The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 180

Chapter 180
## Chapter 180. The Black Flame Dragon Who Devours a Sea of Blood (10)

An intense ache pulled Daoist Master Myeonghyeon back to consciousness.

His skull throbbed with a heavy weight, reminiscent of the worst morning after an excessive night of drinking, and his limbs felt entirely devoid of energy.

He recalled sharing some alcohol with Great Master Hye-seong, but given that he had never once experienced intoxication since ascending to the Peak realm, this current state was utterly baffling.

Furthermore, the appearance of the students who had shaken him awake was equally bizarre.

These were disciples of Diancang, a sect that demanded its members always look pristine and orderly.

Yet now, unkempt facial hair covered their jaws, and deep, dark exhaustion shadowed their eyes.

“What in the world…… took place here?”

Daoist Master Myeonghyeon startled himself with his own voice.

A harsh, grating sound rasped from his throat, sounding like an ungreased hinge that had remained unused for days.

The student standing in front of him spoke with a hollow voice, as if his spirit had been drained.

“Sorcery…… It was a sorcerous ambush, Elder.”

“Sorcery?”

How could he make sense of such a claim out of nowhere, arriving like an unexpected thunderbolt on a clear night?

“The forces that struck our position three days ago…… were practitioners of dark sorcery.”

Hearing this, Daoist Master Myeonghyeon shook his head violently, refusing to accept the explanation.

“Absurd drivel!!! Are you unaware that Diancang does not succumb to petty tricks like sorcery!!!”

“…….”

The disciples—who had been unable to even invoke the Demon-Subduing True Mantra during the clash with the crimson-robed attackers and had spent their time merely cleaning up the aftermath—exchanged looks of quiet resentment.

Did dark arts truly just bypass anyone associated with Diancang?

If that were the case, why were they currently recovering from an assault?

Regardless of the doubts swirling among his subordinates, Myeonghyeon forced himself to stand.

“Some arrogant scoundrels from the Black Path must have dared to perpetrate this foolishness, completely ignoring the authority of the Murim Alliance.”

Driven to his feet by sheer indignation, Myeonghyeon suddenly reeled as a wave of vertigo caused his surroundings to spin.

“You have been insensate for three days, Elder. Please, rise with caution.”

Lee Gi-pung, a disciple of Diancang, attempted to steady the old man, but Myeonghyeon aggressively brushed the young man’s hand away and strode out of the tent.

However, the reality that greeted him once he stepped into the open air was shocking.

“Wh-What is the meaning of this…… What happened here!”

A lifeless form lay sprawled upon the dirt.

The sectarian uniform draped over the corpse unquestionably belonged to the “Great Diancang Sect.”

Myeonghyeon’s gaze stretched wide in horror as he frantically scanned the encampment.

“Wh-What is this…….”

A grievously wounded cultivator lay nearby in a deep stupor.

The attire on this man made it painfully clear that he belonged to one of the lay-affiliated martial sects of the “Great Diancang Sect.”

A sharp, piercing sensation shot through his skull, causing Myeonghyeon to clamp his eyelids shut.

“The lingering residue of the sorcery appears to persist. According to Jin So……. No, according to the Academy Representative, to ensure no permanent damage from the corrupted qi remains, you must rest quietly and focus on steady Qi Circulation.”

Hearing Lee Gi-pung mention that name, Myeonghyeon reacted with sudden fury.

“Jin So-un? Why are you suddenly bringing up Jin So-un?”

This entire expedition had been organized partly to salvage Diancang’s reputation, which had been tarnished back in Yueyang, and partly to put a halt to Jin So-un’s rapidly growing renown.

Naturally, Jin So-un had no business being here, much less being spoken of with respect.

“…….”

As a heavy quiet fell over the camp, the Diancang disciples traded silent glances.

Ultimately, Lee Gi-pung summoned his resolve and spoke up.

“The Academy Representative traveled all this way specifically to rescue us. If it were not for his intervention and the help of his allies…….”

He took a tense breath but kept his eyes locked with Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s fierce glare.

“We would all be corpses right now.”

The surrounding disciples immediately gestured in agreement, backing Lee Gi-pung’s statement.

Daoist Master Myeonghyeon fixated his wrathful eyes on his juniors.

