The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 120

[ … words ]

***

“They say a woman’s transformation is innocent, but this feels like it should be called a crime.”

Now that I thought about it, Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran were beauties renowned within Anhui Province.

It was just that the journey they had shared with me was so harsh that they had no time to groom themselves; if they had actually taken the time to dress up, there would be no one in this class of the Academy who could compare to them.

At my playful remark, Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran covered their mouths and let out laughter.

Even that sight was like a picture, and I could hear small groans of admiration from all around.

“How can you say such an upsetting thing? This is our original appearance.”

At Seong Mo-ran’s words, I nodded before I knew it.

Her appearance truly resembled the one I had seen when I first met her at the Iron Sword Sect.

It was just that I had not been able to imagine it, as the image of her chewing on mud-covered beef jerky without hesitation had been so vivid recently.

“But, is that person your companion?”

When I pointed to the other beauty standing behind the two, not only the two of them but even the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers wore mysterious smiles.

“Don’t you know?”

“You don’t know?”

If I were to count back to my previous life, I had seen many beauties, even if only from afar. Yet, I had never seen a beauty for whom red robes and gold ornaments matched so exquisitely as the one before my eyes.

“It’s me. Dae-sahyeong (Great Senior Brother).”

“…Ah?”

My mouth fell open as wide as a large bowl.

Because the voice was definitely that of the child I knew.

“Sa-ryeon-ah?”

The beauty in the red robes nodded.

“Ha! No, but her gait was definitely that of a person I was seeing for the first time.”

Because I possessed an absolute memory, I could remember people in various ways.

I could never forget the gestures or the movements of the gait of a person I had spent my childhood with twice.

Nevertheless, Sa-ryeon’s gait was clearly not Sa-ryeon’s. Although it was not certain because she was covered by the long robes, her skeletal structure and physique were not the original Sa-ryeon’s either.

“No, is the only thing Young Master Jin is curious about after seeing his Samae (junior sister) for the first time in half a year just her gait?”

Seong Mo-ran said, clicking her tongue.

“It’s okay. Unnie, Dae-sahyeong is originally a dull person who can’t guess a woman’s heart even a little bit.”

“Th, that’s what…”

“Shall I tell you the story of when you confessed to Mr. Heo’s youngest daughter and got rejected?”

As if to take revenge, Sa-ryeon brought up a story from the past and sealed my lips.

At the story Sa-ryeon brought up, Seong Mo-ran and Namgung Seon-hwa opened their eyes wide as if they had found an exciting topic, and they began to talk.

“…”

But Sa-ryeon should have come to the Academy when the conflict with the Iron Sword Sect had not yet been resolved. When did they get close?

“Are you really not going to tell me how this happened?”

It was too much to say she had simply grown taller.

Just like when I drank the Mitaseongsu (Mita Sacred Water), Sa-ryeon’s physique had changed to be very similar to the Musinjiche (Martial God Body).

Hong Sa-ryeon made eye contact with Namgung Seon-hwa in a mysterious way.

“I met the Divine Sword a while ago.”

“The Changje Singeom (Creation Divine Sword)?”

“Yes. When he saw me, he said it was a waste to miss the opportunity and performed a Beol-mo-se-su (Marrow Cleansing) on me.”

“Huh?”

“At that time, I hadn’t been able to absorb it yet.”

Although Sa-ryeon did not say it directly, I immediately realized what it was. The various spiritual medicines received from Wang So-so, who no longer needed ice crystals.

I knew she had learned the Taeeul-jingyeong, but it must have been too much to melt them with the Daejin-singong.

“Thanks to that, I became like this.”

Sa-ryeon spun around in place as if to show off. Even in that small movement, a mysterious fighting spirit was emitted.

“It is truly a good thing. Did you thank the Divine Sword?”

“Of course.”

“Well done. I will have to thank him separately later.”

Namgung Seon-hwa looked around and said to me,

“But why is it so quiet here? I expected that Young Master Jin would be bothered by other people, so we came a little slowly.”

“…”

The atmosphere, which had been harmonious due to the appearance of the three people, quickly subsided.

Eun-ho summarized the story briefly, and all three of them furrowed their brows.

“Did that really happen?”

“These guys are going too far.”

Seong Mo-ran and Namgung Seon-hwa looked even more indignant than we did.

“Seeing them ignore us so intentionally, I don’t think it will be that easy.”

Namgung Seon-hwa said, opening her eyes wide.

“Young Master Jin, do you not know who I am?”

“…”

“I am Namgung Seon-hwa of the Five Great Clans. Just trust me.”

Namgung Seon-hwa began to stride away, and we began to follow her.

Those who had been avoiding us as if we were a plague just a moment ago did not budge like stone statues now that the three women were together.

“Sa-hyung, was Miss Namgung’s personality originally that fiery?”

