The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 101

Chapter 101
## Chapter 101. The ‘Third’ Trial of the Hell Regular Exam (4)

Whenever the Hell Regular Exam commenced, Nanyue would draw massive crowds.

The combat tournament featured in the Third Trial was an event that even outsiders completely detached from the murim felt compelled to witness at least once. Concurrently, it served as an indispensable gathering spot for rumor-mongering wanderers seeking entertaining tales to accompany their drinks.

With spectators flooding in not just from Henan Province but from various other regions as well, Nanyue teemed with visitors like never before. Paradoxically, the actual permanent residents of Nanyue remained largely unmoved by the martial competition.

“Are you not heading out to watch the fights?”

“It is the same display day after day. What is the point of watching? You had better quicken your pace and get back to work. If we fail to profit during this peak period, when else will we?”

Because Henan was home to Shaolin, the universally acknowledged pillar of the murim, that particular sect routinely claimed the vast majority of the Trial Tokens designated for the Third Trial.

The Wudang Sect from Hubei Province occasionally entered the fray, but given that Shaolin and Wudang maintained a harmonious relationship, the outcomes of the Third Trial rarely deviated from expectation.

“Have you not caught wind of it? A massive stir is happening right now.”

“A stir? For what reason? Are Wudang and Shaolin locking horns already?”

“You simpleton! Wudang just suffered a defeat against Taeul Sect.”

“Taeul Sect? The very same Taeul Sect associated with that fraudulent legend, the Taeul Sword Emperor?”

“Precisely!”

Faced with this sudden, staggering upset, even the shopkeepers and merchants of Nanyue began shuttering their storefronts one after another.

Ultimately, the downfall of an undisputed titan of the martial world was the sort of news that could make the pulses of even ordinary citizens race with excitement.

“How can this be possible!”

“Hyeon Su of the Wudang Sect was bested?”

The level of disbelief was exponentially higher among the eyewitnesses gathered at the Grand Training Ground of the Murim Alliance Nanyue Branch.

The shockwaves hit Shaolin—Wudang’s perennial counterpart—with immense force.

“……What Senior Brother Il-myeong told us was the absolute truth.”

“Indubitably. I finally comprehend why he repeatedly cautioned us against engaging with Taeul Sect.”

The Shaolin disciples participating in the Murim Academy Exam had refrained from challenging the members of Taeul Sect solely due to Il-myeong’s explicit instructions.

The underlying reason had eluded them until this very moment, but witnessing Jin So-un’s singular execution made Il-myeong’s warning instantly clear.

“Even so, there is an incredibly perplexing element to Benefactor Hyeon Su’s performance. How could a master of the Taiji Sword fail to see through a mere illusion?”

“It was not a failure of discernment. He willingly discarded the opportunity to discern it.”

Had he maintained absolute focus and prepared himself from the onset, he possessed the capability to deflect the strike successfully.

Though Illusion and Variation were designed to mislead the eyes, they contained very few genuine, damaging strikes. Hyeon Su, however, had voluntarily conceded the initial three exchanges and permitted his own vigilance to slip.

Yet, what was done was done.

No soul could have anticipated that Taeul Sect’s Illusion Sword would prove so bizarrely erratic and unsettling.

*GRIND.*

Hyeon Su’s complexion burned a deep crimson as he descended from the elevated platform of the Grand Training Ground.

He had not only grandly proclaimed that he would grant his opponent the first three moves, but he had also lost his composure at Jin So-un’s opening stance, abandoned his defensive positioning to launch an offensive, received a barrage of phantom strikes materialized from thin air, and was ultimately propelled out of bounds to his defeat.

He had invited absolute humiliation directly in front of an audience that had journeyed vast distances just to catch a glimpse of the hem of a Wudang robe.

Instead of projecting the majestic aura of Wudang, he had dragged the sect’s reputation through the mire. Experiencing such profound ignominy for the very first time in his life, Hyeon Su was utterly at a loss as to how to restore his composure.

“…….”

“…….”

