The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 153

Chapter 153
Chapter 153. The Black Flame Dragon amid Chaos (3)

Hong Sa-ryeon stepped away from the grand hall and exhaled a heavy, lingering breath.

The muscles in her face felt strained from the sheer amount of smiling she had forced during the gathering.

As Sa-ryeon considered how long it had been since she had expressed such merriment, she quickly understood that it was an entirely empty exercise.

Ever since she had taken up the immense duty known as the Taeul Sect, Sa-ryeon had constantly felt as though she were balancing on the razor-thin edge of a honed blade.

‘It was never a weight that someone lacking the proper capacity could manage from the start.’

Nevertheless, she had no alternative but to bear it, understanding perfectly well that the moment she set that responsibility down, everyone would plunge into misery.

“Ha…….”

All at once, her thoughts drifted to her Eldest Senior Brother, who had shown up late to the feast and ruthlessly thrashed Geum-pyo.

When she had intervened and demanded, “What is the meaning of this?” he had offered some baffling excuse about how “this is entirely to solidify the customs of the Taeul Sect.”

What a joke. Since when did the Taeul Sect possess any sacred customs?

Yet even as she smiled to herself at the thought, a wave of guilt toward her Eldest Senior Brother washed over her.

Because she was fully aware.

The reason her own back felt less burdened, the reason her own amusement could be so genuine, was because her Eldest Senior Brother had taken her heavy load upon himself.

“……I am truly pitiful.”

She couldn’t even contemplate assisting the person who had accepted her struggles, choosing instead to merely relish her own relief.

Viewed through her own eyes, she was deeply disappointing.

“Why are you standing out here all by yourself?”

Recognizing the familiar tone, she shifted her gaze and noticed a man clad in a dark fabric martial arts robe adorned with silver embroidery walking toward her.

Choosing not to reply, Sa-ryeon turned her face away once more.

“Is there a problem troubling your thoughts?”

“…….”

It was always this way with him.

Even while dragging the most exhausting load himself, even while executing the most agonizing tasks, he would observe those around him and inquire about their well-being.

“If something is bothering you, share it with me.”

“…….”

When the person spilling the most blood was none other than he himself…….

“It’s nothing. Nothing of the sort…….”

“You silly girl.”

His rough palm descended onto the crown of her head.

He carelessly tousled the hair she had spent so much effort arranging, completely disrupting its neatness.

She had reminded him countless times how much she despised having anyone mess with her hair.

Yet the thick calluses pressing against her scalp prevented her from uttering a single protest.

As if she were being stroked by a coarse twig, or rubbed with a textured boulder, that uneven, solid sensation felt incredibly reassuring and safe. Consequently, she neither batted his hand away nor shifted away from his palm.

“Junior Sister Ryeon, you spend all your time fretting over the other youngsters that you consistently neglect your own well-being.”

Who on earth did he think he was to lecture her on that?

“I will do my best to look after you, though as you know, this Eldest Senior Brother of yours isn’t the most dependable soul. So if you ever require assistance, ensure you inform me first, without fail.”

“…….”

Then who is looking after you, Eldest Senior Brother?

It was an inquiry that burned within her, yet the words refused to leave her throat.

Because she could foresee his response with absolute certainty.

“I am perpetually regretful that this brother of yours cannot provide greater reliability.”

And because that specific reply would completely shatter Sa-ryeon’s spirit.

“Sniff…… sniff…….”

Why was it that she invariably wept whenever things turned out like this?

Having reached an age where she ought to know better, she had never shed a single tear even before her own father, yet how many times had she broken down in front of her Eldest Senior Brother by now?

“H-huh? W-why are you weeping? Oh, oh no! Forgive me. You explicitly ordered me not to mess with your hair. I am terribly sorry. It slipped my mind.”

And why was it that her dense senior brother never grasped the actual reason behind her tears, time after time?

No matter how many years rolled by, she simply could not comprehend his cluelessness.

