The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 125

Chapter 125
Chapter 125. The Black Flame Dragon Who Gives Opportunities (5)

Staring into a boundless void where the sky, the ground, and every imaginable path dissolved into pure white, Eun Seol-ran let out a soft, weary breath.

This was the legendary ultimate formation rumored to unhinge a person’s mind with absolute nothingness before claiming their life. She had never imagined she would find herself trapped within the very legend she had heard about.

“How…… did things turn out this way?”

Her own martial line was rooted deeply in Bukhae, leaving them with absolutely no cause to construct a Mystic Gate Formation. Furthermore, once her period of mandatory obligation concluded, she intended to completely withdraw from active involvement in the murim. There was no logical reason for her to be marooned inside a barrier like this. Yet, the sole reason she had submitted her name for this gathering in the first place was a flickering, desperate wish: having no trustworthy allies within the vast murim, she hoped she might somehow secure an advantage here.

“I never should have set foot inside this place.”

Tracing back the secondary origin of her plight pointed directly to Hong Sa-ryeon, who had crossed the threshold alongside her. However, the immediate catalyst was simply that Eun Seol-ran had allowed herself to grow unsettled by the delicate floral fragrance drifting from the other woman’s body, causing her to take a fatal step backward.

The moment she crossed over into this vacuum where neither physical objects nor scents could linger, a distinct bodily fragrance she normally paid no mind to became starkly apparent. Unlike Sa-ryeon, she had become suddenly self-conscious of the scent of perspiration rising from her own flesh, prompting her to retreat by a single pace. Yet that lone step was enough; the companions who had been positioned directly ahead of her and right behind her dissolved into nothingness without a single trace.

“Haa…….”

In the beginning, her bond with Sa-ryeon had never been plagued by this sort of awkward friction.

Sa-ryeon’s home faction, the Ice White Palace, existed at the very bottom tier of the One Hundred Eight Peaks, sharing a similarly humbled status with the Taeul Sect.

Long ago, a mythical progenitor known as the Plain Hand Divine Maiden had served as its Founding Patriarch, leaving behind her definitive supreme technique, the Plain Hand Divine Art, to be inherited across subsequent eras. In reality, however, since the passing of the Plain Hand Divine Maiden, not a single descendant had managed to advance their mastery of the Plain Hand Divine Art past the threshold of the Fourth Star.

This chronic lack of powerful martial experts progressively bled the faction of its influence, until outsiders routinely ridiculed them with the mocking label that they resided in an “Ice White Cave” rather than an grand Ice White Palace.

It was precisely this mutual understanding of their shared hardships that had allowed the two of them to quickly forge a close relationship based on shared misery.

‘But everything has turned entirely different now.’

She could pinpoint the exact moment their connection fractured.

To be perfectly precise, the rift began to form when the name of Sa-ryeon’s Eldest Senior Brother, the renowned ‘Black Flame Dragon,’ started to send shockwaves throughout the entirety of the murim.

As he rescued thousands of lives across the perilous Demon Spirit Plateau, earned profound acclaim from the legendary Wind Earl Sword-Breaker during the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, and advanced relentlessly through the rigorous Regular Exam, Eun Seol-ran found herself feeling increasingly alienated from Sa-ryeon.

The Academy scholars, who had previously regarded both her and Sa-ryeon with total apathy, suddenly began showering Sa-ryeon with intense curiosity and regard.

To the various students belonging to the modest One Hundred Eight Peaks, the figure of the Black Flame Dragon had essentially become an idol of pure reverence.

It wasn’t that she herself was immune to admiring the spectacular feats of the Black Flame Dragon. The true thorn was the reality that he was Sa-ryeon’s unshakeable, protective Senior Brother.

The stark truth that Eun Seol-ran possessed no such guardian like the Black Flame Dragon drove her to deliberately alienate herself from Sa-ryeon’s company.

“A miserable girl brings misery upon herself through her own foolish pride.”

Even as the glorious reputation of the Black Flame Dragon and the rising status of the Taeul Sect became the main topics of conversation among the crowds, Hong Sa-ryeon had behaved no differently than she always had.

