The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 207

Chapter 207
“As expected, the Blood Cult is still the Blood Cult.”

Jegal So-myeong exhaled a weary breath as he reviewed the casualty reports arriving from Sichuan.

While the figures were lower than initial projections prior to the deployment, the losses remained significant.

Furthermore, once the Blood Cult, which had been stalling in its eastward movement, resumed its advance, those numbers began to climb rapidly.

Despite the Poison King of the Tang Clan deploying his Poison Human Unit and the Sect Leader of Qingcheng arriving with his elite forces, the Blood Cult’s use of Iron Corpse Puppets was so tactically sound that securing a decisive victory remained elusive.

“Still, we should be thankful that the impact of their illusion arts has been relatively contained.”

Maeng Ju-won’s observation prompted a nod from Jegal So-myeong.

Had they not identified the Blood Cult’s true nature early on.

Had they not realized that those originally slated for the Sichuan mission had already offloaded the Spirit-Suppression Bead.

Had they not received intelligence that the Mount Heng Sect’s Demon-Subduing Talismans provided some measure of protection against the Blood Cult’s mind-bending techniques.

They would have undoubtedly faced a catastrophe far exceeding their worst predictions.

‘It is truly chilling to contemplate. Just how much did that Jin So-un fellow understand, and how far ahead did he really see?’

As the memory of Jin So-un’s perpetually composed face surfaced, a faint smile tugged at Jegal So-myeong’s lips.

“If one considers that a stroke of luck, then I suppose it was.”

If the situation in Sichuan continued to be managed this way, the Murim Alliance’s strength would remain intact.

Or perhaps, like scrap metal being refined into tempered black steel, the organization might emerge even more formidable.

Once the impurities were burned away, its foundation would only become more resilient.

Maeng Ju-won, who had been fidgeting like a person desperate for a restroom, finally spoke up.

“He truly achieved something remarkable. Should we not offer him some form of commendation?”

As Jegal So-myeong turned his gaze toward him, Maeng Ju-won enunciated each word with heavy emphasis.

“Perhaps something like… a pre-lim-i-nary ad-mis-sion to Man-tong-bu.”

“……”

It was undeniable that Jin So-un had rendered invaluable service during the Sichuan Blood Calamity.

However, the complication was that he had subsequently committed a transgression of equal magnitude.

By all accounts, Ak Ju-pyeong’s anatomy had been subjected to movements that were physically impossible under normal circumstances, had they not?

The motivations were understandable, but the boy’s tendency to act without the slightest regard for the aftermath was deeply frustrating.

According to the report from the Academy Head, the Shandong Ak Clan had already attempted to exact private retribution against Jin So-un.

They had gone so far as to drag him toward the Execution Pavilion.

‘Those fools in the Ak Clan need to learn when to stop pointing fingers at others. Short-sighted idiots, honestly. Tsk.’

While he had personally summoned the Inspection Pavilion Master to Mantongbu to give him a severe dressing-down over this mess, the fact remained that Jin So-un had very nearly been branded a spy for the Black Path without anyone being the wiser.

‘Lord, give me strength…’

Had he ever suffered such a persistent headache over a single student since taking the role of Grand Strategist?

Even so, he had no intention of abandoning the youth.

“Besides, did Jin So-un not rescue the Academy students in Sichuan and check the Blood Cult’s advance?”

It was precisely that capability that made him valuable.

Even the seasoned elite troops of the Murim Alliance were struggling in that region.

Yet, Jin So-un had ventured into the heart of the crisis with only a handful of allies, gathered the scattered Academy students, and led them to safety.

In the process, he had conceived a method to counter the Blood Cult’s illusions, neutralized an Iron Corpse Puppet, and ultimately severed the head of the Young Cult Master, effectively halting the enemy’s eastward momentum.

It was difficult to fathom, yet these were all accomplishments attributed to Jin So-un.

Witnessing his exploits made it seem as if he were operating on a completely different level than everyone else.

Even within the Alliance’s own ranks, some veterans questioned if the reports of Jin So-un’s deeds were exaggerated.

After all, they had never anticipated that they would face such difficulty on a battlefield where a single student was running circles around the enemy.

While he remained lost in his thoughts for several moments, a rhythmic chanting began to echo through the chamber.

“Preliminary acceptance letter! Preliminary acceptance letter! Preliminary acceptance letter!”

Watching Maeng Ju-won, who sat beside him holding a one-man protest, Jegal So-myeong felt a strong urge to strike him right in the throat.

