The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 27

Chapter 27
## Chapter 27. A Second-Rate Warrior Dominates the Exam (2)

Buzzing and whispering echoed through the air.

As dusk settled following the completion of the testing, a large placard was displayed at the entrance of the Great Training Ground. The evaluation committee for the Special Admission Track had made the afternoon’s scores public, as was standard protocol for the selection process.

The members of the Taeul Sect who gathered to read the board could scarcely contain their astonishment.

“Is this for real?”
“How could a score turn out like this?”
…….
18th place. Song Ja-mun.
19th place. Gye Cheol-yeong.
20th place. Gwak Sam-nam.
…….

Staring at the official ranking, Gye Cheol-yeong stood completely dumbfounded. Sixty-three candidates had participated in the examination. While nineteen could be considered part of the upper tier, it was a terrible standing for an exam designed to select only a single winner. This was especially true given the fortune his family had paid to secure a private tutor.

The highly paid instructor himself was utterly flabbergasted. For a student under his direct guidance to achieve such a mediocre rank was an unprecedented humiliation in his professional career.

Gye Cheol-yeong was well aware that while he wasn’t a generational genius, he possessed undeniable talent. He had completely mastered and memorized every single predicted topic that Jang Sa-gun had formulated. Ultimately, this meant the tutor’s predictions had failed entirely.

“This is absolutely absurd!” Jang Sa-gun barked, blocking the path of Lee Ja-gon, who was heading toward the guest quarters provided by the Taeul Sect after finalizing the day’s records. “For Cheol-yeong to drop to nineteenth place is an impossibility!”

“……”

As Jang Sa-gun vented his anger, Lee Ja-gon’s expression grew icy. “Senior. Are you openly questioning the integrity of the Appraisal Envoys?”

“!”

Though Jang Sa-gun had previously served as an Appraisal Envoy himself, the position within the Murim Alliance demanded absolute impartiality and flawless fairness above all else. Realizing his emotions had driven him to a dangerous misstep, Jang Sa-gun quickly tried to recover.

“What I mean to say is that such an outcome defies all logical expectation.”

No matter how smoothly he tried to rephrase it, his underlying refusal to accept the verdict remained obvious. Lee Ja-gon’s face darkened further, causing Jang Sa-gun’s eyelids to twitch nervously.

Yet, the tutor could not back down. If Gye Cheol-yeong had performed poorly despite making no errors, it meant the failure lay entirely with the instructor’s capabilities.

“Even with our past professional relationship, I am under no obligation to validate the test’s integrity to you… however, I will treat this as a formal grievance on behalf of the Taeul Sect and allow you a glance.”

Lee Ja-gon pulled the top sheet from his stack of documents and held it up for Jang Sa-gun to view. “This belongs to the candidate who secured the highest score.”

Jang Sa-gun’s eyes quickly scanned the text. The fifty-question exam covered everything from fundamental martial theory to the mechanics of sword formations, tactical components, and the identification of both toxic and therapeutic flora that any competent cultivator ought to recognize.

“The real separation in scores occurred in the final stretch. Question forty-two was a new addition focusing on the risks and management of qi deviation. Question forty-three demanded techniques for identifying the Face-Fixing Art and the Disguise Art. Question forty-six required an analysis of the Silver Concealment Art alongside defensive counters. Question forty-eight dealt with using Qi Circulation and Breathing to neutralize internal toxins… and so forth.”

“Th-These were actually on the test?”

As a mere mortal, Jang Sa-gun’s foresight had its limitations. Even so, his predictions for this specific test had missed the mark by an immense margin.

“Are these subjects not far beyond the standard curriculum of a foundational exam?”

“Because the candidates have become excessively competitive, making clear distinctions has grown increasingly difficult. Particularly due to the interference of independent ‘teachers’ like yourself, Senior, perfect scores became too common, forcing the examination’s difficulty to rise significantly.”

Lee Ja-gon’s words cut deep, delivering blow after blow to Jang Sa-gun’s pride, yet the veteran tutor remained stubborn.

“B-But even so, does it not seem irregular? We cover those advanced concepts as well. However, topics like qi deviation and the Face-Fixing Art are hardly things a student of basic martial disciplines would encounter, are they? How could eighteen individuals possibly outscore Cheol-yeong?”

Hearing his protests, the assisting scholars stepped forward with indignant expressions, but Lee Ja-gon raised a hand to keep them back.

