The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 59

[ … words ]

***

It was decided that the Hefei headquarters of the Changgung-sang-dan would be abolished.

The organizations that had acted as the headquarters were to return to the family in Mount Huang, and until the Tae-eul-mun entered, it was decided to operate as the Hefei branch of the Changgung-sang-dan.

The Changje-shin-geom handled it swiftly.

By establishing the Changgung-sanggak, a new organization that would take charge of managing the merchant group, mines, exchange houses, inns, and so on, and placing Namgung Song-ju in the position of Pavilion Head, he quelled the opposition from the Elder Council and the collateral branch.

Since Namgung Song-ju, the leader who had led the collateral forces all this time, remained silent, they also had nothing else they could do.

While things were happening over the span of two days, I spent my time in the Jewang-gak, reviewing my martial arts and reflecting on my realizations.

And two days later, I sat down to receive the transfer of the property rights deeds, but surprisingly, the person who came out to draft the deeds was Namgung Song-ju.

“…….”

“Sit.”

Namgung Song-ju offered the deeds as calmly as if nothing had happened.

I meticulously examined the deeds in case Namgung Song-ju had played any tricks on them.

I was the one who had {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} memorized thousands of property deeds in the Murim Alliance. Even Wang Geum-san, who was known to be cunning, could not have reviewed property deeds better than I could.

While I was examining the deeds like that, Namgung Song-ju murmured as if talking to himself.

“My father is the one who established the foundation of the Changgung-sang-dan, expanded the business, and solidified the foundation for the golden age of the Namgung Clan.”

“……?”

“The Namgung Clan had only made 100 Dae-yeon-shin-dan over the past 200 years, but after my father took charge of the Changgung-sang-dan, we were able to make at least ten Dae-yeon-shin-dan every five years. Thanks to that, the direct lineage was able to receive a Dae-yeon-shin-dan once every five years.”

“……What are you suddenly talking about?”

Namgung Song-ju continued to speak as if he could not hear my words.

“My father felt sorry that the results of his efforts could not even reach me. But I didn’t care. In the Namgung Clan, it is the law that only the collateral branch exists for the direct lineage, and the Namgung Clan becomes strong only when they become strong.”

“…….”

“My father, who had spent his whole life working hard, sweating and bleeding outside the Namgung Clan like that, could not even receive a single Dae-yeon-shin-dan before he died.”

Namgung Song-ju’s eyes stared into the air. It was a gaze that was picturing something.

Had he come out to make me feel remorse for the actions I had taken?

“Because it was after it had already entered the bellies of the direct lineage.”

“…….”

“What you have done is trample on the dreams of the Namgung Clan’s collateral branch, which has been oppressed for hundreds of years. Are you satisfied?”

After hearing that story, I asked.

“I just need to sign/seal here, right?”

“…….”

I spoke while signing.

I felt absolutely no remorse of conscience at his words.

“Everyone’s own situation is the most pitiful. One’s own situation is the most unreasonable, and one’s own situation is the most unfortunate.”

“……We…….”

I know his feelings.

No, to be precise, I can feel them.

“If you were that aggrieved, couldn’t you have just left the Namgung Clan?”

“!”

In my previous life, how much had I resented my weak sect?

I had endlessly resented the sect that could give me nothing and only took things away from me.

“The leap of the Changgung-sang-dan. It is a great achievement. However, would it have been possible without the name of the Namgung Clan?”

Blind by that resentment, I could not see properly. What I had received from the Tae-eul-mun, and what kind of protection I had received from the Tae-eul-mun.

What I had run away from. I only knew after I had lost everything.

“It would have been impossible. And I understand that the collateral branch is not bound by the family from the moment they become the collateral branch. Is that correct?”

“…….”

“Because there is no duty, there is no right. Even so, wasn’t staying in the Namgung Clan for the sake of relying on the name of the Namgung Clan?”

“…….”

The man in front of my eyes now.

In my previous life, he achieved everything he wanted and died at the hands of the Changje-shin-geom.

Watching the burning Namgung Clan, watching the bloodline of the collateral branch dying at the hands of the Shin-geom, was he satisfied?

“I, too, once greatly resented being born in the Tae-eul-mun. Moreover, my father was the head of the outer hall, so I couldn’t even leave the Tae-eul-mun and live. It was only after I lost countless precious things that I took for granted while only resenting like that, that I realized.”

“……What is that?”

“That the things I think of as taken for granted are not taken for granted.”

“…….”

“While the Pavilion Head may be infinitely unhappy with the situation you are in, from my perspective, those are things that allow one to live without envy. At the very least, people won’t mock you when talking about the Namgung Clan.”

“…….”

