WeTried Translations

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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈

Chapter 90: The Time of the Hunt (4)

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The next day, Yang Gunbaek came to the Changgung Merchant Group.

“This is truly a relief. I can rest a little easier now.”

Yang Gunbaek seemed quite pleased that we would be traveling with the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect.

“I gathered everything I could from the black market outlets in the nearby cities.”

The bundles Yang Gunbaek unpacked were filled with all sorts of items.

“Fortunately, I managed to acquire three Purple Restoration Pellets.”

Martial arts were methods of using the true qi accumulated within the body while pursuing the Way and advancing toward enlightenment.

Alchemy was much the same. Rather than accumulating true qi directly, one consumed crystallized pure qi to build true qi within the body and advance toward enlightenment.

The sect that had devoted itself to alchemy for generations and established a school of medicine through it was the Dao Fragrance Sect.

The Purple Restoration Pellet was among the Dao Fragrance Sect’s high-grade elixir pellets.

“Of course, they can’t compare in value to the inner core you gave me, Lord Sowoon...”

“That’s fine. I’m grateful enough that you procured items of this quality on such short notice. What about the thing I requested?”

“Ah, it’s here.”

Yang Gunbaek took four small oval objects, shaped like trays, from among the bundles.

“Armor of this form is rarely used, so I had them made directly. Their durability likely won’t be very high.”

“That’s fine. They’re only a temporary measure.”

Once the melee was over, they would have little use.

I fastened one of the bucklers to my left arm.

I had used such equipment during my time in the Sojeong Unit. Worn this way, it left my left hand free while still serving as a small shield.

Its only drawback was that martial artists did not look kindly upon it.

Yang Gunbaek knew that. After watching me with mixed feelings, Yang Gunbaek spoke.

“...I brought this just in case. If it offends you...”

The bundle Yang Gunbaek hesitantly held out contained a suit of golden armor shaped like an undershirt.

“It’s one of the items sold through the black market outlets. It was made to protect high-ranking officials from assassination. Each piece of copper was shaped thinly and joined together like clothing.”

“Golden-Scale Armor.”

“You know of it?”

“I know it well.”

I had used plenty of it during my past life in the Sojeong Unit.

Yang Gunbaek’s lips still moved hesitantly.

“Um... are you truly all right with this...?”

“This is excellent. How many did you obtain?”

“There were only three.”

“That’s perfect.”

“Are you really all right with it?”

“Isn’t being a little embarrassed better than losing one’s life? Thank you for thinking of us.”

“Oh, and this is a personal gift from me.”

“A gift?”

“Didn’t I give you a friendship fee before?”

Yang Gunbaek was referring to what had happened at Demon Spirit Plateau.

A small wooden box rested in Yang Gunbaek’s hand.

The moment I opened it, a stale, heavy smell rushed out.

The shape was familiar.

“It’s the inner core of a One-Horned Black Toad.”

“Someone else needed part of that inner core, so I couldn’t bring you an intact one. I hope you understand.”

“You brought this for me?”

“If it’s you, Lord Sowoon... you should be able to absorb it without issue, correct?”

I couldn’t stop myself from smiling at Yang Gunbaek’s consideration.

“With something this valuable, we can’t just be friends. We have to be close friends.”

Yang Gunbaek beamed, as if deeply satisfied by my answer.

#

“...”

“...”

Geumpyo and Eunho frowned.

Dongryong, on the other hand, strapped the tray-shaped buckler to his forearm and swung his hand around.

Then he began practicing small sword forms in the air by himself.

He was instinctively testing how to use the buckler to make better use of his sword art.

The instinct of the Heavenly Killing Star was searching, without Dongryong even realizing it, for the most effective way to grow stronger.

The issue of the sword formation breaking apart due to the advancement of his sword forms had already been resolved.

By joining the formation myself and showing him how to achieve harmony within it, Dongryong had improved by an entire level in that brief time.

It was far faster than I had expected. At this rate, no one his age would be able to stand against Dongryong.

The problem was the other two.

