The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 75

[ … words ]

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First, to handle the initiation ceremony that I had talked about with the bandits of the Hwa-mak-chae (Flower Screen Mountain Camp), I requested help from the Hao-mun through a messenger hawk.

Two days later, a carriage loaded with dozens of wooden barrels entered the village as I had ordered, and I could not help but be surprised when I saw the person who led the convoy.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in Eog-yang?”

The one who was chuckling was Yang Gun-baek, the Black Point Leader of Eog-yang and the 11th disciple of the Hao-mun leader.

“It just happened that way. Still, thanks to that, I am so glad to see So-un-nim after a long time.”

Yang Gun-baek’s attitude was extremely affectionate. Even including the fact that my position, which had changed from when we were in Eog-yang, was now a ‘Guest’ of the Hao-mun, there were excessive parts, so it was extremely uncomfortable.

‘In a way, the Hao-mun leader’s position flew away because of me. Does he know that?’

Whether he knew that or not, Yang Gun-baek still had a smiling face.

“Did you bring what I asked for?”

Yang Gun-baek nodded.

In a corner of the carriage he guided me to, four boxes were placed side by side.

When I opened the first and second boxes, fifty gold coins were inside.

“Usually, about twenty nyang of gold is spent on the initiation ceremony for a merchant group or an escort agency, but is there a reason you prepared so much?”

When I opened the third and fourth boxes, twenty Geum-won-bo (Gold Ingots) were inside each.

It was money worth a thousand nyang of gold per box.

“I heard that the villagers were dragged away to Cheonmok-san.”

“Ah…… no way…….”

His face, which had realized my intention, deepened with worry.

“……So-un-nim, you must have a plan, but I cannot help but worry.”

I was curious about what he was thinking.

“The Geum-myeon-bul-do (Gold-Faced Buddha) and the Dok-an-hyeol-bu (Single-Eyed Blood Axe) who have newly risen to the position of Camp Master at Cheonmok-san—these two people are tyrannical and greedy. Even if you rescue the hostages, they will likely start causing trouble again in a few days.”

“Please continue speaking.”

“Moreover, the Ssang-mak-chae (Twin Screen Mountain Camp) has a scale twice as large as the other seventy-two camps of the Green Forest, and its personnel reaches over a thousand. How about finding another mountain camp even now?”

His gaze was like that of someone looking at a younger brother being dragged to a battlefield.

“I have already received the request.”

“A request?”

“Yes. The village elder Heo’s grandson made the request.”

“If it is a request, does that mean you have already received the amount? How much on earth is it?”

“It is one nyang of silver.”

“Yes?”

Yang Gun-baek could not continue his words and was looking at me with a complicated state of mind.

“It is related to the matter you entrusted to me, right?”

“Yes.”

“……I truly hope you do not get hurt.”

I was moved by his worry and took out the five-thousand-nyang gold promissory note I had kept in my bosom.

It was an amount that included all the costs of gold, liquor, and hiring people.

“…….”

Yang Gun-baek looked at the promissory note for a moment, then shook his head and pushed it away.

“Is it perhaps too little?”

“No. It is a sufficient amount.”

“Then why?”

“Because I want to make this work a gift I give to So-un-nim.”

“Yes?”

No matter how much one becomes a guest of the Hao-mun, the Hao-mun is thorough in transactions that are given and received.

Why does he say he will not receive the money?

“Hae-ryeong Sa-jeo (Senior Sister) is someone who has taken care of me like my mother since I was young.”

“Ah.”

“When misfortune piled up on such a Sa-jeo, my feelings could not be expressed in words.”

Yang Gun-baek took out his hand hidden in his sleeve and politely clasped his hands in a salute.

“Thank you so much for saving Sa-jeo.”

Yang Gun-baek’s appearance, unlike when I saw him in Eog-yang, was a sincere appearance where his inside could all be seen.

<><><>

“Geum-pyo Hyung, what on earth is Dae-sa-hyeong thinking?”

“Well, rather than that, are you not putting strength into it properly?”

“In the first place, you could just make the person who brought the liquor do this kind of work.”

Geum-pyo, Eun-ho, and Dong-ryong were pushing the cart loaded with large barrels with all their might.

“Ugh, I think Dae-sa-hyeong must have some kind of idea.”

“Dong-ryong, you would believe Dae-sa-hyeong even if he said he was making bean paste with red beans.”

“Isn’t that true?”

“Damn, both of you, put strength into it properly, really, before I just let it go.”

“Damn it! What on earth is that human called Dae-sa-hyeong thinking, with these oils…….”

Eun-ho was grumbling like that next to me.

“Are you saying that so I can hear it?”

“Oh? Dae-sa-hyeong? When did you come?”

“Hmph.”

I lightly flicked a Ji-pung (Wind-Finger) to break one of the wheel’s latches.

Tuk.

“Uh!”

“M-move back!”

