The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 144

Chapter 144
Chapter 144. Those Wearing Black Masks (3)

A heavy, freezing chill permeated the room, as though a sudden winter had set in.

Even though it was supposed to be a relic of past eras in the Murim, the mere mention of the “Demonic Cult” possessed enough dread to instantly crush their soaring spirits.

Furthermore, the individuals present had encountered the Demonic Cult firsthand alongside me during the Regular Exam.

“How can this be… What steps should I take… What am I to do?”

Jang Do-won’s eyes had completely lost their characteristic keen brightness, and he paced around the courtyard erratically, looking entirely unhinged.

“Senior… what motive would the Demonic Cult have for doing this?”

“…A few months back, dark whispers started circulating within Yueyang. People claimed the Demonic Cult had resurrected and was plotting to conquer the land.”

“So the abductions…”

“They commenced right alongside those whispers.”

A sudden realization seemed to strike Jang Do-won, and he rushed forward to grasp onto me desperately.

“Y-you! You enrolled in the academy, right? I’ve heard much about your achievements. By any chance, do you have any contacts within the Diancang Sect?”

“For what reason are you seeking the Diancang Sect?”

“Isn’t Diancang the dominant authority here in Yueyang? With their influence, wouldn’t they be capable of tracking down my granddaughter after she was captured by the Demonic Cult?”

“…”

While I was entirely willing to assist him, I hesitated and pondered whether I ought to reveal right away that my terms with the Diancang Sect were actually quite strained.

“Please assist me. Grant me this favor, and I shall remain indebted to you for the rest of my days.”

Jang Do-won wept uncontrollably like an infant, tears and mucus streaming down his face.

Seeing him in such despair somehow forced me to envision my own past self.

I decided not to let my hesitation linger.

“Let’s move out. Senior, though I cannot promise I will be of great use, I shall accompany you.”

The Seongsa Tea Garden was a renowned establishment in Yueyang that functioned concurrently as a local branch for Diancang.

Under normal circumstances, commoners would find it nearly impossible to grant themselves an audience with the manager. However, the moment we identified ourselves as pupils of the Murim Academy, the attendants promptly ushered us into his private quarters.

“Well… our forces are currently conducting an inquiry into the recent missing person cases in Yueyang. If you head home and remain patient, we will update you once our investigation yields findings.”

“Word has it that these incidents are tied to the Demonic Cult… is there any truth to that?”

The manager knitted his brows in annoyance.

“Are you seriously letting yourself be wrapped up in baseless tales invented by uneducated peasants who lack any real knowledge?”

Unconvinced by his thoroughly untrustworthy demeanor, Jang Do-won begged earnestly.

“Sir, I implore you to rescue my granddaughter. Her parents are gone, and I am her sole remaining family in this world.”

The manager’s scowl deepened as he gave a dismissive wave of his hand.

“Haven’t I already explained that an inquiry is underway? Matters like this require patience, so go back and wait.”

Having silently observed the exchange, I finally interjected.

“Have you identified any potential suspects?”

The manager scrutinized me from head to toe.

“Such details are confidential while the investigation is ongoing.”

“Is the perpetrator an entity that gives even Diancang pause?”

“…Young Hero, mind your tongue. Diancang bows to no wickedness. Not even if the opponent were truly the ‘Demonic Cult.'”

“…’Truly the Demonic Cult,’ you say?”

Before I could press him further on his peculiar phrasing, Namgung Seon-hwa stepped forward to intercede.

“Where can we find Young Master Jong Byeok-gi at this moment?”

“…Are you acquainted with Young Master Jong?”

“We share no intimate bond, but our paths have crossed before.”

“And who might you be, young lady, to inquire into a gentleman’s personal business?”

Facing the manager, who treated her inquiry as utterly ridiculous, Namgung Seon-hwa countered coldly, “I am Seon-hwa of the Namgung Clan. Is that sufficient credentials for you to disclose the whereabouts of Young Master Jong?”

“…”

Once we exited the Seongsa Tea Garden, Jang Do-won stole a glance at Namgung Seon-hwa before leaning in to whisper to me.

“H-how on earth did you get involved with a noble lady from the Namgung Clan?”

I could have provided a thorough explanation, but he was far too distracted to process the details.

“It simply turned out that way.”

“…Regardless, you have my gratitude. Because of your help, I feel like progress is finally being made.”

“Think nothing of it. It is only the right thing to do.”

“…If I had foreseen this tragedy, I ought to have secured a patron a long time ago.”

Hearing his offhand remark, I inquired, “Did certain factions offer to give you shelter, Senior?”

“Give me shelter? Who would want to harbor a fragile elder who does nothing but craft trinkets for… I was simply told that if I joined their ranks, they would ensure my safety. Naturally, I declined because they looked down on me as a mere underling. Looking back, I should have accepted. If nothing else, sheltering beneath the aegis of Diancang would have made solving this crisis much simpler.”

