The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 50

Chapter 50
Chapter 50. A First-Rate Warrior Peering into the Darkness (3)

Following the bizarre treatment administered by the mysterious youth, Murong Sang-won sensed a fresh surge of vitality coursing through his internal pathways.

Although his physical frame remained completely devoid of strength, he had regained just enough focus to manage a rudimentary level of Qi Circulation and Breathing.

Once a single cycle of meditation had restored a fraction of his energy, Murong Sang-won cast a deeply conflicted look toward the modest wooden box resting in front of him.

The young Chivalrous Hero, who had selflessly provided his own blood out of sheer urgency, had departed from the cavern moments earlier after mentioning he would search for something to eat.

“Could he truly be unaware that this is the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core?”

The object naturally radiated a palpable, comforting warmth of Yang Qi all on its own.

It was impossible for anyone with martial arts training to miss such a distinct aura, meaning the youth was likely feigning ignorance despite being fully aware of its value.

“What could his true motives possibly be?”

The memory of the boy drawing a slender, filament-like cord from his sleeve and ascending the rocky gorge made him look remarkably like a spider.

As he pulled apart bits of the jerky left behind by his savior and slowly masticated them, Murong Sang-won found his mind completely occupied by thoughts of the enigmatic youth.

—

Having sated his hunger at a local tavern, Jin So-un made his way directly to a nearby blacksmith’s shop.

“Those appear to be bear traps.”

Jin So-un remarked while gesturing toward the massive pile of iron jaws stacked in a corner of the forge.

“You seem to have an unusually large inventory of them.”

“The local administrator from the valley below offered triple the usual rate for bear gallbladders, prompting every woodsman in the region to swarm the mountains and decimate the local bear population.”

After pausing to consider this for a brief instance, Jin So-un inquired,

“Is it possible to modify the mechanisms to make them incredibly sensitive?”

“Sensitive? Just how light of a touch are we talking about?”

“To the point where they will snap shut if even a small rabbit puts its weight on them.”

“Are you joking? If I calibrated them to that degree and an unsuspecting traveler happened to tread on one, the consequences would be horrific!”

“They are not meant for humans. Wild predators are migrating out of season and posing a severe threat to the local populace.”

“Even so, I cannot do it.”

Seeing the tradesman refuse so resolutely, Jin So-un reached into his garments, pulled out two silver pieces, and placed them firmly on the counter.

The blacksmith’s gaze wavered dramatically at the sight of the currency.

“Is such a modification completely out of the question?”

“…….”

The moment Jin So-un added a third silver piece to the pile, the smith finally broke his silence.

“While I might not be able to guarantee a rabbit triggers it, I can certainly tune the springs so that even a tiny squirrel would set them off.”

With an agile movement, the craftsman swept the coins off the table and tucked them away into his apron.

—

A full day elapsed before I made my way back to where Murong Sang-won was hiding.

Deploying all those heavy mechanisms across the terrain had proven far more time-consuming than initially anticipated.

I took a detour back to the tavern to purchase a supply of hot meat pies and a bottle of Bamboo-Leaf Clear Wine before finally returning to the cave.

Murong Sang-won welcomed me with a look of immense relief, likely having spent the past several hours gripped by intense anxiety over my prolonged absence.

“I was beginning to fear that you had left me behind to fend for myself.”

“Haha, please forgive me. There were a few pressing matters I needed to take care of.”

“Sniff, sniff. Wait, what is that wonderful aroma?”

Due to his prolonged starvation, Murong Sang-won’s olfactory senses had grown incredibly sharp.

The moment I unpacked the food and the bottle of Bamboo-Leaf Clear Wine, he completely disregarded his noble status as the Young Clan Head of the Murong Clan, aggressively shoving the hot food into his mouth.

“Wh-What kind of food is this? This is honestly the most incredible meal I have ever experienced.”

With each fleeting smile that crossed Murong Sang-won’s face, I caught a striking glimpse of Murong Seol’s features hidden within his expression.

Witnessing a joyous expression that had been so rare in my previous life evoked a complex, melancholic sensation within my chest.

“They are simply enhanced by the flavor of starvation, I suppose.”

“No way. There is absolutely no way that is all it is.”

Eating far too rapidly, Murong Sang-won suddenly began to cough and sputter as a piece caught in his throat.

“Keuk!”

I quickly passed him the flask of Bamboo-Leaf Clear Wine, prompting him to thump his chest repeatedly while chugging the liquid down.

“Keuk! Don’t tell me this vintage of Bamboo-Leaf Clear Wine is also enhanced by my empty stomach?”

“Indeed it is.”

Now that his ravenous appetite was somewhat appeased, he finally noticed that I hadn’t taken a single bite. Flustered, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he gently slid the remaining food toward my side.

