The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 75

Chapter 75
## Chapter 75. The Black Flame Dragon Who Leaps over the Trial (3)

To begin with, so I could properly manage the introductory tributes I intended for the bandits controlling Fire Curtain Stronghold, I dispatched a Messenger Hawk to request assistance from Hao Gate.

Two days afterward, exactly as instructed, a traveling caravan composed of several carriages packed with dozens of large wooden casks arrived at the settlement. Spotting the individual leading the convoy, I found myself genuinely astonished.

“Weren’t you supposed to remain stationed in Yueyang?”

Chuckling softly, the man stepped forward. It was Yang Gun-baek, who managed the Black Shop in Yueyang and served as the eleventh disciple to the Grand Master of Hao Gate.

“Circumstances shifted in an unexpected direction, Young Master So-un. Regardless, because of that twist of fate, I am absolutely delighted to cross paths with you once more after all this time.”

The reception offered by Yang Gun-baek was incredibly cordial.

Even taking into account that my status had shifted from what it was in Yueyang to that of an official “Guest Retainer” for Hao Gate, his deference felt profound enough to make me slightly uncomfortable.

‘To look at it another way, my actions directly cost him his bid to become the next leader of Hao Gate. Is he aware of that?’

Whether that knowledge registered with him or not, Yang Gun-baek maintained a pleasant, smiling countenance.

“Did you manage to obtain the specific items I requested?”

Yang Gun-baek offered an affirmative nod.

He escorted me over to one particular section of a carriage, where four chests sat positioned in a neat row.

Upon unlatching the first and second chests, rows of fifty gleaming gold coins were revealed inside.

“Typically, a merchant association or a prominent Escort Agency would budget roughly twenty gold taels to clear their introductory respects with local factions. What prompted you to assemble such an immense sum?”

When the lids of the third and fourth chests were lifted, they each displayed twenty solid Gold Ingots.

The contents of every single container represented a fortune equivalent to one thousand gold taels.

“Word reached me that the local villagers had been forcibly relocated up to Mount Tianmu.”

“Ah…… So that is it……”

Discerning the underlying goal behind my preparations, a shadow of profound concern washed over his features.

“……While I am certain you have calculated your moves, Young Master So-un, I cannot suppress my anxiety regarding this endeavor.”

I pondered what thoughts were spinning through his head.

“The dual leaders who recently claimed authority as the Stronghold Masters upon Mount Tianmu—the Golden-Faced Buddha Saber and the One-Eyed Blood Axe—are exceptionally savage and avaricious individuals. Even if you manage to secure the freedom of those captives, they will undoubtedly resume their predatory raids after a mere handful of days have passed.”

“Go on, I am listening.”

“Furthermore, Twin Curtain Stronghold boasts a scale double that of the remaining factions within the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds, with their ranks hovering around a thousand active outlaws. Would it not be far wiser to redirect your efforts toward an entirely different mountain fortress, even at this stage?”

His gaze mirrored that of an older sibling watching a beloved younger brother march directly toward a dangerous combat zone.

“I have already committed myself to an active commission.”

“A formal request?”

“Indeed. The grandson of Village Chief Heo presented me with the task.”

“If it is a binding request, does that imply you have already collected your compensation? Precisely how much did they pay you?”

“A single silver tael.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Speechless, Yang Gun-baek stared at me, his face a turbulent mixture of conflicting emotions.

“This must be closely tied to the separate task you instructed me to oversee, correct?”

“It is.”

“……I can only pray that you emerge from this without sustaining injuries.”

Deeply affected by the genuine concern he displayed, I reached inside my garments and pulled out the promissory note valued at five thousand gold taels that I had been carrying.

This sum was intended to fully cover the gold, the shipments of wine, and the wages for the personnel assembled.

“…….”

Yang Gun-baek stared at the paper draft for a brief moment before shaking his head, gently pushing my hand away.

“Is the compensation insufficient?”

“Not at all. The amount is exceedingly generous.”

“Then what is the reason for refusing?”

“Because it is my sincere wish to present this entire operation as a personal token of appreciation to you, Young Master So-un.”

“Pardon me?”

Even with my newly acquired status as a Guest Retainer for Hao Gate, their organization was notoriously rigid and calculating when conducting business.

What could possibly motivate him to decline legitimate payment?

“Senior Sister Hae-ryeong acted as a maternal figure to me, looking after my well-being since my earliest days.”

“Ah.”

“When endless misfortunes began to relentlessly plague her, the sorrow I felt was far beyond what words can convey.”

Withdrawing his hand from the shelter of his sleeve, Yang Gun-baek brought his palms together in a gesture of profound, formal respect.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to you for rescuing Senior Sister.”