Ultimately, it was Hyeon Su who broke the heavy silence. He felt that if he did not utter something, the suffocating atmosphere enveloping them would crush him entirely.

“……The, the structural Variations embedded within the Illusion Sword utilized by that scoundrel are far from commonplace.”

“It appeared rather unremarkable…… I-Is that truly the case?”

Junior Brother Hyeon Gun, who had been on the verge of blurting out, ‘It did not seem like much to me,’ quickly silenced himself and nodded instead, having just received a sharp elbow to the ribs from another junior brother.

“Furthermore, the underlying martial principles governing the actual strike within that form were incredibly aggressive.”

“Indeed…… Yes. I suppose that must be true.”

The tone of their agreement was noticeably lacking in genuine conviction, but Hyeon Su was in no position to call them out on it.

Had he not already abandoned the authority of a senior disciple up on that very stage?

Next, it was time for another challenger from Taeul Sect to ascend the platform.

Shortly thereafter, Lee Dong-ryong, the youngest member of Taeul Sect, stepped onto the Grand Training Ground.

Given his diminutive stature and the comical sight of him clutching a full-sized adult blade tightly against his chest, he bore an uncanny resemblance to a sword page—a mere youth tasked with transporting another’s weapon. Muffled laughter rippled through various sections of the spectator stands.

“Ahem, the application of the Divine Martial Thirteen Swords ought to be highly effective against the properties of Taeul Sect’s Illusion Sword.”

Hyeon Jin, who was just about to march onto the Grand Training Ground, paused in his tracks upon catching Hyeon Su’s recommendation.

“Most importantly, the sheer velocity inherent to the Divine Martial Thirteen Swords will make it far simpler to neutralize the authentic blade hidden amidst the Illusion Sword.”

“…….”

Under normal circumstances, Hyeon Jin would have barked a resounding agreement, but he merely offered a silent, intense stare directed at Hyeon Su and Hyeon Myeong.

As eyes darted uncomfortably between the three of them, Hyeon Su’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red.

“……I believe the assessment offered by Senior Brother Hyeon Su is entirely accurate.”

Hyeon Myeong hastened to validate Hyeon Su’s words, yet the crimson hue refused to fade from Hyeon Su’s cheeks.

Even within the hierarchy of the Wudang Sect, the Divine Martial Thirteen Swords was regarded as a technique bordering on a lethal killing art.

In stark contrast to the Taiji Sword, which focused profoundly on the harmonious dualities of yin and yang in pursuit of higher enlightenment, this particular style was forged strictly for the purpose of swiftly suppressing and terminating an adversary.

Consequently, it was a martial art strictly withheld from any disciple whose comprehension of the foundational Taiji Sword remained underdeveloped.

The Divine Martial Thirteen Swords demanded such unrelenting lethality that even seasoned wanderers possessing significant combat experience within the murim would struggle to counter it.

To successfully withstand the Divine Martial Thirteen Swords, a fighter either needed extensive experience in lethal combat or had to deploy a sword style engineered with even greater efficiency. It was deemed impossible for a minor entity like Taeul Sect to harbor such a sophisticated technique.

‘How unfortunate for him.’

Had the boy been facing the standard Taiji Sword, he likely would have escaped severe physical harm. However, if only to preserve the shattered dignity of Senior Brother Hyeon Su, Hyeon Jin felt compelled to utilize the Divine Martial Thirteen Swords.

With the selection of the Divine Martial Thirteen Swords finalized, that Dong-ryong, the young boy of Taeul Sect, would sustain a debilitating injury was viewed as an absolute certainty. His two remaining martial brothers would likely spend their remaining years caring for a cripple.

“Prepare…….”

The young boy, whose physical growth was visibly incomplete, assumed his initial posture, entirely oblivious to—or perhaps uncaring of—the grim fate awaiting him.

It was the identical opening stance that Jin So-un had previously displayed.

“Begin!”

Simultaneous with the arbiter’s shout, both competitors surged forward.

Hyeon Jin utilized the Cloud-Ladder Step to close the distance, cleanly parrying the Swift Sword technique unleashed in the initial exchange.

