The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 34

Chapter 34
We reconvened three days later, once every member of our party had completed their individual arrangements.

The hidden threshold leading to the subterranean cavern holding the coveted Mita Sacred Water was submerged beneath a raging river winding through the deep ravines of the Demon Spirit Plateau.

The sheer velocity and power of the torrent meant that even masters well-versed in advanced Water Arts would find navigating the depths an incredibly perilous endeavor.

Furthermore, any reckless attempt to force a way through risked getting caught in the undertow and swept completely downstream into the vast expanse of Dongting Lake before ever setting foot inside. Acknowledging this danger, the enterprising merchants of the Hao Gate, who had made a fortune selling the navigation charts, had arranged to artificially divert the river’s upper flow at a strictly predetermined hour.

By the time the designated date arrived, the streets of Yueyang were packed to absolute capacity, practically bursting with travelers and mercenaries.

“When is the operation scheduled to commence?”

“The word is they will begin obstructing the upper currents precisely at the Hour of the Tiger.”

In response to Namgung Seon-hwa’s inquiry, the scout who had been dispatched to verify the rumors provided the timeline.

She immediately turned to the rest of the group to relay the plan.

“We should begin our advance during the Hour of the Rabbit.”

“Would it not be wiser to delay our departure slightly?”

The moment I voiced my suggestion, every single eye in the assembly shifted toward me in unison.

Part of their irritation undoubtedly stemmed from their disdain for a solitary wanderer who had joined their ranks empty-handed, yet presumed to offer counsel. Naturally, the martial artists of the Iron Sword Sect, who still nursed a bitter grudge against me, directed glares that were far from welcoming.

“What is your reasoning for this delay?”

“The canyon paths may be vast, but forcing thousands of eager martial artists into such a bottleneck simultaneously will inevitably ignite a massive, bloody conflict the very moment the path clears.”

According to the official intelligence reports compiled by the Mantongbu of the prestigious Murim Alliance during a similar past event, roughly ten thousand fighters had swarmed into the narrow, drained riverbed all at once, triggering a chaotic free-for-all almost immediately.

In such cramped quarters, even the most disciplined factions found it impossible to coordinate their signature sword formations, resulting in catastrophic losses for large organizations while legendary masters of the murim met shockingly unceremonious ends in the crush.

“Furthermore, the subterranean network inside the cavern is incredibly expansive and labyrinthine. Being the absolute first to breach the entrance yields no true advantage. Securing an early entry simply is not a decisive factor.”

While Namgung Seon-hwa appeared to register the logic behind my words, the gap between strategic theory and the frantic reality of martial greed was vast.

“Be that as it may, I believe establishing our position at the front remains the superior option.”

“…As you wish.”

I refrained from pressing the matter further. Ultimately, Namgung Seon-hwa held the mantle of leadership for our collective alliance. Rather than risking friction by forcing a confrontation, it was far more practical to focus on my own preparations.

“Please, accept one of these.”

I stepped forward and presented a hand-drawn map scroll to Namgung Seon-hwa, Seong Mo-ran, and Yu Ji-ryang respectively.

“I had my doubts when you mentioned this, but… this craftsmanship is truly remarkable.”

Yu Ji-ryang murmured in sheer disbelief as he unrolled the parchment to inspect the details.

“You took the time to draft an individual copy for each of us?”

“We cannot foresee what perils or separations await us once we cross the threshold. At the very least, provided you remain alongside a few companions, these charts will ensure you never wander blindly in the dark.”

Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran offered silent nods of acknowledgment, wordlessly signaling their respective subordinates, who responded with subtle, solemn gestures of their own.

“The sheer scale of this gathering is staggering.”

Though the morning sun had yet to breach the horizon, the pathways were already choked with dense swarms of people pressing eagerly toward the jagged peaks of the Demon Spirit Plateau.

“Look there—even the most notorious syndicates of the Black Path are out in full force. Aren’t those figures over there the infamous Mad Demon Five Dogs?”

Seong Mo-ran surveyed the chaotic surroundings, her expression tinged with a visible sense of apprehension.