“Avoid it!!”

The wheel came off, the cart broke with a crash, and at the same time, the barrels that had been loaded on the cart rolled down, broke, and spilled the liquid that had filled the barrels all over the place.

Fortunately, the cart the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers were pulling was at the very back, so there were no injuries.

“Tsk, tsk, are you fellows unable to pull even that one thing properly?”

“If we hadn’t used Haeng-gong (the practice of circulating internal energy), we would have been able to move it as much as we wanted.”

“Then doesn’t that make the training meaningless?”

As I was bickering with the junior disciples like that, Bang Du-chil approached.

“Do you really think you can save the hostages with this?”

Bang Du-chil’s subordinates were already moving the carts up toward Cheonmok-san along with the escort guards.

A spectacle was unfolding where thirty long carts were going up a single path.

“If you don’t actually subjugate the Ssang-mak-chae, these kinds of acts will all become meaningless.”

“In any case, isn’t it better not to have hostages?”

“…….”

Like that, when the convoy loaded with liquor reached the end of the path on Cheonmok-san. The bandits appeared, blocking the path.

“Stop!”

They were the bandits who had raided the village just a few days ago.

“Hello.”

“You are a fellow who does not keep the time promise.”

Thanks to sending someone in advance to say we would hold the initiation ceremony, the bandits already knew we were coming.

“I am sorry. As you can see, there are many things to deliver, so I was a little late.”

The bandits looked at the meat and liquor barrels piled up high on the carts with quite a satisfied expression.

“We don’t care, but the Camp Masters of the Ssang-mak-chae will not pass it over easily.”

“I have prepared a separate gift for them, so you do not need to worry.”

“From now on, we will move the goods.”

“Yes.”

With the bandit’s words, hundreds of human shadows suddenly popped out from the bushes.

“Waaaaah!”

Appearing with a shout like thunder, they began to move, carrying the goods loaded on the carts like lightning, as if they were banditry.

“Wait.”

I blocked the bandit’s hand, which was trying to touch the box placed in front of me, with the Black Dragon Sword.

“What is this!”

“This is an item I will deliver directly to the Camp Master.”

“That kind of bullshit!”

Tak.

As I struck his hand away with the scabbard, the bandit grabbed his hand and showed signs of pulling out his sword at any moment.

“Stop it. Do not touch the Camp Master’s items carelessly.”

When the one who had talked to me said that, the bandit who was trying to draw his sword turned his gaze elsewhere.

“Follow me.”

<><><>

A hill between the two huge peaks that make up Cheonmok-san.

The Ssang-mak-chae used to gather on this hill and hold a feast whenever there was a big event.

“Waaaaaaaaah!”

“Waaaaaaaaah!”

As a thousand people shouted inside the hill, the atmosphere rang out loudly.

It was an overwhelming number of people, to the extent that not only the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers and Bang Du-chil’s subordinates, but even Bang Du-chil, who had lived as Cheon-sang-cheon-ha-yu-a-dok-jon (the only honored one in heaven and earth), had his face turn slightly sallow.

“Sa-hyeong, is this truly okay?”

Geum-pyo could not hide his anxiety.

Although their clothes and weapons were not unified, considering that each and every one of them was an expert who had learned martial arts, the Ssang-mak-chae was already at a middle level even if compared to the sects of the 108 Peaks.

“Stop!”

As a loud lion’s roar crossed the hill, the cheering bandits stopped their movements and looked at the two people sitting in the highest seats.

“You are Jin So-un of the Tae-eul-mun?”

A large chair was placed on a tiger skin, and a huge sword that seemed to be as wide as two palms was leaning next to that chair. It was Geum-myeon-bul-do (Gold-Faced Buddha), Song Go-ak.

“I, Jin So-un, a late learner of the Murim, greet the Seniors.”

To be precise, it makes no sense to use the title of ‘Senior’ to trash the evil factions, but I am a Hyeop-gaek (chivalrous person) who shows courtesy even to evil people.

“Kukuk. If it is the Black Flame Dragon, the title of ‘Senior’ is not that strange.”

The man with one eye sitting on a bear skin next to him was the Camp Master of the Geum-mok-chae (Gold Wood Camp), Dok-an-hyeol-bu (Single-Eyed Blood Axe).

“Yes, Heuk-yeom-ryong (Black Flame Dragon) junior, what is the matter in the place where bandit trash lives? On top of that, calling the entire Ssang-mak-chae to one place?”

“Perhaps, did you call us to take the Murim Entrance Exam?”

“Keuhahahaha.”

“Keuhahahaha.”

At Dok-an-hyeol-bu’s words, the hill rang loudly.

Even though they knew why they were called to gather, pretending to be ignorant like that is a trick to raise the ransom even more.

“As the Seniors know well, how could the Tae-eul-mun even think of the Murim Academy Entrance Exam. As I said initially, I intend to hold the initiation ceremony.”

