The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 56

[ … words ]

***

The shortest table was placed at the seat of honor. It was a table where about six people could sit.

Then, long tables were attached to both sides of that table at right angles.

I did not know if it was intentional, but inside the banquet hall, the direct lineage and the collateral branch were seated facing each other.

On the left, the direct lineage—Namgung Jin-myeong and his wife, and their children Namgung San and Namgung Seon-hwa—sat, and next to them sat the heads of each faction and unit.

On the right, Namgung Song-ju and his son Namgung Gi-pyo were seated. And the unit leaders in charge of the external office, along with those in charge of external affairs, each took their seats.

Me?

I was seated on the left side of the seat of honor.

At first, I approached thinking I should just sit next to Namgung Seon-hwa, but Namgung Jin-myeong pointed to the seat of honor.

I was greatly surprised and tried to refuse several times, but he eventually made me sit in this spot.

“I have prepared a small banquet for you.”

The time I had tried so hard to avoid had returned.

Just as I was thinking about how I had to endure this cringeworthy seat once again.

“I am doubtful whether that is the right decision, So-ga-ju-nim.”

At Namgung Song-ju’s words, Namgung Jin-myeong’s brow furrowed slightly.

“What do you mean by that?”

“It is true that a benefactor has come to the Namgung Clan. However, has the Namgung Clan not just suffered a major incident? Five warriors died. Do you think the warriors of the clan and the people of the external clans will view this favorably?”

Namgung Song-ju was stopping the banquet just as I had hoped, but conversely, because he was the one stopping it, for some reason, a sense of defiance rose up within me.

“…….”

Namgung Jin-myeong could not say anything else to Namgung Song-ju.

To outsiders, it was an act bordering on an absurd act of insubordination, but the warriors of the Namgung Clan were not very surprised.

It was just that the gazes of those sitting on the direct lineage side toward Namgung Song-ju were not pleasant.

“Then, what do you think is the best course of action?”

“I have prepared about 100 nyang of gold in the name of the Namgung Clan. I think that would be more than enough compensation for a disciple of the Tae-eul-mun.”

“Are you saying that the lives of the Namgung Clan’s warriors are worth only that much?”

“The lives of warriors are something for which one dare not set a price. However, compensation is, after all, relative, is it not?”

It was clearly a scene where Namgung Jin-myeong was being pushed back.

This was one aspect that showed the current reality of the Namgung Clan.

Namgung Song-ju, the Merchant Group Leader of the Changgung-sang-dan.

Despite being from the collateral branch, he was a person with such great influence that he could refute the opinion of the So-ga-ju within the Namgung Clan.

The reason he could act like this was because the Changgung-sang-dan, where he served as the Merchant Group Leader, managed all the business that the Namgung Clan conducted externally.

In short, all the money earned in the name of the Namgung Clan was entering the Namgung Clan through the Changgung-sang-dan.

It was truly a situation where he held the Namgung Clan by the throat.

“…….”

As an uncomfortable silence hung over the hall, the door burst open and an old man with a large frame entered.

“What is the meaning of that?”

In an instant, everyone in the hall stood up and bowed.

“We greet the Gaju-nim.”

He was an old man who was at least 6 feet tall with solid muscles, and if it weren’t for the white beard and hair covering his chin and head, one could easily pass him off as a middle-aged man.

He sat down firmly next to me.

“I ask Namgung Song-ju. What is the meaning of that?”

Everyone else had taken their seats, but Namgung Song-ju stood and answered.

“It is exactly as I said. Just today, the direct descendants of the Namgung Clan faced a crisis where they nearly died. In that process, five of the Namgung Clan’s elite warriors lost their lives. I am afraid of how the people of the world will view it if we hold a banquet on a day like this.”

“I heard that it was also this young man who played a major role in that attack today. And this young man saved over 4,000 people, including the Namgung Clan’s warriors, with his own hands just a few months ago. If we do not even hold a banquet when such a precious person has visited the Namgung Clan, what will the people of the world say?”

