The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 26

Chapter 26
## Chapter 26. A Second-Rate Warrior Dominates the Exam

The morning sun rose on a Taeul Sect bustling with unusual noise due to the arrival of unfamiliar guests.

Rows of identically dressed servants busied themselves tidying the grounds of Taeul Sect and setting up a grand meal.

The mouth-watering aroma of a massive, whole-boiled pig naturally coaxed the young disciples from their sleep. Even the external disciples, who had walked onto the grounds with heavy and anxious hearts, found their worries dissolving instantly as they followed the rich, savory scent of meat drifting through the air.

“What on earth is going on here?”

Hearing my quiet question, Wang So-so, standing closely beside me, offered a sweet grin and answered,

“Father insisted that everyone needs a proper, hearty meal on the day of a major test, so he arranged all of this.”

“The Estate Master did this himself?”

“Yes, indeed.”

“I feel we are becoming far too much of a burden to him.”

“Haha, he actually wanted to slaughter an ox, throw a massive banquet, and welcome the Appraisal Envoys on behalf of Taeul Sect. We had to work incredibly hard to talk him out of it.”

“……Please convey my deepest gratitude to him.”

“Father also mentioned that you should drop by Wang Estate whenever you can. He truly wishes to host you for a private meal.”

“I will make sure to visit soon.”

Before long, everyone belonging to Taeul Sect assembled in the grand dining hall.

Before each person sat a simple yet incredibly generous bowl of meat soup. The children, barely able to control their hunger, kept swallowing hard while looking toward the Sect Leader for permission.

“Let us partake in this meal with sincere gratitude toward the Estate Master, who has provided us with such a magnificent feast.”

“““Thank you for the meal!”””

The moment the Sect Leader finished his sentence, the youth shouted out in perfect harmony. Wang So-so merely offered a gentle nod and a quiet smile.

The younger disciples seemed momentarily lost, as she did not display any of the arrogant, boastful behavior they usually expected from Gye Cheol-yeong.

In the past, their morning routine almost always involved enduring Gye Cheol-yeong bragging at length.

“Is no one going to start eating?”

Hearing Wang So-so’s gentle prompt, the crowd hesitated for just a beat before picking up their spoons.

The dining hall soon filled with a warmer, more comfortable ambiance than it had ever known.

Once the meal concluded and everyone began their final preparations for the test, the representatives of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild made their entrance.

Among them were Gye Yeon-seok and Gye Cheol-yeong, accompanied by three striking individuals I had never encountered before.

There was a man who looked like a refined scholar, a woman with the sharp bearing of a warrior, and a middle-aged gentleman positioned between them who projected a peculiar, commanding presence.

Their arrangement mirrored the exact composition of the Appraisal Envoys.

“Ugh! I see you all filled yourselves with some cheap meat broth. The fishy stench is practically echoing through the room.”

As Gye Yeon-seok spoke while pinching his nose, Wang So-so tilted her head in confusion.

“That is quite impossible. Father went out of his way to source a Green-Blue Pig, a renowned specialty from Zhejiang Province, so there couldn’t possibly be any fishy odor.”

A Green-Blue Pig was a prized breed raised strictly on Anji White Tea and Bamboo-Salt Clear Wine within Zhejiang Province.

It was no wonder the broth tasted so incredibly deep and clean, without even a hint of gaminess.

“……”

Finding himself unable to counter Wang So-so, Gye Yeon-seok redirected his simmering irritation toward me.

“How can you stomach heavy meat soup right before an examination of this magnitude?”

“Compared to gorging on numerous low-grade pigs, enjoying broth made from a single premium pig is actually quite gentle on the stomach and highly beneficial.”

I was directly mocking the fact that whenever Gye Yeon-seok hosted an event, he cheaply purchased a large quantity of old sows that had given birth many times before being slaughtered.

“But are you really in a position to be so relaxed? Cheol-yeong might just leave you in the dust, so shouldn’t you be at a temple right now, praying with absolute sincerity?”