The sword arts of Taeul Sect blended the elements of the Swift Sword with the properties of the Illusion Sword.

It embedded rapid Variations within both Speed and Illusion to induce disorientation. Nevertheless, such superficial trickery was utterly useless against a weapon that was both swifter and more direct.

As Hyeon Jin unleashed the Divine Martial Thirteen Swords, his movements entirely eclipsed the rate at which Dong-ryong manipulated his weapon, allowing him to flash his blade dangerously close to Dong-ryong’s chest.

The confrontation seemed poised to conclude after a mere three passes.

“!”

Yet at that precise juncture, “Hah!”

The trajectory of the Swift Sword, which had initially tracked as though it would slice his wrist, altered dynamically. While Hyeon Jin aimed to slash across Dong-ryong’s torso, Dong-ryong executed a direct thrust aimed squarely at his windpipe.

‘Was this the reason his Swift Sword initially appeared lacking in velocity?’

He had briefly questioned why a technique categorized as a Swift Sword lacked true speed, but now he understood the hidden mechanics built into the form.

Left with no alternative, Hyeon Jin retracted the Divine Martial Thirteen Swords, leaped backward to re-establish his spacing, and prepared to launch a secondary assault.

A cascade of phantom blades erupted from Dong-ryong’s weapon.

These were manifestations saturated with the exact same Illusion and Variation attributes that Jin So-un had utilized to disrupt his opponent earlier.

Because Hyeon Jin had entered the bout with heightened caution, he managed to faintly separate the false images from the true threat and surged forward once more.

*Twitch.*

Hyeon Jin’s momentum ground to an abrupt halt.

Though it was unmistakably an Illusion Sword, the lethal targets it zeroed in on were terrifyingly precise. They were vulnerable areas where even a superficial scratch could sever an artery and prove fatal.

Before conscious thought could register, Hyeon Jin instinctively thrust his left hand directly toward that oncoming Illusion Sword.

*SQUELCH.*

“Huuurk!”

“What is happening? Why did he deliberately grab at a blade?”

“Has he lost his mind?”

Hyeon Jin recoiled in sheer panic as crimson blood erupted from his palm.

It was supposed to be a mere Illusion Sword. At what point had it materialized into a solid weapon? Alternatively, had Dong-ryong managed to deceive him from the very beginning by masking a genuine strike as a phantom image?

As if demonstrating that this sequence was born of genuine mastery rather than mere fortune, Dong-ryong maintained an entirely placid expression as he continued to execute successive sword forms.

A multitude of Illusion Swords materialized in his perimeter. This time, every single one of those phantom blades converged directly upon Hyeon Jin’s fatal acupoints.

Driven by desperation, Hyeon Jin executed the Cloud-Ladder Step frantically, retreating out of Dong-ryong’s effective combat radius.

“Waaaaaaaah!”

Suddenly, thunderous roaring erupted from the surrounding spectators.

Disoriented, Hyeon Jin only then registered the reality that he had been forced backward by a staggering ten paces by Taeul Sect’s youngest representative.

Furthermore, despite the deafening cheers of the crowd, Dong-ryong’s gaze remained locked onto him with unyielding intensity as he continued his relentless advance.

Fundamentally, the purpose of Illusion and Variation was to misdirect an opponent and conceal the true, damaging blow within the spectacle.

Logically, therefore, such arts were supposed to manifest in increasingly intricate and visually dazzling displays.

Conversely, Dong-ryong’s application of the Illusion Sword was utterly perverse. Even the manifestations that were entirely devoid of substance tracked exclusively toward the most critical lethal vulnerabilities. Tucked deep within those very illusions, he concealed a physical blade intended to end his adversary’s life.

‘An Illusion Sword engineered solely for assassination?’

Hyeon Jin lacked the courage to confront an unnatural martial style that he had never encountered or even heard rumored.

The sensation was identical to facing an elite assassin in open combat. This was no common thug, but an executioner who had ascended to the apex of the killing arts through the slaughter of thousands.