“Do we really have to wear them?”

“We have our dignity as martial artists.”

Geumpyo and Eunho grumbled.

Now that their teamwork was finally beginning to improve, they were worrying about looking stylish.

At times like this, showing them once was more effective than a hundred words.

I drew the Black Dragon Sword and swung it twice in a single motion.

Swish.

Rip.

At the same time, the fronts of Geumpyo and Eunho’s robes split open.

“You’ve both already died once. Ah, what a shame. If you’d been wearing this armor, you wouldn’t have died. What should I tell Geumpyo and Eunho’s parents?”

“...”

Dongryong followed along and made a crying face.

“Sniff, sniff. Brothers...”

“It’s truly heartbreaking. What will your parents say when they hear that you died because you refused to wear armor just to look impressive? It’s a matter that troubles me greatly.”

“You foolish idiot brothers!”

“...”

“We’ll wear it. It won’t show if we put it on underneath our clothes anyway.”

“...The gold makes it look expensive, so that’s nice.”

I held out the bucklers.

“...Ah, but that’s really a bit...”

“...I think this goes too far, First Senior Brother.”

“Ah, what will your parents say when they hear that one of your arms was cut off because you refused a shield...?”

“We’ll wear them. We will.”

“Ah, that’s reassuring!”

After putting on the armor and bucklers, the three could no longer raise their heads.

Among the martial artists of the Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect, they kept their heads lowered as if branded criminals. They especially tried to avoid catching Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran’s attention.

By the time we left Suzhou, they had hidden themselves among the Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect martial artists so no one would see them.

Seong Moran looked behind us and spoke.

“They’re irritating.”

“...You don’t understand how useful these shields are. A martial artist’s pride is less important than...”

“What? No, not that.”

Seong Moran pointed behind us.

“They don’t come close, but they don’t fall far behind either. They’re like a pack of wolves.”

“...”

She was talking about Song Baek’s group, who had been following us since we left through the northern gate.

“Should we just deal with them before continuing?”

“If we approach them, they’ll probably fall back again.”

If only Taeul Sect disciples had been present, it would have been a one-sided hunt. Now, though, we were accompanied by elite martial artists of the Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect.

Even martial artists at the same peak level differed in the quality of their martial arts and the depth of their understanding. If we fought now, the losses would clearly be severe.

“That’s why they’re waiting.”

“Then how long are they going to wait?”

“Until they charge first.”

I pointed to the eastern forest.

Martial artists dressed in similar uniforms kept appearing and disappearing between the trees.

They were another group targeting us, separate from Song Baek’s people.

“Or until the Mount Cang Sect martial artists arrive.”

“Will those people just watch us?”

Seong Moran looked toward those hiding in the forest. I shook my head.

“They’ll make the first move before then.”

From their perspective, it was currently only the Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect. If they dragged things out, they would have to face Wudang Sect, Mount Hua, and Mount Cang Sect as well.

My prediction proved correct.

“I really didn’t need to be right about this.”

While we were traveling north toward Henan Province, we began preparing to camp for the night on the first day.

As everyone set up pots and began cooking, the first attack began.

“Ambush!”

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Attackers rushed in from all directions.

Those on watch spotted the ambush quickly, and upon receiving the signal, the elites of the Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect calmly dealt with the enemies.

“Damn it...”

There were no casualties on our side because of the difference in skill.

Still, we had been attacked while preparing camp, so most of the food had either spilled or been ruined by dirt.

“Let’s prepare it again.”

The martial artists nodded, accepting that it couldn’t be helped, and began cooking again.

Just as steam began to rise from the pots, the martial artists on watch shouted.

“Enemies!”

“Damn it!”

“Damn it!”

The martial artists kicked off the ground and rushed out again. This time, they did their best not to affect the food, but once the melee ended, the food had spilled yet again.

“Sigh... They’re waiting specifically to attack us, aren’t they?”

Namgung Seonhwa let out a quiet sigh.

I nodded.

“They know they have no chance in a direct confrontation from the start.”