“Stop spewing such ridiculous nonsense!”

Did a ‘preliminary acceptance letter’ even exist?

If such a thing were allowed, every department and hall within the Alliance would be frantically issuing them to every promising student they could find, merely to stake a claim.

Maeng Ju-won, the brightest mind in Mantongbu, surely understood this.

“……But if we don’t, Jin So-un might be poached.”

“What? What are you babbling about? The Alliance Leader’s Hall gave their word they wouldn’t interfere.”

Maeng Ju-won shook his head firmly.

“It isn’t just the Alliance Leader’s Hall. Hasn’t the report regarding Sichuan circulated through the entire Alliance? Every Martial Pavilion and Administrative division that has seen it has started eyeing Jin So-un with interest.”

“……”

Maeng Ju-won paused, a flash of murderous intent briefly clouding his eyes.

“If we just sit here, we’re going to lose him.”

He had forgotten. The man was just as unhinged as the rest of them…

“In any case, the answer is no! And frankly, if he has any sense at all, he will crawl to Mantongbu of his own volition.”

“……He really might get snatched away, though……”

A dejected Maeng Ju-won then handed over another document.

Jegal So-myeong tilted his head as he scanned the contents.

“The Jegal Clan has visited the Academy?”

“Yes. Apparently, they are there for the event the Orthodox Path Association is preparing.”

“……Those fools.”

“Pardon?”

As Jegal So-myeong shook his head dismissively, Maeng Ju-won ventured a question.

“Should we… prevent them from entering?”

“The Orthodox Path Association claims they are funding a demonstration of the Mystic Gate Formation out of their own pockets, so who are we to stop them?”

“But Jin So-un might lose this time. If he’s pushed out of his position, won’t he be expelled from the Academy?”

The entire martial world was currently buzzing with anticipation for the Two Principles Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation.

It was indeed a precarious situation for Jin So-un.

Jegal So-myeong had personally verified the sheer complexity of the new formation developed by the Jegal Clan.

However.

“……Enough. Just let them proceed.”

Even so, he didn’t feel particularly anxious.

He didn’t believe Jin So-un would be defeated that easily.

Maeng Ju-won, however, continued to pace, clearly unsettled.

“I-if he’s expelled from the Academy because of this……”

“Wouldn’t that actually be better for you? You could hire him via Special Recruitment and bring him straight to Mantongbu.”

“Ah…… That is true, isn’t it?”

Maeng Ju-won scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

He simply couldn’t fathom why a man of such intellect turned so dim-witted whenever Jin So-un was the topic of conversation.

The Two Principles Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation.

This Mystic Gate Formation, with its grandiose title, was undeniably more sophisticated than the Seven Stars Seven Seizures Formation.

Following the outbreak of the Great Righteous-Demonic War, sects that relied on the Seven Stars Seven Seizures Formation were largely decimated, whereas half of those protected by the Two Principles Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation managed to survive.

Naturally, as the war reached its peak, even the Two Principles Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation was eventually compromised by the Demonic Cult’s strategist.

However, in my past life, this formation had never seen widespread adoption.

While the cost of dismantling the old system to install the new one was a factor, the Jegal Clan themselves were the primary obstacle; they realized that unveiling new formations directly boosted their income, leading them to release incremental updates every year. Consequently, many sects found themselves waiting indefinitely for the ‘final’ version.

‘The Jegal Clan of my past life were truly clever bastards. Will they be any different in this timeline?’

I wasn’t sure if they would meet my hopes and transform into a clan that genuinely supported the martial world, but there was no denying that the Two Principles Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation was an excellent defensive structure.

That was undoubtedly why Jegal Jeong-gi had chosen to debut it at the Murim Academy—it was his gambit to solidify the Orthodox Path Association’s status.

I had prepared an improved version capable of implementing the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation for such an occasion, but a fortunate acquisition had saved me the exhaustion of having to set up that complicated array.

“Damn it…… damn it…… damn it……”

Nam Hwa-seong kept muttering under his breath, sounding as though he were reciting some frantic prayer to the heavens.

Was he the only one struggling with the manual labor?

“Are we truly going to face the Orthodox Path Association with this?”

“Of course we are.”

Even after my reply, his scowl remained deep.

“……A ten-year-old could wander through a Nine Palaces Bewildering Formation without breaking a sweat.”

“Oh? Then I suppose you’re less capable than a ten-year-old child.”

“Dammit all!”