Employing the Divine Martial Thirteen Swords against an adversary of this caliber was an act of pure stupidity. If he could not instantaneously separate the falsehoods from reality, he could find himself slain at any given second.

Hyeon Jin instinctively directed a murderous glare toward Hyeon Su.

It was entirely due to that fool’s worthless guidance that he now found himself on the precipice of defeat against a mere disciple of Taeul Sect.

Had he relied on his primary martial discipline, the Taiji Sword, from the opening bell, he never would have been thrown into chaos by the Illusion Sword in this manner. The estimated cultivation of the Taeul Sect boy’s internal energy hovered around a mere ten years. If Hyeon Jin, who possessed a reservoir four times that capacity, failed to secure victory, it defied all logic.

As his physical execution grew sloppy against Dong-ryong’s relentless pressure, his mental state degenerated with equal speed.

Once his cognitive process fractured, the phantom blades he had previously managed to isolate now appeared identical to genuine weapons.

He channeled his internal reserves to their absolute limit, swinging aggressively to deflect the incoming matrix of blades, yet the vast majority of his targets were nothing but empty air.

Losing control of his own momentum, Hyeon Jin began flailing his weapon like a lunatic.

“Heh heh…….”

“What sort of display is he putting on right now?”

“It looks for all the world like he is terrified of his opponent closing the distance, so he is just wildly swinging his sword to keep him away.”

Though Hyeon Jin swung with escalating panic and burned through his internal reserves at an alarming rate, it was he who continued to lose ground.

In stark contrast, Dong-ryong of Taeul Sect maintained the exact same stoic emotional baseline he had possessed when the match first commenced.

That unwavering composure placed an even greater psychological burden on Hyeon Jin.

“This defies all reason! How can a pathetic entity like Taeul Sect!”

“…….”

In that flash of a second, an ominous crimson gleam flared within both of Dong-ryong’s eyes.

Assailed by a dense, suffocating aura of pure malice—a sensation he had never once encountered in his life—Hyeon Jin’s entire anatomy seized up completely.

Seizing the opening, Dong-ryong slipped effortlessly past Hyeon Jin’s guard.

“Refrain from insulting our lineage.”

Accompanied by the cold whisper right against his ear, Hyeon Jin’s entire field of vision began to violently rotate.

*THUD.*

When consciousness returned to him through the jarring impact that rattled his entire skeletal structure, he found himself sprawled flat upon the dirt. The weapon that belonged in his grip had been thrown a considerable distance away, and positioned directly over his throat was a razor-sharp edge, held so close it threatened to pierce his flesh at the slightest movement.

“……Cease! Cease the bout! The victor is Lee Dong-ryong of Taeul Sect!”

Confronted with an outcome that absolutely no one—least of all Hyeon Su—had envisioned, a deafening roar of approval exploded from every corner of the arena.

“““Waaaaaaaaah”””

Dong-ryong once again pulled the massive weapon, which dwarfed his own physical proportions, tightly against his torso. Showing absolutely no lingering trace of the lethal intent he had projected moments prior, he offered polite, innocent bows in every direction with a completely harmless expression before stepping down from the stage.

Faced with a conclusion that defied all conventional wisdom, the onlookers in the stadium were incapable of suppressing their fervor.

This marked the second consecutive upset. Disciples of the prestigious Wudang Sect, individuals traditionally likened to soaring dragons, had fallen back-to-back against the representatives of an obscure, nameless sect.

“Behold! Did I not call it exactly!”

“It is the absolute truth. That is the great Wudang Sect we are talking about! The Wudang Sect itself!”

“Could the ancient tales surrounding the Taeul Sword Emperor actually hold water?”

The observers, who had packed the viewing galleries to absolute capacity, cheered with wild abandonment while remaining utterly shell-shocked by the unfolding reality.

The identical sentiment reverberated through the representatives of the other martial sects observing the spectacle.