In fact, she had gone out of her way to offer to introduce Eun Seol-ran to the Black Flame Dragon.

She mentioned that the Black Flame Dragon had taken note of Eun Seol-ran and expressed a genuine desire to meet her in person.

Yet to Eun Seol-ran, whose perception was warped by a deep-seated, bitter sense of inferiority, even that generous gesture rang hollow and patronizing.

Why would a transcendent prodigy who had utterly captivated the murim hold any interest in encountering someone as insignificant as Eun Seol-ran?

She convinced herself it was nothing more than an act of pity born from Sa-ryeon’s charity.

“Phew.”

And it was the accumulation of that petty jealousy that had steered her directly into her current predicament.

A harrowing isolation where she had no one to hold accountable but herself.

“So this is how my path ends, dying like a dog…….”

Eun Seol-ran let out a dejected murmur as her fingers brushed the interior of her entirely depleted pouch of Fasting Pills.

When she initially crossed into the boundaries of the Soul-Destroying Formation, the coordinators had provided her with a single day and night’s supply of food pellets and fresh water, a gesture she had found puzzling at the time. Had it not been for those meager provisions, Eun Seol-ran would have perished from starvation a long time ago.

Now, however, even those lifelines were utterly spent, and she could no longer recall the exact number of days that had slipped by since she last tasted real sustenance.

“Haha…… haha.”

Confronted by the looming shadow of her own demise, a hollow, dry chuckle escaped her lips. Yet that sound possessed no strength to echo across the expanse; it was instantly swallowed by the absolute quiet and total void.

The profound, unbroken stillness—a sensation she had never encountered in all her years—was more than enough to strike a deep, unfamiliar dread into Eun Seol-ran’s soul.

Hummm.

As she forced herself to channel the internal paths of the Plain Hand Divine Art, a pale, misty vapor began to radiate from both of her hands.

It was only when Eun Seol-ran pressed those cold palms against her hollow cheeks that she could find confirmation that life still lingered within her form.

‘In the end, I never managed to unravel the hidden truths of the Plain Hand Divine Art either.’

She had never truly believed herself capable of decoding a mystery that had baffled the finest minds of her lineage for hundreds of winters.

Even so, the bitterest regret gnawing at her was the realization that she would perish without ever having the chance to pursue those answers through her service within the Murim Alliance, or by exchanging insights with renowned masters of ice-based and fire-based martial arts.

Desperate to cling to the fading awareness of her own existence before the end, Eun Seol-ran repeatedly pushed the boundaries of the Plain Hand Divine Art. Her shallow reservoir of inner strength quickly depleted to the absolute bottom, and the freezing essence began to dwindle into nothingness.

The moment the remaining energy inside her dantian vanished entirely, a profound weakness washed over her, robbing her limbs of all vitality.

Because the activation of the Plain Hand Divine Art was the solitary proof of life she could still grasp, she ruthlessly wrung the last drops of energy from her barren core.

It was the desperate act of a soul refusing to let go of its final breath.

Crack, crack.

Startled by an unexpected, crisp sound manifesting against her skin, she abruptly pulled her hands away from her face.

“What…… could this be……?”

Rather than the usual white mist swirling from her fingers, a delicate, fragile layer of frost had crystallized across her palm.

“…….”

Halting the circulation of the Plain Hand Divine Art, she carefully brought her hands together, utilizing her natural body heat to melt the frost.

The ice dissolving within her palms quickly gathered into a single, precious swallow of water.

“Ah…… ah…….”

Reinvigorated by the sensation she had just touched upon, Eun Seol-ran meticulously retraced the internal pathway and circulated the Plain Hand Divine Art once more.

Crack, crack.

Solid ice crystallized instantly, perfectly mirroring the contours of her open palm.

Without even pausing to moisten her parched, cracking lips, Eun Seol-ran broke down, heavy tears of salt tracing down her face.

Ever since the Plain Hand Divine Maiden had departed the mortal realm without leaving behind a complete record of her insights, no successor had ever truly grasped the true essence of the Plain Hand Divine Art.

