The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 150

Chapter 150
### Chapter 150. Those Wearing Black Masks (9)

Once the immediate situation had been ironed out, we resolved to embark on the break we had planned earlier.

The three Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers stepped out sporting the fresh attire they had purchased on our very first afternoon. Perhaps because the youngsters had never donned such high-end garments before in their lives, their movements were incredibly stiff. They marched about with their backs perfectly straight and their chests aggressively pushed forward, which naturally drew amused chuckles from the onlookers. Meanwhile, Namgung Seon-hwa, Seong Mo-ran, and Hong Sa-ryeon paraded down the avenues looking every bit as breathtaking and radiant as they had previously. Their appearances easily outshone the brilliant nighttime avenues of Yueyang, instantly capturing the captivated stares of nearby gentlemen.

Before long, a handful of wealthy Flower Young Master types sauntered over to the trio with arrogant grins.

“If it pleases you, may I have the privilege of being your escort for the evening?”

“I happen to be the firstborn son of the Nam Estate. I assure you I am a man of respectability, so there is no need for caution.”

“Come now, why not make this a pleasant evening for everyone? Do join us.”

These men possessed a decent level of martial skill, and they immediately attempted to use their social standing and training to pressure the ladies into accompanying them. Yet, before Namgung Seon-hwa or Seong Mo-ran could even voice their prestigious backgrounds or take matters into their own hands, the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers stepped forward to intercept them.

“Move aside, you pests!”

“How dare mere commoners block our path.”

“Do you fools have any idea who stands before you?”

The three Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers turned their heads to glance at me simultaneously. Their expressions were a clear inquiry regarding how they should proceed.

My response was direct and unyielding.

“Since when have I ever cared about the status of the people I deal with?”

The confrontation ended in the blink of an eye. The trio unleashed their Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist in perfect unison, launching their targets three zhang away before the arrogant men could even mount a proper defense. The bastards smashed violently into the roadside vendor stalls. With those annoying insects swatted away, no other Flower Young Master types dared to pester us for the rest of the night.

“Yueyang seems far more chaotic than usual,” Seong Mo-ran remarked.

Just as she noted, the overall mood of Yueyang felt distinctly altered. Even though the moon hung high in the sky, bands of combatants in martial arts attire were sweeping through the streets in organized units. In the darker alleyways far removed from the bustling nightlife, random blazes were erupting alongside distant, echoing shrieks.

“The dominant beast has been removed, so now everyone is tearing each other apart for the crown.”

The moment the Yuwol Sect was exposed as the mastermind behind the recent string of kidnappings in Yueyang, Diancang’s authority plummeted overnight. While Diancang loudly proclaimed that they would show no mercy to anyone exploiting the chaos for personal profit, their words fell on deaf ears; no one paid attention to rulers who had completely lost their moral right to govern Yueyang.

Consequently, the syndicates of the Black Path Murim, spearheaded by the Black Axe Palace and the Mukhyul Gang, seized the moment to revolt. Naturally, the initial target of these syndicates was the Yuwol Sect itself. Having amassed an unbelievable fortune under the protective umbrella of Diancang while essentially functioning as Diancang’s local Yueyang headquarters, the sect was far too lucrative a target for the Black Path factions to pass up.

Diancang, however, was hardly the type to sit idly by while rivals snatched food right out of their hands. Less than twenty-four hours after the truth came to light, Diancang launched a decisive raid on the Yuwol Sect, thoroughly wiping them from the pages of history.

Having missed out on such a choice target, the Black Path syndicates turned their sights toward alternative options. With Wudang entirely forced out of the picture and Diancang backed into a corner, Yueyang had effectively transformed into an unprotected, prize territory. Not a single Black Path syndicate intended to let an opportunity of this magnitude slip through their fingers.

“Even so, it feels like a waste. Setting aside the massive treasures the Yuwol Sect accumulated, this was a golden chance to claim dominion over a massive trade hub like Yueyang.”

“What if the Iron Sword Sect used this moment to establish a foothold in Yueyang?”

“What? What sort of ridiculous nonsense is that?”

It was exactly as stated. A predator should never mindlessly stuff its maw with prey it cannot actually digest.

Paying no mind to the violent skirmishes fracturing the city around us, our group continued our trek toward the waterfront. It was there that we crossed paths with some highly unexpected individuals.

“Oh?”

“Wait, look there.”

The group opposite us looked just as startled, their faces tightening with awkwardness at the sheer coincidence of our meeting.

I took the initiative to break the silence.

“This hardly feels like the sort of environment a pious monk should be frequenting.”

