The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 111

Chapter 111
## Chapter 111. Black Path Night March

CRASH, CRASH, CRASH, CRASH.

Seong Mo-ran violently pounded her fists against the muddy ground.

Clods of soil flew everywhere with each strike of her arms, and her knuckles began to bleed heavily, yet neither Namgung Seon-hwa nor Cho Mu-bin could bring themselves to intervene.

“Curse it all.”

Everyone present understood that inflicting pain upon her own flesh was her solitary method for releasing the volcanic fury consuming her, so they simply watched in hushed despair.

“Sigh…”

The agonizing truth shared by Yong So-ah left everyone feeling just as devastated as Seong Mo-ran.

Realizing that they had been regarded as nothing more than expendable, worthless instruments left a agonizing scar on each of their souls.

“Hah…”

Her hands now dripping with fresh blood, Seong Mo-ran sat in a daze for a brief spell before slowly stabilizing her ragged breathing.

“Young Master Jin.”

“Speak.”

“I am withdrawing here.”

“…”

From within her clothing, Seong Mo-ran pulled a small pouch that gave off a metallic clinking sound.

“I have been aware for a long time that you have pushed past your absolute limits for us, Young Master Jin. Therefore, even if you abandon me to proceed, you must not harbor any remorse.”

With those final words, Seong Mo-ran buried her face deeply between her knees.

Not a single soul present could bring themselves to criticize Seong Mo-ran or accuse her of lacking resolve.

Exchanging a glance with Eun-ho and Dong-ryong, Geum-pyo gave a heavy nod and moved forward.

“Senior Brother, reaching this point is already a greater achievement than we could have hoped for.”

Geum-pyo placed the Entry Tokens they had managed to secure right before Jin So-un’s feet and turned his back.

“…”

Namgung Seon-hwa kept her eyes locked onto Jin So-un.

“I refuse to let our journey conclude in this manner.”

The detached words previously uttered by Dang Seo-hui continued to echo vividly in her thoughts.

*It would be no surprise if his life ended at any second.*

Rather than the sheer frustration of being powerless to aid an honorable man, it was the crushing weight of guilt for dragging him down all this time that truly oppressed her spirit.

“Young Master Jin.”

“…”

Jin So-un’s countenance remained entirely unreadable.

“Young Master Jin, if you were completely unburdened, you could make it to the Murim Academy by yourself, is that not true?”

That bizarre and incredible Movement Art he possessed. That unparalleled Movement Art, an art completely unfamiliar even to the esteemed Namgung Clan, might just be enough to carry him through. She allowed herself to cling to that desperate wish.

“Would you consider proceeding on your own, without relying on the assistance of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly?”

She lacked the heart to complete the sentence, fully aware of how selfish and unfair her request truly was, and instead dropped her own Entry Token at Jin So-un’s feet.

“…”

A freezing, heavy silence descended upon the group.

Up until now, every single one of them had been living solely for the moment this trial would conclude.

They had sworn to one another that once it was all over, they would slumber for seven full days, feast for seven full days, and remain thoroughly intoxicated for seven full days.

Yet, despite knowing the ordeal had finally drawn to a close, not a single face showed even a flicker of happiness.

For no one could have possibly wished for such a miserable resolution.

Namgung Seon-hwa turned her body away, intending to take a seat next to the weeping Seong Mo-ran.

“Why is everyone throwing in the towel so easily?”

“…!”

In an instant, her gaze snapped back toward him.

With a casual motion of his foot, Jin So-un kicked aside the Entry Tokens scattered on the ground.

“Did you all push yourselves to the absolute brink just to settle for an outcome like this?”

“…”

“I have no intention of accompanying Yong So-ah.”

“…”

“Furthermore, I have absolutely no intention of going on alone.”

“…”

Namgung Seon-hwa felt the rhythmic pounding of her heart accelerate.

His declaration struck a deep chord within her soul.

The very choices she believed were the only logical options to take, he dismissed as if they were utterly trivial.

Those words, though perhaps reckless, granted her an immense, overwhelming wave of comfort.

They enveloped her in a profound warmth.

Even in this dire state where she felt on the verge of collapsing from sheer exhaustion, his words breathed new vitality into her.

“…Quit being so incredibly obstinate.”

Seong Mo-ran raised her countenance, her eyelids heavily swollen from weeping.

“You understand perfectly well that this is not a boundary of death we can simply force our way through using mere resolve or effort.”

Namgung Seon-hwa gave a slight nod, silently agreeing with her companion’s assessment.

