The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 20

Chapter 20
## Chapter 20. A Minor Martial Artist Meets an Unexpected Visitor

CRASH.

The desk crafted from Seolgaksan ebony, renowned for its extreme density, splintered into countless fragments.

The Vice Commander of the Secret Bow Unit, who had been delivering his account, shuddered.

With the desk reduced to rubble, he knew that if fortune failed him, his own skull might be the next thing to shatter.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Namgung Sang-won’s utterance, vibrating like a deep snarl, amplified the ambient terror.

It was impossible to discern whether he was giving free rein to his fury or desperately suppressing it.

The Vice Commander began to speak with frantic urgency.

“When the Commander failed to show up at the designated hour, I guided the squad to the location……”

“They were already corpses?”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Who did this? Who dared to dismantle the grand strategy!”

Ultimately, what Namgung Sang-won harbored within was pure, unadulterated rage.

As that wrath detonated, a palpable wave of murderous intent surged outward in all directions, reaching even the standby forces of the Secret Bow Unit stationed outside the structure, forcing them to swallow hard in apprehension.

“Th-that is……”

“Speak up! Clearly!”

“A s-single individual.”

“A single individual? You claim one person eliminated twenty elite operatives of the Secret Bow Unit completely unaided?”

“Th-that is the truth.”

“Then identify him!”

“About that……”

The Vice Commander found himself unable to articulate an answer.

They had failed to uncover even a solitary trace left by their adversary.

“We were unable to ascertain his identity.”

“You useless fool……”

“I-it is the truth, sir. Extrapolating from the faint impressions of footsteps and the indications of a concealed strike, I can only cautiously surmise that our opponent might be an assassin.”

“An assassin?”

As the Vice Commander’s overwhelming instinct for survival pushed words past his lips, explanations he would normally hold back poured forth like a rushing mountain creek.

“Y-yes, sir. Looking at the recurring patterns on the bodies, it appears they initially suffered from calculated ambushes. Once the element of surprise faded, the assailant confronted them directly. Th-that is to say, because we extinguished the lanterns to conceal our own identities…… I suspect that very tactic may have worked against us.”

“An assassin……”

Perhaps the Vice Commander’s desperate pleading struck a chord.

The fury receded from Namgung Sang-won’s features, replaced by a lingering skepticism.

Namgung Sang-won shifted his gaze toward his offspring, Namgung Song-ju, seeking input.

“What are your thoughts on this matter?”

“I have been led to understand that professional assassins utilize generic, unidentifiable methods precisely to avoid leaving distinct signatures.”

“So you believe it truly was a hired killer?”

“Yet, something remains inconsistent.”

“Elaborate.”

“The simple reality that the assailant did not rely on stealth from start to finish. He utilized ambushes only at the inception, choosing to wage an open battle subsequently.”

“An astute observation.”

“Even if one scoured the entirety of the Murim, the number of assassins capable of surviving a direct confrontation with the executioners of the Secret Bow Unit can be counted on one hand. Furthermore, there is zero incentive for such high-caliber agents to align themselves with the Wang Estate.”

“That stands to reason.”

A pinnacle-tier assassin was an asset that mere currency could never procure.

Even if Wang Geum-san had retained a killer for personal security, the notion that an operative of that caliber could systematically dismantle the combatants of the Secret Bow Unit was preposterous.

“How do we proceed?”

Spurred by the Vice Commander’s query as he monitored their reactions, Namgung Sang-won issued his directives.

“You obliterated the evidence at the scene, correct?”

“Indeed. From the very moment the deployment commenced, we systematically wiped all markers.”

“Dispose of the remains and ensure any lingering evidence is thoroughly expunged.”

Following the departure of the Vice Commander, a heavy stillness settled over the private chamber where only Namgung Sang-won and Song-ju remained.

Namgung Song-ju broke the silence.

“Do you suspect our classified objective was compromised?”

“Utterly impossible.”

“Could it then be attributed to pure happenstance?”

“Hmm……”

From the absolute beginning, they had stringently mitigated the hazard of information escaping into the wild.

They had fractured the overarching mission into isolated segments, weaving them together in such a way that the participants could grasp the full scope only upon completing their specific tasks.