“Hmph! It appears you are completely oblivious to the recent rumors.”

“What rumors?”

“The gentleman standing in the center of those three is none other than the legendary Ace Instructor, Teacher Jang Sa-gun.”

Following Gye Yeon-seok’s theatrical gesture, the attention of the nearby children shifted toward Jang Sa-gun and his companions.

“Not a single student under his tutelage has ever failed the Special Admission Track. No matter what clever schemes you attempt, Taeul Sect will merely serve as a stepping stone to highlight our Cheol-yeong’s brilliance.”

Upon hearing Gye Yeon-seok’s boast, the confidence of the nearby disciples instantly withered, and they began dropping their heads one after another.

“Judging by your words, it seems you truly intend to break off all relations with Taeul Sect.”

“Hmph! There is absolutely no reason to keep ties with a group that forgets loyalty over a single bowl of pork soup.”

At that remark, I allowed a slow, chilling surge of killing intent to bleed out.

“You should choose your next words with extreme caution. Even if it was mostly in name, Senior Brother Cheol-yeong joined us as a lay disciple. If he believes he can simply walk away whenever he pleases, there will be a price to pay.”

Feeling the direct weight of that murderous intent, Gye Yeon-seok’s complexion turned completely ghostly.

Right then, Ace Instructor Jang Sa-gun stepped forward to intervene.

“My, my, a trained martial artist openly intimidating a regular citizen. You truly display the hallmarks of an unrefined upbringing. Is this the sort of conduct Taeul Sect instills in its students?”

Refusing to back down an inch, I countered smoothly.

“A learned man who trades his knowledge strictly for silver to line his pockets is better described as a common merchant rather than a true gentleman.”

Jang Sa-gun’s features twitched with sudden irritation.

However, he rapidly reined in his emotions and pressed on.

“Even Confucius himself accepted tuition from his followers in order to sustain himself with grain.”

“Is that so? I was under the impression that a Senior Ace Instructor demands a lavish estate as his fee.”

Jang Sa-gun’s face flushed a deep, furious crimson.

His immense reputation was matched only by the astronomical sums required to secure his services.

Even if it was an open secret accepted by the market because demand met supply, to a man like Jang Sa-gun, who took great pains to present himself as a dignified scholar, it was a shameful reality to have laid bare.

“Your tongue is remarkably venomous. We shall see soon enough through the official grades whether your martial prowess matches your mouth.”

Right at that tense moment, Kang Chae-seok’s booming voice echoed through the courtyard.

“Cease this useless bickering and fall into formation! The Appraisal Envoys have arrived.”

The Sect Leader, the respected elders, and the various hall leaders had already taken their positions.

As the youths gathered into a structured group, a modest procession slowly marched onto the grounds.

“It’s the Murim Alliance.”

The moment a voice cried out, all eyes locked onto the front of the incoming party.

The individual leading the march proudly bore the standard of the Murim Alliance, offering undeniable proof of their official status.

“I am Lee Ja-gon, an Appraisal Envoy representing the Murim Alliance. I offer my greetings to you all.”

“We welcome you.”

As the man identifying himself as Lee Ja-gon bowed respectfully to Hong Mun-gi, the Sect Leader, the accompanying officials followed suit in perfect unison.

Leaving the armed guards aside, there were eleven envoys in total.

Accompanying Lee Ja-gon were five individuals bearing the scholarly air of academics and five who possessed the rugged build of seasoned martial artists.

“You have traveled a long and exhausting road to get here. I trust you will find and select truly exceptional talents during this session.”

“Scouting potential candidates from the One Hundred Eight Peaks is a matter of paramount importance to the Murim Alliance. We will exert every effort to guarantee this examination proceeds flawlessly.”

Without losing a moment, the ten assistant envoys separated to commence the examination setups.

The academic scholars unfastened the sturdy wooden crates strapped to their backs, retrieving test papers packed tight with ink characters, and began neatly arranging them across the examination tables.

