The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 90

[ … words ]

***

The next day, Yang Gun-baek visited the Cangqiong Trading Company.

“It is truly a relief. My heart is a bit more at ease.”

Yang Gun-baek seemed quite pleased about us traveling together with the Namgung Family and the Iron Sword Sect.

“First, I have scraped together all the black markets (Heuk-jeom) in the nearby cities.”

Inside the bundle that Yang Gun-baek untied, there were plenty of items.

“Fortunately, I was able to obtain three Jahwandan.”

Originally, martial arts are a method of utilizing internal energy that arises in the process of accumulating internal energy inside and advancing to the realm of enlightenment by achieving the Tao.

Likewise, during the process of reaching enlightenment, there is alchemy (Yeondan).

This is not a method of directly accumulating internal energy, but a pharmacology that arose in the process of consuming pure crystals of energy to accumulate internal energy inside and advance to the realm of enlightenment.

The Dohyangmun is the one that achieved a family in pharmacology by studying only this alchemy for a long time.

The Jahwandan belongs to the high-quality class among the internal cores that come from the Dohyangmun.

“Of course, compared to the internal core that So-un-nim gave me, the price does not match, but…….”

“It is fine. I am just grateful that you obtained items of this level in such a rush. More than that, what about what I asked for?”

“Ah, that is here.”

Yang Gun-baek took out four small, oval, tray-like objects from among the bundles.

“Since this type of protective gear is not used often, I made it myself, so the durability will not be that strong.”

“It is fine. It is because I am using it as a temporary measure.”

It is an item that will not have much use once the chaotic battle is over.

I first tried attaching the tray to my left arm.

It was an item I used during my time in the So-jeong-dae, and if I equipped it like this, I could use my left hand freely, and even though it was small, it could also serve as a shield.

If there was only one downside, was it that the martial artists’ gazes were not kind?

Yang Gun-baek, who knew that fact, looked at me with complex feelings and brought up the words.

“……I brought this just in case. If you are uncomfortable…….”

The bundle he held out hesitantly contained armor in the shape of golden innerwear.

“It is one of the items sold at the black market. It was made to prepare for the assassination of high-ranking officials. It was made by shaping copper thinly, one by one, like clothes.”

“It is the Geum-rin-gap (Golden Scale Armor).”

“Do you know it?”

“I know it well.”

It was an item I had used to my heart’s content during my time in the So-jeong-dae in my past life.

Yang Gun-baek was still mumbling with his lips.

“……Are you…… alright…….”

“It is too good. How many did you obtain in total?”

“For now, there are only three.”

“That is just right.”

“Are you really alright?”

“Isn’t it better to be a little embarrassed than to lose your life? Thank you for your consideration.”

“Ah, and this is my personal gift.”

“A gift?”

“Haven’t I given you ‘friendship money’ before?”

Yang Gun-baek, who was talking about the incident at the Demon Spirit Plateau.

In his hand, a small wooden box was held.

When I opened the wooden box, a musty and heavy smell wafted up.

However, the shape was one I had seen somewhere before.

“It is the internal core of the Dok-gak-heuk-seom (Poison-Horned Black Viper).”

“There was someone who needed that internal core, so I could not bring it intact. I ask for your understanding regarding that part.”

“Did you bring it for me?”

“If it is So-un-nim…… you will be able to digest it sufficiently, right?”

I could not stop laughing at Yang Gun-baek’s consideration.

“If the amount is this much, you are not just a friend. You must be a close friend.”

At my words, Yang Gun-baek smiled brightly as if he were satisfied.

<><><>

“…….”

“…….”

The faces of Geum-pyo and Eun-ho brothers furrowed.

Conversely, Dong-ryong tried the tray-shaped shield on his forearm and waved his hand.

Then, he practiced a small sword technique by himself in the air.

He was instinctively practicing how to use the shield to better utilize sword techniques.

The instinct of the Heavenly Killing Star (Cheon-sal-seong) was finding the optimal method for himself to become stronger without even realizing it.

The problem that the sword formation was broken due to the advancement of the sword technique had already been solved.

Just by showing him how I mixed into the sword formation and how to achieve harmony, Dong-ryong developed himself one step further in that short time.

It was a much faster time than I had expected. If it went on like this, there would be no one among his peers who could deal with Dong-ryong.