“Representative? Is that what you just called Jin So-un?”

His expression was one of absolute astonishment.

Myeonghyeon screamed at his thick-headed students.

“You mindless idiots! I put this whole operation together precisely because you couldn’t outshine a single disciple from the Taeul Sect! And here you are, needlessly defending that brat?!”

“…….”

“Jin So-un…… Is that bastard actually present at this moment?!”

Faced with Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s aggressive inquiry, Lee Gi-pung paused before giving a slow nod.

It was a development the elder had never anticipated.

“Ha…… A mere student who is supposed to be attending to his academic duties followed us all the way out here?”

Daoist Master Myeonghyeon turned his head sharply, ignoring the throbbing pain caused by the dark arts.

There was no chance Jin So-un had come without an ulterior motive.

This had to be some sort of plot!

“Yes! That explains it! This entire disaster must be a plot orchestrated by that bastard!!”

As if he had uncovered a massive revelation, Myeonghyeon roared with rage.

“…….”

Under normal circumstances, the disciples would have listened intently, trying to memorize every piece of wisdom from Myeonghyeon’s mouth, but their current expressions remained thoroughly detached.

Unbothered by their lack of enthusiasm, Myeonghyeon pressed on.

“That brat is undoubtedly working hand in hand with the Black Path. He must have arranged this trap with the Black Path beforehand! Jin So-un! Where is that arrogant wretch hiding?”

Not a single member of the Diancang contingent offered an answer.

“You just said the bastard was here! Tell me where he is!”

Buckling under Myeonghyeon’s relentless demands, a cultivator from a lay-affiliated sect reluctantly gestured toward a path.

“I—I was told he departed just moments ago to scout the positions of the enemy.”

“Lead the way! I shall personally discipline that scoundrel!”

规“…….”

“I ordered you to show me the way immediately!”

Once again, only a profound quiet answered him.

When none of the Diancang disciples volunteered to move, Lee Gi-pung eventually stepped up to support the furious Daoist Master Myeonghyeon.

The confrontation that followed was exactly what the Diancang disciples had foreseen.

“You have the audacity to plot against Diancang? What are you all waiting for?! Restrain that criminal this instant and bring him to his knees before me!”

Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s icy directive echoed through the air, yet no one stirred.

“How dare a mere Academy student conspire with the Black Path and launch an assault against the Elder Council? Even executing you would be too lenient for such treason!”

Daoist Master Myeonghyeon bellowed until his complexion turned crimson, but Jin So-un showed no sign of offering any justification.

Instead, he casually rested his palm against the hilt of the Black Dragon Sword.

“I foolishly assumed that regardless of how corrupt you were, you would at least possess enough sense to differentiate between right and wrong.”

With deliberate slowness, he slid the Black Dragon Sword from its sheath.

Jin So-un’s features were etched with profound disdain.

In his past life, it was precisely because of individuals of this caliber that incidents which should have cost a mere ten lives inflated into catastrophes claiming a hundred.

“They possessed superior education and held higher stations than us……. Consequently, we trusted them implicitly, believing they were operating under some magnificent master plan.”

It was only after tens of thousands of guiltless souls had been discarded that the truth became clear.

Only after witnessing them retreat toward Bukhae, leaving the blood of the innocent spilled across the earth, did he comprehend it too late.

The grand designs they spoke of were nothing more than empty rhetoric designed to protect their own political power.

Because Jin So-un had stood at the absolute front lines alongside those sacrificed souls, he understood the bitter sting of that betrayal better than anyone else.

“To ignore the catastrophe unfolding right in front of you for the sake of your petty political survival makes someone like you an enemy to the Murim Alliance—one far more toxic than the Unorthodox Path or the Demonic Path.”

The moment Jin So-un aimed the tip of the Black Dragon Sword directly at Myeonghyeon, the elder erupted in volcanic anger.

“You impudent brat! Not only did you dare to scheme against Diancang, but now you openly defy the Elder Council of the Murim Alliance itself!”

In stark contrast to Myeonghyeon’s screeching, Jin So-un’s voice remained perfectly level.

“What exactly did I scheme?”

“Do you take me for a fool? You obviously colluded with the Black Path to disrupt our Righteous Path Association operation!”

