The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 28

[ … words ]

***

“The third exam is a practical martial arts duel. The sixteen examinees selected through the previous two exams, please come forward.”

At Lee-ja-gon’s words, the children who eventually did not make it into the sixteen gathered on one side of the Great Training Ground.

Strangely, if there was a difference from the previous life, it was the point that feelings like regret or injustice did not remain on the children’s faces.

Just seeing Gye-cheol-yeong not acting exclusively for individual financial power seemed to have no regrets about the exam results.

Lee-ja-gon, who scanned the examinees who stepped forward, said.

“Since we will select the rank according to the duel, examinees, please do your best until the end.”

At that time, one of the children outside the training ground raised his hand high.

It was Gwak-sam-nam, the third son of the Gwak family whose father works in the kitchen of a tavern.

“Isn’t the exam originally to pick only one person to go to the Murim Academy? Why are you selecting according to rank?”

Even though his words were cut off, Lee-ja-gon continued his explanation calmly as if he didn’t care.

“Of course, only one person can enter the academy. However, a special prize is also prepared to commend the examinees who worked hard and devoted themselves to exam study, so please do your best.”

Light started to shine in the eyes of the children who made it into the sixteen.

In a situation where the Geum-pyo brothers and Sa-ryeon had already swept the upper ranks, even if they couldn’t take 1st place, they were trying to grab the opportunity for 2nd or 3rd place.

Moreover, the gifts prepared by the Murim-maeng.

It was clear that they were precious things that could not be easily obtained even in the Tae-eul Sect.

“Great Senior Brother, what is going on?”

Geum-pyo approached with a puzzled face.

“Why?”

“Why is Great Senior Brother’s rank 8th?”

I was in a situation where I adjusted the rank in the second exam after seeing Gye-cheol-yeong’s score in the first exam.

“Isn’t this all the result of not training hard and going around?”

Geum-pyo clicked his tongue and said,

“Don’t talk nonsense. You are the Senior Brother who wrote the book of past questions and even taught us the improved So-cheon-geom-beop, but the result is like this?”

“Geez, this guy. Will that tone be fixed only after you get hit in the buttocks.”

Since I had lived like a brother with the Geum-pyo brothers since I was young, there was no reserve.

Moreover, Geum-pyo, the eldest brother of the three brothers, is only one year older than me.

Perhaps because of that, Geum-pyo often tried to grasp my intentions.

“Be honest. Are you trying to yield to the junior brothers now?”

“Anyway, I will win in the third exam, so what would be the problem even if the scores are sluggish in the first and second exams.”

“…….”

The answer came from the side instead of Geum-pyo.

“Is that so?”

Geum-pyo, who turned his head, was startled, bowed his head, and left the seat while fidgeting.

“…….”

Before I knew it, the Enlightened Envoy Lee-ja-gon had approached my side.

Even if Geum-pyo is an adult-like person, standing in front of an Enlightened Envoy must have been quite uncomfortable.

I asked with a calm face.

“What are you talking about?”

“The fact that your score came out in this state.”

I shrugged my shoulders toward him.

“As you might have heard, it must be because I neglected my studies and often skipped training.”

“And such a guy picked out exam questions like a pinpoint?”

How does this guy know that?

As I was tilting my head in puzzlement, Lee-ja-gon said.

“I heard from the examinees who received upper scores.”

“Is it…… a problem?”

“Couldn’t it be a problem? Unless the exam was leaked.”

“Leaking the exam paper of the Murim-maeng’s Enlightened Envoy. That is a scary thing just to hear.”

Lee-ja-gon’s words are a story that does not hold up in the first place.

The management of exam papers is set so that even Man-tong-bu, the final head of the military department, cannot interfere easily.

In such a situation, the exam paper was leaked?

Not only would the exam be ruined, but everyone involved would be cut off.

So, Lee-ja-gon was not suspecting a leak of questions right now.

He looks at me with eyes that are more serious than ever.

“I want to hear your story.”

“Isn’t the exam starting soon.”

On the Great Training Ground, Sa-ryeon, who is 1st in total score, and Gong-ji-hyang, who is 9th, stood.

