The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 156

Chapter 156
Chapter 156. The Black Flame Dragon Who Calms the Chaos

“Finally… we are finished.”

Jin Tae-san spoke, his voice trembling with deep sentiment.

Dark rings stretched heavily down Wang Geum-san’s face from sheer exhaustion, yet his joyful countenance mirrored a man who had conquered the entire earth.

“At last, you truly deserve the title of a leader governing a legitimate trading enterprise.”

“And shouldn’t your title be elevated as well, Estate Master? No longer just one of the Four Great Merchant Guilds, but a titan among the Two Great Merchant Guilds.”

“Ha! Do you truly think so, Guild Master Jin?”

“Without a doubt, Lord Wang.”

“Bwahahaha!”

“Haha, wonderful!”

The recent past had been a grueling ordeal.

Jin Tae-san had spent countless sleepless nights working tirelessly to reshape the Azure Sky Merchant Guild, a burden unexpectedly thrust upon his shoulders, into the formidable Great Heaven Merchant Guild.

Meanwhile, Wang Geum-san had sacrificed his own rest to oversee a global network of outposts that had swelled to twice their original size following the abrupt commencement of commerce with the Western Regions.

On top of that, Wang So-so had devised a strategy to broaden their market share throughout Jiangxi by forming an alliance between the Great Heaven Merchant Guild and the various commercial syndicates operating under the Wang Estate.

The catalyst for this grand venture was centered around the iron ore deposit belonging to the Taeul Sect.

This particular site controlled by the Taeul Sect boasted the most massive reserves of iron in all of Anhui Province; utilizing this resource allowed the Wang Estate to control metal pricing across both Anhui Province and Jiangxi, effectively cementing their ironclad grip on the marketplace.

“From this moment on, my only plan is to slumber for seven straight days.”

“Is that all, Guild Master Jin? Personally, I do not plan on stepping past my front gates for the next two weeks.”

Pouring another round of drinks, Jin Tae-san pressed his palms together in a traditional sign of deep respect.

“Regardless of everything else, our business could never have established its foundations so rapidly without your invaluable assistance, Estate Master.”

“You flatter me too much. Had the Taeul Sect failed to provide the necessary raw iron, our growth and expansion would have stalled before it even began.”

Though Wang Geum-san offered modest words, Jin Tae-san was well aware of the immense generosity and favor the man had extended toward the Taeul Sect.

After all, what could a wealthy figure like Wang Geum-san possibly stand to gain by abandoning the comforts of the Wang Estate to labor at the Great Heaven Merchant Guild based in Hefei?

“I am deeply indebted to you, truly.”

“Haha, your kind words are reward enough. Besides, it brings me great peace of mind to feel that my past obligations have been settled.”

Two full years had slipped by, yet every single time Wang Geum-san indulged in wine, he would incessantly sing the praises of Jin So-un.

‘…That irritating brat.’

Even though the comments lauded his own child, Jin Tae-san couldn’t stop himself from gnashing his teeth in annoyance.

It was undeniably a positive outcome, but when all was said and done, the underlying source of this brutal workload was Jin So-un.

“With things settled, shouldn’t the Great Heaven Merchant Guild gradually begin to push its boundaries further outward?”

Just as he noted, the Great Heaven Merchant Guild had secured a rock-solid position, and with a massive influx of new orders, broadening their reach was becoming a critical necessity.

On the other hand, Jin Tae-san was already dealing with an extreme shortage of staff and hours in the day, leaving him with absolutely no desire to run himself ragged and destroy his health once more.

“Our clan’s headquarters remain isolated behind closed doors, so my plan is to approach any future growth at a highly measured pace.”

Wang Geum-san frowned and let out a disapproving click of his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk. Capitalizing on momentum is the absolute golden rule of commerce. If you choose to be this complacent, how long do you expect it to take before the Great Heaven Merchant Guild becomes the dominant mercantile power in Anhui Province?”

“….”

Jin Tae-san maintained a completely unexpressive stare, but Wang Geum-san pressed on regardless.

