The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 139

Chapter 139
## Chapter 139. The Black Flame Dragon Meets the Monster of the Ten-Thousand-Book Repository (3)

“Young Master Jin, what in the world happened to your countenance?”

“Who did this? Who dared to leave your face in such a state?”

Seong Mo-ran and Namgung Seon-hwa demanded answers simultaneously, their internal energy flaring with thick, murderous intent.

I quickly held up a hand to calm them down.

“It is nothing of the sort. These are merely injuries sustained during my personal training.”

Clearly skeptical of my explanation, Seong Mo-ran shook her head in disapproval.

“Speak the truth. Was it someone from the Nine Sects and One Gang? Or perhaps one of the Five Great Clans? Who could have possibly thrashed you to this extent?”

“……Do I truly look that dreadful?”

Lately, my daily cycle had consisted of waking up at dawn, immediately seeking out the Sword Demon to initiate a duel, getting utterly pulverized, and then passing out for the remainder of the day. Because of this, I literally had not found a single moment to peer into a bronze mirror.

“They have essentially reduced you to tattered rags.”

Still, describing a fellow human being as a tattered rag felt a bit overly unmerciful, did it not?

Since the true nature of my hidden circumstances was something I could never reveal to them, I chose to pivot the conversation.

“This marks the first official recess period since we arrived at the academy. Are the two of you not planning to travel back to your respective family estates?”

“…….”

“…….”

An uncomfortable quiet suddenly settled over the room as the two young women awkwardly shifted their gazes toward one another.

“Well, I—I simply believe that this particular juncture requires my absolute concentration on the academy’s curriculum.”

“If I were to return home right now for no particular purpose, I fear the general excitement would cause me to lose my sharp edge.”

I tilted my head in mild confusion.

The inaugural rest period of the Murim Academy was traditionally the very first holiday where a student could return to their home sect after enduring the brutal trials of the Murim Regular Exam.

This specific vacation carried immense weight; it was widely viewed as a glorious, triumphant homecoming.

For someone like Eun Seol-ran, whose ancestral sect was located all the way in the distant region of Bukhae, the sheer geographical distance made traveling back and forth impossible during such a brief window, so she would naturally decline the journey.

However, for those residing in closer territories like Hebei or Guangxi Province, even though the round-trip travel remained physically taxing, students almost universally insisted on visiting their clans during this break.

Not only would their home sect rejoice, but the entire native village and even the surrounding grand cities would be plastered with celebratory public notices. People would flock from everywhere to attend massive feasts thrown entirely in their honor. Who in their right mind would willingly forfeit such an occasion?

“Could it perhaps be that your examination marks fell short of expectations?”

“…….”

“…….”

Remembering the disastrously low scores they had both received on the academic portion of the testing, I remarked,

“This is precisely why I explicitly instructed you to commit to memory only the specific sections I highlighted for you.”

“……Do you have any concept of just how massive that volume of information was? How could any ordinary person memorize all of that?”

“Young Master Jin, do you genuinely believe we possess the same monstrous capabilities that you do?”

“Regardless, it truly is a misfortune. A grand celebration of that caliber is an honor a person generally gets to experience only once in a lifetime.”

“If that is the case, then why are you choosing to remain here instead of going back, Young Master Jin?”

Meeting Namgung Seon-hwa’s direct inquiry, I gave a blunt reply.

“My sire is far too parsimonious to ever consider throwing a grand festival on my account.”

“Ah…… In that case, would you care to accompany me back to the Namgung Clan? They will undoubtedly host a magnificent banquet.”

“Pardon?”

“To be frank, Father has been repeatedly asking when Young Master Jin So-un might grace us with a visit. Grandfather expressed the exact same sentiment.”

Reflecting on it now, Namgung Jin-myeong had indeed extended an explicit invitation for me to come to their estate as an honored guest in the past.

“I shall accept only the kind thoughts behind the offer. At present, every single moment must be dedicated to my advancement.”

Seong Mo-ran formed a slight pout with her lips and chimed in,

“Are you truly planning to spend this entire vacation doing nothing but grueling training?”

“Did the two of you not just claim that you chose to remain behind for that exact same purpose?”

“……While that may be true, a person still requires a brief interlude of relaxation. We could easily explore the surrounding areas. Dongting Lake is within a reasonable distance.”

