The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 74

[ … words ]

***

“…….”

“……Ahem.”

A strange silence hung over the room.

Not only us, who had entered with the child, but even Bang Du-chil’s gang, who had been chatting noisily, were all looking at Bang Du-chil with eyes of disdain at his lack of propriety.

“Well, so I told you to speak obediently…… didn’t I?”

The old man did not try to speak, and Bang Du-chil tried to listen, and this mess happened.

At the time I met him, he seemed to have a hearty side, but I didn’t think he had such an ignorant side.

“How others live and die, what does that have to do with you…… Ugh.”

The old man was passionately arguing, but he grabbed his waist and bowed his head.

“It is surely because of the Ssang-mak-chae, isn’t it?”

“…….”

The old man remained silent.

Just as Bang Du-chil was about to grab the old man by the collar while snorting loudly.

Baek So-ryeong approached the old man with a clear voice.

“Elder, I am called So-ryeong. It is a little embarrassing to say this suddenly, but Gaga recently subjugated two mountain bandit camps and secured two of the Martial Arts Academy’s ‘I’ (First) Gate passes. So, you don’t have to be too afraid to speak.”

At Baek So-ryeong’s words, the old man’s pupils shook violently. Then, he made eye contact with the child and let out a long sigh.

“As the villainy of the Ssang-mak-chae became too severe, the merchant union of Hangzhou tried to subjugate the Ssang-mak-chae using wanderers. But they failed every time, and each time, they killed the villagers they were using and hung them up in the village.”

Because the situation was more serious than expected, none of us could open our mouths.

“Being hungry and starving is not something I’ve experienced for a year or two. I can endure it sufficiently. However, I can no longer bear to see my child, or my friend’s child, return hanging on a pole, dead.”

Every time a subjugation party appeared, the ones who ultimately received the damage were the villagers. They, who no one protected, had to go through a heart-rotting situation where they had to side with the enemy for their own sake.

“These rotten bastards!”

Bang Du-chil shouted at the top of his lungs.

I asked calmly.

“What do they do after taking the villagers? It’s not like they are going to make farmers do Green Forest work.”

“Some are included as Green Forest bandits, but they said most of them go and do all sorts of chores.”

It is not an easy thing for nearly a thousand people to live scattered on a mountain. Even just calculating the amount of food consumed per day, it cannot be compared to the villages around Mount Tianmu.

As the fierce and rough Green Forest bandits would not cook and eat themselves, it was said that those who were dragged away were living a subhuman life while serving them.

“Can’t they run away?”

One of Bang Du-chil’s subordinates asked, tilting his head, and the old man shook his head.

“If there is anyone who does not listen or runs away, they turn the village he was dragged from into a mess as an example. What kind of resistance could they dare to make when their families are all here?”

In a word, it meant they were holding hostages on both sides.

“I heard that the Nok-lim-chil-sip-i-chae (Green Forest Seventy-Two Camps) were rougher than ordinary mountain bandit camps, but this exceeds the degree.”

Baek So-ryeong’s fine brow furrowed.

“……!”

Bang Du-chil stood up from his seat without a word.

“Kids, pack your weapons.”

At Bang Du-chil’s solemn voice, which had sunk low, those who had been with him also began to change their expressions seriously and pack their weapons.

“Did you not hear me tell you not to do anything!”

Bang Du-chil looked at the old man with indifferent eyes.

“Old man, is the child next to you the only family left?”

“…….”

“If the child grows up, it seems the Ssang-mak-chae will covet him, is that okay?”

The old man’s face crumpled.

“If you stay still, you will continue to be hit; that is the life of the weak. At the very least, you must plant the thought that if they touch you, it won’t be easy.”

“What are you trying to do!”

“I will settle the matter with the Ssang-mak-chae with my subordinates!”

“No!”

“Gaga! That is impossible!”

The old man and Baek So-ryeong shouted at the same time.

A natural reaction if one were a sensible human being.

“If you step forward carelessly, the family caught in the mountain bandit camp, and the villagers, will all die! Can you take responsibility for that?”

“Gaga! The number of Ssang-mak-chae is five hundred each, totaling a thousand. It is impossible with just us.”

Bang Du-chil’s impression crumpled heavily.

“So-ryeong, I am not defeated by anyone. And old man, do not worry. I will bring the families back safely. I will promise on my name.”

Bang Du-chil was already not listening to anyone’s words. Baek So-ryeong just shook her head, knowing Bang Du-chil’s personality, and the old man had an expression as if he were about to faint at any moment.