In stark contrast to the demeanor he displayed during our initial encounter in Yueyang, Yang Gun-baek now projected pure authenticity, allowing his raw sentiments to show clearly.

—

“Brother Geum-pyo, what could our Eldest Senior Brother possibly be plotting in that head of his?”

“Who can say? More to the point, why aren’t you applying yourself properly to this load?”

“By all rights, this grueling labor should be handled by the workers who actually transported the wine barrels here.”

Geum-pyo, Eun-ho, and Dong-ryong were exerting every ounce of their physical strength to heave a massive transport cart bearing an enormous wooden cask forward.

“Urrgh, I am confident that Eldest Senior Brother operates with a deliberate master plan.”

“Honestly, Dong-ryong, you would readily believe Eldest Senior Brother even if he claimed he could transform red beans into savory soybean paste.”

“Is that not a possibility?”

“Quit bickering and both of you put some real muscle into this, seriously, before I lose my grip entirely.”

“Confound it! What is going through the mind of that man we call Eldest Senior Brother, forcing us to haul simple oil like this……”

Eun-ho continued to vent his frustration loudly right beside me.

“You are intentionally raising your voice so I can catch every word, aren’t you?”

“Huh? Eldest Senior Brother? At what point did you approach us?”

“Hmph.”

Silently channeling my inner force, I unleashed a subtle burst of Finger Wind, snapping one of the critical retaining pins on the wheel assembly.

*Snap.*

“Uh-oh!”

“G-Get away from it!”

“Get out of the way!!”

The wheel completely detached from the axle, and with a resounding *CRASH*, the wooden framework of the cart shattered into pieces.

Simultaneously, the heavily laden barrels perched on the platform tumbled downward, splitting wide open and showering the surrounding terrain in all directions with the liquid stored within.

Mercifully, because the vehicle being pulled by the Gold, Silver, and Bronze trio occupied the absolute rear of the convoy, everyone managed to escape unscathed.

“Tsk, tsk. Can the three of you not manage to transport a single vehicle without an accident?”

“If we weren’t actively restricted by the rules of Moving Circulation, we could have transported this load anywhere you desired with ease.”

“If that were the case, the entire exercise would lose its value as a training regimen, wouldn’t it?”

As I continued to trade barbs with my martial brothers, Bang Du-chil stepped forward to join the conversation.

“Do you genuinely believe that an approach like this will allow you to liberate the captives?”

The subordinates under Bang Du-chil’s command were already collaborating with the professional Escorts to guide the remaining transport vehicles up the slopes of Mount Tianmu.

It was an impressive spectacle, watching a continuous line of thirty separate wagons gradually ascend along the narrow mountain pass.

“Should we fail to completely suppress Twin Curtain Stronghold, this entire endeavor will ultimately amount to nothing.”

“Regardless of the outcome, is it not far more advantageous to remove the hostages from the equation first?”

“…….”

When the supply train laden with alcohol finally neared the crest of the trail on Mount Tianmu, a group of armed outlaws materialized to obstruct the path.

“Halt where you are!”

These were the exact same bandits who had executed the raid on the settlement just a few short days ago.

“Greetings to you all.”

“You are an individual who struggles to arrive at the designated hour.”

Since I had previously dispatched a messenger to declare my intent to offer formal introductory respects, the sentry was fully anticipating our arrival.

“You have my regrets. As you can readily observe, the volume of cargo we had to transport was substantial, which caused our schedule to slip slightly.”

The outlaw displayed a look of considerable satisfaction as his eyes scanned the wagons, which were piled high with fresh meat and substantial casks of liquor.

“It makes little difference to low-ranking scouts like us, but the presiding Stronghold Masters of Twin Curtain Stronghold are unlikely to overlook such tardiness so easily.”

“I have brought along specialized offerings intended specifically for those esteemed leaders, so you have no cause for concern on that front.”

“From this point forward, our men will take custody of the cargo.”

“Very well.”

Following the bandit’s declaration, hundreds of armed figures abruptly broke cover from the dense thickets surrounding the trail.

“Waaaaaaaah!”

Advancing with deafening roars, they swarmed the wagons and began unloading the cargo with astonishing speed, demonstrating the practiced efficiency of career brigands.

“Hold on a moment.”

Using the sheathed edge of the Black Dragon Sword, I firmly intercepted the arm of a bandit who was reaching toward the specific chest positioned directly before me.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

“This particular item is something I must personally present to the Stronghold Masters.”

“That sort of nonsense won’t fly—!”

*Smack.*

When I sharply deflected his reaching hand using my scabbard, the outlaw gripped his bruised fingers, his expression twisting into rage as if he might unsheathe his blade at any second.

“Stand down. Do not foolishly meddle with items intended directly for the Stronghold Masters.”

