The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 7

Chapter 7
The animosity between the Iron Sword Sect and the Taeul Sect was rooted in a very simple reality: both called the territory of Hefei home.

From the vantage point of the Taeul Sect, this geographical overlap was incredibly grating. As a venerable pillar of the martial world boasting nearly five centuries of heritage, they looked down on the Iron Sword Sect as an upstart newcomer whose foundations were scarcely a hundred and fifty years old. The elders of the older institution viewed them as arrogant newcomers whose sect walls had barely finished drying before they began acting like masters of the region.

Yet, a singular genius named the Ghost Sword Immortal Elder Seong Hyeon-baek had emerged a century and a half ago, cementing the Iron Sword Sect’s position so firmly that the ancient Taeul Sect now found itself walking on eggshells around these youthful rivals.

When an organization expands, its original territory begins to feel suffocatingly small. The Iron Sword Sect constantly hungered for broader dominance, and the Taeul Sect stood directly in their path. Furthermore, holding a place among the prestigious One Hundred Eight Peaks meant having the formidable backing of the Murim Alliance. No matter how weak a member sect might become, outsiders could not easily strike them down. Consequently, the Iron Sword Sect desperately desired to unseat the Taeul Sect and claim that protected status for themselves.

“Losing out on the special admission track must have rubbed salt in their wounds as well.”

Given that the standard entry trials for the Murim Academy were notoriously brutal, an entitlement like the special admission track was a prize that even a rapidly growing powerhouse like the Iron Sword Sect coveted deeply. During the periods when the academy opened its gates, numerous sects within the One Hundred Eight Peaks took in hordes of outsiders as temporary disciples to exploit these privileges. The Taeul Sect was already an eyesore to their rivals, so watching them continuously reap the rewards of this special admission track only made the Iron Sword Sect bitter.

Regardless of these underlying tensions, we accepted an invitation to the grand celebration marking the Iron Sword Sect Leader’s sixtieth birthday, an event where my father ultimately lowered himself to his knees.

“But something about it still feels off.”

Reflecting on the catalyst, it hadn’t actually been a monumental crisis. Hong Sa-ryeon, Gye Cheol-yeong, and I had been participating in an evening tea assembly with other young cultivators. During the gathering, the sudden, aggressive provocation of the Blood Wolf Iron Sword—the grandson of the reigning Sect Leader—forced us into a formal duel scheduled for the following day. I fully intended to step onto the stage and face him, fully aware I would likely lose, simply to salvage my dignity and vent my frustration.

However, the moment my father caught wind of the arrangement, he intervened by kneeling and begging for forgiveness in front of the massive crowd gathered for the festival.

“It could have just ended with me taking a beating.”

Instead, that submissive gesture dragged the Taeul Sect’s reputation through the dirt once more, prompting the Murim Alliance to saddle us with a significantly larger burden of mandatory service personnel than we usually received. To be completely honest, even looking back now, I don’t believe my conduct that night warranted such humiliation. How was a person supposed to gracefully dodge a crazed assailant charging with the explosive momentum of the Bow-Body Bullet Shadow?

‘…Have I spent too many days surrounded by the roughnecks of the Sojeong Squad? My internal monologue is becoming completely uncouth.’

Catching myself slipping into the coarse slang of a common Hao Gate street thug, I reined in my straying mind and focused on the core issue. The truth was, our rivals merely required any flimsy excuse to crush the Taeul Sect’s spirit. Had I swallowed my pride that evening, they would have manufactured a fresh insult the following morning. Had we tolerated that as well, they simply would have mocked the quality of the celebratory offerings we brought later.

‘The wisest course of action would have been to simply stay away.’

If avoiding them was the goal, I had options. I could have disrupted the status quo within the Taeul Sect by demonstrating the hidden Ascendant Form of the Minor Heaven Sword Art, forcing our leadership into a manic period of restructuring our legacy techniques. Alternatively, I could have returned with a lucrative business strategy to redirect the attention of the Taeul Sect’s Hall Masters toward generating wealth.

Yet, the primary obstacle was that I had allowed my personal pride to dictate my actions. From a purely logical standpoint, rather than traveling to the enemy camp, bickering with hostile disciples for days, and spending weeks cleaning up the political fallout, my time would be infinitely better spent tracking down another rare herb or hunting a dangerous monster.