“Look at how the Gyeryong Merchant Guild ultimately dissolved. Your priority should be seizing that vacant market share immediately. Modern merchants simply lack any real drive or backbone. Back when I was coming up, things were entirely different.”

“…Wang So-so was eager to establish commercial pathways with the Murim Alliance, so what exactly possessed you to block her from doing so?”

“…Huh?”

“Wasn’t So-so highly interested because of the sheer volume and reliable flow of freight handled across the country by the Murim Alliance? What made you stand in her way?”

Wang Geum-san cleared his throat awkwardly.

“For a high-tier merchant of my standing, aligning too closely with either the factions of the White or the Black path complicates business immensely.”

“Which is precisely why we assured you that the Great Heaven Merchant Guild would provide the necessary backing. Furthermore, if the disciples of the Taeul Sect find placement within the Alliance….”

“Ahem! Enough of that. I absolutely refuse to accumulate any further obligations toward the Taeul Sect!”

Wang Geum-san dug his heels in firmly.

Yet, Jin Tae-san refused to let the matter drop.

“No one in the Taeul Sect views this as an outstanding debt! You have already provided us with an extraordinary amount of assistance!”

“I maintain that I will not take on another favor! Accepting unearned kindness from my savior goes entirely against my personal code of ethics!”

While the two men continued to bicker back and forth, each trying to shift the impending workload onto the other, a domestic worker stepped into the room.

“Leader of the Merchant Guild.”

Hearing the title, both gentlemen barked out a response simultaneously.

“What is it?”

“Speak.”

“….”

Sensing the thick tension in the air, the servant hesitated briefly before directing his gaze toward Jin Tae-san.

“An individual has arrived seeking an audience.”

“A visitor?”

“Correct. He requested that I inform you he arrived on behalf of Young Master Jin So-un.”

Once again, the two leaders spoke in unison.

“That absolute rascal So-un?”

“Someone came looking for our brilliant Jin So-un?”

“….”

As Wang Geum-san cleared his throat to break the awkwardness, Jin Tae-san gave instructions to permit the caller inside.

“Ahem, well then, Guild Master Jin, I shall take my leave so you can attend to business….”

“You are bursting with curiosity, aren’t you? Sit right there and join me.”

“Regardless, I am merely an outsider to your family affairs….”

“I still have matters to hash out with you anyway, so do not move!”

“Ahem… If you insist.”

Moments later, an elderly gentleman crossed the threshold.

“Am I addressing Merchant Guild Master Jin Tae-san?”

In a curious twist, the senior citizen accurately identified Jin Tae-san the very moment he set eyes on him.

“You are. But may I ask how you recognized me so easily?”

“The resemblance between you and that young fellow So-un is uncanny; it was impossible to mistake you for anyone else.”

The old man offered a warm, booming laugh before quickly catching himself.

“Ah, please pardon my lack of formality. We have only just met, yet I speak so casually. It is simply because that young man and I became quite close.”

Jin Tae-san gave a polite nod and gestured for the guest to take a seat. The moment the elder settled in, he pulled a banking document from the folds of his clothing.

“…What exactly am I looking at?”

“This represents the financial sum I gave my word to deliver to So-un.”

“A sum of money?”

“What?”

Jin Tae-san quickly spread open the document, revealing an inscribed value of exactly sixty gold taels.

“Our settlement has only recently begun to recover and stabilize, so our current earnings amount to just this much for the time being.”

“…?”

“…?”

Noticing the bewildered silence stretching across the room, the senior citizen offered further clarification.

“Is it possible he omitted mentioning this to you entirely?”

“Mentioning what, exactly?”

“I gave him my word that we would share a portion of the earnings generated by our Black Dragon County.”

“Black Dragon County?”

“If we are speaking of Black Dragon County….”

Jin Tae-san and Wang Geum-san traded startled glances at the exact same instant.

Not long ago, the Twin Curtain Stronghold, a group that had terrorized the territories surrounding Mount Tianmu, was completely wiped out, and the Twin Dragons Stronghold had risen to take its place.