And after a while, the Enlightened Warrior refereeing announced the start of the match.

“……Coincidentally, you are 8th place.”

I let out a small sigh.

Since I couldn’t say I saw the exam paper in a previous life, words to naturally brush it off flowed out.

“Anyway, the exam is close to a formality, isn’t it? In each sect, the people who will go to the Murim Academy are mostly already internally decided. In our case…… it is a bit special, though.”

I glanced at Gye-cheol-yeong.

His eyes looking at the arena were bloodshot like someone who hadn’t slept a wink, and his chest was heaving as if excited.

Lee-ja-gon looks at Gye-cheol-yeong following my gaze.

“I know the circumstances of your sect. It is not such a special story. What I am curious about is separate.”

And again, he shifts his gaze to me.

“This exam is different from before. It means that you cannot extract expected question books by referring to the previous exam.”

Eyes shining sharply as if to penetrate everything.

Lee-ja-gon seemed not to like repeating himself.

I nodded honestly.

“I was just lucky.”

“You were lucky?”

“I tried teaching the junior brothers things that would be helpful later, using the exam as an excuse. Wouldn’t it be good as motivation, too?”

Lee-ja-gon’s brow wrinkles minutely.

“Then why did you set yourself to 8th place?”

“A person who can set such things……”

“I have already heard stories about you. You say you never forget what you have seen once?”

Lee-ja-gon is someone who becomes famous enough to use the nickname Gun-ja-cheol-geom (Gentleman Iron Sword) in the future.

He is famous for unfolding flawless duels with a thorough personality, and it seems that personality is manifested from here.

There seemed to be a limit to persuading him in a perfunctory way.

“It is to take the exam fairly.”

“This exam is unfair, you say?”

I shook my head.

“The exam is fair. But I just wanted to take the exam in the same position as the junior brothers.”

“And that is the result of lowering the rank on purpose?”

“That is right.”

Lee-ja-gon who is silent for a moment at my answer.

Before long, he asked me.

“Why did you go to such lengths to do that?”

“Isn’t there already someone who is taking the exam unfairly?”

My gaze turned to Gye-cheol-yeong again, and Lee-ja-gon’s gaze followed me.

Lee-ja-gon looked at him for a moment and then said,

“That senior still hasn’t realized that a shortcut sometimes becomes a dead end.”

“Are you not stopping him?”

“Stop what?”

Since it is impossible for a master at Lee-ja-gon’s level not to feel something strange.

It was clear that he was deliberately pretending not to know.

I asked more directly.

“Do you have to save face for your seniors?”

In the past, Lee-ja-gon told Jang Sa-gun about the strictness of the exam and completely dismissed his opinion in front of people.

Thanks to that, the disciples could also think that this exam was fair.

Lee-ja-gon let out a small laugh.

“An Enlightened Envoy is not influenced by any agency of the Murim-maeng. Let alone old affection that has passed.”

“I see.”

Lee-ja-gon seemed to have some intention, but what that was did not easily reveal itself.

As I took my eyes off Gye-cheol-yeong and watched Sa-ryeon’s duel quietly, I felt him staring at me intently.

“You seem to be suspecting something…… are you not appealing for injustice?”

“…….”

What is this? It seems he wants words of request to come out of my mouth.

……Why?

“Are you thinking of putting a debt on me?”

In my counter-question, interest dwells in Lee-ja-gon’s eyes.

“What if I say so?”

“I will refuse.”

“I haven’t talked about what the price of the debt will be yet.”

“No matter what it is.”

“Will that be okay?”

I haven’t even started the full-scale work of the Alliance, but I had no intention of owing a debt to anyone.

Moreover, Gye-cheol-yeong doing that stuff was also within the scope of prediction.

“It doesn’t matter.”

I gave him a cheeky grin.

“Anyway, because I plan to make it fair.”

“…….”

Before I knew it, Lee-ja-gon’s gaze had changed to eyes wondering what kind of strange living creature this all is.

And at that time.

“““Waaaaaaaah!”””

“Awesome!”

As Gong-ji-hyang’s sword flew away, the Enlightened Warriors declared Hong Sa-ryeon’s victory.