“Why do the two of you not simply journey there together?”

“What did you just say?!”

Seong Mo-ran’s eyebrows raised sharply in sudden indignation.

Was my presence absolutely mandatory for the two of them to enjoy a brief break?

Or were they perhaps showing thoughtful consideration toward my younger martial brothers?

“As a matter of fact, I was already intending to make a trip to Yueyang at some point.”

“Is that true? When do you depart? How many days do you intend to stay?”

“There is a certain piece of business I am required to settle there. While we are in the area, allowing my junior disciples to sightsee a bit would serve as an excellent learning experience for them.”

“…….”

A look of visible disappointment washed over Seong Mo-ran’s features.

Leaning in close, Namgung Seon-hwa began muttering a series of quiet words directly into Seong Mo-ran’s ear.

In response, Seong Mo-ran leaned back and murmured a whispered reply straight to Namgung Seon-hwa.

Why on earth were two martial artists perfectly capable of employing high-level Sound Transmission resorting to physical whispering?

“Splendid! In that case, even if the circumstances are not entirely perfect, let us all travel to Yueyang together to seek amusement.”

“I just finished explaining that my primary reason for traveling is to handle a pressing matter.”

“Understood. You can easily resolve your affairs with great speed, and after that, we can all enjoy ourselves.”

“…….”

“So, when exactly are we setting out?”

“I plan to depart once my current martial breakthrough reaches a satisfactory stage.”

“……You do not expect us to simply sit and wait for an indefinite period, do you?”

“Why not occupy your time by focusing on your own cultivation alongside my junior disciples?”

“…….”

“…….”

For reasons entirely beyond my comprehension, both Seong Mo-ran and Namgung Seon-hwa were now glaring at me with expressions of pure irritation.

What sort of blunder had I committed to provoke such mutual anger from them?

—

While Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran were certainly vexed, if I had to identify the single individual within the entire Murim Academy who harbored the absolute deepest rage toward me, it was unmistakably the Sword Demon.

His exasperation ran so deep that during every single one of our encounters, he aggressively resorted to physical violence until I hovered on the absolute brink of losing consciousness.

He truly lived up to his reputation as a legendary titan of the Black Path.

“You dare show your face here yet again after the thrashing you received yesterday?”

*CRACK, CRACK.*

The distorted bone that had been noticeably protruding from his upper back smoothly realigned itself, allowing the Sword Demon to assume a perfectly upright posture.

No matter how frequently I bore witness to this phenomenon, it never ceased to amaze me.

The profound mastery of the Bone-Reversal Art he displayed—which completely shattered the standard boundaries of skeletal shifting to intentionally disguise him as a severe hunchback—was a spectacle I simply could not grow accustomed to.

“I intend to persistently return until you grant me your instruction.”

“Then I shall continuously break your body until you learn to stay away.”

“Let us see which of our resolves shatters first.”

“The victory will be mine.”

“Do not forget that I still hold the option to report your presence as my ultimate trump card.”

“If you truly harbored any intention of exposing me, you would have done so the very first afternoon I left you broken on the ground.”

“…….”

The man possessed an infuriatingly flawless counterargument for absolutely everything.

“Therefore, I, who strike with unyielding bone, will inevitably conquer you, who can only absorb the impacts with fragile flesh.”

“Hmm…… A logical point. In that case, shall I partake in another round of being thoroughly beaten today?”

The Sword Demon let out a heavy breath, his expression a mixture of sheer disbelief and amusement.

“Why do you insist on demanding that I, an individual who does not even belong to your self-righteous Orthodox Path, instruct you in the martial arts?”

“Were you not originally an adherent of the Orthodox Path yourself, Sword Demon? That historical fact alone makes your insights invaluable to me.”

“That is a hollow justification. Furthermore, the specific martial path you tread is an esoteric study that is meant to evolve entirely on its own. Do not tell me you are throwing yourself into danger without even comprehending the nature of your own techniques.”

We had engaged in only a handful of brief clashes, yet he had already completely deciphered the foundational core of my martial art?

Without a doubt, he possessed the perfect attributes required of a supreme martial mentor.

“I am well aware of that. However, relying solely on natural evolution will require far too much time.”

“And why is time an issue? Is there some unseen enemy actively hunting you down at this very moment?”