“Of course, you won’t become happy because of my misfortune, but if you are going to grumble, shouldn’t you do it in front of high-ranking officials, not a beggar begging under a bridge?”

“……Then let me ask, are you satisfied now?”

I showed him the deeds and said.

“I am beyond satisfied, it is more than enough. To the Pavilion Head, this may be just one of the dozens of branches you have, but in my sect, with just this one, everyone in the sect will be able to eat warm meals three times a day, and they won’t have to wear tattered, patched clothes.”

“…….”

“If you are truly dissatisfied, leave anytime. That is the advice I can give you.”

I folded the deeds carefully, put them in my bosom, and got up from my seat.

Only then did Namgung Song-ju open his mouth as if he had just remembered.

“That matters…….”

“The corpse has already been disposed of long ago. Do you think I would just leave a corpse lightly buried by wild animals?”

“……I was deceived.”

Namgung Song-ju did not react much.

“I look forward to your continued cooperation.”

I walked out, leaving behind Namgung Song-ju, who had no answer.

<><><>

The Changje-shin-geom decided to enter closed-door training with Namgung San.

Namgung Seon-hwa also had to enter, but since she had the Martial Arts Academy exam, and they did not know when the closed-door training would end, her new sword art training was postponed along with Namgung Jin-myeong.

Even though it was clear that the entire Namgung Clan would become complicated because the collateral branch’s businesses were suddenly coming into the main family, the fact that he took the drastic measure of leaving the Gaju’s seat empty seemed to be because he thought that only completing the Sangseung-sik was the solution that could fundamentally calm all this chaos.

“It is the Changgung-unwi-geom-beop (Sky-Blue Cloud-Majesty Sword Art).”

“What are you talking about?”

“The name of the new sword art.”

At the Changje-shin-geom’s words, I clicked my tongue.

“Why do you insist on including the character ‘Un’ (Cloud)? Wouldn’t the ‘Changgung-muwi-geom-beop’ be better?”

“Isn’t your name Jin So-un?”

“…….”

I couldn’t speak and just opened and closed my mouth.

The Changje-shin-geom continued to speak with a smile on his lips.

“You intend to take the Martial Arts Academy entrance exam this time, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then please take good care of my granddaughter.”

The Changje-shin-geom said, pointing at Namgung Seon-hwa, and Namgung Jin-myeong and Namgung Seon-hwa, who were listening from the side, tilted their heads.

“Isn’t that what I should be asking of you? I will probably be taking the exam alone or with just a few disciples.”

At my words, Namgung Jin-myeong and Namgung Seon-hwa were shocked.

“What nonsense!”

“Jin Gongja! That won’t do!”

The Changje-shin-geom clicked his tongue as he watched them.

“That’s the kind of child he is. So you will have to give him a lot of help.”

“Why are you doing this? Wasn’t the calculation between us all finished?”

“My goodness……. I wrote a few lines to send a letter to that Poison King fellow. I suppose I should tell him not to send it.”

I had asked him to say a few words to the Sichuan Tang Clan regarding the use of the Baek-mo-hwa-tong (White Hair Flower Tube) previously, but he was bringing that up.

“That was all to save your grandson and granddaughter…….”

“Ahem, either way, didn’t you purchase and use it through an uncertain route? Perhaps the Tang Clan might be curious if you have other artifacts.”

“Haa…….”

Since I used an artifact that was one of the Sichuan Tang Clan’s gold-using hidden weapons, it was only a matter of time before this news reached the ears of the Tang Clan. If someone like the Namgung Clan, or rather, the Changje-shin-geom, did not step forward, I did not know what kind of trouble might happen to the Tae-eul-mun while I was away.

Because it was a family specialized in poison and was not inferior to the evil sects in terms of viciousness, I could not leave any seeds of suspicion.

“We probably can’t move together, but if the route is the same, I will keep an eye on it. Could you do at least this much? It seems I need to take my disciples as well.”

“Good. Good.”

Watching the Changje-shin-geom nod, Namgung Jin-myeong and Namgung Seon-hwa still had expressions of not understanding.

<><><>

The closed-door training cave of the Namgung Clan is structured to be opened only from the inside.

And that door could only be opened by Namgung Tae-ha, the Gaju.

Namgung San, who had entered the closed-door training cave, was standing at the entrance, contemplating quietly.

“What are you doing there? Every second is urgent to complete and master the sword art.”

“Ah, that’s not it, it seems I have… failed to deliver the news I needed to.”

“To whom?”

“To Jin Gongja.”

“What news?”

“The fact that the Yongbong-jihoe is visiting the Tae-eul-mun this time.”

“My goodness, it’s not such a big deal that kids are visiting a martial sect.”