“Such desperation is entirely logical given the legendary reputation of the Mita Sacred Water.”

“Is that so? Does the Mita Sacred Water possess some unique benefit that specifically appeals to those of the Black Path?”

“The fundamental miracle remains identical, but its value multiplies tenfold for unorthodox martial artists. Disciples of the Orthodox Path sects are raised on meticulously balanced inner arts heart methods, ensuring their internal qi reservoirs remain pure and untainted by volatile impurities. Conversely, the vast majority of cultivation techniques utilized by the Black Path lack proper structural foundations, prioritizing rapid accumulation of raw inner arts volume. Consequently, as their power scales upward, their true qi grows increasingly unstable, gradually ravaging and corrupting their physical vessels. For individuals suffering from such degenerative decay, undergoing a physical Rebirth via the Mita Sacred Water is equivalent to receiving an entirely unblemished lease on life.”

“Ah, I see….”

“……!”

The explanation drew a look of enlightened surprise not only from Seong Mo-ran, but from Namgung Seon-hwa as well, who regarded me with a renewed sense of wonder.

“Tell me, Young Master Jin, why do you harbor such a profound aversion to Great Hero Hyeoncheong?”

Hyeoncheong was the esteemed Daoist title borne by Yong So-ah.

“I hold no personal animosity toward him…….”

“Save your denials. The gaze you directed at Great Hero Hyeoncheong crackled with a lethal intent far more intense than any resentment you have ever shown toward my own elder brother.”

As I shifted my eyes slightly, I caught the warriors of the Iron Sword Sect staring back at me with expressions that suggested they would gladly strike me down on the spot.

I briefly debated whether it was worth trying to quiet Seong Mo-ran’s prying questions, but ultimately decided to answer her frankly.

“My distaste stems from his reckless declaration that our survival was guaranteed simply by following blindly in his wake, offering no tangible strategy whatsoever.”

“But surely a master of Great Hero Hyeoncheong’s formidable caliber possesses the martial might to back up such a claim?”

“On raw martial arts prowess alone, perhaps. Yet no amount of strength can predict the shifting variables or hidden mechanisms waiting within the depths, can it?”

“……Granted, but navigating alongside such power undeniably offers an advantage.”

“Undeniably. I simply found his demeanor intolerable—the arrogant presumption that he held absolute dominion over the life and death of everyone present.”

“My, my…… you truly possess an absolute disdain for bowing your head to anyone, don’t you?”

“Whatever do you mean by that?”

“Think nothing of it. Look ahead, the commotion is intensifying.”

Leaving the muddy tracks behind, we transitioned onto a path where the cold river water began to lap against our ankles.

Our party had officially breached the threshold of the Demon Spirit Plateau’s central ravine.

The density of the crowd ahead grew suffocatingly tight, causing our forward momentum to grind to a virtual crawl.

Simultaneously, the sea of martial artists trailing behind us began to close the distance, pressing aggressively against our rear guard.

“Why must this passageway be so maddeningly narrow?”

While Seong Mo-ran voiced her frustration, Namgung Seon-hwa’s keen instincts picked up on an unsettling shift in the air. She immediately barked an order for her subordinates to raise their guard.

“Draw your weapons! Prepare for an ambush!”

As the disciplined fighters of the Namgung Clan bared their blades, the vanguard of the crowd pressing from behind hesitated briefly. However, the relentless, surging pressure of the infinite human tide stretching back along the riverbed forced them forward against their own volition.

“Lady Seong, it would be wisest for you to retreat into the center of our martial escort immediately.”

“What? Whatever do you mean by that?”

“The wind is carrying the sound of slaughter from the vanguard.”

“??”

Even as Seong Mo-ran tilted her head in confusion, a crimson tint began to bleed into the clear water swirling around our boots.

“!!”

Before another word could be spoken, Namgung Seon-hwa swiftly moved to position herself securely among the core fighters of the Namgung Clan.

Yu Ji-ryang and the specialized spell practitioners of the Maoshan Sect had already been ushered into the safest pocket of the Namgung Clan’s defensive formation.

“GYAAAH!”

“NOOO!”