“Granted, it is not typical coursework for standard applicants… but is it not knowledge that every martial artist building a true foundation should master?”

“……Are you suggesting the Taeul Sect anticipated material that even I failed to foresee?”

“Not quite. I found it unusual myself, so I questioned the top three finishers. They informed me that the chief disciple of the Taeul Sect gathered the students who were struggling with their studies and personally instructed them. He even authored a study guide himself.”

“The chief disciple?”

Jang Sa-gun shifted his gaze toward Jin So-un, who was currently laughing and celebrating with a group of youths nearby.

“Preparing specifically for an exam is well and good,” Lee Ja-gon remarked, “but in the end, the Murim Alliance values a well-rounded martial foundation over someone who merely excels at taking written tests.”

Leaving the tutor with those parting words, Lee Ja-gon departed for the lodgings alongside the scholars. Jang Sa-gun stood frozen for a long time, his eyes burning with resentment as he stared at Jin So-un and the gathered leadership of the Taeul Sect.

—

“How could you let this happen!”

It was inevitable that such a shocking disappointment would bring down a freezing tirade. Gye Yeon-seok unleashed an unprecedented wave of fury, completely abandoning the deference he usually showed in front of Jang Sa-gun.

“Did you not tell me to put all my faith in you? Did you not guarantee that he would achieve the top spot?”

His previously respectful demeanor had collapsed into a demanding, half-formal tone, but Jang Sa-gun kept his mouth shut. He was all too familiar with the volatile temperaments of obsessive parents in this business. When it came to their children’s futures, even high-ranking dignitaries and ministers would bow as if audiences to royalty. Conversely, if the outcome fell short, one had to bear the exact opposite vitriol.

“My deepest apologies. It appears that our intense focus on securing a flawless score for candidate Gye Cheol-yeong ultimately turned into a restrictive blind spot.”

“If this persists… if things remain this way…”

“Do not lose heart. The subsequent phase of testing will bear no resemblance to the written portion.”

“Do you have a viable strategy?”

“The second examination is where I have concentrated the bulk of my efforts over the past months. It evaluates the specific martial arts of the candidate’s own sect.”

“Cheol-yeong understands the physical movements, but he hasn’t mastered the internal cultivation heart method!”

“There is no need for concern. Because the strength variation among the One Hundred Eight Peaks is so vast, the Murim Alliance completely bans internal arts and judges purely on physical execution. A candidate scores higher by demonstrating flawless form without relying on internal energy, and is there anyone within the Taeul Sect who matches candidate Cheol-yeong’s physical martial precision?”

“……Hmph. I shall see if your words hold true.”

—

“The upcoming phase is designed to evaluate your mastery over your respective sect’s martial forms.”

Hearing Lee Ja-gon’s announcement, the representatives of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild felt a sudden wave of relief.

“Each examinee will perform their sect’s techniques before a panel of ten Appraisal Warriors. However, to ensure absolute safety, the deployment of internal energy is strictly forbidden.”

Gye Yeon-seok couldn’t contain an enthusiastic exclamation of “Splendid!” He spoke with such volume that the elders and the Sect Leader up on the dais glanced over at him, though Gye Yeon-seok kept his eyes glued entirely to the courtyard.

“With internal energy barred… Senior Brother Gye is practically guaranteed the top spot,” Geum-pyo muttered from his position beside me. As the eldest son of the local miller, he held the strongest distaste for Gye Cheol-yeong among all the students at the Busaeng Hall. Being the older brother to Eun-ho and Dong-ryong, he naturally assumed the role of a protective leader for the other disciples, making him highly respected among the younger peers.

“Are you feeling anxious?” I inquired.

“It would be dishonest to say I’m completely at ease. Senior Brother Gye is always hiring renowned martial experts from outside for private tutoring, isn’t he?”

The techniques of the Taeul Sect, which focused primarily on rapid sword strikes, possessed certain repetitive qualities. For someone like Gye Cheol-yeong, who had studied various external martial styles, achieving high proficiency in these forms was relatively simple. In truth, during raw physical sparring without internal energy, I was the only one who consistently bested him, while Sa-ryeon could manage a draw on a good day.

“Eldest Senior Brother, you must ensure you take the highest rank,” Geum-pyo urged.

“Didn’t you outscore me on the written test?” I countered with a smile. I had intentionally managed my performance to place around fifth. Geum-pyo had taken fourth, just a slot above me.

