The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 69

[ … words ]

***

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Yeo Mi-mi’s face turned cold for the first time.

“I said I wanted the qualifications of a ‘guest.’ Not just a relationship of exchanging information.”

“Do you not trust my words right now?”

“The word ‘guest’ was never mentioned in the mouth of the person you call the Mun-ju.”

“……I thought I had conveyed it sufficiently.”

I stood up from my seat.

“I understand what you mean. It is regrettable, but it cannot be helped.”

“My story hasn’t ended yet!”

The warriors spread out wide, as if they were about to draw their swords at any moment.

At that moment.

The old woman I had been looking at slowly raised her head.

“That is enough. Stop it.”

“…….”

Yeo Mi-mi shut her mouth tight and stepped back to one side.

“You did enough. It is just that this child was no ordinary person.”

Soft wrinkles filled the face where a few strands of white hair had come down slightly.

The appearance of looking up and down with a slightly stooped posture looked like a warm-hearted grandmother looking at a son-in-law brought by her granddaughter.

However, this old woman, who did not possess a single handful of internal energy, was Yeo Mi-mi, the current Mun-ju of the Ha-o-mun.

“I am sorry. Mun-ju-nim.”

The woman who had been playing the role of Yeo Mi-mi blushed and bowed her head.

“Still, I am curious. How did you know?”

I had never seen her in my previous life.

However, I knew the information about her.

“When I entered the room, the No-sa (old masters) looked at me once each. But the Mun-ju-nim did not look at me.”

“!”

The servants, who had been motionless, all flinched.

I shook the data I had received.

“And if I had truly become a guest, I would not have received such useless information.”

“Useless, you say. Where is such a rude word?”

The woman who had been playing the role of Yeo Mi-mi bit her lip.

I alternated looking between her and Yeo Mi-mi and asked how I should address her, and Yeo Mi-mi noticed quickly and told me her name.

“She is Hae-ryeong, my first disciple.”

“Yes, the information given by Hae-ryeong seonbae only lists the major figures. If it were information truly helpful to me, wouldn’t there be content about which mountain bandit camps I should target and who is targeting those mountain bandit camps, rather than about the people?”

“…….”

Hae-ryeong’s face flushed red. Perhaps this information was something Hae-ryeong herself had prepared personally.

The reason Yeo Mi-mi became the Mun-ju of the Ha-o-mun, even though she had not learned a single bit of martial arts, was not just because her popularity was excellent.

It was possible because she possessed abilities such as speed and accuracy that could not be compared with other information organizations, and excellent prediction through internal analysis.

“And if this were the true potential of the Ha-o-mun, I would not even have undergone the qualification verification for a ‘guest’.”

“…….”

“…….”

At my one word, hostility emanated from everyone in the room.

To the Ha-o-mun members, the Ha-o-mun is not just the level of the sect they belong to. They are their friends, family, and people who are like blood relatives.

This tight-knit bond was the potential that had allowed them to possess information power that rivaled the Beggar Sect, the only one in the world.

“If you know so much about us, you must also know the reason why we perform high verification for the qualifications of a ‘guest’, right?”

Historically, the guests of the Ha-o-mun were only the absolute masters of the Jianghu. And throughout the long history of the Ha-o-mun, that number had not exceeded ten fingers.

It was because most of them were people who did not create their own forces and lived leisurely in deep mountains and valleys.

This is related to the identity of the Ha-o-mun.

Because there should not be any cases where the interests of the Ha-o-mun and the interests of the guest conflict.

Because the Ha-o-mun always had the protection of its members as its top goal.

“You have a connection to the Tae-eul-mun, and that Tae-eul-mun is now waiting for the right time to fly up. Is that alone not sufficient reason why you cannot become our guest?”

“One cannot cut off ties with the Jianghu while living with enemies in the Jianghu. If that were the case, you should not have sold the information of the Jianghu in the first place.”

“…….”

