The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 61

[ … words ]

***

“Daesahyeong!”

“Daesahyeong!”

“Hyung-nim!”

“O-ra-beo-ni!”

Suddenly, the junior disciples came rushing in, but because I was so out of breath, I could not answer them.

The journey back with Moyong Gang was terrible.

The damned old man kept complaining here and there, and he made it a habit to make me do things.

He would suddenly say he wanted to eat meat.

Or he would ask me to show him my footwork.

He asked, from when I started learning martial arts.

He even asked if I had obtained some kind of fortuitous encounter.

Because he poured out a baptism of trivial questions, I was on the verge of losing my mind.

I even seriously considered whether I should respond with the Pung-baek-pa-geom or as a herb gatherer if Moyong Gang got beaten by an opponent while engaging in his eccentric behavior.

Still, I had been coaxing and soothing him somehow, thinking that I would barely make it in time. But when I heard that the Yongbong-jihoe had already departed in the morning while passing through Hefei, I lost my mind, abandoned the likes of Moyong Gang (?), and ran here.

“O-ra-beo-ni. Here, drink some water, water.”

I gulped down the water Wang So-so handed me without even being able to say thank you.

“Hoo…….”

Only after I caught my breath did Jin Tae-san ask.

“What is it? Suddenly…… what on earth…….”

“Father.”

“……Huh?”

“The old man and his grandson will arrive in a little while. Please treat them like honored guests.”

“Hmm?”

“You must never treat them with contempt as a pathetic old man with a foul personality. You must not ignore them just because they look like herb gatherers either. Think of them as the Yongbong-jihoe over there…… no, you must treat them as if the Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance has come.”

“What is that……. You brat!”

I did not even listen to my father’s answer, but stepped into the Great Courtyard and greeted the Mun-ju-nim.

“I am late. Mun-ju-nim.”

“Yes. Did you have a safe trip?”

“Yes. I am sorry. I arrived late without even knowing that guests had come like this.”

“It is fine, as you have arrived.”

The gaze of the Yongbong-jihoe looking at me was not good.

The gazes gathering on me made me feel as if I had become an uninvited guest.

Whether or not they did, my gaze was directed solely at one place.

‘You are still the same.’

Unlike the Yongbong-jihoe, who were full of hostility or playfulness, she was the only one worrying about this situation.

She was the same in my previous life and in this present life.

“Hu-bae-nim (Junior), it is good to offer greetings, but does it not seem like now is not the time?”

Jong Byeok-gi, who stood behind Hwa Jeong-san, said.

“What kind of thing do you mean?”

“Hah! Are the adults not discussing important matters right now? Is that how you were taught in the Tae-eul-mun?”

To bring up the teachings of the Tae-eul-mun inside the Tae-eul-mun, just how arrogant must one be to speak so brazenly?

“Senior Jong. If the Bi-un-sin-pung of Diancang only flatters the Plum Blossoms, the people of the world will laugh at you.”

“What!”

“!”

“!”

The figures of the Yongbong-jihoe had shocked expressions upon hearing the words that came out of my mouth.

Jong Byeok-gi, who thought he had been insulted, even gripped the sword hilt and tried to draw it.

Only after Il-myeong blocked his hand did Jong Byeok-gi realize he had tried to draw his sword, and he had a surprised expression on his own face.

Il-myeong said calmly.

“So-hyeop (Young Hero), it seems this is not a place for So-hyeop to intervene.”

“I am Jin So-un, the first disciple of the Tae-eul-mun. I intervened even though I knew it was rude.”

“Knowing that you committed rudeness, why are you {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} committing rudeness?”

“The ancient sages said to treat even that which is not etiquette with etiquette, but this humble person is petty and has not yet reached that realm.”

“…….”

At the words that pinched Hwa Jeong-san’s attitude, Il-myeong’s face hardened stiffly.

“Is there not too much difference in seniority between you and Great Hero Hwa to request a sparring match with the Mun-ju-nim, who is like a father to the sect? Moreover, it is not as if you were seeking intimacy, and applying for a sparring match unilaterally is not etiquette. Since Great Hero Hwa could not have been unaware of this, is this not ignoring the entire Tae-eul-mun?”

