The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 26

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The Tae-eul Sect was noisy from the morning due to the visit of unfamiliar people.

Dozens of people dressed in the same clothes cleaned the inside of the Tae-eul Sect and prepared meals.

The smell of a large pig boiled whole woke the children up on their own, and the external disciples who were entering the sect with heavy hearts also erased their worries and looked for the source of the smell with expressions that had already erased their worries at the fragrant smell of meat that pierced their noses.

“What on earth is it?”

At my monologue, Wang So-so, who was standing beside me, laughed cutely and said,

“They are things that Father provided, saying that we must eat well on the day of the exam.”

“By the Master?”

“Yes.”

“I wonder if this is putting too much burden on him.”

Wang So-so shook her head as if to say don’t even talk about it.

“Hoho, I tried very hard to stop him from saying he would kill a cow to hold a feast and treat the Gyeon-seong-sa-ja in the name of the Tae-eul Sect.”

“……Please convey my thanks.”

“Ah, by the way, Father said to come and play at the Wang Manor sometime. He said he wants to treat you to a meal personally.”

“I will go sometime soon.”

All the members of the Tae-eul Sect gathered in the cafeteria.

A simple yet hearty meat soup was placed in front of each person, and the children were looking at the Sect Leader, swallowing their saliva because they couldn’t endure it already.

“Let’s eat with a heart of gratitude to the Master who prepared such a wonderful meal.”

“““Thank you.”””

As soon as the Sect Leader’s words finished, the children shouted in unison, and Wang So-so just smiled slightly and nodded.

Because the children did not see Wang So-so acting arrogantly like Gye-cheol-yeong even after waiting for a while, they didn’t know what to do.

Because it had long been part of the daily routine to listen to Gye-cheol-yeong showing off.

“Is everyone not eating?”

At Wang So-so’s words, everyone hesitated and then started to dip their spoons.

The atmosphere in the cafeteria flowed more harmoniously than ever before.

After finishing the meal and while everyone was preparing for the exam, people from the Gye-ryong Merchant Group entered.

Gye Yeon-seok, Gye-cheol-yeong, and three people I saw for the first time.

A man with the appearance of a scholar, a woman with the appearance of a warrior, and even a middle-aged man who exuded a strange atmosphere in the middle. They were figures of various atmospheres.

The appearance of bringing unique people each was a composition similar to the Gyeon-seong-sa-ja.

“Hmph! Whether they ate cheap meat soup or not, the fishy smell is vibrating in the venue.”

When Gye Yeon-seok held his nose and said, Wang So-so tilted her head.

“That can’t be. Father specially killed a Green-Blue Pig, a specialty of Zhejiang Province, so there shouldn’t be a fishy taste?”

A Green-Blue Pig refers to a pig raised by feeding An-gil-baek-cha and bamboo salt clear liquor from Zhejiang Province. No wonder the soup was rich without a fishy taste.

“…….”

Eventually, the sparks of Gye Yeon-seok, who couldn’t say anything to Wang So-so, flew to me.

“Can you eat meat soup ahead of an important exam?”

“Rather than eating several cheap pigs, it is better to eat expensive pig soup, as it does not upset the stomach.”

I pointed out that Gye Yeon-seok always bought a lot of pigs that were slaughtered after giving birth to piglets when holding a feast.

“But are you okay? Cheol-yeong might fail the exam, shouldn’t you go to a temple and offer a prayer at a time like this?”

“Hmph! You must not have heard the rumor yet.”

“Rumor?”

“The person standing in the middle of those three people over there is that famous Il-ta-gang-sa (Top-tier Tutor) Mr. Jang Sa-gun.”

At Gye Yeon-seok’s gesture, the eyes of the children who were nearby also headed toward Jang Sa-gun’s party.

“Among the disciples he took on, there is not a single person who failed the special admission. No matter what kind of trick you use, in the end, the Tae-eul Sect will be nothing more than a tool to make our Cheol-yeong shine.”

The children who heard Gye Yeon-seok’s words already dropped their heads one by one as if they were discouraged.

“Looking at you talking like this, you must really intend to break the relationship with the Tae-eul Sect.”

“Hmph! There is no need to associate anymore with those who abandon relationships for a bowl of meat soup.”

I began to scatter killing intent at his words.

“Think carefully. Although it is only in name, Cheol-yeong is a person who entered as a secular disciple. If you intend to leave at will, you must pay the price accordingly.”

Gye Yeon-seok’s face, exposed to the killing intent, turned pale.

At that time, the Il-ta-gang-sa Jang Sa-gun stepped forward.

“Hehe, to threaten a civilian when you have learned martial arts, you really look like you haven’t been taught well. Is the Tae-eul Sect’s teaching like that?”

I did not lose and said.

“Since a gentleman changes what he learned for money, I should call you a merchant, not a gentleman.”

Jang Sa-gun’s face stung. However, he soon regained his composure and continued.

“Confucius also received tuition to take care of his food when teaching disciples.”