The emotional storm raging within her breast was one thing, but cold logic was an entirely separate matter. Rationality demanded that the harsh truth be spoken aloud.

“Most importantly, they explicitly stated that your physical state is in dire straits, Young Master Jin. If Senior Seo-hui was the one to make that evaluation, we must view the reality as far more catastrophic than it seems.”

After absorbing their arguments, Jin So-un swept his gaze across the gathered martial artists and spoke.

“…Tell me then, do you truly wish to abandon the path?”

“…”

“I am asking you directly if your desire is simply to halt your steps here and let everything end.”

Hearing his dispassionate tone, Seong Mo-ran’s suppressed fury finally boiled over.

“Who in their right mind wants to give up?! After enduring all this agony, after being degraded in such a manner, who would willingly choose to quit?! I want to move forward too! I want nothing more than to trample those arrogant competitors, cast aside those wretched thieves, and completely humiliate the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly!”

Unable to hold back her overwhelming sorrow any longer, Seong Mo-ran broke down into heavy, ragged sobs.

“…Hiccup.”

Seong Mo-ran attempted to mask her vulnerability, roughly brushing away the tears streaming down her face.

Observing her distress, Jin So-un maintained his composed demeanor and spoke.

“In that case, let us proceed.”

“…Haah. You are truly unbelievable.”

Seong Mo-ran glared fiercely at Jin So-un with a sharp, piercing look.

“I just finished telling you… this matter can no longer be resolved by willpower or—”

“I am telling you this because an alternative route exists.”

“…”

“A singular method.”

Jin So-un extended a single index finger into the air.

“There remains one strategy left to us. A path that will allow every single member of our group to safely gain entry to the Murim Academy.”

“Are you suggesting we negotiate with the forces that have been hunting us across the land? Do you honestly believe they would entertain such an offer at this stage? Every single one of the Nine Sects and One Gang…”

“Absolutely not. I have zero intention of striking a bargain with them. Nor do I have any desire to negotiate with the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Not just Seong Mo-ran, but every single warrior present could only stare at Jin So-un in absolute bewilderment.

“…Naturally, it is a course of action that none of you will find particularly pleasant to execute…”

As Jin So-un proceeded to lay out the details of his strategy, the jaws of his companions slowly began to slacken.

“…”

By the time he finished his explanation, their mouths were hanging open so wide they resembled large bowls.

“…You utter lunatic…”

Namgung Seon-hwa flinched slightly at the harsh profanity that slipped from Seong Mo-ran’s lips.

Though they had frequently used terms like ‘mad’ or ‘insane’ to describe his behavior before, she had never once explicitly labeled him an utter lunatic to his face until this moment.

“…”

Yet, as Namgung Seon-hwa mentally replayed the incredible plan she had just been told, she had to admit the description was entirely fitting.

“…A madman.”

She softly echoed the sentiment, albeit using a slightly more refined choice of words.

—

“You absolutely reek.”

crunch.

For whatever reason, So Je-ho—whose left eye had swelled up to the size and color of a dark plum—ground his teeth together in absolute frustration.

“Take a few steps back before you speak to me.”

Dang Seo-hui pinched her nostrils shut with her fingers, dismissively waving her hand to push him away.

So Je-ho felt a fierce urge to shout, ‘You wretched woman, you are the entire reason I am in this state!’ but he forced his raging temper down.

If he initiated another chaotic brawl in this place, he might genuinely end up suffering from internal bleeding for the remainder of his trek alongside the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.

“They have mobilized once more.”

Upon hearing So Je-ho’s report, Yong So-ah tilted his head in slight curiosity.

“Is that a fact?”

“A penniless wretch with absolutely nothing to his name seems to possess an absurd amount of stubborn pride, doesn’t he? Hahaha.”

So Je-ho burst into a malicious laugh as he envisioned the catastrophic fate awaiting Jin So-un, but the surrounding area remained entirely silent.

In reality, with only Yong So-ah and Dang Seo-hui present as his audience, expecting anyone to share in his amusement was a foolish notion from the start.

“Which path are they taking?”

“What difference does their trajectory make? Regardless of the path they select, a formidable blockade will be waiting to intercept them anyway. To put it plainly, they are completely surrounded by enemies on all sides, trapped in a hopeless siege.”

“A walking garbage pile is actually attempting to recite classic metaphors.”

Even when So Je-ho directed a murderous glare at Dang Seo-hui for her sudden, mocking interruption, she remained entirely unfazed, acting as though he did not exist.