To Sa-ryeon’s words, who came up to me and spoke quietly, I thought about when we first met at Dongting Lake and spoke.

“No, I think she had a calmer personality back then.”

“…Hmm, as expected. They said you should make good friends. If it’s like this, I feel so sorry for the Divine Sword…”

Sa-ryeon muttered words I could not understand.

“Brother Jeong-gi!”

At the shout of Namgung Seon-hwa, who was striding toward him, the man who had been looking this way turned his head sharply.

“Why are you pretending not to see me when you see your sister?”

When Namgung Seon-hwa spoke as if she were angry with her hands on her waist, the man who had turned his head stood up from his seat with an awkward smile.

“I kept looking because I wondered who the beauty was, but it was sister Seon-hwa.”

“Why are you avoiding my gaze? Have you done something wrong to me?”

“Haha, how can you say such a thing? I did hear that you suffered during the regular exam.”

“Ah, I have someone to introduce to you. Someone who was with me through that suffering…”

Before Namgung Seon-hwa could finish speaking, the man named Jeong-gi nodded.

“I know. Jin So-un of the Taeeul Sect.”

The man stared at me and nodded.

“I am Jegal Jeong-gi of the Jegal Clan. Even if we do not have a direct connection, I have heard much about you.”

He was none other than Jegal Jeong-gi, the older brother of Jegal Cheon-gi and the second son of Jegal Hyeon-un.

He looked at me with strange eyes and then turned his gaze away.

“Hmm… Sister Seon-hwa. It does not seem like a good time for us to talk right now.”

“What do you mean…”

Jegal Jeong-gi’s gaze turned to the table on the side.

There, Namgung Gi-pyo, with a weasel-like face, was looking at this side with eyes full of killing intent.

“This seat is a symbolic seat. Trying to restore broken trust by putting forward old friendships in a place like this only looks like shallow thinking.”

Seong Mo-ran, unable to listen any longer, stepped forward.

“Brother Jeong-gi, aren’t your words going too far?”

“Sigh…”

Jegal Jeong-gi sighed for a moment and changed his expression.

It was as if even the small amount of goodwill he had until a moment ago had all dried up.

“Why are you two not joining the White Path Association (Baekdo-hoe)?”

“That is…”

“Namgung Gi-pyo, of course, and everyone in the Namgung Clan belongs to the White Path Association. Originally, the Iron Sword Sect could also have joined the White Path Association, but they did not. Haven’t you decided not to be with us in the end?”

“That is…”

“Of course, people from the Taeeul Sect can also join. But what is the reason you are not doing so?”

“Are you telling us to take orders from the White Path Association? Whose will is it anyway? Is it the will of the elders of the White Path Association?”

Jegal Jeong-gi shook his head as if frustrated.

“It is not someone’s will. If that were the case, the Righteous Faction and the 12 Peak Stars could not all be of one mind like this. This is all just to prevent chaos.”

“What do you mean…”

“If a disciple of the Taeeul Sect stands above the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Clans, and the 108 Peaks alone, what do you think the people of the Gangho will think?”

Namgung Seon-hwa was so excited that the veins on her temples popped out.

“What on earth are you talking about?!”

“It means Jin Gong-ja also needs to belong somewhere. If you don’t want that, it would be better to step down yourself. If not, we will drag you down.”

“…”

“…It won’t be pleasant, but enjoy the banquet.”

With the words that it seemed like a loud noise would occur if they talked any longer, Jegal Jeong-gi turned his head away.

I stopped Namgung Seon-hwa, who was trying to rush at him even more excitedly, and returned to our seats.

“…”

“…”

The atmosphere was even more depressing than before.

A state where no one could easily open their mouths.

“…I’m sorry. Young Master Jin. I’m not being of any help.”

“Why is that something you should apologize for, Young Lady? Please do not keep it in your heart too much.”

It was a matter of whether to be dragged around by the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Clans, and the 108 Peaks, or to give up the representative position.

“Academy student Jin So-un.”

Turning my head at the voice calling me, one of the head instructors was approaching near our table.

I stood up from my seat and looked at him.

“As expected, my prediction was correct.”

He was Lee Ja-gon, who had visited the Taeeul Sect as a Gyeonseong-saja (Inspector).

“Weren’t you affiliated with the Education Pavilion?”

“Since the regular exam is over, shouldn’t there be no work as an inspector for a while? I was recently appointed as a head instructor and came here.”

Since the children of the Taeeul Sect were already acquainted with him, everyone made eye contact and clasped their hands in a small greeting, but there was nothing more than that.

No, our situation was not very comfortable for pretending to know someone and exchanging bright greetings.

“Looking at the situation, it doesn’t seem very good.”

“…Instructor, didn’t you also pretend to know us just now?”

“Haha, did you see that?”

“If I said I didn’t see it, that would be a lie.”

