The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 126

[ … words ]

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I was dumbfounded by the claim that they had snuck in, so I asked again.

“Snuck in? You must have set up guards.”

“It appears they entered while the guards were changing shifts.”

“…….”

Was the security of the Murim Academy, in name at least, really breached?

The situation as a whole began to take shape in my mind, and my blood slowly started to boil, but what was urgent right now was not how those guys had managed to bypass the security.

No matter how many safety measures were in place, if one stepped carelessly into the Myeol-hon-jin (Soul-Extinguishing Formation), one could not escape it.

Even though so many people had been able to survive and come out of the Maryeong Plateau, what was the reason that those who had blindly entered the Myeol-hon-jin could never be found in the end?

It was because there was no way to find those who had entered somewhere into the two hundred thousand paths.

“W-what should we do?”

Yu Ji-ryang’s voice was trembling continuously.

It seemed that before I arrived, he had been pressed for accountability by the people of the Nine Schools and One Sect (Gu-pa-il-bang) due to this incident.

“Please… wait a moment.”

I quickly looked around. If the security had been breached, it was clear that those responsible were being interrogated.

I could see two individuals in one corner of the training ground, looking like death and being interrogated.

I quickly moved to where they were.

Yu Ji-ryang scrambled to follow behind me.

“May I speak with these people for a moment?”

“…….”

The person who appeared to be the superior of the guards turned around and walked away after being interrogated, and I asked the person who had been on guard duty last night a few things.

While I was listening to the guards, someone suddenly interrupted.

“Master Yu Ji-ryang, and Academy Student Jin So-un.”

Yu Ji-ryang turned his head in surprise, and there stood an instructor looking at the two of us with an expression like a demon.

“The elders of the Alliance wish to hear an explanation. Let us go.”

“…….”

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For the demonstration, they had set up a podium in the center of the training ground and brought over thirty chairs.

And right now, the place was packed with people sitting in every seat, and on top of that, officials had all flocked to stand behind the chairs.

Tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble.

Yu Ji-ryang was shaking so violently that I could feel it as I walked beside him.

I placed my hand on his shoulder for a moment.

“Master Yu, why don’t you try to calm down a little?”

“…Ah, yes. Yes. I should.”

“If it is too difficult, I will go alone.”

Yu Ji-ryang, who had brightened at my words, wore a thoughtful expression for a moment before shaking his head.

“In any case, am I not the person responsible for this Myeol-hon-jin? I must go.”

“…….”

Yu Ji-ryang walked toward the podium like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

Unlike when viewed from afar, the Murim Alliance Leader, Hyeok Mu-gang, and the entire Elder Council, including the Military Advisor Jegal So-myeong, were already present on the podium.

“What on earth happened?”

“How did you manage it so that the children could enter and exit this dangerous formation at will?”

“What is there to listen to? We must immediately dismantle the formation and punish the person responsible according to the laws of the Alliance.”

As soon as we arrived, roars erupted from all sides.

Moreover, the members of the Elder Council seemed unable to control their emotions, spewing words while simultaneously emitting murderous intent, and those who had flocked to watch the demonstration all closed their mouths at the ominous atmosphere.

The precarious atmosphere, like walking on a bridge with a knife edge, continued.

“How long is the academy representative going to keep his mouth shut!”

“Speak at once!”

“This is what happens when you entrust the representation to someone who hasn’t even mastered the basics. You must replace the representative immediately.”

And soon, the arrows began to rain down on me as well.

As sharp words like a chaotic mess filled the space, Jegal So-myeong opened his mouth, as if he could no longer bear it.

“Everyone, be quiet!”

“…….”

“…….”

When the elders closed their mouths at Jegal So-myeong’s shout, the area was engulfed in silence, as if we had entered the inside of the Myeol-hon-jin.

“I will ask. How many people in total have entered?”

As Jegal So-myeong led the conversation, people’s gazes began to follow Jegal So-myeong now.

Receiving everyone’s gaze, Yu Ji-ryang opened his mouth, stammering.

“B-by what I have been reported, I heard it was a total of six people.”

“By what you have been reported? Does that mean it is not accurate?”

“N-no, it is not. It is a certain number because the companions of those who entered the Myeol-hon-jin said so.”

“Good. They entered, and now why is that such a problem?”

“Originally, it is normal for personnel who have entered the Myeol-hon-jin to come out within one sijin (two hours). However, the fact that the personnel who entered at the In hour (3–5 AM) yesterday have not come out until now, at the Sa hour (9–11 AM), means they have lost their way inside.”

“If they lost their way, can they not come out again?”

“The Myeol-hon-jin has no reference point, so one must walk the path according to the laws based on the steps one takes. However, if that is wrong even once…”

At Yu Ji-ryang’s words, the elders’ expressions began to wrinkle severely.