Yong So-ah repeated his inquiry with cold precision.

“Which path?”

“They have altered their course toward the southeast once again. Most likely, it is a desperate maneuver to steer clear of the Wudang forces.”

“The southeast… toward the Dabie Mountains?”

“They have fled from the domain of a tiger only to march directly into the territory of a vicious serpent.”

“I require you to track their movements.”

“That is precisely why those fools should have accepted our terms from the very beginning… Wait, what?”

“Keep a close eye on Jin So-un’s faction.”

“It seems the foul-smelling idiot has lost his hearing along with his wits.”

“That infuriating… Whew. What is the logical purpose of tracking them down? Their fate is already sealed.”

“I am merely intrigued to see whose hands will ultimately claim the Entry Tokens they currently hold.”

“…As you wish.”

Hearing Yong So-ah’s firm stance, So Je-ho let out a heavy sigh through his teeth and turned to depart.

Once So Je-ho had vanished from sight, only Yong So-ah and Dang Seo-hui were left standing in the open terrain.

Both individuals were inherently quiet by nature, meaning that a heavy, unbroken quietude was perfectly normal whenever they found themselves alone together.

However, on this rare occasion, Dang Seo-hui broke the silence first.

“My grandfather held you in high regard.”

Even upon being reminded that his talents had been formally recognized by none other than the legendary Poison King Dang Hyeok-je, Yong So-ah’s stoic countenance failed to show even a ripple of pride.

“It is for that precise reason that I have aligned my actions with your grand ambitions.”

“…”

“Yet, after witnessing the conduct of Jin So-un, my perspective has begun to shift. Is the ultimate goal you strive to achieve truly the most effective path to preserve the maximum number of human lives?”

A query laced with an entirely detached tone was directed at a man whose face was completely devoid of emotion.

Despite having his core principles and integrity called into question, the unyielding martial artist betrayed no sign of agitation.

“It absolutely is.”

“If that is the case, why did Jin So-un risk everything to preserve his entire following, while your sole focus was to rescue Jin So-un alone?”

“Because he chases a beautiful, impossible fantasy, whereas my actions are dictated by realistic efficiency.”

Dang Seo-hui’s brow twitched into a sharp frown.

Given her diminutive frame and remarkably youthful facial features, even that expression of displeasure resembled nothing more than a childish, endearing pout.

Unfortunately for her, there was no one present in this desolate place whose heart could be swayed by such a display.

“He may appear to be rescuing a few dozen individuals in this current moment, but through his reckless actions, he has thrown away the opportunity to preserve tens of thousands, perhaps even millions of lives in the grand scheme.”

Dang Seo-hui gave a slow nod of understanding as she absorbed Yong So-ah’s reasoning, softly murmuring under her breath.

“That presents a rather significant dilemma.”

“It is a matter of minor consequence. Whatever is destined to transpire will unfold regardless.”

“No, you misunderstand my meaning entirely.”

Yong So-ah fixed his steady, unblinking gaze onto Dang Seo-hui.

“If Jin So-un manages to guide his entire entourage across the threshold of the Murim Academy, will that not create a massive complication for your philosophy?”

“…”

“When all is said and done, it will serve as definitive proof that your core worldview was fundamentally flawed.”

Yong So-ah, a man who had scarcely ever shown a hint of displeasure throughout his existence, seemed to find himself frowning with increasing frequency in recent days.

“Such an outcome is an utter impossibility.”

“What grants you such absolute certainty?”

“Because even if I were to take command of that exact faction this very instant, it would be a mechanical impossibility for me to successfully escort every single one of those individuals to the gates of Wuhan.”

Dang Seo-hui withdrew a small, pale hand from the depths of her wide sleeve, resting it thoughtfully against her chin as she gave a nod.

“Hmm, I see, I see… Perhaps, just perhaps… the whispers echoed across the Jianghu possess some truth.”

As Dang Seo-hui continued to converse with herself in hushed tones, Yong So-ah spoke up.

“What thoughts are occupying your mind?”

“If Jin So-un successfully arrives at the Murim Academy alongside every member of his group, it will solidify the claim that the Black Flame Dragon stands far above Yong So-ah, precisely as the rumors throughout the Jianghu dictate.”

“…An achievement that is beyond my capabilities…”

“Jin So-un has already demonstrated that exact phenomenon once before during the events on the Demon Spirit Plateau.”

“…”

“Jin So-un achieved an impossible feat that Yong So-ah failed to accomplish.”

