The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 5

Chapter 5
## Chapter 5. A Third-Rate Warrior Who Gathers Spiritual Medicines (3)

A deep furrow returned to Hong Sa-ryeon’s brow, marking the reappearance of the cheon character that had briefly faded away.

Following Gye Yeon-seung’s expulsion and the arrival of a replacement Hall Master at Busaeng Hall, Gye Cheol-yeong had managed to keep a low profile for a while. Yet, he was now back to his usual arrogant behavior, bragging incessantly once more.

“Consider the Snow Plum Pill. Throughout Mount Hua, only the Purple Firmament Pill surpasses its capacity to bolster one’s cultivation. Especially regarding physical conditioning, its properties vastly exceed those of Shaolin’s Small Reversion Pill. Such an invaluable elixir is something even a fully initiated disciple of Mount Hua rarely gets the chance to obtain.”

This would inevitably be followed by his proud declaration about how his father alongside his uncle, a sworn member of Mount Hua Sect, had secured this rare treasure solely for his benefit.

Hong Sa-ryeon could easily anticipate his next statements without needing to hear them.

He had rehearsed this exact speech repeatedly over the past several days, drilling it into her ears so thoroughly that the words felt like an unwanted martial art formula engraved in her mind.

“……I see. That is indeed quite remarkable.”

“Is it not? Consequently, you understand……”

Deep down, she desperately wanted to scream at him to stop his irritating bragging, but the young man standing before her was the favored heir of a crucial financial benefactor.

It wasn’t that Hong Sa-ryeon lacked any jealousy toward Gye Cheol-yeong.

As someone born to follow the path of a Warrior, her craving for a rare medicine was just as intense as any other practitioner’s.

However, as the sole daughter of the Sect Leader, she carried far too many responsibilities to wallow in self-pity over what others possessed.

“Senior Sister! Senior Sister! What will become of Senior Brother Jin now?”

“Senior Sister! Senior Brother So-un isn’t going to abandon our sect forever, is he?”

“Senior Sister! If I skip one of my meals…… will Senior Brother return to us?”

The small, vulnerable junior disciples gathered around like young birds, eagerly awaiting the return of the older brother who had departed, while Senior Brother Jin, whom she viewed as a younger sibling, was busy elsewhere. Even the Outer Hall Master could offer no answers regarding his whereabouts.

‘That infuriating man.’

Sa-ryeon’s capacity to tolerate the overbearing behavior of Gye Cheol-yeong and Gye Yeon-seung had reached its absolute breaking point.

If Senior Brother Jin had not taken action, she would have stepped forward herself.

In reality, confronting them was a duty that should have fallen to her rather than her senior brother.

Ultimately, the future of the Taeul Sect was a weight meant for her own shoulders.

Gye Cheol-yeong was merely a fair-weather follower who had joined their ranks to gain entry into the Murim Academy, and half of the younger disciples would eventually return to take over their family businesses or, if they were lucky, secure employment as bodyguards and view that as a success.

Though Senior Brother Jin So-un was capable, Sa-ryeon could not bring herself to be so shameless as to transfer this heavy obligation to him, knowing full well the dim prospects facing the Taeul Sect.

Sa-ryeon had carried this profound burden since her childhood.

Because of this, she blamed her own hesitation, acknowledging that her fear of Gye Yeon-seung’s combat prowess and the potential vengeance of Gye Yeon-seok had paralyzed her.

‘How exactly did he manage to claim victory?’

Setting aside the mystery of how he countered the renowned Plum Blossom Sword Art of the Mount Hua Sect, he had consistently departed the Taeul Sect grounds each day without being spotted by Gye Yeon-seok, who often arrived with an imposing aura. That stealthy departure was undoubtedly another display of her senior brother’s thoughtfulness.

Everyone was well aware of how vindictive and unyielding Gye Yeon-seok could be.

Knowing this, Jin So-un had deliberately chosen to operate beyond the sect’s borders.

“Senior Sister! Senior Sister! You must taste this!”

“Senior Sister! This piece of meat is incredibly savory!”

Watching the young disciples eagerly present gifts of food like enthusiastic puppies, Hong Sa-ryeon pushed her heavy contemplations aside and gently patted their heads.

