The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 58

[ … words ]

***

“Is what you possess truly worth the value of the Changgung-sang-dan?”

The Changje-shin-geom’s doubt had not yet disappeared.

I drew my sword.

“Please look at this first.”

I began to perform the exact same martial art the Shin-geom had displayed just a moment ago.

Because the movements were not yet ingrained in my body, there were minor flaws, and because the experience in practicing martial arts was like heaven and earth, it differed from the Shin-geom’s sword, which showed will even in simple sword paths. However, it was clearly the same sword art.

The Shin-geom’s eyes widened at the sight of me following along perfectly without a single error.

“You…… have you remembered that in the meantime?”

“It is my Cheon-hyeong (Heavenly Punishment).”

“That is?”

The Shin-geom tilted his head as if he did not understand.

It was the reaction most people had when they heard I possessed the ability to remember everything.

“The scene of the puppy I raised in my childhood being bitten and dragged away by a fox is as vivid as if it just happened.”

One cannot know what one has not experienced.

“……Hmm, that could be the case.”

That was not what was important right now.

“Please look at this this time. It is the breaking technique I thought of.”

I began to unfold the Pashae-sik (breaking technique) of the Changgung-muae-geom-beop.

A sword art entirely meant to break the Changgung-muae-geom-beop.

It was the method by which the demonic practitioners of the Demonic Cult were able to helplessly slaughter the righteous faction.

I stabbed at the weaknesses more decisively than the Pashae-sik the Shin-geom had displayed.

At the same time, I deliberately stabbed at completely unrelated places that were not the Pashae-sik.

If I showed the complete Pashae-sik that even the Shin-geom could not create, it could make him feel a sense of crisis.

Even so, the Pashae-sik created by Je-gal Cheon-gi far exceeded the Pashae-sik created by the Shin-geom.

“I can see why San was flustered.”

“However, there is a major problem common to this Pashae-sik and the Pashae-sik you created, Senior.”

“What do you think that is?”

“Firstly, it is too difficult for those who have learned the Changgung-muae-geom-beop.”

A sword is something one learns with the body.

At first, one learns with the head, and afterward, one learns with the body.

The postures learned by the body do not change easily.

“Secondly, other than breaking the Changgung-muae-geom-beop, it is actually worse than a third-rate sword art in general combat.”

“……I agree.”

“Thirdly, the direction of this sword is too distinct.”

“What is the problem with having a distinct direction?”

“What happens if the Namgung Clan’s martial art denies the very foundation of the Namgung Clan?”

“……It was an excellent choice for this old man to try to see you.”

Suppressing a traditional sword art that has continued for hundreds of years while simultaneously inheriting the esoteric arts of that sword art.

A complex problem that one could not even imagine unless one were a genius like Je-gal Cheon-gi.

Je-gal Cheon-gi divided the Pagyeok (breaking style) into three parts.

Hacho (Lower Technique), Jungcho (Middle Technique), Sangcho (Upper Technique).

Each name did not depend on the strength of the technique, but on how many weaknesses it exposed.

An In-cho (luring technique) that exposes the body to the opponent is Hacho.

A technique that connects the middle of one technique to another is Jungcho.

A technique that protects oneself is Sangcho.

Because of this classification, the final technique of a martial art sometimes became Hacho, and the first technique that shows courtesy sometimes became Sangcho.

“This is the price I intend to propose.”

I unfolded the opening stance.

Starting with the first technique, Changgung-yagyeon, I began to unfold the Pagyeok (breaking style) and the Sangseung-sik (ascending technique) of the Changgung-muae-geom-beop.

Out of a total of thirty-six techniques, I showed the perfect Sangseung-sik for exactly half the number, and mixed in techniques I had created at will for the rest.

At the Shin-geom’s level, he would be able to separate the jade from the stones within this, and through those jade stones, he would be able to recreate the perfect Sangseung-sik.

After unfolding all thirty-six techniques, sweat flowed down from my forehead.

“Hoo…….”

The Shin-geom remained in a blank state for a while, as if reassembling the techniques he had just seen in his head.

And after realizing that he had let his mind wander for a moment, he shook his head and said.

“How could you have thought of this?”

Here, I began a plausible lie.