This new Twin Dragons Stronghold behaved entirely differently; they demanded nothing more than a highly fair transit fee and went so far as to offer protective guards to merchants navigating the paths near Mount Tianmu. Consequently, the commercial caravans that had spent years taking massive detours to bypass Mount Tianmu were now returning to the mountain pass in steady waves.

Because of this dramatic shift, widespread accounts indicated that the neighboring communities were experiencing an economic boom driven by the merchants’ needs, giving rise to entirely fresh trading hubs.

One of those very settlements was Black Dragon County.

“I am certainly familiar with those reports, but….”

Jin Tae-san had actually been analyzing the regions surrounding Mount Tianmu as a potential vector to penetrate a fresh commercial territory, but he had hesitated because a massive outlaw faction like the Twin Dragons Stronghold operated directly on its borders.

Hearing out of nowhere that they were being handed a share of the profits from that exact locale left both Jin Tae-san and Wang Geum-san completely stunned and unable to wrap their heads around the situation.

“Is it truly the case… that So-un left you completely in the dark?”

“….”

“So-un explicitly agreed that the revenue streams generated from every single community—including Black Dragon County, Geum-pyo County, Eun-ho County, and Dong-ryong County—would be funneled back to support the Taeul Sect.”

“….”

“Ah, and that is precisely why we chose to name those specific settlements after those exceptional youngsters.”

Jin Tae-san and Wang Geum-san could only stare in absolute, open-mouthed disbelief.

They had previously shrugged it off as a mere twist of fate, never imagining for a second that it was a grand scheme directly tied to the Taeul Sect.

“Could you recount the precise details of what transpired?”

The elderly man proceeded to deliver a thorough account of the actions Jin So-un had taken throughout the duration of the Regular Exam. By the time the narrative concluded, Jin Tae-san was grinding his teeth together in absolute fury.

“That utterly reckless brat….”

Setting aside the sheer audacity of dragging his fellow disciples into an incredibly perilous situation, why on earth would he keep such a massive, monumental development a complete secret from them?

“Haha, it appears So-un didn’t take our commitment to split the revenue all that seriously.”

“…Please accept my deep apologies. I have clearly failed to raise my boy with proper discipline.”

As Jin Tae-san dipped his head in shame, the senior citizen gasped and frantically dismissed the apology with a wave of his hands.

“Good heavens, please do not lower your head! If it weren’t for the intervention of So-un, my own kin and the entire population of our settlement would not be enjoying the peaceful life we possess today.”

“….”

Jin Tae-san remained with his gaze cast downward, utterly mortified by the elderly man’s glowing praise of Jin So-un, while Wang Geum-san beamed with immense pride, looking for all the world as if his own son had accomplished the feat.

“Am I to understand, then, that you journeyed across such a massive distance solely to fulfill that commitment, sir?”

Hearing Wang Geum-san’s question, the old man quickly gestured in modesty.

“Oh, goodness, there is no need to address a simple rustic fellow like me with such formal titles. Please, call me Old Man Heo. I made the trip to honor our arrangement and extend my respects personally. However, I discovered the gates to the Taeul Sect were tightly sealed against visitors, which is what brought me to this establishment instead.”

“Haha! Old Man Heo, you are truly a gentleman of exceptional virtue. Tell me, do you have a fondness for fine spirits? Shall we share a drink together?”

With that, a lively drinking gathering commenced among the three gentlemen, with Village Chief Heo joining right in.

“Furthermore, seeing as you oversee a prominent commercial enterprise, I was hoping to seek your counsel on a matter. Would you have any interest in establishing a local branch within our settlement?”

“A local branch?”

“Indeed. Given how much our trade volume has swelled and the massive influx of travelers passing through, various outside entities are already attempting to purchase local plots and properties. But considering the Taeul Sect operates its own trading firm, wouldn’t it be far more ideal for your organization to take charge?”

The exact moment Jin Tae-san opened his mouth to decline, terrified of the massive wave of labor about to crush him, Wang Geum-san cut in with the speed of a lightning strike.

“Oh! That strikes me as a brilliant proposition. As a matter of fact, the Great Heaven Merchant Guild has been actively scouting for prime locations to deploy fresh capital.”

