The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 149

Chapter 149
## Chapter 149. Those Wearing Black Masks (8)

The Wondrous Hand of All Things Dang Hyeok-jae.

As a relative from a side branch of the Tang Clan, his creations included standard projectile mechanisms like the Heavenly Thunder Sphere and the Rainstorm Flower Needles, and he was the mastermind behind the elite Golden Dragon Hidden Weapons of the Tang Clan, which featured the destructive Hell Calamity Flame King Bomb.

Yet, those creations represented merely a fraction of his lifework. He gained notoriety as a bizarre inventor who frequently brushed with death while experimenting with contraptions designed to soar through the air or glide across bodies of water.

He had always kept his distance from the affairs of the Jianghu, possessing a well-known aversion to stepping out into the wider world.

Nevertheless, given that the Demonic Cult’s advance was delayed significantly within Sichuan during the historical Great Righteous-Demonic War primarily due to the intricate mechanisms and lethal venoms of the Tang Clan, the contemporary perception of him was unfairly critical.

Without a doubt, he was destined to emerge as a core foundation sustaining the future of the Tang Clan.

“…….”

“Why have you gone quiet? You cannot possibly feign ignorance at this point, especially since the Divine Sword sent a personal missive to verify everything, can you?”

This revelation meant he was the true creator of the Hundred-Mother Fire Cylinder that Yang Gun-baek had gifted me in the past.

Seeing him in person made me feel as though an old financial or moral obligation, which I assumed was settled, had suddenly been reinstated.

Still, I couldn’t help but feel slighted. After all, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword had written to me directly, and Dang Seo-hui had explicitly promised that the matter would be forgotten.

“Agreeing not to pursue charges is one thing. But shouldn’t compensation still be provided since you actively deployed the Hundred-Mother Fire Cylinder?”

“……In the first place, isn’t the blame on whoever allowed a priceless artifact like the Hundred-Mother Fire Cylinder to circulate through the criminal underbelly?”

“Ah…… So it was from the black markets of the underworld that you acquired the Hundred-Mother Fire Cylinder?”

“…….”

“Are you aware of the manufacturing cost for a solitary unit? It takes a minimum of five gold taels. Five whole taels. You must understand that we cannot just look the other way simply because we agreed not to penalize you, right?”

“…….”

If anyone else claimed a single throwing weapon cost five gold taels, I would have openly mocked it as a ridiculous exaggeration. However, hearing that the Hundred-Mother Fire Cylinder required that much capital made me eager to inquire about its potential for mass production.

The price tag was steep, but its combat effectiveness was completely undeniable.

In truth, if I had the means to store up supply in anticipation of the conflict with the Demonic Cult, I wanted to gather as many units as possible.

“Furthermore, the funding for that specific Hundred-Mother Fire Cylinder came straight out of my own pocket. Do you not think you owe me proper reimbursement?”

Listening to his grievance, I found myself cocking my head in confusion.

“You financed it out of your personal funds?”

“Indeed. Whenever I propose a new invention within the family, their immediate reaction is to obstruct it without even considering its merits.”

“……If that is the case, even after production was completed, it should have remained your private property.”

“Naturally.”

“Then how exactly did it end up being sold in a Black Shop?”

“……!”

Dang Hyeok-jae blinked in surprise, then vigorously rubbed his scalp.

“That is rather puzzling. On principle alone, it makes no sense that a device officially categorized by the Tang Clan as a Golden Dragon Hidden Weapon would be tossed around like cheap garbage in an illicit market, right?”

“……To tell the truth, after its initial trial run inside the family grounds, they forbade me from utilizing it in actual warfare.”

Which meant he had covertly leaked it to the public?

Just to observe how it performed under real conditions?

I was so utterly speechless by his logic that no words came out.

This man was clearly missing a few strings of sanity.

“…….”

“Ahem, let us get back on track. In any case, you carried a debt to my name, and I am willing to clear that balance based on your performance in this recent incident. What do you say? Seems like a reasonable trade, does it not?”

It wasn’t reasonable by any stretch of the imagination.

Even so, I figured there was no point in arguing with a man who clearly operated on an entirely different wavelength, so I simply gave a nod.

“Fine, let us view it through that lens. Shift subjects for a moment—I was under the impression that you despised leaving your workshop. How did you end up accepting the title of Murim Alliance Branch Chief?”

“Lately, the Jianghu has become quite fascinating. There was an individual I wished to encounter.”

“Fascinating occurrences?”