The distant echoes of agonizing screams were rapidly amplifying, drawing terrifyingly close to our position.

At the same time, the faint streaks of red that had initially mirrored thin dye in the current deepened rapidly, transforming the riverbed into a literal torrent of thick human blood.

The surrounding violence erupted exponentially.

Uninvolved factions merely attempting to observe the conflict would suddenly be violently shoved by the panicked masses surging from behind, inadvertently intercepting a lethal blade. Naturally, the surviving companions of the fallen would instantly draw their weapons to retaliate, dragging entire organizations into the meatgrinder.

A frantic melee materialized, entirely devoid of logic, completely blurring the lines between ally and adversary.

Given that the crowd was overwhelmingly comprised of volatile Black Path mercenaries, the bloodlust spread like a wildfire through dry brush, showing absolutely no signs of abating. Within moments, the chaotic front crashed directly into the perimeter where the Namgung Clan stood their ground.

“Form the Great Swallow Sword Formation!”

A senior swordsman roared the command, and the Namgung Clan forces attempted to shift outward to secure the necessary spacing. However, the suffocating wall of bodies pressing from the rear completely pinned them in place, rendering the complex tactical formation useless.

“The space is too confined!”

“Keep the Young Lady Seon-hwa shielded at all costs!”

“Understood!”

In a matter of breaths, the Namgung Clan warriors were dragged into the desperate struggle for survival, while the Iron Sword Sect contingents bringing up the rear readied their own blades for impact.

The sheer vertical cliffs flanking our positions rose nearly thirty jang into the sky, tapering inward near the summit and offering absolutely no ledges or paths for tactical retreat.

‘This is a death trap.’

Reaching into my gear, I uncoiled the Flying Dragon Claw and fired it with precise force, embedding the steel prongs deep into the face of the cliff.

Utilizing the tension like a spider ascending a silken thread, I propelled my body upward along the vertical stone face.

“A total slaughterhouse.”

Looking down from my vantage point, dozens of corpses already littered the upper stretches of the river channel, while the living ruthlessly trampled the fallen to plunge headlong into the fray.

If our companions remained trapped in that bottleneck, both the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect would sustain devastating, irreplaceable casualties.

Our immediate priority had to be escaping this pointless war of attrition.

“It will tax my reserves, but utilizing One cycles of inner arts should suffice.”

Once I verified that the anchors of the Flying Dragon Claw held fast against the stone, I circulated my internal reservoirs, channeling raw martial power to reinforce my right fist.

Unleashing the Great Yang Fist—a signature, destructive striking art of the Taeul Sect—I slammed my knuckles into the cliffside.

BOOM—! BOOM—! BOOM—!

Fissures began to spiderweb across the ancient, seemingly immovable rock face. When the frantic combatants below looked up, distracted by the unnatural grinding echoes overhead, their faces drained of color.

“W-What is that maniac up to?!”

CRASH—! THUD, CRASH—!

As a sizable cavity fractured open, a torrent of loose earth and heavy stone fragments rained down upon the valley floor.

“Scatter! Watch out above!”

“You absolute lunatic! Cease this madness!”

Ignoring the furious shouts echoing from the canyon floor, I continued my relentless assault on the stone. Once I had hollowed out a shelf wide enough to provide stable footing, I cast the line of the Flying Dragon Claw back down toward Yu Ji-ryang and the vulnerable mystics of the Maoshan Sect.

“Secure yourselves to the cord!”

The moment they secured their grip, I altered the flow of my inner arts, forcefully reeling the line inward.

Leaping smoothly from the valley floor, the three figures were hoisted effortlessly through the air, sticking a landing on the newly carved mid-cliff terrace.

“Regain your bearings here for a moment.”

“…….”

Yu Ji-ryang, still visibly shaken by the sudden brush with the brutal melee below, could only stare at me in a daze.

Wasting no time, I moved along the vertical surface directly adjacent to them and began excavating a secondary alcove. The moment the space was viable, I hauled up two heavily bleeding warriors from the Iron Sword Sect along with the lone companion who had been desperately shielding them.