“I told you just a moment ago, the situation at the Maryeong Highlands was a tragedy brought about by the closed-off nature of the Ha-o-mun. If someone had to be held responsible for this, who would suffer greater damage, the Beggar Sect or the Ha-o-mun?”

In my previous life, the Ha-o-mun suffered damage close to annihilation.

If it weren’t for Yang Gun-baek’s ability, the Ha-o-mun would not have been able to stand up again.

“I like the spirit of the Ha-o-mun. An organization for protecting the powerless. If I were a waiter, it would have been incredibly reassuring. But the Ha-o-mun has already grown to the scale of the entire Jianghu, and if it continues in the existing way, a second Maryeong Highlands situation, a third Maryeong Highlands situation will happen again someday. It is time to come out of the well.”

Yeo Mi-mi looked at me intently with her wrinkled face.

“Do you have the solution to that?”

The Beggar Sect ultimately failed to predict the Second Coming of the Demonic Cult.

An information organization without competitors eventually falls into self-contradiction, and it came to focus on information processing based on subjective interests rather than objective fact analysis.

Perhaps if the Ha-o-mun had existed until the end, the information about the Second Coming of the Demonic Cult might have been solved in a different direction.

“As you just said, the Tae-eul-mun will fly up in the future. Let’s be together then.”

“……You are mobilizing all sorts of sweet talk for your own benefit. I almost agreed for a moment.”

This kind of suspicion from Yeo Mi-mi is not unpleasant. Because such a personality of hers, close to germaphobia, made the current Ha-o-mun.

“As expected, you are not being swayed.”

Yeo Mi-mi smiles at my brazenness.

“Hehe…… you are a shameless fellow. Even so, since I was assimilated by your eloquence, I cannot help but give you a chance.”

“Mun-ju-nim!”

Hae-ryeong’s face turned pale for the first time.

“The problem that child pointed out, isn’t it something we also thought about? Are you trying to ignore someone who can suggest a solution because of your pride?”

“…….”

“If you know about the first and second qualifications, you must also know what the third qualification is, right?”

“To be a person helpful to the Ha-o-mun.”

“Hehe…… do you know that? This is a criterion that has never been announced externally. The people who became guests did not even know when they finished their verification.”

“Is that so?”

I also thought it was understandable, as it was information I obtained among the confidential files of the Sim-hyeon-gak (Deep Wisdom Pavilion).

“But if you are not becoming a guest right away with your current self, wouldn’t it be meaningless to be with us?”

Yeo Mi-mi seemed to have already anticipated even how I would use the Ha-o-mun’s information.

“I will give you a chance. Although, of course, it will not be easy for you.”

“What is it?”

“I heard you have a friendship with the Wang Family Head.”

“…It is about that much.”

“We need one of the most precious things that Wang Geum-san of the Wang Family has. Can you give it to us?”

Hae-ryeong suddenly blocked Yeo Mi-mi.

“Mun-ju-nim…… it is fine.”

“Stay still.”

Hae-ryeong, who bows her head and steps back.

I could not know what the two were talking about.

“Can you give it to me?”

“Don’t I need to know what it is to tell the Head to give it?”

Yeo Mi-mi looked at Hae-ryeong once and then said to me,

“That is something I will tell you myself.”

I tilted my head at Yeo Mi-mi’s words. Yeo Mi-mi, the Ha-o-mun Mun-ju, had never revealed herself to the world even once.

How important could it be that the Ha-o-mun Mun-ju is showing her face personally?

<><><>

The point Jin So-un pointed out was a worry that Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong had always had in the past.

In particular, Hae-ryeong had thought about opening the Ha-o-mun more progressively than her, the Mun-ju.

However, after Hae-ryeong’s husband and her second disciple, Tae-gong, had his identity revealed and died, Hae-ryeong had changed more conservatively than Yeo Mi-mi herself.

But as Jin So-un said, the limit had now been reached.

