The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 106

Chapter 106
Chapter 106. Great Journey of Avici Screams (5)

“Confound it, look at that scoundrel putting on airs just because he achieved a modicum of trivial renown!”

Nam Hwa-seong of the Three Origins Sect spat in rage.

Though it was obvious the boy had made an incredibly dense and idiotic choice, for some reason, the burning malice in his chest refused to cool.

“…….”

“…….”

The sentiment among the rest of the company was virtually identical.

In truth, their indignation burned even brighter because they had found themselves completely captivated by the radiant, ethereal grace of Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran—who possessed an effortless charm that made them look as though they had just gracefully awoken—far more than Ha Yeong-yeong, who had arrived dripping in luxury under the pretense of captivating the Black Flame Dragon with her allure.

“Brother Cheol, seeing how he loses his footing over mere women, it appears the grand tales regarding his brilliant intellect were nothing but fabrication as well.”

Despite Nam Hwa-seong’s probing remark, Cheol Sun-jik offered no reply.

“…….”

“Brother Cheol?”

“Hmm?”

“What thoughts have gripped your mind so intently?”

“It is nothing.”

Cheol Sun-jik mentally retraced the sequence of the recent encounter.

He had extended his proposition, and subsequently, Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran had dispatched a Sound Transmission to Jin So-un, their expressions conveying total resignation.

To any outside observer, they were undoubtedly imploring him to select the Twelve Peak Citadels over their own companionship.

Given those circumstances, the normal course of action would have been for him to begrudgingly act as though his hand were forced and accept the Twelve Peak Citadels.

‘Yet he completely rejected it.’

He had not displayed even a moment of doubt.

The refusal was delivered instantly, as if it were the only logical conclusion.

To argue that he simply could not desert his traveling companions out of an overabundance of righteousness was pure nonsense, particularly because the Taeul Sect currently claimed an excessive abundance of Entry Tokens.

Anticipated count of qualified participants: four.

Among the lower-tier organizations within the One Hundred Eight Peaks, numerous sects lacked the capacity to send a matching number of students into the academy compared to the Taeul Sect.

Abandoning such a monumental prospect solely for the sake of companionship?

Even the esteemed Abbot of Shaolin Temple would find such a notion laughable.

‘Is it possible he discerned the truth?’

The progression of Cheol Sun-jik’s deductions naturally arrived at a highly improbable apprehension.

Specifically, the maneuvers he intended to execute once the Taeul Sect had been brought into the fold.

To put it another way, the strategies designed to further solidify the pact and preserve equilibrium among the One Hundred Eight Peaks.

If an contingent of four individuals from the Taeul Sect gained admission into the Murim Academy at this very moment, it would send massive shockwaves through the entirety of the One Hundred Eight Peaks.

Such an event would rapidly trigger internal strife, and that friction would ultimately compromise the collective strength of the One Hundred Eight Peaks.

Diminishing their roster of candidates by offering them an appropriate compensation would conversely serve to fortify the internal cohesion of the One Hundred Eight Peaks moving forward.

In return for this sacrifice, they intended to position the Black Flame Dragon as the champion of the One Hundred Eight Peaks, bolstering the renown of the Taeul Sect while simultaneously fostering a grand narrative that the One Hundred Eight Peaks truly commanded the destiny of the murim.

Naturally, along this path, their own liabilities to allocate Entry Tokens to the Flying Wind Sect and the Ghost Bow Sect would also be minimized, effectively achieving multiple objectives simultaneously.

Indeed, it was a masterstroke meant to resolve three challenges at once.

And yet, every single one of those carefully laid designs had been thoroughly disrupted by a solitary declaration from Jin So-un.

“This presents a grave dilemma.”

“What does?”

“The Taeul Sect.”

“My thoughts exactly. Are they not incredibly vain and disrespectful?”

“You misinterpret my concern. I am apprehensive that the Nine Sects and One Gang along with the Five Great Clans will usurp the monumental opening that the One Hundred Eight Peaks has finally managed to grasp.”

The actual presence of Jin So-un was not of paramount consequence.

Had a champion been lacking, they merely needed to manufacture a fresh icon to take his place.

