The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 130

Chapter 130
Chapter 130. The Black Flame Dragon Who Takes Opportunities Away (5)

‘I really shouldn’t have put on such a ridiculous show for no reason…’

Honestly, going without food for that long had been completely unnecessary.

Simply presenting myself as slightly exhausted would have sufficed, but because I forced the issue to create a more striking impression, the situation had spiraled like this.

“What is taking so long? Why are you still on the ground?”

Jegal So-myeong was already fixing his clothes to depart.

“Wait a moment, why on earth do I need to participate in a combat trial?”

“Didn’t I just explain it to you? Within your qi center…”

“That’s exactly my point. What gives you the right to be so self-assured after spying on another person’s internal energy reserve?”

Hearing my retort, Jegal So-myeong lightly touched his jawline and paused to reflect.

It seemed that even he lacked a clear understanding of why he was behaving in such a manner.

After a brief pause, as if an explanation had finally crystallized within that brilliant mind of his, he answered.

“Because it is within my authority?”

“Sigh…”

From an ethical standpoint, it was highly inappropriate, but the world didn’t always operate on logic or fairness. Furthermore, it was completely unrealistic for a humble junior of the Taeul Sect to hold the Grand Strategist of the Murim Alliance and the Grand Clan Head of the Jegal Clan accountable.

‘Even so, isn’t showing that level of audacity just downright distasteful?’

Observing my countenance, Jegal So-myeong remarked.

“Based on how you look, you appear entirely unsatisfied with that answer.”

“Did you honestly expect me to accept that?”

“It is usually enough for the vast majority.”

“…”

I never could have anticipated engaging in such a ridiculous bickering match with Jegal So-myeong, the renowned individual widely hailed as the Greatest Mind under Heaven.

Was there a chance he was actually a Demonic Practitioner masquerading in Jegal So-myeong’s flesh?

“Do you genuinely believe you have nothing to profit from an interaction with me? I hold the position of Grand Strategist of the Murim Alliance. You, conversely, are simply a student at the Murim Academy.

In the grand hierarchy of the Murim Alliance, tens of thousands of martial artists stand in line just for a single word with me, and countless individuals would liquidate massive estates and distribute vast fortunes as bribes merely to exhibit their techniques once in my presence.

Yet here I am, offering you two distinct chances to do so, and you are declining?”

Only status-seeking fools would care about that. Given my absolute certainty that in the coming days, the Murim Alliance would face ruin and be forced to relocate to Bukhae, what use did I have for currying favor with the Grand Strategist?

“Correct.”

“Well, well.”

Faced with my unwavering rejection, Jegal So-myeong appeared caught off guard, once more stroking his jaw as he contemplated.

For my part, I wanted nothing more than for him to pack up and get out.

Even though my fundamental vitality, internal force, and mental focus remained intact, physically I was identical to someone who had been starving for days, meaning my sole desires were a satisfying meal and a long, uninterrupted rest.

Unfortunately for my plans, Jegal So-myeong proved to be incredibly stubborn.

“In that case, let us try this approach… Did you not submit a formal request to the Ghost Bow Sect to secure an archery expert?”

Because Murong Jae-hwa had resolved to cast aside the blade in favor of the bow, I felt that while he would ultimately have to forge his own destiny, he required proper guidance to build a solid foundation. Consequently, I had organized an entirely new specialized training program.

“I think I shall revoke that permission.”

“…”

“Oh, and regarding the second initiative you are organizing—the guest instructor meant to introduce the White Tiger Sword Formation—I believe I will call that off as well.”

“What do you mean by… The White Tiger Sword Formation is already recognized as a standard tactical drill within the Murim Alliance.”

It was true that they would eventually be trained in it upon joining the Murim Alliance officially, but my goal was to introduce the Murim Alliance’s White Tiger Sword Formation ahead of time so that I could instruct them in the specific variations of the White Tiger Sword Formation that I possessed knowledge of.

Jegal So-myeong gave an affirmative nod.

“Indeed. However, I have come to believe that allocating funds for Academy trainees to master such a pointless battle arrangement is an inefficient use of resources.”

“…”

“Furthermore, concerning the third program you arranged, which involves hosting ritual specialists from the Maoshan Sect and the Mount Heng Sect…”

“!”

This particular gathering was a precaution I had established in anticipation of a potential clash with the Corpse Mountain Blood Cult.

Even if that specific threat didn’t emerge, whenever we confronted Demonic Practitioners down the road, this knowledge would be critical for preserving the lives of thousands of martial artists.