“…Wait, hold on a moment, Estate Master Wang, what do you think you are….”

Before Jin Tae-san could voice his rejection, Old Man Heo enthusiastically pressed forward.

“Oh! Is that a fact? It just so happens that we have preserved the absolute prime piece of real estate in our village for just such an occasion.”

“If we plant our flag there and systematically widen our trading radius, it will serve as an ideal launchpad. Hahahaha.”

“With the Taeul Sect taking direct charge, the local residents will sleep far easier at night.”

Before Jin Tae-san could find a single opening to derail the conversation, the entire deal had virtually been finalized, leaving Wang Geum-san to look over at him with a profoundly smug, victorious grin.

“….”

Jin Tae-san felt his mind spin at the grim prospect of being buried under a mountain of administrative duties once again.

Naturally, every ounce of that simmering frustration immediately directed itself toward the mastermind responsible for creating this mess.

*Grit.*

‘Jin So-un, you absolute terror of a child!’

—

“Yikes!”

The moment a sudden exclamation escaped my lips, Seong Mo-ran turned to look at me, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Is something wrong?”

“A sudden, intense tingling in my ear. I wonder if someone is bad-mouthing me somewhere.”

“Good grief, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Likely due to the deeply unsettling environment, which stood in stark contrast to the bustling piers and entertainment quarters, both Seong Mo-ran and Namgung Seon-hwa placed their hands over their hearts to calm their frayed nerves.

“Follow me, this way.”

With Jang Woo-jae acting as our guide, our small party stepped onto the grounds of the Yujang Sect.

“…!”

Beholding the scene that materialized before me, I exerted every ounce of my willpower to suppress the torrent of profanities threatening to spill from my mouth.

‘Unbelievable.’

The landscape laid out in front of my eyes triggered a violent rush of recollections, dragging the agonizing history of the Taeul Sect from my previous incarnation into sharp, terrifying focus.

Observing my grim countenance, Jang Woo-jae quickly offered an explanation in a tone that sounded almost defensive.

“These youngsters were brought up from infancy right here within the walls of the Yujang Sect. We made every effort to temporarily relocate them to various orphanages and sanctuaries, but not a single institution was willing to take them in under the circumstances….”

Children who clearly had not even hit their growth spurts were gripping unsheathed steel weapons that were far too heavy for their small frames, their faces locked in expressions of pure, terrified anxiety.

Just as I prepared to respond to Jang Woo-jae’s words, an overwhelming wave of memory crashed through my mind, cutting off my train of thought entirely.

*—The young ones of the Taeul Sect trembled violently as they grasped the sharpened blades handed to them for the very first time.*

“The Mukhyul Gang is notorious for their unyielding brutality and relentless tactics, so every one of us has reconciled ourselves to facing the ultimate end.”

The adult martial artists of the Yujang Sect were busily tearing strips of linen, using them to bind their weapons securely to their palms.

*—The seniors of the Taeul Sect each clutched a devastating Blood-Explosion Pill in their hands, bracing themselves for the final stand.*

“Once the initial clash occurs, we will be fortunate to hold out for even a single day.”

Massive iron fire pits blazed furiously across every corner of the Yujang Sect property, and sharp shards of shattered earthenware had been embedded along the tops of the dirt perimeter walls.

*—The matrons of the Taeul Sect spent their time packing together simple rice portions, distributing them throughout the compound. Not a single soul among them consumed more than a solitary portion.*

The deep sediment resting beneath the surface of my consciousness began to churn violently, turning the reservoir of my past memories entirely opaque.

Simultaneously, agonizing, high-pitched shrieks seemed to echo directly inside my skull, threatening to burst my eardrums.

*—Aaaaaaargh!*

*—Please, spare me!*

*—Ugh…*

The horrific cries and dying moments of the Taeul Sect members massacred by the horrific Demonic Cult in my prior existence were flashing by with such intense clarity that a pounding ache throbbed behind my temples.

As I stood frozen in silence, Namgung Seon-hwa spoke up in a hushed, hesitant tone.

“…Is formal capitulation not an option for them?”

“We weighed that path heavily, but….”

