The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 119

Chapter 119
**Chapter 119. The Black Flame Dragon Dressed in Gold (4)**

A faint smile touched his lips, making no effort to conceal the murderous aura radiating from him.

Behind him, the towering figure appeared to intentionally inflate his massive frame, projecting an oppressive weight into the surrounding air.

These two were none other than Cheol Sun-jik and Nam Hwa-seong, hailing from the Twelve Peak Citadels.

“What did you call it again? The massive, spear-like projectile concealed within the Illusory Arrows.”

“How should I know? Ask the man himself.”

My gaze shifted to Murong Jae-hwa, who let his eyes dart around briefly before responding.

“That would be the H-Horse-Piercing Arrow.”

Cheol Sun-jik let out a soft noise of appreciation at the title, nodding in agreement.

“A perfectly suited moniker. So, Young Master Murong was the one who fired it. I almost missed my chance to join the Academy because of your handiwork.”

“……”

He was still relentlessly bringing up our encounter on Mount Song, where we had intercepted Cheol Sun-jik and Nam Hwa-seong while also making off with several of their Entry Tokens.

“If you came with the intent to steal, shouldn’t you have expected to be stolen from in return?”

Hearing this, a subtle grimace spread across the faces of Cheol Sun-jik and the rest of his group from the Twelve Peak Citadels.

Cheol Sun-jik studied my expression briefly before questioning me, his tone laced with skepticism.

“Will you be fine?”

“What are you getting at?”

“You will undoubtedly need the backing of the Twelve Peak Citadels to assemble the Academy Representative Delegation.”

“……”

“I assumed you would have factored that into your plans. True to form, you constantly manage to subvert my assumptions.”

Leaving those words hanging, Cheol Sun-jik and the members of the Twelve Peak Citadels were escorted further inside the banquet hall.

As I momentarily pondered his implications, a female attendant hurried over to our group.

“Please forgive the delay. I will show you to your table right away.”

The festivities kicked off with an introductory speech from the Murim Academy Head.

Following that, the various Instructors and lecturers took the stage one by one to present their respective courses. Finally, after a short segment acknowledging me as the student who passed with the highest marks, the entertainers launched straight into a vibrant display of music and dance.

An endless procession of diverse meals was brought out, prompting guests to mingle and swap pleasantries between the tables.

Watching the Deputy Academy Head, along with various administrative officers, Instructors, and lecturers, actively seeking out attendees to say hello, Geum-pyo’s expression grew rigid.

“……Are we supposed to believe they are old acquaintances?”

Eun-ho gave a derisive scoff at Geum-pyo’s question.

“Their interactions are far too awkward to claim they were already familiar.”

Our assigned seats were situated right in the middle of the room, positioned nearest to the main stage.

Despite this prime location, the teaching staff completely bypassed us, gravitating only toward the surrounding tables to offer welcomes, share drinks, and strike up lively chats.

“Yet they aren’t heading in that direction either, right?”

Geum-pyo gestured toward the seats situated at the absolute rear of the hall.

Eun-ho cast a quick look that way before replying.

“As it happens, those individuals aren’t associated with the Nine Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Clans, or the Twelve Peak Citadels. It’s highly likely they have ties to the Merchant World or imperial officials.”

“……”

Ignoring the severe frown forming on Geum-pyo’s face, Eun-ho shifted his attention to me and kept talking.

“Eldest Senior Brother. Shouldn’t we take the initiative and go to them?”

Before I even had a chance to respond, Geum-pyo jabbed a finger toward my chest.

“Aren’t we supposed to be the stars of the show? It’s boldly written right there, declaring you the Top Entrant.”

Eun-ho let out a heavy breath, staring at Geum-pyo.

“Brother, as the Academy Representative, Eldest Senior Brother is tasked with assembling the executive staff for the delegation. If he stays alienated in this manner, he won’t even have the means to put together the academic curriculum. Worst case scenario, he might be stripped of his position entirely.”

Eun-ho scanned the room.

“Rumor has it that whenever someone secures the role of Representative, the students normally fight tooth and nail for the executive spots. Yet, I don’t see a single trace of that happening here.”

“That’s likely due to my affiliation with the Taeul Sect.”

I pushed my chair back and stood up.

“Are you really going to make the first move?”

“I am. Regardless of the situation, the executive staff must be formed. Without them on board, the rest of the Academy students simply won’t cooperate down the line.”

Failing to unite these deeply fractured factions would cost me my title as Representative.

It made no sense to forfeit a role I had fought so fiercely to secure over such ridiculous prejudice.

“I’ll come along.”

Seeing Eun-ho stand, Geum-pyo, Dong-ryong, and Murong Jae-hwa immediately got to their feet as well.

Yet, the reception we received was a far cry from anything we had anticipated.