“If you people hadn’t dragged Murong Jae-hwa and Eun Seol-ran into this mess, I would have gladly sat back and watched you all perish.”

“……Wh—What!”

In Jin So-un’s previous life, Daoist Master Myeonghyeon had achieved the realm of Transcendent Peak.

Even if he had failed to attain the stage of the Red Serpent Piercing the Pass, he had certainly reached the level of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

With his Essence, Qi, and Spirit unified and his Heavenly Palace securely guarded, even a surprise entrapment within an Illusion Formation should not have shattered his sanity.

This meant that despite whatever lingering effects of the evil qi the current Daoist Master Myeonghyeon was enduring, he was fully conscious and aware while spouting this nonsense.

“I am not alone; Great Master Hye-seong is also present here. Do you comprehend the gravity of plotting against the Elder Council?”

“Keep barking like a dog.”

“This behavior is nothing short of high treason against the Murim Alliance.”

“Ha…… Haha.”

The tension was stretched to a breaking point.

Murong Jae-hwa and Eun Seol-ran, who had been assisting the wounded, quietly moved to flank Jin So-un.

Nam Hwa-seong wavered for a moment, debating whether to distance himself or step forward, but ultimately chose to stand firmly alongside Jin So-un.

“So, what do you intend to do?”

“I shall have you transported in chains to the Murim Alliance to face judgment for your transgressions! Do not assume your peers or your respective sects will escape unscathed either!”

The instant Daoist Master Myeonghyeon finished his threat, Jin So-un’s martial robes expanded violently as if filled by a sudden gale.

A wave of oppressive killing intent erupted outward, causing several cultivators who had barely managed to settle their internal energy to violently cough up blood once more.

Even Myeonghyeon’s complexion turned sickly pale, clearly struggling under the sheer weight of the murderous aura.

Jin So-un slowly looked up, his gaze freezing.

“Go ahead and try.”

“……Wh—What!”

“I told you to try it.”

规“…….”

Jin So-un’s eyes burned with absolute malice.

Unable to tolerate such blatant defiance, Daoist Master Myeonghyeon opened his mouth to scream again.

“Can’t manage it? Allow me to assist you.”

Jin So-un adjusted his grip on the Black Dragon Sword.

He took a heavy step toward Myeonghyeon.

And then.

*THUD.*

He delivered a brutal kick augmented by his internal arts.

“Ugh……!”

Myeonghyeon’s body, which had been leaning heavily on Lee Gi-pung, was sent tumbling pathetically across the ground.

Jin So-un stared down at the rolling figure with absolute detachment.

“If you truly believe I joined forces with the Black Path and am executing a treasonous plot to dismantle the Murim Alliance, then act like it!”

“Y—You dare!”

*THUD!*

Jin So-un’s heavy boot slammed directly into Myeonghyeon’s face.

“Gah!”

The skin across Myeonghyeon’s nose split wide, and a crimson stream poured down his face.

Yet, Jin So-un did not suppress his suffocating aura for a second.

“If I am indeed a traitor to the Murim Alliance and a menace to the entire world of martial arts, then show some resolve and kill me!”

“Y—You bastard! If only I weren’t suffering from these internal injuries……!”

“Internal injuries?”

A look of pure scorn crossed Jin So-un’s face.

He unleashed a succession of Finger Wind strikes, targeting Myeonghyeon’s critical acupoints.

*THUD THUD THUD. THUD THUD THUD THUD THWACK.*

The Finger Wind, propelled purely by dense internal arts without any refined technique, functioned exactly like heavy, physical blows.

Myeonghyeon felt as though a gang of massive brutes was physically pummeling him.

Jin So-un’s eyes flickered with a quiet intensity as he looked down at the pathetic elder.

“Is this the absolute limit of the determination possessed by a man who claims to protect the martial world?”

Back when the members of the Sojeong Squad fought with their meager internal arts, risking Mutual Destruction was a daily reality.

Disrupting their own Innate True Qi was taken for granted, and whenever Blood-Explosion Pills were available, they consumed them like candy without a second thought.

They did this fully aware of the horrific consequences that awaited an ordinary Third-Rate Warriors whose core foundations were shattered.

