The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 41

Chapter 41
Chapter 41. A First-Rate Warrior Stirring Up a New Wind (3)

The moment word spread that my health had improved sufficiently for me to venture outdoors, a continuous stream of guests began to form outside my door.

“We caught sight of each other a bit ago, correct? My name is Cha Seok-du, and I serve as the Peak Lord of Four Emperors Peak.”

“I am Kang Maeng-ji, the Gang Chief of the Black Serpent Gang. Surely, my reputation precedes me.”

“I am Go Gil-san, the leading figure of the Four Dragons Sect.”

“The Gang Chief representing the Blood Spear Sect…….”

“The representative of the Saber Armor Sect…….”

In an ordinary situation, being a student of the Taeul Sect and sharing a room with prominent figures of the Black Path Murim would have caused me immense stress, yet they pushed their way inside without showing the least bit of consideration for my predicament.

“The entire Black Path Murim is deeply indebted to you.”

Following Cha Seok-du’s remark, every individual assembled beside him expressed their agreement with a collective nod.

“Had you not intervened, the sheer magnitude of the chaos that would have overwhelmed the Black Path Murim is beyond comprehension.”

“Please, there is no need for such praise. Putting political stances aside, I only carried out what common decency demanded.”

“That is not true. We are fully aware—just as those sanctimonious fools of the Orthodox Path are—of how incredibly challenging it is to overlook factional creeds and act on basic principles. To illustrate, isn’t it true that the Murim Alliance’s hesitant reaction was simply due to the fact that most individuals trapped on the Demon Spirit Plateau belonged to the Black Path Murim?”

“…….”

“Because of that, your actions represent a monumental and priceless feat that can never be adequately compensated.”

Rubbing his cheek in an uncomfortable manner, Cha Seok-du continued.

“On account of your deeds, I came to realize that even amidst those pretentious moralists, a few genuinely honorable people exist.”

“Ah, haha…….”

I found myself completely uncertain as to whether this development warranted celebration or concern.

Prior to the emergence of the Demonic Cult, the primary adversaries targeted by the Murim Alliance had always been the Black Path along with the Unorthodox Path.

“If it were up to my personal desires, I would gladly host a massive celebration for you and your entire lineage……”

“Excuse me?”

The exclamation slipped from my lips involuntarily, and before I could attempt to gloss over my shock, a look of remorse washed over Cha Seok-du’s features.

“……however, doing so would likely bring an immense amount of grief upon you.”

I quickly jumped back into the conversation, hoping to dampen their overwhelming sense of obligation.

Should rumors circulate that I accepted an official invitation from a faction within the Black Path, skipping the event would trigger backlash, while attending would spark an even worse political disaster.

“I consider myself fully rewarded simply by the knowledge that the fundamental morals of the Murim World were preserved, transcending any divisions between light and dark. Any additional demonstrations of thanks would only make me feel overly burdened.”

A complex look settled upon the expressions of Cha Seok-du, Kang Maeng-ji, Go Gil-san, and the rest of the group.

Given their intimidating and harsh countenances, it was impossible to discern if they were furious at me for turning down their kindness or secretly relieved that they were off the hook for a favor.

“Bwahahaha! Incredible. Simply magnificent. How does the Orthodox Path manage to continually produce such remarkable individuals?”

As Cha Seok-du let out a booming laugh, the surrounding members of the Black Path joined in with boisterous chuckles of their own.

“……Haha.”

My situation felt precisely like that of a small swine captured by a band of predators, utterly terrified of when they might decide to cook me alive.

“Be that as it may, failing to return a kindness would mean forfeiting our basic decency as human beings, to say nothing of ruining the reputation of the Black Path. Here, accept this.”

He extended his hand, presenting a small token of identification roughly the length of two knuckles.

“Four Emperors Peak stands ready to honor our obligation at any moment you request our assistance.”

“……!!”

A silent breath caught in my throat from the sheer shock.

The token he had placed in my hand functioned as far more than a simple badge of membership; it was essentially a pledge of absolute reciprocation.