Hwa Jeong-san’s face, and the faces of the others, were hardening very stiffly.

“However, since you are a person who came from afar and wanted to taste the sword technique of the Tae-eul-geom-je so desperately, I stepped forward on his behalf.”

“……Are you even worthy of receiving my sword, you brat?”

I scoffed.

“Is it not a light sparring match? It is just a place to share learning while showing sword techniques, so why is skill important?”

Hwa Jeong-san, who was gnashing his teeth at me, suddenly looked at Hong Mun-gi and said.

“Mun-ju-nim, if I defeat this child and defeat all the disciples you want, will you give me your guidance?”

Hwa Jeong-san spoke confidently, as if he intended to destroy the sect.

Even though the anger of the Tae-eul-mun people was gradually rising at Hwa Jeong-san’s overt attitude, Hwa Jeong-san did not care at all.

“……I understand.”

Eventually, Hong Mun-gi nodded heavily.

As Hwa Jeong-san and I moved to the training ground, everyone moved their seats accordingly.

“But are you really going to use a real sword?”

“Are you scared now?”

“Is it not necessary to risk one’s life to have a sparring match?”

“Let me tell you one thing. True skill comes out at the moment when your life is most at stake.”

That remark was already a statement that had been rooted in my memory.

Because it was what he said while beating me, who was acting as Gye Cheol-yeong’s servant in my previous life, to the brink of death, calling it sparring practice.

Thinking of that time, a smile spread across my lips.

“I understand.”

I climbed onto the training ground and drew the Black Dragon Sword.

At the sight of everything from the sword body to the sword hilt being black, a spark of interest appeared in Hwa Jeong-san’s eyes.

“A precious sword cannot replace skill.”

“I am not carrying it to replace my skill. A sword that fits my skill just happened to fall into my hands.”

“Only your mouth is alive. As expected, you are a descendant of the Tae-eul-geom-je.”

It was clearly a sarcastic remark, but it did not hurt me at all right now.

“Thank you.”

“……I will concede three moves.”

“Will you be alright?”

“Hmph, that is the only opportunity you will be able to use.”

“I understand.”

I looked at my palms. Palms where blisters had hardened due to countless training sessions in this present life. In the past, eczema never disappeared from my hands because I was washing Hwa Jeong-san’s socks and undergarments.

“Then the first one is the So-cheon-geom-beop (Small Heaven Sword Technique).”

I gritted my teeth, thinking of that time.

<><><>

“This child is quite exhausted.”

At Moyong Gang’s words, Moyong Jae-hwa clicked his tongue.

“That’s all because of my grandfather. Why did you drag the horse up the mountain saying you had to hunt a wild boar in the middle of it?”

“You brat! How can a person live only by eating porridge? Sometimes you have to eat meat and such.”

“If we use Gyeong-sin-beop even now, we can go quickly.”

“Then wouldn’t our identities be discovered!”

At Moyong Gang’s words, Moyong Jae-hwa felt the limit of his patience once again.

He even had the irreverent thought that he hoped he wasn’t really his grandfather, or rather, that he hoped his grandfather wasn’t the absolute master of the Jianghu known as the Pung-baek-pa-geom.

This period was a quite important period for Moyong Jae-hwa.

Originally, he had no interest in the Moyong Clan’s swordsmanship, and he did not want to take the Murim entrance exam either, but his father had gone to find the Na-dan (Internal Elixir) of Hwa-hu for his sake.

However, his father, whom he had trusted without doubt not to suffer any scary things anywhere, even if he wasn’t as great as his grandfather, had gone missing, and the house was in an uproar at the crisis of losing the So-ga-ju.

Immediately, his grandfather led the warriors of the Moyong family to search for his father, and he himself also followed such a grandfather.

Fortunately, his father appeared again after a month.

In the contents delivered through the carrier pigeon, it said that he had preserved his life by receiving great help from a hero named Jin So-un of the Tae-eul-mun.

