The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 125

[ … words ]

***

Seeing the space where everything in all directions was white, Eun Seol-ran sighed softly.

They said it was a masterpiece formation that drove people to madness and death with emptiness (Heomu), but she never thought she would experience those words in person.

“How… did it come to this?”

Her own sect, which had its foundation in the Northern Sea, had no reason to install a mystical formation, and as she had no intention of continuing activities in the Gangho once her mandatory service ended, there was no reason for her to be trapped in a formation. Yet, the reason she had volunteered for this event was out of a small hope that, as someone with nowhere to lean on in the Gangho, she might gain something, anything.

“I shouldn’t have come in here.”

If one were to trace the indirect cause, it was because of Hong Sa-ryeon, who had entered with her, and if one were to trace the direct cause, it was because she had been distracted by the floral scent coming from her body, stepped back, and lost her focus.

When she entered a space where no objects or smells could be felt, she felt a body odor she did not usually smell, and unlike Sa-ryeon, she was startled by the smell of sweat she felt from her own body and stepped back just one step, but the people who had been standing in front and behind her disappeared as if by magic.

“Haa…”

Originally, her relationship with Sa-ryeon had not been this uncomfortable.

Her sect, the Ice White Palace (Bingbaek-gung), like the Taeeul Sect, was a sect located at the very bottom of the 108 Peaks.

In the past, a legendary master called the Small Number Divine Maiden (Sosu-sinnyeo) had been the founding master, and her signature technique, the Sosu-singong (Small Number Divine Art), had been passed down for generations, but in reality, there had been no one after the Sosu-sinnyeo who had mastered the Sosu-singong beyond the fourth level.

The absence of masters had weakened the sect, and now it was often ridiculed, saying, ‘They live in the Ice White Cave (Bingbaek-gul) instead of the Ice White Palace.’

Perhaps that was why she had been able to become close to Sa-ryeon so quickly due to the feeling of empathy.

‘But she has changed too much.’

When their relationship had soured.

To be precise, the time Eun Seol-ran began to distance herself from Sa-ryeon was from the moment the name of her Dae-sahyeong (Great Senior Brother), the ‘Black Flame Dragon,’ shook the Gangho.

While he saved thousands of people at the Maryeong Plateau, received recognition from the Pungbaek-pagum (Wind White Breaking Sword) at the Yongbongjihoe, and broke through the regular exam like a storm, Eun Seol-ran felt distance from Sa-ryeon more and more.

Academy students who had looked at Sa-ryeon and her with indifference began to take an interest in Sa-ryeon.

The Black Flame Dragon was like an object of admiration for the disciples belonging to the 108 Peaks.

It was not that she did not admire the Black Flame Dragon. But the fact that he was Sa-ryeon’s reliable Sahyeong (Senior Brother).

And the fact that a Sahyeong like the Black Flame Dragon did not exist for Eun Seol-ran was what made her distance herself from Sa-ryeon.

“A useless person does useless things themselves.”

Hong Sa-ryeon was the same as before, even when the names of the Black Flame Dragon and the Taeeul Sect were on people’s lips.

No, she had even told Eun Seol-ran that she would introduce the Black Flame Dragon to her.

Saying that the Black Flame Dragon had heard about Eun Seol-ran and wanted to meet her.

But to Eun Seol-ran, whose vision was obscured by an already twisted inferiority complex, that did not sound good either.

What was there to see for a great new star who was shaking the Murim that he would want to meet Eun Seol-ran?

It was all just Sa-ryeon’s consideration.

“Phew.”

And all those inferiority complexes had created this situation now.

A desperate situation where she could not blame anyone.

“In the end, am I going to die like this…”

Eun Seol-ran, who had put her hand into her empty Byeokgok-dan (Grain-Abstaining Pill) pouch, sighed.