—

“Keep moving! Sprint! Keep your eyes forward and just keep running!”

Kang Seo-pyo, Cho Mu-bin, and Baek Won-gak sprinted at a breakneck pace, leading the charge at the absolute front of the line.

“Anyone who finds themselves unable to sustain this pace, abandon the trial immediately and retreat to your respective families! We have absolutely no use for dead weight now!”

“If the enemy attempts to strip you of your Entry Token, surrender it without a fight! Do not throw away your precious lives for the sake of empty vanity!”

“This is not a battlefield of annihilation! There is zero reason to sacrifice your lives here!”

The three leaders bellowed out their instructions in rapid succession, yet not a single martial artist slowed their pace or dropped out of the formation.

Every individual pressed forward with ferocious intensity, as though the reaper himself was snapping at their heels.

“Blasted fools, as if anyone would actually listen to that rubbish.”

“If a terrible tragedy befalls the young mistress, who exactly do they think will bear the ultimate blame?”

“I would far rather perish while fighting to keep pace with her.”

Naturally, the rank-and-slide warriors took care to mutter their grievances in hushed whispers from the rear.

The ordinary fighters were far from the only ones constantly venting their anxieties under their breath.

Murong Jae-hwa found himself entirely unable to cease his pessimistic muttering.

“The moment I set foot back inside my family estate, my life is forfeit.”

Running alongside him, Namgung Seon-hwa attempted to offer a shred of solace.

“Look on the bright side, your grandfather has always harbored a soft spot for eccentric antics, so there might be a sliver of mercy waiting for you. I, on the other hand, am facing the very real prospect of being completely erased from my family lineage.”

Murong Jae-hwa offered a sharp, incredulous response to her attempt at reassurance.

“Elder Sister, how can you speak so callously? The very instant I chose to wield this bow, I had already reconciled myself to being cast out of my family.”

“And who exactly authorized you to take up archery in the first place? You should have been diligently perfecting our family’s signature sword techniques instead. Why did you waste your time on such an impractical pursuit?”

“Unbelievable… You were absolutely thrilled when my efforts allowed you to get four continuous hours of sleep, and now you turn around and… I am deeply hurt. Deeply hurt, Elder Sister!”

The towering peaks of the Dabie Mountains finally began to materialize at the distant edge of the horizon.

Once they successfully scaled those heights, they would officially cross into the territory of Hubei Province, but massive clusters of hostile martial artists were already visible, moving along the primary thoroughfares intersecting Hubei Province.

“If the pair of you possess that much surplus breath to bicker, why don’t you put it to use at the front of the vanguard?”

“…”

“…”

Silenced by Seong Mo-ran’s biting reprimand, both of them immediately clamped their lips shut.

“I am the one whose future is truly utterly ruined. My entire family bloodline is doomed to reach a pathetic dead end solely because of my dimwitted elder brother and myself.”

“…”

“I should have bolted the very moment we embarked on this absolute madness.”

Regret was a companion that invariably arrived far too late, regardless of how quickly one realized their folly.

Once a person had taken a seat upon the back of a roaring tiger, dismounting at a whim was no longer an option available to them.

“Hostiles ahead!”

The scouts navigating the front shouted out a warning that a violent collision was mere moments away.

The opposing forces rapidly decelerated, shifting their weight into solid combat stances to receive the impact.

“Accelerate! Push past your limits!”

Human beings were obviously not beasts of burden, so shouting commands should not logically grant them a burst of speed, yet by some miracle, every single warrior aligned with Jin So-un began to push their bodies to run even faster.

The exact moment the massive enemy blockade and the battered, compact unit slammed into one another.

Scores of shattered sword fragments erupted into the atmosphere, accompanied by the agonising shrieks of wounded men echoing from all sides.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!

While the desperate members of the Taeul Sect faction swung their blades with frantic energy, the elite combatants representing Mount Hua and Diancang held a rigid, disciplined Sword Formation, exerting only the precise amount of energy required.

These were the premier combatants of the generation, individuals whose placement within the Murim Academy had been locked in from the very inception of the trial.

In stark contrast, the force charging at them was nothing more than a heavily battered beast, relentlessly hunted for weeks on end without a single night of proper rest.

“Alter our trajectory immediately!!”

Jin So-un’s command reverberated through the chaos like a crack of thunder.

The vanguard warriors who had been desperately battering themselves against the impenetrable Sword Formation instantly pivoted on their heels, redirecting their momentum straight toward Damang County.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!