The absolute only individuals possessing comprehensive knowledge of the plot were Sang-won, Song-ju, the Commander, and the Vice Commander.

The concept of the operation leaking from within was functionally impossible.

“How did this person ascertain our movements?”

“We simply need to apprehend him and extract the answers.”

“Is tracking him feasible?”

“The Wang Estate. Having rescued Wang So-so, would he not anticipate a compensation commensurate with such a feat? Whether he stumbled into saving her by pure luck or possessed prior knowledge of our design, the truth will surface there.”

“I shall establish surveillance on the Wang Estate immediately.”

“See to it.”

The monumental blueprint of the Rebellion Against Heaven had suffered a setback.

They would ensure a proper accounting was extracted for this interference.

—

One week following the abduction of Wang So-so.

The Hefei Branch Chief of the Murim Alliance was profoundly startled in his heart by the physical condition of Wang Geum-san when they met after seven days.

The man appeared so utterly wasted it was challenging to recognize him as the same individual.

His previously robust frame had turned skeletal, and his eyes were heavily bloodshot, indicating a total lack of rest.

Wang Geum-san parted lips that were as parched as a wasteland and demanded:

“Have you uncovered any leads?”

Hearing that grating utterance, which scarcely sounded like a human voice, the Branch Chief pulled himself together and answered.

“We did uncover certain details, however…… this data remains unverified……”

“Relinquish it to me.”

“W-would it not be preferable if we refined this intelligence further before presenting it to you? Given the immense gravity of the situation……”

He was uncertain where the repercussions of this crisis would land, but he was absolutely positive that no place would be shielded from Wang Geum-san’s immediate, terrifying indignation.

“Hand it over.”

“Lord Wang. I recognize that your anxiety is absolute, but taking impulsive steps might……”

“My child suffers from a specific affliction. It is a devastating malady meaning she cannot survive past three days detached from this Wangbu. Yet now, an entire week has elapsed. The culprits have made no attempt to initiate contact. Am I expected to display further restraint?”

Naturally, the Branch Chief sympathized deeply with Wang Geum-san’s plight.

Precisely because of that sympathy, he felt an even greater aversion to delivering a thoroughly deficient intelligence report.

Was it not a common saying that raw power often overshadowed refined capability?

Though the perpetrators did not appear to possess the distinct signatures of legendary figures, they were undeniably formidable martial artists.

While physical evidence existed, they could not verify the identities of those involved, and lacking that identification, pinpointing the actual culprits was an impossible task.

In his desperation to provide something, he had merely compiled a brief index of organizations malicious enough to execute such an operation, alongside entities that had previously clashed with the Murim Alliance’s Hefei Branch.

Furthermore, this documentation had been assembled under the hasty guidance of the Namgung Clan, with whom he maintained close, regular communications.

He knew with absolute certainty that appearing before the man with empty hands would invite total destruction.

“Are you aware of the exact magnitude of the financial backing I provide to the Murim Alliance annually?”

“Ah! Naturally, regarding the generous endowments you contribute to preserve harmony within the murim……”

“Is there any purpose in continuing this hollow dialogue?”

The Branch Chief swallowed down his anxiety.

How far-reaching would the shockwaves of this document be?

As he agonized over the potential fallout, his hand acted independently of his mind’s protests, extending the document directly to Wang Geum-san.

“The Dog Thread Sect…… the Blood Pearl Fortress…… the Tanghyeon Sect? Is the Tanghyeon Sect not recognized as an honorable organization?”

“Which is precisely why I emphasized that the findings are currently preliminary. If permitted to substantiate it further……”

“Cease. I have gauged your competence perfectly. Moving forward, the forces of Wangbu shall intervene directly.”

Ultimately, a massive conflict was about to erupt.

The Branch Chief was certain of it.

Could he genuinely handle the repercussions of delivering this specific report?

Just as he shook his head to banish that immediate dread,

“Master! Master!!”

A voice bellowed for Wang Geum-san with maximum lung capacity.

The individual responsible for the shouting slammed the doors wide open, entering without waiting for any form of permission from Wang Geum-san.