The disciples and Hall Leaders also did not spare applause for Sa-ryeon’s excellent swordsmanship.

The exam did not take long.

In the previous group, Sa-ryeon did not exceed thirty sequences in every duel with the disciples.

She did not unfold the Dae-jin-sin-gong or Seom-roe-geom-beop that she learned secretly at all, but there was no disciple who could handle Sa-ryeon, who practices all night in the Sect Leader’s private training ground every night, just with the study she learned at the Bu-saeng-dang.

Defeating Eun-ho, who had risen to the top 4, Sa-ryeon confirmed her advancement to the finals.

Up to here, it was not much different from the previous life.

On the other hand, in the rear group where Gye-cheol-yeong and I belonged, Gye-cheol-yeong showed overwhelming skill.

If Sa-ryeon did not exceed thirty sequences, Gye-cheol-yeong showed the feat of not exceeding ten sequences.

Since he could use martial arts freely in the third exam, Gye-cheol-yeong used the Sam-yeong-geom without hesitation, and his first opponent had to see his Cheong-gang-geom (Blue Steel Sword) being cut off by his sword.

And finally.

“The next matching opponent is Gye-cheol-yeong and Jin-so-un!”

At the call of the Enlightened Warrior, Gye-cheol-yeong and I stood facing each other on the training ground.

The person who wins here will face Sa-ryeon last.

“So I finally meet you here.”

Unlike usual, Gye-cheol-yeong was scattering enormous fighting spirit in all directions.

With the killing intent that was not trimmed and stretched out, just standing still made my skin tingle.

Moreover, every time he breathed, white steam was puffed out from his lips, creating an even greater sense of intimidation.

……What is that, it’s strange and scary.

“Are you tired? Your eyes are bloodshot.”

“Yes. That is right. I am tired, so I intend to finish it quickly and rest.”

When Gye-cheol-yeong unfolded his starting posture, the Enlightened Warrior who was standing in the middle stepped back.

Instead of taking a starting posture to match him, I approached Gye-cheol-yeong.

And I whispered quietly.

“That wouldn’t be it. Isn’t it because of the Pok-hyeol-dan that you want to finish quickly.”

“……!!!”

Gye-cheol-yeong’s two eyes widened.

Even in his previous life, Gye-cheol-yeong used the Pok-hyeol-dan out of concern for Hong Sa-ryeon, who was chasing him closely.

Thanks to that, Gye-cheol-yeong entered the Murim Academy and eventually became an executive of the Murim-maeng, and enjoyed wealth and glory throughout his life, succeeding in everything.

On the other hand, Hong Sa-ryeon served as a low-level warrior, doing all kinds of menial tasks, and then died as a meat shield in the Righteous-Demonic Great War.

I came to know this fact after the Righteous-Demonic Great War broke out and I read the materials of the Man-tong-bu.

It was long after it had passed to fix the mistake.

Gye-cheol-yeong’s two eyes shook mercilessly.

“How…….”

“I will correct what is wrong.”

Before Gye-cheol-yeong could say anything, I also took a starting posture and immediately stabbed into Gye-cheol-yeong’s neck.

Clang!

Gye-cheol-yeong’s power, parrying the sword, pushed in heavily.

Gye-cheol-yeong bit his lips.

“You won’t be able to do anything!”

“Is that really so?”

Chae-chae-chae-chae-chae-clang.

I raised my 5-star internal energy and unfolded the original So-cheon-geom-beop.

Gye-cheol-yeong unfolded the Sam-yeong-geom confidently, and the fast sword techniques I swung were easily cut off, blocked by his sword shadows.

“Try using that petty trick. If you stick out your hand, I will cut your hand, and if you stick out your foot, I will cut your foot. I am not indecisive like Nam-gung-san!”

Gye-cheol-yeong seemed to have a lot of complaints accumulated due to the incident with Nam-gung-san.

Gye-cheol-yeong’s sword, filled with the power of the Pok-hyeol-dan, was as heavy as a rock.

I changed the sword stance to the advanced So-cheon-geom-beop and started to respond again.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The speed of the So-cheon-geom-beop, aiming for vital points, became faster, and Gye-cheol-yeong could not keep up with that speed.