To mark the arrival of the distinguished Mount Hua experts at the Gyeryong Merchant Guild, the Taeul Sect had arranged a modest celebration of their own.

Naturally, Gye Yeon-seok and Gye Yeon-seung were entirely occupied with hosting the Mount Hua masters, leaving them no time to bother the Taeul Sect. Because of their absence, the members of the Taeul Sect could enjoy their gathering in complete peace.

“But where could Senior Brother Jin have gone? He always enjoyed these particular rice cakes.”

“Senior Sister! Can I keep this meat safe until Senior Brother Jin returns?”

A young disciple, his eyes wide with anticipation as he fought down his hunger, inquired with evident self-restraint.

It had been a long time since he had eaten meat, yet he was willing to set it aside for another.

A wave of sympathy washed over Hong Sa-ryeon, prompting her to playfully ruffle the boy’s hair.

“By the time he walks back through the doors, this food will have spoiled. Go ahead and enjoy it now.”

“When do you think Senior Brother Jin will be back?”

“He will return before long.”

Hong Sa-ryeon offered a reassuring smile and lightheartedly took a small portion of the food from the children.

‘Where on earth are you wasting your time, you absolute idiot?’

—

“I can offer you ten silver taels for this.”

Though I had despised this specific memory throughout my past existence, it certainly possessed its advantages now.

It proved incredibly helpful in moments like this, allowing me to counter the schemes of a dishonest merchant attempting to lower prices by fabricating changes in the market.

“Ha, what nonsense are you spouting? Merchants in Zhejiang Province are desperately searching for high-quality tiger pelts. Over there, you could easily get thirty silver taels as a starting bid.”

Zhejiang Province, particularly around Hangzhou, served as a massive commercial hub where goods flowed constantly, dictating the financial trends of neighboring regions.

Even so, a price disparity of twenty silver taels just by crossing a provincial border was an absurd claim.

“That price applies only to a pristine tiger pelt.”

“Examine it closely. This skin doesn’t possess a single blemish or puncture from an arrow. Offering a mere ten silver taels for an item of this caliber is an injustice that the local magistrates would punish.”

“Young man, are you lacking vision? Does this genuinely look like a flawless pelt to you?”

The merchant unrolled the hide completely to display it.

“What exactly did you do to make this skin so dehydrated and brittle? It is solely out of my own generosity that I am offering ten taels. Any other merchant in town would give you less than half of that!”

“……”

No matter how deeply I dug through the knowledge in my mind, I couldn’t recall a single technique to restore a completely shriveled and dried hide.

Accepting the reality of the situation, I took the ten silver taels without further argument.

In truth, acquiring a tiger pelt had never been my primary objective.

Ever since I integrated the inner core of the Human-Faced Spider, a profound anxiety had taken root in my mind.

“If I keep this up, I will undeniably be branded as a practitioner of the unholy arts.”

The Murim Alliance explicitly outlawed ten specific techniques, with the Great Star-Absorbing Art being among them.

Within those Ten Forbidden Arts, the Great Star-Absorbing Art was grouped into the even more reviled Four Evil Arts—a corrupt style that the Murim Alliance sought to eradicate entirely.

Observing how the Azure Dragon Bracelet extracted and consumed inner cores, the mechanism mirrored the infamous Great Star-Absorbing Art perfectly. Managing this danger was my most critical objective.

“Naturally, an artifact belonging to that wretched Blood-Drinking Demon could never be benign.”

If there was any solace to be found, it was that the artifact did not absorb energy indiscriminately.

It was entirely incapable of drawing power from inanimate objects like flora or stone.

However, it readily drained the life from fauna such as deer or rabbits.

Furthermore, it wasn’t a simple transfer of energy; it actively transmuted a creature’s life force into true qi.

This mirrored the dark deeds of the Blood-Drinking Demon, ensuring that the Murim Alliance would execute me without hesitation if discovered.

Hoping to find some variance in its function, I had ventured into a dense forest rumored to harbor a massive predator, risking my life to analyze the boundaries of the Azure Dragon Bracelet. The outcome, unfortunately, cemented my status as Jin So-un, the Star-Absorbing Young Master.