Conversely, there were those who secretly breathed massive sighs of relief. These were the tactical minds who had previously evaluated Taeul Sect as the most vulnerable opponent in the bracket, assuming that whichever faction drew them first would secure an effortless victory. They quietly rejoiced, immensely grateful that Wudang had served as the sacrificial lamb to reveal Taeul Sect’s true nature.

dishonesty
“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

Naturally, the faction experiencing the most devastating psychological blow was none other than Wudang itself.

Hyeon Jin, having retreated from the combat stage, kept his chin buried in his chest, actively avoiding eye contact with any living soul.

Particularly, whenever Hyeon Su made even the slightest motion to speak, Hyeon Jin locked onto him with a look of pure, unadulterated hatred.

“…….”

As a consequence of that hostility, Hyeon Su found himself entirely unable to offer consolation to Hyeon Jin or formulate an alternative tactical approach.

He was acutely aware of his analytical failure. Taeul Sect’s Illusion Sword possessed a level of meticulous execution that far exceeded his projections.

While the variant displayed by Jin So-un had served primarily as a deceptive distraction, the rendition executed by Dong-ryong operated with an efficiency that rivaled the finest traditions of the Swift Sword.

Ultimately, it was a confrontation that could have been effortlessly secured had the participant relied on the foundational Taiji Sword from the beginning, using superior internal energy to crush the opponent. Yet, due to Hyeon Su directing the strategy toward an unnecessary tangent, a critical loss had been sustained.

“……Taeul Sect’s Illusion Sword possesses the capacity to interspace authentic strikes within its phantoms. Therefore, I believe the absolute priority is to remain entirely unswayed by the illusions and deploy your own techniques with absolute composure.”

These were the parting words of advice offered by Hyeon Jin to Hyeon Hyang, who was currently preparing to ascend the combat arena next.

Hyeon Hyang had personally witnessed the preceding encounter, leaving him fully cognizant of that dynamic.

As Hyeon Hyang made his way up to the platform, Eun-ho stepped forward to represent Taeul Sect.

Hyeon Su attempted to quietly close the distance to Hyeon Jin, seeking to proffer a genuine apology.

“……!”

In response, Hyeon Jin bolted to his feet and deliberately moved five paces away from Hyeon Su’s vicinity.

Hyeon Su’s facial features contorted like a crumpled piece of waste paper.

—

Applause rained down from all quarters.

The audience seemed to find the unfolding drama highly exhilarating, because the moment I set foot onto the dueling platform, the volume of their cheers intensified dramatically.

Where exactly am I?

Who even am I anymore?

Within the thought process of Eun-ho—the very architect behind ‘Operation Send Our Reckless Eldest Senior Brother to Murim Academy!’—there had absolutely never been a scenario where I was supposed to be actively fighting on the dueling stage during the Third Trial.

My internal energy cultivation barely exceeded ten measly years.

Granted, just recently, after consuming the rare medicinal herb that Eldest Senior Brother had unearthed, that reservoir had expanded to roughly fifteen years of cultivation. Even so, I had never entertained the delusion that such a meager amount would permit me to survive the Third Trial.

The martial artists who managed to ascend to the level of the Third Trial were universally recognized as generational prodigies possessing monstrous talents.

Furthermore, if one were to isolate the absolute pinnacle monsters among that elite group, the names Shaolin and Wudang reigned supreme—and a representative from one of those twin titans was standing directly across from me right now.

From the analytical viewpoint of Eun-ho, who possessed the sharpest intellect among the three martial brothers, this was an unwinnable engagement.

When I shifted my gaze back toward the Taeul Sect delegation, Eldest Senior Brother calmly offered a reassuring thumbs-up.

Well, obviously, Eldest Senior Brother was an anomalous entity, so he could win.

Dong-ryong, positioned right beside him, likewise offered a thumbs-up.

And naturally, Dong-ryong could pull off a victory because he possessed the unique capacity to unleash and regulate the volatile power of the Heavenly Killing Star.

Next to him, Geum-pyo raised his thumb as well, though his face was a mask of sheer panic and stress.

Brother, please lower your hand.