“There, there. See? It is back to how it was originally styled. Everything is perfectly fine now, right?”

As he uttered those words, he gave her hair another rough rub.

The more he attempted to correct it, the more tangled her locks became, and as the chaos grew, the intense feelings that had flooded Sa-ryeon slowly began to recede.

“……Cut it out.”

“Hold on a moment. It’s nearly…….”

“I said stop!”

“……Ah, my apologies.”

Her senior brother, who had bared his fangs without a hint of dread even before absolute masters, flinched at her outburst and retreated a pace.

“Phew…….”

“You aren’t furious with me, are you?”

“I am not furious.”

“Your tone definitely suggests otherwise, though?”

“Why, you!”

When she aimed a sudden fist at him, he threw up his arms and legs as though terrified, shielding his countenance.

Witnessing that absurd display, Sa-ryeon found herself giggling once more before she could stop herself.

“Pfft, honestly, what an absurd man.”

And once more, she laughed with absolute freedom like a youngster, casting aside every heavy thought.

“Do not fret overmuch. Everything will settle into place beautifully.”

临

What precisely was going to turn out well?

Sa-ryeon possessed no clear understanding of the path Jin So-un was charting.

“What sort of tomorrow are you striving for, Senior Brother?”

She required at least a glimpse of the destination he kept his sights on so she could align her own path with his.

“The tomorrow I desire…… Pillars of the horizon.”

Jin So-un directed his gaze across Dongting Lake, which was now blanketed in a dense shroud of evening, remaining silent for a time.

“To my eyes, the obscured Dongting Lake resembles the current state of our world.”

“…….”

“And my wish is for the Taeul Sect to be one of those brilliant beacons piercing the dark.”

Jin So-un spoke with an expression that seemed to trace through decades long buried in memory.

“That remains my solitary ambition.”

Jin So-un’s philosophy was difficult to pin down, hovering on the boundary of her comprehension.

Yet when Sa-ryeon observed the profound gravity settling into his gaze, she found it impossible to press him further.

She simply resolved that no matter what his ultimate dream was, she would expend every ounce of her strength to ensure he reached it.

Following the crisis involving the fraudulent Demonic Cult that had convulsed Yueyang, the various organizations and commercial houses allied with Diancang had fallen entirely silent.

Beginning with the Yuwol Sect, all entities tied to the Yuwol Sect were undergoing rigorous scrutiny by Diancang simultaneously, and those figures who had dominated Yueyang like apex predators for so long were now voluntarily lowering their gazes, terrified that some hidden transgression might be brought to light.

The Changseong Sect was caught in the exact same predicament.

In fact, the Changseong Sect found itself in an incredibly uncomfortable position due to the arrival of some uninvited callers.

“Did you not state with absolute certainty, mere days ago, that we must unite our strengths to safeguard Yueyang?!”

“The Naseong Martial Hall along with the Red Bamboo Gang have already crumbled under the onslaught of the Black Path.”

“They will certainly not halt their advance there. Not until the entirety of Yueyang rests in their clutches.”

These speakers were identified as the young disciples of neighboring Orthodox Path factions and their companions.

If their standing had truly been limited to that minor status, the leadership of the Changseong Sect would have barred them from crossing the threshold entirely.

‘I assumed some extraordinary figures had arrived simply because they held titles as Academy Students…….’

The Leader of the Changseong Sect directed a piercing glare toward the Protective Hall Master.

They were indeed Academy Students enrolled at the prestigious Murim Academy, but the vast majority possessed zero ties to either the Righteous Path Association or the elite Twelve Peak Citadels of the Orthodox Path Association.

Reflecting on the probability that they might ascend rapidly within the ranks of the Murim Alliance down the road, it was admittedly appropriate to hear them out.

On the other hand.

Reflecting on how their respective home factions were currently teetering on the brink of absolute ruin, their long-term prospects appeared incredibly bleak.

“We are already formulating proper responses to this crisis. For the time being, journey back to your strongholds and remain patient.”

