The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 3

Chapter 3
### Chapter 3. A Third-Rate Warrior Who Gathers Spiritual Medicines

“Let me get this straight, you have no intention of returning to Busaeng Hall?”

The entire Taeul Sect was thrown into total chaos following the recent event.

To begin with, Gye Yeon-seok—who was Gye Cheol-yeong’s father as well as the leader of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild—had caused a massive scene regarding his son’s wounds. Consequently, the ensuing inquiry into the matter brought to light Gye Yeon-seung’s highly irresponsible behavior during training sessions.

As a result of these findings, Gye Yeon-seung was stripped of his position at Busaeng Hall and barred from ever stepping foot inside the Taeul Sect again.

Gye Yeon-seok complained bitterly that this unnecessary trouble had cost Gye Cheol-yeong his designated protector, yet the decision was already finalized and could not be undone.

“The previous Master of Busaeng Hall already confirmed that my training there is finished. So, there is absolutely no reason for me to go back.”

My father scowled, twisting his rugged features into the most terrifying expression he could manage.

While anyone else would have been frightened by such a menacing look, it only caused a profound wave of emotion to swell deep within my heart.

I swiftly shifted my eyes to the side, fighting to keep any tears from welling up.

“It defies belief. How could a worthless rascal like you manage to beat Gye Yeon-seung? Did you resort to some underhanded deception?”

“Well, Hall Master Gye accused me of the same thing right before his arm snapped. Are you looking to get your own arm broken, Father?”

“Insolent fool, what did you just say?”

“Regardless of your thoughts, I have nothing but free time until the remaining junior disciples finish their training at Busaeng Hall.”

“Out of everyone whose skull you could have bashed, why did it have to belong to Gye Cheol-yeong?”

My father, Jin Tae-san, held the position of Hall Master of the Outer Hall, meaning he was responsible for managing all of the sect’s external business.

Given that the Gyeryong Merchant Guild served as the primary financial backer for the Taeul Sect, this entire mess was a massive headache for him.

“But didn’t the Guild Master eventually admit his son was in the wrong? That ought to settle the matter.”

“Idiot! Do you honestly believe a person of Gye Yeon-seok’s stature will let things drop just like that? If our daily rations at the Taeul Sect are slashed to just two meals, do you expect your fellow disciples to just let you off the hook?”

“Mind your phrasing, please. Why exactly should I be blamed for that? If that happens, it would clearly be due to the incompetence of the Outer Hall Master.”

“You insolent brat—!”

“I’ll be going now.”

“Hold your ground, where do you think you’re off to? If you have no intention of going to Busaeng Hall, then you will assist with the duties here in the Outer Hall.”

“I have quite a few private affairs that require my attention.”

“Such as what?”

“I’ve reached the age where a young man starts growing a beard. I’d appreciate it if you respected my personal life.”

“Come again?”

Jin Tae-san’s facial hair twitched violently, as if his ears had just received the most ridiculous statement possible.

Naturally, I couldn’t tell him the truth: ‘I need to make preparations to defend the Taeul Sect from the impending resurgence of the Demonic Cult.’

As soon as I noticed my father’s hand reaching for the wooden club resting in the corner, I quickly lunged backward out of range.

“Goodbye for now—”

“Get back here, you little rascal!”

—

“Are you that unmannered scoundrel known as Jin So-un?”

I had barely managed to flee from my intimidating father when an elderly pig of a man with drooping jowls obstructed my way.

“And who might you be?”

“You… have no idea who I am?”

Naturally, I recognized him instantly.

He wore expensive silk garments that looked completely ridiculous on him, complemented by a gilded leather belt embedded with jade pieces and gaudy, oversized rings of solid gold.

No one else in the entire Taeul Sect would ever clothe themselves in such a distasteful manner.

This was none other than Gye Yeon-seok, the father of Gye Cheol-yeong, who spent day after day throwing the Taeul Sect into utter turmoil, his grand robes swishing as he stomped around.

“What exactly do you want from me?”

“Watch your insolent mouth, boy! You are speaking to Master Gye Yeon-seok, the revered leader of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild.”

A nearby guard, evidently hired for protection, scowled deeply and fixed me with an intense, threatening glare.

“Right, I understood you the first time. He runs the Gyeryong Merchant Guild. Which is precisely why I am inquiring about what business he needs to conduct with me.”

Gye Yeon-seok let out a sharp, incredulous scoff through his nostrils.

“Thanks to your actions, my dear Cheol-yeong is grievously wounded and confined to his bed. Did you honestly believe you could strike the rightful successor of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild and walk away unscathed?”

The boy had merely lost a drop of blood or two, making this an absurdly dramatic reaction to a single strike on the skull.

