The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 129

Chapter 129
“Are you planning to remain resting there in such a disrespectful manner?”

“Yawn… Ah… The exhaustion is overwhelming… Wait, who is that…….”

Without bothered to turn around, Jegal So-myeong addressed him.

“Your performance remains unconvincing…… Am I required to halt my tasks and formally face you?”

“Oh? Is that you, Grand Strategist?”

“Must I persist in participating in this ridiculous display?”

“Please forgive me. My physical state is quite poor, you see. I pushed my limits far too much within the Soul-Destroying Formation…….”

“While weariness had built up, your vital essence, internal qi, and mental spirit were completely unharmed…… Are you aware of this? Fabricating a medical report to the Grand Strategist can result in a penalty of up to three years in Prison.”

Hearing Jegal So-myeong’s declaration, the grin on Jin So-un’s face faltered.

He was already at a loss as to why the Grand Strategist of the Murim Alliance had occupied his private quarters, and the man’s temperament appeared distinctly more unpredictable than usual.

“Ugh…….”

Jin So-un let out a protracted breath and directed his gaze toward Jegal So-myeong.

Mimicking their previous encounter, Jegal So-myeong remained engrossed in reading paperwork without granting Jin So-un a single glance.

Given that this location was not an isolated outpost like the Iron Sword Sect but was within the heart of the Murim Alliance, Jin So-un found it baffling that the strategist had deliberately relocated to another person’s room to handle his duties.

Jin So-un resolved to remain quiet and patient until Jegal So-myeong initiated the conversation.

Filling his cup to the absolute brim, Jin So-un took slow, measured sips of the hot beverage.

Even though merely a brief period had elapsed in reality, according to the warped passage of time within the Soul-Destroying Formation, this marked the first brew he had tasted in nearly ten days, making the scent remarkably intense.

It possessed a refined bouquet that rivaled the high-quality tea he had sampled during his time with the Namgung Clan.

The middle-aged maidservant, having discovered that Jin So-un preferred tea over alcohol, had recently upgraded his supply. The quality was so exceptional that he questioned whether she had been overly extravagant.

‘Then again, considering the immense resources of the Murim Alliance and the Murim Academy, perhaps this isn’t considered an extravagance at all.’

Relative to the lavish spending habits of the other school representatives, Jin So-un’s personal requests were minimal, meaning the middle-aged maidservant likely faced no financial strain when managing these minor comforts.

While Jin So-un was temporarily distracted by these reflections, Jegal So-myeong penned his endorsement on the scroll he was reviewing, set the collection aside, and finally fixed his gaze upon Jin So-un.

“…….”

Noticing Jin So-un’s startled countenance, Jegal So-myeong questioned,

“What troubles you?”

“Did you genuinely carry those critical records all this way just to work on them here?”

When Jin So-un gestured toward the high stack of records resting on the edge of the desk, Jegal So-myeong’s expression darkened considerably.

“When engaging in conversation, it is basic etiquette to look a person in the eye. Were you never instructed to avoid multi-tasking during a serious discussion?”

“Wow…… slippery as always.”

Confronted by Jegal So-myeong’s sharp critique, Jin So-un nearly retorted, “I guess I wasn’t considered a proper human being until now,” but managed to swallow the comment.

“You look as though you are holding back a response.”

“Sigh…… It is nothing. But what is the reason for your sudden visit?”

“A great deal occurred during your period of unconsciousness.”

“What sort of developments?”

“To begin with, the Disciplinary Committee was convened.”

“Ah…… I see.”

Observing Jin So-un’s unbothered reaction, Jegal So-myeong’s brow twitched with irritation.

“You appear entirely unfazed.”

“Well…… I anticipated that would happen.”

“The vast majority of the Disciplinary Committee comprised individuals appointed by Daoist Master Myeonghyeon, meaning the nature of your penalization was thoroughly debated.”

Hearing Jegal So-myeong’s update, Jin So-un offered a nod of understanding.

“I see…… And what was the final verdict?”

Jegal So-myeong offered no immediate reply, choosing instead to stare deeply at Jin So-un.

“Did I commit some egregious error?”

“……I just informed you that a Disciplinary Committee took place while you slumbered, and your specific penalty was discussed. Did you foresee that outcome as well?”

“Well…… I assumed they wouldn’t simply overlook the entire affair.”

“And despite knowing that, you intentionally pushed your boundaries inside the Soul-Destroying Formation and remained unconscious for three full days?”

Jin So-un rubbed his face idly and replied,

“Even had I remained awake, there wasn’t much I could have altered. I would have simply been shuttled between various factions to provide statements, leaving me far more exhausted than I am now.”

Ultimately, Jegal So-myeong lost control of his stoic facade and let loose a sharp, heavy breath.

“Ha!”