The problem was the rest of the guys.

“Must we wear it?”

“We also have our pride as martial artists.”

Geum-pyo and Eun-ho’s grumbling.

They were caring about looking cool now that they were starting to match their hands and feet a little.

In times like this, showing it once is more certain than a hundred words.

I drew the Heuk-ryong-geom (Black Dragon Sword) and swung it twice in one stroke.

Swish.

Click.

And at the same time, the fronts of Geum-pyo and Eun-ho’s clothes split open.

“You have already died once each. Oh my, if you had been wearing this armor, you wouldn’t have died. What should I tell Geum-pyo and Eun-ho’s parents?”

“…….”

Dong-ryong made a crying expression following me.

“Sob, hyungs…….”

“It is truly regrettable. If I say you died because you didn’t wear armor just to look cool, I wonder what your parents will say. I am truly very worried.”

“Stupid idiots, hyungs!”

“…….”

“……We will wear it. It won’t even show if we wear it inside anyway.”

“……It’s gold, so it looks rich and good.”

I held out the shields.

“……Ah, that is really a bit…….”

“……This seems to have gone too far. Dae-sahyeong.”

“Oh my, if they hear the story that you had one arm cut off because you refused the shield…….”

“We will wear it. We will wear it.”

“Oh my, I feel secure!”

From the moment they wore the armor and shields, the guys did not lift their heads.

Among the martial artists of the Namgung Family and the Iron Sword Sect, they kept their heads bowed as if they had been branded as criminals, and in particular, they were trying hard not to be spotted by Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran.

By the time they left Suzhou, they had hidden themselves among the Namgung Family and Iron Sword Sect martial artists entirely, just in case people saw them.

Seong Mo-ran looked behind and said,

“It is annoying.”

“……You don’t know how useful this shield is. Rather than a martial artist’s pride…….”

“Yes? No. Not that.”

Seong Mo-ran pointed behind.

“They don’t come close, and they don’t stay far away, they are just like a pack of jackals.”

“…….”

She was talking about Song Baek’s group, which had started following us continuously since leaving the North Gate.

“Shall we deal with them and go?”

“They will probably stay far away again if we get close.”

If it had been only the Tae-eul-mun disciples from the beginning, it would have been a one-sided hunt, but now the elite martial artists of the Namgung Family and the Iron Sword Sect are together.

Even if they are martial artists of the same peak level, the level of martial arts and the depth of understanding are different, so if a battle were to take place now, it was clear that the loss would be immense.

“They will be waiting because they know that.”

“So how long are they going to wait?”

“Until they rush in first.”

I pointed to the forest on the east side.

Inside the forest, martial artists wearing similar outfits were repeating appearing and disappearing between the trees.

It was a new group targeting us, other than Song Baek’s group.

“It will be until the martial artists of the Diancang Sect arrive.”

“Will they just watch?”

Seong Mo-ran said while looking at the people hiding in the forest, and I shook my head.

“They will start first before that.”

From their perspective, it is the Namgung Family and the Iron Sword Sect now, but if they drag it out, they will have to deal with Wudang, Huashan, and Diancang as well.

And my prediction hit the mark perfectly.

“I don’t really have to be right about things like this.”

While marching north toward Henan Province.

While each of them was hanging a pot and cooking rice to prepare for camping on the first day.

The first ambush began.

“Surprise attack!”

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

Attackers rushing in from all directions.

Those who were standing guard noticed the ambush quickly, and as soon as they received the signal, they dealt with the enemies calmly, as expected of the elites of the Namgung Family and the Iron Sword Sect.

“This is…….”

Thanks to the difference in the level of martial artists, there was no damage to our side.

However, because they were attacked while preparing for camping, most of the food they were preparing was overturned or dirt got in, leaving it in a state where it could not be eaten.

“Let’s prepare again for now.”

The martial artists nodded, saying it was unavoidable, and prepared the rice again.

Around the time steam was rising from the pot, the martial artists who were standing guard shouted.

“It’s an enemy!”

“Damn it!”

“Damn it!”

Once again, the martial artists kicked off the ground and stepped out. This time, they tried their best to not affect the rice, but after the chaotic battle ended, the food was overturned again as expected.

“Phew…… you waited on purpose. You are ambushing us, right?”

Namgung Seon-hwa’s small sigh.