Namgung Song-ju did not answer and quietly stared at the Changje-shin-geom, Namgung Tae-ha.

Surprisingly, Namgung Song-ju’s gaze did not contain even a shred of fear. It was merely the spirited gaze of a young man looking at a pathetic old man.

“Mourning for the dead shall be done with proper formality. However, just because of that, are we a family that must be so conscious of external eyes that we cannot even treat a guest we have barely managed to invite?”

“…….”

“Answer me!”

“……No, it is not.”

“Then that is settled. Let us begin.”

<><><>

I did not particularly want to receive thanks in such an atmosphere that felt like walking on thin ice, but regardless of my will, the servants came in and began to place food and alcohol.

“So you are Jin So-un?”

“Jin So-un, a late learner of the martial world, greets the Changje-shin-geom.”

“Hmm, you look more ordinary than I thought.”

I could not answer what that was, as I did not know if it was a compliment or a criticism.

“I heard you beat Namgung Gi-tae to a pulp?”

“Ah……. I did not know. I thought he was an intruder.”

“Puhahaha, to tell such a lie even after seeing what you did to the servant. You are quite a shameless brat.”

He laughed heartily and patted my shoulder, and every time he did, my body resonated with thumps.

When I glanced at Namgung Song-ju and Namgung Gi-tae, they had expressions like they were eating bugs rather than food.

“That grandfather.”

At that moment, Namgung Seon-hwa stood up from her seat.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Yes. I would like to give the Dae-yeon-shin-dan that I am to receive this time to Gongja Jin So-un.”

“!”

“!”

The commotion in the hall suddenly ceased.

At Namgung Seon-hwa’s sudden words, I even dropped the meat I was eating. I had heard that the descendants of the Namgung Clan received one Dae-yeon-shin-dan every five years. But to give that up?

“The Namgung Clan has already prepared a gift to give him. You do not need to step forward like that.”

“No. Separately from that, I have owed him my life again this time. I believe that not repaying a debt of gratitude is smearing the name of the Namgung Clan.”

“You……. You have to take the entrance exam for the Martial Arts Academy soon. Will you be alright?”

“I will not use the Dae-yeon-shin-dan as an excuse for my own shortcomings.”

“Good. Then, do as you wish.”

A moan of pain briefly escaped from the mouths of Namgung Jin-myeong and his wife, but once the Gaju had made a decision, no one dared to argue.

The banquet was held quietly in its own way.

There was no group greeting like there had been at the Cheongmyeong Escort Agency, but there were those who occasionally approached individually to express their gratitude or pour alcohol.

When the banquet was nearing its end, the Changje-shin-geom spoke.

“You should see me for a moment.”

It was a seat I had come to in order to meet him in the first place.

“I understand.”

“Ah, do not stand up right away. It seems there are still people who want to talk to you, so I will leave first.”

With that, the Changje-shin-geom left the seat first, and I was only able to get up quite a while later.

“Disciple of the Tae-eul-mun. Can I see you for a moment?”

As I was heading to the Gaju’s private training ground, Namgung Song-ju called me aside.

“What is it?”

Instead of answering, he wrapped his energy around us to prevent his voice from leaking out.

At Namgung Song-ju’s action, Namgung San and Namgung Seon-hwa furrowed their brows, but they could not particularly stop him.

“You may not know it, but your appearance does not look good in my eyes.”

“For what reason is that?”

“You do not need to know the reason. What you need to know is that even without borrowing the power of the Namgung Clan’s direct lineage, I can erase the Tae-eul-mun with the power of the collateral branch alone.”

“……Is that because of the incident at Gu-eom-san?”

Namgung Song-ju’s eyes widened.

Before long, a smile appeared at the corners of his mouth for the first time.

“They said you were smart, and it was not an empty boast.”

“Are you not even afraid of the Changje-shin-geom?”

