The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 164

Chapter 164
## Chapter 164. The Black Flame Dragon Who Calms the Chaos (9)

Blast it all, damn it, blast it to hell.

An endless torrent of profanity echoed within my mind.

I had literally put my life on the line to master the martial legacy of the Sword Demon, expecting the fearsome Sword Evil to step forward. Instead, that absolute coward was shivering like a cornered mutt facing a predator, while the completely wrong target, Axe Evil, had ended up losing his head to me.

To be fair, it wasn’t that I regretted decapitating Axe Evil.

The man was an unhinged lunatic who treated slaughter and arson as casual pastimes.

Putting an end to him was a net positive, a convenient way to stack up some righteous karma in the Jianghu while dealing with the situation at hand.

However.

‘If I had known that Axe Evil would be the one stepping into the arena, I never would have attempted that suicidal stunt to acquire the Sword Demon’s techniques.’

I had somehow managed to grasp the fundamental form of the Three Forms of the White Moon Governing Heaven, but the toll on my physical form was severe—leaving me feeling as rigid and unresponsive as a wooden mannequin.

It wasn’t a case of ruptured meridians or a shattered dantian.

In truth, after achieving that sudden epiphany during my mental clash with the Sword Demon, my internal makeup had shifted yet again. The internal energy coursing through my pathways was flowing as smoothly and powerfully as the mighty torrents of the Yangtze River.

My current external decrepitude was entirely the fault of overtaxing my physical frame through that absurdly accelerated training session.

Reflecting on it now, my previous anxieties about the unorthodox factions refusing to honor the terms of our duel seemed utterly laughable.

Honestly, at this point, I almost preferred if the entire lot of them rushed me at once.

If I hadn’t been pushed to the brink of fury by the vile actions of those bastards, I never would have resorted to such extreme measures.

“Sword Evil. Are you just going to stand there? Do you harbor no desire to avenge your comrade?”

When I directed my voice toward Sword Evil, the villain flinched violently, letting out a sharp, pathetic gasp like a startled toddler.

A grown man making such a pathetic sound… it was almost painful to witness.

“Snake Evil! W-we have to retreat. We need to get out of here right now!”

Without waiting for a response, Sword Evil began frantically hauling Snake Evil—whose leg was heavily wrapped in linen—backward in a desperate bid to escape.

Snake Evil couldn’t even summon the strength to pull away from his companion’s grip; he simply stared at me with a completely hollow expression.

“……Mukhyul Gang, is there anyone else among you who objects to the outcome of this contest? If so, step into the ring.”

“…….”

The rank-and-file members of the Mukhyul Gang merely traded anxious glances, nudging one another and muttering, “You go up,” “No way, you do it.”

I shifted my gaze toward the remaining figures of the Eight Evils, who were clustered near the leader of the Black Axe Palace.

“Will none of you step forward to claim retribution for Axe Evil?”

“…….”

They exchanged uneasy looks, but not a single soul took a step forward.

Finally, Spear Evil broke the silence.

“……That technique you just displayed…… was it truly the martial art of the Sword Demon?”

“You witnessed it with your own eyes, so why waste breath asking?”

“……Are you claiming it is the genuine article?”

Spear Evil’s expression hardened into a grim mask.

A wave of restless murmuring broke out among the various unorthodox martial artists gathered within the courtyard of the Yujang Sect.

“……Does this mean you have been taken in as the Sword Demon’s personal disciple?”

“My allegiance lies with the Taeul Sect.”

“Then by what means do you possess that technique? Are you implying he taught it to you directly?”

The Sword Demon had explicitly threatened to shatter every bone in my legs if I went around boasting about inheriting even a fraction of his style.

My memory was flawlessly precise, and I made it a strict rule never to ignore warnings issued by monsters of his caliber.

“No.”

“Then how……?”

“I pilfered it.”

“What?”

Spear Evil’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

The collective whispering among the unorthodox crowd intensified into a loud chatter.