I nodded.

“From the beginning, they will know that there is no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation.”

It is an ambush by different groups, but their operation is the same.

They wear us out until we can’t regain our senses, and achieve their purpose when we are at our weakest.

They are executing the basics of a wheel-battle (cha-ryun-jeon) that they haven’t even learned yet.

“We will have to stop by the branch office as much as possible and go to the place where the Third Gate is.”

“That will be more comfortable.”

“Please tell the people not to cook any more rice. Tell them to fill their stomachs with dried meat or dry rations for now.”

“Yes. Young Lady.”

When I also sat down next to Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran and were tearing on dried meat.

Slurp.

Chomp chomp.

Gulp.

The sound of swallowing something like porridge was heard from one side.

“……?”

The gazes of the martial artists who were tearing on dried meat gathered in one place.

The Geum-Eun-Dong brothers were eating a hearty meal by soaking dried meat in porridge they had boiled well among themselves.

“…….”

Then, they offer porridge to the martial artists who make eye contact.

Perhaps still awkward with each other, the martial artists show dried meat and try to ignore it.

“…….”

Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran look at me with complex gazes.

I had nothing else to say, so I scratched my cheek and said.

“They have a strong obsession with food.”

<><><>

The Moorim Academy regular exam becomes more difficult as you receive higher scores.

Although they say it is an exam from the beginning, it is close to an ordeal, so the score is eventually determined by how many gate tokens you have.

Anyway, the fact that your skill is good enough to have many gate tokens means that it is also easy to be kept in check by other examinees.

From the beginning, what the Moorim Academy measures is the gate tokens in the hands of the examinees.

It does not matter whether that gate token was obtained by passing the exam or obtained by taking it from an opponent.

This kind of rule makes the exam more severe.

Therefore, the disciples of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Families also cooperate with each other to take the exam. If not, it is not an exam that can be taken in the first place.

When viewed from that aspect. The case where the most severe exam is taken is when the examinee’s own ability is only the most outstanding.

Even if you take the exam with excellent grades and acquire many gate tokens, if you do not have enough power to protect them, you will only become a target for countless other examinees.

“When viewed from that aspect. We are no different from jumping into a pit of fire while holding a thunder-bomb.”

Although she was surprised when she heard that Wudang, Huashan, and Diancang were targeting the Tae-eul-mun disciples, Seong Mo-ran almost fainted when she heard that they were holding over a dozen gate tokens.

‘What was the all-time highest record for the regular exam?’

During the previous class. A genius swordsman, Yong So-a, who is said to appear once in a thousand years, entered the Moorim Academy with the highest score.

At that time, the number of First Gate tokens he had was five. The number of Second Gate tokens was two. Since one can originally only have one Third Gate token, the total was six.

That was also a record achieved with the elite martial artists of the Wudang Sect.

But Jin So-un now has a total of seventeen gate tokens. Excluding the six for each of the three Geum-Eun-Dong brothers, he said he could secure eleven by himself, so it was a situation where one could not help but be dumbfounded.

Thanks to this, I also understood the story that all the examinees in the world were targeting Jin So-un.

Of course, that didn’t mean I thought about separating from him.

I had already been saved once at the Demon Spirit Plateau. That alone became a sufficient reason, but there was something that could not be explained by just that.

For some reason, I wanted to keep being with him…….

“…….”

Because she didn’t even know what kind of heart she was doing this with, she only felt sorry for Namgung Seon-hwa.

“……Ah, ahahaha. It, it’s okay. Unnie. It was something that would naturally be experienced once we passed the Third Gate anyway, right?”

When she told her honestly, Namgung Seon-hwa, who somehow stuttered awkwardly and blushed for some reason.

I was just thankful.

One week since leaving Suzhou.

Fatigue also started to gradually settle on that white and pretty face of Namgung Seon-hwa.

Even so, Namgung Seon-hwa is in good condition.

The situation of the Iron Sword Sect and the Namgung Family martial artists was not good.

Ambushes that rush in without time or place.

In particular, because of the ambush while eating, it had been too long since they had eaten proper food.

Above all, the biggest agony was the sense of crisis that they could be ambushed anytime, anywhere.

Therefore, the martial artists could not sleep even if it was not their turn to stand guard, and even in the moments when they had to eat, they could not properly consume even food because of the smell of blood vibrating in all directions and the severed bodies of the enemies.