The younger disciples, experiencing an official evaluation for the first time, were already turning pale with dread.

Gye Cheol-yeong, who had been thumbing through a small, palm-sized booklet made of tightly bound reference sheets, let out a condescending chuckle.

“Are you terrified of a little test?”

“……Senior Brother, are you not nervous at all?”

“You lot are terrified simply because you failed to study correctly. If you had applied yourselves diligently as I have, you wouldn’t feel an ounce of dread.”

The boy Gye Cheol-yeong was talking down to was Dong-ryong, the youngest brother among Geum-pyo, Eun-ho, and himself.

“If you are completely lost, perhaps I could highlight a few key topics for you?”

“……”

Dong-ryong glared back at Gye Cheol-yeong with a face full of bitter resentment. Noting the tension, Geum-pyo and Eun-ho quickly stepped in, steering their youngest brother away to another part of the courtyard.

While the academic envoys finalized the written portion, the martial envoys were engaged in a serious discussion with the hall leaders.

“Will the assessment focus entirely on fundamental blade techniques and basic internal cultivation methods again this year?”

In response to Kang Chae-seok’s inquiry, the female martial envoy gave a firm nod.

“The physical evaluation for the One Hundred Eight Peaks remains unvaried. It measures the mastery and practical execution of foundational styles. While they will master advanced arts at the Murim Academy, our primary objective is to evaluate how robustly their foundational roots have been established.”

“Understood. When it comes to our core martial arts and fundamental cultivation, we hall leaders can guide you on what specific nuances to look for.”

Hearing Kang Chae-seok’s offer, the female warrior shook her head dismissively.

“We have already reviewed and thoroughly mastered the records regarding Taeul Sect’s martial styles using the archives at the Murim Alliance prior to our departure. We appreciate your intent, though.”

Her curt reply left Kang Chae-seok looking visibly unsettled.

Even with foundational techniques, it was highly unusual for outsiders to understand them better than the instructors who practiced them daily within the sect.

If they could master it all purely through documentation, it implied that the capabilities of these visiting examiners far surpassed their own.

“Grr…….”

Suppressed frustration escaped Kang Chae-seok, but he chose to remain silent, watching the final test preparations unfold.

As Lee Ja-gon walked around checking on his team’s progress, his eyes suddenly went wide as he spotted a familiar face in the crowd.

When the man caught Lee Ja-gon’s gaze, he offered a knowing nod of recognition.

“Senior, what brings you out to a place like this?”

The attention of the surrounding crowd instantly shifted toward the exchange between Lee Ja-gon and Jang Sa-gun.

“Junior, I trust you have been keeping well?”

“Indeed. Thanks to the rigorous training you provided me in the past, Senior, I have managed to rise to the position of Incense Master among the Appraisal Envoys.”

“I had no doubt you would achieve great things.”

Listening intently, it became clear to me that Lee Ja-gon and Jang Sa-gun shared a long-standing history.

“By chance, do you have a personal pupil participating in today’s examination?”

“Ah, I have neglected to introduce him.”

Jang Sa-gun gestured proudly to his right.

“This is Gye Cheol-yeong, a lay disciple of Taeul Sect and the rightful successor to the Gyeryong Merchant Guild. In Hefei of Anhui Province, beyond the famous Twin Dragons of the Iron Sword Sect, there exists an extraordinary Hidden Dragon, and he is the sole reason for my presence here.”

Gye Cheol-yeong puffed out his chest, stepped forward with absolute confidence, and performed a traditional clasped-hands greeting.

“I am Gye Cheol-yeong of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild. It is an honor.”

“He possesses quite a striking presence. I can clearly see why he caught your sharp eye, Senior.”

“Hahaha, you claim you spend all your days evaluating candidates, yet it seems only your talent for flattery has grown.”

“Well, it is simple truth. After all, every single youth you have personally trained, Senior, successfully gained entry into the Murim Academy. From our perspective, it makes separating the true gems from common stones far easier, which we find immensely helpful.”