The attacks came from different groups, but their strategy was the same.

They would wear us down until we could no longer think clearly, then achieve their goal when we were at our weakest.

They were already putting the basics of a rotating battle strategy into practice without ever having learned it.

“We should stop by as many branch offices as we can and make our way to Gate III.”

“That’ll be easier.”

“Tell everyone not to cook any more food. Have them fill their stomachs with dried meat and rations for now.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

I sat beside Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, chewing dried meat.

Slurp.

Smack, smack.

Gulp.

From one side, we heard someone swallowing what sounded like porridge.

“...?”

The martial artists chewing dried meat all turned toward the same spot.

The three brothers, Geumpyo, Eunho, and Dongryong, had cooked porridge just for themselves and were enjoying a hearty meal after soaking dried meat in it.

“...”

When their eyes met those of the martial artists, they offered them porridge.

Still awkward around one another, the martial artists held up their dried meat and tried to ignore them.

“...”

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran looked at me with complicated expressions.

With nothing else to say, I scratched my cheek.

“They have rather strong appetites.”

#

The higher one’s score in the Martial Arts Academy regular examination, the more difficult it became.

It was called an examination, but it was closer to an ordeal. Scores were determined by how many Gate Tokens one possessed.

Still, possessing many Gate Tokens meant one was skilled enough to attract the attention of other examinees.

The Martial Arts Academy only measured the Gate Tokens held in each examinee’s hands.

It did not matter whether those tokens had been obtained by passing a gate or by taking them from another person.

That rule made the examination even more brutal.

For that reason, even disciples of the Nine Sects One Gang and Five Great Clans took the examination by cooperating with one another. Otherwise, it was not an examination one could complete in the first place.

Looking at it that way, the harshest examination fell upon those whose individual ability was greatest.

Even if an examinee earned many Gate Tokens with outstanding results, they would become the target of countless other examinees if they lacked the power to protect them.

“Looking at it that way, we’re no different from jumping into a firepit while holding a Thunderclap Bomb.”

Seong Moran had been surprised when she heard that Wudang Sect, Mount Hua, and Mount Cang Sect were targeting the Taeul Sect disciples. Yet when she learned that Jin Sowoon possessed more than ten Gate Tokens, she had nearly fainted.

‘What was the highest record in the regular examination’s history?’

In the previous class, Yong Soa, the swordsman said to appear only once in a thousand years, entered the Martial Arts Academy with the highest score.

At the time, he possessed five Gate I Tokens and two Gate II Tokens. Since there could only be one Gate III Token, the total was six.

That record had been achieved alongside Wudang Sect elite martial artists.

Yet Jin Sowoon currently possessed seventeen Gate Tokens. Even after excluding the six meant for the three brothers, Geumpyo, Eunho, and Dongryong, he could secure eleven for himself alone. It was impossible not to be stunned.

That made it understandable that every examinee in the martial world was targeting Jin Sowoon.

Of course, that did not mean she had considered leaving him.

He had already saved her life once at Demon Spirit Plateau. That was reason enough, but there was something that could not be explained by that alone.

For some reason, she wanted to remain with him...

“...”

She did not know what feelings were making her act this way, and could only feel sorry toward Namgung Seonhwa.

“...Ah, ahaha. It’s, it’s fine, Sister. Once we pass Gate III, it’s something we would naturally have faced anyway, right?”

When Seong Moran honestly spoke her mind, Namgung Seonhwa stammered awkwardly and flushed for some reason.

Seong Moran could only feel grateful.

A week had passed since they left Suzhou.

Even Namgung Seonhwa’s pale, beautiful face was beginning to show signs of fatigue.

Still, Namgung Seonhwa was faring better than most.

The martial artists of the Iron Sword Sect and Namgung Clan were in much worse condition.

Ambushes came at all hours.

They were particularly attacked while eating, so it had been far too long since they had enjoyed a proper meal.

More than anything, the greatest torment was the constant sense of danger, knowing they could be attacked anywhere at any time.