“But I am really curious.”

“What?”

“Why do the Tae-eul-mun disciples look fine?”

“…….”

It is not that only they receive special treatment.

Rather, because the number is small, they suffer more.

They stand guard the same, and they perform battle the same.

“I asked Eun-ho. He said it was easier because there were more people together.”

Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran, who had already become quite close to the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers, spoke comfortably.

“Easier?”

“Yes. They said it was truly better to die when they were just among themselves.”

“…….”

Now that I think about it, the Tae-eul-mun disciples are a little different.

When they face an ambush while cooking, the three Geum-Eun-Dong brothers protect the rice as their first priority.

Sometimes, the three brothers maintain the sword formation while taking turns eating.

When she saw that mysterious scene for the first time, Seong Mo-ran watched the scene blankly, not even knowing that the enemy’s sword was approaching her heart.

When the battle becomes long and they pass a mealtime, they surely take dried meat out of their pockets and push it into their mouths even while running.

They don’t care even though blood is flowing in all directions and severed fingers are scattered.

It was daily life for the martial artists of the Namgung Family and the Iron Sword Sect to watch the obsession toward the Tae-eul-mun disciples’ meals with expressions of being dumbfounded.

How about sleep?

The enemies do not attack, but they emit killing intent to raise tension or make loud noises in the middle of the night to prevent deep sleep.

However, the three brothers of the Tae-eul-mun check each other’s blood points (su-hyeol) when it is not their turn to stand guard and fall asleep at the same time.

“……Isn’t that too dangerous?”

At Seong Mo-ran’s question, Jin So-un, who was tearing on dried meat, raised his head.

“What do you mean?”

“Checking blood points.”

“If there is a loud sound, don’t they eventually wake up?”

“That is why. Because they ignore small sounds and sleep…….”

“They must trust each other.”

“Yes?”

“This battle of ours will continue. And if we can’t sleep continuously, someday we will be hit by the enemy’s sword. So they sleep trusting the martial artists around them. Then, at least, there will be no work of being hit by the enemy’s sword due to lack of sleep.”

And only then could I realize who the origin of those three brothers’ strange behavior was.

‘I knew this person was not ordinary from a long time ago…….’

Not knowing what kind of gaze Seong Mo-ran was looking at him with, Jin So-un said nonchalantly.

“Miss Seong. Could you check my blood points for me?”

Perhaps that appearance of the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers is greatly influenced by Jin So-un.

According to what I heard from the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers, it seemed Jin So-un was revered as a god by his junior brothers within the sect.

“……Okay.”

When Seong Mo-ran checked Jin So-un’s blood points, Jin So-un bowed his head as if he were dead.

Seong Mo-ran, who was watching him intently, looks at Namgung Seon-hwa and says,

“Seon-hwa, could you check my blood points too?”

“……Yes. Unnie.”

Seong Mo-ran was able to fall into a deep sleep for the first time in nearly a week.

<><><>

“They say Diancang is blocking the Jin-gang (Jin River).”

We stopped our march in a situation where we were a half-day distance from the Jin-gang after passing Danyang.

The urgent report delivered by the Haomun’s message hawk contained the news that all the paths we could go had been blocked.

I entered an emergency meeting with Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran, attended by the representative of the Namgung Family martial artists and the representative of the Iron Sword Sect martial artists respectively.

“I thought I could rest a bit if I just arrived at the Jin-gang.”

Our plan from the beginning was to take a boat at the Jin-gang and cross Hongze Lake to reach Sahong at once.

Since there is a boat prepared in advance by the Cangqiong Trading Company at the Jin-gang, we would be able to rest comfortably at least inside that boat.

“If we take a boat, there will definitely be those who see it and follow us.”

“Still, at least we will be able to eat comfortably, won’t we?”

Seong Mo-ran shakes her head as if she is sick of it.

Because the damn ambushers sometimes kicked the rice pot and ran away.

After being hit like that for three days in a row, the motivation to cook rice doesn’t even arise now.

“First of all, the Diancang waiting at the Jin-gang is the biggest problem.”

Even without that, Song Baek’s group started to gradually close the distance. That distance is already 30 jang.

If we are surrounded by enemies front and back, the result will not be good at all.