“I also oppose it.”

“Hmm?”

Bang Du-chil and his subordinates, who were about to leave the door, looked back.

“Who are you?”

“Are you talking about me?”

I approached the child and held out my hand, and the child looked blankly and then placed one nyang of silver on my hand.

“I am Jin So-un of the Tae-eul-mun, who received a request from this child.”

“Jin So-un of the Tae-eul-mun……? You?”

I thought that there were more people who recognized me lately.

Bang Du-chil’s subordinates also whispered among themselves as soon as they heard my name.

“If it’s Jin So-un…… Black Flame Dragon Jin So-un?”

“A rising star of the evil faction Murim?!”

“The most despicable Jam-ryong (Hidden Dragon)?”

The problem is that rumors cannot always spread the way I want them to.

I ignored the annoying stories and continued to speak.

“No matter how strong you are, it is impossible to subjugate the Ssang-mak-chae with a small number. Moreover, the opponent is in a situation where they are even holding hostages.”

Bang Du-chil, who heard my words, nodded for the first time.

“Are you taking the side of the Ssang-mak-chae, as expected of a rising star of the evil faction Murim?”

“…….”

No, I am not!

From the beginning, it was impossible to persuade a person who had perfect trust in his own martial prowess.

I looked at Baek So-ryeong and said,

“Could you help me for a moment?”

“Yes? Me?”

“If I cannot persuade that person, it seems he will go to the Ssang-mak-chae just like this. Then neither he, nor the hostages caught there, will be safe.”

“……Okay.”

After Baek So-ryeong nodded, I pulled her with one hand and drew her toward me.

“Oh my!”

The scent of violets, just like in my previous life, came from her body.

Then Bang Du-chil raised one eyebrow.

“……What are you doing?”

“Please try saving this lady.”

“What?”

I lifted the Black Dragon Sword, scabbard and all, and placed it against Baek So-ryeong’s neck.

“I said try saving her.”

“…….”

The moment Bang Du-chil took a step with fierce eyes.

I slashed Baek So-ryeong’s neck.

“Oh!”

“You died once.”

“…….”

Bang Du-chil’s eyes turned cold, and he raised his Gong-ryeok (Internal Energy).

Gooooo.

Wind began to swirl around his body.

Even though the Jil-pung-gong (Gale Art) that Bang Du-chil learned is a training of the Seon-do (Taoist) lineage, it was created by a method of forcibly gathering vast internal energy, so if done incorrectly, the possibility of falling into Ju-hwa-ip-ma (Qi Deviation) or becoming a Sil-eo-in (person who loses their speech) is high.

However, to Bang Du-chil, who could perfectly compensate for the disadvantages of Ju-hwa-ip-ma with an otherworldly constitution called Cheon-gang-mu-geuk-che, it became the best martial art that could gather and emit internal energy faster than any other martial art.

Ppa-eong!

The suction power of the Jil-pung-gwang-ma-gwon (Gale Mad Demon Fist) pulled my body and Baek So-ryeong’s body.

I stepped on the Tae-eul-pal-man-sin-bo to leave an afterimage, avoided the Jil-pung-gwang-ma-gwon, and slashed Baek So-ryeong’s neck again.

“You died twice.”

“……You bastard!!”

Bang Du-chil, who developed Jil-pung-gwon (Gale Fist) and Jil-pung-gak (Gale Kick) derived from Jil-pung-gong into his own unique martial art.

The Jil-pung-hoe-ryeon-gak (Gale Rotating Kick), which had not yet reached completion, exploded.

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!

Old furniture burst messily and Bang Du-chil’s feet exploded in all directions, but they only touched the afterimage. Nothing touched my body or Baek So-ryeong’s body.

“You died three times.”

“……Damn it!”

Bang Du-chil, who began to get excited slowly, gathered Jin-gi (True Qi) full in both hands.

It was to shoot the Jil-pung-sin-jang (Gale Divine Palm), which could use Bang Du-chil’s internal energy most destructively.

“……If you shoot that, this lady will also be hit. Do you want to kill her with your own hands?”

“…….”

The debris broken on the floor resonated and trembled, but soon subsided.

The wind that had been swirling around him also disappeared soon after.

He had a face that could not easily admit that he was wrong, even though he was wrong.

“…….”

Silence also hung among Bang Du-chil’s party.

“In a situation where hostages are caught, one cannot act carelessly.”

Baek So-ryeong also nodded at my words.