“…?”

“The Sinjeong Sect along with the Hyeonsin Martial Hall, both of whom had officially raised the white flag, were systematically slaughtered to the last man.”

“Regardless of how deep they are in the underworld, that crosses all lines….”

“We are completely at a loss to explain the current reality ourselves. The situation has entirely devolved past any semblance of rational behavior.”

This was no longer a standard dispute over territory; it had escalated into an all-out theater of war.

“Even under these dire conditions, forcing young children onto the battlefield is unacceptable. What if we arrange to transfer the children to the safety of the Azure Sky Merchant Guild immediately?”

Jang Woo-jae stared back, completely unable to mask his profound astonishment.

“…Would you truly be willing to extend such a massive favor?”

“It has been my firm objective ever since Young Master Jin resolved to ally with your cause. Furthermore, the elite elite fighters of the Firmament Unit under the Azure Sky Merchant Guild will be arriving to reinforce your positions.”

“My deepest thanks. I am profoundly grateful.”

Jang Woo-jae bowed his upper body repeatedly in gratitude.

Shortly thereafter, we were escorted to the main training grounds of the Yujang Sect to convene with the Grand Leader and the council of Senior Elders.

Much like the rank-and-file combatants of the Yujang Sect, their features were heavily cast in shadows of profound dread.

“Father, I have returned to the compound.”

“Ah, tell me, how did the meeting go?”

“Regrettably, the leadership of the Righteous Path Association formally stated they are unable to provide us with any military assistance.”

“Sigh… To think they would abandon us….”

The Grand Leader of the Yujang Sect sank heavily back into his seat, looking thoroughly broken.

“…Forgive me, but who are these individuals accompanying you?”

“Ah, of course. Allow me to introduce Representative Jin So-un, our designated Academy Representative.”

“It is an honor to meet you. I am Jin So-un, representing the Taeul Sect.”

“The legendary Black Flame Dragon!”

“That is the young man everyone has been speaking of?”

Despite the fact that I had never once uttered that ridiculous moniker with my own lips, it appeared the title of Black Flame Dragon had permanently attached itself to my identity across the land.

My compliments to you, the eccentric Four Emperors Peak Lord.

“It is a privilege to make your acquaintance. Your reputation precedes you to such an extent that my ears are quite full of your exploits. I am deeply touched by your presence here.”

“Please, think nothing of it. This is a battleground where I belong as a matter of principle.”

“Your perspective is incredibly heartening to hear. For someone of your tender years to sprint to our aid is remarkable.”

The Grand Leader’s expression remained profoundly weighed down by anxiety.

Jang Woo-jae quickly stepped into the conversation to lift the mood.

“Father, I also bring Lady Seong Mo-ran from the Iron Sword Sect, alongside Lady Namgung Seon-hwa of the prestigious Namgung Clan. Furthermore, Lady Namgung Seon-hwa has committed to sending the formidable Firmament Unit to reinforce our ranks.”

Audible gasps of profound relief and amazement rippled through the assembled inner circle.

“The legendary Firmament Unit!”

“To receive such incredible benevolence….”

“Our martial family owes you an immense debt of gratitude, Lady Namgung.”

The overwhelming, emotional response from the Yujang Sect leadership left Namgung Seon-hwa feeling visibly self-conscious.

“I am fully committed to delivering as much aid as possible, but you must understand that one hundred combatants is the absolute ceiling of what I can provide. Given that the entirety of Yueyang is currently engulfed in this massive upheaval, extracting any more personnel is an impossibility.”

The Grand Leader shook his head dismissively.

“Do not minimize your contribution. That force alone places us under a mountain of obligation that we could never hope to fully return. Should the Yujang Sect manage to pull through this conflagration intact, I will carry the memory of the Namgung Clan’s salvation until my dying breath.”

Following the leader’s solemn declaration, a heavy, profound stillness settled over the gathering.

Jang Woo-jae acted efficiently, coordinating the immediate evacuation of the young ones over to the facilities of the Azure Sky Merchant Guild.

Once the chaotic flurry of movement settled down, our core group, along with Jang Woo-jae and the accompanying Academy Students, convened in a private circle.