“At least it is fortunate that Huashan and Wudang are not there.”

According to the Haomun, I expected Diancang and Huashan to move together because they are located in close proximity, but unexpectedly, Huashan and Wudang moved together, and Diancang was separated and moved toward us.

Because of this, all the plans went wrong.

They say Huashan is moving from Anhui Province to Henan Province.

A strategy to catch us on the path to the Third Gate.

If it were the original operation, there would have been no problem until entering Henan Province at least.

“Anyway, there is no way back to Anhui Province or Henan Province.”

If we turn our direction to Anhui Province now, we will meet Huashan and Wudang, and to head to Henan Province, we must break through Diancang.

Thinking of the ambushes and pursuits by other groups that continue in the meantime, utilizing the Jin-gang was the easiest and most comfortable path after all.

“The battle at the Jin-gang will be the most important.”

Namgung Seon-hwa’s voice is lowered.

She expects a fiercer battle than what we have experienced so far to happen at the Jin-gang.

As Seong Mo-ran experienced, there is also a possibility that Namgung Seon-hwa will lose her own martial artists.

In the worst case, it is a situation where she must keep in mind that even the lives of Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran themselves could become dangerous.

“It’s okay! Don’t worry! We will win anyway! The Namgung Family and the Iron Sword Sect are together, what is there to be afraid of!”

Seong Mo-ran’s energetic voice sounds like she is afraid.

Namgung Seon-hwa also tries to smile and nods.

“There is another method.”

The one who brought up the words was Kang Seo-pyo, the representative of the Namgung Family’s martial artists. He is a person who entered the Demon Spirit Plateau with Namgung Seon-hwa.

“It is to leave the martial artists behind.”

“…….”

Namgung Seon-hwa’s face stiffens.

If we want to use the boat at the Jin-gang, we could also ride the water and secretly board the boat.

But those waiting at the Jin-gang would not be ignorant of this.

To hold them back, there must be people who become bait.

Kang Seo-pyo is talking about leaving them behind, circumventing this operation of using them as bait.

“The opponent is Diancang. We might try to go together, but no one might be able to go together.”

“No, no.”

Namgung Seon-hwa shakes her head.

If we add up all the pursuers chasing us until now and the enemies who might be waiting at the Jin-gang, the personnel left at the Jin-gang port might not be able to preserve their lives to deal with them.

“Young Lady. Don’t you know well how much agony it brings to not have power in this Jianghu? Now you must only think about entering the Moorim Academy.”

She is someone who could not even receive proper support and took the regular exam due to a war of nerves with the branch family until a while ago.

Before Namgung Seon-hwa could continue her words, Kang Seo-pyo said while looking at me.

“Young Master, I am sorry to say this, but could I ask you to take care of the Young Lady this time as well?”

“…….”

“We will break through the Jin-gang no matter how we do it.”

Perhaps the story was already finished, Cho Mu-bin, the representative of the Iron Sword Sect martial artists, continues.

“Furthermore, we will also need to block other boats from departing.”

“Chief Cho!”

“Young Lady, even for the sake of the Sect Master, you must enter the academy.”

If we count blocking the departure of the boat, truly all the martial artists of the Namgung Family and the Iron Sword Sect must risk their lives.

I shook my head.

“It cannot be.”

Kang Seo-pyo and Cho Mu-bin look at me. Unlike Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran, they seemed to have expected me to accept the operation naturally.

“But right now…….”

“The immediate problem is that, but isn’t the period after the Third Gate the biggest problem? If you guys disappear now, the two young ladies might truly be in danger.”

“…….”

“…….”

In a situation where I could not do this or that, I looked at Namgung Seon-hwa.

“Miss Seon-hwa.”

“Yes?”

“I am sorry to ask you something like this suddenly in a situation like this, but…….”

“Yes? Ri, right now……? Wha, what is it?”

Exited embarrassment is young on Namgung Seon-hwa’s face. But on the other hand, it became an expression full of expectation.

Seong Mo-ran’s expression is even more unusual.

“…….”

An expression that she wants to block my mouth somehow with an expression that something is unbelievable.

I did not have time to consider their emotions one by one now, so I continued.

“By any chance, how much is the price of the horses we are riding?”

“……Yes?”

“……Huh?”

Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran tilted their heads like twins this time as well.