Thanking heaven at the news that his father had returned, he was about to return home, having regained his resolve to do his best to prepare for the exam.

“Like a sloppy guy. The So-ga-ju of the Moyong Clan getting attacked?”

For some reason, his grandfather, whose mood was thoroughly soured, did not return home and started his eccentric behavior.

His grandfather’s eccentric behavior was not a matter of a day or two, and just as he was about to ignore it and return, his grandfather sealed his Hyeol-do (acupuncture points), Dan-jeon, and blood vessels, and forcibly participated in his eccentric behavior.

“I have to prepare for the Murim entrance exam. Grandfather!”

“This experience is more important than the exam you are taking!”

His grandfather, who insisted on such absurd arguments, did not let him wear the clothes of the Moyong Clan, and after even putting a human skin mask on him, he started his eccentric behavior disguised as a herb gatherer and his grandson.

The journey to the Jianghu that started like that was a series of trials for Moyong Jae-hwa.

“Hey~ Your big brother is hungry because I have no money, so empty your pockets.”

It was basic to have his pockets emptied by ruffians holding swords while walking on the road,

“You bastard? Hey! If you hit someone, you should apologize!”

“Didn’t we just bump shoulders!”

He had to be beaten until his eyes turned black and blue just because he bumped shoulders.

“We need to eat, so vacate the seat.”

He had to be kicked out of his seat without even eating half of his food.

Even though it was a weak body, it was a body that had learned the martial arts of the Moyong Clan.

Moyong Jae-hwa had to experience harsh things that he would never have suffered if he had only had internal energy.

Was the life of a commoner who had not learned martial arts this harsh?

Chewing on such distress, Moyong Jae-hwa reaches a realization.

‘Ah! Grandfather must have given me these trials to make me realize this. One must know weakness to be able to devote oneself more to strength!’

Perhaps Moyong Jae-hwa’s usual neglect of swordsmanship was also the trigger for this eccentric behavior.

Moyong Jae-hwa resolved to devote himself more to martial arts through this realization, and he told his grandfather of that resolve.

“Eh? What are you talking about? Guidance? And what is this realization?”

“……??”

Moyong Gang just tilted his head, saying he didn’t know at all, and continued his eccentric behavior.

In the hope of at least reducing the beatings he was receiving unfairly, he also turned his eyes away from all kinds of ugly and dirty things happening everywhere.

Even when he saw ruffians harassing a woman, he ignored it, and even when he saw a warrior tormenting a farmer who was setting up a roadside stall and doing business, he ignored it.

But every time Moyong Jae-hwa tried hard to ignore it, it was Moyong Gang who stepped forward.

“That a man born with a penis only does harassment, your mother must not have even eaten meat soup lamenting after giving birth to you.”

“……???”

“A warrior holding a sword loses the Way, he becomes a common ruffian. Looking at your face, the master who taught you martial arts must have also been a guy who snatched a small change in the back alleys.”

“……!!!”

The sharp and painful tongue of Moyong Gang was fitting for the nickname “Hero.”

When the ruffians and warriors, whose eyes turned upside down due to Moyong Gang’s cursing, were about to raise their fists and swords, Moyong Gang was terrified and hid behind Moyong Jae-hwa.

“I, I am an old man who knows nothing.”

“You look too much alike to say you don’t know!”

It seems there was a reason why he put on human skin masks that looked similar, saying it was the role of a grandson and grandfather.

Like that, it started to be taken for granted that Moyong Gang did the cursing and Moyong Jae-hwa did the taking of the beatings.

Every time that happened, the grandfather who avoided the beatings was making an expression that he couldn’t hold back his laughter from where Moyong Jae-hwa’s gaze reached.

Coming to this state, now Moyong Jae-hwa’s character also began to twist as much as it could twist.

He reached a level where he hated his grandfather, who always avoided the fists of the ruffians by acting like a powerless old man whenever an incident occurred, to the point of being hateful.

“Why are you hitting me! The one who cursed at you is my grandfather over there!!”

“…….”

A ruffian with a tattoo of something that could be a dragon or a snake on his forearm looked back and forth between Moyong Jae-hwa and Moyong Gang while swinging his fist.

