The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 181

Chapter 181
## Chapter 181. Rewriting the Sichuan Blood Calamity

TWANG, SWISH──

A piercing projectile sliced through the open sky.

However, instead of hitting its intended target, it deviated wildly from its path, plummeted powerlessly to the earth, and burst.

POP!

The tip of the projectile shattered, spraying fragments in every direction, though no one sustained injuries from the blast.

“Are you joking around with me right now?”

Standing nearby with his arms crossed, Jin So-un’s tone grew harsh.

Murong Jae-hwa, the one who had released the projectile, was drenched in a torrential sweat.

“You failed to reach two hundred zhang, you idiot! You didn’t even make it to one hundred fifty!”

From Murong Jae-hwa’s perspective, this situation felt utterly and intolerably unjust.

Ordinarily, a projectile was deemed remarkable if it managed to cover a distance of one hundred zhang.

Yet just now, his shot had surpassed one hundred zhang, flying all the way to one hundred twenty zhang.

Even an archery instructor spending their vacation at the Murim Academy would have clicked their tongue in sheer amazement at such a feat, yet Jin So-un was clicking his tongue as if the performance wasn’t even close to acceptable.

“Brother… no matter how I look at this, it defies all logic. No marksman can project something across one hundred fifty zhang, let alone…”

“So you are implying that I am spinning lies right now?”

“No, that is not what I mean…”

“Ah! Did I perhaps consume some bizarre concoction and experience delusions?”

“…No, Brother, of course not.”

“Or did I ingest the medicine I was supposed to take and somehow hallucinate?”

“……”

Jin So-un’s eyebrows knit together crookedly, his face contorted with profound annoyance.

Granted, he was a man who always stood by his assertions and had never spoken falsely, but even so, the impossible remained impossible.

‘What kind of mortal strikes a foe beyond two hundred zhang…?’

Even Lord Sword-Breaker himself was never this preposterous regarding the boundaries of martial achievements.

Yet Jin So-un was bypassing all reason, discussing an unrealistic feat as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world, which was enough to drive Murong Jae-hwa completely out of his mind.

“Th-then, Brother, please demonstrate it for me just once.”

“I cannot demonstrate it for you.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said I am unable to show you.”

“……”

Wow, why say that with such absolute certainty, too…

There were times when Geum-pyo and Eun-ho would mention that they desperately wanted to give Jin So-un a thorough thrashing.

At the time, Murong Jae-hwa could not comprehend why they would harbor such disrespectful thoughts toward such an incredible Brother.

…Now, he understood perfectly.

‘Oh, come on! Seriously!’

Jin So-un wagged his head as though Murong Jae-hwa were utterly pitiful and commanded,

“Execute another shot…”

“Could I… perhaps regulate my qi for a brief moment before I release it?”

Jin So-un questioned him with a completely flabbergasted look.

“You have already depleted all of those inner arts?”

“…I do not possess that vast of an amount…”

“Did you not consume the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core? And yet you have the nerve to claim your inner arts are deficient?”

“……”

“Furthermore, you must have spent your days idling around within the Murong Clan, consuming Spiritual Medicine like ordinary health tonics with every single meal. And yet your inner arts are deficient?”

“…B-Brother.”

“On top of that, Lord Sword-Breaker must have performed Marrow-Cleansing and Hair-Shedding on your body during your youth. And yet your inner arts are deficient?”

“……”

Ah… if only I could land a single blow on him…

Even when Murong Jae-hwa channeled his inner arts into the projectile with every ounce of his strength and released it, the absolute maximum distance it could achieve was one hundred twenty zhang.

Yet Jin So-un remained thoroughly unimpressed.

Consequently, Murong Jae-hwa had no alternative but to infuse nearly double, or even triple, the amount of inner arts into the shot than he usually would.

Regardless of how vast a person’s inner arts might be, there was likely no one on earth who could withstand this brutal method of manipulating martial force.

“That individual had not even consumed the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core, yet he unleashed Thunderbolt Arrows repeatedly at adversaries three hundred zhang away. The foes could not even calculate his whereabouts, and they did not dare contemplate closing the distance.”

“No… then who precisely is this person?”

“…Are you defying me right now?”

When Jin So-un glared at Murong Jae-hwa with a fierce expression, Murong Jae-hwa instantly retracted his defiance and bowed his head.

Murong Jae-hwa could not fathom how Jin So-un was, in terms of sheer intimidation, far more terrifying than his own grandfather, Lord Sword-Breaker.

“If you launch an attack from a mere one hundred zhang away, they will eventually pinpoint your location. If you are spotted quickly, you will have no choice but to constantly relocate.”

Jin So-un went on, as if revisiting an old memory.

“Then the adversary will cease to fear you as a sniper. They will believe the matter is settled as long as they dispatch a hunting party to seize you alone.”

“……”

“Are you certain you can escape through an enemy encampment by yourself every single time? Furthermore, this time the adversary is an Iron Corpse Puppet.”

“…No.”

“That is precisely why you must strike from a great distance. Besides, you do not even require perfect precision, do you? This task is no more demanding than the duty of a common archer, so why are you failing at it?! Is it because you still have not endured enough hardship?”