Problems arise everywhere in the branches, and people working internally are screaming.

Even knowing such reality, perhaps because of Tae-gong’s memory, Hae-ryeong was not trying to change her thoughts until the end.

Because of that, Yeo Mi-mi was on one hand expecting something from Jin So-un.

That he could change Hae-ryeong’s thoughts.

That her poor daughter could cast off the shadow cast upon her.

With such thoughts, Yeo Mi-mi tried to set a time again, looking forward to meeting the Wang Family Head, but Jin So-un said let’s go meet the Wang Family Head straight away.

“I have no time.”

Jin So-un said that, but I did not think it would be possible.

Because from the beginning, Wang Geum-san was not a person who could be met easily like an old man at the local pharmacy.

However…….

“Hahahaha. I thought you would just go because you were busy, but in the end, you are seeing me before you go.”

At Wang Geum-san’s words, Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong, who was playing the role of Yeo Mi-mi, could not help but be surprised.

High-ranking officials and famous people of the Murim have to make an appointment weeks in advance to meet Wang Geum-san, and if it is serious, they sometimes make appointments months in advance.

Even then, there are countless cases where they cannot meet if Wang Geum-san gets busy on the day.

However, doesn’t it look like Wang Geum-san is the one who has been waiting for weeks to meet Jin So-un right now?

“I am worried if I have taken away the Head’s time by visiting suddenly.”

Wang Geum-san, who had piled up a lot of work, was pushing the work to one side and examining Jin So-un’s face here and there.

“What does a delay of a day or two matter for work like that? Yes. In the end, you are taking the Martial Arts Academy exam?”

“Yes. That is how it turned out. In relation to that, I came with these people to receive the Head’s help. They came from the Ha-o-mun.”

Jin So-un, who naturally introduces the Ha-o-mun.

Hae-ryeong stepped forward.

“Nice to meet you. I am Yeo Mi-mi, the Ha-o-mun Mun-ju.”

Because it was a seat to meet Wang Geum-san, she had intended to go out in her original appearance, but Hae-ryeong still did not back down.

Yeo Mi-mi, who could not be cruel to her poor daughter, eventually left it to Hae-ryeong’s will.

At Hae-ryeong’s po-gwon (fist-and-palm salute), Wang Geum-san just nodded his head.

“Nice to meet you. I am Wang.”

It was an excessively rude act to do to a Mun-ju of a sect.

It clearly looked different from the appearance of Wang Geum-san that Yeo Mi-mi knew.

“Does the Ha-o-mun need this exam?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…… I see. May I ask what information is needed?”

Strangely, it was Wang Geum-san, who was showing an appearance different from the Ha-o-mun’s information.

He was acting rudely to the Ha-o-mun Mun-ju, and he was using the language of a parent, not the language of a merchant, to Jin So-un.

“We need all the information on the exam that changes from moment to moment.”

“Indeed…… if it is that kind of information, there is no choice but to borrow the power of the Beggar Sect and the Ha-o-mun.”

As Wang Geum-san nodded his head, Hae-ryeong stepped forward.

“In our Ha-o-mun…….”

However, didn’t Wang Geum-san cut off Hae-ryeong’s words again?

“Or, how about the Wang Family helping you?”

“…….”

Hae-ryeong’s face crumpled heavily.

This was a crisis where the promise would end before they could even say what they wanted.

“How, you say?”

“I will mobilize the people connected to the Wang Family all over the country and give you the information you need. Because it will be work that needs information centering on you anyway. It is not that you need the scale of the entire Jianghu, right?”

“Hmm…….”

As he said, it is not a story that is greatly wrong.

Since the Wang Family Head, who hires people from the entire Jianghu anyway, would not be like the Ha-o-mun, but he would be able to open an information network not inferior to it.

Analytical power and speed would be a separate story, though.

While Yeo Mi-mi was watching that scene while her insides burned.

