The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 43

Chapter 43
## Chapter 43. A First-Rate Warrior Who Gathers People (2)

I had recently laid eyes on Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran, both celebrated among the Three Great Beauties of Anhui Province, but even their renown dimmed completely in her presence.

It was a porcelain-pale, unclad form that appeared to have stepped right out of a master’s scroll.

Her facial features were arranged in a delicate, flawless symmetry.

Strands of raven hair and delicate golden adornments shifted precariously with her every step, barely concealing her most private areas.

Whether man or woman, anyone looking upon her would find it impossible to retain their sanity against such allure.

TREMBLE, TREMBLE, TREMBLE, TREMBLE, TREMBLE, TREMBLE, TREMBLE.

Involuntary tremors ran through my frame, entirely beyond my control.

—Since you have braved such a perilous journey to arrive here, it is only right that I grant you a proper recompense.

She lightly traced her own lips with a single finger, adopting the coy demeanor of an innocent maiden, before opening her arms wide to welcome me.

In that exact instant, a wave of overwhelming, inescapable longing washed over me.

It felt precisely like a man who had been deprived of sleep for a full week suddenly catching sight of a soft bed.

Like a starving traveler who had not tasted food in a month suddenly being presented with a grand banquet of rare delicacies.

“……Ahem, truly magnificent. Is this the method you have used to ward off trespassers over all these centuries?”

—Trespassers? I have never once viewed them in such a light. To me, they have all been deeply cherished visitors.

I gestured toward the massive mound of human bones stacked high along the wall.

“Is your brand of hospitality not a touch too extreme?”

She pouted slightly, crossing her arms over her chest.

With every minor shift of her posture, my physical form attempted to move toward her against my will, forcing me to desperately mobilize the Taeul True Scripture to maintain control over my own limbs.

—What else could I do when they yearned for this flesh until their very last breath?

As she tilted her torso with a playful, petulant sigh, the circulation of the Taeul True Scripture—which I was barely keeping afloat—nearly shattered entirely.

‘Just how immense is the scale of her spiritual energy….’

Despite my modest level of cultivation, it was deeply unsettling that the flow of the Taeul True Scripture, an art rooted in the fundamental truths of creation, could be frozen even for a fleeting second. I locked my concentration in place and grimly forced the energy to keep moving.

She studied me, her gaze shifting as if she had encountered a highly amusing curiosity.

—To think you can still hold onto your faculties. What a remarkable youth. Tell me, are you a pupil of Shaolin? Or perhaps a practitioner of the Wudang Sect?

“Neither. What sort of sorcery is this?”

—It is the Bewitching Desire-Seeking Art. A supreme technique capable of dragging even an Ascended Immortal back down into the mire of the mortal realm.

“Huh.”

Hearing the name of the legendary seduction technique belonging to the Pleasure Palace, an order that had gone extinct over thirteen hundred years ago, left me thoroughly startled.

“Have you truly survived all the way from the era of the Yue State?”

—Would you truly turn away a woman who possesses the secret of ageless eternity?

Closing the distance between us step by step, she seemed utterly convinced that her target was entirely paralyzed.

—Among those remnants over there lie the bones of venerable elders from Mount Song, and even a Daoist Priest of Wudang who was on the very precipice of Ascension. Therefore, you need not feel too much shame.

The moment her fingertips brushed against my skin, starting from my face, it felt as though every drop of blood within me was cascading downward.

She pulled the golden blade resting at her hip, aiming a lethal thrust directly at my heart.

GRAB.

—How can this be?

The woman’s expression twisted into profound shock as she realized her wrist was firmly locked within my left hand.

“I may lack the spiritual discipline of the ancient masters of Shaolin, but I do possess a countermeasure like this.”

I revealed the Demon-Subduing Talisman glowing brightly within my right palm.

This precise encounter was the sole reason I had diverted from my original path, making a deliberate detour to this rumored haunt of a malevolent spirit.

The specialized talisman provided to me by the Mount Heng Sect immediately began absorbing her Demonic Qi and turning it to ash, granting me a temporary reprieve from her sinister influence.

—You rely on cheap parlor tricks.

I immediately unleashed the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist, raining down twenty distinct strike variations in a single breath.

Unable to withstand the concussive force, her golden trinkets shattered and broke away, scattering across the stone floor.

—What a wicked child you are.

Yet, she appeared entirely unhurt by the assault.

The way she lunged forward seemed like an ordinary, unrefined stride rather than any recognized Movement Art or Footwork Art, yet her velocity rivaled that of an expert executing a high-tier agility technique.

BANG.

I managed to deflect her incoming form with great difficulty, but before I could even steady my stance, she executed a mid-air twist resembling a nimble feline and struck again.

CRASH—! CRASH—! CRASH—! CRASH—! CRASH—!