Yet now, after four centuries of stagnation, Eun Seol-ran—staring death in the face within the oppressive confines of the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation—had finally unlocked the ultimate secret of her clan’s art.

“Sniff…… sniff…….”

How profoundly would the disciples of the Ice White Palace rejoice if they could bear witness to this moment? How deeply vindicated would her father and mother be, who currently strove to lead the fading Ice White Palace?

Yet right alongside that surge of joy came a crushing despair over her terrible fortune, knowing she was doomed to perish in this wasteland without ever transmitting this monumental breakthrough to her family.

“Curse it…… sniff, curse this wretched, unfair world!”

Eun Seol-ran shrieked a foul oath, the likes of which had never passed her lips in her entire life.

The delicate shards of ice radiating from her palms flew wildly into the empty space, dispersing into the white void and vanishing from sight.

“It would have been far better if this realization had never come to me at all…… sniff.”

Worse than the impending arrival of her own death was the agonizing truth that this priceless martial secret would die with her, a reality that tore at her heart far more than physical demise.

As she cursed the skies in a fit of rage against the bitter irony of her fate—

“Wouldn’t it bring you joy to finally reach such enlightenment?”

“!!!!”

At the sudden resonance of a voice cutting through the void, Eun Seol-ran’s eyes stretched wide, trembling like a cornered beast.

She spun her head around so violently that a sharp ache flared in her neck. Standing just a few paces away was a young man clad entirely in black garments, a dark blade strapped to his side. He stood tilting his head slightly, his features twisted into an expression of mild bewilderment.

“Bl-Black Flame Dragon…… Great Hero?”

“You are indeed Eun Seol-ran, are you not?”

“You…… you actually know who I am?”

Hearing her own identity fall so casually from his lips caused Eun Seol-ran’s pulse to accelerate into a frantic rhythm.

“Sa-ryeon has spoken of you to me on numerous occasions. But tell me, did I just disrupt a critical moment of your meditation?”

The Black Flame Dragon cast his gaze down toward the fragile frost crystals cradled within Eun Seol-ran’s trembling fingers.

“N-No. I have already grasped the core concept and managed to solidify the realization within my mind.”

“In that case, shall we make our departure?”

“L-Departure?”

The figure of the young man appeared like a sharp ink drop stamped onto the center of an immense, blank parchment. His casual proposal left Eun Seol-ran entirely unable to anchor her scattered thoughts.

“I can certainly respect the desire to delve deeper into your new martial insights, but I find myself quite concerned regarding the physical toll on your form. It appears you have completely exhausted your supply of provisions and water. Surely this must be incredibly grueling for you?”

“I-I want to leave! Please, take me away from this terrible place!”

The Black Flame Dragon offered a smile of striking, serene kindness.

“Then let us depart.”

As the Black Flame Dragon turned and strode ahead to chart the path out, Eun Seol-ran attempted to quicken her stride, terrified that she might lose sight of his back and be left behind once more.

“Ow.”

However, her utterly depleted physical vessel refused to obey her will.

“If you do not object, would it be acceptable if I carried you upon my back? If you happen to take another misstep within this barrier, I cannot guarantee how long it might take me to locate you again.”

To be borne upon the back of a man—was that not an intimate occurrence reserved solely for romantic tales? Before the utterly flustered Eun Seol-ran could formulate a coherent reply, the Black Flame Dragon smoothly hoisted her onto his back.

In contrast to his lean outward appearance, his shoulders felt remarkably vast, unyielding…… and radiating a deep warmth.

“Endure just a brief moment longer. We shall cross the boundary shortly.”

“……Um, excuse me, Great Hero…….”

“Great Hero? Hearing that title directed at me is rather mortifying.”

“Aah. I-I beg your pardon. In that case, how should I properly address you? Senior Brother?”

“We belong to the very same academic cohort, do we not? Senior Brother feels a bit too formal and detached. Given that you share a close bond with Sa-ryeon, perhaps you could simply address me as Older Brother?”

“W-Would it truly be permissible for me to use such a term?”