And it was bestowed directly by a grand master who pledged the very future of his entire organization upon it.

It operated as a binding guarantee, stating that Four Emperors Peak would answer a summons under any circumstances.

Within the bounds of the Murim World, even for a group operating outside the law, ignoring the commitment signified by this item would mark that organization as entirely devoid of integrity, completely destroying their standing even within the criminal underworld of the Black Path Murim.

On top of that, such a token possessed no time limit whatsoever. As long as Four Emperors Peak endured over the centuries, whoever held that piece of material could demand that Four Emperors Peak honor their ancestral vow at least once. It represented an emblem of absolute confidence that wealth alone could never purchase.

As I hesitated, debating whether a practitioner belonging to a righteous faction like myself ought to take such an object, the leaders of the remaining organizations approached one after another.

“The Black Serpent Gang offers the exact same promise.”

“And so do I…….”

In this manner, a collection of tokens began to accumulate on the surface before me.

The surface of the desk soon held at least a score of these badges. Although a greater number of factions had been involved in the battle, they appeared to have chosen specific leaders to act on behalf of the collective group.

“Uh…….”

“Please do not reject this minimal gesture. If we were to withhold even this, we would truly deserve to be called Human-Faced Beasts with the Hearts of Monsters, despite our lawless nature.”

Mulling over his statement for a brief second, I gave a nod of assent and stood up.

When the tides of the Great Righteous-Demonic War finally arrived, both the righteous factions and the wicked syndicates would face total annihilation. In the eyes of the zealots leading the Demonic Cult, any distinction between righteousness and corruption became entirely irrelevant.

My mind drifted back to the genuine inheritance of the Patriarch, which remained firmly etched within my memory.

With these developments, wasn’t a solid groundwork gradually taking shape, allowing me to finally operate without constantly worrying about the scrutiny of rival organizations?

“Disregarding our different affiliations, it would be improper of me to decline the kindness shown by esteemed elders of our martial society. I appreciate this, and I shall employ these tokens wisely when the time comes.”

No sooner had the syndicates of the lawless factions departed than the delegates from the righteous groups filed into the room, leaving me without a moment to catch my breath.

Due to the smaller turnout of righteous organizations during the conflict, their delegation was far less numerous than the previous gathering.

“I see that the leader of Four Emperors Peak has already paid you a visit.”

Namgung Jin-myeong offered a grin while eyeing the stack of tokens cluttering the desk. As I debated whether to conceal the items from view, he apparently picked up on my unease and gestured dismissively.

“Do not worry about it. Peak Lord Cha Seok-du approached me to inquire about what kind of recompense would serve you best, and I suggested this very idea to him.”

To think that the master of Four Emperors Peak and the young heir of the Namgung Clan had held such a discussion together.

“Their aggressive presence throughout Yueyang actually simplified our logistics. Those greedy traders always try to exploit a crisis for financial gain, don’t they?”

The background of the situation unfolded like this.

Once huge numbers of martial artists converged upon the Demon Spirit Plateau, resulting in severe resource shortages, vital goods had to be ferried from Yueyang, which was the closest urban hub.

Taking advantage of the desperation, the local businessmen drastically inflated their rates. Right as the righteous factions prepared to reluctantly cough up the exorbitant fees, the lawless syndicates raided the commercial hubs and Escort Agencies, using intimidation to bring the costs back down to a reasonable level.

Hearing Namgung Jin-myeong describe the event as a flawless collaboration between light and shadow, all I could manage was a strained chuckle.

“Ha… ha…….”

The Namgung Clan, having developed a deep resentment toward the leadership of the Murim Alliance over recent events, was making a public point of forming alliances with prominent figures of the Black Path Murim.

Yet, did I possess the luxury of behaving with such reckless confidence? Hardly.

He stood as the prominent heir to the illustrious Namgung Clan, whereas my allegiance lay with the modest Taeul Sect.

He gave a reassuring nod, signaling that I had no reason to fret.

“No individual will dare accuse you of consorting with criminals based on your actions here. Should anyone make such a claim, I shall personally end their life.”

“……Pardon??”