“But if I let those arrogant bastards off the hook, I won’t be able to sleep peacefully for a month.”

Leaving that dilemma on the back burner for the time being, I journeyed toward Songak Mountain located in Jeongwon. The records within the Murim Compendium of Spiritual Medicines identified this peak as the hunting ground of the One-Horned Fire Python. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t dream of targeting such a creature, but the unique properties of the Azure Dragon Bracelet allowed me to directly absorb a toxic beast core without needing any dangerous refinement processes, making it foolish to pass up the opportunity.

*HISSSS!*

Subduing the monster required very little exertion. The instant the massive reptile wrapped its thick coils around my torso and opened its maw to consume me whole, I simply channeled my energy to activate the Azure Dragon Bracelet.

*SKREEE!*

The serpent emitted a bizarre, agonizing shriek as its flesh began to desiccate at an unnatural speed. Within moments, the terrifying predator was reduced to nothing more than a pathetic, dried-up husk resembling an old root. Watching the grim transformation, I couldn’t help but marvel at the devastating, pitiless power of the relic on my wrist.

“If the orthodox factions ever witness me employing this artifact, I’ll instantly become the most hunted man in the Murim.”

With a quick motion, I snapped the golden horn from the brow of the dead One-Horned Fire Python and tucked it away into my tunic. The material was highly sought after for luxury craftsmanship and would command an impressive price from merchants. I could either convert it directly to coin or commission a master craftsman to use it as an elegant embellishment for my personal blade.

‘Roughly forty years’ worth.’

Though it was a modest gain, my reservoir of internal energy had expanded yet again. Moving forward, it was imperative that I begin masking the true depth of my cultivation.

“If a standard junior disciple of the Taeul Sect is discovered harboring a full gapja of internal energy at the mere age of twenty, it will immediately invite intense scrutiny and suspicion.”

Fortunately, I wasn’t overly anxious about hiding it. One of my former companions from the Sojeong Squad happened to be an expert in stealth techniques, possessing skills that rivaled the finest masters under heaven.

“I wonder if that fellow is currently making his living as a contract killer out there somewhere.”

After making my way down the slopes of Songak Mountain, I made a brief stop at a local marketplace to purchase a sack of provisions before continuing my journey back to the gates of the Taeul Sect.

“Senior Brother Jin!”

“Senior Brother!”

“Senior Brother!”

A group of our youngest disciples, looking like a flock of fragile little chicks, were just exiting the Busaeng Hall when they caught sight of me and bolted over in excitement.

“Senior Brother! Where on earth have you been traveling?”

“Senior Brother! I’ve started practicing the Minor Heaven Sword Art once more!”

“Senior Brother! Have you had a chance to eat yet?”

As I smiled and gently patted the heads of the enthusiastically chattering children, Gye Cheol-yeong and Hong Sa-ryeon walked into view.

“Where exactly have you been idling away your time, only deciding to show your face now?”

Gye Cheol-yeong’s expression was incredibly sour for reasons he didn’t care to hide.

“Well now, Senior Brother Gye. You look remarkably different today. The potency of the Snow Plum Pill must truly be miraculous. Even from this distance, I can perceive an oppressive aura of mastery radiating from your form, to the point where I feel unworthy to even look your way. Have you successfully refined the essence of that spiritual medicine?”

Upon hearing my remark, Gye Cheol-yeong’s countenance warped into something resembling a furious demon.

“That is absolutely none of your business!”

Bellowing his anger, he roughly pushed through the gathering of young disciples and stormed off into the compound.

“Why must you intentionally antagonize him? Surely you heard the news that the Snow Plum Pill was stolen?”

“I did hear. That’s precisely why I brought it up.”

Hong Sa-ryeon let out a heavy, weary sigh.

“What have you actually been doing during your long absence?”

“Nothing grand. Just traveling from place to place, enjoying fine meals, and taking in the beautiful scenery.”

“…And where exactly did you find the coin for such leisure?”

“Through hunting beasts and taking odd jobs.”

