The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 63

[ … words ]

***

Moyong Gang, who had landed between the Yongbong-jihoe and me, and the ten thousand swords, looked at me and said,

“Heh heh heh. I’ve heard people call me a madman a lot when I was young, but I’ve never done anything as crazy as you.”

Moyong Gang let out a small exclamation while looking at the swords floating in the air.

“I thought the stories remaining in the records were pure lies…….”

Moyong Gang had the look in his eyes of a child seeing stars for the first time.

“……This feels like the records are insufficient.”

Soon, he looked at me and said,

“Since the proof is already over, put the sword away. Do you know what Seon-cheon-jin-gi (Primordial True Energy) is, that you use it so recklessly!”

I pointed at Jong Byeok-gi.

“That guy insulted me, my sect, and our Taesa-jo (Great Grandmaster).”

“Do you intend to wage a mortal life-and-death struggle here?”

“I will do the same thing that the Diancang Sect would do when they are insulted. Jong Byeok-gi! What would you do if your sect were insulted!”

“…….”

Moyong Gang, who smiled faintly at my appearance, turned his gaze to Jong Byeok-gi.

“You foul-mouthed Taoist. ……Apologize.”

Jong Byeok-gi was completely flustered at the command to apologize out of the blue.

“……Who are you to interfere in the affairs of the Murim Alliance!”

“If you don’t apologize right now, you and the Yongbong-jihoe will not be able to return intact. Do you not know that?”

“Our Yongbong-jihoe…….”

“Tsk tsk. You are a guy who doesn’t understand words.”

Moyong Gang reached out his hand toward Jong Byeok-gi and twisted it.

Snap.

Surprisingly, the arm of Jong Byeok-gi, who stood behind Il-myeong, was bent in a direction it should not have been bent.

“Kyaaaack!”

It was too destructive to be a simple Heo-gong-seop-mul (taking objects from the air), and Il-myeong, who was using the Geum-gang-bul-goe-sin-gong (Diamond Indestructible Divine Art), a rare divine art, was covering him, so it was difficult to say he used Gyeok-gong (attacking from a distance).

No one present understood what trick Moyong Gang had used.

“What is this! How dare you do such a thing and still…….”

Thud.

Clearly, Jong Byeok-gi was standing in the middle of the Yongbong-jihoe.

However, strangely, he flew to the wall and was embedded as if he alone were tied to a string and being dragged.

Pow.

“Ugh.”

“Is this enough?”

Moyong Gang looking back at me.

“Or, shall I kill him myself?”

“…….”

“I find you interesting. I don’t want to see you die or have your martial arts abolished. Because I’m curious about the sword technique you use, and about you too.”

His eyes, visible inside the human skin mask, were glistening as if aiming for prey.

I got goosebumps for a moment, and my speech stopped.

“…….”

“If you want, I will kill him even if it means waging war with Diancang. It wouldn’t be bad to fight with that foul-mouthed Taoist of Diancang for the first time in a while.”

“!”

“!”

The faces of the Yongbong-jihoe personnel turned pale.

Although I did not know his identity, the fact that he spoke plainly and calmly made it feel more real, which is why it sounded creepy.

I looked at the Yongbong-jihoe, where Jong Byeok-gi had disappeared, and said.

“While Jong Byeok-gi was talking, no one except Miss Moyong Seol stepped forward. It must mean that the Yongbong-jihoe also thinks similarly to Jong Byeok-gi.”

Il-myeong said as if he were aggrieved.

“……No! That is…….”

“Be quiet!”

Moyong Gang made a humorous expression while looking at me.

“I have met all kinds of people in my life, but you are the first guy as tenacious as you.”

“…….”

“Considering we traveled together for a short time, aren’t you receiving too great a price?”

“If I am still intact after the work is finished, I will repay you.”

“Good. Remember that promise.”

Moyong Gang, who nodded as if satisfied, said to the Yongbong-jihoe.

“Hey, you earthworm and chick ragamuffins, do you truly have the inspection authority to investigate the origin of martial arts?”

“…….”