For reasons she could not fathom, an intense wave of heat rushed up to color Eun Seol-ran’s pale cheeks.

“Any companion of Sa-ryeon is effectively a younger sister to me. By the way, what was it you were intending to ask me just now?”

Eun Seol-ran found that the original inquiry she had been trying to voice had completely dissolved from her memory.

The phrases ‘younger sister’ and ‘Older Brother’ were echoing so frantically inside her mind that they had utterly paralyzed her ability to think clearly.

“I-I seem to have completely forgotten.”

“No matter, we can review whatever question you had once we have successfully made our way outside.”

Enveloped within that absolute stillness, inside that terrifying realm of pure void, Eun Seol-ran no longer felt the biting sting of loneliness, isolation, or overwhelming despair.

“It is entirely due to your intervention that I am finally able to find some breathing room.”

Upon hearing Jegal So-myeong’s admission, the eyes of the White-Bearded Divine Sword Hyeok Mu-gang widened in genuine astonishment.

“Hoho, it appears that young fellow Jin So-un must truly be an extraordinary individual.”

“Even from the authority of my office, there was genuinely no alternative path available to me.”

Jegal So-myeong maintained an incredibly intricate, unreadable expression, though the faint trace of amusement lingering at the corners of his mouth remained constant.

To Hyeok Mu-gang, observing this side of the man was nothing short of miraculous.

Was Jegal So-myeong truly the type of individual to offer humble words of appreciation? From his very core, he was a master who dictated terms to others, not a man burdened by vulnerabilities severe enough to prompt him to request assistance from anyone.

“I must confess, I have never in my life reviewed a formal proposal that presented such an airtight, flawless justification for a financial disbursement.”

Because he was a man who demanded absolute adherence to foundational rules and structures, if one managed to navigate those exact rigid structures effectively, even the most impossible demands were rendered entirely unavoidable.

“Regardless, because the Alliance Leader’s Hall agreed to extend that capital to our department, I was able to navigate through a very tight spot.”

“As a matter of fact, the administrative director of the Alliance Leader’s Hall was practically spitting blood out of sheer frustration. He was demanding to know how they were expected to balance the accounts after this.”

When Hyeok Mu-gang spoke with a trace of subtle amusement coloring his tone, Jegal So-myeong offered a firm nod of agreement.

“I intend to settle the accounts and return those funds with the utmost urgency. Furthermore, moving into the upcoming calendar year, it would be highly prudent for us to establish a completely isolated emergency reserve.”

“That young lad Jin So-un is truly reshaping a great many habits of our Grand Strategist.”

In response to Hyeok Mu-gang’s playful prodding, Jegal So-myeong gave an affirmative nod.

“What other course could I possibly take? Even though he refrained from stating it in plain words, he explicitly tied the matter to the mysterious force that materialized across the Puyang Plains and heavily insinuated the involvement of the Demonic Cult. I possessed absolutely no administrative grounds to deny his request.”

“Even so, because of that maneuver, highly beneficial and unforeseen consequences are already manifesting, are they not?”

“The intelligence reports indicate that a single layer of the ancient restriction binding the Plain Hand Divine Art has successfully been dismantled.”

“Hooh…… That is a magnificent omen indeed. The leaders of the Ice White Palace must be absolutely ecstatic over this development.”

After adjusting his conversational stride to match the rhythm for a moment, Jegal So-myeong sipped quietly from his porcelain teacup before steering the dialogue toward his primary objective.

“On another note, I received word that the Alliance Leader himself intends to be present for tomorrow’s exhibition of the Soul-Destroying Formation.”

“Indeed. I have found my own curiosity piqued regarding the exact nature and mechanics of this particular barrier.”

Jegal So-myeong nodded slowly, conceding the point, before his gaze suddenly sharpened with intense focus as he spoke.

“In that case, it is imperative that I remain anchored directly by your side to offer my full counsel and assistance.”

Hearing Jegal So-myeong’s declaration caused Hyeok Mu-gang’s brow to twitch with a faint ripple of displeasure.

“The information I received indicated that the Grand…… Strategist was far too buried under administrative duties to attend the event……?”