“Why do the safety measures not activate?”

“The safety measures are to stop personnel from entering from places other than the entrance of the formation. They are not for personnel entering through the entrance in the first place.”

“Then does that mean there are no safety measures?”

“It is a formation where safety measures cannot be created in the first place. That is why we limit the personnel under thorough management and only through the designated life-and-death gate…”

As Yu Ji-ryang tried to blame those who had entered on their own, Myeong-hyeon Dojang abruptly cut off the conversation.

“In the end, does that not mean our children are trapped in a dangerous formation without even safety measures?”

“…Ah, that is…”

Jegal So-myeong frowned, but Myeong-hyeon Dojang continued as if he did not care about that.

“What is the probability of the children coming out on time?”

“…None.”

“Ha, truly.”

Myeong-hyeon, who had made a face of being dumbfounded, said to the Murim Alliance Leader.

“Alliance Leader, this is a grave matter that could claim the lives of the academy students who will carry the Alliance in the future. We must immediately dismantle the Myeol-hon-jin and save the children.”

Murim Alliance Leader Hyeok Mu-gang asked, looking back at Yu Ji-ryang.

“I heard that the Muryang-bulgoe-myeol-hon-jin (Immeasurable Buddha Indestructible Soul-Extinguishing Formation) literally cannot be dismantled; is there a way?”

“I-in the first place, the fifty pillars that are the central axis of the Myeol-hon-jin are made to be destroyed after a month, so it would disappear after a month, but… there is a problem.”

“A problem?”

“The flow of time felt inside the Myeol-hon-jin is different from the outside. Therefore, even if they stay for just one day, it becomes the same as staying for seven days and nights.”

“Does that mean it has a direct effect even though it is not reality?”

“The personnel trapped in the Suma-daebang-jin (Water Demon Great Defense Formation) among the formations of the Jegal Clan die of suffocation…”

“Ha…”

“It is an effect we experienced for the first time while creating it anew this time. The problem is that those who entered without permission yesterday…”

“Wait!”

Yu Ji-ryang stopped speaking and looked at Myeong-hyeon Dojang.

“Do not keep using words that evade your responsibility, such as ‘without permission’ or ‘outside of personnel.’ This is, after all, the fault of you all for neglecting management.”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

The elders nodded as if they agreed with Myeong-hyeon Dojang’s words. Yu Ji-ryang was pale and out of his wits.

“Continue.”

“Y-yes, yes. The fact that those who entered yesterday did not take emergency rations with them.”

Myeong-hyeon Dojang shook his head and said, looking at the Alliance Leader.

“Alliance Leader, there is no need to listen any further. We must force it to be dismantled immediately.”

The Murim Alliance Leader also nodded as if agreeing with Myeong-hyeon’s words.

“Is there a way to forcibly dismantle it?”

At the Alliance Leader’s words, Yu Ji-ryang said, his lips trembling.

“I-if we destroy the fifty pillars I mentioned earlier at the same time… it might be possible.”

“Then do it immediately.”

In Myeong-hyeon’s words, Yu Ji-ryang had an expression like he was about to die.

I, who could no longer watch him like that, stepped forward.

“That is impossible.”

“…It seems this is not a place for you to step forward. I will hold you accountable later, so step aside for now.”

At Myeong-hyeon Dojang’s words, I ignored him and spoke, looking at the Alliance Leader and the Military Advisor.

“To artificially dismantle the Myeol-hon-jin, fifty personnel must enter through the life-and-death gate, grasp the exact direction, and destroy it simultaneously. However, this is only a theoretical example; you must consider that if it fails, fifty additional personnel could fall into the Myeol-hon-jin.”

As soon as my words ended, a deep sigh flowed from all sides.

“Ha!”

“How…”

“How could they have created such a thing?”

Even the Murim Alliance Leader and the Military Advisor, who heard the story, closed their mouths.

In the end, Myeong-hyeon, who could not suppress his anger, burst into a high-pitched shout.

“How will you take responsibility for this? Did this not happen because you tried to unreasonably maintain your position as representative!”

I slowly turned my head.

And I looked at Myeong-hyeon Dojang, whose face was bright red.

“Why should I take responsibility?”

“Wh-what? You right now…”

“Listening to the stories of those who were on duty last night, they said that twenty people swarmed in and ordered them to change shifts earlier than scheduled. In that process, the name of the Jeongdo-hoe (Righteous Path Association) was mentioned.”

“That is nonsense…”

I cut off Myeong-hyeon Dojang’s words and continued.

“How does the Diancang (Jeom-chang) Sect handle those who secretly peek at others’ martial arts?”