Recognizing that detailing my exact predicament to the Sword Demon would likely yield nothing but mockery, I offered a deliberately vague explanation.

“Are you familiar with the sheer weight of my circumstances? I am currently positioned against the entirety of the Nine Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Clans, and the Twelve Peak Citadels simultaneously.”

The Sword Demon’s brow knit together in a profound scowl as he scrutinized my face.

“……The rumors claimed the Black Flame Dragon was a legendary rising star of the Black Path, but in truth, you are merely a highly proficient liar. You nearly had me fooled.”

“…….”

After boring his eyes into me for a moment longer, the Sword Demon exhaled a weary breath, shook his head slowly, and spoke.

“Very well. Whatever threat is snapping at your heels is entirely none of my concern. However, as fair compensation for the sheer volume of beatings you have endured by my hand up to this point, I shall impart a single piece of wisdom. You stated previously that your desire is to master Sword Force?”

“That is correct.”

“Yet you are surely aware that Sword Force is not an isolated attribute that can be pulled apart and acquired independently, are you not?”

“I understand that completely. It is precisely why I am seeking the fundamental secret from you, Sword Demon—a master who carved his own path through the martial world entirely isolated and forged a unique style from nothing.”

“Flattery will yield you no rewards. Regardless, is your obsession with acquiring Sword Force driven by a necessity to counter another user of Sword Force?”

While I could manage to mount a reasonable defense utilizing Ten Thousand Swords, that technique possessed an absolute threshold.

It was impossible to wage a genuine battle of life and death while relying on a physical weapon that ran the risk of shattering into pieces at any given second.

To effectively combat a true master of Sword Force, I had to physically step into that exact identical realm.

“Yes.”

“Hahahat!”

“What do you find so humorous?”

“It is simply hilarious to watch you desperately coveting a mere lump of silver in another man’s palm, completely oblivious to the fact that you are already gripping a massive ingot of pure gold in your own hand.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“There is absolutely no requirement for you to master Sword Force. Naturally, it would not hurt if you did, but it is by no means a vital necessity.”

“For what reason?”

“Consider that specific technique known as Ten Thousand Swords which you displayed during our initial encounter.”

The grand Ten Thousand Seas Heaven-Earth Sword Formula represented the absolute pinnacle manifestation of the Taeul True Scripture, yet it remained inherently flawed when pitted directly against genuine Sword Force. I had already reiterated this point multiple times.

“That Ten Thousand Swords technique—it lacks physical form, yet it simultaneously possesses reality, does it not?”

“That is…… an accurate assessment.”

“If that is the case, then would the solution not simply be to superimpose your Sword Qi onto those manifested blades?”

“…….”

Superimpose raw Sword Qi directly onto the illusions of Ten Thousand Swords? What kind of preposterous concept was he suggesting?

“Did such a possibility truly never cross your mind?”

“Is that not fundamentally impossible?”

Was the inherent boundary restricting all Illusion Swords not derived from the exact rule that a martial artist cannot coat an illusory blade with genuine Sword Qi, regardless of how high their cultivation ascends?

“Such limitations exist only for the fundamentally dim-witted.”

The Sword Demon reached down and retrieved a simple snapped twig from the dirt.

It was the exact same piece of wood he had utilized previously to unleash a terrifying torrent of Sword Force.

“Observe with absolute focus.”

With a sudden, fluid motion, he swung the twig, causing dozens of identical wooden reflections to instantly manifest in the empty air.

Immediately following this, a dense, tangible manifestation of internal qi flooded into the primary twig held within the Sword Demon’s grip.

Yet, remarkably, the numerous illusory projections of the twig remained hovering in the air, completely undisturbed.

“If your capabilities prevent you from cloaking a phantom blade in Sword Qi, then why not simply transform the Sword Qi itself into the phantom?”

Right before my eyes, genuine Sword Qi began to ignite and dwell within each and every one of the illusory twigs suspended in the atmosphere.

It was an absolute spectacle of brilliant light.

As if a grand, luminous festival had suddenly been unveiled, his radiant Sword Qi materialized vibrantly in every single direction.

“And at the precise moment reality is required, you merely anchor truth to that specific point, identical to the mechanics of the sword style you already wield.”

*SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, SWISH—*

The phantom twigs, which had previously drifted harmlessly through solid timber and stone boulders, suddenly began carving violent, deep gashes across the entire woodland area.