Had I revealed the full, unvarnished truth, the entire Taeul Sect would have collapsed into utter chaos, but technically speaking, my answer was entirely accurate.

“…The Sect Leader has informed us that we no longer need to tread lightly around the Gyeryong Merchant Guild. You can finally settle back into your regular routine.”

“Oh?”

“Our leadership has officially committed to attending the celebration for the Iron Sword Sect Leader’s sixtieth birthday. Furthermore… as you are well aware, the leaders of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild are completely consumed by the crisis surrounding the missing Snow Plum Pill, so they rarely bother visiting our estate these days. There’s no longer any reason to appease them.”

Ah… that actually complicated things for my own agenda. It was clear that Sa-ryeon was operating under a massive misunderstanding regarding my motives. Regardless of her assumptions, I needed an excuse to keep operating beyond the sect walls. However, that wasn’t the most pressing matter at the moment.

“So the decision to participate in the Iron Sword Sect Leader’s sixtieth birthday banquet is set in stone?”

“Yes. The Master of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild made an incredibly passionate plea. He begged our elders to go without fail, explicitly asking for it as a personal favor to him.”

“Will you be joining the delegation as well, Junior Sister Ryeon?”

“……”

“What’s this? You’re staying behind?”

“You keep using that name, Junior Sister Ryeon, and it honestly gives me goosebumps. Stop addressing me that way.”

“What’s wrong with it? I think it sounds pleasant.”

“…I told you to stop. To answer your question, yes, I am going. Senior Brother Cheol-yeong will be joining us as well.”

In my previous life, my inclusion in this trip hadn’t been part of the official itinerary either. I had practically begged my elders for permission to attend because I was desperate to witness the skills of the Twin Wolf Iron Swords firsthand.

“Setting that aside, what do you have hidden in that large sack?”

“Ah… this.”

Gathering the young disciples whose hair I had been ruffling, I untied the knots of the bundle and spread it open before them.

“Wow!”

“Incredible! Look at all the candied sweets!”

The eyes of the exhausted, sweat-drenched children instantly lit up with pure joy.

“Alright, gather around. Mind your manners and share them equally. If I catch anyone hoarding more than their fair share, you’ll be answering to me!”

“““Understood, Senior Brother!”””

The children chirped happily, lifting the heavy bundle together and scurrying away to meticulously distribute the treats among themselves. To their credit, they all played fair, ensuring no one took an unfair portion.

“…Why did you bother buying candied sweets?”

“Hm? I happened to pass through the marketplace and they crossed my mind.”

“…Purchased with what funds?”

For some reason, Sa-ryeon’s gaze grew noticeably subdued as she watched the scene.

“Senior Brother, Senior Brother. Senior Brother Jin.”

At that moment, a tiny disciple named Dong-ryong gently tugged on the fabric of my sleeve.

“What’s the matter, little one? Did the bigger kids leave you out of the candy distribution?”

“No, no. That’s not it at all. Look at this.”

The small boy shook his head vigorously, reaching into his robes to pull out a tightly folded piece of scrap paper.

“What is it?”

“Senior Brother, you didn’t get a chance to taste this amazing food.”

As I carefully smoothed out the creases of the paper, I found a piece of stale, hardened rice cake resting inside. Judging by its texture, it had clearly been sitting around for days.

“The older martial brothers all said it was an exceptionally delicious treat.”

Standing right next to me, Sa-ryeon quickly brought her hand up to mask her trembling mouth.

“Senior Brother Gye was the one who gifted these to us.”

“…And you saved yours instead of eating it?”

“I didn’t need it. I got to eat a massive portion of meat that day.”

For young children born into impoverished families, practicing such self-restraint when it came to rare delicacies required immense willpower. Dong-ryong simply stared up at my face, his eyes shining with pure, innocent anticipation. Treating the stale morsel with the same reverence I would show to a legendary spiritual medicine, I placed the rock-hard rice cake into my mouth and began to chew.

“How does it taste? Is it as amazing as they said, Senior Brother?”

“Yes. It’s incredibly delicious. In fact, it’s so good that I think I’ll keep the whole thing for myself. Now run along, Dong-ryong, go grab some of those candied sweets before they’re all gone.”

“Okay! I’m completely happy with just the candy anyway.”