The Yongbong-jihoe, an honorable position that one can only enter after graduating from the Martial Arts Academy with excellent grades and achieving a certain level of martial arts, seemed like children’s play in the eyes of the Changje-shin-geom.

Namgung San said with a bitter smile.

“That is, they say they are visiting for the purpose of inspection this time.”

“Inspection?”

“Yes. Visiting for the purpose of inspection is an annual event, but… for some reason, the Tae-eul-mun has been subjected to a special inspection this time.”

Namgung Tae-ha, who was listening to the story, furrowed his brows.

“Tsk, are they still running around doing that kind of nonsense.”

Namgung Tae-ha seemed to roughly know what the story was.

It was no wonder, as Namgung Tae-ha had also belonged to the Yongbong-jihoe in his youth.

“……Shouldn’t I go back and tell him?”

“Leave it be. He is a child who will surely handle it well on his own. Come here quickly.”

“……Yes.”

Namgung San, who felt a strange, uncomfortable feeling even though the conversation had ended, soon realized that the reason was not because he had failed to deliver the news to Jin So-un.

“…….”

It was because his own grandfather, Namgung Tae-ha, had used words he had never used even once for himself, his younger sister, or even his father, to Jin So-un.

“‘A child who will handle it well on his own.’ Hah.”

At that moment, a shout was heard from inside the closed-door training cave.

“Why aren’t you coming quickly!”

“Yes, yes! I’m coming!”

<><><>

Jin Tae-san, who had been minimizing his reports to the Mun-ju lately because he thought even his sleeping time was a waste, visited the Mun-ju’s residence with a letter in his hand.

“……Are you alright?”

Hong Mun-gi, who saw Jin Tae-san’s face, became filled with deep worry.

“……Ah, yes, I am fine. More than that, please look at this.”

“It has come from the Hefei branch of the Murim Alliance.”

“They say the Yongbong-jihoe is visiting. It is a courtesy inspection procedure.”

Hong Mun-gi, who was reading the letter, nodded and folded the letter.

“I see.”

“How should we prepare? I think we should start by cleaning the pavilions first.”

“That will do.”

“No, Mun-ju-nim.”

“Isn’t it something we have always done? And in my view, the Tae-eul-mun has become much better than the last inspection. Don’t they send servants from the Wang family every week?”

“……That is true.”

“Empty one pavilion and just prepare new bedding. Don’t they need a place to stay when the Yongbong-jihoe comes?”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Anyway, the children will like it.”

The inspection mission of the Yongbong-jihoe was practically closer to the nature of a touring performance by young idols, which were symbols of the Murim Alliance.

It is a system that started with the purpose of having young experts who are not tainted by interests establish the laws of the Jianghu nominally, but in the present, its role of fostering dreams and fantasies of the Jianghu for children has become even greater.

Those belonging to the Yongbong-jihoe also tended to enjoy that kind of status.

“More than that, go and get some sleep. You look like you’re going to die soon.”

“……Yes, I plan to just sleep for a while once the Yongbong-jihoe is over.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

Watching Jin Tae-san walking out with a swaying gait, Hong Mun-gi smiled faintly.

“Is the work his son ordered him to do that good? Hehe.”

<><><>

I took one more day off to absorb the Dae-yeon-shin-dan that was Namgung Seon-hwa’s share.

I immediately packed my luggage and conveyed the news to the maid that I would be returning, and the maid who was in charge of the Jewang-gak informed Namgung Jin-myeong and Seon-hwa of the news.

The two of them came out to the Jewang-gak in person to see me off.

“Are you returning already?”

“I have been treated excessively well all this time. Thank you for your consideration.”

“You have been treated as a guest of my father until now, so how about staying as my guest from now on?”

Regret was dripping from Namgung Jin-myeong’s eyes.

“I would like to do that too, but I think I will have to postpone it for later.”

“Hmm? Did something happen?”

“They say the Yongbong-jihoe is visiting the Tae-eul-mun.”

“Ah…… I see. You are also at an age where you would like the people of the Yongbong-jihoe.”

Namgung Jin-myeong nodded as if he understood.

At that moment, Namgung Seon-hwa intervened.

“Father, can’t I also visit the Tae-eul-mun?”

“How much time is left until the entrance exam, and you want to go around looking for the Yongbong-jihoe? You should be thinking about getting in there.”

Watching Namgung Seon-hwa pouting her lips, Namgung Jin-myeong shook his head.

Unfortunately, the reason I am trying to return quickly is for the exact opposite reason of what the Namgung father and daughter are thinking.

Thinking of them from my previous life makes my teeth grind on their own.

‘Yongbong-jihoe….’

Exactly around this time in my previous life, the Yongbong-jihoe visits the Tae-eul-mun.

And because of them, the Mun-ju falls into juhwa-ipma (qi deviation).