“Word reached me about a person who shattered an ancient defensive array standing for half a millennium, retrieved the Golden Dragon from the Jegal Clan, and operated Golden Dragon Hidden Weapons with absolute mastery despite having no formal training in their secret mechanisms.”

“……Are you referring to me?”

“Precisely.”

Considering he specifically brought up the artifact from the Jegal Clan, it was evident he possessed information regarding Jegal Cheon-gi as well.

“Are you acquainted with Cheon-gi?”

“He stands as the most brilliant mind ever produced by the Jegal Clan. It is merely that his brilliance is so overwhelming that it overshadows everyone around him.”

“If your goal was to meet me, a direct visit would have sufficed. What drove you to take up the mantle of Branch Chief?”

“Ah, long journeys do not suit my temperament. Honestly, I am not fond of socializing either. It would be quite a chore for someone of my disposition to hunt you down on my own, wouldn’t it? Thus, I sought an opportunity through the channels of the Murim Alliance, and circumstances snowballed until I found myself in this position.”

“…….”

What sort of “circumstances” could possibly lead to this?

I failed to comprehend the logic of someone trying to meet me by stationing himself in Yueyang.

Had I skipped this city entirely, our paths might never have crossed in this lifetime.

“What was your purpose in seeking me out?”

“I desired to learn how you grasped the operational principles of the Hundred-Mother Fire Cylinder.”

“…….”

“How did you manage to trigger it?”

Weaving a handful of fabrications into the truth, I described the method I used to detonate the Hundred-Mother Fire Cylinder.

Dang Hyeok-jae kept nodding in agreement while carefully recording the details on a small parchment.

“My objective was to engineer a weapon that would prove baffling to adversaries yet intuitive for comrades, but a person with your level of sharp perception was bound to decipher its internal logic.”

“Even with that vulnerability, it remains an extraordinary tool. It would possess unparalleled value on a massive battlefield.”

“Do you truly believe so?”

Without warning, Dang Hyeok-jae seized my hand and began pumping it enthusiastically.

“Exactly! When dealing with toxic blights, isn’t it nearly impossible to anticipate their spread due to shifting winds and terrain? Collateral damage to your own forces becomes an unavoidable risk. Conversely, purely mechanical projectiles offer precision and safety. That is the point I have been making.”

“…….”

“The stubborn fools in my family fail to grasp this. They care for nothing but venom, venom, and more venom. Besides, toxins require delicate storage, making them a logistical nightmare during extended campaigns, do they not?”

For reasons entirely his own, Dang Hyeok-jae was overflowing with resentment, spending the next several minutes muttering curses under his breath.

It became perfectly clear why, despite his prolific output of innovations, he remained an outcast within his own lineage.

He was an anomaly among his kin, matching the eccentric natures of Jegal Cheon-gi and Murong Jae-hwa.

“……Sigh. If the thick-headed elders back home possessed a fraction of your foresight, the Tang Clan’s influence would have doubled by now.”

“Is it not a simple matter of demonstrating its worth? The Tang Clan has never been an organization that rejects projectile warfare.”

“Are you aware of the sheer capital required for such a demonstration? The territory? The scheduling? The blueprints? Can I forge these massive installations entirely by myself? Where am I supposed to secure master metalworkers?”

There it was.

A highly lucrative opportunity was presenting itself.

It felt as though an invaluable treasure, unrecognized by the world, was currently being discarded like common weeds.

“What if a location existed where all of those requirements could be easily fulfilled?”

“Hmm?”

“Furthermore, the individual backing the venture possesses a profound appreciation for mechanical architecture. You would be free to construct diverse devices for this benefactor, ultimately gaining the respect of the Tang Clan through successful results. Naturally, this hinges on your family granting authorization.”

“They would grant it without a second thought. Are you aware of how many craftsmen our Tang Clan contracts out annually? But who exactly is this wealthy benefactor?”

As I lifted my arm, his inquisitive eyes followed the trajectory of my index finger.

At the terminus of that gesture, I indicated the remarkable financial backer.

Tap, tap.

“……You?”

Dang Hyeok-jae scrutinized me with deeply skeptical eyes.

“Hmm, you do not exactly strike me as someone swimming in gold, nor do you look like a master of mechanical engineering.”

In response, I triggered the Flying Dragon Claw anchored to my left wrist, snuffed out the distant flicker of an oil lamp, and smoothly reeled the mechanism back in.

“What do you think of that?”

Dang Hyeok-jae’s jaw dropped completely, leaving him entirely speechless.

Excellent.

The collection box of Jin So-un.

Another invaluable asset had been acquired.