Such conduct was sufficiently offensive to cause both the Branch Chief, who was an external guest, and Wang Geum-san, the lord of the manor, to frown deeply.

However.

“The young mistress has returned!!!”

“……What?”

This was completely outside the realm of debating proper etiquette.

THUD.

The intelligence summary that the Branch Chief had so painstakingly compiled slipped from grasp, hitting the floorboards with a dull thud.

—

The mountain slopes had cast off the mantle of winter to embrace the vernal season, and the biting drafts of the cold months had gradually shifted into a gentle, warming breeze.

Within the woodlands, fresh vegetation was piercing through dead foliage, and the solar rays projected a comforting warmth as they dissolved the ice that had bound the earth all through the winter.

Wang So-so was experiencing the arrival of spring in this very manner.

“This…… is truly spring.”

“Is this genuinely your first time experiencing the changing seasons?”

“My quarters were perpetually frozen solid, resembling the depths of winter. The blossoms of summer and the shedding leaves of autumn outside my panes always appeared artificial, like mere illustrations.”

That restricted existence of hers had now transitioned into a life mirroring that of any normal human being.

Even when she journeyed under her own power, basked in the sunlight, perspired, and pushed her physical limits until exhaustion set in, the internal solar qi remained placid, as though locked in slumber.

“Even so, do not push your limits excessively. The therapeutic vitality has only recently activated, meaning it will require a period of transition for your internal reserves to settle permanently.”

“How can I possibly requite this immense benevolence……”

“Has your father not historically conferred significant charity upon the populace? View this outcome as the harvest of those actions.”

The gaze Wang So-so directed toward Jin So-un was brimming with deep sentiment.

It was already extraordinary that he had refused to look away upon witnessing a crime, yet rather than highlighting his own prowess, he elevated the virtue of another.

By all appearances, they seemed to be quite close in age, yet his conduct was remarkably grounded, his capabilities were astonishing, his magnanimity was vast, and his physical presence was also……

“Ahem.”

“Are you experiencing discomfort?”

“…….”

“Was the distance we covered perhaps too strenuous for your current state?”

“No, that is not the issue. Um……”

Was it appropriate for her to voice this desire?

Encountering a male peer of her own age for the first time in her life presented a significant challenge for Wang So-so.

“Please, express your thoughts.”

“That is to say…… would it be acceptable if I referred to you as Elder Brother?”

Wang So-so’s speech dwindled in volume, ultimately becoming so soft that Jin So-un was forced to tilt his head closer to catch the syllables.

“Haha, if that terminology brings you greater ease, you may certainly use it.”

“……In that case, please address me as So-so. I would prefer it if you spoke without formality as well.”

“Very well, So-so.”

Suddenly, anticipating that Jin So-un’s hand might descend to brush against her hair, Wang So-so’s pulse began to accelerate wildly.

“Ah, my apologies. That has turned into an involuntary reflex. Women typically find such gestures unwelcome, do they not?”

Observing Jin So-un pause and pull his hand back rapidly, Wang So-so parted her lips with a trace of disappointment.

“Ah…… I-I believe I am entirely comfortable with it. I have simply never experienced it before.”

“Understood. I grasp your meaning, so let us descend the path now. Your father is undoubtedly anxious.”

Throughout the return journey toward the Wang Estate, Jin So-un enlightened Wang So-so regarding myriad facets of the external world that she had been barred from experiencing.

He described how entering the local marketplaces revealed unique confections tailored for children, how during the summer months one could charter a small vessel to glide across the waters for recreation, and how the autumn peaks, transforming into vibrant displays of color, offered perfect trails for wandering.

He detailed the very events Wang So-so had been systematically denied, the very experiences she would now have boundless opportunities to pursue.

“Elder Brother, I wish to sample those sugar-coated treats in the market. Would you accompany me?”

“We shall certainly do that.”

“Elder Brother, I desire to experience that boating activity on the waters as well. Will you join me in that?”

“We shall accommodate that request too.”

“Elder Brother, I also want to attempt journeying up an autumn peak. Will you ascend with me?”

“To conquer a mountain trail, you must commit to rigorous physical conditioning. Will you be capable?”

“I have committed the Taeul Heart Method to memory, have I not? Moving forward, I am an initiate of the Taeul Sect, so I can engage in the required training.”