Nam Hwa-seong, covered in dirt from head to toe, stomped toward me.

“What if I can get through it, then?”

“What if you get through?”

“Yes! If I make it through!”

A sudden spark of determination lit his eyes.

“……Then you never call me a spy again!”

“Hmm…… fair enough.”

Bolstered by confidence or perhaps something else entirely, Nam Hwa-seong puffed out his chest and let out a triumphant laugh.

“Then activate it right now! I’ll show you how easily I can shatter this Nine Palaces Bewildering Formation in a single strike!”

Nam Hwa-seong planted his feet before the Gate of Life, more arrogant than ever.

I stood by the pile of stones at the heart of the Nine Palaces Formation.

This was the central axis, the pillar supporting the entire Bewildering Formation.

While the Nine Palaces Bewildering Formation relied on illusions to confuse its victims, the entire structure would collapse if one located and destroyed the core of this pillar.

‘If I integrate this into the mix…’

I produced the Illusion Ring I had seized from the Blood Cult Young Cult Master and slid it onto my finger.

It was a bizarre Sacred Relic, one capable of warping even a standard Mystic Gate Formation into an illusion array typical of the Blood Cult.

For me, this event served as a perfect test to gauge how effective the Relic would be against the rising elites of the martial world, the Academy students.

‘With everyone’s eyes glued to the Two Principles Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation, they’ll barely notice how I constructed this illusion array. Heh heh.’

I began chanting the incantations for the Nine Palaces Bewildering Formation, funneling my inner energy into the Illusion Ring.

-KYAAAAAAAH!

-GRAAAAAAGH!

-KYAHAHAHAHAHA!

The Illusion Ring was clearly no ordinary artifact; the moment it drew upon my energy, a chorus of tormented screams began to assault my mind.

I forcefully pushed away the cacophony, focusing my mind as I infused the power of the Ring into the stone foundation of the Nine Palaces Bewildering Formation.

RUMBLE.

The pile of stones shuddered and shifted, with several tumbling to the ground.

Simultaneously, a crimson mist began to seep from the base, crawling outward until it blanketed the entire area.

The mist didn’t expand beyond the boundaries of the construction, but inside, it began to pool like a stagnant lake.

The red vapor swirled around our ankles, then surged to our thighs, eventually filling the entire perimeter of the Nine Palaces Bewildering Formation.

Taken aback by the sudden shift, Nam Hwa-seong, previously brimming with bravado, began to retreat.

“W-what is this…”

Once the red haze completely shrouded the area, the recognizable structure of the Nine Palaces Bewildering Formation vanished.

The pillars and rock piles that should have been in plain sight disappeared, and, as if by magic, the area seemed to return to the state of the Horse Station as it was before we began our work.

Confused, Nam Hwa-seong stared at the Gate of Life, now standing isolated before him.

I looked at him and gestured casually with my chin.

“Well? What are you waiting for? Go in.”

“I-is this really the Nine Palaces Bewildering Formation?”

“You built it yourself. Why? Getting cold feet?”

“D-damn it!”

Provoked by my taunt, Nam Hwa-seong gritted his teeth and took a forward step.

He was immediately swallowed whole by the Nine Palaces Bewildering Formation.

A moment later.

Ugh!

Ghak!

W-why is a cursed Demonic Beast here!!!!

S-save me!!!!

GRAAAAAAGH!

Jin So-un, you bastard!!!!!

Gueeeek!

His varied cries echoed from within.

“Hmm. It’s working perfectly.”

Nam Hwa-seong, who had boasted that he would demolish the pillar in one blow, showed no signs of emerging even after quite some time.

Thirty minutes later, I kicked one of the pillars forming the Eight Gates, dismantling the Nine Palaces Bewildering Formation.

Instantly.

“GRAAAAAAAAGH!”

Nam Hwa-seong stumbled out, drooling, flailing his limbs in a humiliating display of panic.

I gave him a sharp kick to bring him back to reality.

“Pull yourself together, man.”

“Huff! Huff! Huff! D-damn it all……!”

He spat out jagged, panicked breaths, looking at me with a bewildered expression.

“I-is that not the Blood Cult’s witchcraft?! What the hell happened in there?”

I flashed a satisfied smile.

“What do you think? This should be enough to capture everyone’s attention, don’t you think?”

“……”

Nam Hwa-seong pressed his lips together, unwilling to give me the satisfaction of an admission.

“Answer me, spy!”

“D-damn it all!”