It was not easy to control the suddenly increased internal energy.

Gye-cheol-yeong’s clothes were cut one by one, and small wounds started to appear inside them.

“You son of a bitch!”

Gye-cheol-yeong, who saw blood, started to pull up all the energy in his whole body.

The pouring killing intent was as intense as that of famous masters.

“I will never forgive you.”

I don’t know what I did so wrong, but Gye-cheol-yeong’s sword, filled with all the resentment of the past, was no longer at a level that could be called a duel.

Nevertheless, the strange thing was that the Enlightened Envoy Lee-ja-gon was not stopping the duel.

‘What is it?’

I put aside my distraction for a moment and pulled up my internal energy to 7-star.

Gye-cheol-yeong was feeling frustrated at himself, thinking he could cut me down right away but couldn’t, and such a heart of his was revealed in his sword.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gye-cheol-yeong’s sword strike, clearly having pulled up all his internal energy.

Because of the condition that you cannot use a precious sword in the exam, I, who could not bring the Black Dragon Sword, had no choice but to watch the sword fragments of the Cheong-gang-geom flying in all directions.

Excited Gye-cheol-yeong started to shout.

“You ruined it! You ruined everything!”

The duel speed between me and Gye-cheol-yeong had already far exceeded the examinee level.

The disciples could not take their eyes off the duel between Gye-cheol-yeong and me.

Ku-kung. Bang!

As Gye-cheol-yeong’s sword struck down on the Great Training Ground, the marble broke into pieces and fragments flew in all directions.

“Th, this, shouldn’t this be stopped?”

“Cheol-yeong’s condition seems a bit strange?”

Not only the Hall Leaders but also the Enlightened Warriors felt something strange and looked at Lee-ja-gon, but Lee-ja-gon just shook his head without a word.

And I thought it was time, so I pulled up all 10-star internal energy.

Clang!

A state where my sword did not get pushed by Gye-cheol-yeong’s sword for the first time.

I whispered quietly to Gye-cheol-yeong, who was trying to push me away while puffing out steam right in front of my nose.

“Senior Brother, it is exactly the hundredth sequence now. I think it will be dangerous if it goes beyond this…… will you be okay?”

“!!!”

The stable range of the Pok-hyeol-dan is a hundred sequences.

Gye-cheol-yeong, who had already exerted one hundred and twenty sequences, had far exceeded the stable range.

I looked at him, who was trembling, and smiled gently.

“Just give up. A scar will remain, but there won’t be a big problem in living as a merchant.”

I do not like Gye-cheol-yeong.

Even so, the reason for giving him a chance.

That is because I hate him too much.

Because I want him to regret it for the rest of his life, thinking there was a chance to stop.

At the magnanimity I bestowed, Gye-cheol-yeong does not know what to do with his body.

“You…… You…… You are interfering with my great will to the end!”

As expected. It does not deviate from the prediction even by an inch.

Because I was sure that he would not put down his greed in the first place, I gave him a chance.

Even greater energy erupted from Gye-cheol-yeong’s body.

The Pok-hyeol-dan caused a second explosion.

“Heup!”

“That is……!”

“Is that Sword Qi?!”

People burst into astonishment at the red energy on Gye-cheol-yeong’s sword.

Thanks to using power above his original level, Gye-cheol-yeong could even emit Sword Qi.

But it was absolutely not something to be happy about.

Because now, a permanent scar remained on Gye-cheol-yeong’s Dan-jeon, and it was a situation where it could even go to Ju-hwa-ip-ma if he made a mistake.

While everyone was astonished.

“No!”

Someone shouted as if squeezing their voice from the audience, but there was no one who turned their gaze there.

“I will kill you! I will kill you! I will definitely kill you……!”

Gye-cheol-yeong rushed at me like a person who had lost his mind.

I easily avoided him.

“Senior Brother, do you know? How many sins you have committed?”

Gye-cheol-yeong rushed at me like a madman again, as if my words didn’t even enter his ears.

To this, I also did not retreat and ran toward Gye-cheol-yeong.

The sin of becoming an executive of the Murim-maeng through the Murim Academy in his previous life and using the disciples as slaves using his position as Great Senior Brother.