“…….”

It was Il-gak of Shaolin Temple. He was positioned by the water alongside several representatives from the Righteous Path Association of the Murim Alliance, evidently waiting for a vessel.

If I had to pinpoint the absolute highlights of my past life, it would unquestionably be the moments when my adversaries were caught utterly mortified after their hypocrisies were brought to light. Whenever such a scenario presented itself, no matter how intensely I mocked and jeered them, they had no choice but to stand there and squeeze their fists in silent fury. If they chose to strike out in anger, they would expose their own pettiness; if they chose to ignore me, it amounted to an admission of guilt. It used to be the sole weapon I possessed back when I lacked power to torment those above me.

And as it turned out, that particular brand of entertainment lost none of its charm now that I wielded actual strength.

“My word, do the holy men of our current era deliver their spiritual teachings in the middle of red-light districts now?”

“…….”

“Then again, since the enlightenment of the Buddha knows no boundaries, I suppose there is no divine law forbidding a monk from visiting such establishments. Forgive my lack of manners.”

“……Our presence here is strictly confined to a scheduled gathering.”

“Even so, given that a holy monk is part of your ranks, one would think you might exercise a bit more discretion… Does the Righteous Path Association hold Shaolin Temple in such low regard?”

By the time those words left my mouth, the expressions of the surrounding Righteous Path Association representatives began to harden one after the other. I found the unfolding scene utterly delightful. Watching those rigid faces vacillate between wanting to draw their weapons and holding themselves back was an experience that never grew stale.

“To think the Righteous Path Association chooses to gather in a place of vice to debate the future of the Murim—it truly speaks to the vibrant nature of your alliance. Had I known things were this entertaining, I would have thrown my lot in with the Righteous Path Association ages ago.”

“…….”

Il-gak’s complexion turned an absolute shade of ashen dark. If I kept this up, I was genuinely going to earn myself a ticket to the underworld.

“Holy one, there is a burning question I simply must ask out of pure curiosity.”

As I threw out that pointed remark, the collective stares of the Righteous Path Association representatives locked onto me.

“When you conduct your official business inside a brothel, how exactly do you maintain your monastic restraint?”

“……You arrogant brat, standing there spouting such utterly vile—”

A representative standing right beside Il-gak lost his temper completely, taking an aggressive step forward. However, Il-gak held him back with a grim expression, desperately attempting to steer the conversation elsewhere.

“Academy Representative, what brings your group to these docks?”

“Unlike your esteemed Righteous Path Association, we are simply here to make the most of our personal holiday.”

“……I see.”

Il-gak made a subtle attempt to shift his gaze away, clearly hoping to gracefully extricate himself from the interaction. Naturally, I had zero intention of letting him off the hook so easily.

“You still haven’t provided an answer to my previous inquiry. Tell me, when you hold your assemblies within the walls of a pleasure house, do you view the environment as an extension of your spiritual discipline?”

“…….”

The representatives of the Righteous Path Association began radiating an intense, lethal aura, pushed far past their limits of tolerance. Not to be outdone, our own companions unleashed their fighting intent to match the pressure. The air around the docks instantly grew incredibly tense, balanced on the knife-edge of an immediate bloodbath.

“What a thoroughly venomous tongue for such a young child.”

As a heavy, resonant voice echoed through the air, the members of the Righteous Path Association instantly retracted their killing intent and moved back in unison. Il-gak, who had been maintaining a rigid posture at the very front, also stepped to the side and offered a profound, respectful bow.

“The rumors claimed you were a formidable prodigy nurtured by the Black Path Murim, and it appears those reports did not exaggerate.”

The speaker was a middle-aged, shaven-headed man clad in the identical monastic robes as Il-gak. Though it was my first time encountering him face-to-face in this current life, his appearance perfectly matched the memories I retained from my previous existence.

“Holy one, do you actually let yourself be swayed by such malicious gossip?”

“Are you truly directing such insolent words to me, fully aware of my identity?”

It was Golden Buddha Hye-seong—the younger martial brother of the presiding Abbot and the commanding leader of the Vajra Unit. He wielded massive authority within the Murim Alliance and stood as one of the primary architects behind the Righteous Path Association.

“If I failed to recognize the Great Master Hye-seong, could I truly call myself a member of the martial world?”

“You possess eyes that are every bit as sharp as your wicked tongue.”

“I appreciate the compliment.”

“Be that as it may, you have deliberately avoided my question. The rumor mill states you share deep ties with the Black Path Murim. Is there truth to this?”