When she first entered the Myeolhon-jin (Soul-Destroying Formation), they gave her Byeokgok-dan and water for one day and night, so she wondered what it was, but if she had not had those, Eun Seol-ran would have starved to death long ago.

But now, even that was all gone, and she could not remember how long it had been since she had put food in her mouth.

“Haha… haha.”

As she felt death, an awkward laugh flowed out. But that laugh could not spread wide. It was soon buried in the silence and emptiness (Heogong).

The perfect silence, which she had never felt even once in her life, was enough to make Eun Seol-ran feel a strange fear.

Hummm.

When she pulled up the Sosu-singong, white steam flowed out from both her hands.

Only after placing those hands on both her cheeks did Eun Seol-ran feel that she was still alive.

‘In the end, I couldn’t even reveal the secret of the Sosu-singong.’

She did not think she could unravel a secret that no one had been able to dig into for hundreds of years.

However, the regrettable thing, even so, was.

The fact that she would die without even trying to unravel the secret by engaging in Murim Alliance activities and meeting masters of Ice Art and Fire Art.

Eun Seol-ran continued to use and use the Sosu-singong to feel that she was alive right before she died for the last time. Her weak internal energy soon hit the bottom, and the cold air began to weaken.

As all the internal energy in her Danjeon (Lower Dantian) disappeared, all the strength in her body drained away.

Because the only sense of life (Saeng) she could feel right now was the Sosu-singong, she forcibly squeezed her empty Danjeon.

As if desperately clinging to life.

Crackle.

Startled by the sound coming from her hands, she took her hands off her cheeks.

“This… what is…”

Instead of white steam flowing out, thin ice had formed on her palms.

“…”

She, who had stopped the Sosu-singong, slowly gathered her palms and melted the ice with her hands.

The ice formed in her hands soon turned into a mouthful of water.

“Ah… ah…”

Eun Seol-ran revived the sensation from a moment ago and operated the Sosu-singong.

Crackle.

Ice was formed as if tracing the shape of her palms.

Eun Seol-ran, unable to even think of moistening her already dried lips, began to shed salty tears.

After the Small Number Divine Maiden died without being able to pass on her teachings, no one had properly mastered the Sosu-singong.

After four hundred years, Eun Seol-ran, who was dying in the Muryang-Bulgoe-Myeolhon-Jin, had revealed the secret of the Sosu-singong.

“Sob… sob…”

How happy would the people of the Ice White Palace be if they knew this fact, how happy would her father and mother, who led the Ice White Palace, be?

Furthermore, she lamented her own fate of having to die here without being able to pass on this realization.

“Damn it… sob, sob, damn world!”

Eun Seol-ran spat out a curse she had never uttered even once in her life.

The ice crystals that had flowed out of her palms, scattered carelessly, sprayed in all directions and disappeared.

“I would have rather not had the realization come… sob.”

More than the death facing her right in front of her eyes, it was even more upsetting that she could not deliver the secret.

When she was spitting out curses, resentful of the absurdity of the world.

“Shouldn’t you be happy if a realization has come?”

“!!!!”

At the voice that was heard suddenly, Eun Seol-ran’s eyes became rabbit eyes.

In the place she turned her head to look at until her neck broke, a man whose clothes and sword were all black was tilting his head and making an expression that he did not know.

“Bl, Black Flame Dragon… Great Master?”

“You are Eun Seol-ran, right?”

“Do, do you know me?”

The moment her name was mentioned by his mouth, Eun Seol-ran’s heart began to beat like crazy.

“I heard a lot about you from Sa-ryeon. But did I take away important time?”

The Black Flame Dragon looked at the ice crystals held in Eun Seol-ran’s grasp.

“Ah, no. It’s already after I got the hang of it and finished organizing it.”

“Then shall we stop and go out now?”

“Go, go out?”

A man who looked like a black dot located in the center of a huge white paper. In his words, Eun Seol-ran could not come to her senses.