The concern extended far beyond the safety of the Murim Academy pupils alone.

Since the majority of these Academy attendees were destined to assume leadership roles within the Alliance, a failure on their part to handle occult techniques would result in the slaughter of the rank-and-file soldiers under their command. Thus, I had organized this seminar precisely to avert such a catastrophe.

“I filed the funding requisition fully in accordance with established procedures and protocol. Unilaterally canceling an approved allocation out of pure spite is a blatant abuse of authority.”

“I am well aware.”

“What?”

“I remarked that I am aware. Be that as it may, I possess the leverage to execute such an unfair mandate, whereas you are in a position where you must comply.”

Jegal So-myeong directed his index finger toward his own chest, then extended it toward me.

Right then, I found myself wishing that Jegal So-myeong actually was a Demonic Practitioner.

If he were, I could have shattered that annoying finger without worrying about the Taeul Sect being wiped out or my fellow disciples being tossed into the depths of the Prison.

“Sigh… Very well. I accept your terms.”

“Excellent. Let us depart.”

“However, I require a concession of my own.”

“A concession?”

“Precisely.”

“Did I not just clarify to you that you lack the standing to demand concessions?”

His voice remained completely steady, carrying the absolute certainty of stating a fundamental law of nature.

All the same, allowing myself to be completely dictated to was entirely contrary to my temperament.

“Are you not eager to witness the full extent of my abilities?”

“…”

“As you pointed out, while my theatrical skills might be lacking, I am quite capable of pulling off a deception. If I choose to throw the match by fighting with minimal effort, would that truly please you?”

“What is it that you desire?”

“The Mantongbu currently holds the Demon-Subduing Divine Wood, correct?”

“…Oh?”

“I want you to hand it over to me.”

“Are you even aware of the nature of that artifact?”

“…It is not as if you have any practical application for it at the moment, right?”

The Demon-Subduing Divine Wood was a piece of timber salvaged from a column of an incredibly sacred sanctuary.

When that holy site was entirely consumed by a violent storm of lightning and fire, the residual mystical essence of the entire complex concentrated into the lone pillar that endured the inferno.

Because it required such specific, unpredictable circumstances, it could never be replicated artificially, though its current lack of a defined purpose meant it wasn’t considered highly valuable.

“…”

“At best, your clan would probably just carve it into an entrance plaque, wouldn’t you?”

In reality, the Demon-Subduing Divine Wood possessed unparalleled properties when utilized as an amulet to shield one’s soul.

The fragment itself was fairly modest in size, and after stripping away the charred exterior, the remaining material would be quite limited.

Even so, if I could commission the Daoist Priests of the Mount Heng Sect to conduct a proper Demon-Subduing Ritual to craft talismans from it, the items would prove invaluable during the impending conflict with the Demonic Practitioners.

“What do you plan on crafting with it?”

“…I have a personal project in mind.”

Jegal So-myeong made a show of deliberating over the request.

However, it was clearly a performance, given my knowledge that despite carrying the impressive title of Demon-Subduing Divine Wood, the object held little practical worth to him right now.

Just as I foresaw, Jegal So-myeong eventually gave an affirmative nod.

“Very well. But should you suffer defeat against your challenger, the prize is forfeit.”

Considering my current level of cultivation for my age, I felt secure facing any challenger they threw at me, so I readily agreed.

“Agreed.”

“Then move along.”

“Hold on a second…”

“…What could it possibly be this time?”

“May I please get some food before we proceed? My head is spinning a bit at the moment.”

“…”

“Why are you glaring at me like that? You look exactly like a person who has been terribly wronged.”

I had anticipated that my challenger would be selected from the ranks of the Academy students.

Even if it wasn’t an ordinary student, I figured it might be a prominent successor from the Nine Sects and One Gang, or perhaps Il-gak, who likely harbored resentment toward me following the events of the Soul-Destroying Formation incident…

“If this doesn’t qualify as unfair, I don’t know what does.”

Upon reaching the sparring field adjacent to the living quarters, my brow furrowed automatically when I caught sight of a warrior who looked to be in his mid-thirties.

His external demeanor betrayed absolutely nothing remarkable.

Yet, from a martial perspective, that lack of presence indicated an expert of such profound mastery that he could completely suppress his own aura.

“Are you familiar with that individual?”

“Not in the slightest.”

And that was precisely what worried me.

His facial features, his physical mannerisms—every single detail belonged to a stranger I had never encountered before.