“Young Master Jang, what is the exact operational strength of the Yujang Sect at this moment?”

“If we subtract the youth who just departed, our current fighting force stands at just under three hundred individuals.”

It was uncanny how even the metrics lined up almost perfectly with my past.

“That places the disparity at an exact ratio of five to one.”

The collective strength of the Mukhyul Gang exceeded fifteen hundred active blades.

Granted, that figure represented an uneven mix of high-tier Peak Warriors and bottom-tier skirmishers, but when confronted with a numerical imbalance of that scale, individual martial prowess begins to lose its meaning entirely.

‘When you look at the big picture, the Yujang Sect was never structured as an elite organization boasting an abundance of high-tier experts anyway.’

No matter what brilliant maneuvers or strategies one attempted to employ, it simply wasn’t an army they could realistically repel through conventional combat.

Furthermore, judging by the primitive strategy of embedding broken pottery along the brickwork, they clearly possessed no advanced defensive Mechanism Formation or tactical Mystic Gate Formation to even the odds.

“Representative.”

As I turned my gaze toward Jang Woo-jae, he spoke up, his expression clouding over with even greater distress.

“The reality is that the forces marshaled under the banner of the Mukhyul Gang have swelled significantly past that initial estimate.”

“….”

“Intelligence indicates they are dispatching urgent avian messages across the entirety of Hunan Province and deep into the neighboring territories, systematically recruiting rogue masters to their cause.”

If Jang Woo-jae’s intelligence was accurate, the syndicate lords governing the underworld of Yueyang were intentionally throwing down a gauntlet to gauge the resolve of the Murim Alliance by cold-bloodedly wiping out even the factions that had offered unconditional surrender.

And, having effectively confirmed that the leadership of the Murim Alliance had no intention of interfering, they planned to execute a total hostile takeover of all Yueyang under the cover of this chaos.

“…Navigating this is going to be an exceptionally steep uphill battle.”

“….”

He had evidently caught my quiet analysis.

Jang Woo-jae’s features grew increasingly pale.

I moved quickly to offer him some reassurance.

“Young Master Jang, there is no reason to descend into despair just yet. As it happens, I maintain a personal rapport with the local Yueyang Branch Chief. If we leverage his position to initiate a dialogue, we should be able to engineer a workable compromise.”

“Is that truly a possibility?”

If the Yueyang Branch Chief, a man carrying the political weight of the formidable Tang Clan, chose to intervene alongside the military backing of Namgung Seon-hwa, the opposing coalition would inevitably feel the squeeze of a severe tactical crisis.

Should that happen, the violence consuming Yueyang would at least grind to a temporary halt.

‘In the grand scheme of things, Yueyang is a territory destined to return under the sovereign administration of the Murim Alliance down the road. The lives these martial artists are throwing away right now are entirely pointless.’

I addressed the inner circle gathered around me.

“My plan is to make a direct transit to the Murim Alliance Yueyang Branch immediately.”

“At this very hour?”

The current crisis had reached a flashpoint where regular schedules and standard hours mattered little.

“The leadership of the Mukhyul Gang will undoubtedly look to strike with maximum velocity. Therefore, before they can mobilize their vanguard—”

*CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!*

An alarm bell began to toll with violent, frantic urgency throughout the entire Yujang Sect compound.

Jang Woo-jae along with every single combatant representing the Yujang Sect bolted upright from their positions in unison.

I directed a sharp look at Jang Woo-jae.

“What does that signal indicate?”

Jang Woo-jae locked his eyes onto the direction of the echoing alarms, his entire face draining of color until it looked like a sheet of parchment.

“…It is the primary alarm. The invading forces have broken through our perimeter.”

“They are already here?”

In that exact breath, an immense, terrifying chorus of voices tore through the night sky like a physical wave of thunder.

“””””CHARGINGGGGGGG!”””””

“Butcher them all! Leave absolutely no one breathing!”

“””””KILLLLLLLL!”””””

That deafening roar, saturated with pure, unadulterated bloodlust, began to close in on our position with terrifying speed.