“Hehehe. Quite true, quite true. I see your point. Once the testing has concluded, if your schedule allows, let us share a drink together.”

“I would be delighted.”

Since the distance between the young disciples and the two men wasn’t substantial, their entire conversation carried across the yard with total clarity.

Wang So-so, who had caught every word, narrowed her eyes in anger and spoke up.

“This is entirely unacceptable. I intend to inform my father this instant and lodge a formal complaint.”

Her outrage was shared by every single one of us.

However, I held Wang So-so back.

“They haven’t actively shown any favoritism or altered the examination yet, so remain calm and stay seated.”

“Brother, the mere reality that an examiner shares a close personal tie with an examinee shatters any semblance of fairness.”

At that point, Sa-ryeon chimed in.

“Senior Brother.”

“Yes?”

“She ought to address you as Senior Brother, not just Brother, shouldn’t she?”

“Ah…… my apologies. Setting that aside, Senior Sister, surely you agree that this situation is completely absurd?”

“I do. However, our Eldest Senior Brother undoubtedly has a strategy prepared. Am I right?”

Sa-ryeon fixed me with a sharp look that made it crystal clear she would not be pleased if I admitted to having no plan at all.

“Both of you thoroughly studied the text I passed along, correct?”

“I reviewed it as best as I could, but…….”

“Yes, I have committed the entire text to memory.”

Sa-ryeon appeared rather unsure of herself, whereas So-so was radiant with self-assurance.

“You managed to memorize all of it? That was quite a massive amount of information.”

“Cooped up in my quarters every day, reading was the only pastime available to me. Memorizing a volume of that size is well within my capabilities.”

I gave her a small, approving nod.

“The rest of the disciples managed similarly, I assume?”

“Junior Sister So-so took it upon herself to personally coach the boys who were struggling to grasp the material.”

“Excellent. In that case, we have nothing to worry about.”

Despite my unbothered stance, Sa-ryeon and So-so merely exchanged perplexed glances, unable to comprehend my confidence.

“The examination is about to commence. All candidates, please assemble and take your designated places.”

As the students created uniform space between one another and sat down in orderly rows upon small straw mats, the academic scholars walked down the lines, placing the exam sheets face down in front of each youth.

“You will be granted exactly one hour to complete this section. Candidates, show us the full extent of your knowledge. Be warned that any attempt to peer at a neighbor’s paper or replicate their work will result in immediate disqualification. You may begin.”

The moment a scholar struck a small bronze gong with a sharp chime, the disciples flipped their test papers over in unison.

Gye Cheol-yeong confidently swept his eyes across the text, acting as though victory was already his.

Conversely, the rest of the disciples initially wore expressions of utter despair, staring blankly at the pages as if the white paper and black ink were completely foreign to them.

‘Now, find it!’

As fifteen minutes ticked away, a sudden look of sheer bewilderment flashed across Gye Cheol-yeong’s face.

He had hit a completely blindsiding question.

Meanwhile, the previously disheartened disciples began tilting their heads in surprise, one by one.

Then, gradually but with steady conviction, their brushes began moving across the paper without a single pause.

“What on earth is happening here?”

Standing near the edge of the grounds, Jang Sa-gun sensed a shift in the wind and knit his brows in deep confusion.

He watched as every single student from Taeul Sect filled out their exam sheets without a moment of hesitation.

It was only then that Gye Cheol-yeong came to the stark realization that he was the only person in the entire courtyard completely stumped by the test.

“Haa…….”

As a heavy sigh escaped him at the sight of his peers writing fluently, an academic official stepped over and spoke in a low, stern whisper.

“Examinee, if you wish to avoid being thrown out, keep your eyes on your own paper and maintain silence.”

“Ah…… of course, yes.”

Gye Cheol-yeong quickly dropped his gaze back to his desk, but any remaining focus had completely shattered.