“Understand me, a head instructor has many people to be conscious of, unlike an inspector.”

“Still, isn’t your situation at least better than that of the instructors?”

A head instructor is practically the martial arts master of the Academy students.

One had to have the background and experience not to fall behind the Academy students, as well as martial arts skills, to occupy the position of head instructor.

“That tongue is still as sharp as ever.”

“I apologize. I am not in a very good mood today.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

Lee Ja-gon looked around as if he understood.

“Do you know that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know that you deliberately yielded the special admission.”

“…”

“Well, it is not something that never happens. Among the 108 Peaks, especially those belonging to the 12 Peak Stars, there are occasionally such people. But there is no case where someone like you, who has nothing, makes such a choice.”

I had no choice but to agree with his words. Because the choice I made was an act close to suicide when viewed by a third party.

“Still, for some reason, when you gave up the special privilege, I expected that I would see you at the Academy again.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I knew it while watching you solve the Pokhyeol-dan (Explosive Blood Pill) incident. You do not do things that other people might think of.”

“…”

“I don’t know about you, but actually, even now, I don’t really think anyone else will be the representative. I have a feeling that you will continue to be the representative. I don’t know what method that will be, though.”

After saying that, Lee Ja-gon tapped my shoulder and headed to another table. The place he headed was the table where the 12 Peak Stars were.

“…”

I quietly looked around and reflected on myself.

It felt like my vision had narrowed while I was running blindly, looking only at the admission to the Murim Academy.

‘Sigh…’

When I pondered the reason I could not focus on the present, the answer came unexpectedly quickly.

“Young Master Jin?”

I walked out to the center of the banquet hall.

And standing there, I looked around slowly without saying anything.

Then, the noise in the hall subsided, and the number of people staring at me increased one by one.

“What is he trying to do?”

“Is he trying to step down from the representative position himself?”

“Isn’t the clothes too flashy for that?”

“Hahahaha.”

Perhaps, I might have had expectations for this life that were different from my previous life.

Thinking that perhaps others could change like this, too, as I watched Namgung Seon-hwa, Seong Mo-ran, Moyong Jae-hwa, and Jegal Cheon-gi.

I spoke, putting my internal energy into my voice.

“Hello, Academy students. It is nice to meet you. I am Jin So-un, who has become the Academy representative for this class.”

I looked around in all directions and clasped my hands in a greeting one by one.

“There will be those who know me, and those who do not. Also, there will be those who like me, and those who do not. However, I do not care about such things, and as the Academy representative, I intend to do my best in my duties.”

No one responded. I continued to speak.

“Perhaps in history, it has been an annual event for the Academy representative to be a child of the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Clans. Recently, representatives have occasionally come from the 12 Peak Stars as well, but that history is not that long. And this time, it has become me.”

Even if it doesn’t change, what does it matter?

Even that is just their choice, and the actions they are showing now are merely petty actions that I despised so much in the past.

“From the beginning, as you all think, I am just a disciple of a powerless sect. I could not belong to the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Clans, or the 12 Peak Stars. And I have no intention of belonging under them either.”

Hostile gazes fly in.

Sneers of, “How much can you do?” erupt from all sides.

“So, excluding those things, I have decided to think only of the Academy students of this class.”

I am just giving them a chance.

Because I think it is my duty, as I know the tragic future, I am just doing so.

“I will do my best so that on the day you graduate from the Academy, you can leave with an appearance that is on a different level from when you entered. Furthermore, I will move in a direction that does not lean toward any faction.”

“The best method seems to be for you to disappear.”

At someone’s remark, the people around giggle.

I obediently nod.

“Of course, if it were according to the natural order that you all like, it would be the best method for me to leave. But if I did that, you would all just remain content in your current state.”

“A disciple of the Taeeul Sect is saying all sorts of nonsense.”

“First, I will appoint some executives in this position.”

“…”

“First, Miss Namgung Seon-hwa of the Namgung Clan. Miss Seong Mo-ran of the Iron Sword Sect. And my disciples, Hong Sa-ryeon and Lee Eun-ho, I will appoint them.”

“He’s crazy.”

“Yeah, just play house to your heart’s content among yourselves. It will end before long.”

The backlash is extraordinary.

Even those who were appointed as executives cannot hide their agitation.

“And now, four spots are left.”

“Is there a need to leave four spots? Just scatter them however you want.”

“I will fill the remaining four spots with people who can sacrifice themselves for the other Academy students.”

“…”

“For your information, it will be first come, first served. The person who comes first will be the fifth executive.”

“He’s crazy…”

I am just performing my duty.

And whether to follow it or not is their share.

“I don’t think anyone will follow you. Will you be okay?”

“It does not matter.”

“…”

If they follow, they will live.

If they do not follow.

“I do not have the right to force anyone. Everything is your choice.”

They will have no choice but to die according to the original history.

<><><>