Nevertheless, the Twelve Peak Citadels had, for the very first time, secured a realistic path to eclipse the Nine Sects and One Gang and secure entry as the premier candidate.

If Jin So-un and his volatile entourage permitted their Entry Tokens to be plundered by the Nine Sects and One Gang at this juncture, they would be forced to endure yet another grueling epoch of waiting.

“Yet what alternative remains? He chose to cast aside his own fortune.”

“Even if he proclaims his distaste, can we simply abandon our obligations? As a constituent peak of the One Hundred Eight Peaks, we are required to force him to accept the consequences.”

“By what means?”

“Dispatch a message to the Flying Wind Sect and the Ghost Bow Sect. Inform them that there is no requirement for them to journey all the way up to Zhengzhou.”

“……What possessed you to act in that manner?”

For reasons unknown, Seong Mo-ran’s face was painted a deep crimson hue as she exited the grand parlor.

Had I committed some sort of social blunder?

In my own judgment, I felt I had simply maintained my integrity.

“They persisted in addressing me as the Black Flame Dragon. As though it were a flattering title.”

“……Young Master Jin.”

“Naturally, my primary motivation was simply that I wished to journey alongside the two of you.”

“…….”

“…….”

I had offered a bit of lighthearted banter to break the heavy gravity of the moment, but the air grew even more uncomfortable instead, and the tips of both ladies’ ears deepened in color, likely due to irritation at my poorly timed jest.

“……I do not possess the coldness of heart required to act oblivious to companions who found themselves in this predicament strictly on my account.”

“……Be that as it may, considering the stakes involved…….”

“Furthermore, neither of you represents such a trivial asset that I would ever consider trading your company for entry into the Murim Academy.”

What if, during the impending Great Righteous-Demonic War, I can swiftly align the Namgung Clan, the Iron Sword Sect, and the Murong Clan to our cause?

Would that outcome not vastly outshine the agonizingly slow mobilization experienced in my past existence?

Viewed through that lens, while gaining entry to the Murim Academy was certainly a priority, cementing my bond with their factions held far greater strategic weight.

“……!”

“……!”

Seong Mo-ran simply gaped at me in sheer disbelief, completely struck dumb, and Namgung Seon-hwa’s countenance reflected an identical state of shock.

A fleeting interval of absolute quiet enveloped us.

“I—I completely refuse to yield.”

Namgung Seon-hwa abruptly squeezed both her hands into tight fists as she made her declaration.

“Pardon? Is that not merely the standard expectation?”

“Regardless of how agonizing the path ahead proves to be, I shall never utter a word of complaint. Indeed, I will forbid myself from even harboring such a thought.”

Had the insulting demeanor of those emissaries somehow ignited her competitive drive?

Seong Mo-ran exhaled a soft breath and remarked, “Young Master Jin truly defies conventional expectations. I shall likewise refrain from uttering any grievances regarding our hardships hereafter.”

“Is that the case? That is quite reassuring. It appears our journey is about to become significantly more grueling, right on cue.”

“Pardon?”

The countenances of Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran, which had just been radiating fierce determination, suddenly contorted with anxiety.

Had they not just pledged their absolute commitment to the struggle?

“Did the remarks of those men fail to register with you just now? The Flying Wind Sect and the Ghost Bow Sect are positioned a mere two days’ march away, correct?”

“……Yes, that is accurate, is it not? But how does that reality relate to our journey becoming more difficult?”

“Are those particular factions not notorious as the preeminent predators of Trial Tokens?”

Lineage of the hunters.

“…….”

“In that case, who represents the most enticing target for them to ambush?”

“Perhaps…… the Taeul Sect?”

Namgung Seon-hwa was actively trying to ignore the obvious conclusion.

“Far from it. It would be the Taeul Sect moving in tandem with the Namgung Clan, the Murong Clan, and the Iron Sword Sect.”

Seong Mo-ran, who had been analyzing the piece of information, parted her lips in absolute horror and whispered,

“We are utterly doomed.”

The Great Journey.

In contrast to the massive expanses crossed to survive the First Trial and the Second Trial, the actual itinerary mapped out for the Third Trial was relatively brief.