No one could open their mouths recklessly.

Although they were in the position of the Yongbong-jihoe of the Murim Alliance, which had nothing to fear, once they had seen the realm of Cheon-oe-cheon (Heaven above Heaven), they could not move their mouths recklessly.

“Dust of Mount Hua. You try speaking.”

Hwa Jeong-san said with a furrowed brow.

“We, as inspection envoys of the Murim Alliance…… the order of the Murim and…….”

“I asked if you have the authority. You rotten bastard.”

“…….”

At Moyong Gang’s insult, Hwa Jeong-san’s face turned beet red.

Eventually, Il-myeong intervened.

“Excuse me, but could you please let us know who you are?”

“Why? Are you going to measure me and try to suppress me with the power of Shaolin if I’m easy?”

“…….”

Il-myeong could not easily open his mouth at Moyong Gang’s attitude of putting Shaolin in his mouth as if it were nothing.

“You young monk, if you are a guy who has read through the entire Jang-gyeong-gak (Scripture Pavilion) of Shaolin, you would know, right? Is that child’s martial art similar to the records about the Tae-eul-geom-je from a long time ago?”

“…….”

Il-myeong looked at the fallen Jong Byeok-gi.

“Do you intend to say you don’t know? Shall I show you the records in our family?”

A spark of interest appeared in Il-myeong’s eyes. It seemed he had obtained a clue in Moyong Gang’s words.

“By any chance……. Mo……!”

And soon after, he shook his head as if he remembered something.

“……No. I know.”

“According to the records I saw, that child’s martial art is definitely the martial art of the Tae-eul-geom-je. Also, everyone in the Jianghu knows that the Tae-eul-mun inherited the tradition of the Tae-eul-geom-je.”

Because it was the story of the Tae-eul-geom-je and the Tae-eul-mun, which had shaken the world mainly as targets of ridicule, there was no one among the people of the Jianghu who did not know this story.

“Do you have any counterarguments to my opinion?”

People’s gazes gathered on Il-myeong.

“……None.”

With Il-myeong’s words, the entire Tae-eul-mun began to bustle.

Jong Byeok-gi, who had been embedded in the wall, walked forward while clutching his dangling arm.

His two eyes were full of resentment toward the opponent.

“Who on earth are you to carry out such a thing!”

“Why are you curious about that?”

“Diancang does not forget resentment.”

“Heh heh, is the most you can do to hide behind that puppy-like guy of U-mun?”

Jong Byeok-gi’s face gradually hardened.

Baek-u-mun was the Mun-ju of the Diancang Sect at the time. Calling such a person a puppy recklessly?

“You said you wouldn’t regret it.”

Moyong Gang’s hand headed toward his neck.

“What is that…….”

As Moyong Gang’s face was revealed, the faces of Jong Byeok-gi and the Yongbong-jihoe turned earthy.

“P-Pung-baek-pa-geom……!”

Moyong Gang had a sinister smile on his lips.

“You dared to disturb my eccentric behavior. You were prepared for the price for that, weren’t you?”

And Moyong Seol shouted as if screaming.

“G-Grandfather!”

Whether Moyong Seol was calling him or not, Moyong Gang said to the people on the platform.

“I, Moyong Gang, who is the current Gaju of the Moyong Clan and whom the peers of the Jianghu call Pung-baek-pa-geom, will guarantee it. It is certain that the martial art used by that child, Jin So-un, is the martial art of the Tae-eul-geom-je that has been passed down as a legend.”

Crying like moans burst out from here and there on the platform.

“Ugh, huh, huh!”

“Sob, sob, truly…….”

“……Such a thing.”

There was no adult who was not wailing loudly.

Even Hong Mun-gi, in order not to show himself crying, was holding his head high with his eyes closed even though Moyong Gang was in front of him.

“Is that enough now?”

Moyong Gang looked at me again with a humorous expression, and I carefully gathered all my martial arts.

“The Seon-cheon-jin-gi (Primordial True Energy) wasn’t broken or anything, right?”