“Although I am in the evil faction, I cannot tolerate a shameless piece of trash who sells out his own grandfather! Know that today is the day of your memorial service.”

Moyong Jae-hwa, who was beaten until he fainted like that, could no longer resist whether it was ruffians or people of the Jianghu.

There is no master in front of beatings, so as he was beaten this much, the righteous words that used to pour out like before could no longer come out of his throat.

“Heh heh. A man has been beaten a few times, so you can’t even say a word?”

“…….”

His grandfather’s provocation made Moyong Jae-hwa feel more resentful and aggrieved.

“Where on earth are you trying to go! I am going back now!”

“Really? I was going to convey my gratitude because the child who saved your father is a child of the Tae-eul-mun. If you are that determined, then go back. It is Sang-won’s fault for giving birth to a shameless child who doesn’t even know the grace of saving his only father.”

“…….”

Eventually, Moyong Jae-hwa had no choice but to close his mouth and follow Moyong Gang.

Hoping that there would be no more trouble.

However, contrary to Moyong Jae-hwa’s wish, they met bandits on the way to the Tae-eul-mun, and this time too, just before being beaten by the bandits with words like “A man’s testicles are……”, “Since your night work is sloppy……”, etc., a noble person descended from the sky and saved Moyong Jae-hwa.

“I am Jin So-un of the Tae-eul-mun.”

His identity was none other than that “noble person” who had saved his father.

I tried to acknowledge him out of gladness, but Moyong Gang firmly stopped me.

‘He is the person who saved your father. This kind of behavior will clearly be rude.’

‘Stay still.’

‘If things go on like this, the honor of the Moyong Clan will fall to the ground.’

‘Ssh! Stay still, did you hear me?!’

Moyong Jae-hwa was worried that Jin So-un might get angry and swing his fist at Moyong Gang’s rude behavior, but he was a person with an amazing character beyond his imagination.

Watching Jin So-un accept all the pestering that was hard to accept even while knowing he was actually Moyong Gang, Moyong Jae-hwa thought that this was the demeanor of a true “magnanimous person.”

“Seeing that Great Hero Jin went so urgently, did something happen?”

“What urgent matter are you talking about?”

“Like a problem occurring in the sect.”

“Didn’t I tell you I am returning because of the visit of the Yongbong-jihoe.”

“Why is the visit of the Yongbong-jihoe such an urgent matter?”

“The Yongbong-jihoe is originally an inspection organization, but sometimes it changes into a quite rude ‘inspection’ organization to test the 108 Peaks.”

“Yes? What does that mean.”

“Aren’t the personnel of the Yongbong-jihoe created by concentrating all the capabilities of each sect? What would happen if such personnel go to the lower sects of the 108 Peaks and stir things up?”

Moyong Jae-hwa’s face turned pale.

“Are you saying the Yongbong-jihoe does such things?”

“So, you too should not hold illusions about things like the Yongbong-jihoe.”

“I have no such illusions. Anyway, if that is the case, isn’t now not the time to be doing this. If something happens to the Tae-eul-mun…… I cannot let it happen. Grandfather. Please unseal my blood points quickly.”

“Heh heh. Stop it, you child. Can’t you tell even after seeing that child Jin So-un unfolding the lightness skill a little while ago?”

“…….”

Clearly, the speed did not look ordinary. However, even so, is that a big deal? There wasn’t just one or two lightness skills in the Jianghu that focused only on speed.

“Tsk tsk. To have such eyes that cannot see.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you properly see the footwork when you met those bandits?”

“……Yes.”

“Where on earth is this, to take the Murim entrance exam. Tsk. You must take this Murim entrance exam with monsters like Jin So-un.”

“Monsters?”

“If a child who hasn’t even reached the age of twenty contains a hundred years of time, that is a monster.”

“What on earth are you talking…….”

“Be quiet!”

Moyong Jae-hwa had many more things he was curious about, but he shut his mouth while watching Moyong Gang start to act like a herb gatherer again.