“Hmm.”

“This time, our Tae-eul-mun acquired a large merchant group, and it seems there will be many occasions to go between Hangzhou and Suzhou in the future. So, I prepared a gift, however small.”

Geum-pyo and Eun-ho walked forward, each holding a small box.

Geum-myeon-bul-do and Dok-an-hyeol-bu had indifferent expressions at the boxes that contained twice the amount used in a typical initiation ceremony.

“I am grateful that you showed sincerity by bringing liquor and meat to the initiation ceremony, Junior, but calling us to one place because of only such work makes me quite offended.”

I readily nodded. In the first place, when I asked to gather all the bandits of the Hwa-mak-chae and the Geum-mak-chae in one place, the other party’s reaction was the same as this.

“Actually, there was another proposal I truly wanted to make.”

Geum-pyo and Eun-ho open the large boxes again.

The boxes, each containing twenty Geum-won-bo, extend their brilliance in all directions while receiving the sunlight reflected on the hill.

The thousand or so bandits who had been chattering from all sides were also drooling and opening their eyes wide, as if they had become mutes for that moment.

“While traveling through the villages in this vicinity, I heard that the villagers are working here.”

Kung.

When Geum-myeon-bul-do stamped his foot, the aftermath was faintly transmitted to my side.

“So?”

“Because our sect has a sect motto, ‘Benefit people widely,’ I could not just pass it over. If it is acceptable, please give me permission to take the people who have come here.”

I raised a Po-gwon-ji-rye (salute), but there was no answer from the other side.

“Kuku. You are an interesting fellow.”

Dok-an-hyeol-bu picked up his red axe and stroked the blade.

“Daring to propose a deal against the Ssang-mak-chae.”

“Wouldn’t most things in the world be a deal?”

“However, touching the other party’s pride is not a deal. You may have to offer your neck here in exchange for that.”

“Since ancient times, it has been said that killing the goose that lays golden eggs is something only fools do.”

“What!”

Dok-an-hyeol-bu jumped up from his seat.

The bandits sitting on the right side of the hill also stood up along with him, took out their weapons, and held them.

Geum-pyo, Eun-ho, Dong-ryong, and Bang Du-chil’s subordinates were also surprised by the momentum and tried to take out their weapons one by one.

“I don’t know if you heard, but the Tae-eul-mun acquired the Namgung Clan’s Changgung-sang-dan without any proper martial arts. We cannot predict how much bigger it will become in the future. Letting go of such a good business partner and having one’s eyes taken away by greed for a moment is something only fools do.”

“Haha, do you have three lives?”

“Because I am convinced that people who have become Camp Masters of the Ssang-mak-chae will not make a foolish choice.”

“You are a daring fellow.”

Dok-an-hyeol-bu said while spinning his axe around. However, his gaze still could not fall from the boxes.

No matter how much he is a Camp Master of the Geum-mak-chae, it is impossible not to be easily shaken in front of a thousand nyang of gold.

“As you say, I can release the people along with that money. However, I cannot guarantee that they will not come here again.”

It was a story that he would receive the money as money, and catch the released people again.

‘As expected of bandits.’

I readily nodded.

“Future matters are not something I need to worry about.”

“What?”

“Hmm?”

In my words, our party, as well as Dok-an-hyeol-bu and Geum-myeon-bul-do, opened their eyes like rabbits and looked.

“We only do good deeds, but isn’t it impossible for us to prevent disasters from striking again?”

Dok-an-hyeol-bu, who had been blankly like a mute who had eaten honey, burst into loud laughter.

“Keuhahahaha.”

“Keuhahahahaha!”

Then, at the same time, the bandits who had taken out their weapons from the right side burst into laughter together as if they were Dok-an-hyeol-bu’s shadows.

“You are an interesting fellow, they said a Heuk-do (Dark Path) prodigy wrapped in Baek-do (White Path) skin appeared, and indeed, the rumors were true.”

No, dare to compare whom with whom.

“Good. Take them. But!”

Dok-an-hyeol-bu, who hesitates for a moment.

“Make the food for the feast and take them!”

“Waaaaah!”

At the word ‘feast’, the bandits who smelled the liquor shouted from all sides.

-Do you think everything is finished with this?

At that moment, because a loud secret voice transmission hit my eardrum, I was so surprised that I almost covered my ears.

When I turned my head, Bang Du-chil was moving his lips.

The secret voice transmission was not being controlled as much as his ignorant internal energy.

-Haven’t I rescued them for now?

-Thanks to that, I lost the opportunity to launch a surprise attack.

-Were you thinking of launching a surprise attack? Against a thousand people?

Is one of the characteristics of the Cheon-gang-mu-geuk-che (Heavenly Steel Martial Ultimate Body) an ignorant head? How come the head cannot even follow half of the body.

-…….

-Just watch silently. Everything for the work is prepared.