“Then that would make you my junior martial sister, wouldn’t it? Ensure you present your case persuasively to your father.”

In exchange, Wang So-so shared details of her own secluded existence with Jin So-un.

“Once every three years, the representatives managing our various outposts and commercial enterprises throughout the land assemble at Wangbu to conduct a massive celebration. Cuisine is provided without end, and the musicians never cease playing.”

“That sounds like a magnificent spectacle.”

“Father will undoubtedly arrange a grand banquet in recognition of Elder Brother. Should he hesitate, I shall persist until he coordinates one.”

“Avoid causing unnecessary stress for your parent.”

“He will likewise confer an exceptional bounty upon you. He holds me in immense regard, you see.”

“So-so must focus on an expedited recovery to demonstrate proper filial reverence toward him.”

“Our residence contains an immense repository of rare artifacts as well. I am certain we can locate an item perfectly suited for Elder Brother.”

“It must have been quite an experience to reside among such rare artifacts.”

Wang So-so spoke with genuine animation.

This marked the first occasion she realized she possessed such a talkative disposition.

Despite spending the entire day traversing the paths and engaging in nonstop conversation, she felt completely removed from boredom.

Was this transformation a consequence of her affliction being resolved, or did it stem from an alternate source?

The young and inexperienced Wang So-so could not yet discern the underlying truth.

“……Elder Brother?”

Wang So-so paused, observing Jin So-un, who had deliberately dropped back by a single pace.

“You are entirely capable of navigating the remaining distance into the estate unaccompanied, correct?”

“What?! What are you implying…… We are meant to enter together!”

Wang So-so felt a sudden pang of dread.

“As you are well aware, your sudden disappearance has thrown the entire Hefei region into utter turmoil. If I materialize beside you under these specific conditions, it creates an environment where unnecessary suspicions can take root.”

“No! What can you possibly mean! Elder Brother! Such a scenario will absolutely never manifest. Please allow my family to offer proper recompense.”

In that instant, Jin So-un closed the distance between them with a singular, deliberate stride.

Then, utilizing his calloused hand, he gently patted her head.

Wang So-so was caught so thoroughly off guard that she could only widen her gaze, her lips parting silently like a fish out of water.

“Acquiring a new junior martial sister constitutes more than adequate recompense. Therefore, harbor no anxiety.”

“B-but……”

“Did you not declare your intention to affiliate with the Taeul Sect? Consequently, our paths will cross frequently from this point onward. Do not distress yourself.”

“Elder Brother……”

Concluding his remarks, Jin So-un pivoted and departed with an air of quiet confidence.

Wang So-so remained rooted to the spot, tracking Jin So-un’s retreating figure for an extended duration.

And then.

“M-young mistress!!!”

“Miss Wang So-so has returned!!!!”

The personnel of Wangbu began identifying Wang So-so one after another.

—

Though the prospect of the bounty and rare artifacts held significant appeal, I could not recklessly accompany Wang So-so inside the compound.

If I crossed that threshold claiming responsibility for her salvation, they would inevitably dissect every microscopic element of the encounter. Before a single piece of compensation was rendered, I risked being detained and interrogated as a common abductor or a co-conspirator.

Furthermore, even the Murim Alliance’s Hefei Branch had mobilized to resolve this, and I had accomplished the very task that eluded them.

Would those self-serving individuals truly remain passive?

“Nonetheless, I have secured my primary objective to a reasonable degree.”

I had never anticipated that Wang So-so’s physical degeneration was linked to her fundamental physical makeup.

Consequent to that discovery, she had acquired the Taeul Heart Method, and the girl herself had openly voiced a desire to affiliate with the Taeul Sect.

I harbored some reservations regarding whether Wang Geum-san would readily consent to such an arrangement, but regardless, since I had preserved his child and successfully altered her deadly physical constitution, I held high expectations that he would deliver a level of financial patronage substantial enough to ensure we would no longer require the backing of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild.

If Wang Geum-san extended his patronage to a certain limit, the Taeul Sect would completely lose any justification to capitulate to Gye Cheol-yeong regarding the upcoming Murim Academy rolling admissions process.