Under the relentless onslaught of her bare hands, I was battered across the chamber like a plaything caught in a predator’s paws.

“What kind of bizarre style is this?”

Her strikes and positioning bore no resemblance to orthodox martial arts, yet the sheer physical devastation she unleashed far eclipsed the might of Seong Mo-hyeon, whose blows I had previously withstood at the Iron Sword Sect.

—Did you truly believe the wanderers who tracked me down over the centuries were ordinary men?

The mere fact that those individuals had successfully navigated this treacherous, hidden terrain proved they were martial artists of significant caliber.

And the reality that such formidable experts had perished here was proof enough that her combat capability was monstrous.

As the protective influence of the Demon-Subduing Talisman began to wane, my muscles started to lock up once more.

The moment I reached into my robes to retrieve a fresh talisman, she propelled herself off the cavern wall, hurtling toward me like a phantom.

“Damn it!”

With a desperate twist of my torso, I employed the defensive hand motions of the Lotus style to redirect her momentum back toward her point of origin.

Simultaneously, the talisman I had been trying to secure was dragged along by the sheer force of her passing frame.

—Aaaaaaaagh!

A blood-curdling, piercing shriek echoed through the cavern for the first time as she frantically slapped away the tiny spark that had adhered to her flesh.

Though the parchment quickly fluttered away, the patch of skin where it had connected had withered into the desiccated, blackened hide of a corpse.

“So that is what you truly look like beneath the illusion.”

—…I have revised my plans. I shall tear you limb from limb and consume your very flesh, you miserable cur.

A sickening crimson light erupted from her eyes, and her tresses flared wildly outward in all directions.

Every vestige of her alluring visage dissolved, leaving only a hellish, ravenous demon incarnate rushing toward me.

“It seems I was granted quite a potent tool for this occasion.”

Griping a talisman in each hand, I transitioned the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist into a flurry of open-palm strikes.

Though the raw impact was considerably less than that of my clenched fists, over a dozen overlapping palm projections materialized in the air simultaneously.

Lacking any formal martial arts training, the creature was utterly incapable of discerning the genuine strikes from the illusory afterimages.

—Aaaaaaaagh!

Blazing flames instantly enveloped her limbs.

As she stomped frantically in an attempt to quench the fire, I managed to plant two additional talismans firmly onto her shoulder and spine.

—Aaaaaaaaaagh-

Emitting a screech akin to grinding iron plates, her entire form became a roaring pyre.

—It cannot end like this! No! This belongs to me! Everything buried here is my rightful property!

Realizing the inferno could no longer be extinguished, she threw herself over the mountain of gold and jewels, clawing at the wealth to protect it from being stolen.

“It is time to yield and submit to the natural passage of time.”

As I affixed the final talisman directly to her brow, her entire frame ignited intensely, turning into a single blinding sheet of flame before crumbling into a pile of ash within seconds.

—So bitter…… so utterly bitter.

Once the physical remains of Wolhyang vanished into dust, a solitary, dark sphere was left sitting in the debris.

“It looks far too peculiar to be a standard Inner Core.”

The moment my fingers closed around the sphere, a torrent of incomprehensible power began to flood into my meridians.

“Huh?”

The endless stream of energy pouring into me was nothing less than Innate True Qi, the very foundational essence of human vitality.

“Ha. So this was the origin of her agelessness and perpetual youth.”

As this pure Innate Energy saturated every path within my body, even the deep-seated impurities that the Mita Sacred Water had been unable to cleanse were expelled, vaporizing through my very pores.

With this sudden abundance of raw power, all remnants of trepidation vanished from my mind.

This was a level of might that could easily stand against any of the supreme masters I had encountered either in my previous existence or my current life—not just the Taecheong Divine Sword, but the formidable Peak Lord of Four Emperors Peak, and even the fearsome Black Lion Gwak Gung, the Young Cult Master of the Demonic Cult.

“To stumble upon such an incredible stroke of fortune in a place like this.”

I no longer had any requirement for complex mechanism layouts, rare spiritual elixirs, or any external aids.

With the power contained in this single artifact, I felt entirely capable of safeguarding the Central Plains and decapitating every leader within the Demonic Cult.

“Let us test this out.”

Drawing my blade, I delivered two casual, diagonal slashes into the rock face of the exit tunnel.

Though it was an unrefined swing devoid of any complex technique, my internal energy manifested as an oppressive Sword Force, releasing a deafening, explosive roar.

BOOOOOOM—! CRASH—! CRASH—!

The hidden traps and mechanisms were completely obliterated, and the width of the passage instantly expanded to twice its original size.

I realized I no longer had any practical need for piles of gold, silver, or material wealth.

For an individual who commanded absolute, peerless might, what need was there for worldly possessions?

Even the massive influence of financial power could no longer shackle a man of my standing.

With a confident stride, I began to march toward the exit.