Looking thoroughly pleased with himself, Dong-ryong turned and sprinted back toward the group of children clamoring around the sweets.

“…Isn’t that cake incredibly old and stale?”

“It feels exactly like a smooth pebble… but the flavor is unmatched.”

“…You are truly something else.”

“It defies all logic for a distinguished martial lineage like ours to be constantly degraded by a bunch of low-life thugs, don’t you think?”

“…What exactly are you plotting?”

“Just a thought. I’m allowed to join the escort to the Iron Sword Sect, am I not?”

“…Are you genuinely eager to go to that place?”

“It gives me an opportunity to observe the Twin Wolf Iron Swords, and rumor has it that representatives from the prestigious Namgung Clan will be making an appearance as well, right?”

When I recycled the exact same justifications I had used during my previous life, Hong Sa-ryeon simply shook her head in resignation.

“Suit yourself. The Outer Hall Master is leading the delegation regardless.”

The traveling caravan assembled by the Gyeryong Merchant Guild for the journey toward the territory of the Iron Sword Sect was a masterclass in sheer opulence. Around the time Gye Cheol-yeong first began his training in the martial arts, the Iron Sword Sect had extended an offer for him to join their ranks as a lay disciple. However, accepting a subordinate position without the prestige of the special admission track held very little appeal for either Gye Cheol-yeong or his father, Gye Yeon-seok. Even so, as a merchant whose livelihood depended entirely on his operations within Hefei, the elder Gye could never risk offending the dominant local power. The steep cost of maintaining their favor was on full display in the form of the magnificent, gold-embellished carriage leading our procession.

As the boundary lines of the Iron Sword Sect’s territory came into view, Kang Chae-seok, the formidable leader of the Swift Blossom Hall, leaned over and thrust his stern countenance directly into our personal space. The fact that Kang Chae-seok—indisputably the most lethal martial artist within the ranks of the Taeul Sect—had been assigned to accompany us was a calculated safeguard by our Sect Leader to handle any unforeseen violence.

“There is an absolute rule you must adhere to the moment we set foot on the Iron Sword Sect’s grounds.”

“And what rule might that be?”

“Do not under any circumstances behave recklessly.”

“I am the very definition of level-headed.”

“Hmph. You’re demonstrating your arrogance this very second.”

Kang Chae-seok fixed me with a piercing glare as he spoke.

“You understand precisely what I am warning you about, don’t you?”

“I fully intend to mind my own business, but how am I supposed to react if the people around us deliberately go out of their way to humiliate us?”

“That is exactly what I am ordering you to swallow!”

Under normal circumstances, this stern lecture would have come from the lips of my own father, Jin Tae-san. For reasons unknown, however, Jin Tae-san had remained entirely silent, his somber expression locked in place for the duration of the trip.

“I hear you loud and clear. But what is the plan if they relentlessly push us into a corner time and time again?”

“You stubborn brat!”

“Fine, I understand. So even if they drag our sect’s reputation through the mud and openly disrespect our Patriarch, I will simply close my eyes, bite my tongue, and let it slide.”

“…You insolent youth. Are you deliberately testing my patience?”

“Then please tell me what alternative I have.”

Since we had agreed to attend the gathering at the Iron Sword Sect anyway, it was a foregone conclusion that our hosts would find a way to insult the Taeul Sect. When a powerful superior is hellbent on finding a flaw, an inferior guest can never hope to act flawlessly.

“I am telling you to conduct yourself with the utmost dignity of a proper gentleman, and to avoid stepping into the mud if you can see it coming.”

“Understood, understood. I will do exactly as you say.”

“……”

Upon arriving at the primary gates of the Iron Sword Sect, we discovered a massive sea of visitors already queued up to gain entry. The sect had designated several separate lines for individuals traveling light without heavy baggage, and those queues moved at a reasonable pace. However, the path reserved for heavy carriage caravans was restricted to a single bottleneck, resulting in an agonizingly long backup. We brought our carriages into the queue and had no choice but to settle in for a grueling wait.

“I had heard rumors regarding the vast scope of the Iron Sword Sect’s authority, but witnessing it firsthand is truly sobering.”