‘What on earth could he possibly have been plotting?’

Just last evening.

The absolute moment our match-ups were formalized, Eldest Senior Brother dragged Brother Geum-pyo and me aside to initiate an emergency, last-minute cram session.

“The two of you are going to commit exactly three specific forms to absolute memory starting right now. If you master these variants as though your very survival hangs in the balance, tomorrow’s victory is guaranteed.”

With those words, Eldest Senior Brother proceeded to demonstrate a particular sword sequence.

Initially, I tilted my head in absolute bewilderment, struggling to comprehend what I was looking at.

It was the Taiji Sword.

“This is the Taiji Sword, the signature martial discipline of the Wudang Sect. And the two of you are going to flawlessly execute three unique Shattering Forms specifically engineered to dismantle this Taiji Sword style, practicing until it becomes second nature.”

“…….”

I had absolutely no inkling as to when or where he had acquired knowledge of the Taiji Sword, but the trio of forms he demonstrated next caused Eun-ho’s eyes to widen in sheer amazement.

“Uh…… wait. That means…….”

“You have witnessed the sequence, so the underlying logic is clear to you now, yes?”

Eldest Senior Brother, maintaining his instructional demonstration, systematically went through the motions of the Taiji Sword. Working in tandem with his movements, Eun-ho attempted to mirror the Shattering Form he had just observed, replicating the trajectory precisely.

Then,

*CLANG.*

The Black Dragon Sword was violently dislodged from Eldest Senior Brother’s grip, nearly clattering to the floor.

“……Huh.”

“Do you see it now?”

“What in the name of heavens is the logic behind this……?”

“Inquiries can wait for later. The two of you must forfeit sleep tonight to completely internalize all three of these sequences.”

Brother Geum-pyo raised an arm to interject.

“Is Dong-ryong not required to acquire these forms as well?”

“Dong-ryong has no need for them. That is precisely how our adversary will be lulled into a false sense of security.”

Once more, I was left entirely in the dark regarding whatever elaborate ploy Eldest Senior Brother was orchestrating, but Brother Geum-pyo merely nodded complacently and assumed his training posture.

That is hardly the critical issue at hand, Brother. You are failing to ask the one question that actually matters.

“Eldest Senior Brother, assuming we dedicate ourselves to mastering these three specific forms, what happens if the Wudang Sect refrains from utilizing the Taiji Sword altogether?”

“Ah, that is a non-issue. Once they have endured the encounters with myself and Dong-ryong, I will engineer the situation such that they are left with absolutely no alternative but to rely on it.”

“……Are you referring to that bizarre philosophy of yours where simply believing in an outcome forces it into reality?”

I absolutely should have kept that final inquiry to myself.

As a direct consequence of that remark, even while we were drilling the identical sequences, Eldest Senior Brother saw fit to discipline me multiple times utilizing the flat side of the Black Dragon Sword.

I pulled a grueling all-nighter without a single second of rest, successfully mastering the three designated forms.

Throughout that arduous process, I found myself struck anew by just how terrifyingly formidable Jin So-un truly was, considering he routinely managed both Brother Geum-pyo and myself simultaneously without breaking a sweat.

In any event, if the three sequences we had spent the entire night perfecting ultimately proved irrelevant to the actual fight, Eun-ho fully intended to forfeit the match the moment he crossed onto the platform.

Should I sustain a debilitating injury here, I would be rendered incapable of accompanying Eldest Senior Brother on his grand journey across the land.

And yet, “Wow…… this is actually materializing.”

Hyeon Hyang of the Wudang Sect deliberately settled into the unmistakable opening posture of the Taiji Sword.

“It truly does manifest if you harbor absolute belief.”

At this rate, I was genuinely beginning to worry that I might end up blindly devoted to Eldest Senior Brother in the exact same manner people surrendered themselves to a religious cult.

Eun-ho stabilized himself into the introductory stance of the Twin Heaven Sword Formula, mentally preparing to deploy the three forms he had sacrificed his entire night’s sleep to acquire.