The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 76

Chapter 76
## Chapter 76. The Black Flame Dragon Who Leaps over the Trial (4)

As the celebration commenced, all the captives who had been imprisoned within Twin Curtain Stronghold were forced into service.

Men and women alike, every single person dragged down from the mountain was reduced to skin and bones, their flesh covered in a patchwork of lacerations and dark contusions.

Our companions, momentarily forgetting they were enveloped by the cutthroats of Twin Curtain Stronghold, gritted their teeth in sheer fury at the sight.

“Ahem.”

“Cough.”

Concurrently, several of Bang Du-chil’s followers turned deathly pale.

Subjected to an abrupt wave of murderous intent, their limbs grew entirely rigid.

The origin of this pressure was none other than Dong-ryong.

They appeared utterly shocked that such a dense thirst for blood could emanate from a youth whose countenance still retained the soft innocence of childhood.

I stepped closer to Dong-ryong and rested a hand firmly on his shoulder.

“It is fine. We will rescue them.”

“……Ah, yes. Indeed. I trust your word, Eldest Senior Brother.”

Dong-ryong seemed completely unaware that he had been radiating such an oppressive aura.

“…….”

Geum-pyo, well aware of Dong-ryong’s Heavenly Killing Star, observed me with an anxious gaze.

-It is fine. His moral compass is straight and his soul is kind, so as long as the killing star does not hijack his consciousness, no harm will come. Soon, when his mastery over the Taeul True Scripture deepens, he will no longer lose himself to its influence.

When I reiterated the reassurance I had given him a few nights prior, Geum-pyo offered a nod, though the apprehension in his eyes did not entirely fade.

—

With nearly five hundred individuals suddenly pressed into service to prepare the feast, the arrangements were completed in short order.

The brigands, faced with platters of steaming food, paid absolutely no heed to the famished captives and lost themselves in gorging and drinking.

“You are free to take them as we agreed.”

Hearing One-Eyed Blood Axe’s declaration, the expressions of the gathered villagers turned utterly blank.

“Then I trust our future associations will remain just as mutually beneficial.”

When I offered a formal parting salute with clasped hands, One-Eyed Blood Axe and Golden-Faced Buddha Saber, thoroughly occupied with devouring their meal and conversing, paid us no further heed.

“Everyone, you may now return home with us.”

“……Excuse me? What on earth do you mean by……”

Even after my announcement, the villagers remained rooted to the spot, anxiously monitoring the expressions of One-Eyed Blood Axe and Golden-Faced Buddha Saber.

“Our terms have been settled. Please, accompany us back to the village.”

“…….”

Though glimmerings of hope flashed through their eyes at my words, the crowd of five hundred villagers kept their gaze locked onto One-Eyed Blood Axe and Golden-Faced Buddha Saber until the very end.

The two leaders, who had been boisterously conversing for some time, glanced toward the captives, let out mocking chuckles, and dismissed them with a lazy wave of their hands.

Only then did the strength drain from the people’s legs, causing them to sink to the dirt one after another.

“Sniff, are we truly permitted to go back?”

“Thank you, Master Warrior! Thank you so much.”

“I will carry this debt of gratitude with me to my grave.”

The villagers fell to their knees before us, weeping openly.

And just beyond them, I witnessed Golden-Faced Buddha Saber and One-Eyed Blood Axe snickering at the display.

Among the ranks of the celebrating bandits, many were similarly sneering, clearly harboring foul intentions.

“Express your gratitude once you are safely back. Do you not wish to leave this place immediately?”

Following my prompt, the exhausted people scrambled to their feet and began moving in unison, terrified of lingering even a moment longer.

After guiding the villagers down the mountain, I approached Bang Du-chil near the area where the wagons were stationed.

“Great Hero Bang, please proceed down that alternate path. I shall retrace the path we originally took.”

“…….”

Bang Du-chil offered no reply, merely tightening his brow.

Ultimately, Baek So-ryeong, who had been observing the exchange, intervened.

“Young Master Jin, what is the meaning of this?”

“Mount Tianmu possesses only a single main thoroughfare. If the brigands attempt to descend from the peaks, they will have no choice but to utilize this route, correct? I shall secure this side. Great Hero Bang, please station your men on the opposite flank.”

“Descend?”

Baek So-ryeong tilted her head, thoroughly perplexed.