“So, what was the ultimate decision?”

“The individuals who infiltrated the Soul-Destroying Formation have been stripped of their status. Those banished disciples spoke of your actions with immense reverence. Consequently, Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s authority completely failed to influence them.”

“That is good to hear.”

“Was that part of your calculations too?”

“Not precisely. I merely reasoned that whatever punishment they levied against me wouldn’t pose an existential threat.”

“What leads you to that conclusion?”

“Though the primary instigators of this plot were stripped of their status, they weren’t the genuine student leaders governing the Righteous Path Association, correct?”

As Jin So-un spoke, Jegal So-myeong pressed his lips into a thin line and offered a silent nod.

“I figured that was the reality of the situation. Because of this outcome, numerous members within the Righteous Path Association will start to harbor severe doubts regarding the organization’s foundational integrity. They will begin to see themselves as mere tools to be utilized and subsequently abandoned…….

Furthermore, I doubt the factions of the Orthodox Path Association, spearheaded by the Five Great Clans, alongside the Twelve Peak Citadels, will view the matter with indifference.”

“Should that path falter, your own standing could be severely compromised.”

“It is of little consequence. Provided that people open their eyes and begin prioritizing their own autonomy rather than blindly placing faith in others.”

“……When all is said and done, are you claiming your actions were intended to benefit the Murim Alliance?”

“I lack the wisdom for such grand ambitions. I merely believed it would be preferable if they shook off their delusions and learned to look after themselves.”

Upon listening to Jin So-un’s rationale, Jegal So-myeong lapsed into a prolonged, silent revery.

The Taeul Sect.

An entity residing at the absolute bottom tier of the One Hundred Eight Peaks.

An individual originating from a minor order that could scarcely sustain its own existence was attempting to orchestrate outcomes for the entirety of the martial world.

Jegal So-myeong, who had launched his career within a collaborative federation only to become thoroughly disillusioned by the Murim Alliance—now a massive, cynical political battlefield—found himself unable to determine how to handle this youth who behaved like an uncorrupted dreamer.

After remaining trapped in his thoughts for a spell, Jegal So-myeong snapped back to reality and proceeded with his interrogation.

“Setting that aside, did you intentionally starve yourself within the Soul-Destroying Formation solely to secure the loyalty of the banished disciples?”

The state Jin So-un was in when he exited the Soul-Destroying Formation had been genuinely shocking.

He looked akin to a broken, withered husk.

Nevertheless, upon analyzing Jin So-un’s internal pulses, Jegal So-myeong discerned that the condition was entirely manufactured.

In stark contrast to his frail exterior appearance, his internal heart meridian had been pulsing with unprecedented strength and vigor.

Initially, Jegal So-myeong had been so startled by the discrepancy that he felt tempted to strike Jin So-un across the face just to force him awake.

“……I simply restrained my consumption on the off chance that others had managed to survive.”

“Hmph! Utter garbage. I received reports that the majority of the rescued students emerged looking better fed than when they first entered. You clearly surrendered your own provisions for their benefit.”

Hearing Jegal So-myeong’s counter, Jin So-un’s face twisted as though he had tasted something foul.

“Is that not the very essence of the ‘chivalrous righteousness’ championed by the Murim Alliance?”

“You possess a remarkable talent for spouting complete fabrications without showing a hint of hesitation.”

Jegal So-myeong scoffed with absolute certainty, harboring no illusions.

Despite holding the mantle of Grand Strategist of the Murim Alliance, he had never for a moment believed that the institution embodied the “chivalrous righteousness” Jin So-un claimed to emulate.

Seeing that Jegal So-myeong was entirely unconvinced, Jin So-un at last conceded the truth.

“Fine. I orchestrated a minor deception. I dragged out the timeline, and once inside, I restricted my rations to the bare minimum.”

“To guarantee an incredibly dramatic revelation?”

“Precisely.”

And that calculated deception had yielded the desired results. It forced the captives of the Soul-Destroying Formation to feel completely betrayed by the Righteous Path Association, while simultaneously forging an unshakeable bond of reliance on Jin So-un.

This remained true even if their respective sects and personal futures were compromised by the actions of the Righteous Path Association.

“……項目”

Reaching this realization, Jegal So-myeong took a slow sip of tea to steady his racing thoughts.

Jin So-un shifted his eyes nervously, monitoring Jegal So-myeong’s expressions.

“Could this deception create complications for me?”

“Ha……”

It was thoroughly amusing to watch him sweat with trepidation now, immediately after boldly confessing to his own fraudulent behavior.

After roughly structuring his plans, Jegal So-myeong moved his teacup away and slid the stack of documents requiring immediate attention directly in front of Jin So-un.

Jin So-un maintained a bewildered look, failing to comprehend the meaning behind the gesture.