“There are two dragons in Anhui Province, where the Tae-eul-mun is located. For the Tae-eul-mun to ascend to heaven, it must confront those dragons. To do that, the martial arts of this sect were too weak.”

“Are you utilizing the memories that cannot be forgotten in your head?”

“Finding weaknesses was easier for me than making futile efforts to forget memories.”

“Even so…….”

The Shin-geom, who was speaking, shook his head.

“It is an amazing thing. Although the killing intent is too strong to think it is a sword that can overcome and dominate the weaknesses of the Changgung-muae-geom-beop.”

The high evaluation belonged to Je-gal Cheon-gi.

His wish was for the Murim Alliance to stand tall in the Jianghu once again and set the spirit of the Jianghu straight.

However, not all sects viewed the breaking of their own sect’s martial arts favorably.

It was often the case that one was falsely accused of handing over the weaknesses of the righteous faction’s martial arts to the Demonic Cult.

And now, Je-gal Cheon-gi’s wish had been conveyed through me to the Namgung Clan’s Gaju, Namgung Tae-ha.

“Was it utilizing that which you did against San?”

“Yes.”

“Then, for what reason did you force yourself to take the sword?”

“I have never seen the Emperor’s Sword Art, and even if I had, it is so complex that I could not break it, so I had no choice but to push myself.”

“……Ah, you are right. But why did you only show eighteen of them?”

The Changje-shin-geom was accurately aware of the remaining half that I had left out.

“With my lacking brain and ability, it was burdensome enough to complete even half.”

The Shin-geom chuckled.

“That is not it, you must have thought about the danger when you showcased all the techniques.”

“…….”

As expected, it was impossible to deceive the Shin-geom’s eyes.

“……It is a sufficient price. No, it is more than enough. I would not find it a waste even if you handed over the entire Changgung-sang-dan, not just the branch.”

The Changje-shin-geom nodded.

His face was full of comfort, as if he had found the solution to the problem that had been plaguing him for a long time.

“I will hold an Elder’s meeting. I will announce the agenda you spoke of, but the final persuasion is yours to do.”

“That alone is sufficient.”

“In addition, I will give you one Dae-yeon-shin-dan and two Dae-yeon-shin-dan to the Tae-eul-mun. I would like to give more, but that is all that is left in the Namgung Clan.”

I bowed my body as much as possible and clasped my hands in a salute.

“I will never forget this grace for a long, long time.”

“You should. You, who are pulling out the roots of the Namgung Clan’s pillars.”

The Shin-geom, who was smiling contentedly, put on a serious expression for a moment.

“However, I have a question. Why do you show an incomplete appearance when doing martial arts?”

Even though it was the maximum I could unfold as someone who did not know how to operate internal energy, it seemed that to the Shin-geom’s eyes, even that looked intentional.

“One can learn the techniques with the eyes, but one cannot learn the Gugyeol (oral formulas) with the eyes, can one?”

“What is that supposed to mean? Did you not say you could remember everything you saw once?”

“How can the body immediately manifest what is remembered by the head?”

The Shin-geom tilted his head.

“I do not know what kind of fortuitous encounter you met, but had you not already reached the realm of Oryong-bong-seong (Five Dragon Peak Mastery) and achieved the harmony of essence, energy, and spirit?”

Previously, I had once forcibly opened my upper dantian to grasp the route inside the Muryang-bulgoe-myeolhon-jin, and then even opened my middle dantian. It was not a good situation, but if it was a fortuitous encounter, it was a fortuitous encounter. Thanks to that, I was able to rise to the realm of Oryong-bong-seong.

Was it because even though I had avoided the Gyeok-gi, the Shin-geom had been grasping my realm just from that?

“……That is correct.”

“Achieving the harmony of essence, energy, and spirit means that the body moves according to the will of the thought. That you memorized it with your head means that your body also remembers it.”

“……!”

In an instant, a thunderbolt struck my head, and my body shivered.

I had risen to the realm of Oryong-bong-seong through a fortuitous encounter, but I had never thought about what the harmony of essence, energy, and spirit meant.

The Shin-geom noticed that and clicked his tongue.

“I have seen such a foolish fellow. That the harmony of essence, energy, and spirit has already been achieved means that your internal energy, body, and thoughts have become one. Think about it carefully. If vivid memories remain in your head, your body also remembers them vividly.”