“I heard that the Il-ta-gang-sa Senior receives a large mansion as tuition?”

Jang Sa-gun’s face turned bright red.

As much as his reputation, it cost a huge amount of money to hire him.

Even if it was a transaction made under tacit consent because supply and demand matched appropriately, there was nothing to be proud of from the standpoint of Jang Sa-gun, who impersonated a gentleman.

“Your tongue is very sinister. Whether your skill is also like that, it is a matter of seeing the results.”

At that time, Kang Chae-seok shouted loudly throughout the venue.

“Stop the chatter and gather everyone! The Gyeon-seong-sa-ja has arrived.”

It was a situation where the Sect Leader, the Elders, and the Hall Leaders of each hall were all gathered already.

As the children gathered in one place, a small procession slowly entered.

“It’s the Murim-maeng.”

When someone shouted, their heads headed to the head of the procession.

The person standing at the very front was holding the Murim-maeng flag, clearly showing that they were envoys of the Murim-maeng.

“I am Lee Ja-gon, the Gyeon-seong-sa-ja of the Murim-maeng, greeting you.”

“Greetings.”

When the person who revealed himself as Lee Ja-gon greeted the Sect Leader Hong Mun-gi, the envoys who had come with him greeted in unison.

Excluding the guards, the number of envoys was eleven in total.

Excluding Lee Ja-gon, there were five personnel with scholar appearances and five personnel with warrior appearances.

“You have worked hard to come a long way. I hope you will select excellent talents this time, too.”

“Selecting talents of the 108 Peaks is a major event for the Murim-maeng, too. We will do our best so that there are no problems with the exam.”

Ten envoys divided in unison and started preparing for the exam.

The scholars untied the wooden back-packs they were carrying on their backs and started taking out exam papers with densely written letters from inside and stacking them on the table.

The junior brothers, who were taking an exam for the first time in their lives, already did not look good in their complexions.

Gye-cheol-yeong looked at something like a palm-sized book woven with small paper and smiled, saying.

“Are you afraid of the exam?”

“……Are you not afraid, Senior Brother?”

“It is because you are afraid because you did not prepare properly. If you prepared properly like me, you would not be afraid.”

Gye-cheol-yeong’s conversation partner was Dong-ryong, the youngest of the three brothers, Geum-pyo, Eun-ho, and Dong-ryong.

“By any chance, if you really don’t know, shall I pick out a few questions for you?”

“…….”

Dong-ryong showed an expression full of resentment toward Gye-cheol-yeong, and Geum-pyo and Eun-ho, who were listening to the conversation together, hurriedly led Dong-ryong and moved their seats.

While the scholars were preparing for the first exam, the warriors were meeting with the Hall Leaders and talking.

“Are you only looking at basic sword techniques and basic internal energy this time, too?”

At Kang Chae-seok’s question, the female warrior nodded.

“The martial arts exam of the 108 Peaks is always the same. It is to see the depth and utilization of basic martial arts. You will learn other martial arts at the Murim Academy. Anyway, in the end, it is to see how firmly you have formed your roots.”

“I understand. Regarding basic martial arts and basic internal energy, I will tell you what the Hall Leaders should look at.”

At Kang Chae-seok’s words, the female warrior shook her head.

“Regarding the martial arts of the Tae-eul Sect, we have already grasped everything as data in the Murim-maeng. Thank you for your concern.”

At the female warrior’s words, Kang Chae-seok looked quite flustered.

Even if it is basic martial arts, they would not be able to know better than those who belong to the sect.

If they grasped everything only with data, it meant that the skills of these warriors who came as examiners were already far beyond them.

“Ugh…….”

Kang Chae-seok did not speak any more and only looked at those preparing for the exam.

Lee Ja-gon was examining the preparations of the examiners when he opened his eyes wide after seeing a character in the venue.

When the other party also made eye contact with Lee Ja-gon, he bowed his head, and Lee Ja-gon immediately held his Po-gwon and said.

“Senior. What brings you here.”

People’s gazes started to focus on Lee Ja-gon and Jang Sa-gun.

Jang Sa-gun straightened his shoulders and laughed.

“Junior, have you been well?”

“Of course. Thanks to your thorough teaching, am I not serving as the Hyang-ju (Regional Chief) of the Gyeon-seong-sa-ja like this?”

“I knew you would become like that.”

Listening quietly, Lee Ja-gon and Jang Sa-gun seemed to have been close in the past.

“By any chance, is there a student you taught in this exam?”

“Oops, I didn’t introduce him.”

Jang Sa-gun stretched his hand toward his right and said.

“He is Gye-cheol-yeong, a secular disciple of the Tae-eul Sect and the legitimate son of the Gye-ryong Merchant Group. In addition to the twin dragons of the Cheol-geom-mun in Hefei, Anhui Province, there was a great hidden dragon, so I came like this.”

Gye-cheol-yeong straightened his shoulders and stepped forward to offer a Po-gwon-ji-rye.

“I am Gye-cheol-yeong of the Gye-ryong Merchant Group.”