The sin of driving the disciples to the forefront of the Righteous-Demonic Great War for his own merit.

The sin of not caring even though the Tae-eul Sect was in an emergency situation.

“I won’t be able to clear all those sins, but I will clear some of them, even if it is now!”

“Die!” Die! Die! Die!”

Gye-cheol-yeong shouted ‘die’ repeatedly and swung his sword wildly, and I avoided those sword strikes and dug into his bosom.

And unfolded Yeon-hwa (Lotus Flower), the hand technique of the Yi-hwa-jeop-mok (Grafting Flowers) of the Yu-un-mun, and spun Gye-cheol-yeong three times.

Puck. Kung.

Gye-cheol-yeong jumped up from his seat like a person who doesn’t feel pain and rushed at me again.

Chae-chae-chae-clang.

It is incomplete, but Sword Qi is Sword Qi.

It was not something that could be blocked with an ordinary Cheong-gang-geom.

As proof of that, cracks started to appear on my Cheong-gang-geom bit by bit.

“It serves you right! Jin-so-un!”

Gye-cheol-yeong shouted in high spirits as if his victory was already certain.

‘It might be so.’

Sword Qi, which can only be unfolded when entering the ranks of the first-rate, was an object of longing not inferior to any divine sword for children of this age.

“I will kill you! And go to the Murim Academy! And succeed!”

Greasy lips and bloodshot eyes.

Gye-cheol-yeong was already convinced of victory.

I received his sword and said.

“If you kill me, it is a disqualification. Senior Brother.”

“Shut up!”

This is for real.

As the size of the red energy doubled, Gye-cheol-yeong unfolded the Sam-yeong-geom with all his might.

Three solemn swords aimed for vital points and attacked without being able to move.

Although he used the Pok-hyeol-dan, it is definitely an excellent move.

‘However…….’

In my previous life, my enemies were guys who emitted Sword Gang like toys, let alone Sword Qi.

“Do you think you can kill me with just this achievement!”

One step.

With the footsteps stepping into the sword stance of the Sam-yeong-geom, the Sword Qi of the Sam-yeong-geom narrowly brushes past the vital point.

Two steps.

Following the footsteps taken once again, the red Sword Qi brushes past the earlobe.

Three steps.

Finally, I stab the So-cheon-geom-beop toward the Sam-yeong-geom being swung.

Swish.

Clang!

With a sharp metallic sound that seemed to pierce the eardrum, half of the Cheong-gang-geom I was holding flew away.

At that sight, Gye-cheol-yeong opened his two eyes wide and laughed.

“I won, Jin-so…….”

But that was only for a moment, I took the last step, piercing through his arm that had spread outward with the sword due to me parrying it.

“Please live while atoning for the rest of your life. Senior Brother.”

I swung the sword, which had only half left, twice.

Shhh-.

Shhh-.

Once from the left shoulder to the right waist, once from the right shoulder to the left waist.

Two sword wounds passed Gye-cheol-yeong’s body.

Pukak!

“Kuaaaah!”

As if flesh was bursting, blood spurted out from Gye-cheol-yeong’s body.

“Cheol-yeong……!”

Gye-yeon-seok, who was in the audience, ran like lightning and hugged Gye-cheol-yeong.

“Wake up! Cheol-yeong!”

At the sight of his son, who had his eyes rolled back while covered in red blood all over his body, Gye-yeon-seok shouted.

“What are you all doing! That guy! Jin-so-un used a killing strike on our Cheol-yeong!”

At Gye-yeon-seok’s shout, Lee-ja-gon came up onto the training ground.

“The match is over. The winner of this duel is Jin-so-un.”

At Lee-ja-gon’s declaration, Gye-yeon-seok, who entrusted Gye-cheol-yeong to the doctor who came with him, foamed at the mouth.

“What are you saying! That guy used a killing strike! Do you mean your two eyes have become stone-eyes!”

The eyes of Lee-ja-gon, who had spoken politely even to the young disciples of the Tae-eul Sect, became sharp.

“In the first place, it was Gye-cheol-yeong who raised Sword Qi in a duel and used a killing strike first!”

“But…… but……!”

