The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 148

Chapter 148
## Chapter 148. Those Wearing Black Masks (7)

The Splitting Light Five Ghosts Sword Formation halted a mere inch from Jin So-un’s throat, causing the middle-aged martial artist from Diancang to gnash his teeth as his gaze swept across the fortification wall, searching for the leader of the intruders.

“Reveal yourself! Who dares obstruct the operations of the Diancang Sect!”

Following the middle-aged man’s fierce demand, the gathered fighters shifted their attention toward a singular spot.

“Greetings, Senior Splitting Light One Star. It has been quite some time.”

Watching the young woman glide gracefully down from the rampart and offer a formal fist-and-palm salute, Splitting Light One Star ground his teeth in irritation.

“Since when does the Namgung Clan hold authority over the affairs of Diancang?”

The Namgung Clan.

Furthermore, warriors clad in the distinctive combat attire of the Firmament Unit were currently scanning the perimeter of the residence with intense, unyielding expressions.

“The Namgung Clan claims no authority over Diancang.”

“Then pray tell, how do you expect me to interpret this intrusion?”

“…….”

Splitting Light One Star directed the tip of his blade toward Jin So-un.

“Jin So-un concealed his identity behind a mask and caused catastrophic, permanent injury to a disciple of Diancang right inside the property of the Yuwol Sect. Are you genuinely stepping in to shield such an offender?”

Namgung Seon-hwa fixed her gaze on Jin So-un for a brief moment, gave a subtle nod, and replied,

“Certainly not. My presence here is strictly to investigate the series of abductions that have been plaguing Yueyang.”

“…….”

Upon hearing Namgung Seon-hwa’s explanation, Splitting Light One Star’s brow twitched violently, and he redirected his sharp gaze toward the fighters of the Yuwol Sect.

规“…….”

One of the Yuwol Sect martial artists gave a barely perceptible shake of his head. Witnessing this, Splitting Light One Star reined in his expression and glared fiercely back at Namgung Seon-hwa.

“What nonsense is this? Abductions occurring within Yueyang?”

“If you have been residing in Yueyang, Senior, you cannot possibly be ignorant of the faction executing kidnappings and slaughter under the banner of the Demonic Cult. We are here explicitly to root out those perpetrators.”

“And you are suggesting that faction is…… the Yuwol Sect?”

“As of this moment, precisely.”

“Are you fully aware that the Yuwol Sect functions as a lay-affiliated martial branch of the Diancang Sect when you make such reckless accusations?”

To cast dishonor upon a lay-affiliated branch was equivalent to spitting on the name of Diancang itself.

Splitting Light One Star was implicitly challenging Namgung Seon-hwa, questioning whether she possessed the backing to withstand the wrath of the entire Diancang Sect.

“They engaged in atrocious deeds and attempted to mask their transgressions by assuming the identity of the Demonic Cult. At this juncture, their status as a subordinate branch of Diancang is entirely irrelevant.”

“Give me a direct answer! Are you conducting this raid with the full knowledge that the Yuwol Sect operates under the protection of Diancang!”

As Splitting Light One Star’s voice dropped to a freezing, razor-sharp register, Namgung Seon-hwa matched his gaze with an unblinking stare.

“…….”

Yielding even an inch at this moment would trigger a catastrophic political counter-offensive.

She absolutely could not afford to falter.

“……I am perfectly aware of that fact.”

“Excellent. We shall permit the Murim Alliance to adjudicate the righteousness of this dispute. Rest assured, I will demand full retribution, not merely for this insolence, but for the crippling of a true disciple of Diancang.”

Hearing Splitting Light One Star’s declaration, Namgung Seon-hwa’s expression turned grim.

If this dispute were referred to the grand tribunals of the Murim Alliance, it was a foregone conclusion that all incriminating evidence on this estate would vanish overnight.

Furthermore, if the narrative became centered around the severe injuries inflicted upon Jong Byeok-gi, any hope of a legitimate inquiry into the abductions would be utterly derailed.

Right then, Jin So-un, who remained hemmed in by the lethal points of the Splitting Light Five Ghosts Sword Formation, calmly unfastened his mask and spoke up.