“Even so, you are the one who belongs at the Murim Academy, Senior Brother.”

“The selection is far from over. By the way, have you fully mastered the Minor Heaven Sword Art variations I showed you previously?”

“Every single movement.”

“Then you have something to look forward to.”

“What do you mean?”

Bypassing his question, I kept my eyes on Lee Ja-gon as he delivered the next set of instructions.

“Consequently, the Appraisal Warriors will utilize only the foundational technique of the Taeul Sect, the Minor Heaven Sword Art. The candidates must similarly restrict themselves to the Minor Heaven Sword Art and successfully neutralize the Appraisal Warriors’ offense within fifty exchanges.”

The faces of the various hall masters and the Sect Leader instantly lost their color. The Appraisal Warriors were comprised of martial artists who held at least a third-grade ranking within the Murim Alliance. No matter how much effort the Taeul Sect disciples had put into their training, overcoming such seasoned fighters would be an immense challenge.

However.

“Did he just say we only need to use the Minor Heaven Sword Art?”
“That’s exactly what he said, right?”
“I heard it plain as day.”

For an entirely different reason, the disciples began whispering excitedly among themselves. Ever since the confrontation with Namgung San, the youths who had begged me for instruction had been drilled in the Ascendant Form of the Minor Heaven Sword Art. It was a variation heavily rooted in the Sword-Breaking Form, adapted to systematically eliminate the style’s core flaws while amplifying its advantages. Because of this, the technique was perfectly calibrated to dismantle the traditional Minor Heaven Sword Art.

—

Over at the Gyeryong Merchant Guild’s tent, the atmosphere turned toxic for an entirely different reason.

“Explain this! Teacher Jang Sa-gun! What is the meaning of this disaster!” Gye Yeon-seok roared, completely disregarding the requirement for silence during the proceedings.

Jang Sa-gun’s expression turned incredibly grim.
…….
6th place. Gwak Il-nam.
7th place. Gye Cheol-yeong.
8th place. Song Gyeong-mun.
…….

By the end of the second day’s evaluation, Gye Cheol-yeong had barely managed to cling to the bottom edge of the top ten.

“What do you propose we do now!!” Gye Yeon-seok’s manner of speech had officially stripped away any remaining pretense of respect, degrading into raw, informal hostility.

Jang Sa-gun’s eyes twitched under the weight of the intense disrespect. “Sir. There is still a path to victory.”

Despite the tutor adopting an entirely submissive tone to salvage the situation, Gye Yeon-seok’s eyes remained full of pure cynicism.

“Ultimately, the phase that carries the heaviest weight in this Special Admission Track is the third evaluation. Fortunately, since Cheol-yeong’s score from today isn’t a total disaster, we can still completely reverse the standings.”

“Keep talking. I am listening.”

“……The final phase is a tournament where only the top sixteen individuals from the prior rounds are permitted to duel. The previous tests are, for all practical purposes, merely a filter to reach this stage.”

This, of course, was a complete fabrication. The combat tournament was intended to evaluate a candidate’s comprehensive martial understanding under controlled parameters to prevent lethal escalation. If the combatants proved evenly matched, the final decision would inevitably default back to the cumulative scores of the earlier rounds.

‘However,’ the tutor thought, ‘the inverse is also true: an absolutely dominant victory in the duels would render the prior scores irrelevant.’

“Hmph! The Taeul Sect may be a low-tier organization, but there are a few brats within it who possess genuine talent. How can you possibly ensure that Cheol-yeong will completely crush them?” Gye Yeon-seok was now addressing him like a common servant.

Suppressing his resentment, Jang Sa-gun gritted his teeth and explained, “I am well aware of the competition. The three brothers—Geum-pyo, Eun-ho, and Dong-ryong. Those three from the miller’s household possess respectable martial depth for this sect. Furthermore, Hong Sa-ryeon, the Sect Leader’s daughter, displays the most formidable prowess among the Busaeng Hall students.”

“You are forgetting someone. Jin So-un! I still find it difficult to credit, but he is the one who took down the Blood Wolf Iron Sword Seong Mo-hyeon and the Heaven-Opening Divine Dragon Namgung San. How on earth is Gye Cheol-yeong supposed to achieve a flawless victory against someone like that?”

Gye Cheol-yeong, who had to sit there and listen to himself being degraded alongside his tutor, shook with suppressed anger. Knowing what hung in the balance, however, he forced himself to remain silent.