Jin Tae-san’s commentary was laced with an undeniable undercurrent of sorrow.

“This crowd has very little to do with the innate influence of the Iron Sword Sect. These people have all swarmed here because the Murim Alliance’s Grand Strategist and an esteemed Elder are scheduled to attend. They are simply desperate for a chance to curry favor and show their faces to the high authorities.”

“Haha. I wonder if we could ever dream of hosting such a distinguished crowd for our own Sect Leader’s sixtieth celebration.”

“Tsk, tsk. As our Outer Hall Master, do you honestly believe you possess the logistics to manage a gathering of this scale?”

“Even if it proved overwhelming, I would give anything to experience that kind of prestige just once.”

As the elders continued their quiet banter, a magnificent carriage escort came thundering down the road from the distance, kicking up an massive cloud of dirt and dust as it approached the front of the line.

“Out of the way. Clear a path so that our caravan can take this spot in the queue.”

Confronted by such an outrageous demand, the Master of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild immediately bellowed back in absolute fury.

“Stop uttering absolute garbage and take your place at the very end of the line! Do you have any conception of how many hours we have been sweating out here?”

“The gentleman standing directly ahead of you is an official vanguard for our Jacheong Merchant Guild. If you choose to remain stubborn, this situation is going to turn incredibly ugly for everyone involved.”

Standing directly beside the individual acting as the mouth for the Jacheong Merchant Guild was a disciplined vanguard of martial artists clad in identical, vibrant blue combat robes. Judging solely by their steady breathing and sharp focus, these were clearly not standard hired guards. The man leading the martial unit stepped forward, raising his hands in a formal martial salute.

“I am Yu Mun-chung, commander of the Blood Bamboo Unit representing the Blue Bamboo Fortress out of Nanjing. Given that our caravan has journeyed across vast distances and our men are suffering from severe exhaustion, we took the liberty of sending a scout ahead to secure our place. I ask for your professional courtesy and understanding.”

The moment the name Blue Bamboo Fortress echoed through the clearing, Gye Yeon-seok’s eyes dilated with a flash of pure panic. The Blue Bamboo Fortress was universally recognized as one of the most dominant and terrifying factions in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. To put it into perspective, they held the exact same terrifying status in their home region that the Iron Sword Sect enjoyed right here in Hefei.

“……”

While Gye Yeon-seok stood frozen in place, paralyzed by indecision and fear, a haughty young man pushed past the commander of the Blue Bamboo Fortress, stepping into the space with a swaggering, intensely condescending demeanor.

“Hey there. Looking at your setup, you appear to be nothing more than a third-rate, penny-pinching merchant guild. If you don’t want to watch the pathetic laborers handling your carts get their bones shattered, I suggest you clear out of our path this instant.”

As he spoke, his predatory gaze never drifted from Hong Sa-ryeon’s face, a smug, self-satisfied grin carving itself into the corners of his mouth.

‘The bastard is doing this on purpose.’

I was completely certain of it. He was fully aware of our identities and knew exactly which martial sect we represented. It was mathematically impossible for this encounter to be a random coincidence; among all the groups queued up before the gates, there wasn’t a single entity weaker than our own. If a person dismissed an encounter like this as mere bad luck, they wouldn’t last a single week in the treacherous, scheme-laden landscape of the martial world.

In the Murim, where a drawn blade regularly preempts the rule of law, if you don’t carefully survey the ground before making a move, you are practically begging to have your legs swept out from under you. The dynamics of this confrontation differed slightly from my previous life, but if we displayed even a shred of cowardice here, we would be treated as absolute nonentities the moment we crossed the threshold into the Iron Sword Sect. Furthermore, I was already well-acquainted with this obnoxious punk.

As I began to step out of our formation, Kang Chae-seok quickly reached out an arm to bar my path.

“Did I not explicitly command you to refrain from acting rashly?”

“With all due respect, they are openly defaming the honor of the Taeul Sect this very second. This is precisely the moment where a disciple is required to take a stand.”

“Absolutely not. To begin with, his cultivation is far beyond anything you can—”

Deaf to Kang Chae-seok’s frantic warnings, I bypassed his grip and strode directly into the open space.