“…….”

“Did you not know?”

“……I have never thought about it.”

“Hehe, hmm…… I am not ignoring your sect, but surely there has been no one in your sect who has reached a realm like yours, right?”

“……Yes.”

Because the Tae-eul-jin-gyeong and the miraculous medicine were the first ones I had obtained from them.

“That must have been the problem.”

“…….”

“Do not worry. Now that you are here, are you not? In the generation below you, there will surely be someone even more talented than you.”

“……Thank you for your teachings.”

“Sit down quickly. If you do not organize your realization at that moment, it will fly away.”

I immediately sat cross-legged and raised the Tae-eul-jin-gyeong.

Now, at this moment, I could not let go of a realization more precious than a thousand gold.

“Hehe, will this pay it back a little? Although it seems lacking……. How shall I pay it back…….”

While I was falling into a state of selflessness, the sound of the Shin-geom clicking his tongue lingered in my ears.

<><><>

Vivid memories emerge within the state of Mu-a-ji-gyeong (the realm of selflessness).

Gye-cheol-yeong of the Tae-eul-mun unfolds the Sam-yeong-geom, and Hong Sa-ryeon unfolds the Seom-roe-geom-beop.

Hwa-jeong-san of Mount Hua of the Murim Alliance unfolds the Mae-hwa-geom-beop, and Il-myeong of Shaolin unfolds the Na-han-sip-pal-jang.

Yeom-ma-gwi-an-dae slaughters with the Yeom-ma-gwi-geom-jin, and the Black Lion Gwak-gung annihilates Mount Tai with a single fist.

Soon after, my appearance begins to follow them.

It is not just following the movements like before.

My intent newly takes its place within their movements. And every time my intent moves, my internal energy moves in the most efficient direction.

Behind that, I appear, holding the Black Dragon Sword again.

I raise the Tae-eul-jin-gyeong and unfold the Man-geom (Ten Thousand Swords).

Within those ten thousand swords, others and I are all shattered and disappear forever.

As I slowly open my eyes amidst the shattering dust, I see Namgung San with his arms crossed and Namgung Seon-hwa looking at me with worried eyes.

“Are you awake?”

“……How long have I been like this?”

“You have been like this for a full day.”

I thought it was a fleeting moment, but had time already passed like this?

“Have you been waiting for me here the whole time?”

Namgung San shook his head.

“Grandfather said you would wake up around now, so he told me to bring you.”

As I nodded and got up from my seat, Namgung San stared at me intently for a long time.

“You…… Something happened to my grandfather.”

“What does that mean? Oppa?”

Namgung San answered Namgung Seon-hwa’s question.

“It means that the Jin Gongja I saw yesterday and the Jin Gongja I saw today are different people.”

“……Yes?”

Namgung Seon-hwa had an expression that she could not understand at all, and Namgung San was revealing his competitive spirit.

“If it weren’t for Grandfather’s order, I would have had a sparring match with you right away. Of course, this time, there shouldn’t be any restrictions on internal energy, right?”

At Namgung San’s words, as if he knew something, Namgung Seon-hwa looked back and forth between Namgung San and me with a shocked expression.

I was embarrassed and quickly changed the subject.

“You said the Shin-geom-nim was calling, right?”

“Let’s go.”

Namgung Seon-hwa, who had not been able to properly join the conversation continuously, eventually grabbed the hem of my clothes.

“Grandfather held an Elder’s meeting. He told me to bring Jin Gongja there. What on earth happened?”

“Ah, the Shin-geom-nim said he would give me a gift as a token of gratitude, so he asked me to say what I wanted.”

“What did you ask for?”

“I asked for the Changgung-sang-dan.”

“……Yes?”

“!!”

Not only Namgung Seon-hwa, but even Namgung San turned his head sharply and looked at me as if I were a crazy person.

<><><>

Cold air was flowing in the inner chamber.

The elders sitting in lines on both sides did not have a pleasant gaze toward me, who had entered with the Namgung siblings.

It seemed the Shin-geom had already brought up the story of the Changgung-sang-dan.

I sat on the side of the Changje-shin-geom, across from Namgung Song-ju, the actual owner of the Changgung-sang-dan, and the Namgung siblings stuck to the wall behind me, watching with nervous hearts.