“Why trouble ourselves with a lengthy trek to the Murim Alliance?”

Confronted by So-un’s remarkably unflappable demeanor, Splitting Light One Star’s mouth twitched with rage.

“Hold your tongue, boy. Regardless of this broader dispute, the agony inflicted upon Junior Brother Jong will be answered in the lifeblood of your own master’s lineage.”

“That day will not come. Diancang must first answer for the grotesque reality that its own direct disciple masqueraded as a member of the Demonic Cult.”

“You insolent cur!”

Splitting Light One Star exuded a murderous aura so dense it threatened to ignite the surrounding air.

“It would be prudent for you to restrain yourself.”

Namgung Seon-hwa’s voice rang out, low and dangerous.

“What did you say?”

“I am advising you to cease your provocations if your intent is to slaughter everyone here to bury the truth. The Namgung Clan is not a foe you can easily erase.”

An icy, unyielding resolve settled over Namgung Seon-hwa’s features, shattering his initial impression of her as merely an inexperienced young lady out of her depth.

Splitting Light One Star recoiled slightly at the sudden shift in her presence, but he quickly hardened his resolve and bared his teeth.

“Every last one of you, eliminate that……”

Yet, the commanding shout died in Splitting Light One Star’s throat.

A casual, unhurried voice drifted into the courtyard, abruptly severing his command.

“Come now, let us de-escalate this tension. What cause is there for members of the exact same Murim Alliance brotherhood to draw blades against one another?”

Five figures vaulted smoothly over the main gates.

The individual leading the group wore the distinctive regalia of the Murim Alliance, a face Splitting Light One Star recognized instantly.

“The Yueyang Branch Chief…….”

“Greetings, Brother Song. It has been some time. I recall you mentioning you intended to quietly recuperate before departing Yueyang, yet the current scenery suggests otherwise.”

“What brings you to this location…….”

“Naturally, reports reached my desk regarding scoundrels mimicking the behavior of the Demonic Cult, compelling me to investigate personally.”

Splitting Light One Star shot a venomous glare at Namgung Seon-hwa, realizing the hand he held had just turned incredibly sour.

The geopolitical landscape was shifting against him.

Following the disastrous events at the Demon Spirit Plateau, the previous Yueyang Branch Chief from the Wudang Sect had vacated the post, and the individual designated to replace him hailed directly from the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Should the scales of institutional authority tip, they would inevitably lean toward the interests of the Five Great Clans.

“Branch Chief, given the extreme gravity of the circumstances, we cannot legally comply with an intrusive inquiry without formal authorization dispatched from the Main Mountain.”

“A valid point, certainly. However, surely there is no harm in providing basic cooperation for a preliminary walkthrough?”

“This entire theater constitutes a direct defilement of our trusted allies in the Yuwol Sect, and by extension, a slight against Diancang.”

“Dear me, how then should we untangle this knot?……”

As the Yueyang Branch Chief stood there, idly scratching at his scalp in mock frustration,

“I believe I possess the means to resolve this impasse.”

When the assembly turned their attention toward the source of the remark, they found Jin So-un speaking from the center of the hostile Splitting Light Five Ghosts Sword Formation.

“Oh? And whom might you be?”

“I am Jin So-un, serving as the Academy Representative for the Murim Academy.”

“Ah, so you are the famous Jin So-un! I have heard your name repeated so frequently by Seo-hui that my ears began to ring.”

Jin So-un caught himself looking slightly taken aback.

“……Regarding myself?”

“Indeed. That normally taciturn child could not stop singing your praises, which left me quite eager to cross paths with you eventually. To think we would finally meet in a chaotic setting such as this……. Regardless, what aid do you propose to offer?”

“To begin…… if you secure the immediate release of Miss Seong Mo-ran, the truth of this entire conspiracy can be laid bare without expanding your search across the grounds.”

“Is that a fact?”

Initially, the martial artists of Diancang held their ground aggressively, but under the imposing weight and numbers of the arriving Murim Alliance enforcement squad, they were left with no alternative but to grudgingly give way, one by one.

The moment the constraints were lifted from her, Seong Mo-ran vaulted over the perimeter wall, vanishing into the dense woodland. Moments later, she emerged into view, supporting a terribly frail, pale-skinned young woman upon her shoulders.