Lee Ja-gon looked at him and nodded.

“He is a very dignified young man. I understand why the Senior chose him.”

“Hehehe, you have only seen exams so far, but why has your way of speaking only improved?”

“Well. In fact, haven’t all the students you taught gone to the Murim Academy? We should see it as comfortable because we can distinguish the jade from the stone more easily.”

Jang Sa-gun patted Lee Ja-gon’s shoulder as if satisfied.

“Hahaha. Yes, yes. I know. If you are not busy, let’s have a drink after the exam is all over.”

“I wish I could.”

Because the distance between the children and the two was not that far, the two people’s stories were heard by us one after another.

Wang So-so, who was listening to the story, raised her eyes and said.

“This makes no sense. I will tell my father right now and file an objection.”

Wang So-so’s feelings were the same as all of ours.

However, I stopped Wang So-so.

“Since they haven’t given any special treatment to the exam yet, sit down.”

“Oppa, the very fact that the examiner and the examinee have a personal relationship is unfair.”

At that time, Sa-ryeon intervened.

“Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

When Wang So-so looked with suspicious eyes, Sa-ryeon said with a firm face.

“You should call him Senior Brother, not Oppa?”

“Ah…… I’m sorry. Anyway, don’t you think it makes no sense, Senior Sister?”

“Yes. But the Great Disciple will have an idea. Right?”

Sa-ryeon glared at me with eyes that wouldn’t let me go if I said ‘I don’t have one’ now.

“Both of you studied the book I gave you, right?”

“I studied hard…….”

“Yes. I memorized it all.”

Sa-ryeon looked like she lacked confidence, and So-so was confident.

“Memorized it all? The quantity wasn’t small, was it?”

“Because the only thing I could do in my room every day was reading books. I can memorize that much.”

I nodded slightly.

“The other children won’t be different, right?”

“So-so Junior Sister gave private tutoring to the children who couldn’t understand.”

“Hoho. Then that’s enough.”

Sa-ryeon and So-so tilted their heads as if they didn’t know even with my confident appearance.

After a while, when Hong Mun-gi stood in the center, the commotion in the venue subsided.

Hong Mun-gi, who was looking at the children with somehow complex eyes, opened his mouth.

“Gratefully. The Murim-maeng has opened the current exam to point out the possibility of the Tae-eul Sect and select special talents.”

The children looked at him quietly without taking their eyes off Hong Mun-gi even for a moment.

“When the results of the exam come out, there will be those who are frustrated by it, and those who cheer.”

Hong Mun-gi’s gaze somehow stayed on Gye-cheol-yeong.

He seemed troubled by the expectation that the successful candidate of this exam would be Gye-cheol-yeong.

“However, thinking about walking the long, long road of the Way, the exam in front of you is just a process.”

The story now must be just hoping that the children’s hearts would not break.

“So, I hope the disciples of the Tae-eul Sect will put more meaning into being able to check how far they have come on this long road through this opportunity.”

It was clear that such a heart made the Tae-eul Sect a more family-like atmosphere in the end.

‘However…….’

It is enough to let it pass by saying good is good in the previous life.

Because I had no intention of repeating the same mistakes as the past in this exam.

“…….”

Hong Mun-gi, who finished speaking, somehow felt like he was staring at me.

Following that, as the Gyeon-seong-sa-ja stepped forward, Hong Mun-gi slowly turned his body and went down under the podium.

“The exam will begin. Examinees, please take your seats.”

As the disciples took their seats on small mats in rows and columns with distance from each other, the scholars went around personally and turned the exam papers over.

“The total exam time is one hour. Examinees, please do your best. In the unlikely event that you secretly look at someone else’s answer sheet or copy it, you will be disqualified, so please keep this in mind. Start.”

When the scholar hit a small gong Deng, the disciples started turning the exam papers over in unison.

Gye-cheol-yeong started scanning the exam paper as if he was already confident.

On the other hand, the disciples were still looking at the exam paper blankly with a wilted appearance, having an expression that white is paper and black is ink.

I looked around at Gye-cheol-yeong and the junior brothers one by one.

‘Notice it!’

As a quarter of an hour passed, embarrassment also started to appear in Gye-cheol-yeong’s pupils. He had encountered some unexpected problems.

On the other hand, the junior brothers who had been wilted started tilting their heads one by one.

Then, slowly, but without stopping, they started to write down the answers.

“What is it?”

Jang Sa-gun, who was under the training ground, felt something strange and wrinkled his brow.

He saw that all the disciples of the Tae-eul Sect were writing answer sheets without stopping.

Only then did Gye-cheol-yeong realize that only he was blocked without being able to solve the problem.

“Heo…….”

When he sighed low while looking at the appearance of the other disciples, one scholar approached and whispered low.

“Examinee, if you don’t want to be disqualified, focus on the exam quietly.”

“Ah…… Yes, yes.”

Gye-cheol-yeong bowed his head again, but he still couldn’t focus on the exam.