“In that scenario, Sa-ryeon can secure entry to the Murim Academy via standard channels, allowing me to transfer the Entry Token to an alternate candidate.”

Whether utilizing the specialized recruitment pathway into the institution or leveraging the Entry Token for direct admission, streamlined alternatives existed. Yet, even if I gained entry entirely on my own merits, I would function as nothing more than an isolated landmass in an expansive ocean.

In the conflict looming on the horizon, I required dependable allies who would act as extensions of my own will, operating exactly according to my strategic directives.

If they failed to navigate the academy curriculum alongside me, the entire endeavor would be devoid of value.

The Taeul Sect currently occupied the absolute lowest tier even when measured against the One Hundred Eight Peaks.

If I attempted to construct a viable coalition right now, it would completely fail to coalesce, resembling dry snow that refused to form a solid mass.

Parallel to that reality, an additional incentive compelled my participation in the evaluation process.

“Furthermore, a substantial quantity of exotic resources consistently surfaces throughout the academy evaluation.”

The underlying rationale for the Murim Academy evaluation being designated as the Hell Regular Exam was that the administration itself intentionally amplified the intensity of the competition.

One of the primary catalysts for this was the assortment of exotic resources scattered across the grounds by the institution.

The moment those exotic resources began to be unearthed, the casualty rate invariably experienced a sharp escalation.

“I must cultivate an internal energy reserve exceeding One Gapja prior to crossing the academy thresholds.”

Approximately eight months separated me from the winter season, when the testing phase was scheduled to commence.

I needed to expand my internal reserves further while simultaneously evaluating the trajectory of my combative techniques.

“I will encounter distinct boundaries if I rely exclusively on the Minor Heaven Sword Art indefinitely.”

As my internal energy experienced a massive augmentation, the most restrictive factor was the reality that the Minor Heaven Sword Art possessed a finite capacity for the volume of energy it could channel.

Utilizing the Sword-Breaking Form, I maintained the capability to shatter the techniques of the preeminent organizations within the Murim Alliance, but should those adversaries deploy alternative combat styles, I too would be forced to engage utilizing my foundational capabilities.

And for waging confrontations of that nature, the Minor Heaven Sword Art exhibited an altogether too definitive threshold.

“However, my current energy reserves are far too deficient to execute the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm……”

The esoteric manual I had salvaged alongside the Snow Plum Pill.

Astonishingly, that documentation originated from the Radiant Heaven Divine Sovereign, who was celebrated as one of the legendary Murim Ten Supremes three centuries ago.

Because that individual had ascended to the pinnacle of martial mastery utilizing a singular combative style, his manual was an extraordinarily welcome acquisition, yet an obstacle persisted.

Should I unleash the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm even once, my internal energy reserves would be utterly depleted, plunging me into immediate unconsciousness.

“According to the accounts of chroniclers, the Radiant Heaven Sovereign was capable of manifesting this Radiant Heaven Divine Palm greater than five consecutive times. His defining mastery was clearly centered not on palm techniques, but on internal cultivation.”

Ultimately, it could not avoid the reality of being an invaluable asset completely wasted on an incapable user.

“In the final analysis, I must seek out that specific record.”

The most secluded section of the archival vault.

A text I had sequestered in the deepest recesses of my mental library because I could not fully validate my own readiness.

“Why are you standing out here staring into vacancy?”

“Ah? Junior Sister Ryeon?”

Sa-ryeon was directing a sharp look toward me, her cheeks completely inflated with air.

“Did I not explicitly instruct you to cease addressing me as Junior Sister Ryeon? Where precisely have you been loitering all this time?”

“I have been exerting myself tirelessly on behalf of our organization, the Taeul Sect……”

“Save your explanations. Move inside quickly. An uninvited visitor is awaiting your arrival.”

“A visitor? Has an emissary from the Wang Estate materialized already?”

“The Wang Estate? What on earth are you blathering about? A representative representing the Namgung Clan has arrived.”

“What? ……The Namgung Clan?”

“Senior Brother, do you possess prior knowledge regarding this?”

Could Namgung Sang-won have already pierced my deception and tracking me here?

My heart experienced a sudden, violent drop.