—

Around the identical timeframe that Jin So-un was recruiting the eccentric inventor known as Dang Hyeok-jae, another scene was unfolding elsewhere.

Deep within the estate of the faction that had isolated itself behind closed barriers in Hefei, Anhui Province, three individuals were engaged in a private consultation.

“The commercial enterprise has firmly stabilized its operations. Following our previous agreement, I have registered the entity under the name of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild.”

As Jin Tae-san spoke, his voice carrying the weariness of a man who had shed a significant amount of weight, Hong Mun-gi—whose features had similarly grown gaunt—nodded in acknowledgment.

“You have pushed yourself to the limit during this period. It is high time you took a proper intermission.”

“My only desire right now is to do nothing but consume meals and slumber for a full week straight.”

Hong Mun-gi gave an understanding nod to Jin Tae-san’s exhaustion.

Jin Tae-san had labored without a single moment of respite to bring order to the Taeul Sect, a struggle that mirrored Hong Mun-gi’s own grueling efforts to master the martial disciplines contained within the Taeul True Scripture.

According to the senior members of the Elder Council, there hadn’t been a single evening where the man didn’t suffer from exhaustion-induced nosebleeds.

Regardless, observing the exponential growth of the Taeul Sect’s financial holdings made any verbal confirmation of Jin Tae-san’s immense sacrifices entirely redundant.

“Your dedication has been unparalleled. Because of your actions, the longevity of the Taeul Sect is completely secure.”

“This was hardly a solo achievement. Leader, your own contributions to our cause have been monumental.”

In comparison to Jin Tae-san, the tribulations endured by Hong Mun-gi were equally severe.

Given his inherently average martial aptitude, the sheer willpower required to decipher and master complex techniques entirely on his own must have been staggering.

Furthermore, with no living mentor to guide his path, he had to rely entirely on stubborn persistence to force his way through the text.

Yet, by virtue of that relentless drive, he had managed to elevate his prowess to a degree that allowed him to stand before his pupils without a shred of embarrassment.

“Do you two honestly believe you were the only ones pulling the weight around here?”

When Kang Chae-seok voiced his discontent, both men turned their sharp gazes directly toward him.

“In all honesty, what actual hardships did you face?”

Faced with Jin Tae-san’s blunt interrogation, Kang Chae-seok let out a dramatic snort of disbelief.

“Have you completely forgotten the intense labor required to oversee the training regimens of the youths who returned from the Murong Clan? Take a look at this face. My smooth complexion is now covered in deep creases, absolute creases.”

However, the faint lines etched around Kang Chae-seok’s eyes were barely perceptible.

If anything, those lines had likely formed from the countless moments of lighthearted laughter he enjoyed, free from any real anxieties or burdens.

“Right, right. Your efforts are acknowledged as well. In any case, seeing everyone within our martial home striving so earnestly brings immense gratification to my role as Leader.”

Jin Tae-san pointed an accusing finger across the table and interjected,

“Leader, please refrain from coddling that man. If you continue to praise him, how am I, the one who truly sacrificed his health, supposed to feel?”

“Hold on, I worked myself to the bone as well!”

“Hmph! If that is the truth, why does the monthly expense report for your tavern visits continue to escalate?”

“…….”

“How did a drinking habit that used to occur once every seven nights somehow transform into a routine that takes place every three days?”

“Ahem, well, regarding that…… Cough! R-right! I had a massive roster of pupils requiring my attention, so I merely imbibed a little to alleviate the mental strain!”

“Hmph! Which of our current students actually requires your constant supervision? Every single one of them is highly self-sufficient.”

To be fair, the younger generation currently populating the Taeul Sect consisted of children gifted with such profound intellect that they frequently eclipsed the cognitive abilities of their own instructors.

Particularly, the youths gathered and sent back by Jin So-un possessed raw martial potential that could easily rival the prodigies of the elite Nine Sects and One Gang or the legendary Five Great Clans.

“Do you honestly believe I am blind to the fact that you wander off to drink simply because you have too much free time on your hands?”

“…….”

Confronted by Jin Tae-san’s relentless scolding, Kang Chae-seok could only twitch his lips in silence, completely stripped of a counterargument.

Sensing the stalemate, Hong Mun-gi, acting in his capacity as Leader, stepped in to mediate.

“Tae-san, you are well aware that Chae-seok has contributed significantly in his own right. Let the matter drop.”

Hong Mun-gi smoothly steered the dialogue in a fresh direction to break the tension.

“Shifting focus, a correspondence arrived from So-un. He indicated that he is sending another prospective candidate for induction.”

“Another one?”