“……Yes, thanks to you, my Dan-jeon is also fine.”

“Yes, yes. That is truly a relief.”

It was Moyong Gang, whom I had only met once, who held me together when I was giving up on all hope.

“…….”

I could not help but be moved by him doing such an act, when we had no connection even in my previous life.

Would he have looked like this if my grandfather were still alive?

Someone who is playful and stubborn, but becomes my side in a truly important moment…….

“Then shall we finish our calculations now?”

“Yes?”

A fist that flew in an instant struck my abdomen and neck before I could even avoid it.

“Ugh…….”

I pulled myself together as my consciousness faded, opened my eyes wide, and looked at him.

“On earth…… why?”

“A madman needs a beating. How dare you recklessly touch the Seon-cheon-jin-gi?”

“No…… that is…….”

With that, my eyes closed.

<><><>

The Pavilion Heads, including the elders of the Tae-eul-mun, all gathered in the Dae-hyeon-jeon.

A tremendous incident occurred, ‘Jin So-un learned the martial art of the Tae-eul-geom-je!’, but what they were actually waiting for right now was Moyong Gang.

Pung-baek-pa-geom Moyong Gang.

He is not only an absolute master of the Jianghu, but also a master of the Jianghu that anyone who uses a sword wants to meet at least once.

As Moyong Gang, still in herb gatherer attire, entered, everyone in the Tae-eul-mun stood up from their seats.

Hong Mun-gi offered the seat of honor to Moyong Gang, but Moyong Gang shook his head.

“Do not do that. Leaving aside the seniority of the Jianghu, aren’t we meeting as heads of each sect right now? Mun-ju, do not be too modest.”

At his words, Hong Mun-gi sat in the seat of honor, and Moyong Gang sat next to him.

“I do not know how to repay this grace.”

Moyong Gang had mediated by guaranteeing his own and his family’s name, as they were almost involved in a dispute with the Murim Alliance due to the origin of the Tae-eul-geom-je’s martial art.

It was no different from the Tae-eul-mun owing him a great debt.

“I just said that what originally belonged to the Tae-eul-mun belongs to the Tae-eul-mun. Still, I feel like my burden of heart is a little lighter knowing that it was helpful to the Tae-eul-mun.”

“……Yes? What does that…….”

“Hmm? Didn’t you know? That guy Jin So-un of your sect saved my son’s life.”

“Yes?!”

“!”

Hong Mun-gi’s gaze naturally turned to Jin Tae-san, but Jin Tae-san also knew nothing about it at all.

‘This damn bastard, can’t you tell me when you do something?’

How terrified was he when he found out that the herb gatherer old man’s identity was Moyong Gang?

“I am sorry. I did not know in advance. I will re-educate him.”

“Hehe, that he accomplished such a great thing but didn’t even tell his sect means he didn’t think much of the fact that he helped someone. Rather, it feels like a praiseworthy thought, so Mun-ju, do not worry too much.”

“Th, thank you.”

As would be the case for everyone in the hall, Jin Tae-san, in particular, was dumbfounded.

Although he is an irreplaceable precious son and first disciple to himself, as a hedgehog’s child is pretty to its parents, why is a great person like Moyong Gang sending favor to Jin So-un?

“Actually, my unsightly son went to find a miraculous medicine for his grandson, but he fell into danger. He saved his life and I handed over the Hwa-hu (Fire Tiger) Na-dan (Internal Elixir) as a reward, but he refused, saying how could he snatch away the heart of a father who thinks of his son. How could I not be interested in someone who thinks like that?”

“?! ”

“?! ”

At the sound of ‘Hwa-hu’s Na-dan’, people’s expressions became complicated.

They wanted to praise his boldness for not coveting another’s things, but at the same time, they wanted to blame him, asking why he missed an opportunity that would not come again in his lifetime.

Did he know such feelings?

Moyong Gang chuckled and said.

“It’s not that I’m saying it as a substitute, but as a token of gratitude, my son promised to give three Cheong-myeong-hwan (Clear Bright Pills) to the Tae-eul-mun.”

“Ah……!”

