The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 65

Chapter 65
## Chapter 65. The Great Roc Waiting for a Typhoon (3)

I spent a considerable amount of time defending my recent actions to the gathered group.

Only after explaining that the Wind Earl Sword-Breaker’s true identity had been unknown to me, and that my response was merely a playful retort to the Herb Gatherer old man’s initial jest, did the tension in the room begin to fade from their countenances.

“Your reputation is gradually spreading throughout the murim. For your own safety, you must exercise extreme caution in your conduct from now on.”

“I shall keep your counsel in mind.”

Inwardly, I directed my irritation toward the Wind Earl Sword-Breaker.

This period was of paramount importance for the Taeul Sect, yet he chose this exact moment to disrupt our momentum.

“Moving forward, there is a crucial matter I must inquire about…”

Hong Mun-gi’s features swiftly grew overwhelmed with deep sentiment.

His expression suggested he might burst into tears at any moment.

“Is this truly the authentic lineage of the Taeul Sword Emperor?”

The experienced Elders and the various Hall Masters all fixed their eyes on me with that exact same intensity.

“It is.”

“Ah…”

“Gasp!”

The Elders closed their eyes, gently stroking their long white beards.

The Hall Masters kept their eyes wide and unblinking, trained directly on my face, terrified that even a momentary blink would cause them to miss something vital.

“Where… and by what means did you happen upon it?”

Because certain details could not be disclosed in their entirety, I offered a fabricated account, claiming I had ventured into the Demon Spirit Plateau, inadvertently breached the Soul-Destroying Formation, and stumbled upon the discovery by pure chance.

“…You braved such a perilous region entirely on your own?”

Hong Mun-gi’s gaze wavered with intense worry.

“…No. While in Yueyang, I crossed paths with Miss Seong Mo-ran of the Iron Sword Sect as well as Miss Namgung Seon-hwa of the Namgung Clan, and we undertook the journey together.”

They appeared somewhat startled to hear of my cooperation with the Iron Sword Sect, though they did not dwell extensively on that detail.

Even so, their protective anxiety lingered.

“Why do you place so little value on your own safety? I am well aware that you labor more intensely than anyone for the benefit of the Taeul Sect. Yet do you not realize that no rare Spiritual Medicine could ever match your worth to us?”

“…”

Indeed, this was the core nature of the sect I remembered.

How intensely had I felt bitterness toward this very nature during my previous life?

“…Please forgive my thoughtlessness.”

Kang Chae-seok cleared his throat softly to change the subject.

“Sect Leader, perhaps we should refrain from admonishment on such a joyous occasion. Thanks to the efforts of So-un, the true inheritance of our Grand Patriarch—which might have otherwise been lost to time permanently—has been restored to us.”

Hong Mun-gi studied me closely for a brief interval before nodding in agreement.

“Very well… Did you pay proper respects to the Grand Patriarch?”

“Yes. I offered the utmost reverence possible. Even in his final moments before passing, the Grand Patriarch remained deeply concerned for the disciples remaining within the Taeul Sect.”

“You have fulfilled his ultimate wish. At this moment, nothing could bring greater joy. I cannot praise your achievement enough.”

“Your words flatter me excessively.”

Following that, I recounted the circumstances that had caused the Taeul Sword Emperor to be confined in that place.

The assembly could not conceal their profound astonishment upon learning that the Hell Demon Emperor, who had vanished without a trace from the world long ago, was interred alongside the Taeul Sword Emperor. Furthermore, they burned with fury to hear that his imprisonment was ultimately orchestrated by the individuals who held dominion over the murim during that era.

“Who was responsible! Who dared to trap the Taeul Sword Emperor!”

While I possessed a reasonable suspicion regarding the culprits, I intentionally chose to remain silent on the matter.

At present, the Taeul Sect was in no position to entangle itself in such a conflict.

A single instrument of vengeance was more than enough.

How agonizingly miserable was an existence fueled entirely by carrying a grudge?

“Pinpointing a specific individual is likely impossible now. To the people of that era, the Taeul Sword Emperor must have inspired as much terror as the Hell Demon Emperor. If I had to define the culprits, it would encompass all the Eminent Masters who commanded the murim during that period.”

“…”

“…”

Despite my efforts to phrase the reality as gently as possible, the expressions of everyone inside the hall darkened significantly.

They undoubtedly had specific figures come to mind.

And they were well aware of the immense status those figures had achieved in the present day.

