The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 126

Chapter 126
Chapter 126. The Black Flame Dragon Who Deprives Opportunities

Hearing the news that they had snuck in covertly, I was so utterly flabbergasted that I could only press for confirmation.

“Covertly? There were supposed to be sentries stationed out there without fail.”

“It appears they slipped inside precisely during the window when the sentries were rotating shifts.”

“…….”

The security of the Murim Academy, of all places, had actually been breached?

The chronological details of the incident quickly pieced themselves together in my thoughts, and a surge of anger began to simmer within me, but the most pressing issue at the moment was not the method by which those fools had bypassed security.

Regardless of the defensive precautions that had been established, anyone who carelessly stepped into the Soul-Destroying Formation would find themselves utterly unable to escape it.

Why had we been incapable of locating the individuals who had thoughtlessly ventured into the Soul-Destroying Formation back on the Demon Spirit Plateau, despite the fact that a significant number of people managed to survive and make it back out?

It was simply due to the impossibility of tracking anyone down when they were lost among as many as two hundred thousand distinct paths within the array.

“W-What are we supposed to do now?”

Yu Ji-ryang’s words were laced with an uncontrollable tremor.

It seemed that before my arrival, the leadership from the Nine Sects and One Gang had already been relentlessly pressing him to take accountability for this disaster.

“Please…… give me a moment.”

I quickly surveyed our surroundings.

If security had truly been compromised, then the sentries who were on duty during that time would undoubtedly be undergoing interrogation at this very moment.

Over on one side of the Grand Riding Ground, I spotted two figures pale with terror, being fiercely questioned.

I immediately shifted my stance and began walking toward them.

A panicked Yu Ji-ryang rushed to keep pace with me.

“Would it be alright if I spoke with these sentries for a brief moment?”

“…….”

The individual who appeared to be supervising the interrogation ceased his questioning and abruptly turned his back to us. I proceeded to ask the guards from the previous night several specific questions.

As I was gathering information from them, a voice suddenly disrupted us.

“Lord Yu Ji-ryang, and Academy Student Jin So-un.”

Startled by the sudden call, Yu Ji-ryang snapped his head around. An instructor was standing there, glaring down at the two of us with a countenance resembling a wrathful phantom.

“The senior leaders of the Alliance are demanding an explanation. Follow me.”

“…….”

To facilitate the upcoming exhibition, an elevated staging area had been constructed right in the center of the training field, with over thirty seats arranged across it.

At this moment, not a single one of those chairs remained vacant; they were tightly packed with people, and furthermore, all associated staff members had assembled to stand directly behind the seated figures.

Shuddering uncontrollably, Yu Ji-ryang was shaking so badly that the vibrations were easily perceptible to me as I walked right next to him.

I reached out and gently rested my hand on his shoulder.

“Great Hero Yu, perhaps you should try to steady your nerves a bit?”

“……Ah, yes. Indeed. I must pull myself together.”

“If the pressure is too overwhelming, I am perfectly capable of confronting them on my own.”

Yu Ji-ryang’s expression instantly grew lighter upon hearing my offer. He contemplated the idea for a brief second, but soon gave a firm shake of his head.

“Regardless of the circumstances, I am the individual officially in charge of this Soul-Destroying Formation, am I not? I must face them.”

“…….”

With heavy, reluctant steps, Yu Ji-ryang walked toward the elevated platform like a beast being guided to an execution block.

Up close, the staging area was already occupied by every single representative of the Elder Hall, which included the Murim Alliance Leader Hyeok Mu-gang as well as Grand Strategist Jegal So-myeong.

“What in the world has taken place here?”

“How exactly was this project overseen that mere youngsters could wander in and out of such a perilous, top-tier array whenever they pleased?”

“What point is there in listening to excuses? We must dismantle this array this very instant and penalize the individual in charge according to the strict regulations of the Alliance.”

The very moment our feet touched the platform, furious vociferations erupted from all sides.