“I intend to consume all of Mount Tianmu in flames.”

Hearing my intention to ignite the mountain, both Baek So-ryeong and Bang Du-chil gasped in astonishment.

“……If that is your plan……. Even so, must it be done with such haste? Surely it would be wiser to ensure the villagers are fully evacuated first……”

“Did you fail to notice the Chieftains of Twin Curtain Stronghold and their inner circle?”

“Pardon?”

“Not a single drop of wine passed their lips during the entirety of the feast. They will not delay their move for long.”

“……Be that as it may…….”

“Furthermore, our window of opportunity to strike must not extend past today.”

“……Hmm?”

“Regardless, if you stand ground, the outlaws will eventually funnel down this road. Though their numbers are vast, a narrow pass ensures that Great Hero Bang’s force can easily hold them, does it not?”

As I directed these words to Bang Du-chil, he crossed his arms and spoke in a deep, gravelly tone.

“Outlaws are masters of navigating mountain terrain. That is precisely why they thrive as bandits.”

“Even outlaws adept at scaling ridges cannot bypass Flaming Mountain.”

“…….”

Golden-Faced Buddha Saber’s eyebrows twitched upward as he ripped into a piece of meat.

“What did you say?”

“Unidentified individuals were spotted drenching every corner of Mount Tianmu in oil.”

“Oil? Who dares?”

“Regrettably, they were exceptionally swift on their feet.”

“You useless simpleton!”

Golden-Faced Buddha Saber slammed his meal down in fury.

“If this is the caliber of report you bring me, why do I even bother keeping you around? I would be better served by a guard dog.”

“My profound apologies.”

One-Eyed Blood Axe, tracking the unfolding drama, let out a dry chuckle.

“Brother Song, is the answer not staring us in the face?”

“Staring us in the face? Do you have someone in mind?”

“Could it be anyone other than that brat Jin So-un from the Taeul Sect?”

“That child from moments ago?”

Golden-Faced Buddha Saber tilted his head in skepticism.

The boy had explicitly demonstrated a desire to avoid conflict with Twin Curtain Stronghold.

For what possible reason would he be scattering oil?

“I received a statement from the scout who initially escorted them up. He mentioned that during their ascent, the boy feigned clumsiness, spilling what appeared to be wine casks but was actually oil along strategic points of the path.”

“What? That cannot be.”

“Is he not plotting an arson attack?”

“What a treacherous wretch. I always knew those hypocrites of the Orthodox Path were untrustworthy, but…… to swear an accord and immediately stab us in the back?”

Observing Golden-Faced Buddha Saber’s outrage, One-Eyed Blood Axe maintained a wicked grin.

“In any case, since our forces are already mustered, we intended to conclude this affair swiftly. We should thank him for providing us with an doskonał justification.”

“Heh, heh, what an utter fool. He ought to have simply abandoned his wealth and departed in peace.”

From the very beginning, they had absolutely no intention of permanently releasing the laborers they had seized from the plains.

A force of nearly a thousand dim-witted brigands.

Expecting such men to prepare meals, repair garments, and manage daily chores?

Even a beast would find that amusing.

From its inception, the operational structure of Twin Curtain Strongholds on Mount Tianmu dictated that daily survival was impossible without the enslaved villagers.

Yet, paying them wages was completely out of the question.

“I originally intended to grant them a brief respite with their kin, but they have engineered their own doom.”

“Keke, this plays perfectly into our hands. It spares us the annoyance of waiting a day or two.”

“Everyone! Arm yourselves!”

Golden-Faced Buddha Saber’s booming command reverberated across the plateau.

The outlaws, who had prudently stuck to water instead of wine during the feast, unsheathed their blades in unison.

Village Chief Heo stood completely dazed, unable to comprehend the reality of the individuals standing before him.

“Sang-gu!”

They had completely disregarded his warnings to remain passive and had orchestrated a plan.

Ultimately, they succeeded in retrieving every single soul who had been dragged up to Twin Curtain Stronghold.

Pushing aside his immediate terror that Twin Curtain Stronghold would launch a retaliatory strike, Village Chief Heo wept uncontrollably upon embracing his son and daughter-in-law, whom he had not laid eyes on for an entire year.

—

The liberated hostages descending into the valley began sprinting wildly toward their respective dwellings.