“Do not worry, I already ate my fill at the tavern while gathering these provisions.”

“…….”

A brief internal struggle flickered across Murong Sang-won’s face, but he conceded with a quiet nod and pulled the food back toward himself.

“I feel incredibly embarrassed to behave this way in front of a younger companion.”

It was only after clearing all four servings of the meal I brought that a noticeable amount of color and vigor returned to Murong Sang-won’s frame.

“While this entire situation raises endless questions, there is one particular mystery that stands out above the rest.”

Murong Sang-won admitted, his face showing a hint of self-consciousness.

“Go ahead and ask.”

“Are you aware of who I actually am?”

“During your period of delirium, you repeatedly mumbled the name ‘Murong.’ Based on that clue, I surmised you belonged to the prominent Murong Clan.”

“Your assumption is correct. I am Murong Sang-won, the heir and Young Clan Head of the Murong Clan. However…… I still do not know your identity.”

“My name is Jin So-un, hailing from the Jin family. I train as a student under a minor martial arts sect located near the outskirts of Hefei.”

“A sect near Hefei…… are you referring to the well-known Iron Sword Sect?”

Shaking my head, I clarified, “No, it is an institution with a longer history than theirs. The Taeul Sect.”

“Ah……! The Taeul Sect…….”

Looking somewhat chagrined by his ignorance, Murong Sang-won pressed his lips together and nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

“One of the recognized schools within the One Hundred Eight Peaks…… Please accept my apologies. Given the location of Hefei, the Taeul Sect should have been my immediate thought.”

“There is no need for apologies. It is only natural, given how rapidly the Iron Sword Sect has expanded its renown.”

For reasons known only to himself, Murong Sang-won dipped his gaze, looking thoroughly contrite.

“This is deeply humiliating. I am doing nothing but exposing my most pathetic faults in front of the very person who saved my life.”

“A savior? I simply acted out of basic human decency.”

“Please do not trivialize your actions. It takes a rare soul to show such profound devotion to a complete stranger.”

“The core philosophy of the Taeul Sect mandates that we must offer aid to others to the absolute limit of our capabilities. I am merely following that doctrine, so your excessive praise only causes me embarrassment.”

“……Wow. You are genuinely the first individual I have ever encountered who makes the prestigious title of the Murong Clan seem insignificant by comparison.”

Murong Sang-won stared at me as if examining some mythical, baffling entity.

“……If I may ask, what brought you down into this treacherous ravine in the first place?”

It was impossible to confess that my original intention had been to salvage the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core from what I assumed would be his lifeless remains.

“With the aggressive expansion of the Iron Sword Sect, I was seeking a means to bolster the fortunes of my own school. I recalled an old forager mentioning that rare Cliff Flower Herb could be found clinging to the precipices of West Lake Peak here in Mugang, and as I was scaling the rock face……”

“And that was when you happened upon me!”

Murong Sang-won interjected, his tone bright with realization.

“Precisely.”

“A student willing to brave such dangers for the sake of his order…… I truly find myself envious of your master, the Taeul Sect’s leader.”

“I am simply paying back the kindness and instruction I have been given, without any grander motive.”

Murong Sang-won gave a series of firm nods before addressing another matter.

“Be that as it may, my presence disrupted your search and cost you that valuable medicinal flora. How can I possibly make amends for that loss?”

Murong Sang-won spent a long moment searching through the inner pockets of his attire before arriving at a definitive resolution, placing the heavy wooden container onto the ground with a dull thud.

“……Would you be willing to take this as a replacement?”

“…….”

“As you have undoubtedly recognized, this is the coveted Fire Monkey’s Inner Core. Regardless of your current level of cultivation, absorbing this treasure will effortlessly propel you into the ranks of first-rate master warriors. Furthermore, should you distribute its essence among your fellow students, it will provide the ultimate catalyst for the Taeul Sect to rise as a dominant power capable of rivaling the Iron Sword Sect.”

The image of Murong Sang-won extending the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core triggered a vivid memory of Murong Seol from my bygone days.

$$Is this not a Clear Bright Pill?$$

$$And?$$

$$It is fine. Senior, please take it when you are in danger.$$

$$You and I are only members of the Sojeong Squad right now. What I need right now is a comrade for survival. And until when are you going to keep calling me ‘Senior’?$$

Observing Murong Sang-won’s selfless gesture, I finally traced the origins of the noble spirit that Murong Seol had possessed.

Remembering the Clear Bright Pill that I had reluctantly accepted all those years ago, I gently extended my hand to reject the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core, pushing it back toward him.

“My actions were never motivated by a desire for profit or reward. Please, secure your treasure once more.”

“……If you consider this token inadequate, have no fears on that account. Though it sounds arrogant to declare, the survival of the heir to the Murong Clan carries immense weight. This gesture would merely serve as an initial token of my everlasting appreciation.”