Furthermore, the representatives of the Elder Hall appeared utterly incapable of restraining their fury. As they hurled their accusations, they let their murderous aura spill out without restraint, causing the spectators who had gathered for the exhibition to fall completely silent under the oppressive weight of the air.

The volatile environment persisted, feeling precisely as though we were navigating a treacherous path by balancing on the sharp edges of swords.

“How much longer does the Academy Representative intend to remain completely mute?”

“Give us an answer this instant!”

“This catastrophe occurred precisely because an administrative role was assigned to someone lacking even the most fundamental qualifications. The representative must be removed from his post immediately.”

Before long, those venomous accusations began to target me as well.

As the vicious declarations filled the area like the chaotic noise of a combat zone, Jegal So-myeong apparently reached his limit of tolerance and finally spoke up.

“All of you, hold your tongues!”

“…….”

“…….”

Following Jegal So-myeong’s thunderous command, the senior leaders clamped their mouths shut, and the entire vicinity was instantly enveloped in a profound silence, mirroring the sensation of stepping inside the Soul-Destroying Formation itself.

“I have a question. What is the precise number of individuals who ventured inside?”

With Jegal So-myeong taking control of the inquiry, the focus of the crowd naturally shifted toward him.

Feeling the weight of every eye in the area pinned on him, Yu Ji-ryang began to speak, his voice halting and uncertain.

“A-According to the reports I received, th-there were six individuals in total.”

“According to reports? Are you implying that the count might be inaccurate?”

“N-No. Their peers confirmed it directly, so the total number is absolutely certain.”

“Very well. They went inside, so why has this suddenly turned into such a critical dilemma?”

“Under normal conditions, anyone entering the Soul-Destroying Formation is expected to emerge within a single double-hour. However, the group that entered yesterday during the Hour of the Tiger has failed to reappear even now, well into the Hour of the Snake. This indicates they have completely lost their bearings within the array.”

“If they have lost their way, is it impossible for them to navigate back out?”

“The Soul-Destroying Formation lacks any fixed point of orientation, meaning one must navigate the corridors in strict accordance with its fundamental principles based on every single pace taken. However, if even a solitary step deviates from the pattern…….”

As Yu Ji-ryang explained the mechanics, the brows of the senior leaders began to knit together in deep frowns.

“Why failed the protective countermeasure to deploy?”

“The protective countermeasure was designed solely to intercept individuals attempting to breach the formation from areas other than the primary entryway. It was never intended to account for people who walk directly through the legitimate entrance from the start.”

“Are you suggesting then that there is absolutely no fail-safe in place?”

“This is a pinnacle-grade array for which a fail-safe mechanism cannot possibly be engineered in the first place. For that precise reason, under rigorous oversight, the total headcount must be strictly regulated, and entry must be permitted exclusively through the established Life-and-Death Gate…….”

Just as Yu Ji-ryang was on the verge of placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of the intruders, Daoist Master Myeonghyeon suddenly interjected to cut him off.

“Ultimately, does this not mean our young disciples are currently stranded within a perilous pinnacle-grade array entirely devoid of any safety nets?”

“……Ah, well, that is…….”

Jegal So-myeong pressed his lips together in irritation, but Daoist Master Myeonghyeon pressed forward with his speech, entirely unbothered by the Grand Strategist’s reaction.

“What are the realistic odds that these youths will manage to escape on their own in time?”

“……There are none.”

“Good heavens, this is preposterous.”

Displaying a countenance of sheer astonishment, Myeonghyeon turned his attention toward the Murim Alliance Leader to state his case.

“Alliance Leader, this is an incredibly critical situation that threatens the very lives of Academy disciples who are destined to bear the future responsibilities of our Alliance. We are obligated to dismantle the Soul-Destroying Formation this very moment to rescue these youths.”

The Murim Alliance Leader, Hyeok Mu-gang, shifted his gaze back toward Yu Ji-ryang and inquired,

“I was given to understand that the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation, true to its designation, cannot simply be deactivated. Is there an actual method available?”