If pressed to find a comparison for his style of movement, the closest match would be the Murim Alliance Leader, but this warrior was far too youthful for that comparison, and his physical build and ingrained tendencies were entirely unique.

“Nevertheless, based entirely on the thick skin on his hands and his impeccable posture, it’s clear to me that he is far beyond my current level.”

“An intelligent fellow such as yourself ought to find a path to victory regardless.”

In response to Jegal So-myeong’s comment, I spoke out of sheer frustration, feeling as if my chest might explode.

“What kind of mental gymnastics do you expect me to perform for a mere rabbit to overpower a fully grown tiger?”

Hearing my objection, Jegal So-myeong simply nodded, showing no signs of being moved.

Look at that. My initial assessment was spot on, unfortunately.

“Fine. Should you manage even a tie, the Demon-Subduing Divine Wood will be yours.”

“As I just pointed out, you should have summoned a combatant who is actually within my league.”

“Quit wasting time and start. If you continue to complain, I shall instruct our friend over there to show no mercy.”

With those words, Jegal So-myeong gave a careless flick of his wrist to shoo me away.

Left with no alternative, I complied. Unsheathing the Black Dragon Sword, I advanced onto the field and extended a formal martial salute.

“Please guide me through this exchange.”

“…”

The warrior offered a mute nod in return, remaining completely silent.

He appeared to be a man of exceptionally few words.

As I shifted into the opening posture of the Minor Heaven Sword Art, he responded by sliding one foot rearward and letting his blade hang casually toward the ground.

The stance he adopted was completely foreign to me.

Given that he had been brought here by the command of the Grand Strategist, his allegiance undoubtedly lay with the Murim Alliance. Despite that connection, it was deeply baffling that his style was entirely unfamiliar to my eyes.

“Begin.”

Prompted by his short command, I cleared all distractions from my mind, bridged the gap between us in a straight line, and unleashed the Minor Heaven Sword Art.

Whish.

Driven by my Seventh Star internal cultivation, the Minor Heaven Sword Art surged forward like a flash of lightning, embodying the essence of pure velocity.

Clink.

Raising the blade that had been dangling carelessly, the man effortlessly deflected the incoming trajectory of the Minor Heaven Sword Art.

Pulling back the Black Dragon Sword, I immediately re-engaged, thrusting forward with the Minor Heaven Sword Art once more.

Shwek.

The upper lip, the center of the chest, and the lower abdomen.

I unleashed a barrage targeting these three vital areas simultaneously, forcing an instinctive defensive reaction, yet the man simply drifted back two paces and dissolved the entirety of the Minor Heaven Sword Art with absolute ease.

“Impressive precision.”

“Do you think so? Then I shall maintain the pressure. I have a prize to claim from the Grand Strategist.”

Harnessing the momentum from pulling back the Minor Heaven Sword Art, I pivoted my frame in a rapid rotation and deployed the Great Heaven Sword Art.

Radiating from the Black Dragon Sword, over a dozen phantom blades materialized, completely encompassing every angle around my opponent.

Clatter, clatter, clatter.

Stepping back an additional five paces, the warrior executed exactly five precise strikes with his weapon.

His counter-strikes matched the precise count of genuine physical threats concealed amidst the illusory images.

Vibrate.

The Black Dragon Sword, forged from Diamond Indestructible Iron and renowned for its unmatched resilience, was vibrating from the impact.

This made it abundantly clear that the weapon in the man’s grasp was a masterpiece easily on par with the Black Dragon Sword.

“That is an exceptional blade you possess.”

“It is far more exquisite than a person like me deserves, quite true. However, Great Hero, your own weapon appears equally magnificent.”

“True enough… It is also far too grand for someone of my standing.”

The corners of the warrior’s mouth curved upward slightly.

“I have permitted you three free exchanges, so is it acceptable if I begin to engage in earnest?”

Just as I suspected, his lack of aggressive intent was because he had intentionally chosen to grant me a three-move handicap.

“Even so, if you wish to show benevolence to a junior disciple, wouldn’t a ten-move head start be more appropriate?”

The warrior cast a brief glance toward Jegal So-myeong before shaking his head in disapproval.

“Using a combat engagement with me as the basis for a wager—how thoroughly outrageous.”

“The Grand Strategist really cannot keep his mouth shut. How does he expect to manage major administrative matters with such—whoa!”

Clang, crash.

Mid-sentence, the man’s physical form seemed to dissolve instantly with a dull thud, reappearing directly in my personal space as his blade slashed toward me.