Because the martial artists blocking the primary highway were fully aware that Jin So-un’s faction was required to breach the sector guarded by Mount Hua and Diancang to enter Hubei Province, they hesitated in confusion.

“Do not stop running!”

Furthermore, because they were well aware that Damang County served as the primary stronghold where three notorious Black Path sects converged, their reluctance to pursue intensified dramatically.

Seizing upon that fleeting window of hesitation, Jin So-un’s entourage sprinted forward with every ounce of vitality remaining in their bodies.

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH!

Yet, the elite forces proved exactly why they held such fearsome reputations.

Even within that microsecond of confusion, they unleashed a volley of Flying Swords, managing to pierce through the retreating lines and inflict fresh wounds.

“Urgh!”

“Brother, can you stand?!”

“I-I can keep moving!”

“If your body is failing you, drop out of the formation!”

“Not a chance, you bastard!”

It represented the absolute final window of opportunity forged from a momentary lapse in the enemy’s coordination.

Namgung Seon-hwa, Murong Jae-hwa, Seong Mo-ran, the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers, and every other soul cast aside the heavy anxieties that had plagued their minds for weeks, dredging up the absolute final reserves of spiritual energy within their souls as they bolted toward their singular destination.

“What?”

“I-Intercept them!”

“Do not let them escape! Pursue!”

The elite martial artists, realizing they had been deceived a moment too late, gave chase with terrifying speed.

In comparison to their swift movements, my own limbs felt incredibly leaden and unresponsive, leaving me with no choice but to desperately hammer my feet against the earth without daring to cast a single glance behind me.

However, navigating a chaotic battlefield in a state of sheer exhaustion meant that even a minor irregularity in the dirt could cause a disastrous fall.

STUMBLE.

TUMBLE, TUMBLE, TUMBLE!

Namgung Seon-hwa crashed heavily, rolling violently across the rough earth until her entire form was caked in dirt, yet the charging warriors of the Namgung Clan had already built up too much forward momentum to halt their advance for her sake.

“Keep moving! Do not stop for me!”

The exact moment the pursuing Mount Hua swordsmen closed the distance, preparing to completely overwhelm the fallen Namgung Seon-hwa.

SHIIING!

Jin So-un threw his momentum backward, executing a sweeping motion that caused the Black Dragon Sword to unfurl outward like the rigid ribs of a decorative fan.

Dozens of razor-sharp sword illusions materialized in every quadrant of the air, while the charging Mount Hua experts unleashed a dazzling array of hundreds of vibrant plum blossoms.

Each time a radiant plum blossom collided with one of the phantom blades, the illusionary weapon dissolved instantly into nothingness.

The vast canopy of sword shadows that had seemingly engulfed the sky vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving the remaining cluster of hundreds of lethal plum blossoms hurtling forward to consume Namgung Seon-hwa.

“Ahhhh—!”

SPLAT, CRACK, SPLAT.

Accompanied by the sickening sound of tearing flesh and bursting blood vessels, Namgung Seon-hwa suddenly felt her entire body launched up into the air.

As her vision stabilized, she found herself staring directly at Jin So-un, who was bleeding profusely from multiple wounds as he held her tightly against his chest.

Beholding his battered state, a heavy wave of emotion swelled within Namgung Seon-hwa’s breast, and unable to form a coherent thought, she simply cried out the first words that came to mind.

“I explicitly ordered you to leave me and keep going.”

“…You possess the freedom to enter this group as you please, but leaving it is an entirely different matter.”

Jin So-un’s stride hitched violently several times.

The legendary velocity he once commanded was nowhere to be seen.

Even so, his altered pace remained just swift enough to keep him beyond the immediate reach of the pursuing Mount Hua faction.

“You absolute lunatics! That trajectory leads straight into the territory of the Black Path sects, the eternal, mortal adversaries of our Orthodox Path!”

“W-What did he say? Have those wretched fools lost every shred of sanity?”

“Turn back! You will all be slaughtered without mercy if you cross that boundary!”

The frantic, desperate warnings of the Mount Hua pursuers echoed weakly from far behind their positions.

“Let us make our entry.”

Rejoining the absolute front of the running entourage, Jin So-un took point and, without a single shred of hesitation, completely shattered the fortified main gate of Four Emperors Peak, widely recognized across the land as one of the most terrifying bastions of the Black Path.

BOOM!

The assembled martial artists of the Orthodox Path sects who stood watching the spectacle could only drop their jaws in absolute, synchronized disbelief.

“They are entirely insane…”