Brilliant work, Jin So-un. You managed to alter your fate and return to the past, only to end up wielding a forbidden, demonic technique.

The devouring capability of the Azure Dragon Bracelet far exceeded my wildest assumptions.

When the massive tiger ambushed me with terrifying ferocity, I lost control of my output and triggered the Azure Dragon Bracelet. Consequently, the artifact pulled every drop of moisture from the beast, leaving behind nothing but a brittle, desiccated carcass.

“Spectacular job, Jin So-un. Travelling back through time only to adopt a forbidden art. Truly magnificent.”

My immediate safety wasn’t the sole concern. The moment word of this capability reached the ears of the Murim Alliance—

Not only would I be doomed, but my father, the Sect Leader, the various Hall Masters, and every single member of the Taeul Sect would be captured, hauled away, and subjected to agonizing interrogations.

The confinement chambers of the Murim Alliance were notorious for extracting confessions for crimes the victims had never even conceived.

The young disciples wouldn’t withstand three days of duress before claiming they had assisted me in mastering the Great Star-Absorbing Art.

“If my life ends here once more, will I be granted another chance at redemption?”

Rather than relying on an uncertain future, I focused entirely on analyzing the properties of the Azure Dragon Bracelet.

To begin with, the device responded to my conscious intent reasonably well.

It would not spontaneously radiate light as it had previously, which threatened to expose my secret to onlookers.

To take extra precautions, the moment I arrived at the settlement, I visited a tailor to acquire a thick, dark fabric to securely conceal the artifact around my wrist.

The primary reason I chose not to sever my own left hand was that the energy it harvested—whether from life force or basic cultivation—was seamlessly converted into true qi that perfectly matched my own Taeul Heart Method.

More precisely, the energy was refined to a high level of purity, integrating flawlessly with the Taeul Heart Method.

Given that a defining flaw of the Great Star-Absorbing Art was the chaotic disharmony of stolen energies remaining distinct within the body, my internal state showed no signs of corruption. Unless someone witnessed me actively draining a martial artist’s energy, a standard inspection of my dantian would reveal absolutely no evidence of forbidden practices.

Essentially, as long as I kept it hidden, it functioned as an unparalleled concealed asset.

At least, that was the perspective I forced myself to adopt to maintain my sanity.

The alternative of being locked within the depths of the Murim Alliance’s prisons was too horrifying to contemplate.

“Do you happen to stock heavy-duty traps?”

“Oh? Did you not seek us out for that specific reason? We are widely known as Hefei’s premier supplier for hunters.”

“In that case, provide me with mechanisms capable of restraining tigers and bears.”

“Pardon? You intend to utilize traps for such game? The hides will be ruined, destroying their market value. You would end up with something as worthless as that shriveled pelt you brought in.”

“I have no intention of harvesting their fur.”

“I see. Bear bile commands an excellent price currently. How many units do you require?”

“I will need…… roughly thirty.”

“What?”

“The targets I am tracking possess an unusual degree of cunning.”

—

Recently, the Gyeryong Merchant Guild had organized a celebration far grander than any seen in recent years.

Regardless of the underlying motives, hosting dignitaries from the Mount Hua Sect served as a perfect demonstration of the alliance between the Gyeryong Merchant Guild and the prestigious sect.

They had distributed announcements across a ten-li radius, offering free refreshments and meals to anyone who arrived, without restriction.

Local merchants who frequently dealt with the guild leader felt insulted that a man normally so tight-fisted would display such sudden extravagance, so they boycotted the event. However, the local revelers arrived in droves, ensuring the guild remained brightly lit and filled with music throughout the night.

The centerpiece of the entire evening was the performance by Wolhyang, celebrated as the most captivating courtesan in Hefei.

Even the most stubborn drunkards abandoned their tables to crowd around the main pavilion, desperate for a mere glimpse of Wolhyang’s notoriously elusive countenance.

“Offer your respects. These individuals represent the elite vanguard of the Mount Hua Sect.”

As Gye Yeon-seok boasted loudly to elevate the prestige of the two visiting Mount Hua masters, Wolhyang gracefully shifted her veil and offered a subtle, captivating smile.