In the end, the man conceded, substituting his answer with a curse, tacitly acknowledging that his ‘employment’ as my spy was far from over.

The truth regarding the current conflict with the Blood Cult in Sichuan had yet to reach the ears of the broader martial world.

Intelligence was kept behind a wall of absolute secrecy, as everyone was hyper-vigilant against potential operational leaks.

Nevertheless, those with significant influence inevitably caught wind of the situation in Sichuan.

“Tsk.”

Jegal Jeong-gi of the Orthodox Path Association was one such individual.

He frowned, his irritation clearly mounting.

“Are the Murim Alliance’s Martial Pavilions truly so incompetent that they can’t even outperform a single Academy student?”

The news that they were struggling against the Blood Cult was enough to grate on Jegal Jeong-gi’s nerves.

The more inept the Murim Alliance appeared, the more Jin So-un’s own achievements stood out.

Consequently, Jegal Jeong-gi felt compelled to divert public attention to prepare for any contingency.

If the situation in Sichuan gained too much traction, all eyes would gravitate toward Jin So-un’s event.

If, however, the reports from Sichuan were muffled, the spotlight would naturally fall upon his own presentation.

The entire Orthodox Path Association, well aware of this reality, moved with purpose to suppress the circulating information.

Rather than just burying it, they worked diligently to plant new narratives through word of mouth.

There was, however, one significant obstacle.

“Our budget is nearly exhausted. Is it really necessary to go this far?”

It was a financial issue.

Jegal Jeong-gi issued a firm directive.

“Once the Orthodox Path Association takes command of the official delegation, more funds will be allocated from above. Stop worrying and proceed with the mission.”

“……Understood. We will contact the Beggars’ Sect immediately.”

“No, not just them. Enlist the gossipmongers as well. There is no force more effective than the common whisper.”

The Orthodox Path Association drained its coffers, hiring the Beggars’ Sect and every available rumor-monger to gradually fuel the buzz surrounding the Two Principles Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation.

Every time public interest threatened to wane, they leaked carefully curated information, sparking renewed curiosity and sharpening the focus of various sects toward the Murim Academy, where the reveal was set to take place.

As a result, the hearts of the Academy students began to drift away from Jin So-un’s scheduled event and toward the display prepared by the Orthodox Path Association.

Meanwhile, at the main gate of the Murim Academy.

“That is the situation. It is critical.”

“……”

As Jin So-un had predicted, the deliberate release of information by the Orthodox Path Association regarding their new formation had left people wavering.

As fascination with the new Mystic Gate Formation grew, even those who had previously pledged their support for Jin So-un began to watch the situation with hesitation.

That was indeed the reality, but…

‘Why, exactly, am I involved in this?’

I held a thick bundle of papers in my hand.

The sash draped across my shoulder bore the defiant slogan: “Dominate Witchcraft, Reign over All under Heaven.”

“Benefactor Jin…… I understand the gravity of the situation. But…… why must I do this?”

Il-gak’s frame was trembling more visibly than it ever had during any spiritual trial.

Watching him, Jin So-un assumed the posture of a ruthless back-alley enforcer.

“Obviously, because you failed to recruit anyone from the Orthodox Path Association.”

Il-gak struggled to steady his shaking form.

“Benefactor Jin…… As I have stated repeatedly, I cannot engage in espionage.”

“That is precisely why I’ve given you a different task. ……Oh my! Hello! You’re aware of the event being hosted by the Murim Academy’s official representative delegation, aren’t you?”

Mid-sentence, Jin So-un effortlessly glided toward a passing Academy student and thrust a stack of papers into his hands.

And so…

At this moment, Jin So-un was doing the work of a common tout—the kind of labor usually reserved for tavern staff or thugs in the red-light districts.

“What are you doing? Are you going to work or not?”

And he was doing so while dragging along a successor of the Shaolin Temple, a man who had mastered wall-facing meditation and even learned the sacred Tendon-Changing Classic.

“H-hello……”

Il-gak extended a paper with trembling fingers.

For some inexplicable reason, the student walking by felt a surge of inexplicable dread at Il-gak’s demeanor and bolted, leaving the flyer on the floor.

“W-wait! W-why…… why are you running away!”

Observing this, Jin So-un clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Tsk. No, you can’t bring people in that way! You can’t just hand out flyers like that! What exactly can someone who claims to be a successor of the Shaolin Temple actually do?”

“……”

Every time Jin So-un delivered a stinging remark, it felt as though a large nail were being driven into Il-gak’s chest.