“I am merely jesting.”

I fell silent at his grim humor, while he let out a light laugh, clearly entertained by my reaction.

“Word has it that you stopped the Emperor Sword Art using nothing but your bare skin, yet your courage seems rather fragile right now.”

Following Namgung Jin-myeong’s comment, a curious gleam sparkled in the gazes of the onlookers surrounding us.

“Esteemed Hero, can that really be true?”

“Of course it is, just as I mentioned before. You ought to have witnessed the sheer shock on San’s face. He came close to fumbling his weapon right then and there.”

The entire room fixed their gazes upon me, filled with fascination.

I cast a quick look toward Namgung San, concerned that his relative’s teasing might have offended his pride, but he appeared completely unbothered, wearing a gentle grin instead.

“Alright, let us move along. We have quite a queue of individuals still wishing to speak with him, so we must clear the area.”

There are even more visitors?

As I groaned silently in my mind, a practitioner representing the Mount Heng Sect approached me.

“I am Ha Min-jung’s Eldest Senior Brother. Thank you for saving our youngest Junior Brother.”

This mature man, whose age suggested he could easily be Ha Min-jung’s parent, offered a respectful gesture and dipped his head.

I had to actively stop myself from revealing that I recognized him.

Destined to take the reins as the future leader of the Mount Heng Sect, his reputation for absolute righteousness was well-regarded across the Murim Alliance.

“It is a privilege to stand before the renowned Great Hero Seven-Kill Soul-Destroyer.”

“……You know me?”

“Tales of your incredible feats have traveled far, Great Hero.”

“Your praise makes me feel quite self-conscious. I understand that my younger peer acted insolently toward you previously, so I am profoundly grateful that you chose to protect him despite his behavior.”

“Think nothing of it. His comments did not cause me any real offense. Kindly pass along my wishes for his swift recuperation.”

The martial artist known as Seven-Kill Soul-Destroyer Song Jeong-mu observed me with a complicated expression.

“You truly are an extraordinary individual on multiple fronts.”

Leaving me to ponder the exact intent behind his cryptic remark, Song Jeong-mu reached into the folds of his garment to retrieve an item.

“……This token is a present our master requested that I hand over to you personally.”

The object passed into my hands was a robust container made of hide, slightly exceeding the dimensions of my open hand.

“This is……!”

“Inside are one hundred pieces of the Demon-Subduing Talismans crafted by our order.”

“!”

“!”

The surrounding spectators reacted with even greater astonishment than I did upon hearing his words.

Long before the onset of the Great Righteous-Demonic War, the specific anti-evil properties inherent to the techniques of the Mount Heng Sect were legendary across the lands.

Among the hidden treasures of the Mount Heng Sect, the Demon-Subduing Talisman stood out as their most potent tool, capable of dispelling unholy illusions, mental disruptions, and malevolent toxins.

Even so, the creation process for these wards was so incredibly complex that rumors in the martial world claimed that surviving Demon-Subduing Talismans were scarcer than the highly coveted Small Reversion Pills.

“Is it truly acceptable for me to receive such an immense quantity?”

A solitary instance of these protective scripts easily commanded a price of ten taels of pure gold.

Presenting a full hundred of them meant that they had essentially cleaned out their historical reserves built up over countless years.

“Our original intent was to utilize them to dismantle the barrier, but the array proved far too overwhelming for us to even attempt it. Our master explicitly commanded me to show boundless generosity to the brave soul who ventured into that very array to rescue his student.”

Given that they were offering this bounty freely without making me feel compromised, rejecting it would be foolish.

Furthermore, once the conflict with the Demonic Cult escalated into the Great Righteous-Demonic War, these specific objects would prove immensely lethal against their dark forces, driving their market value up tenfold to a hundred gold taels apiece.

“I shall take these with the utmost appreciation.”

“Might you pay a visit to our home at Mount Heng in the future?”

“……?”

“Actually, scratch that. It should be about time for you to report to the headquarters of the Murim Alliance.”

“……That seems quite probable.”