They did it because, given their lack of talent, that desperate sacrifice was the only tool they possessed to safeguard the future of the martial world.

“Even a common Third-Rate Warriors earning a pitiful pittance can summon that kind of resolve, yet an esteemed elder of the Murim Alliance lacks the courage for Mutual Destruction out of fear that his precious Innate True Qi might unravel? Frankly, I find no justification for allowing you to breathe.”

*THUD!*

Another vicious kick from Jin So-un sent Myeonghyeon spinning across the dirt.

“Gah! Y—You monster!”

Realizing his life was in genuine jeopardy, Myeonghyeon desperately attempted to force his internal energy to circulate.

Watching this, a bitter, mocking smile touched Jin So-un’s lips.

“You didn’t show this resolve when the Unorthodox Path cornered you. You didn’t show it when your own students were on the verge of slaughter. In the end…….”

Jin So-un casually chambered a Fist Form.

“You only find the willpower for self-sacrifice when your own miserable skin is on the line?”

The strike, utilizing the principles of the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist, slammed directly into Myeonghyeon’s Lower Qi Center, Middle Qi Center, and his primary pathways, completely fracturing his internal circulation.

“Pfft—!”

Daoist Master Myeonghyeon collapsed into the dirt, coughing up torrents of blood, his internal foundation reduced to that of a helpless cripple.

Even so, Jin So-un showed no intention of granting quarter, closing the distance between them.

Terrified out of his mind, Myeonghyeon dragged himself backward through the dirt, shrieking at the gathered Diancang disciples.

“What are you fools just standing there for!”

“…….”

“Apprehend this traitor and execute him immediately!”

“…….”

Nothing but a heavy stillness answered his screams.

Not a single soul stirred at Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s frantic commands.

In a frenzy of rage, Myeonghyeon flailed his arms, screaming louder.

“What is wrong with you all! Do my orders to subdue this criminal strike you as some sort of amusement! Lee Gi-pung!”

The moment Myeonghyeon singled out Lee Gi-pung, every eye among the Diancang disciples and the lay-affiliated sects shifted toward the young cultivator.

“Lee Gi-pung! Lead the Diancang disciples and crush that bastard in a single strike!”

“…….”

Lee Gi-pung looked between Jin So-un and the ruined Myeonghyeon.

With a heavy sigh, he took a step forward.

“What about the rest of you! Advance at once!”

Lee Gi-pung walked slowly toward the two men.

He briefly met Jin So-un’s steady, unblinking gaze, before murmuring, “Kindly permit me to pass for a moment.”

He walked past the young master and approached the crippled elder.

And then.

“What do you think you are doing! Bring that bastard down immediately…… ack.”

Daoist Master Myeonghyeon, who had been aggressively pointing his finger, let out a strangled gasp as he found himself grabbing Lee Gi-pung’s robes in complete shock.

The person who had brutally interrupted Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s rant with a heavy strike was none other than the very disciple who had been supporting him.

“Y—You……”

*THUD.*

Myeonghyeon stared up at Lee Gi-pung with eyes full of betrayal before his vision went dark and he lost consciousness.

Staring down impassively at the unconscious Daoist Master Myeonghyeon, Lee Gi-pung scratched the back of his neck and remarked calmly,

“It appears…… Elder Myeonghyeon suffered from the dark sorcery for far too long, and his mind completely unraveled.”

“…….”

“…….”

Lee Gi-pung turned his gaze toward the surrounding cultivators.

It was a volatile situation; if anyone chose to object, he could easily be executed for the supreme crime of Betraying One’s Teacher and Destroying One’s Ancestors.

However, the remaining disciples nodded one after another, their expressions hardening with shared resolve.

“……Indeed, that must be the case. Honestly, my own mind is still completely muddled.”

“I am still experiencing vivid hallucinations myself.”

“Daoist Master Myeonghyeon has actually been showing signs of cognitive decline for quite some time now.”

As the core Diancang disciples fell into alignment one by one, the members of the lay-affiliated sects chose to remain entirely silent, not daring to challenge the narrative.

After passing the unconscious Daoist Master Myeonghyeon off to a nearby martial artist, Lee Gi-pung stepped forward.

He brought his hands together in a respectful martial salute.