Our first target was the table of the Nine Sects and One Gang, but when we offered our greetings, not a single person spared us a glance or acknowledged our presence.

In fact, a few individuals stood up and relocated rather than sit near us.

“Good evening!”

I increased my volume a notch, ensuring my greeting was heard, yet hardly anyone shifted their gaze in my direction.

The rare few who did only gave my attire a cursory look before immediately resuming their private, hushed conversations.

“……”

A deep crimson hue spread across Geum-pyo’s face, while Eun-ho’s expression turned to stone.

Dong-ryong stood there looking utterly lost, and Murong Jae-hwa appeared ready to lunge forward and overturn their table entirely. I had to step in his path to stop him.

“Drop it.”

“But Brother……”

“It looks like they’re occupied. Let’s try another group.”

I pivoted toward where the members of the Five Great Clans were seated, but I threw a quick glance over my shoulder at the Nine Sects and One Gang.

Just as I suspected, the moment we created some distance, all their prior conversations ceased as they silently observed our movements.

“Ahem… I’ve been indoors a bit too long, and the air is getting thick. Think I’ll step outside to catch my breath.”

“Mind if I join you?”

The second we drew near the table belonging to the Five Great Clans, its occupants abruptly stood up en masse and proceeded to walk right out of the banquet hall.

“……Hoo.”

“It’s safe to say this is deliberate.”

Eun-ho looked incredibly disheartened.

Geum-pyo practically exhaled steam in frustration as he grumbled.

“Senior Brother, couldn’t you simply name whoever you want to the executive spots?”

“……The Academy Representative is responsible for designing half of the curriculum. However, the Representative is penalized with demerits for every single Academy student who refuses to show up for those scheduled sessions.”

Participation in the curriculum planned by the Academy Representative was entirely voluntary, left up to the students themselves.

Ultimately, the only way to ensure strong attendance was by appointing an executive staff influential enough to persuade the broader student body to actually follow the Representative’s schedule.

Historically, this system was designed as a networking opportunity, allowing the top-ranking Representative to unify their peers. Yet, for an outsider tied to the Taeul Sect, this tradition had been completely inverted into a massive vulnerability.

“What occurs if you stack up too many demerits?”

“……I would be forced to resign from my post.”

To survive, I needed to influence over fifty percent of the Academy students. Given that both the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans had already openly shunned me, I was practically guaranteed enough demerits to ruin me right out of the gate.

“……If they’re all coordinating to intentionally strip you of the title……”

“Hoo… Then Eldest Senior Brother will have no choice but to forfeit the representative role. Worse still, if the entire student body decides to formally impeach him… I’ve heard it can even result in outright expulsion from the Academy.”

“……Damn it, how is that even permitted!”

A mere few hours prior, Geum-pyo had been practically glowing with joy, bragging about wearing such luxurious garments for the first time. Now, his expression was fiercely contorted in rage.

“Are they seriously pulling this kind of stunt?”

Geum-pyo’s outburst was loud enough to carry across the expanse of the banquet hall.

The sudden shout drew the eyes of the Instructors and lecturers mingling nearby, and a number of Academy students also turned their heads to look. Even so, not a single person offered any significant reaction.

“Haa……”

The interior of the banquet hall was illuminated so brilliantly that it chased away any hint of the nighttime sky. Upbeat melodies filled the air, and extravagant culinary delights were scattered across every surface.

Yet, not a single member of our group could find any joy in the celebration.

“It seems my foresight was accurate this time.”

Tense and aggravated, the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers and Murong Jae-hwa instantly shot a hostile glare toward the source of the remark.

Seated comfortably nearby was Cheol Sun-jik, the man we had encountered upon entering, looking incredibly smug.

“Has the reality of your situation finally set in?”

“……”

“Had you chosen to align with us from the start, none of these troubles would have crossed your path.”

“Had I aligned with you, stepping foot inside this place would have been a pipe dream.”

A knowing grin formed on Cheol Sun-jik’s face.

“To begin with, this burden was far too immense for the Taeul Sect to handle.”

“You say that as though the Twelve Peak Citadels would have fared any better.”

The total head count of successful applicants stemming from the factions of the Twelve Peak Citadels and their affiliates hovered around two hundred and fifty.

A figure that still fell drastically short of the required majority.

Out of nowhere, Cheol Sun-jik shifted the topic.

“Word on the street is that Young Master Jin intentionally forfeited his spot in the Special Admission Track.”

Cheol Sun-jik cast a brief glance toward Murong Jae-hwa.

“And rumor has it you handed off the Entry Token gifted to you by the Grand Strategist to a complete stranger.”

“What exactly is your point?”

“You also plunged headfirst into the Murim Academy Regular Exam relying on nothing but three Junior Brothers, leaving behind any proper martial warriors.”