As the clamor at the edge of the settlement intensified, residents rushed out to investigate, immediately recognizing the captives returning from Twin Curtain Stronghold. Wailing with emotion, they rushed forward to meet them.

Everywhere one looked, families were locked in tight embraces, tears and emotion flowing without restraint.

Village Chief Heo, the grandfather of my young client, clung tightly to his son and daughter-in-law, weeping like an opened dam.

“Sniff. Ugh. Sob.”

Standing beside me, Dong-ryong found himself weeping unconsciously.

“Eldest Senior Brother, my admiration for you is boundless. Sob.”

Geum-pyo and Eun-ho offered solemn nods in agreement with Dong-ryong’s sentiment.

“Indeed. However, our true task begins now. Stay vigilant.”

“You mentioned earlier that you intended to spark a blaze. Will that suffice to ensnare them?”

“Regarding that matter……”

Just as I prepared to clarify my plan to the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers, Village Chief Heo approached us.

“Thank you. My deepest gratitude to you. And please accept my apologies. Because the imperial authorities and the Murim Alliance utterly abandoned us, we had lost the capacity to trust anyone.”

The face of Village Chief Heo, as he gripped my hands fervently, was etched with deep remorse.

I gently disengaged and clasped his hands in return.

“How could the blame lie with you, Chief? The fault rests entirely with those who possessed the power to protect the helpless but chose to look away.”

“…….”

Village Chief Heo’s weathered face crumpled, looking as though he might break down once more.

“This is no time for sorrow, Elder.”

“You speak truly…… Now is a time for celebration. A festival! I shall command a great feast to be prepared.”

I shook my head firmly.

“It is not the hour for a feast either.”

“Eh?”

“Can you guide the populace away from this valley immediately?”

“What are you implying?”

“Twin Curtain Stronghold will inevitably march down upon this valley shortly.”

“Ah?”

At the mention of Twin Curtain Stronghold, Village Chief Heo and the surrounding villagers froze in terror.

“Though we delivered the negotiated ransom, they never harbored any genuine intention of granting you permanent freedom.”

“Th-Then what choice do we have? Our roots are buried deep in this soil. We have nowhere else to go.”

“Which is precisely why I require you to evacuate the settlement and conceal yourselves for a short duration. We shall handle the confrontation.”

“…….”

The countenances of Village Chief Heo and his people were heavy with skepticism.

It was entirely logical.

Given that Bang Du-chil and his contingent had deployed to the far side of Mount Tianmu, only the four of us remained here.

Had I been in their position, I would not have trusted such assurances either.

“Please accept this.”

I reached into my robes and produced the five-thousand-gold-tael draft I had originally intended for Yang Gun-baek.

“……I-Is this genuine?”

Village Chief Heo, laying eyes on a transaction note of five thousand gold taels for the very first time, stared in utter bewilderment.

“For now, seek refuge in Hangzhou and monitor the unfolding events. Should we fail, utilize this wealth to establish a new life elsewhere. Should we emerge victorious, employ these funds to purchase necessary provisions and return. When the village rebuilds, will you not require substantial resources?”

dishonesty.
“…….”

“…….”

The villagers listening to my instructions fell entirely silent, observing me with profoundly conflicted expressions.

Their eyes betrayed a desperate question.

Ultimately, Village Chief Heo found his voice.

“Why…… Why do you extend yourself to such lengths for strangers like us? We…… have absolutely no connection to you……”

Those who have endured lifetimes longing for a protector but finding only abandonment will naturally greet unprompted benevolence with skepticism.

Having walked a similar path, I understood their hesitation perfectly.

In such moments, grand speeches are superfluous.

“Because I operate differently.”

“……What does that mean……”

“I am distinct from the Murim Alliance and from typical sellswords. That is all.”

dishonesty.
“…….”

While Village Chief Heo and I concluded our exchange, Yang Gun-baek arrived in haste, accompanied by fifty operatives from the Hao Gate.

“Young Master So-un……”

Their garments were heavily soiled with forest debris and earth.

They had returned from executing the assignment I had charged them with.

“My apologies. The scouts of Twin Curtain Stronghold detected our movements.”

“I see.”

I had tasked them with distributing oil across the expanses of Mount Tianmu.

However, given the massive scale of the mountain and its topography, which allowed the upper garrisons to easily survey the lower slopes, completing the task cleanly had proven impossible.