Even so, the justification for martial artists designating this route as the Great Journey lay not in the physical miles, but in its brutal nature.

There existed a common proverb stating it would be far more accurate to dub it the Skull-Cracking Journey, given that the vast majority of participants ended up with fractured heads along the way. Throughout that savage Great Journey, even dominant factions like the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans frequently found themselves transformed into prey for ambushers.

To candidates who had spent their entire existences focusing solely on entering the Murim Academy, this specific Great Journey represented their absolute final window of opportunity to gain admission.

The desperate candidates who possessed no future chances clung with feral intensity to the temporary victors, fighting like individuals who had nothing left to lose.

“Hmm?”

An unusual spectacle caught my attention up ahead.

Fighters belonging to completely separate martial families were intermingling, executing a cohesive combat array.

“……The arrangement appears unusual…….”

Kang Seo-pyo stepped forward to resolve my unspoken inquiry.

“The disciples of the Murong Clan have not yet mastered the intricate details of the White Tiger Sword Formation, so we integrated our ranks to assist them.”

“Is such a thing permissible?”

Not merely the Iron Sword Sect, but the Murong Clan and the Namgung Clan as well harbored immense, unyielding pride regarding their proprietary styles.

Furthermore, the majority of their numbers had to be fully aware of how poorly the White Tiger Sword Formation was regarded within the broader Murim Alliance. And yet they actively blended their ranks to adopt it?

“When survival and sustenance are on the line, pride must take a back seat.”

I could manage nothing more than a cynical smirk at the realization that the White Tiger Sword Formation, formulated by the legendary tactical prodigy Jegal Cheon-gi, was currently being deployed for nothing more dignified than safeguarding basic rations.

“Well, Young Master Jin……温”

Kang Seo-pyo addressed me, his features settling into an uncharacteristically solemn cast.

“Kindly issue your commands directly to our ranks going forward.”

“Pardon me?”

Assuming my ears had deceived me, I prompted him for clarification, yet,

“My words are entirely literal. Until our boots touch the soil of Wuhan, you possess the authority to command us directly without utilizing any intermediaries.”

“…….”

Our established protocol of leadership had previously functioned in a manner where I conveyed tactical choices to Namgung Seon-hwa, Seong Mo-ran, and more recently Murong Jae-hwa, who would subsequently deliver those choices directly to the combatants of their respective households.

“If we are forced to await orders that must filter through multiple channels, our combat responsiveness suffers a critical delay.”

“Are the ranks truly comfortable with this arrangement?”

Personally, I harbored no objections, but I felt skeptical as to whether the proud martial artists would genuinely submit to it.

“If any miserable fool refuses to comply, I shall personally fracture his skull.”

“No, there is absolutely no call for such drastic measures…….”

“Lady Seon-hwa, Lady Mo-ran, the Young Master, along with Captain Cho and Captain Baek have already provided their formal consent to this protocol.”

As I scanned our perimeter, the various individuals who had been keeping tabs on my exchange with Kang Seo-pyo offered confirming nods one by one.

“Very well. In that case, I shall take the reins of command.”

“You have my gratitude.”

“That sentiment is one I ought to be extending to you instead.”

“No. It is not merely that…… I offer you my profound thanks.”

“Hmm?”

Just then, Cho Mu-bin, who had been maintaining a steady running pace alongside us, added his voice.

“You have my gratitude as well.”

Uncertain as to what precisely elicited such deep appreciation, I directed a questioning glance toward Seong Mo-ran, but she moved swiftly to redirect the focus of the conversation.

“M-More pressingly, what is our intended destination? Naturally, we are charting a course toward Shaoshi Peak, correct?”

To depart the boundaries of Zhengzhou and make our crossing into Hubei, our path required us to traverse Mount Song.

There existed a route cutting directly across Taishi Peak alongside an alternative path snaking toward Shaoshi Peak.

Taishi Peak was notorious for its incredibly steep and punishing pathways even among the heights of Mount Song, which stood proud as one of the Five Sacred Mountains.

Rather than providing a direct reply, I turned the question to Murong Jae-hwa.

“Positioned in my place, which route would you select?”

“……Me, sir?”

“I am inquiring as to which crossing you would choose between the heights of Taishi Peak and the path of Shaoshi Peak.”