Since the Sword Demon himself had instructed me to frame it in exactly this manner, it wasn’t technically a falsehood.

Yes, that was the story, and I was sticking to it.

“He claims he stole a technique directly from the Sword Demon.”

“Bloody hell, is that even remotely possible?”

“Perhaps it is…… rumor has it he is the shared successor of the Unorthodox Path Alliance.”

“Ah! Truly fitting for the Rising Star of the Unorthodox Path!”

Setting aside that ridiculous “Rising Star” moniker, what kind of nonsense was this about being a shared successor to the alliance?

“If your curiosity is satisfied, quit stalling and step up!”

I wanted nothing more than to wash away this foul mood as quickly as possible.

I needed some sort of validation for the agonizing ordeal I had just subjected myself to!

Ah, observing this sudden craving for violence within myself, it was clear that the Sword Demon’s martial arts possessed an inherently corrupting influence.

There was no logical reason for a practitioner raised on Daoist principles to suddenly harbor such an intense urge to pulverize someone.

“……Our services were retained by the Black Axe Palace. To begin with, Axe Evil acted entirely on his own volition by interfering in the affairs of the Mukhyul Gang.”

Having stated his piece, Spear Evil took a deliberate step back and folded his arms across his chest.

The Lord of the Black Axe Palace glared at Spear Evil with a look of absolute betrayal.

Unmoved, Spear Evil returned a cold stare that plainly conveyed, *What do you expect me to do about it?*

“So, is there truly no one left willing to fight?”

“…….”

I addressed the gathered masses of the unorthodox factions.

Leaning heavily on the Black Dragon Sword as though it were a walking staff, I shuffled a couple of paces forward and raised my voice once more.

“I am asking if there is a single person among you brave enough to step forward.”

*Rustle—*

In perfect unison, the crowd of unorthodox martial artists took two swift steps backward.

When I advanced another three paces.

*Rustle—*

The entire crowd immediately retreated another five steps.

“…….”

Seriously, what am I to them, some sort of walking pestilence?

And just like that, the grand “Decisive Martial Duel” came to an abrupt end.

Right then and there, the authorized representative of the Mukhyul Gang drafted a formal written oath, pledging to cover all structural damages inflicted upon the Yujang Sect and provide financial restitution to the families of the deceased, before promptly making their exit.

The Yujang Sect estate, which had been bursting at the seams with hostile forces just hours prior, was completely deserted by nightfall.

In the wake of the retreating crowd, only the shattered remnants of pavilions, collapsed walls, and a ruined main gate remained, deepening the overall sense of melancholy.

“Eldest Senior Brother, what in heaven’s name occurred out there?”

Eun-ho stared at me, his face a mask of utter bewilderment.

I replied between long, desperate gulps of water.

“Once a cultivator ascends to the realm of the Jade Stamen Golden Flower, the Upper Dantian unlocks, allowing one’s mental constructs to manifest as a tangible reality. In essence, Mind-Image Training becomes indistinguishable from actual physical practice.”

“And?”

“The passage of time within a mental construct is vastly accelerated compared to the physical world, is it not? It stands as the absolute most efficient path to gaining immense power in a tight frame. I shall instruct you in it at a later date.”

“……No thank you. I am perfectly content to accumulate my failures naturally, day by day, within the normal flow of time.”

Eun-ho visibly recoiled, looking as though he had just been exposed to a horrifying abomination.

To be fair, it wasn’t a technique I would lightly recommend to just anyone.

It was only feasible for someone like me who possessed an absolute memory. If an ordinary martial artist were to lose themselves in such vivid illusions during Mind-Image Training, it would inevitably trigger a catastrophic Qi Deviation.

Just reflecting on the experience brought back a surge of irritation.

What exactly had I pushed myself to the brink of death for?

I was well aware from the start that the fundamental nature of unorthodox scoundrels was to bully the weak while cowering before the strong, but this display of cowardice was pathetic even by their standards.

