The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 124

[ … words ]

***

The rumors about the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin (Boundless Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation) echoed not only through the Academy but throughout the entire Murim Alliance.

“Is it true that there is a solution to it?”

“There was a solution, it was just that one had to memorize two million paths, that was all.”

“Don’t tell me he intends to teach all two million of them and be done with it?”

“I heard that Jin So-un said he would teach a method to get out without having to memorize all the paths?”

Furthermore, the reason the rumors were blown out of proportion was that there were restrictions on the operating time of the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin and the number of people who could enter the formation.

The office of the Academy representative, which had always been empty except for the personnel who were with me, began to be visited by various people, ranging from those questioning the number restriction to those expressing dissatisfaction.

“Why on earth are you spending such expensive money to operate it for only ten days?”

“It is because the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin is too dangerous, so if one is not careful, a death trap could be created inside the Academy.”

“Then why is it that only two hundred people can enter?”

“It is to prepare for the possibility that casualties might emerge among the Academy students, as the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin is too dangerous.”

“The decisions all seem like the Academy representative’s self-righteous choices!”

“Please understand that I cannot accommodate every opinion because the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin is too dangerous.”

Since I faithfully used the tried-and-true excuse that it was ‘too dangerous’ for any opinion or question, those who had been chirping questions like chatterboxes closed their mouths on their own.

Then, people who started spreading conspiracy theories began to appear.

“Aren’t you trying to kill the Academy students by creating a dangerous formation on purpose?”

“We set the limit of two hundred people to prevent such dangerous situations.”

“Isn’t it a scheme to solidify your own faction by teaching only those two hundred people?”

“Do I even have a faction to begin with? And it seems like your question contradicts the one you asked just a moment ago, doesn’t it?”

As expected of spoiled brats who could not stand the world not revolving around them, all sorts of stories flowed out.

I diligently cast ‘So what?’ to teach them the harshness of the world, and I firmly silenced the controversy.

“What will you do if no one comes?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The atmosphere is already negative toward the Academy representative, so I was wondering if you shouldn’t cajole and coax them.”

At Seong Mo-ran’s question, I stared straight at her.

“Why, why? If you stare at me like that all of a sudden…”

“Miss Seong.”

“Ye-yes!”

“If you knew the location of a divine weapon that could be used exactly once, would you go to find it?”

“Yes? Why all of a sudden… um, even if it could be used only once, if it could save my life, I would have to go find it.”

“But the place where that item is located is in the middle of the Black Path Murim, so your family forbids you from going. Would you still go?”

“I would still have to go. You said it was a divine weapon. Even if it could be used only once, if it were something like that, I would have to go.”

“That is correct. You would go. For yourself and for your family. This is the same. No matter how unreasonable and inconvenient it may feel, if one can know the solution to the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin, wouldn’t Murim people go?”

“Ah…”

At my words, not only Seong Mo-ran but also Namgung Seon-hwa and Moyong Jae-hwa, who were listening together, were surprised with their mouths wide open.

“Anyway, your devious brain…”

Eun-ho, who was holding up his hand with a black eye next to me, muttered quietly.

“What did you say?”

“Ah, nothing! As expected of Dae-sahyeong! You’re the best! The best!”

“You keep holding your hand up properly.”

“Yes, yes!”

Namgung Seon-hwa, who had a surprised expression, said as if something had suddenly occurred to her.

“If so, why did you set a limit on the number of people? Wouldn’t it be more advantageous for Young Master Jin to do it with about three hundred people while you’re at it and make them participate in the academic schedule?”

“I have to open five more academic schedules over the next three months. Even if I fill that number of people right now, it becomes meaningless.”

“Ah… one hurdle is solved, and another hurdle comes.”

“It’s still fine. That is why I set the limit on the number of people.”

“Yes?”

<><><>

“What kind of bullshit is that!”

Jang Seok-do of the Jongnam Sect shouted loudly.

Geum-pyo, who wiped the spit that had splattered on his face from his sudden loud voice, spoke calmly.

“Didn’t I tell you? If you want to know the solution to the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin, you must attend the academic schedules opened by the Academy representative five times in the future.”

“There was no such thing!”

“Isn’t it the law that you show the terms and conditions when you write the application form?”

“You bastards, I’ve been watching you!”

“Dong-ryong.”

At Geum-pyo’s words, Geum-dong, who had been hugging his sword tightly from the side, stepped forward.

Jang Seok-do flinched and took two steps back.

He also knew well the rumors about the Black Blood Three Dragons of the Mu (Nothingness) class.

‘If the three of them stick together, can they deal with a platoon?’

It was the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Clans, and the 12 Peak Stars that all reacted negatively to the Taeeul Sect’s movements.

Just as he had looked down on Jin So-un of the Taeeul Sect and rushed at him, others of the Mu class had also rushed at these three brothers and suffered the misfortune of having their arms broken.