“Start carving footholds into the stone so the rest of your comrades can ascend.”

“……We lack the proper tools for masonry.”

“Are you planning to brew your internal energy into a broth, or will you use your martial arts for its intended purpose?”

Moving to an untouched section of the cliff, I fractured open a third pocket, using it to extract an injured Namgung Clan swordsman who had fallen while guarding the Maoshan Sect spell practitioners, along with a healthy vanguard fighter who had stayed by his side.

“…….”

By this stage, the intention behind my madness finally dawned on the remaining Namgung Clan forces. They silently began driving their weapons into the rock to assist the excavation. Among the fighters trapped below, those highly proficient in specialized claw arts began scaling the vertical surface, mirroring my movements to anchor themselves and dig out footholds.

Thanks to the sudden hazard of falling debris, the intense fighting directly beneath us experienced a temporary lull as mercenaries scrambled to avoid getting crushed, though the wider conflict continued to rage violently across the canyon floor.

By the time I assisted the final rearguard of the Iron Sword Sect up to safety, the gathered martial artists stood paralyzed, staring down at the absolute pandemonium unfolding beneath them.

In every direction, maddened fighters were hacking blindly at anything that moved, completely incapable of identifying friend from foe.

Realizing just how close they had come to being swallowed whole by that mindless slaughter, the warriors grew pale with retroactive terror.

“It appears your counsel was entirely correct, Young Master Jin. We truly should have delayed our entry.”

Namgung Seon-hwa murmured softly, her voice laden with immense remorse for nearly leading her people into an early grave.

“Should we entrench ourselves on these heights and wait out the conflict until the valley clears?”

Having nearly jeopardized the survival of both the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect forces, Namgung Seon-hwa seemed entirely stripped of confidence in her own tactical judgment.

“Now that the bloodlust has taken hold, this madness will persist for hours. It won’t be long before other desperate factions realize what we’ve done and begin scaling these cliffs themselves.”

“What course of action remains to us, then?”

“We maintain our elevation and bypass the valley floor entirely to reach the cavern entrance.”

“……But how? We do not possess enough specialized climbing gear to sustain the entire group.”

“Do we have any other martial artists among us who have mastered specialized claw techniques?”

In response to my question, the survivors of both the Iron Sword Sect and the Namgung Clan exchanged hesitant glances before a single warrior slowly raised his hand.

He belonged to the Iron Sword Sect—the very same man who, until moments ago, had watched me with a gaze full of murderous intent whenever I accompanied Seong Mo-ran.

“Through an old acquaintance, I happen to have mastered the fundamentals of the Soul-Breaking Claw Art.”

The lethal hostility he had previously projected toward me had completely evaporated, replaced by a tone of disciplined deference one might use when addressing a superior commander.

“Excellent. If I lead the vanguard and fracture the initial stone, can you follow behind and refine those marks into stable handholds and steps for the main body?”

“……I am confident I can execute that.”

“Then here is the plan: I will blaze the trail. Any warrior who still possesses full physical strength will take one of the Maoshan Sect spell practitioners onto their back, following the trail of carved grooves directly toward the cave mouth.”

“Understood!”

“Understood!”

With firm, unified compliance secured from both Seong Mo-ran and Namgung Seon-hwa, the entire operation fell into place with absolute fluidity, progressing as smoothly as a great river rushing a thousand li down an unblocked channel.

The capable fighters of the Namgung Clan swiftly hoisted the Maoshan Sect spell practitioners onto their shoulders, while the remaining uninjured combatants formed a protective perimeter, tracking the canyon below to repel any frantic ambushers attempting to scale the cliff after us.

“Moving out.”

TWANG.

Releasing the Flying Dragon Claw once more, I swung across the chasm, securing a fresh anchor on the opposite rock face.

Using the devastating impact of the Great Yang Fist, I shattered the stone to create an initial breach.

Without a pause, I fired the grappling line back to the opposing cliffside, repeating the process.

The Iron Sword Sect warrior proficient in the Soul-Breaking Claw Art utilized my initial impact points to suspend himself over the void, systematically carving out clean, deep footholds for the main party trailing in our wake.