The martial artists could not sleep even when they were not on watch. Even when they needed to eat, the smell of blood filling the air and the severed body parts of enemies kept them from properly swallowing their food.

“But I’m really curious.”

“About what?”

“Why do the Taeul Sect disciples look perfectly fine?”

“...”

They were not receiving special treatment.

If anything, they suffered more because there were fewer of them.

They stood watch just as often and fought just as much.

“I asked Eunho. He said it was easier because there were more people with them.”

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran had become quite close to the three brothers and now spoke casually with them.

“Easier?”

“Yes. He said that when it was only the three of them, it felt like dying would have been better.”

“...”

Thinking about it, the Taeul Sect disciples really were different.

Whenever an attack came while they were cooking, the three brothers made protecting the food their highest priority.

At times, the brothers even took turns eating while maintaining their sword formation.

When Seong Moran first saw that strange sight, she stared blankly at them without even realizing an enemy sword was approaching her heart.

Whenever a battle dragged on past mealtime, they would always pull dried meat from their pockets and stuff it into their mouths, even while running.

They did not care about the blood flowing all around them or the severed fingers scattered across the ground.

It had become routine for the Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect martial artists to watch the Taeul Sect disciples’ obsession with meals with stunned expressions.

And what about sleep?

The enemies would increase the tension by releasing killing intent without attacking, or make loud noises in the middle of the night to prevent anyone from sleeping deeply.

Yet whenever they were not on watch, the three Taeul Sect brothers pressed one another’s sleep acupoints and fell asleep at the same time.

“...Isn’t that too dangerous?”

Jin Sowoon looked up from his dried meat at Seong Moran’s question.

“What is?”

“Pressing one another’s sleep acupoints.”

“They’ll wake up if there’s a loud noise.”

“That’s the problem. They’ll ignore quiet noises and keep sleeping...”

“They trust one another.”

“What?”

“This battle will continue. If we keep going without sleep, we’ll eventually be struck by an enemy sword. So they sleep by trusting the martial artists around them. Then at least they won’t be struck by an enemy sword because they lack sleep.”

Only then did Seong Moran understand where the three brothers’ strange behavior came from.

‘This person has always been far from ordinary, but...’

Without noticing the way Seong Moran was looking at him, Jin Sowoon calmly said,

“Miss Seong, would you press my sleep acupoint?”

The brothers’ behavior was probably heavily influenced by Jin Sowoon.

According to what they had heard from the three brothers, Jin Sowoon was revered almost like a god by his fellow disciples within the sect.

“...All right.”

When Seong Moran pressed Jin Sowoon’s sleep acupoint, he lowered his head as if dead.

After watching him for a moment, Seong Moran looked at Namgung Seonhwa.

“Seonhwa, will you press my sleep acupoint too?”

“...Yes, Sister.”

For the first time in nearly a week, Seong Moran fell into a deep sleep.

#

“Mount Cang Sect is blocking Zhenjiang.”

We stopped our march after passing Danyang, when Zhenjiang was half a day away.

An urgent message delivered by a Hao Sect courier hawk contained news that every route available to us had been blocked.

Along with Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, I entered an emergency meeting attended by representatives of the Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect martial artists.

“I thought we could finally rest once we reached Zhenjiang.”

Our original plan had been to take a boat from Zhenjiang, cross Hongze Lake, and reach Sihong in one go.

The Changgung Merchant Group had prepared a boat in advance at Zhenjiang, and at least aboard that ship, we would be able to rest comfortably.

“If we board a ship, there will surely be people who follow us after seeing it.”

“At least we’ll be able to eat in peace.”

Seong Moran shook her head as if she was sick of it all.

Those damned attackers sometimes kicked over only the cooking pots before fleeing.

After that happened for three days in a row, no one even felt like cooking anymore.

“For now, the Mount Cang Sect waiting in Zhenjiang is the greatest problem.”

Song Baek’s group had already begun closing the distance. They were only thirty zhang away.

If we were surrounded by enemies in front and behind, the result would not be good at all.