“Review them, categorize them, and finalize the decisions.”

Jin So-un’s eyes widened.

“Are these not the official documents of the Mantongbu? How could I possibly presume to manage such high-level intelligence……?”

“Due to my decision to watch over you, several days of administrative duties have piled up, resulting in this mountain of paperwork. If you fail to process them accurately, I will personally ensure you face disciplinary action.”

Jin So-un, scanning the pages, mumbled in a tone intended to be overheard, “Nobody requested that you stay by my side anyway……” Nonetheless, he retrieved the top scroll and began inspecting its contents.

He then laid claim to the writing brush, parchment, inkstone, and inkwell that Jegal So-myeong had been employing, utilizing them to strike through and amend various sections of the text.

“…….”

After editing several segments within the scroll, Jin So-un scrawled the word “denied” at the bottom line, slid the completed work over to the edge, and immediately pulled the subsequent document toward himself.

He proceeded with total autonomy, showing zero desire to have his choices verified or appraised.

Faced with such an audacious display, Jegal So-myeong reached out to retrieve the scroll Jin So-un had discarded, unrolling it with a crisp snap.

Should he discover a single error or misjudgment, he fully intended to seize the opportunity to deliver a severe reprimand.

However—

“Ha…… Wow…….”

As Jegal So-myeong scanned the lines, an involuntary, stunned chuckle escaped his lips.

The specific brief Jin So-un had just settled revolved around the allocation of logistics and transport distribution contracts connecting the Murim Alliance central hub to its regional outposts.

Presently, twenty-four Escort Agencies maintained active partnerships with the Murim Alliance. An additional twelve firms had submitted proposals to join the network.

From the pool, six existing Escort Agencies that had demonstrated systemic failures needed to have their partnerships severed, while six candidates from the new applications had to be brought on board.

It represented a highly convoluted bureaucratic puzzle, one where merely summarizing the underlying faults usually demanded multiple pages of text.

Yet, regarding the six existing Escort Agencies flagged for termination, Jin So-un argued that three of the incidents were unavoidable disruptions brought on by severe weather anomalies, offering a fundamental defense against the proposed penalties.

Concurrently, noting that the vast majority of the new applicant Escort Agencies possessed hidden ties to the Nine Sects and One Gang, he noted that hiring them would fail to address the core logistical vulnerabilities, thereby issuing a definitive rejection.

It was an incredibly sharp analysis, precisely matching the conclusion Jegal So-myeong himself would have formulated, but that similarity wasn’t what startled the strategist.

To confidently issue a rejection of that nature, an administrator would typically require extensive audits of the current shipping firms, deep background checks into the incoming applicants, and exhaustive research into the systemic failures of the network.

Such a verdict normally required data synthesized by numerous sub-departments across the Murim Alliance.

Witnessing the boy outline an absolute resolution without a moment’s pause, acting as though he possessed total familiarity with a labyrinthine dilemma, left Jegal So-myeong utterly dumbfounded.

Staring directly at Jin So-un, who was already scribbling notes onto a third scroll, Jegal So-myeong demanded,

“What is your true background?”

“Excuse me?”

“I am asking how you are privy to this level of detail.”

“……Uh, well, I happen to possess a fairly exceptional memory.”

“A memory?”

“Meaning, I retain a flawless mental record of anything I have laid eyes upon.”

“And you sorted through these strategic documents relying solely on that retention?”

“I am unsure of how to properly convey the mechanics of it to you, but essentially, yes.”

“…….”

Faced with Jin So-un’s admission, Jegal So-myeong drifted back into a state of profound contemplation.

It was certainly within the realm of possibility for a rare individual to possess perfect recollection.

However, the capacity to extract profound operational insights using that data was an intellectual gift entirely detached from mere retention.

True insight was forged through the combination of expansive erudition and rigorous critical thinking.

Jegal So-myeong kept his eyes locked onto Jin So-un, then abruptly snatched the parchment from the young man’s grip and tossed it carelessly back onto the main pile.

Baffled by Jegal So-myeong’s erratic conduct, Jin So-un’s features twisted in annoyance, wondering what had possessed the strategist.

“Did I make a mistake in my analysis?”

“No. There is an entirely different task you must fulfill immediately.”

“What sort of task are we talking about now?”

“From this moment forward, you are required to participate in a martial duel.”

“Come again?”

Jin So-un’s expression crumpled, mimicking the messy pile of papers that had just been flung across the desk.

“What kind of ridiculous nonsense are you spouting now?”

“I previously stated that numerous events unfolded during your period of unconsciousness, did I not?”

Rather than offering a verbal reply, Jin So-un simply nodded.

“The second major development is that I detected the presence of the three cycles of inner arts resting quietly within your qi center.”

“…….”