If we were applying that logic evenly, what recourse should be taken for all those Taeul Sect disciples who were repeatedly brutalized by Gye Cheol-yeong under the guise of friendly practice matches?

“I thought you agreed to drop the entire issue?”

“That agreement was strictly between the Sect Leader and myself. The grievance between you and me remains entirely unresolved, does it not?”

One had to wonder if possessing such boundless audacity could qualify as a form of martial expertise.

“And suppose you choose not to drop it?”

In response to my question, the bodyguard gripped the hilt of his blade, looking ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

“If you were so terrified of your son getting hurt, you ought to have instructed him in the family trade of merchantry. What was the point of having him train in martial arts?”

“…You… you insolent parasite! How dare you interrupt when an elder is addressing you…!”

Gye Yeon-seok’s eyes shifted rapidly as his mind raced, so I made sure to deliver my next words directly to him.

“If Senior Brother Gye actually manages to secure a spot at the Murim Academy, do you plan on following him there to demand retributions from the heirs of the Nine Sects and One Gang as well as the Five Great Clans whenever he loses a fight?”

Both Gye Yeon-seok and his accompanying guard froze, looking visibly taken aback.

Was it possible that such an obvious scenario had never crossed his mind?

Or did he naively assume that the prominent figures of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans would somehow refrain from exerting their dominance?

“Your silence proves that you lack the nerve to face true power. Yet you come here to the Taeul Sect making ridiculous demands, clearly demonstrating that you view the Taeul Sect as an effortless target to bully.”

“…Listen to this insolent… this utter scoundrel…!”

Gye Yeon-seok bellowed so loudly that his shouts drew out the Hall Masters from their respective quarters, and even the Sect Leader himself began stepping out from the Great Mysterious Hall.

“Over a dozen younger students were battered by Senior Brother Gye, leaving them bedridden for days on end. Before you point fingers at me, you ought to hold Senior Brother Gye accountable for the suffering he inflicted on them.”

“You insolent creature…”

Gye Yeon-seok, whose vocabulary had been reduced to repetitive sputtering and insults, suddenly let out a smug, victorious grin.

“If the financial backing of the Taeul Sect is entirely revoked because of your arrogance, will you be the one to answer for it?”

That reality had always been our Achilles’ heel.

Roughly half of the current generation of disciples were individuals like me, who had spent their entire lives within the walls of the Taeul Sect.

The remaining half came from impoverished households in the nearby village.

The majority of them had joined solely to alleviate the financial strain on their parents by reducing the number of people to feed at home.

Because hardship forces children to mature early, these disciples grasped better than anyone that defying Gye Cheol-yeong would only bring misfortune down on everyone else.

“Answer for it?”

This leverage was exactly how Gye Cheol-yeong and Gye Yeon-seok had maintained their absolute tyranny over the Taeul Sect with minimal effort.

“There are countless alternative sects within the One Hundred Eight Peaks that would gladly take Cheol-yeong in. We can transfer him to another school at a moment’s notice. If that transpires, will you accept the blame?”

Securing Gye Cheol-yeong’s enrollment meant gaining access to vast financial resources.

Furthermore, the Taeul Sect was far from the only school among the One Hundred Eight Peaks that faced severe economic distress.

The knowledge that numerous other organizations desired Cheol-yeong was the precise vulnerability that forced the members of the Taeul Sect to choke down their pride.

As a result, no one had ever dared to challenge him, even though any ordinary martial artist would have.

“Go right ahead then.”

“Pardon me?”

“You asked about the consequences? I will take full ownership of them. Go forward with your plan.”

My father, who had been walking toward us while conversing with a fellow Hall Master, caught wind of our exchange. His complexion instantly turned pale, and he looked prepared to dash directly into the fray.

“There remains less than twelve months before the upcoming special admission evaluation. Do you honestly think Senior Brother Gye will find another place willing to cater to him as thoroughly as the Taeul Sect does? What respected martial institution would genuinely accommodate a sudden outsider like Senior Brother Gye just to secure a single year’s worth of funding?”

“How could you… possibly understand…”

My father, who had been on the cusp of intervening, abruptly halted in his tracks.

“The students of the Taeul Sect are far from ignorant. They have been instructed in the noble path of righteousness, which is why they simply choose not to degrade themselves by mixing with unprincipled individuals.”

Gye Yeon-seok shook with rage, gnashing his teeth before spitting out his words.

“I will personally ensure that the Taeul Sect pays a heavy price. Due to your reckless behavior, everyone in the Taeul Sect will soon be forced to cut back on their food and dress in tattered rags.”

It was a blatant attempt to intimidate.