Still trembling slightly, Eun-ho scanned our desolate surroundings before speaking up.

“What is to become of the Yujang Sect now?”

Though they had secured a total triumph over the Mukhyul Gang and preserved their legacy, the atmosphere within the compound was entirely devoid of celebration.

The medical expert summoned from the Tang Clan was currently assessing Jang Sa-gyeong’s injuries, but the verdict was grim: the shattering of his Innate Energy had caused irreparable damage.

Had it been any lesser physician than one from the Tang Clan, Jang Sa-gyeong would have expired the very moment the duel concluded. It was a miracle of medicine that he was being kept stable even now.

As a result, all remaining members of the Yujang Sect had congregated in the main pavilion to share their final moments with their dying leader.

I glanced over at the weeping disciples before tossing the question back to Eun-ho.

“What do you foresee happening to them?”

“…….”

Eun-ho lapsed into a lengthy silence before offering his thoughts.

“I cannot say for certain…… but won’t this ordeal ultimately forge them into something far stronger?”

In my previous existence, the Yujang Sect had been completely wiped off the map the moment the Great Righteous-Demonic War commenced.

Acting under the direct dictates of the Diancang Sect, every last member had been thrown into battle against the Demonic Cult without a shred of proper intelligence or preparation.

And when the dust settled, the Diancang Sect had completely washed their hands of the tragedy.

But in this current timeline, the Yujang Sect would forge a completely different path forward.

My thoughts drifted to Jang Sa-gyeong, the man who had single-handedly carved out a new destiny for his people.

“I share that sentiment.”

A short while later, the individuals who had offered their final respects to Jang Sa-gyeong began to trickle out of the grand chamber one after another.

Most were weeping openly, keeping their faces cast downward to conceal their grief, but they were entirely powerless to stop the tears from pooling on the floor.

Watching this solemn procession, Eun-ho pressed his lips into a tight, silent line.

I turned to him and noted softly.

“This is a tragedy that will not be unique to the Yujang Sect alone.”

“……I understand.”

There was no need to elaborate further; Eun-ho was sharp enough to grasp the broader implications of my words.

He was a remarkably perceptive youth.

“Young Hero Jin.”

The Hall Master of the Yujang Sect approached me, his eyes heavily bloodshot from weeping.

“Speak.”

“The Sect Leader requests your presence in his chambers.”

“……Very well.”

I pushed myself up from my seat with deliberate slowness.

Inside the private room, Jang Sa-gyeong’s martial brothers and his son, Jang Woo-jae, were seated in grim silence along the walls.

At the center of the room lay Jang Sa-gyeong, who greeted me with a frail, weary smile, entirely drained of vitality.

“Welcome, Young Hero Jin.”

As my internal cultivation had deepened over time, my sensory awareness had expanded to the point where I could effortlessly gauge another person’s life force without even trying.

Yet, as I focused on Jang Sa-gyeong, I sensed absolutely nothing.

It was a sign that the fundamental spark keeping him tethered to the living world had completely burned out.

Were it not for the tireless efforts of the Tang Clan physician, who was meticulously managing acupuncture needles, applying moxibustion, and continuously channeling revitalizing qi into his frame, the old master wouldn’t even possess the strength to sit upright, let alone speak.

“From what my disciples tell me…… you had already arranged for a Tang Clan physician to arrive two days prior to this event. Tell me, how could you have foreseen that I would resort to igniting my Innate True Qi?”

Two days ago, looking at Jang Sa-gyeong, I had caught a distinct glimpse of Hong Mun-gi from my past life.

He, too, had chosen to incinerate his own life force without a moment’s hesitation to shield his students when the end came.

Perhaps, in some way.

Perhaps I saw in this dying sect leader the very same Hong Mun-gi whom I had failed to protect in that previous lifetime.

“It was merely an intuition I had.”