“How could I justify remaining absent when the Alliance Leader himself is gracing the demonstration with his presence?”

“Come now, since when have you ever displayed such an uncharacteristic eagerness to tag along……?”

“Is it possible that the Alliance Leader finds my personal attendance somewhat inconvenient or restrictive?”

“That is…… simply not the case at all…….”

“Just as I suspected. Is it perhaps far more advantageous for your individual goals if I am absent when you secure an audience with young Jin So-un?”

“…….”

Confronted by Jegal So-myeong’s razor-sharp, direct interrogation, Hyeok Mu-gang found himself completely tongue-tied, looking for all the world like a man who had suddenly forgotten how to speak. Observing his silence, Jegal So-myeong raised his eyebrows in a triumphant gesture.

“I knew it……! I had a distinct suspicion this was your angle! You were attempting to slip onto the warm stove ahead of everyone else like a deceptive, quiet cat!”

At Jegal So-myeong’s sharp accusation, Hyeok Mu-gang felt a wave of genuine irritation wash over him. Was he not the ultimate authority who had personally authorized the emergency release of thirty thousand gold taels precisely because unforeseen funding was requested?

Did it carry even a shred of fairness that he should be barred from meeting Jin So-un in a private setting?

“Are you not being excessively territorial, Grand Strategist? It is not as though I have expressed any intention of poaching him away to my own division…….”

“The ancient proverbs state that the moment a man lays eyes upon a rare treasure, he desires to handle it, and the moment he handles it, he resolves to possess it entirely for himself. I will absolutely not permit it.”

“……Ahem. Good heavens. I am merely expressing a simple desire to make his acquaintance…… museum standard text presentation format.”

Hyeok Mu-gang had found it completely impossible to suppress his overwhelming fascination regarding the sheer brilliance that had managed to thoroughly ensnare even the cynical mind of Jegal So-myeong.

On this particular matter, he had absolutely no intention of yielding his ground without a fierce fight.

“If you choose to press this matter further…… I shall have no choice but to formally step down from my post as Grand Strategist immediately.”

“No! What sort of preposterous nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden?!”

“This aging minister has already expended the entirety of his vitality, and the hour when I must cross over to become a wandering phantom draws closer with each passing day. It is high time I retired to my ancestral lands. It was my fervent hope to somehow locate and cultivate a magnificent prodigy capable of succeeding the mantles of Mantongbu and Sim Hyeon-gak before my departure, but since you choose to block my path in this manner, it is clear my presence here is no longer required.”

“Wow…….”

The reality was that if Jegal So-myeong were to vanish from the hierarchy of the Murim Alliance at this critical juncture, a massive flood of factional rivalries would instantly burst into the open and fracture the organization, undoubtedly tearing the Murim Alliance into warring pieces.

His administrative presence was entirely non-negotiable.

“Very well. I yield. I shall completely purge even the faintest inkling of recruiting Jin So-un into the Alliance Leader’s Hall from my thoughts, so I implore you to cease uttering such terrifying threats.”

“You extend a benevolence as boundless as the vast ocean to this unworthy servant, and I am truly at a loss as to how I might ever properly repay your grand grace.”

Witnessing Jegal So-myeong deliver a formal bow of gratitude with a far more profoundly moved expression than when he had offered thanks for the procurement of the thirty thousand taels, Hyeok Mu-gang could only swallow the bitter thought that this entire display was incredibly underhanded and petty.

“Phew…… shreds of light passing down.”

A heavy sigh escaped from deep within my chest.

I had iterated my stance to her on countless occasions, so why did she stubbornly refuse to heed my words?

“I must insist that you don this attire.”

Behaving as though her demand was the most natural thing in the world, the head maidservant held out the luxurious silk vestments before me.

“For what purpose did you go out of your way to embroider such a ridiculous phrase onto the fabric again?”

Woven into the very borders of the wide sleeves, the characters designating the ‘top scorer’ had been meticulously stitched an innumerable number of times, cleverly concealed to masquerade as an elegant geometric pattern.