Fortunately, Jin So-un shook his head.

“That cannot be. You shouldn’t suffer damage because you are trying to help me, Head, should you?”

“Kehahaha! You fellow! Why are you worrying about such things! If you want, I can hand over my entire Wang Family.”

While Jin So-un and Wang Geum-san were having a friendly conversation, Hae-ryeong’s face flushed bright red.

She was from the Ha-o-mun, but when she spat out the name ‘Mun-ju’, there was no one in the Jianghu who ignored her.

She was experiencing insults for the first time.

“Truly, you are rude.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you take the Ha-o-mun so lightly?”

Wang Geum-san changed his expression.

A solemn and stiff expression.

Like Yeo Mi-mi, he did not possess a handful of internal energy, but he had a dignified appearance as if he would overlook the entire world.

His mouth opened coldly.

“I am the one who wants to ask. Because I am so easy on you, are you impersonating the Ha-o-mun Mun-ju?”

“!?!”

At Wang Geum-san’s words, the corners of Yeo Mi-mi’s eyes trembled violently.

As expected, such acting should not have been done carelessly.

There was a reason he had been cold only to the Ha-o-mun from the beginning.

“Although the Ha-o-mun Mun-ju’s identity is wrapped in fog, I heard that he has thirteen disciples. Since it was 15 years ago that he accepted his first disciple, if you are the Ha-o-mun Mun-ju, the Ha-o-mun would be an organization like children playing house, not an information organization.”

“…….”

Hae-ryeong’s face turned earthy.

In a situation where she was making a request that was not easy to begin with, she had even received sharp criticism, so she had ended up in an even more difficult situation.

“You should also quit, information is a matter where trust is the most important. Can you plot a great task with such untrustworthy people?”

In the end, Yeo Mi-mi had no choice but to step forward herself.

Yeo Mi-mi moved Hae-ryeong, who had slumped shoulders, to the back and politely clasped her hands in a salute.

“I will apologize. Since it was something my disciple did out of concern for this powerless master, please forgive us.”

The mental shock of Hae-ryeong, who lost Tae-gong, is too great.

On top of that, even the only son left between the two had fallen into a fatal illness, so Hae-ryeong was in a state where she could go crazy at any moment.

Yeo Mi-mi had let her do as she pleased, hoping there would be no more tragedy for such a poor child, but now it had acted as a wrong move instead.

“…….”

Wang Geum-san looked at her silently for a long time.

Then, he suddenly said in a calm voice.

“That is enough. Rise. It is also not a good sight to see a Mun-ju of a sect bowing her head like that.”

Indeed, Wang Geum-san recognized at once that she was the Mun-ju.

By what did he distinguish her? Like when it was Jin So-un, there were no servants either.

They said Wang Geum-san is the most difficult and wise among the four great merchants, but that word was indeed not just a rumor.

“I was already disappointed in you, but I will let it pass once by looking at So-un’s face.”

Yeo Mi-mi looked at Jin So-un and Wang Geum-san blankly.

Just what did Jin So-un have that Wang Geum-san trusted him so much? Is such trust possible just by saving his daughter?

“Tell me what you need.”

Without time to think about other things, Yeo Mi-mi composed herself.

Because the reason she came this far was to find a clue to stop Hae-ryeong’s tragedy.

Yeo Mi-mi looked at Hae-ryeong once and then said.

“I heard your daughter suffered from Tae-yang-ji-che (Sun Physique).”

“Ho ho. As expected of the Ha-o-mun.”

Because the Wang Family had kept it so secret regarding Wang So-so, even within the Wang Family, there were few people who knew Wang So-so’s constitution.

Information that the Ha-o-mun only recently found out about after tracing the origin of the items the Wang Family put out for sale.

“We need that treatment method.”

In Yeo Mi-mi’s words, Jin So-un and Wang Geum-san met eyes at the same time.