“…….”

Contrary to the elders expressing overt hostility toward me, Namgung Song-ju was calmly drinking tea.

“I just heard unimaginable words from the Gaju-nim. After hearing that story, the elders here were also quite indignant.”

Namgung Song-ju, who had put down the tea, had a calm expression.

“It is hard to believe easily…… but the Gaju-nim said it was his own thought.”

The Changje-shin-geom had told me that it was his choice out of consideration for me.

“If so, I cannot help but ask what you think. The Gaju said he would give you the Changgung-sang-dan of Hefei. What do you think?”

As soon as Namgung Song-ju’s words ended, the elders emitted their energy.

Among them, there were those who secretly emitted killing intent to strangle my neck.

I raised the Tae-eul-jin-gyeong to protect my mind and body and said.

“Since I did not do it hoping for compensation, I think it is undeserved.”

Namgung Song-ju chuckled.

“That would be so…….”

“……But, since it is something given by the Great Senior, I intend to gratefully receive it.”

“!”

Namgung Song-ju’s brow furrowed heavily.

Excessive sighs flowed out among the elders as well.

‘Hoo…… look at that ignorant fellow.’

‘He is like a young colt running wild without knowing his place.’

‘A mere snake is trying to eat an ox.’ etc.

Most were words that could not be said in front of a guest.

They were in such a frenzy.

“Seeing that you are not surprised even though I mentioned the Changgung-sang-dan, this was not just the Gaju-nim’s will, was it? Is that not so?”

“Is that important?”

“I thought I had warned you in advance. It seems that was not accepted well.”

Blue killing light erupted from Namgung Song-ju’s eyes.

“The Changgung-sang-dan is practically the pillar of the Namgung Clan. Especially Hefei in Anhui is the place that is the foundation of the Changgung-sang-dan. You dare ask for such a thing? How much do you take the Namgung Clan for a fool?”

The elders also began to openly reveal their killing intent now.

The Namgung siblings standing behind me, and even Namgung Gi-tae, who stood behind Namgung Song-ju, were flinching, unable to endure little by little.

The Gaju, Changje-shin-geom, could have been offended by Namgung Song-ju’s presumptuous words, but he was just watching with an intrigued face.

“If the Changgung-sang-dan is the pillar of the Namgung Clan, its foundation should be the Namgung Clan of Mount Huang, so why is the distant Hefei the foundation?”

“!!”

“The Changgung-sang-dan is already a huge merchant group that ranks within the top five in Gangnam. However, much of its territory is concentrated in Gangnam. Is operating in Hefei, Anhui, not just unnecessarily increasing the distance to the north?”

Namgung Song-ju shut his mouth tight.

It was a point that everyone knew theoretically, but could not bring out because of their own interests.

“Hefei in Anhui Province is a geopolitically important location, but from the perspective of the Changgung-sang-dan, is it not a meaningless place? Giving away one such branch is not that difficult for the Great Namgung Clan. Or, is the Changgung-sang-dan of Hefei in a more important position than the Namgung Clan of Mount Huang?”

As soon as my words ended, a shout erupted among the elders.

“You brat! Your words are excessive!”

“You are so ill-mannered because people have been saying you are pretty!”

“That is not something you, an outsider, need to worry about!”

Most of the figures in the Elder’s Hall were either from the clan’s warriors or blood relatives of the collateral branch.

They did not want the power of the direct lineage to become stronger, which would reduce their own influence.

“Hmph, you brought quite a decent logic.”

And at the center of that was Namgung Song-ju.

“Your words might be right to some extent. But even so, I cannot give you Hefei.”

“…….”

The elders nodded in unison.

“Even the Gaju’s heart to want to give you a gift cannot be ignored. Recently, your sect inquired about steel distribution. You discovered a mine by chance, did you not? The Changgung-sang-dan will be in charge of that distribution. Let’s substitute this for the Gaju-nim’s gift.”

When the elders nodded as if they could concede that much.

I said.

“I want the Hefei branch of the Changgung-sang-dan.”

“…….”

The tension that was about to loosen began to tighten again.

Namgung Gi-tae, perhaps unable to endure any longer, began to slowly show the whites of his eyes.

“You. Do you really want to see the end?”

“…….”