“……I am afraid of the Changje-shin-geom. However, it is not enough to stop a major task. You can tell by the fact that I am still roaming the clan perfectly fine even after the incident at Gu-eom-san.”

“…….”

“You might think it is only because of the incident at Gu-eom-san, but for me, it is not. You have done many things wrong to me.”

“…….”

“So keep it in mind. The moment I make up my mind, the Tae-eul-mun will disappear from Anhui Province.”

Namgung Song-ju soon withdrew his energy barrier and walked away.

Namgung San and Seon-hwa approached and asked in a serious tone.

“What did you talk about?”

They were clearly convinced that there was something. I shook my head and reassured them.

“It was nothing special. Let’s go. The Gaju-nim is waiting.”

“…….”

<><><>

Dae-yeon-jeon.

It was the Gaju’s residence, located in the deepest and highest part of the Namgung Clan.

In the front yard, various beautiful flowers were in full bloom, and as I walked around the residence to the back, a training ground of the same size as the Great Training Ground at the Tae-eul-mun was set up as the Gaju’s private training ground.

Standing there, the Changje-shin-geom was stroking his beard and looking at the peak of Mount Huang.

“Gaju-nim, we have arrived.”

“The meal was not comfortable, was it?”

Where had the majestic appearance of the Changje-shin-geom gone? He had turned into an old man who wanted to play pranks.

“No, it is not. I was very satisfied to have eaten delicious food and to have been treated well.”

“But tell me.”

“…….”

“I heard you stole the shin-dan from our San?”

“!!!”

The Changje-shin-geom struck unexpectedly and directly.

Namgung San stepped forward immediately.

“I am dying of injustice. It feels like my nose was cut off while I was wide awake.”

I looked at Namgung San with the feeling of having been struck hard in the back of the head.

“What is that…….”

“Do you know the fact that the Chil-chae-bo-ju you took was actually one of the treasures I cherished the most?”

“Ha…….”

The sky turned yellow.

Clearly, knowing my father’s temperament, he would have sold it long ago, saying what was the point of having a jewel you couldn’t even eat.

And it was not a situation where I could return it now.

‘No, why did the grandson take the Changje-shin-geom’s item and bet it on a wager as he pleased!’

It was a situation where there was no solution anyway.

I decided to act brazenly.

“That was a fair and square match with Senior Namgung San. If you are going to scold someone…… please scold Senior Namgung, who used the Shin-geom’s treasure for a bet as he pleased, not me.”

“Pfft!”

“Keuhahaha.”

Namgung San and Seon-hwa giggled, and the Changje-shin-geom had a soft smile on his lips.

“That is very interesting. I heard you caught a sword with your hand, and your audacity is truly great.”

Was it a joke?

I shook my head, feeling my energy being drained.

“……!”

At the same time, an intangible energy tried to enter my body.

‘What is this!’

The level of the Gyeok-gi was on a different dimension from what I had experienced so far.

If my father, Jin Tae-san, was at the level of a stream, the Changje-shin-geom felt like he was trying to bind my whole body with a massive water current like the Yellow River.

I quickly took two steps back and raised the Tae-eul-jin-gyeong.

“?”

“?”

Namgung San and Seon-hwa did not know what was going on inside.

The Changje-shin-geom quickly withdrew his Gyeok-gi and chuckled.

“It is interesting. There was a reason why a brat who hadn’t even reached the age of twenty made the martial world sway.”

“What are you talking about? Grandfather?”

Namgung Seon-hwa asked, but the Changje-shin-geom shook his head.

“Ho-ho, you do not need to know. If you knew, you would regret your choice.”

The Changje-shin-geom looked at me and asked.

“I heard there is something interesting among the things you have learned yourself?”

Seeing him glance at Namgung San, it seemed he was talking about the Pashae-sik.

“……I do not know what you are talking about.”

“Is that so? San, you go and bring my sword, and Seon-hwa, you go down.”

“I want to watch a little longer. Grandfather.”