Nevertheless, those who had not yet vented all their anger had called Dong-ryong, who looked the youngest, separately to teach him a lesson in order to target each of the three brothers.

‘They said that the hands of that tiny guy were so rough.’

But Jang Seok-do also knew the story that the arms and legs of the three people who rushed at him were all broken, and they suffered injuries that made them unable to move for the next six months.

“If you are not going to do it, please move aside quickly. The line behind is long.”

When Jang Seok-do turned around, those who had come to fill out the application form secretly like him were standing in a long line.

If one examined their faces, they were all existences that could not exert much power within their own spheres of influence.

As a disciple of Jongnam, it was truly unpleasant to be standing with them, but as soon as he heard the news about the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin, he received an order from the main sect to find out the solution, so he endured the cold gazes of others and came all the way here.

“Damn it… hand it over, where do I have to sign?”

No matter how difficult the daily life inside the Academy became, it was the right thing to listen to the order of the main sect if one thought about the Murim Alliance in the future and returning to the main sect later.

“Here, here, here, and here, you just need to write your official seal.”

“There are a lot of them.”

“For your information, because it is a document notarized by the Mantong-bu (Hall of Ten Thousand Communications), if you break the promise, you must pay one hundred nyang of gold as a penalty.”

“What?”

“This is an opportunity given only to the limited number of two hundred people. The Mantong-bu does not want losses due to people who will not even attend in vain.”

“…”

“Of course, if you attend well, you will not have to pay one hundred nyang of gold.”

“…”

No matter how unfair it was, he could not disobey the order of the main sect.

“Yes, you made a good choice. Now, next.”

<><><>

Murim Academy Great Training Ground.

Here, where a special Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin was being installed, I met a familiar face.

“I was actually looking for Master Yu as soon as I came to the Murim Academy. Why did you not attend the Murim regular exam?”

At my words, Yu Ji-ryang, who had become thinner than last time, gave a hollow laugh.

“The Murim Academy is also a great opportunity, but I said I would not attend because there is a bigger opportunity at the Taeeul Sect right now.”

When I conveyed my plan to the Mosan Sect through the Mantong-bu, Yu Ji-ryang, who had been installing a Gimunjinsik (mystical formation) at the Wang Mansion in Hefei, flew like an arrow.

“Besides, isn’t it an opportunity to install a pure Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin? Naturally, I had to come.”

Although he had lost weight and become thinner than before, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° the brilliance in his eyes seemed fuller than ever.

“Did you have any realization?”

“I would like to say that I have taken a step forward through the books left by Master Jin and my research with Jegal Cheon-gi.”

Yu Ji-ryang was a person who was flexible and humble by nature. Seeing such a person say that he had taken a step forward, one could tell that his realization during that time was by no means shallow.

“You are truly amazing. Congratulations.”

Yu Ji-ryang, who bowed his head at my words, stared intently at my eyes.

“I, on the contrary, thought Master Jin was amazing.”

“Me?”

Yu Ji-ryang turned his head toward the Great Training Ground.

In the Great Training Ground, five hundred carpenters were busy building a total of three hundred pillars and temporary buildings.

“I heard about the situation Master Jin is in through rumors. But even if I were in that situation, I would not have solved the problem of Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin.”

“One could see it that way.”

“May I ask why you made such a choice?”

I could have attracted the Academy students in other ways as well.

Nevertheless, if I were to count the reasons why I chose this method. There were two.

One was the Demonic Cult.

Because of the Demonic Cult, which already knew the solution to most of the Gimunjinbeop (mystical formation methods) in the Gangho, I decided to make the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin public.

And the second was.

“Isn’t it tragic?”

“Yes?”

“The inside of the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin is empty. No demonic creatures pop out, and no disasters occur. Both the people trapped there and the people on the outside who just have to watch them escape safely, all just have an endless wait of pain.”

“…”

Suddenly, the Taesa-jo (Great Ancestor) who had been waiting for death inside this formation full of agony came to mind.

“Leaving aside the Black and White, doesn’t an object that we must resist with the true nature of humanity appear before us from time to time? In my view, the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin is such an existence. Seeing that the Myeolhon-jin (Soul-Destroying Formation), which had already disappeared three hundred years ago, has appeared again, this disaster will surely appear before people again someday. If so, I thought it was right to solve it if it is a solution that can be handled by human power.”

“Huh…”

Yu Ji-ryang looked at me for a long time with rabbit-like eyes.

“As expected, Master Jin is someone who completely deviates from my field of vision.”

“You are overpraising me.”

At the same time, I said with a smile on my lips.

“And just because one knows the solution, it doesn’t mean one can solve it unconditionally, right?”

The Myeolhon-jin would become a regular event while I was the representative.

Those who had tasted the Myeolhon-jin once would fear the Myeolhon-jin and at the same time look for a way to overcome the Myeolhon-jin, and that longing would lead to regular attendance at my event.

What else could this be but a bait-product strategy?