“This individual is Jang Seol-yeon. She was being held captive within the subterranean chambers beneath this very manor.”

—

An oppressive, heavy silence blanketed the courtyard for what felt like an eternity.

Jin So-un cast a cold gaze downward toward Jong Byeok-gi, who lay writhing in agony upon the earth, and addressed the gathering.

“My sole purpose here was the rescue of Miss Jang. Upon encountering Jong Byeok-gi within these walls, I attempted to clarify the situation, but he immediately launched a lethal assault against me, acting precisely like a cornered mastermind whose villainy had been unmasked. I merely exercised my right to self-defense.”

Deeming So-un’s narrative completely preposterous, a commanding warrior of the Yuwol Sect bellowed in outrage.

“A blatant fabrication! You ambushed Young Master Jong without offering a single word of explanation!”

Jin So-un let a cold, mocking smirk play across his lips.

“The veracity of my account can be easily verified by conducting an inspection of the hidden cellar beneath the storage facility located over yonder. That precise location is where Miss Jang was being held captive.”

“Ah……!”

Only at that moment did the realization of their tactical blunder dawn upon the Yuwol Sect fighters.

Unfortunately for them, statements already uttered before the authorities could not be retrieved.

At this stage, neither the representatives of the Diancang Sect nor Splitting Light One Star possessed any political leverage to stall the investigation.

While the forces of the Firmament Unit maintained a tense, weapon-drawn standoff with the Diancang contingent, the agents of the Murim Alliance moved with practiced efficiency to breach the storage building.

And a handful of breaths later…….

“What in the world?”

“Over here…….”

“Captives…… there are multiple citizens locked in cages down here!”

As the echoing shouts of the Murim Alliance investigators drifted up from the subterranean depths of the warehouse, the Branch Chief shifted his gaze squarely onto Splitting Light One Star.

“…….”

The unstated query was clear: was the grand Diancang Sect an active participant in this human trafficking operation?

Splitting Light One Star’s visage flushed a violent, furious crimson, and he instantly unleashed the full reservoir of his internal energy into the clearing.

*Boom, boom, boom.*

His ceremonial martial arts robes billowed violently as if pressurized from within, and the sheer density of his homicidal intent spiked the tension among the gathered warriors to a breaking point.

“Form ranks, prepare for engagement!”

At Namgung Seon-hwa’s sharp command, the elite martial artists of the Firmament Unit unsheathed their blades in perfect unison, dropping into combat stances.

The disciples representing the Taeul Sect, So-un included, seamlessly coordinated their positions to project the lethal White Tiger Sure-Kill Sword Formation once more, ready for a bloodbath.

In that volatile heartbeat, Splitting Light One Star launched his body forward like an arrow released from a bow, tearing toward the ranks of the Yuwol Sect.

“How dare you wretches execute such depravity under the esteemed banner of Diancang!”

The Yuwol Sect fighters were completely paralyzed by the sudden betrayal of their patrons.

“G-Great Hero! This entire enterprise was explicitly commanded by Diancang’s own internal——”

“Silence, fools! What treachery is this! You dare to desecrate the honor of Diancang while receiving shelter directly within our embrace!”

Before the final syllable could even echo through the courtyard, the blades of the Diancang martial artists began ruthlessly hacking through the ranks of their own lay-affiliated sect.

“Kraagh!”

“P-please……!”

“Mercy! Spare me!”

The vanguard of the Namgung Clan lacked the window of opportunity to intervene.

The execution was performed with such blinding velocity and absolute, merciless finality that the thought of halting the slaughter could not even register before it concluded.

It was an absolute, one-sided annihilation.

The expiring fighters of the Yuwol Sect cast glares filled with ultimate betrayal and hatred toward the executioners of Diancang, yet the Diancang swordsmen looked down upon them as though cleansing the earth of mere vermin.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

The Yueyang Branch Chief, who had effortlessly drifted over to stand beside Jin So-un during the chaos, murmured quietly.

“An exceptionally brutal manifestation of justice.”

The underlying philosophy of his commentary remained ambiguous, yet for reasons he couldn’t quite articulate, Jin So-un found himself internalizing those words as fundamentally accurate.