Namgung Song-ju, who was speaking to me, looked at the Changje-shin-geom. As if threatening him.

“Even if you take the Changgung-sang-dan, I have the confidence to erase your sect and get the Changgung-sang-dan back.”

The Changje-shin-geom did not show any signs of wavering even at that ominous gaze.

It was confidence that since he had already secured the Pashae-sik and Sangseung-sik, there was nothing to worry about.

However, the Changje-shin-geom was carefully observing how I would act.

“Do you want to go that far?”

The heat was overheating.

Namgung Song-ju was staring at me as if he had encountered a mortal enemy.

“……Please calm your excitement and think about it once. This is not such a bad story.”

“You….”

I sent a secret voice transmission (Jeoneum) to Namgung Song-ju, who was about to jump up.

-The reason you mentioned before that I do not look good to you…… it is because of Wang So-so of the Wang family, is it not?

Namgung Song-ju’s cold expression broke for a moment.

He was trying hard to regain his composure, but his eyes were shaking violently.

-I built a little connection with the Wang family head while saving Wang So-so. That person was still desperately looking for the culprit who kidnapped So-so. Saying that he would drag that opponent to hell even if he had to pour out all his strength. I knew the inside story, but I kept my mouth shut thinking that a huge blood feud might occur between the Wang family and the Namgung Clan.

Embarrassment began to appear on Namgung Song-ju’s face.

After a long while, Namgung Song-ju spoke through secret voice transmission.

-……What are you talking about?

-The warrior of the Milgung-dae belongs to the rank of experts, but eventually, he revealed the martial arts of the Namgung Clan unexpectedly. ……Originally, for things like kidnapping and assassination, one uses people who have received professional training.

-Do you have evidence?

-May I tell you the location of that corpse? It should not have fully rotted yet.

Seeing Namgung Song-ju and me talking with only our lips moving, the elders began to tilt their heads one by one.

-Moreover, after talking with Senior Changje-shin-geom, Changgung-sang-dan…… no. The collateral branch and the direct lineage are at odds with each other. In this case, if the Wang family head knows the inside story and his will aligns with the Changje-shin-geom-nim…… it seems like a good justification for the Shin-geom-nim…… indeed, among those who stood on the opposite side of the Shin-geom-nim until a moment ago, is there anyone who will survive?

I looked at Namgung Gi-tae while speaking.

At the same time, Namgung Song-ju also looked at Namgung Gi-tae following my gaze.

-That huge justification that was holding onto the Changje-shin-geom-nim has already been shattered by the Senior’s mistake. His wrath…… can you withstand it?

Namgung Song-ju looked at the Changje-shin-geom.

“…….”

The Shin-geom was watching Namgung Song-ju’s flustered expression with interest.

-What will you do? Will you withstand the wrath of Wang Geum-san, the family head, and the Changje-shin-geom? Will you pay the price with the Hefei branch of the Changgung-sang-dan?

-The secret is…….

-Even if the Hefei branch of the Changgung-sang-dan falls into my hands, if the Changgung-sang-dan disappears, is it not a loss for me as well?

-If you threaten me with this as a pretext again, I will bet everything I have to destroy you and your sect.

-Is it not that from now on, the Senior and I are in a relationship where we share profits together? I am not a person who threatens, even if I make requests to my colleagues.

-…….

Namgung Song-ju, who hesitated several times whether to speak or not, opened his mouth while looking at Namgung Tae-ha.

“Gaju-nim…… thinking about it, not only the Namgung Clan but also many of our peers in the Jianghu owed a debt to Jin Gongja and the Tae-eul-mun at the Maryeong Highlands. It is absurd for the Namgung Clan, which is called one of the pillars of the Jianghu, not to repay that debt. It seems it would be good to hand over the Hefei branch of the Changgung-sang-dan as the Gaju-nim wishes.”

“What is that……!”

“No! Dan-ju, what on earth are you talking about all of a sudden!”

At Namgung Song-ju’s absurd words, the elders stood up from their seats and flocked in an instant.

The Changje-shin-geom and the Namgung siblings had their mouths wide open at an event they could not believe even with their own eyes, and I calmly savored the Byeok-ra-chun tea and said to them.

“The fragrance of the Byeok-ra-chun is also excellent.”