Despite his earlier modesty, his execution was flawless; whenever his fingers struck the solid, weathered stone, the rock yielded effortlessly beneath his internal power, shaping like soft clay in contrast to the violent fractures left by my fists.

As our column advanced along the high cliffs toward our destination, a scattering of observant factions below began to take notice and attempt to follow our route.

“Young Master Jin! We have pursuers climbing up our trail!”

“Pay them no mind. In their frantic states, if they dare initiate a fight at this altitude, they will merely doom themselves to a fatal fall along with us.”

By the time our party had drawn within striking distance of the subterranean entrance, Seong Mo-ran suddenly extended her arm toward a specific section of the valley floor, shouting over the din.

“Look over there!”

Navigating through a horrific mound of fresh casualties and a rising tide of blood, the elite contingent led by Yong So-ah and Ha Min-jung was locked in an incredibly fierce, desperate struggle for survival.

While Yong So-ah and the senior Taoist masters of the Wudang Sect maintained an aura of controlled precision, it was starkly evident that Ha Min-jung and his direct subordinates had already sustained a significant number of losses.

“The threshold is within our grasp. Maintain your focus on the objective.”

In stark contrast to the butchery below, the immediate vicinity surrounding the elevated cavern mouth was surprisingly desolate.

The vast majority of those fragile enough to perish had already been cut down, while the formidable survivors had already vanished into the darkness of the cave.

The moment my boots touched solid ground at the cave mouth, I twisted my body to evade a flurry of opportunistic sword thrusts originating from the darkness, unleashing the precise, sweeping arcs of the Minor Heaven Sword Art to clear the path.

“GAAAH!”

“URGH!”

Geysers of crimson sprayed through the air; at this point, the natural mountain runoff had been entirely replaced by a thick stream of human blood cascading down into the ravine.

The martial artists of the Iron Sword Sect scrambled onto the ledge directly behind me, charging forward with reckless ferocity to butcher any remaining stragglers blocking the threshold. Before any external factions could rally to trap us, we ducked swiftly into the winding shadows of the cavern.

Even within the safety of the stone tunnels, we were forced to cut down a few crazed combatants who lunged blindly at us out of sheer panic. Darting past several confusing intersections, we finally brought our frantic sprint to a halt only after reaching a deep, silent chamber completely devoid of any human presence.

“Hah…… Hah…… Hah……!”

“Phew……! Heavens……!”

Only as they collapsed against the stone to desperately catch their breath did the exhausted warriors realize a staggering truth: they had successfully breached the legendary cavern without suffering a single casualty.

“It is a miracle…… not a single life was lost.”

“……Haa.”

“……Unbelievable.”

The survivors of the Namgung Clan and the veterans of the Iron Sword Sect alike turned their eyes toward me, their expressions reflecting a deeply complex mixture of awe, gratitude, and sheepishness.

“This fortune is entirely owed to the ingenuity of Young Master Jin. Had you not intervened, half of our number would currently be corpses at the bottom of that valley.”

“Save the commendations and calculations of debt for later. At this very moment, we have no way of knowing when the remaining frenzied martial artists outside will spill into these tunnels and ignite another mindless slaughter.”

“The trouble is, because our entry was so incredibly frantic, we had absolutely no opportunity to consult the navigation charts.”

“There is no need. The layout is perfectly cataloged in my mind.”

Despite my reassurance, Namgung Seon-hwa remained rooted to the spot, staring at me with a profound, unblinking intensity.

“Young Master Jin, would you be willing to assume total command and guide our path through this labyrinth?”

The moment the words left Namgung Seon-hwa’s lips, I opened my mouth to point out that the prideful warriors of both the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect would never tolerate being led by an outsider.

Yet as I scanned the faces in the cavern, I found Seong Mo-ran, alongside every single hardened fighter from both factions, watching me with expressions of intense, unspoken anticipation.

“Are you entirely certain the rest of your men are amenable to this?”

“We formally request your leadership.”

Only as the agreement settled into the air did a profound, visible wave of relief wash over the faces of the Iron Sword Sect and Namgung Clan warriors.