“I understand the greed to gain more realization, but I am quite worried about your physical condition. It looks like you have drunk all the food and water. Aren’t you having a hard time?”

“I want to go out! I want to get out of this place!”

The Black Flame Dragon smiled warmly like a painting.

“Then let’s go.”

As the Black Flame Dragon passed Eun Seol-ran and took the lead, Eun Seol-ran tried to walk quickly so as not to miss him this time.

“Ouch.”

But her body, which had already been exhausted, did not listen.

“If it’s okay, can I carry you on my back? Because if you misstep again this time, I don’t know when I will be able to find you.”

Being carried by a man, wasn’t that something she only saw in books? Before Eun Seol-ran, who was flustered, could answer, the Black Flame Dragon carried Eun Seol-ran on his back.

His back was broad and firm, unlike its appearance… and warm.

“Bear with it for a little while, we will be able to get out soon.”

“…I, but Great Master…”

“Calling me Great Master, that’s a bit ticklish?”

“Ah. So, sorry. Then what should I call you. Senior?”

“We are in the same class as me. Calling me Senior is also awkward. Since you are Sa-ryeon’s friend, how about calling me Olabi (brother)?”

“Is, is that really okay?”

Eun Seol-ran felt a sense of heat on her face for some reason.

“Since you are Sa-ryeon’s friend, you are the same as my younger sister. But why did you call me?”

Eun Seol-ran had even forgotten what question she had intended to ask in the first place.

It was because the words ‘my younger sister’ and ‘Olabi’ were proliferating in her head, and her thinking had stopped.

“I, I forgot.”

“Yes, let’s think about the question after we go out.”

In the space of perfect silence (Jeokmak) and emptiness, Eun Seol-ran was no longer lonely, solitary, or desperate.

<><><>

“Thanks to you, I have caught my breath.”

At Jegal So-myeong’s words, the eyes of the ‘White Handed Divine Sword’ Hyuk Mu-gang widened.

“Haha, it seems Jin So-un that child is truly special.”

“Because I truly had no way to deal with it as myself.”

Jegal So-myeong had a complicated expression, but the smile on his lips could not be erased.

For Hyuk Mu-gang, that scene was also just surprising.

Was Jegal So-myeong a person who would say thanks? From the beginning, he was a person who gave if someone gave to him, he was not a person who had regrets enough to ask for a favor.

“It was my first time seeing a report with such perfect justification regarding budget formulation.”

Because he was a person who thoroughly followed principles, conversely, if one followed those principles, one had no choice but to make the impossible possible.

“Anyway, thanks to lending the budget from the Alliance Leader’s hall, I have caught my breath.”

“Even without that, the head of the Alliance Leader’s hall was foaming at the mouth. Asking what they should do.”

When Hyuk Mu-gang spoke in a subtly weak voice, Jegal So-myeong nodded.

“I will formulate the budget as quickly as possible and return it. And I think it would be good to create a reserve fund separately starting next year.”

“Truly, Jin So-un that child changes many things for the Chief Strategist.”

At Hyuk Mu-gang’s teasing, Jegal So-myeong nodded.

“There is no other way. Although I did not write it directly, I metaphorically referred to the ‘Demonic Cult’ by linking it to the existence that appeared on the Bokyang Plains, and there was absolutely no justification to refuse.”

“But thanks to that, you say unexpected effects are already appearing?”

“They said that one layer of the seal of the Sosu-singong has been lifted.”

“Hoho… That is a celebration. The Ice White Palace will also be happy.”

Jegal So-myeong, who matched the beat for a moment, drank a cup of tea and brought up the main topic.

“But are you saying that the Alliance Leader will also attend the Myeolhon-jin demonstration event tomorrow?”

“Yes, I also felt curious for some reason. What kind of formation it will be.”

Jegal So-myeong, who nodded saying that could be the case, said with his eyes flashing.

“Then I must stick right by your side and assist you.”