Pushing the Minor Heaven Sword Art to its absolute limit at the Tenth Star, I threw myself into a frantic defensive effort while simultaneously analyzing the underlying principles of his style.

Since he answered the summons of the Grand Strategist, he had to be a top-tier master hailing from either the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Clans.

Clank, clank, clank, clank.

The speed of his swordplay was staggering.

While it didn’t completely match the extreme velocity of the fully mastered Minor Heaven Sword Art, it easily qualified as a high-tier fast-sword technique.

Strangely, for a style focused on speed, the trajectories of his strikes weren’t condensed into tight, efficient arcs.

It presented a confusing paradox that defied easy categorization, yet every single thrust accurately targeted my lethal pressure points, leaving a trail of minor cuts across my skin.

Swhish.

The blade whipped forward once more, seeking to sever my throat. Recognizing that parrying it head-on would only leave me vulnerable to his immediate follow-up technique, I activated the Taeul Eighty-Thousand Divine Steps to fall back.

By projecting an afterimage to mask my retreat of five paces, I watched as the phantom’s neck and right limb were instantly severed by his blade.

“An extraordinarily intriguing movement technique.”

“It represents the hidden footwork method of my lineage, brought back to light after half a millennium.”

“Fascinating.”

Showing little actual astonishment, the warrior resumed his assault.

In stark contrast to his relaxed speech, his physical speed accelerated beyond his previous limits.

The moment I intercepted his incoming strike with the Black Dragon Sword, a massive shockwave of opposing energy traveled through the metal.

Boom.

Forced backward by the sheer weight of his internal power, I staggered back three paces, whereas he stood entirely unmoved, calmly assessing me.

‘I really am completely in the dark.’

Having crossed blades for over a dozen exchanges, I had continuously searched for the foundation of his martial style, yet its origins remained entirely elusive.

Even so, he hadn’t quite crossed into that ultimate state of enlightenment where a martial artist transcends defined stances and forms.

I had previously encountered a handful of individuals among the Demonic Practitioners who operated within that sublime tier, and such figures invariably radiated a crushing, unavoidable aura.

Conversely, the opponent standing before me exhibited no such oppressive weight, let alone a powerful signature.

‘Why is his aura so incredibly faint?’

His ability to generate high speed without relying on typical fast-sword mechanics indicated an extraordinary level of physical efficiency.

Furthermore, despite crossing the distance like a bolt of lightning, his movements produced almost no noise, suggesting an inherently weightless stride. This meant his foundational footwork was built around absolute stealth.

Shwek, shwek, shwek.

That same lethal blade suddenly divided into seven distinct trajectories, all aiming directly at my fatal nerve centers.

The lineage behind this technique still defied my identification.

Nevertheless, I began to perceive subtle indicators that provided a basis for a hypothesis.

‘I think I have figured it out.’

I let loose the Twin Heaven Sword Formula from my grip.

A chaotic explosion of countless sword reflections manifested in front of me, surging forward to collide with his oncoming steel.

Even when faced with this overwhelming volume, the warrior remained entirely unfazed despite deploying only seven strikes.

Clash, clank, crash—

As seven sharp metallic impacts echoed in rapid succession, I found myself driven back another five paces.

“According to the rumors I received, the Black Flame Dragon is incapable of backing down from a fight.”

Allowing his weapon to drop casually toward the earth once again, he remarked.

“Those tales are highly exaggerated. I actually enjoy a tactical withdrawal from time to time. Naturally, I ensure that my opponent suffers a wound in the process.”

“What?”

Rip.

Before the warrior could register what had occurred, the binding of his outer garment snapped, and his training attire tore wide open along the seam.

“…”

A look of genuine shock crossed his features.

Dropping his center of gravity instantly, he coiled his legs as if preparing to launch himself forward at maximum velocity.

Given that he hadn’t assumed a genuinely aggressive stance throughout the entire encounter, this sudden shift indicated he was preparing to unleash his full capabilities.

I rapidly extended my palm to signal a halt.

“Could you grant me a single question before we continue?”

“Is it impossible to hold your query until our engagement concludes?”

“The inquiry directly pertains to the nature of this combat trial.”

“…Speak then.”

As his momentum came to a temporary halt, I delivered my question.

“By any chance, do you serve within the Alliance Leader’s Hall?”

“…”

His physical posture remained frozen, and his facial muscles did not betray any emotion.

Nevertheless, his gaze betrayed him, his pupils trembling violently with shock.