“…”

At my words, a humorous smile appeared on the lips of Yu Ji-ryang, who had a dazed expression.

Seeing that smile, I was convinced and asked.

“Master Yu, you know something too, right?”

He nodded slightly.

“By any chance, can you memorize 524,800 paths?”

“Huh.”

As I admired it, he continued.

“Probably, it would be useless to Master Jin, but even if the person who originally made the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin came back alive, he would not be able to get out of the formation I made.”

Was this what they called a smile that only those who knew could share?

We shared such a mean smile.

<><><>

“In the end, the number of people was not filled.”

“Isn’t it still the first day?”

The Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin was all completed, and in the center of the Great Training Ground, bizarre pillars and buildings whose purpose was unknown had been erected.

Not only the participants but also the Academy students and head instructors who had gathered just for sightseeing were peeking their heads out and looking at this side.

“Do you think they will keep coming in the future?”

At Namgung Seon-hwa’s words, I nodded.

“Everyone here is someone who has to stake their life on survival for the rest of their life. There is no fool who would want to miss a fortuitous encounter given to them for free right in front of their eyes.”

For those who have lived their whole lives among martial artists, an irresistible instinct is bound to work. I don’t know about anything else, but it was clear that they were engaged in a fierce battle of wits, wondering when they should jump out and write the application form.

“Shall we start?”

To Yu Ji-ryang’s question, I answered.

“Yes, please.”

Yu Ji-ryang, standing on the dais, lifted a blue flag, then lowered it and lifted a red flag.

“Activate the formation!”

A total of fifty practitioners of the Mosan Sect each took charge of one pillar and began to activate the formation.

At the same time, as fifty streams of energy moved, the sensitive horses began to run around in the stables, and people’s gazes began to focus even more on the center of the Great Training Ground.

“Ohh!”

“Is, is that the formation?”

White clouds and mist began to leak out from the temporary building that had been erected in the center of the Great Training Ground.

The white clouds and mist moved slowly, spreading from the center to the outskirts, then stopped at something at the very outskirts where the practitioners were located, and began to pile up in layers.

It was as if a huge cloud that should have been located high in the sky was being created on the ground.

The clouds and mist that had begun to pile up like that moved between the strangely shaped pillars and embraced the entire Great Training Ground. And in the end, all the pillars and temporary buildings disappeared, and nothing could be seen.

“I will check it.”

I asked at the words of Yu Ji-ryang, who had approached the Myeolhon-jin.

“Shall I go in?”

Then Yu Ji-ryang said with a smile on his lips.

“I can also enter this much now.”

Yu Ji-ryang and I had created one safety device while making the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin, and that was to make people naturally bounce out of the Myeolhon-jin if they entered a place that was not the gate of life and death.

Whether Yu Ji-ryang had studied tremendously in the meantime at the Taeeul Sect in Hefei, he implemented what I conceived without difficulty.

Gulp.

When Yu Ji-ryang stood in front of the Myeolhon-jin, one could not even hear the sound of an ant crawling in the hall.

Stride.

As soon as Yu Ji-ryang took a step, his figure disappeared into the clouds and mist.

“…”

And after a while.

Thump, thump.

Yu Ji-ryang, with his eyes closed, walked out of the Myeolhon-jin perfectly fine.

“I just closed my eyes and went straight from the moment I entered.”

It meant that even the safety device was installed perfectly.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I turned my head and said to the first group that would enter the Myeolhon-jin.

“Are you ready?”

<><><>

Seeing the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin in operation, 50 more people expressed their intention to participate in one day.

And the news that there were many personnel from the Nine Great Sects among these participants was quite annoying to the Righteous Faction.

From the beginning, the Righteous Faction had ordered its internal personnel not to participate in Jin So-un’s event.

“There are still those who are confused internally. We must be even more vigilant.”

“Don’t do that, let’s talk to the Academy and have them give the solution to everyone.”

“I already talked to them, but it was not accepted.”

However, recently, the number of those moving according to the orders of the main sect had been increasing, and this was appearing as a matter of internal cohesion being loosened.

Moreover, it was not as if one could tell them not to move in front of an opportunity that could not be missed, like the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin, and nothing else.

“Rather than this, let’s share the solution ourselves.”

“What do you mean? Are you saying you will take Jin So-un and torture him?”

“Would that be possible? I am saying let’s send our own people to learn the solution, and then share it internally.”

“…”

“Everyone received a message from the main sect anyway, didn’t they? The sects would not want to miss an opportunity like this either.”

“Then let’s do this. Please tell the Council of Elders to unite the personnel even more. And after selecting the personnel we have chosen to learn the solution, please also convey that we will share it again.”

“I understand.”

“This secret must never leak out. Because according to the contract, if you share this, you must pay a penalty of one hundred nyang of gold.”

No matter how much one uses petty tricks, there is always an answer.

Those who led the factions laughed at Jin So-un’s devious brain and finished the meeting like that.