The scout I had initially been parleying with barked the command, causing the aggressive bandit to suppress his anger and shift his focus elsewhere.

“Follow behind me.”

An expansive plateau stretched between the two massive, towering peaks that defined the geography of Mount Tianmu.

Whenever the leadership of Twin Curtain Stronghold convened for a significant occasion, they would gather their forces on this plateau to hold a grand celebration.

“Waaaaaaaah!”

“Waaaaaaaah!”

As roughly one thousand outlaws raised their voices in unison within the confines of the basin, the vibrations caused the very air to shudder violently.

The sheer scale of the gathering was so immense that it rattled not only the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers and the subordinates of Bang Du-chil, but even Bang Du-chil himself—a man who habitually carried himself as though he answered to no one beneath the heavens—turned noticeably pale.

“Senior Brother, can we truly manage this situation safely?”

Geum-pyo found it impossible to conceal his growing dread.

Even though their attire was mismatched and their weaponry varied wildly, one had to account for the fact that every single person present possessed competent martial training. This meant Twin Curtain Stronghold wielded a combat capability comparable to a mid-tier orthodox organization among the sects of the One Hundred Eight Peaks.

“Quiet down!”

A thunderous manifestation of the Lion’s Roar rippled across the plateau, causing the celebrating outlaws to instantly freeze and turn their attention toward the pair of individuals occupying the seats of honor.

“Are you Jin So-un representing the Taeul Sect?”

A massive wooden chair sat positioned over a spread of exotic tiger pelts, and resting against its framework was an exceptionally large saber, easily spanning two palms in width.

Seated there was the notorious Golden-Faced Buddha Saber, Song Go-ak.

“This humble junior of the martial world, Jin So-un, offers his respects to the venerable seniors.”

Strictly speaking, applying an honorable term like “seniors” to common criminals of the Black Path was entirely absurd, but I prided myself on being a righteous martial artist who maintained proper etiquette even when dealing with outlaws.

*Kukuk.*

“When dealing with the Black Flame Dragon, receiving the title of senior doesn’t feel entirely out of place.”

The partially blinded man reposing on a bear skin adjacent to him was One-Eyed Blood Axe, the reigning Stronghold Master of Gold Curtain Stronghold.

“Tell me then, Junior Black Flame Dragon, what business brings a prominent figure to a domain inhabited by common bandits? You went so far as to request that the entirety of Twin Curtain Stronghold assemble in a single location.”

“Did you perhaps summon us all here so we could participate in the Murim Regular Exam?”

“Kahahahahaha.”

“Kahahahahaha.”

In response to the jest made by One-Eyed Blood Axe, a wave of booming laughter echoed across the plateau.

Even though they were perfectly cognizant of the underlying reason I had requested this massive gathering, they deliberately chose to play ignorant as a tactical maneuver to inflate their own leverage.

“As the seniors are well aware, a modest organization like the Taeul Sect would hardly be appropriate for administering the Murim Academy Regular Exam. My purpose here, as I previously communicated, is simply to deliver my formal introductory respects.”

“Hmm.”

“Our Taeul Sect recently took control of an extensive commercial enterprise, and we foresee that our operations will frequently require us to journey toward Hangzhou and Suzhou in the coming days. Consequently, I have organized these modest tokens of goodwill.”

Geum-pyo and Eun-ho stepped forward in unison, each bearing a compact wooden container.

Both Golden-Faced Buddha Saber and One-Eyed Blood Axe cast their eyes over the boxes, which held double the standard sum typically offered for introductory customs, maintaining thoroughly unreadable expressions.

“Junior, while I appreciate the respect you have demonstrated by providing ample spirits and meat for this occasion, forcing our entire collective to gather in one place for nothing more than this has left me feeling rather disgruntled.”

I gave a prompt, cooperative nod.

After all, when I initially requested that every outlaw belonging to both Fire Curtain Stronghold and Gold Curtain Stronghold gather simultaneously, I had anticipated this exact reaction from their leadership.

“In truth, I have brought along an entirely separate business venture that I deeply wished to put forward.”

Geum-pyo and Eun-ho once again unlatched the larger chests.

The containers, each packed with twenty solid Gold Ingots, caught the direct rays of the sun beating down on the plateau, casting brilliant reflections in every direction.

Even the throng of roughly a thousand bandits who had been rowdily whispering moments prior instantly fell silent, staring fixedly at the treasure with wide eyes and visible avarice.

“During my travels through the neighboring settlements, I received word that local villagers are currently performing labor within this fortress.”

*THUD.*

When Golden-Faced Buddha Saber violently brought his heel down against the earth, a faint tremor propagated through the ground all the way to where I stood.

“And what of it?”

“Our organization adheres to a fundamental principle: ‘Benefit people far and wide.’ Operating under that mandate, I simply could not look away from their plight. If it meets with your approval, I ask that you allow me to escort the laborers present back to their homes.”