“Our home is on the verge of being annihilated by the weapons of the Black Path at this exact moment. We beg for your assistance.”

He was well aware of the reality.

Owing to this catastrophe, a significant portion of Yueyang would inevitably fall under the dominion of the Black Path murim.

Nonetheless, with the current climate of extreme distrust directed at Diancang, they lacked any legitimate pretext to launch a counteroffensive.

Diancang had likely mapped out this long-term strategy from the very inception.

Once the cruelty of the Black Path reached an unbearable level and public outrage became deafening, they would step forward to reclaim control of Yueyang. To achieve that end, they were currently feigning total ignorance of the situation.

“Have I not informed you that we are organizing a response? Can you not see that disrupting our operations in this manner is only rendering the situation more unmanageable?”

Enforcing the eviction command issued by the Leader of the Changseong Sect, the Academy Students—including a visibly furious Jang Woo-jae whose neck veins were bulging—were cast out of the Changseong Sect premises as though they were common pests.

“Ah, what path is left for us now…….”

Jang Woo-jae, the rightful heir of the Yujang Sect based right within Yueyang, fell into utter despair regarding the fate of his lineage, which resembled a flame sputtering in a gale.

“Forgive me. For forcing all of you to witness such a pathetic display……”

The fellow Academy Students who had journeyed to the Yujang Sect during this academic recess at Jang Woo-jae’s request could only offer him looks of profound sorrow.

While Jang Woo-jae’s situation was dire, they too had gained entry to the Academy only by exhausting the core resources of their own struggling clans.

They lacked any practical means to rescue the Yujang Sect from the start.

“Rather than wallowing here, what if we sought assistance from a different quarter?”

“You witnessed the outcome yourself, did you not? Every single door we knocked on was slammed in our faces.”

“I received word that a faction of the Righteous Path Association is convening a council in Yueyang as we speak.”

“The Righteous Path Association?”

“Precisely. Word is that not only fellow Academy Students but also senior figures tied to the Alliance are present, so wouldn’t it be highly logical to appeal to them?”

“Where exactly are they meeting?!”

Clutching at straws with the frantic energy of a drowning man, Jang Woo-jae leaped up from the dirt.

“What thoughts were occupying your mind just now?”

Startled by the voice appearing from behind, Il-gak suddenly snapped out of his reverie.

“…… shreds of fog.”

A massive vessel, radiating the most brilliant light out in the center of Dongting Lake.

Il-gak, who had been tracking the figures of the man and woman positioned by the ship’s edge, pulled his gaze away.

“You have arrived, Monk.”

Ignoring Il-gak’s respectful greeting, Hye-seong stepped into the identical vantage point and stared out at the magnificent vessel.

Then he offered a slight nod of comprehension.

“You were ensnared by internal conflict.”

临

Hearing Hye-seong’s evaluation, Il-gak was overcome with a deep sense of mortification and found himself unable to voice a reply.

“That youth bested you in combat, from what I gather. Did the loss strike your spirit so brutally?”

Observing Il-gak’s strained features, Hye-seong gave his head a slow shake.

“Your spiritual discipline remains deficient.”

“……The defeat itself is not the source of my torment.”

“Then what prays upon your mind?”

“Because I am deeply invested in understanding the core nature of his being.”

“Hmph. Given that you mastered the Sinew-Transforming Classic and altered your physical form, I wagered you had achieved true realization……”

Prompted by Hye-seong’s disapproving click of the tongue, Il-gak, who had been retreating into his own thoughts, inquired in a muted tone.

“Monk. Is it an absolute certainty that I have achieved true realization?”

“Does the immense Diamond Power you displayed not serve as absolute proof of that?”

“Monk. Throughout my studies of the ancient texts, I have understood that Diamond Power, Taiji Power, and the revered Three Pure Ones Power can only be unlocked by souls who have endured profound discipline, unyielding forbearance, deep silent reflection, and tribulations that stretch to the very boundary of mortal endurance.”