Even so, it was evident they could not easily dismiss the realization that the five centuries of degradation they had endured were the direct result of a calculated conspiracy.

To shift the heavy mood, I pressed onward with our current reality.

“I believe the matter of true consequence now is how we choose to rise from this point forward.”

Too many complications loomed in the days ahead for us to spend our time fixated on historical grievances.

Hearing my perspective, Hong Mun-gi offered a nod of assent.

“Your assessment is correct.”

“Please take this. Within these pages lies the complete record of the Taeul Sword Emperor’s true inheritance. I transcribed it precisely as it was presented, though it will require formal compilation later to be preserved as a proper Secret Manual.”

I retrieved the manuscript I had personally written from within my robes and offered it forward.

The document was handed to Hong Mun-gi by the Busaeng Hall Master, who happened to be positioned nearest to me.

Hong Mun-gi carefully turned over the pages of the manuscript, which possessed several times the thickness of a standard volume.

The text I provided contained solely the authentic techniques of the Taeul Sword Emperor and his final testaments.

I purposefully omitted the martial insights of the Hell Demon Emperor, as well as the unique arts the two figures had engineered in tandem.

It was far safer for the minimum number of individuals to be aware of such hidden knowledge.

The mere revelation that the Taeul Sword Emperor and the Hell Demon Emperor had collaborated to forge a martial discipline would only serve as an unnecessary pretext for our enemies to strike.

“…Hmm.”

After briefly skimming through the contents, Hong Mun-gi closed the cover.

“I have never in my life anticipated a turn of events such as this, and thus I am uncertain of the correct path forward. I request that all of you offer your collective insight.”

An incredible martial legacy had abruptly been recovered.

Yet the Taeul Sect remained far too fragile to effectively absorb it.

Encountering an unprecedented crisis left them without a ready solution, irrespective of their years of experience.

“…Well now.”

“I shall defer entirely to the judgment of the Sect Leader.”

Neither the gathered Elders nor the Hall Masters could formulate a concrete proposal.

“Why do we not simply proclaim to the broader murim that the true inheritance of the Taeul Sword Emperor has been recovered? If we make it public knowledge, it should prevent another crisis like the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly from repeating itself, would it not?”

Kang Chae-seok was unable to suppress a vibrant grin, his restless demeanor showing his eagerness for action.

The majority of the younger Hall Masters appeared to find merit in Kang Chae-seok’s logic, nodding their agreement.

Conversely, Hong Mun-gi, Jin Tae-san, and the senior Elders retained looks of deep reservation.

Following a brief period of deliberation, Hong Mun-gi turned his expectant gaze toward me.

“So-un, what is your perspective on this matter?”

“This disciple will gladly obey whatever collective choice is made here.”

Upon hearing my neutral reply, Hong Mun-gi released a quiet breath.

“…However, if you are willing to entertain a perhaps unrefined suggestion, I do have a perspective to offer.”

“Speak! You occupy the role of Chief Disciple. No one will find fault with your thoughts, so express yourself openly.”

I began to outline the strategy I had formulated from the exact moment I laid hands on the Taeul Sword Emperor’s true inheritance.

“To begin, the Taeul Sect must seal its gates.”

“…”

The assembled martial artists tilted their heads in confusion.

To seal a sect’s gates was universally viewed as an admission of defeat to an adversary one could not hope to overcome.

It signified a total withdrawal from active participation in the affairs of the murim, and among martial artists, it was widely deemed a humiliating capitulation.

Furthermore, implementing a total closure demanded that a sect lower its own Sect Signboard.

Given how fiercely a martial organization valued its identity through that very Sect Signboard, suggesting a closure was tantamount to suggesting the death of the sect itself.

“…Did you truly mean we should seal our gates?”

Their bewilderment was entirely reasonable, given that this was the precise juncture where the Taeul Sect ought to have spread its wings to soar anew.

“I did.”

“Have we not just successfully reclaimed the supreme martial arts of the Taeul Sword Emperor?”

“That is the precise justification for why we must close our doors. Within the shortest timeframe available to us, every member of the Taeul Sect must master the techniques of the Taeul Sword Emperor.”

“…Is it entirely impossible to achieve this mastery without resorting to sealing our gates?”

Throughout five centuries of diminished influence, the Taeul Sect had never once lowered its banner or closed its doors.

It was plain to see how deeply distasteful the notion of sealing the gates was to Hong Mun-gi.