“Excellent. Let us look forward to crossing paths when we reach the Murim Alliance.”

Following Song Jeong-mu’s departure, representatives from both the Shandong Ak Clan and the Yang Estate approached to present their respective tokens of friendship.

“Ji-ryang informed us that you possess a keen curiosity regarding Mystic Gate Formations.”

In truth, I had been looking into fortifying the grounds of the Taeul Sect using specialized Mechanism Formations as well as Mystic Gate Formations.

When the chaos of the Great Righteous-Demonic War eventually commenced, the disparity in casualties between strongholds protected by active Mechanism Formations or Mystic Gate Formations and those lacking such defenses would be absolute night and day.

Putting aside the astronomical expenditures required to erect these defensive Mechanism Formations or Mystic Gate Formations, only a select few masters possessed the necessary expertise to construct them, meaning that wealth alone could not guarantee their installation.

This difficulty prompted me to casually probe Yu Ji-ryang, given the rapport we established, concerning the market prices and materials required for Mystic Gate Formations, and those inquiries had clearly been passed up the chain of command.

“Therefore, we would like to propose setting up these Mystic Gate Formations directly at the Taeul Sect. Would that be acceptable to you?”

My jaw dropped in pure disbelief.

“That goes without saying! It was an arrangement I had been hoping to secure myself. Still, I am well aware that the implementation of Mystic Gate Formations demands a massive financial commitment. What sort of price tag are we looking at?”

While I had already put aside sufficient resources to commission Jegal Cheon-gi for setting up our Mechanism Formations, I had not budgeted for the additional luxury of Mystic Gate Formations.

“Regarding the financial side of things—what if we settled the balance in exchange for the insights or objects you gathered while navigating the depths of the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation?”

“The items or knowledge I recovered from within?”

“You veered off the intended path during your trek, did you not?”

It turned out that even the minor anecdotes I shared casually with Yu Ji-ryang had been systematically reported to his superiors.

Regardless, this arrangement cost me nothing of value, and if adapting principles from the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation could enhance the efficacy of the planned Mystic Gate Formations for the Taeul Sect, the outcome would be incredibly beneficial.

“Very well. I shall leave the matter in your capable hands.”

“On the contrary, the pleasure is entirely ours.”

Once the associates of Yu Ji-ryang exited the premises, the only individuals left in the chamber with me were Namgung Jin-myeong and Namgung San.

To be perfectly honest, amidst all the treasures being showered upon me, this particular interaction was the one I looked forward to above all else.

What sort of offering had been readied by the powerful Namgung Clan, a pillar among the Five Great Clans?

Given his prior statement when granting me the Great Swallow Divine Pill—that such a medicine would not mark the end of their gratitude—it felt natural to expect something more, though I hoped I didn’t seem overly greedy.

As my mind jumped from one speculation to the next, Namgung Jin-myeong offered a sealed document packet.

‘Could this contain a Promissory Note?’

In practical terms, even if I accumulated a hoard of protective tokens from various factions, my ability to actively cash them in was highly limited.

If I ever visibly relied on the muscle of the Black Path, public opinion would judge me harshly.

By that same token, utilizing an endorsement from the Namgung Clan carried its own political weight.

Under these circumstances, a straightforward financial transaction in hard currency seemed like the cleanest solution.

“Seeing as you have already bestowed upon me the precious Great Swallow Divine Pill……”

I went through the motions of polite refusal. Naturally, had he actually taken the offer back, I would have resented him until my dying breath.

“Did I not clarify this previously? Do you truly believe the world-renowned Namgung Clan would consider its obligations resolved toward the savior of my child and our frontline fighters with just a single Great Swallow Divine Pill?”

“Haha, naturally not.”

Speaking smoothly, I drifted my hand forward to slide the packet closer, but the texture of the material peeking through the unsealed edge did not match the look of a standard Promissory Note.

Spying my shifting expression, Namgung Jin-myeong let out a deep, booming chuckle.

“Haha! Go ahead and look inside.”

“……Ah, well.”

“To be fair, the nature of my next request requires you to read that first.”