“Th-The fifty foundational pillars that serve as the primary core of the Soul-Destroying Formation were designed to fracture automatically after one month has elapsed, which would naturally dissolve it then, but…… there is a major complication.”

“A complication?”

“The perception of time experienced within the boundaries of the Soul-Destroying Formation is entirely different from the passage of time out here. Because of that discrepancy, even if they remain inside for a solitary day, it physically takes the exact same toll as spending seven full days and nights trapped there.”

“Even if the environment is artificial, it inflicts genuine physical consequences upon them?”

“Those who find themselves ensnared within the Water Demon Great Square Formation, which stands as one of the ultimate arrays of the Jegal Clan, ultimately perish from a total lack of air…….”

“Good grief…….”

“This is an attribute that we ourselves only discovered for the very first time while reconstructing the formation on this occasion. The primary issue is that the individuals who slipped in without proper clearance yesterday…….”

“Hold on!”

Yu Ji-ryang was abruptly silenced as Daoist Master Myeonghyeon glared at him.

“Cease attempting to utilize phrasing like ‘without proper clearance’ or ‘outside authorized personnel’ merely to deflect your own accountability. When all is said and done, this catastrophe is the direct result of you people completely neglecting your administrative duties.”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

Appearing to find common ground with Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s assertions, the surrounding elders nodded their heads in agreement.

Yu Ji-ryang’s complexion drained completely of color, leaving him looking utterly dazed.

“Proceed with your explanation.”

“Y-Yes. The individuals who ventured inside yesterday failed to carry any survival provisions along with them.”

Daoist Master Myeonghyeon let out a disappointed shake of his head, then focused his attention back on the Alliance Leader to press the issue.

“Alliance Leader, there is absolutely no purpose in listening to further details. We must order an immediate, forceful deactivation of the array.”

The Murim Alliance Leader nodded his head as well, seemingly aligned with Myeonghyeon’s perspective.

“Is there an available method to force its dissolution?”

In response to the Alliance Leader’s query, Yu Ji-ryang spoke with visibly quivering lips.

“If the fifty foundational pillars I described a moment ago can be obliterated at the exact same instant…… it ought to be achievable.”

“Then execute that plan without a moment’s delay.”

Upon hearing Myeonghyeon’s demand, Yu Ji-ryang’s face took on the grim expression of a man facing an immediate death sentence.

Finding myself unable to stand by and watch his despair any longer, I stepped forward to intervene.

“That is an impossibility.”

“……This is hardly an appropriate venue for someone of your standing to chip in right now. Your own accountability will be thoroughly examined at a later time, so remain silent for the time being.”

Despite Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s sharp dismissal, I completely ignored his words and directed my speech toward both the Alliance Leader and the Grand Strategist.

“In order to artificially dismantle the Soul-Destroying Formation, a total of fifty individuals must simultaneously pass through the Life-and-Death Gate, secure positions at the precise coordinates, and demolish the pillars at the exact same second.

However, that scenario is purely a conceptual possibility. You must take into account that if the synchronization fails even slightly, an additional fifty individuals will simply wind up trapped inside the Soul-Destroying Formation.”

The moment I concluded my explanation, heavy exhalations of dismay echoed from all corners of the gathering.

“Good heavens!”

“How could such a thing be……?”

“What could possibly possess someone to construct a mechanism in that manner?”

Upon processing this revelation, even the Murim Alliance Leader and the Grand Strategist fell completely silent.

Ultimately, unable to contain the fury boiling within him, Myeonghyeon let loose an angry roar.

“How exactly do you intend to answer for this? Did this entire catastrophe not manifest because you overextended yourself simply to maintain your position as the representative?”

I deliberately turned my head to face him.

My gaze locked onto Daoist Master Myeonghyeon, whose countenance had flushed a deep, furious crimson.

“On what grounds should I be the one to take responsibility?”