“Go back. No matter how much you are a parent, I will not overlook actions beyond this.”

When Lee-ja-gon turned his head and looked at me as if it were strange.

“Keuheum…… Kill…… Kill……!”

Gye-cheol-yeong, who was held in the doctor’s arms, jumped up.

The whole eyes were bloodshot and white steam was puffed out from his mouth.

Proof that the Pok-hyeol-dan ran wild.

‘You will have to lie on the bed for the rest of your life.’

The moment I was about to turn around like that.

“It is because of you…… You! You ruined all my grand plans……!”

Gye-cheol-yeong pushed aside the doctor and his father, kicked the ground, and flew up.

“……Even if I end up here, I will definitely kill you!”

The moment Gye-cheol-yeong’s voice rang out loudly and the disciples trembled their shoulders.

I also straightened my posture to respond.

However,

Whoosh.

Lee-ja-gon, who was standing between me and Gye-cheol-yeong, flew up quickly, got on top of Gye-cheol-yeong’s head, and struck down with his hand.

Puck. Bang!

Blood flowed down from the seven orifices of Gye-cheol-yeong, who was driven into the training ground in just one move.

“Cheol-yeong! Cheol-yeong!”

Gye-yeon-seok approached his son and checked his condition.

And then he raved at Lee-ja-gon.

“What kind of thing is this! For an Enlightened Envoy to make an examinee like this……!”

Toward Gye-yeon-seok, who was screaming with a bloodshot face, Lee-ja-gon warned in a low voice.

“Do you know about the punishment received when an examinee uses a forbidden medicine?”

“……!!!”

“You should know. I plan to visit the Gye-ryong Merchant Group as soon as the special admission exam is over.”

“…….”

Gye-yeon-seok, who gritted his teeth, turned around and looked around.

“Jang Sa-gun!!! Jang Sa-gun!!! You son of a bitch……!”

He was looking for the cause that led things [N O V E L I G H T] to this point. But Jang Sa-gun and the two assistants, who had been stuck to Gye-yeon-seok’s side and whispering until a little while ago, had disappeared without a trace.

“Merchant Group Leader! First, we must move the young master.”

“Keuheuk! What are you doing! Hurry and move Cheol-yeong!”

As Gye-yeon-seok foamed at the mouth and spoke, the warriors and doctors carrying Gye-cheol-yeong quickly left the Tae-eul Sect.

The commotion subsided, and I looked at Lee-ja-gon standing next to me.

“As expected, you knew.”

“You were also sure.”

I asked with a feeling of absurdity.

“Are you admitting that you overlooked the cheating in the exam right now?”

Lee-ja-gon shook his head.

“No way. I didn’t know in the first place.”

“…….”

And then, looking in the direction where Jang Sa-gun disappeared, he muttered to himself.

“I didn’t like how he acted in every exam just because he was a senior.”

“…….”

I felt my spine go cold for a moment.

Are you saying you used me to get rid of that senior?

A look of relief appeared on Lee-ja-gon’s face.

“Anyway, thank you for not reporting me. Now I won’t have to receive annoying requests.”

“……I almost died.”

“Hmm…… Is that so?”

“What would you have done if I died…… or at least got seriously injured?”

Lee-ja-gon, who stroked his beard for a moment, answered.

“Then there is nothing to be done, is there? Gang-ho is originally such a place.”

“…….”

No matter how much I know it, it doesn’t feel very good to hear this ruthlessness directly.

No, should I say it’s very shitty?

“Moreover, I didn’t think you would lose……. Anyway, thank you for your hard work.”

I said to Lee-ja-gon, who was about to turn around after tapping my shoulder.

“You owe me a debt.”

“Huh?”

I explained clearly.

“Since I cleared away your senior instead, you owe me a debt.”

Lee-ja-gon, who was tilting his head, burst into laughter.

And then, he approached me and whispered.

“Yes. When you reach a level where you can collect the debt from me, then I will repay today’s debt.”

Lee-ja-gon twitched his lips as if he was forcibly holding back laughter.

I did not avoid his face and smiled back at him.

“It is a promise.”

Since I grew up with nothing, I am a person who cannot live with a loss.