“I am known as Wolhyang.”

Neither Gye Cheol-yeong, who remained seated beside Gye Yeon-seok, nor the esteemed Mount Hua masters could maintain a composed expression.

Whenever her fair skin became visible beneath the shifting layers of her garments during her movements, a low murmur of captivation rippled through the gathering.

While the entirety of the crowd remained completely transfixed by Wolhyang, the figure known as the Soul-Chasing Guest navigated through the shadows cast by the lanterns, scaling the outer wall of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild entirely undetected.

‘I’ve done it!’

The Soul-Chasing Guest rejoiced internally.

With this final act, his miserable existence as a common burglar would come to an end.

Having been thrust into the volatile martial world at twenty without any formal training, he had survived by picking up miscellaneous underhanded skills.

His aptitude for theft eventually outshone his other talents, branding him a criminal, yet he had never truly desired such a dishonorable life.

Then, by sheer fortune, the hidden text of the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm had come into his possession.

It was the ultimate technique of the legendary Radiant Heaven Divine Sovereign, an individual who had vanished without ever naming an heir.

Though he held the manual for the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm, it was devoid of any foundational internal cultivation techniques, detailing only the physical strikes.

Because the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm demanded a massive reservoir of true qi to match its fabled destructive power, it had been entirely useless to the Soul-Chasing Guest—like a treasure he could look at but never touch.

‘But everything changes now! The martial arts world will soon witness the rise of a new Radiant Heaven Divine Sovereign.’

With the Snow Plum Pill securely hidden in his shirt alongside the manual for the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm, he would soon have no reason to fear any adversary.

“Hehehe.”

The moment that soft laugh escaped his lips—

“You see? I predicted he would take this exact route.”

“Hmph. He truly went through with the theft.”

Hearing the sudden voices break the silence, the Soul-Chasing Guest felt his stomach drop in terror.

“……”

The Soul-Chasing Guest instantly attempted to utilize his movement techniques to escape, but the oppressive aura of killing intent projected by the two figures enveloped the entire clearing, leaving him with no clear path of retreat.

“In a scenario like this, doesn’t a thief usually demand to know our identities?”

“Quite true. He appears remarkably quiet. He would make an excellent operative for our Murim Alliance.”

The two individuals stepped forward into view, conversing with absolute casualness as if they faced no threat at all.

A distinct blade and a specific cloud emblem stitched onto their attire gave away their origins.

The Soul-Chasing Guest immediately recognized that these opponents were far beyond his ability to defeat.

‘The Diancang Sect.’

The Soul-Chasing Guest’s mind raced as he evaluated his options.

Should he offer to split the contents of the elixir?

They had made a reference to the Murim Alliance, implying they might choose to apprehend him rather than execute him on the spot.

Should he consume the pill immediately and attempt a desperate breakthrough?

“Look at how furiously his mind is working.”

“Listen closely. The very moment you twitch a single digit, I will separate your head from your shoulders. Keep that in mind.”

Hearing that cold promise, the Soul-Chasing Guest abandoned all thoughts of resistance.

‘Understood. Instead of throwing my life away here, it is wiser to surrender and look for a loophole later.’

The Soul-Chasing Guest promptly dropped to his knees.

“This pathetic fool was corrupted by greed and committed a grave error. I beg for your leniency.”

He retrieved a compact wooden container from within his shirt and bowed deeply until his face touched the earth.

Once they took the Snow Plum Pill, he would likely face confinement under the supervision of the Murim Alliance. Nevertheless, he harbored a faint hope that if these two men intended to keep the prize for themselves, he might avoid their official prisons entirely.

“Is this truly the Snow Plum Pill?”

“Verify the artifact. You can never take a criminal at his word.”

“Let us see.”

The martial artist who took possession of the item unsealed the wooden container.

*Pop.*

As the sealed container opened, a vibrant, refreshing aroma drifted through the air, reaching the nose of the prone Soul-Chasing Guest.

“It is authentic.”

“Is that so?”

“Honorable masters, this humble servant wishes to propose an arrangement.”

“Oh?”

“What if we simple state that I was never here?”