By this point, Murong Jae-hwa missed Eun-ho with an absolute passion.

‘I am so sorry for misjudging you all this time…’

Jin So-un’s lecturing showed no signs of stopping.

“If you possessed the capability to strike targets two hundred zhang away, or even three hundred zhang away, do you believe those blood-robed men would have ever dared to unleash the Iron Corpse Puppets?”

规“……”

“You make the very act of approaching out of the question. You sow chaos and cause them to shudder in absolute terror. What else would divine retribution raining from the heavens be, if not that? Faced with such divine retribution, what options would the enemy have?”

“…To flee.”

“Precisely! That is it! You do not need to deal with a single individual indefinitely. Another master can handle that. Your role is to hold back the masses. As long as you prevent them from advancing, that constitutes a victory.”

At this moment, Murong Jae-hwa’s own stubborn pride began to flare up.

When he had stood helpless before the Iron Corpse Puppets just as Jin So-un described, how desperately had he craved might?

Murong Jae-hwa plunged into deeper reflection than he ever had in his entire existence.

‘No matter how much inner arts I force into it, I cannot propel it beyond one hundred twenty zhang. Then what must I do to reach two hundred zhang, three hundred zhang, exactly as Brother described?’

This was a challenge of breaking through the physical boundaries established by the natural world.

It operated on the same logic that prevented mortals from soaring through the heavens or drawing breath beneath the waves.

As Murong Jae-hwa entered a state of profound mental concentration, Jin So-un’s serene voice drifted into his consciousness.

“Do not impose boundaries upon yourself. Mortals have consistently shattered the limitations they placed on their own minds. Humans cannot confront tigers using raw physical strength alone, nor can they outrun a deer. They cannot possess the density of solid iron either. Yet have humans not already triumphed over all of these obstacles?”

Mortals were incapable of flying through the clouds.

For that exact reason, they devised Movement Arts and aerial techniques that permitted them to remain suspended in midair for prolonged periods.

Mortals were incapable of breathing beneath the water.

For that exact reason, they formulated Water Arts that permitted them to retain their breath beneath the surface for vast amounts of time.

‘It cannot be achieved through inner arts alone… In that scenario…’

Murong Jae-hwa opened his eyes and gripped the cord of the Steel Bow.

He did not pull it back with the frantic force he had used previously, force that threatened to snap the Steel Bow.

Nor did he lower the trajectory of the bow as he had done just moments ago.

He simply aimed it high into the air, as if targeting the firmament itself.

And then.

TWANG. SWISH──

The instant the projectile was unleashed with a crisp snap.

BOOM.

A concussive blast erupted from the rear of the projectile, and the shaft vanished from view within a fraction of a second.

“……”

Murong Jae-hwa lowered the weapon and focused his vision to track the projectile he had released.

Fifty zhang…

One hundred zhang…

Even after sailing past one hundred twenty zhang, there was zero indication that the projectile’s velocity was diminishing.

One hundred thirty zhang…

One hundred fifty zhang…

One hundred eighty zhang…

And at long last.

Two hundred zhang…

POP──

The descending projectile detonated with a crisp snap of kinetic energy.

The distance was far too vast for the agonizing wails to be clearly audible, but he could observe the blood-robed men stumbling out from the interiors of their pavilions in sheer agony.

The attempt was a triumph.

“Wow…”

“You see? It is achievable, is it not?”

Jin So-un was observing Murong Jae-hwa with a highly self-satisfied grin.

Far more than the projectile he had launched into the sky, Murong Jae-hwa was utterly stunned by the individual standing right in front of him.

“Brother!”

“You must select the detonation radius at the exact instant of release with absolute precision. That is the sole method to ensure the trajectory does not falter.”

As Murong Jae-hwa listened to the explanation, an odd realization suddenly struck him.

“…Is it possible that you were aware of this from the very beginning, Brother?”

If raw inner arts proved insufficient, utilize martial arts.

He had infused the momentum of the Heaven-Earth Wave-Splitting Sword, which he had originally focused within the projectile’s tip, into the rear of the shaft as well.

Was Jin So-un implying that he was already familiar with this preposterous method of channeling martial energy?

Jin So-un’s serene voice permeated his ears.

“When have I ever uttered a falsehood to you?”

“……”

It was undeniably spectacular, but when he actually looked at that smirking face, he also felt a distinct sense of grievance.

“Then… if you had simply informed me from the start…”

I would not have been subjected to that meaningless berating…

As if questioning what kind of idiotic nonsense he was babbling, Jin So-un replied flatly,

“Had I done that, you would never have attained realization through your own efforts. Given that you must advance independently when I am no longer by your side in the future, these minor breakthroughs will accumulate and serve as a monumental bedrock for you.”

“……”

That was accurate…

It was undeniably accurate.

It was absolutely the correct perspective, but…

“I even calculated ahead for your growth so that you could achieve enlightenment on your own. Surely you recognize what an immense blessing it is to have encountered a Brother like myself? Hahahahaha.”

“…….”

Why was the image of him thrusting his chest out and laughing so incredibly aggravating?

