“Didn’t he say it was simply a contest of forms? He can memorize anything after seeing it once, so perhaps he found a way.”

Gang Chaeseok considered Jin Taesan’s words, then tilted his head.

“Against Mount Hua Sect’s Plum Blossom Sword Art?”

“...”

“Can you find its weakness just by looking at it? And he used the Lesser Heaven Sword Art, didn’t he?”

“...That, I don’t know.”

“Could it be...”

Gang Chaeseok unconsciously lowered his voice.

“Could Sowoon be training by himself?”

“What?”

Jin Taesan’s face filled with confusion. That boy who loved playing was training?

“No, I mean this. The way he spends every day roaming the mountains and rivers. Could that be for personal training? If he used that memory of his to imagine sparring thousands of times in order to defeat the Plum Blossom Sword Art...”

Sowoon’s memory surpassed common sense.

Perhaps it really was possible, just as Gang Chaeseok said.

“Hah.”

What nonsense.

Because he had been clever from a young age, Sowoon learned easily without needing to put in much effort. That was why laziness had seeped into his bones.

He memorized books after reading them once, and he could imitate sword forms after casually watching them. Jin Taesan had often thought that perhaps idleness was simply the boy’s fate.

Gang Chaeseok seemed to think differently.

“Think about it. What condition did he set when he made that wager with Gye Yeonseung? Wasn’t it that he would complete the Busaeng Hall training?”

“...”

“They say he doesn’t need to attend Busaeng Hall now, so he’s been wandering around for days without returning home.”

“...”

“And I watched him from behind all the way here to the Iron Sword Sect. His build has changed a little.”

Though he found it hard to believe, Jin Taesan was gradually drawn into Gang Chaeseok’s reasoning.

“I think the boy may be carrying tremendous anger inside him.”

“Anger?”

“Yes. Ever since Gye Cheolyeong entered the Taeul Sect, the hierarchy has been ruined. In one way or another, Gye Cheolyeong has been tormenting the younger disciples as well. On top of that, it is practically decided that Gye Cheolyeong will go to the Martial Arts Academy later. Wouldn’t that make the boy angry?”

It was something Jin Taesan had never considered.

“And Seong Jutak earlier. I hate to admit it, but he’s a master who has reached the peak. Even if he wasn’t releasing his presence, do you think it’s easy for a child like Sowoon to meet his eyes without trembling?”

After listening for a long time, Jin Taesan shook his head.

“That’s what worries me. The martial world is too harsh on the Taeul Sect for boldness alone to be enough.”

“Tsk tsk. You’ve grown old. The will to move forward. The courage to take a step beyond fear. Aren’t such things what will raise the Taeul Sect again in the end?”

Jin Taesan said nothing for a long while after hearing Gang Chaeseok’s words.

He only turned them over in his mind again and again.

“I’m back.”

Jin Sowoon appeared with a large bundle in one hand.

Gang Chaeseok immediately barked at him.

“You fool. You’re supposed to lead the Taeul Sect one day, so why did you waste so much time on such an important task?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Lead what? And when did this become a mission?”

Jin Sowoon had slipped into the kitchens to bring out several bottles of fine liquor that would not be served at an ordinary banquet table.

“This is all part of the vital process of assessing the Iron Sword Sect’s wealth.”

Gang Chaeseok rushed over and practically snatched the bundle from Jin Sowoon. Then he froze and stared at him.

“Sniff, sniff.”

“...Ahem. It was stuffy, so I went out for some air...”

“You drank alcohol, didn’t you?”

“Is that what you say to a disciple who risked his life to gather information? I spilled a little while carrying the liquor.”

Gang Chaeseok grabbed Jin Sowoon by the nape as he tried to leave.

“Do a haa~.”

“How could I put my lowly mouth before the noble face of the great Lord of Gwaehwa Hall?”

Gang Chaeseok stiffly turned his head.

“Taesan, forget what I just said. I was mistaken.”

“What did you say? Was it an important discussion...? Aah! Aah!”

As Jin Sowoon failed to escape Gang Chaeseok’s iron grip, someone knocked on the pavilion door.

Knock, knock-

Gang Chaeseok and Jin Sowoon met each other’s eyes, then both moved like arrows.

Gang Chaeseok hid the liquor beneath the bedding, while Jin Sowoon concealed the bundle out of sight.

“Miss Moran?”

When they opened the door, the person standing outside was not an Iron Sword Sect steward or servant, but Seong Moran, the Beautiful Wolf Iron Sword.

“What brings you here so late at night?”

“The young talents of Anhui Province have prepared a banquet. I thought it would be nice if you joined us.”

Jin Sowoon looked back at Jin Taesan, who shook his head.

“We appreciate the invitation, but we have been walking all day and are exhausted in both body and mind. It would be better to join you another time.”

Seong Moran paused at Jin Sowoon’s refusal before speaking.

“...Will that be all right? It seems Miss Hong is already there.”

Jin Sowoon, Jin Taesan, and Gang Chaeseok exchanged glances.

* * *

Ha ha ha ha.

Ho ho ho ho.

The banquet hall overflowed with laughter.

Beautiful men and women laughed without pause, as though something joyous had happened.

Yet Saryeon, the only person wearing a martial uniform among the silk robes, had a stiff expression.

She had prepared herself.

She knew she would not be treated well anywhere...

No, she knew she would be fortunate if she was not ignored and mocked.

That was why she had attended this gathering.

Part of her had hoped that they would show the bare minimum of courtesy before the daughter of a sect leader.

“As a swordsman, it has always been my dream to witness the sword of the Taeul Sword Emperor. Could you arrange an appointment with your sect leader sometime?”

“...”

The words coming from the man in jade-colored silk were nowhere near as beautiful as his clothes.

“Hey, enough teasing.”

Someone seemed to stop him from one side, but then said,

“Wasn’t that Taeul Sword Emperor story something they made up to get into the One Hundred Eight Peaks?”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Their gestures were exaggerated and absurd.

The women in elegant robes covered their mouths and smiled at the spectacle.

“Could a sect enter the One Hundred Eight Peaks with such a story in the first place?”

“The story sounds quite convincing. It must have been enough to get them in.”

Words that would have caused no issue if the people involved were absent.

“...”

She had expected this.

“Enough. Miss Hong will be embarrassed.”

The person who had mocked her the most was the first to step forward and stop the others.

“My apologies, Miss Hong. We men let our joking go too far.”

In one way, she was grateful.

Senior Brother Sowoon probably would not have endured it.

He might have flown into a rage.

He might have acted up and gotten beaten to a pulp.

‘But how did he defeat Senior Brother Cheolyeong?’

The stray thought made her feel a little better.

She felt as though she could endure the gathering more comfortably now.

It was a relief.

It was truly fortunate that she had come instead of Senior Brother Sowoon.

Instead of answering, Saryeon smiled faintly.

[1] Xishi, one of ancient China’s Four Great Beauties, used here as a compliment to exceptional beauty.

Footnotes:

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