A massive tree positioned to our right was abruptly severed at the trunk and came crashing down, while a solid boulder to the left was split clean through with incomprehensible precision.

“And once your mastery over this concept reaches absolute fluidity, you seamlessly fuse the two distinct states into a singular entity.”

The spectral projections of pure energy radiating from the Sword Demon’s wooden branch multiplied with staggering velocity.

In a flash, the destructive Sword Qi and the physical wood merged completely, transitioning into something that was simultaneously an Illusion Sword yet entirely distinct from an Illusion Sword, a Real Sword yet far transcending a Real Sword.

“Ah……”

While I stood completely mesmerized, watching a martial manifestation so structurally similar to my own Ten Thousand Swords play out in its ultimate form, the brilliant network of branches filling the sky vanished into nothingness in the blink of an eye.

“This degree of demonstration should suffice to guide you, should it not?”

I gave a slow, deliberate nod of my head.

“As I suspected, there is truly no one else in this world quite like you, Sword Demon.”

“What nonsense are you babbling about now?”

“My true martial master.”

The moment those words left my mouth as I gripped the hilt of the Black Dragon Sword, the Sword Demon’s expression contorted instantly, looking precisely as though he had just bitten down on a piece of filth.

—

“Huff, huff…… My deepest gratitude for your invaluable instruction again today.”

Uttering those strained words, Jin So-un collapsed face-first onto the dirt, completely spent.

The Sword Demon, Baek Hae-gwang—who had been meticulously concealing his true identity beneath the guise of the crippled, elderly caretaker of the Ten-Thousand-Book Repository—stared down at the unconscious form of Jin So-un, before shifting his gaze to the wooden twig gripped in his own fingers.

‘It snapped?’

When a delicate, brittle piece of wood collided repeatedly with a dense, unyielding iron blade, it was entirely within the laws of nature for the wood to be severed. However, within the realm of Baek Hae-gwang’s absolute control, such an outcome was anything but natural.

This minor physical fracture indicated that throughout the course of their brief exchange, Jin So-un had successfully taken a massive stride forward in his comprehension.

“His innate martial aptitude certainly does not manifest as anything particularly extraordinary on the surface.”

Baek Hae-gwang stepped closer to the prone youth and began a thorough, physical examination of his skeletal structure and musculature.

“Well, look at this absurd brat. What sort of miraculous Fortuitous Encounter did he manage to stumble upon to completely reconstruct his form into a Martial God Body?”

The boy’s original, mundane skeletal framework and muscle fibers had undergone a total metamorphosis, elevating him into the legendary state of a Martial God Body.

Given that his ancestral lineage, the Taeul Sect, was a minor entity incapable of facilitating such a transformation, it proved beyond a doubt that he had inherited an unbelievably massive Fortuitous Encounter.

However, as his fingers traced down to inspect the surface of the youth’s palm, Baek Hae-gwang’s hands froze instantly.

“Good heavens.”

The skin of the palm was covered in an incredibly dense layer of thick calluses, feeling as solid to the touch as weathered granite.

Furthermore, despite successfully accumulating an impressive internal reserve equivalent to three full cycles of energy, he had clearly never neglected his grueling external physical regime; his entire muscular frame was packed with dense, tightly coiled power.

“This transcends the realm of mere dedication. This can only be described as a venomous, unyielding grit. The boy is no ordinary eccentric.”

Having uncovered this much, the master could now comprehend exactly why his reinforced wooden twig had ultimately failed and broken.

And as he caught a distinct reflection of his own younger self buried deep within that desperate intensity, a sudden wave of sharp irritation welled up inside him.

“Foolish boy, absolutely nothing of true value is achieved through a blind obsession with the martial path. In the end, it will only strip away the very things you hold dear.”

Yet, running parallel to that bitterness, a deep sense of profound melancholy settled over him.

If only this youth were not an official initiate of the Taeul Sect, and if Baek Hae-gwang himself were not currently forced to exist as a hidden ghost in this place……

Had the circumstances been different, he might have willingly bestowed his entire lifelong True Inheritance upon the boy.

That persistent regret hung heavily in the air.

The sheer volume of desperation and venomous resolve the boy displayed was absolute validation that he had walked a path marred by the exact same hardships Baek Hae-gwang had survived.