Feeling a sudden wave of apprehension, I promptly slid the sheet out from its cover.

Yet, the text inscribed upon the page completely defied my assumptions.

【……I earnestly await your arrival at our estate.】

Rather than a financial Promissory Note, the parchment held a formal message. Furthermore, it was a direct personal summons from the Clan Head himself, requesting my presence at the compound of the Namgung Clan.

“My sire expressed an absolute desire to meet with you face-to-face.”

“…….”

The parent of Namgung Jin-myeong was none other than Namgung Tae-ha, the ruling Clan Head of the Namgung Clan, universally revered as the Azure Emperor Divine Sword.

Leaving aside the massive gulf in our martial cultivation, his legendary status and generational standing within the Murim meant he had absolutely no reason to send a direct message to a mere junior like myself.

Usually, proper etiquette dictated that an official inquiry be directed to my main organization first, leaving it to the elders to assign a younger disciple to travel.

Instead, the legendary Azure Emperor Divine Sword had completely set aside his towering pride to deliver an individual request to a standard disciple belonging to the Taeul Sect.

“Uh, about that……”

Despite the incredible honor such a gesture represented, it only served to multiply my feelings of anxiety.

“Forgive me. While I stand by the choices I made during the crisis, I do not believe my humble contributions merit a personal summons from the illustrious Azure Emperor Divine Sword.”

I phrased my response with as much humility and caution as I could muster, yet both Namgung Jin-myeong and Namgung San merely kept identical smirks pinned to their faces.

“Come now, there is no cause for such worry. My father simply has an independent matter he wishes to discuss with you directly.”

“Pardon me?”

Across both my current existence and my prior lifetime, I had never shared a single interaction with the Azure Emperor Divine Sword.

That was an undeniable fact, which left me completely baffled as to how he even recognized my existence, let alone why he sought a meeting.

“I understand you managed to make off with one of my sire’s prized possessions, the Seven-Colored Jewel?”

“!!”

Hearing this shocking accusation, I whipped my gaze over to Namgung San, silently demanding to know what he had told his family, but the youth simply stared at the rafters and began casually whistling a tune.

“Ah, wait, that was simply……”

“On top of that, when word reached the old man that his own flesh and blood had surrendered both a Great Swallow Divine Pill and a supply of Heavenly Silkworm Thread, he came close to losing consciousness.”

The entire narrative was spiraling into complete ridiculousness.

“Therefore, do come by our residence with a light heart.”

Is he seriously making light of this?

“Oh, right. My father also mentioned that should you fail to appear, he will make the trip to track you down himself.”

In other words, if I don’t show up to face the music willingly, he’ll hunt me down to deliver the punishment personally. Is that the ultimatum?

Shivering slightly at that terrifying prospect, I quickly voiced my agreement.

“I will make it an absolute priority to journey there the moment my pressing responsibilities are concluded.”

At least if I go to get hit, I’ll take one blow less.

Upon hearing my compliance, Namgung Jin-myeong gave an approving nod.

Namgung San finally stopped staring away and looked back toward me. While I continued to direct a furious glare his way, seeking some sort of clarification, Namgung Jin-myeong broke the silence once more.

“Furthermore, I have a specific favor to ask of you.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“I wish to introduce an individual into the room, and I would appreciate it if you could grant them an audience to hear their perspective.”

Who could possibly command enough respect for Namgung Jin-myeong to refer to them in such a formal manner?

Furthermore, why was it imperative that I be the one to listen to their tale?

Quite unable to deduce the stranger’s identity, I gave a simple nod of consent. Moments later, when the entrance swung wide to reveal an elderly gentleman accompanied by a cautious Seong Mo-ran, the reason for his request became immediately obvious.

“It has been some time since we last met.”

Standing before me was the Iron Sword Sect Leader.

“I trust you have been keeping well?”

I offered my greetings while bringing my hands together in a formal salute.

“…….”

The old master merely stared back at me, maintaining his silence.

His physical condition appeared significantly more worn down than during our previous encounter.