“The Taeul Sect has stood firmly among the One Hundred Eight Peaks as an unbreakable ally of the Murim Alliance for the past five centuries.”

“Which is precisely what makes the situation so highly suspect. If an organization wished to plant a deep-cover agent, what better place to do so than within the Taeul Sect? Furthermore, word has it that the Taeul Sect’s martial techniques have experienced an unnaturally explosive advancement of late.”

Hye-seong delivered this accusation while maintaining a serene, faint smile. The combination of the Immovable Mind he had honed over decades of meditation and the political cunning he had masterfully acquired within the halls of the Murim Alliance allowed him to display a level of calculated manipulation that easily put seasoned politicians to shame.

‘Yet, he still doesn’t hold a candle to the degenerates of the Sojeong Squad.’

Those particular bastards were far more akin to ruthless underworld thugs than honorable martial artists. I hadn’t survived being dragged through the mud by them for years just to be intimidated by this.

I adopted a thoroughly cold expression and fired back.

“Are you deliberately throwing insults at Elder Sword-Breaker right now?”

“……What?”

“Elder Sword-Breaker personally verified and recognized those forms as the authentic martial arts of the Taeul Sword Emperor… Yet here you are, branding them as the arts of some underhanded Black Path faction… I highly doubt the Murong Clan will take such an accusation sitting down.”

“…….”

The composed smile on Hye-seong’s face fractured slightly.

“I ought to draft and dispatch a carrier pigeon message immediately. I am quite eager to see if Elder Sword-Breaker will simply look the other way after hearing this.”

“……You speak as though Shaolin walks in fear of the Murong Clan.”

“Why would the great Shaolin under heaven ever do that? Even so, Great Master Hye-seong, you yourself undoubtedly find Elder Sword-Breaker to be a rather terrifying individual. Is that not the case?”

The moment those words left my mouth, several muffled snickers broke out among my companions. Try as they might, they simply could not suppress their amusement.

Hye-seong forced his expression back into a cold mask and demanded, “You are an incredibly insolent brat.”

“I thank you for the high praise.”

Hye-seong, who had barely managed to regain his composure, saw his face instantly contort with renewed rage.

“Fine then. Did your group come down to these docks to secure passage on a ship?”

“I gave my companions my word that I would provide them with an unparalleled vacation.”

“If that is your goal, why not step aboard our vessel as I suggested a moment ago? The ship commissioned by the Righteous Path Association has an abundance of available seating.”

Hye-seong gestured toward the massive vessel moored by the pier. The Righteous Path Association had gone so far as to charter a grand, double-decker passenger ship.

“As one would expect, the sheer influence of the Righteous Path Association is truly something to behold. While I am grateful for the gesture, I must politely decline. We have already secured our own transport.”

“Surely whatever vessel you managed to find cannot compare to the comfort of this ship. Or were you planning to squeeze into a tiny river ferry?”

“It is hardly a minor ferry. Ah, look there, it arrives right on cue.”

I extended my finger toward the colossal pleasure vessel that was currently gliding toward the pier. It boasted a massive structure that rose no less than four stories high.

“The charter fee was so astronomical that letting it sit empty would be an absolute crime. If you would like, perhaps the members of the Righteous Path Association would care to climb aboard and join us instead?”

Hye-seong’s face twisted in an expression of pure, unadulterated disgust, as if he had just bitten into something foul. The sight was deeply gratifying.

—

Once we successfully boarded our massive pleasure vessel, my companions remained entirely swept up in their bounding excitement for a long time. After all, out on the dark waters of Dongting Lake, this ship blazed with a radiance that eclipsed every other vessel in sight—and we were the exclusive guests who had free rein over the entire place.

“Young Master Jin, are you truly at peace with how things unfolded?”

Seong Mo-ran, who had spent the last hour marveling at the gorgeous night scenery stretching across Dongting Lake, spoke up as a sudden thought crossed her mind.

“To what exactly are you referring?”

“In the grand scheme of things, Diancang escaped any real retribution. Furthermore, the members of the Righteous Path Association are still parading around in broad daylight without a care in the world.”

“Ah… you’re talking about that. Rest assured, I am completely fine with it.”

“Pardon?”

“Every individual who actually matters is fully aware of the reality behind this entire ordeal. They know precisely what Diancang orchestrated behind closed doors.”

“That may be true, but…”

“And by that same token, they are also fully aware that the Yuwol Sect was merely used as a convenient scapegoat to take the fall. Moving forward, every minor sect operating under Diancang’s banner will find themselves trapped in a tense game of political calculation. They will constantly be weighing whether it is wiser to maintain their allegiance to Diancang or cut ties entirely.”