“W-What? Are you seriously suggesting……?”

“When I questioned the sentries who were stationed at the perimeter last night, they revealed that a group of twenty individuals approached them and commanded them to shift duties far ahead of the official timetable. Throughout that interaction, the name of the Righteous Path Association was explicitly invoked to pressure them.”

“That is an utter fabrication…….”

I swiftly cut off Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s interjection and pressed on.

“Within the traditions of the Diancang Sect, how exactly do you penalize an individual who surreptitiously spies on another person’s esoteric martial arts?”

“What kind of irrelevant nonsense are you suddenly spouting?”

“Because of constraints regarding financial resources and available territory, I purposely instituted a restriction on the total number of attendees and organized this demonstration accordingly. This arrangement was meant to convey the underlying principles of the Soul-Destroying Formation strictly to those who were formal registrants of the event. Yet, individuals who were not even participants covertly attempted to pilfer those secrets, and this current disaster is the direct consequence of their actions. Logically speaking, shouldn’t they be facing severe consequences instead of receiving a rescue operation?”

The complexions of Daoist Master Myeonghyeon and the surrounding elders turned an intense shade of red.

“Naturally, I carry absolutely no accountability for this situation. Furthermore, Lord Yu Ji-ryang here is entirely blameless as well. Those intruders walked straight into danger of their own volition, and that peril was driven entirely by nothing other than their personal avarice.”

I deliberately channeled my inner energy into my vocal cords, ensuring that every single individual assembled in the field could hear my words with absolute clarity.

“As I outlined just a moment ago, a method to dismantle the Soul-Destroying Formation does exist. Whichever elders among you possess the profound cultivation required to endure for roughly one hundred days on nothing more than basic water and minimal sustenance should gladly volunteer to brave the danger and dissolve the array. If your endeavors prove successful, you will easily rescue the Academy students who committed such an act of sheer idiocy.”

The moment the phrase “one hundred days” left my lips, a total, dead silence fell over the elders, with not a single soul offering a response.

“If none of you are willing, then the individuals who actively plotted to orchestrate this scheme should step forward right now. I am referring directly to the ones who intimidated and coerced the sentries to force this unauthorized entry.”

I shifted my stance completely, scanning the gathered crowd.

Among the assembled Academy students, the affiliates of the Righteous Path Association were glaring in my direction with eyes practically overflowing with lethal intent.

“Who among you will take responsibility? Will it be the senior masters and elders of your respective organizations? Or will it be those individuals who, despite holding the status of Academy students, completely disregarded every single directive issued by their chosen representative? Which group will it be?”

Following the conclusion of my speech, absolute silence reigned.

Not even the faintest rustle of an insect could be detected across the vast training ground.

At this point, entirely unconcerned with managing the sensibilities of anyone present, I fully infused my voice with my internal energy and let out a resounding shout.

“Is there truly no one? At this very moment, your fellow Academy students are perishing within the depths of the Soul-Destroying Formation. Is there not a single person here willing to put his own life on the line to save them?”

I directed my intense gaze toward the exact section where the affiliates of the Righteous Path Association had congregated.

Then, I spoke directly to the figure positioned right at the center of their group.

“Academy Student Il-gak! I highly doubt that you were completely detached from this enterprise. Do you truly have no intention of stepping forward to resolve this?”

“…….”

It was an incredibly bizarre spectacle to witness.

The entire assembly of Shaolin monks was glaring directly at me simultaneously, their eyes burning with an intensity that suggested they wanted nothing more than to strike me dead on the spot.

In all likelihood, even the most notorious Demonic Practitioners from my past existence had never been subjected to a gaze quite that venomous.

Just as I was preparing to apply even greater pressure onto them, Jegal So-myeong took a step forward to intercede.

“That is quite enough.”

Jegal So-myeong swept his cold gaze across the members of the Elder Hall as though he were looking at a pile of absolute refuse, before continuing to speak.