Wang Geum-san’s lips were seen twitching as he was holding back the laughter that was about to burst out.

‘What is this?’

She felt strange, but Yeo Mi-mi continued to speak.

“I mobilized the entire Ha-o-mun to look, but there was no way to find out at all. I would be grateful if you would tell me the person who treated that constitution and the treatment method.”

Hae-ryeong’s son also suffers from a disease similar to Wang So-so’s.

Gu-eum-jeol-maek (Nine Yin Severed Pulse) that no one in the world can treat.

If Hae-ryeong did not even have that child, Yeo Mi-mi could not predict what would truly happen to Hae-ryeong.

That was why she was pinning her last hope on that treatment method that treated Wang So-so.

If she could cast off the Tae-yang-ji-che constitution and change it to be healthy enough to learn martial arts at the Tae-eul-mun, then Gu-eum-jeol-maek would also be possible.

“……Hehe.”

“I entreat you to let me know.”

“I entreat you.”

Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong bowed their heads.

Wang Geum-san, while watching that sight, shook his head and then looked at Jin So-un.

Jin So-un nodded slightly without a word, and Wang Geum-san also nodded slightly.

“……I will let you know that person.”

“……Can you truly let us know?”

“That is so.”

Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong had expressions of not being able to believe it.

Because if it were such a precious treatment method, it was a law that it could be exchanged for even a billion gold. Is it truly possible to give it just by Jin So-un’s request?

“It is not really compensation, but…… I will give you one piece of advice.”

Although she thought he would want some huge compensation, at Wang Geum-san’s words that he would give advice, Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong nodded with willing hearts.

“In operating an organization, suspicion and verification are indeed very important parts. However, if you intend to build an organization that can truly do great work, trust is more important than anything else.”

Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong had expressions of not understanding what Wang Geum-san was talking about.

“If you tell us what you mean, we will listen even more carefully.”

“It meant that if you had shown trust to So-un from the beginning, you would not have had to come to this place.”

“……?”

“Because the one who had that treatment method was So-un.”

Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong’s heads turned with a whoosh.

By their common sense, they had not even imagined that Jin So-un would have that treatment method.

“Trust is something very difficult to build. If the first start is wrong, it is even more difficult. Therefore, showing trust first is more important than anything else. If the other party betrays you, you can just pay them back even bigger. I know that the Ha-o-mun is already a sect of that scale. So show trust first. If you cannot overcome this, you will be able to see how quickly that organization collapses.”

One of the four great merchants of the world was teaching his management guidelines.

Yeo Mi-mi bowed her head with gratitude.

“I will engrave the words I heard today deep in my heart.”

“That is enough. It was only because So-un said your strength was needed that I did it. Now stop and let’s have a comfortable conversation.”

Wang Geum-san relaxed his stiff expression and told the servant to prepare dinner.

“You, you aren’t thinking of just leaving after making me experience a situation like this, are you?”

Wang Geum-san relaxed his solemn expression from before and said to Jin So-un with a mischievous expression.

“What are you talking about? I introduced these people to you while I came to have dinner with you, Head.”

Wang Geum-san was marking Jin So-un as his son-in-law, so it seems that was true.

“Kehaha. If you want to become a merchant later, you should learn how to lie a little.”

“What are you saying? Haven’t you heard the story that I found the progress of the Tae-eul-geom-je? I will become a master of the Murim in a little while.”

“Instead, I also heard that you almost lost your internal energy while using Seon-cheon-ji-gi (Primordial Qi).”

“Ugh…….”

“Let’s go for now! Because I need to hear the story of your active performance at the Maryeong Highlands first. You said the end of that story was receiving the Changgung-sang-dan, right?”

Wang Geum-san, who was happy as if his dead son had returned alive, was leading Jin So-un out and looked back.

While Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong were wavering not knowing what to do, Wang Geum-san said.

“Are you not coming together? The skills of our Wang Family’s special chef are very outstanding.”