“Through the intervention of Senior Murong Gang, we managed to sway the outcome of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly. Because he personally offered his testimony, no external power will openly challenge the legitimacy of the Taeul Sword Emperor’s martial arts. Yet can we truly expect that no one will harbor a covetous interest in these ultimate techniques?”

“…”

“Consider, for instance, the descendants of those figures who banished both the Taeul Sword Emperor and the Hell Demon Emperor to that subterranean abyss five centuries ago. Do you believe they will view the legends of the Taeul Sword Emperor as mere fabrications? Will they simply stand by and allow us to peacefully inherit and cultivate the Grand Patriarch’s true legacy?”

Subdued murmurs of realization echoed through the chamber.

They understood all too well the profound avarice that murim practitioners harbored toward peerless martial manual techniques.

Through my own actions, they had already witnessed the staggering potential of the Taeul Sword Emperor’s style, even if only indirectly.

It was a prize that could not possibly be ignored by the outside world.

“I am fully aware of the immense reverence the elders present hold for our Sect Signboard. However, regardless of how sacred that banner may be, the survival of the senior members of this sect and the future of my younger disciples carry vastly superior weight in my eyes.”

When confronted with an overwhelming blaze, a wooden plaque was merely an item that would reduce to worthless ash in a matter of hours.

“I do not believe that simply holding a treasure makes one its true master. One only earns the right to claim a treasure when they possess the strength required to safeguard it.”

“!”

Every individual in the grand hall turned their focus upon me simultaneously.

Their eyes betrayed a violent tremor of emotion, mirroring the exact reaction Hong Mun-gi had shown previously.

I delivered the definitive conclusion to my argument.

“A common quail navigating the safety of the low brush may mock the Great Roc that remains static within its nest day after day. Yet when the true typhoon arrives, the Great Roc risks everything to take flight, casting its shadow across all under heaven. We have reached the exact moment where we must patiently await our typhoon.”

With those final words, I fell silent.

The intense gazes that had been concentrated on me wavered before gradually dropping toward the floor, as though the listeners felt a sudden wave of self-reproach.

Hong Mun-gi remained with his eyes closed for a protracted period, absorbing the weight of the speech, before shifting his attention to Jin Tae-san.

“Outer Hall Master.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“What are your thoughts on appointing a replacement to lead our sect?”

“What?”

“Come again?”

The abrupt declaration sent a shockwave through the Hall Masters and Elders, who stared at Hong Mun-gi in utter disbelief.

“I raise the issue because a youthful disciple demonstrates far greater foresight and wisdom than the current Sect Leader tasked with guiding our path. It seems far more sensible to hand the reins of the Taeul Sect over to that young man and allow myself to retire peacefully to the comforts of the Elder Hall.”

A brilliant, warm smile spread across Hong Mun-gi’s face.

Only then did the assembly grasp that the Sect Leader was merely jesting, and the rigid tension in the room dissolved into soft amusement.

“Haha. Let us avoid such absurdities, Sect Leader Hong. The Elder Hall is already far too cramped to accommodate yourself alongside your contemporary peers.”

“Is that the case?”

Hong Mun-gi turned a humorous gaze back toward me.

“What say you, So-un? If you construct a grander Elder Hall for us, I shall gladly transfer the mantle of Sect Leader to you this instant.”

Faced with Hong Mun-gi treating the prestigious leadership of the Taeul Sect as though it were nothing more than the trivial position of a local neighborhood street boss, I shook my head in refusal.

“I must respectfully decline. I still intend to journey across the lands, admire the sights, and enjoy my youth, so I must ask you to endure the hardships of leadership a while longer, Sect Leader.”

“You audacious scoundrel… Back in your childhood, you were such an industrious and sweet-natured boy…”

With that light-hearted banter, the heavy atmosphere relaxed considerably.

Hong Mun-gi’s expression returned to a composed seriousness as he spoke once more.

“So-un speaks the truth. For the time being, rather than broadcasting our fortune to the outside world, our immediate priority must be devising a method to transmit the Taeul Sword Emperor’s true inheritance to our pupils. To accomplish that, we must first master the true inheritance ourselves.”

“…But Sect Leader, regarding the matter of sealing our gates…”

It was evident that a few among the senior Elders still harbored a deep-seated resistance to the notion of total isolation.

“I comprehend the source of your anxiety. Even during our periods of greatest weakness, the Sect Signboard was never once lowered throughout five centuries. Yet did So-un not just illustrate the point? If the Great Roc allowed itself to be swayed by the trivial mocking of a common quail, it would hardly deserve to be called a Great Roc, would it?”