Jang Do-won was an undeniably indomitable soul.

During his arrival at the Murim Alliance within the memories of my previous lifetime.

The elite masters of the Jianghu, driven to absolute madness by the allure of the Fifteen Divine Armaments he had forged, resorted to extreme measures to coerce him into forging legendary weapons for their personal factions, yet every effort collapsed against his iron will.

There were factions that pressed cold steel directly against his throat, and others that subjected him to horrific physical torment, yet Jang Do-won never once broke.

It was an era where the entire martial world openly marveled at how such monumental spiritual fortitude could reside within a craftsman who possessed not a single drop of cultivated internal energy.

“Ugh…… Huuugh…….”

Presently, that very same legendary artisan was weeping without restraint.

He held his young granddaughter close to his chest—a child whose very existence had been entirely unknown to me—and poured out his grief and relief for a long, uninterrupted interval.

“Let us vacate the immediate area and afford them some privacy.”

They undoubtedly required solitary moments to purge the sheer terror of their near-permanent separation and fully process the profound rapture of their reunion.

The surviving hostages rescued from the subterranean chambers were permitted to return to their respective households following a brief, formal debriefing.

While the Murim Alliance prepared to coordinate the logistical transport for the traumatized victims, the Diancang Sect aggressively seized the initiative, personally escorting the citizens home with the absolute highest degree of deference and care.

“What is the catalyst for Diancang conducting themselves with such exaggerated righteousness? When the dust settles, they are the true orchestrators of this horror, are they not?”

“What else could motivate such behavior aside from the desperate panic of a cornered thief?”

Though they had cleanly severed their ties to the operation by slaughtering the Yuwol Sect to silence them, with the Murim Alliance presiding over the aftermath, the entire martial community would soon become aware of the foundational rot eating away at Diancang.

It was a statistical certainty that their institutional authority and public reverence would experience a slow, agonizing decline as the years advanced.

Prior to Diancang’s formal departure from the territory, an opportunity presented itself for me to conduct a private dialogue with Splitting Light One Star.

Splitting Light One Star glared into my eyes, his jaw working furiously as he ground his teeth together.

“Jin So-un, do not deceive yourself into thinking the events of this day will fade from my memory.”

“Is it not entirely logical that you should hold this day in high regard?”

“……State your meaning.”

“Did I not successfully apprehend the malignant cancer that was actively tarnishing the pristine reputation of Diancang from within your own sphere of influence? By all traditional standards of the Jianghu, this is an occasion where you ought to be presenting me with a substantial bounty. Is that analysis incorrect?”

“…….”

Splitting Light One Star’s pupils contracted and vibrated with unadulterated fury.

“Surely the great Diancang Sect, renowned across the heavens, does not intend to accept a monumental favor from an ally only to skimp on the compensation? I refuse to believe such a rumor. Good grief, how tragic…….”

The trembling in Splitting Light One Star’s gaze escalated to an absurd degree, and the fury had now manifested as a physical twitch along his jawline.

Right at that volatile juncture, the Yueyang Branch Chief happened to stroll past our position, noting our confrontation and coming to a halt.

“Are the two of you still engaged in an ideological dispute?”

“Not at all. Senior Splitting Light One Star appeared intent on rewriting history to ignore the profound service I rendered his sect, forcing me to gently correct his memory. I was simply unaware that the legendary Diancang Sect operated with such staggering pettiness.”

“…….”

The Yueyang Branch Chief redirected his gaze toward me, his expression mirroring the exact mixture of bewilderment and exasperation previously held by the Diancang master.

“Regardless, I maintain realistic expectations. I expended an immense volume of my personal energy resolving this crisis, so I simply request that you dispatch a high-tier Spiritual Medicine to my quarters. Kindly refrain from lacing it with lethal toxins in a desperate bid to assassinate me.”

The Yueyang Branch Chief shifted his gaze from my face back to the trembling figure of Splitting Light One Star.

“Do you intend to fulfill the request?”

“……The Diancang Sect.”

Splitting Light One Star forced the words through a throat constricted by absolute, boiling fury.

“……never allows a debt of gratitude or an act of malice to go unanswered.”