“I will send San down too. I have something to talk about with this child alone.”

“……Yes.”

Namgung Seon-hwa, who was pouting her lips, looked back at me several times before going down.

As the two moved away from the training ground, he asked me again.

“I heard from San. Do you know the weaknesses of the Changgung-muae-geom-beop inside and out?”

The prediction was correct after all.

And the Changje-shin-geom was quite convinced.

I first pretended not to know.

“How could someone like me know the weaknesses of that mysterious and strange sword art? It seems the Senior exaggerated.”

“Namgung Gi-pyo, that child’s aptitude may be lower than San’s, but he is not at a level to be suppressed in just this many movements by a child who has just turned twenty.”

At that moment, Namgung San was bringing the Shin-geom’s sword from the Dae-yeon-jeon, and the Shin-geom reached out toward Namgung San, who was far away.

Then, the sword slipped out of Namgung San’s hand and was caught in the Changje-shin-geom’s hand as if attracted by a magnet.

“Tell me, what price must I pay to see your sword?”

“It is just embarrassing that you would offer a price for something that does not exist.”

The gaze that had been full of goodwill turned cold little by little.

The intimidation exuded by someone who had lived his whole life reigning supreme was as hard to endure as killing intent.

“I do not like lies.”

I felt the crisis that my life was at stake, but I could not easily open my mouth.

The foundation of the Namgung Clan is the Changgung-muae-geom-beop.

Since the founder who created the Changgung-muae-geom-beop, for several generations, the Changgung-muae-geom-beop has been famous as the Namgung Clan’s esoteric art and the best sword art.

Even after the appearance of the Emperor’s Sword Art, the martial world’s treatment of the Changgung-muae-geom-beop was no different from before.

Knowing the Pashae-sik of the sword art that is the foundation of the family meant that I was holding and shaking the root that was the basis of that family.

“If you want to play hard to get, you can play as hard to get as you like. If you knew how urgent I am right now, you would ask for anything. I will even allow that.”

I know the reason why the Changje-shin-geom is salivating over the Pashae-sik of the Changgung-muae-geom-beop.

The collateral branches of the Namgung Clan also learn the Changgung-muae-geom-beop as their main sword art.

When the collateral branches act as they please, like now, the Pashae-sik is the best card to suppress their sword art and tighten the discipline.

“It is unlikely, but if I were to know the weaknesses of the Changgung-muae-geom-beop. Could I have my life preserved? No, even excluding me, can the Tae-eul-mun be safe?”

The reason I, who regressed, do not let the world know about the Pashae-sik.

It is because the Pashae-sik is a dangerous thing that will eventually cut off my lifeline and the lifeline of my sect.

No matter what sect in the world it is, if there is a Pashae-sik for their representative martial art, they will try to get rid of it by any means necessary.

“!!!”

The Shin-geom withdrew all the energy he was exuding as if he had been struck by lightning.

“If the end is eventually death, no matter what price I receive, would it not be meaningless?”

The Changje-shin-geom stared at me for a long time with a blank expression like an old man who had suffered a stroke.

“……Good, then you mean there is no Pashae-sik for you?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Then for how much are you willing to put out that Pashae-sik?”

“Are you so urgent that you have to buy something that does not exist?”

“If it were in hell, I would even go there to buy it.”

Since the Changje-shin-geom has made up his mind, I will eventually have to put out the Pashae-sik.

I also had a desire for the Namgung Clan to remain in its complete form before the Great War of Righteous and Demonic Factions, so I was thinking of handing over the Pashae-sik.

Then, what is the most expensive price I can get from the Namgung Clan right now?

“Does it not matter what it is?”

“Tell me.”

If it can be anything, there is only one thing I want from the Namgung Clan.

“Give me the Changgung-sang-dan.”

“……What?!”

The Changje-shin-geom’s mouth dropped wide open.

It was the first time I had seen the Shin-geom’s bewildered expression.