I leaned in close and murmured softly so only he could hear.

“Do you genuinely believe I intend to let you do that?”

Noticing that my father was once again trying to storm over, unable to restrain himself any longer, I swiftly pivoted and walked away, exiting the premises of the Taeul Sect.

I had a massive amount of tasks awaiting me.

—

During my past life, once Gye Cheol-yeong managed to secure his placement in the Murim Academy via the special admission route, the financial aid provided to the Taeul Sect took a noticeable downturn.

Even though his status had only been that of a lay follower, the funding completely ceased within a matter of years, as if he intended to cut ties completely, forcing the members of the Taeul Sect to ration their food.

“Since that outcome is bound to occur regardless, a representative other than Gye Cheol-yeong needs to claim that spot.”

Bearing in mind that the Taeul Sect was destined to be dragged into the catastrophic Great Righteous-Demonic War, an actual member of our sect needed to gain entry into the Murim Academy. Joining the Murim Alliance as a mere foot soldier meant one would simply serve as cannon fodder and be left to die.

“The real issue lies in the fact that the techniques of the Taeul Sect are incredibly…”

They were completely pointle… rather, filled with unnecessary flaws.

Based on the insights of Jegal Cheon-gi, the solitary valuable techniques preserved by the Taeul Sect were the Minor Heaven Sword Art alongside the Taeul Heart Method.

The vast array of other styles taught here conflicted completely with the Taeul Heart Method, which formed the foundational core of the Taeul Sect.

Because the foundational core and the secondary techniques were fundamentally at odds, it made perfect sense that throughout centuries of cultivation, not a solitary legendary expert had risen from here to disturb the peace of the martial world.

Fortunately, the peak techniques belonging to the Nine Sects and One Gang as well as the Five Great Clans were entirely memorized within my own mind.

“However, if I openly train in those styles, the entire Taeul Sect will likely be wiped out by suspicious rivals before the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult even makes its grand reappearance.”

“Even the rushing waters of the Yangtze can erode solid stone islands.”

Nevertheless, relying strictly on the Taeul Heart Method would require roughly two centuries of continuous meditation just to accumulate a single gapja of internal reserve.

Ultimately, this implied that my only viable path was to track down and ingest every miraculous herb available. Yet, such resources were deemed spiritual medicines precisely due to their extreme rarity.

“…Heh. Luckily, I possess a method.”

I instantly set to work scouring the vast archive built within my consciousness.

Back when my junior fellow disciples were perishing without a choice against the onslaught of the Demonic Cult, my assigned role within the Murim Alliance consisted of staying behind to commit to memory various random records and documents that cluttered the archives.

Yet, when the overwhelming tides of the Demonic Cult broke through the ultimate perimeter and time completely ran out, I found myself forced to commit to memory the highly sensitive files from Mantongbu and Sim Hyeon-gak as well.

These secret records were significantly more intricate and massive in scale compared to the ordinary paperwork.

I abandoned any attempt to comprehend or integrate the knowledge, choosing instead to merely preserve them by establishing a massive mental archive.

Deep within the dark recesses of that psychological repository, I located a specific text.

The Murim Compendium of Spiritual Medicines.

This was a top-secret register detailing the precise harvest locations, exact blooming periods, and transit paths of rare plants destined to surface across the martial landscape over the coming two decades, drawn from historical accounts.

Although labeled a restricted document, by that point in time, it was simply an archive tracking mystical plants that had long since been unearthed by others.

To store such seemingly pointless data, my brain had experienced a massive strain, causing me to suffer from continuous nosebleeds throughout those days.

And the ultimate compensation for enduring that agony was an execution intended to keep me quiet.

“Just recalling that betrayal makes my blood boil. That wretched Taecheong Divine Sword, that absolute scoundrel…”

During my youth, he had been the figure I admired most.

Among his peers, he stood completely unmatched; a genius existing far above ordinary mortals.

When the flames of the Great Righteous-Demonic War spread across the land, he emerged as the champion of the righteous factions, uniting the splintered Murim Alliance under a single banner almost instantly.

He was the legendary figure who kept the Murim Alliance from being completely erased from existence when it stood on the brink of total destruction.

However, to secure the survival of the Murim Alliance, the Taecheong Divine Sword ruthlessly abandoned everyone outside of his inner circle.

Ultimately, the version of the Murim Alliance established in Bukhae was constructed entirely upon the bones and lifeblood of those sacrificed.

“I refuse to place my faith in you or any organization resembling the Murim Alliance ever again.”

Clenching my jaw tightly in resentment, I began making my way toward the hidden location of the initial treasure, the Ten-Thousand-Year Heshouwu.