“I believe a tactical retreat is prudent. Twin Curtain Stronghold is currently marshaling its forces and descending the slopes.”

Hearing Yang Gun-baek’s assessment, I turned to Village Chief Heo.

“You hear the situation, correct? Please evacuate so that we may engage the enemy without hindrance.”

“U-Understood.”

At the terrifying confirmation that Twin Curtain Stronghold was descending, the villagers began fleeing in a panic, abandoning their worldly possessions.

“Young Master So-un, you must also withdraw for the time being. I recognize your intent to utilize a fire strategy, but the natural layout of Mount Tianmu is inherently resistant to a total conflagration.”

Due to the oppressive rule of Twin Curtain Stronghold, locals had been barred from gathering lumber on Mount Tianmu, leaving its woodlands incredibly dense.

Furthermore, it was intersected by numerous ravines and natural streams.

I was well aware of these environmental factors.

Rather than replying, I cast my gaze upward toward the heavens.

The cloud formations were shifting with mounting velocity.

“Are your men equipped with incendiary arrows?”

“……Do you truly intend to persist with this?”

From the beginning, the oil was never meant to be the main destructive force; it was merely a catalyst.

“Indeed. Before this day ends, I intend to consign the entirety of Twin Curtain Stronghold to an absolute inferno.”

“…….”

“Once you ignite the initial sparks, you may withdraw to safety.”

“……How could I abandon you? If we are to leave, we depart together.”

Faced with my unyielding resolve, Yang Gun-baek finally signaled his agreement to the Hao Gate operatives with a firm nod, and the men immediately began preparing their fire arrows.

“Waaaaaaaaaah!”

It became clearly visible that the figures blanketing the mountain paths were descending with blades raised.

“Loose!”

At Yang Gun-baek’s command, a volley of incendiary arrows rained down across Mount Tianmu, igniting localized pockets of flame.

“Senior Brother…… Do you honestly believe you can consume Mount Tianmu using such small blazes?”

“An intense drought has plagued this province since the year before last, reaching its peak this season.”

“Pardon?”

“And during the autumn season, the single most perilous threat to a mountain is a wildfire.”

I conjured the official records from the Zhejiang Province Hangzhou Branch hidden within my memory.

It was the very archive that had caused me immense frustration by omitting the detail that Bang Du-chil had successfully rescued the captives.

Yet, such omissions were inevitable.

The personal biases of a scribe naturally color any written record.

However, even so, there were objective physical phenomena that bias could not alter.

[Murim Alliance Hangzhou Branch Daily Log. Day of Gapin in the Month of Gyeongja.]

[Meteorological Report – An abrupt, ferocious northwestern gale manifested, triggering spontaneous forest fires across the entirety of Zhejiang Province.]

Whooooosh.

A violent, predatory wind tore across the landscape.

The gale possessed such immense force that those clad in flowing martial arts robes found themselves buffeted by the drafts, struggling to advance even a few paces.

“The oil serves merely as a primer.”

Dark plumes of smoke began spiraling upward from the thickets where the incendiary arrows had struck.

“But even the most insignificant ember, when fanned by a tempest, can effortlessly reduce an entire mountain range to ash.”

The inferno erupted instantaneously.

The woodlands, which had moments ago only emitted faint traces of dark smoke, converted into a raging ocean of fire in the blink of an eye.

Witnessing the terrifying speed at which the conflagration expanded, Yang Gun-baek stared at me, his eyes wide with shock.

“Young Master So-un…… This is……”

BOOM!

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

Simultaneously, the concealed reservoirs of oil that Yang Gun-baek’s men had distributed across Mount Tianmu caught fire, drastically accelerating the destructive march of the flames.

The advancing outlaws, who had been charging down the main path, began to falter as the suffocating, dense smoke enveloped them.

“You brainless cowards, why do you halt?! Press through!”

Spurred by the furious commands of their captains, a few bandits forced their way through the haze.

“Agh!”

“The fire has already reached here?”

“W-We cannot breach this wall of flame!”

However, the moment they pierced the smoke barrier, they were met with towering walls of roaring fire that completely blocked their descent.

ROOOOOAR.

“Eldest Senior Brother…… That specific location……”

Eun-ho, recognizing the exact sector where the oil casks from their shattered supply wagon had spilled, stared at me in absolute awe.