“…”

Our dialogue came to a halt as we arrived outside the entertainment parlor where Jong Byeok-gi was reportedly lodging.

“Only Senior Jang and I shall step inside.”

Given the scandalous environment of an establishment like this, I wanted to shield the ladies from any unseemly sights out of courtesy, but Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran reacted with utter exasperation.

“We’ve literally spent the night in an entertainment parlor before, so why are you suddenly being so modest?”

Recalling the events of the Regular Exam, Seong Mo-ran pushed the entrance wide open and strode right in.

Inside the establishment, a peculiar perfume permeated the atmosphere, filled with provocative sighs and low groans, while poorly clad patrons of both genders wandered about freely.

“He’s over there.”

Seated at the most prestigious table in the venue, Jong Byeok-gi and his associates were lounging with courtesans wrapped around them, pouring and consuming liquor.

“Young Master Jong.”

“Hmm?”

Jong Byeok-gi, staring blearily at a dancing girl while swirling his drink, shifted his gaze toward Namgung Seon-hwa.

“Well, if it isn’t Miss Namgung! To what do we owe the pleasure? …And why are you accompanied by a line of street urchins?”

Upon recognizing Namgung Seon-hwa, Jong Byeok-gi’s friends clumsily tried to adjust their disheveled garments. Unfortunately, they were far too intoxicated to manage even basic adjustments.

“I am here seeking information regarding the vanishings that have been taking place throughout Yueyang.”

“The vanishings? Oh, right… that trivial affair. It’s really no big deal. Misfortunes like that easily befall families who fail to govern their own affairs properly.”

“…This senior’s sole remaining granddaughter was abducted. I ask that Young Master Jong lend him your assistance.”

“An elder…?”

Jong Byeok-gi squinted drunkenly at Jang Do-won, his brows knitting together.

“Ah, so it’s this conceited old fool.”

“…”

“Are you familiar with him?”

“Our Diancang previously approached him offering an esteemed position, yet he put on such haughty airs. And now… you’re telling me his granddaughter has vanished?”

“…”

Jang Do-won sank to his knees right there on the floor.

“Young master, I was blind and foolishly overstepped my bounds. I beg of you, please rescue my granddaughter.”

“Haha, had you thrown yourself at Diancang’s feet sooner, you wouldn’t be in this predicament… What a pity.”

Namgung Seon-hwa interceded once more.

“Young Master Jong, I ask this favor of you.”

Jong Byeok-gi stopped his mocking grin and gave a casual wave of his hand.

“Fine. I shall investigate the matter purely as a favor to Miss Namgung. However, do keep this in mind: Miss Namgung will henceforth be in my debt.”

“…I shall keep my word.”

“Be on your way then. Staring at this old fellow any longer is going to ruin the flavor of my spirits.”

Shooing them away, Jong Byeok-gi immediately went back to fondling the courtesan, while his drunken cohort chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

Once we escorted Jang Do-won back to his residence, I struck his slumber acupoints to grant him some rest before slipping silently out to the courtyard.

“Maybe I ought to have pressed Young Master Jong further,” Namgung Seon-hwa murmured, unable to conceal her lingering remorse.

“You did more than enough by intervening.”

Furthermore, Namgung Seon-hwa had committed herself to a personal favor at the conclusion of their talk. As a prominent scion of the Namgung Clan, she undoubtedly understood the immense weight of such a vow. She had effectively exerted every ounce of influence available to her.

“And yet, Young Master Jin, you still appear deeply troubled.”

“…”

My unease stemmed from the fact that several elements surrounding the abduction of Jang Do-won’s granddaughter felt entirely unnatural.

Within the files of Mantongbu, there were detailed logs concerning the vanishings in Yueyang, yet not a single thread linked them to the Demonic Cult.

Granted, this discrepancy might exist because I had only uncovered the underlying truth of the Demonic Cult at a much later stage in my past incarnation, but it remained highly improbable that the Demonic Cult was behind these current abductions.

The zealots of the Demonic Cult were certainly maniacs who freely utilized human sacrifices to power their profane sorcery, but they lacked the sheer stupidity to provoke chaos in a crowded, high-traffic hub like Yueyang.

There was no practical reason to venture here; the world was full of orphaned youth and vulnerable populations residing in territories completely neglected by imperial authorities.

Why would a faction like the Demonic Cult, which had painstakingly concealed its presence until the final hour, suddenly operate out in the open in Yueyang, a city teeming with travelers from across the realm?

‘It makes no sense…’

Having personally experienced their ruthless guile on the front lines of war in my past life, this scenario felt entirely fabricated.