TWITCH.

Without warning, the vast ocean of Innate True Qi throughout my body receded entirely, leaving me suddenly drained and staggering.

Nothing but a subtle, icy numbness radiated from the dark sphere resting in my palm.

“…….”

I silently retreated two paces back into the chamber.

I am supreme!

I am completely invincible!

Whether dealing with the Demonic Cult or the grand Murim Alliance, they will have no choice but to bow before my authority to maintain order.

An overwhelming surge of self-assurance welled up within me once more.

With chin held high, I took two bold steps forward again.

“…….”

I paused and surveyed the cavern floor.

The golden trinkets that had been torn away during our frantic struggle were littered across the stone.

“I suppose it would be wise to collect every single scrap of this wealth without leaving a single piece behind.”

Recognizing that I was still very much bound by the realities of the world, maintaining a massive financial reserve was absolutely essential.

—

Descending from the peaks of Nine Dragons Mountain, I began my journey back to the city of Yueyang.

Utilizing the highly durable Heavenly Silkworm Thread salvaged from the Flying Dragon Claw, I fashioned a sling to hoist the two heavy stone sarcophagi packed with treasure over my shoulders.

Given the numerous military conflicts currently ravaging the northern territories, it was a common sight to see bodies being transported back to their ancestral homes for burial; thus, my cargo didn’t strike the locals as entirely bizarre, though they still deliberately gave me a wide berth.

When I stepped across the threshold of a prominent textile merchant in Yueyang while balanced beneath the weight of those stone coffins, the wealthy patronesses browsing the silks immediately grimaced and murmured in disapproval.

“What in heaven’s name is that crude sight?”

“What are the proprietors thinking? Why are they allowing such an individual inside the establishment?”

“Do they have no desire to maintain a respectable business?”

Yang Gun-baek, who had been engaging in charming conversation with the noblewomen while showcasing premium silks, locked eyes with me. His jaw dropped in utter astonishment before he swiftly abandoned his clients and hurried toward me.

“You have finally returned!”

Without warning, Yang Gun-baek threw himself against the stone sarcophagus, letting out a theatrical, sorrowful wail.

Observing his sudden display of intense grief, the expressions of the wealthy ladies softened into looks of deep sympathy as they filled in the blanks themselves.

“This is my younger sibling, who was conscripted and sent off to the northern battlefields. Lacking the funds to secure a proper escort from an Escort Agency, it has taken all this time just to bring him home.”

As Yang Gun-baek allowed tears to stream down his cheeks, the noblewomen found themselves wiping away tears of their own in sympathy.

“It is a blessing you made it back. A true blessing.”

While uttering those sorrowful words, Yang Gun-baek shot a quick, knowing wink in my direction.

—

“Even though I am well aware you are a man who arrives and departs like the wind without a word of warning, you managed to give me quite a fright this time.”

Yang Gun-baek remarked, taking a measured sip from his teacup.

“You did not appear particularly frightened to me.”

“Bringing burial containers into a boutique frequented by the matriarchs of high-ranking dignitaries and noble houses? Young Master So-un, your sense of mischief is truly bounds ahead of others.”

He proved himself to be a remarkably adaptable individual, precisely as he had shown during our previous encounter.

“Setting that aside, what purpose brings you to my establishment?”

“I require a significant favor from you, and I also need you to process the contents of these.”

I lightly rapped the side of the stone container.

Yang Gun-baek tilted his head in curiosity.

“It would have been far simpler to inter the remains deep in the earth. Are you perhaps in need of some Bone-Melting Powder to dispose of evidence?”

Rather than offering a verbal explanation, I pushed the stone lid aside slightly to reveal the interior.

“GAH!”

Yang Gun-baek’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

“The container resting beneath it holds an identical collection.”

Hearing my remark, Yang Gun-baek flicked his gaze repeatedly between my face and the glittering wealth packed into the sarcophagus, his mind clearly struggling to accept the reality before him.

—

Yang Gun-baek meticulously laid out each piece of jewelry across the floorboards, categorizing them with immense precision.

It was a sharp contrast to the careless manner in which I had shoveled them into the stone boxes like dry autumn leaves.

“In all honesty, Young Master So-un, you are a thoroughly terrifying individual.”

“What is the total valuation I can expect for this haul?”

In response to my inquiry, Yang Gun-baek fell into deep contemplation, running mental tallies for a considerable duration before finally presenting a figure.

“Would a sum of twenty thousand gold taels be acceptable to you?”

“…….”

“Is that amount insufficient?”

In truth, it was quite the opposite.

By my own internal estimates based on weight and purity, the intrinsic value of the hoard hovered around ten thousand taels.

Furthermore, given that the Black Shop typically operated by purchasing items at a heavily discounted fraction of their true worth to secure a profit, his offer meant he was actually acquiring these goods at a substantial personal deficit to his organization.