“Representative Jin So-un, I formally offer our deepest apologies on behalf of Elder Myeonghyeon for his unpardonable words.”

Jin So-un studied Lee Gi-pung, finding the man’s pragmatism mildly amusing.

“You possess far less hesitation than Jong Byeok-gi. Are you truly prepared to face the consequences of what you just did?”

“……You actually remember me?”

“Naturally. You displayed a remarkably precise technique back at the docks.”

“…….”

A wave of intense shame washed over Lee Gi-pung.

During the Regular Exam, without a thought for his own success, he had tried everything in his power to interfere with Jin So-un purely out of spite.

Yet now, that very same adversary had preserved their lives and calmly endured their insults.

The weight of that reality made his past actions feel unbearable.

“The offense of Betraying One’s Teacher and Destroying One’s Ancestors is met with the most severe punishments a sect can devise. Wouldn’t it have been simpler to just let me beat you a little and call it a day?”

Lee Gi-pung raised his eyes to meet Jin So-un’s.

Seeing the young man act with such indifference despite knowing full well what had transpired in the past only deepened Lee Gi-pung’s self-reproach.

“I pursued the path of martial arts because I wished to understand honor and live without disgrace. If surviving requires me to live so shamefully, then I would much rather bear the stigma of Betraying One’s Teacher and Destroying One’s Ancestors.”

“It would be a pity if you ended up wasting away in Diancang’s Prison. I was actually curious to see how you would develop.”

Lee Gi-pung stared at Jin So-un for a long moment, his mind a whirlwind of emotions.

Just how vast was this man’s character that he could utter such profound words so casually?

Lee Gi-pung felt entirely humbled by a sense of majesty he had never encountered in his entire life, and his head bowed of its own accord.

*‘The political games we played against a man of this stature were nothing more than the pathetic squabbling of children. How incredibly embarrassing.’*

Lee Gi-pung bent low in a profound bow, keeping his hands firmly clasped.

“I express my deepest gratitude once more for standing like a shield to preserve the lives of us fools. I shall carve this benevolence into my very bones and ensure it is repaid before my time ends.”

Following Lee Gi-pung’s lead, the Diancang disciples began bowing their heads one by one.

“We offer our profound thanks to our savior. This debt of gratitude shall be carved into our bones and repaid without fail!”

“We offer our profound thanks to our savior. This debt of gratitude shall be carved into our bones and repaid without fail!”

As the entire Diancang contingent bowed, the disciples from their lay-affiliated groups followed suit, which quickly prompted the Shaolin disciples and their respective lay affiliates to join in.

Every single martial artist halted their tasks, lowered their gaze simultaneously, and offered a solemn martial greeting toward Jin So-un.

“We offer our profound thanks to our savior. This debt of gratitude shall be carved into our bones and repaid without fail!”

“We offer our profound thanks to our savior. This debt of gratitude shall be carved into our bones and repaid without fail!”

The earnest voices blended together, echoing across the landscape like a massive wave.

Murong Jae-hwa, who had been resting his fingers against the taut string of his iron bow, slowly lowered the weapon, staring at the spectacle in utter disbelief.

Nearby, Eun Seol-ran had averted her gaze, quietly brushing away a tear that had escaped.

“Tch…….”

With a conflicted expression, Jin So-un returned the Black Dragon Sword to its scabbard and spoke quietly.

“I hear you…… so cease this nonsense and let us expedite our departure.”

Turning on his heel, Jin So-un walked away rapidly, almost as if he were fleeing the scene.

Nam Hwa-seong hurried to catch up with his stride, a teasing smirk on his face. “Are you pleased? Does it feel wonderful to receive such high praise from people who despised you?”

“Be quiet! You are incredibly irritating!”

Despite his sharp words, a subtle grin played on Jin So-un’s lips.

After making sure Daoist Master Myeonghyeon was properly cared for, a nearly identical confrontation almost occurred with Great Master Hye-seong. Fortunately, Il-gak intervened ahead of time, sparing him from another awkward standoff with the Shaolin elder.

Once the group was organized, he sent them marching ahead while he chose to remain behind on the summit.