His features had grown visibly gaunt, and his eyes appeared receded within their sockets, giving his naturally severe visage an even more bitter and strained look.

“My days have been far from pleasant.”

“With my chosen successor locked away inside a dark Prison, our sacred Ninefold Sword stripped from our hands, and the very honor of the Iron Sword Sect dragged through the mud, it would be impossible for me to claim I have fared well.”

This sudden emotional outburst seemingly deviated from their pre-arranged plan, as Namgung Jin-myeong displayed a hint of panic for the first time all day.

“……And yet, every single one of those catastrophes stemmed from my own failures and missteps. If you bear any responsibility at all, it was simply that you dragged my hidden misdeeds out into the open.”

Namgung Jin-myeong, who had started to raise a hand to intervene, gradually let his arm fall back to his side.

“Despite that, the very man I held a bitter grudge against chose to preserve the life of my sole surviving granddaughter. Under such conditions, how could I possibly justify harboring any further hatred toward you?”

He pressed on, his statements striking a bizarre balance between external grievance and deep self-flagellation.

“The moment news reached me that Mo-ran was ensnared within that deadly barrier, I made a solemn vow to the heavens above. I pledged that if she were delivered safely back to my arms, I would gladly forfeit my own existence.”

Without warning, the proud master of the Iron Sword Sect dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead against the floorboards.

“!”

“!”

“!”

We were far from alone in the chamber; Namgung Jin-myeong, Namgung San, and the old man’s relative Seong Mo-ran were all witnessing this display.

Overwhelmed by shock, I immediately rushed forward to help the elderly Iron Sword Sect Leader back to his feet.

“Please, stand up. I only did what any decent person would do in that situation.”

“Such actions might seem commonplace to you, but to me they mean everything. When I was fully prepared to trade my very breath for her safety, what is a simple gesture of kneeling in comparison?”

His tone was thick with deep, agonizing emotion.

“I offer my deepest apologies to my savior. I beg you to find it in your heart to pardon this foolish elder for his previous transgressions.”

Watching a man completely abandon his lifelong status and seniority to beg for mercy left everyone else in the room completely paralyzed and speechless.

Giving a quiet nod, I addressed him directly:

“……I accept your heartfelt words of regret, Sect Leader. Therefore, I request that you stand up. Should you persist in this manner, it will make my rescue of Young Lady Mo-ran look more like an injury than a kindness.”

“Listen to his counsel, Sect Leader. If you heap such an intense obligation upon him, it will only ensure that the future interactions between the Taeul Sect and the Iron Sword Sect remain painfully strained.”

It was only after Namgung Jin-myeong added his voice to the plea that the leader of the Iron Sword Sect finally relented and stood up.

Mimicking the actions of the prior guests, he produced a distinctive token from within his attire and placed it on the surface.

“Moving forward, I vow never to contest or undermine the influence of the Taeul Sect within the territory of Hefei. Furthermore, I shall commit myself to fostering a cooperative bond between our respective houses.”

“Your verbal assurance alone is a generous gift.”

As I raised my arms to salute him, the Iron Sword Sect Leader matched my gesture perfectly, dipping his torso in a profound bow.

Seong Mo-ran appeared to have some parting words she wished to convey, but crushed under the sheer gravity of her patriarch’s humbling performance, she lacked the nerve to speak up. Instead, she kept her eyes anchored on me until they crossed the threshold.

“Good grief. That was quite something.”

Namgung Jin-myeong let out a heavy breath, looking as though he had just survived a harrowing ordeal.

“No kidding. Given his immense pride, taking such a public step must have required an extraordinary amount of resolve.”

Hearing my observation, Namgung Jin-myeong cast a look at me that suggested I had completely missed the point.

“My comment was directed entirely at you.”

“Pardon?”

“Think about it—where on earth could you find a youth barely entering adulthood who commands absolute tokens of obligation from both righteous coalitions and legendary figures of the Black Path Murim, while receiving submissive bows from the master of the Iron Sword Sect? When they were your age, even my own child or the famous Yong So-ah were only capable of gathering fame through simple displays of combat skill. Isn’t that the truth?”