Just as I tilted my head, struggling to parse his disjointed logic, he elaborated.

“Young Master Jin is simply too exceptional.”

“……”

“Your brilliance is blinding, your talent too absolute. Because of that, you are incapable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with anyone else.”

The Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers and Murong Jae-hwa unconsciously bobbed their heads in agreement.

“I, too, discarded my route through the Special Admission Track. I stepped aside for my most favored Junior Brother. Yet, I didn’t forsake the backing of a hundred warriors. I kept my ambitions within reason. I displayed just enough competence to earn the respect of my peers within the Twelve Peak Citadels, but not so much that the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Clans felt threatened enough to suppress me.”

For the first instance since we met, Cheol Sun-jik looked genuinely invigorated.

“You wonder if the Twelve Peak Citadels could have managed it? Naturally, they could not. However, I would have successfully affirmed my identity as a core member of the Twelve Peak Citadels. By negotiating a reasonable compromise with the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans, I would have forged a sense of equilibrium.”

Cheol Sun-jik leveled a calm stare at me.

“Young Master Jin represents a genuine danger. That is precisely why you are denied the chance to prove your worth. From their perspective, kicking out Young Master Jin is vastly preferable to working alongside him.”

“……If it comes to that, the Murim Academy will simply fall back under the control of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans. Are you so eager to let history repeat itself?”

Cheol Sun-jik offered a slight smirk.

“Is that a recent development? We have endured for two centuries. What does it matter if we must wait another five decades, or even a century more? Besides, who says it will even take that much time?”

Just as my instincts had warned me in my past life, Cheol Sun-jik possessed the venomous cunning of a serpent.

“……”

A mere handful of his calculated words was enough to deflate the aggressive tension in the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers and Murong Jae-hwa, their shoulders sagging in defeat.

“Not a single soul in this hall will give Young Master Jin the time of day. They will plug their ears to anything you propose until the moment Young Master Jin is formally removed.”

Cheol Sun-jik let his gaze slide past the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers and Murong Jae-hwa before continuing.

“Would you like me to share the optimal solution?”

“……”

Cheol Sun-jik didn’t pause for my reply before plowing ahead.

“Resign from the representative role voluntarily. Demote yourself back to the status of an average Academy student. That way, you’ll at least be spared the humiliation of a forced expulsion.”

“……”

“On that note, do try to enjoy the remainder of the evening.”

Cheol Sun-jik offered a polite salute with clasped hands before making his way back to his seat.

Left stranded in the middle of the room, none of us had the drive to return to our assigned table, let alone attempt conversation with the other guests.

“Let’s head back to our chairs.”

“Senior Brother… My apologies, but would it be alright if I retired to the dormitory early?”

Geum-pyo mumbled the request, his eyes fixed firmly on the floor.

Fully sympathizing with his exhaustion, I was on the verge of nodding my consent.

Whisper, whisper.

An abrupt shift in the hall’s ambiance caught my attention.

The lively chatter and upbeat music, which had only served to highlight our misery, ceased in a heartbeat.

The performers, catching their sudden error, hastily resumed their melodies, yet the guests who had been chattering so loudly found themselves robbed of their voices.

Instead, they all stared in stunned silence toward the grand entrance of the banquet hall.

Gliding through the doorway were three women possessing such radiant elegance that they appeared to have stepped out of a halo of light.

“……Hm?”

“……Wait, did the Academy hire high-class courtesans?”

“Impossible. But with appearances like theirs… it makes no sense that I haven’t heard of them in all of Hunan.”

Every pair of eyes—male and female, Instructor and lecturer alike—became instantly magnetized to the trio of women stepping into the venue.

The fabric of their dresses trailed behind their every step, exuding an almost mystical aura. Their features were so flawless they seemed plucked from the canvas of a master painter.

Supreme grace dictated their every motion, and it was only the gentle smiles touching their lips that grounded them in reality as living, breathing humans.

Upon entering, the three women took their time scanning the vast room.

Wherever their eyes wandered, the collective gaze of the crowd trailed helplessly after them.

Upon completing their survey of the hall, the trio spotted us standing awkwardly in the center and began a leisurely approach.

“Gulp.”

I caught the sound of Geum-pyo swallowing hard—a stark contrast to the man who, seconds prior, had been desperate to flee back to his room.

The sheer presence they commanded had instantly put our entire group on edge.

Just then, the woman leading the trio parted her crimson lips to speak.

“Young Master Jin.”

In a flash, every single eye in the room that had purposefully shunned me snapped directly onto my face.

Beside me, the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers and Murong Jae-hwa stared at me in total, slack-jawed shock.

“……”

Hearing the familiar tone, I tilted my head in confusion.

Her gait and the cadence of her voice were a perfect match for someone I knew.

“Lady Namgung……? What on earth is going on?”