Nam Hwa-seong had initially claimed that he felt uncomfortable traveling with the main body and insisted on staying behind as well. However, after Jin So-un explicitly warned him that they might stumble into another Iron Corpse Puppet, his expression turned deadly serious. Muttering a hasty, “make sure you return swiftly,” he hurried off to join the retreating ranks.

“Um……. Senior Brother……?”

Murong Jae-hwa spoke up hesitantly.

“What is it? Why the long face?”

“Um…… Why exactly am I the only one who stayed behind with you……?”

He looked thoroughly terrified, realizing the entire group had departed, leaving just the two of them on the isolated peak.

Jin So-un reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair affectionately.

“You still haven’t mastered the Thunderbolt Arrow.”

“……Excuse me? Ah, r-right.”

“We have an abundance of excellent live targets scattered across this area, making it the perfect environment to perfect the technique before we leave. Don’t you agree?”

“B-But you just told Senior Nam Hwa-seong that an Iron Corpse Puppet might show up……”

*Tch, so the brat had been eavesdropping on that conversation.*

“It won’t show up. Most likely.”

“……Most likely?”

“In any case, cast your worries aside. Unlike Nam Hwa-seong, you are light enough that I can easily sling you over my shoulder and outrun any danger.”

“Pardon me?”

Jae-hwa’s pupils quivered with anxiety.

To soothe his nerves, Jin So-un patted his head with even greater vigor.

“Well, provided your garments don’t catch on something and shred, we shouldn’t have to deal with such an awkward catastrophe, correct?”

Murong Jae-hwa instinctively clutched at his own robes.

“What exactly do you mean by that…… Wait, more importantly, what are your actual intentions for remaining on this ridge?”

“The forces of the Victory Tiger Hall are currently marching directly toward this position. If we fail to intercept their vanguard, the casualties among the retreating groups will be catastrophic.”

Jae-hwa’s jaw dropped in sheer astonishment.

“So you are suggesting that just the two of us are going to halt an entire vanguard expedition……?”

“Precisely. Do you have an issue with that?”

“……Is that even humanly possible?”

“It is entirely possible, provided you successfully execute the Thunderbolt Arrow.”

“…….”

In any military engagement, the highest rate of casualties invariably occurs during a disorganized retreat.

Furthermore, the frontline factions, including the elites from Shaolin and Diancang, were still severely weakened by the lingering aftereffects of the dark arts.

If they were to face a sudden ambush in their current vulnerable state, it was glaringly obvious that the Righteous Path Association—and more importantly, Jin So-un’s personal allies—would be utterly decimated.

*‘Furthermore, there is no way I am letting the Red Radiance Sword…… no, the Blood Sea Jade slip through my fingers.’*

This was the perfect opportunity to achieve two goals simultaneously—the classic scenario of visiting a lover while conveniently gathering mulberries.

Gazing warmly at the utterly stupefied Jae-hwa, Jin So-un smiled.

“Shall we head out to gather some mulberries?”

“What? What does that expression even mean…….”

In situations like this, the best approach was to apply relentless pressure and completely overwhelm their senses.

It was the foundational rule of taming—or rather, training.

“Look over there! Right there! Do you perceive that crimson pavilion tent in the distance?”

“What? Do you mean that structure located roughly two thousand feet away?”

“Correct. To start things off, I want you to pierce it cleanly with a single Thunderbolt Arrow.”

“Um…… Senior Brother, even utilizing this specialized iron bow, my absolute maximum effective range tops out at fifteen hundred feet.”

“Don’t speak nonsense. I have personally witnessed this weapon striking marks at a distance of three thousand feet.”

And he wasn’t fabricating the claim.

In his previous life, the legendary master known as Breaking Bow could effortlessly eliminate targets at an average distance of three thousand feet, pushing the absolute limit to four thousand feet when required.

*‘He used to mention that if his internal arts ever reached absolute perfection, a distance of five thousand feet was theoretically achievable.’*

Granted, even the Breaking Bow of his past life had never fully realized that mythical realm before his death. However, in this current timeline, the prodigy had taken up the bow at a much younger age, meaning he might actually shatter those limits before the onset of the Great Righteous-Demonic War.

Therefore—

“What are you waiting for? Draw your bow and release.”

He needed to quickly secure the Blood Sea Jade and begin their trek back.