“At least Mount Hua and Wudang Sect are absent.”

According to the Hao Sect, Mount Cang Sect and Mount Hua were close enough that they had expected them to move together. Unexpectedly, Mount Hua and Wudang Sect had moved together, while Mount Cang Sect had separated from them and headed toward us.

That had thrown all our plans into disarray.

Mount Hua was apparently moving from Anhui Province toward Henan Province.

Their strategy was to catch us along the route to Gate III.

Under the original plan, there would have been no issue at least until we entered Henan Province.

“Either way, there’s no way around through either Anhui Province or Henan Province.”

If we turned toward Anhui Province now, we would meet Mount Hua and Wudang Sect. If we headed toward Henan Province, we would have to break through Mount Cang Sect.

Considering the continued attacks and pursuit by the other groups, using Zhenjiang was still the easiest and most comfortable route.

“The battle at Zhenjiang will be the most important.”

Namgung Seonhwa’s voice was low.

She expected a fiercer battle than any we had faced thus far to take place at Zhenjiang.

As Seong Moran had experienced, Namgung Seonhwa might also lose her martial artists.

In the worst case, even Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran’s own lives could be in danger.

“It’s fine! Don’t worry! We’ll win anyway! The Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect are together. What is there to fear?”

Seong Moran’s spirited voice only made her seem more afraid.

Namgung Seonhwa forced a smile and nodded.

“There is another way.”

The one who spoke was Gang Seopyo, the representative of the Namgung Clan martial artists. Gang Seopyo was among those who had entered Demon Spirit Plateau with Namgung Seonhwa.

“You should leave the martial artists behind.”

“...”

Namgung Seonhwa’s face stiffened.

If we used the ship at Zhenjiang, we could approach it by water and secretly board the ship.

But those waiting in Zhenjiang would surely be aware of that possibility.

There needed to be people acting as bait to keep them occupied.

Gang Seopyo was indirectly suggesting that they be left behind as bait.

“Our opponent is Mount Cang Sect. If everyone tries to go, no one may make it out together.”

“No, no.”

Namgung Seonhwa shook her head.

If one combined the pursuers who had followed us so far with the enemies waiting at Zhenjiang, those left behind at Jinkang Port might not survive the effort to hold them back.

“Young Lady, do you not know how much suffering comes from lacking power in this martial world? Right now, you must think only of entering the Martial Arts Academy.”

Until recently, she had been taking the regular examination without proper support because of the conflict with the branch family.

Before Namgung Seonhwa could continue, Gang Seopyo looked at me.

“Young Master, forgive me for asking, but may I entrust the Young Lady to you once again?”

“...”

“We will break through Zhenjiang somehow.”

As if the discussion had already been settled, Choe Mubin, the representative of the Iron Sword Sect martial artists, continued.

“Furthermore, we will be needed to prevent other ships from departing.”

“Unit Leader Choe!”

“Young Lady, for the Sect Leader’s sake as well, you must enter the academy.”

If they intended to prevent even ships from leaving, every martial artist of the Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect would truly have to stake their lives.

I shook my head.

“No.”

Gang Seopyo and Choe Mubin looked at me. Unlike Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, they had apparently expected me to accept the plan without question.

“But the immediate problem...”

“The immediate problem is one thing, but won’t the greatest problem come after Gate III? If you’re gone now, the two young ladies may truly be placed in danger.”

“...”

“...”

Unable to move either way, I looked at Namgung Seonhwa.

“Miss Seonhwa.”

“Yes?”

“I apologize for asking something like this in such a situation, but...”

“What? R-right now...? Wh-what is it?”

Excited confusion appeared on Namgung Seonhwa’s face, though she also looked full of expectation.

Seong Moran’s expression was even more alarming.

“...”

She looked as if she wanted to cover my mouth somehow, unable to believe what was happening.

I had no time to consider their feelings one by one, so I continued.

“How much are the horses we’re riding worth?”

“...What?”

“Huh?”

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran tilted their heads like twins once again.

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