“The critical issue demanding our attention right now is not assigning blame. It is determining the exact means by which we can extract them safely. Is there truly no viable method to rescue them?”

“If we were to meticulously investigate every single one of the two hundred thousand formation routes, we could certainly bring them back.”

“While you mention a total of two hundred thousand, the actual core trajectories you demonstrated were limited to a mere three. If we calculate the variations branching out from those specific formulas, the number of practical formation routes shouldn’t actually be that overwhelming.”

As one would naturally expect, the title of Grand Strategist was not a position handed out to just anyone.

I gave a firm nod of assent.

“That analysis is entirely correct.”

“In that case, the highest probability of success lies in having someone who possesses a profound comprehension of the Soul-Destroying Formation venture inside to locate and extract them.”

Yu Ji-ryang quietly extended his hand upward.

“While it is true that the formations masters of my sect and I were responsible for constructing the Soul-Destroying Formation, we have not attained a level of mastery that permits us to navigate its interior completely at will. The individual who has been consistently retrieving the people ensnared within the Soul-Destroying Formation up until this point is actually…….”

Yu Ji-ryang let his sentence trail off, shifting his gaze directly toward me.

Acting as though he had fully anticipated that exact answer, Jegal So-myeong nodded his head in agreement.

“You are the one who must venture inside.”

Jegal So-myeong, the Murim Alliance Leader, and even the surrounding elders all focused their attention entirely on me, nodding in unison.

They acted as though my stepping up to face the danger was the most natural conclusion in the world.

I gave a definitive shake of my head.

“I decline.”

“What did you say?”

“The point raised by the Grand Strategist is strictly a theoretical calculation. In actual practice, I would be forced to gamble my very survival. I see absolutely no logical reason why I should put my own life in jeopardy for a crisis that is entirely devoid of my own accountability.”

“And you dare to carry the title of the Academy Representative while speaking such words?”

In response to Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s furious shout, I countered smoothly,

“I may hold the title of Academy Representative, but the vast majority of the students here have never once shown me the respect due to a representative. Am I truly expected to shoulder the ultimate accountability for such individuals and go so far as to risk my very life for them? For what possible reason should I? I absolutely refuse.”

“Good grief…….”

Daoist Master Myeonghyeon along with the other elders shook with sheer indignation.

After silently observing me with an entirely unreadable expression for several long moments, Jegal So-myeong finally spoke up.

“The perspective offered by the Academy Representative is entirely valid. The individuals who chose to enter the Soul-Destroying Formation consciously violated the established regulations of the Academy and utterly compromised a critical event funded entirely by the Alliance’s resources. They are obligated to face a severe penalty equivalent to the crime of illicitly pilfering another clan’s martial arts secrets.”

“Grand Strategist!”

“We cannot possibly allow such a ruling!”

“That is absolutely unacceptable!”

Jegal So-myeong leveled a piercing glare directly at Daoist Master Myeonghyeon and the protesting elders before retorting sharply.

“If that is your stance, are you all simply content to stand by and watch your own personal disciples perish inside?”

“…….”

Jegal So-myeong raised his voice significantly, ensuring his words resonated across the entirety of the Grand Riding Ground.

“Every single individual who orchestrated this scheme, alongside those who thoughtlessly ventured into the Soul-Destroying Formation without a shred of caution, shall be summarily expelled from the Academy. Furthermore, anyone found to be connected to this incident will face rigorous disciplinary measures.”

Paying absolutely no mind to the sudden wave of frantic murmurs that erupted among the crowd upon hearing his declaration, Jegal So-myeong fixed his gaze on me and spoke.

“Is the Academy Representative capable of retrieving the Academy students so that they may be brought back to face their rightful consequences?”

I would actually get the opportunity to witness those miserable bastards from the Righteous Path Association get thrown out of the institution?

“I shall bring them back without a single failure!!!”

Even if it meant putting my survival on the line, there was absolutely no way I was going to pass up an opportunity like this.