Having delivered his parting vow, Splitting Light One Star spun on his heel and strode away aggressively.

Just as I prepared to pivot away, leaving a parting, mocking smirk directed at his retreating form,

“Walk with me for a moment.”

“To what end?”

The Yueyang Branch Chief initiated his stride without bothering to provide an immediate explanation.

Honestly, when an individual poses a direct question, is basic courtesy not to offer a reply?

As it turned out, the geopolitical reality of the territory was structured as follows.

Yueyang had traditionally functioned as a sphere of influence where a representative from the Wudang Sect occupied the seat of Branch Chief.

As a direct consequence of that arrangement, despite hosting a prominent lay-affiliated branch of Diancang, the administrative control of Yueyang had been firmly steered by Wudang interests.

However, the moment the Wudang Branch Chief suffered a catastrophic fall from grace and vanished from the political board due to the Demon Spirit Plateau debacle, Diancang scrambled to reclaim absolute administrative hegemony over Yueyang.

Yet, what occurred in the power vacuum?

The syndicates of the Black Path Murim, most notably the Black Axe Palace—which had spent years suppressing its ambitions and operating in total secrecy under the oppressive watch of Wudang—seized the moment to operate with total impunity. Realizing that Diancang lacked the raw martial capital to pacify Yueyang utilizing a mere duo of subordinate sects, they resorted to fabricating the specter of the “Demonic Cult” as a radical mechanism to forcibly restructure the power dynamics of Yueyang.

“If your intelligence network was so thoroughly informed on these machinations, why did you choose to remain entirely passive until now?”

Following the detailed geopolitical briefing provided by the Murim Alliance Branch Chief, I pressed him with genuine skepticism.

The Yueyang Branch Chief ran a hand through his hair with an exaggerated sigh, looking at me as though I were missing the obvious.

“Do you honestly believe my passivity was born out of personal choice?”

“Then what prevents you from launching an exhaustive, retroactive tribunal against them now?”

“A tribunal? Do you truly believe the political authority to execute such an action rests in our hands?”

“…….”

“Diancang has already executed its counter-strategy. They officially proclaimed the Yuwol Sect as the isolated rogue masterminds of this entire conspiracy and have already launched a full-scale purge of the Yuwol Sect’s main compounds.”

Not even a single diurnal cycle had concluded since our raid on the estate.

“Their operational speed is remarkable.”

“Well, were they not constantly prepared to liquidate their assets and cut ties the moment the wind changed direction?”

“You appear entirely unbothered by this outcome.”

“Is this not the exact methodology by which stability throughout the Jianghu is traditionally preserved?”

Concluding his thought, the Branch Chief guided our steps toward a specific corner of his private office.

The workspace of the Branch Chief was heavily populated by a variety of bizarre, intricate mechanical apparatuses.

As the Branch Chief applied a flame to an oil reservoir integrated into one side of a complex device, the assembly constructed of polished iron and treated timber hummed to life, clicking and whirring as internal springs unwound.

The thermal energy emanating from the ignited oil heated a small vessel positioned directly above it, utilizing the rising steam pressure to drive the mechanical gears of the apparatus.

Ultimately, a stream of aromatic, freshly brewed tea began to trickle from an output spout at the base of the machine.

The Branch Chief extended a pair of porcelain cups filled with the liquid.

I gently drew in the aroma rising from the cup before taking an initial sip, allowing the vibrant, complex notes of the tea to spread across my palate.

“The flavor profile is exceptional…… is this a rare, exotic blend?”

“It is merely standard Longjing tea. When dealing with tea, the methodology of the infusion process holds far greater significance than the base quality of the leaves themselves.”

After consuming roughly half of his portion, the Branch Chief fixed his gaze intently on the vapor curling up from the porcelain rim, speaking in a low tone that bordered on a soliloquy.

“The concept of justice operates on a near-identical principle. Depending on the hands that manipulate it, the final result can yield either a turbid, foul taste or a crystal-clear refinement.”

“…….”

“Your expression suggests you find my philosophical framework unconvincing.”

“A compromised, turbid manifestation of justice can no longer legitimately retain the title of justice.”

“Is that your perspective?”