“Have the notices not confirmed that dignitaries of immense standing from the central Alliance are scheduled to arrive this very day?”

“What possible relevance does that have to my wardrobe? This gathering does not even constitute a formal, sanctioned event.”

Eun Seol-ran, who had been assigned to the third division to venture into the Soul-Destroying Formation, had achieved an incredible breakthrough within the barrier, single-handedly unlocking the ancient secret of the Plain Hand Divine Art that had remained an absolute enigma to martial artists until this moment.

Following the circulation of that shocking news, the remaining one hundred available vacancies that had previously seemed utterly impossible to close were completely claimed within a single twenty-four-hour window.

‘Concurrently, I have also succeeded in forging a direct tie with the Plain Hand Jade Maiden.’

Without question, the most monumental achievement of this entire endeavor was securing a solid relationship with the future Plain Hand Jade Maiden.

Was she not the very same Plain Hand Jade Maiden destined to elevate the Ice White Palace into the legendary Bukhae Ice Palace, unleashing an absolute, unmatched martial dominance that would completely halt the Demonic Cult from breaching the borders of Bukhae in the dark days ahead?

‘Given her existing companionship with Sa-ryeon, perhaps I ought to begin brainstorming methods to gently persuade her to join the ranks of the White Wolf Pavilion down the road?’

Naturally, such a recruitment drive would be fraught with immense difficulty, but it was an avenue absolutely dripping with potential.

Regardless of the difficulties, due to this spectacular turn of events, the central Alliance’s fascination with the practical applications of the Soul-Destroying Formation had skyrocketed, prompting the Academy administration to issue formal invitations to the Elder Hall and various Pavilion Masters to witness a live exhibition.

“When individuals of such exalted station are presenting themselves, it is only logical that the figure who commands the spotlight ought to be you, Young Master. If you fail to capture their attention during a rare opening such as this, your future ascent through the ranks will be severely hindered.”

“I harbor absolutely no ambition to climb the ladders of worldly power. Had I been driven by a petty desire for social elevation, I would never have initiated strategies that deliberately alienated the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Clans from the very outset.”

“It is precisely because you have chosen such a perilous path that you must seize every opportunity to project an aura of absolute dominance. A man’s outward presentation dictates the behavior of the masses far more profoundly than you realize, Young Master. If you project the unshakeable majesty of a sovereign ruler, a far greater number of powerful individuals will find themselves compelled by that vision and pledge their blades to your cause.”

As our debate persisted, a sudden sense of incongruity struck me. Given that her operational post was strictly confined within the Academy walls as the leader of the domestic staff, how was she privy to such granular details regarding the internal dynamics and gossip circulating among the student body?

“In what manner did you acquire such precise intelligence regarding our internal affairs?”

“……My sole duty is to provide absolute support to you, Young Master. Naturally, mastering such details is an essential requirement of my station.”

The head maidservant appeared to be balancing further arguments on the tip of her tongue, her lips shifting slightly as if about to speak, but she ultimately chose to lock her mouth shut. I refrained from pressing the matter any further.

“Be that as it may, I remain firm in my refusal to wear it.”

“You absolutely must wear it! Girls, bar the entrance immediately!”

“……Just what is your true motive in exerting such immense effort simply to force me into these specific garments?”

Confronted by my direct query, the head maidservant let out a gentle, weary sigh.

“My own flesh and blood possessed a profound, burning fascination with the martial paths from the time he was a mere child. As both my husband and I earned our livelihood through service within the Alliance, we harbored no objections to his dreams. Consequently, wishing to provide the boy with every possible advantage, we financed his attempts to clear the entrance examinations for several highly prestigious sects, yet he met with absolute failure at every single turn.”

It was a depressingly mundane tale.

As a relentless concentration of elite prodigies swarmed toward the most renowned martial lineages, the entry barriers for any faction evaluated as even moderately respectable continued to climb to astronomical heights.

“During his tender years, he experienced such pure, unadulterated joy merely receiving instruction at a local martial hall. Yet at a certain juncture, he appeared to have internally accepted a rigid ceiling on his own potential. And even as his father and I watched him sink into absolute despair before that unyielding barrier, there was realistically nothing our meager status could do to alleviate his suffering.”