“That figure is precisely double the current market rate. Is this the standard protocol for transactions within the Black Shop?”

“Please view this gesture as a formal expression of gratitude to settle a past obligation.”

Yang Gun-baek tucked his hands deep within the folds of his sleeves and offered a deeply respectful, formal bow.

“Oh dear…….”

“Does the arrangement not meet with your approval?”

“No. It is simply that the assistance I intended to request from you happens to involve that very same ‘obligation.’”

The network of Hao Gate carried a massive debt to me as a direct consequence of recent events.

The powerful Namgung Clan along with various factions of the Black Path Murim had attempted to place the blame entirely on the Beggars’ Sect and Hao Gate for circulating the maps.

“……I recognize that this financial sum cannot fully offset the scale of what occurred, but could I persuade you to view a portion of that debt as officially resolved?”

His position was logical to a degree.

While my intervention had ultimately resolved the crisis, unlike the Beggars’ Sect—which enjoyed the protection and prestige of belonging to the orthodox Nine Sects and One Gang—it was an undeniable fact that Hao Gate had sustained considerable organizational damage.

“It appears my phrasing has caused a slight misunderstanding. What I am proposing is that I wish to formally assume the position of a ‘guest retainer’ within Hao Gate.”

“…….”

The entity known as Hao Gate did not possess a centralized, physical headquarters.

Consequently, it did not maintain traditional guests who resided within its walls or relied on them for daily sustenance.

Within the context of an organization like Hao Gate, a guest retainer denoted a highly revered ally whose personal welfare and objectives would be prioritized by the leadership, even above the immediate interests of the sect itself.

“……I am at a loss as to how you obtained such information, but granting a status of that magnitude is far beyond the jurisdiction of a simple merchant like myself.”

“If Great Hero Yang Gun-baek, the illustrious eleventh disciple of the venerable Hao Gate Master, lacks such jurisdiction, then who else within your organization could possibly possess it?”

“!!”

His features instantly locked into a volatile mixture of utter bewilderment regarding how I had unmasked his true identity, and a tense hesitation as he weighed whether he should attempt to silence me permanently.

“I believe it would be mutually beneficial if we bypassed these tedious games of deduction. My desire to become a guest retainer stems from the fact that I possess resources that can be immensely advantageous to the future of Hao Gate.”

“……Demanding to know how you unearthed my background would be a futile exercise, wouldn’t it?”

Instead of providing a direct answer, I simply offered a calm nod.

“Haah, experiencing this level of shock so frequently cannot be healthy for a man’s longevity. You truly are a troublesome companion.”

“The Beggars’ Sect.”

“……?”

“I intend to deliver the Beggars’ Sect into your hands. In return, you will serve as my primary source of intelligence, ensuring I have a clear, real-time understanding of all movements within the Murim World.”

The mental records I held regarding future events were beginning to manifest subtle deviations, altering piece by piece.

To accurately monitor the cascading effects these historical shifts would have on the unfolding future, it was imperative that I secure a reliable apparatus capable of harvesting secrets from every corner of the realm.

“…….”

“An arrangement of this scale isn’t something you can ratify on the spot, correct?”

Throughout the annals of history, the individuals who had successfully secured the rank of guest retainer within Hao Gate could be counted on a single hand.

Furthermore, the vast majority of those figures were legendary combatants who had breached the limits of the Transcendent Peak and advanced into the unfathomable realm of the Beyond-Human.

To put it plainly, they were terrifying entities capable of wiping Hao Gate off the map entirely should the organization ever deny them cooperation.

“I will consider our current accounts fully settled if you simply deliver this proposal directly to the Hao Gate Master.”

“…… silently studying me.”

“And consider this as an initial token of my goodwill.”

I slid a detailed parchment across to him, containing the complete, confidential internal strategies of the Beggars’ Sect mapped out for the upcoming year.

“…….”

He stared at the document, his eyes reflecting a profound disbelief.

Yet, even a cursory investigation through his network would quickly confirm that every piece of data inscribed on the paper was flawlessly accurate.

“With that established, shall we conclude our financial transaction? As I stated previously, the debt of gratitude is cleared, meaning you need only provide me with the standard ten thousand taels.”

“……How could I possibly shortchange my savior? I insist that you take the full amount.”

It was a calculated maneuver on his part to ensure no lingering obligations remained between us before the final decisions were made.

With that, Yang Gun-baek reached into his inner robes and pulled out a stack of bearer Promissory Notes, conveniently divided into manageable, smaller denominations.

“……Regardless of the outcome, I will personally present your terms to the Hao Gate Master.”

I had never anticipated securing their absolute compliance from the very first meeting.

For while I was systematically ensuring they recognized the sheer weight of my presence, it was equally vital that we navigated the slow process of building a mutual understanding.

“I could not ask for anything better.”