He would undoubtedly possess the capacity to fully absorb the final, ultimate sword form that Baek Hae-gwang had spent his twilight years perfecting.

Baek Hae-gwang gave his head a firm shake to clear the thoughts.

“Cease these thoughts, Baek. Are you truly intent on accumulating further karma, only to thrust that heavy burden onto the shoulders of the next generation? Have you already forgotten the terrible price you paid simply for bearing the title of Demon?”

Muttering this self-reproof, Baek Hae-gwang turned his back to walk toward his secluded cabin, but his eyes inevitably drifted back to the unmoving form of Jin So-un.

“Tsk—an incredibly vexing child.”

*WOOONG—*

Jin So-un’s limp body slowly levitated roughly a foot into the air, drifting smoothly through the atmosphere as it trailed behind Baek Hae-gwang’s footsteps.

—

> To the young mistress.
> I trust you have remained in excellent health? Tidings of your accomplishments have reached my ears all the way here in the region of Hefei.
> In celebration of the wonderful news regarding your successful admittance into the prestigious academy, the Iron Sword Sect organized a grand feast that lasted for days.
> A great number of our fellow disciples expressed deep sorrow upon learning that you would not be journeying back to the sect during this holiday. Even amidst your demanding schedule, I implore you to visit us when time permits, if only to provide vital inspiration to the younger students.
> On a separate note, I find myself deeply curious as to whether your bond with your cherished one is developing fruitfully.
> Because you have spent your entire life showing almost zero regard for such personal matters, I, Cho Mu-bin, am perpetually filled with anxiety on your behalf.
> Is it perhaps correct to assume that your decision to remain behind during this recess is driven by a desire to share private moments with him?
> I beg you not to let this valuable time slip away. Should the circumstances arise for the two of you to travel together, you must take decisive action to capture his affections and make them entirely your own, young mistress……

Seong Mo-ran, who had been quietly skimming through the contents of the letter delivered by carrier bird from Cho Mu-bin, violently crushed the parchment in her fist and tore it into microscopic fragments.

“Wh-What under the sun is Captain Cho thinking when he writes such things?!”

Namgung Seon-hwa, who had been actively reviewing her own family correspondence right beside her, blinked her large eyes in absolute bewilderment as she stared at Seong Mo-ran.

“What is it? What is wrong, Sister? Did you receive some distressing news?”

“Huh? Ah, n-no, it is nothing.”

“Your entire countenance is completely flushed.”

“I-It is merely due to the stifling temperature in this room. Could it be that the summer heat is already setting in?”

“…….”

Seong Mo-ran began awkwardly waving her hand back and forth to fan her face, before suddenly pivoting the topic as a thought struck her.

“Seon-hwa, have you secured appropriate attire to wear for our upcoming journey to Yueyang?”

“No, I have not. Ever since our arrival at the academy, I literally have not found a spare moment to even communicate with my family.”

“In that case, shall we head out to purchase some new garments? We cannot possibly present ourselves in Yueyang looking as unrefined as we do now.”

“Already? We have no inkling of when his current training cycle will officially conclude.”

“It is always wisest to make our purchases well in advance.”

“…….”

Namgung Seon-hwa went completely still, locking her gaze onto Seong Mo-ran for several prolonged seconds.

“Sister…… I deeply apologize for bringing this up so suddenly, but……”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Sister, your feelings for Young Master Jin…… you still harbor deep affection for him, do you not?”

“…….”

Seong Mo-ran’s face, which had already been noticeably warm, instantly deepened into a shade of crimson so intense it appeared as though it might physically rupture at any second.

Observing this, Namgung Seon-hwa gave a slow, solemn nod of her head, as if an explicit vocal confirmation was entirely redundant.

“So my suspicions were correct……”

“Wh-Why are you suddenly interrogating me regarding such matters?”

“…….”

Namgung Seon-hwa kept her eyes anchored firmly on Seong Mo-ran for a moment longer, before slowly dropping her chin toward her chest, looking precisely like an individual bearing the weight of a massive transgression.

Then, she forced out a reply in a voice so incredibly faint and subdued it threatened to vanish entirely into the room.

“The truth is……”

Seong Mo-ran froze completely solid, her entire being sharpening as she strained to catch the barely audible whisper filtering through the air.

“I hold deep affections for Young Master Jin as well……”

“…….”