The brutal disparity that manifests right at the starting line of life.

And the invisible fortresses that permanently prevent those structural gaps from ever being closed routinely crush the spirits of those who dare to reach for something higher.

“Very recently, however, my son has thrown himself back into his training at the martial hall with an intensity I have never seen before. The sole reason he drives his body through brutal training regimes day after day without a moment’s rest, the reason hope has bloomed in his heart once more, is…….”

The head maidservant fixed her gaze upon me, her eyes shimmering with a faint tremor of emotion.

“It is entirely due to your spectacular triumphs, Young Master Jin.”

“…….”

“It is my deepest, most earnest prayer that you continue to march from one magnificent victory to the next, Young Master. I want nothing more than for you to stand as a shining beacon of what is possible for my son to emulate. Yet because you insist on maintaining such an excessively low profile, it feels as though my dream is doomed to remain unfulfilled. I understand your position. I shall instruct the staff to bring forth a standard set of garments instead.”

“…….”

After delivering this emotional speech and releasing a heavy breath, the head maidservant allowed a deep, profound exhaustion to surface across her features—a vulnerability she took immense care to mask under normal circumstances.

I reached out, taking the silk robes into my hands, and examined the intricate embroidery with meticulous care.

“On the next iteration, I would be deeply grateful if you could construct these characters to blend a bit more seamlessly into the actual geometric patterns.”

“!”

The mature maidservant’s entire countenance illuminated with instant joy.

Though I couldn’t quite pinpoint the mechanism, I couldn’t shake the distinct impression that I had just been masterfully manipulated.

“To be perfectly clear, this does not mean I intend to sport this wardrobe on a daily basis. Simply ensure the wording is far less conspicuous.”

The head maidservant nodded her head in rapid succession.

“Your instructions are perfectly understood.”

And that was how, when all was said and done, I marched out onto the sweeping grounds of the Grand Riding Ground arrayed in the unmistakable formal vestments of the ‘top scorer.’

The surrounding architecture was absolutely overflowing with a massive sea of Academy scholars who had congregated in droves, all eager to catch a glimpse of the elite power brokers arriving from the central Alliance.

After I carefully navigated my way through the dense press of bodies, I located the sixth division, who had completed their theoretical instruction the previous afternoon and were scheduled to enter the perimeter of the Soul-Destroying Formation on this day.

However, even though the official start time for the demonstration was fast approaching, the underlying mood of the crowd felt remarkably fractured and chaotic.

Furthermore, the sheer volume of humanity gathered across the courtyard was far too immense to be comprised solely of casual onlookers.

Even the core administrative leaders representing the Nine Sects and One Gang, the elite representatives of the Five Great Clans, and the commanders of the Twelve Peak Citadels—figures who normally behaved as though they would never deign to set foot in a place like this—had all assembled in force.

The moment my boots crossed into the perimeter of the Grand Riding Ground, Yu Ji-ryang and his immediate circle, who had been locked in an intense discussion with an Academy administrative coordinator, broke away and sprinted directly toward my position.

“You have finally arrived.”

“The turnout is significantly vaster than my initial projections. Is it possible that even the supreme Murim Alliance Leader himself is making an appearance today?”

“Yes. Your deduction is entirely accurate.”

“Come again?”

Yu Ji-ryang immediately forged ahead into his next piece of information, treating the monumental arrival of the supreme Murim Alliance Leader as though it were a mere footnote.

“Setting that aside for a moment, we are currently confronted by an incredibly critical emergency.”

“……A situation more critical than this?”

What could possibly constitute a more severe crisis than encountering the supreme Murim Alliance Leader in person—a legendary figure whose countenance ordinary martial artists were fortunate to glimpse even once in their entire existence?

“The elite disciples belonging to the Nine Sects and One Gang…… appear to have covertly infiltrated the interior of the Soul-Destroying Formation on their own initiative, and they are completely incapable of navigating their way back out.”

“……Those absolute, unhinged lunatics.”