I maintained a respectful, hands-clasped salute, but the opposing leaders offered no immediate verbal reply.

“Kuku. You are quite an entertaining character.”

One-Eyed Blood Axe reached for his crimson weapon, slowly running his fingers along the edge of the blade.

“To possess the audacity to propose a forced negotiation against the might of Twin Curtain Stronghold.”

“Is it not true that nearly any matter in this world can be settled through a proper transaction?”

“Perhaps, but tramping upon the honor of our organization is not something that can be resolved with coin. You might very well find that the price of this transaction requires you to forfeit your life on this very spot.”

“Since the days of old, it has been widely recognized that only a fool would slaughter the goose that consistently produces golden eggs.”

“What did you say!”

One-Eyed Blood Axe surged to his feet in a fit of rage.

The bandits arrayed across the right flank of the plateau instantly rose to their feet alongside their leader, drawing their blades in a unified show of force.

Geum-pyo, Eun-ho, Dong-ryong, and the accompanying men under Bang Du-chil’s command were visibly shaken by the intense pressure and instinctively reached for the hilts of their own weapons.

“I am uncertain if the rumors have reached you, but the Taeul Sect managed to secure ownership of the Namgung Clan’s Azure Sky Merchant Guild without relying on a single renowned martial art. It is entirely impossible to forecast the heights our influence will reach moving forward. Forfeiting such a lucrative future trade partnership simply because your vision is clouded by immediate, short-term greed is an error only an unmitigated fool would commit.”

“Haha, do you operate under the assumption that you possess three separate lives?”

“I remain utterly confident that the esteemed Stronghold Masters of Twin Curtain Stronghold are incapable of making such a short-sighted decision.”

“An exceptionally audacious youngster.”

One-Eyed Blood Axe muttered the words while deftly spinning his weapon, yet his gaze remained firmly locked onto the treasure chests, unable to look away.

Regardless of his authority as the supreme leader of Gold Curtain Stronghold, it was impossible for him to remain entirely unmoved when confronted with a sum as vast as one thousand gold taels.

“Very well, as you have proposed, I can certainly release these laborers in exchange for that gold. However, I can offer no assurances that my men will not simply round them up and bring them back here in the days to follow.”

He was explicitly stating that he intended to pocket the wealth now, only to recapture the freed peasants at the earliest opportunity.

‘As if a thief could ever truly abandon his nature.’

I nodded without showing the slightest hint of hesitation.

“Whatever transpires after our departure is of absolutely no concern to me.”

“What?”

“Hm?”

Upon hearing my detached response, our entire entourage, alongside One-Eyed Blood Axe and Golden-Faced Buddha Saber, all gaped at me with expressions of utter bewilderment.

“Our mission is strictly to perform an act of charity. It is hardly within our power to safeguard them from future misfortunes that might befall them, is it?”

One-Eyed Blood Axe, who had been staring in dumbfounded silence like someone completely caught off guard, suddenly threw his head back and let out a booming roar of amusement.

“Kahahahahaha.”

“Kahahahahaha!”

Instantly, the entire contingent of outlaws who had drawn their steel on the right side of the plateau joined in, laughing uproariously in perfect synchronization with their leader’s mood.

“What an absolute rogue you are. The rumors spoke of a rising star within the Black Path who masqueraded under the guise of an Orthodox Sect cultivator, and you match that description precisely.”

Hardly.

How could he possibly insult me by grouping me together with degenerates like them?

“Very well. You may take the workers. Under one condition!”

One-Eyed Blood Axe paused, letting the silence hang for effect.

“Ensure that they fully prepare the food for our grand celebration before you escort them away from this mountain!”

“Waaaaaaaah!”

At the mention of an immediate feast, the outlaws, already anticipating the abundant wine, erupted into thunderous cheers across the entire plateau.

-Do you honestly believe this single move resolves our predicament?

In that exact instant, a booming Sound Transmission vibrated directly against my eardrums, causing me to slightly flinch to avoid covering my ears.

Turning my gaze, I observed Bang Du-chil subtly moving his lips.

Much like his utterly chaotic control over his internal energy, his execution of the Sound Transmission technique was completely unrefined and overly loud.

-Have we not successfully secured their liberation for the time being?

-Because of your antics, we completely forfeited our opening to initiate a tactical ambush.

-You genuinely intended to mount a surprise attack? Facing off against a thousand armed opponents?

Was a profound lack of intellect simply one of the natural side effects of possessing the Heavenly Dipper Limitless Body?

Why was his mental capacity unable to match even a fraction of his physical prowess?

-…….

-Maintain your composure and simply observe the unfolding events. Every necessary preparation has already been set in motion.