While Jin Tae-san’s eyebrows knit together in frustration, Kang Chae-seok let out a booming laugh.

“See there? Your own offspring persists in dispatching these prospective students without any advance warning, so can you finally appreciate the massive burden placed upon my shoulders?”

“…….”

Jin Tae-san completely bypassed Kang Chae-seok’s gloating, keeping his attention fixed on Hong Mun-gi.

“Well, he noted that the final verdict rests with us, but since the boy was chosen by So-un, it is only proper that we welcome him into our ranks.”

“Ahem, naturally. The boy will undoubtedly lack even the most rudimentary fundamentals. I suppose I must prepare myself to labor until I am spitting blood once more.”

“…….”

Though the underlying mechanics escaped them, the intellectual caliber of the candidates Jin So-un occasionally routed back to the sect was invariably staggering.

Much like a sapling endowed with robust roots will flourish in any soil, youths possessed of such innate genius rapidly manifested their capabilities the moment their foundations were solidly established.

When it came to the meticulous art of drilling fundamentals into a novice, Kang Chae-seok possessed no equal, which left Jin Tae-san with no further grounds to criticize his peer.

At that exact juncture, a Fourth-Generation Disciple crossed the threshold into the chamber and announced,

“Leader…… An individual has arrived bearing a personal message from Eldest Senior Brother.”

The three men instantly traded meaningful glances.

Was this not the exact candidate they had just been analyzing?

“Excellent, since the timing aligns perfectly, escort him directly into this room.”

“……All the way into this inner chamber?”

“Yes. He is highly likely to join your ranks as a fellow Fourth-Generation Disciple. He arrives backed by the explicit endorsement of your Eldest Senior Brother.”

“……Excuse me? A F-Fourth-Generation Disciple?”

The reporting disciple’s expression contorted into a bizarre mask of bewilderment.

Observing the young man frozen in place like an anxious animal unsure of its next move, Kang Chae-seok barked out an order.

“What are you loitering for! Bring him inside immediately!”

“……Ah, yes! U-understood right away.”

Jolted back to reality, the Fourth-Generation Disciple bolted from the room with incredible velocity.

It appeared as though his mastery of the Taeul Eighty-Thousand Divine Steps had achieved a remarkably advanced state.

The three senior martial artists watched his departure with an expression of quiet pride, waiting patiently for the newcomer to make his appearance.

Thud, thud, thud.

Accompanied by the reverberating vibration of massive footsteps, a colossal, heavily muscled individual stepped through the doorway.

The gazes of the trio, who had been calmly sipping their tea, were instantly pulled toward the sheer physical mass occupying the entrance.

“Hmm?”

“Who on earth……?”

Facing the trio whose minds were suddenly flooded with queries, the gargantuan figure executed a flawless, respectful martial salute and spoke.

“I extend my formal respects to the elders. My name is Buk Won-pyeong, and I have journeyed to this estate seeking admission into your ranks, guided by the recommendation of Young Hero Jin.”

Pffft—!

Drip, splash—

The tea inside Kang Chae-seok’s mouth was instantly sprayed across the room, while a steady stream of liquid trickled down Jin Tae-san’s chin.

The “child” they had been anticipating turned out to be scaled a bit larger than any of them had envisioned.

The Three Pure Ones Water Divine Dragon Buk Won-pyeong.

This was the specific prospective student So-un had heralded.

—

“What took you so long to return?”

The moment I stepped back inside the threshold of Jang Do-won’s workshop, the proprietor had reverted to his characteristic, unapproachable demeanor.

‘This suits me far better.’

Jang Do-won had been quietly puffing on his long-stemmed tobacco pipe, but he paused to turn around, dragging out a massive cloth bundle along with a lengthy staff forged of solid iron.

“What exactly are those items?”

“What do you mean? They are the precise fabrications you commissioned.”

“I commissioned these?”

My memory was distinct; I had requested that he forge a specialized iron bow tailored for Murong Jae-hwa, and that he meticulously slice the White Fragrance Jade—a prize I secured upon ascending to the rank of Representative—into refined ornaments.

The accessories made perfect sense, but what possible use did I have for a massive iron club?

“Wow! You actually succeeded in crafting them!”

At that moment, Geum-pyo threw open the fabric wrap with a dull thud, a massive grin spreading across his features.

“You truly went ahead and made them!”

Intrigued, I shifted my gaze to observe what had emerged from the bundle, only to recognize an apparatus I knew inside and out.

“The Flying Dragon Claws?”

They were carbon copies of the Flying Dragon Claw currently secured to my own left forearm.