Furthermore, another thought lingered.

“Did you catch nothing peculiar during our visit to the Seongsa Tea Garden?”

“Peculiar?”

“The manager explicitly noted that he wouldn’t flinch even if the threat were the ‘actual Demonic Cult.'”

“…”

“What gave him such confidence that the Demonic Cult wasn’t truly involved? These rumors are pervasive throughout Yueyang. Was he merely being skeptical?”

It could have been paranoia on my part, but a lingering bitterness persisted—a sensation identical to the time I realized I was being swindled during a wager with the Sojeong Squad.

In situations like this, the only option was to strip down the scoundrels at the table to find the hidden cards.

Turning to the disciples of the Taeul Sect, I instructed, “Once Senior Jang rouses, do your utmost to keep him stable.”

“Understood.”

“Where do you intend to head now, Young Master Jin?”

Seong Mo-ran inquired, to which I replied, “I must conduct my own independent investigation.”

“We ought to collect intelligence before anything else.”

“Should we seek out the beggars’ quarter to consult the Beggars’ Sect?”

Given that the Beggars’ Sect commanded the vast majority of intelligence networks across the Jianghu, it was natural for them to suggest them first.

Yet, I was privy to an alternative information syndicate that rivaled their reach.

I made my way toward a modest textile boutique tucked into an alleyway of the commercial district.

“What brings us back to a place like this?”

“We purchased garments just a short while ago.”

Both women expressed confusion as to why I was returning to a textile store.

Remaining silent, I walked over to the merchant running the shop and presented the Black Token previously gifted to me by Yeo Mi-mi.

The merchant’s genial demeanor instantly hardened for a split second before he offered a respectful bow and ushered us into the back.

Within the rear of the shop lay a flight of stairs descending into a subterranean level.

Upon descending, we entered a hidden vault far more expansive than the storefront above.

The room was packed with a bizarre assortment of contraband awaiting buyers.

Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran gaped in absolute bewilderment at the astonishing collection before them.

“Could this be… a Black Shop?”

“A Black Shop?”

Noting Seong Mo-ran’s confusion, Namgung Seon-hwa explained while failing to suppress her awe, “It’s an illicit marketplace run by the Hao Gate. They say one can purchase absolutely anything barred from ordinary commerce, ranging from feminine undergarments to human remains… However, acquiring entry privileges to a Black Shop is supposedly an immense feat…”

Cutting into Namgung Seon-hwa’s explanation, our guide turned back with a smirk.

“The merchandise circulated within a Black Shop is categorized by strict tiers. The commodities you spoke of are restricted to patrons possessing a standard tier ranking.”

“…Does that imply a supreme tier exists beyond it?”

“In that realm, absolutely nothing is out of reach. We can source everything from fresh human blood to the skeletal remains of the deceased. If an object exists beneath the heavens, we will secure it for you regardless of the cost.”

“…How does one go about attaining such a ranking?”

Seong Mo-ran inquired, gulping nervously, while the merchant kept his smile fixed.

“Such an honor cannot be bought with mere desire or wealth. One must possess the proper credentials.”

Glancing directly at Namgung Seon-hwa, the merchant remarked, “As a point of comparison, young lady, even your renowned grandfather, the Divine Sword, lacks the credentials required for that tier.”

Both martial artists recoiled in shock at his statement.

“You recognize our identities?”

The merchant chuckled.

“If I were blind to the identities of two maidens heralded among the Three Great Beauties of Anhui Province, I would hardly deserve to call myself a man.”

Despite his casual tone, the pair remained thoroughly dumbfounded.

“If even the Divine Sword is barred from entry, then who could possibly hold such high credentials?”

Seong Mo-ran pressed, her voice strained.

Rather than offering a verbal reply, the merchant slowly shifted his eyes.

His gaze landed directly upon…

“Uh…”

“What manner of person… are you truly, Young Master Jin?”

Feeling self-conscious under their scrutiny, I swiftly redirected the conversation.

“Are you the current Yueyang Branch Chief?”

“Indeed, I am.”

“There are matters I require clarification on.”

“Allow me to lead you to the inner chambers first. A guest has arrived ahead of you.”

An advance guest?

Had someone anticipated my arrival and gotten here before me?

Puzzled by this baffling development, I quietly resumed following the Yueyang Branch Chief.

Traversing past the main Black Shop, we navigated a labyrinthine corridor for a considerable duration until the leader came to a halt.

Without hesitation, he pushed open the chamber door.

“Please forgive my delay in paying my respects, as I have been thoroughly entangled in various administrative matters.”

Within the room, a completely unanticipated figure bowed in greeting.

The countenance was vaguely recognizable, paired with a deeply reverent posture…

Wait, what on earth was this individual doing in a place like this…?!