“What is that all of a sudden?”

“I held the event with a limited number of people due to the limitations of funds and space. This was to pass on the vision of the Myeol-hon-jin to those who officially participated in the event. However, since those who did not even participate in the event secretly stole the vision and this disaster occurred, shouldn’t they naturally be punished rather than rewarded?”

The faces of the elders, including Myeong-hyeon Dojang, turned bright red.

“To me, naturally, I have no responsibility in this matter. Master Yu Ji-ryang, who is here, has no responsibility either. They invited the danger upon themselves, and that danger must have been all due to their personal greed.”

I put a subtle internal energy into my voice. So that my voice could be heard by everyone gathered here.

“As I just said, there is a way to dismantle the Myeol-hon-jin. Among you elders, those who can endure with a minimum of water and food for about a hundred days should take the risk and dismantle it. If you succeed, you might be able to save the academy students who did something foolish.”

At the mention of a hundred days, no one among the elders answered.

“If not that, then those who plotted and executed this work should step forward. Those who pressured and threatened the guards to proceed with the work unreasonably.”

I turned my body and looked around the venue.

Among the academy students, the members of the Jeongdo-hoe looked at this side with murderous eyes.

“Who will step forward? Is it the elders and the seniors of the sects? Or is it those who, as academy students, did not even listen to the representative’s words? Who is it?”

After my words ended, no one spoke.

Not even the sound of an ant passing by could be heard in the venue.

I shouted now without caring, putting my full internal energy into it.

“Is there no one? Academy students are dying inside the Myeol-hon-jin right now. Is there no one willing to risk their lives for them?”

I looked at the place where the members of the Jeongdo-hoe were gathered.

And I said to the person standing at the center.

“Il-gak, academy student! I don’t think you weren’t involved in this. Don’t you have any intention of stepping forward?”

“…….”

It was a truly strange sight.

The monks of Shaolin glaring at me with eyes that seemed like they wanted to kill me all at once.

Perhaps even the demons of the previous life would not have received such gazes.

When I was about to drive them into a corner again, Jegal So-myeong stepped forward.

“Stop.”

Jegal So-myeong scanned the members of the Elder Council as if they were trash, then continued.

“The important problem right now is not who is responsible. It is how you can save them. Is there no way to save them?”

“If you can scour all two hundred thousand paths, you will be able to save them.”

“Although you say two hundred thousand, the actual routes you taught are only three. If you count the numbers derived from them, there wouldn’t be that many paths.”

As expected, the position of Military Advisor is not for just anyone.

I nodded.

“That is correct.”

“Then it would be most likely that people who know the Myeol-hon-jin well should go inside and save them.”

Yu Ji-ryang raised his hand quietly.

“Although I and the masters of my sect created the Myeol-hon-jin, we are not at the level where we can freely come and go inside. Saving those trapped in the Myeol-hon-jin until now has also been…”

Yu Ji-ryang did not finish his sentence and looked at me.

Jegal So-myeong nodded as if he had expected it.

“You should step forward.”

Jegal So-myeong, the Murim Alliance Leader, and the elders were all looking at me and nodding.

As if it were natural for me to step forward.

I shook my head.

“I don’t want to.”

“What?”

“The Military Advisor’s story is only theoretical; in reality, I have to risk my life. However, I don’t see any reason to risk my life for something that might become my responsibility.”

“And you call yourself the Academy Representative!”

I answered Myeong-hyeon Dojang’s shout.

“I am the Academy Representative, but most academy students have never recognized me as their representative. Risking my life and taking the blame because of such people? Why should I do that? I don’t want to.”

“Ha…”

Myeong-hyeon Dojang and the elders trembled.

Jegal So-myeong, who had been looking at me expressionlessly for a moment, said.

“The Academy Representative is right. Those who entered the Myeol-hon-jin broke the rules of the academy and ruined an important event that involved the Alliance’s budget. They must pay a price as heavy as stealing someone else’s martial arts.”

“Military Advisor!”

“That cannot be said!”

“That cannot be!”

Jegal So-myeong said, glaring at Myeong-hyeon Dojang and others.

“Then, are you going to watch your disciples die like that?”

“…….”

Jegal So-myeong shouted so that the whole training ground could hear.

“Those who led this work and those who dared to enter the Myeol-hon-jin without fear will be expelled, and those involved will also be disciplined.”

Whether or not the personnel who heard Jegal So-myeong’s words whispered about it, Jegal So-myeong looked at me and said.

“Can the Academy Representative bring the academy students so that they can receive proper discipline?”

I could see the Jeongdo-hoe bastards getting expelled?

“I will definitely bring them back!!!”

Even if my life was on the line, I couldn’t pass this up.

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