You never know what kind of drubbing you might get if you disturb your grandfather when he is engaging in eccentric behavior.

As they entered the Tae-eul-mun, a man with a large build approached with long strides.

Moyong Jae-hwa, who now became stiff just by someone approaching with a scary face.

Moyong Jae-hwa felt a sense of shame at his own pathetic appearance.

The man asked in a gruff voice.

“Jin So-un…… are you the people who came with that guy?”

“Oh my……. Yes. That is correct.”

“I heard the story from that guy So-un. I will escort you inside.”

“That is fine. Escorting humble people like us. Just watching from the side is enough.”

“No. The Tae-eul-mun did not treat guests like that. Please come this way.”

At the hospitality he was receiving for the first time while playing the role of a herb gatherer, Moyong Jae-hwa felt something welling up in his heart.

“Um…… Senior…… no, Master, by any chance, what is your relationship with Great Hero Jin So-un…….”

Asking because there was a bird that strangely resembled his face, the man smiled awkwardly.

“I am that guy’s father. I am Jin Tae-san, who manages the outer hall of the Tae-eul-mun.”

At the sight of him even clasping his hands politely now, Moyong Jae-hwa had no choice but to be moved.

At that moment, in the middle of the Great Courtyard, it seemed that the people who looked like the Yongbong-jihoe and Jin So-un were confronting each other.

Moyong Jae-hwa discovered Moyong Seol among the Yongbong-jihoe, but he could not acknowledge her.

“Since there are other guests who have come to the Tae-eul-mun right now…… I will escort you inside.”

At Jin Tae-san’s appearance trying to take them inside, Moyong Jae-hwa quickly stepped forward and said.

“No. By any chance, may we observe…… no, watch from here? I have lived only in the mountains all my life, so I have never had the opportunity to see such a rare sight.”

As I followed my grandfather and engaged in eccentric behavior, such lines came out naturally.

Next to him, Moyong Gang was nodding with a contented smile, and that appearance was too unbearable to watch.

“Ah… well, it doesn’t matter, but I think it would be better to be a little far away. Because the aftermath of the sparring match might spread.”

“Of course. Of course.”

I didn’t know what the situation was, but Hwa Jeong-san and Jin So-un were about to start a sparring match.

“Heh heh, it seems you are slowly starting to like this wandering too. Seeing that lines are coming out naturally.”

“I am not!”

Moyong Jae-hwa shouted without realizing it.

“Watch carefully. I followed all the way here just to show you this.”

“What is that…….”

“In the Murim entrance exam, there are plenty of children like that.”

“…….”

At Moyong Gang’s words, Moyong Jae-hwa had no choice but to tilt his head.

It was because he had never heard Moyong Gang praise a warrior of such a young age like this.

He was not…… ignoring him, but wasn’t he a disciple of the Tae-eul-mun anyway?

‘I will be able to know if I watch the sparring match.’

Moyong Jae-hwa began to concentrate on the sparring match with a heart cheering for Jin So-un.

<><><>

The first strike was extremely ordinary.

Jin So-un’s sword did aim for Hwa Jeong-san’s vital point, but to a master of Hwa Jeong-san’s level, such a sword did not have much of an impression.

“Cha!”

The second clash.

A slightly modified attack came in, but still, there was no sharpness.

It is slow to call it pleasure, and light to call it a heavy sword.

“Is that all you have?”

Hwa Jeong-san began to boil with anger little by little.

“Was it not that you wished to taste the skill of the Tae-eul-geom-je?”

“If the Tae-eul-geom-je, a legendary master, had this kind of skill, it is true that the rumors were false.”

“To insult the Tae-eul-geom-je in the Tae-eul-mun, you must not value your life.”

The third clash.

Swoosh.

Perhaps because I stimulated him, the sword blade piercing into the vital point along with the sound of cutting through the air was quite sharp.

However, to Hwa Jeong-san, who had even received the Kwae-geom-sik (Fast Sword Technique) of the Hainan Sect, this kind of fast sword was not even a fast sword.

“It is not a fast sword, and it is not a heavy sword, what on earth is the identity of this sword technique?”