“Even so, the sheer prestige of Diancang’s name carries an immense amount of historical weight…”

“Of course it does. At this very moment, turning a blind eye and remaining under their wing yields far more immediate profit than jumping ship. However, the moment a second or third scandal of this nature breaks out, they will find it utterly impossible to justify their continued association.”

“Do you truly believe a similar incident will manifest down the line?”

“What reason is there to think it wouldn’t?”

I shifted my gaze out toward the myriad of tiny vessels scattered like fallen stars across the expanse of Dongting Lake before continuing.

“A massive, deeply rooted entity like Diancang does not simply crumble into dust because of the moral corruption of a handful of individuals. Diancang itself has evolved over centuries into a monolithic, living mechanism.”

“If that is the case, what is your plan?”

“The strategy is quite straightforward. We shatter it piece by piece, fragment by fragment, taking our time to thoroughly enjoy the process.”

“You mean to destroy Diancang?”

I turned my head to lock eyes with Seong Mo-ran.

“Diancang, and whoever else stands alongside them.”

“……I must admit, Young Master Jin, you remain an absolute enigma to me,” Seong Mo-ran said, giving her head a slow shake. “On another note, the sheer volume of riches amassed by the Yuwol Sect over the years must have been astronomical. Knowing that Diancang simply swept in and confiscated every single bit of it leaves a rather bitter taste in my mouth. By all rights, that wealth belonged to the victims.”

Seizing the natural lull in the conversation as our topic wound down, Namgung Seon-hwa smoothly stepped into the space between us. Her posture carried a distinct edge of nervousness, making her look as though she had wandered into a place she didn’t belong.

“Young Master Jin. Is all of… this… truly acceptable?” Namgung Seon-hwa asked, gesturing toward the deck beneath our feet. “It appears there isn’t a single soul on this entire vessel besides our group.”

“Did I not mention it before? If we are going to indulge in a vacation, we might as well do so on a truly magnificent scale.”

“Even so… this is taking things to an absolute extreme. Operating a vessel of this staggering size for just a handful of people is simply unheard of.”

It seemed that even the great Namgung Seon-hwa, despite her background, had never witnessed money being thrown around with such reckless abandon. It was true that I had gone ahead and chartered the single largest pleasure ship available on Dongting Lake. However, contrary to her observation, we were far from the only individuals on board.

“My, what a deeply hurtful thing to say. Have you managed to completely forget about my presence already?”

Hae-ryeong materialized from the shadows just as those words left her lips.

The moment they heard the announcement that there was absolutely no restriction on food orders, the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers—who had been maniacally ordering and stuffing their faces with endless delicacies—froze mid-bite and stared directly at Hae-ryeong.

She was adorned in a magnificent, gleaming golden headpiece matched with flowing robes spun from the finest silk. Her appearance was far more perfectly suited to the opulent surroundings of this luxury ship than anyone else present.

“Lady Hae-ryeong……”

“The Pavilion Master of the Ten Thousand Guests Pavilion……”

“…….”

It wasn’t merely Seong Mo-ran and Namgung Seon-hwa who were struck speechless; even Sa-ryeon, who was laying eyes on Hae-ryeong for the very first time, could only stare at her in a stunned daze.

“Every single one of the preparations has been successfully finalized, Young Master Jin.”

“Just as I anticipated, your efficiency is truly remarkable.”

“In that case, shall we proceed to enjoy the festivities once we have concluded our final piece of business?”

“Let us do precisely that.”

Our companions tilted their heads in unison, completely unable to decipher the cryptic exchange passing between Hae-ryeong and myself.

I turned my focus back onto Seong Mo-ran, offering a slight smile.

“A moment ago, you mentioned how deeply regrettable it was that Diancang managed to completely absorb the entire treasury of the Yuwol Sect, correct?”

“Huh? Ah, yes…….”

“If you would care to follow us right now, I have a feeling that lingering regret will vanish entirely.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Seong Mo-ran and Namgung Seon-hwa traded a deeply bewildered glance.

Without further explanation, our small group turned and made our way down into the lower decks of the massive pleasure ship. Hae-ryeong took the lead, expertly guiding our steps through a sprawling labyrinth of cargo holds overflowing with an endless array of stacked crates and high-end merchandise. We followed closely behind her footsteps.

The moment we navigated past the final complex corridor and stepped through the threshold of one particular, hidden storage vault, the jaws of my companions dropped in absolute disbelief.

“……Why on earth is that person here?”