“Gaga, Jin Gongja’s words are correct.”

“……That doesn’t mean we can just watch.”

“I am not saying to watch. I am saying that a different operation is needed.”

“Is there a different operation?”

Bang Du-chil’s party, as well as the three Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers, looked at me with eyes full of expectation.

“Yes. Of course there is.”

“What is that?”

Crash!

Just as I was about to continue speaking, the sound of a building breaking was heard from outside the door.

Bang Du-chil and all of us headed out of the restaurant at the same time.

“Kyahahahaha!”

“Break it! Break it down!”

“You bastard! You bastards are going to our Hwa-mak-chae (Flower Tent Camp).”

About twenty mountain bandits were surrounding one house, dragging out the family members, breaking the building, and setting it on fire.

Bang Du-chil and his party were about to jump out at any moment.

“If you step forward now, you cannot save the hostages properly.”

At my words, Bang Du-chil flinched and glared at me with wide-open eyes.

“You can bring them back alive as long as they don’t die. But if we step forward now, we have to fight while the hostages are caught.”

“…….”

I could hear the sound of teeth grinding. Bang Du-chil, who wanted to jump out right away and smash the fellows’ heads.

Perhaps because that aura was read, some of the mountain bandit group approached this side.

“What is it? You guys? What are you glaring for?”

I quickly left Bang Du-chil behind and stepped forward.

“Hello. I am Jin So-un of the Tae-eul-mun.”

“Jin So-un of the Tae-eul-mun?”

“Oh ho…… Black Flame Dragon…….”

Even though they were mountain bandits staying at the mountain camp, they were quite knowledgeable about Murim matters, so they looked at me with fascinating eyes.

“What business do you have coming to this village?”

“Ah, I don’t know if you have heard. Didn’t our Tae-eul-mun recently acquire the Changgung-sang-dan? So, thinking of trying to conduct business by linking with an escort agency, I was checking the path to Hangzhou, which is closest, first.”

“Hmm…… to go to Hangzhou, you would have to pass through Mount Tianmu. Why is it that we haven’t heard anything?”

The mountain bandit holding the Tae-gam-do (Big Sword) was glaring while emitting killing intent faintly. It meant he was asking why we were not holding an initiation ceremony for them.

“Ah, of course, it was the moment I was about to pay my respects. Hahaha.”

I approached them while shaking the pouch containing a few silver coins and handed the pouch politely to them.

“I heard that originally, for an escort agency or a merchant group to pass that road for the first time, they must properly hold an initiation ceremony. Please tell the Camp Leader that we will visit soon.”

“Oh, you are quick-witted, so it seems you will do business well.”

“Don’t mention it. Thank you.”

“But who is that fellow, glaring at us like that?”

The mountain bandit holding the Tae-gam-do pointed at Bang Du-chil with his sword.

“Ah, they are our escort guards, but they are like that because it hasn’t been long since they became escort guards from wanderers. Please understand.”

“Hmph! Daring to show that kind of gaze to Hwa-mak-chae.”

The mountain bandit holding the Tae-gam-do approached Bang Du-chil step by step.

He looked up at Bang Du-chil, who was one head taller than himself, and said.

“Lower your eyes, you bastard!”

“…….”

Bang Du-chil’s lips twitched.

His flushed face looked as if it would burst at any moment.

-If you cause trouble now, you won’t be able to save the hostages.

At my secret voice transmission, Bang Du-chil looked at me as if I were an enemy, but soon bowed his head deeply.

“……I am sorry.”

“……Hmph! A fellow who is nothing.”

The mountain bandit who was turning away did not even know that Bang Du-chil was glaring at him as if to kill him from behind.

The mountain bandits of Hwa-mak-chae returned, and Bang Du-chil approached me with long strides and grabbed one of my shoulders as if it would break.

“You must take responsibility for your words!”

“Of course.”

“……If you cannot do so.”

Bang Du-chil looked at me with deep, grudge-filled pupils.

“You will have to deal with not only the Ssang-mak-chae but also me.”

“I will take responsibility.”

“…….”

Bang Du-chil returned to his party, and only Baek So-ryeong remained.

“Thank you. Jin Gongja. Thanks to you, I was able to stop Gaga.”

“It is I who should apologize for the rudeness earlier.”

“Oh my, what are you saying! It wasn’t bad to be held in a stranger’s arms for the first time in a while.”

Baek So-ryeong entered the restaurant with a smile as bright as rape blossoms.