“…”

“Furthermore, the Grand Patriarch endured unimaginable trials to preserve these martial disciplines for our benefit. If we fail to defend them adequately due to nothing more than misplaced vanity, how could we ever face his memory?”

The Elder who had raised the initial objection pondered the words deeply before offering a respectful nod of agreement.

“The Sect Leader’s words are undeniable. I suffered a momentary lapse in judgment.”

Just as a unified consensus was beginning to form among the leadership, my Father effectively dampened their enthusiasm with a single remark.

“I must voice my opposition.”

“For what reason?”

“The Taeul Sect is currently devoid of financial resources.”

“Ah…”

“Did the Sect Leader himself not propose just a short while ago that we urgently investigate the establishment of an Escort Agency to stay afloat?”

Kang Chae-seok stepped forward abruptly to contest the point.

“Are we not receiving revenue from the operation of the iron ore mine? Should that not suffice to cover our expenses?”

“Have you calculated the sheer number of individuals currently residing within the Taeul Sect? While it is true the Maoshan Sect is constructing the Mystic Gate Formation without demanding a professional fee, that concession only accounts for their basic labor. Are we not still obligated to finance the raw materials and provide for their ongoing lodging? Furthermore, the Azure Sky Merchant Guild has maintained an absolute silence regarding our inquiries into the iron ore distribution rights. At this juncture, we must interpret their silence as a flat refusal. Ultimately, we have no alternative but to depend entirely on the generosity of the Wang Estate.”

Kang Chae-seok shifted his gaze back toward me.

“As I suspected, we ought to dispatch that boy to negotiate with the Wang Estate…”

Jin Tae-san cut across Kang Chae-seok’s words, directing his comments straight to Hong Mun-gi.

“We face an endless array of expenditures from this moment onward. Our challenges do not magically vanish simply because we have secured a martial legacy, do they? If our objective is for the disciples to successfully inherit the Taeul Sword Emperor’s true inheritance, we must also secure expensive Spiritual Medicine to aid their growth. To achieve that, we are left with no choice but to generate funds through external means.”

“Hmm…”

Confronted with the harsh realities of their economic situation, Hong Mun-gi drifted back into a silent, anxious reverie.

Seeing the impasse, the senior Elders volunteered themselves.

“In that case, what if we were to venture out independently to manage the duties of the Escort Agency ourselves?”

“…I am deeply moved by your dedication, but how could we possibly rest or dine in comfort knowing our senior elders are enduring such labor on our behalf?”

The median age within the Elder Hall hovered well into the sixties. These were individuals who had never had the opportunity to acquire high-tier martial disciplines like those found in rival sects, making it impossible for them to enter the grueling market of physical labor and security work.

In the midst of this total deadlock where no viable path forward seemed to exist, I spoke up.

“If the issue is merely financial, I believe I have secured a resolution.”

“Oh?”

“What are you implying?”

The individual who appeared most visibly thrilled by this declaration was, unsurprisingly, Kang Chae-seok, given his insatiable passion for anything related to martial progress.

I reached into the inner lining of my garments, producing a formal envelope, an accompanying missive, and a pair of Great Swallow Divine Pills, which I presented directly to the Busaeng Hall Master.

Hong Mun-gi received the items after they were passed along the line, his countenance blank with bewilderment. As his eyes scanned the text of the letter, his gaze expanded in pure astonishment.

“What in the world is the meaning of this…”

“What does it contain?”

Unable to restrain his curiosity, Kang Chae-seok demanded an answer.

“It explicitly details that the Namgung Clan intends to transfer ownership of the Hefei Branch of the Azure Sky Merchant Guild over to us.”

“Is Hefei not the actual center of operations for the Azure Sky Merchant Guild? Were they operating a separate branch entity there?”

“The document indicates they converted that primary headquarters into a regional branch structure. They are assigning full ownership of that property to our sect.”

“What?”

“Is that true?”

Every person in the chamber fixed their eyes upon me, silently demanding an immediate clarification of the facts.

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly before replying.

“I was granted the property as a token of appreciation for ensuring the survival of the Divine Sword’s granddaughter.”

“…”

“…”

The entire hall fell into a stunned silence, everyone staring at me with their mouths hanging open in disbelief.

My Father, in particular, glared in my direction, the veins visibly pulsing near his eyes as though he were experiencing an overwhelming surge of emotion.

‘Huh? Is he truly so profoundly touched by this news that he is grinding his teeth together in silence?’