Murong Jae-hwa once again fully identified with the sentiments of Geum-pyo and Eun-ho, who revered So-un tremendously yet drilled their Sword Formations as though their very existences depended on it, simply because they wished to land a single strike on So-un just once.

He comprehended it entirely.

Murong Jae-hwa began to ponder why his irritation refused to dwindle.

‘Eun-ho… I must apologize to you once more.’

Murong Jae-hwa resolved that the moment he crossed paths with Eun-ho, he would offer a deeply earnest apology.

Following the assault delivered by Murong Jae-hwa, the miscreants of the Blood Cult frantically re-established their squadron once more and shifted their encampment deeper into the rear.

Murong Jae-hwa and I slipped forward stealthily, bringing the squadron back within Murong Jae-hwa’s striking boundary once again, and then.

I descended from the mountain crest entirely on my own.

I bided my time until the lunar glow was obscured by the cloud cover, and when the obscurity intensified further, I silently activated the Unrivaled under Heaven Movement Art and gradually closed in on the squadron.

Owing to their frantic retreat, the Blood Cult’s squadron was exceptionally chaotic even in the dead of night.

Even in the middle of all that commotion, likely out of dread for Murong Jae-hwa’s projectiles, not a single torch had been ignited.

“Pitch the tents immediately!”

“Shields! Deploy every single shield!”

“Organize the scouting squads! We must locate him!”

Because hundreds of individuals were scrambling about, despite the absence of fire, I could perceive the bastards with perfect clarity.

My objective was to infiltrate the bastards’ squadron before they established a proper perimeter.

‘Huh?’

As I stealthily neared the squadron, my progress was halted by an unanticipated obstacle.

‘What on earth is this?’

The Illusion Formation that had manifested when Nam Hwa-seong inadvertently shattered the lantern.

An identical phenomenon was currently deployed around the entire encampment.

Wow, their speed of adaptation is sickeningly swift.

If there existed a singular constraint to Mystic Gate Formations or Mechanism Formations, it was that once they were fixed in a specific location, they could not be easily transported elsewhere.

Conversely, though I was uncertain how the bastards had accomplished it, they appeared to have converted an Illusion Formation—something Spell Practitioners typically required extensive preparation to unfold—into this type of transportable Mystic Gate Formation.

‘This is… actually somewhat enviable.’

To possess the ability to deploy an Illusion Formation like a Mystic Gate Formation in any location.

That signified that one could secure a massive benefit during engagements or open warfare.

No, setting that aside, bearing in mind that the most perilous period for Escorts or warriors who had to endure lengthy travels was after they drifted off to sleep, it was glaringly obvious that even if they maintained watch in the identical fashion, the level of anxiety would drastically differ depending on the presence of an Illusion Formation.

‘Should I perhaps abduct a single Spell Practitioner?’

The moment that notion crossed my mind, I promptly shook my head.

At present, I was sufficiently occupied merely attempting to capture a single Blood Sea Jade.

Even factoring in the reality that I would have to make a hasty retreat alongside Murong Jae-hwa if matters went awry, if I hesitated even slightly, the entire operation might collapse.

“Still, it is quite a pity. The moment the Murim Alliance executes its extermination campaign, the Blood Cult’s Spell Practitioners will be entirely wiped out down to the very last seed.”

What could not be altered could not be helped, regardless of how unfortunate it felt.

I swiftly cast aside my lingering regret.

I meticulously stepped toward the Illusion Formation.

GLOOP──

Accompanied by that physical sensation, an icy shiver penetrated my entire form.

The moment I stepped inside the Illusion Formation, all the clamor of the Blood Cult operatives that I had been monitoring a second ago vanished instantly.

And then.

The Blood Cult’s encampment that ought to have been directly ahead of me was nowhere to be found.

Regardless of how intensely I heightened my Sensory Perception, I could detect absolutely nothing.

Had I not physically observed the Blood Cult from a distance earlier, I was positive I would never have even suspected that the Blood Cult was still stationed here.

RIIING──.

A brief moment later, an odd, screeching resonance vibrated inside my skull, and I instantly channeled the Jade Purity Heavenly Image Power to shield my Upper Qi Center, Middle Qi Center, and Lower Qi Center.

AWOOO──

GRRRAH──

The roars of predatory beasts echoing within my mind dissolved, and the interior of the Illusion Formation was revealed with perfect clarity.

I journeyed forward with the utmost vigilance to ensure I did not trigger the Gate of Death.

How much time had slipped away?

“Over here! Casualties! We have an injured man!”

“Tend to the Spell Practitioners first!”

“Has the scouting squad still failed to locate the perpetrator?!”

“There is still no flare.”

The frantic shouting of the Blood Cult operatives reached my ears once more.

‘Where exactly are you…?’

While concealing my form within the shadows, I scanned for the location where the Blood Sea Jade might be harbored, amidst the hundreds of Blood Cult operatives hustling back and forth.

A short while later, a particular tent possessing the identical structure as the illustrations I had reviewed in the library archives caught my attention.

An involuntary grin crept onto my face.

“So that is where you are hiding. ‘My’ Red Radiance Sword.”

I shifted into the Ghost-Breathing Step and blended seamlessly into the crowd.