At Jegal So-myeong’s words, Hyuk Mu-gang’s brows furrowed slightly.

“I heard that you, Chief Strategist, were busy, so you would not go…”

“Since the Alliance Leader is going, how can I not go?”

“No, since when were you like that…”

“It seems the Alliance Leader is uncomfortable with me going?”

“That is… not that…”

“Are you saying it is more comfortable to be without me to meet Jin So-un?”

“…”

Hyuk Mu-gang could not answer Jegal So-myeong’s question that came in abruptly as if he had eaten honey, and Jegal So-myeong raised his eyebrows while looking at such Hyuk Mu-gang.

“My, my…! I knew it! Where are you trying to climb on the kitchen hearth first like a gentle cat!”

At Jegal So-myeong’s words, Hyuk Mu-gang also felt quite unpleasant. Wasn’t it all him who lent as much as thirty thousand nyang of gold because he needed an emergency budget this time?

Is it true that he himself cannot even have a private audience with Jin So-un?

“You are a bit too much, Chief Strategist? It’s not like I’m going to take him away…”

“They say it is human psychology that if you see it, you want to touch it, and if you touch it, you want to possess it. Absolutely not.”

“…Ahem. Geez. I just said I would meet him…”

It was Hyuk Mu-gang who could not suppress his curiosity about that skill that even bewitched Jegal So-myeong.

This time, he had no intention of backing down easily either.

“If you are really like that… I will also quit the position of Chief Strategist.”

“No! What are you saying all of a sudden!”

“This old body is already exhausted, and there is not much time left until I become a lonely ghost. It is time to stop and return to my hometown. I tried to discover and raise talent suitable for the Mantong-bu and the Simhyeon-gak somehow and return, but since you are interfering like this, it means I don’t have to be here anymore.”

“Wow…”

The moment Jegal So-myeong disappears from the Murim Alliance right now, it was clear that countless political battles would rise to the surface and explode, and if that happened, it was clear that the Murim Alliance would be fragmented.

He absolutely could not be without him.

“I understand. I understand. I will not even think about taking Jin So-un to the Alliance Leader’s hall, so please do not say such terrible things.”

“Because you bestow such a huge favor like the Summer Sea upon this insignificant person, I do not know how to repay you.”

Watching Jegal So-myeong, who conveyed his words of gratitude with a face more moved than when he thanked him for lending him thirty thousand nyang earlier, Hyuk Mu-gang only thought that it was ‘dirty and mean.’

<><><>

“Phew…”

A sigh leaked out.

Even though I said it so much, why don’t they listen?

“Please put it on.”

The head of the attendants (Sibi-jang) offered the silk clothes as if it were a natural thing.

“Why did you put useless embroidery on it again?”

At the end of the sleeve, the word ‘Valedictorian’ (Suseok), which was hiding ‘like a pattern,’ was engraved in countless numbers.

“Didn’t you say that high-ranking people from the Alliance are coming today?”

“What does that have to do with it? This is not even an official event.”

After Eun Seol-ran, who was in the third group entering the Myeolhon-jin, gained enlightenment inside the Myeolhon-jin and revealed the secret of the Sosu-singong that no one had been able to solve until now.

The one hundred spots that seemed like they would never be filled were all filled in one day.

‘In addition, I also made a bond with the Small Number Jade Maiden (Sosu-oknyeo).’

If there was one biggest achievement, it was definitely that I was able to create a relationship with the Small Number Jade Maiden.

Wasn’t she the Small Number Jade Maiden who changed the Ice White Palace to the Northern Sea Ice Palace and showed an invincible martial spirit so that the Demonic Cult could not invade at least the Northern Sea?

‘Since she is close with Sa-ryeon, shall I try to lure her so she can come to the White Wolf Pavilion later?’

Of course, it would not be an easy task, but it was a thing sufficiently worth trying.