“For the Young Clan Head of the illustrious Murong Clan to risk everything in pursuit of an exotic Spiritual Medicine, it must be destined for a critical purpose. Perhaps, for instance, securing an advantage in the upcoming Murim Academy’s Regular Exam.”

“……!”

“Depriving a parent of the means to safeguard their offspring’s future runs entirely contrary to the ethics of the Taeul Sect. I shall graciously accept your gratitude alone, Senior.”

Throughout my previous existence, which constitutes their impending destiny, I had already been repaid tenfold by their bloodline.

I refused to let any shadow of misfortune touch the path of Murong Seol, an individual to whom I owed a debt that could never truly be settled.

To eliminate any lingering hesitation from Murong Sang-won’s mind, I presented a harsher, undeniable truth.

“If an item as volatile as the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core were to fall into the possession of a modest faction like ours, would it not inevitably trigger a catastrophe akin to the tragedy at Tae-won Cheon Estate?”

Situated within Tae-won, the prominent center of Shanxi Province, there once existed a renowned martial dynasty spanning ten generations, universally recognized as the Cheon Estate.

Their legendary signature technique, formulated by the patriarch Cheon In-se and known as the Cheon Clan Saber Form, stood as a spectacular discipline widely counted among the Ten Great Saber Arts of the Murim. The clan had rendered invaluable service during various historical crises throughout the land, leading to significant deliberation regarding their potential inclusion within the Murim Alliance’s One Hundred Eight Peaks.

However, word eventually leaked that the Tae-won Cheon Estate had managed to acquire a legendary Spiritual Medicine called Azure Stone Milk, causing greedy sell-swords and martial artists from every corner of the Murim to descend upon Tae-won.

Given the considerable military might the Tae-won Cheon Estate possessed during that era, their fortifications and guards appeared utterly impregnable, even when surrounded by legions of hostile trespassers.

Yet, under mysterious circumstances, an uncontrollable blaze erupted, and amidst the chaos of the inferno, a cohort of masked intruders breached the inner sanctum of the Cheon Estate. By sunrise, the entire household had been ruthlessly slaughtered to the last soul.

In the aftermath, the ultimate destination of the Cheon Estate’s stolen Azure Stone Milk remained shrouded in eternal mystery.

Consequently, the proud legacy of the Tae-won Cheon Estate was completely erased from the world, their killers remaining entirely anonymous.

This exact danger was the reason I had chosen to internalize every single rare plant and medicine I uncovered in absolute secrecy, concealing their existence even from my closest brethren.

“……Hmm.”

“My decision on this matter is absolute, so I ask that you drop the issue, Senior.”

“Very well. I shall yield to your conviction. Even so, name an alternative desire. Whatever your request might be, I pledge to fulfill it.”

“I truly require nothing……”

“Do not refuse me. Fulfilling a request will hardly balance the scales of my debt to you, but my personal honor demands that I manifest my appreciation tangibly. This is my firm stance, and I insist you comply.”

“…….”

I reviewed my current circumstances thoroughly, yet found myself wanting for absolutely nothing.

My physical vessels were already thoroughly saturated with elite mystical herbs that required massive cultivation to process, and I had ready access to more. Furthermore, my school’s treasury was already overflowing with material wealth.

‘Ah!’

An excellent alternative suddenly struck me, and as I turned my eyes back to Murong Sang-won, I noted his hopeful expression.

“Would you be open to bestowing a single Clear Bright Pill upon a student of our Taeul Sect?”

“A Clear Bright Pill?”

Murong Sang-won cocked his head in confusion.

Glancing between the radiant Fire Monkey’s Inner Core and my countenance, he sought clarification:

“While a Clear Bright Pill stands as an elite sacred remedy belonging exclusively to our house, its value is significantly lower than that of the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core, is it not?”

“Harboring the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core guarantees our destruction. Conversely, if a Clear Bright Pill is officially gifted by your hand, Senior, no external faction would dare attempt to steal it from us.”

“……!”

A subtle, understanding smirk graced the lips of Murong Sang-won.

“I see your point. I pledge that such a gift shall be officially delivered under the authority of the Murong Clan.”

In my current state, utilizing a Clear Bright Pill personally offered zero practical benefit, given the massive backlogs of raw energy currently circulating through my meridians.

Seizing this unique political opportunity to elevate the cultivation base of my fellow disciples was a far more strategic move.

“Instead of presenting it directly to me, please transfer the item to our Sect Leader so he can distribute it as he sees fit.”

“……What is your reasoning for that?”

“If such a reward is directly handed to me as the Chief Disciple of the Taeul Sect, it could easily breed resentment and accusations of bias. However, if our master administers it as a prize for excellence, it will serve as a powerful incentive for my Junior Brothers to exert themselves.”