“It is a sword that contains the deep meaning of the Tae-eul-geom-je. It is a basic martial art called So-cheon-geom-beop (Small Heaven Sword Technique).”

“Is that so? But what to do, you have already used up all three techniques.”

“Is it not starting from now on?”

“Hmph!”

The reason I conceded the three techniques was to match at least ten techniques.

It wouldn’t be fun if I defeated the opponent in less than ten techniques.

“If I had known it was this kind of sword technique, I wouldn’t have needed to watch up to ten techniques.”

Forget ten techniques, could he even receive one technique?

Hwa Jeong-san immediately unfolded the Maehwa-geom-beop (Plum Blossom Sword Art).

The scent of plum blossoms began to spread throughout the training ground.

The Maehwa-geom-beop is so strong in its characteristics that one cannot not know it. Exclamations came out naturally from here and there.

“Th…… This is the Maehwa-geom-beop.”

“It really smells like plum blossoms?”

Following that, plum blossoms made of geom-gi (sword energy) began to fall in disarray in the air.

Although they looked beautiful to see, each and every one of them was a terrifying thing aiming for a vital point.

“It’s the end.”

Hwa Jeong-san had no intention of taking his life or cutting off his arm.

However, at the very least, he was thinking that he had to fix the habit of that arrogant junior who did not know how high the sky was by inflicting internal injuries on him.

However,

“Uh……?”

A spark of interest appeared in the eyes of the people who had been bewitched by the captivating plum blossoms.

Hwa Jeong-san, who followed their gaze, could not hide his astonishment immediately.

Pa pa pa pa pa pat.

It clearly looked like Jin So-un had swung his sword only once.

Over a dozen sword shapes appeared in the air and extinguished all the plum blossoms that were aiming for Jin So-un’s vital points.

At a sword technique he was seeing for the first time in his life, Hwa Jeong-san lost his wits and spoke without realizing it.

“What is this…….”

“This is the Dae-cheon-geom-beop (Great Heaven Sword Technique).”

“What is that……!!”

Hwa Jeong-san’s eyes, who was murmuring, widened.

“Did you abandon the three techniques from the beginning?”

It is an absurd thing.

A sparring match between a disciple of the Mount Hua sect and a disciple of the Tae-eul-mun.

In a situation where it would be insufficient even if he did his best in the first three techniques, he abandoned three techniques?

Jin So-un, who had to answer, was just smiling with leeway.

“You are not in your right mind.”

“Is it time to worry about me? Since the dust has disappeared in an instant like this.”

“Dust……?”

If the word that mocks the Tae-eul-mun is Tae-eul-geom-je, the word that mocks the Mount Hua sect is dust.

It was a word to tease when the achievement of the Mount Hua sect’s Maehwa-geom-beop did not reach the tenth level, so the shape of the plum blossom was not caught.

However, there is no one who spits this story out of their mouth.

Since the sword energy has already been materialized, each and every one of them was already no different from an ultimate technique, and the person who 담ed that word in his mouth surely met his death.

“I mean the things flying in this empty air.”

“……Hah!”

At Jin So-un’s attitude full of leeway, Hwa Jeong-san’s reason finally flew away.

“I intended to go easy on you……. But you changed my mind.”

“…….”

“Regret for the rest of your life that you spoke carelessly.”

Hwa Jeong-san’s eyes turned purple, and his martial arts robes swelled as if they were about to burst.

Seeing that appearance, someone whispered softly.

“Jaha-singong (Purple Haze Divine Art)…….”

It was that the secret martial art, which is said to be passed down only to the true disciples of the Mount Hua sect, began to be demonstrated.

“Go ahead and clear the dust properly.”

A training ground quite large enough for just two people to stand.

Above it, plum blossoms were created, covering the sky.

People could not help but be surprised at that illusion-like sight.

“……This is the plum blossoms of Mount Hua.”

“……But if Senior Jin gets hit by this…….”

“No!!”

As if mocking the people’s screams, the plum blossoms flying in the sky began to be shot at Jin So-un terrifyingly.