Lacking any real desire to engage in a prolonged philosophical debate, the Branch Chief simply offered another rough scratch to his scalp.

“In any event, your contributions in this affair were monumental. Consequent to your intervention, my administrative tenure here will be extended for a considerable duration. This entire situation had been generating quite a severe migraine for me recently.”

Sensing a wave of irritation at his detached demeanor, I pressed him further.

“Did you possess absolutely no intention of resolving the crisis through your own office?”

The Demonic Cult.

To intentionally counterfeit the banner of the Demonic Cult.

At this historical juncture, such an act transcended mere audacity; it was suicidal madness.

Yet this placid Branch Chief had chosen to observe the entire catastrophe unfold from a safe distance despite holding complete clarity regarding the truth.

“I made the attempt.”

“And what was the outcome?”

“My efforts were instantly paralyzed. By the direct intervention of Diancang.”

规“…….”

“The administrative office of a Murim Alliance Branch Chief is an incredibly paradoxical position. In specific scenarios, it wields absolute, unquestioned hegemony, while in alternative climates, it functions as nothing more than a hollow straw man.”

“…….”

“Had I mobilized the full military apparatus of a major clan, I might have possessed the leverage to force a confrontation, but I lacked the strategic certainty required to guarantee a clean resolution. Frankly, had an anomaly like yourself not entered the equation, this knot was fundamentally incapable of being unraveled to begin with.”

After giving his hair one final, weary rub, he concluded.

“Regardless, owing to your chaotic intervention, the boil was lanced cleanly in a single stroke, meaning the streets of Yueyang should enjoy a welcomed period of tranquility for the foreseeable future.”

“Be that as it may, do you not bear an institutional obligation to extend some form of protection to my person?”

“Protection? For what reason?”

“Will Diancang not inevitably orchestrate a lethal campaign against me as direct retribution for this humiliation?”

Confronted by my deeply dissatisfied query, the Branch Chief allowed a vibrant, genuine smile to break across his face for the very first time.

“Good heavens, you have already meticulously engineered your own political insurance policy, yet you stand there demanding that I construct an additional safety net for you?”

“…….”

“Your decision to leave Jong Byeok-gi half-dead was driven in no small part by a personal vendetta, was it not? Diancang has already strategically spun the narrative of this crisis, framing the entire catastrophe as an isolated, illicit conspiracy executed exclusively between Jong Byeok-gi and the leadership of the Yuwol Sect.”

“…….”

“Furthermore, given that you are actively extorting a high-tier Spiritual Medicine as formal tribute from Diancang through the agency of our mutual acquaintance Splitting Light One Star, what realistic avenue of retaliation does Diancang even possess against you?”

Hmph.

It appeared my tactical calculations had been entirely laid bare.

This design was never intended to be deciphered with such effortless clarity.

I narrowed my eyes, conducting a thorough, re-evaluative scrutiny of the Yueyang Branch Chief’s features.

Extrapolating from the sheer velocity of his cognitive processing and his uncanny situational awareness, he was unequivocally an elite individual, yet no matter how exhaustively I ransacked the archives of my past life’s memories, this specific face was one I had never encountered.

“I am entirely unacquainted with the narrative you are constructing.”

“Haha, your behavior aligns perfectly with Seo-hui’s descriptions. You truly do possess a spectacularly shameless streak when cornered.”

“Furthermore, since the inception of this dialogue, your rhetoric has consistently implied a familiar, pre-existing bond between us. I find that assumption rather distasteful.”

“Distasteful? It cannot possibly be distasteful. There is absolutely no universe in which it is distasteful. I have committed a capital offense against you. Truly, I am guilty of a monumental transgression.”

“…….”

Following his theatrical display of mock contrition, he abruptly froze in place, his features rearranging themselves into a brilliant, wide smirk.

At this point, a genuine chill of apprehension began to ripple through my core.

“What cause could there be for us to lack a profound connection?”

“Pardon?”

“Did you not actively deploy the Golden Dragon Hidden Weapon of my own personal craftsmanship without ever securing my formal authorization? If an interaction of that magnitude does not constitute a monumental connection, I fail to see what does.”

This is madness.

How could that closely guarded secret possibly surface in this room?