“Uh…….”

Observing the visibly rattled Murong Jae-hwa, Namgung Seon-hwa let out a playful smirk.

“I recall that Jae-hwa harbored a deep fondness for wandering about to amuse himself since his youth, resulting in a total neglect of military treatises and grand strategy.”

“S-Sister Seon-hwa!”

Murong Jae-hwa’s complexion flushed red with embarrassment. After a brief window of deliberation, he offered a tentative reply.

“I—If the choice were mine to make, I would opt for Taishi Peak.”

“What an utter simpleton…….”

“Ugh…….”

The collective dismay was entirely predictable.

Ultimately, for a group in our predicament, maintaining maximum velocity was our primary concern.

“Therefore, we shall advance via Taishi Peak.”

“Pardon?”

“Young Master Jin!”

“B-Brother!”

Even Murong Jae-hwa, who had originally posited the suggestion, lost all color in his face and stepped forward to dissuade me.

“Moving forward, we cannot restrict our focus strictly to the adversaries pursuing us from the rear. We must simultaneously account for the enemies lying in wait ahead.”

“Ah…… Janis.”

“Be that as it may, to confront them successfully, would it not be far wiser to utilize the less punishing terrain? The crags of Taishi Peak present severe tactical disadvantages for our company as well.”

“The specific threat that concerns me among the ranks of the ambushers is the combination of the Ghost Bow Sect and the Flying Wind Sect.”

The predators of the road.

Among the scavengers tracking the scent of Entry Tokens, these individuals were those who had entirely abandoned any ambition of passing the formal examination, choosing instead to wait patiently for an extended duration while concentrating their focus exclusively on the vulnerabilities of the Great Journey from the very beginning. Because they had preserved their reserves of vitality, should they encounter environment types where their specific martial styles could be utilized to maximum effect, they possessed the capacity to challenge any adversary.

“What causes them to materialize so abruptly?”

“Did Cheol Sun-jik not openly declare that their forces were scheduled to rendezvous within a two-day window? It so happens that Mount Song is situated precisely a two-day journey from the gates of Zhengzhou. Furthermore, Shaoshi Peak features the exact variety of environment that marksmen favor above all else. Am I correct in this assessment?”

“Pardon? Y-yes, that is true.”

“It appears he merely offered his reply without possessing any actual understanding.”

“S-Sister Mo-ran. I presented my answer because I comprehended the entire tactical situation perfectly well.”

As the silhouette of Mount Song loomed larger on the horizon, trackers began to anchor themselves firmly behind our tail.

“It is the vanguard of the Twelve Peak Citadels.”

“Given that they have gone so far as to mount steeds for this pursuit, it appears their strategy is to force an immediate, violent resolution, precisely as Young Master Jin predicted.”

“Should we command our ranks to accelerate?”

I gave a firm shake of my head.

“There is no necessity for that. They will refrain from initiating an engagement until our boots cross into the perimeter of Shaoshi Peak.”

Even though our collective strength was modest, the reputation of the Five Great Clans was not an empty title.

Should they recklessly engage our forces and incur heavy casualties, they would immediately have to worry about being picked apart by the surrounding scavengers.

Their optimal strategy was to bide their time until we entered the choke points of Shaoshi Peak.

“Now, let us move out.”

When the path diverged into a smooth, expansive highway and a sharp, restricted mountain track, we dove into the sharp, restricted mountain track without a moment’s hesitation.

At that exact moment, the contingent from the Twelve Peak Citadels tracking us from the rear visibly hesitated in their advance.

“Young Master Jin! They have halted their pursuit.”

“From this exact moment, we maximize our velocity.”

“Pardon? The transport wagons will be utterly incapable of matching such a grueling pace.”

“We abandon the transport wagons at this location. We shall forge a direct line straight through the crags of Taishi Peak and descend upon the rear flank of the Flying Wind Sect and the Ghost Bow Sect.”

Regardless of how deeply I pondered the matter, I possessed no certainty as to when our paths might cross again, so since fortune had brought me face-to-face with Cheol Sun-jik during this trial, I intended to at least deliver a thoroughly deserved strike to his countenance before making my departure.