Anyway, with this incident, interest in the Myeolhon-jin increased in the Alliance as well, and the Academy wanted to invite the Council of Elders and the sect leaders to hold a demonstration event.

“If high-ranking people come, naturally the person who should stand out is you, Gong-ja-nim. If you don’t stand out in an opportunity like this, future success will also be difficult.”

“I am not interested in success. If I were interested in success, I wouldn’t have thought of antagonizing the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Clans from the beginning.”

“So, as it is such a situation, shouldn’t you stand out even more? Appearance dominates people more than Gong-ja-nim’s thoughts. If you show an appearance like an emperor, there will be more people who are inspired by that and want to be with Gong-ja-nim.”

While talking, I felt something strange. Although she was always stationed at the Academy as the head of the attendants, how could she know the things among the Academy students so well?

“How do you know so well about the inside story?”

“…I am a person who assists Gong-ja-nim. Naturally, these are things I should know.”

The head of the attendants, who was moving her lips as if she had something more to say, soon closed her mouth, and I did not ask any further.

“Anyway, I will not wear it.”

“You must wear it! Kids, close the door!”

“…What exactly is your intention to make me wear clothes to this extent?”

At my question, the head of the attendants sighed softly.

“My child has had a deep interest in martial arts since childhood. My husband and I were also people who earned a living in the Alliance, so there was no great resistance. So, to give my child an opportunity, I had him take the entrance exams for famous sects, but he failed them all.”

A common story. As talented people gathered in famous sects, the entrance exam competition for places evaluated as decent sects continued to rise without knowing the end.

“The child, who enjoyed just learning at a martial arts hall since childhood, seemed to have decided his limits from a certain moment. And we could do nothing about him looking frustrated at seeing that wall.”

The gap that is created from the beginning. And the walls that make it impossible to narrow them always break those who try new attempts.

“Recently, the child began to attend the martial arts hall diligently again. The reason he practices without resting day by day and harbors hope for the future is…”

The head of the attendants looks at me with shaking pupils.

“Thanks to Young Master Jin.”

“…”

“I sincerely hope that Gong-ja-nim continues to be successful. And I hope you become a good role model for my son. But because you are a person who is so humble, my wish is not being fulfilled at all. I understand. I will have them prepare other clothes.”

“…”

The head of the attendants, who talked and sighed, showed a tired expression that she never showed usually.

I lifted the clothes and looked at them carefully.

“From next time, I would like you to make this character look more like a pattern.”

“!”

The face of the middle-aged attendant brightens up.

I don’t know why, but I feel like I’ve been tricked a little.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean I will wear it all the time. Just make it less noticeable.”

The head of the attendants nodded repeatedly.

“I understand.”

Like that, I eventually wore the ‘Valedictorian’ ceremonial robe and stepped out to the Great Training Ground.

The neighborhood was a sea of people with Academy students who had flocked to see the high-ranking people from the Alliance.

As I broke through them and passed, the sixth group that had finished the theoretical class yesterday and would enter the Myeolhon-jin today was waiting.

But even though the demonstration event was about to start, the atmosphere was somehow cluttered.

Moreover, the number of people gathered was too large to say that only spectators had gathered.

Even the major personnel of the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Clans, and the 12 Peak Stars, who seemed like they would never approach this neighborhood, were all gathered.

As I entered the Great Training Ground, Yu Ji-ryang’s party, who were talking with the Academy administration, ran toward me.

“You have come.”

“There are more people than I thought. Are you saying that even the Murim Alliance Leader is coming?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

“Yes?”

Yu Ji-ryang immediately brought up the next words as if the story that the Murim Alliance Leader was coming just now was nothing special.

“More than that, we are in big trouble.”

“…Bigger trouble?”

What could be a bigger trouble than meeting the Murim Alliance Leader, whom it is difficult to see even once in a lifetime?

“The personnel of the Nine Great Sects… seem to have snuck into the Myeolhon-jin and have not come out.”

“…These crazy bastards.”