“……Incredible!”

Murong Sang-won stared at me with an expression of sheer, unadulterated astonishment, completely stunned by such selflessness.

Suddenly, he blindsided me with an entirely unrelated inquiry.

“……Tell me, have you been betrothed or promised to any young lady since your youth?”

Utterly baffled by the sudden shift in topics, I tilted my head to the side.

“I have no such arrangements, but whatever makes you ask that?”

For a peculiar reason, an air of profound satisfaction washed over Murong Sang-won’s features.

“Think nothing of it. Rest assured regarding the compensation. I shall personally see to it that three Clear Bright Pills are dispatched to your master as a token of my profound appreciation.”

—

“This is truly a magnificent device.”

After securing our bodies together and scaling the sheer cliffs out of the canyon using the Flying Dragon Claw, Murong Sang-won uttered words of genuine admiration for the tool.

Yet, the moment the bright solar rays hit his face after his long confinement in the dark, his attention completely shifted away from the Flying Dragon Claw.

“This is breathtaking. Absolutely wonderful! I honestly believed I could die content if I could just experience the warmth of the sun one final time. You have granted me that miracle.”

Murong Sang-won extended his limbs, basking deeply in the natural warmth.

“Please take care not to overexert yourself just yet.”

Although I had completely purged the corrosive Demonic Qi from his system, his damaged dantians and meridians required substantial time to mend.

“Fear not, I feel energetic enough to sprint a mountain path this very minute. Tell me, where do your travels take you next?”

“I must begin making tracks back toward my school immediately.”

Calculating the extra days required for my planned detour to the Namgung Clan along the way, my timeline was already looking remarkably narrow.

“If there is no urgent rush, accompany me to our family’s commercial compound here in Mugang for a brief rest, and from there we can journey to the Murong Clan estates together.”

“I shall pay my respects at the Murong Clan at a future date. For now, there are critical obligations awaiting my attention back at the sect.”

“Do these responsibilities happen to involve preparation for the Murim Academy Exam?”

“……That is correct.”

Murong Sang-won made no effort to conceal his disappointment at my answer.

“I understand. ……Even so, surely a couple of days of relaxation prior to your departure wouldn’t hurt?”

“Well, the issue is……”

“I must insist. Pushing your physical limits without proper recovery will only cause exhaustion to set in, damaging your foundation.”

“Very well then……”

In the middle of my sentence, an ominous sensation triggered my instincts, causing me to whip my head around toward the brush.

Despite the clear afternoon light, a sudden, unnatural silence had descended upon the woods, leaving only the whistling breeze audible.

“What is wrong?”

Murong Sang-won remained entirely oblivious to the impending danger.

“The hostile group that ambushed you previously—did they happen to wear pitch-black combat robes coupled with crimson headbands?”

“Huh? How could you possibly know their attire……?”

“Look over that way.”

Following the direction of my extended finger, Murong Sang-won squinted into the seemingly vacant thicket, knit his brows, and attempted to push his internal energy to sharpen his vision.

Predictably, his broken pathways failed to rally to his aid.

“……!!”

“Are those the individuals responsible for your injuries, Senior?”

“I cannot say for certain from this distance.”

Within moments, a contingent of twenty figures, utterly masking their presence and leaving no trace of vitality in the air, emerged silently from the trees.

“…Yes, it’s them. There is no doubt.”

Omitting any verbal reply, I unsheathed the Black Dragon Sword.

A look of profound guilt and distress overcame Murong Sang-won.

“I am overwhelmed with shame before my savior. Before I can even begin to return a fraction of your kindness, my enemies have dragged you into this deadly predicament.”

“Senior, we can deliberate on that after we survive.”

“Understood.”

Murong Sang-won advanced a single stride.

Although the twenty adversaries simply blocked the path ahead, their coordinated positioning completely suppressed every escape route within a radius of ten jang.

Not a single vulnerability existed for us to exploit for retreat.

“What drives your relentless pursuit of my life?!”

“…….”

“Answer me this one inquiry.”

Murong Sang-won’s demand boomed across the clearing with majestic authority.

“Is your true objective to apprehend the Young Clan Head of the Murong Clan alive?”

“…….”

The hidden faces beneath the crimson headbands maintained their icy silence.

Suddenly, Murong Sang-won gestured directly in my direction and shouted to the crowd:

“Allow this youth to depart unharmed, and I shall surrender my life to you without offering a shred of resistance. Do we have a deal?”

Prior to my being able to intervene and silence Murong Sang-won’s reckless offer, the apparent leader positioned in the middle of the crimson-banded squad strode out from the ranks.

“Out of the question!”

The refusal came in a grating, ominous tone that sounded like metal grinding against metal.

Levelling a hand toward our position, he barked out a final command.

“Leave no survivors!”