Jang Sa-gyeong observed me closely for a moment before offering a gentle, faint smile.

“For one so young, you give the impression of someone who has already traversed an incredibly long and painful road, Young Hero.”

“……A more capable person would have found a cleaner resolution to this crisis. I apologize for my shortcomings.”

Jang Sa-gyeong offered a slow, dismissive shake of his head.

“Do not say that. I could not have dreamed of a better outcome. I shall carry this debt of gratitude with me beyond the grave. Furthermore, I have strictly charged my children, and the generations that follow them, never to let the memory of your kindness fade.”

At these words, which carried the heavy weight of a final testament, the gathered family members could no longer contain their grief, and soft weeping filled the room.

“You have my eternal gratitude, Young Hero Jin. I know not what great deeds I performed in a previous life to earn such fortune, but because of your intervention, I can depart from this world with a peaceful heart.”

“…….”

Jang Sa-gyeong shifted his gaze to his son, Jang Woo-jae, and commanded softly.

“Present the item.”

“Right away, Father.”

Jang Woo-jae retrieved an object hidden behind his seat and placed it respectfully before his sire.

With hands that trembled violently from exhaustion, Jang Sa-gyeong pushed a small wooden container toward me.

Resting inside the container was a pristine, azure crystalline gemstone.

“It is known as the Wind Spirit.”

“The Wind Spirit?”

This was an artifact that had never appeared in any of the countless ancient texts I had memorized throughout my life.

“It is a sacred heirloom passed down from our founding ancestor, the Flying Current Divine Sword. It grants its bearer complete immunity to extreme heat and cold, making it an invaluable asset for a martial artist like yourself, who must constantly navigate the perils of the wider world.”

A sacred relic of their lineage?

Stunned by the magnitude of the offering, I immediately shook my head in refusal.

“My actions were never motivated by a desire for material gain. I cannot possibly accept an heirloom of such immense value.”

A warm, genuine smile spread across Jang Sa-gyeong’s weathered face.

“Young Hero Jin, that is precisely the reason it must be given to you. What true champion of justice in this world would willingly gamble their own existence without expecting anything in return?”

“…….”

“Consider it a token of my humble hope that your righteous spirit will continue to illuminate the dark corners of this world, guiding others to the path of virtue.”

In truth, I had only acted out of a selfish desire to silence the ghosts of my own past…

“You are sitting there, telling yourself that your motives were far from noble…… am I correct?”

What?

Jang Sa-gyeong let out a soft chuckle, appearing immensely satisfied by my reaction.

“It seems that as one approaches the precipice of death, clarity comes, allowing one to perceive truths that were once hidden. Do not trouble your conscience, Young Hero Jin. Regardless of the intent behind your actions, the salvation you brought to my sect is a debt we can never truly repay. If I take my final breath with this token still in my possession, my soul will know no rest, bound to this earth by sheer remorse.”

The old master offered the grim jest with a light heart.

Left with no alternative, I lowered my gaze and brought my hands together in a formal gesture of profound respect.

“……I shall honor your wishes and accept this precious gift, Sect Leader.”

As I raised my eyes, Jang Sa-gyeong met my gaze with total serenity.

“Tell me truthfully. Did I acquit myself well in the end?”

In response to his final query, I gave a firm, solemn nod.

“Your conduct was magnificent beyond any measure.”

For a fleeting instant, we shared a silent understanding and smiled at one another.

The Tang Clan physician caught my eye and gave a subtle, negative tilt of his head.

The time had come to leave the family to their private farewells.

I quietly turned and stepped out into the open air.

“The moonlight is exceptionally piercing tonight.”

As I stood alone in the courtyard, staring blankly up at the luminous orb hanging above the Yujang Sect estate, the muffled sounds of heartbreak and mourning began to swell from within the main pavilion.

“On an evening such as this, a blanket of clouds would have been preferred.”

Before long, the collective lamentation of the disciples echoed through every corner of the Yujang Sect grounds.