“What nonsense is he babbling?”

“I am well aware that the leader of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild is a self-absorbed, arrogant individual who lacks any sense of appreciation. Even if you return the Snow Plum Pill to him, do you truly expect a proper reward? It would be far more advantageous for you two to……”

“Haha, look at this pathetic creature.”

“Good grief. What sort of corrupt individuals does he take us for?”

Though their words sounded righteous, the subtle glance exchanged between the two martial artists confirmed the Soul-Chasing Guest’s suspicions.

He believed he would walk away from this encounter alive.

“In that case, this servant shall take his leave……???”

As the Soul-Chasing Guest attempted to push himself off the ground, he realized with horror that his lower limbs refused to respond.

“You fool, did you genuinely believe we would allow a witness to walk away?”

“For a practitioner of the dark paths, you are remarkably naive. How did someone so gullible ever earn the title of the Soul-Chasing Guest?”

With a final gasp of despair, the Soul-Chasing Guest slumped lifelessly onto the dirt.

“Let us bury the body quickly and vacate the area.”

“Hold on. Criminals of his type frequently conceal their greatest treasures within their clothing. Look at this.”

The speaker extracted a hidden text from the coat of the deceased Soul-Chasing Guest.

“We can examine its contents later. The guild will likely discover the disappearance of the Snow Plum Pill shortly.”

*Thud.*

Channeling his inner force into a localized palm strike against the earth, a narrow pit just large enough for a corpse opened up.

They carelessly kicked the remains of the Soul-Chasing Guest into the crevice, threw a layer of dirt over it, and turned to depart.

*Rustle.*

In that exact moment, an unfamiliar sound that belonged to neither of them echoed from the brush.

“Who goes there?”

“Reveal yourself at once, or I will end you.”

Moments later, a figure stepped out from the dense foliage. It was a young man who looked to be under the age of twenty.

“W-who are you?”

“More importantly, what are you doing roaming around this forest at such an hour?”

Had this newcomer observed their actions?

Yet, there had been a brief window of time, hadn’t there?

As the two martial artists analyzed the situation with mounting suspicion—

“I learned that the Gyeryong Merchant Guild was hosting a grand feast with complimentary spirits, so I was heading toward the estate. Unfortunately, I lost my bearings in the dark……”

“Did you happen to see anything here?”

“See what?”

“……”

The interrogator glanced toward his comrade, who offered a subtle shake of his head in response.

“Step closer. I will direct you toward the Gyeryong Merchant Guild.”

“……I appreciate the offer, but you both seem rather dangerous, so perhaps it’s best if you simply go your own way?”

“……”

“……”

There was no longer any need for deliberation. The youth had undoubtedly witnessed their crime.

The moment their eyes locked, the two swordsmen propelled themselves forward in perfect unison, closing the distance to the young man instantly.

“Your fortune has run out. Do not harbor resentment toward us.”

Just as they brought their weapons down to execute a lethal, synchronized strike—

The young man’s previously anxious expression twisted into the terrifying countenance of a yaksha.

“You hypocritical bastards are completely devoid of honor. Is this the righteous conduct the Diancang Sect instills in you?”

“Gah!”

Despite unleashing the signature swordsmanship of the Diancang Sect to ensure an instant kill, their strikes were miraculously deflected.

The sheer impact of the clash sent a jarring vibration through their bones, forcing them back a few paces.

*Snap!*

“Aaaaagh!”

A sudden, agonizing sensation ripped through his lower leg, as if metallic jaws were crushing his bone.

Though he understood that remaining silent was paramount for a martial artist of his standing, Gu Il-mu of the Diancang Five Swords shrieked in agony.

“Who are you? Do you have any idea who we represent?”

He frantically channeled his inner force down to his leg to resist the mechanical teeth sinking into his flesh, but because the device had already pierced deeply, he couldn’t stabilize his posture.

A mocking smile formed on the lips of the young man, who had just moments ago appeared entirely helpless and innocent.

“Who else could you be? Nothing but thieves belonging to Diancang.”

“……What is your true identity?”

“The rightful owner of the Snow Plum Pill.”

Jin So-un offered a bright, triumphant smile.