“Sir. You must place your trust in me.”

“Give me a reason to trust you, and I will!”

“I have analyzed the accounts of those encounters,” Jang Sa-gun said, lowering his voice. “The extraordinary power Jin So-un displayed was fundamentally a mutually destructive, desperate gambit. In an official examination setting, the proctors will intervene to halt the match long before a situation like that can develop.”

“Get straight to the point! What is the solution!”

Spurred by Gye Yeon-seok’s impatience, Jang Sa-gun took a heavy breath. He gave a subtle nod toward his female martial associate, who hesitated for a split second before drawing a crimson wooden container from the folds of her garments. Upon opening it, five dark, ominous red pellets were revealed inside.

“What are those?”

“The definitive method to secure Cheol-yeong’s placement at the Murim Academy.”

“……”

“They are known as Blood-Explosion Pills.”

Gye Yeon-seok’s eyes widened in horror, his lips trembling. “Y-You absolute madman! Are you trying to destroy my family’s legacy? How dare you bring such a profane substance into my presence!”

“Sir. Do you happen to know the true reason behind the total eradication of the Demonic Cult in ancient times?”

“Why are you bringing up ancient history at a time like this?”

“Does it not strike you as peculiar? Within the Martial World, countless unorthodox sects and wicked factions commit unspeakable crimes daily, yet the Murim Alliance leaves them be. Why was the Demonic Cult uniquely singled out for destruction?”

“……”

“Though there were numerous factors, the primary catalyst was this exact concoction. The Blood-Explosion Pill possesses the unique attribute of instantly doubling an individual’s latent martial capacity without any prerequisite conditions.”

“Yes, and it leaves the consumer entirely crippled!”

“Incorrect.”

“What?”

“That is merely the public narrative, but the reality is quite different. The Murim Alliance of that era spread that falsehood because they panicked at the thought of the Demonic Cult’s absolute military dominance threatening the global order.”

“I have never heard of such a history.”

This time, Jang Sa-gun signaled his male scholar companion. The scholar retrieved a pale green wooden box from his pack and unlatched it.

“This is the Dormant Blood Pill. Once the candidate’s latent potential has been pushed to its limit by the Blood-Explosion Pill, administering this counter-agent safely pacifies the residual energy, granting immense power with negligible long-term damage.”

“……”

Gye Yeon-seok’s resolve began to falter. Deep down, he knew that an entirely consequence-free miracle drug was an impossibility; otherwise, the Blood-Explosion Pill would not be traded under such heavy secrecy. Yet, his options were running out. The existence of a stabilizing agent like the Dormant Blood Pill made the gamble tempting, and looking at the current standings, Gye Cheol-yeong had no legitimate path to admission left.

Glancing over at his son, Gye Yeon-seok locked eyes with Jang Sa-gun. “If you are lying to me, I will hunt you down to the deepest pits of misery and ruin your very existence. ……Tell me the exact toll this medicine takes.”

Jang Sa-gun swallowed hard. “……Should the combat extend beyond one hundred exchanges, it will inflict a permanent scar upon his Dantian.”

“You…… you deceitful scoundrel…….”

“But consider the reality, Sir. Cheol-yeong’s Dantian already holds an impressive thirty years of cultivated energy. Even if that girl Sa-ryeon or that brat Jin So-un strained themselves to the absolute limit with the Taeul Sect’s styles, they haven’t even accumulated twenty years of internal force. They will crumble under a single strike from Cheol-yeong once the Blood-Explosion Pill takes effect.”

In engagements between true masters, a hundred forms could pass in a heartbeat. However, at Cheol-yeong’s current level, an exchange of that length would exhaust his stamina before he could even hit the limit. Furthermore, given that the tournament matches would likely conclude within five rounds, utilizing the pill was a highly logical choice.

“Sir. You must trust me.”

At that moment, Gye Cheol-yeong stepped forward. “Father! I am willing to take it.”

“This is not your conversation to meddle in.”

“Think about it carefully, Father. Even though the young master Namgung San was restricted to Third Star internal energy during his bout, his entire clash with Jin So-un didn’t even reach fifty forms.”

After an agonizing silence, Gye Yeon-seok finally ground his teeth together. “If even a microscopic fracture is left in Cheol-yeong’s Dantian, I will personally tear you limb from limb.”

Feeling as though he were balanced on a razor-thin precipice, Jang Sa-gun gave a firm nod. “Put all your faith in me, Sir.”