“Hoo!”

“How on earth…… should I thank you!”

The people of the Tae-eul-mun, whose expressions were becoming comfortable little by little.

“You do not have to do that. I also know well that the Hwa-hu’s Na-dan cannot be compared with the Cheong-myeong-hwan. So I came directly to the Tae-eul-mun to offer my greetings of gratitude.”

“…….”

Life is truly mysterious.

If Jin So-un had received the Hwa-hu’s Na-dan.

If Moyong Gang had not come to the Tae-eul-mun because of that.

If they had become enemies with the Murim Alliance due to friction with the Yongbong-jihoe.

Could the Tae-eul-mun have been able to purely rejoice that the Tae-eul-geom-je’s martial art had returned now?

“In addition, there is something I would like to propose to the Mun-ju.”

“What is it?”

“How about having exchange disciples, also to commemorate the exchange between the two sects while we are at it?”

“…….”

An exchange disciple is where two different sects send their disciples to each other to give and receive teachings for martial arts exchange.

Generally, like the Nine Schools and One Sect or the Five Great Clans, it was a system implemented to fill the parts they were lacking that were biased to one side, even though they already had powerful martial arts, or to give more experience to their disciples.

However, that was only possible between sects with similar scale and skill.

There was nothing for the Moyong Clan to gain by having exchange disciples between the Moyong Clan and the Tae-eul-mun.

This was Moyong Gang’s intention to bestow grace on the Tae-eul-mun by using the word exchange disciple.

“Would that be alright?”

“What do you mean?”

“In our Tae-eul-mun…… it seems there will be nothing to learn……. We haven’t even seen the martial art of the Tae-eul-geom-nim yet…….”

“Hehe, what are you saying, Mun-ju. What I want the children to learn is not the martial art of the Tae-eul-mun. If it’s martial arts, the Moyong Clan already has more than enough.”

It was an arrogant remark, but because it was Moyong Gang who said it, it did not sound particularly haughty.

“Then what?”

“It is the spirit of the Tae-eul-mun.”

“Yes?”

Moyong Gang erased his characteristic playfulness and said with a benevolent expression.

“I heard that a similar thing happened at the Cheol-geom-mun before.”

Jin Tae-san and Gang Chae-seok nodded slightly, recalling that day.

“It is a situation where anyone would be indignant that their sect is insulted. However, it is not an easy thing to be indignant while betting everything you have even though the opponent is stronger than you.”

Hong Mun-gi nodded on his own without realizing it.

“I think it was wrong to pull up even the Seon-cheon-jin-gi without thinking about the consequences, but because of the one move that child Jin So-un made this time, from now on, will not anyone in the Murim Alliance, including the Yongbong-jihoe, have to bet their lives when they insult the Tae-eul-mun?”

“Ah…….”

“The Moyong Clan has never received such insults. However, this was possible because we are powerful. I hope that our children will always be as confident as Jin So-un even in front of people stronger than the Moyong Clan.”

“…….”

Both the elders and the Pavilion Heads shut their mouths tight. It was because it was difficult to manage the emotions welling up in them at Moyong Gang’s praise.

Hong Mun-gi also felt like tears were welling up at Jin So-un’s thoughts, so he quickly pointed to Jin Tae-san.

“Keuhum, if that is the case, that friend over there, the Pavilion Head of the outer hall, will know well. That friend is the father of Jin So-un.”

At Hong Mun-gi’s words, Moyong Gang looked at Jin Tae-san with mysterious eyes.

“Heh heh, I know.”

A playful smile bloomed on Moyong Gang’s lips.

“What kind of education method should one use to make them grow into such a child?”

“……I do not know what to do because you praise him too excessively, Senior.”

“I am asking because I am truly curious. I jokingly teased that child while accompanying him by chance. He said to this Pung-baek-pa-geom, ‘Do you want to taste the fist of a warrior?’ Please tell me the secret of raising him so fearlessly like that.”

“What?!”

Jin Tae-san was shocked.

The expressions of the others were not much different from Jin Tae-san’s.