This was the Bamboo Flame Young Master Gu Yang-sa of the Blue Bamboo Fortress. At this specific point in time, he was merely an arrogant brat who lacked the wisdom to distinguish a true threat from an easy target. However, in the years to come, after securing a position within the Murim Alliance, his insufferable personality would align flawlessly with Gye Cheol-yeong’s, and the duo would become a pair of notorious scoundrels running amok as blood brothers. In my past life, it had been a regular occurrence for him to treat the younger disciples of the Taeul Sect like personal servants. At present, his martial prowess was only marginally superior to Gye Cheol-yeong’s.

“It is an undeniable fact that the Gyeryong Merchant Guild is a minor operation. However, we are certainly not an entity that can be trampled upon by a representative from some obscure, third-rate faction like the Purple Bamboo Fortress.”

“Ha! How dare a pathetic worm speak to me in that manner!”

As if he had been actively fishing for an excuse to strike, Gu Yang-sa dropped his arms and reached for the hilt of his weapon without a shred of hesitation.

Anticipating his movement, I closed the distance faster than he could react, executing Lotus, a signature Transplanting Flower and Grafting Tree Art derived from the Flowing Cloud Sect. The swift technique forcefully slammed his blade back down into its scabbard while simultaneously spinning his entire body on his heel, leaving him facing the completely opposite direction.

“Incredible!”

“Oh! What prestigious lineage does that young cultivator belong to?”

The surrounding travelers, who had been dying of boredom during the long wait, let out collective gasps of excitement at the sudden entertainment. In direct proportion to the crowd’s rising amusement, Gu Yang-sa’s face flushed a deep, humiliated crimson.

The moment Gu Yang-sa furiously reached for his sword a second time, I cut him off with a icy remark.

“Are you genuinely planning to paint the ground with blood at another master’s celebratory festival? I suppose one shouldn’t expect anything resembling basic etiquette from a sect devoid of proper roots.”

“…You miserable bastard…”

Gu Yang-sa froze mid-draw, his eyes blazing with a feral rage that suggested he was ready to abandon his weapon entirely and engage in a savage fistfight right then and there.

Right at that explosive peak of tension, a pristine, melodic voice sliced through the chaotic atmosphere.

“Cease this at once.”

The sea of onlookers parted to reveal a breathtakingly beautiful young woman. Dressed in magnificent ceremonial attire and styled with immaculate cosmetics, her appearance was so striking that every eye in the clearing was instantly anchored to her form. She was none other than Seong Mo-ran, the younger sibling of the renowned Twin Wolf Iron Swords.

“It’s the Beautiful Wolf Iron Sword!”

“Is her brother, the Blood Wolf Iron Sword, walking with her?”

After executing a sweeping glance over the gathered crowd, the Beautiful Wolf Iron Sword Seong Mo-ran directed her attention squarely at Gu Yang-sa.

“Did you travel all this way to incite a bloody brawl at my grandfather’s milestone celebration?”

“…Ah, no, that is absolutely not my intention, Lady Seong.”

The thuggish, menacing bravado he had projected just a moment ago vanished instantly. His face burned with embarrassment as he stuttered out a pathetic defense, entirely unable to construct a coherent reply.

“Furthermore, the Iron Sword Sect has never established any protocol that permits guests to claim or reserve vacancies in this queue ahead of time. I expect you to take your caravan to the very rear of the line and wait like everyone else.”

Though the decree emanated from a young woman who had yet to see her twentieth year, the sheer authority behind her words carried immense weight. The leadership of the Jacheong Merchant Guild and the vanguard of the Blue Bamboo Fortress visibly deflated under the sharp reprimand, slinking off toward the back of the queue with slumped shoulders.

“Am I correct in assuming that you are the esteemed visitors representing the Taeul Sect and the Gyeryong Merchant Guild?”

The Beautiful Wolf Iron Sword Seong Mo-ran’s piercing gaze drifted gracefully across our assembly.

“Please accept my sincere apologies for the unpleasant disturbance that just transpired at our gates. As a modest gesture to make amends for the inconvenience, would you allow me the honor of personally guiding your caravan directly inside the estate?”

Every single traveler trapped in the massive, stagnant queue looked in our direction, their eyes burning with intense jealousy.