Without losing a second, Geum-pyo extracted the newly minted Flying Dragon Claws from the pile, distributing them one by one to Eun-ho and Dong-ryong.

“……What is the meaning of this?”

“Ah, we approached him with a separate commission on our own accord.”

“You did? Leaving the financial compensation aside, where did you manage to source the rare Heavenly Silkworm Thread?”

“As luck would have it, Jae-hwa mentioned that her family treasury was overflowing with Heavenly Silkworm Thread. So, while the master was working on Jae-hwa’s equipment, we persuaded him to forge our sets simultaneously.”

包装“…….”

Jang Do-won’s forehead creased into deep, annoyed lines.

“I deprived myself of sleep for days on end just to hammer out this massive workload within such a restricted timeframe. I expect to be compensated to the absolute penny, so keep that in mind.”

“Do you three even possess a single coin to your names?”

“Huh? Senior Brother, I just remembered an incredibly pressing matter I must attend to!”

“Me too!”

“Wait up, brothers, don’t leave me behind!”

With those frantic excuses, the troublesome Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers vanished out the door like a sudden gust of wind.

“Your younger martial brothers certainly keep things lively.”

“Those freeloaders are simply blessed with an incredibly indulgent senior brother.”

“Your youth blinds you; you have no concept of how valuable loyal brothers truly are.”

“Those gluttons polish off nine full portions of food in a single sitting.”

“Quiet down. Inspect the remaining craftsmanship.”

“Now that it comes to mind, where is the iron bow I requested?”

“Are your eyes failing you? It is sitting right before you.”

“Excuse me?”

The object Jang Do-won extended toward me was nothing more than a raw, heavy iron club constructed of solid metal.

“Grooves have been carved into both extremities. You’ll need to string the cord across them yourself. My elderly bones lack the raw power required to bend the frame.”

“…….”

Even if the material was specialized iron, wouldn’t forcing a straight bar to bend cause it to permanently warp or snap under pressure?

Yet, to my utter astonishment, the metal bar flexed smoothly as pressure was applied, before snapping back to its linear configuration with a resonant vibration.

“If an individual possesses the monstrous physical power required to wield an iron bow, the tension requirements must be at least at this tier.”

This wasn’t some ordinary projectile weapon.

At this standard of quality, even if it fell just short of being classified as a divine weapon, it unquestionably ranked as an exquisite treasure.

I found it difficult to mask my amazement that he had brought such an exceptional piece into reality within a mere two weeks.

“What nonsense are you muttering? How could any blacksmith forge such an item in a fortnight? I am handing over a piece I had already completed in the past.”

“Ah…… Is that the case?”

“The entirety of that duration was consumed by twisting the Heavenly Silkworm Thread for those Flying Dragon Claws and refining that jade piece. In any case, that weapon will not disappoint.”

Calling it non-disappointing was a massive understatement.

It vastly surpassed the previous iron bow that Murong Jae-hwa had utilized in days gone by, outclassing it in every measurable metric.

“You have my deepest gratitude, Master.”

“Save your breath. Just ensure the payment is accurate.”

I slid a pre-prepared draft worth five hundred gold taels across the table to Jang Do-won.

Upon verifying the staggering figure written across the document, a flash of astonishment crossed Jang Do-won’s features, though he quickly masked it by clearing his throat repeatedly, attempting to maintain an aura of indifference.

“Furthermore……”

“Yes?”

“Ahem…… Well, you see……”

For reasons unknown, Jang Do-won began to stall, his words faltering as he hesitated to voice his thoughts.

“Please speak your mind without reservation, Master.”

Encouraged by my words, the elderly smith, after a prolonged bout of hesitation, finally spoke with a tone of firm resolution.

“W-well, I chanced to hear from your younger martial sister that your faction was actively scouting for an artisan to relocate to your main estate. I found myself wondering if the compensation package was…… acceptable.”

“Pardon me?”

“This recent sequence of events forced a realization upon me. That is the reason I am inquiring about the environment of your martial home. So, what are the conditions like?”

Revisiting my memories of the previous timeline, the reality that Jang Do-won had ultimately chosen to align himself with the Murim Alliance entirely on his own suggested that some catastrophic event must have occurred during this interval.

In an era defined by upheaval, peril was an omnipresent shadow.

Regardless of past histories, this development was highly advantageous for both Jang Do-won and myself.

“For a master of your unparalleled caliber, Elder, our sect will naturally provide the absolute highest tier of luxury and respect.”

I offer my silent apologies to the world, but as of this moment, the entirety of the Fifteen Divine Armaments belong exclusively to me.

Hehehe.