“That is correct. They are specialized forces that are barred from ordinary martial artists from the outset.”

Il-gak once more directed his eyes toward the male figure among the pair standing upon the vessel and pressed further,

“The force he displayed was unmistakably the Jade Purity Heavenly Image Power. How could such a phenomenon take place?”

“…….”

Il-gak remained entirely paralyzed by the revelation of the Jade Purity Heavenly Image Power that Jin So-un had deployed during their trial of martial skill.

In truth, from that moment onward, he had been trapped in a labyrinth of spiritual doubt.

“His character is coarse, underhanded, untruthful, and highly deceptive. He exhibits zero hesitation in utilizing any treacherous path to secure his aims. How can a soul of that nature command the Jade Purity Heavenly Image Power? Is his core identity truly that of an unrighteous individual?”

“……Tsk, tsk. You have allowed yourself to be misled by the mere external displays manifesting before you.”

Hye-seong shook his head with deliberate slowness.

“There are eras where a malevolent entity manifests before the world clothed in the guise of a holy figure, just as lethal venom is consistently concealed within sweet wine. Why do you permit yourself to be swayed by superficial displays meant to deceive the senses?”

临

Il-gak found himself entirely adrift.

The occurrences he had witnessed, the distinct facets Jin So-un had displayed up to this hour—were they truly the actions of an individual operating under the guise of an unrighteous man, precisely as Hye-seong argued?

Then, viewing the matter from the opposite perspective, could his own past actions be genuinely categorized as the deeds of a holy figure?

“Cast aside your illusions. Tens of thousands of internal illusions serve only to feed spiritual torment. Do not lose sight of the fact that conquering this is the primary threshold of true development.”

The foundational law of the Buddhist path.

A core principle he had held sacred without a single moment of skepticism.

Il-gak forced his reluctant lips to form words.

“……I will embed that truth in my consciousness.”

Hye-seong offered a brief nod of approval, then added, “A communication has arrived from the Association Head.”

“……Are you referring to the Leader of the Righteous Path Association?”

He had gathered fragmented reports regarding the developments unfolding across Yueyang.

They ought to be fully occupied managing this crisis, which threatened to act as a catastrophic blow to Diancang, so what reason did he have to initiate contact?

“Indeed. He commands us to journey forth and probe the matter that transpired within Sichuan.”

“……Are you implying an assignment outside our usual domain?”

“Precisely.”

“……However, the remaining period before our mandated return to the Academy is exceedingly brief.”

Furthermore, he withheld the unspoken protest, ‘External missions undertaken by Academy Students during active terms require explicit authorization from the Academy Representative.’

Because he was fully aware that voicing such an objection would immediately provoke irritation from Hye-seong.

“That is the exact motive behind his command for our immediate departure. Before the Academy Representative can step in to halt it.”

“……临.”

The underlying agenda was glaringly obvious.

“It is a maneuver designed with a completely transparent goal.”

It was undoubtedly a strategy implemented with Jin So-un firmly at the center of their calculations.

“It is highly probable that this measure was taken with a direct focus on the ongoing situation in Yueyang.”

To systematically diminish Jin So-un’s influence and forcibly claim an advantage from him.

“Utilizing this path, we can establish a firm base of operations to plant our feet within Yueyang. Given the precarious state Diancang finds itself in currently, they will almost certainly relinquish their hold on Yueyang.”

“…….”

Finding no appropriate words to counter, Il-gak pressed his palms together in a solemn gesture of devotion.

“Amitabha.”

“Excellent, excellent. This is truly an outcome that could never have materialized without the profound benevolence of the Buddha.”

Hye-seong let out a triumphant burst of laughter.

As Il-gak watched the older monk, a sudden, chilling perception gripped him—for a fleeting second, Hye-seong’s countenance closely resembled that of a malevolent fiend, and he fought desperately to purge the unsettling illusion from his mind.

‘Amitabha.’